Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou Is Captured;
Xu Shu's Affection: Zhuge Liang Is Recommended.

　　In hot anger, Cao Ren lost no time in marching out to avenge the loss of so many of his army. He hastily crossed the River Yu to attack Xinye and trample it in the dust.

　　When San Fu got back into the city, he said to Liu Bei, “When Cao Ren, now at Fancheng, hears of his losses, he will try to retrieve them and will come to attack us.”

　　“What is the counter move？” asked Liu Bei.

　　“As he will come with all his force, his own city will be left undefended. We will surprise it.”

　　“By what ruse？”

　　the adviser leaned over and whispered to his chief. Whatever the plan was, it pleased Liu Bei, who made arrangements. Soon the scouts reported Cao Ren crossing the river with a mighty host.

　　“Just as I guessed,” said San Fu, hearing of it.

　　then he suggested that Liu Bei should lead out one army against the invaders. Liu Bei did so, and, when the formation was complete, Zhao Yun rode to the front as champion and challenged the other side.

　　Li Dian rode out and engaged. At about the tenth bout Li Dian found he was losing and retired toward his own side. Zhao Yun pressed after him, but was checked by a heavy discharge of arrows from the wings. Then both sides stopped the battle and retired to their camps.

　　Li Dian reported to his chief： “Our enemy are brave, very full of spirit, and we will be hard to overcome. We had better retreat to Fancheng and wait for reinforcements.”

　　Cao Ren angrily replied, “You damped the army's spirit before we started, and now you betray us. You have been bought, and you deserve death.”

　　Cao Ren called in the executioners, and they led away their victim. But the other officers came to intercede, and Li Dian was spared. However, he was transferred to the command of the rear, while Cao Ren himself led the attack.

　　Next day the drums beat an advance and Cao Ren, having drawn up his soldiers, sent a messenger over to ask if Liu Bei recognized his plan of battle array.

　　So San Fu went on a hill and looked over it.

　　then he said to Liu Bei, “The arrangement is called 'The Eight Docked Gates,' and the names of the gates are Birth, Exit, Expanse, Wound, Fear, Annihilation, Obstacle, and Death. If you enter by one of the three Birth, Exit, or Expanse you succeed. If by one of the gates Wound, Fear, or Annihilation, you sustain injuries. The other two gates Obstacles and Death will bring the end. Now, though the eight gates are all there quite correct, the central key-post is lacking, and the whole formation can be thrown into confusion by entry from the southeast and exit due west.”

　　Wherefore certain orders were issued and Zhao Yun, leading five hundred troops, rode out on his prancing steed to break the array. He burst in, as directed, at the southeast and, with GREat clamor and fighting, reached the center. Cao Ren made for the north, but Zhao Yun, instead of following him, made a dash westward and got through. Thence he turned round to the southeast again and smote till Cao Ren's army was in disarray. Liu Bei gave a general advance signal, and the victory was complete. The beaten enemy retired.

　　San Fu forbade pursuit, and they returned. The loss of the battle convinced Cao Ren of the wisdom of his colleague Li Dian, and he sent for Li Dian to consult.

　　“they certainly have some very able person in Liu Bei's army since my formation was so quickly broken,” said Cao Ren.

　　“My chief anxiety is about Fancheng,” said Li Dian.

　　“I will raid their camp this night,” said Cao Ren. “If I succeed, we will decide upon what should be done next. If I fail, we will return to Fancheng.”

　　“their camp will be well prepared against such a thing, and you will fail,” said Li Dian.

　　“How can you expect to fight successfully when you are so full of doubts？” said Cao Ren, angrily.

　　He held no more converse with his cautious colleague, but himself took command of the van and set out. Li Dian was relegated to the rear. The attack on the enemy's camp was fixed for the second watch.

　　Now as San Fu was discussing plans with his chief a whirlwind from the northeast went by, which San Fu said, “There will be a raid on the camp tonight.”

　　“How shall we meet it？” said Liu Bei.

　　“the plans are quite ready,” was the reply.

　　San Fu whispered them to the chief. So at the second watch, when the enemy arrived, they saw fires on all sides, the stockades and huts burning. Cao Ren understood at once that all hope of a surprise was vain, and he turned to get away as quickly as possible. This was the signal for Zhao Yun to fall on, and that cut Cao Ren's return road. He hastened north toward the river, and reached the bank, but, while waiting for boats to cross the stream, up came Zhang Fei and attacked.

　　By dint of GREat efforts and with the support of Li Dian, Cao Ren got into a boat, but most of the soldiers were drowned in the stream. As soon as he got to the farther shore, he bolted for Fancheng. He reached the wall and hailed the gate, but, instead of a friendly welcome, he heard the rolling of drums, which was soon followed by the appearance of a body of troops. Guan Yu led them.

　　“I took the city a long time ago！” shouted Guan Yu.

　　This was a severe shock to Cao Ren, who turned to flee. As soon as he faced about, Guan Yu attacked and killed many of his force. the remnant hastened to Xuchang. On the road the beaten general wondered who had advised his opponents with such success, and he asked the natives for the answer.

