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As　Zhuge　Liang　left　the　building；　he　met　Xu　Jing；　who　said；　〃Instructor；　I　went　to　your　residence　to　deliver　a　very　secret　piece　of　news；　and　they　told　me　to　find　you　here。〃
〃What　is　your　secret？〃
〃There　is　a　report　about　that　Wu　has　got　possession　of　Jingzhou；　Lu　Meng　has　taken　it。　And　more　than　that；　Guan　Yu　is　dead。　I　had　to　e　to　tell　you。〃
〃I　saw　it　in　the　sky　some　nights　ago。　A　large　star　of　a　general　fell　over　against　Jingzhou；　and　I　knew　some　evil　had　befallen　Guan　Yu。　But　I　feared　the　effect　upon　our　master；　and　I　forbore　to　say　anything。〃
They　did　not　know　that　Liu　Bei　was　standing　just　within　the　door。
Suddenly　Liu　Bei　rushed　out；　seized　Zhuge　Liang　by　the　sleeve　and　said；　〃Why　did　you　hide　from　me？　Why；　when　you　had　such　terrible　news？〃
〃Because　it　is　only　a　rumor；〃　replied　they。　〃It　is　too　improbable　for　belief。　We　pray　you　not　to　be　distressed。〃
〃By　our　oath　we　live　or　die　together：　How　can　I　go　on　living　if　he　is　lost？〃
The　two　men　soothed　their　lord　as　best　they　could。　But　even　as　they　spoke　to　him；　one　of　the　private　attendants　said　that　Ma　Liang　and　Yi　Ji　had　arrived。　Liu　Bei　called　them　in　and　questioned　them　eagerly。
They　said；　〃Jingzhou　has　indeed　been　lost；　and　Guan　Yu　begs　for　instant　help。〃
The　letters　they　brought　had　not　been　read　before　Liao　Hua　was　ushered　in。　He　prostrated　himself　and；　weeping；　told　the　story　of　the　refusal　of　help　on　the　part　of　Liu　Feng　and　Meng　Da。
〃Then　is　my　brother　lost！〃　cried　Liu　Bei。
〃If　those　two　have　really　behaved　so　badly；　the　offense　is　even　too　great　for　death；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃But　calm　yourself；　O　Prince。　I　will　see　about　an　army　and　lead　it　to　the　rescue。〃
〃If　Guan　Yu　is　gone；　I　cannot　live；〃　moaned　Liu　Bei。　〃Tomorrow　I　myself　will　set　out　with　an　army　to　rescue　him。〃
Liu　Bei　sent　off　a　messenger　to　Zhang　Fei　in　Langzhong　and　gave　orders　to　muster　horse　and　foot　for　instant　departure。
Before　day　dawned　other　messengers　arrived；　giving　step　by　step　the　sequence　of　the　tragedy：　〃Guan　Yu　had　cut　his　way　to　Linju　at　night　and　been　captured　by　a　general　of　Wu。　He　had　refused　to　bend；　and　both　father　and　son　had　gone　to　the　Nine　Springs。〃
When　he　heard　of　the　final　catastrophe；　Liu　Bei　uttered　a　great　cry　and　fell　swooning。

His　mind　went　back　to　the　pledge　of　days　gone　by；
Could　he　live　still　and　let　his　brother　die？

What　happened　will　be　told　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　78　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　78
　Chapter　78
Treating　A　Headache；　A　Famous　Physician　Dies；
Giving　The　Last　Words；　The　Crafty　Hero　Departs。
As　has　been　said；　the　Prince　of　Hanzhong　swooned　on　hearing　the　terrible　news　of　the　death　of　the　two　Guans；　father　and　son。　His　officers　went　to　his　help；　and　when　he　had　recovered　sufficiently；　they　led　him　to　his　private　apartments。
〃My　lord；　control　your　grief；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃Life　and　death　are　fixed　by　fate。　Guan　Yu　brought　the　evil　upon　himself　by　his　harshness　and　haughtiness。　You　must　now　take　care　of　your　health　and　mature　your　vengeance。〃
