第一小说网

手机浏览器扫描二维码访问

第103部分（第2页）

The　two　officers　in　mand　at　Jingzhou　City；　Deng　Yi　and　Liu　Xin；　had　heard　of　the　death　of　their　lord　Liu　Zong　at　Xiangyang　and；　knowing　that　there　was　no　chance　of　successful　defense　against　Cao　Caos　armies；　they　led　out　the　people　of　Jingzhou　to　the　outskirts　and　offered　submission。　Cao　Cao　entered　the　city　and；　after　restoring　order　and　confidence；　he　released　Han　Song　and　gave　him　the　dignified　office　of　Director　of　Ambassadorial　Receptions。　He　rewarded　the　others。

Then　said　Cao　Cao；　〃Liu　Bei　has　gone　to　Jiangxia　and　may　ally　himself　with　the　South　Land；　and　the　opposition　to　me　will　be　greater。　Can　he　be　destroyed？〃

Xun　You　said；　〃The　splendor　of　your　achievements　has　spread　wide。　Therefore　you　might　send　a　messenger　to　invite　Sun　Quan　to　a　grand　hunting　party　at　Jiangxia；　and　you　two　could　seize　Liu　Bei；　share　Jingzhou　with　Sun　Quan；　and　make　a　solemn　treaty。　Sun　Quan　will　be　too　frightened　not　to　e　over　to　you；　and　your　end　will　be　gained。〃

Cao　Cao　agreed。　He　sent　the　letters　by　a　messenger；　and　he　prepared　his　army………horse　and　foot　and　marines。　He　had　in　all　eight　hundred　thirty　thousand　troops；　but　he　called　them　a　million。　The　attack　was　to　be　by　land　and　water　at　the　same　time。

The　fleet　advanced　up　the　river　in　two　lines。　On　the　west　it　extended　to　Jingxia；　on　the　east　to　Qichun。　The　stockades　stretched　one　hundred　miles。

The　story　of　Cao　Caos　movements　and　successes　reached　Sun　Quan；　then　in　camp　at　Chaisang。　He　assembled　his　strategists　to　decide　on　a　scheme　of　defense。

Lu　Su　said；　〃Jingzhou　is　contiguous　to　our　borders。　It　is　strong　and　defensive；　its　people　are　rich。　It　is　the　sort　of　country　that　an　emperor　or　a　king　should　have。　Liu　Biaos　recent　death　gives　an　excuse　for　me　to　be　sent　to　convey　condolence　and；　once　there；　I　shall　be　able　to　talk　over　Liu　Bei　and　the　officers　of　the　late　Imperial　Protector　to　bine　with　you　against　Cao　Cao。　If　Liu　Bei　does　as　I　wish；　then　success　is　yours。〃

Sun　Quan　thought　this　a　good　plan；　so　he　had　the　necessary　letters　prepared；　and　the　gifts；　and　sent　Lu　Su　with　them。

All　this　time　Liu　Bei　was　at　Jiangxia　where；　with　Zhuge　Liang　and　Liu　Qi；　he　was　endeavoring　to　evolve　a　good　plan　of　campaign。

Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃Cao　Caos　power　is　too　great　for　us　to　cope　with。　Let　us　go　over　to　the　South　Land　and　ask　help　from　Sun　Quan。　If　we　can　set　north　and　south　at　grips；　we　ought　to　be　able　to　get　some　advantage　from　our　intermediate　position　between　them。〃

〃But　will　they　be　willing　to　have　anything　to　do　with　us？〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃The　South　Land　is　a　large　and　populous　country；　and　Sun　Quan　has　ambitions　of　his　own。〃

Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃Cao　Cao　with　his　army　of　a　million　holds　the　Han　River　and　a　half　of　the　Great　River。　The　South　Land　will　certainly　send　to　find　out　all　possible　about　the　position。　Should　any　messenger　e；　I　shall　borrow　a　little　boat　and　make　a　little　trip　over　the　river　and　trust　to　my　little　lithe　tongue　to　set　north　and　south　at　each　others　throats。　If　the　south　wins；　we　will　assist　in　destroying　Cao　Cao　in　order　to　get　Jingzhou。　If　the　north　wins；　we　shall　profit　by　the　victory　to　get　the　South　Land。　So　we　shall　get　some　advantage　either　way。〃

