irement　and　others　anxious　to　hold　on　till　the　warm　weather。　Their　chief　could　not　make　up　his　mind。

Then　there　came　a　messenger　from　the　South　Land　bearing　a　letter　of　Sun　Quan；　which　read：

〃You　and　I；　O　Prime　Minister；　are　both　servants　of　Han；　but　you　are　careless　for　the　tranquillity　of　the　people　and　think　only　of　battle；　thereby　causing　great　suffering。　Is　this　conduct　worthy　of　a　kindly　person？

〃But　spring　with　its　heavy　rains　is　at　hand；　and　you　would　be　wise　to　retire　while　you　can。　If　not；　you　may　expect　a　repetition　of　the　misfortune　at　the　Red　Cliffs。　It　would　be　well　to　consider　this。〃

And　on　the　back　of　the　letter　was　a　note　in　a　line　running　thus：　〃No　tranquillity　for　me　while　you　live！〃

Cao　Cao　read　the　letter　and　laughed。

〃Sun　Quan　speaks　the　truth！〃　said　he。

He　rewarded　the　messenger　and　issued　orders　to　retreat。　The　Governor　of　Lujiang；　Zhu　Guang；　was　left　to　guard　Huancheng。　The　army　marched　for　the　capital。

Sun　Quan　returned　to　Jianye。

At　a　meeting　of　his　advisers　Sun　Quan　said；　〃Cao　Cao　has　marched　north；　Liu　Bei　is　at　Jiameng　Pass。　Why　should　I　not　lead　the　army　that　has　just　repulsed　the　northern　forces　to　take　Jingzhou？〃

Thereupon　Zhang　Zhao　offered　another　plan；　saying；　〃Do　not　move　a　soldier。　I　know　how　to　keep　Liu　Bei　from　returning　to　Jingzhou。〃

Cao　Cao's　army　march　away；

Sun　Quan's　thoughts　then　southward　stray。

The　scheme　proposed　by　Zhang　Zhao　will　be　unfolded　in　the　next　chapter。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　62　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　62

Chapter　62

Taking　Of　River　Fu　Pass；　Yang　Huai　and　Gao　Pei　Are　Slain；

Siege　Of　Luocheng；　Huang　Zhong　and　Wei　Yan　Rival。

Zhang　Zhao　proceeded　to　unf