As　Chen　Deng　was　starting；　Chen　Gui　said　to　him；　〃Remember　the　words　of　Cao　Cao；　that　the　business　of　the　east　is　in　our　hands。　Now　is　our　moment；　for　Lu　Bu　is　about　to　suffer　defeat。〃

〃Father；　I　can　look　after　the　outside。　But　when　Lu　Bu　returns　beaten；　you　must　arrange　with　Mi　Zhu　to　keep　him　out　of　the　city。　I　shall　find　a　means　of　escape；〃　said　Chen　Deng。

〃His　family　is　here；　and　he　has　many　friends。　How　about　them？〃

〃I　also　have　a　scheme　to　settle　them。〃

Then　Chen　Deng　went　to　see　Lu　Bu；　to　whom　he　said；　〃Xuzhou　is　surrounded；　and　this　city　will　be　fiercely　attacked。　We　ought　to　provide　for　possible　retreat；　and　I　advise　storing　grain　and　money　in　Xiapi。　We　could　retreat　there　if　the　day　went　adversely。　Why　not　see　about　this　in　good　time？〃

〃Your　words　are　indeed　wise。　I　will　also　send　my　wives　and　little　ones　thither；〃　said　Lu　Bu。

The　family　left　under　escort　of　Wei　Xu　and　Song　Xian；　and　with　them　was　sent　much　grain　and　treasures　and　coins。

And　then　the　soldiers　marched　to　the　relief　of　the　pass。　About　half　way　there　Chen　Deng　said；　〃Let　me　go　first　to　reconnoiter　so　that　you；　my　lord；　may　advance　with　confidence。〃

Thus　Chen　Deng　parted　pany　with　his　chief　and　preceded　him　to　the　pass　where　he　was　received　by　Chen　Gong。

Chen　Deng　said；　〃The　General　greatly　wonders　why　you　do　not　advance。　He　is　going　to　inquire　into　it。〃

〃The　enemy　is　in　great　force；　and　we　cannot　be　too　careful；〃　said　Chen　Gong。　〃We　are　holding　the　pass；　and　you　should　persuade　our　master　to　take　steps　to　guard　Xiaopei。〃

Chen　Deng　said；　〃Your　words　are　true。〃

That　evening　he　went　up　to　the　heights　from　which　he　could　see　Cao　Cao's　army；　which　was　quite　close　to　the　pass。　Then　he　wrote　three　notes；　tied　them