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Zhang　Zhao　said；　〃Be　it　so；　but　your　words　and　your　deeds　are　something　discordant。　You　say　you　are　the　equal　of　the　two　famous　ones。　Well；　Guan　Zhong；　as　minister　of　Prince　Huan；　put　his　master　at　the　very　head　of　the　feudal　nobles；　making　his　master's　will　supreme　in　all　the　land。　Under　the　able　statesmanship　of　Yue　Yi；　the　feeble　state　of　Yan　conquered　Qi；　reducing　nearly　seventy　of　its　cities。　These　two　were　men　of　most　manding　and　conspicuous　talent。
〃When　you　lived　in　retirement；　you　smiled　scornfully　at　ordinary　people；　passed　your　days　in　idleness；　nursing　your　knees　and　posing　in　a　superior　manner；　implying　that　if　you　had　control　of　affairs；　Liu　Bei　would　be　more　than　human；　he　should　bring　good　to　everybody　and　remove　all　evil；　rebellion　and　robbery　would　be　no　more。　Poor　Liu　Bei；　before　he　obtained　your　help；　was　an　outcast　and　a　vagabond；　stealing　a　city　here　and　there　where　he　could。　With　you　to　help　him；　he　was　to　bee　the　cynosure　of　every　eye；　and　every　lisping　school　child　was　to　say　that　he　was　a　tiger　who　had　grown　wings；　the　Hans　were　to　be　restored　and　Cao　Cao　and　his　faction　exterminated；　the　good　old　days　would　be　restored；　and　all　the　people　who　had　been　driven　into　retirement　by　the　corruption　of　political　life　would　wake　up；　rub　the　sleep　out　of　their　eyes；　and　be　in　readiness　to　lift　the　cloud　of　darkness　that　covered　the　sky　and　gaze　up　at　the　glorious　brilliancy　of　the　sun　and　moon；　to　pull　the　people　out　of　fire　and　water　and　put　all　the　world　to　rest　on　a　couch　of　fort。　That　was　all　supposed　to　happen　forthwith。
〃Why　then；　when　you　went　to　Xinye；　did　not　Cao　Cao's　army　throw　aside　their　arms　and　armors　and　flee　like　rats？　Why　could　you　not　have　told　Liu　Biao　how　to　give　tranquillity　to　his　people？　Why　could　you　not　aid　his　orphan　son　to　protect　his　frontiers？　Instead　you　abandoned　Xinye　and　fled　to　Fancheng；　you　were　defeated　at　Dangyang　and　fled　to　Xiakou　with　no　place　to　rest　in。　Thus；　after　you　had　joined　Liu　Bei；　he　was　worse　off　than　before。　Was　it　thus　with　Guan　Zhong　and　Yue　Yi？　I　trust　you　do　not　mind　my　blunt　speech。〃
Zhuge　Liang　waited　till　Zhang　Zhao　had　closed　his　oration；　then　laughed　and　said；　〃How　can　the　mon　birds　understand　the　long　flight　of　the　cranes？　Let　me　use　an　illustration。　A　man　has　fallen　into　a　terrible　malady。　First　the　physician　must　administer　hashish；　then　soothing　drugs　until　his　viscera　shall　be　calmed　into　harmonious　action。　When　the　sick　man's　body　shall　have　been　reduced　to　quietude；　then　may　he　be　given　strong　meats　to　strengthen　him　and　powerful　drugs　to　correct　the　disorder。　Thus　the　disease　will　be　quite　expelled；　and　the　man　restored　to　health。　If　the　physician　does　not　wait　till　the　humors　and　pulse　are　in　harmony；　but　throws　in　his　strong　drugs　too　early；　it　will　be　difficult　to　restore　the　patient。