〃When　we　swore　brotherhood　in　the　Peach　Garden；　we　pledged　ourselves　to　live　or　die　together。　What　enjoyment　of　riches　and　honors　is　there　for　me　now　that　my　brother　is　gone？〃
Just　then　he　saw　Guan　Yu's　son；　Guan　Xing；　ing　in　weeping　in　deep　distress。　At　sight　of　the　youth；　Liu　Bei　uttered　a　great　cry　and　again　sank　to　the　earth。　By　and　by　he　came　to；　and　spent　the　whole　day　weeping　and　swooning　at　intervals。　For　three　days　he　refused　all　nourishment；　and　he　wept　so　bitterly　that　his　garments　were　wetted；　and　there　were　spots　of　blood。　Zhuge　Liang　and　the　others　tried　every　means　to　soothe　him；　but　he　was　inconsolable。
〃I　swear　I　will　not　live　under　the　same　heaven　as　Sun　Quan；〃　cried　he。
〃It　is　said　that　the　head　of　your　brother　has　been　sent　to　Cao　Cao；　but　Cao　Cao　has　buried　the　remains　with　the　rites　of　a　princely　noble；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
〃Why　did　he　do　that？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。
〃Because　Sun　Quan　thought　thereby　to　bring　evil　upon　Cao　Cao。　But　Cao　Cao　saw　through　the　subterfuge　and　has　buried　your　brother　with　great　honor　so　that　your　anger　may　burn　against　Wu。〃
〃I　want　to　send　my　armies　to　punish　Wu　and　appease　my　wrath；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃No；　you　may　not　do　that。　Wu　wishes　to　move　you　to　smite　Wei；　and　Wei　wishes　you　to　attack　Wu；　each　harboring　the　malevolent　design　of　taking　advantage　of　the　quarrel。　You　would　do　well；　my　lord；　to　keep　your　armies　at　home。　Put　on　mourning　for　Guan　Yu；　and　wait　till　Wei　and　Wu　are　at　war。　That　will　be　your　time。〃
The　other　officers　supported　Zhuge　Liang；　and　Liu　Bei　listened。　Presently　his　grief　spent　itself；　and　he　began　to　take　food　again。　An　edict　was　promulgated　enjoining　mourning　dress　upon　all　officials。　The　Prince　went　outside　the　south　gate　to　summon　the　spirit　home；　and　sacrificed　and　wailed　a　whole　day　for　the　dead　warrior；　his　brother。
In　Luoyang；　although　Cao　Cao　had　given　honorable　burial　to　the　remains　of　Guan　Yu；　yet　he　was　continually　haunted　by　the　dead　man's　spirit。　Every　night　when　he　closed　his　eyes；　he　saw　Guan　Yu　as　he　knew　the　warrior　so　well　in　the　flesh。　These　visions　made　him　nervous；　and　he　sought　the　advice　of　his　officers。　Some　suggested　the　building　of　new　rooms　for　his　own　use。
〃There　is　much　witchcraft　and　malign　influence　in　this　old　Palace　at　Luoyang。　Build　a　new　Palace　for　your　own　occupation；〃　said　they。
〃I　would；　and　it　should　be　called　'The　New　Foundation'；〃　said　he。　〃But　where　is　the　good　architect？〃
Jia　Xu　said；　〃There　is　one　Su　Yue；　a　very　cunning　artificer　in　Luoyang。〃
Su　Yue　was　called　and　set　to　work　on　the　plans　for　a　nine…hall　pavilion　for　Cao　Cao's　own　use。　It　had　verandahs　and　upper　rooms　as　well。　His　plans　pleased　Cao　Cao　greatly。
〃You　have　planned　just　such　a　place　as　I　wished；　only　where　will　you　find　the　main　beam　for　such　a　building？〃
〃I　know　a　certain　tree　that　will　serve；〃　said　the　architect。　〃About　ten　miles　from　the　city　there　is　the　Pool　of　the　Leaping　Dragon。　Near　it　is　a　shrine；　and　beside　that　grows　a　fine　pear　tree。　It　is　over　a　hundred　spans　high；　and　that　will　serve　for　the　roof　tree。〃
