When he was taken to Cao Cao； he was received with the greatest kindness。 Cao Cao himself dismounted； loosed the captive's bonds； and asked him； 〃Do you surrender？〃
Pang De thought of the ill…treatment he had just received at the hands of his master and of his injustice； and gave in。 At once Pang De was helped to mount a horse by Cao Cao himself and led to the great camp。
Soldiers placed for the purpose on the city wall saw what happened and reported to Zhang Lu： 〃Pang De has ridden off on friendly terms with Cao Cao。〃
Whereby Zhang Lu was persuaded that Yang Song had spoken truly。
Soon after； scaling ladders were set against the city walls； and catapults threw in great stones。
The danger being imminent； Zhang Wei counseled； saying； 〃Set all supplies on fire and flight to the Southern Mountains； where we might be able to defend Bazhong。〃
On the other hand； Yang Song said； 〃The best course is to throw open the gates and surrender。〃
Zhang Lu could not decide which to do。 His brother； Zhang Wei； maintained that burning everything and flight was the only course。
Zhang Lu said； 〃I have been always loyal at heart and desired to return to allegiance when circumstances would permit。 I have been unable to attain my desire； but now fight seems the only course open to me。 However； the granaries and treasures； the public offices； and the government property of all kinds must be kept safe。〃
So the public buildings were all carefully barred and sealed。 The same night； in the late evening； Zhang Lu and his family went out through the south gate and found their way through。 Cao Cao let them go unpursued。 When Cao Cao entered the city and saw the proofs of Zhang Lu's care of the government property； he passionated the Governor's misfortunes。 He then sent a messenger into Bazhong to induce Zhang Lu to surrender。 Zhang Lu was disposed to do so； but his brother would not hear of it。 Yang Song wrote a secret letter to Cao Cao urging him to attack and promising treacherous aid。
Cao Cao presently attacked； and Zhang Wei came out to meet him。 But his opponent was the mighty Xu Chu； who made short work of him。 The beaten soldiers fled back into the city； which Zhang Lu then decided to defend。
As this would not give Yang Song the chance to carry out his treacherous scheme； he persuaded his master； saying； 〃If we stay passive； death will surely e。 My lord should go out and fight the enemy to the conclusion； leaving me to defend the city。〃
Zhang Lu took this advice； although it was opposed by Yan Pu； and went out。 But before his van got near the enemy； his rear ranks began to desert； and Zhang Lu retreated。 Cao Cao pursued him to the city walls； where Zhang Lu found the gates shut against him。
〃Surrender； O Zhang Lu！〃 cried Cao Cao。
There being now no way open； Zhang Lu dismounted； prostrated himself； and gave in。 Because of this and his care of the public property； Cao Cao treated him with great kindness and consoled him with the title of General Who Guards the South。 Yan Pu and many others also were enrolled among the nobles。 To each county was appointed a Military mander； in addition to the Governor。 All the soldiers were feasted and rewarded。
Then Yang Song； who had sold his master； came and sued for honors。 He was condemned to public execution and exposure。
Selling one's lord may make great service；
But the gains thereof are vanity；
No glory clings to his house but a shameful death；
Wherefore Yang Song is an object of contempt forever。
When the East River Land was quite subdued； First Secretary Sima Yi said； 〃The people of Shu are not loyal to Liu Bei because of his uprooting the late ruler； Liu Zhang。 If on the strength of your present success you press forward； Liu Bei will bee as a shattered tile。 The wise person takes the occasion when it serves； and this should not be missed。〃
Cao Cao sighed； 〃There is no end………as human want has no limit： Now that I have Hanzhong； I am forced into taking Yizhou。〃
Liu Ye supported his colleague； saying； 〃Sima Yi spoke well。 If you delay； Zhuge Liang will have bee top minister； while Guan Yu； Zhang Fei； and the other bold warriors will be at the head of the army。 If the people of Shu once settle down； and the points of vantage are held； you will not be able to overe them。〃