　　While the defeated Cao Ren had to find his way back to the capital, Liu Bei had scored a GREat success. Afterwards he marched to Fancheng, where he was welcomed by Magistrate Liu Mi, himself a scion of the ruling family, who had been born in Changsha. Liu Mi received Liu Bei as a guest in his own house and gave banquets and treated him exceedingly well.

　　In the train of the Magistrate, Liu Bei saw a very handsome and distinguished-looking young man, and asked who he was.

　　Liu Mi replied, “He is my nephew, Kou Feng, son of Lord Kou of Luo. I have taken care of him after his parents died.”

　　Liu Bei had taken a GREat liking for the lad and proposed to adopt him. His guardian was willing, and so the adoption was arranged. The young man's name was changed to Liu Feng. When Liu Bei left, he took his adopted son with him. Liu Feng was then made to bow before Guan Yu and Zhang Fei as uncles.

　　Guan Yu was doubtful of the wisdom of adopting another son, saying, “You have a son. Why do you think it necessary to adopt another？ It may cause confusion.”

　　“How？ I shall treat him as a father should, and he will serve me as befits a son.”

　　Guan Yu was displeased.

　　then Liu Bei and San Fu began further discussions of strategy, and they decided to leave Zhao Yun with one thousand soldiers to guard Fancheng, and they returned to Xinye.

　　In the meantime Cao Cao's defeated generals had gone back. When they saw the Prime Minister, Cao Ren threw himself on the ground weeping and acknowledging his faults. He told the tale of his losses.

　　“the fortune of war,” said Cao Cao. “But I should like to know who laid Liu Bei's plans.”

　　“That was San Fu,” said Cao Ren.

　　“Who is he？” asked Cao Cao.

　　Cheng Yu said, “the man is not San Fu. When young this man was fond of fencing and used to take up the quarrels of other people and avenge their wrongs. At the end of Emperor Ling, he killed a man to avenge his friend, and then he let down his hair, muddled his face, and was trying to escape when a lictor caught him and questioned him. He would not reply. So they carted him through the streets beating a drum and asking if anyone recognized him. Nobody dared own to knowing him, even if they did so. However, his comrades managed to release him secretly, and he ran away under some other name. Then he turned to study and wandered hither and thither wherever scholars were to be found. He was a regular disputant with Sima Hui. His real name is Xu Shu and he comes from Yingchuan. San Fu is merely an assumed name.”

　　“How does he compare with yourself？” asked Cao Cao.

　　“Ten times cleverer.”

　　“It is a pity. If able people gather to Liu Bei, his wings will soon grow. What is to be done？”

　　“Xu Shu is there now. But if you wanted him, it would not be difficult to call him,” replied Cheng Yu.

　　“How could I make him come？” said Cao Cao.

　　“He is noted for his affection for his mother. His father died young, leaving his mother a widow with one other son. Now that son is dead, and his mother, Lady Xun, has no one to care for her. If you sent and got his mother here and told her to write and summon her son, he would surely come.”

　　Cao Cao sent without loss of time and had the old lady brought to the capital, where he treated her exceedingly well.

　　Presently he said, “I hear you have a very talented son, who is now at Xinye helping on that rebel Liu Bei against the government. There he is like a jewel in a muck heap： It is a pity. Supposing you were to call him, I could speak of him before the Emperor, and he might get an important office.”

　　Cao Cao bade his secretaries bring along paper and ink, with which Lady Xun could write to her son.

　　“What sort of a man is Liu Bei？” asked she.

　　Cao Cao replied, “A common sort of person from Zhuo, irresponsible enough to style himself Imperial Uncle, and so claiming some sort of connection with the Hans. He is neither trustworthy nor virtuous. People say he is a superior man as far as externals go, but a mean man by nature.”

　　Lady Xun answered in a hard voice, “Why do you malign him so bitterly？ Everyone knows he is a descendant of one of the Han princes and so related to the House. He has condescended to take a lowly office and is respectful to all people. He has a reputation for benevolence. Everyone, young and old, cowherds and firewood cutters, all know him by name and know that he is the finest and noblest man in the world. If my son is in his service, then has he found a fitting master. You, under the name of a Han minister, are really nothing but a Han rebel. Contrary to all truths, you tell me Liu Bei is a rebel, whereby you try to induce me to make my son leave the light for darkness. Are you devoid of all sense of shame？”

　　As Lady Xun finished speaking, she picked up the inkstone to strike Cao Cao. This so enraged him that he forgot himself and the need for caution and bade the executioners lead off the old woman and put her to death.

　　Adviser Cheng Yu, however, stopped this act, saying, “This old lady wished to die. But if you kill her, your reputation will be damaged and hers enhanced. Beside that will add a keen desire for revenge to the motives which led Xu Shu to labor in the interest of Liu Bei. You had better keep her here so that Xu Shu's body and his thoughts may be in different places. He can not devote all his energies to helping our enemy while his mother is here. If you keep her, I think I can persuade the son to come and help you.”

　　So the outspoken old lady was saved. She was given quarters and cared for. Daily Cheng Yu went to ask after he............