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 when he arrived； the steed was led into the back part of the enclosure and tethered there。 Soon the guests arrived； and Liu Bei took his place as master of the feast； with the two sons of the Imperial Protector； one on each side。 The guests were all arranged in order of rank。 Zhao Yun stood near his lord sword in hand as a faithful henchman should do。
Then Wen Ping and Wang Wei came to invite Zhao Yun to the banquet they had prepared for the military officers。 But he declined。 However； Liu Bei told him to go； and； after some demur； he went。 Then Cai Mao perfected his final arrangements； placing his people surrounding the place like a ring of iron。 The three hundred guards that formed the escort of Liu Bei were sent away to the guest…house。
All were ready and awaiting the signal。 At the third course； Yi Ji took a goblet of wine in his hands and approached Liu Bei； at the same time giving him a meaningful look。 Then in a low voice he said； 〃Make an excuse to get sway。〃
Liu Bei understood and presently rose and went to the inner chamber； and then he went to the backyard。 There he found Yi Ji； who had gone thither after presenting the cup of wine。
Yi Ji then told him； saying； 〃Cai Mao plots to kill you； and all the roads have been guarded except that to the west。 My lord； you must lose no time to depart。〃
Liu Bei was quite taken aback。 However； he got hold of the Dilu horse； opened the door of the garden； and led it out。 Then he took a flying leap into the saddle and galloped off without waiting for the escort。 He made for the west gate。 At the gate the wardens wanted to question him； but he only whipped up his steed and rode through。 The guards at the gate ran off to report to Cai Mao； who quickly went in pursuit with five hundred soldiers。
As has been said Liu Bei burst out at the west gate。 Before he had gone far； there rolled before him a river barring the way。 It was the Tan Torrent； many score spans in width； which pours its waters into the River Xiang。 Its current was very swift。
Liu Bei reached the bank and saw the river was unfordable。 So he turned his horse and rode back。 Then； not far off； he saw a cloud of dust and knew that his pursuers were therein。 He thought that it was all over。 However； he turned again toward the swift river； and seeing the soldiers now quite near； plunged into the stream。 A few paces； and he felt the horse's fore legs floundering in front； while the water rose over the skirt of his robe。
Then he plied the whip furiously； crying； 〃Dilu； Dilu； why betray me？〃
Whereupon the good steed suddenly reared up out of the water and； with one tremendous leap； was on the western bank。 Liu Bei felt as if he had e out of the clouds。
In after years the famous court official； Su Dongpo； wrote a poem on this leap over the Tan Torrent：
I'm growing old； the leaves are sere；
My sun slopes westward； soon will sink；
And I recall that yesteryear
I wandered by Tan River brink。
Irresolute； anon I paused；
Anon advanced； and gazed around；
I marked the autumn's reddened leaves；
And watched them eddying to the ground。
I thought of all the mighty deeds
Of him who set the House of Han
On high； and all the struggles since；
The battlefields； the blood that ran。
I saw the nobles gathered round
The board； set in the Banquet Hall；
Amid them； one； above whose head
There hung a sword about to fall。
I saw him quit that festive throng
And westward ride； a lonely way；
I saw a squadron follow swift；
Intent the fugitive to slay。
I saw him reach the River Tan；
Whose swirling current rushes by；
Adown the bank he galloped fast；
〃Now leap； my steed！〃 I heard him cry。
His steed's hoofs churn the swollen stream；
What chills he that the waves run high？
He hears the sound of clashing steel；
Of thundering squadrons ing nigh。
And upward from the foaming waves
I saw two peerless beings soar；
One was a destined western king；
And him another dragon bore。
The Tan still rolls from east to west。
Its roaring torrent never dry。
Those dragons twain； ah！ Where are they？
Yes； where？ But there is no reply。
The setting sun； in dark relief
Against the glowing western sky。
Throws out the everlasting hills
While； saddened； here I stand and sigh。
Humans died to found the kingdoms three；
Which now as misty dreams remain。
Of greatest deeds the traces oft
Are faint that fleeting years retain。
Thus Liu Bei crossed the rolling river。 Then he turned and looked back at the other bank which his pursuers had just gained。
〃Why did you run sway from the feast？〃 called out Cai Mao。
〃Why did you wish to harm a person who has done you no injury？〃 replied Liu Bei。
〃I have never thought of such a thing。 Do not listen to what people say to you。〃
But Liu Bei saw that his enemy was fitting an arrow to his bowstring； so he whipped up his steed and rode away southwest。
〃What spirits aided him？〃 said Cai Mao to his followers。
Then Cai Mao turned to go back to the city； but in the gate he saw Zhao Yun ing out at the head of his pany of guards。
By wondrous leap the dragon steed his rider's life could save；
Now follows him； on vengeance bent； his master's henchman brave。
The next chapters will tell what fate befell the traitor。
Main Next to Chapter 35 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 35
Chapter 35
Liu Bei Meets A Recluse At Nanzhang；
Shan Fu Sees A Noble Lord At Xinye。
Just as Cai Mao was going into the city； he met Zhao Yun and his three hundred ing out。 It had happened that； while at the banquet； Zhao Yun had noticed some movement of soldiers and horses and had at once gone to the banquet…hall to see if all was well with his lord。 Missing Liu Bei from his place； Zhao Yun had bee anxious and gone to the guest…house。 There he heard that Cai Mao had gone off to the west gate with troops。 So he quickly took his spear； mounted and went； he and the escort； in hot haste along the same road。
Meeting Cai Mao near the gate； he said； 〃Where is my lord？〃
〃He left the banquet…hall quite suddenly； and I know not