快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

　victims　of　the　flood　and　slain　in　battle。　These　losses　do　no　harm　at　all　to　your　great　plan。　The　Suns　and　Lius　are　no　longer　friends　since　Guan　Yu　has　acplished　his　desire。　You　may　send　a　messenger　into　Wu　to　foment　the　quarrel　and　cause　Sun　Quan　to　send　his　armies　to　attack　the　army　of　Guan　Yu　from　the　rear；　promising　that；　when　things　are　tranquil；　you　will　reward　the　south　to　Sun　Quan。　In　this　way　you　will　relieve　Fancheng。〃
Here　Minister　Jiang　Ji　said；　〃Sima　Yi　speaks　well；　and　the　messenger　should　lose　no　time。　Do　not　move　the　capital　and　disturb　the　people。〃
Cao　Cao　therefore　did　not　carry　out　his　first　proposal。
But　he　was　sad　at　the　loss　of　Yu　Jin；　and　spoke　of　him　affectionately；　〃Yu　Jin　had　followed　me　faithfully　for　thirty　years；　yet　in　that　moment　of　truth　he　was　less　than　Pang　De。〃
It　was　necessary　to　send　someone　with　the　letters　to　Wu　and　also　to　find　another　leader　willing　to　face　Guan　Yu。　Cao　Cao　had　not　long　to　wait　for　the　latter；　as　an　officer　stepped　out　from　the　ranks　of　those　in　waiting　and　offered　himself。　It　was　Xu　Huang。
Xu　Huang's　offer　was　accepted；　and　he　was　given　fifty　thousand　of　veterans。　Lu　Qian　was　sent　as　his　second；　and　the　army　marched　to　Yangling　Slope；　where　they　halted　to　see　if　any　support　was　ing　from　the　southeast。
Sun　Quan　fell　in　with　the　scheme　of　Cao　Cao　as　soon　as　he　had　read　Cao　Cao's　letter。　He　at　once　prepared　a　reply　for　the　messenger　to　take　back；　and　then　gathered　his　officers；　civil　and　military；　to　consult。　Zhang　Zhao　was　the　first　speaker。
〃We　know　Guan　Yu　has　captured　one　leader　and　slain　another。　This　has　added　greatly　to　his　fame　and　reputation。　Cao　Cao　was　going　to　move　the　capital　rather　than　risk　an　attack。　We　also　know　that　Fancheng　is　in　imminent　danger。　Cao　Cao　has　asked　for　our　help；　but　when　he　has　gained　his　end；　I　doubt　whether　he　will　hold　to　his　promise。〃
Before　Sun　Quan　had　replied　they　announced　the　arrival　of　Lu　Meng；　who　had　e　in　a　small　ship　from　Lukou　with　a　special　message。　He　was　at　once　called　in　and　asked　what　it　was。
Said　Lu　Meng；　〃The　armies　of　Guan　Yu　being　absent　at　Fancheng；　the　opportunity　should　be　taken　to　attack　Jingzhou。〃
〃But　I　wish　to　attack　Xuzhou　in　the　north。　What　of　this　plan？〃　said　Sun　Quan。
〃It　would　be　better　to　attack　Jingzhou；　and　so　get　control　of　the　Great　River。　Cao　Cao　is　far　away　to　the　north　and　too　occupied　to　regard　the　east。　Xuzhou　is　weakly　held　and　could　be　taken　easily；　but　the　lie　of　the　land　favors　the　use　of　an　army　rather　than　a　navy　force。　If　you　capture　it；　it　will　not　be　easy　to　hold。　But　once　you　hold　Jingzhou；　you　can　evolve　other　schemes。〃
〃Really；　my　desire　was　to　attack　Jingzhou；　but　I　wished　to　hear　what　you　would　say　to　the　other　plan。　Now；　Sir；　make　me　a　plan　speedily；　and　I　will　act　upon　it。〃
So　Lu　Meng　took　his　leave　and　went　back　to　Lukou。　But　soon　they　heard　that　Guan　Yu　had　had　beacon　towers　erected　at　short　distances　all　along　the　Great　River；　and　that　the　army　of　Jingzhou　was　being　put　into　most　efficient　condition。
