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h　a　scholar　is　to　act　in　full　sympathy　with　his　day　and　leave　to　future　ages　a　fine　reputation。　There　is　the　scholar　of　the　mean　type；　a　pedant　and　nothing　more。　He　labors　constantly　with　his　pen；　in　his　callow　youth　posing　odes　and　in　hoary　age　still　striving　to　understand　the　classical　books　pletely。　Thousands　of　words　flow　from　his　pen；　but　there　is　not　a　solid　idea　in　his　breast。　He　may；　as　did　Yang　Xiong；　glorify　the　age　with　his　writings　and　yet　stoop　to　serve　a　tyrant　such　as　Wang　Mang。　No　wonder　Yang　Xiong　threw　himself　out　of　a　window；　he　had　to。　That　is　the　way　of　the　scholar　of　mean　type。　Though　he　poses　odes　by　the　hundred；　what　is　the　use　of　him？〃
Cheng　Deshu　could　make　no　reply。　The　other　officers　now　began　to　hold　this　man　of　torrential　speech　in　wholesome　fear。
Only　two　of　them；　Zhang　Wen　and　Luo　Tong；　had　failed　to　challenge　him；　but　when　they　would　have　tried　to　pose　Zhuge　Liang；　suddenly　someone　appeared　from　without　and　angrily　shouted；　〃This　is　not　paying　fit　respect　to　a　guest。　You　have　among　you　the　most　wonderful　man　of　the　day；　and　you　all　sit　there　trying　to　entangle　him　in　speech　while　our　archenemy　Cao　Cao　is　nearing　our　borders。　Instead　of　discussing　how　to　oppose　Cao　Cao；　you　are　all　wrangling　and　disputing。〃
All　eyes　turned　toward　the　speaker。　It　was　Huang　Gai　of　Lingling；　who　was　the　Chief　of　the　missariat　of　the　South　Land。
He　turned　to　address　Zhuge　Liang；　saying；　〃There　is　a　saying　that　though　something　may　be　gained　by　talk；　there　is　more　to　be　got　by　silence。　Why　not　give　my　lord　the　advantage　of　your　valuable　advice　instead　of　wasting　time　in　discussion　with　this　crowd？〃
〃They　did　not　understand；〃　replied　Zhuge　Liang；　〃and　it　was　necessary　to　enlighten　them；　so　I　had　to　speak。〃
As　Huang　Gai　and　Lu　Su　led　the　guest　toward　their　master's　apartments；　they　met　his　brother　Zhuge　Jin。　Zhuge　Liang　saluted　him　with　the　deference　due　to　an　elder　brother。
Zhuge　Jin　said；　〃Why　have　you　not　been　to　see　me；　brother？〃
〃I　am　now　in　the　service　of　Liu　Bei　of　Yuzhou；　and　it　is　right　that　public　affairs　precede　private　obligations。　I　cannot　attend　to　any　private　matters　till　my　work　is　done。　You　must　pardon　me；　brother。〃
〃After　you　have　seen　Marquis　Sun　Quan；　you　will　e　and　tell　me　your　news；〃　said　he　as　he　left。
As　they　went　along　to　the　audience　chamber；　Lu　Su　again　cautioned　Zhuge　Liang　against　any　rash　speech；　saying；　〃Do　not　tell　the　magnitude　of　Cao　Cao's　forces。　Please　remember。〃
The　latter　nodded　but　made　no　other　reply。　When　they　reached　the　hall；　Sun　Quan　came　down　the　steps　to　wele　his　guests　and　was　extraordinarily　gracious。　After　the　mutual　salutations；　the　guest　was　given　a　chair　while　the　Marquis'　officials　were　drawn　up　in　two　lines；　on　one　side　the　civil；　on　the　other　the　military。　Lu　Su　stood　beside　Zhuge　Liang　and　listened　to　his　introductory　speech。
As　Zhuge　Liang　spoke　of　Liu　Bei's　intentions；　he　glanced　up　at　his　host。　He　noted　the　green　eyes　and　purple　beard　and　the　dignified　manding　air　of　the　man　and　thought　within　himself；　〃Certainly　in　appearance　this　is　no　mon　man。　He　is　one　to　be　incited　perhaps；　but　not　to　be　persuaded。　It　will　be　better　to　see　what　he　has　to　say　first；　then　I　will　try　to　stir　him　to　action。〃
The　serving　of　tea　being　now　finished；　Sun　Quan　began　with　the　usual　gracious　ceremonial　expressions。
〃Lu　Su　has　often　spoken　of　your　genius；〃　said　the　host。　〃It　is　a　great　pleasure　to　meet　you。　I　trust　you　will　confer　upon　me　the　advantage　of　your　instruction。〃
〃I　am　neither　clever　nor　learned；〃　was　the　reply。　〃It　humiliates　me　to　hear　such　words。〃
〃You　have　been　at　Xinye　lately；　and　you　helped　your　master　to　fight　that　decisive　battle　with　Cao　Cao；　so　you　must　know　exactly　the　measure　of　his　military　strength。〃
