back； Liu Zhang will expect great things。 Now I am returning empty handed and a failure to endure the laughter of my fellow country people。 I will not go back。 I have heard of the virtues of Liu Bei； and I will go to him and see what manner of man he is。 Then I can decide what to do。〃
So with his little escort and following he made for Jingzhou。 He had reached the boundaries of Wuchang when he met a body of horsemen； at the head of whom rode a general in simple dress。
The general pulled up； saying； 〃Surely you are the Charioteer Zhang Song。〃
〃I am he；〃 said Zhang Song。
The general quickly dismounted and humbly said； 〃I have expected you these many days。 I am Zhao Yun。〃
Zhang Song dismounted and returned the salutation； saying； 〃Then you are no other than the Fine Man of Changshan。〃
〃No other；〃 was the reply。 〃And my lord Liu Bei bade me await you here and offer you refreshment after your long and toilsome journey。〃
At this some soldiers brought forward wine and food which they offered kneeling。
Zhang Song said； 〃I am e because the world says Liu Bei is liberal and kindly disposed。〃
After a few cups of wine； the two retook the road toward Jingzhou City； which they neared next day at evening。 They went to the guest…house。 Here they found a large number of people who received the visitor with the beating of drums and every sign of respect。
And the officer in mand； bowing low； said； 〃My brother sent me to meet you after your long and dusty journey and prepare the guest…house for your reception。 My name is Guan Yu。〃
So Zhang Song and Zhao Yun dismounted and entered the guest…house； where hosts and guest exchanged formal salutations and took their seats。 In a short time refreshments were served； and both men were most diligent in their attention to the traveler。 This roadside banquet was prolonged to the time of setting the watch； when they prepared for rest。
Next morning； after the early meal； they mounted and continued their journey。 Very soon they met Liu Bei himself； with an escort； and his two chief advisers； deferentially standing by the roadside。
As soon as he recognized them； Zhang Song dismounted and walked toward them。 Liu Bei received him with extreme respect。
〃Your exalted name has been long known to me；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃And it has reverberated through my ears。 My one regret is that cloudy hills and long distances have hitherto prevented me from enjoying the advantage of your instruction。 Hearing that you were passing through； I have e to meet you。 And if you would be willing to notice me and condescend to rest for a time in my city； thus allowing me to satisfy my long disappointed desire to see you； I should indeed hold myself fortunate。〃
Naturally the traveler's vanity was tickled； and he joyfully remounted。 They rode bridle to bridle into the city。 When they reached the residence； again they exchanged profound salutations and pliments before they took their various places as host and guest。 And then a banquet was served。 But all throughout Liu Bei refrained from saying a word about the west。 He only chatted on general and mon things。
The visitor noted this steady avoidance and resolved to probe his host's thoughts。
〃How many counties are there in Jingzhou； where you are now； O Imperial Uncle？〃
Zhuge Liang replied； 〃Jingzhou is only ours temporarily。 We have borrowed it from the South Land。 They are always sending messengers to demand its return。 However； now that our lord has married their daughter； his position is more secure。 But it is still temporary。〃
〃The South Land is large；〃 said Zhang Song； 〃yet their six territories and their eighty…one counties do not satisfy them。 The people are strong and the land is fruitful。〃
Said Pang Tong； 〃Our lord； being of the dynastic family； has never occupied a territory of the empire。 Those others； rebellious as they are； may indeed seize upon as much territory as they are strong enough to hold。 People of reasons do not approve such wrongs。〃
〃Noble Sirs； pray say no more。 What virtue have I that I should expect anything from the future？〃 said Liu Bei。
〃Not so； indeed；〃 said Zhang Song。 〃Illustrious Sir； you are of the lineage of Han。 Your noble character is widely known。 No one could say that your fate excludes all thoughts of occupying territory； where you might begin to set up authority and take an emperor's position。〃
Liu Bei deprecated such a suggestion； 〃Sir； you go too far。 This really is too much。〃
The next three days were spent in banquets and wine parties； but all the time no mention was made of West River Land。 And when； at the end of that time； Zhang Song took leave； his host was at the three…mile 〃parting road〃 to bid him farewell and offer refreshment。
When the moment came for the parting； Liu Bei raised his wine…cup and said； 〃I am sincerely grateful that you deigned to e here。 You have prolonged your visit to three days； but now the moment of parting has e。 Who knows when I may have the privilege of receiving your instructions again？〃
As Liu Bei said this； the tears flowed； but he hid them while Zhang Song； willing to believe that this emotion was on his account； thought how wonderfully kind and noble his host must be to be thus affected。 Quite overe； Zhang Song decided to speak about the west。
