“I am thinking it would be better to maintain a stubborn defence,” said Lü. “Our enemies are short of food and have sent for supplies to Hsütu. These will soon arrive and you should go out with some veterans and intercept the convoy. That loss would be a heavy blow.” Lü Pu agreed and went in to tell his wife the new plan. She wept saying, “If you go do you think those others equal to the defence of the city? Should anything go wrong you would be very sorry. You abandoned me at Chʻangan and it was only through the fortunate kindness of Pʻang Hsü that I was hidden from our enemies and rejoined you. Who would have thought you would leave me again? But go, go your way as far as you wish, and do not mind your wife?” And she wept bitterly. Lü Pu very sadly went to take leave of Little Cicada who said, “You are my lord, you must not be careless and ride out alone.” “You need not fear; with my mighty halberd and the Hare, my swift steed, who dare come near me?” He went out. He met Chʻên Kung and said, “That story about supplies for Tsʻao Tsʻao is all false, one of his many ruses. I am not going to stir.” Chʻên Kung sighed; he felt all was lost. “We shall die and no man shall know our burying place,” said he. Thereupon Lü Pu remained in his own quarters with his women folk, drinking freely to dissipate his sorrows. Two of his advisers went in and proposed that he should write to the powerful Yüan Shu for help. Yüan would hardly refuse to rescue the affianced bride of his son. So he wrote and bade these two take the letter. Hsü Ssŭ said, “You ought to send a strong escort with us to force a way through.” So Lü told off a company and two captains to conduct his messenger beyond the pass. They started that same night at the second watch, Chang Liao leading and Ho Ming bringing up the rear. They got out of the city, crept past Yüan-tê’s camp and got beyond the danger zone. Then half the escort went on and Chang Liao led the remainder back toward the city. At the pass he found Yün-chʻang waiting. However, at that moment Kao Shun came to his help and they all returned and re-entered the gates. The two messengers presently reached Shouchʻun, saw Yüan Shu and presented the letter. “How is this?” said Shu. “Formerly he slew my messenger and repudiated the marriage; now he sends to ask for it.” “It is all due to the vile plans of that monster Tsʻao Tsʻao. I pray you, Illustrious Sir, to consider it carefully,” replied Ssŭ. “But if your master was not hemmed in by his enemy and in imminent danger he would never have thought of renewing this proposal of marriage.” The messengers said, “You may decide not to help him, but the teeth are cold when the lips are gone. It will not make for your happiness and comfort.” Said Shu, “Fêng-hsien is unreliable; tell him that I will send soldiers after the girl has arrived here.”