m。〃

Liu　Qi　thanked　him。　Then　he　called　to　his　people　to　restore　the　ladder；　and　he　escorted　Zhuge　Liang　down　to　the　level　ground。

Zhuge　Liang　returned　to　Liu　Bei　and　related　the　whole　interview。　The　young　man　soon　acted　on　the　advice　given　him；　but　his　father　would　not　at　first　consent　to　let　him　go。

To　settle　his　doubts　Liu　Biao　sent　for　Liu　Bei；　who　said；　〃Jiangxia　is　important；　and　your　son　is　the　most　suitable　man　to　defend　it。　You　must　let　him　go。　The　southeast　will　be　defended　by　your　son。　The　northwest　I　will　look　after。〃

〃I　hear　that　Cao　Cao　has　been　training　a　naval　force；　and　I　am　afraid　he　has　intentions　against　us。　We　must　be　on　our　guard。〃

〃I　know　all　about　it。　You　need　feel　no　anxiety；〃　said　Liu　Bei。

He　took　leave　of　his　relative　and　went　home　while　Liu　Qi　received　mand　of　three　thousand　soldiers　and　went　to　guard　Jiangxia。

At　this　time　Cao　Cao　suppressed　the　three　highest　officers　of　state　and　exercised　their　functions　himself　as　the　Prime　Minister。　He　appointed　as　his　general　secretaries　Mao　Jie　and　Cui　Yan；　and　as　literary　secretary　Sima　Yi。　Sima　Yi　of　Henei　was　grandson　of　Sima　Juan；　Governor　of　Yingchuan；　son　of　Sima　Fang；　Governor　of　Jingzhao；　and　younger　brother　of　Sima　Lang；　Secretary　General。

Cao　Cao　then　called　his　officers　to　a　council　to　discuss　an　expedition　against　the　south。

Xiahou　Dun　opened　the　debate；　saying；　〃Liu　Bei　is　drilling　his　army　at　Xinye；　and　is　a　source　of　danger。　He　should　be　destroyed。〃

Accordingly　Xiahou　Dun　was　appointed　manding　General；　and　four　assistants………Yu　Jin；　Li　Dian；　Xiahou　Lan；　and　Han　Hao………were　given　him。　With　these　he　led　one　hundred　thousand　troops　to　Bowang；　whence　he　could　observe　Xinye。

Xun　Yu　was　opposed　to　this　and　said；　〃Liu　Bei