； so that the north bank was left open。 Thus Xu Huang and Zhu Ling could move there； and I was able later to cross over to join them。 Then I made the raised road and the mud rampart to deceive the enemy and cause them to think I was weak and thus embolden them up to the point of attacking without proper preparation。 Then I used the clever device of causing dissension in their ranks and was able in one day to destroy the stored up energy of all their forces。 'It was a thunder clap before you could cover your ears。' Yes； indeed； the mutations of the art of war can be called infinite。〃
〃But one thing more puzzled us；〃 said the officers； 〃and we ask you to explain it。 When you heard the enemy was reinforced； you seemed to grow happier。 Why was that？〃
〃Because Tong Pass is distant from Xuchang。 If the rebels had taken advantage of all defensible points and held them； they could not have been quelled in less than a couple of years。 When they came on altogether； they made a multitude but they were not unanimous。 They easily quarreled and； disunited； were easily overe。 So I had reason to rejoice that they came on altogether。〃
〃Indeed no one can equal you in strategy；〃 said his officers； bowing low before him。
〃Still； remember that I rely on you；〃 said Cao Cao。
Then he issued substantial rewards to the army and appointed Xiahou Yuan to the mand at Changan。 The soldiers who had surrendered were distributed among the various troops。 Xiahou Yuan remended Zhang Jia of Gaoling； as his aids。
So the army returned to Capital Xuchang where it was weled by the Emperor in state chariot。 As a reward for his service； Cao Cao was given the court privileges of omitting his distinctive name when he was received in audience and of proceeding toward the court without assuming the appearance of frantic haste。 Further he might go to court armed and booted； as did the Han Founding Minister Xiao He of old。 Whence his prestige and importance waxed mightily。
＇e＇ Pei was a small ancient state； homeland of Liu Bang。
＇e＇ East River Land corresponded to the mountainous region of Hanzhong； which means 〃Within Han〃； or the land of the ancient state of Han。
The fame of these doings penetrated west into Hanzhong； and one of the first to be moved to indignation was Zhang Lu； Governor of Hanning。 This Zhang Lu was a native of Pei*。 He was a grandson of Zhang Ling who retired to Mount Humming； in the East River Land*； where he had posed a work on Taoism for the purpose of deluding the multitude。
Yet all the people respected Zhang Ling； and when he died his son； Zhang Heng； carried on his work； and taught the same doctrines。 Disciples had to pay a fee in rice； five carts。 The people of his day called him the Rice Thief。
After Zhang Heng passed away； his son Zhang Lu followed his step。 Zhang Lu styled himself Master Superior； and his disciples were called monly Devil Soldiers。 A headman was called Libationer； and those who made many converts were called Chief Libationers。 Perfect sincerity was the ruling tenet of the cult； and no deceit was permitted。 When anyone fell ill； an altar was set up and the invalid was taken into the Room of Silence where he could reflect upon his sins and confess openly。 Then he was prayed for。 The director of prayers was called Superintending Libationer。
When praying for a person； they wrote his name and his confession on a slip and made three copies thereof； called 〃The Writing of the Three Gods〃。 One copy was burned on the mountain top as a means of informing Heaven； another was burned to inform Earth； and the third was sunk in water to tell the Controller of the Waters。 If the sick person recovered； he paid as fee five carts of rice。
They had Public Houses of Charity wherein the poor found rice and flesh and means of cooking。 Any wayfarer was allowed to take of these according to the measure of his appetite。 Those who took in excess would invite punishment from on high。 Offenses were pardoned thrice； afterwards offenders were punished。 They had no officials but all were subject to the control of the Libationers。
This sort of cult had been spreading in Hanzhong for some thirty years and had escaped repression so far because of the remoteness of the region。 All the Government did was to give Zhang Lu the title of General Who Guards the South and the post of Governor of Hanning and take means to secure from him a full quota of local tribute。
When the reports of Cao Cao's success against the west； and his prestige and influence； reached the Hanzhong people； Zhang Lu met with his counselors to discuss the matter。
Said Zhang Lu； 〃Ma Teng has died； and Ma Chao defeated； thus the northwest has fallen。 Cao Cao's next ambition will be the southwest； and Hanzhong will be his first attack。 I should act first by assuming the title of Prince of Hanzhong and superintending the defense。〃
In reply one Yan Pu said； 〃The army of this region counts one hundred thousand； and there are ample supplies of everything。 East River Land is a natural stronghold with its mountains and rivers。 Now Ma Chao's soldiers are newly defeated； and the fugitives from the Ziwu Valley are very numerous。 We can add them to our army by several ten…thousands more。 My advice is that as Liu Zhang of Yizhou is weak； we should take possession of the forty…one counties of West River Land； and then you may set up your sovereign as soon as you like。〃
This speech greatly pleased Zhang Lu； who then began to concert measures with his brother； Zhang Wei； to raise an army。
＇e＇ Liu Yan had been the Imperial Protector of Youzhou； where Liu Bei and his brother first fought the Yellow Scarves。
Stories of the movement reached Yizhou； whose Imperial Protector was Liu Zhang。 A son of Liu Yan*； a descendant from Prince Gong of the Imperial House。 Prince Gong had been moved out to Jingling several generations ago； and the family had settled there。 Later； Liu Yan became Imperial Protector of Yizhou； and when he died in due course in the first year of Prosperous Stability （AD 194）； his son was remended for the vacant Protectorship。
There was enmity between Liu Zhang and Zhang Lu； for Liu Zhang had put to death Zhang Lu's mother and brother。 After that Liu Zhang dispatched Pang Xi as Governor of Baxi to ward off Zhang Lu。
But Liu Zhang had always been feeble； and when he received news from his mander of Zhang Lu's movements； his heart sank within him for fear； and he hastily called in his advisers。
At the council one haughtily said； 〃My Master； be not alarmed。 I am no genius； but I have a bit of a healthy tongue； and with that I will make Zhang Lu afraid even to look this way。〃
When plots did grow about the west；
It suited Jingzhou's plans the best。
The speaker's name and lineage will be told in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 60 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 60
Chapter 60
Zhang Song Turns The Tables On Yang Xiu；
Pang Tong Proposes The Occupation Of Shu。
The man who proposed the plan spoken of in the last chapter was Zhang Song； who belonged to Yizhou and held the small office of Supernumerary Charioteer。 He had a broad forehead； protuberant at the temples like a countryman's hoe； and a pointed head。 His nose was flat and his teeth protruded。 He was a dwarf in stature but had a deep voice like a great bell。
〃What proposal have you to offer that may avert this danger？〃 asked the Imperial Protector。
〃My proposal is that we gain the support of Cao Cao。 As we know； he has made a clean sweep of the empire。 Lu Bu went first； and both the Yuans followed； all exterminated。 Lately he has destroyed Ma Chao。 In short he is the one man against whom no one can stand。 Therefore； my lord； prepare me worthy gifts to take to the capital； and I will get Cao Cao to march an army against Hanzhong； which will keep this Zhang Lu occupied so that we shall be left alone。〃
This met Liu Zhang's views； and so he prepared gold and pearls and rich stuffs； worthy presents for the man of power。 And when these were ready； he appointed Zhang Song his emissary。 Zhang Song in the meantime occupied his leisure in secretly copying maps and plans of the west country。 When all was ready； he started with a small escort。
They heard this in Jingzhou； and Zhuge Liang sent a