As Cai Mao was about to return to the city, Zhao Yun led his troops charging out from the gates. It happened that while Zhao Yun had been drinking at the feast, he noticed a sudden stir among the guards and horses. Alarmed, he rushed inside the hall only to find that Liu Bei's seat was empty. Stricken with panic, Zhao Yun went to the guest lodgings, where he heard someone say, "Cai Mao has led his forces in pursuit toward the west." Zhao Yun grabbed his spear, vaulted onto his horse, and with the three hundred men he had brought, galloped out through the western gate. He met Cai Mao head-on and demanded urgently, "Where is my lord?" Cai Mao replied, "The lord left the feast. I do not know where he has gone." Zhao Yun was a cautious and meticulous man, unwilling to act rashly. He spurred his horse forward and, seeing the great stream ahead with no other path, turned back and shouted at Cai Mao, "You invited my lord to a banquet—why have you led troops in pursuit?" Cai Mao answered, "All the officials of the nine commanderies and forty-two counties are here. As their senior general, how could I not provide protection?" Zhao Yun pressed, "Where have you driven my lord?" Cai Mao said, "I heard the lord rode out of the western gate alone, yet now he is nowhere to be seen." Zhao Yun, filled with doubt and unease, rode directly to the stream's edge and saw only traces of water on the far bank. He thought to himself, "Could he have leaped across the stream on horseback?" He ordered his three hundred men to search in all directions, but no trace of Liu Bei was found. When Zhao Yun turned back, Cai Mao had already entered the city. Zhao Yun seized the gate guards and interrogated them; all said, "Lord Liu rode out of the western gate at full speed." Zhao Yun considered entering the city but feared an ambush, so he hastily led his troops back to Xinye.
Now, Liu Bei, having spurred his horse across the stream, felt as if he were drunk or dreaming. He thought, "To leap such a wide chasm in a single bound—surely this is Heaven's will!" He wandered aimlessly toward South Zhang, his horse moving slowly as the sun sank toward the west. As he rode, he saw a cowherd boy sitting on the back of an ox, playing a short flute as he came along. Liu Bei sighed, "I am not even this boy's equal!" He halted his horse to watch. The cowherd boy stopped the ox and ceased his flute, staring intently at Liu Bei. He said, "General, are you not Liu Xuande, who crushed the Yellow Turbans?" Liu Bei asked in astonishment, "You are but a simple village boy—how do you know my name and title?" The boy replied, "I did not know at first, but I often serve my master. Whenever a guest comes, my master often speaks of a certain Liu Xuande—seven and a half feet tall, with arms that hang below his knees and ears that he can see with his own eyes—a true hero of the age. Seeing your appearance now, I thought you must be him." Liu Bei asked, "Who is your master?" The boy answered, "My master's surname is Sima, given name Hui, style name De Cao. He is from Yingchuan and is known by the Taoist name Master Water Mirror." Liu Bei inquired, "Who are your master's friends?" The boy said, "He is friends with Pang Degong and Pang Tong of Xiangyang." Liu Bei asked, "What relation is Pang Degong to Pang Tong?" The boy replied, "Uncle and nephew. Pang Degong's style name is Shanmin; he is ten years older than my master. Pang Tong's style name is Shiyuan; he is five years younger than my master. One day, while my master was picking mulberries in a tree, Pang Tong came to visit. They sat beneath the tree and discussed matters all day without tiring. My master is very fond of Pang Tong and calls him his younger brother." Liu Bei asked, "Where does your master live now?" The boy pointed into the distance and said, "In the grove ahead—that is his estate." Liu Bei said, "I am indeed Liu Xuande. Lead me to pay my respects to your master."
The boy led Liu Bei for about two li until they reached the estate. Dismounting before the gate, Liu Bei entered through the inner doorway. Suddenly, he heard the beautiful sound of a zither being played. Liu Bei told the boy not to announce him yet and listened intently. The zither music suddenly stopped. A man emerged laughing and said, "The zither's melody was clear and serene, but suddenly a lofty, defiant note arose. Surely a hero was eavesdropping." The boy pointed to the man and said to Liu Bei, "This is my master, Master Water Mirror." Liu Bei looked at the man—he had the form of a pine tree and the bearing of a crane, an extraordinary presence. Hastening forward, Liu Bei bowed in greeting, his robes still damp. Master Water Mirror said, "Sir, you have narrowly escaped a great calamity today!" Liu Bei was greatly astonished. The boy said, "This is Liu Xuande." Master Water Mirror invited Liu Bei into the thatched hall, where they took seats as host and guest. Liu Bei saw shelves piled high with books, windows lined with pines and bamboos, and a zither laid across a stone bed—an atmosphere of pure elegance. Master Water Mirror asked, "Illustrious lord, from where have you come?" Liu Bei replied, "I happened to pass through this place, and thanks to your young attendant's guidance, I have had the honor of meeting you—an undeserved fortune!" Master Water Mirror smiled and said, "Sir, you need not hide the truth. You have surely fled here to escape danger." Liu Bei then told him about the incident at Xiangyang. Master Water Mirror said, "I could tell from your complexion and demeanor." He then asked Liu Bei, "I have long heard of your great name, illustrious lord. Why have you remained so unsuccessful and adrift to this day?" Liu Bei replied, "My fate has been fraught with difficulties—that is why." Master Water Mirror said, "That is not the case. It is because you lack the right men by your side."
