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termined　to　take　the　western　country　on　the　Imperial　Uncle's　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　Yu's　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。
Then　someone　from　the　wall　asked；　〃Who　is　there？〃
The　soldiers　of　the　South　Land　replied；　〃The　mander…in…Chief　of　the　South　Land；　Zhou　Yu；　in　person。〃
Immediately　was　heard　the　thud　of　a　club；　and　the　wall　became　alive　with　troops　all　armed。　And　from　the　tower　came　out　Zhao　Yun　who　said；　〃Why　are　you　here；　General？〃
〃I　am　going　to　take　the　west　for　you；〃　replied　Zhou　Yu。　〃Do　you　not　know？〃
〃The　Directing　Instructor　knows　that　you　want　to　try　the　ruse　of　'Borrow　a　Road　to　Destroy　the　Host'。　And　so　he　stationed　me　here。　And　my　master　bade　me　say　that　he　and　the　ruler　of　the　West　River　Land　are　both　members　of　the　reigning　family　so　that　he　could　not　think　of　such　baseness　as　attacking　Yizhou。　If　you　people　of　the　South　Land　do　so；　he　will　be　forced　to　go　away　into　the　mountains　and　bee　a　recluse。　He　could　not　bear　to　lose　the　confidence　of　humankind。〃
At　this　Zhou　Yu　turned　his　horse　as　if　to　return。　Just　then　his　scouts　came　up　to　report：　〃Armed　bands　are　moving　toward　us　from　all　four　sides；　led　by　Guan　Yu；　Zhang　Fei；　Huang　Zhong；　and　Wei　Yan。　Their　number　is　unknown；　but　the　sound　of　their　tramping　shakes　the　heavens。　They　say　they　want　to　capture　the　mander…in…Chief。〃
At　these　tidings　Zhou　Yu's　excitement　became　so　intense　that　he　fell　to　the　ground　with　a　great　cry；　and　the　old　wound　reopened。

The　game　was　now　too　deep；　in　vain　he　sought
A　countermove；　his　efforts　came　to　nought。

Later　chapters　will　show　what　was　Zhou　Yu's　fate。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　57　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　57
　Chapter　57
Sleeping　Dragon　Mourns　At　Chaisang；
Young　Phoenix　Intervenes　At　Leiyang。
In　the　last　chapter　it　was　said　that　a　sudden　rage　filled　the　bosom　of　Zhou　Yu；　and　he　fell　to　the　ground。　Then　he　was　carried　to　his　boat。　It　only　added　to　his　rage　and　mortification　to　be　told　that　Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang　could　be　seen　on　the　top　of　one　of　the　hills　apparently　feasting　and　enjoying　some　music。　He　lay　grinding　his　teeth　with　vexation。
〃They　say　I　shall　never　be　able　to　get　Yizhou！　But　I　will………I　swear　I　will。〃
Soon　after　Sun　Quan's　brother　Sun　Hu　arrived；　and　Zhou　Yu　told　him　his　vexations。
〃My　brother　sent　me　to　assist　you；〃　said　Sun　Hu。
Zhou　Yu　ordered　Sun　Hu　to　press　the　army　forward　for　Yizhou；　and　they　got　to　Baqiu。　There　they　stopped；　for　the　scouts　reported　large　forces　under　Liu　Bei's　generals………Liu　Feng　and　Guan　Ping………barring　the　water　route　in　the　Great　River。　This　failure　did　not　make　the　mander…in…Chief　any　calmer。
About　this　time　a　letter　from　Zhuge　Liang　arrived；　which　ran　like　this：
〃Since　our　parting　at　Chaisang　I　have　thought　of　you　often。　Now　es　to　me　a　report　that　you　desire　to　take　the　West　River　Land；　which　I　regret　to　say　I　consider　impossible。　The　people　there　are　strong；　and　the　country　is　precipitous　and　defensible。　Imperial　Protector　Liu　Zhang　may　be　weak　within；　but　he　is　strong　enough　to　defend　himself。
〃Now　indeed；　General；　you　would　go　far　and　you　would　render　great　services；　yet　can　anyone　foretell　the　final　result？　No；　not　even　Wu　Qi　the　Great　General　could　say　for　certain；　nor　could　Sun　Zi　the　Famed　Strategist　be　sure　of　a　successful　issue。　Cao　Cao　suffered　severe　defeat　at　the　Red　Cliffs。　Think　you　he　will　ever　cease　to　hope　for　revenge？　Now　if　you　undertake　a　long　expedition；　will　he　not　seize　the　occasion　to　fall　upon　the　South　Land　and　grind　it　to　powder？　Such　a　deed　would　be　more　than　I　could　bear；　and　I　venture　to　warn　you　of　the　possible　danger　if　haply　you　may　condescend　to　regard　it。〃
The　letter　made　Zhou　Yu　feel　very　sorrowful；　and　he　sighed　deeply。　He　called　for　paper　and　ink　and　wrote　to　the　Marquis　of　Wu。
Having　done　this；　he　said　to　his　assembled　officers；　〃I　have　honestly　tried　to　do　my　best　for　our　house；　but　my　end　is　at　hand。　The　number　of　my　days　is　acplished。　You　must　continue　to　aid　our　master　till　his　end　shall　be　achieved…〃
He　stopped；　for　he　had　swooned。
Slowly　he　regained　consciousness；　and　as　he　looked　up　to　heaven；　he　sighed　heavily；　〃O　God；　since　thou　made　Zhou　Yu；　why　did　thou　also　create　Zhuge　Liang？〃
Soon　after　he　passed　away。　He　was　only　thirty…six。

