〃He left the banquet…hall quite suddenly； and I know not whither he has gone；〃 was the reply。
Now Zhao Yun was cautious and careful and had no desire to act hastily； so he urged his horse forward till he came to the river。 There he was checked by a torrent without ford or bridge。
At once he turned back and shouted after Cai Mao； 〃You invited my lord to a feast。 What means this going after him with a squadron of horse？〃
Cai Mao replied； 〃It is my duty to guard the officials of forty…two counties who have assembled here； as I am the Chief mander。〃
〃Whither have you driven my lord？〃 asked Zhao Yun。
〃They tell me he rode quite alone out through the west gate； but I have not seen him。〃
Zhao Yun was anxious and doubtful。 Again he rode to the river and looked around。 This time he noticed a wet track on the farther side。 He thought to himself that it was almost an impossible crossing for a person and a horse； so he ordered his followers to scatter and search。 But they also could find no trace of Liu Bei。
Zhao Yun turned again to the city。 By the time he had reached the wall； Cai Mao had gone within。 He then questioned the gate wardens； and they all agreed in saying that Liu Bei had ridden out at full gallop。 That was all they knew。 Fearing to reenter the city lest he should fall into an ambush； Zhao Yun started for Xinye。
After that marvelous life…saving leap over the Tan Torrent； Liu Bei felt elated but rather dazed。
He could not help telling himself； 〃My safety is due to an especial interposition of Providence。〃
Following a tortuous path； he urged his steed toward Nanzhang。 But the sun sank to the west and his destination seemed yet a long way off。 Then he saw a young cowherd seated on the back of a buffalo and playing on a short flute。
〃If I were only as happy！〃 sighed Liu Bei。
He checked his horse and looked at the lad； who stopped his beast； ceased playing on the pipe； and stared fixedly at the stranger。
〃You must be Liu Bei； the general who fought the Yellow Scarves；〃 said the boy presently。
Liu Bei was taken aback。
〃How can you know my name； a young rustic like you living in such a secluded place？〃 said he。
〃Of course I do not know you； but my master often has visitors； and they all talk about Liu Bei； the tall man whose hands hang down below his knees and whose eyes are very prominent。 They say he is the most famous man of the day。 Now you； General； are just such a man as they talk about； and surely you are he。〃
〃Well； who is your master？〃
〃My master's name is Sima Hui。 He belongs to Yingchuan and his Taoist appellation is Water Mirror。〃
〃Who are your master's friends that you mentioned？〃
〃They are Pang Degong and Pang Tong of Xiangyang。〃
〃And who are they？〃
〃Uncle and nephew。 Pang Degong is ten years older than my master； the other is five years younger。 One day my master was up in a tree picking mulberries when Pang Tong arrived。 They began to talk and kept it up all day； my master did not e down till the evening。 My master is very fond of Pang Tong and calls him brother。〃
〃And where does your master live？〃
〃In that wood there； in front；〃 said the cowherd pointing to it。 〃There he has a farmstead。〃
〃I really am Liu Bei； and you might lead me to your master that I may salute him。〃
The cowherd led the way for about one mile； when Liu Bei found himself in front of a farm house。 He dismounted and went to the center door。 Suddenly came to his ear the sound of a lute most skillfully played and the air was extremely beautiful。 He stopped his guide and would not allow him to announce a visitor； but stood there rapt by the melody。
Suddenly the music ceased。
He heard a deep laugh and a man appeared； saying； 〃Amidst the clear and subtle sounds of the lute； there suddenly rang out a high note as though some noble man was near。〃
〃That is my master；〃 said the lad pointing。
Liu Bei saw before him a figure slender and straight as a pine tree； a very 〃chosen vessel〃。 Hastening forward he saluted。 The skirt of his robe was still wet from the river。
〃You have escaped from a grave danger today； Sir；〃 said Water Mirror。
Liu Bei was startled into silence； and the cowherd said to his master； 〃This is Liu Bei。〃
Water Mirror asked him to enter； and when they were seated in their relative positions as host and guest； Liu Bei glanced round the room。 Upon the bookshelves were piled books and manuscripts。 The window opened upon an exquisite picture of pines and bamboos and a lute lay upon a stone couch。 The room showed refinement in its last degree。
〃Whence e you； Illustrious Sir？〃 asked the host。
〃By chance I was passing this way and the lad pointed you out to me。 So I came to bow in your honored presence。 I cannot tell what pleasure it gives me。〃
Water Mirror laughed； saying； 〃Why this mystery？ Why must you conceal the truth？ You have certainly just escaped from a grave danger。〃
Then Liu Bei told the story of the banquet and the flight。
〃I knew it all from your appearance；〃 said his host。 〃Your name has long been familiar； but whence es it that； up to the present； you are only a homeless devil？〃
〃I have suffered many a check during my life；〃 said Liu Bei； 〃and through one of them am I here now。〃
〃It should not be so。 But the reason is that you still lack the one person to aid you。〃
〃I am simple enough in myself； I know。 But I have Sun Qian； Mi Zhu； and Jian Yong on the civil side； and for warriors I have Guan Yu； Zhang Fei； and Zhao Yun。 These are all most loyal helpers； and I depend upon them not a little。〃
〃Your fighting generals are good： Fit to oppose a legion。 The pity is you have no really able adviser。 Your civilians are but pallid students of books； not people fitted to weave and control destiny。〃
