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Presently the Latter Ruler said slowly and with dignity； 〃Is the Prime Minister really enjoying himself？〃
Zhuge Liang started and looked round。 When he saw who the speaker was； he suddenly dropped his staff and prostrated himself。
〃I ought to be put to death ten thousand times！〃 said Zhuge Liang。
But the Emperor put forth his hand and helped him to rise； saying； 〃Cao Pi threatens immediate invasion from five points。 Why will you not e forth and attend to business？〃
Zhuge Liang laughed。 He conducted the Emperor into an inner room； and； when he was seated； Zhuge Liang addressed the Emperor； saying； 〃Could it be possible that I was ignorant of these five armies？ I was not looking at the fishes； I was thinking。〃
〃But； this being so； what shall we do？〃
〃I have already turned back that Kebi Neng of the Qiangs； and Meng Huo of the Mangs； and the rebel leader Meng Da； and the army from Wei。 I have also thought out a plan to circumvent the army from Wu； but I need a special sort of person to carry it out。 I want an envoy； an able talker； one capable of persuading other people。 It was because I have not found such a person yet that I was so deeply in thought。 But Your Majesty may set your mind at rest and not be anxious。〃
The Latter Ruler heard this half terrified and half glad。
〃Surely your superhuman devices are too deep for the mortal。 But may I ask how these armies have been made to turn back？〃
〃Since His Late Majesty bade me take the best care of your welfare； I dare not be remiss for a single moment。 Some officers in Chengdu are ignorant of that refinement of war which consists in not allowing the enemy to guess your plans。 How could I let them know anything？ When I heard that Kebi Neng； the king of Qiangs； might invade； I remembered that Ma Chao's forefathers were friendly with those tribespeople and they had a high opinion of Ma Chao； calling him General Who Possesses Heavenly Prestige。 So I sent orders by dispatch to Ma Chao to hold the Xiping Pass； and to prepare ambushes in certain places and change them daily so as to keep the Qiangs off。 That settled them。
〃I sent hastily to the south to order Wei Yan to move certain bodies of troops about through the southwest territories； to be seen and then to disappear； to go in and e out； and to march to and fro； so that the Mangs should be perplexed。 The Mangs are brave； but prone to doubts and hesitations； and they would not advance in the face of the unknown。 Hence there is nothing to fear in that quarter。
〃I also knew that Meng Da and our Li Yan were sworn friends。 I had left Li Yan in charge of the Palace of Eternal Peace。 I sent Li Yan a letter and urged him to write to Meng Da； so that Meng Da would feign illness and not move his army。
〃I sent Zhao Yun to occupy Yangping Pass and all the strategic positions on the way by which Cao Zhen would march； and bade him defend only and not go to the battle。 If our troops refuse to e out； Cao Zhen will certainly have to retire。 So all those four are settled。 But for greater security I have sent Zhang Bao and Guan Xing each with thirty thousand troops to camp at points whence they can quickly help any of the others who may need it。 And none of these arrangements are known here。
〃Now there is only Wu left to deal with。 Had the other four armies succeeded and Shu been in danger； Sun Quan would have e to the attack。 If the others fail； I know he will not budge； for he will remember that Cao Pi has just sent three armies to attack his country。 And this being so； I want someone with a ready tongue and ingenious mind to go and talk plainly to Sun Quan。 So far I have not found such a person； and I am perplexed。 I regret that I have given Your Majesty occasion to make this journey。〃
〃The Empress Dowager also wanted to e；〃 said the Emperor。 〃But now you have spoken； O Minister Father； I am as one awakened from a dream。 I shall grieve no more。〃
They two drank a few cups of wine together； and the Prime Minister escorted his master to his chariot。 A ring of courtiers were waiting； and they could not help remarking the happiness that shone in their master's face。 The Latter Ruler took his leave and returned to his palace； but the courtiers did not know what to think。
＇e＇ Deng Yu was mander…in…chief of Liu Xiu； the founder of Latter Han。 。。。。。
