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〃What　you　propose　is　very　feasible；　but　we　will　talk　it　over　again　tomorrow；〃　said　Ma　Chao；　and　took　leave。
Taking　with　him　the　captured　man　and　the　letter　he　carried；　Ma　Chao　then　proceeded　to　see　the　Prince；　to　whom　he　related　the　whole　story。　Liu　Bei　was　very　angry　and　at　once　had　the　intended　traitor　arrested　and　put　in　prison；　where　he　was　examined　under　torture　to　get　at　full　details。
While　Peng　Yang　lay　in　prison；　bitterly　but　vainly　repentant；　Liu　Bei　consulted　his　adviser。
〃That　fellow　Peng　Yang　meant　to　turn　traitor。　What　shall　I　do　with　him？〃
〃The　fellow　is　something　of　a　scholar；　but　irresponsible；〃　replied　Zhuge　Liang。　〃He　is　too　dangerous　to　be　left　alive。〃
Thereupon　orders　were　given　that　he　should　be　allowed　to　mit　suicide　in　gaol。　The　news　that　Peng　Yang　had　been　made　away　frightened　his　sympathizer　and　friend；　Meng　Da；　and　put　him　in　a　quandary。　Further；　Liu　Feng's　promotion　and　transfer　to　Mianzhu　arrived；　and　it　frightened　him　still　more。　So　he　sought　advice　from　two　friends　and　manders；　the　brothers　Shen　Dan　and　Shen　Yi；　who　lived　in　Shangyong。
〃My　friend　Peng　Yang　and　I　did　much　for　the　Prince　of　Hanzhong。　But　now　Peng　Yang　is　dead；　and　I　am　forgotten。　More　than　that；　the　Prince　wishes　to　put　me　to　death。　What　can　I　do？〃　said　Meng　Da。
Shen　Dan　replied；　〃I　think　I　can　find　a　plan　that　will　secure　your　safety。〃
〃What　is　it？〃　asked　Meng　Da；　feeling　happier。
〃Desertion。　My　brother　Shen　Yi　and　I　have　long　desired　to　go　over　to　Wei。　You　just　write　the　Prince　of　Hanzhong　a　memorial　resigning　your　service　and　betake　yourself　to　the　Prince　of　Wei；　who　will　certainly　employ　you　in　some　honorable　way。　Then　we　two　will　follow。〃
Meng　Da　saw　that　this　was　his　best　course；　so　he　wrote　a　memorandum；　which　he　gave　to　the　messenger　who　had　brought　the　recent　dispatches　to　take　back　with　him。　That　night　Meng　Da　left　his　post　and　went　to　Wei。
The　messenger　returned　to　Chengdu；　handed　in　Meng　Da's　memorial；　and　told　the　story　of　his　desertion。　The　Prince　was　angry。　He　tore　open　the　letter　and　read：

＇e＇　Yi　Yin　was　was　helper　and　prime　minister　of　King　Tang；　the　founder　of　Shang　Dynasty。　After　King　Tang's　death；　Yi　Yin　served　his　sons　and　grandson。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Lu　Wang　was　a　master　strategist；　founding　minister　of　Zhou　Dynasty；　counselor　to　King　Wen。　Before　joining　King　Wen；　Lu　Wang　had　been　a　fisher；　who　mediated　on　the　river　bank　on　political　events。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Duke　Wen　of　Jin　（reigned　636…628　BC）　was　ruler　of　the　western　state　of　Jin　during　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period。　He　and　his　successors　made　Jin　a　dominant　state　for　nearly　200　years。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Duke　Huan　of　Qi　（reigned　BC　685…643）；　in　the　name　of　serving　the　Zhou　emperor；　became　the　leader　of　a　league　of　small　states　in　northeast　China　during　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period。　His　prime　minister　was　the　famed　Guan　Zhong。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Wu　was　the　South　Land；　while　Chu　was　the　area　of　Jingzhou。
