o the empyrean； subsiding； it lurks in the uttermost depths of the ocean。 This is the midspring season； and the dragon chooses this moment for its transformations like a person realizing his own desires and overrunning the world。 The dragon among animals pares with the hero among people。 You； General； have traveled all lakes and rivers。 You must know who are the heroes of the present day； and I wish you would say who they are。〃
〃I am just a mon dullard。 How can I know such things？〃
〃Do not be so modest；〃 said Cao Cao。
〃Thanks to your kindly protection I have a post at court。 But as to heroes I really do not know who they are。〃
〃You may not have looked upon their faces； but you must have heard their names。〃
〃Yuan Shu of the South of River Huai； with his strong army and abundant resources： Is he one？〃 asked Liu Bei。
His host laughed； 〃A rotting skeleton in a graveyard。 I shall put him out of the way shortly。〃
〃Well； Yuan Shao then。 The highest offices of state have been held in his family for four generations； and his clients are many in the empire。 He is firmly posted in Jizhou； and he mands the services of many able people。 Surely he is one。〃
〃A bully； but a coward。 He is fond of grandiose schemes； but is devoid of decision。 He makes for great things but grudges the necessary sacrifice。 He loses sight of everything else in view of a little present advantage。 He is not one。〃
〃There is Liu Biao of Jingzhou。 He is renowned as a man of perfection； whose fame has spread on all sides。 Surely he is a hero。〃
〃He is a mere semblance； a man of vain reputation。 No； not he。〃
〃Sun Ce is a sturdy sort； the chief of all in the South Land。 Is he a hero？〃
〃He has profited by the reputation of his father Sun Jian。 Sun Ce is not a real hero。〃
〃What of Liu Zhang of Yizhou？〃
〃Though he is of the reigning family； he is nothing more than a watch dog。 How could you make a hero of him？〃
〃What about Zhang Xiu； Zhang Lu； Han Sui； and all those leaders？〃
Cao Cao clapped his hands and laughed very loudly； saying； 〃Paltry people like them are not worth mentioning。〃
〃With these exceptions I really know none。〃
〃Now heroes are the ones who cherish lofty designs in their bosoms and have plans to achieve them。 They have all…embracing schemes； and the whole world is at their mercy。〃
〃Who is such a person？〃 said Liu Bei。
＇e＇ Sai； a reader： 〃Cao Cao is the better winner。 Liu Bei is the better man。。。 as far as the heart is concerned。 Liu Bei is modeled as what Confucious would have considered a perfect ruler。 But in the contest of war and politics。。。 Cao Cao has him beat。 So I say that Cao Cao should have used his talents to unite China and then handed it over to Liu Bei。。。 never will happen。〃 。。。。。
Cao Cao pointed his finger first at his guest and then at himself； saying； 〃The only heroes in the world are you and I。〃*
Liu Bei gasped； and the spoon and chopsticks rattled to the floor。 Now just at that moment the storm burst with a tremendous peal of thunder and rush of rain。
Liu Bei stooped down to recover the fallen articles； saying； 〃What a shock！ And it was quite close。〃
〃What！ Are you afraid of thunder？〃 said Cao Cao。
Liu Bei replied； 〃The Sage One paled at a sudden peal of thunder or fierce gust of wind。 Why should one not fear？〃
Thus he glossed over the real fact； that it was the words he had heard that had so startled him。
Constrained to lodge in a tiger's lair；
He played a waiting part；
But when Cao Cao talked of breaking humans；
Then terror gripped his heart。
But he cleverly used the thunder peal
As excuse for turning pale；
O quick to seize occasions thus！
He surely must prevail。
The shower had passed； and there appeared two men rushing through the garden； both armed。 In spite of the attendants； they forced their way to the pavilion where sat the two friends。 They were Guan Yu and Zhang Fei。
The two brothers had been outside the city at archery practice when Cao Cao's invitation had e so peremptorily。 On their return they heard that two officers had arrived and led away Liu Bei to the Prime Minister。 They hastened to his palace and were told their brother was with his host in the grounds； and they feared something had happened。 So they rushed in。
Now when they saw their brother quietly talking with Cao Cao and enjoying a cup of wine； they took up their usual places and meekly stood waiting。
〃Why did you e？〃 said Cao Cao。
〃We heard that you； Sir； had invited our brother to a wine party； and we came to amuse you with a little sword play；〃 said they。
＇e＇ At that time Liu Bang； Governor of Pei； and Xiang Yu； King of West Chu； were fighting Qin under the Chu banner。 Liu Bang was the first mander who entered Qin's capital； Xianyang。 The loss of this honor enraged Xiang Yu； and he was set to attack Liu Bang's force。 But his uncle Xiang Ba wanted to mediate the situation； and Xiang Ba invited Liu Bang to visit Xiang Yu's camp in Hongmen。 During a banquet at Hongmen； Xiang Yu's adviser Fan Zeng ordered Xiang Chang to perform a sword…dance and take the chance to kill Liu Bang。 However； as Xiang Chang closed in Liu Bang； Xiang Ba rose to perform another sword…dance and fend off the attack。 Just then Liu Bang's general Fan Kuai bursted in； armed and angry…looking。 Fan Kuai proclaimed his lord's achievements and denounced the murder plot。 In the confusion； Liu Bang slipped away and rushed back to his camp。 。。。。。
〃This is not a Hongmen Banquet；〃 replied Cao Cao。 〃What use have we for Xiang Chang and Xiang Ba of old？*〃
Liu Bei smiled。 The host ordered wine to be served to the two 〃Fan Kuais〃 to allay their anxiety and； soon after； the three took their leave and returned homeward。
〃We were nearly frightened to death；〃 said Guan Yu。
The story of the dropped chopsticks was told。 The two asked what their brother intended by his actions。
〃My learning gardening was to convince Cao Cao of my perfect simplicity and the absence of any ambition。 But when he suddenly pointed to me as one of the heroes； I was startled； for I thought he had some suspicions。 Happily the thunder at that moment supplied the excuse I wanted。〃
〃Really you are very clever；〃 said they。
Next day Cao Cao again invited Liu Bei and while the two were drinking； Man Chong； who had been dispatched to find out what Yuan Shao was doing； came to present his report。
Man Chong said； 〃Gongsun Zan has been pletely defeated by Yuan Shao。〃
〃Do you know the details？ I should like to know how；〃 interrupted Liu Bei。
〃They were at war； and Gongsun Zan got the worst of it； so he acted on the defensive； building a high wall about his army and on that erecting a high tower； which he called the Yijing Tower。 Therein he placed all his grain； one hundred thousand carts total； and took up his own quarters。 His fighting troops passed in and out without ceasing； some going out to give battle； others returning to rest。 One of them was surrounded and sent to ask Gongsun Zan to rescue him。 Gongsun Zan said； 'If I rescue him； hereafter everyone will want to be helped and will not exert himself。' So Gongsun Zan did not go。 This disgusted his soldiers； and many deserted to the enemy so that his army diminished。 He sent letters to the capital to crave help； but the messenger was captured。