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So saying； Ma Teng rose to go sway。 By this time his host's doubts were set at rest。 He felt that Ma Teng was loyal。
So Dong Cheng said； 〃Do not be angry any more。 I will show you something。〃
Whereupon he invited Ma Teng to go into the room where the others were seated and then showed him the decree。 As Ma Teng read it； his hair stood on end； he ground his teeth and bit his lips till the blood came。
〃When you move； remember the whole force of my army is ready to help；〃 said Ma Teng。
Dong Cheng introduced him to the other conspirators； and then the pledge was produced； and Ma Teng was told to sign his name。 He did so； at the same time smearing the blood as a sign of the oath and saying； 〃I swear to die rather than betray this pledge！〃
Pointing to the five he said； 〃We require ten for this business； and we can acplish our design。〃
〃We cannot get many true and loyal people。 One of the wrong sort will spoil all；〃 said Dong Cheng。
Ma Teng told them to bring in the list of officials。 He read on till he came to the name Liu； of the imperial clan； when clapping his hands he cried； 〃Why not consult him？〃
〃Whom？〃 cried they altogether。
Ma Teng very slowly and deliberately spoke his name。
To a very trusty servant es an Emperor's decree；
And a scion of the ruling house can prove his loyalty。
If the readers turns to the next chapter； they will see whom Ma Teng talked about。
Main Next to Chapter 21 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 21
Chapter 21
In A Plum Garden； Cao Cao Discusses Heroes；
Using The Host's Forces； Guan Yu Takes Xuzhou。
〃Who is it？〃 was the question on the lips of the conspirators。
Ma Teng's reply was； 〃The Imperial Protector of Yuzhou； Liu Bei。 He is here and we will ask him to help。〃
〃Though he is an uncle of the Emperor； he is at present a partisan of our enemy； and he will not join；〃 said Dong Cheng。
〃But I saw something at the hunt；〃 said Ma Teng。 〃When Cao Cao advanced to acknowledge the congratulations due to the Emperor； Liu Bei's sworn brother Guan Yu was behind him； and grasped his sword as if to cut down Cao Cao。 However； Liu Bei signed to him to hold his hand and Guan Yu did。 Liu Bei would willingly destroy Cao Cao； only he thinks Cao Cao's teeth and claws are too many。 You must ask Liu Bei； and he will surely consent。〃
Here Wu Shi urged caution； saying； 〃Do not go too fast。 Let us consider the thing most carefully。〃
They dispersed。 Next day after dark Dong Cheng went to Liu Bei's lodging taking with him the decree。 As soon as Dong Cheng was announced； Liu Bei came to greet him and led him into a private room where they could talk freely。 The two younger brothers were there as well。
〃It must be something unusually important that has brought Uncle Dong Cheng here tonight；〃 said Liu Bei。
〃If I had ridden forth by daylight； Cao Cao might have suspected something； so I came by night。〃
Wine was brought in； and while they were drinking； Dong Cheng said； 〃Why did you check your brother the other day at the hunt； when he was going to attack Cao Cao？〃
Liu Bei was startled and said； 〃How did you know？〃
〃Nobody noticed but I saw。〃
Liu Bei could not prevaricate and said； 〃It was the presumption of the man that made my brother so angry。 Guan Yu could not help it。〃
The visitor covered his face and wept。
〃Ah；〃 said he； 〃if all the court ministers were like Guan Yu； there would be no sighs for lack of tranquillity。〃
Now Liu Bei felt that possibly Cao Cao had sent his visitor to try him； so he cautiously replied； 〃Where are the sighs for lack of tranquillity while Cao Cao is at the head of affairs？〃
Dong Cheng changed color and rose from his seat。
〃You； Sir； are a relative of His Majesty； and so I showed you my inmost feelings。 Why did you mislead me？〃
But Liu Bei said； 〃Because I feared you might be misleading me； and I wanted to find out。〃
At this Dong Cheng drew out the decree he had received and showed it。 His host was deeply moved。 Then Dong Cheng produced the pledge。 There were only six names to it； and these were Dong Cheng； Wang Zifu； Chong Ji； Wu Shi； Wu Zilan； and Ma Teng。
〃Since you have a decree like this； I cannot but do my share；〃 said Liu Bei； and at Dong Cheng's request he added his name and signature to the others and handed it back。
〃Now let us but get three more； which will make ten； and we shall be ready to act。〃
〃But you must move with great caution and not let this get abroad；〃 said Liu Bei。
The two remained talking till an early hour in the morning when the visitor left。
