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！

　of　your　intentions　to　Sun　Quan　and　let　Sun　Quan　know　that　you　intend　to　punish　his　crime。〃
Then　the　First　Ruler　gave　way；　and　the　messenger　was　brought　in。　He　bowed　down　to　the　earth。
〃Zhuge　Jin；　you　have　e　a　long　journey。　What　is　its　object？〃　said　the　First　Ruler。
〃My　brother　has　long　served　Your　Majesty；　I　have　e　at　the　risk　of　my　life　to　discuss　Jingzhou　affairs。　When　Guan　Yu　was　at　Jingzhou；　my　master　repeatedly　sought　to　ally　the　two　families　by　marriage；　but　was　refused。　When　Guan　Yu　attacked　Xiangyang；　Cao　Cao　wrote　again　and　again　urging　my　master　to　attack　Jingzhou。　But　the　Marquis　was　unwilling；　and　it　was　the　enmity　between　your　brother　and　Lu　Meng　that　led　to　the　attack　and　the　unfortunate　success。
〃My　master　is　now　very　sorry　for　it；　but　it　was　Lu　Meng's　doing。　However；　Lu　Meng　is　now　dead；　and　his　enmity　has　died　with　him。　Moreover；　Lady　Sun　is　always　thinking　over　returning　to　you。　My　master　now　proposes　to　send　back　the　lady；　to　bind　and　hand　over　to　you　those　officers　who　surrendered；　and　to　restore　Jingzhou。　If　the　two　houses　swear　perpetual　amity；　then　we　may　join　forces　against　Cao　Pi　and　punish　his　usurpation。〃
To　this　harangue　the　First　Ruler　only　replied；　〃You　of　East　Wu　killed　my　brother。　Yet　you　dare　e　with　your　artful　talk！〃
Zhuge　Jin　said；　〃I　only　wish　to　discuss　the　relative　importance　of　the　issues。　Your　Majesty　is　an　Imperial　Uncle；　and　Cao　Pi　has　seized　the　throne　of　your　House。　Yet　you　do　not　think　of　destroying　the　usurper；　but　on　the　other　hand　you　disregard　the　most　honorable　position　in　the　world　for　the　sake　of　a　so…called　brother；　a　connection　of　another　name。　Surely　this　is　rejecting　the　chief　for　the　subordinate；　the　main　issue　for　a　detail。
〃The　Middle　Land　is　the　biggest　part　of　the　empire；　and　the　two　capitals；　Luoyang　and　Changan；　are　both　famous　as　places　whence　the　two；　one　the　Founder；　the　other　the　Restorer；　of　the　Hans；　initiated　their　mighty　task。　Your　Majesty　takes　no　thought　of　these；　but　would　dispute　over　Jingzhou。　In　other　words；　the　important　is　abandoned　for　the　worthless。
〃All　the　world　knows　of　your　assumption　of　the　dignity　of　Emperor　and　that　you　will　assuredly　restore　the　Hans　and　rescue　their　territory。　Only　now　you　do　not　try　to　deal　with　Wei；　you　only　desire　to　attack　Wu。　I　venture　to　think　you　have　made　a　bad　choice。〃
All　this　argument　only　added　fuel　to　the　fire。
〃The　slayer　of　my　brother　shall　not　live　in　the　same　world　as　I。　You　ask　me　not　to　fight。　I　will　cease　when　I　have　slain　your　master。　Were　it　not　for　the　sake　of　your　brother；　I　would　behead　you　at　once。　As　it　is；　you　may　go；　and　you　may　tell　your　master　to　cleanse　his　neck　ready　for　the　blade　of　the　executioner。〃
Zhuge　Jin　saw　that　the　position　was　hopeless　and　took　his　leave　to　return　to　the　South　Land。
But　while　Zhuge　Jin　had　been　absent；　Zhang　Zhao　said　to　Sun　Quan；　〃Zhuge　Jin　knows　something　of　the　strength　of　the　Shu　armies；　and　he　made　this　mission　an　excuse　to　get　out　of　danger。　He　will　not　return。〃
