look at；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃It makes me feel cold； and you may have them removed for a time。〃
The housekeeper went to her mistress and said； 〃The weapons in your chamber displease the handsome one。 May we remove them？〃
Lady Sun laughed； saying； 〃Afraid of a few weapons after half a life time spent in slaughter！〃
But she ordered their removal and bade the maids take off their swords while they were at work。
That night Liu Bei and Lady Sun conversed under the moonlight； and the night passed happily enough。
Next day Liu Bei distributed gifts among the maids to secure their good will。 He also sent Sun Qian to Jingzhou with news of the wedding； while he gave himself up to feasting and enjoyment。 The Dowager loved him more every day。
The results of the plot to destroy Liu Bei were thus very different from the originators' intention。 Sun Quan sent to his general：
〃My mother had insisted upon marrying her daughter to Liu Bei； and so by juggling with the fictitious； we had made it real。 What is to be done？〃
The news troubled Zhou Yu day and night； but eventually he thought but another scheme which he embodied in a letter sent to his master。 Here is the outline of the missive：
〃Contrary to expectation； the plot that I； Zhou Yu； contrived has turned the wrong way。 However； since by juggling with deceit； we have ended in a solid truth。 Our future plans must start from the actual present facts。 To the boldness of the adventurer Liu Bei is added the aid of such great leaders as Guan Yu； Zhang Fei； and Zhao Yun； not to mention that he has a strategist like Zhuge Liang。 He is not the man to remain long in a lowly position。 Wherefore I can think of no better plan than to enervate him by surrounding him with softness and keeping