Main Next to Chapter 22 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 22
Chapter 22
Yuan Shao And Cao Cao Both Take The Field；
Guan Yu And Zhang Fei Captures Two Generals。
This was the plan Chen Deng proposed to Liu Bei； 〃Yuan Shao is Cao Cao's terror。 He is strongly posted in an extensive territory of four regions………Jizhou； Qingzhou； Youzhou； and Bingzhou………with one million fighting soldiers and numerous able officers。 Write letters and pray him rescue you。〃
Liu Bei replied； 〃But we have never had any dealings with each other； and he is unlikely to do such a thing for a person who has just destroyed his brother。〃
〃There is someone here whose family have been on intimate terms with the Yuans for a hundred years。 Yuan Shao would surely e； if he wrote。〃
〃And who is this？〃
〃A man you know well and respect greatly。 Can you not guess？〃
〃You surely mean Zheng Xuan；〃 said Liu Bei suddenly。
〃That is he；〃 said Chen Deng smiling。
Now Zheng Xuan was a student and a man of great talent； who had long studied under the famed teacher Ma Rong； whose knowledge of the Book of Odes was universally recognized。 Whenever Ma Rong lectured； he let fall a curtain behind which were a circle of singing girls。 The students were assembled in front of this curtain。 Zheng Xuan attended these lectures for three years and never once let his eyes wander to the curtain。
Naturally the master admired his pupil。 After Zheng Xuan had finished his studies and gone home； Ma Rong praised him to the others； saying； 〃Only one man has penetrated the inner meaning of my instructions； and that one is Zheng Xuan。〃
In Zheng Xuan's household； the waiting maids were familiar with the Book of Odes。 Once one o