In Xuzhou； after Liu Bei had started on his expedition； Zhang Fei placed his colleague and helper； Chen Deng； in charge of the administration of the region； keeping military affairs under his own supervision。 After thinking over the matter or some time； he gave a banquet to all the military officers。
When they were all seated； he made a speech： 〃Before my brother left； he bade me keep clear of the wine cup for fear of accidents。 Now； gentlemen； you may drink deep today。 But from tomorrow wine is forbidden； for we must keep the city safe。 So take your fill。〃
And with this he and all his guests rose to drink together。 The wine bearer came to Cao Bao who declined it； saying； 〃I never drink as I am forbidden of heaven。〃
〃What！ A fighting man does not drink wine！〃 said the host。 〃I want you to take just one cup。〃
Cao Bao was afraid to offend； so he drank。
Now Zhang Fei drank huge goblets with all his guests on every hand and so swallowed a huge quantity of liquor。 He became quite intoxicated。 Yet he would drink more and insisted on a cup with every guest。 It came to the turn of Cao Bao who declined。
〃Really； I cannot drink；〃 said Cao Bao。
〃You drank just now： Why refuse this time？〃
Zhang Fei pressed him； but still Cao Bao resisted。
Then Zhang Fei in his drunken madness lost control of his temper and said； 〃If you disobey the orders of your general； you shall be beaten one hundred strokes。〃
And he called in his guards。 Here Chen Deng interfered reminding him of the strict injunctions of his brother。
〃You civilians attend to your civil business and leave us alone；〃 said Zhang Fei。
The only way of escape for the guest was to beg remission； and Cao Bao did so； saying； 〃Sir； if you saw my son…in…law's face； you would pardon me。〃
〃Who is your son…in…law？〃
〃Lu Bu。〃
〃I did not mean to have you really beaten； but if you think to frighten me with Lu Bu； I will。 I will beat you as if I was beating him；〃 said Zhang Fei。
The guests interposed to beg him off； but their drunken host was obdurate； and the unhappy guest received fifty blows。 Then at the earnest prayers of the others the remainder of the punishment was remitted。
The banquet came to an end； and the beaten Cao Bao went away burning with resentment。 That night he sent a letter to Xiaopei relating the insults he had received from Zhang Fei。 The letter told Lu Bu of Liu Bei's absence and proposed that a sudden raid should be made that very night before Zhang Fei had recovered from his drunken fit。 Lu Bu at once summoned Chen Gong and told him。
〃Xiaopei is only a place to occupy temporarily；〃 said Chen Gong。 〃If you can seize Xuzhou； do so。 It is a good chance。〃
Lu Bu got ready at once and soon on the way with five hundred cavalrymen； ordering Chen Gong and Gao Shun to follow him with the main body。
Xiaopei being only about fifteen miles away； Lu Bu was under the walls at the fourth watch。 It was clear moonlight。 No one on the ramparts saw him。
Lu Bu came up close to the wall and called out； 〃Liu Bei's secret messenger has arrived！〃
The guards on the wall were Cao Bao's people； and they called him。 Cao Bao came； and when he saw who was there he ordered the gates to be opened。 Lu Bu gave the secret signal； and the soldiers entered shouting。
Zhang Fei was in his apartment sleeping off the fumes of wine。 His servants hastened to arouse him and told him an enemy had got the gates open。
They said； 〃Lu Bu got in； and there is fighting in the city。〃
Zhang Fei savagely got into his armor and laid hold of his mighty serpent halberd。 But as he was mounting his horse at the gate； the attacking soldiers came up。 He rushed at them but being still half intoxicated made but a poor fight。 Lu Bu knowing Zhang Fei's prowess did not press him hard； and Zhang Fei made his way； with eighteen leading Guards of Yan； to the east gate； and there went out； leaving Liu Bei's family to their fate。
Cao Bao； seeing Zhang Fei had but a very small force and was still half drunk as well； came in pursuit。 Zhang Fei saw who it was and was mad with rage。 He galloped toward Cao Bao and drove him off after a few passes。 He followed Cao Bao to the moat and wounded him in the back。 Cao Bao's frightened steed carried its master into the moat； and he was drowned。
Once well outside the city Zhang Fei collected his troops； and they rode off toward the south direction。
Lu Bu having surprised the city set himself to restore order。 He put a guard over the residence of Liu Bei so that no one should disturb the family。
Zhang Fei with his few followers went to his brother's camp at Xuyi and told his story of treachery and surprise。 All were greatly distressed。
〃Success is not worth rejoicing over； failure is not worth grieving over；〃 said Liu Bei with a sigh。
〃Where are our sisters？〃 asked Guan Yu。
〃They shared the fate of the city。〃
Liu Bei nodded his head and was silent。
Guan Yu with an effort controlled his reproaches and said； 〃What did you say when you promised to guard the city； and what orders did our brother give you？ Now the city is lost and therewith our sisters…in…law。 Have you done well？〃
Zhang Fei was overwhelmed by remorse。 He drew his sword to kill himself。
He raised the cup in pledge；
None might say nay；
Remorseful； drew the sword；
Himself to slay。
Zhang Fei's fate will be told in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 15 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 15
Chapter 15
Taishi Ci Fights With The Little Prince；
Sun Ce Cuts Short The White Tiger King。
In the last chapter it was recorded that Zhang Fei was about to end his life with his own weapon in Xuyi。
