d　he；　〃With　the　fall　of　Luocheng；　the　West　River　Land　passed　to　you。　Let　our　lord　only　deal　with　the　people　kindly　and　justly；　and　there　will　be　no　need　of　weapons。　I　can　write　such　a　letter　to　Imperial　Protector　Liu　Zhang　as　shall　make　him　surrender　at　call。〃

〃That　would　be　most　excellent；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

The　letter　was　written　and　sent　by　the　hand　of　a　messenger。

Liu　Xun；　son　of　the　Imperial　Protector；　presently　reached　Chengdu　and　told　his　father　of　the　loss　of　Luocheng。　The　Imperial　Protector　at　once　called　his　counselors　together。

Adviser　Zheng　Du　said；　〃Although　Liu　Bei　has　been　successful　and　captured　cities　and　towns；　yet　his　army　is　but　small；　his　hosts　are　not　near　him；　and　he　depends　upon　chance　for　his　grain　and　has　no　proper　supplies。　Therefore　our　best　plan　is　to　remove　the　people　of　Baxi　and　Zitong　to　the　farther　side　of　River　Fu；　burn　all　the　granaries；　fortify　the　city；　and　let　starvation　defeat　him。　Let　us　reject　all　challenges　to　battle；　and　in　a　hundred　days　his　troops　will　go　off　of　their　own　accord。　Then　we　can　do　with　him　as　we　will。〃

〃I　like　not　the　plan；〃　said　Liu　Zhang。　〃Oppose　invaders　in　order　that　tranquillity　may　prevail　is　a　well…worn　maxim；　but　till　now　I　have　never　heard　of　disturbing　the　people　in　order　to　oppose　the　march　of　an　enemy。　Your　words　are　not　such　as　safety。〃

Just　at　the　moment　the　letter　from　Fa　Zheng　arrived。　It　was　opened　and　the　Imperial　Protector　read：

〃I　was　sent　to　Jingzhou　to　negotiate　an　alliance；　but　the　opposition　of　those　about　you　to　their　lord　has　resulted　in　the　present　situation。　However；　the　ruler　of　Jingzhou　still　remembers　old　friendship　and　is　mindful　of　the　ties　of　relationship。　If　you；　my　master；　could　reverse　your　policy　and　lend　your　support　to　your