第一小说网

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第105部分（第1页）

＇e＇　Han　Xin　was　a　general　of　Liu　Bang。　Before　serving　Han；　Han　Xin　had　been　an　officer　under　Xiang　Yu。　Disappointed　because　his　plans　were　rejected；　Han　Xin　left　Xiang　Yu　and　joined　Liu　Bangs　camp；　where　he　was　made　mander…in…Chief　by　remendations　of　Xiao　He　and　Zhang　Liang。　Enobled　as　King　of　Qi；　then　King　of　Chu。　。。。。。

〃Small　forces　are　no　match　for　large　armies。　Victory　and　defeat　are　mon　episodes　in　every　campaign。　The　great　Founder　of　the　Hans　suffered　many　defeats　at　the　hands　of　Xiang　Yu；　but　Liu　Bang　finally　conquered　at　Gaixia；　and　that　battle　was　decisive。　Was　not　this　due　to　the　strategy　of　Han　Xin*　who；　though　he　had　long　served　Liu　Bang；　had　never　won　a　victory。　Indeed　real　statesmanship　and　the　restoration　of　stable　government　is　a　master　plan　far　removed　from　the　vapid　discourses　and　debates　of　a　lot　of　bragging　babblers　and　specious　and　deceitful　talkers；　who；　as　they　themselves　say；　are　immeasureably　superior　to　the　rest　of　humankind　but　who；　when　it　es　to　deeds　and　decisions　to　meet　the　infinite　and　constant　vicissitudes　of　affairs；　fail　to　throw　up　a　single　capable　person。　Truly　such　people　are　the　laughing　stock　of　all　the　world。〃

Zhang　Zhao　found　no　reply　to　this　diatribe。

But　another　in　the　assembly　lifted　up　his　voice；　saying；　〃But　what　of　Cao　Caos　present　position？　There　he　is；　encamped　with　one　hundred　legions　and　a　thousand　leaders。　Whither　he　goes　he　is　invincible　as　wriggling　dragon；　and　whither　he　looks　he　is　as　fearsome　as　roaring　tiger。　He　seems　to　have　taken　Jiangxia　already；　as　we　see。〃

The　speaker　was　Yu　Fan。

And　Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃Cao　Cao　has　acquired　the　swarms　of　Yuan　Shao　and　stolen　the　crowds　of　Liu　Biao。　Yet　I　care　not　for　all　his　mob　legions。〃

Yu　Fan　smiled　icily；　saying；　〃When　you　got　thrashed　at　Dangyang　and　in　desperation　sent　this　way　and　that　to　ask　help；　even　then　did　you　not　care？　But　do　you　think　big　talk　really　takes　people　in？〃

Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃Liu　Bei　had　a　few　thousand　scrupulous　soldiers　to　oppose　against　a　million　fierce　brutes。　He　retired　to　Xiakou　for　breathing　space。　The　South　Land　have　strong　and　good　soldiers；　and　there　are　ample　supplies；　and　the　Great　River　is　a　defense。　Is　now　a　time　for　you　to　convince　your　lord　to　bend　the　knee　before　a　renegade；　to　be　careless　of　his　honor　and　reputation？　As　a　fact　Liu　Bei　is　not　the　sort　of　man　to　fear　such　a　rebel　as　Cao　Cao。〃

Yu　Fan　had　nothing　to　reply。

Next；　Bu　Zhi；　who　was　among　those　seated；　said；　〃Will　you　talk　of　our　southern　land　with　a　tongue　like　the　tongues　of　the　persuaders　Zhang　Yi　and　Su　Qin　in　the　ancient　time？〃

＇e＇　Su　Qin　was　prime　minister　of　six　states　during　the　Warring　States　period。　Su　Qin　was　the　leader　of　the　〃Perpendicular　Unionists〃；　the　diplomats　who　lobbied　a　group　of　states　from　north　to　south　to　make　war　with　Qin。　。。。。。

＇e＇　Zhang　Yi　was　prime　minister　of　Qin　during　the　Warring　States　period。　Zhang　Yi　was　the　leader　of　the　〃Horizontal　Unionists〃；　the　diplomats　who　persuaded　a　group　of　states　from　east　to　west　to　make　peace　with　Qin。　At　the　end　of　the　Warring　States；　Qin　conquerred　all　six　other　states　and　unified　China　under　one　rule　for　the　first　time。　。。。。。

Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃You　regard　those　two　as　mere　speculative　talkers；　you　do　not　recognize　them　also　as　heroes。　Su　Qin*　bore　the　Prime　Ministers　seals　of　six　federated　states；　Zhang　Yi*　was　twice　Prime　Minister　of　the　state　of　Qin。　Both　were　men　of　conspicuous　ability　who　brought　about　the　reformation　of　their　governments。　They　are　not　to　be　pared　with　those　who　quail　before　the　strong　and　overbear　the　weak；　who　fear　the　dagger　and　run　away　from　the　sword。　You；　Sir；　have　listened　to　Cao　Caos　crafty　and　empty　threat；　and　it　has　frightened　you　into　advising　surrender。　Dare　you　ridicule　Su　Qin　and　Zhang　Yi？〃

Bu　Zhi　was　silenced。

Then　suddenly　another　interjected　the　question；　〃What　do　you　think　of　Cao　Cao？〃

It　was　Xue　Zong　who　had　spoken。

And　Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃Cao　Cao　is　one　of　the　rebels　against　the　dynasty。　Why　ask　about　him？〃

〃You　are　mistaken；〃　said　Xue　Zong。　〃The　Hans　have　outlasted　their　allotted　time；　and　the　end　is　near。　Cao　Cao　already　has　two…thirds　of　the　empire；　and　people　are　turning　to　him。　Your　master　has　not　recognized　the　fateful　moment；　and　to　contend　with　a　man　so　strong　is　to　try　to　smash　stones　with　eggs。　Failure　is　certain。〃

Zhuge　Liang　angrily　replied；　〃Why　do　you　speak　so　undutiful　words；　as　if　you　knew　neither　father　nor　prince？　Loyalty　and　filial　duty　are　the　essentials　of　a　persons　being。　For　a　minister　of　Han；　correct　conduct　demands　that　one　is　pledged　to　the　destruction　of　anyone　who　does　not　follow　the　canon　of　a　ministers　duty。　Cao　Caos　forbears　enjoyed　the　bounty　of　Han；　but　instead　of　showing　gratitude；　he　nourishes　in　his　bosom　thoughts　of　rebellion。　The　whole　world　is　incensed　against　him；　and　yet　you　would　claim　for　him　the　indication　of　destiny。　Truly　you　are　a　man　who　knows　neither　father　nor　prince；　a　man　unworthy　of　any　words；　and　I　decline　to　argue　with　you　further。〃

The　blush　of　shame　overspread　Xue　Zongs　face；　and　he　said　no　more。

But　another；　Lu　Ji；　took　up　the　dispute　and　said；　〃Although　Cao　Cao　overawes　the　Emperor　and　in　his　name　coerces　the　nobles；　yet　he　is　the　descendant　of　the　Supreme　Ancestors　Prime　Minister　Cao　Shen；　while　your　master；　though　he　says　he　is　descended　from　a　prince；　has　no　proof　thereof。　In　the　eyes　of　the　world；　Liu　Bei　is　just　a　weaver　of　mats；　a　seller　of　straw　shoes。　Who　is　he　to　strive　with　Cao　Cao？〃