Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/188



Lü Pu laughed loud at the success of his shot. Dropping his bow he seized his guests by the hands saying, “The command of Heaven indeed! And now you cease from fighting!”

He ordered the soldier attendants to pour out great goblets of wine and each drank. Liu Pei in his inmost heart felt rather ashamed; his fellow guest sat silent, nodding his head. Presently he said, “I cannot disobey your command, General, but let me depart. What will my master say and will he believe me?”

“I will write a letter and confirm it,” said Lü Pu.

After a few more rounds of the wine Chi Ling asked that he might have the letter and after that departed. When the brothers took their leave Lü Pu again reminded Liu Pei that he owed him his deliverance.

In a short time the soldiers had gone. Here nothing will be said of the entry of two of the actors in the drama into their own towns. When Chi Ling had got back to Huainan and told the story of the feat of archery and the peace-making that followed, and had presented the letter, his lord was very wroth.

“He repays me for all my grain with this bit of play-acting!” cried he. “He has saved Liu Pei, but I will lead a large army myself and settle him, and take Lü Pu too.”

“Be careful, my lord,” said Chi Ling. “He is braver and stronger than most men and has wide territory. He and Liu Pei together make a powerful combination, not easy to break. But there is another course. I have found out that his wife, the lady Yen, has a daughter just of marriageable age and as you have a son, you could arrange a marriage alliance with Lü Pu. If his daughter wedded your son he would certainly slay your enemy for you. This is the nothing-can-separate-relations plan.”

This scheme appealed to Yüan Shu, who soon set about its accomplishment. He sent presents by the hand of Han Yin, who was to discuss the question. When Han saw Lü he spoke of the immense respect his master had for him and his desire to ensure perpetual alliance between the two families by a marriage, an alliance such as existed between the states Ts‘in and Chin.

Lü Pu was well disposed toward the scheme, but went in to consult his wife. Now Lü Pu had two wives and one concubine.