be　a　pity　if　you　upset　my　plan。　The　fate　of　the　people　of　all　the　eighty…one　southern　counties　is　in　your　hands。〃

Xu　Shu　smiled；　saying；　〃And　what　of　the　fate　of　these　eight　hundred　thirty　thousand　soldiers　and　horse　of　the　north？〃

〃Do　you　intend　to　wreck　my　scheme；　Xu　Shu？〃

〃I　have　never　forgotten　the　kindness　of　Uncle　Liu　Bei；　nor　my　oath　to　avenge　the　death　of　my　mother　at　Cao　Cao's　hands。　I　have　said　I　would　never　think　out　a　plan　for　him。　So　am　I　likely　to　wreck　yours　now；　brother？　But　I　have　followed　Cao　Cao's　army　thus　far；　and　after　they　shall　have　been　defeated；　good　and　bad　will　suffer　alike　and　how　can　I　escape？　Tell　me　how　I　can　secure　safety；　and　I　sew　up　my　lips　and　go　away。〃

Pang　Tong　smiled；　〃If　you　are　as　high…minded　as　that；　there　is　no　great　difficulty。〃

〃Still　I　wish　you　would　instruct　me。〃

So　Pang　Tong　whispered　something　in　his　ear；　which　seemed　to　please　Xu　Shu　greatly；　for　he　thanked　him　most　cordially　and　took　his　leave。　Then　Pang　Tong　betook　himself　to　his　boat　and　left　for　the　southern　shore。

His　friend　gone；　Xu　Shu　mischievously　spread　certain　rumors　in　the　camp；　and　next　day　were　to　be　seen　everywhere　soldiers　in　small　groups；　some　talking；　others　listening；　heads　together　and　ears　stretched　out；　till　the　camps　seemed　to　buzz。

Some　of　the　officers　went　to　Cao　Cao　and　told　him；　saying；　〃A　rumor　is　running　around　the　camps　that　Han　Sui　and　Ma　Teng　are　marching　from　Xiliang　to　attack　the　capital。〃

This　troubled　Cao　Cao；　who　called　together　his　advisers　to　council。

Said　he；　〃The　only　anxiety　I　have　felt　in　this　expedition　was　about　the　possible　doings　of　Han　Sui　and　Ma　Teng。　Now　there　is　a　rumor　running　among　the　soldiers；　and　though　I　know　not　whether　it　be　true　or　false；　it