d　secret　conversation。

And　he　said；　〃I　know　what　you　two　are　about。　You　are　scheming　to　hand　over　Yizhou　to　somebody。〃

〃It　is　really　so。　You　have　guessed　right；〃　said　Zhang　Song。

〃But　to　whom　ought　it　to　go？〃　said　Fa　Zheng。

〃There　is　but　one：　Liu　Bei；〃　said　Meng　Da。

All　three　clapped　their　hands　and　laughed。

Then　said　Fa　Zheng　to　Zhang　Song；　〃You　will　see　our　lord　tomorrow。　What　about　that？〃

〃I　shall　remend　that　you　two　be　sent　to　Jingzhou　on　a　mission。〃

They　thought　that　a　suitable　scheme。

And　when　the　lately　arrived　messenger　saw　his　master　and　was　asked　how　he　had　fared；　Zhang　Song　said；　〃Cao　Cao　is　a　rebel　who　desires　to　get　the　whole　empire　into　his　hands。　I　need　hardly　tell　you　that。　But　he　also　hankers　after　this　region。〃

〃Then　what　will　bee　of　us？〃　said　Liu　Zhang。

〃I　have　a　plan　to　check　both　our　enemies。　Liu　Bei；　the　Imperial　Uncle；　now　in　Jingzhou；　is　a　relative　of　yours；　and　he　is　generous　and　well　disposed。　This　is　a　matter　of　mon　knowledge。　Cao　Cao　was　simply　overwhelmed　at　the　result　of　the　battle　at　the　Red　Cliffs；　and　Zhang　Lu　more　so。　Now　my　plan　is　that　you　ally　yourself　with　your　distinguished　relative　against　Cao　Cao　and　Zhang　Lu。〃

〃I　have　been　thinking　thus　for　a　long　time。　Can　you　remend　a　suitable　emissary？〃

〃The　only　ones　are　Fa　Zheng　and　Meng　Da。〃

These　two　were　summoned　and；　meanwhile；　a　letter　was　prepared。　Fa　Zheng　was　to　proceed　as　emissary　to　open　up　friendly　relations；　and　Meng　Da　would　follow　in　due　course　with　an　army　to　wele　Liu　Bei　into　the　West　River　Land。

While　still　discussing　the　details　of　the　policy；　a　person　forced　his　way　in；　his　face　all　running　with　sweat；　and　cried　out；　〃My　lord；　your　land　of　forty…one　counties　will　be　lo