三国演义英文版-第114部分

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　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　Bei's　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　Cao's　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　longing　to　see　you。　I　am　but　a　simple　wight；　but　I　should　be　pleased　to　discuss　affairs　with　my　master　and　you。〃
〃But　Zhuge　Liang　is　my　Directing　Instructor；〃　said　Liu　Bei；　〃and　I　cannot　do　without　him。　He　cannot　go。〃
Lu　Su　pressed　him。　Liu　Bei　pretended　to　refuse　permission。
〃It　is　important。　I　pray　you　give　me　leave　to　go；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
Then　Liu　Bei　consented。　And　they　soon　took　leave　and　the　two　set　out　by　boat　for　Sun　Quan's　headquarters。

A　little　boat　sailed　down　the　stream
With　Zhuge　Liang　well　content；
For　he　could　see　his　enemies
To　fiery　perdition　sent。

The　result　of　this　journey　will　appear　in　the　following　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　43　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　43
　Chapter　43
Zhuge　Liang　Disputes　With　The　Southern　Scholars；
Lu　Su　Denounces　The　Majority　Opinion。
In　the　boat　on　the　way　to　Chaisang；　the　two　travelers　beguiled　the　time　by　discussing　affairs。
Lu　Su　impressed　upon　his　panion；　saying；　〃When　you　see　my　master；　do　not　reveal　the　truth　about　the　magnitude　of　Cao　Cao's　army。〃
〃You　do　not　have　to　remind　me；〃　replied　Zhuge　Liang；　〃but　I　shall　know　how　to　reply。〃
When　the　boat　arrived；　Zhuge　Liang　was　lodged　in　the　guests'　quarters；　and　Lu　Su　went　alone　to　see　his　master。　Lu　Su　found　Sun　Quan　actually　at　a　council；　assembled　to　consider　the　situation。　Lu　Su　was　summoned　thereto　and　questioned　at　once　upon　what　he　had　discovered。
〃I　know　the　general　outline；　but　I　want　a　little　time　to　prepare　my　report；〃　replied　Lu　Su。
Then　Sun　Quan　produced　Cao　Cao's　letter　and　gave　it　to　Lu　Su。
〃That　came　yesterday。　I　have　sent　the　bearer　of　it　back；　and　this　gathering　is　to　consider　the　reply；〃　said　he。
Lu　Su　read　the　letter：
〃When　I；　the　Prime　Minister；　received　the　imperial　mand　to　punish　a　fault；　my　banners　went　south　and　Liu　Zong　became　my　prisoner；　while　the　people　of　Jingzhou　flocked　to　my　side　at　the　first　rumor　of　my　ing。　Under　my　hand　are　one　million　strong　and　a　thousand　able　leaders。　My　desire　is；　General；　that　we　go　on　a　great　hunting　expedition　into　Jiangxia　and　together　attack　Liu　Bei。　We　will　share　his　land　between　us；　and　we　will　swear　perpetual　amity。　If　happily　you　would　not　be　a　mere　looker…on；　I　pray　you　reply　quickly。〃
〃What　have　you　decided　upon；　my　lord？〃　asked　Lu　Su　as　he　finished　the　letter。
〃I　have　not　yet　decided。〃
Then　Zhang　Zhao　said；　〃It　would　be　imprudent　to　withstand　Cao　Cao's　hundred　legions　backed　by　the　imperial　authority。　Moreover；　your　most　important　defense　against　him　is　the　Great　River；　and　since　Cao　Cao　has　gained　possession　of　Jingzhou；　the　river　is　his　ally　against　us。　We　cannot　withstand　him；　and　the　only　way　to　tranquillity；　in　my　opinion；　is　submission。〃
〃The　words　of　the　speaker　accord　with　the　manifest　decree　of　providence；〃　echoed　all　the　assembly。
Sun　Quan　remaining　silent　and　thoughtful。
Zhang　Zhao　again　took　up　the　argument；　saying；　〃Do　not　hesitate；　my　lord。　Submission　to　Cao　Cao　means　tranquillity　to　the　people　of　the　South　Land　and　safety　for　the　inhabitants　of　the　six　territories。〃
Sun　Quan　still　remained　silent。　His　head　bent　in　deep　thought。　Presently　he　arose　and　paced　slowly　out　at　the　door；　and　Lu　Su　followed　him。
Outside　he　took　Lu　Su　by　the　hand；　saying；　〃What　do　you　desire？〃
〃What　they　have　all　been　saying　is　very　derogatory　to　you。　A　mon　person　might　submit。　You　cannot。〃
〃Why？　How　do　you　explain　that？〃