〃I have always yearned to find one of those marvelous recluses who live among the hills till their day arrive。 So far I have sought in vain。〃
〃You know what the Teacher Confucius said； 'In a hamlet of ten households there must be one true person。' Can you say there is no one？〃
〃I am simple and uninstructed。 I pray you enlighten me。〃
〃You have heard what the street children sing：
〃In eight and nine years begins decay；
Four years； then es the fateful day；
When destiny will show the way；
And the dragon flies out of the mire！
〃This song was first heard when the new reign style was adopted。 The first line was fulfilled when Imperial Protector Liu Biao lost his first wife； and when his family troubles began。 The next line relates to the approaching death of Liu Biao； and there is not a single person among all his crowd of officers who has the least ability。 The last two lines will be fulfilled in you； General。〃
Liu Bei started up in surprise； crying； 〃How could such a thing be？〃
Water Mirror continued； 〃At this moment the marvelously clever people of the earth are all here and you； Sir； ought to seek them。〃
〃Where are they？ Who are they？〃 said Liu Bei quickly。
〃If you could find either Sleeping Dragon or Young Phoenix； you could restore order in the empire。〃
〃But who are these two？〃
His host clapped his hands； smiled and said； 〃Good； very good！〃
When Liu Bei persisted and pressed home his questions； Water Mirror said； 〃It is getting late。 You might stay the night here； General； and we will talk over these things tomorrow。〃
He called to a lad to bring wine and food for his guest and his horse was taken to the stable and fed。 After Liu Bei had eaten； he was shown to a chamber opening off the main room and went to bed。 But the words of his host would not be banished； and he lay there only dozing till far into the night。
Suddenly he became fully awake at the sound of a knock at the door and a person entering。 And he heard his host say； 〃Where are you from？〃
Liu Bei rose from his couch and listened secretly。
He heard the visitor reply； 〃It has long been said that Liu Biao treated good people and bad people as they each should be treated。 So I went to see for myself。 But that reputation is undeserved。 He does treat good people correctly but he cannot use them； and he treats wicked people in the right way； all but dismissing them。 So I left a letter for him and went away。 And here I am。〃
Water Mirror replied； 〃You； capable enough to be the adviser of a king； ought to be able to find someone fit to serve。 Why did you cheapen yourself so far as to go to Liu Biao？ Beside； there is a real hero right under your eyes and you do not know him。〃
〃It is just as you say；〃 replied the stranger。
Liu Bei listened with great joy for he thought this visitor was certainly one of the two he was advised to look for。 Liu Bei would have shown himself then and there； but he thought that would look strange。 So he waited till daylight； when he sought out his host。
〃Who was it came last night？〃 said Liu Bei。
〃A friend of mine；〃 was the reply。
Liu Bei begged for an introduction。 Water Mirror said； 〃He wants to find an enlightened master； and so he has gone elsewhere。〃
When Liu Bei asked his name； his host only replied； 〃Good； good！〃
And when Liu Bei asked who they were who went by the names of Sleeping Dragon and Young Phoenix； he only elicited the same reply。
Liu Bei then； bowing low before his host； begged him to leave the hills and help him to bring about the restoration of the ruling house to its prerogatives。
But Water Mirror replied； 〃People of the hills and woods are unequal to such a task。 However； there must be many far abler than I who will help you if you seek them。〃
While they were talking； they heard outside the farm the shouts of troops and neighing of horses； and a servant came in to say that a general with a large pany of soldiers had arrived。 Liu Bei went out hastily to see who these were and found Zhao Yun。 He was much relieved； and Zhao Yun dismounted and entered the house。
〃Last night； on my return to Xinye；〃 said Zhao Yun； 〃I could not find you； my lord； so I followed at once and traced you here。 I pray you return quickly； as I fear an attack on the city。〃
So Liu Bei took leave of his host； and the whole pany returned to Xinye。 Before they had gone far another army appeared； and； when they had e nearer； they saw Guan Yu and Zhang Fei。 They met with great joy； and Liu Bei told them of the wonderful leap his horse had made over the torrent。 All expressed surprise and pleasure。
As soon as they reached the city； a council was called and Zhao Yun said； 〃You ought first of all to indite a letter to Liu Biao telling him all these things。〃
The letter was prepared and Sun Qian bore it to the seat of government in Jingzhou City。 He was received； and Liu Biao at once asked the reason of Liu Bei hasty flight from the festival。 Whereupon the letter was presented； and the bearer related the machinations of Cai Mao and told of the escape and the amazing leap over the Tan Torrent。
Liu Biao was very angry； sent for Cai Mao； and berated him soundly； saying； 〃How dare you try to hurt my brother？〃
And he ordered Cai Mao out to execution。
Liu Biao's wife； Cai Mao's sister； prayed for a remission of the death penalty； but Liu Biao refused to be appeased。
Then spoke Sun Qian； saying； 〃If you put Cai Mao to death； I fear Uncle Liu Bei will be unable to remain here。〃
Then Cai Mao was reprieved； but dismissed with a severe reprimand。
Liu Biao sent his elder son Liu Qi back with Sun Qian to apologize。 When Liu Qi reached Xinye；