第一小说网

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第135部分（第1页）

ar　glad　tidings　through　you。〃

Lu　Su　was　really　the　first　of　generous　people。　Seeing　Liu　Bei　in　such　distress；　he　could　do　no　other　than　consent　and　say　he　would　do　so。　Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang　both　thanked　him　most　cordially；　and　after　a　banquet　the　emissary　went　down　into　his　ship　to　return。

On　the　way　Lu　Su　called　in　to　see　Zhou　Yu　at　Chaisang　and　told　him。

But　Zhou　Yu　stamped　his　foot　with　rage　and　said；　〃My　friend；　you　have　been　fooled　again。　Long　ago　when　Liu　Bei　was　dependent　on　Liu　Biao；　he　always　cherished　the　intention　to　supplant　him。　Think　you　that　he　really　pities　Liu　Zhang？　This　sort　of　evasive　policy　will　certainly　cause　you　much　trouble。　However；　I　have　a　scheme　which　I　think　Zhuge　Liang　will　not　be　able　to　get　the　better　of。　Only　you　will　have　to　make　another　journey。〃

〃I　should　be　pleased　to　hear　your　fine　scheme；〃　said　Lu　Su。

〃Do　not　go　to　see　our　master。　Return　to　Jingzhou　and　say　to　Liu　Bei　that　since　his　family　and　the　Suns　are　related　by　marriage；　they　really　form　but　one　house；　and　since　he　has　qualms　about　attacking　the　west；　we　will　do　it　for　him。　Thus；　the　South　Land　will　march　an　army　under　this　pretext；　but　really　go　to　Jingzhou；　and　we　shall　take　him　unprepared。　The　road　to　the　west　runs　through　his　city；　and　we　will　call　upon　him　for　supplies。　He　will　e　out　to　thank　the　army；　and　we　will　assassinate　him　whereby　we　shall　revenge　ourselves　and　at　the　same　time　remove　a　source　of　future　evil。〃

This　seemed　an　excellent　plan　to　Lu　Su；　and　he　returned　at　once　to　Jingzhou。　Before　receiving　him；　Liu　Bei　talked　over　the　matter　with　his　adviser。

Said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃Lu　Su　has　not　seen　the　Marquis　of　Wu。　He　has　called　in　at　Chaisang；　and　he　and　Zhou　Yu　have　decided　upon　some　scheme；　which　he　is　to　talk　you　into　accepting。　However；　let　him　talk。　You；　my　lord；　only　watch　me；　and　when　I　nod　my　head；　then　you　agree　to　whatever　he　may　propose。〃

Lu　Su　was　then　admitted　and　said；　〃The　Marquis　of　Wu　praises　the　noble　virtue　of　the　Imperial　Uncle；　and　after　consultation　with　his　officers；　he　has　determined　to　take　the　western　country　on　the　Imperial　Uncles　behalf　and；　that　done；　Jingzhou　can　be　exchanged　for　it　without　further　delay。　However；　when　the　army　marches　through；　it　will　be　expected　of　you　to　contribute　some　necessary　supplies。〃

Zhuge　Liang　here　nodded　his　head　rapidly；　at　the　same　time　saying；　〃We　could　hardly　have　hoped　for　such　kindness。〃

And　Liu　Bei　saluted　with　joined　hands　and　said；　〃This　is　due　to　your　friendly　efforts　on　our　behalf。〃

〃When　the　brave　army　arrives；　we　shall　certainly　e　out　to　meet　it　and　entertain　the　soldiers；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

Lu　Su　felt　great　satisfaction　and　was　quite　happy　at　his　success。　He　took　his　leave　and　went　homeward。　But　Liu　Bei　as　yet　did　not　understand。

〃What　is　their　intention？〃　said　he。

His　adviser　smiled；　saying；　〃Zhou　Yus　end　is　very　near。　The　ruse　he　is　now　trying　would　not　take　in　a　child。〃

〃Why？〃

〃This　is　the　ruse　known　as　Borrow　a　Road　to　Destroy　the　Host。　Under　the　pretense　of　taking　the　west；　they　intend　to　capture　this　place；　and　when　you　go　out　to　pliment　the　army；　you　will　be　seized　and　they　will　dash　into　the　city　which　they　hope　to　find　unprepared。〃

