old　his　device：　〃If　you　undertake　any　expedition　farther　west；　Cao　Cao　will　undoubtedly　return　to　the　attack。　Rather　write　two　letters；　one　to　Liu　Zhang　saying　that　Liu　Bei　has　leagued　himself　with　you　against　the　west；　which　will　raise　suspicions　in　the　mind　of　Liu　Zhang　and　cause　him　to　attack　his　guest；　and　another　letter　persuading　Zhang　Lu　to　march　upon　Jingzhou；　which　will　uproot　Liu　Bei。　Between　these　two　conflicting　matters；　Liu　Bei　cannot　give　supports　to　all　fronts；　and　we　can　march　against　Jingzhou。〃

Sun　Quan　approved；　wrote　the　two　letters；　and　sent　them　by　two　messengers。

In　the　meantime；　Liu　Bei　had　been　winning　the　hearts　of　the　people　about　Jiameng　Pass；　where　his　army　lay。　When　he　received　the　news　of　his　wife's　flight　and　of　Cao　Cao's　attack　on　Ruxu；　he　called　in　Pang　Tong　and　laid　the　matter　before　him。

〃The　victor　of　Ruxu；　whoever　it　is；　will　assuredly　possess　himself　of　our　region　of　Jingzhou；〃　said　Liu　Bei　at　the　close。

〃You　need　not　trouble　about　that　region；〃　said　Pang　Tong。　〃I　do　not　think　the　South　Land　or　the　Middle　Land　will　try　to　take　it　so　long　as　Zhuge　Liang　is　there。　But；　my　lord；　write　to　Liu　Zhang　telling　him　you　wish　to　return　on　account　of　this　threatening　danger。　It　will　be　a　plausible　excuse。　You　may　say　that　on　account　of　Cao　Cao's　attack；　Sun　Quan　has　sent　to　you　for　help；　and　that　as　his　country　and　yours　are　neighbors　and　dependent　upon　each　other　for　safety　you　cannot　refuse。　Further；　you　will　assure　him　that　there　is　no　danger　of　any　invasion　by　Zhang　Lu。　However；　we　have　too　few　troops　for　our　purpose　and　insufficient　grain；　so　you　must　also　urge　your　relative　to　send　you　thirty　or　forty　thousand　of　veterans　and　a　plentiful　supply　of　food。　He　will　not　refuse；　and　with　more　soldiers　and　provisions