〃My　master　suffered　defeat　at　Runan　and　went　to　Liu　Biao。　He　had　then　less　than　one　thousand　soldiers　and　only　three　generals………Guan　Yu；　Zhang　Fei；　and　Zhao　Yun。　That　was　indeed　a　time　of　extreme　weakness。　Xinye　was　a　secluded；　rustic　town　with　few　inhabitants　and　scanty　supplies；　and　my　master　only　retired　there　as　a　temporary　refuge。　How　could　he　even　think　of　occupying　and　holding　it？　Yet；　with　insufficient　force；　in　a　weak　city；　with　untrained　men　and　inadequate　supplies；　we　burned　Xiahou　Dun　at　Bowang　Slope；　drowned　Cao　Ren　and　Cao　Hong　and　their　army　in　the　White　River；　and　set　them　in　terror　as　they　fled。　I　doubt　whether　the　two　ancient　heroes　would　have　done　any　better。　As　to　the　surrender　of　Liu　Zong；　Liu　Bei　knew　nothing　of　it。　And　he　was　too　noble　and　too　righteous　to　take　advantage　of　a　kinsman's　straits　to　seize　his　inheritance。　As　for　the　defeat　at　Dangyang；　it　must　be　remembered　that　Liu　Bei　was　hampered　with　a　huge　voluntary　following　of　mon　people；　with　their　aged　relatives　and　their　children；　whom　he　was　too　humane　to　abandon。　He　never　thought　of　taking　Jiangling；　but　willingly　suffered　with　his　people。　This　is　a　striking　instance　of　his　magnanimity。

＇e＇　Han　Xin　was　a　general　of　Liu　Bang。　Before　serving　Han；　Han　Xin　had　been　an　officer　under　Xiang　Yu。　Disappointed　because　his　plans　were　rejected；　Han　Xin　left　Xiang　Yu　and　joined　Liu　Bang's　camp；　where　he　was　made　mander…in…Chief　by　remendations　of　Xiao　He　and　Zhang　Liang。　Enobled　as　King　of　Qi；　then　King　of　Chu。　。。。。。
〃Small　forces　are　no　match　for　large　armies。　Victory　and　defeat　are　mon　episodes　in　every　campaign。　The　great　Founder　of　the　Hans　suffered　many　defeats　at　the　hands　of　Xiang　Yu；　but　Liu　Bang　finally　conquered　at　Gaixia；　and　that　battle　was　decisive。　Was　not　this　due　to　the　strategy　of　Han　Xin*　who；　though　he　had　long　served　Liu　Bang；　had　never　won　a　victory。　Indeed　real　statesmanship　and　the　restoration　of　stable　government　is　a　master　plan　far　removed　from　the　vapid　discourses　and　debates　of　a　lot　of　bragging　babblers　and　specious　and　deceitful　talkers；　who；　as　they　themselves　say；　are　immeasureably　superior　to　the　rest　of　humankind　but　who；　when　it　es　to　deeds　and　decisions　to　meet　the　infinite　and　constant　vicissitudes　of　affairs；　fail　to　throw　up　a　single　capable　person。　Truly　such　people　are　the　laughing　stock　of　all　the　world。〃
Zhang　Zhao　found　no　reply　to　this　diatribe。
But　another　in　the　assembly　lifted　up　his　voice；　saying；　〃But　what　of　Cao　Cao's　present　position？　There　he　is；　encamped　with　one　hundred　legions　and　a　thousand　leaders。　Whither　he　goes　he　is　invincible　as　wriggling　dragon；　and　whither　he　looks　he　is　as　fearsome　as　roaring　tiger。　He　seems　to　have　taken　Jiangxia　already；　as　we　see。〃
The　speaker　was　Yu　Fan。
And　Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃Cao　Cao　has　acquired　the　swarms　of　Yuan　Shao　and　stolen　the　crowds　of　Liu　Biao。　Yet　I　care　not　for　all　his　mob　legions。〃
Yu　Fan　smiled　icily；　saying；　〃When　you　got　thrashed　at　Dangyang　and　in　desperation　sent　this　way　and　that　to　ask　help；　even　then　did　you　not　care？　But　do　you　think　big　talk　really　takes　people　in？〃
Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃Liu　Bei　had　a　few　thousand　scrupulous　soldiers　to　oppose　against　a　million　fierce　brutes。　He　retired　to　Xiakou　for　breathing　space。　The　South　Land　have　strong　and　good　soldiers；　and　there　are　ample　supplies；　and　the　Great　River　is　a　defense。　Is　now　a　time　for　you　to　convince　your　lord　to　bend　the　knee　before　a　renegade；　to　be　careless　of　his　honor　and　reputation？　As　a　fact　Liu　Bei　is　not　the　sort　of　man　to　fear　such　a　rebel　as　Cao　Cao。〃