〃My　master's　army　was　small　and　his　generals　were　few；　the　city　was　paltry　and　lacked　supplies。　Hence　no　stand　could　be　made　against　such　a　force　as　Cao　Cao　had。〃
〃How　many　has　he　in　all？〃
〃Horse　and　foot；　land　and　marine；　he　has　a　million。〃
〃Is　there　not　some　doubt　about　that？〃　said　Sun　Quan；　surprised。
〃None　whatever。　When　Cao　Cao　went　to　Yanzhou；　he　had　the　two　hundred　thousand　soldiers　of　Qingzhou。　He　gained　five　or　six　hundred　thousand　more　when　Yuan　Shao　fell。　He　has　three　or　four　hundred　thousand　troops　newly　recruited　in　the　capital。　Lately　he　has　acquired　two　or　three　hundred　thousand　troops　in　Jingzhou。　And　if　these　be　reckoned　up；　the　total　is　not　less　than　a　million　and　a　half。　Hence　I　said　a　million　for　I　was　afraid　of　frightening　your　officers。〃
Lu　Su　was　much　disturbed　and　turned　pale。　He　looked　meaningfully　at　the　bold　speaker；　but　Zhuge　Liang　would　not　see。　Sun　Quan　went　on　to　ask　if　his　archenemy　had　a　corresponding　number　of　leaders。
〃Cao　Cao　has　enough　administrators　and　strategists　to　control　such　a　host；　and　his　capable　and　veteran　leaders　are　more　than　a　thousand；　perhaps　more　than　two　thousand。〃
〃What　will　be　Cao　Cao's　next　move　now　that　he　has　overe　Jingzhou？〃
〃He　is　camped　along　the　river；　and　he　has　collected　a　fleet。　If　he　does　not　intend　to　invade　the　South　Land；　what　can　his　intentions　be？〃
〃Since　that　is　his　intention；　it　is　a　case　of　fight　or　not　fight。　I　wish　you　would　decide　that　for　me。〃
〃I　have　something　I　could　say；　but　I　fear；　Sir；　you　would　not　care　to　hear　it。〃
〃I　am　desirous　of　hearing　your　most　valuable　opinion。〃
〃Strife　has　prevailed　for　a　long　time；　and　so　you　have　raised　your　army　in　the　South　Land　and　Liu　Bei　collected　his　forces　south　of　the　Han　River　to　act　in　contest　for　the　empire　against　Cao　Cao。　Now　Cao　Cao　has　overe　most　of　his　difficulties；　and　his　recent　conquest　of　Jingzhou　has　won　him　great　and　wide　renown。　Though　there　might　be　one　bold　enough　to　tackle　him；　yet　there　is　no　foothold　for　such。　That　is　how　Liu　Bei　has　been　forced　to　e　here。　But；　General；　I　wish　you　to　measure　your　forces　and　decide　whether　you　can　venture　to　meet　Cao　Cao　and　that　without　loss　of　time。　If　you　cannot；　then　follow　the　advice　of　your　councilors：　Cease　your　military　preparations　and　yield；　turn　your　face　to　the　north　and　serve。〃
Sun　Quan　did　not　reply。　But　his　guest　went　on；　〃You　have　the　reputation　of　being　reasonable；　but　I　know　also　you　are　inclined　to　hesitate。　Still　this　matter　is　most　important；　and　evil　will　be　quickly　upon　you　if　you　do　not　decide。〃
Then　replied　Sun　Quan；　〃If　what　you　say　represents　the　actual　conditions；　why　does　not　Liu　Bei　yield？〃

＇e＇　Tian　Heng　was　a　warrior　of　Qi　at　the　end　of　the　Warring　States　period　and　Qin　Dynasty。　In　his　bid　to　regain　the　lost　kingdom　of　Qi；　Tian　Heng　rebelled　against　Qin　and　fought　both　Liu　Bang　and　Xiang　Yu。　Read　Tian　Heng　Island　。
〃Well；　you　know　Tian　Heng*；　that　hero　of　the　state　of　Qi：　His　character　was　too　noble　for　him　to　submit　to　any　shame。　It　is　necessary　to　remember　that　Liu　Bei　also　is　an　off…shoot　from　the　Dynastic　Family；　beside　being　a　man　of　great　renown。　Everyone　looks　up　to　him。　His　lack　of　success　is　simply　the　will　of　Heaven；　but　manifestly　he　could　not　bow　the　knee　to　anyone。〃
These　last　words　touched　Sun　Quan　to　the　quick；　and　he　could　not　control　his　anger。　He　shook　out　his　sleeves；　rose；　and　left　the　audience　chamber。　Those　present　smiled　at　each　other　as　they　dispersed。
But　Lu　Su　was　annoyed　and　reproached　Zhuge　Liang　for　his　maladroit　way　of　talking　to　Sun　Quan；　saying；　〃Luckily　for　you；　my　lord　is　too　large…minded　to　rebuke　you　to　your　face；　for　you　spoke　to　him　most　contemptuously。〃
Zhuge　Liang　threw　back　his　head　and　laughed。