Liu Bei said, "Though I am unworthy, in civil affairs I have Sun Qian, Mi Zhu, and Jian Yong, and in military matters I have Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun. They serve me with utmost loyalty, and I rely heavily on their strength." Master Water Mirror said, "Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun are each worth ten thousand men—but it is a pity you lack someone who can use them well. As for Sun Qian, Mi Zhu, and the like, they are mere bookish scholars, not men of statecraft who can order the realm." Liu Bei said, "I have also humbly sought out hidden worthies in the valleys, but I have not yet encountered such a man." Master Water Mirror said, "Have you not heard Confucius say, 'In a hamlet of ten households, there must be loyalty and good faith'? How can you say there are no such men?" Liu Bei replied, "I am ignorant and unseeing. I beg you to instruct me." Master Water Mirror asked, "Have you heard the children's rhyme circulating in the commanderies of Jing and Xiang? It goes: 'In the eighth or ninth year, decline begins; by the thirteenth year, nothing remains. In the end, the Mandate of Heaven finds its home; the coiled dragon in the mud soars to the sky.' This rhyme began in the early years of the Jian'an era. In the eighth year of Jian'an, Liu Jingsheng lost his first wife, and turmoil arose in his household—this is what 'decline begins' means. 'Nothing remains' means that soon Jingsheng will pass away, and his civil and military officials will scatter without a trace. 'The Mandate of Heaven finds its home' and 'the dragon soars to the sky' likely refer to you, General." Liu Bei was startled and said humbly, "How dare I presume such a thing!" Master Water Mirror said, "The extraordinary talents of the realm are all here before you. You should go and seek them out." Liu Bei urgently asked, "Where are these extraordinary talents? Who are they?" Master Water Mirror said, "The Crouching Dragon and the Young Phoenix. If you can obtain either of these two, you can pacify the realm." Liu Bei asked, "Who are the Crouching Dragon and the Young Phoenix?" Master Water Mirror clapped his hands, laughed heartily, and said, "Good! Good!" When Liu Bei pressed him further, Master Water Mirror said, "It is growing late, General. You may stay here for the night, and I will tell you tomorrow." He ordered the boy to prepare food and drink, and had Liu Bei's horse taken to the rear courtyard to be fed. After eating, Liu Bei lodged in a room beside the thatched hall.
Liu Bei lay awake, pondering Master Water Mirror's words, unable to sleep. Around midnight, he heard someone knock and enter. Master Water Mirror said, "Yuan Zhi, why have you come?" Liu Bei rose from his bed to listen closely. He heard the visitor reply, "I had long heard that Liu Jingsheng was good at recognizing good and evil, so I went to visit him. But when I met him, he proved to have only an empty reputation—he recognizes the good but cannot employ them, and recognizes the evil but cannot remove them. So I left a letter and took my leave, and have come here." Master Water Mirror said, "You possess the talent to be a king's advisor. You should choose your lord carefully. Why did you go so lightly to see Jingsheng? Besides, heroes and men of valor are right before your eyes—you simply do not recognize them." The visitor replied, "What you say is true." Liu Bei was overjoyed at this exchange, thinking to himself that this man must be the Crouching Dragon or the Young Phoenix. He wanted to go out and meet him but feared acting rashly.
When dawn came, Liu Bei sought out Master Water Mirror and asked, "Who was the man who came last night?" Master Water Mirror said, "He is a friend of mine." Liu Bei asked to meet him. Master Water Mirror said, "He wished to offer his services to an enlightened lord and has already gone elsewhere." Liu Bei asked his name. Master Water Mirror smiled and said, "Good! Good!" Liu Bei pressed again, "Who are the Crouching Dragon and the Young Phoenix?" Master Water Mirror only smiled again and said, "Good! Good!" Liu Bei bowed and begged Master Water Mirror to leave the mountains and help him restore the Han dynasty. Master Water Mirror said, "I am but a man of the wilds, idle and untutored, unfit for worldly affairs. There are those ten times my superior who will come to aid you. You should seek them out."
