rested his steed for a time； then； leaving his helmet； he wound a turban about his head； mounted； and rode out to renew the fight。 Ma Chao also came out； and the duel continued。
Presently Liu Bei thought his brother in danger。 So he girded on his armor and went down into the plain。 He watched till they had fought another hundred bouts； and then as both seemed to wax fiercer than ever； he gave the signal again to cease the battle。 Both drew off and returned each to his own side。
It was then getting late； and Liu Bei said to his brother； 〃You had better retire for today。 He is a terrible opponent。 Try him again tomorrow。〃
But Zhang Fei's spirit was roused； and it was unlikely that such advice would be palatable。
〃No；〃 shouted he； 〃I will die and not e back！〃
〃But it is late。 You cannot go on fighting；〃 said Liu Bei。
〃Let them bring torches； and we will have a night battle；〃 said Zhang Fei。
Ma Chao having mounted a fresh steed； now rode out and shouted； 〃Dare you try a night battle； Zhang Fei？〃
Zhang Fei's excitement rose higher。 He hastily changed horses with his brother and rode forth。
〃If I do not capture you； I will not go back to the Pass；〃 said Zhang Fei。
〃And if I do not overe you； I will not return to the camp；〃 said Ma Chao。
Both sides cheered。 They lit many thousand torches till it seemed as light as day； and the two great generals went to the front to fight。 At the twentieth bout Ma Chao turned his steed and tied。
〃Whither are you going？〃 called out Zhang Fei。
The fact was that Ma Chao had begun to see he could not win in direct and simple bat； so he thought to try a ruse。 By a false flight； as though he knew he had lost； he would inveigle Zhang Fei into pursuit。 He picked up a copper mace secretly and kept a careful watch on his opponent for the most favorable moment to strike。 But Ma Chao's flight only put Zhang Fei upon his guard； and when the moment came for the blow with the mace he dodged； so that the weapon flew harmlessly past his ear。 Then Zhang Fei turned his horse。 Whereupon Ma Chao began to pursue。 Then Zhang Fei pulled up； took his bow； fitted an arrow to the string； and let fly at Ma Chao。 But Ma Chao also dodged； and the arrow flew by。 Then each returned to his own side。
Then Liu Bei came out to the front of his battle line and called out； 〃Note well； O Ma Chao； that I； who have never treated people other than with kindness and justice and truth and sincerity； swear that I will not take advantage of your period of repose to pursue or attack。 Wherefore you may rest awhile in peace。〃
Ma Chao； hearing these words； withdrew guarding the rear； and the other generals one by one returned； while Liu Bei drew off his army toward the Pass。
Early next day Zhang Fei was once more going down out of the Pass to fight； when they told him that the Directing Instructor had arrived。 Liu Bei went to receive him； and Zhuge Liang at once began to speak of Ma Chao。
〃He is the most terrible leader of the age。 If he fights a desperate battle with Zhang Fei； loss of a general will ensue。 So I have e as quickly as I could。 I left Mianzhu in the safe hands of Zhao Yun and Huang Zhong。 I think I have a little ruse left that will bring Ma Chao over to our side。〃
〃Now I have seen the man。 I greatly admire him；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃If we could only win him over！〃
〃Then listen； my lord；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃Zhang Lu greatly desires the title of 'Prince of Hanzhong。' Among his most intimate subordinates； I know Yang Song open to bribery。 So we will send a person secretly to see him and give him gold and silver and so win his support。 This done； we will write to Zhang Lu and tell him that you are set upon taking Yizhou from its present ruler； which will give an opportunity to wipe out the enmity he has so long nourished against Liu Zhang； and that the reward of his remaining firmly on our side to the end will be that you will memorialize the Throne for the coveted title for him。 This will make him order Ma Chao to return； and； when that is done； I shall find a means of winning him over。〃
Liu Bei wrote a letter and sent it by the hand of Sun Qian together with gold and pearls。 Sun Qian went by secret roads to give these to Yang Song。 And when he found Yang Song and explained his mission in private； he was quickly led into the presence of Zhang Lu。
〃How can Liu Bei memorialize the Throne to confer on me the rank of a prince when he is but a simple General himself？〃 asked Zhang Lu； when he understood the offer and its conditions。
〃He is an Imperial Uncle；〃 said Yang Song。 〃With such a rank he could present such a memorial。〃
Zhang Lu assented。 He sent orders to Ma Chao to cease fighting； and Sun Qian remained as the guest of Yang Song till he should see whether Ma Chao would obey the mand。 Before long the messenger returned with a word from Ma Chao that he could not cease fighting till he had been successful。 A second and third messenger returned with a similar response。
〃This Ma Chao is untrustworthy；〃 said Yang Song。 〃He will not withdraw his soldiers because he contemplates rebellion。 That is the real reason。〃
