The advent of Zhuge Liang and the extravagant deference shown him did not please Liu Bei's sworn brothers who grumbled, saying, "He is very young, although he is clever and learned. Our brother really treats him too well. We have not seen any evidence of his wonderful skill."

Liu Bei replied, "You do not know his worth. I have him as if the fish has got into the water again. Pray do not discuss this matter further, my brothers."

They withdrew, silent but dissatisfied.

One day a man presented Liu Bei with a yak's tail, and he at once put it in his cap as an ornament. Zhuge Liang came in and noticed it at once.

"Then you have renounced all ambitions, my lord. You are just going to attend to this sort of thing," Zhuge Liang quietly remarked.

Liu Bei snatched off his cap and flung it away, saying, "I was only amusing myself with the thing."

"How do you think you stand compared with Cao Cao?" asked Zhuge Liang.

"Inferior."

"Yes; your army is less than ten thousand, and the chances are ten thousand to one that he will attack. How can we meet him?"

"I am greatly distressed about it, but I see no way."

"You might recruit, and I will train them. Then we might be able to oppose him."

So recruiting began and three thousand were enlisted. Zhuge Liang set about drilling them diligently.

Soon they heard that Xiahou Dun was leading an army of one hundred thousand troops against them.

When he heard it, Zhang Fei said to his brother, Guan Yu, "We will get this Zhuge Liang to go and fight them."

Just at that moment they were summoned to their brother, who asked their advice.

"Why not send the 'Water,' brother?" said Zhang Fei.