d they all returned and reentered the gates。
The two messengers presently reached Shouchun； saw Yuan Shu； and presented the letter。
〃How is this？〃 said Yuan Shu。 〃Formerly he slew my messenger and repudiated the marriage。 Now he sends to ask for it。〃
〃It is all due to the vile plans of that monster Cao Cao。 If pray you； Illustrious Sir； consider it carefully；〃 replied Xu Si。
〃But if your master was not hemmed in by his enemy and in imminent danger； he would never have thought of renewing this proposal of marriage。〃
The messengers said； 〃You may decide not to help him； but the teeth are cold when the lips are gone。 It will not make for your happiness and fort。〃
Said Yuan Shu； 〃Lu Bu is unreliable。 Tell him that I will send soldiers after the girl has arrived here。〃
This was final； and the two messengers took leave and headed back to Xiapi。
When the party reached Liu Bei's camp； Xu Si decided； 〃We must wait the night falls； and Wang Kai and I will try to get through in the darkness。 The escort of He Meng remaining behind to protect our rear。〃
They tried that very night； and the two messengers crept across without discovery。 But the escort found themselves faced by Zhang Fei。 He Meng tried to fight but was captured in the very first bout； and the five hundred troops of his half pany were either killed or they fled。
The prisoner was taken to Liu Bei； who forwarded him to the main camp。 There he told the story of the marriage and the scheme to save the city。 Cao Cao was angry and ordered the execution of He Meng at the main gate。
Then Cao Cao sent orders to each camp to exercise the greatest diligence with threats of rigorous punishment of the officers of any corps that permitted any munication between the besieged and the outer world。
Every soldier felt mightily afraid。
Liu Bei returned to camp and cautioned his brothers； saying； 〃We are in the most important place with regard to the South of River Huai； and you must be very careful not to allow any breach of this mand。〃
Zhang Fei was inclined to grumble； saying； 〃We have just captured one of the enemy's leaders； and there is no word of praise or reward for us： Nothing but new orders and threats。 What do you make of that？〃
〃You are wrong to plain；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃These are orders of the mander…in…Chief； and what would happen were there no orders？ Do not disobey them； brother。〃
They promised obedience and withdrew。 In the meantime Xu Si and Wang Kai had got back to Lu Bu and told him what Yuan Shu had said； that if the girl came the soldiers should go。
〃But how can she be sent？〃 said Lu Bu。
Xu Si said； 〃That is the difficulty。 He Meng's capture means that Cao Cao knows the whole plan of getting help from the South of River Huai。 I do not see how anyone but you yourself could hope to get through the close siege。〃
〃Suppose we tried； today？〃 said Lu Bu。
〃This is an ill…omened day。 You must not try today。 Tomorrow is a very lucky day； especially in the evening； for any military action。〃
Then Lu Bu ordered Zhang Liao and Gao Shun； 〃Get ready three thousand troops for the venture； and prepare a light carriage。 I will lead the first seventy miles； thence you can escort the bride…elect the remainder of the way to her new home。〃
Next evening toward the second watch； Lu Bu wrapped up his daughter in soft wadded garments； bound her about with a mailed coat； and took her on his back。 Then with his mighty trident halberd in hand； he mounted Red Hare and rode at the head of the cavalcade out of the city gate。 Zhang Liao and Gao Shun followed。
In this order they approached Liu Bei's camp。 The drums at once beat the alarm； and Guan Yu and Zhang Fei barred the way。
〃Stop！〃 they shouted。
Lu Bu had no desire to fight； all he wished was to get through； so he made for a side road。 Liu Bei came in pursuit and the two parties engaged。 Brave as he might be； Lu Bu was almost helpless now that he was hampered by a girl on his shoulders； whom he was desperately anxious to preserve from hurt。 Beside other parties came up all shouting and attacking； and he had no alternative but to give up his project and return into the city of Xiapi。 He reached his palace very sad at heart。 The besiegers returned to camp well pleased that no one had got beyond their lines。
Lu Bu found consolation in the wine cup。 The siege had gone on for two months； and still the city stood。 Then they heard that Zhang Yang； Governor of Henei； had been inclined to e to the help of Lu Bu。 But one of his subordinates； Yang Chou； had assassinated him and was bringing his head as an offering to Cao Cao； when Yang Chou had also been slain by Kui Gu； one of the Governor's adherents。 Kui Gu had then led the force to Daicheng。
In the camp of the besiegers； there now arose much murmuring。 Cao Cao sent Shi Huan to intercept and kill Kui Gu。
Then he called a counsel； saying； 〃Though Zhang Yang； who meant to hurt us； is happily no more； yet we are threatened on the north by Yuan Shao； and on the west Liu Biao and Zhang Xiu are a menace。 Here we meet with no success against the city of Xiapi。 We are for leaving Lu Bu to his fate and returning home。 What do you think？〃
Among them Xun You fought against the idea； saying； 〃You must not act like this。 Lu Bu has lost much； and his spirit is broken。 The spirit of the leader expresses that of his army； and when the leader fails； his soldiers do not fight。 Chen Gong is clever； but nothing is done。 Lu Bu broken； Chen Gong without decision； it only needs a sharp attack； and we shall succeed。〃
〃I have a plan to propose；〃 said Guo Jia； 〃a plan to overe the city at once。 It is better than two hundred thousand troops。〃
〃I suppose you mean drowning the city by River Si and River Yi；〃 said Xun Yu。
〃That is it；〃 said Guo Jia； smiling。
Cao Cao accepted the suggestion with joy and set his troops to cut the banks of River Yi and River Si； and moved his army to the high ground whence they watched the drowning out of Xiapi。 Only the east gate remained clear of water。
The besieged soldiers hastened to their leader。
Lu Bu said； 〃Why should I fear？ My good horse can go as well through the water as over the land。〃
And he again returned to the wine cup for consolation； drinking deeply with his wife and concubine。
The continual drinking bouts told at last； and Lu Bu began to look dissipated。 Seeing himself in a mirror one day； he was startled at the change and said to himself； 〃I am injuring myself with wine。 No more from this day forward！〃
He then issued an order that no one should drink wine under penalty of death。
Now one of his generals； Hou Cheng； lost fifteen horses； stolen by one of his subordinates； Hou Cao； who intended to resell them to Liu Bei。 Hou Cheng found out where the horses were； went out after them； and recovered them after killing Hou Cao。 And Hou Cheng's colleagues congratulated him on his success。 To celebrate the occasion； Hou Cheng brewed a few barrels of wine to be drunk at the feast。
But thinking his chief might find him in fault； Hou Cheng sent the bottles of wine to Lu Bu's palace with a petition explaining； 〃By your virtue of warlike renown； I have recovered my horses； and as my rades e with their congratulations； I brew some bottles of wine； first to offer Your Lords