＇e＇　Fan　Li　was　adviser　of　Gou　Jian；　the　king　of　Yue。　Fan　Li　helped　Gou　Jian　plot　the　〃Beauty　Ruse〃　in　order　to　destroy　Fu　Zha；　the　king　of　Wu。　After　Yue　triumphed　over　Wu；　Fan　Li　resigned　from　politics。　His　collegue　Wen　Zhong　stayed　to　serve　Gou　Jian；　but　Wen　Zhong　got　executed　due　to　slanders。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Zi　Fan　was　uncle　to　Duke　Wen　of　Jin。　In　his　early　days；　Duke　Wen　spent　nineteen　years　in　exile；　and　Zi　Fan　acpanied　him。　When　Duke　Wen　set　to　return　to　Jin；　Zi　Fan　took　leave；　believing　that　Duke　Wen　would　remember　only　Zi　Fan's　faults。
＇e＇　Shen　Sheng　was　the　eldest　son　of　Duke　Xiao　of　Jin　in　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period。　But　Duke　Xiao　wanted　the　son　of　his　favorite　concubine；　Li　Ji；　to　succeed　him　as　the　ruler　of　Jin。　So　Duke　Xiao　falsely　accused　Shen　Sheng　of　trying　to　murder　him。　Shen　Sheng　mitted　suidcide　rather　than　flee。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Wu　Zixu　was　a　native　of　Chu　but　sought　refuge　in　Wu；　and　achieved　great　acplishments　for　Wu。　However；　the　younger　king　of　Wu　later　believed　rumors　spread　by　some　people；　and　ordered　Wu　Zixu　to　be　put　to　death。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Meng　Tian　a　mander　of　the　First　Emperor；　engineer　of　the　Great　Wall；　inventor　of　the　brush。　He　was　executed；　together　with　the　First　Emperor's　eldest　son；　by　Zhao　Gao；　who　supported　the　second　son　for　succession。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Yue　Yi　was　a　great　general　of　Yan。　Yue　Yi　helped　Yan　overe　Qi；　which　was　a　dominant　state　during　the　Warring　States　period。　。。。。。
〃In　the　humble　opinion　of　thy　servant；　O　Prince；　you　have　set　out　to　acplish　a　task　parable　with　that　of　Yi　Yin*；　and　to　walk　in　the　meritorious　footsteps　of　Lu　Wang*　in　building　the　fame　of　Dukes　Wen*　and　Huan*。　When　the　great　design　was　rough…hewn；　you　had　the　support　of　the　lands　of　the　states　of　Wu*　and　Chu*；　wherefore　many　people　of　ability　incontinently　joined　you。　Since　I　entered　your　service；　I　have　mitted　many　faults；　and　if　I　recognize　them；　how　much　more　do　you　see　them！　Now；　O　Prince；　you　are　surrounded　by　famous　people；　while　I；　useless　as　a　helper　at　home　and　inept　as　a　leader　abroad；　should　be　shamed　were　I　to　take　a　place　among　them。
〃It　is　well　known　that　when　Fan　Li*　saw　certain　eventualities；　he　went　sailing　on　the　lakes；　and　Zi　Fan*　acknowledged　his　faults　and　stayed　by　the　rivers。　Inasmuch　as　one　cannot　take　means　of　safeguarding　one's　self　at　the　critical　and　dangerous　moment；　I　desire………as　is　my　duty………to　go　away　as　I　came；　untainted。　Moreover；　I　am　stupid　and　without　use　or　merit；　merely　born　in　these　days　as　the　sport　of　circumstances。
〃In　the　days　of　old；　Shen　Sheng*；　though　perfectly　filial；　incurred　the　suspicions　of　his　father　and　died；　Wu　Zixu*；　though　perfectly　loyal；　was　put　to　death。　Meng　Tian*；　though　he　extended　the　borders　of　Qin；　suffered　the　extreme　penalty；　and　Yue　Yi*；　though　he　destroyed　the　might　of　Qi；　was　the　victim　of　calumny。　Whenever　I　have　read　of　these　men；　I　have　been　moved　to　tears；　and　now　I　am　in　like　case　and　the　more　mortified。
