〃In this period of disruption； with strife on every side； one cannot pretend that there will be no more opportunities。 If you only take what that offers； there will be nothing to regret。〃
〃What you say； brother； is quite to the point；〃 replied Liu Biao。
They drank on for a time till presently Liu Bei noticed that his host was weeping； and when he asked the cause of these tears； Liu Biao replied； 〃It is that secret sorrow I spoke of to you before。 I wished to tell you； but there was no opportunity that day。〃
〃O brother； what difficulty have you； and can I assist you？ I am entirely at your service。〃
〃My first wife； of the Chen family； bore me a son Liu Qi； my eldest。 He grew up virtuous but weakly and unfitted to succeed me in my office。 Later I took a wife of the Cai family； who bore me a son named Liu Zong； fairly intelligent。 If I pass over the elder in favor of the younger； there is the breach of the rule of primogeniture。 But if I follow law and custom； there are the intrigues of the Cai family and clan to be reckoned with。 Further； the army is in the hollow of their hands。 There will be trouble； and I cannot decide what to do。〃
Liu Bei said； 〃All experience proves that to set aside the elder for the younger is to take the way of confusion。 If you fear the power of the Cai faction； then gradually reduce its power and influence； but do not let doting affection lead you into making the younger your heir。〃
Liu Biao pondered silent。 But Lady Cai had had a suspicion why her lord had summoned Liu Bei and what was the subject of discussion； so she had determined to listen secretly。 She was behind the screen when the matter was talked over； and she conceived deep resentment against Liu Bei for what he had said。
On his side； Liu Bei felt that his advice had fallen upon a forbidden subject； and he arose and walked across the room。 As he did so he noticed that he was getting heavy and stiff； and a furtive tear stole down his cheek as he thought of the past。 When he returned and sat down； his host noticed the traces of weeping and asked the cause of his sorrow。
〃In the past I was always in the saddle； and I was slender and lithe。 Now it is so long since I rode that I am getting stout； and the days and months are slipping by………wasted。 I shall have old age on me in no time； and I have acplished nothing。 So I am sad。〃
〃I have heard a story that when you were at Xuchang at the season of green plums； you and Cao Cao were discussing heroes。 You mentioned this name and that to him as humans of parts； and he rejected everyone of them。 Finally he said that you and he were the only two persons of real worth in the whole empire。 If he with all his power and authority did not dare to place himself in front of you； I do not think you need grieve about having acplished nothing。〃
At this flattering speech Liu Bei； as wine was getting the better of him and in a half maudlin manner； replied； 〃If I only had a starting point； then I would not be afraid of anyone in a world full of fools。〃
His host said no more and the guest； feeling that he had slipped up in speech； rose as if drunk； took leave； and staggered out saying he must return to his lodging to recover。
The episode has been celebrated in a poem：
When with crooking fingers counting；
Cao Cao reckoned up the forceful
Humans of real determination；
Only two he found； and one was
Liu Bei。 But by inaction
He had grown both fat and slothful；
Yet the months and years in passing
Fretted him with nought acplished。
Though Liu Biao kept silence when he heard the words of Liu Bei； yet he felt the more uneasy。 After the departure of his guest； he retired into the inner quarters where he met his wife。
Lady Cai said； 〃I happened to be behind the screen just now and so heard the words of Liu Bei。 They betray scant regard for other people and mean that he would take your territory if he could。 If you do not remove him； it will go ill with you。〃
Her husband made no reply； but only shook his head。
Then Lady Cai took counsel with her kinsman Cai Mao； who said； 〃Let me go to the guest…house and slay him forthwith； and we can report what we have done。〃
His sister consented and he went out； and that night told off a party of soldiers to do the foul deed。
Now Liu Bei sat in his lodging by the light of a single candle till about the third watch； when he prepared to retire to bed。 He was startled by a knock at his door and in came Yi Ji； who had heard of the plot against his new master and had e in the darkness to warn him。 He related the details of the plot and urged speedy departure。
〃I have not said farewell to my host。 How can I go away？〃 said Liu Bei。
〃If you go to bid him farewell； you will fall a victim to the Cai faction；〃 said Yi Ji。
So Liu Bei said a hasty good…bye to his friend； called up his escort； and they all mounted and rode away by the light of the stars toward Xinye。 Soon after they had left the soldiers arrived at the guest…house； but their intended victim was already well on his way。
Naturally the failure of the plot chagrined the treacherous Cai Mao； but he took the occasion to scribble some calumnious verses on one of the partitions。
