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As Zhuge Liang left the building； he met Xu Jing； who said； 〃Instructor； I went to your residence to deliver a very secret piece of news； and they told me to find you here。〃
〃What is your secret？〃
〃There is a report about that Wu has got possession of Jingzhou； Lu Meng has taken it。 And more than that； Guan Yu is dead。 I had to e to tell you。〃
〃I saw it in the sky some nights ago。 A large star of a general fell over against Jingzhou； and I knew some evil had befallen Guan Yu。 But I feared the effect upon our master； and I forbore to say anything。〃
They did not know that Liu Bei was standing just within the door。
Suddenly Liu Bei rushed out； seized Zhuge Liang by the sleeve and said； 〃Why did you hide from me？ Why； when you had such terrible news？〃
〃Because it is only a rumor；〃 replied they。 〃It is too improbable for belief。 We pray you not to be distressed。〃
〃By our oath we live or die together： How can I go on living if he is lost？〃
The two men soothed their lord as best they could。 But even as they spoke to him； one of the private attendants said that Ma Liang and Yi Ji had arrived。 Liu Bei called them in and questioned them eagerly。
They said； 〃Jingzhou has indeed been lost； and Guan Yu begs for instant help。〃
The letters they brought had not been read before Liao Hua was ushered in。 He prostrated himself and； weeping； told the story of the refusal of help on the part of Liu Feng and Meng Da。
〃Then is my brother lost！〃 cried Liu Bei。
〃If those two have really behaved so badly； the offense is even too great for death；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃But calm yourself； O Prince。 I will see about an army and lead it to the rescue。〃
〃If Guan Yu is gone； I cannot live；〃 moaned Liu Bei。 〃Tomorrow I myself will set out with an army to rescue him。〃
Liu Bei sent off a messenger to Zhang Fei in Langzhong and gave orders to muster horse and foot for instant departure。
Before day dawned other messengers arrived； giving step by step the sequence of the tragedy： 〃Guan Yu had cut his way to Linju at night and been captured by a general of Wu。 He had refused to bend； and both father and son had gone to the Nine Springs。〃
When he heard of the final catastrophe； Liu Bei uttered a great cry and fell swooning。
His mind went back to the pledge of days gone by；
Could he live still and let his brother die？
What happened will be told in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 78 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 78
Chapter 78
Treating A Headache； A Famous Physician Dies；
Giving The Last Words； The Crafty Hero Departs。
As has been said； the Prince of Hanzhong swooned on hearing the terrible news of the death of the two Guans； father and son。 His officers went to his help； and when he had recovered sufficiently； they led him to his private apartments。
〃My lord； control your grief；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃Life and death are fixed by fate。 Guan Yu brought the evil upon himself by his harshness and haughtiness。 You must now take care of your health and mature your vengeance。〃
〃When we swore brotherhood in the Peach Garden； we pledged ourselves to live or die together。 What enjoyment of riches and honors is there for me now that my brother is gone？〃
Just then he saw Guan Yu's son； Guan Xing； ing in weeping in deep distress。 At sight of the youth； Liu Bei uttered a great cry and again sank to the earth。 By and by he came to； and spent the whole day weeping and swooning at intervals。 For three days he refused all nourishment； and he wept so bitterly that his garments were wetted； and there were spots of blood。 Zhuge Liang and the others tried every means to soothe him； but he was inconsolable。
〃I swear I will not live under the same heaven as Sun Quan；〃 cried he。
〃It is said that the head of your brother has been sent to Cao Cao； but Cao Cao has buried the remains with the rites of a princely noble；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
〃Why did he do that？〃 asked Liu Bei。
〃Because Sun Quan thought thereby to bring evil upon Cao Cao。 But Cao Cao saw through the subterfuge and has buried your brother with great honor so that your anger may burn against Wu。〃
〃I want to send my armies to punish Wu and appease my wrath；〃 said Liu Bei。
〃No； you may not do that。 Wu wishes to move you to smite Wei； and Wei wishes you to attack Wu； each harboring the malevolent design of taking advantage of the quarrel。 You would do well； my lord； to keep your armies at home。 Put on mourning for Guan Yu； and wait till Wei and Wu are at war。 That will be your time。〃
The other officers supported Zhuge Liang； and Liu Bei listened。 Presently his grief spent itself； and he began to take food again。 An edict was promulgated enjoining mourning dress upon all officials。 The Prince went outside the south gate to summon the spirit home； and sacrificed and wailed a whole day for the dead warrior； his brother。
In Luoyang； although Cao Cao had given honorable burial to the remains of Guan Yu； yet he was continually haunted by the dead man's spirit。 Every night when he closed his eyes； he saw Guan Yu as he knew the warrior so well in the flesh。 These visions made him nervous； and he sought the advice of his officers。 Some suggested the building of new rooms for his own use。
〃There is much witchcraft and malign influence in this old Palace at Luoyang。 Build a new Palace for your own occupation；〃 said they。
〃I would； and it should be called 'The New Foundation'；〃 said he。 〃But where is the good architect？〃
Jia Xu said； 〃There is one Su Yue； a very cunning artificer in Luoyang。〃
Su Yue was called and set to work on the plans for a nine…hall pavilion for Cao Cao's own use。 It had verandahs and upper rooms as well。 His plans pleased Cao Cao greatly。
〃You have planned just such a place as I wished； only where will you find the main beam for such a building？〃
〃I know a certain tree that will serve；〃 said the architect。 〃About ten miles from the city there is the Pool of the Leaping Dragon。 Near it is a shrine； and beside that grows a fine pear tree。 It is over a hundred spans high； and that will serve for the roof tree。〃
Cao Cao at once sent people to fell the tree。 But after one whole day of labor they came back to say they could make no impression on it neither with saw nor ax。 Cao Cao； doubting their word； went to see。 When he had dismounted and stood by the tree； he could not but admire its size and proportions； as it rose above him tall； straight and branched till the wide…spreading and symmetrical top reached into the clouds。 But he bade the men attack it again。
Then a few aged people of the village came and said； 〃The tree has stood here some centuries and is the haunt of a spirit。 We think it should not be cut down。〃
Cao Cao grew annoyed； saying； 〃I have gone to and fro in the world now some thirty years； and there is no one； from the Emperor to the moner； who does not fear me。 What spirit is there who dares oppose my wish？〃
Drawing the sword he was wearing； Cao Cao went up to the tree and slashed at the trunk。 The tree groaned as he struck； and blood stains spattered his dress。 Terror…stricken； he threw down the sword； mounted his horse and galloped off。
But that evening when he retired to rest； he could not sleep。 He rose； went into the outer room； and sat there leaning on a low table。 Suddenly a man appeared with his hair unbound； dressed in black and carrying a naked sword。
The visitor came straight toward Cao Cao； stopped in front of him and； pointing； cried out； 〃Behold the Spirit of the Pear Tree！ You may desire to build your nine…hall pavilion； and you may contemplate rebellion。 But when you began to attack my sacred tree； the number of your days was acplished。 I am e now to slay you。〃
〃Where are the guards？〃 shouted Cao Cao in terror。
The figure struck at him with the sword。 Cao Cao cried out and then awoke。 His head was aching unbearably。
They sought the best physicians for him； but they failed to relieve the terrible pain。 Sympathy for their lord was universal among Cao Cao's subordinates。
Hua Xin one day said to his master； 〃My lord； have you heard of Hua Tuo？〃
〃Do you mean him of Qiao who cured Zhou Tai？〃
〃Yes； that is he；〃 replied Hua Xin。
〃I have heard something of his fame； but I know nothing of his capabilities in his art。〃
〃He i