At this； one from below the steps called out； 〃So you call us plausible and glib then。 And you have none such in your country； eh？〃
Zhang Song looked around and saw the speaker was a man with thin delicate eyebrows crossing narrow eyes set in a pale spiritual face。 He asked his name。 It was Yang Xiu； son of the former Regent Marshal Yang Biao。 The young man was then employed as Chair of the Secretariat of the Prime Minister's palace。 He was deeply read and had the reputation of being a clever controversialist； as Zhang Song knew。 So on one side was a desire to confound and on the other overweening pride in his own ability； with contempt for other scholars。 Perceiving the ridicule in Zhang Song's speech； Yang Xiu invited him to go to the library where they could talk more freely。 There； after they had got settled in their respective places； Yang Xiu began to talk about the west。
〃Your roads are precipitous and wearisome；〃 said Yang Xiu。
〃But at our lord's mand we travel； even through fire and water。 We never decline；〃 replied Zhang Song。
〃What sort of a country is this Yizhou？〃
〃Yizhou is a name for the group of western counties and territories known of old as the state of Shu。 The roads are intersected by streams； and the land bristles with steep mountains。 The circuit is over two hundred stations and marches and the area over one hundred thousand square miles。 The population is dense； villages being so close that the crowings of cocks in one waken the people in the next； and the dogs barking in this excite the curs in that。 The soil is rich and well cultivated； and droughts or famines are equally unknown。 Prosperity is general； and the music of pipes and strings can always be heard。 The produce of the fields is piled mountain high。 There is no place its equal。〃
〃But what of the people？〃
＇e＇ Liu Xiangru was prime minister of Zhao in the Warring States period； who did not have the force even to bind a chicken； but boldly behaved in the court of the powerful Qin。 When King Zhaoxiang of Qin tried to make away the purest jadestone from Zhao； Liu Xiangru threatened to destroy the stone； and so King Zhaoxiang backed up and let Liu Xiangru to return to Zhao。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Ma Yuan was one of the greatest Han generals。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Zhang Ji was a legendary physician in Latter Han。 One of his pilations instantly became one of the main bases for historical Chinese healing。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Yan Zun was one of the most well…known Taoist scholars in early Han。 。。。。。
〃Our administrators are talented as Liu Xiangru*； our soldiers able as Ma Yuan*； our physicians are expert as Zhang Ji*； our diviners are profound as Yan Zun*。 Our schools of philosophy and our culture stand forth as models； and we have more remarkable people than I can enumerate。 How should I ever finish the tale of them？〃
〃And how many such as you； Sir； do you think there are at the orders of your Imperial Protector？〃
〃Our officers are all geniuses： Wise； bold； loyal； righteous； and magnanimous。 As for poor simpletons like me： They are counted by hundreds； there are cartloads of them； bushels of them。 No one could count them。〃
〃What office may you hold then？〃
Zhang Song replied； 〃Mine can hardly be called an office。 I am a Supernumerary Charioteer。 But； Sir； what state affairs may you control？〃
〃I am the First Secretary in the Palace of the Prime Minister；〃 replied Yang Xiu。
〃They say that members of your family held office for many generations； and I do not understand why you are not in court service actually assisting the Emperor； instead of filling the post of a mere clerk in the private palace of the Prime Minister。〃
Yang Xiu's face suffused with shame at this rebuke； but he mastered himself and replied； 〃Though I am among the minor officials； yet my duties are of great importance； and I am gaining experience under the Prime Minister's guidance。 I hold the office for the sake of the training。〃
Zhang Song smiled； saying； 〃If what I have heard is true； Cao Cao's learning throws no gleaming light on the way of Confucius or Mencius； nor does his military skill illumine the art of Sun Zi or Wu Qi。 He seems to understand the doctrine of brute force and holding on to what advantages he can seize； but I see not how he can give you any valuable training or enlighten your understanding。〃
〃Ah； Sir； that es of dwelling in out…of…the…way parts。 How could you know of the magnificent talents of the great Prime Minister？ But I will show you something。〃
Yang Xiu called up an attendant and bade him bring a book from a certain case。 He showed this to his guest； who read the title 〃The New Book of Cao Cao〃。 Then Zhang Song opened it and read it through from the beginning； the whole thirteen chapters。 They all dealt with the art of war。
〃What do you take this to be？〃 asked Zhang Song； when he had finished。
〃This is the great Prime Minister's discussion of the art of ancient and modern war posed on the model of Sun Zi's Treatise on the Art of War。 You may be disdainful of the Prime Minister's talents； but will this not go down to posterity？〃
