按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
When Zhou Yu reached his own place； he sent for Zhuge Liang to consult over the business in hand。 He told Zhuge Liang of the decision that had been taken and asked for a plan of campaign。
〃But your master has not yet made up his mind；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃Till he has； no plan can be decided upon。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃In his heart； Sun Quan is still fearful of Cao Cao's numbers and frets over the inequality of the two armies。 You will have to explain away those numbers and bring him to a final decision before anything can be effected。〃
〃What you say is excellent；〃 said Zhou Yu； and he went to the palace that night to see his master。
Sun Quan said； 〃You must have something of real importance to say if you e like this at night。〃
Zhou Yu said； 〃I am making my dispositions tomorrow。 You have quite made up your mind？〃
〃The fact is；〃 said Sun Quan； 〃I still feel nervous about the disparity of numbers。 Surely we are too few。 That is really all I feel doubtful about。〃
〃It is precisely because you have this one remaining doubt that I am e。 And I will explain。 Cao Cao's letter speaks of a million of marines； and so you feel doubts and fears and do not wait to consider the real truth。 Let us examine the case thoroughly。 We find that he has of central regions' soldiers； say； some one hundred fifty thousand troops； and many of them are sick。 He only got seventy or eighty thousand northern soldiers from Yuan Shao； and many of those are of doubtful loyalty。 Now these sick men and these men of doubtful loyalty seem a great many； but they are not at all fearsome。 I could smash them with fifty thousand soldiers。 You； my lord； have no further anxiety。〃
Sun Quan patted his general on the back； saying； 〃You have explained my difficulty and relieved my doubts。 Zhang Zhao is a fool who constantly bars my expeditions。 Only you and Lu Su have any real understanding of my heart。 Tomorrow you and Lu Su and Cheng Pu will start； and I shall have a strong reserve ready with plentiful supplies to support you。 If difficulties arise； you can at once send for me； and I will engage with my own army。〃
Zhou Yu left。 But in his innermost heart； he said to himself； 〃If that Zhuge Liang can gauge my master's thoughts so very accurately； he is too clever for me and will be a danger。 He will have to be put out of the way。〃
Zhou Yu sent a messenger over to Lu Su to talk over this last scheme。 When he had laid it bare； Lu Su did not favor it。
〃No； no；〃 said Lu Su； 〃it is self…destruction to make away with your ablest officer before Cao Cao shall have been destroyed。〃
〃But Zhuge Liang will certainly help Liu Bei to our disadvantage。〃
〃Try what his brother Zhuge Jin can do to persuade him。 It would be an excellent thing to have these two in our service。〃
〃Yes； indeed；〃 replied Zhou Yu。
Next morning at dawn； Zhou Yu went to his camp and took his seat in the council tent。 The armed guards took up their stations right and left； and the officers ranged themselves in lines to listen to the orders。
Now Cheng Pu； who was older than Zhou Yu but was made second in mand； was very angry at being passed over； so he made a pretense of indisposition and stayed away from this assembly。 But he sent his eldest son； Cheng Zi； to represent him。
Zhou Yu addressed the gathering； saying； 〃The law knows no partiality； and you will all have to attend to your several duties。 Cao Cao is now more absolute than ever was Dong Zhuo； and the Emperor is really a prisoner in Xuchang； guarded by the most cruel soldiers。 We have a mand to destroy Cao Cao； and with your willing help we shall advance。 The army must cause no hardship to the people anywhere。 Rewards for good service and punishments for faults shall be given impartially。〃
Having delivered this charge； Zhou Yu told off Han Dang and Huang Gai as Leaders of the Van； and ordered the ships under their own mand to get under way and go to the Three Gorges。 They would get orders by and bye。 Then he appointed four armies with two leaders over each： The first body was under Jiang Qin and Zhou Tai； the second； Pan Zhang and Ling Tong； the third； Taishi Ci and Lu Meng； the fourth； Lu Xun and Dong Xi。 Lu Fan and Zhu Zhi were appointed inspectors； to move from place to place and keep the various units up to their work and acting with due regard to the general plan。 Land and marine forces were to move simultaneously。 The expedition would soon start。