Now Zhuge Liang had noted a certain man among the crowd who smiled and looked quite happy。 Zhuge Liang looked at him intently and then recollected his name； which was Deng Zhi of Xinye； a descendant of mander Deng Yu of Han*。 Deng Zhi was currently the Chair of the Census Board。 Zhuge Liang sent a man privately to detain Deng Zhi； and when all the others had gone； Zhuge Liang led him into the library for a chat。 Presently he came to the matter near his heart。
〃The three states have bee a fact；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃Now if our state wanted to absorb the other two and restore the condition of one rule； which country should it attack first？〃
〃Though Wei is the real rebel； yet Wei is strong and would be very difficult to overthrow。 Any move against it would have to develop slowly。 As our Emperor has but lately succeeded his father and the people are none too decided in his favor； I should propose a treaty of mutual defense with Wu。 This would obliterate the enmity of His Late Majesty and would have important results。 However； you； Sir； may have another opinion。 What is it？〃
〃That is what I have been thinking of this long time； but I had not the person for the task。 Now I have found him。〃
〃What do you want the person to do？〃 said Deng Zhi。
〃I want him to go as envoy to Wu to negotiate such a treaty。 As you understand the position so well； you will surely do honor to your prince's mission as envoy。 There is no other who would succeed。〃
〃I fear I am not equal to such a task： I am not clever enough and too ignorant。〃
〃I will inform the Emperor tomorrow and beg him to appoint you。 Of course you will accept。〃
Deng Zhi consented and then took his leave。 As promised； Zhuge Liang memorialized； and the Latter Ruler consented that the mission should be entrusted to Deng Zhi。 And he started。
The din of war will cease in Wu；
When Shu's desires are known。
For the success or failure of this mission read the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 86 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 86
Chapter 86
Using Words； Qin Mi Overes Zhang Wen；
Setting Fire； Xu Sheng Defeats Cao Pi。
After his recent exploits； Lu Xun became the one hero of Wu。 He was given the title General Who Upholds the State； was ennobled as Lord of Jiangling； and received the Governorship of Jingzhou。 He became Supreme mander of all the military forces。
Zhang Zhao and Gu Yong； thinking the moment opportune for enhancing their lord's dignity； sent in a memorial proposing that his rule should be designated by a distinctive style； and Sun Quan assumed 〃Yellow Might Era〃 as his reign style （AD 222）。
Then arrived a messenger from Wei； and he was called in to an assembly and bidden to state his business。
The messenger said； 〃Recently Shu sent to Wei for help； and； the situation being misunderstood； the Ruler of Wei dispatched a force against Wu。 Now this action is greatly regretted。 In Wei it is thought desirable to set four armies in motion against Shu to capture it。 Now if Wu will assist； and success crowns these efforts； Wei and Wu will share the conquered territory。〃
Sun Quan listened； but was not prepared to give a decided answer。 He betook himself to his counselors； Zhang Zhao and Gu Yong。
They said； 〃Lu Xun is the man of profound knowledge。 He should be consulted。〃
So Lu Xun was called； and his speech ran thus： 〃Cao Pi is too firmly established in the Middle Land to be upset now； and if this offer of his be refused； we shall provoke his enmity。 Neither Wei nor Wu； so far as I see； has anyone fit to oppose Zhuge Liang。 We must perforce consent and put our army in order。 But we can wait till we see how the four armies speed。 If Shu seems likely to fall and Zhuge Liang is outmaneuvered； then our army can be dispatched and we will take Capital Chengdu。 If the four armies fail； we shall have to consider。〃
So Sun Quan said to the envoy of Wei； 〃We are not ready at the moment； so we will choose a day to start later。〃
And with this answer the envoy left。
Next they made careful inquiries about the success or failure of the four armies against Shu。
The spies reported： 〃The western Qiangs under King Kebi Neng have turned back when they saw Ma Chao in mand at Xiping Pass。 The southern Mangs led by Meng Huo have been perplexed at the tactics of Wei Yan and have retreated to their territories。 The Shangyong leader； Meng Da； have set out； but half way have fallen ill and gone back。 And Cao Zhen's army； while marching toward Yangping Pass； have been brought to a halt by the defensive preparations of Zhao Yun； who has garrisoned every pass and occupied every point of vantage； they have eventually retreated； after being camped in the Xie Valley for some time。〃
