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e then issued an order that no one should drink wine under penalty of death。
Now one of his generals； Hou Cheng； lost fifteen horses； stolen by one of his subordinates； Hou Cao； who intended to resell them to Liu Bei。 Hou Cheng found out where the horses were； went out after them； and recovered them after killing Hou Cao。 And Hou Cheng's colleagues congratulated him on his success。 To celebrate the occasion； Hou Cheng brewed a few barrels of wine to be drunk at the feast。
But thinking his chief might find him in fault； Hou Cheng sent the bottles of wine to Lu Bu's palace with a petition explaining； 〃By your virtue of warlike renown； I have recovered my horses； and as my rades e with their congratulations； I brew some bottles of wine； first to offer Your Lordship and second to ask your permission to have a little wine at the feast。〃
Lu Bu took it very angrily； saying； 〃When I have forbidden all wine； you brew some and begin to give feasts： You are simply defying me！〃
Whereupon he ordered the officer to instant execution。 However； Song Xian； Wei Xu； and other officers came in and interceded； and after a time Lu Bu softened。
〃You ought to lose your head for this disobedience。 But for the sake of your colleagues； the punishment shall be reduced to a hundred strokes。〃
They tried to beg him off this； but only succeeded in reducing the number of blows to one half。
When the sentence had been carried out and Hou Cheng was permitted to return home； his colleagues came sadly to console him。
〃Had it not been for you； I should have been put to death；〃 said Hou Cheng。
Song Xian replied； 〃All Lu Bu cares for is his family。 There is no pity for anyone else。 We are no more than the weeds by the roadside。〃
Wei Xu said；
