fate and returning home。 What do you think？〃
Among them Xun You fought against the idea； saying； 〃You must not act like this。 Lu Bu has lost much； and his spirit is broken。 The spirit of the leader expresses that of his army； and when the leader fails； his soldiers do not fight。 Chen Gong is clever； but nothing is done。 Lu Bu broken； Chen Gong without decision； it only needs a sharp attack； and we shall succeed。〃
〃I have a plan to propose；〃 said Guo Jia； 〃a plan to overe the city at once。 It is better than two hundred thousand troops。〃
〃I suppose you mean drowning the city by River Si and River Yi；〃 said Xun Yu。
〃That is it；〃 said Guo Jia； smiling。
Cao Cao accepted the suggestion with joy and set his troops to cut the banks of River Yi and River Si； and moved his army to the high ground whence they watched the drowning out of Xiapi。 Only the east gate remained clear of water。
The besieged soldiers hastened to their leader。
Lu Bu said； 〃Why should I fear？ My good horse can go as well through the water as over the land。〃
And he again returned to the wine cup for consolation； drinking deeply with his wife and concubine。
The continual drinking bouts told at last； and Lu Bu began to look dissipated。 Seeing himself in a mirror one day； he was startled at the change and said to himself； 〃I am injuring myself with wine。 No more from this day forward！〃
He then issued an order that no one should drink wine under penalty of death。
Now one of his generals； Hou Cheng； lost fifteen horses； stolen by one of his subordinates； Hou Cao； who intended to resell them to Liu Bei。 Hou Cheng found out where the horses were； went out after them； and recovered them after killing Hou Cao。 And Hou Cheng's colleagues congratulated him on his success。 To celebrate the occasion； Hou Cheng brewed a few barrels of wine to be drunk at the feast。
But thinking his chief might find him in fault； Hou Cheng sent the bottles of wine to Lu Bu's palace with a petition explaining； 〃By your virtue of warlike renown； I have recovered my horses； and as my rades e with their congratulations； I brew some bottles of wine； first to offer Your Lordship and second to ask your permission to have a little wine at the feast。〃
Lu Bu took it very angrily； saying； 〃When I have forbidden all wine； you brew some and begin to give feasts： You are simply defying me！〃
Whereupon he ordered the officer to instant execution。 However； Song Xian； Wei Xu； and other officers came in and interceded； and after a time Lu Bu softened。
〃You ought to lose your head for this disobedience。 But for the sake of your colleagues； the punishment shall be reduced to a hundred strokes。〃
They tried to beg him off this； but only succeeded in reducing the number of blows to one half。
When the sentence had been carried out and Hou Cheng was permitted to return home； his colleagues came sadly to console him。
〃Had it not been for you； I should have been put to death；〃 said Hou Cheng。
Song Xian replied； 〃All Lu Bu cares for is his family。 There is no pity for anyone else。 We are no more than the weeds by the roadside。〃
Wei Xu said； 〃The city is besieged； the water is drowning us out。 There will not be much more of this； for we may die any day。〃
〃He is a beast； with neither a sense of humanity nor of right。 Let us leave him；〃 said Song Xian。
〃He is not worth fighting for。 The best we could do would be to seize him and hand him over to Cao Cao；〃 said Wei Xu。
〃I was punished because I got my horses back again； yet all he trusts in is his own Red Hare。 If you two will betray the gate and seize Lu Bu； I will steal the horse and go out to Cao Cao's camp。〃
They settled how to carry out the plot； and that very night Hou Cheng sneaked into the stables and got Red Hare away。 He hastened to the east gate which was opened to let him through。 The guard made a pretense of pursuing him but only a pretense。
Hou Cheng reached the besiegers' camp； presented the horse and told Cao Cao what had been arranged。 They would show a white flag and open the gates to his army。 Hearing this Cao Cao had a few notifications written out； which were attached to arrows and shot over the walls。 This is one of them：
〃Regent Marshal Cao Cao has received a mand from the Emperor to destroy Lu Bu。 Those who interfere with the operations of his grand army； whatever their rank； shall be put to death in the gate on the day that the city shall be captured。 Should anyone capture Lu Bu or bring his head； he shall be well rewarded。 Let all take note of this。〃
Next day at daylight a tremendous hubbub was heard without the city and Lu Bu； halberd in hand； hasted to the wall to see what it meant。 As he went from gate to gate inspecting the defenses and guards； he censured Wei Xu for letting Hou Cheng escape and get away with his horse。 Lu Bu threatened to punish Wei Xu。 But just then the besiegers began a fierce attack as the white flag had just appeared； and Lu Bu had to turn all his energies to defense。 The assault lasted till noon； when the attacking force drew off for a time。
