。　You　were　only　a　son　by　adoption　and　could　have　no　place　in　the　succession。　Further；　Guan　Yu　advised　that　you　be　sent　to　a　distance　lest　you　might　cause　trouble。　This　is　mon　knowledge；　and　I　am　surprised　that　you　are　ignorant　of　it。　Yet　today　you　make　capital　out　of　the　relationship　and　are　willing　to　run　a　great　risk　to　support　it。〃

〃Granted　that　what　you　say　is　true；　still　what　reply　can　we　give？〃

〃Simply　say　that　this　city　is　still　unsettled；　and　you　dare　not　move　lest　it　be　lost。〃

Liu　Feng　took　his　colleague's　view；　sent　for　the　messenger　and　told　him。　Liao　Hua　was　greatly　disappointed。　He　threw　himself　on　the　ground　and　knocked　his　head；　imploring　assistance。

〃If　you　act　thus；　there　is　an　end　of　Guan　Yu！〃　cried　Liao　Hua。

〃Will　a　cup　of　water　extinguish　a　wagon　load　of　blazing　wood？〃　said　Meng　Da。　〃Hasten　back　and　await　patiently　for　the　ing　of　help　from　the　west。〃

Liao　Hua　renewed　his　entreaties。　The　two　manders　simply　rose；　shook　out　their　sleeves；　and　left　him。　Liao　Hua　saw　that　things　had　gone　against　him　and　thought　his　best　course　would　be　to　go　at　once　to　Chengdu。　He　rode　out　of　the　city　cursing　its　defenders　and　went　away　west。

Guan　Yu　from　his　fortress　looked　anxiously；　but　vainly；　for　the　ing　of　the　expected　aid。　He　was　in　a　sorry　plight。　His　army　numbered　but　a　few　hundred；　many　wounded；　there　was　no　food。

Then　someone　came　to　the　foot　of　the　wall　and；　calling　out　to　the　defenders　on　the　wall　not　to　shoot；　said　he　had　a　message　for　the　mander。　He　was　allowed　to　enter。　It　was　Zhuge　Jin。　When　he　had　made　his　salutations　and　taken　tea；　he　began　his　harangue。

〃I　e　at　the　mand　of　my　master；　the　Marquis　of　Wu；　to　persuade　you　to　a　wise　course。　From　of　old　it　has　always　been　recognized　that　the　hero