Then he went to see Liu Biao to whom he said； 〃Liu Bei has treacherous intentions； as can be seen from some lines written on the wall。 And his hurried departure is suspicious。〃
Liu Biao felt doubtful； but he went to the guest…house and there on the wall he read this poem：
Too long； far too long I have dreamed life away；
Gazing at scenery day after day。
A dragon can never be kept in a pond；
He should ride on the thunder to heaven and beyond。
Greatly angered by what he read； Liu Biao drew his sword and swore to slay the writer。 But before he had gone many paces； his anger had already died down； and he said to himself； 〃I have seen much of the man； but have never known him write verses。 This is the handiwork of someone who wishes to sow discord between us。〃
So saying； he turned back and with the point of his sword scraped away the poem。 Then； putting up his sword； he mounted and rode home。
By and bye Cai Mao reminded him； saying； 〃The soldiers are awaiting your orders to go to Xinye and arrest Liu Bei。〃
'There is no hurry；〃 he replied。
Cai Mao saw his brother…in…law's hesitation and again sought his sister。
She said； 〃Soon there is to be the great gathering at Xiangyang； and we can arrange something for that day。〃
Next day Cai Mao petitioned the Imperial Protector； saying； 〃We have had several fruitful harvests recently。 I pray you； Sir； attend the Full Harvest Festival at Xiangyang。 It would be an encouragement to the people。〃
〃I have been feeling my old trouble lately。 I certainly cannot go；〃 replied he； 〃but my two sons can go to represent me and to receive the guests。〃
〃They are full young；〃 replied Cai Mao。 〃They may make some mistakes。〃
〃Then go to Xinye and request Liu Bei to receive the guests；〃 said Liu Biao。
Nothing could have pleased Cai Mao more； for this would bring Liu Bei within reach of his plot。 Without loss of time he sent to Liu Bei requesting him to go to preside at the Festival。
It has been said that Liu Bei made the best of his way home to Xinye。 He felt that he had offended by that slip in speech； but determined to keep silence about it and attempt no explanation。 So he discussed it with nobody。 Then came the message asking him to preside at the Festival； and he needed counsel。
Sun Qian said； 〃You have seemed worried and preoccupied lately； and I think something untoward happened at Jingzhou。 You should consider well before you accept this invitation。〃
Thereupon Liu Bei told his confidants the whole story。
Guan Yu said； 〃You yourself think your speech offended the Imperial Protector； but he said nothing to show displeasure。 You need pay no attention to the babble of outsiders like Yi Ji。 Xiangyang is quite near and； if you do not go； Liu Biao will begin to suspect something really is wrong。〃
〃You speak well；〃 said Liu Bei。
Said Zhang Fei； 〃Banquets are no good； gatherings are no better。 It is best not to go。〃
〃Let me take three hundred horse and foot as escort： There will be no trouble then；〃 said Zhao Yun。
〃That is the best course；〃 said Liu Bei。
They soon set out for the gathering place； and Cai Mao met them at the boundary and was most affable and courteous。 Soon arrived the Imperial Protector's sons at the head of a great pany of officers； civil and military。 Their appearance put Liu Bei more at ease。 He was conducted to the guest…house； and Zhao Yun posted his men so as to guard it pletely； while he himself； armed； remained close to his chief。
Liu Qi said to Liu Bei； 〃My father is feeling unwell and could not e； wherefore he begs you； Uncle Liu Bei； to preside at the various ceremonies and give encouragement to the officers who administer the region。〃
〃Really I am unfit for such responsibilities；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃But my brother's mand must be obeyed。〃
Next day it was reported that the officials from forty…two counties of nine territories of Jingzhou had all arrived。
Then Cai Mao said to Kuai Yue； 〃This Liu Bei is the villain of the age and if left alive will certainly work harm to us。 He must be got rid of now。〃
〃I fear you would forfeit everybody's favor if you harmed him；〃 replied Kuai Yue。
〃I have already secretly spoken in these terms to the Imperial Protector；〃 said Cai Mao； 〃and I have his word here。〃
〃So it may be regarded as settled。 Then we can prepare。〃
Cai Mao added； 〃My brothers are ready。 Cai He is posted on the road to the Xian Hills from the east gate； Cai Zhong and Cai Xun are on the north and south roads。 No guard is needed on the west as the Tan Torrent is quite safeguard enough。 Even with legions； Liu Bei could not get over that。〃
Kuai Yue replied； 〃I notice that Zhao Yun never leaves him。 I feel sure he expects some attack。〃
〃I have placed five hundred men in ambush in the city。〃
〃We will tell Wen Ping and Wang Wei to invite all the military officers to a banquet at one of the pavilions outside the city； and Zhao Yun will be among them。 Then will be our opportunity。〃
Cai Mao thought this a good device for getting Zhao Yun out of the way。
Now oxen and horses had been slaughtered and a grand banquet prepared。 Liu Bei rode to the residence on the horse of ill omen； and whe