〃That　is　a　very　fine　view　to　take；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃But　how　are　you　going　to　get　hold　of　anyone　from　the　South　Land　to　talk　to？〃

Liu　Beis　question　was　answered　by　the　arrival　of　Lu　Su；　and　as　the　ship　touched　the　bank　and　the　envoy　came　ashore；　Zhuge　Liang　laughed；　saying；　〃It　is　done！〃

Turning　to　Liu　Qi　he　asked；　〃When　Sun　Ce　died；　did　your　country　send　any　condolences？〃

〃It　is　impossible　there　would　be　any　mourning　courtesies　between　them　and　us。　We　had　caused　the　death　of　his　father；　Sun　Jian。〃

〃Then　it　is　certain　that　this　envoy　does　not　e　to　present　condolences　but　to　spy　out　the　land。〃

So　he　said　to　Liu　Bei；　〃When　Lu　Su　asks　about　the　movements　of　Cao　Cao；　you　will　know　nothing。　If　he　presses　the　matter；　say　he　can　ask　me。〃

Having　thus　prepared　their　scheme；　they　sent　to　wele　the　envoy；　who　entered　the　city　in　mourning　garb。　The　gifts　having　been　accepted；　Liu　Qi　asked　Lu　Su　to　meet　Liu　Bei。　When　the　introductory　ceremonies　were　over；　the　three　men　went　to　one　of　the　inner　chambers　to　drink　a　cup　of　wine。

Presently　Lu　Su　said　to　Liu　Bei；　〃By　reputation　I　have　known　you　a　long　time；　Uncle　Liu　Bei；　but　till　today　I　have　not　met　you。　I　am　very　gratified　at　seeing　you。　You　have　been　fighting　Cao　Cao；　though；　lately；　so　I　suppose　you　know　all　about　him。　Has　he　really　so　great　an　army？　How　many；　do　you　think；　he　has？〃

〃My　army　was　so　small　that　we　fled　whenever　we　heard　of　his　approach。　So　I　do　not　know　how　many　he　had。〃

〃You　had　the　advice　of　Zhuge　Liang；　and　you　used　fire　on　Cao　Cao　twice。　You　burned　him　almost　to　death　so　that　you　can　hardly　say　you　know　nothing　about　his　soldiers；〃　said　Lu　Su。

〃Without　asking　my　adviser；　I　really　do　not　know　the　details。〃

〃Where　is　Zhuge　Liang？　I　should　like　to　see　him；〃　said　Lu　Su。

So　they　sent　for　him；　and　he　was　introduced。

When　the　ceremonies　were　over；　Lu　Su　said；　〃I　have　long　admired　your　genius　but　have　never　been　fortunate　enough　to　meet　you。　Now　that　I　have　met　you；　I　hope　I　may　speak　of　present　politics。〃

Replied　Zhuge　Liang；　〃I　know　all　Cao　Caos　infamies　and　wickednesses；　but　to　my　regret　we　were　not　strong　enough　to　withstand　him。　That　is　why　we　avoided　him。〃

〃Is　the　Imperial　Uncle　going　to　stay　here？〃

〃The　Princely　One　is　an　old　friend　of　Wu　Ju；　Governor　of　Changwu；　and　intends　to　go　to　him。〃

〃Wu　Ju　has　few　troops　and　insufficient　supplies。　He　cannot　ensure　safety　for　himself。　How　can　he　receive　the　Uncle？〃　said　Lu　Su。

〃Changwu　is　not　one　to　remain　in　long；　but　it　is　good　enough　for　the　present。　We　can　make　other　plans　for　the　future。〃

Lu　Su　said；　〃Sun　Quan　is　strongly　posted　in　the　six　southern　territories　and　is　exceedingly　well　supplied。　He　treats　able　people　and　scholars　with　the　greatest　courtesy　and　so　they　gather　round　him。　Now　if　you　are　seeking　a　plan　for　your　Prince；　you　cannot　do　better　than　send　some　friend　to　confer　with　him。〃

〃There　have　never　been　any　relations　between　my　master　and　yours；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃I　fear　there　would　be　nothing　but　a　waste　of　words。　Besides；　we　have　no　one　to　send。〃

〃Your　elder　brother　Zhuge　Jin　is　there　as　adviser　and　is　lon