nd Sun Qian。 And Cao Cao led his army to Xiapi。
Lu Bu felt very secure in his refuge。 He had good store of grain； and he had the protection of River Si； so he sat quiet； satisfied that he could maintain his defense。 So he allowed Cao Cao's army to approach without molestation。
〃You ought to attack Cao Cao's army as they e up； before they have time to make camps and defenses。 They will only have a fatigued army to oppose to your fresh troops； and you will certainly defeat them。〃
So said Chen Gong； but Lu Bu replied； 〃I have suffered too many defeats lately to take any risk。 Wait till they actually attack； and you will see them floating away on the waters。〃
So Lu Bu neglected the confidant's advice and waited till the enemy had settled into their camp。 This done； the attackers advanced against the city。 From the foot of the wall； Cao Cao called to Lu Bu to listen while he spoke。 Lu Bu ascended to the wall where he stood。
Cao Cao addressed him； saying； 〃When I heard that your family and that of Yuan Shu were likely to be united by marriage； I sent an army against you。 Yuan Shu was guilty of treason； while you had to your credit on the destruction of Dong Zhuo。 For what reason have you sacrificed all your merits to throw in your lot with a rebel？ It will be over late to regret when this city shall have fallen。 But if you surrender and help me to support the ruling house； you shall not lose your rank。〃
Lu Bu replied； 〃If the Prime Minister will retire； we may be able to discuss the matter。〃
But Chen Gong； standing near his master； began to rail at Cao Cao for a rebel and shot an arrow that struck his plumed helmet。
〃My oath； but I will slay you at least！〃 cried Cao Cao； pointing his finger at Chen Gong。
Then the attack on the walls began。
〃They have e from far and cannot maintain this for long；〃 said Chen Gong。 〃General； go out with your horse and foot and take up a position outside； leaving me to maintain the defense with the remainder of our troops。 If he engages you； I will e out and strike at his rear ranks； if he attacks the city； you can e to our aid。 In ten days their stores will fail； and we can beat them off。 This will place them between the ox…horns。〃
〃The advice seems good；〃 said Lu Bu。
Lu Bu went back to his palace and prepared his weapons。 As it was the depth of winter； he made his army take plenty of wadded clothing to keep them warm。 Lady Yan； his wife； heard of it and came to ask whither he was going。 He told her of Chen Gong's plan。
She said； 〃My lord； you are leaving an undamaged city； abandoning your wife and little ones； and going with a paltry force。 Should any untoward event happen； will your handmaid and her lord ever meet again？〃
Lu Bu hesitated and for three days made no move。
Then Chen Gong came to see him again and said； 〃The enemy are all round the city； and unless you go out soon； you will be quite hemmed in。〃
〃I am thinking it would be better to maintain a stubborn defense；〃 said Lu Bu。
〃Our enemies are short of food and have sent for supplies to Xuchang。 These will soon arrive； and you should go out with some veterans and intercept the convoy。 That loss would be a heavy blow。〃
Lu Bu agreed and went in to tell his wife the new plan。
She wept saying； 〃If you go； do you think Chen Gong and others equal to the defense of the city？ Should anything go wrong； you would be very sorry。 You abandoned me at Changan； and it was only through the fortunate kindness of Pang Shu that I was hidden from our enemies and rejoined you。 Who would have thought you would leave me again？ But go； go your way as far as you wish； and do not mind your wife。〃
And she wept bitterly。
Lu Bu very sadly went to take leave of Diao Chan who said； 〃You are my lord and my life。 You must not be careless and ride out alone。〃
〃You need not fear。 With my mighty trident halberd and Red Hare； who dare e near me？〃
He went out。 But when he met Chen Gong； he said； 〃That story about supplies for Cao Cao is all false； one of his many ruses。 I am not going to stir。〃
Chen Gong sighed。 He felt all was lost。
〃We shall die； and no one shall know our burial place；〃 said he。