Yu　Fan　had　nothing　to　reply。
Next；　Bu　Zhi；　who　was　among　those　seated；　said；　〃Will　you　talk　of　our　southern　land　with　a　tongue　like　the　tongues　of　the　persuaders　Zhang　Yi　and　Su　Qin　in　the　ancient　time？〃

＇e＇　Su　Qin　was　prime　minister　of　six　states　during　the　Warring　States　period。　Su　Qin　was　the　leader　of　the　〃Perpendicular　Unionists〃；　the　diplomats　who　lobbied　a　group　of　states　from　north　to　south　to　make　war　with　Qin。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Zhang　Yi　was　prime　minister　of　Qin　during　the　Warring　States　period。　Zhang　Yi　was　the　leader　of　the　〃Horizontal　Unionists〃；　the　diplomats　who　persuaded　a　group　of　states　from　east　to　west　to　make　peace　with　Qin。　At　the　end　of　the　Warring　States；　Qin　conquerred　all　six　other　states　and　unified　China　under　one　rule　for　the　first　time。　。。。。。
Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃You　regard　those　two　as　mere　speculative　talkers；　you　do　not　recognize　them　also　as　heroes。　Su　Qin*　bore　the　Prime　Ministers'　seals　of　six　federated　states；　Zhang　Yi*　was　twice　Prime　Minister　of　the　state　of　Qin。　Both　were　men　of　conspicuous　ability　who　brought　about　the　reformation　of　their　governments。　They　are　not　to　be　pared　with　those　who　quail　before　the　strong　and　overbear　the　weak；　who　fear　the　dagger　and　run　away　from　the　sword。　You；　Sir；　have　listened　to　Cao　Cao's　crafty　and　empty　threat；　and　it　has　frightened　you　into　advising　surrender。　Dare　you　ridicule　Su　Qin　and　Zhang　Yi？〃
Bu　Zhi　was　silenced。
Then　suddenly　another　interjected　the　question；　〃What　do　you　think　of　Cao　Cao？〃
It　was　Xue　Zong　who　had　spoken。
And　Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃Cao　Cao　is　one　of　the　rebels　against　the　dynasty。　Why　ask　about　him？〃
〃You　are　mistaken；〃　said　Xue　Zong。　〃The　Hans　have　outlasted　their　allotted　time；　and　the　end　is　near。　Cao　Cao　already　has　two…thirds　of　the　empire；　and　people　are　turning　to　him。　Your　master　has　not　recognized　the　fateful　moment；　and　to　contend　with　a　man　so　strong　is　to　try　to　smash　stones　with　eggs。　Failure　is　certain。〃
Zhuge　Liang　angrily　replied；　〃Why　do　you　speak　so　undutiful　words；　as　if　you　knew　neither　father　nor　prince？　Loyalty　and　filial　duty　are　the　essentials　of　a　person's　being。　For　a　minister　of　Han；　correct　conduct　demands　that　one　is　pledged　to　the　destruction　of　anyone　who　does　not　follow　the　canon　of　a　minister's　duty。　Cao　Cao's　forbears　enjoyed　the　bounty　of　Han；　but　instead　of　showing　gratitude；　he　nourishes　in　his　bosom　thoughts　of　rebellion。　The　whole　world　is　incensed　against　him；　and　yet　you　would　claim　for　him　the　indication　of　destiny。　Truly　you　are　a　man　who　knows　neither　father　nor　prince；　a　man　unworthy　of　any　words；　and　I　decline　to　argue　with　you　further。〃
The　blush　of　shame　overspread　Xue　Zong's　face；　and　he　said　no　more。
