andering them without the slightest excuse。 You want to harm good people。〃
〃No ears for loyal words；〃 said Chen Gong； as he went away sad at heart； 〃and we shall suffer。〃
He thought seriously of abandoning Lu Bu； but that would be too painful a wrench。 Beside he feared people would laugh at him。
So the days passed sorrowfully for him。 One day； with a few horsemen； he rode out to the country near Xiaopei to hunt。 On the high road he saw a messenger galloping along in hot haste and began to wonder what it might mean。 He left the hunt； rode across country； and intercepted the rider。
〃Where are you from？ Who sent you？〃 asked Chen Gong。
The messenger made no reply for he knew to what party his captors belonged。 But they searched him and found a letter； the secret reply to Cao Cao's letter from Liu Bei。 The messenger and the letter were both taken straight to Lu Bu。
Lu Bu questioned the man； who said； 〃The Prime Minister sent me to bear a letter to Imperial Protector Liu Bei。 I was now taking back the reply。 I know nothing more； and I am ignorant of the contents of the letters。〃
So Lu Bu tore it open and read：
〃I have received your mands concerning the destruction of Lu Bu； and dare I for a moment venture to disregard them？ But my force is weak and I must act with extreme circumspection。 If you move your main body； then I will hasten forward； and in the meantime my army shall be got ready and weapons prepared。 I await your mand。〃
Lu Bu was really alarmed。
〃The wretches！〃 cried he。 〃To dare to act thus！〃
The unhappy messenger was put to death and countermoves planned。 Chen Gong and Zang Ba went to enlist the help of the Taishan Mountains bandits………Sun Guan； Wu Dun； Yin Li； and Chang Xi………so that they