Having received their orders； each returned to his mand and busied himself in preparation。 Cheng Zi； the son of Cheng Pu； returned and told his father what arrangements had been made； and Cheng Pu was amazed at Zhou Yu's skill。
Said he； 〃I have always despised Zhou Yu as a mere student who would never be a general； but this shows that he has a leader's talent。 I must support him。〃
So Cheng Pu went over to the quarters of the mander…in…Chief and confessed his fault。 He was received kindly and all was over。
Next Zhou Yu sent for Zhuge Jin and said to him； 〃Evidently your brother is a genius； a man born to be a king's counselor。 Why then does he serve Liu Bei？ Now that he is here； I wish you to use every effort to persuade him to stay with us。 Thus our lord would gain able support and you two brothers would be together； which would be pleasant for you both。 I wish you success。〃
Zhuge Jin replied； 〃I am ashamed of the little service I have rendered since I came here； and I can do no other than obey your mand to the best of my ability。〃
Thereupon he went away to his brother； whom he found in the guest…house。 The younger brother received him； and when he had reached the inner rooms； Zhuge Liang bowed respectfully and； weeping； told his experiences since they parted and his sorrow at their separation。
＇e＇ Bo Yi and Shu Qi were two sons of the lord of Guzhu。 Their father wished to establish ＇the younger son＇ Shu Qi as his heir。 Upon their father's death； Shu Qi abdicated in favor of Bo Yi。 But Bo Yi said： 〃It is our father's will ＇that you should rule＇。〃 Then he ran away。 Shu Qi was not willing to reign either； and ran away。 The people of the state named a middle son as heir。 。。。。。
Then Zhuge Jin； weeping also； said； 〃Brother； do you remember the story of Bo Yi and Shu Qi*； the brothers who would not be separated？〃
〃Ah； Zhou Yu has sent him to talk me over；〃 thought Zhuge Liang。 So he replied； 〃They were two of the noble people of old days。 Yes； I know。〃
〃Those two； although they perished of hunger near the Shouyang Hills； yet never separated。 You and I； born of the same mother and suckled at the same breast； yet serve different masters and never meet。 Are you not ashamed when you think of such examples as Bo Yi and Shu Qi？〃
Zhuge Liang replied； 〃You are talking now of love； but what I stand for is duty。 We are both men of Han； and Liu Bei is of the family。 If you； brother； could leave the South Land and join me in serving the rightful branch； then on the one side we should be honored as Ministers of Han； and on the other we should be together as people of the same flesh and blood should be。 Thus love and duty would both receive their proper meed。 What do you think of it； my brother？〃
〃I came to persuade him and lo！ It is I who is being talked over；〃 thought Zhuge Jin。
He had no fitting reply to make； so he rose and took his leave。 Returning to Zhou Yu； he related the story of the interview。
〃What do you think？〃 asked Zhou Yu。
〃General Sun Quan has treated me with great kindness； and I could not turn my back on him；〃 replied Zhuge Jin。
〃Since you decide to remain loyal； there is no need to say much。 I think I have a plan to win over your brother。〃
The wisest people see eye to eye；
For each but sees the right；
But should their several interests clash；
They all the fiercer fight。
The means by which Zhou Yu tried to get the support of Zhuge Liang will be described in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 45 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 45
Chapter 45
At The Three Gorges； Cao Cao Loses Soldiers；
In The Gathering Of Heroes； Jiang Gan Is Trapped。
Zhou Yu was very annoyed by the words of Zhuge Jin； and a fierce hatred for Zhuge Liang took root in his heart。 He nourished a secret resolve to make away with Zhuge Liang。 He continued his preparations for war； and when the troops were all mustered and ready； he went in for a farewell interview with his lord。
〃You go on first； Noble Sir；〃 said Sun Quan。 〃I will then march to support you。〃
Zhou Yu took his leave and then； with Cheng Pu and Lu Su； marched out with the army。 He invited Zhuge Liang to acpany the expedition； and when Zhuge Liang cheerfully accepted； the four embarked in the same ship。 They set sail； and the fleet made for Xiakou。
About twenty miles from Three Gorges the fleet anchored near the shore； and Zhou Yu built a stockade on the bank near the middle of their line with the Western Hills as a support。 Other camps were made near his。 Zhuge Liang； however； took up his quarters in a small ship。
