〃They flatter you to your face； but what is in their hearts？ You ought to be most carefully on your guard。〃
〃Hold your tongue！〃 was the angry reply。 〃You are simply slandering them without the slightest excuse。 You want to harm good people。〃
〃No ears for loyal words；〃 said Chen Gong； as he went away sad at heart； 〃and we shall suffer。〃
He thought seriously of abandoning Lu Bu； but that would be too painful a wrench。 Beside he feared people would laugh at him。
So the days passed sorrowfully for him。 One day； with a few horsemen； he rode out to the country near Xiaopei to hunt。 On the high road he saw a messenger galloping along in hot haste and began to wonder what it might mean。 He left the hunt； rode across country； and intercepted the rider。
〃Where are you from？ Who sent you？〃 asked Chen Gong。
The messenger made no reply for he knew to what party his captors belonged。 But they searched him and found a letter； the secret reply to Cao Cao's letter from Liu Bei。 The messenger and the letter were both taken straight to Lu Bu。
Lu Bu questioned the man； who said； 〃The Prime Minister sent me to bear a letter to Imperial Protector Liu Bei。 I was now taking back the reply。 I know nothing more； and I am ignorant of the contents of the letters。〃
So Lu Bu tore it open and read：
〃I have received your mands concerning the destruction of Lu Bu； and dare I for a moment venture to disregard them？ But my force is weak and I must act with extreme circumspection。 If you move your main body； then I will hasten forward； and in the meantime my army shall be got ready and weapons prepared。 I await your mand。〃
Lu Bu was really alarmed。
〃The wretches！〃 cried he。 〃To dare to act thus！〃
The unhappy messenger was put to death and countermoves planned。 Chen Gong and Zang Ba went to enlist the help of the Taishan Mountains bandits………Sun Guan； Wu Dun； Yin Li； and Chang Xi………so that they would take Yanzhou in the East of Huashang Mountains。 Gao Shun and Zhang Liao went to attack Liu Bei in Xiaopei。 Song Xian and Wei Xu went west to attack Runan and Yingchuan。 And Lu Bu took mand of a large body of troops ready to afford help wherever needed。
The departure of the army under Gao Shun against Xiaopei was reported to Liu Bei； who assembled his officers at a council。
Sun Qian advised sending a message to the capital to inform Cao Cao of their danger。 In response to the chief's call； Jian Yong； a fellow townsman of Liu Bei； offered to take the message。 Up to that moment Jian Yong had served as a secretary。 So a letter was written； and Jian Yong set out at once on his journey。
Then preparations were made for defense： Liu Bei manding at the south gate； Sun Qian at the north gate； Guan Yu at the west gate； and Zhang Fei at the east gate。 Mi Zhu and his brother Mi Fang manded the family guard in the center。
The two Mis were put in mand of the house guard because they were Liu Bei's brothers…in…law； Liu Bei had taken a sister of Mi Zhu as a second wife。 Hence they were suitable men to guard the family。
In due course Gao Shun came to the south gate。 Liu Bei ascended the tower and said； 〃I have no quarrel with your master； why do you e here with an army？〃
〃You have plotted with Cao Cao to injure my master as we know now： Why should I not bind you？〃
So saying Gao Shun gave the signal to attack。 But Liu Bei did not go out to repulse Gao Shun； he only kept the gate fast closed。
Soon after； Zhang Liao led an attack on the west gate； then kept by Guan Yu； who addressed Zhang Liao from the wall。
〃You are too good a man to waste yourself on rebels；〃 said Guan Yu。
Zhang Liao hung his head and made no reply。 Guan Yu knew that Zhang Liao had a sound heart and high principles and said no more； as he was unwilling to wound Zhang Liao。 Nor did he go out to attack。
Zhang Liao then drew off and proceeded to the east gate； and Zhang Fei went out to give battle。 Soon it was told Guan Yu； who came over quickly。 He saw Zhang Fei going out； but Zhang Liao was already withdrawing。 Zhang Fei wished to pursue； but his brother held him back。
〃He is afraid and so has gone away。 It would be best to pursue；〃 said Zhang Fei。
〃No；〃 said Guan Yu。 〃As a warrior he is not inferior to either of us； but I have spoken a few straight words； and he has sunk deep。 He is repentant and that is why he will not meet us。〃
So Zhang Fei understood； and the gates were shut and orders given for careful defense。 When Jian Yong； Liu Bei's messenger； reached the capital； he saw Cao Cao and told him what had happened。 The advisers were called to discuss a plan。
Cao Cao said； 〃I wish to attack Lu Bu。 I fear not Yuan Shao； but Liu Biao and Zhang Xiu may attack me in the rear。〃
Xun You； the nephew of Xun Yu； replied； 〃Both these latter have been too recently defeated to do anything so rash。 But Lu Bu is a bold fighting man； and if he joined forces with Yuan Shu and they set themselves to conquer River Huai and River Si； the problem would he difficult。〃
Then spoke Guo Jia； 〃Let us take advantage of the moment before they have fully made up their mind。 Smite before they are fully prepared。〃
