veres Liu Bei and es to an understanding with the leaders around the Huashang Mountains； then the power of the north is so much nearer； and I should be unable to resist the attacks of so many leaders and should never sleep secure。 I will aid Liu Bei： That is the better course for me。〃
Now Yuan Shu's force sent against Xiaopei went thither as quickly as possible； and soon the country to the southeast fluttered with pennons by day and blazed with watch fires by night； while the rolling of the drums reverberated from heaven to earth。
The five thousand troops at Liu Bei's disposal were led out of the city and arranged to make a brave show； but it was good news to him to hear that Lu Bu had arrived and was quite near。 Lu Bu camped only half a mile away to the southwest。 When Yuan Shu's general； Ji Ling； heard of his arrival； he wrote letters reproaching Lu Bu for his treachery。 Lu Bu smiled as he read them。
〃I know how to make both of them love me；〃 said Lu Bu。
So he sent invitations to both Liu Bei and Ji Ling to e to a banquet。
Liu Bei was for accepting the invitation and going； but his brothers dissuaded him； saying； 〃There is some treachery in his heart。〃
〃I have treated him too well for him to do me any harm；〃 said Liu Bei。
So he mounted and rode away； the two brothers following。 They came to the camp。
The host said； 〃Now by a special effort I have got you out of danger。 I hope you will not forget that when you e into your own。〃
Liu Bei thanked him heartily and was invited to take a seat。 Guan Yu and Zhang Fei took up their usual place as guards。
But when Ji Ling was announced； Liu Bei felt a spasm of fear and got up to go away。
〃You two are invited for the particular purpose of a discussion；〃 said the host。 〃Do not take it amiss。〃
Liu Bei； being quite ignorant of his intentions； was very uneasy。 Presently his fellow guest entered。 Seeing Liu Bei in the tent； and in the seat of honor； Ji Ling was puzzled； hesitated and tried to withdraw。 But the attendants prevented this and Lu Bu； advancing； laid hold of him and drew him into the tent as if he had been a child。
〃Do you wish to slay me？〃 asked Ji Ling。
〃Not at all；〃 replied Lu Bu。
〃Then you are going to slay Long…Ears？〃
〃No； not that。〃
〃Then what does it mean？〃
〃Liu Bei and I are brothers。 Now； General； you are besieging him； and so I have e to the rescue。〃
〃Then slay me；〃 said Ji Ling。
〃There would be no sense in that。 All my life I have disliked fighting and quarrels； but have loved making peace。 And now I want to settle the quarrel between you two。〃
〃May I ask how you think of doing so？〃
〃I have a means and one approved of Heaven itself。〃
Then Lu Bu drew Ji Ling within the tent and led him up to Liu Bei。 The two men faced each other； full of mutual suspicion； but their host placed himself between them and they took their seats； Liu Bei on the right hand of the host。
The banquet began。 After a number of courses almost in silence； Lu Bu spoke； saying； 〃I wish you two gentlemen to listen to me and put an end to your strife。〃
Liu Bei made no reply； but Ji Ling said； 〃I have e with an army of one hundred thousand at the express bidding of my master to take Liu Bei。 How can I cease the strife？ I must fight。〃
〃What！〃 exclaimed Zhang Fei drawing his sword。 〃Few as we are； we regard you no more than a lot of children。 What are you pared with a million Yellow Scarves？ You dare hurt our brother！〃
Guan Yu urged him to be silent； saying； 〃Let us see what General Lu Bu has to say first。 After that there will be time to go to our tents and fight。〃
〃I beg you both to e to an understanding。 I cannot let you fight；〃 said Lu Bu。
Now on one side Ji Ling was discontented and angry； on the other Zhang Fei was dying for a fight； and neither of the two chiefly concerned would signify assent。
Then suddenly the host turned to his attendants； saying； 〃Bring my trident halberd！〃
They did so； and he sat there gripping that graceful but effective weapon in his right hand。 Both guests felt very ill at ease and turned pale。
Lu Bu went on； saying； 〃I have tried to persuade you to make peace； for that is the mand of the Most High。 It shall be put to the test。〃
He then bade his servants take the halberd outside beyond the gate and set it up。
Then speaking to his two guests； he said； 〃That gate is one hundred and fifty paces distant。 If I can hit that left branch of the halberd…head with an arrow； you will both withdraw your armies。 If I miss； you can go away and prepare for immediate battle。 I shall stand against either of you who does not abide by what I say。〃
Ji Ling thought to himself； 〃That small mark at that distance！ How could anyone hit it？〃
So he assented； thinking he would have plenty of fighting after his host had missed the mark。 Of course Liu Bei was willing。
They all sat down again and wine was served。 When this had been drunk； the host called for his bow and arrows。 Liu Bei silently prayed that Lu Bu would hit the mark。
Lu Bu turned back his sleeves； carefully fitted an arrow to the string and pulled the bow to its utmost stretch。 A slight exclamation escaped him as the bow curved like the harvest moon sailing through the sky。 〃Twang！〃 went the bowstring； and the arrow sped like a falling star。 And it struck the slender tongue of the halberd head full and square。 A roar of acclamation from all sides greeted the exploit。
The multitude people often hail their praise：
O Lu Bu was a wonderful archer；
And the arrow he shot sped straight；
By hitting the mark he saved his friend
That day at his camp gate。
Hou Yi； the archer of ancient days；
Brought down each mocking sun；
And the apes that gibbered to fright Yang Youji