When the camp dispositions were plete； Zhou Yu sent to request Zhuge Liang to e and give him advice。 Zhuge Liang came。
After the salutations were ended； Zhou Yu said； 〃Cao Cao； though he had fewer troops than Yuan Shao； nevertheless overcame Yuan Shao because he followed the advice given by Xun You to destroy Yuan Shao's supplies at Wuchao。 Now Cao Cao has over eight hundred thousand troops while I have but fifty or sixty thousand。 In order to defeat him； his supplies must be destroyed first。 I have found out that the main depot is at the Iron Pile Mountains。 As you have lived hereabout； you know the topography quite well； and I wish to entrust the task of cutting off supplies to you and your colleagues Guan Yu； Zhang Fei； and Zhao Yun。 I will assist you with a thousand soldiers。 I wish you to start without delay。 In this way we can best serve our masters。〃
Zhuge Liang saw through this at once。 He thought to himself； 〃This is a ruse in revenge for my not having been persuaded to enter the service of the South Land。 If I refuse； I shall be laughed at。 So I will do as he asks and trust to find some means of deliverance from the evil he intends。〃
Therefore Zhuge Liang accepted the task with alacrity； much to the joy of Zhou Yu。
After the leader of the expedition had taken his leave； Lu Su went to Zhou Yu secretly and said； 〃Why have you set him this task？〃
〃Because I wish to pass his death without appearing ridiculous。 I hope to get him killed by the hand of Cao Cao and prevent his doing further mischief。〃
Lu Su left and went to see Zhuge Liang to find out if he suspected anything。 Lu Su found him looking quite unconcerned and getting the soldiers ready to march。
Unable to let Zhuge Liang go without a warning； however； Lu Su put a tentative question； 〃Do you think this expedition will succeed？〃
Zhuge Liang laughingly replied； 〃I am an adept at all sorts of fighting； with foot； horse； and chariots on land and marines on the water。 There is no doubt of my success。 I am not like you and your friend； only capable in one direction。〃
〃What do you mean by our being capable only in one direction？〃 said Lu Su。
〃I have heard the street children in your country singing：
〃To lay an ambush； hold a pass；
Lu Su is the man to choose；
But when you on the water fight；
Zhou Yu is the man to use。
〃You are only fit for ambushes and guarding passes on land； just as Zhou Yu only understands fighting on the water；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
Lu Su carried this story to Zhou Yu； which only incensed him the more against Zhuge Liang。
〃How dare he flout me； saying I cannot fight a land battle？ I will not let him go。 I will go myself with ten thousand troops and cut off Cao Cao's supplies。〃
Lu Su went back and told this to Zhuge Liang； who smiled and said； 〃Zhou Yu only wanted me to go on this expedition because he wanted Cao Cao to kill me。 And so I teased him a little。 But he cannot bear that。 Now is the critical moment； and Marquis Sun Quan and my master must act in harmony if we are to succeed。 If each one tries to harm the other； the whole scheme will fail。 Cao Cao is no fool； and it is he who usually attack enemies through cutting off their supplies。 Do you not think Cao Cao has already taken double precautions against any surprise of his own depot？ If Zhou Yu tries； he will be taken prisoner。 What he ought to do is to bring about a decisive naval battle； whereby to dishearten the northern soldiers； and then find some other means to defeat them utterly。 If you could persuade him what his best course was； it would be well。〃
Without loss of time； Lu Su went to Zhou Yu to relate what Zhuge Liang had told him。
Zhou Yu shook his head when he heard it and beat the ground with his foot； saying； 〃This man is far too clever。 He beats me ten to one。 He will have to be done away with； or the South Land will suffer。〃
Said Lu Su； 〃This is the moment to use people。 You must think of the country's good first of all。 When once Cao Cao is defeated； you may do as you please。〃
Zhou Yu had to confess the reasonableness of this。
Liu Bei had ordered his nephew Liu Qi to hold Jiangxia； while he and the bulk of the army returned to Xiakou。 Thence he saw the opposite bank thick with banners and flags and glittering with every kind of arms and armors。 He knew then that the expedition from the South Land had started。 So he moved all his force from Jiang