〃If　this　is　so；　it　is　hard　to　make　a　plan　that　will　ensure　success；〃　said　Lu　Meng。　〃I　have　already　advised　my　master　to　attack　Jingzhou；　but　I　am　unable　to　meet　this　plication。〃
Therefore　he　made　illness　an　excuse　to　stay　at　home；　and　sent　to　inform　Sun　Quan；　who　was　very　distressed　at　the　news。
Then　said　Lu　Xun；　〃The　illness　is　feigned。　He　is　quite　well。〃
〃If　you　know　that　so　well；　go　and　see；〃　said　Sun　Quan。
Away　went　Lu　Xun　and　speedily　arrived　at　Lukou；　where　he　saw　Lu　Meng；　who　indeed　appeared　to　be　in　perfect　health。　Nor　did　his　face　bear　any　signs　of　recent　illness。
〃The　Marquis　of　Wu　has　sent　me　to　inquire　after　your　honorable　plaint；〃　said　Lu　Xun。
〃How　distressed　I　am　that　the　state　of　my　wretched　carcass　has　caused　the　Marquis　the　inconvenience　of　inquiring〃　replied　Lu　Meng。
〃The　Marquis　placed　a　very　heavy　responsibility　on　your　shoulders；　but　you　are　not　making　the　best　use　of　the　opportunity。　However；　what　is　the　real　origin　of　your　distress？〃
Lu　Meng　sat　gazing　at　his　visitor　a　long　time　without　replying。
〃I　have　a　little　remedy；〃　said　Lu　Xun。　〃Do　you　think　you　might　use　it？〃
Lu　Meng　dismissed　the　servants；　and　when　the　two　were　alone；　he　said；　〃This　remedy；　my　friend；　please　tell　me　what　it　is。〃
〃Your　ailment　is　due　simply　to　the　efficiency　of　the　Jingzhou　soldiers。　I　know　how　to　keep　the　beacons　from　flaring；　and　I　can　make　the　defenders　of　Jingzhou　e　to　you　with　their　hands　tied。　Would　that　cure　you？〃
〃My　friend；　you　speak　as　if　you　saw　into　my　inmost　heart。　Pray　unfold　your　good　scheme。〃
〃Guan　Yu　thinks　himself　too　much　of　a　hero　for　anyone　to　dare　to　face　him；　and　his　only　anxiety　is　yourself。　Now　you　must　take　advantage　of　this　excuse　you　have　made　of　illness　actually　to　resign　this　post；　so　that　the　pretense　may　be　kept　up　and　another　person　be　appointed　to　your　place。　Let　this　person；　your　successor；　humbly　praise　Guan　Yu　till　that　general　bees　so　conceited　that　he　will　withdraw　all　the　troops　from　Jingzhou　to　send　them　against　Fancheng。　When　Jingzhou　is　left　undefended　then　is　our　chance；　and　the　city　will　fall　into　our　hands。〃
〃The　plan　seems　most　excellent；〃　said　Lu　Meng。
Wherefore　Lu　Meng's　malady　waxed　worse；　so　that　he　was　confined　to　bed。　He　gave　Lu　Xun　his　letter　of　resignation　to　carry　back　to　Sun　Quan。　The　messenger　hastened　back　and　explained　the　ruse　to　his　master；　who　soon　after　issued　a　mand　for　Lu　Meng　to　retire　and　attend　to　the　recovery　of　his　health。
But　Lu　Meng　came　to　Sun　Quan　to　discuss　the　matter　of　a　successor。
Sun　Quan　said　to　him；　〃As　to　the　appointment　at　Lukou；　you　know　Zhou　Yu　remended　Lu　Su；　who　at　his　last　moment　proposed　you。　Now　you　ought　to　be　able　to　mention　some　other　talented　and　well…known　officer　to　succeed　you。〃
〃If　you　choose　a　well…known　man；　Guan　Yu　will　certainly　be　on　his　guard　against　him。　Now　Lu　Xun　is　deep　and　farseeing；　but　he　has　no　widespread　fame。　Hence　no　particular　notice　would　be　taken　of　his　appointment　and　no　countermeasures　taken。　So　he　is　the　most　suitable　person　to　send。〃
Sun　Quan　agreed　and　thereupon　promoted　Lu　Xun　to　the　rank　of　General　of　the　Right　Army　and　Admiral　of　the　Right　Fleet；　and　sent　him　to　defend　the　port。
