Then Fa Zheng spoke up； 〃The founder of Han； Liu Bang； drew up three chapters of law； and the people were all profoundly affected by his virtue。 I would rather that the laws be few and liberal that people may be forted。〃
Zhuge Liang replied； 〃You only look at one side。 The laws of Qin were fiercely cruel and provoked resentment among the people。 It was fitting that the Supreme Ancestor should temper them with kindness。 Under the weak administration of Liu Zhang； there has never been an efficient government； and there is a lack of respect for the law。 The proper relationship between ruler and minister has been gradually obscured。 Favor has been the means of rising； and the highest in rank have been the basest。 Kindness has been extended into license； and the most benefited have been the most contemptuous。 And thereby have crept in many evils。 Now I mean to inculcate respect for the dignity of the law； and kindness shall follow its attainment： There shall be moderation in conferring rank； but honor shall really follow on such promotion。 In the mutual cooperation of kindness and honor and in proper distinction between superiors and inferiors lies the efficiency of a government。〃
Fa Zheng had no argument to oppose。 In due time all became perfectly tranquil； and all the forty…one counties； with their respective garrisons； were peaceful and contented。
As Governor of the Shu District； Fa Zheng earned much hatred； busying himself in returning favors and avenging past deeds however small they were。 One person told of the plaints to Zhuge Liang； urging his reproof。
But Zhuge Liang referred to his meritorious services； saying； 〃When our lord was in Jingzhou； fearful of Cao Cao on the north and trembling lest he be attacked from the east by Sun Quan； it was Fa Zheng who supported him； gave him directions； and added wings to him so that he could soar this high。 In these prosperous days one can hardly begin to discipline Fa Zheng。 Could we reasonably forbid him following somewhat his own way？〃
So no investigation was made； but Fa Zheng heard of the plaints and corrected his faults。
One day； when Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang were resting and at leisure； Guan Ping arrived with a letter from his father； thanking his elder brother for the handsome gifts。
Making obeisance and handing in his letter； Guan Ping said； 〃My father was anxious to e into Yizhou to try conclusions with Ma Chao。〃
Said Liu Bei； 〃If he were to e and fight； I fear they would not both survive。〃
〃There is nothing to be anxious about；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃I will write to Guan Yu。〃
Liu Bei feared that his brother's impulsive temperament might lead to trouble； so he told Zhuge Liang to pose a letter and send back by Guan Ping。
When Guan Ping came again to his father； the first question was： 〃Did you mention the contest with Ma Chao？〃
Then the letter was produced； and this is what it said：
＇e＇ Ying Bu （BC ？…195） a general of Liu Bang。 He and Liu Bang had been close friends in their native Pei； where Liu Bang later held a minor office。 Enobled as King of Huainan。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Peng Yue （BC ？…196） a general of Liu Bang。 He and Liu Bang had been close friends in their native Pei； where Liu Bang later held a minor office。 Ennobled as King of Liang。 。。。。。
〃I hear you are anxious to decide whether of the twain； Ma Chao or yourself； is the better man。 Now I can measure Ma Chao。 He may be unusually brave and bold； but he is only of the class of Ying Bu* and Peng Yue* of old。 He might be a worthy rival of your younger brother； but he is far from the standard set by you； O Lord of the Beautiful Beard。 You have a most important charge。 If you e into the West River Land； and Jingzhou should be lost； would you not be guilty of a terrible failure？ I think you will see this。〃
Guan Yu stroked his long beard and smiled as he read the letter。
〃The Instructor knows me thoroughly；〃 said he to himself。
He showed the letter to his clients and friends and thought no more of going westward。
The successes of Liu Bei in the west had been duly noted by Sun Quan； who thought he was surely now going to obtain the much…coveted Jingzhou。 So he called in Zhang Zhao and Gu Yong to ask advice。
Sun Quan said； 〃When Liu Bei occupied Jingzhou temporarily； he pledged he would return the region to the South Land when he would possess Yizhou。 Now he has taken the forty…one counties of West River Land。 If Jingzhou is not returned； I will take it by force。〃
Zhang Zhao said； 〃I have already a scheme that will need no fighting。 Liu Bei will offer the place to you with both hands。〃
In Shu there shine new sun and moon；
Wu dreams Jingzhou will be his soon。
We shall see in the next chapter the scheme to recover the much…desired region。
Main Next to Chapter 66 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 66
Chapter 66
Armed With Sword； Guan Yu Goes To A Feast Alone；
For The State； Empress Fu Offers Her Life。
The scheme； which Zhang Zhao had in mind； he laid before his master thus： 〃The one man upon whom Liu Bei relies most is Zhuge Liang。 Now his brother is in your service and in your power。 All you have to do is to seize Zhuge Jin's family and send him west to see Zhuge Liang and make Zhuge Liang persuade Liu Bei to return Jingzhou。 If Liu Bei refuses； the family of Zhuge Jin will suffer； and Zhuge Liang will not be able to resist the claims of brotherhood。〃
〃But Zhuge Jin is a loyal and true gentleman。 I could not lay hands upon his family！〃 said Sun Quan。
〃Explain the ruse to him。 That will set his mind at rest；〃 said Zhang Zhao。