Cao　Cao　at　once　sent　people　to　fell　the　tree。　But　after　one　whole　day　of　labor　they　came　back　to　say　they　could　make　no　impression　on　it　neither　with　saw　nor　ax。　Cao　Cao；　doubting　their　word；　went　to　see。　When　he　had　dismounted　and　stood　by　the　tree；　he　could　not　but　admire　its　size　and　proportions；　as　it　rose　above　him　tall；　straight　and　branched　till　the　wide…spreading　and　symmetrical　top　reached　into　the　clouds。　But　he　bade　the　men　attack　it　again。
Then　a　few　aged　people　of　the　village　came　and　said；　〃The　tree　has　stood　here　some　centuries　and　is　the　haunt　of　a　spirit。　We　think　it　should　not　be　cut　down。〃
Cao　Cao　grew　annoyed；　saying；　〃I　have　gone　to　and　fro　in　the　world　now　some　thirty　years；　and　there　is　no　one；　from　the　Emperor　to　the　moner；　who　does　not　fear　me。　What　spirit　is　there　who　dares　oppose　my　wish？〃
Drawing　the　sword　he　was　wearing；　Cao　Cao　went　up　to　the　tree　and　slashed　at　the　trunk。　The　tree　groaned　as　he　struck；　and　blood　stains　spattered　his　dress。　Terror…stricken；　he　threw　down　the　sword；　mounted　his　horse　and　galloped　off。
But　that　evening　when　he　retired　to　rest；　he　could　not　sleep。　He　rose；　went　into　the　outer　room；　and　sat　there　leaning　on　a　low　table。　Suddenly　a　man　appeared　with　his　hair　unbound；　dressed　in　black　and　carrying　a　naked　sword。
The　visitor　came　straight　toward　Cao　Cao；　stopped　in　front　of　him　and；　pointing；　cried　out；　〃Behold　the　Spirit　of　the　Pear　Tree！　You　may　desire　to　build　your　nine…hall　pavilion；　and　you　may　contemplate　rebellion。　But　when　you　began　to　attack　my　sacred　tree；　the　number　of　your　days　was　acplished。　I　am　e　now　to　slay　you。〃
〃Where　are　the　guards？〃　shouted　Cao　Cao　in　terror。
The　figure　struck　at　him　with　the　sword。　Cao　Cao　cried　out　and　then　awoke。　His　head　was　aching　unbearably。
They　sought　the　best　physicians　for　him；　but　they　failed　to　relieve　the　terrible　pain。　Sympathy　for　their　lord　was　universal　among　Cao　Cao's　subordinates。
Hua　Xin　one　day　said　to　his　master；　〃My　lord；　have　you　heard　of　Hua　Tuo？〃
〃Do　you　mean　him　of　Qiao　who　cured　Zhou　Tai？〃
〃Yes；　that　is　he；〃　replied　Hua　Xin。
〃I　have　heard　something　of　his　fame；　but　I　know　nothing　of　his　capabilities　in　his　art。〃
〃He　is　very　clever；　there　are　few　so　skillful。　If　one　is　ill　and　calls　him　in；　he　knows　immediately　whether　to　use　drugs；　or　the　needle；　or　the　cutlery；　and　the　patient　finds　relief　at　once。　Let　one　suffer　from　an　internal　plaint　and　drugs　are　ineffectual；　with　a　dose　of　hashish　he　throws　the　patient　into　a　state　of　perfect　insensibility　and　then　opens　the　abdomen　and　washes　the　affected　organs　with　a　medicament。　The　patient　feels　no　pain。　When　the　cleansing　is　plete；　he　sews　up　the　wound　with　thread；　dresses　it；　and　in　a　month　or　less　the　patient　is　well。　This　shows　you　how　skillful　he　is。
〃One　day　Hua　Tuo　was　traveling；　when　he　heard　a　man　by　the　wayside　groaning　with　pain。　'That　is　dyspepsia；'　said　Hua　Tuo。　And　further　questions　confirmed　the　diagnosis。　He　prescribed　long　draughts　of　the　juice　of　garlic　as　an　emetic；　and　the　man　vomited　a　worm。　After　this　the　man　was　quite　well。