〃Lately　Jingzhou　was　overwhelmed；　and　I；　an　officer　of　rank；　failed　in　my　duty；　not　one　in　a　hundred　behaving　as　I　should。　Only　I　return　Fangling　and　Shangyong　and　seek　service　abroad。　Now　I　desire　you；　O　Prince；　graciously　to　understand；　to　sympathize　with　thy　servant　and　to　condone　the　step　he　is　about　to　take。　Really　I　am　but　a　mean　man；　incapable　of　great　deeds。　I　know　what　I　am　doing；　and　I　dare　to　say　it　is　no　small　fault。
〃They　say　that　dissolution　of　bonds　should　not　occasion　recrimination；　and　the　dismissed　servant　should　take　leave　without　heart…burning。　I　have　taken　your　orders　many　times；　and　now；　O　Prince；　you　must　act　yourself。　I　write　this　with　extreme　trepidation。〃
But　the　reading　gave　rise　to　great　anger　in　the　breast　of　the　Prince。
〃The　unmerited　fellow！〃　said　he。　〃He　turns　traitor　and　dares　to　insult　me　by　sending　a　letter　of　farewell。〃
Liu　Bei　was　just　giving　orders　to　send　a　force　to　seize　the　deserter；　when　Zhuge　Liang　interposed；　saying；　〃You　had　better　send　Liu　Feng　to　capture　him　and　let　the　two　tigers　worry　each　other　to　weakness。　Whether　Liu　Feng　succeeds　or　fails；　he　will　have　to　e　to　the　capital；　and　you　can　kill　him。　Thus　will　you　cut　off　two　evils。〃
Liu　Bei　took　his　advice。　Orders　were　sent　to　Mianzhu；　and　Liu　Feng　obediently　led　out　his　troops。
Now　Meng　Da　arrived　when　Cao　Pi　was　holding　a　great　council。　When　the　attendants　told　him　that　General　Meng　Da　of　Shu　had　e；　Cao　Pi　summoned　him　to　enter。
Said　Cao　Pi　to　him；　〃Is　this　a　sincere　surrender？〃
Meng　Da　replied；　〃I　was　in　fear　of　death　for　not　having　relieved　Guan　Yu。　That　is　my　only　reason　for　ing。〃
However；　Cao　Pi　did　not　trust　him。　Then　they　reported　that　Liu　Feng　was　ing　to　arrest　him；　with　a　large　army；　and　had　attacked　Xiangyang　and　was　challenging　Meng　Da　to　battle。
Cao　Pi　said；　〃You　seem　to　be　true。　Go　then　to　Xiangyang　and　take　Liu　Feng。　If　you　bring　me　his　head；　I　shall　no　longer　doubt。〃
Meng　Da　replied；　〃I　will　convince　him　by　argument。　No　soldiers　will　be　needed。　I　will　bring　him　to　surrender　too。〃
So　Meng　Da　was　made　General　Who　Establishes　Strong　Arms；　Lord　of　Pingyang；　and　Governor　of　Xincheng；　and　sent　to　guard　Xiangyang　and　Fancheng。
Now　there　were　two　generals　there　already；　Xiahou　Shang　and　Xu　Huang；　who　engaged　in　reducing　the　surrounding　territories。　Meng　Da　arrived；　met　his　two　colleagues；　and　was　told　that　Liu　Feng　was　fifteen　miles　from　the　city。　Whereupon　Meng　Da　wrote　him　a　letter　urging　him　to　surrender。　But　Liu　Feng　was　in　no　mood　to　surrender。　Instead　he　tore　up　the　letter　and　put　the　messenger　to　death。
〃The　renegade　has　already　made　me　offend　against　my　duty　to　my　uncle；　and　now　would　sever　me　from　my　father　so　that　I　shall　be　reproached　as　disloyal　and　unfilial；〃　said　Liu　Feng。
Meng　Da　went　out　with　his　army　to　give　battle。　Liu　Feng　rode　to　the　front；　pointed　with　his　sword　at　his　opponent；　and　railed　against　him。
〃Death　is　very　near　you！〃　replied　Meng　Da。　〃Yet　you　continue　obstinately　in　the　way　of　foolishness　and　will　not　understand。〃
Liu　Feng　rode　out　flourishing　his　sword。　He　engaged　Meng　Da；　who　ran　away　before　the　conflict　had　well　begun。　Liu　Feng　pursued　hotly　to　seven　miles。　Then　he　fell　into　an　ambush　and　found　himself　attacked　on　two　sides　by　Xiahou　Shang　and　Xu　Huang。　Also　Meng　Da　returned　to　the　attack。　Liu　Feng　was　forced　to　fly。　He　made　straight　for　Shangyong；　pursued　all　the　way。　When　he　reached　the　city　and　hailed　the　gate；　he　was　met　by　a　volley　of　arrows。