〃And　what　are　we　to　do？〃

〃Have　no　anxiety；　my　lord。　All　we　have　to　do　is　to　prepare　a　hidden　bow　to　get　the　fierce　tiger；　to　spread　the　enticing　bait　to　hook　the　great　leviathan。　Wait　till　Zhou　Yu　es。　If　he　is　not　killed；　he　will　be　nine…tenths　a　corpse。　We　will　call　in　Zhao　Yun　for　orders　and　give　him　secret　instructions；　and　I　will　dispose　the　others。〃

And　Liu　Bei　was　glad。

Let　Zhou　Yu　lay　what　plans　he　will；

Zhuge　Liang　anticipates　his　skill；

That　land　of　rivers　fair　bait　did　look；

But　he　forgot　the　hidden　hook。

Lu　Su　hastened　back　to　Zhou　Yu　to　tell　him　that　all　was　going　as　he　desired　and　Liu　Bei　would　e　out　to　wele　the　army。

Zhou　Yu　laughed　with　glee；　saying；　〃At　last！　Now　they　will　fall　into　my　trap。〃

Zhou　Yu　bade　Lu　Su　prepare　a　petition　for　the　information　of　the　Marquis；　and　he　ordered　Cheng　Pu　to　bring　up　reinforcements。　He　himself　had　nearly　recovered　from　the　arrow　wound　and　felt　well。　He　made　his　dispositions　for　the　advance；　appointing　Gan　Ning　Van　Leader；　Xu　Sheng　and　Ding　Feng　the　manders　of　the　body；　and　Ling　Tong　and　Lu　Meng　Rear　Guards。　The　army　numbered　fifty　thousand　troops；　and　Zhou　Yu　marched　with　the　second　division。　While　voyaging　in　his　ship；　he　was　always　smiling　to　think　how　he　was　to　have　Zhuge　Liang　at　last。

At　Xiakou　he　inquired；　〃Is　there　anyone　to　wele　the　brave　army？〃

They　told　him；　〃The　Imperial　Uncle　has　sent　Mi　Zhu　to　greet　us。〃

And　Mi　Zhu　was　called。

〃What　of　the　preparations　for　the　army？〃　asked　Zhou　Yu　as　soon　as　Mi　Zhu　came。

〃My　master　has　seen　to　that。　All　is　prepared；〃　said　Mi　Zhu。

〃Where　is　the　Imperial　Uncle？〃　asked　Zhou　Yu。

〃He　is　at　the　city　of　Jingzhou；　waiting　outside　the　walls　to　offer　you　the　cup　of　greeting。〃

〃This　expedition　is　on　your　account；〃　said　Zhou　Yu。　〃When　one　undertakes　so　long　a　march　and　such　a　task；　the　rewards　for　the　army　must　be　very　substantial。〃

Having　got　this　idea　of　what　Zhou　Yu　expected；　Mi　Zhu　returned　to　his　own　city；　while　the　southern　battle　ships　in　close　order　sailed　up　the　river　and　took　their　places　along　the　bank。　As　they　went　on；　the　most　perfect　tranquillity　seemed　to　reign　on　all　sides。　Not　a　ship　was　visible　anywhere；　and　no　one　hindered。　Zhou　Yu　pressed　forward　till　he　came　quite　near　Jingzhou；　and　still　the　wide　river　lay　calm。　But　the　spies　who　came　back　reported　two　white　flags　flying　on　the　city　walls。

Still　not　a　person　was　seen；　and　Zhou　Yu　began　to　feel　suspicious。　He　had　his　ship　navigated　in　shore；　and　he　himself　landed　on　the　bank；　where　he　mounted　a　horse　and；　with　a　small　army　of　three　thousand　veterans　under　Gan　Ning；　Xu　Sheng；　and　Ding　Feng；　traveled　along　the　land　road。

By　and　bye　he　came　to　the　city　wall。　There　was　no　sign　of　life。　Reining　in　his　steed；　he　bade　them　challenge　the　gate。