〃Chen　Deng；　the　Governor　of　Guangling；　suffered　from　a　heavy　feeling　at　the　heart。　His　face　was　red　and　congested；　and　he　had　no　appetite。　Hua　Tuo　gave　him　a　drug；　and　he　threw　up　many　internal　wriggling　parasites　with　red　heads。　The　Governor　asked　what　had　caused　the　trouble；　and　Hua　Tuo　told　him　that　he　ate　too　much　strong　smelling　fish。　He　could　cure　Chen　Deng　this　once；　but　in　three　years　the　disease　would　recur；　and　then　nothing　could　save　him。　Three　later　Chen　Deng　died。
〃Another　man　had　a　tumor　between　the　eyes；　and　it　itched　intolerably。　Hua　Tuo　examined　it　and　said　there　was　a　bird　in　it。　The　tumor　was　opened；　and；　surely　enough；　a　canary　flew　out。　The　patient　was　relieved。

＇e＇　Bian　Que　is　the　earliest　of　the　legendary　doctors　of　Chinese　medicine　after　the　time　of　the　Yellow　Emperor　and　his　advisors。　Credited　with　incredible　healing　knowledge；　stories　of　his　life　and　treatments　are　used　in　teaching　and　known　to　all　Chinese　medicine　practitioners　today。　。。。。。
〃A　dog　bit　a　man's　toe；　and　two　tumorous　growths　ensued；　one　of　which　itched　intolerably　and　the　other　pained　severely。　Hua　Tuo　said　the　painful　one　contained　ten　needles；　and　the　other　a　couple　of　chess　pips；　black　and　white。　He　opened　the　two　swellings；　and　the　contents　were　as　he　had　said。　Really　he　is　of　the　same　class　of　physician　as　masters　Bian　Que*　and　Zang　Kong　of　old　times。　He　lives　at　Jincheng；　not　far　away；　and　could　be　here　very　soon。〃
Cao　Cao　summoned　him。　As　soon　as　he　arrived；　Hua　Tuo　felt　the　pulse　and　made　careful　examination。
〃Prince；　your　headaches　are　due　to　a　malignant　humor　within　the　brain　case。　The　humor　is　too　thick　to　get　out。　Swallowing　drugs　will　do　no　good。　But　I　propose　to　administer　a　dose　of　hashish；　then　open　the　brain　case　and　remove　the　thickened　humor。　That　will　be　a　radical　cure。〃
〃You　mean　you　want　to　kill　me？〃　cried　Cao　Cao　angrily。
〃O　Prince；　you　have　heard　how　I　cured　Guan　Yu　of　the　poison　that　had　got　into　his　bones？　I　scraped　them；　and　he　did　not　hesitate　a　moment。　Your　malady　is　trifling；　and　why　do　you　mistrust　me？〃
〃A　painful　arm　may　be　scraped；　but　how　can　you　cut　open　a　man's　head？　The　fact　is　you　have　conspired　with　some　of　Guan　Yu's　friends　to　take　this　opportunity　to　make　away　with　me　in　revenge　for　his　death。〃
Cao　Cao　told　his　lictors　to　hale　Hua　Tuo　to　gaol；　and　there　he　was　tortured　to　try　to　find　who　were　his　acplices。
Jia　Xu　pleaded　for　him；　saying；　〃The　man　possesses　rare　skills。　To　kill　him　is　to　waste　his　talents。〃
But　the　intervention　was　of　no　avail。
〃The　man　wants　to　get　a　chance　to　kill　me。　He　is　the　same　sort　of　scoundrel　as　Ji　Ping。〃
The　wretched　physician　was　subjected　to　worse　sufferings。
His　gaoler　was　a　certain　Wu；　nicknamed　〃The　Gaoler〃　by　nearly　everybody。　He　was　kindly　disposed　to　Hua　Tuo　and　saw　that　Hua　Tuo　was　well　fed。
Hua　Tuo　conceived　a　liking　for　his　gaoler　and　said　to　him　one　day；　〃I　am　doomed；　I　know。　The　pity　is　that　my　Black　Bag　treatise　on　medicine　may　be　lost。　You　have　been　most　kind　to　me；　and　as　I　have　no　other　way　of　repensing　you；　I　will　give　you　a　letter　to　my　wife　telling　her　to　send　the　Black　Bag；　and　I　will　give　it　to　you　that　you　may　carry　on　my　art。〃
Wu　the　Gaoler　rejoice