“Then let me go and prepare the way. I will make Liu Ching-hsing come out to his borders to welcome you.”
So with his lord’s approval Sun Ch‘ien set off immediately and hastened to Chingchou. When the genuflexions and ceremonies of greeting were over Liu Piao asked the reason of the visit.
Said Sun, “The Princely Liu is one of the heroes of the day although just at the moment he may lack soldiers and leaders. His mind is set upon restoring the Dynasty to its pristine glory, and at Junan the two commanders, Liu and Kung, though bound to him by no ties, were content to die for the sake of his ideals. You, illustrious Sir, like Liu Pei, are a scion of the Imperial stock. Now the Princely One has recently suffered defeat and thinks of seeking a home in the east with Sun Chung-mou (Sun Ch‘üan). I have ventured to dissuade him, saying that he should not turn from a relative and go to a mere acquaintance; telling him that you, Sir, are well known as courteous to the wise and condescending to scholars, so that they flock to you as the waters flow to the east, and that certainly you would show kindness to one of the same ancestry. Wherefore he has sent me to explain matters and request your commands.”
“He is my brother,” said Piao, “and I have long desired to see him, but no opportunity has occurred. I should be very happy if he would come.”
Ts‘ai Mao, who was sitting by, here broke in with “No, no! Liu Pei first followed Lü Pu, then he served Ts‘ao Ts‘ao, and next he joined himself to Yüan Shao. And he stayed with none of these, so that you can see what manner of man he is. If he come here Tsʻao Tsʻao will assuredly come against us and fight. Better cut off this messenger’s head and send it as an offering to Ts‘ao Ts‘ao, who would reward you well for the service.”
Sun Ch‘ien sat unmoved while this harangue was pronounced, saying at the end, “I am not afraid of death. Liu, the Princely One, is true and loyal to the State and so out of sympathy with Lü Pu, or Ts‘ao Ts‘ao, or Yüan Shao. It is true he followed these three, but there was no help for it. Now he knows your chief is a member of the family, so that both are of the same ancestry, and that is why he has come far to join him. How can you slander a good man like that?”
Liu Piao bade Ts‘ao Mao be silent and said, “I have decided and you need say no more.”
Whereat Ts‘ai Mao sulkily left the audience chamber.
Then Sun Ch‘ien was told to return with the news that Yüan-tê would be welcome and Prefect Liu Piao went thirty li beyond his boundaries to meet his guest. When Yüan-tê arrived he behaved to his host with the utmost politeness and was warmly welcomed in return. Then Liu Pei introduced his
