refuses the banquet； then we must try conclusions with an army。〃
〃This suits me；〃 said Sun Quan； 〃and it shall be done。〃
〃It should not be done！〃 interrupted Kan Ze。 〃The man is as bold as a tiger and not at all like mon humans。 The plan will fail and result in more harm。〃
〃Then when may I expect to get my Jingzhou？〃 asked Sun Quan； angrily。
Sun Quan ordered Lu Su to carry out his plan； and Lu Su went to Lukou forthwith and settled the preliminaries of the banquet with Lu Meng and Gan Ning。 The place selected was by the river。 Then Lu Su wrote a letter and found a persuasive person to deliver it。 The messenger set out and sailed across the river to the post； where he was received by Guan Ping； who conducted him to his father。
〃As Lu Su invites me； I will e tomorrow。 You may return；〃 was Guan Yu's reply。
After the messenger had gone； Guan Ping said to his father； 〃Why did you promise to go？ I think Lu Su means you no good。〃
〃Do you think I do not know？ This has all e out of my refusal to yield those three territories。 They are going to try coercion at this banquet。 If I refuse； they will think I fear them。 I will go tomorrow in a small ship with just my ten personal guards； and we shall see whether Lu Su will dare to e near me。〃
〃But； Father； why risk your priceless self in the very den of a tiger？ I think you are not giving due importance to my uncle's charge。〃
〃I have been in the midst of million blades and arrows； yet I have been riding through it like traveling through a meadow of no one。 Think you that I shall begin to show fear of a few such rats as those？〃
Nor was the son alone in remonstrance。 Ma Liang also warned his chief。
〃Although Lu Su has a great repute； yet now he is pushed ha