eward　of　his　remaining　firmly　on　our　side　to　the　end　will　be　that　you　will　memorialize　the　Throne　for　the　coveted　title　for　him。　This　will　make　him　order　Ma　Chao　to　return；　and；　when　that　is　done；　I　shall　find　a　means　of　winning　him　over。〃

Liu　Bei　wrote　a　letter　and　sent　it　by　the　hand　of　Sun　Qian　together　with　gold　and　pearls。　Sun　Qian　went　by　secret　roads　to　give　these　to　Yang　Song。　And　when　he　found　Yang　Song　and　explained　his　mission　in　private；　he　was　quickly　led　into　the　presence　of　Zhang　Lu。

〃How　can　Liu　Bei　memorialize　the　Throne　to　confer　on　me　the　rank　of　a　prince　when　he　is　but　a　simple　General　himself？〃　asked　Zhang　Lu；　when　he　understood　the　offer　and　its　conditions。

〃He　is　an　Imperial　Uncle；〃　said　Yang　Song。　〃With　such　a　rank　he　could　present　such　a　memorial。〃

Zhang　Lu　assented。　He　sent　orders　to　Ma　Chao　to　cease　fighting；　and　Sun　Qian　remained　as　the　guest　of　Yang　Song　till　he　should　see　whether　Ma　Chao　would　obey　the　mand。　Before　long　the　messenger　returned　with　a　word　from　Ma　Chao　that　he　could　not　cease　fighting　till　he　had　been　successful。　A　second　and　third　messenger　returned　with　a　similar　response。

〃This　Ma　Chao　is　untrustworthy；〃　said　Yang　Song。　〃He　will　not　withdraw　his　soldiers　because　he　contemplates　rebellion。　That　is　the　real　reason。〃

Yang　Song　set　stories　afloat　rumoring：　〃Ma　Chao　desires　to　make　himself　the　ruler　of　the　west　and　has　said　that　he　will　no　longer　be　content　with　subordinate　rank。　And　he　means　to　avenge　the　death　of　his　father。〃

The　rumors　came　to　the　ear　of　Zhang　Lu；　and　he　asked　Yang　Song　what　should　be　done。

Yang　Song　proposed；　saying；　〃Give　Ma　Chao　a　limit　of　a　month　in　order　to　acplish　his　task；　provided　he　consents　to　three　conditions。　And　if　he　does　not　agree；　he　wil