k　Dong　Cheng　went　to　Liu　Bei's　lodging　taking　with　him　the　decree。　As　soon　as　Dong　Cheng　was　announced；　Liu　Bei　came　to　greet　him　and　led　him　into　a　private　room　where　they　could　talk　freely。　The　two　younger　brothers　were　there　as　well。

〃It　must　be　something　unusually　important　that　has　brought　Uncle　Dong　Cheng　here　tonight；〃　said　Liu　Bei。

〃If　I　had　ridden　forth　by　daylight；　Cao　Cao　might　have　suspected　something；　so　I　came　by　night。〃

Wine　was　brought　in；　and　while　they　were　drinking；　Dong　Cheng　said；　〃Why　did　you　check　your　brother　the　other　day　at　the　hunt；　when　he　was　going　to　attack　Cao　Cao？〃

Liu　Bei　was　startled　and　said；　〃How　did　you　know？〃

〃Nobody　noticed　but　I　saw。〃

Liu　Bei　could　not　prevaricate　and　said；　〃It　was　the　presumption　of　the　man　that　made　my　brother　so　angry。　Guan　Yu　could　not　help　it。〃

The　visitor　covered　his　face　and　wept。

〃Ah；〃　said　he；　〃if　all　the　court　ministers　were　like　Guan　Yu；　there　would　be　no　sighs　for　lack　of　tranquillity。〃

Now　Liu　Bei　felt　that　possibly　Cao　Cao　had　sent　his　visitor　to　try　him；　so　he　cautiously　replied；　〃Where　are　the　sighs　for　lack　of　tranquillity　while　Cao　Cao　is　at　the　head　of　affairs？〃

Dong　Cheng　changed　color　and　rose　from　his　seat。

〃You；　Sir；　are　a　relative　of　His　Majesty；　and　so　I　showed　you　my　inmost　feelings。　Why　did　you　mislead　me？〃

But　Liu　Bei　said；　〃Because　I　feared　you　might　be　misleading　me；　and　I　wanted　to　find　out。〃

At　this　Dong　Cheng　drew　out　the　decree　he　had　received　and　showed　it。　His　host　was　deeply　moved。　Then　Dong　Cheng　produced　the　pledge。　There　were　only　six　names　to　it；　and　these　were　Dong　Cheng；　Wang　Zifu；　Chong　Ji；　Wu　Shi；　Wu　Zilan；　and　Ma　Teng。

〃Since　you　have　a　decree　like　this；　I　cannot　but　do　my