Zhang Fei was overwhelmed by remorse。 He drew his sword to kill himself。
He raised the cup in pledge；
None might say nay；
Remorseful； drew the sword；
Himself to slay。
Zhang Fei's fate will be told in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 15 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 15
Chapter 15
Taishi Ci Fights With The Little Prince；
Sun Ce Cuts Short The White Tiger King。
In the last chapter it was recorded that Zhang Fei was about to end his life with his own weapon in Xuyi。
But Liu Bei rushed forward and caught Zhang Fei in his arms； snatched away the sword； and threw it on the earth； saying； 〃Brothers are as hands and feet； wives and children are as clothing。 You may mend your torn dress； but who can reattach a lost limb？ We three； by the Oath of the Peach Garden； swore to seek the same death day。 The city is lost； it is true； and my wives and little ones； but I could not bear that we should die ere our course be run。 Beside； Xuzhou was not really ours； and Lu Bu will not harm my family but will rather seek to preserve them。 You made a mistake； worthy brother； but is it one deserving of death？〃
And Liu Bei wept。 His brothers were much affected and their tears fell in sympathy。
As soon as the news of Lu Bu's successful seizure of his protector's region reached Yuan Shu； Yuan Shu sent promises of valuable presents to Lu Bu to induce him to join in a further attack on Liu Bei。 The presents are said to have been fifty thousand carts of grain； five hundred horses； ten thousand ounces of gold and silver； and a thousand rolls of colored silk。
Lu Bu swallowed the bait and ordered Gao Shun to lead forth fifty thousand troops。 But Liu Bei heard of the threatened attack； so he made inclement weather an excuse to moved his few soldiers out of Xuyi for Guangling； before the attacking force came up。
However； Gao Shun demanded the promised reward through Ji Ling； who put Gao Shun off； saying； 〃My lord has gone away。 I will settle this as soon as I can see him and get his decision。〃
With this answer Gao Shun returned to Lu Bu； who could not decide what to do。
Then came a letter from Yuan Shu：
〃Although Gao Shun had gone to attack Liu Bei； yet Liu Bei had not been destroyed； and no reward could be given till he was actually taken。〃
Lu Bu railed at what he called the breach of faith and was inclined to attack Yuan Shu himself。
However； his adviser； Chen Gong； opposed this course； saying； 〃You should not。 Yuan Shu is in possession of Shouchun and has a large army； well supplied。 You are no match for him。 Rather ask Liu Bei to take up his quarters at Xiaopei as one of your wings and； when the time es； let him lead the attack； both south and north。 Then Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao will fall before you； and you will be very powerful。〃
Finding this advice good； Lu Bu sent letters to Liu Bei asking him to return。
After the flight of Liu Bei； Yuan Shu attacked Guangling and reduced Liu Bei's force by half。 When the messenger from Lu Bu came； Liu Bei read the letter。 He was quite content with the offer； but his brothers were not inclined to trust Lu Bu。
〃Such a dishonorable man must have a motive；〃 said Guan Yu and Zhang Fei。
〃Since he treats me kindly； I cannot but trust him；〃 replied Liu Bei。
So Liu Bei went back to Xuzhou。 Lu Bu； fearing that Liu Bei might doubt his sincerity； restored Liu Bei's family； and when Lady Gan and Lady Mi saw their lord； they told him that they had been kindly treated and guarded by soldiers against any intrusion； and provisions had never been wanting。
〃I knew he would not harm my family；〃 said Liu Bei to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei。
However； Zhang Fei was not pleased and would not acpany his brothers into the city when they went to express their thanks。 He went to escort the two ladies to Xiaopei。
At the interview Lu Bu said； 〃I did not wish to take the city； but your brother behaved very badly； drinking and flogging the soldiers； and I came to guard it lest some evil should befall。〃
〃But I had long wished to yield it to you；〃 said Liu Bei。
Thereupon Lu Bu wished to retire in favor of Liu Bei who； however； would not hear of it。 Liu Bei returned and took up his quarters in Xiaopei； but his two brothers would not take the situation kindly and were very discontented。
Said Liu Bei； 〃One must bow to one's lot。 It is the will of Heaven； and one cannot struggle against fate。〃
Lu Bu sent presents of food and stuffs； and peace reigned between the two houses。
In Shouchun； Yuan Shu prepared a great banquet for his soldiers when it was announced that Sun Ce had subdued Lu Gang； the Governor of Lujiang。 Yuan Shu summoned the victor； who made obeisance at the foot of the hall of audience。 Yuan Shu； sitting in state； asked for details of the campaign and then invited Sun Ce to the banquet。
After the unhappy death of his father Sun Jian； Sun Ce had returned to the lower region of the Great River； where he had devoted himself to peaceful ends； inviting to his side good people and able scholars。 Afterwards； when a quarrel broke out between his mother's brother； Governor Wu Jing of Dangyang； and the late Imperial Protector of Xuzhou； Tao Qian； Sun Ce removed his mother with all the family to Que； he himself taking service under Yuan Shu； who admired and loved him greatly。
