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〃Xu Shu is there now。 But if you wanted him； it would not be difficult to call him；〃 replied Cheng Yu。
〃How could I make him e？〃 said Cao Cao。
〃He is noted for his affection for his mother。 His father died young； leaving his mother a widow with one other son。 Now that son is dead； and his mother； Lady Xun； has no one to care for her。 If you sent and got his mother here and told her to write and summon her son； he would surely e。〃
Cao Cao sent without loss of time and had the old lady brought to the capital； where he treated her exceedingly well。
Presently he said； 〃I hear you have a very talented son； who is now at Xinye helping on that rebel Liu Bei against the government。 There he is like a jewel in a muck heap： It is a pity。 Supposing you were to call him； I could speak of him before the Emperor； and he might get an important office。〃
Cao Cao bade his secretaries bring along paper and ink； with which Lady Xun could write to her son。
〃What sort of a man is Liu Bei？〃 asked she。
Cao Cao replied； 〃A mon sort of person from Zhuo； irresponsible enough to style himself Imperial Uncle； and so claiming some sort of connection with the Hans。 He is neither trustworthy nor virtuous。 People say he is a superior man as far as externals go； but a mean man by nature。〃
Lady Xun answered in a hard voice； 〃Why do you malign him so bitterly？ Everyone knows he is a descendant of one of the Han princes and so related to the House。 He has condescended to take a lowly office and is respectful to all people。 He has a reputation for benevolence。 Everyone； young and old； cowherds and firewood cutters； all know him by name and know that he is the finest and noblest man in the world。 If my son is in his service； then has he found a fitting master。 You； under the name of a Han minister； are really nothing but a Han rebel。 Contrary to all truths； you tell me Liu Bei is a rebel； whereby you try to induce me to make my son leave the light for darkness。 Are you devoid of all sense of shame？〃
As Lady Xun finished speaking； she picked up the inkstone to strike Cao Cao。 This so enraged him that he forgot himself and the need for caution and bade the executioners lead off the old woman and put her to death。
Adviser Cheng Yu； however； stopped this act； saying； 〃This old lady wished to die。 But if you kill her； your reputation will be damaged and hers enhanced。 Beside that will add a keen desire for revenge to the motives which led Xu Shu to labor in the interest of Liu Bei。 You had better keep her here so that Xu Shu's body and his thoughts may be in different places。 He can not devote all his energies to helping our enemy while his mother is here。 If you keep her； I think I can persuade the son to e and help you。〃
So the outspoken old lady was saved。 She was given quarters and cared for。 Daily Cheng Yu went to ask after her health； falsely claiming to being a sworn brother of her son's； and so entitled to serve her and treat her as a filial son would have done。 He often sent her gifts and wrote letters to her so that she had to write in reply。 And thereby he learned her handwriting so that he could forge a 〃home〃 letter。 When he could do this without fear of detection； he wrote one and sent it by the hand of a trusty person to Xinye。
One day a man arrived inquiring for one San Fu。 He claimed to have a letter from home for him。 The soldiers led the man to San Fu。 The man said he was an official carrier of letters and had been told to bring this one。 San Fu quickly tore it open and read：
〃On your brother's death recently I was left alone： No relative was near； and I was lonely and sad。 To my regret； the Prime Minister Cao Cao inveigled me into ing to the capital； and now he says you are a rebel； and he has throw me into bonds。 However； thanks to Cheng Yu； my life has been spared so far； and； if you would only e and submit too； I should be quite safe。 When this reaches you； remember how I have toiled for you and e at once； that you may prove yourself a filial son。 We may together find some way of escape to our own place and avoid the dangers that threaten me。 My life hangs by a thread； and I look to you to save me。 You will not require a second summon。〃
Tears gushed from Xu Shu's eyes as he read； and with the letter in his hand he went to seek his chief； to whom he told the true story of his life。
