Sun Quan agreed and thereupon promoted Lu Xun to the rank of General of the Right Army and Admiral of the Right Fleet； and sent him to defend the port。
〃I am very young；〃 said Lu Xun； 〃and feel unequal to such a post。〃
〃Lu Meng has proposed you； and you will not make any mistakes。 Pray do not decline；〃 said Sun Quan。
So the appointment was made； and Lu Xun set out at once。 When he had assumed charge of the cavalry； the infantry； and the marines； he set about drawing up a letter to Guan Yu； and he selected fine horses and beautiful silks and good wines and delicacies suitable for gifts to go with the letter。 He sent all by the hand of a trusty messenger to Fancheng。
The news of the change of mand reached Guan Yu when he lay ill from the effects of his wound and unable to conduct any military operations。 Close upon the news came the letter and the gifts from Lu Xun； and the bearer was called in to see the warrior。
〃Friend Sun Quan was not very prudent when he made a manding General out of a mere youth；〃 said Guan Yu； pointing to the messenger。
The messenger said； 〃General Lu Xun sends this letter and some presents； which he hopes you will accept。 He also sends his felicitations； and would rejoice if the two houses could bee friends。〃
Guan Yu read the letter； which was couched in most modest language； and then threw back his head and laughed aloud。 He bade the attendants receive the various gifts； and sent the bearer away。
The messenger forthwith returned to Lukou and reported to Lu Xun； 〃Guan Yu seemed very gratified； and he felt no anxiety and danger toward the South Land。〃
Spies were sent out to report on proceedings； and they returned to say that half the troops of Jingzhou had been sent to assist in the siege of Fancheng。 That city was to be seriously assaulted as soon as Guan Yu had recovered。
This news was promptly sent on to Sun Quan； who at once called in Lu Meng to decide upon the next move。
〃Now is the favorable moment to get possession of Jingzhou；〃 said Sun Quan。 〃I propose to send you and my brother； Sun Jiao； to lead the army。〃
This Sun Jiao was really only a cousin； as he was the second son of Sun Quan's uncle； Sun Jing。
But Lu Meng objected。 〃My lord； if you think to employ me； then employ me only； if Sun Jiao； then Sun Jiao only。 You cannot have forgotten that Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu were associate manders； and although the final decision lay with Zhou Yu； yet the other presumed upon his seniority and there was some unfriendliness between the two。 All ended well because Cheng Pu recognized the ability of his colleague and so supported him。 I know I am not so clever as Zhou Yu； but Sun Jiao's consanguinity will be a greater obstacle than mere length of service； and I fear he may not be wholly with me。〃
Sun Quan saw the force of the contention； and appointed Lu Meng to sole mand with Sun Jiao to help him in the missariat。 Lu Meng thanked his lord for his mission； soon got his thirty thousand marines together； and assembled eighty ships for the expedition。
Lu Meng dressed a number of sailors in the plain white costumes of ordinary merchants and put them on board to work his vessels。 He concealed his veterans in the partments。 He selected seven generals………Han Dang； Jiang Qin； Zhu Ran； Pan Zhang； Zhou Tai； Xu Sheng； and Ding Feng………to serve under him and settled the order of their successive movements。 The remainder of the forces was left with Sun Quan as supports and reserves。 Letters were also written to Cao Cao that he might cooperate by sending his army to attack Guan Yu in the rear； and to Lu Xun that he would act in concert。
Then the sailors in plain white dress navigated the ships to River Xunyang as quickly as possible； and then crossed to the north bank。
When the beacon…keepers came down to question them； the men of Wu said； 〃We are traders forced into the bank by contrary winds。〃
And they offered gifts to the beacon…keepers； who accepted them and let the ships e to an anchor close to the shore。
At about the second watch the soldiers came out of hiding in the holds of the transports； suddenly fell upon the beacon…keepers and made them prisoners； officers and soldiers。 Next the signal for a general landing was given； and all the soldiers from the eighty ships went ashore。 The guard stations were attacked； and all the troops captured and carried off to the ships； not one being allowed to escape。 Then the force of Wu hurried off to the city of Jingzhou； having so far carried out their plans that no one knew of their ing。
Nearing Jingzhou； Lu Meng spoke kindly to his captives； and gave them gifts and forted them in order to induce them to get the gates opened for him to enter the city。 He won them over to his side； and they promised to aid him。 They would show a flare as a signal that the gates were free。 So they went in advance and arrived at the gates about midnight。 They called the watch。 The wardens of the gate； recognizing their voices； opened for them。 Once within； they shouted and lit the flares。 Immediately the soldiers of Wu came in with a rush and were soon in possession。