Thereupon Lu Bu remained in his own quarters with his ladies； drinking freely to dissipate his sorrows。
Two of his advisers； Xu Si and Wang Kai； went in and proposed； 〃Yuan Shu in the South of River Huai is very powerful。 Why not write to him to renew the marriage alliance？ Yuan Shu can hardly refuse to rescue the affianced bride of his son。〃
So Lu Bu wrote and bade these two take the letter。
Xu Si said； 〃You ought to send a strong escort with us to force a way through。〃
So Lu Bu told off one thousand troops and two of his generals； Zhang Liao and He Meng； to conduct his messenger beyond the pass。 They started that same night at the second watch； Zhang Liao leading and He Meng bringing up the rear。 They got out of the city； crept past Liu Bei's camp； and got beyond the danger zone。 Then half the escort went on； and Zhang Liao led the remainder back toward the city。 At the pass he found Guan Yu waiting。 However； at that moment Gao Shun came to his help； and they all returned and reentered the gates。
The two messengers presently reached Shouchun； saw Yuan Shu； and presented the letter。
〃How is this？〃 said Yuan Shu。 〃Formerly he slew my messenger and repudiated the marriage。 Now he sends to ask for it。〃
〃It is all due to the vile plans of that monster Cao Cao。 If pray you； Illustrious Sir； consider it carefully；〃 replied Xu Si。
〃But if your master was not hemmed in by his enemy and in imminent danger； he would never have thought of renewing this proposal of marriage。〃
The messengers said； 〃You may decide not to help him； but the teeth are cold when the lips are gone。 It will not make for your happiness and fort。〃
Said Yuan Shu； 〃Lu Bu is unreliable。 Tell him that I will send soldiers after the girl has arrived here。〃
This was final； and the two messengers took leave and headed back to Xiapi。
When the party reached Liu Bei's camp； Xu Si decided； 〃We must wait the night falls； and Wang Kai and I will try to get through in the darkness。 The escort of He Meng remaining behind to protect our rear。〃
They tried that very night； and the two messengers crept across without discovery。 But the escort found themselves faced by Zhang Fei。 He Meng tried to fight but was captured in the very first bout； and the five hundred troops of his half pany were either killed or they fled。
The prisoner was taken to Liu Bei； who forwarded him to the main camp。 There he told the story of the marriage and the scheme to save the city。 Cao Cao was angry and ordered the execution of He Meng at the main gate。
Then Cao Cao sent orders to each camp to exercise the greatest diligence with threats of rigorous punishment of the officers of any corps that permitted any munication between the besieged and the outer world。
Every soldier felt mightily afraid。
Liu Bei returned to camp and cautioned his brothers； saying； 〃We are in the most important place with regard to the South of River Huai； and you must be very careful not to allow any breach of this mand。〃
Zhang Fei was inclined to grumble； saying； 〃We have just captured one of the enemy's leaders； and there is no word of praise or reward for us： Nothing but new orders and threats。 What do you make of that？〃
〃You are wrong to plain；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃These are orders of the mander…in…Chief； and what would happen were there no orders？ Do not disobey them； brother。〃
They promised obedience and withdrew。 In the meantime Xu Si and Wang Kai had got back to Lu Bu and told him what Yuan Shu had said； that if the girl came the soldiers should go。
〃But how can she be sent？〃 said Lu Bu。
Xu Si said； 〃That is the difficulty。 He Meng's capture means that Cao Cao knows the whole plan of getting help from the South of River Huai。 I do not see how anyone but you yourself could hope to get through the close siege。〃
〃Suppose we tried； today？〃 said Lu Bu。
〃This is an ill…omened day。 You must not try today。 Tomorrow is a very lucky day； especially in the evening； for any military action。〃
Then Lu Bu ordered Zhang Liao and Gao Shun； 〃Get ready three thousand troops for the venture； and prepare a light carriage。 I will lead the first seventy miles； thence y