Suddenly he became fully awake at the sound of a knock at the door and a person entering. And he heard his host say, “Where are you from?”
Liu Bei rose from his couch and listened secretly. He heard the visitor reply, “It has long been said that Liu Biao treated good humans as good humans should be treated and bad humans as they should be treated. So I went to see for myself. But that reputation is undeserved. He does treat good people correctly but he cannot use them, and he treats wicked people in the right way, all but dismissing them. So I left a letter for him and went away; and here I am.”
Water-Mirror replied, “You, capable enough to be the adviser of a king, ought to be able to find some one fit to serve. Why did you cheapen yourself so far as to go to Liu Biao? Beside, there is a real hero right under your eyes and you do not know him.”
“It is just as you say,” replied the stranger.
Liu Bei listened with great joy for he thought this visitor was certainly one of the two he was advised to look for. Liu Bei would have shown himself then and there, but he thought that would look strange. So he waited till daylight, when he sought out his host and said. “Who was it came last night?”
“A friend of mine,” was the reply.
Liu Bei begged for an introduction. Water-Mirror said, “He wants to find an enlightened master, and so he has gone elsewhere.”
When Liu Bei asked his name, his host only replied, “Good, good!”
And when Liu Bei asked who they were who went by the names of Sleeping-Dragon and Blooming-Phoenix, he only elicited the same reply.
Liu Bei then, bowing low before his host, begged him to leave the hills and help him to bring about the restoration of the ruling house to its prerogatives.
But Water-Mirror replied, “Humans of the hills and woods are unequal to such a task. However, there must be many far abler than I who will help you if you seek them.”
While they were talking, they heard outside the farm the shouts of troops and neighing of horses, and a servant came in to say that a general with a large company of soldiers had arrived. Liu Bei went out hastily to see who these were and found Zhao Yun. He was much relieved, and Zhao Yun dismounted and entered the house.
“Last night, on my return to Xinye,” said Zhao Yun, “I could not find my lord, so I followed at once and traced you here. I pray you return quickly as I fear an attack on the city.”
So Liu Bei took leave of his host and the whole company returned to Xinye. Before they had gone far another army appeared, and, when they had come nearer, they saw Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. They met with great joy, and Liu Bei told them of the wonderful leap his horse had made over the torrent. All expressed surprise and pleasure.
As soon as they reached the city, a council was called and Zhao Yun said, “You ought first of all to indite a letter to Liu Biao telling him all these things.”
The letter was prepared and Sun Qian bore it to the seat of government in Jingzhou City. He was received, and Liu Biao at once asked the reason of Liu Bei hasty flight from the festival. Whereupon the letter was presented and the bearer related the machinations of Cai Mao and told of the escape and the amazing leap over the Tan Torrent.
Liu Biao was very angry, sent for Cai Mao, and berated him soundly, saying, “How dare you try to hurt my brother?”
And he ordered Cai Mao out to execution.
Liu Biao's wife, Cai Mao's sister, prayed for a remission of the death penalty, but Liu Biao refused to be appeased.
Then spoke Sun Qian, saying, “If you put Cai Mao to death, I fear Uncle Liu Bei will be unable to remain here.”
Then Cai Mao was reprieved, but dismissed with a severe reprimand.
Liu Biao sent his elder son Liu Qi back with Sun Qian to apologize. When Liu Qi reached Xinye, Liu Bei welcomed him and gave a banquet in his honor.
After some little drinking, the chief guest suddenly began to weep and presently said, “My step mother, Lady Cai, always cherishes a wish to put me out of the way, and I do not know how to avoid her anger. Could you advise me, Uncle?”
Liu Bei exhorted him to be careful and perfectly filial and nothing could happen. Soon after the young man took his leave, and wept at parting.
Liu Bei escorted Liu Qi well on his way and, pointing to his steed, said, “I owe my life to this horse; had it not been for him, I had been already below the Nine Golden Springs.”
“It was not the strength of the horse, but your noble fortune, Uncle.”
They parted, the young man weeping bitterly. On reentering the city, Liu Bei met a person in the street wearing a hempen turban, a cotton robe confined by a black girdle, and black shoes. He came along singing a song:
“The universe is rived, O! Now nears the end of all.
The noble mansion quakes, O! What beam can stay the fall?
A wise one waits his lord, O! But hidden in the glen,
The seeker knows not him, O! Nor me, of common humans.”
Liu Bei listened.
“Surely this is one of the people Water-Mirror spoke of,” thought he.
He dismounted, spoke to the singer, and invited him into his residence. Then when they were seated, he asked the stranger's name.
“I am from Yingchuan and my name is San Fu. I have known you by repute for a long time, and they said you appreciated humans of ability. I wanted to come to you but every way of getting an introduction seemed closed. So I bethought me of attracting your notice by singing that song in the market place.”
Liu Bei thought he had found a treasure and treated the newcomer with the greatest kindness. Then San Fu spoke of the horse that he had seen Liu Bei riding and asked to look at it. So the animal was brought round.
“Is not this a Dilu horse?” said San Fu. “But though it is a good steed, it risks his master. You must not ride it.”
“It has already fulfilled the omens,” said Liu Bei, and he related the story of the leap over the Tan Torrent.
“But that was saving his master, not risking him; it will surely harm some one in the end. But I can tell you how to avert the omen.”
“I should be glad to hear it,” said Liu Bei.
“If you have an enemy against whom you bear a grudge, give him this horse and wait till it has fulfilled the evil omens on this person, then you can ride it in safety.”
Liu Bei changed color.
“What, Sir! You are but a new acquaintance, and you would advise me to take an evil course and to harm another for my own advantage? No, Sir! I cannot listen.”
His guest smiled, saying, “People said you were virtuous. I could not ask you directly, so I put it that way to test you.”
Liu Bei's expression changed. He rose and returned the compliment, saying, “But how can I be virtuous while I lack your teaching?”
“When I came here, I heard the people saying:
“Since Liu Bei came here, O blessed day!
We've had good luck: long may he stay!
“So you see, the effects of your virtue extend to the ordinary people.” Thereupon San Fu was made Commanding Adviser of the army.
The one idea that held Cao Cao after his return from Jizhou was the capture of Jingzhou. He sent Cao Ren and Li Dian, with the two brothers Lu Xiang and Lu Kuang who had surrendered, to camp at Fankou with thirty thousand troops and so threaten Jingzhou and Xiangyang. Thence he sent spies to find out the weak points.
Then the two Lu Xiang and Lu Kuang petitioned Cao Ren, saying, “Liu Bei is strengthening his position at Xinye and laying in large supplies. Some great scheme is afoot, and he should be checked. Since our surrender we have performed no noteworthy service and, if you will give us five thousand soldiers, we promise to bring you the head of Liu Bei.”