w　true　gratitude。　My　anxiety　is　deep；　for　the　responsibility　is　heavy。　I　am　as　one　on　the　brink　of　a　great　gulf。　I　must　surely　exert　myself　to　the　utmost　and　encourage　my　armies　and　lead　all　disciples　of　rectitude；　in　accordance　with　the　will　of　Heaven　and　as　occasion　serves；　to　smite　rebellion　so　as　to　restore　the　dynasty。〃

When　this　memorial　reached　Capital　Xuchang；　Cao　Cao　was　in　the　Palace　at　Yejun；　and　it　annoyed　him　greatly。

〃How　dare　this　mean　weaver　of　straw　shoes　behave　thus？〃　said　he。　〃Now　I　swear　that　I　will　destroy　him。〃

So　he　issued　orders　for　the　whole　force　of　the　state　to　go　out　against　the　two　River　Lands　to　wage　fierce　war　with　the　new　Prince　of　Hanzhong。

But　a　remonstrance　came　from　the　mouth　of　one　man。

〃Let　not　the　great　Prince　of　Wei　trouble　himself　to　go　on　a　distant　expedition　because　of　a　temporary　annoyance。　I　can　propose　a　plan　of　which　the　execution　will　need　not　the　bending　of　a　single　bow；　and　yet　it　will　make　Liu　Bei　bring　down　disaster　upon　his　own　head。　When　his　army　shall　have　bee　exhausted；　it　will　only　be　necessary　to　send　one　single　general　against　him　and　victory　will　be　ours。〃

Cao　Cao　looked　at　the　officer。　It　was　First　Secretary　Sima　Yi。

〃What　is　your　exalted　view；　my　friend？〃　said　Cao　Cao。

〃Sun　Quan's　sister　is　wife　to　Liu　Bei；　but　Sun　Quan　has　found　an　occasion　to　steal　away　the　bride。　Liu　Bei　is　in　possession　of　Jingzhou　still；　and　he　and　Sun　Quan　are　bitter　enemies。　Therefore　send　some　able　speaker　with　a　letter　to　Wu　to　persuade　the　Marquis　to　send　an　army　to　recover　Jingzhou。　That　will　draw　thither　all　the　armies　of　Shu；　when　you　can　send　your　army　to　Hanzhong。　Liu　Bei　will　be　helpless；　and　his　strength　will　be　wasted。〃

The　scheme　pleased　Cao　Cao。　He　at　once　drew