e　sent　all　by　the　hand　of　a　trusty　messenger　to　Fancheng。

The　news　of　the　change　of　mand　reached　Guan　Yu　when　he　lay　ill　from　the　effects　of　his　wound　and　unable　to　conduct　any　military　operations。　Close　upon　the　news　came　the　letter　and　the　gifts　from　Lu　Xun；　and　the　bearer　was　called　in　to　see　the　warrior。

〃Friend　Sun　Quan　was　not　very　prudent　when　he　made　a　manding　General　out　of　a　mere　youth；〃　said　Guan　Yu；　pointing　to　the　messenger。

The　messenger　said；　〃General　Lu　Xun　sends　this　letter　and　some　presents；　which　he　hopes　you　will　accept。　He　also　sends　his　felicitations；　and　would　rejoice　if　the　two　houses　could　bee　friends。〃

Guan　Yu　read　the　letter；　which　was　couched　in　most　modest　language；　and　then　threw　back　his　head　and　laughed　aloud。　He　bade　the　attendants　receive　the　various　gifts；　and　sent　the　bearer　away。

The　messenger　forthwith　returned　to　Lukou　and　reported　to　Lu　Xun；　〃Guan　Yu　seemed　very　gratified；　and　he　felt　no　anxiety　and　danger　toward　the　South　Land。〃

Spies　were　sent　out　to　report　on　proceedings；　and　they　returned　to　say　that　half　the　troops　of　Jingzhou　had　been　sent　to　assist　in　the　siege　of　Fancheng。　That　city　was　to　be　seriously　assaulted　as　soon　as　Guan　Yu　had　recovered。

This　news　was　promptly　sent　on　to　Sun　Quan；　who　at　once　called　in　Lu　Meng　to　decide　upon　the　next　move。

〃Now　is　the　favorable　moment　to　get　possession　of　Jingzhou；〃　said　Sun　Quan。　〃I　propose　to　send　you　and　my　brother；　Sun　Jiao；　to　lead　the　army。〃

This　Sun　Jiao　was　really　only　a　cousin；　as　he　was　the　second　son　of　Sun　Quan's　uncle；　Sun　Jing。

But　Lu　Meng　objected。　〃My　lord；　if　you　think　to　employ　me；　then　employ　me　only；　if　Sun　Jiao；　then　Sun　Jiao　only。　You　cannot　have　forgotten　that　Zhou　Yu　and　Cheng　Pu　were　asso