For skill in letters he was famed；
In speech； he dukes and princes shamed；
Historians his merits tell；
Recorders say that he did well。
After wreaking his wrath on Kong Rong； Cao Cao issued the order to march。 Xun Yu was left in mand of the capital。
About this time the Imperial Protector of Jingzhou became seriously ill； and he summoned Liu Bei to his chamber。 Liu Bei went acpanied by his two brothers； Guan Yu and Zhang Fei； and Directing Instructor Zhuge Liang。
Liu Biao said； 〃The disease has attacked my very vitals； and my time is short。 I confide my orphans to your guardianship。 My sons is unfit to succeed to my place； and I pray you； my brother； administer the region after my death。〃
Liu Bei wept； saying； 〃I will do my utmost to help my nephews。 What else could I do； indeed？〃
Even at this moment came the news of the march of Cao Cao's armies； and Liu Bei； taking hasty leave of his kinsman； was forced to hurry to his station。 The evil tidings aggravated the sick man's condition； and he began to make his last arrangements。 In his testament he appointed Liu Bei the guardian of his son Liu Qi； who was to succeed in the lordship。
This arrangement greatly angered his wife； Lady Cai。 She closed the inner doors against all and confided to her own partisans； of whom Cai Mao and Zhang Yun were her confidants； the keeping of the outer gates。
The heir was at Jiangxia； and he came to make filial inquiries as soon as his father's condition became serious。
But Cai Mao refused him admittance and said； 〃Your father sent you to guard Jiangxia。 Such a very responsible post should by no means have been quitted without orders。 Suppose it was attacked； what might not happen？ If your father sees you； he will be very angry； and it will make him worse。 That would be most undutiful； and you should return to your mand at once。〃
Liu Qi stood out for some time； but admittance was denied him in spite of his tears。 So he returned to his post。 Meanwhile Liu Biao rapidly grew worse。 He anxiously looked for his son； but Liu Qi came not。 Suddenly Liu Biao uttered piercing shrieks and then passed away。
When the Yuans were lords of the north；
And Liu Biao held the bank of the river；
It seemed； so strong were they both；
That they would endure forever。
But the family affairs troubled their states；
And； meddling； confusion made；
It was mournful indeed to see
How quickly the houses decayed。
So Imperial Protector Liu Biao died。 Then the widow and her partisans took counsel together and forged a testament conferring the lordship of Jingzhou on the second son Liu Zong before they published the news of the death。
The wrongful heir was then fourteen years of age。 But he was a cunning boy； so he assembled the officials and said； 〃My father has passed away； and my elder brother is at Jiangxia。 More than that； our uncle is at Xinye。 You have made me lord； but if my brother and uncle e here with an army to punish me for usurping the lordship； what explanation can I offer？〃
At first no one replied。
Then Adviser Li Gui rose and said； 〃You speak well。 Now hasten to send letters of mourning to your brother and ask him to e and take his inheritance。 Also call upon Liu Bei to e and assist in the administration。 Then shall we be safe against our enemies………Cao Cao on the north and Sun Quan on the south。 I consider this the most excellent plan。〃
But Cai Mao replied harshly； 〃Who are you to speak thus wildly and oppose the testament of our late lord？〃
Li Gui began to abuse him； saying； 〃You and your party have fabricated this testament； setting aside the rightful heir。 Now the whole region is in the hands of the Cai family。 If our dead lord knew your doings； he would slay you！〃
Cai Mao ordered the lictors to take Li Gui away to execution。 He was hurried out； but his tongue ceased not。
So the younger son was placed in his father's seat； and the Cai clan shared among them the whole military authority of the region。 The defense of Jingzhou was confided to Liu Xin and Deng Yi； while Lady Cai and her son took up their residence in Xiangyang so as to be out of the reach of the rightful heir and his uncle。 They interred the remains of the late Imperial Protector on the east of Xiangyang； near the bank of the Han River。 No notice of the death was sent to Liu Qi； the son； or to Liu Bei； his uncle。
Liu Zong arrived at Xiangyang； but； before he had had time to recover from the fatigue of the journey； the startling news of the approach of Cao Cao's great army came in。 He summoned Kuai Yue and Cai Mao and others to ask counsel。
One of the secretaries； Fu Xuan； offered his advice； saying； 〃Not only are we threatened by a great army from the north； but the elder son； who is the real heir； at Jiangxia； and his uncle at Xinye； are to be reckoned with。 These two have not been notified of the death； and they will resent that。 We shall be in sad case if they also march against us。 But if you will adopt my suggestion； then our people will be as steady as Taishan Mountains and our young lord's position and rank will be assured。〃
〃What is your plan？〃 asked the young lord。
〃To offer the whole region to Cao Cao； who will treat our young master most liberally。〃
〃What advice！〃 said Liu Zong angrily。 〃Am I to yield my heritage to another before I have even fairly succeeded to it？〃
〃The advice is good；〃 said Kuai Yue。 〃Opportunism is a policy； and possibilities need consideration。 In the name of government； Cao Cao is fighting against his neighbors。 If our lord opposes him； he will be termed contumacious。 Beside； any misfortune on our borders before our young lord is well established will react upon the internal administration； and our people will be panic…stricken at the mere news of the approach of a hostile army。 How could we then offer any resistance？〃
