第一小说网

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第115部分（第2页）

Jiang　Gan　tried　to　say　something；　but　Zhou　Yu　would　not　listen。　He　turned　his　back　and　went　into　the　recesses　of　his　tent。　The　attendants　led　the　visitor　off；　set　him　on　a　horse；　and　took　him　away　over　the　hills　to　the　small　hut；　leaving　two　soldiers　to　look　after　him。

When　Jiang　Gan　found　himself　in　the　lonely　hut；　he　was　very　depressed　and　had　no　desire　to　eat　or　sleep。　But　one　night；　when　the　stars　were　very　brilliant；　he　strolled　out　to　enjoy　them。　Presently　he　came　to　the　rear　of　his　lonely　habitation　and　heard；　near　by；　someone　crooning　over　a　book。　Approaching　with　stealthy　steps；　he　saw　a　tiny　cabin　half　hidden　in　a　cliff　whence　a　slender　beam　or　two　of　light　stole　out　between　the　rafters。　He　went　nearer　and　peeping　in；　saw　a　man　reading　by　the　light　of　a　lamp　near　which　hung　a　sword。　And　the　book　was　Sun　Zis　classic　〃The　Art　of　War。〃

〃This　is　no　mon　person；〃　thought　Jiang　Gan；　and　so　he　knocked　at　the　door。

The　door　was　opened　by　the　reader；　who　bade　him　wele　with　cultivated　and　refined　ceremony。　Jiang　Gan　inquired　his　name。

The　host　replied；　〃I　am　Pang　Tong。〃

〃Then　you　are　surely　the　Master　known　as　Young　Phoenix；　are　you　not？〃

〃Yes；　I　am　he。〃

〃How　often　have　I　heard　you　talked　about！　You　are　famous。　But　why　are　you　hidden　away　in　this　spot？〃

〃That　fellow　Zhou　Yu　is　too　conceited　to　allow　that　anyone　else　has　any　talent；　and　so　I　live　here　quietly。　But　who　are　you；　Sir？〃

〃I　am　Jiang　Gan。〃

Then　Pang　Tong　made　him　wele　and　led　him　in；　and　the　two　sat　down　to　talk。

〃With　your　gifts；　you　would　succeed　anywhere；〃　said　Jiang　Gan。　〃If　you　would　enter　Cao　Caos　service；　I　would　remend　you　to　him。〃

〃I　have　long　desired　to　get　away　from　here。　And　if　you；　Sir；　will　present　me；　there　is　no　time　like　the　present。　If　Zhou　Yu　heard　of　my　wish；　he　would　kill　me；　I　am　sure。〃

So　without　more　ado；　they　made　their　way　down　the　hill　to　the　waters　edge　to　seek　the　boat　in　which　Jiang　Gan　had　e。　They　embarked　and；　rowing　swiftly；　they　soon　reached　the　northern　shore。　At　the　central　camp；　Jiang　Gan　landed　and　went　to　seek　Cao　Cao　to　whom　he　related　the　story　of　the　discovery　of　his　new　acquaintance。

When　Cao　Cao　heard　that　the　newer　was　Master　Young　Phoenix；　Cao　Cao　went　to　meet　him　personally；　made　him　very　wele；　and　soon　they　sat　down　to　talk　on　friendly　terms。

Cao　Cao　said；　〃And　so　Zhou　Yu　in　his　youth　is　conceited　and　annoys　his　officers　and　rejects　all　their　advice：　I　know　that。　But　your　fame　has　been　long　known　to　me；　and　now　that　you　have　been　gracious　enough　to　turn　my　way；　I　pray　you　not　to　be　thrifty　of　your　advice。〃

〃I；　too；　know　well　that　you　are　a　model　of　military　strategy；〃　said　Pang　Tong；　〃but　I　should　like　to　have　one　look　at　your　disposition。〃

So　horses　were　brought；　and　the　two　rode　out　to　the　lines；　host　and　visitor　on　equal　terms；　side　by　side。　They　ascended　a　hill　whence　they　had　a　wide　view　of　the　land　base。