〃If　people　like　us　servants　submitted；　we　would　just　return　to　our　village　or　continue　holding　our　offices；　and　everything　would　go　on　as　before。　If　you　submit；　whither　will　you　go？　You　will　be　created　a　lord　of　some　humble　fief；　perhaps。　You　will　have　one　carriage；　no　more；　one　saddle　horse；　that　is　all。　Your　retinue　will　be　some　ten。　Will　you　be　able　to　sit　facing　the　south　and　call　yourself　by　the　kingly　title　of　'The　Solitary'？　Each　one　in　that　crowd　of　hangers…on　is　thinking　for　himself；　is　purely　selfish；　and　you　should　not　listen　to　them；　but　take　a　line　of　your　own　and　that　quickly。　Determine　to　play　a　bold　game！〃
Sun　Quan　sighed；　〃They　all　talk　and　talk：　They　miss　my　point　of　view。　Now　you　have　just　spoken　of　a　bold　game；　and　your　view　is　the　same　as　mine。　Surely　God　has　expressly　sent　you　to　me。　Still　Cao　Cao　is　now　the　stronger　by　all　Yuan　Shao's　and　Liu　Biao's　armies；　and　he　has　possession　of　Jingzhou。　I　fear　he　is　almost　too　powerful　to　contend　with。〃
〃I　have　brought　back　with　me　Zhuge　Liang；　the　younger　brother　of　our　Zhuge　Jin。　If　you　questioned　him；　he　would　explain　clearly。〃
〃Is　Master　Sleeping　Dragon　really　here？〃
〃Really　here；　in　the　guest…house。〃
〃It　is　too　late　to　see　him　today。　But　tomorrow　I　will　assemble　my　officials；　and　you　will　introduce　him　to　all　my　best。　After　that　we　will　debate　the　matter。〃
With　these　instructions　Lu　Su　retired。
Next　day　he　went　to　the　guest…house　and　conveyed　Sun　Quan's　mands　to　the　guest；　particularly　saying；　〃When　you　see　my　master；　say　nothing　of　the　magnitude　of　Cao　Cao's　army。〃
Zhuge　Liang　smiled；　saying；　〃I　shall　act　as　circumstances　dictate。　You　may　be　sure　I　shall　make　no　mistakes。〃
Zhuge　Liang　was　then　conducted　to　where　the　high　officers；　civil　and　military　to　the　number　of　forty　and　more；　were　assembled。　They　formed　a　dignified　conclave　as　they　sat　in　stately　ranks　with　their　tall　headdresses　and　broad　girdles。
Zhang　Zhao　sat　at　the　head；　and　Zhuge　Liang　first　saluted　him。　Then；　one　by　one；　he　exchange　the　formal　courtesies　with　them　all。　This　done　he　took　his　seat　in　the　guest's　chair。
They；　on　their　part；　noted　with　interest　Zhuge　Liang's　refined　and　elegant　manner　and　his　manding　figure；　thinking　within　themselves；　〃Here　is　a　persuader　fitted　for　discourse。〃
Zhang　Zhao　led　the　way　in　trying　to　bait　the　visitor。　He　said；　〃You　will　pardon　the　most　insignificant　of　our　official　circle；　myself；　if　I　mention　that　people　say　you　pare　yourself　with　those　two　famous　men　of　talent；　Guan　Zhong　and　Yue　Yi。　Is　there　any　truth　in　this？〃
〃To　a　trifling　extent　I　have　pared　myself　with　them；〃　replied　Zhuge　Liang。
〃I　have　heard　that　Liu　Bei　made　three　journeys　to　visit　you　when　you　lived　in　retirement　in　your　simple　dwelling　in　the　Sleeping　Dragon　Ridge；　and　that　when　you　consented　to　serve　him；　he　said　he　was　as　lucky　as　a　fish　in　getting　home　to　the　ocean。　Then　he　desired　to　possess　the　region　about　Jingzhou。　Yet　today　all　that　country　belongs　to　Cao　Cao。　I　should　like　to　hear　your　account　of　all　that。〃
Zhuge　Liang　thought；　〃This　Zhang　Zhao　is　Sun　Quan's　first　adviser。　Unless　I　can　nonplus　him；　I　shall　never　have　a　chance　with　his　master。〃
So　he　replied；　〃In　my　opinion　the　taking　of　the　region　around　the　Han　River　was　as　simple　as　turning　over　one's　hand。　But　my　master　Liu　Bei　is　both　righteous　and　humane　and　would　not　stoop　to　filching　the　possession　of　a　member　of　his　own　house。　So　he　refused　the　offer　of　succession。　But　Liu　Zong；　a　stupid　lad；　misled　by　specious　words；　submitted　to　Cao　Cao　and　fell　victim　to　his　ferocity。　My　master　is　in　camp　at　Jiangxia；　but　what　his　future　plans　may　be　cannot　be　divulged　at　present。〃
Zhang　Zhao　said；　〃Be　it　so；　but　your　words　and　your　deeds　are　something　discordant。　You　say　you　are　the　eq