Liu Bei said； 〃Imperial Protector Tao Qian is a kindly man of high character； and it is a pity that he should suffer this wrong for no fault of his own。〃
〃You are a scion of the imperial family；〃 said Governor Kong Rong； 〃and this Cao Cao is injuring the people； a strong man abusing his strength。 Why not go with me to rescue the sufferers？〃
〃I dare not refuse； but my force is weak and I must act cautiously；〃 said Liu Bei。
〃Though my desire to help arises from an old friendship； yet it is a righteous act as well。 I do not think your heart is not inclined toward the right；〃 said Kong Rong。
Liu Bei said； 〃This being so； you go first and give me time to see Gongsun Zan from whom I may borrow more troops and horses。 I will e anon。〃
〃You surely will not break your promise？〃 said the Governor。
〃What manner of man think you that I am？〃 said Liu Bei。 〃The wise one said； 'Death is mon to all； the person without truth cannot maintain the self。' Whether I get the troops or not； certainly I shall myself e。〃
So the plan was agreed to。 Mi Zhu set out to return forthwith while Kong Rong prepared for his expedition。
Taishi Ci took his leave； saying； 〃My mother bade me e to your aid； and now happily you are safe。 Letters have e from my fellow townsman； Liu Yao； Imperial Protector of Yangzhou； calling me thither and I must go。 I will see you again。〃
Kong Rong pressed rewards upon Taishi Ci； but he would accept nothing and departed。 When his mother saw him； she was pleased at his success saying she rejoiced that he had been able to prove his gratitude； and after this he departed for Yangzhou。
Liu Bei went away to his friend Gongsun Zan and laid before Gongsun Zan his design to help Xuzhou。
〃Cao Cao and you are not enemies。 Why do you spend yourself for the sake of another？〃 said Gongsun Zan。
〃I have promised；〃 Liu Bei replied； 〃and dare not break faith。〃
〃I will lend you two thousand horse and foot；〃 said Gongsun Zan。
〃Also I wish to have the services of Zhao Yun；〃 said Liu Bei。
Gongsun Zan agreed to this also。 They marched away； Liu Bei's own troops being in the front； and Zhao Yun； with the borrowed troops； being in rear。
In due course Mi Zhu returned saying that Kong Rong had also obtained the services of Liu Bei。 The other messenger； Chen Deng； came back and reported that Tien Kai would also bring help。 Then was Tao Qian's heart set at ease。
But both the leaders； though they had promised aid； greatly dreaded their antagonist and camped among the hills at a great distance； fearful of ing too close to Cao Cao's quarters。 Cao Cao knew of their ing and divided his army into parts to meet them； so postponing the attack on the city itself。
Presently Liu Bei came up and went to see Kong Rong； who said； 〃The enemy is very powerful； and Cao Cao handles his army skillfully。 We must be cautious。 Let us make most careful observations before we strike a blow。〃
〃What I fear is famine in the city；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃They cannot hold out very long。 I will put my troops with yours under your mand； while I with Zhang Fei make a dash through to see Tao Qian and consult with him。〃
Kong Rong approved of this； so he and Tien Kai took up positions on the ox…horn formation； with Guan Yu and Zhao Yun on either side to support them。
When Liu Bei and Zhang Fei leading one thousand troops made their dash to get through Cao Cao's army； they got as far as the flank of his camp when there arose a great beating of drums； and horse and foot rolled out like billows on the ocean。 The leader was Yu Jin。
Yu Jin checked his steed and called out； 〃You mad men from somewhere； where are you going？〃
Zhang Fei heard Yu Jin but deigned no reply。 He only rode straight to attack the speaker。 After they had fought a few bouts； Liu Bei waved his double swords as signal for his troops to e on； and they drove Yu Jin before them。 Zhang Fei led the pursuit and in this way they reached the city wall。
From the city wall； the besieged saw a huge banner embroidered in white Liu Bei of Pingyuan ； and the Imperial Protector bade them open the gate for the rescuers to enter。 Liu Bei was made very wele； conducted to the residency； and a banquet prepared in his honor。 The soldiers also were feasted。
Tao Qian was delighted with Liu Bei； admiring his high…spirited appearance and clear speech。 Tao Qian bade Mi Zhu offer Liu Bei the seal and insignia of the protectorship office。 But Liu Bei shrank back startled。
〃What does this mean？〃 said Liu Bei。
Tao Qian said； 〃There is trouble on every side； and the kingly rule is no longer maintained。 You； Sir； are a member of the family and eminently fitted to support them and their prerogatives。 I am verging on senility； and I wish to retire in your favor。 I pray you not to decline； and I will report my action to the court。〃
Liu Bei started up from his seat and bowed before his host； saying； 〃Scion of the family I may be； but my merit is small and my virtue meager。 I doubt my fitness even for my present post； and only a feeling of doing right sent me to your assistance。 To hear such speech makes me doubt。 Surely you think I came with greed in my heart。 May God help me no more if I cherished such a thought。〃