Now in order to put Cao Cao quite off the scent that any plot against him was in progress； Liu Bei began to devote himself to gardening； planting vegetables； and watering them with his own hands。 Guan Yu and Zhang Fei ventured to remonstrate with him for taking to such an occupation when great matters needed attention。
〃The reason for this you may not know；〃 replied he。
And they said no more。
One day when the two brothers were absent； and Liu Bei was busy in his garden； two generals of Cao Cao； Xu Chu and Zhang Liao； with an escort came from Cao Cao； saying； 〃The mand of the Prime Minister is that you e at once。〃
〃What important affair is afoot？〃 asked Liu Bei nervously。
〃We know nothing。 We were ordered to e and request your presence。〃
All he could do was to follow。
When Liu Bei arrived； Cao Cao met him and laughingly said； 〃That is a big business you have in hand at home。〃
This remark made Liu Bei turn the color of clay。 Cao Cao took him by the hand and led him straight to the private garden； saying； 〃The growth of vegetables that you are trying to learn is very difficult。〃
Liu Bei breathed again。 He said； 〃That is hardly a business。 It is only a solace。〃
Cao Cao said； 〃I happened to notice the green plums on the trees today； and suddenly my thoughts went back to a year ago when we were thrashing Zhang Xiu。 We were marching through a parched county； and everyone was suffering from thirst。 Suddenly I lifted my whip； and pointing at something in the distance I said； 'Look at those fruitful plum trees in the forest ahead。' The soldiers heard it； and it made their mouths water。 Seeing the plums kindles my appreciation。 I owe something to the plums； and we will repay it today。 I ordered the servants to heat some wine very hot and sent to invite you to share it。〃
Liu Bei was quite posed by this time and no longer suspected any sinister design。 He went with his host to a small spring pavilion in a plum garden； where the wine cups were already laid out and green plums filled the dishes。 They sat down to a confidential talk and free enjoyment of their wine。
As they drank； the weather gradually changed； clouds gathering and threatening rain。 The servants pointed out a mass of cloud that looked like a dragon hung in the sky。 Both host and guest leaned over the balcony looking at it。
〃Do you understand the evolution of dragons？〃 asked Cao Cao of the guest。
〃Not in detail。〃
〃A dragon can assume any size； can rise in glory or hide from sight。 Bulky； it generates clouds and evolves mist； attenuated； it can scarcely hide a mustard stalk or conceal a shadow。 Mounting； it can soar to the empyrean； subsiding； it lurks in the uttermost depths of the ocean。 This is the midspring season； and the dragon chooses this moment for its transformations like a person realizing his own desires and overrunning the world。 The dragon among animals pares with the hero among people。 You； General； have traveled all lakes and rivers。 You must know who are the heroes of the present day； and I wish you would say who they are。〃
〃I am just a mon dullard。 How can I know such things？〃
〃Do not be so modest；〃 said Cao Cao。
〃Thanks to your kindly protection I have a post at court。 But as to heroes I really do not know who they are。〃
〃You may not have looked upon their faces； but you must have heard their names。〃
〃Yuan Shu of the South of River Huai； with his strong army and abundant resources： Is he one？〃 asked Liu Bei。
His host laughed； 〃A rotting skeleton in a graveyard。 I shall put him out of the way shortly。〃
〃Well； Yuan Shao then。 The highest offices of state have been held in his family for four generations； and his clients are many in the empire。 He is firmly posted in Jizhou； and he mands the services of many able people。 Surely he is one。〃
〃A bully； but a coward。 He is fond of grandiose schemes； but is devoid of decision。 He makes for great things but grudges the necessary sacrifice。 He loses sight of everything else in view of a little present advantage。 He is not one。〃
〃There is Liu Biao of Jingzhou。 He is renowned as a man of perfection； whose fame has spread on all sides。 Surely he is a hero。〃
〃He is a mere semblance； a man of vain reputation。 No； not he。〃
〃Sun Ce is a sturdy sort； the chief of all in the South Land。 Is he a hero？〃
〃He has profited by the reputation of his father Sun Jian。 Sun Ce is not a real hero。〃
〃What of Liu Zhang of Yizhou？〃
〃Though he is of the reigning family； he is nothing more than a watch dog。 How could you make a hero of him？〃
〃What about Zhang Xiu； Zhang Lu； Han Sui； and all those leaders？〃
Cao Cao clapped his hands and laughed very loudly； saying； 〃Paltry people like them are not worth mentioning。〃
〃With these exceptions I really know none。〃
〃Now