〃This book！ Every child in Yizhou knows this by heart。 What do you mean by calling it a new book？ It was written by some obscure person of the time of the Warring States； and Cao Cao has plagiarized it。 But he has deceived no one but you； Sir。〃
〃But what is the use of your sarcastic insult in saying that your school children know the book by rote？ It has never been given to the world； although copies have been made。 It belongs to his private library。〃
〃Do you disbelieve me？ Why； I know it and could repeat it。〃
Then Zhang Song repeated the whole book； word for word； from beginning to end。
Yang Xiu said； 〃You remember it like this after only one reading！ Really you are marvelous。〃
He boasted not a handsome face；
Nor was his body blessed with grace。
His words streamed like a waterfall；
He read a book and knew it all。
Shu's glories could he well rehearse；
His lore embraced the universe。
Or text or note of scholiast
Once read； his memory held fast。
At leave…taking Yang Xiu said； 〃Remain a while in your lodgings till I can petition our Prime Minister to give you another interview。〃
Zhang Song thanked him and left。
By and bye Yang Xiu went to see Cao Cao on the matter of receiving the emissary from the west and said； 〃Sir； why did you formerly treat Zhang Song so off…hand？〃
〃He spoke very rudely。 That is why。〃
＇e＇ Cao Cao hated Mi Heng； who was critial of him。 Yet he did not kill Mi Heng。 Instead he sent Mi Heng on mission to Jingzhou； where Huang Zhu； a general of Liu Biao； killed Mi Heng over a wine cup。 Mi Heng was one of the most treasured writers in ancient China。
〃But you bore with Mi Heng*。 Why not with this man？〃
〃Mi Heng's reputation for scholarship stood highest of all； and I could not bear to put him to death。 But what ability has this Zhang Song？〃
〃To say nothing about his speech being like the River of Heaven； nothing daunts his talent for dialectic。 I happened to show him your new treatise； he read it over once and could repeat it。 From this； it is evident he is cultured and has a prodigious memory。 There are few like him in the world。 But he said the book was the work of an obscure person of a few hundred years back； and every school child in his country knew it。〃
〃It only shows that the ancients and I are in secret sympathy；〃 replied Cao Cao。
However； Cao Cao ordered the book to be torn up and burned。
〃Then may I bring him to see you； Sir； that he may see the glory of our court。〃
Cao Cao grudgingly consented； saying 〃I am reviewing troops tomorrow on the western parade ground。 You may bring him there and let him see what my army looks like。 He will be able to talk about it when he goes home。 When I have dealt with the south； I shall take the west in hand。〃
Hence the very next day Yang Xiu took Zhang Song over to the west parade ground； where a review of the Tiger Guard was to be held。 There were fifty thousand of them； and when drawn up in order； they made a very brave show with their gleaming helmets and bright new uniforms。 Their drums rolled to shake the heavens； and their weapons glittered in the sun。 Their discipline and order were perfect。 Their gay banners fluttered in the breeze。 They looked ready to fly even； so alert and smart were they。
Zhang Song glanced at them contemptuously。
After a long time Cao Cao called up Zhang Song and； pointing to his army； said； 〃Have you ever seen such fine bold fellows in Yizhou？〃
〃We never see this military parade in Yizhou。 We govern the people by righteousness。〃
Cao Cao changed color and looked hard at the bold speaker； who gazed back at him without the least sign of fear。
Yang Xiu shot a quick glance at Zhang Song； but Cao Cao went on； saying； 〃I regard the rat…class of the world as of no more importance than so many weeds； and for my army to reach a place is to overe it； to give battle is to conquer； to besiege is to take。 Those who are with me； live； but those who oppose me； die。 Do you understand？〃
〃O Prime Minister； I know well that when you march out your army； you always conquer。 I knew it when you attacked Lu Bu at Puyang； and when you fought Zhang Xiu at Wancheng； and when you met Zhou Yu at the Red Cliffs； and when in Huarong Valley you encountered Guan Yu； and on that day when you cut off your beard and threw away your robe at Tong Pass； and when you hid in a boat to escape the arrows on the Yellow River。 On all these occasions； no one could stand against you。〃
It made Cao Cao very angry to be thus twitted with his misfortunes and he said； 〃You stuck…up pedant！ How dare you thus bring up all my failures？〃
Cao Cao called to his attendants to eject the bold disputant and put him to death。
Yang Xiu ventured to argue with him； saying； 〃You may behead him； but he came from the west bearing tribute； and his death would have a very evil effect on all distant peoples。〃
But Cao Cao was too angry to be reasonable and persisted。 However； Xun Yu also remonstrated； and Zhang Song was not put to death。 But he was beaten and ejected。 He returned to his lodging and left the city that night； reflecting upon what he had intended and what he had acplished。
Thought he； 〃I did not expect such arrogance when I came with the intention of giving him a region。 When I get back； Liu