As they were speaking, they suddenly heard shouting and horse neighing outside the estate. The boy came to report, "A general has arrived with several hundred men!" Liu Bei was alarmed and hurried outside to see—it was Zhao Yun. Liu Bei was overjoyed. Zhao Yun dismounted, entered, and said, "I returned to the county last night but could not find you, my lord. I followed your trail all night and finally found you here. You must return to the county quickly—I fear someone may come to attack us there." Liu Bei took his leave of Master Water Mirror, mounted his horse with Zhao Yun, and headed for Xinye. They had not ridden far when another band of troops appeared—it was Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. They were overjoyed to see each other. Liu Bei recounted the story of leaping the Tan Stream on horseback, and they all marveled together.
Back in the county, Liu Bei conferred with Sun Qian and the others. Sun Qian said, "First, send a letter to Jingsheng explaining what happened." Liu Bei agreed and ordered Sun Qian to deliver the letter to Jingzhou. Liu Biao summoned Sun Qian and asked, "I invited Xuande to the Xiangyang gathering—why did he flee the feast?" Sun Qian presented the letter, which detailed Cai Mao's plot to harm Liu Bei and how he had escaped by leaping the Tan Stream on horseback. Liu Biao was furious. He summoned Cai Mao and berated him, "How dare you try to harm my brother!" He ordered Cai Mao to be beheaded. Lady Cai came out, weeping and begging for mercy, but Liu Biao's anger was not yet appeased. Sun Qian interceded, saying, "If you kill Cai Mao, I fear the Imperial Uncle will not be able to remain here in peace." Liu Biao then punished Cai Mao with a flogging and released him, sending his eldest son, Liu Qi, to accompany Sun Qian to Liu Bei's camp to apologize.
Liu Qi arrived in Xinye, and Liu Bei welcomed him with a banquet. As the wine flowed, Liu Qi suddenly burst into tears. Liu Bei asked why. Liu Qi said, "My stepmother, Lady Cai, constantly plots against me. I have no way to escape disaster. I beg you, Uncle, to advise me." Liu Bei urged him to be cautious and filial, saying that then no harm would come to him. The next day, Liu Qi took his tearful leave. Liu Bei rode with him to the outskirts of the city and, pointing to his horse, said, "If not for this horse, I would already be a man of the underworld." Liu Qi replied, "It was not the horse's power, but your great fortune, Uncle." With that, they parted, and Liu Qi rode away in tears.
As Liu Bei turned his horse back toward the city, he suddenly saw a man in the marketplace—wearing a linen headwrap and robe, with a black sash and black shoes—approaching while singing loudly.
A poet of the time recorded his song: "Heaven and earth are overturned; the Fire Virtue is about to perish. The great hall is about to collapse; a single beam cannot support it. A worthy man dwells in the mountain valleys, wishing to serve an enlightened lord. The enlightened lord seeks worthies, yet does not know me." Liu Bei heard the song and thought to himself, "Could this man be the Crouching Dragon or the Young Phoenix that Master Water Mirror spoke of?" He dismounted and greeted the man, inviting him into the county office. When asked his name, the man replied, "I am from Yingshang. My surname is Shan, given name Fu. I have long heard that you, my lord, welcome men of talent and seek the worthy. I wished to offer my services but dared not presume, so I sang in the marketplace to catch your attention." Liu Bei was overjoyed and treated him as an honored guest. Shan Fu said, "May I see the horse you were riding?" Liu Bei ordered the saddle removed and the horse brought into the hall. Shan Fu said, "Is this not the Dilu Steed? Though it is a fine horse that can travel a thousand li, it brings misfortune to its master. You should not ride it." Liu Bei said, "That has already come to pass." He then recounted the story of leaping the Tan Stream. Shan Fu said, "That was the horse saving its master, not bringing misfortune. But in the end, it will bring misfortune to one master. I have a method to avert this." Liu Bei said, "I would like to hear this method." Shan Fu said, "If you have an enemy or someone you hate, give them this horse. After it has brought misfortune to that person, you may ride it safely." Liu Bei's expression changed, and he said, "You have just arrived, and instead of teaching me the righteous path, you teach me to benefit myself at the expense of others. I dare not accept such counsel." Shan Fu laughed and apologized, "I had long heard of your benevolence and virtue, my lord, but I dared not believe it. I tested you with those words." Liu Bei's expression softened, and he rose to thank him, saying, "How can I claim to have such benevolence and virtue? I beg you, sir, to instruct me." Shan Fu said, "I came here from Yingshang and heard the people of Xinye singing: 'The shepherd of Xinye is the Imperial Uncle Liu; since he came, the people have been well-fed and prosperous.' This shows that your benevolence and virtue have reached the people." Liu Bei then appointed Shan Fu as his military strategist to train and command his troops.