The　Marquis　replied；　〃He　and　I　are　sworn　friends………friends　to　the　death。　I　shall　not　wrong　him；　nor　will　he　betray　me。　When　he　was　at　Chaisang　and　Zhuge　Liang　came　to　our　country；　I　wanted　my　friend　Zhuge　Jin　to　persuade　his　brother　to　remain　with　me。　His　reply　was　that　his　brother　would　not　remain　any　more　than　he　himself　would　go：　Each　would　be　faithful　to　his　salt。　That　was　quite　clear　enough。　How　could　he　desert　me　after　that？　Our　friendship　has　something　of　the　divine　in　it；　and　no　talk　from　outside　can　sow　dissension　between　us。〃
Even　as　Sun　Quan　spoke；　the　servants　told　him　that　Zhuge　Jin　had　returned。
〃What　do　you　think　now？〃　said　Sun　Quan。
Zhang　Zhao　retired　overwhelmed　with　shame。　The　luckless　messenger　unfolded　his　tale　of　failure。
〃Then　the　South　Land　is　in　great　danger；〃　said　Sun　Quan；　as　he　heard　the　story。
But　a　certain　man　here　interposed；　saying；　〃I　have　a　way　out　of　the　difficulty。〃
He　was　Counselor　Zhao　Zi。
〃What　good　scheme　do　you　propose；　friend　Zhao　Zi？〃　said　Sun　Quan。
〃Let　my　lord　draw　up　a　document；　which　I　will　take　to　Cao　Pi　in　Wei；　making　a　full　statement　of　the　case；　and　get　him　to　attack　Hanzhong　and　so　draw　off　the　danger　from　our　land。〃
〃Though　the　suggestion　is　good；　yet　shall　we　not　lose　something　of　our　dignity　by　that？〃　said　Sun　Quan。
〃If　there　is　any　such　thing；　I　will　simply　jump　into　the　river………I　could　not　look　the　South　Land's　people　in　the　face　again。〃
Sun　Quan　was　satisfied　and　posed　the　memorial；　styling　himself　〃Minister〃。　Therein　Zhao　Zi　was　duly　appointed　messenger。　He　took　the　document　and　soon　reached　Capital　Xuchang；　where　he　first　sought　out　the　High　Minister　Jia　Xu；　and　then　saw　the　others。
Next　day；　Jia　Xu　stood　forth　one　day　at　court　and　said；　〃East　Wu　has　sent　a　high　officer；　Zhao　Zi；　with　a　memorial。〃
〃Because　he　wants　the　armies　of　Shu　driven　off；〃　said　Cao　Pi；　smiling。
But　he　summoned　Zhao　Zi；　who；　having　prostrated　himself　in　the　outer　court；　handed　in　his　memorial。
After　reading　it；　Cao　Pi　said；　〃What　sort　of　an　over…lord　is　the　Marquis？〃
〃Intelligent；　clear…sighted；　wise；　brave；　and　perspicacious；〃　was　the　reply。
Cao　Pi　laughed；　〃Your　praise　is　none　too　enthusiastic。〃
〃I　do　not　wish　to　overstate；〃　replied　Zhao　Zi；　〃but　my　master　has　shown　various　qualities　at　different　times。　He　made　use　of　Lu　Su　among　the　officials　of　high　ranks；　which　shows　his　intelligence。　He　chose　Lu　Meng　as　leader　of　all　armies；　which　showed　his　clear…sightedness。　He　captured　Yu　Jin　but　did　not　hurt　him；　which　shows　his　kindliness。　He　took　Jingzhou　without　slaughter；　which　shows　his　wisdom。　He　maintains　the　Three　Rivers　so　as　to　mand　the　respect　of　the　empire；　which　shows　his　boldness。　Lastly；　he　bows　before　Your　Majesty；　which　shows　his　perspicacity。　You　see　now　that　my　epithets　are　justifiable。〃
〃Is　he　at　all　learned？〃
〃Sire；　remember　he　mands　a　large　fleet　of　ten　thousand　battleships　and　a　huge　army　of　million　armored　soldiers。　He　endeavors　to　find　wise　and　capable　people　to　help　him；　and　his　mind　is　full　of　plans　and　projects。　When　he　has　a　little　leisure；　he　reads　the　histories　and　the　annals；　for　the　sake　of　the　general　lessons　to　be　learned　therefrom。　He　is　no　dryasdust　pedant　seeking　remarkable　passages　and　culling　model　sentences。〃