〃I　have　surrendered　to　Wei！〃　cried　Shen　Dan　from　the　city　tower。
Liu　Feng　got　furious　and　prepared　to　attack　the　wall；　but　the　army　of　Wei　was　close　behind；　and　having　no　resting　place；　he　set　off　for　Fangling。　He　arrived　there　to　find　the　banners　of　Wei　set　out　along　the　walls。　Then　he　saw　Shen　Yi　wave　a　signal　from　the　tower；　and　at　once　there　appeared　from　the　shelter　of　the　wall　a　body　of　soldiers；　and　the　leading　banner　displayed　General　of　the　Right　Army　Xu　Huang　。
Liu　Feng　was　worsted　by　the　ambush。　Then　he　made　for　home。　But　he　was　pursued；　and　only　a　hundred　riders　of　his　remained　to　him　when　he　regained　Chengdu。
Seeking　an　interview　with　his　father；　he　found　but　scant　sympathy。
In　response　to　his　petition；　made　prostrate；　and　weeping；　Liu　Bei　said；　〃Shameful　son！　How　are　you　e　to　see　me　at　all？〃
〃My　uncle's　mishap　was　not　due　to　my　refusal　of　help；　but　because　Meng　Da　thwarted　me。〃
〃You　eat　as　a　man；　you　dress　as　a　man；　but　you　have　no　more　the　instincts　of　a　man　than　an　image　of　clay　or　wood。　What　mean　you　by　saying　another　wretch　thwarted　you？〃
Liu　Bei　bade　the　executioners　expel　Liu　Feng　and　put　him　to　death。　But　the　Prince　felt　some　punction　later　when　he　heard　of　Liu　Feng's　treatment　to　the　messenger　who　had　brought　Meng　Da's　letter　inviting　him　to　bee　a　traitor。　And　he　gave　way　to　grief　for　the　death　of　Guan　Yu　until　he　fell　ill。　So　no　military　movements　were　made。
After　he　had　succeeded　to　the　princedom；　Cao　Pi　raised　all　his　officers　to　high　rank　and　had　an　army　prepared　of　three　hundred　thousand；　and　maneuvered　them　over　the　southern　territories　and　made　great　feasts　in　the　county　of　Qiao　in　the　old　state　of　Pei；　which　was　the　land　of　his　ancestors。　As　the　grand　army　passed　by；　the　aged　villagers　lined　the　roads　offering　gifts　of　wine；　just　as　when　the　Founder　of　the　Hans　returned　home　to　Pei。
When　it　was　announced　that　the　Regent　Marshal　Xiahou　Dun　was　near　death；　Cao　Pi　hastened　back　to　Yejun；　but　arrived　too　late　to　see　him。　He　put　on　mourning　for　the　great　leader　and　instituted　magnificent　funeral　ceremonies。
In　the　eighth　month　of　that　same　year　（AD　220）；　it　was　reported　that　a　phoenix　had　been　seen　to　bow　at　Shiyi；　and　a　jilin　had　appeared　at　Linzi；　while　a　yellow　dragon　was　observed　in　Yejun。
Whereupon　Imperial　mander　Li　Qu　and　Minister　Xu　Zhi　discussed　these　appearances；　and　putting　them　all　together　they　concluded；　saying；　〃Those　splendid　signs　presage　that　Wei　is　about　to　supplant　Han；　and　the　altar　of　abdication　should　be　set　up。〃
Presently　a　deputation　of　forty　high　officers；　both　military　and　civil；　led　by　Hua　Xin；　Wang　Lang；　Xin　Pi；　Jia　Xu；　Liu　Ye；　Liu　Zi；　Chen　Jiao；　Chen　Qun；　and　Huan　Jie　went　into　the　Forbidden　City　and　proposed　to　Emperor　Xian　that　he　should　abdicate　and　yield　to　the　Prince　of　Wei；　Cao　Pi。

It　is　time　to　set　up　the　throne　of　Wei；
And　steal　the　land　from　the　Hans。

The　next　chapter　will　record　the　Emperor's　reply。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　80　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　80
　Chapter　80
Cao　Pi　Deposes　The　Emperor；　Takin