Liu Zong replied； 〃It is not that I disagree with you； but I should be a laughing stock to the whole world were I to abandon my heritage without an effort。〃
He was interrupted by a speaker who said； 〃If their advice is good； why not follow it？〃
They turned toward the speaker who was a certain Wang Can of Shanyang； a lean； cadaverous individual much below the middle height of a man。
However； his talents did not conform to his physical appearance。 When he was yet a youth； he went to visit Minister Cai Yong； then a vice…chairman of the Secretariat； and although many guests of exalted rank were present； the host hastened to wele the newer with the greatest deference。 The others were astonished and asked why he was so respectful to a mere youth。
〃He is a young man with the highest gifts；〃 said Cai Yong。
Wang Can was widely read and had a most retentive memory； better than any of his contemporaries。 If he glanced at a roadside monument as he passed； he remembered every word of the inscription。 If he saw people playing chess and the board was suddenly overthrown； he could replace every pip in its proper place。 He was a good mathematician and his poems were exquisite。 At seventeen he was appointed a court official but did not take up the appointment。 When the disturbance in the empire grew serious； he sought refuge in Jingzhou； where he was received with great honor as guest of the Imperial Protector。
What he said was this； 〃General； how do you pare with Cao Cao？〃
〃Inferior；〃 replied Liu Zong。
Wang Can continued； 〃Cao Cao has many soldiers and bold leaders。 He is able and resourceful。 He took Lu Bu at Xiapi and broke the power of Yuan Shao at Guandu。 He pursued Liu Bei into Longyou and destroyed Mao Dun at White Wolf Hills。 The destruction of such firmly established men shows his invincible character。 Now he is on the way here； and it will be very difficult to withstand him。 The plan proposed is the best you can expect； and you should not delay and hesitate till it is too late for ought but regret。〃
〃Worthy Sir； you indeed speak to the point。 I must inform my mother；〃 said the young ruler。
But just then they saw his mother appear from behind a screen。 She had been listening to all that was said。
〃Why refer to me when three such gentlemen coincide in their opinions？〃 said Lady Cai。
So Liu Zong decided； and the letter of surrender was posed and entrusted to one Song Zhong to convey secretly to Cao Cao。 Song Zhong went straight to Wancheng and presented the letter。 It was received with joy； and the bearer well rewarded。
The submission was accepted； and Cao Cao said； 〃Tell Liu Zong to go out to meet me in the open country； and he will be in perpetual tenure of his land。〃
Song Zhong left the city and took the homeward way。 He had nearly reached the ferry when he fell in with a party of horse。 On a closer look he saw the leader was Guan Yu。 The messenger tried to escape observation； but was presently captured and taken to the leader to be questioned。 At first he prevaricated but on being closely questioned told the whole story。 Then he was carried off to Xinye and made to retell his story to Liu Bei who heard it with lamentations。
Zhang Fei said； 〃This being so； I propose that we put this fellow to death； then cross the river； attack Xiangyang； and make an end of the Cai tribe and Liu Zong as well。 Then we can attack Cao Cao。〃
But Liu Bei replied； 〃Hold on。 I have something more to say。〃
Then turning to the prisoner； Liu Bei shouted； 〃When they did all this； why did you not e to tell me？ As things are now； there is nothing to be gained by killing you。 You may go。〃
Song Zhong stammered his thanks； threw his arms over his head； and ran away。 Liu Bei was very sad。
Presently Yi Ji from Jiangxia was announced。 Liu Bei was very fond of this man and went down the steps to wele him。
Then said Yi Ji； 〃The heir has heard that his father is dead； but his stepmother and her family are keeping back the news so that they may set up Liu Zong。 He knows the news is true； as he sent a special messenger to find out。 He thinks you； O Prince； may not know and has sent me to inform you； and his letter begs you to lead all the troops you can to Xiangyang to help him assert his claims。〃
Liu Bei opened and read the letter。
Then he said； 〃Yes； you know that the younger son has usurped the lordship； but you have not heard that he has already sent to offer Jingzhou to Cao Cao。〃
This news shocked Yi Ji； who asked； 〃How know you this？〃
Liu Bei told of the capture of Song Zhong。
Yi Ji said； 〃You can go to Xiangyang as if to attend the mourning ceremonies and so draw Liu Zong into ing out of the city to wele you。 Then you can seize him； slay his party； and take the region。〃
〃Your advice is good；〃 said Zhuge Liang； 〃and my lord ought to take it。〃
Liu Bei wept； saying； 〃In his last interview； my brother confided his son and heir to my care。 If I lay hands upon another son and seize upon the inheritance； how shall I be able to look my brother in the face when I meet him by and by beyond the grave？〃
〃If you do not act in this way now； how will you repel Cao Cao； who has already reached Wancheng？〃 said Zhuge Liang。
〃Our best plan is to take refuge in Fancheng；〃 replied Liu Bei。
Just about this time the spies came to say that Cao Cao's army had reached Bowang。 So Yi Ji was sent off with instructions to take measures for the defense of Jiangxia； while Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang discussed plans for meeting the enemy。
Zhuge Liang said； 〃My lord should not worry。 We