ch Lu Bu was held by the Chief Minister of State。 Lu Bu was greatly pleased。
Next came news that a messenger from Yuan Shu had arrived。
When he had been introduced； he said； 〃My master's project of declaring himself emperor is advancing。 He has already built a Palace and will speedily choose Empress and concubines and would e to the South of River Huai。 He is looking forward to receiving the fiancee of the Heir Apparent。〃
〃Has the rebel gone so far？〃 cried Lu Bu in a rage。
He put the messenger to death and Han Yin into the cage。 He drafted a memorial of thanks and sent it to the capital； at the same time sending； too； Han Yin； the unfortunate agent who had arranged the marriage alliance。 He also replied to Cao Cao's private meditating letter asking to be confirmed in his protectorship of Xuzhou。 The letter was sent by the hand of Chen Deng。
Cao Cao was pleased to hear of the rupture of the marriage arrangement between the houses of Yuans and Lus； and forthwith put Han Yin to death in the market place。
However； Chen Deng secretly told Cao Cao； saying； 〃Lu Bu is cruel； stupid； and facile。 The longer he remains； the worse。〃
〃I know Lu Bu quite well；〃 replied Cao Cao。 〃He is a wolf with a savage heart； and it will be hard to feed him for long。 If it had not been for you and your father； I should not have known all the circumstances and you must help me to get rid of him。〃
〃Anything the Prime Minister wishes to do shall have my assistance；〃 was the reply。
As a reward Cao Cao obtained an annually grant of two thousand carts of grain for Chen Gui and the governorship of Guangling for Chen Deng； who then took his leave。
As he was saying farewell； Cao Cao took him by the hand； saying； 〃I shall depend upon you in the eastern affairs。〃
Chen Deng nodded acquiescence。 Then he returned to Lu Bu； who asked him how the visit was。
Chen Deng told him； 〃My father received a generous annuity； and I was made Governor of Guangling。〃
Lu Bu enraged； saying； 〃You did not ask Xuzhou for me； but you got something for yourself。 Your father advised me to help Cao Cao by breaking off the marriage； and now I get nothing at all of what I asked； while you and your father get everything。 I have been victimized by your father。〃
He threatened Chen Deng with his sword。
Chen Deng only laughed； saying； 〃O General； how unwary you are！〃
〃I； unwary？〃
〃When I saw Cao Cao； I said that to keep you going was like feeding a tiger。 The tiger must be kept fully fed or he would eat humans。 But Cao Cao laughed and replied； 'No； not that。 One must treat the mander like a falcon。 Not feed it till the foxes and hares are done。 Hungry； the bird is of use； full fed it flies away。' I asked who were the quarry。 He replied； 'Yuan Shu of the South of River Huai； Sun Ce of the South Land； Yuan Shao of Jizhou； Liu Biao of Jingzhou； Liu Zhang of Yizhou； and Zhang Lu of Hanzhong； these are the foxes and hares。'〃
Lu Bu threw aside his sword and laughed； saying； 〃Yes； he understands me。〃
But just about that time came news of the advance of Yuan Shu on Xuzhou； and that frightened Lu Bu。
When discord rose between Qin and Jin；
They were attacked by Yue and Wu；
And when a promised bride never came；
An army marched to enforce the claim。
How all this fell out will be shown in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 17 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Yuan Shu Marches Out An Army Of Seven Divisions；
Cao Cao And Three Generals Join Forces。
The south of River Huai was very fruitful； and Yuan Shu； as governor of such a large territory； was very influential。 He was not a little puffed up。 The possession of the Imperial Hereditary Seal； pledged by Sun Ce； added to his pride。 And he seriously thought of assuming the full style。
＇e＇ Liu Bang's first office was assistant to a magistrate in Pei。
＇e＇ King Wen； aka the Scholar King； founder of the Zhou Dynasty； father of King Wu。 King Wen did not actually founded the dynasty； but he laid the foundation for Zhou。 At the end of Shang Dynasty； the state Zhou of King Wen had already possessed two…thirds of the empire； but King Wen still faithfully served the last emperor of Shang。 The final conquest was pleted by King Wu and King Wu's brother； the Duke of Zhou。 。。。。。
＇e＇ King Yao； King Shun； and King Yu （BC 2400…2200） were the three ideal rulers in ancient China。 They ascended the throne by their virtues and merits； and not by heritage。 King Yu was also the founder of Xia Dynasty。 。。。。。