But　another；　Lu　Ji；　took　up　the　dispute　and　said；　〃Although　Cao　Cao　overawes　the　Emperor　and　in　his　name　coerces　the　nobles；　yet　he　is　the　descendant　of　the　Supreme　Ancestor's　Prime　Minister　Cao　Shen；　while　your　master；　though　he　says　he　is　descended　from　a　prince；　has　no　proof　thereof。　In　the　eyes　of　the　world；　Liu　Bei　is　just　a　weaver　of　mats；　a　seller　of　straw　shoes。　Who　is　he　to　strive　with　Cao　Cao？〃

＇e＇　It　was　the　day　in　the　South　of　River　Huai；　when　Yuan　Shu　spread　a　banquet　for　the　child　prodigies　of　the　region。　Lu　Ji　was　among　the　invited。　During　the　party；　Lu　Ji　stole　an　orange　for　his　mother。　Due　to　this　act；　his　name　was　written　in　the　〃List　of　Filial　Children〃。
Zhuge　Liang　laughed　and　replied；　〃Are　you　not　that　Lu　Ji　who　pocketed　the　orange　when　you　were　sitting　among　Yuan　Shu's　guests*？　Listen　to　me：　I　have　a　word　to　say　to　you。　Inasmuch　as　Cao　Cao　is　a　descendant　of　a　minister　of　state；　he　is　by　heredity　a　servant　of　the　Hans。　But　now　he　has　monopolized　all　state　authority　and　knows　only　his　own　arbitrary　will；　heaping　every　indignity　upon　his　lord。　Not　only　does　he　forget　his　prince；　but　he　ignores　his　ancestors；　not　only　is　he　a　rebellious　servant　of　Han；　but　the　renegade　of　his　family。　Liu　Bei　of　Yuzhou　is　a　noble　scion　of　the　imperial　family　upon　whom　the　Emperor　has　conferred　rank；　as　is　recorded　in　the　annals。　How　then　can　you　say　there　is　no　evidence　of　his　imperial　origin？　Beside；　the　very　founder　of　the　dynasty　was　himself　of　lowly　origin；　and　yet　he　became　emperor。　Where　is　the　shame　in　weaving　mats　and　selling　shoes？　Your　mean；　immature　views　are　unfit　to　be　mentioned　in　the　presence　of　scholars　of　standing。〃
This　put　a　stop　to　Lu　Ji's　flow　of　eloquence。
But　another　of　those　present　said；　〃Zhuge　Liang's　words　are　overbearing；　and　he　distorts　reason。　It　is　not　proper　argument；　and　he　had　better　say　no　more。　But　I　would　ask　him　what　classical　canon　he　studied。〃

＇e＇　Yi　Yin　was　the　founding　minister　of　Shang　Dynasty；　Lu　Wang；　of　Zhou　Dynasty；　Zhang　Liang　and　Chen　Ping；　of　Han　Dynasty。
Zhuge　Liang　looked　at　his　interlocutor；　who　was　Yan　Jun；　and　said；　〃The　dryasdusts　of　every　age　select　passages　and　choose　phrases。　What　else　are　they　good　for？　Do　they　ever　initiate　a　policy　or　manage　an　affair？　Yi　Yin；　who　was　a　farmer　in　the　state　of　Shen；　and　Lu　Wang；　the　fisherman　of　the　River　Wei；　Zhang　Liang　and　Chen　Ping；　Zheng　Yu　and　Geng　Yan*………all　were　men　of　transcendent　ability；　but　I　have　never　inquired　what　classical　canon　they　followed　or　on　whose　essays　they　formed　their　style。　Would　you　liken　them　to　your　rusty　students　of　books；　whose　journeyings　are　prised　between　their　brush　and　their　inkstone；　who　spend　their　days　in　literary　futilities；　wasting　both　time　and　ink？〃
No　reply　was　forthing。　Yan　Jun　hung　his　head　with　shame。
But　another　disputant；　Cheng　Deshu　by　name；　suddenly　shouted；　〃You　are　mightily　fond　of　big　words；　Sir；　but　they　do　not　give　any　proof　of　your　scholarship　after　all。　I　am　inclined　to　think　that　a　real　scholar　would　just　laugh　at　you。〃
Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃There　is　the　noble　scholar；　loyal　and　patriotic；　of　perfect　rectitude　and　a　hater　of　any　crookedness。　The　concern　of　such　a　scholar　is　to　act　in　full　sympathy　with　his　day　and　leave　to　future　ages　a　fine　reputation