＇e＇　Wu　Qi；　aka　Wu　Zi；　a　famous　general　in　the　Warring　States　period。　He　first　served　Lu；　then　went　to　Wei；　his　native；　and　led　Wei　army　against　Qin。　He　made　enemies　in　Wei；　so　he　fled　to　Chu；　where　King　Dao　made　him　prime　minister。　Wu　Qi　made　Chu　a　powerful　state；　expanded　her　territory；　defended　her　against　Wei；　Zhao；　and　Han；　and　attacked　Qin。　But　right　after　King　Dao　died；　Wu　Qi　was　put　to　death　by　his　enemies　at　court。　Wu　Qi　is　the　author　of　a　military　treatise　named　〃Wu　Qis　Art　of　War〃。　。。。。。

＇e＇　Sun　Zi　（aka　Sun　Wu；　Sunzi；　Suntzu；　Sun…tzu；　Sun　tzu）　the　author　of　the　famed　treatise　The　Art　of　War。　A　general　of　Wu　in　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period；　Sun　Zi　made　her　the　mightiest　state　during　his　lifetime　by　defeating　Chu　and　conquering　Yue。　His　treatise　the　Art　of　War　is　still　avidly　read　today　by　many。　。。。。。

After　looking　all　round　Pang　Tong　remarked；　〃Wu　Qi　the　Great　General*；　came　to　life　again；　could　not　do　better；　nor　Sun　Zi　the　Famed　Strategist*　if　he　reappeared！　All　accords　with　the　precepts。　The　camp　is　beside　the　hills　and　is　flanked　by　a　forest。　The　front　and　rear　are　within　sight　of　each　other。　Gates　of　egress　and　ingress　are　provided；　and　the　roads　of　advance　and　retirement　are　bent　and　broken。〃

〃Master；　I　entreat　you　not　to　overpraise　me；　but　to　advise　me　where　I　can　make　further　improvements；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

Then　the　two　men　rode　down　to　the　naval　camp；　where　twenty　four　gates　were　arranged　facing　south。　The　cruisers　and　the　battleships　were　all　lined　up　so　as　to　protect　the　lighter　crafts　which　lay　inside。　There　were　channels　to　pass　to　and　fro　and　fixed　anchorages　and　stations。

Pang　Tong　surveying　all　this　smiled；　saying；　〃Sir　Prime　Minister；　if　this　is　your　method　of　warfare；　you　enjoy　no　empty　reputation。〃

Then　pointing　to　the　southern　shore；　he　went　on；　〃Zhou　Yu！　Zhou　Yu！　You　are　finished。　You　will　have　to　die。〃

Cao　Cao　was　mightily　pleased。　They　rode　back　to　the　chief　tent　and　wine　was　brought。　They　discussed　military　matters；　and　Pang　Tong　held　forth　at　length。　Remarks　and　ments　flowed　freely　between　the　two；　and　Cao　Cao　formed　an　exalted　opinion　of　his　new　adherents　abilities　and　treated　him　with　the　greatest　honor。

By　and　bye　the　guest　seemed　to　have　succumbed　to　the　influence　of　many　cups　and　said；　〃Have　you　any　capable　medical　people　in　your　army？〃

〃What　are　they　for；　Master？〃　said　Cao　Cao。

〃There　is　a　lot　of　illness　among　the　marines；　and　you　ought　to　find　some　remedy。〃

The　fact　was　that　at　this　time　Cao　Caos　men　were　suffering　from　the　climate。　Many　were　vomiting　and　not　a　few　had　died。　It　was　a　source　of　great　anxiety　to　him；　and　when　the　newer　suddenly　mentioned　it；　of　course　he　had　to　ask　advice。

Pang　Tong　said；　〃Your　marine　force　is　excellent；　but　there　is　just　one　defect。　It　is　not　quite　perfect。〃

Cao　Cao　pressed　him　to　say　where　the　imperfection　lay。

〃I　have　a　plan　to　overe　the　ailment　of　the　soldiers　so　that　no　one　shall　be　sick　and　all　fit　for　service。〃

〃What　is　this　excellent　scheme？〃　said　Cao　Cao。

〃The　river　is　wide；　and　the　tides　ebb　and　flow。　The　winds　and　waves　are　never　at　rest。　Your　troops　from　the　north　are　unused　to　ships；　and