The first order issued by Lu Meng was to spare the people。 Instant death should be the punishment for any murder or robbery。 The various officials in the city were retained in their offices and continued their functions。 Special guards were set over Guan Yu's family dwelling； and none dared break open any other house。 A messenger was sent with tidings to Sun Quan。
One very wet day Lu Meng； with a few horsemen as escort； was going round the walls and visiting the gates。 One of the soldiers took from a passer…by a broad…brimmed hat and put it on over his helmet to keep his armor dry。 Lu Meng saw it； and the offender was seized。 He was a fellow…villager of Lu Meng； but that did not save him。
〃You are an old acquaintance； but you knew my order。 Why did you disobey it？〃
〃I thought the rain would spoil my uniform； and I took the hat to protect it。 I did not take it for my own advantage； but to protect state property。 Spare me； O General； for the sake of our mon dwelling…place。〃
〃I know you were protecting your armor； but still it was disobedience to the order against taking anything from the people。〃
The soldier was beheaded； and his head exposed as a warning。 But when all was over； Lu Meng had the body buried decently and wept at the grave for the loss of his friend。 Never after this was there the least laxity of discipline。
When Sun Quan visited the city； Lu Meng met him at the boundary and led him to the official residence； where Sun Quan issued rewards and mendations。 This done； Sun Quan ordered Pan Jun to take charge of the new possession。 Yu Jin； who was in prison； was freed and sent back to Cao Cao。 When the people had been forted and the soldiers rewarded； there was a great banquet in honor of the success of the expedition。
Then said Sun Quan to Lu Meng； 〃We have got the city of Jingzhou； but now Fu Shiren is holding Gongan and Mi Fang Nanjun。 How can we get these two territories？〃
Suddenly Yu Fan started up and offered his services。
〃You will need neither bows nor arrows；〃 said Yu Fan； 〃unless my little tongue is worn out。 I can persuade Fu Shiren to surrender。〃
〃Friend Yu Fan； how will you do it？〃 asked Sun Quan。
〃Fu Shiren and I are very old friends； ever since we were boys。 If I explain the matter to him； I am sure he will e over to this side。〃
So Yu Fan； with an escort； left quickly for Gongan； where his friend was in mand。
Now when Fu Shiren heard of the capture of Jingzhou； he closed his gates。 Yu Fan arrived； but was refused entrance。 So Yu Fan wrote a letter； attached it to an arrow； and shot it over the city wall。 A soldier picked it up and took it to his mander； who found therein much persuasion to surrender。
Having read all this； he thought within himself； 〃I think I should do well in surrender； for at his departure Guan Yu was very bitter against me。〃
Without further ado； he bade the wardens open the gate； and his friend came in。 After their greetings they talked of old times； and Yu Fan praised Sun Quan's magnanimity and liberality and greatness generally。 So finally Fu Shiren decided to exchange masters and went away； taking with him his seal of office。 He was presented to Sun Quan； who reappointed him to the mand of Gongan under its new lord。
Lu Meng thought the appointment imprudent and said to Sun Quan； 〃Guan Yu is yet unconquered。 We should not put Fu Shiren in Gongan。 Instead； send him to Nanjun to induce his former colleague and fellow Mi Fang to join him in desertion to the enemy。〃
Lu Meng's advice was followed； and Fu Shiren was recalled。
〃Go to Nanjun and win over Mi Fang； and I will reward you richly；〃 said Sun Quan。
Fu Shiren accepted the mission and duly left for Nanjun。
Jingzhou's defenders failed when tried；
So Wang Fu's words were justified。
For the events of the journey see the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 76 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 76
Chapter 76
Xu Huang Fights At The River Mian；
Guan Yu Retreats To Maicheng。
The fall of Jingzhou put Mi Fang in a quandary。 Before he could decide upon any course； his old colleague Fu Shiren came to see him。 Fu Shiren was admitted； and when asked why he had e； he blurted out his business without beating about the bush。
〃I am faithful enough； but I got into difficulties and danger and could not hold on； so I have surrendered to Wu。 And I advise you to do the same。〃
〃You and I have both fed on the bounty of the Prince of Hanzhong； and I cannot understand how you can turn against him。〃
〃Guan Yu went away hating both of us intensely。 Even if he es back victorious； I do not think he will forgive us。 Just think it over。〃
〃My brother and I have followed the Prince these many years； and I do not like leaving him like this。〃
Mi Fang hesitated。
Before he could make up his mind； there came a messenger； saying； 〃The army in Fancheng is short of grain； and I was sent to demand white rice for the soldiers。 Nanjun and Gongan are to send ten thousand carts at once。 Delay will be most severely punished。〃
This sudden demand was a shock to Mi Fang。
〃Where am I to get the rice？〃 said he despairingly to his friend and tempter。 〃Jingzhou is now in the hands of Wu。〃
〃Do not dilly…dally；〃 said Fu Shiren。