But Liu Bei rushed forward and caught Zhang Fei in his arms； snatched away the sword； and threw it on the earth； saying； 〃Brothers are as hands and feet； wives and children are as clothing。 You may mend your torn dress； but who can reattach a lost limb？ We three； by the Oath of the Peach Garden； swore to seek the same death day。 The city is lost； it is true； and my wives and little ones； but I could not bear that we should die ere our course be run。 Beside； Xuzhou was not really ours； and Lu Bu will not harm my family but will rather seek to preserve them。 You made a mistake； worthy brother； but is it one deserving of death？〃
And Liu Bei wept。 His brothers were much affected and their tears fell in sympathy。
As soon as the news of Lu Bu's successful seizure of his protector's region reached Yuan Shu； Yuan Shu sent promises of valuable presents to Lu Bu to induce him to join in a further attack on Liu Bei。 The presents are said to have been fifty thousand carts of grain； five hundred horses； ten thousand ounces of gold and silver； and a thousand rolls of colored silk。
Lu Bu swallowed the bait and ordered Gao Shun to lead forth fifty thousand troops。 But Liu Bei heard of the threatened attack； so he made inclement weather an excuse to moved his few soldiers out of Xuyi for Guangling； before the attacking force came up。
However； Gao Shun demanded the promised reward through Ji Ling； who put Gao Shun off； saying； 〃My lord has gone away。 I will settle this as soon as I can see him and get his decision。〃
With this answer Gao Shun returned to Lu Bu； who could not decide what to do。
Then came a letter from Yuan Shu：
〃Although Gao Shun had gone to attack Liu Bei； yet Liu Bei had not been destroyed； and no reward could be given till he was actually taken。〃
Lu Bu railed at what he called the breach of faith and was inclined to attack Yuan Shu himself。
However； his adviser； Chen Gong； opposed this course； saying； 〃You should not。 Yuan Shu is in possession of Shouchun and has a large army； well supplied。 You are no match for him。 Rather ask Liu Bei to take up his quarters at Xiaopei as one of your wings and； when the time es； let him lead the attack； both south and north。 Then Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao will fall before you； and you will be very powerful。〃
Finding this advice good； Lu Bu sent letters to Liu Bei asking him to return。
After the flight of Liu Bei； Yuan Shu attacked Guangling and reduced Liu Bei's force by half。 When the messenger from Lu Bu came； Liu Bei read the letter。 He was quite content with the offer； but his brothers were not inclined to trust Lu Bu。
〃Such a dishonorable man must have a motive；〃 said Guan Yu and Zhang Fei。
〃Since he treats me kindly； I cannot but trust him；〃 replied Liu Bei。
So Liu Bei went back to Xuzhou。 Lu Bu； fearing that Liu Bei might doubt his sincerity； restored Liu Bei's family； and when Lady Gan and Lady Mi saw their lord； they told him that they had been kindly treated and guarded by soldiers against any intrusion； and provisions had never been wanting。
〃I knew he would not harm my family；〃 said Liu Bei to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei。
However； Zhang Fei was not pleased and would not acpany his brothers into the city when they went to express their thanks。 He went to escort the two ladies to Xiaopei。
At the interview Lu Bu said； 〃I did not wish to take the city； but your brother behaved very badly； drinking and flogging the soldiers； and I came to guard it lest some evil should befall。〃
〃But I had long wished to yield it to you；〃 said Liu Bei。
Thereupon Lu Bu wished to retire in favor of Liu Bei who； however； would not hear of it。 Liu Bei returned and took up his quarters in Xiaopei； but his two brothers would not take the situation kindly and were very discontented。
Said Liu Bei； 〃One must bow to one's lot。 It is the will of Heaven； and one cannot struggle against fate。〃
Lu Bu sent presents of food and stuffs； and peace reigned between the two houses。
In Shouchun； Yuan Shu prepared a great banquet for his soldiers when it was announced that Sun Ce had subdued Lu Gang； the Governor of Lujiang。 Yuan Shu summoned the victor； who made obeisance at the foot of the hall of audience。 Yuan Shu； sitting in state； asked for details of the campaign and then invited Sun Ce to the banquet。
After the unhappy death of his father Sun Jian； Sun Ce had returned to the lower region of the Great River； where he had devoted himself to peaceful ends； inviting to his side good people and able scholars。 Afterwards； when a quarrel broke out between his mother's brother； Governor Wu Jing of Dangyang； and the late Imperial Protector of Xuzhou； Tao Qian； Sun Ce removed his mother with all the family to Que； he himself taking service under Yuan Shu； who admired and loved him greatly。
〃If I had a son like Sun Ce；〃 said Yuan Shu； 〃I should die without regret。〃
Yuan Shu appointed Sun Ce mander and sent him on various expeditions； all of which were successful。 After this banquet to celebrate the victory over Lu Gang； Sun Ce returned to his camp very bitter over the arrogant and patronizing airs of his patron。 Instead of retiring to his tent； Sun Ce walked up and down by the light of the moon。
〃Here am I； a mere nobody； and yet my father was such a hero！〃
And he cried out and wept in spite of himself。
Then suddenly appeared one who said； laughing loudly； 〃What is this； Sun Ce？ While your noble father enjoyed the light of the sun； he made free use of me。 If his son has any difficulty to resolve； why does he not refer it to me also instead of weeping here alone？〃
Looking at the speaker Sun Ce saw it was Zhu Zhi； a native of Dangyang； who had been in Sun Jian's service。 Sun Ce then ceased weeping