So he said； 〃I have thought that I； too； would e to you one day； but so far I have found no way。 In Jingzhou I see Sun Quan on the east； always ready to pounce； I see Cao Cao on the north； greedy to swallow。 So this is not a wholly desirable place for you to remain in。〃
〃I know this but too well；〃 said Liu Bei； 〃but I have no secure place to go to。〃
〃Yizhou is well protected； has much fertile soil； is populous and well governed。 Its scholars are attracted by your virtue。 If you marched your armies westward； you could easily bee a real power there and restore the glory of the Hans。〃
〃But how dare I attempt this？ The ruler is also of the Imperial House。 The whole region is devoted to him for his good deeds； and no other person could attain such a hold。〃
〃I am no traitor；〃 said Zhang Song； 〃but in your presence I feel constrained to be perfectly open and plain。 Liu Zhang； the Imperial Protector of Yizhou； is naturally weak and can neither use the wise nor employ the capable。 Then again Zhang Lu threatens on the north。 People are distracted and would gladly wele an appreciative ruler。 The journey I have just made was to propose to support Cao Cao and place the region under him； but I found him rebellious and set on evil； proud and arrogant。 So I have turned aside to you。 If you will take Yizhou； you will have a base from which to deal with Hanzhong when you will； and the whole empire beside。 You will continue the rightful line； and your name will live in history。 Would not that be real fame？ If then you think of taking our region； I am willing to do what little I can as an ally within。 But do you contemplate such a step？〃
〃I am deeply grateful that you think so well of me。 But the Imperial Protector being a member of the family； I should lay myself open to general execration； were I to attack him。〃
〃When a hero finds himself in the world； his duty is to work out his destiny； to exert himself and perform his task as best as he can； to press forward among the foremost。 At the moment the position is that； if you fail to seize this opportunity； some other will take possession of Yizhou； and you will regret when too late。〃
〃And I have heard much of the difficult nature of the country； its many high mountains and numerous streams； and its narrow roads。 How could such a country be invaded？〃
Then Zhang Song drew the map from his sleeve； saying； 〃I am so deeply affected by your virtue that I offer you this map of the country； whereby its roads and rivers may be known。〃
Liu Bei unrolled the map。 It was covered with notes； on the lie of the land； lengths and widths； and such matters。 Strategic points on rivers and hills were shown； and store…houses and granaries and treasuries。 Everything was plainly stated。
Zhang Song went on； 〃Sir； you can prepare your plans promptly。 I have two friends who will certainly help you。 And when they e to see you； you may be perfectly frank with them。 Their names are Fa Zheng and Meng Da。〃
Liu Bei thanked him with joined hands。
Said Liu Bei； 〃As the blue mountains grow not old and the green waters always remain； so shall I never forget。 And when I shall have acplished my task； you shall have no mean reward。〃
Replied Zhang Song； 〃I look for no reward。 Having met with an enlightened lord； I felt pelled to unbosom myself to him。〃
Zhang Song left soon after； and Guan Yu escorted him for several miles。
After arrival in Yizhou； Zhang Song lost no time in visiting his close friend Fa Zheng； who was from Fufeng。 Fa Zheng was told of Cao Cao's arrogance and haughtiness toward scholars and good people。
〃As for the man himself；〃 said Zhang Song； 〃he is a man to grieve with but not a person to rejoice with。 I have promised Yizhou to Liu Bei； the Imperial Uncle； and I want your especial advice and assistance。〃
〃I think Liu Zhang is incapable；〃 said Fa Zheng； 〃and I have felt drawn to Liu Bei for some time past。 So we are in sympathy here。〃
Shortly after Meng Da arrived。 Meng Da and Fa Zheng were fellow townsmen。 When Meng Da entered the room； he saw the other two in earnest and secret conversation。
And he said； 〃I know what you two are about。 You are scheming to hand over Yizhou to somebody。〃
〃It is really so。 You have guessed right；〃 said Zhang Song。
〃But to whom ought it to go？〃 said Fa Zheng。
〃There is but one： Liu Bei；〃 said Meng Da。
All three clapped their hands and laughed。
Then said Fa Zheng to Zhang Song； 〃You will see our lord tomorrow。 What about that？〃
〃I shall remend that you two be sent to Jingzhou on a mission。〃
They thought that a suitable scheme。
And when the lately arrived messenger saw his master and was asked how he had fared； Zhang Song said； 〃Cao Cao is a rebel who desires to get the whole empire into his hands。 I need hardly tell you that。 But he also hankers after this region。〃
〃Then what will bee of us？〃 said Liu Zhang。
〃I have a plan to check both our enemies。 Liu Bei； the Imperial Uncle； now in Jingzhou； is a relative of yours； and he is generous and well disposed。 This is a matter of mon knowledge。 Cao Ca