in…law's face； you would pardon me。〃
〃Who is your son…in…law？〃
〃Lu Bu。〃
〃I did not mean to have you really beaten； but if you think to frighten me with Lu Bu； I will。 I will beat you as if I was beating him；〃 said Zhang Fei。
The guests interposed to beg him off； but their drunken host was obdurate； and the unhappy guest received fifty blows。 Then at the earnest prayers of the others the remainder of the punishment was remitted。
The banquet came to an end； and the beaten Cao Bao went away burning with resentment。 That night he sent a letter to Xiaopei relating the insults he had received from Zhang Fei。 The letter told Lu Bu of Liu Bei's absence and proposed that a sudden raid should be made that very night before Zhang Fei had recovered from his drunken fit。 Lu Bu at once summoned Chen Gong and told him。
〃Xiaopei is only a place to occupy temporarily；〃 said Chen Gong。 〃If you can seize Xuzhou； do so。 It is a good chance。〃
Lu Bu got ready at once and soon on the way with five hundred cavalrymen； ordering Chen Gong and Gao Shun to follow him with the main body。
Xiaopei being only about fifteen miles away； Lu Bu was under the walls at the fourth watch。 It was clear moonlight。 No one on the ramparts saw him。
Lu Bu came up close to the wall and called out； 〃Liu Bei's secret messenger has arrived！〃
The guards on the wall were Cao Bao's people； and they called him。 Cao Bao came； and when he saw who was there he ordered the gates to be opened。 Lu Bu gave the secret signal； and the soldiers entered shouting。
Zhang Fei was in his apartment sleeping off the fumes of wine。 His servants hastened to arouse him and told him an enemy had got the gates open。
They said； 〃Lu Bu got in； and there is fightin