d　own　to　knowing　him；　even　if　they　did　so。　However；　his　rades　managed　to　release　him　secretly；　and　he　ran　away　under　some　other　name。　Then　he　turned　to　study　and　wandered　hither　and　thither　wherever　scholars　were　to　be　found。　He　was　a　regular　disputant　with　Sima　Hui。　His　real　name　is　Xu　Shu　and　he　es　from　Yingchuan。　San　Fu　is　merely　an　assumed　name。〃

〃How　does　he　pare　with　yourself？〃　asked　Cao　Cao。

〃Ten　times　cleverer。〃

〃It　is　a　pity。　If　able　people　gather　to　Liu　Bei；　his　wings　will　soon　grow。　What　is　to　be　done？〃

〃Xu　Shu　is　there　now。　But　if　you　wanted　him；　it　would　not　be　difficult　to　call　him；〃　replied　Cheng　Yu。

〃How　could　I　make　him　e？〃　said　Cao　Cao。

〃He　is　noted　for　his　affection　for　his　mother。　His　father　died　young；　leaving　his　mother　a　widow　with　one　other　son。　Now　that　son　is　dead；　and　his　mother；　Lady　Xun；　has　no　one　to　care　for　her。　If　you　sent　and　got　his　mother　here　and　told　her　to　write　and　summon　her　son；　he　would　surely　e。〃

Cao　Cao　sent　without　loss　of　time　and　had　the　old　lady　brought　to　the　capital；　where　he　treated　her　exceedingly　well。

Presently　he　said；　〃I　hear　you　have　a　very　talented　son；　who　is　now　at　Xinye　helping　on　that　rebel　Liu　Bei　against　the　government。　There　he　is　like　a　jewel　in　a　muck　heap：　It　is　a　pity。　Supposing　you　were　to　call　him；　I　could　speak　of　him　before　the　Emperor；　and　he　might　get　an　important　office。〃

Cao　Cao　bade　his　secretaries　bring　along　paper　and　ink；　with　which　Lady　Xun　could　write　to　her　son。

〃What　sort　of　a　man　is　Liu　Bei？〃　asked　she。

Cao　Cao　replied；　〃A　mon　sort　of　person　from　Zhuo；　irresponsible　enough　to　style　himself　Imperial　Uncle；　and　so　claiming　some　sort　of　connection　with　the　Hans。　He　is　neither　trustworthy　nor　virtuous。　People　say