And Cao Cao did so。 An army of fifty thousand were sent in advance with four manders………Xiahou Dun； Xiahou Yuan； Lu Qian； and Li Dian。 Cao Cao manded the Center Army； which marched by divisions； and Jian Yong brought up the rear。
Soon the scouts informed Gao Shun。 He sent flying messengers to Lu Bu； who detached two hundred horse with Hou Cheng； Cao Xing； and He Meng to assist him。 Gao Shun posted this reinforcement and his army about ten miles from Xiaopei to meet Cao Cao's army。 Lu Bu and the main army also followed close。
When Liu Bei saw the enemy retiring from the city； he knew Cao Cao's army was close at hand。 So； making arrangements for guarding the city within； he and his two brothers marched their troops out of the city and made a camp； that they might be ready to assist。
Now the division of Cao Cao's army under Xiahou Dun； having marched out in advance； first came into touch with Gao Shun。 Xiahou Dun at once rode out with spear set and offered a challenge。 It was accepted and the two leaders fought half a hundred bouts。 Then Gao Shun began to weaken and had to turn back。 He rode round to the rear of his array。 Xiahou Dun was not the man to quail； so he followed right into the enemy's country。 Then Cao Xing； one of Lu Bu's generals； secretly strung his bow； fitted an arrow and； when Xiahou Dun had e quite near； shot at him。 The arrow hit Xiahou Dun full in the left eye。 He shrieked； and putting up his head； pulled out the arrow and with it the eye。
〃Essence of my father； blood of my mother； I cannot throw this away！〃 cried Xiahou Dun； and he put the eye into his mouth and swallowed it。
Then resuming his firm grip of his spear； Xiahou Dun went after this new enemy。 There was no escape for Cao Xing。 He was overtaken and fell with a fatal spear wound full in the face。 Both sides were stricken dumb with amazement。
Having thus slain the man who had wounded him； Xiahou Dun rode back toward his own side。 Gao Shun went in pursuit and； waving on his army； attacked so vigorously that he won the day。 Xiahou Yuan defended for his elder brother as they fled。 Lu Qian and Li Dian led various divisions back to Jibei and made a camp。
Gao Shun； having scored this victory； returned to attack Liu Bei； and as Lu Bu opportunely arrived with Zhang Liao； these three arranged their forces so that each attacked one of the brothers。
Dauntless was Xiahou Dun； that warrior bold；
His courage had been proved of old；
But smitten sore one hapless day；
He might not in the battle stay。
The fate of Liu Bei will be told in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 19 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Cao Cao Fights In Xiapi；
Lu Bu Perishes At The White Gate Tower。
As was stated before； Gao Shun and Zhang Liao together went to smite Guan Yu； while Lu Bu attacked Zhang Fei。 Both brothers went out to give battle； while Liu Bei force was held in reserve。 But then Lu Bu suddenly attacked both Guan Yu and Zhang Fei from the rear； and the brothers were forced to flee。 Liu Bei with a few score of horsemen rushed back to Xiaopei。 As he approached the gate with Lu Bu pressing him close； he shouted to the soldiers on the wall to lower the drawbridge。 Lu Bu was so close behind that the archers on the wall feared to shoot lest they should wound their lord； and so Lu Bu got into the gate。 The gate guards could not force him back so they scattered in all directions。 Lu Bu led his force into the city。
Liu Bei saw the position was too desperate for him to reach his residence； and he must abandon all his family。 So he hastened through the city and left by the west gate out at which he and his scanty following fled for very life。
When Lu Bu reached the residence； he was met by Mi Zhu who said； 〃The hero does not destroy a person's family。 Your rival for the empire is Cao Cao； and my master； always mindful of the good turn you did him at the Archery Feast； would not be ungrateful。 But he could not help going to Cao Cao； and I think you will pity him。〃
Lu Bu replied； 〃We two are old friends。 How could I bear to harm his wives and children？〃
Whereupon he sent the family to Xuzhou with Mi Zhu to take care of them。 Next Lu Bu led his army into Huashang Mountains to Yanzhou； leaving Gao Shun and Zhang Liao to guard Xiaopei。
During these troubles Sun Qian had also fled out of the city。 Guan Yu and Zhang Fei； each with a handful of soldiers； had got away to the hills。 As Liu Bei with his few horsemen was making the best of their way from the scene of his defeat； he heard someone ing up behind him。 When he got closer the person proved to be Sun Qian。
〃Alas！ I know not the fate of my brothers； whether they be alive or dead； and my wife and children are lost to me！ What can I do？〃 said Liu Bei。
Sun Qian replied； 〃I see nothing better than getting away to Cao Cao； whence we may be able to plan our future moves。〃
Liu Bei had no better plan to propose； and the two men directed their way to Xuchang； choosing by…roads rather than highways。 When their small supplies ran out； they entered a village to beg。 But when the people of any place heard that Liu Bei of Yuzhou was the man who needed help； they vied with each oth