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cealed　his　veterans　in　the　partments。　He　selected　seven　generals………Han　Dang；　Jiang　Qin；　Zhu　Ran；　Pan　Zhang；　Zhou　Tai；　Xu　Sheng；　and　Ding　Feng………to　serve　under　him　and　settled　the　order　of　their　successive　movements。　The　remainder　of　the　forces　was　left　with　Sun　Quan　as　supports　and　reserves。　Letters　were　also　written　to　Cao　Cao　that　he　might　cooperate　by　sending　his　army　to　attack　Guan　Yu　in　the　rear；　and　to　Lu　Xun　that　he　would　act　in　concert。

Then　the　sailors　in　plain　white　dress　navigated　the　ships　to　River　Xunyang　as　quickly　as　possible；　and　then　crossed　to　the　north　bank。

When　the　beacon…keepers　came　down　to　question　them；　the　men　of　Wu　said；　〃We　are　traders　forced　into　the　bank　by　contrary　winds。〃

And　they　offered　gifts　to　the　beacon…keepers；　who　accepted　them　and　let　the　ships　e　to　an　anchor　close　to　the　shore。

At　about　the　second　watch　the　soldiers　came　out　of　hiding　in　the　holds　of　the　transports；　suddenly　fell　upon　the　beacon…keepers　and　made　them　prisoners；　officers　and　soldiers。　Next　the　signal　for　a　general　landing　was　given；　and　all　the　soldiers　from　the　eighty　ships　went　ashore。　The　guard　stations　were　attacked；　and　all　the　troops　captured　and　carried　off　to　the　ships；　not　one　being　allowed　to　escape。　Then　the　force　of　Wu　hurried　off　to　the　city　of　Jingzhou；　having　so　far　carried　out　their　plans　that　no　one　knew　of　their　ing。

Nearing　Jingzhou；　Lu　Meng　spoke　kindly　to　his　captives；　and　gave　them　gifts　and　forted　them　in　order　to　induce　them　to　get　the　gates　opened　for　him　to　enter　the　city。　He　won　them　over　to　his　side；　and　they　promised　to　aid　him。　They　would　show　a　flare　as　a　signal　that　the　gates　were　free。　So　they　went　in　advance　and　arrived　at　the　gates　about　midnight。　They　called　the　watch。　The　wardens　of　the　gate；　recognizing　their　voices；　opened　for　them。　Once　within；　they　shouted　and　lit　the　flares。　Immediately　the　soldiers　of　Wu　came　in　with　a　rush　and　were　soon　in　possession。

The　first　order　issued　by　Lu　Meng　was　to　spare　the　people。　Instant　death　should　be　the　punishment　for　any　murder　or　robbery。　The　various　officials　in　the　city　were　retained　in　their　offices　and　continued　their　functions。　Special　guards　were　set　over　Guan　Yus　family　dwelling；　and　none　dared　break　open　any　other　house。　A　messenger　was　sent　with　tidings　to　Sun　Quan。

One　very　wet　day　Lu　Meng；　with　a　few　horsemen　as　escort；　was　going　round　the　walls　and　visiting　the　gates。　One　of　the　soldiers　took　from　a　passer…by　a　broad…brimmed　hat　and　put　it　on　over　his　helmet　to　keep　his　armor　dry。　Lu　Meng　saw　it；　and　the　offender　was　seized。　He　was　a　fellow…villager　of　Lu　Meng；　but　that　did　not　save　him。

〃You　are　an　old　acquaintance；　but　you　knew　my　order。　Why　did　you　disobey　it？〃

〃I　thought　the　rain　would　spoil　my　uniform；　and　I　took　the　hat　to　protect　it。　I　did　not　take　it　for　my　own　advantage；　but　to　protect　state　property。　Spare　me；　O　General；　for　the　sake　of　our　mon　dwelling…place。〃

