Liu Biao sent his elder son Liu Qi back with Sun Qian to apologize。 When Liu Qi reached Xinye； Liu Bei weled him and gave a banquet in his honor。
After some little drinking； the chief guest suddenly began to weep and presently said； 〃My step mother； Lady Cai； always cherishes a wish to put me out of the way； and I do not know how to avoid her anger。 Could you advise me； Uncle？〃
Liu Bei exhorted him to be careful and perfectly filial and nothing could happen。 Soon after； the young man took his leave and wept at parting。
Liu Bei escorted Liu Qi well on his way and； pointing to his steed； said； 〃I owe my life to this horse。 Had it not been for him； I had been already below the Nine Golden Springs。〃
〃It was not the strength of the horse； but your noble fortune； Uncle。〃
They parted； the young man weeping bitterly。 On reentering the city； Liu Bei met a person in the street wearing a hempen turban； a cotton robe confined by a black girdle； and black shoes。 He came along singing a song：
〃The universe is rived； O！ Now nears the end of all。
The noble mansion quakes； O！ What beam can stay the fall？
A wise one waits his lord； O！ But hidden in the glen；
The seeker knows not him； O！ Nor me； of mon humans。〃
Liu Bei listened。
〃Surely this is one of the people Water Mirror spoke of；〃 thought he。
He dismounted； spoke to the singer； and invited him into his residence。 Then when they were seated； he asked the stranger's name。
〃I am from Yingchuan； and my name is San Fu。 I have known you by repute for a long time； and they said you appreciated humans of ability。 I wanted to e to you but every way of getting an introduction seemed closed。 So I bethought me of attracting your notice by singing that song in the market place。〃
Liu Bei thought he had found a treasure and treated the newer with the greatest kindness。 Then San Fu spoke of the horse that he had seen Liu Bei riding and asked to look at it。 So the animal was brought round。
〃Is not this a Dilu horse？〃 said San Fu。 〃But though it is a good steed； it risks his master。 You must not ride it。〃
〃It has already fulfilled the omens；〃 said Liu Bei； and he related the story of the leap over the Tan Torrent。
〃But that was saving his master； not risking him。 It will surely harm someone in the end。 But I can tell you how to avert the omen。〃
〃I should be glad to hear it；〃 said Liu Bei。
〃If you have an enemy against whom you bear a grudge； give him this horse and wait till it has fulfilled the evil omens on this person； then you can ride it in safety。〃
Liu Bei changed color。
〃What； Sir！ You are but a new acquaintance； and you would advise me to take an evil course and to harm another for my own advantage？ No； Sir！ I cannot listen。〃
His guest smiled； saying； 〃People said you were virtuous。 I could not ask you directly； so I put it that way to test you。〃
Liu Bei's expression changed。 He rose and returned the pliment； saying； 〃But how can I be virtuous while I lack your teaching？〃
〃When I arrived here； I heard the people saying：
〃Since Liu Bei came here； O blessed day！
We've had good luck； long may he stay！
〃So you see； the effects of your virtue extend to the ordinary people。〃
Thereupon San Fu was made manding Adviser of the army。
The one idea that held Cao Cao after his return from Jizhou was the capture of Jingzhou。 He sent Cao Ren and Li Dian； with the two brothers Lu Xiang and Lu Kuang who had surrendered； to camp at Fancheng with thirty thousand troops and so threaten Jingzhou and Xiangyang。 Thence he sent spies to find out the weak points。
Then the two Lu Xiang and Lu Kuang petitioned Cao Ren； saying； 〃Liu Bei is strengthening his position at Xinye and laying in large supplies。 Some great scheme is afoot； and he should be checked。 Since our surrender we have performed no noteworthy service and； if you will give us five thousand soldiers； we promise to bring you the head of Liu Bei。〃
Cao Ren was only too glad； and the expedition set out。 The scouts reported this to Liu Bei who turned to San Fu for advice。
San Fu said； 〃They must not be permitted to cross the boundary。 Send Guan Yu and Zhang Fei left and right； each with one thousand troops； one to attack the enemy on the march； the other to cut off the retreat。 You and Zhao Yun will make a front attack。〃
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei started； and then Liu Bei went out at the gate with two thousand troops to oppose the enemy。 Before they had gone far they saw a great cloud of dust behind the hills。 This marked the approach of the Lu brothers。 Presently； both sides being arrayed； Liu Bei rode out and stood by his standard。
He called out； 〃Who are you who thus would encroach on my territory？〃
〃I am the great General Lu Kuang； and I have the order of the Prime Minister to make you prisoner！〃 said the leader。
Liu Bei ordered Zhao Yun to go out； and the two generals engaged。 Very soon Zhao Yun with a spear thrust had disposed of his opponent； and Liu Bei gave the signal to attack。 Lu Xiang could not maintain his position and led his troops off。 Soon his force found themselves attacked by an army rushing in from the side led by Guan Yu。 The loss was more than a half； and the remainder fled for safety。
About three miles farther on they found their retreat barred by an army under Zhang Fei； who stood in the way with a long spear ready to thrust； crying out； 〃Zhang Fei is waiting！〃
Zhang Fei bore down upon Lu Xiang； who was slain without a chance of striking a blow。 The troops again fled in disorder。 They were pursued by Liu Bei； and the greater part killed or captured。
Then Liu Bei returned into Xinye where he rewarded San Fu and feasted his victorious soldiers。
