general　bees　so　conceited　that　he　will　withdraw　all　the　troops　from　Jingzhou　to　send　them　against　Fancheng。　When　Jingzhou　is　left　undefended　then　is　our　chance；　and　the　city　will　fall　into　our　hands。〃

〃The　plan　seems　most　excellent；〃　said　Lu　Meng。

Wherefore　Lu　Meng's　malady　waxed　worse；　so　that　he　was　confined　to　bed。　He　gave　Lu　Xun　his　letter　of　resignation　to　carry　back　to　Sun　Quan。　The　messenger　hastened　back　and　explained　the　ruse　to　his　master；　who　soon　after　issued　a　mand　for　Lu　Meng　to　retire　and　attend　to　the　recovery　of　his　health。

But　Lu　Meng　came　to　Sun　Quan　to　discuss　the　matter　of　a　successor。

Sun　Quan　said　to　him；　〃As　to　the　appointment　at　Lukou；　you　know　Zhou　Yu　remended　Lu　Su；　who　at　his　last　moment　proposed　you。　Now　you　ought　to　be　able　to　mention　some　other　talented　and　well…known　officer　to　succeed　you。〃

〃If　you　choose　a　well…known　man；　Guan　Yu　will　certainly　be　on　his　guard　against　him。　Now　Lu　Xun　is　deep　and　farseeing；　but　he　has　no　widespread　fame。　Hence　no　particular　notice　would　be　taken　of　his　appointment　and　no　countermeasures　taken。　So　he　is　the　most　suitable　person　to　send。〃

Sun　Quan　agreed　and　thereupon　promoted　Lu　Xun　to　the　rank　of　General　of　the　Right　Army　and　Admiral　of　the　Right　Fleet；　and　sent　him　to　defend　the　port。

〃I　am　very　young；〃　said　Lu　Xun；　〃and　feel　unequal　to　such　a　post。〃

〃Lu　Meng　has　proposed　you；　and　you　will　not　make　any　mistakes。　Pray　do　not　decline；〃　said　Sun　Quan。

So　the　appointment　was　made；　and　Lu　Xun　set　out　at　once。　When　he　had　assumed　charge　of　the　cavalry；　the　infantry；　and　the　marines；　he　set　about　drawing　up　a　letter　to　Guan　Yu；　and　he　selected　fine　horses　and　beautiful　silks　and　good　wines　and　delicacies　suitable　for　gifts　to　go　with　the　letter。　H