〃I　know　you　were　protecting　your　armor；　but　still　it　was　disobedience　to　the　order　against　taking　anything　from　the　people。〃

The　soldier　was　beheaded；　and　his　head　exposed　as　a　warning。　But　when　all　was　over；　Lu　Meng　had　the　body　buried　decently　and　wept　at　the　grave　for　the　loss　of　his　friend。　Never　after　this　was　there　the　least　laxity　of　discipline。

When　Sun　Quan　visited　the　city；　Lu　Meng　met　him　at　the　boundary　and　led　him　to　the　official　residence；　where　Sun　Quan　issued　rewards　and　mendations。　This　done；　Sun　Quan　ordered　Pan　Jun　to　take　charge　of　the　new　possession。　Yu　Jin；　who　was　in　prison；　was　freed　and　sent　back　to　Cao　Cao。　When　the　people　had　been　forted　and　the　soldiers　rewarded；　there　was　a　great　banquet　in　honor　of　the　success　of　the　expedition。

Then　said　Sun　Quan　to　Lu　Meng；　〃We　have　got　the　city　of　Jingzhou；　but　now　Fu　Shiren　is　holding　Gongan　and　Mi　Fang　Nanjun。　How　can　we　get　these　two　territories？〃

Suddenly　Yu　Fan　started　up　and　offered　his　services。

〃You　will　need　neither　bows　nor　arrows；〃　said　Yu　Fan；　〃unless　my　little　tongue　is　worn　out。　I　can　persuade　Fu　Shiren　to　surrender。〃

〃Friend　Yu　Fan；　how　will　you　do　it？〃　asked　Sun　Quan。

〃Fu　Shiren　and　I　are　very　old　friends；　ever　since　we　were　boys。　If　I　explain　the　matter　to　him；　I　am　sure　he　will　e　over　to　this　side。〃

So　Yu　Fan；　with　an　escort；　left　quickly　for　Gongan；　where　his　friend　was　in　mand。

Now　when　Fu　Shiren　heard　of　the　capture　of　Jingzhou；　he　closed　his　gates。　Yu　Fan　arrived；　but　was　refused　entrance。　So　Yu　Fan　wrote　a　letter；　attached　it　to　an　arrow；　and　shot　it　over　the　city　wall。　A　soldier　picked　it　up　and　took　it　to　his　mander；　who　found　therein　much　persuasion　to　surrender。

Having　read　all　this；　he　thought　within　himself；　〃I　think　I　should　do　well　in　surrender；　for　at　his　departure　Guan　Yu　was　very　bitter　against　me。〃

Without　further　ado；　he　bade　the　wardens　open　the　gate；　and　his　friend　came　in。　After　their　greetings　they　talked　of　old　times；　and　Yu　Fan　praised　Sun　Quans　magnanimity　and　liberality　and　greatness　generally。　So　finally　Fu　Shiren　decided　to　exchange　masters　and　went　away；　taking　with　him　his　seal　of　office。　He　was　presented　to　Sun　Quan；　who　reappointed　him　to　the　mand　of　Gongan　under　its　new　lord。

Lu　Meng　thought　the　appointment　imprudent　and　said　to　Sun　Quan；　〃Guan　Yu　is　yet　unconquered。　We　should　not　put　Fu　Shiren　in　Gongan。　Instead；　send　him　to　Nanjun　to　induce　his　former　colleague　and　fellow　Mi　Fang　to　join　him　in　desertion　to　the　enemy。〃

Lu　Mengs　advice　was　followed；　and　Fu　Shiren　was　recalled。

〃Go　to　Nanjun　and　win　over　Mi　Fang；　and　I　will　reward　you　richly；〃　said　Sun　Quan。

Fu　Shiren　accepted　the　mission　and　duly　left　for　Nanjun。

Jingzhous　defenders　failed　when　tried；

So　Wang　Fus　words　were　justified。

For　the　events　of　the　journey　see　the　next　chapter。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　76　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　76

Chapter　76