〃Do　you　think　I　could　overe　Wu？〃
〃If　a　large　state　has　military　force　to　attack；　a　small　one　has　also　preparations　for　defense。〃
〃Does　Wu　fear　Wei？〃　asked　Cao　Pi。
〃How　can　you　think　so；　considering　our　army　of　million　armored　soldiers　and　the　defensive　moats　we　have　in　the　River　Han　and　the　Great　River？〃
〃How　many　such　persons　as　high　minister　does　Wu　possess？〃
〃Nearly　a　hundred　intelligent　and　specially　qualified　ministers　like　your　servants；　of　my　sort　of　ordinary　knowledge　there　are　too　many　to　reckon　up。〃
Cao　Pi　sighed；　saying；　〃The　book　says　'Going　on　mission　without　losing　the　dignity　of　the　master。'　That　is　the　sort　of　man　you　are！〃
Thereupon　he　issued　the　mandate　ordering　Xing　Zhen；　Minister　of　Ceremonies　and　Sacrifices；　to　be　his　ambassador　to　Wu；　bearing　for　Sun　Quan　the　title　of　〃Prince　of　Wu〃　and　allowing　him　to　use　the　〃Nine　Signs　of　Honors〃。
But　when　the　messenger　had　gone　out　of　the　city；　Liu　Ye　went　to　remonstrate；　saying；　〃Sun　Quan　has　done　this　for　fear　of　the　armies　of　Shu。　In　my　opinion；　if　Shu　and　Wu　fight；　heaven　will　make　an　end　of　one　country。　If　you　will　send　an　army　across　the　Great　River　to　attack；　and　Shu　attack　at　the　same　time　from　the　west；　Wu　as　a　state　will　disappear。　If　Wu　goes；　then　Shu　will　be　left　alone　and　can　be　dealt　with　when　you　will。〃
〃But　I　cannot　attack　Sun　Quan　now　that　he　has　e　over　to　my　side。　It　would　prevent　anyone　else　from　doing　so。　No；　I　will　really　accept　his　submission。　It　is　the　best　course。〃
Liu　Ye　said；　〃After　all；　though　talented；　he　is　but　a　General　of　the　Flying　Cavalry　and　Lord　of　Nanzhang　of　the　decadent　days　of　Han。　His　rank　is　low　and　his　influence　small；　yet　he　still　wants　to　contest　the　Middle　Land。　If　you　promote　him　to　kingly　rank；　he　is　only　one　step　below　yourself。　While　doubting　the　reality　of　his　submission；　you　give　him　an　exalted　rank　and　increase　his　influence。　Surely　this　is　only　giving　wings　to　a　tiger。〃
〃Not　at　all；　I　am　helping　neither　Wu　nor　Shu。　I　am　waiting　till　they　are　at　grips；　and　if　one　goes　under；　there　will　be　only　one　left　to　destroy。　That　will　be　easy。　However；　say　no　more；　for　I　have　decided。〃
Whereupon　Xing　Zhen　was　bidden　to　take　the　mandate　and　the　Nine　Dignities　and　acpany　Zhao　Zi　to　Wu。
Sun　Quan　assembled　his　officers　to　discuss　how　the　armies　of　Shu　could　be　driven　off。　Then　came　the　news　of　princely　rank　conferred　by　Wei。　By　the　rules　of　courtesy；　the　messenger　bearing　the　edict　should　be　met　at　a　great　distance　from　the　capital；　but　Gu　Yong　was　opposed　to　accepting　the　rank。
〃My　lord；　you　should　style　yourself　'Supreme　Ruler'　and　'Lord'　of　the　nine　territories。　You　should　not　receive　any　rank　from　Wei。〃
〃But　on　one　occasion　Liu　Bang　received　the　princedom　of　Han　（Hanzhong）　from　Xiang　Yu。　I　have　to　depend　upon　circumstances。　Why　refuse？〃
Sun　Quan　discussed　the　matter　no　more；　but　went　out　at　the　head　of　a　great　gathering　of　officers　to　wele　the　messenger。