〃I　am　very　young；〃　said　Lu　Xun；　〃and　feel　unequal　to　such　a　post。〃
〃Lu　Meng　has　proposed　you；　and　you　will　not　make　any　mistakes。　Pray　do　not　decline；〃　said　Sun　Quan。
So　the　appointment　was　made；　and　Lu　Xun　set　out　at　once。　When　he　had　assumed　charge　of　the　cavalry；　the　infantry；　and　the　marines；　he　set　about　drawing　up　a　letter　to　Guan　Yu；　and　he　selected　fine　horses　and　beautiful　silks　and　good　wines　and　delicacies　suitable　for　gifts　to　go　with　the　letter。　He　sent　all　by　the　hand　of　a　trusty　messenger　to　Fancheng。
The　news　of　the　change　of　mand　reached　Guan　Yu　when　he　lay　ill　from　the　effects　of　his　wound　and　unable　to　conduct　any　military　operations。　Close　upon　the　news　came　the　letter　and　the　gifts　from　Lu　Xun；　and　the　bearer　was　called　in　to　see　the　warrior。
〃Friend　Sun　Quan　was　not　very　prudent　when　he　made　a　manding　General　out　of　a　mere　youth；〃　said　Guan　Yu；　pointing　to　the　messenger。
The　messenger　said；　〃General　Lu　Xun　sends　this　letter　and　some　presents；　which　he　hopes　you　will　accept。　He　also　sends　his　felicitations；　and　would　rejoice　if　the　two　houses　could　bee　friends。〃
Guan　Yu　read　the　letter；　which　was　couched　in　most　modest　language；　and　then　threw　back　his　head　and　laughed　aloud。　He　bade　the　attendants　receive　the　various　gifts；　and　sent　the　bearer　away。
The　messenger　forthwith　returned　to　Lukou　and　reported　to　Lu　Xun；　〃Guan　Yu　seemed　very　gratified；　and　he　felt　no　anxiety　and　danger　toward　the　South　Land。〃
Spies　were　sent　out　to　report　on　proceedings；　and　they　returned　to　say　that　half　the　troops　of　Jingzhou　had　been　sent　to　assist　in　the　siege　of　Fancheng。　That　city　was　to　be　seriously　assaulted　as　soon　as　Guan　Yu　had　recovered。
This　news　was　promptly　sent　on　to　Sun　Quan；　who　at　once　called　in　Lu　Meng　to　decide　upon　the　next　move。
〃Now　is　the　favorable　moment　to　get　possession　of　Jingzhou；〃　said　Sun　Quan。　〃I　propose　to　send　you　and　my　brother；　Sun　Jiao；　to　lead　the　army。〃
This　Sun　Jiao　was　really　only　a　cousin；　as　he　was　the　second　son　of　Sun　Quan's　uncle；　Sun　Jing。
But　Lu　Meng　objected。　〃My　lord；　if　you　think　to　employ　me；　then　employ　me　only；　if　Sun　Jiao；　then　Sun　Jiao　only。　You　cannot　have　forgotten　that　Zhou　Yu　and　Cheng　Pu　were　associate　manders；　and　although　the　final　decision　lay　with　Zhou　Yu；　yet　the　other　presumed　upon　his　seniority　and　there　was　some　unfriendliness　between　the　two。　All　ended　well　because　Cheng　Pu　recognized　the　ability　of　his　colleague　and　so　supported　him。　I　know　I　am　not　so　clever　as　Zhou　Yu；　but　Sun　Jiao's　consanguinity　will　be　a　greater　obstacle　than　mere　length　of　service；　and　I　fear　he　may　not　be　wholly　with　me。〃
Sun　Quan　saw　the　force　of　the　contention；　and　appointed　Lu　Meng　to　sole　mand　with　Sun　Jiao　to　help　him　in　the　missariat。　Lu　Meng　thanked　his　lord　for　his　mission；　soon　got　his　thirty　thousand　marines　together；　and　assembled　eighty　ships　for　the　expedition。