Cao Cao replied； 〃My soldiers have marched far and suffered much。 Beside we must show pity。〃
Wherefore he rested his army for a time。
Meanwhile the populace of Yizhou； having heard of Cao Cao's success in the East River Land； concluded that the West River Land would suffer next； and fear spread among them。 Whereupon Liu Bei called in the Directing Instructor and asked his advice。
Zhuge Liang replied； 〃I can make Cao Cao retreat of his own accord。〃
〃What is that plan？〃
〃A part of Cao Cao's army is camped at Hefei because of the fear of Sun Quan。 If now we restore three territories of Jingzhou………Changsha； Jiangxia； and Guiyang………； and send a specious person to talk； we can make Sun Quan attack Hefei； which will lead to Cao Cao going southward and not looking to the west。〃
〃Who is a fit person for the messenger？〃 said Liu Bei。
And Yi Ji replied； 〃I will go。〃
Liu Bei； well…satisfied； wrote letters and prepared gifts； with which Yi Ji went； calling in at Jingzhou City on the way to tell Guan Yu。 Then he went on to the capital city of Jianye and saw Sun Quan。
After the greetings； Sun Quan asked； 〃On what business do you e？〃
Yi Ji replied； 〃On a former occasion Zhuge Jin would have had the three territories of Changsha； Lingling； and Guiyang； but for the absence of the Directing Instructor； which prevented the actual transfer。 Now I am the bearer of letters giving Changsha； Guiyang； and Jiangxia back to you。 Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang wanted to restore all the territories of Jingzhou； including those of Xiangyang； Nanjun； and Lingling。 But now that Cao Cao has got possession of East River Land； there is no place for General Guan Yu。 Hefei is weak； and we hope you will attack it so as to make Cao Cao withdraw to the south and let my master take the East River Land； when he will restore the whole of the Jingzhou Region。〃
〃Go back to the guest…house； and let me take counsel in this matter；〃 said Sun Quan。
As soon as Yi Ji had gone； the Marquis of Wu turned to his officers and asked what should be done。
Zhang Zhao said； 〃All this is because Liu Bei fears that Cao Cao will attack him。 However； since Cao Cao is absent in Hanzhong； it would be well to seize the opportunity and attack Hefei。〃
Sun Quan accepted the advice。 After he had sent the messenger away； he began to prepare for the expedition。 He left Lu Su in mand over the three territories of Changsha； Jiangxia； and Guiyang。 Then Sun Quan encamped at Lukou； withdrew Generals Lu Meng and Gan Ning； and sent to Yuhang for General Ling Tong。
In a few days； Lu Meng and Gan Ning returned。
Lu Meng suggested a plan； saying； 〃Cao Cao has sent Zhu Guang； Governor of Lujiang； to camp at the city of Huancheng and plant grain for the supply of Hefei。 Let us first take Huancheng first； and then attack Hefei。〃
〃This scheme is just after my own heart；〃 said Sun Quan。
So Sun Quan appointed Lu Meng and Gan Ning as Van Leaders； Jiang Qin and Pan Zhang as Rear Guards； he himself with Zhou Tai； Chen Wu； Dong Xi； and Xu Sheng manded the center。 But the manders Cheng Pu； Huang Gai； and Han Dang were not called to take part in this expedition as they were guarding certain especial places。
The army crossed the river and captured Hezhou on the way。 Governor Zhu Guang sent an urgent message to Hefei for help and set himself to strengthen his fortifications for a siege。 Sun Quan went very near the city walls of Huancheng to observe its defense； and a flight of arrows greeted him； some striking his great official parasol。 He went back to camp and asked his officers to offer plans of attack。
Then Dong Xi said； 〃Pile up great hills of earth and attack from the summits。〃
Said Xu Sheng； 〃Set up long ladders and construct platforms whence you can look over the city walls and thus attack。〃
But Lu Meng said； 〃All such plans need a long time to prepare； and in the meantime the soldiers of Cao Cao will arrive from Hefei。 Do not try such long…drawn…out schemes； but take advantage of the fine； fresh spir