Xing　Zhen；　the　bearer　of　the　mandate　from　Wei；　on　first　arrival　ported　himself　haughtily　as　the　representative　of　a　superior　country　and　an　imperial　ambassador。　And　when　he　entered　the　city；　he　did　not　descend　from　his　carriage。　Wherefore　Zhang　Zhao　ventured　to　rebuke　him。
〃Everyone　must　obey　the　rules　of　courtesy　as　everyone　must　respect　the　laws。　You；　Sir；　are　behaving　proudly　as　if　there　was　no　such　thing　as　a　sword　in　this　country。〃
Immediately　the　messenger　descended　from　his　chariot　and　was　presented　to　Sun　Quan。　Afterwards　they　went　in　side　by　side。
As　the　cavalcade　proceeded；　a　loud　voice　was　heard　in　the　rear　of　the　two　carriages；　crying；　〃Here　we　are　prevented　from　risking　our　lives　in　smashing　Wei　and　swallowing　Shu；　and　our　lord　receives　a　title　from　another　man。　Are　not　such　things　shameful？〃
The　man　was　Xu　Sheng。
And　Xing　Zhen　sighed；　saying；　〃If　all　the　leaders　and　ministers　of　the　South　Land　are　like　this；　the　Prince　of　Wu　will　not　long　be　content　to　obey　another。〃
However；　the　title　was　accepted。　And　when　he　had　received　the　felicitations　of　his　officers；　Sun　Quan　gave　orders　to　collect　beautiful　works　in　jade　and　brilliant　pearls；　which　were　sent　to　Wei　as　return　gifts。
Not　long　after　came　tidings　of　the　forces　of　Shu：　〃The　First　Ruler；　together　with　King　Shamo　Ke　of　the　Mang　nations；　leads　his　own　army　and　a　large　number　of　tribesmen　from　the　east　and　south。　Furthermore；　he　is　aided　by　the　two　Shu　generals　of　Dongxi；　Liu　Ning　and　Du　Lu；　with　their　cohorts。　They　advance　both　by　land　and　by　water；　a　mighty　host；　of　which　the　shouting　shakes　the　heavens。　The　naval　force　has　already　e　out　at　Wukou；　and　the　land　force　has　reached　Zigui。〃
Although　Sun　Quan　had　been　created　a　prince；　yet　Emperor　Pi　would　not　send　a　relieve　army。
When　the　terrible　news　came；　the　Prince　of　Wu　asked　present　advice　from　his　officers；　saying；　〃How　are　we　going　to　meet　those　forces？〃
But　there　was　none　to　help　him。　They　only　muttered　and　were　silent。
〃Ah！〃　sighed　he。　〃After　Zhou　Yu　I　had　Lu　Su；　and　Lu　Meng　succeeded　Lu　Su。　But　now　they　have　all　three　gone；　and　there　is　no　one　to　share　my　troubles！〃
But　just　then　a　very　youthful　general　stepped　out　from　the　ranks　of　the　officials　and　said；　with　a　lowly　obeisance；　〃Though　I　am　young；　I　am　not　a　little　versed　in　the　books　of　war；　and　with　a　few　legions　I　could　destroy　the　power　of　Shu。〃
Sun　Quan　recognized　Sun　Huan；　the　son　of　Sun　Hu。　Sun　Hu　was　originally　from　the　Yu　family；　and　he　had　served　under　Sun　Jian；　Sun　Quan's　father。　Sun　Jian　loved　the　youth　and　gave　him　his　own　family　name　of　Sun　and　so　made　him　a　member　of　his　own　clan。　Sun　Hu　had　four　sons；　of　whom　Sun　Huan　was　the　eldest。　Sun　Huan　was　an　expert　archer　and　horseman　and　had　acpanied　Sun　Quan　in　several　campaigns；　where　he　had　distinguished　himself　right　well　and　had　been　given　a　rank　of　mander。　At　this　time　he　was　twenty…five。
〃How　do　you　think　you　can　overe　them？〃
〃There　are　two　able　manders　under　my　mand　named　Xie　Jing　and　Li　Yi；　both　very　brave。　With　a　few　legions　I　will　capture　Liu　Bei。〃
〃Though　you　are　brave；　nephew；　yet　you　are　young　and　ought　to　have　an　assistant。〃
Thereupon　Tiger　General　Zhu　Ran　stepped　forward；　saying；　〃Let　me　go。