Sun Quan consented and issued the mand to confine the family of his retainer in the palace but not really imprison them。 Then he wrote a letter for Zhuge Jin to take with him on his mission。 Before many days Zhuge Jin reached Chengdu and sent to inform Liu Bei of his arrival。
Liu Bei at once sought the advice of Zhuge Liang。
〃Why think you your brother has e？〃
〃He has e to force the return of Jingzhou。〃
〃How shall I answer him？〃
〃You must do so and so；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
The plan of action being prepared； Zhuge Liang went out of the city to wele his brother。 But instead of taking him to his own residence； Zhuge Liang took him to the guest…house。 When the greetings were over； the visitor suddenly lifted up his voice and wept。
〃If you have any trouble； my brother； pray tell。 Why do you weep thus？〃 asked Zhuge Liang。
〃Alas！ My family are lost！〃 cried he。
〃I suppose it is in the matter of the return of Jingzhou？ If your family have been seized on my account； how can I bear it calmly？ But do not be anxious； my brother。 I shall certainly find some way out of the difficulty。〃
This reply pleased Zhuge Jin； and the two brothers went to visit Liu Bei。
The letter of Sun Quan was presented； but when Liu Bei had read it he said； angrily； 〃He is related to me by marriage； and he has profited by my absence from Jingzhou to steal away his sister。 That is a sort of kindliness I find it hard to bear。 When I am just going to lead my army to the South Land to take vengeance； is it likely he will get Jingzhou out of me？〃
At this point Zhuge Liang prostrated himself weeping at his lord's feet and said； 〃The Marquis of Wu has seized my brother's family； and he will put them all to death if the land be not given up。 Can I remain alive if such a fate befall them？ I pray my lord for my sake to give back the region and prevent any breach between my brother and me。〃
But Liu Bei refused。 He seemed obdurate； but Zhuge Liang persisted in his entreaty。 Finally Liu Bei reluctantly consented。
〃Since things are so； and the Instructor pleads for it； I will return half；〃 said he。 〃I will give up three territories………Changsha； Lingling； and Guiyang。〃
〃Then； as you have consented； prepare letters ordering Guan Yu to yield these three territories；〃 said Zhuge Jin。
Liu Bei said； 〃When you see my brother； you must use most gracious words to him； for his nature is as a fierce fire； and even I fear what he may do。 So be very careful。〃
Zhuge Jin； having got the letter； took his leave and went straightway to Jingzhou。 He asked for an interview； and was received in the grand reception hall。
When both were seated in their respective places； the emissary produced the letter of Liu Bei； saying； 〃The Imperial Uncle has promised to return three territories to my master； and I hope； General； you will hand them over at once and let me return。〃
Guan Yu's countenance changed； and he said； 〃The oath sworn in the Peach Garden bound me and my brother to support the dynasty of Han。 Jingzhou is a portion of their domain； and how can any part be given to another？ When a leader is in the field； he receives no orders； not even those of his prince。 Although you have brought letters from my brother； yet will I not yield the territories。〃
〃But the Marquis of Wu has laid hands upon my family； and they will be slain if the land be not given up。 I crave your pity； O General！〃
〃This is but a ruse on his part； but it does not deceive me！〃
〃Why are you so pitiless？〃
Guan Yu drew his sword； saying； 〃Let us have no more。 This sword is pitiless！〃
〃It will put the Instructor to shame；〃 said Guan Ping。 〃I pray you not to be angry； my father。〃
〃Were it not for my respect for the Instructor； you would never go back to the South Land；〃 said Guan Yu to Zhuge Jin。
Zhuge Jin； overwhelmed with shame； took his leave； sought his ship； and hastily returned to Chengdu to see his brother。 But Zhuge Liang had gone away upon a journey。 However； he saw Liu Bei and related what had happened； and said that Guan Yu was going to slay him。
〃My brother is hasty；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃It is difficult to argue with him。 But return home for the present； and when I have finished my conquest of Hanzhong； I will transfer Guan Yu to another post； and then I may be able to return Jingzhou。〃
Zhuge Jin had no choice but to accept this reply and carry the unsatisfactory news to his master。
Sun Quan was greatly annoyed and said； 〃This running to and fro was nothing more than one of your brother's tricks。〃
The unhappy messenger denied； saying； 〃No； no！ Zhuge Liang had interceded with many tears and obtained the promise to return three territories from Liu Bei。 It was the obstinacy of Guan Yu that spoiled all。〃
〃Since Liu Bei said he would return three territories； we may send officials to take over their administration。 Think you that might be done？〃 said Sun Quan。
〃What you say； my lord； seems most proper。〃
The family of Zhuge Jin were restored to liberty； and officers were sent to take charge of the three territories of Changsha； Lingling； and Guiyang。
But they quickly returned； saying； 〃Guan Yu would have none of us； but had chased us away at once with threats to kill us if we did not hasten！〃
Sun Quan then summoned Lu Su and laid the blame on him。
〃You are Liu Bei's guarantor in this matter。 How can you sit quietly looking on while Liu Bei fails to perform his contract？〃 said Sun Quan。
〃I have thought out a plan and was just going to impart it to you；〃 said Lu Su。
〃And what is your plan？〃
Lu Su said； 〃There is a camp at Lukou。 Invite Guan Yu to a banquet there and try to persuade him。 If he still remains obstinate； have some assassins ready to slay him。 Should he refuses the banquet； then we must try conclusions with an army。〃
〃This suits me；〃 s