Some of the defeated troops took the news of the deaths of the leaders and the capture of their rades to Cao Ren at Fancheng。
Cao Ren； much distressed； consulted Li Dian who advised； saying； 〃The loss is due to our underestimation of our enemy。 Now we should stay where we are； hold on； and request reinforcements。〃
〃Not so；〃 said Cao Ren。 〃We cannot support calmly the death of two leaders and the loss of so many soldiers。 We must avenge them quickly。 Xinye is but a crossbow…slug of a place and not worth disturbing the Prime Minister for。〃
〃Liu Bei is a man of metal；〃 said Li Dian。 〃Do not esteem him lightly。〃
〃What are you afraid of？〃 said Cao Ren。
〃The Rule of War says 'To know your enemy and yourself is the secret of victory；'〃 replied Li Dian。 〃I am not afraid of the battle； but I do not think we can conquer。〃
〃You are a traitor！〃 cried Cao Ren angrily。 〃Then I will capture Liu Bei myself。〃
〃Do so。 I will guard this city；〃 said Li Dian。
〃If you do not go with me； it is a proof that you are a traitor；〃 retorted Cao Ren。
At this reproach； Li Dian felt constrained to join the expedition。 So they told off twenty five thousand troops with which they crossed the River Yu for Xinye。
The officers all keenly felt the shame of many slain；
The chief determines on revenge and marches out again。
What measure of success the expedition met with will be related in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 36 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Shan Fu's Strategy： Fankou Is Captured；
Xu Shu's Affection： Zhuge Liang Is Remended。
In hot anger； Cao Ren lost no time in marching out to avenge the loss of so many of his army。 He hastily crossed the River Yu to attack Xinye and trample it in the dust。
When San Fu got back into the city； he said to Liu Bei； 〃When Cao Ren； now at Fancheng； hears of his losses； he will try to retrieve them and will e to attack us。〃
〃What is the counter move？〃 asked Liu Bei。
〃As he will e with all his force； his own city will be left undefended。 We will surprise it。〃
〃By what ruse？〃
The adviser leaned over and whispered to his chief。 Whatever the plan was； it pleased Liu Bei； who made arrangements。 Soon the scouts reported Cao Ren crossing the river with a mighty host。
〃Just as I guessed；〃 said San Fu； hearing of it。
Then he suggested that Liu Bei should lead out one army against the invaders。 Liu Bei did so； and； when the formation was plete； Zhao Yun rode to the front as champion and challenged the other side。
Li Dian rode out and engaged。 At about the tenth bout Li Dian found he was losing and retired toward his own side。 Zhao Yun pressed after him； but was checked by a heavy discharge of arrows from the wings。 Then both sides stopped the battle and retired to their camps。
Li Dian reported to his chief： 〃Our enemy are brave； very full of spirit； and we will be hard to overe。 We had better retreat to Fancheng and wait for reinforcements。〃
Cao Ren angrily replied； 〃You damped the army's spirit before we started； and now you betray us。 You have been bought； and you deserve death。〃
Cao Ren called in the executioners； and they led away their victim。 But the other officers came to intercede； and Li Dian was spared。 However； he was transferred to the mand of the rear； while Cao Ren himself led the attack。
Next day the drums beat an advance and Cao Ren； having drawn up his soldiers； sent a messenger over to ask if Liu Bei recognized his plan of battle array。
So San Fu went on a hill and looked over it。
Then he said to Liu Bei； 〃The arrangement is called 'The Eight Docked Gates；' and the names of the gates are Birth； Exit； Expanse； Wound； Fear； Annihilation； Obstacle； and Death。 If you enter by one of the three Birth； Exit； or Expanse you succeed。 If by one of the gates Wound； Fear； or Annihilation； you sustain injuries。 The other two gates Obstacles and Death will bring the end。 Now； though the eight gates are all there quite correct； the central key…post is lacking； and the whole formation can be thrown into confusion by entry from the southeast and exit due west。〃
Wherefore certain orders were issued and Zhao Yun； leading five hundred troops； rode out on his prancing steed to break the array。 He burst in； as directed； at the southeast and； with great clamor and fighting； reached the center。 Cao Ren made for the north； but Zhao Yun； instead of following him； made a dash westward and got through。 Thence he turned round to the southeast again and smote till Cao Ren's army was in disarray。 Liu Bei gave a general advance signal； and the victory was plete。 The beaten enemy retired。
San Fu forbade pursuit； and they returned。 The loss of the battle convinced Cao Ren of the wisdom of his colleague Li Dian； and he sent for Li Dian to consult。
〃They certainly have some very able person in Liu Bei's army since my formation was so quickly broken；〃 said Cao Ren。
〃My chief anxiety is about Fancheng；〃 said Li Dian。
〃I will raid their camp this night；〃 said Cao Ren。 〃If I succeed； we will decide upon what should be done next。 If I fail； we will return to Fancheng。〃
〃Their camp will be well prepared against such a thing； and you will fail；〃 said Li Dian。
〃How can you expect to fight successfully when you are so full of doubts？〃 said Cao Ren； angrily。
He held no more converse with his cautious colleague； but himself took mand of the van and set out。 Li Dian was relegated to the rear。 The attack on the enemy's camp was fixed for the second watch。
Now as San Fu was discussing plans with his chief a whirlwind from the northeast went by； which San Fu said； 〃There will be a raid on the camp tonight。〃
〃How shall we meet