Chapter 16
In The Camp Gate； Lu Bu Shoots The Halberd；
At River Yu； Cao Cao Suffers Defeat。
Adviser Yang Dajiang knew how to remove Liu Bei。
〃What is your plan of attack on Liu Bei？〃 said Yuan Shu。
Yang Dajiang replied； 〃Though Liu Bei； now camped at Xiaopei； could easily be taken； yet Lu Bu is strongly posted at the chief city near。 And I think Lu Bu would help Liu Bei if it was only for the grudge he bears against you for not having given him the gold and studs； grain and horses you promised。 First of all you should send Lu Bu a present whereby to engage his affections and keep him quiet while you deal with Liu Bei。 You can see to Lu Bu after this is done； and Xuzhou is yours。〃
Thereupon two hundred thousand carts of millet was sent； with letters； by the hand of Han Yin。 The gift pleased Lu Bu greatly； and he treated the messenger with great cordiality。 Feeling sure of no trouble from that quarter； Yuan Shu told off one hundred thousand troops against Xiaopei。 The army was led by Ji Ling as manding general； and Lei Bo and Chen Lan as generals。
When Liu Bei heard these things he called his officers to take counsel。 Zhang Fei was for open war forthwith。
But Sun Qian said； 〃Our resources were too small； therefore； we must lay the position before Lu Bu and ask help。〃
〃Do you think that fellow will do anything？〃 said Zhang Fei cynically。
Liu Bei decided in favor of Sun Qian's proposal and wrote as follows：
〃Humbly I venture to remind you that I am here by your orders and enjoy repose as the result of your kindness； extensive as the heavens。 Now Yuan Shu； moved by a desire for revenge； is sending a force against this place； and its destruction is imminent unless you intervene to save it。 I trust you will send an army quickly to protect the town； and our happiness will be inexpressible。〃
Receiving this Lu Bu called in Chen Gong to whom he said； 〃I have just received gifts from Yuan Shu and a letter； with the intent of restraining me from helping Liu Bei。 Now es a letter from Liu Bei asking help。 It seems to me that Liu Bei where he is can do me no harm； but if Yuan Shu overes Liu Bei and es to an understanding with the leaders around the Huashang Mountains； then the power of the north is so much nearer； and I should be unable to resist the attacks of so many leaders and should never sleep secure。 I will aid Liu Bei： That is the better course for me。〃
Now Yuan Shu's force sent against Xiaopei went thither as quickly as possible； and soon the country to the southeast fluttered with pennons by day and blazed with watch fires by night； while the rolling of the drums reverberated from heaven to earth。
The five thousand troops at Liu Bei's disposal were led out of the city and arranged to make a brave show； but it was good news to him to hear that Lu Bu had arrived and was quite near。 Lu Bu camped only half a mile away to the southwest。 When Yuan Shu's general； Ji Ling； heard of his arrival； he wrote letters reproaching Lu Bu for his treachery。 Lu Bu smiled as he read them。
〃I know how to make both of them love me；〃 said Lu Bu。
So he sent invitations to both Liu Bei and Ji Ling to e to a banquet。
Liu Bei was for accepting the invitation and going； but his brothers dissuaded him； saying； 〃There is some treachery in his heart。〃
〃I have treated him too well for him to do me any harm；〃 said Liu Bei。
So he mounted and rode away； the two brothers following。 They came to the camp。
The host said； 〃Now by a special effort I have got you out of danger。 I hope you will not forget that when you e into your own。〃
Liu Bei thanked him heartily and was invited to take a seat。 Guan Yu and Zhang Fei took up their usual place as guards。
But when Ji Ling was announced； Liu Bei felt a spasm of fear and got up to go away。
〃You two are invited for the particular purpose of a discussion；〃 said the host。 〃Do not take it amiss。〃
Liu Bei； being quite ignorant of his intentions； was very uneasy。 Presently his fellow guest entered。 Seeing Liu Bei in the tent； and in the seat of honor； Ji Ling was puzzled； hesitated and tried to withdraw。 But the attendants prevented this and Lu Bu； advancing； laid hold of him and drew him into the tent as if he had been a child。
〃Do you wish to slay me？〃 asked Ji Ling。
〃Not at all；〃 replied Lu Bu。
〃Then you are going to slay Long…Ears？〃
〃No； not that。〃
〃Then what does it mean？〃
〃Liu Bei and I are brothers。 Now； General； you are besieging him； and so I have e to the rescue。〃
〃Then slay me；〃 said Ji Ling。
〃There would be no sense in that。 All my life I have disliked fighting and quarrels； but have loved making peace。 And now I want to settle the quarrel between you two。〃
〃May I ask how you think of doing so？〃
〃I have a means and one approved of Heaven itself。〃
Then Lu Bu drew Ji Ling within the tent and led him up to Liu Bei。 The two men faced each other； full of mutual suspicion； but their host placed himself between them and they took their seats； Liu Bei on the right hand of the host。
The banquet began。 After a number of courses almost in silence； Lu Bu spoke； saying； 〃I wish you two gentlemen to listen to me and put an end to your strife。〃
Liu Bei made no reply； but Ji Ling said； 〃I have e with an army of one hundred thousand at the express bidding of my master to take Liu Bei。 How can I cease the strife？ I must fight。〃
〃What！〃 exclaimed Zhang Fei drawing his sword。 〃Few as we are； we regard you no more than a lot of children。 What are you pared with a million Yellow Scarves？ You dare hurt our brother！〃
Guan Yu urged him to be silent； saying； 〃Let us see what General Lu Bu has to say first。 After that there will be time to go to our tents and fight。〃
〃I beg you both to e to an understanding。 I cannot let you fight；〃 said Lu Bu。
Now on one side Ji Ling was discontented and angry； on the other Zhang Fei was dying for a fight； and neither of the two chiefly concerned would signify assent。
Then suddenly the host turned to his attendants； saying； 〃Bring my trident halberd！〃
They did so； and he sat there gripping that graceful but effective weapon in his right hand。 Both guests felt very ill at ease and turned pale。
Lu Bu went on； saying； 〃I have tried to persuade you to make peace； for that is the mand of the Most High。 It shall be put to the test。〃
He then bade his servants take the halberd outside beyond the gate and set it up。
Then speaking to his two guests； he said； 〃That gate is one hundred and fifty paces distant。 If I can hit that left branch of the halberd…head with an arrow； you will both withdraw your armies。 If I miss； you can go away and prepare for immediate battle。 I shall stand against either of you who does not abide by what I say。〃
Ji Ling thought to himself； 〃That small mark at that distance！ How could anyone hit it？〃
So he assented； thinking he would have plenty of fighting after his host had missed the mark。 Of course Liu Bei was willing。
They all sat down again and wine was served。 When this had been drunk； the host called for his bow and arrows。 Liu Bei silently prayed that Lu Bu would hit the mark。
Lu Bu turned back his sleeves； carefully fitted an arrow to the string and pulled the bow to its utmost stretch。 A slight exclamation escaped him as the bow curved like t