〃If I had a son like Sun Ce；〃 said Yuan Shu； 〃I should die without regret。〃
Yuan Shu appointed Sun Ce mander and sent him on various expeditions； all of which were successful。 After this banquet to celebrate the victory over Lu Gang； Sun Ce returned to his camp very bitter over the arrogant and patronizing airs of his patron。 Instead of retiring to his tent； Sun Ce walked up and down by the light of the moon。
〃Here am I； a mere nobody； and yet my father was such a hero！〃
And he cried out and wept in spite of himself。
Then suddenly appeared one who said； laughing loudly； 〃What is this； Sun Ce？ While your noble father enjoyed the light of the sun； he made free use of me。 If his son has any difficulty to resolve； why does he not refer it to me also instead of weeping here alone？〃
Looking at the speaker Sun Ce saw it was Zhu Zhi； a native of Dangyang； who had been in Sun Jian's service。 Sun Ce then ceased weeping； and they two sat down。
〃I was weeping from regret at being unable to continue my father's work；〃 said Sun Ce。
〃Why stay here bound to the service of a master？ The Governor of Dangyang is in distress。 Why not get mand of an army under the pretense of an expedition to relieve Wu Jing？ Escape the shadow of Yuan Shu and take control of Dangyang； then you can acplish great things。〃
While these two were talking； another man suddenly entered； saying； 〃I know what you two are planning； Noble Sirs。 Under my hand is a band of one hundred bold fellows ready to help Sun Ce in whatever he wishes to do。〃
The speaker was one of Yuan Shu's advisers named Lu Fan； from Runan。 They three then sat and discussed schemes。
〃The one fear is that Yuan Shu will refuse to give you the troops；〃 said Lu Fan。
〃I still have the Imperial Hereditary Seal that my father left me： That should be good security。〃
〃Yuan Shu earnestly desires that jewel；〃 said Zhu Zhi。 〃He will certainly lend you troops on that pledge。〃
The three talked over their plans； gradually settling the details； and not many days after Sun Ce obtained an interview with his patron。
Assuming the appearance of deep grief Sun Ce said； 〃I have been unable to avenge my father。 Now the Imperial Protector of Yangzhou； Liu Yao； is opposing my mother's brother； and my mother and her family are in danger in Que。 Wherefore I would borrow a few thousands of fighting men to rescue them。 As perhaps； Illustrious Sir； you may lack confidence in me； I am willing to deposit the Imperial Hereditary Seal； left me by my late father； as a pledge。〃
〃Let me see it if you have it；〃 said Yuan Shu。 〃I do not want the jewel really； but you may as well leave it with me。 I will lend you three thousand troops and five hundred horses。 Return as soon as peace can be made。 As your rank is hardly sufficient for such powers； I will memorialize to obtain for you higher rank with the title of General Who Exterminates Brigands； and you can soon start。〃
Sun Ce thanked his patron most humbly and soon put the army in motion； taking with him his two new advisers and his father's generals………Zhu Zhi； Lu Fan； Cheng Pu； Huang Gai； Han Dang； and others。
When Sun Ce reached Linyang； he saw a body of troops in front of him； at their head a dashing leader of handsome and refined mien。 As soon as this mander saw Sun Ce； he dismounted and made obeisance。 It was Zhou Yu from Shucheng。
When Sun Jian was opposing the tyrant Dong Zhuo； he moved his family to Shucheng where the Zhou family had lived。 And as Zhou Yu and Sun Ce were of the same age all but two months； they became exceedingly good friends and sworn brothers； Sun Ce being the elder in virtue of his two months' seniority。 Zhou Yu was on his way to visit Sun Ce's uncle； Governor Wu Jing of Dangyang； when the happy meeting took place。
Naturally Sun Ce confided his projects and inmost ideas to his friend； who at once said； 〃I shall put my whole life and energy to serve you to reach that grand goal。〃
〃Now that you have e； the design is as good as acplished；〃 said Sun Ce。
Zhou Yu was introduced to Zhu Zhi and Lu Fan。
Zhou Yu said； 〃Do you know of the two Zhangs of Guangling？ They would be most useful people in working out your schemes。〃
〃Who are they； the two Zhangs？〃 said Sun Ce。
〃They are men of transcendent genius who are living near here for the sake of tranquillity in these turbulent times。 Their names are Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong。 Why not invite them to help you； brother？〃
Sun Ce lost no time in sending letters and gifts； but they both declined。 Then he visited them in person； was greatly pleased with their speech and by dint of large gifts and much persuasion； got them to promise to join him。 Sun Ce appointed them both Counselors and Generals。
The plan of the attack upon Yangzhou Region was the next matter for discussion。 The Imperial Protector； Liu Yao； was of Donglai； a scion of the imperial family and brother of the Imperial Protector of Yanzhou； Liu Dai。 Liu Yao had long ruled in Yangzhou and headquartered in Shouchun。 But Yuan Shu had forced him to fle