en　on　the　floor。

Cheng　Yu　said　to　him；　〃O　Prime　Minister；　you　have　been　among　fighting　soldiers　by　myriads　and　in　danger　from　stones　and　arrows　many　a　time　and　never　quailed。　Now　the　news　that　Liu　Bei　has　got　possession　of　a　small　tract　of　country　throws　you　into　a　panic。　Why　is　it　thus？〃

Cao　Cao　replied；　〃Liu　Bei　is　a　dragon　among　humans。　All　his　life　hitherto　he　has　never　found　his　element；　but　now　that　he　has　obtained　Jingzhou：　It　is　as　if　the　dragon；　once　captive；　had　escaped　to　the　mighty　deep。　There　is　good　reason　for　me　to　quake　with　fear。〃

〃Do　you　know　the　reason　of　the　ing　of　Hua　Xin？〃　said　Cheng　Yu。

〃No；　I　know　not；〃　said　the　Prime　Minister。

〃Liu　Bei　is　Sun　Quan's　one　terror；　and　Sun　Quan　would　attack　Liu　Bei　were　it　not　for　you；　O　Prime　Minister。　Sun　Quan　feels　you　would　fall　upon　him　while　he　was　smiting　his　enemy。　Wherefore　he　has　taken　this　means　of　calming　Liu　Bei's　suspicions　and　fears　and　at　the　same　time　directing　your　enmity　toward　Liu　Bei　and　from　himself。〃

Cao　Cao　nodded。　〃Yes；〃　he　said。

Cheng　Yu　continued；　〃Now　this　is　my　plan　to　set　Sun　Quan　and　Liu　Bei　at　one　another　and　give　you　the　opportunity　to　destroy　both。　It　can　be　done　easily。〃

〃What　is　your　plan？〃　asked　Cao　Cao。

〃The　one　prop　of　the　South　Land　is　Zhou　Yu。　Remove　it　by　memorializing　that　Zhou　Yu　be　appointed　Governor　of　Nanjun。　Then　get　Cheng　Pu　made　Governor　of　Jiangxia；　and　cause　the　Emperor　to　retain　this　Hua　Xin　in　the　capital　to　await　some　important　post。　Zhou　Yu　will　assuredly　attack　Liu　Bei；　and　that　will　be　our　chance。　Is　not　the　scheme　good？〃

〃Friend　Cheng　Yu；　you　are　a　man　after　my　own　heart。〃

Wherefore　Cao　Cao　summoned　the　emissary　from　the　South　Land　and　overwhelmed　him　with　gifts。　That　day　was　the　la