Knowing all this； Sun Quan said to his officials； 〃Lu Xun's words were indeed prophetic； he made most perfect deductions。 Any rash action on my part would place me on bad terms with Shu。〃
Just then the ing of an envoy from Shu was announced。
Said Zhang Zhao； 〃This mission is also part of Zhuge Liang's scheme to divert danger from Shu。 Deng Zhi has e as envoy。〃
〃That being so； how should I reply？〃 asked Sun Quan。
＇e＇ Li Yiji was diplomat and adviser of Liu Bang。 Li Yiji went on mission to discuss peace between Liu Bang and King Tian Guang of Qi。 Li Yiji demanded a ceasefire as condition for talk。 Tian Guang plied。 While the discussion was going on； Liu Bang attacked。 Tian Guang enraged and threw Li Yiji into boiling oil。 。。。。。
〃I will tell you。 Set up a large cauldron and pour therein a quantity of oil。 Light a fire beneath。 When the oil is boiling； choose a goodly pany of your tallest and brawniest fighting guards； arm them and draw them up in lines between the Palace gate and your throne room。 Then summon Deng Zhi。 But before he can say a word； forewarn him that he will have the same fate of being boiled in oil if being guilty of the same sort of treachery as Li Yiji* when he was a persuader to the state of Qi。 Then see what Deng Zhi will say。〃
Sun Quan followed this advice； and prepared the cauldron of oil and had the strong guards ready。 Then he bade them introduce the envoy。
Deng Zhi came； his ceremonial dress in perfect order； and advanced as far as the gate。 Seeing the grim array of fighting men armed； some with gleaming swords； some with great axes； some with long spears； and some with short knives； he understood at once what was meant； but he never blenched。 He advanced quite steadily and bravely till he reached the door of the hall。 Even when he saw the boiling cauldron of oil and the savage executioners glaring at him； he only smiled。
He was led to the front of the curtain behind which sat the Prince of Wu； and he made the ordinary salutation of raising his extended arms； but he did not bow in obeisance。
The Prince bade his attendants roll up the curtain； and called out； 〃Why do you not make an obeisance？〃
Deng Zhi replied； 〃The envoy of the superior state does not make an obeisance to the ruler of a smaller country。〃
〃If you do not control that tongue of yours； but will let it wag； you will be like that fellow Li Yiji who went to talk to Qi。 You will soon find yourself in the cauldron。〃
Then Deng Zhi laughed aloud； saying； 〃People say there are many sages in Wu。 No one would believe that they would be frightened of a simple scholar。〃
This reply only increased Sun Quan's anger； and he said； 〃Who fears an unmerited fool like you？〃
〃If you fear not the envoy； why so anxious about what he may have to say？〃
〃Because you e here as spokesman of Zhuge Liang； and you want me to sever with Wei and turn to your country。 Is not that your message？〃
〃I am a simple scholar of Shu； and I am e to explain matters to the state of Wu。 But here I find armed guards and a boiling cauldron all prepared against an envoy。 How can I form any other opinion than that you will not allow me to speak？〃
As soon as Sun Quan heard these words； he bade the soldiers go； and called the envoy into the hall。
There he invited Deng Zhi to a seat and said； 〃What is the real matter between Wei and Wu？ I desire that you would inform me。〃
Then Deng Zhi replied； 〃Do you； great Prince； desire to discuss peace with Wei or with Shu？〃
〃I really desire to discuss peace with the Ruler of Shu。 But he is young and inexperienced and ignorant； and unable to carry a matter through。〃
〃Prince； you are a valiant warrior； just as Zhuge Liang is a great minister。 Now Shu has the strength of its mountainous geography just as Wu has the protection of its three rivers。 If these two countries are at peace； they are mutually protective。 They may swallow up the rest of the empire； or they may stand secure alone。 If you send tribute to Wei and acknowledge yourself one of its ministers； you will be expected to attend at court； and your heir…apparent will bee a servant in that court； and if you disobey； an army of Wei will be sent to attack you。 Shu also will e down the river and invade your country。 Then the South Land will be yours no longer。 And if you listen not to these words of mine； and refuse my offer； I shall mit su