Were slain by him； one by one。
But we sing of Lu Bu that drew the bow；
And his feathered shaft that flew；
For one hundred thousand soldiers could doff their mails
When he hit the mark so true。
Lu Bu laughed loud at the success of his shot。
Dropping his bow he seized his guests by the hands； saying； 〃The mand of Heaven indeed！ And now you cease from fighting！〃
He ordered the soldier attendants to pour out great goblets of wine and each drank。 Liu Bei in his inmost heart felt rather lucky； his fellow guest sat silent； nodding his head。
Presently Ji Ling said； 〃I cannot disobey your mand； General； but let me depart。 What will my master say and will he believe me？〃
〃I will write a letter and confirm it；〃 said Lu Bu。
After a few more rounds of the wine； Ji Ling asked that he might have the letter and after that departed。
When the brothers took their leave； Lu Bu again reminded Liu Bei； saying； 〃Do not forget I have delivered you today！〃
Liu Bei thanked him and departed。 Next day the leaders broke camps； and the soldiers were gone。
When Ji Ling had got back to the South of River Huai and told the story of the feat of archery and the peace making that followed； and had presented the letter； his lord was very wroth。
〃Lu Bu repays me for all my grain with this bit of play acting！〃 cried Yuan Shu。 〃He has saved Liu Bei； but I will lead a large army myself and settle both Liu Bei and him。〃
〃Be careful； my lord；〃 said Ji Ling。 〃Lu Bu is braver and stronger than most leaders and has a wide territory。 He and Liu Bei together make a powerful bination； not easy to break。 But there is another course。 I have found out that his wife； Lady Yan； has a daughter just of marriageable age； and as you have a son； you could arrange a marriage alliance with Lu Bu。 If his daughter wedded your son； Lu Bu would certainly slay your enemy for you。 This is called 'Relative…above…Stranger' plan。〃
This scheme appealed to Yuan Shu； who soon set about its acplishment。 He sent presents by the hand of Han Yin； who was to discuss the question。
＇e＇ Jin was a state that occupied the western part of the empire； in the mountainous area north of the Yellow River。 During the Spring and Autumn period； under the leadership of Duke Wen and his successors； Jin grew into a very large state； which broke into three states in the Warring States period。 Qin was a western…most state existed in both Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods。 Because Jin blocked its way to the east； Qin was shielded from the wars in the central plain。 Wars between Qin and Jin were not few； but intermarriages between the two houses were frequent； and this alliance strengthened both states。 。。。。。
When Han Yin saw Lu Bu； he said； 〃My master has an immense respect for you； Illustrious Sir； and he desires to ensure perpetual alliance between the two families by a marriage； an alliance such as existed between the ancient states of Qin and Jin*。〃
Lu Bu was well disposed toward the scheme； but went in to consult his wife。 Now Lu Bu had two wives and one concubine。 He first married a lady of the Yan family； and she was the legal wife。 Then he took Diao Chan as a concubine。 And while he was living at Xiaopei； he had married a secondary wife； a daughter of Cao Bao。 Lady Cao had died quite young leaving no issue。 Neither had Diao Chan borne any children。 So that Lu Bu had but one child； this daughter； of whom he was dotingly fond。
When he broached the subject； his wife said； 〃The Yuans have dominated the regions around the River Huai these many years。 They have a large army and are very prosperous。 One day a Yuan will bee emperor； and our daughter may hope to be an empress。 But how many sons has Yuan Shu？〃
〃Only this one。〃
〃Then we should accept the offer。 Even if our daughter does not bee Empress； Xuzhou has a new ally。〃
Lu Bu decided to accept and so treated the messenger with extreme generosity。 Han Yin went back with a favorable answer。 The wedding gifts were then prepared ready for Han Yin to take to the bride's family。 They were received and banquets and merry…making filled all the time。
Next day Chen Gong went to see the messenger in his lodging； and when the usual ceremonies and greetings had been exchanged； the two men sat down to talk。
When the servants had been sent out of earshot； Chen Gong said； 〃Who originated this scheme by which Yuan Shu and Lu Bu are to bee connections by this marriage so that Liu Bei's head may fall？〃
Han Yin was terrified。 〃I pray you not to let it get abroad；〃 said he。
〃I certainly shall keep it secret。 But if there be any delay； some other person will find it out and that spells failure；〃 said Chen Gong。
〃What would best be done？〃
〃I will see Lu Bu and get him to send the girl immediately so that the marriage may be concluded quickly。〃
〃If it happened thus； my master would indeed hold you in high respect。〃
With this Chen Gong took his leave and sought an interview with Lu Bu。
〃I hear your daughter is to be married to Yuan Shu's son。 That is capital； but no one knows when。〃
〃That has yet to be considered；〃 said Lu Bu。
〃There were certain fixed rules as to the period between sending presents and consummation of the marriage： Emperors； a year； nobles； half a year； high officers； three months； and mon people； one month。〃
Lu Bu replied； 〃As to Yuan Shu； Heaven has already put into his hands the Imperial Hereditary Seal； and he will surely arrive at the dignity one day。 So； I should think the imperial rule would apply。〃
〃No； it will not。〃
〃The nobles' rule； then？〃
〃No； nor that。〃
〃The high officers'？〃
〃Not even that。〃
Lu Bu laughed； saying； 〃Then you mean me to go by