〃I heard that Liu Biao treated people well and went to him。 I happened to arrive at a time of confusion。 I saw he was of no use； so I left him very soon。 I arrived at the retreat of Sima Hui the Water Mirror late one night and told him； and he blamed me for not knowing a master when I saw one。 Then he told me of you and I sang that wild song in the streets to attract your attention。 You took me； you used me。 But now my aged mother is the victim of Cao Cao's wiles。 She is in prison； and he threatens to do worse。 She has written to call me； and I must go。 I hoped to be able to render you faithful service； but； with my dear mother a captive； I should be useless。 Therefore I must leave you and hope in the future to meet you again。〃
Liu Bei broke into loud moans when he heard that his adviser was to leave。
〃The bond between mother and son is divine；〃 said Liu Bei； 〃and I do not need to be reminded where your duty lies。 When you have seen your venerable mother； perhaps I may have again the happiness of receiving your instruction。〃
Having said farewell； Xu Shu prepared to leave at once。 However； at Liu Bei's wish； he consented to stay over the night。
Then Sun Qian said privately to his master； 〃Xu Shu is indeed a genius； but he has been here long enough to know all our secrets。 If you let him go over to Cao Cao； he will be in his confidence； and that will be to our detriment。 You ought to keep him at all costs and not let him go。 When Cao Cao sees Xu Shu does not e； he will put the mother to death； and that will make Xu Shu the more zealous in your service； for he will burn to avenge his mother's death。〃
〃I cannot do that。 It would be very cruel and vile to procure the death of his mother that I might retain the son's services。 If I kept him； it would lead to a rupture of the parental lien； and that would be a sin I would rather die than mit。〃
Both were grieved and sighed。
Liu Bei asked the parting guest to a banquet； but he declined； saying； 〃With my mother a prisoner I can swallow nothing； nay； though it were brewed from gold or distilled from jewels。〃
〃Alas！ Your departure is as if I lost both my hands；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃Even the liver of a dragon or the marrow of a phoenix would be bitter in my mouth。〃
They looked into each other's eyes and wept。 They sat silent till dawn。 When all was ready for the journey； the two rode out of the city side by side。 At Daisy Pavilion they dismounted to drink the stirrup cup。
Liu Bei lifted the goblet and said； 〃It is my mean fortune that separates me from you； but I hope that you may serve well your new lord and bee famous。〃
Xu Shu wept as he replied； 〃I am but a poor ignorant person whom you have kindly employed。 Unhappily I have to break our intercourse in the middle； but my venerable mother is the real cause。 Though Cao Cao use all manner of means to coerce me； yet will I never plan for him。〃
〃After you are gone； I shall only bury myself in the hills and hide in the forests；〃 said Liu Bei。
Xu Shu said； 〃I had in my heart for you the position of leader of the chieftains； but my plans have been altogether upset by my mother。 I have been of no advantage to you； nor should I do any good by remaining。 But you ought to seek some person of lofty wisdom to help you in your great enterprise。 It is unseemly to be downcast。〃
〃I shall find none to help better than you； my master。〃
〃How can I permit such extravagant praise？〃 said Xu Shu。 〃I am only a useless blockhead。〃
As he moved off； he said to the followers； 〃Officers； I hope you will render the Princely One good service； whereby to write his name large in the country's annals and cause his fame to glow in the pages of history。 Do not be like me； a person who has left his work half done。〃
They were all deeply affected。 Liu Bei could not bring himself to part from his friend。 He escorted him a little further； and yet a little further； till Xu Shu said； 〃I will not trouble you； O Princely One； to e further。 Let us say our farewell here。〃
Liu Bei dismounted； took Xu Shu by the hands； and said； 〃Alas！ We part。 Each goes his way； and who knows if we shall meet again？〃
His tears fell like rain and Xu Shu wept also。 But the last goodbyes were said。 When the traveler had gone； Liu Bei stood gazing after the little party and watched it slowly disappear。 At the last glimpse he broke into lamentation。
〃He is gone！ What shall I do？〃
One of the trees shut out the traveler from his sight； and Liu Bei pointed at it； saying； 〃Wish that I could cut down every tree in the countryside！〃
〃Why？〃 said his officers。
〃Because they hinder my sight of Xu Shu。〃
Suddenly they saw Xu Shu galloping back。
Said Liu Bei； 〃He is returning： Can it he that he is going to stay？〃
So he hastened forward to meet Xu Shu； and when they got near enough； he cried； 〃This return is surely for no slight reason。〃
Checking his horse； Xu Shu said； 〃In the turmoil of my feelings； I forgot to say one word。 There is a p