Yang Song set stories afloat rumoring： 〃Ma Chao desires to make himself the ruler of the west and has said that he will no longer be content with subordinate rank。 And he means to avenge the death of his father。〃
The rumors came to the ear of Zhang Lu； and he asked Yang Song what should be done。
Yang Song proposed； saying； 〃Give Ma Chao a limit of a month in order to acplish his task； provided he consents to three conditions。 And if he does not agree； he will have to be put to death。 The three conditions are the capture of West River Land； the head of Liu Zhang； and the repulse of the Jingzhou troops。 If he fails in anyone of these； just bring his head。 Meanwhile； Zhang Wei should be sent as guard at one of the strategic points which will control Ma Chao's army in case of rebellion。〃
When Ma Chao heard the three demands made on him； he was greatly troubled； saying； 〃What can such a charge mean？〃
After taking counsel with Ma Dai； it seemed best to suspend fighting； and the army returned。
But Yang Song had not yet attained his end； so he said to Zhang Lu； 〃Ma Chao's return with an army will be a danger； and hence all the points of vantage on the homeward road must be guarded so that to stop him。〃
Thus Ma Chao was helpless and could see no way out of the difficulty。
Then Zhuge Liang said to his lord； 〃Now is my chance to use my little three inches of unworn tongue。 Ma Chao is in a fix。 I am going to his camp to persuade him to e over to your side。〃
〃But I do not like you to run such a risk； Instructor。 You are my most necessary support； and if anything happened to you； what should I do？〃
Zhuge Liang was set upon going and persisted in his request。 Liu Bei again and again refused。 At this juncture a messenger came with letters from Zhao Yun。 Liu Bei called him in and questioned him。 He was Li Hui of Jianning； the man who had formerly remonstrated so earnestly with Liu Zhang。
〃You once pleaded with your master to keep me out。 Why are you here now？〃
〃Because the prudent bird chooses its perch； and the wise person his master。 I did attempt to dissuade Liu Zhang of Yizhou from a course which I felt to be disastrous； and thereby fulfilled my duty as his servant。 He rejected my counsel； and I knew he would fail。 Your liberality； O General； has won over all the region； and success must be yours。 I wish to serve under your banner。〃
〃Your services will surely be of great advantage to me； Sir；〃 said Liu Bei。
Then Li Hui began to talk of Ma Chao； 〃I knew him when we were in West Valley Land together。 He is now in great straits； and I may be able to talk him over。 What say you？〃
〃Just the man to go instead of me；〃 interjected Zhuge Liang。 〃But what arguments will you use？〃
Li Hui leaned over and whispered in his ear thus and thus。 What he said seemed to please Zhuge Liang mightily； and he was bidden to go forthwith。
Arrived at the camp； Li Hui sent in his name； at which Ma Chao remarked； 〃Yes； I know him………a glib and specious persuader。 I know what he has e for； too。〃
So Ma Chao placed a score of armed ruffians in hiding about his tent and told them to cut the visitor to pieces if the signal was given。
Then the guest was led in and came walking proudly。 His host remained seated stiff and upright。
Ma Chao spoke roughly； saying； 〃What are you e for？〃
〃I am here as persuader。〃
〃This sword here in the scabbard is newly ground。 You may try me by words； but if the words do not penetrate； I shall ask you to try the sword。〃
Li Hui smiled； saying； 〃O General； evil is not far off。 However； I am thinking the newly ground sword will not be tried on my head。 You will want to try it on your own！〃
〃What evil were you talking about？〃
＇e＇ Xi Shi was a moner and a famous beauty who helped King Gou Jian of Yue defeat the powerful kingdom of Wu in the Spring and Autumn period。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Lady Wuyan of Qi was also a famous moner who did not possess physical attractiveness。 Yet her insights were so loving that King Xuan of Qi fell in love with her and made her queen。 。。。。。
〃The worst vilification could not hide the beauty of Lady Xi Shi* of Yue； nor could the most fulsome praise gloze over the ugliness of Lady Wuyan* of Qi。 The sun rises to the meridian and then declines； the moon waxes to the full and then wanes。 All things obey the one law。 Now； General； you are at enmity with Cao Cao for your father's death； and in West Valley Land you carry a stubborn； grinding hate for your family's death。 You can neither rescue Liu Zhang by repulsing the army from Jingzhou； nor can you settle Yang Song by getting an interview with Zhang Lu。 The whole world now holds no place for a person without a lord； and if you experience further defeats； like that one on River Wei； or the loss of Jicheng； will you not be too shamed to look any human in the face？〃
Ma Chao bowed his head； saying； 〃You speak well； Sir。 But I am helpless。〃
〃Now that you listen to me； I would ask why those fearsome ruffians are in hiding by your tent？〃 continued Li Hui。
Ma Chao； suddenly stricken with shame； ordered them to retire。 Li Hui continued his speech。
〃Liu Bei； the Imperial Uncle； is considerate to his subordinates； and I am certain he will succeed； and so I have forsaken