Now, Cao Cao had returned from Jizhou to Xuchang, and he always harbored ambitions to take Jingzhou. He specially dispatched Cao Ren, Li Dian, and the surrendered generals Lü Kuang and Lü Xiang with 30,000 troops to garrison Fan City, keeping a watchful eye on Jing and Xiang and probing their defenses. At this time, Lü Kuang and Lü Xiang said to Cao Ren, "Liu Bei has garrisoned Xinye, recruiting soldiers and buying horses, stockpiling grain and fodder. His ambitions are not small—we must deal with him early. Since we surrendered to the Chancellor, we have achieved no merit. We request 5,000 elite troops to take Liu Bei's head and present it to the Chancellor." Cao Ren was pleased and gave the two Lü generals 5,000 troops to march on Xinye.
Scouts reported this to Liu Bei. Liu Bei summoned Shan Fu to discuss the matter. Shan Fu said, "Since enemy troops are coming, we must not let them enter our territory. Have Lord Guan lead a force out from the left to engage the enemy's vanguard; have Zhang Fei lead a force out from the right to strike the enemy's rear; and you, my lord, lead Zhao Yun out from the front to meet them head-on. The enemy can be broken." Liu Bei followed his plan, dispatching Guan Yu and Zhang Fei as instructed. Then, with Shan Fu and Zhao Yun, he led 2,000 troops out of the pass to meet the enemy.
They had not ridden far when dust rose from behind the hills as Lü Kuang and Lü Xiang led their troops into view. Both sides halted and formed their battle lines. Liu Bei rode out beneath his banner and shouted, "Who are you that dares to invade my territory?" Lü Kuang rode forward and said, "I am the great general Lü Kuang. I have been ordered by the Chancellor to capture you!" Liu Bei was enraged and sent Zhao Yun into battle. The two generals clashed, and after only a few exchanges, Zhao Yun ran his spear through Lü Kuang, sending him tumbling from his horse. Liu Bei waved his forces forward in pursuit. Lü Xiang could not withstand the assault and turned to flee. As he retreated, a force suddenly emerged from the roadside, led by none other than Guan Yu. Guan Yu charged into them, cutting down over half of Lü Xiang's men before Lü Xiang fought his way free. He had not gone ten li when another force blocked his path. The leading general, leveling his serpent spear, roared, "Zhang Yide is here!" and charged straight at Lü Xiang. Caught off guard, Lü Xiang was run through by Zhang Fei's spear and fell dead from his horse. The remaining enemy troops scattered in all directions. Liu Bei's combined forces pursued them, capturing most of the survivors. Liu Bei then led his army back to the county in triumph, where he honored Shan Fu and rewarded the troops generously.
The defeated soldiers returned to Cao Ren and reported, "The two Lü generals are dead, and most of our men have been captured." Cao Ren was greatly alarmed and consulted with Li Dian. Li Dian said, "Those two generals died because they underestimated the enemy. For now, we should hold our position and report to the Chancellor, requesting a large army to come and suppress them. That would be the best strategy." Cao Ren said, "No. Our two generals have fallen, and we have lost many men. This insult must be avenged without delay. Xinye is a mere speck of a place—why trouble the Chancellor with a great army?" Li Dian said, "Liu Bei is a man of exceptional talent. He must not be taken lightly." Cao Ren said, "Why are you so fearful?" Li Dian replied, "The Art of War says, 'Know the enemy and know yourself, and you will win every battle.' It is not that I fear battle, but I fear we may not be able to win." Cao Ren said angrily, "Are you harboring divided loyalties? I am determined to capture Liu Bei alive!" Li Dian said, "If you go, I will guard Fan City." Cao Ren said, "If you do not go with me, you truly have divided loyalties!" Li Dian had no choice but to accompany Cao Ren as they mustered 25,000 troops and crossed the river toward Xinye. And so it was that: "When junior officers suffer the shame of defeat, the commanding general raises an army of vengeance." Whether victory or defeat would follow, the next chapter will reveal.