Lu Bu was taking a rest in the tower and fell asleep in his chair。 Song Xian sent away Lu Bu's attendants。 When they had gone； he stole Lu Bu's weapon； the trident halberd in which he trusted。 Then Song Xian and Wei Xu fell upon Lu Bu together and before he was well awake had bound him with cords； trussing him so that he could not move。 Lu Bu shouted for his guards； but they were driven off by the two traitor generals and could not e near。 Then a white flag was shown； and the besiegers again approached the city。
The traitors shouted out； 〃Lu Bu has been captured alive！〃
But Xiahou Yuan could hardly believe it till they threw down the famous halberd。 The gates were flung open； and the enemy entered the city。 Gao Shun and Zhang Liao； who were at the opposite gate； were surrounded and cut off by the water and helpless。 They were captured。 Chen Gong made a dash to the south gate but was also taken by Xu Huang。 Presently Cao Cao entered and at once gave orders to turn the streams back into their usual courses。 He put out proclamations to sooth the people。
Cao Cao and Liu Bei； with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei behind； seated themselves side by side in the White Gate Tower。 The captives were brought before them。 Lu Bu looked a pitiable object。 Although a very tall man； he was tied up in a veritable ball。
〃The bonds are very tight；〃 cried he； 〃I beseech you to loosen them！〃
〃Bindings a tiger must binding tight； of course；〃 replied Cao Cao。
Seeing Hou Cheng； Song Xian； and Wei Xu standing there looking pleased at their success； Lu Bu said； 〃I treated you all well enough： How could you turn against me？〃
Said Song Xian； 〃You listened to the words of your women； but rejected the advice of your generals。 Was not that mean？〃
Lu Bu was silent。 Then Gao Shun was brought forward。
〃What have you to say？〃 asked Cao Cao。
Gao Shun sulkily held his tongue。 He was ordered out to execution。
Next Chen Gong was led in。
〃I hope you have been well since we last saw each other； Chen Gong？〃 said Cao Cao。
〃Your ways were crooked； and so I left you；〃 said Chen Gong。
〃You say I was crooked； and what of your serving Lu Bu？〃
〃Though he was a fool； he did not resemble you in deceit and wickedness。〃
〃You say you are able enough and clever； but what about your position today？〃
Turning toward Lu Bu； Chen Gong said； 〃This man would not follow my advice。 Had he done so； he would not now be a captive。〃
〃What think you ought to be done about this day's work？〃 said Cao Cao。
〃There is death for me today； and that is the end！〃 said Chen Gong undauntedly。
〃Very well for you； but what of your mother and wife and children？〃
〃It is said that one who rules with due regard to filial piety does not harm a person's family； one who would show benevolence does not cut off the sacrifices at a person's tomb。 My mother and wife and children are in your hands。 But since I am your prisoner； I pray you slay me quickly and not to try to harrow my feelings。〃
Cao Cao's heart still leaned toward mercy； but Chen Gong turned and walked away； repulsing the attendants who would stop him。 Cao Cao rose from his place and walked with Chen Gong； the tears falling from his eyes。 Chen Gong never looked at him。
Turning to his guards Cao Cao said； 〃Let his mother and family be taken to Xuchang and looked after immediately。 Any postponement will be punished！〃
The condemned man heard him but uttered no word。 He stretched out his neck for the blow。 Tears sprang to the eyes of all present。 His remains were honorably coffined and buried in Xuchang。
A poem pitying Chen Gong's fate says：
Neither hope of life nor fear of death moved him。
How brave was he； a hero indeed！
But his lord heeded not his words；
Wherefore in vain possessed he great talents。
Nevertheless； in that he stood by his master。
To parting with wife and mother；
He merits our pity and profound respect。
Who would resemble Chen Gong
That day he died at the White Gate Tower？
While Cao Cao sadly escorted Chen Gong on the way to death； Lu Bu appealed to Liu Bei； 〃Noble Sir； you sit there an honored guest while poor I lie bound at your feet。 Will you not utter one word to alleviate my lot？〃
Liu Bei nodded。
As Cao Cao returned to his place； Lu Bu called out； 〃Your only trouble； Illustrious Sir； is myself； and I am on your side now。 You take the lead； I will help you； and together the world is at our feet。〃
〃What do you think？〃 said Cao Cao turning to Liu Bei。
〃You are willing to forget the episodes of Ding Yuan and Dong Zhuo？〃
〃Truly the lout is not to be trusted！〃 said Lu Bu； looking at Liu Bei。
〃Strangle and expose！〃 ordered Cao Cao。
As he was led away； Lu Bu turned once more to Liu Bei； 〃You long…eared lout； you forget now the service I rendered you that day at my camp gate； when my arrow hit the mark！〃
Just then someone shouted； 〃Lu Bu； O fool！ Death is but death； and why are you scared at it？〃
Everyone turned to look： The guards were hustling Zhang Liao to the place of judgment。 Cao Cao ordered Lu Bu's execution。
A poet has written upon the death of Lu Bu：
The flood spreads wide； the city drowns；
Its lord is captive。 Nought avails
His courser's speed or halberd's thrust。
The tiger erstwhile fierce； now whines
For mercy。 Cao Cao had meted him
Full well