Lu　Meng　dressed　a　number　of　sailors　in　the　plain　white　costumes　of　ordinary　merchants　and　put　them　on　board　to　work　his　vessels。　He　concealed　his　veterans　in　the　partments。　He　selected　seven　generals………Han　Dang；　Jiang　Qin；　Zhu　Ran；　Pan　Zhang；　Zhou　Tai；　Xu　Sheng；　and　Ding　Feng………to　serve　under　him　and　settled　the　order　of　their　successive　movements。　The　remainder　of　the　forces　was　left　with　Sun　Quan　as　supports　and　reserves。　Letters　were　also　written　to　Cao　Cao　that　he　might　cooperate　by　sending　his　army　to　attack　Guan　Yu　in　the　rear；　and　to　Lu　Xun　that　he　would　act　in　concert。
Then　the　sailors　in　plain　white　dress　navigated　the　ships　to　River　Xunyang　as　quickly　as　possible；　and　then　crossed　to　the　north　bank。
When　the　beacon…keepers　came　down　to　question　them；　the　men　of　Wu　said；　〃We　are　traders　forced　into　the　bank　by　contrary　winds。〃
And　they　offered　gifts　to　the　beacon…keepers；　who　accepted　them　and　let　the　ships　e　to　an　anchor　close　to　the　shore。
At　about　the　second　watch　the　soldiers　came　out　of　hiding　in　the　holds　of　the　transports；　suddenly　fell　upon　the　beacon…keepers　and　made　them　prisoners；　officers　and　soldiers。　Next　the　signal　for　a　general　landing　was　given；　and　all　the　soldiers　from　the　eighty　ships　went　ashore。　The　guard　stations　were　attacked；　and　all　the　troops　captured　and　carried　off　to　the　ships；　not　one　being　allowed　to　escape。　Then　the　force　of　Wu　hurried　off　to　the　city　of　Jingzhou；　having　so　far　carried　out　their　plans　that　no　one　knew　of　their　ing。
Nearing　Jingzhou；　Lu　Meng　spoke　kindly　to　his　captives；　and　gave　them　gifts　and　forted　them　in　order　to　induce　them　to　get　the　gates　opened　for　him　to　enter　the　city。　He　won　them　over　to　his　side；　and　they　promised　to　aid　him。　They　would　show　a　flare　as　a　signal　that　the　gates　were　free。　So　they　went　in　advance　and　arrived　at　the　gates　about　midnight。　They　called　the　watch。　The　wardens　of　the　gate；　recognizing　their　voices；　opened　for　them。　Once　within；　they　shouted　and　lit　the　flares。　Immediately　the　soldiers　of　Wu　came　in　with　a　rush　and　were　soon　in　possession。
The　first　order　issued　by　Lu　Meng　was　to　spare　the　people。　Instant　death　should　be　the　punishment　for　any　murder　or　robbery。　The　various　officials　in　the　city　were　retained　in　their　offices　and　continued　their　functions。　Special　guards　were　set　over　Guan　Yu's　family　dwelling；　and　none　dared　break　open　any　other　house。　A　messenger　was　sent　with　tidings　to　Sun　Quan。
One　very　wet　day　Lu　Meng；　with　a　few　horsemen　as　escort；　was　going　round　the　walls　and　visiting　the　gates。　One　of　the　soldiers　took　from　a　passer…by　a　broad…brimmed　hat　and　put　it　on　over　his　helmet　to　keep　his　armor　dry。　Lu　Meng　saw　it；　and　the　offender　was　seized。　He　was　a　fellow…villager　of　Lu　Meng；　but　that　did　not　save　him。
〃You　are　an　old　acquaintance；　but　you　knew　my　order。　Why　did　you　disobey　it？〃
〃I　thought　the　rain　would　spoil　my　uniform；　and　I　took　the　hat　to　protect　it。　I　did　not　take　it　for　my　own　advantage；　but　to　protect　state　property。　Spare　me；　O　General；　for　the　sake　of　our　mon　dwelling…place。〃
〃I　know　you　were　protecting　your　armor；　but　still　it　was　disobedience　to　the　order　against　taking　anything　from　the　people。〃
The　soldier　was　beheaded；　and　his　head　exposed　as　a　warning。　But　when　all　was　over；　Lu　Meng　had　the　body　buried　dec