“The scheme is not mine; it originated in a private letter from Zhang Song, who says it will have to be done some time.”

At this moment Fa Zheng came in and said, “This is not for ourselves; it is the will of heaven.”

“Liu Zhang and I are of the same house, and I would shudder at harming him.”

“Sir, you are wrong. If you act not as we propose, then Zhang Lu will take Shu in revenge for the death of his mother. What is there for you at the end of your long march? Advance, and success is yours; retreat, and you have nothing. And delays are most dangerous. At any moment this scheme may leak out, and another will reap the profit. This is the day when Heaven smiles on you. Act before Liu Zhang suspects you; establish yourself.”

So urged Fa Zheng, and Pang Tong backed it.

Their lord, by argument, they tried

From rectitude to turn aside.

What Liu Bei hid in his heart will be explained in the next chapter.

CHAPTER 61. In The River, Zhao Yun Recovers Liu Shan; With One Letter, Sun Quan Repulses Cao Cao.

In spite of the persuasion of Pang Tong and Fa Zheng, Liu Bei steadily refused to sanction the assassination of his host at the banquet, Imperial Protector Liu Zhang, even if thereby he was to gain possession of the Western Land of Rivers.

The next day there was another banquet, this time in the city of Fucheng, whereat host and guest unbosomed themselves freely to each other and became exceedingly friendly and affectionate.

All were mellow with wine, and Pang Tong, talking with Fa Zheng, said, “Since our master will have nothing to do with our scheme, we would better set Wei Yan's sword-play to work and take advantage of the confusion to kill Liu Zhang.”

Wei Yan came in shortly afterward, with his sword drawn, and said, “There being no other entertainment at this banquet, may I show you a little fencing to amuse you?”

Thereupon Pang Tong called up some of the armed guards and ranged them along the lower part of the hall till Wei Yan should fall on.

At these preparations the officers of Liu Zhang stared with questioning eyes toward the chief seats at the upper end, and one of them, Zhang Ren, drew his sword, saying, “An opponent is needed to make fencing a success, so he and I will display our skill at the same time.”

So they began. Presently, at a glance from Wei Yan, Liu Feng came up and took position at his side.

At once three of the commanders of the west followed suit, saying, “And we three will come in too; it may add to your amusement and help to raise a laugh.”

But to Liu Bei matters began to take on a serious look. Drawing a sword of a servant, he stood out in the banquet hall and cried, “We brothers have perhaps honored our meeting with a little too much wine; there is nothing to say against that, but this is no Hongmen Banquet, where murder was done. Put up your swords, or I will slay you!”

“Why wear swords at all at a meeting of two brothers?” cried Liu Zhang, at the same time telling his servants to surround his officers and take away their weapons.

Disarmed, they sulkily withdrew, and then Liu Bei called all the generals of Liu Zhang to the upper end of the banquet hall, gave them wine, and said, “You need have no doubts; we two brothers, of the same bone and blood, have talked over the great design, and we are one in purpose.”

The officers bowed and retired.

Liu Zhang took his guest by the hand, saying, “Brother, I shall never forget your kindness.” They sat drinking till late, both feeling very happy. When at length Liu Bei reached his camp, he blamed his strategist for having caused the confusion.

“Why did you endeavor to force me into committing a great wrong?” said Liu Bei. “There must be no repetition of this.”

Pang Tong retired, sighing.

When Liu Zhang reached his own camp, his leaders waited on him and said, “Sir, you saw the real meaning of that occurrence at the banquet, we suppose. We think it prudent for you to retire at once into the city.”

“My brother is different from ordinary humans,” replied Liu Zhang.

“He may not incline toward murder himself, but those about him have but one desire — that is to exploit this land of ours to their own advantage.”

“Do not try to sow dissension between us and make us quarrel,” said their chief.

And Liu Zhang took no heed of their remonstrance. One day, when he and Liu Bei were enjoying together relaxation from cares of state, the news came that Zhang Lu was about to invade the Western Land of Rivers at the Jiameng Pass. Thereupon the Imperial Protector begged Liu Bei to go and defend it. Liu Bei consented and left immediately with his own especial band.