As a preliminary he assembled all his officers and addressed them thus： 〃The Supreme Ancestor； the Founder of Han Dynasty； was only a very minor official*； and yet he became ruler of the empire。 The dynasty has endured four centuries； and its measure of fortune has run out。 It no longer possesses authority； the cauldron is on the point of boiling over。 My family has held the highest offices of state for four generations and is universally respected。 Wherefore I wish； in response to the will of Heaven and the desire of the people； to assume the Imperial Dignity。 What think ye of the proposal； my officers？〃
Secretary Yan Xiang rose in opposition at once； saying； 〃You may not do this。 King Wen； the Ancestor of the Zhou*； was of distinguished virtue and held many offices。 Till the last years of Shang Dynasty； he had two thirds of the empire。 Still he served and was loyal to the ruling house。 Your house is honorable； but it is not so glorious as that of Zhou。 The Hans may be reduced； but they are not so abominably cruel as those of the Shang Dynasty that they are to be overthrown。 Indeed this should not be done。〃
Yuan Shu did not hear this with pleasure。
Said he； 〃We Yuans came from the Chen family； the same ancestry with King Shun*。 By the rule of interpreting the signs of fate； the day has e when earth （Chen） receives fire （Liu）。 Beside there is an oracle saying； 'One who replaces the Hans must wade through deep mire。' My name means 'the high road。' It fits exactly。 Further than this； I possess the Imperial Hereditary Seal and must bee lord of all； or I turn from Heaven's own way。 Finally； I have made up my mind； so if anyone says too much； that person will simply suffer death。〃
Yuan Shu arrogated himself the insignia of royalty and assigned Second Glory the reign title。 He set up officials with titles only given by an emperor； and rode in a chariot decorated with the dragon and phoenix； and offered sacrifices after the manner of an emperor in the north and south suburbs。 Also he appointed the daughter of Feng Fang his Empress and his son Heir Apparent； and he pressed for the early wedding of Lu Bu's daughter with his son so that the Palace entourage might be plete。
But when Yuan Shu heard of the fate of his marriage ambassador； Han Yin； who was sent to the capital and was executed； Yuan Shu was very angry and began at once to plan for revenge。 He made Zhang Xun his Grand mander and gave Zhang Xun the mand of more than two hundred thousand soldiers with the instruction to invade Xuzhou。 The army consisted of seven divisions under seven manders： Zhang Xun led the Center Army； Qiao Rui； the First Left Army； Lei Bo； the Second Left Army； Han Xian； the Third Left Army； Chen Ji； First Right Army； Chen Lan； Second Right Army； and Yang Feng； the Third Right Army。 Each mander was instructed to make a certain town his objective。
The Imperial Protector of Yangzhou； Jin Shang； was ordered to superintend the missariat； but he declined the office。 And so Yuan Shu put Jin Shang to death。 Ji Ling was in mand of the reserves to help wherever he was required。 Yuan Shu led thirty thousand troops； and he appointed three generals； Li Deng； Liang Gang； and Yue Jiu； to go up and down and coordinate the grand march。
Lu Bu found out from his scouts that his own Xuzhou City was the objective of Zhang Xun； the other towns to be first attacked being Xiaopei； Yidu； Langye； Jieshi； Xiapi； and Junshan。 The invading armies were marching twenty miles a day； and plundering the countryside as they advanced。
Lu Bu summoned his advisers to a council to which came Chen Gong； Chen Deng； and Chen Gui。
When all had assembled； Chen Gong said； 〃This misfortune that has e to us is due to the two Chens； who fawned upon the central government in order to obtain rank and appointments。 Now remove the evil by putting these two to death and sending their heads to Yuan Shu。 Then he will retire and leave us in peace。〃
Lu Bu acquiesced and had the two arrested。
But the son； Chen Deng； only laughed； saying； 〃What is this anxiety about？ These seven armies are no more to me than so many heaps of rotting straw。 They are not worth thinking about。〃
〃If you can show us how to overe them； I will spare your life；〃 said Lu Bu。
〃General； if you will listen to poor me； the region will be perfectly safe。〃
〃Let us hear what you have to say。〃
〃Yuan Shu's troops are numerous but they are only a flock of crows； they are not an army under a leader。 There is no mutual confidence。 I can keep them at bay with the ordinary guards of the place and could overe them by some unsuspected stratagem。 If I should fail； I have another plan by which I can not only protect the region but capture our enemy。〃
〃Let us have it。〃
＇e＇ Han Xian used to be a White Wave rebel leader。 Y