The　battle　at　the　Red　Cliffs　made　him　famous；
Though　young　in　years　he　gained　a　veteran's　reputation。
Deep　feeling；　his　music　declared　its　intensity；
Subtle；　with　excess　hospitality　he　foiled　a　plot；
Persuasive；　he　obtained　a　large　gift　of　grain　from　Lu　Su；
Capable；　he　led　an　army　of　millions。
Baqiu　was　his　deathbed；　there　his　fate　met　him。
Sadly　indeed　they　mourned　him。

After　his　death　his　generals　sent　his　dying　memorial　to　the　Marquis　of　Wu；　who　was　most　deeply　affected　and　wept　aloud　at　the　sad　tidings　of　his　death。　When　Sun　Quan　opened　the　letters；　he　saw　that　Lu　Su　was　named　as　the　dead　general's　successor；　This　is　the　letter：
〃Possessing　but　ordinary　abilities；　there　was　no　reason　why　I　should　have　been　the　recipient　of　your　confidence　and　high　office；　but　I　have　not　spared　myself　in　the　leadership　of　the　great　army　under　my　mand　that　thereby　I　might　prove　my　gratitude。　Yet　none　can　measure　life；　and　the　number　of　our　days　is　ordained　by　fate。　Before　I　could　achieve　even　my　poor　intentions；　my　feeble　body　has　failed　me。　I　regret　it　without　measure。　I　die　with　Cao　Cao　threatening　and　our　northern　borders　disturbed；　and　with　Liu　Bei　in　your　family　as　though　you　were　feeding　a　fierce　tiger。　None　can　foretell　the　fate　of　the　empire　in　these　nervous　days　of　stress　and　of　peculiar　anxiety　for　you。
〃Lu　Su　is　most　loyal；　careful　in　all　matters　and　a　fitting　man　to　succeed　to　my　office。　When　a　person　is　near　death；　his　words　are　wise。　If　I　may　haply　retain　your　regard；　I　may　die　but　I　shall　not　decay。〃
〃Zhou　Yu　should　have　been　a　king's　counselor！〃　cried　Sun　Quan；　amid　his　tears。　〃He　has　left　me　alas！　too　soon；　and　whom　have　I　to　lean　upon？　But　he　remends　Lu　Su；　and　I　can　do　nothing　better　than　take　that　advice。〃
Whereupon　Sun　Quan　appointed　Lu　Su　to　the　vacant　mand；　mandership…in…Chief。　Sun　Quan　also　saw　that　the　coffin　of　his　beloved　general　was　sent　to　Chaisang　ready　for　the　funeral　sacrifices。
The　night　of　Zhou　Yu's　death；　Zhuge　Liang　was　gazing　up　at　the　heavens　when　he　saw　a　star　of　a　general　fall　to　the　earth。
〃Zhou　Yu　is　dead；〃　said　he　with　a　smile。
At　dawn　he　sent　to　tell　Liu　Bei；　who　sent　people　to　find　out；　and　they　came　back　to　say　it　was　true　that　Zhou　Yu　had　died。
〃Now　that　this　has　e　to　pass；　what　should　we　do？〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃Lu　Su　will　succeed；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃And　I　see　in　the　heavens　signs　of　an　assembly　of　generals　in　the　southeast；　so　I　shall　go　there。　The　mourning　for　Zhou　Yu　will　serve　as　a　pretext。　I　may　find　some　able　leaders　there　to　be　of　help　to　you。〃
〃I　am　afraid　lest　the　generals　of　the　South　Land　harm　you；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃While　Zhou　Yu　lived；　I　did　not　fear。　Is　there　anything　to　dread　now　that　he　is　gone？〃
However；　Zhuge　Liang　took　Zhao　Yun　as　mander　of　his　escort　when　he　embarked　for　Baqiu；　and　on　the　road　he　heard　of　Lu　Su's　succession　to　the　late　general's　post。　As　the　coffin　of　Zhou　Yu　had　been　sent　to　Chaisang；　Zhuge　Liang　continued　his　journey　thither　and；　on　landing；　was　kindly　received　by　Lu　Su。　The　officers　of　the　South　Land　did　not　conceal　their　enmity；　but　the　sight　of　the　redoubtable　Zhao　Yun；　always　close　at　hand；　kept　them　from　trying　to　hurt　Zhuge　Liang。
The　officers　brought　by　Zhuge　Liang　were　arranged　in　order　before　the　bier；　and　he　himself　poured　the　libation。　Then　he　knelt　and　read　this　threnody：
〃Alas；　Zhou　Yu！　Hapless　are　you　in　your　early　death。　Length　of　days　is　in　the　hands　of　God；　yet　do　humans　suffer　and　my　heart　is　deeply　grieved　for　you。　I　pour　this　libation　that　your　spirit　may　enjoy　its　fragrance。
〃I　lament　you。　I　lament　your　younger　days　passed　in　the　panionship　of　Sun　Ce；　when；　preferring　eternal　principles　to　material　wealth；　you　abode　in　a　humble　cottage。
〃I　lament　your　ripe　strength　when　you　guarded　distant　Baqiu；　putting　fear　into　the　heart　of　Liu　Biao；　destroying　rebels；　and　ensuring　safety。
〃I　lament　the　grace　of　your　manhood。　Married　to　a　fair　maid　of　the　Qiao　family；　son…in…law　of　a　great　minister；　you　were　such　as　would　add　luster　to　the　Han　Court。
〃I　lament　your　resolute　purpose　when　you　opposed　the　pledge…giving　to　Cao　Cao。　As　in　the　beginning　your　wings　drooped　not；　so　in　the　end　your　pinions　spread　wide。
〃I　lament　your　abandon；　when　your　false　friend；　Jiang　Gan；　came　to　you　at　Poyang　Lake。　There　you　manifested　your　lofty　ideals。
〃I　lament　your　ma