〃It is a poor old man's real sentiment；〃 said Tao Qian。
Time after time Tao Qian renewed his offer to entrust the region of Xuzhou to Liu Bei； but Liu Bei kept refusing。
In the midst of this came Mi Zhu； saying； 〃The enemies had reached the wall； and something must be done to drive them off。 The present matter could await a more tranquil time。〃
Said Liu Bei； 〃I ought to write to Cao Cao to press him to raise the siege。 If he refuses； we will attack forthwith。〃
Orders were sent to the three camps outside to remain quiescent till the letter could reach Cao Cao。
It happened that Cao Cao was holding a council when a messenger with a war letter was announced。 The letter was brought in and handed to him and； when he had opened and looked at it； he found it was from Liu Bei。
This is the letter； very nearly：
〃Since meeting you outside the pass； fate has assigned us to different quarters of the world； and I have not been able to pay my respects to you。 Touching the death of your noble father； it was owing to the vicious nature of Zhang Kai and due to no fault of Tao Qian。 Now while the remnant of the Yellow Scarves is disturbing the lands； and Dong Zhuo's partisans have the upper hand in the capital； I wish that you； Illustrious Sir； would regard the critical position of the court rather than your personal grievances； and so divert your forces from the attack on Xuzhou to the rescue of the state。 Such would be for the happiness of that city and the whole empire。〃
Cao Cao gave vent to a torrent of abuse： 〃Who is this Liu Bei that he dares write and exhort me？ Beside； he means to be satirical。〃
Cao Cao issued orders to put the bearer of the letter to death and to press on the siege。
But Guo Jia remonstrated； saying； 〃Liu Bei has e from afar to help Tao Qian； and he is trying the effect of politeness before resorting to arms。 I pray you； my lord； reply with fair words that his heart may be lulled with a feeling of safety。 Then attack with vigor and the city will fall。〃
Cao Cao found this advice good； so he spared the messenger； telling him to wait to carry back his reply。 While this was going on； a horseman came with news of misfortune： 〃Lu Bu has invaded Yanzhou； now holding Puyang。 The three counties left………Juancheng； Fanxia； and Dongjun………are under severe attacks。〃
＇e＇ Zhang Yang was among the eighteen lords who rallied against Dong Zhou at the Tiger Trap Pass。
When Li Jue and Guo Si； the two partisans of Dong Zhuo； succeeded in their attack on the capital； Lu Bu had fled to Yuan Shu。 However； Yuan Shu looked askance at him for his instability and refused to receive him。 Then Lu Bu went to try Yuan Shao； who was a brother of Yuan Shu。 Yuan Shao accepted the warrior and made use of him in an attack upon Zhang Yan in Changshan。 But his success filled him with pride； and his arrogant demeanor so annoyed the other manders that Yuan Shao was on the point of putting him to death。 To escape this Lu Bu had gone away to Zhang Yang*； Governor of Shangdang； who accepted his services。
About this time Pang Shu； who had been hiding and protecting Lu Bu's family in Changan since his disappearance； restored them to him。 This deed angered Li Jue and Guo Si so that they put Pang Shu to death and wrote to Lu Bu's protector to serve him the same。 To escape this Lu Bu once again had to flee and this time joined himself to Zhang Miao； the Governor of Chenliu。
Lu Bu arrived just as Zhang Miao's brother； Zhang Chao； was introducing Chen Gong。
Chen Gong said to Zhang Miao； 〃The rupture of the empire has begun； and warriors are seizing what they can。 It is strange that you； with all the advantages of population and provisions you enjoy； do not strike for independence。 Cao Cao has gone on an expedition against the east； leaving his own territory defenseless。 Lu Bu is one of the fighting people of the day。 If you and he together attacked and got Yanzhou； you could then proceed to the dominion。〃
Zhang Miao was pleased and resolved to try。 He ordered an attack； and soon Lu Bu was in possession of Yanzhou and its neighborhood； all but three small counties of Juancheng； Fanxia； and Dongjun； which were vigorously and desperately defended by Xun Yu and Cheng Yu in concert。 Cao Cao's cousin； Cao Ren； had fought many battles but was repeatedly defeated； and the messenger with the evil tidings had e from him asking prompt help。
Cao Cao was greatly disturbed by this and said； 〃If my own region be lost； I have no home to return to。 I must do something at once。〃
〃The best thing would be to bee friends with Liu Bei at any cost and return to Yanzhou；〃 said Guo Jia。
Then Cao Cao wrote to Liu Bei； gave the letter to the waiting messenger and broke camp。 The news that the enemy had left was very gratifying to Tao Qian； who then invited his various defenders into Xuzhou City and prepared banquets and feasts in token of his gratitude。
At one of these； when the feasting was over； he proceeded with his wish of retirement in favor of Liu Bei。
Placing Liu Bei in the seat of highest honor； Tao Qian bowed before him and then addressed the assembly； 〃I am old and feeble； and my two sons lack