veres　Liu　Bei　and　es　to　an　understanding　with　the　leaders　around　the　Huashang　Mountains；　then　the　power　of　the　north　is　so　much　nearer；　and　I　should　be　unable　to　resist　the　attacks　of　so　many　leaders　and　should　never　sleep　secure。　I　will　aid　Liu　Bei：　That　is　the　better　course　for　me。〃

Now　Yuan　Shu's　force　sent　against　Xiaopei　went　thither　as　quickly　as　possible；　and　soon　the　country　to　the　southeast　fluttered　with　pennons　by　day　and　blazed　with　watch　fires　by　night；　while　the　rolling　of　the　drums　reverberated　from　heaven　to　earth。

The　five　thousand　troops　at　Liu　Bei's　disposal　were　led　out　of　the　city　and　arranged　to　make　a　brave　show；　but　it　was　good　news　to　him　to　hear　that　Lu　Bu　had　arrived　and　was　quite　near。　Lu　Bu　camped　only　half　a　mile　away　to　the　southwest。　When　Yuan　Shu's　general；　Ji　Ling；　heard　of　his　arrival；　he　wrote　letters　reproaching　Lu　Bu　for　his　treachery。　Lu　Bu　smiled　as　he　read　them。

〃I　know　how　to　make　both　of　them　love　me；〃　said　Lu　Bu。

So　he　sent　invitations　to　both　Liu　Bei　and　Ji　Ling　to　e　to　a　banquet。

Liu　Bei　was　for　accepting　the　invitation　and　going；　but　his　brothers　dissuaded　him；　saying；　〃There　is　some　treachery　in　his　heart。〃

〃I　have　treated　him　too　well　for　him　to　do　me　any　harm；〃　said　Liu　Bei。

So　he　mounted　and　rode　away；　the　two　brothers　following。　They　came　to　the　camp。

The　host　said；　〃Now　by　a　special　effort　I　have　got　you　out　of　danger。　I　hope　you　will　not　forget　that　when　you　e　into　your　own。〃

Liu　Bei　thanked　him　heartily　and　was　invited　to　take　a　seat。　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　took　up　their　usual　place　as　guards。

But　when　Ji　Ling　was　announced；　Liu　Bei　felt　a　spasm　of　fear　and　got　up　to　go　away。

〃You　two　are　invited　for　the　particular　purpose　of　a　discussio