〃What　a　sensitive　fellow　it　is！〃　cried　he。　〃I　know　how　Cao　Cao　could　be　destroyed；　but　he　never　asked　me。　So　I　said　nothing。〃
〃If　you　really　do　know　how　that　could　be　done；　I　will　certainly　beg　my　lord　to　ask　you。〃
〃Cao　Cao's　hosts　in　my　eyes　are　but　as　swarms　of　ants。　I　have　but　to　lift　my　hand；　and　they　will　be　crushed；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
Lu　Su　at　once　went　into　his　master's　private　room；　where　he　found　Sun　Quan　still　very　irritable　and　angry。
〃Zhuge　Liang　insulted　me　too　deeply；〃　said　Sun　Quan。
〃I　have　already　reproached　him；〃　said　Lu　Su；　〃and　he　laughed　and　said　you　were　too　sensitive。　He　would　not　give　you　any　advice　without　being　asked　for　it。　Why　did　you　not　seek　advice　from　him；　my　lord？〃
At　once　Sun　Quan's　anger　changed　to　joy。
He　said；　〃So　he　had　a　plan　ready；　and　his　words　were　meant　to　provoke　me。　I　did　despise　him　for　a　moment；　and　it　has　very　nearly　lost　me。〃
So　Sun　Quan　returned　to　the　audience　chamber　where　the　guest　was　still　seated　and　begged　Zhuge　Liang　to　continue　his　speech。
Sun　Quan　spoke　courteously；　saying；　〃I　offended　you　just　now。　I　hope　you　are　not　implacable。〃
〃And　I　also　was　rude；〃　replied　Zhuge　Liang。　〃I　entreat　pardon。〃
Host　and　guest　retired　to　the　inner　room　where　wine　was　served。
After　it　had　gone　round　several　times；　Sun　Quan　said；　〃The　enemies　of　Cao　Cao　were　Lu　Bu；　Liu　Biao；　Yuan　Shao；　Yuan　Shu；　Liu　Bei；　and　my　poor　self。　Now　most　of　these　are　gone；　and　only　Liu　Bei　and　I　remain。　I　will　never　allow　the　land　of　Wu　to　be　dictated　to　by　another。　The　only　one　who　could　have　withstood　Cao　Cao　was　Liu　Bei；　but　he　has　been　defeated　lately　and　what　can　he　do　now　against　such　force？〃
Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃Although　defeated；　Liu　Bei　still　has　Guan　Yu　with　ten　thousand　veterans。　And　Liu　Qi　still　leads　the　troops　of　Jiangxia；　another　ten　thousand。　Cao　Cao's　army　is　far　from　home；　and　the　soldiers　are　worn　out。　They　made　a　frantic　effort　to　e　up　with　my　master；　and　the　light　horse　marched　one　hundred　miles　in　a　day　and　a　night。　This　was　the　final　kick　of　the　crossbow　spring；　and　the　bolt　was　not　swift　enough　to　penetrate　even　the　thin　silken　vesture　of　Lu。　The　army　can　do　no　more。　They　are　northern　people；　unskilled　in　water　warfare；　and　the　people　of　Jingzhou　are　unwilling　supporters。　They　have　no　desire　to　help　Cao　Cao。　Now　if　you；　General；　will　assist　Liu　Bei；　Cao　Cao　will　certainly　be　broken；　and　he　must　retire　northwards。　Then　your　country　and　Jingzhou　will　be　strong；　and　the　tripod　will　be　firmly　established。　But　the　scheme　must　be　carried　out　without　delay；　and　only　you　can　decide。〃
Sun　Quan　joyfully　replied；　〃Your　words；　Master；　open　up　the　road　clearly。　I　have　decided　and　shall　have　no　further　doubts。〃
So　the　orders　were　issued　forthwith　to　prepare　for　a　joint　attack　on　Cao　Cao。　And　Sun　Quan　bade　Lu　Su　bear　the　news　of　his　decision　to　all　his　officers。　He　himself　escorted　Zhuge　Liang　to　the　guest…quarters　and　saw　to　his　fort。
When　Zhang　Zhao　heard　of　the　decision　he　met　his　colleagues　and　said　to　them；　〃Our　master　has　fallen　into　the　trap　set　by　this　Zhuge　Liang。〃
They　went　in　a　body　to　their　lord　and　said；　〃We　hear　you　are　going　to　attack　Cao　Cao。　But　how　do　you　stand　when　pared　with　Yuan　Shao？　In　those　days　Cao　Cao　was　paratively　weak；　and　yet　he　overcame。　What　is　he　like　today　with　his　countless　legions？　He　is　not　to　be　lightly　attacked；　and　to　listen　to　Zhuge　Liang's　advice　to　engage　in　a　conflict　is　like　carrying　fuel　to　a　fire。〃
Sun　Quan　made　no　reply；　and　Gu　Yong　took　up　the　argument。
Gu　Yong　said；　〃Liu　Bei　has　been　defeated；　and　he　wants　to　borrow　our　help　to　beat　his　enemy。　Why　must　our　lord　lend　himself　to　his　schemes？　Pray　listen　to　our　leader's　words。〃
Doubts　again　surged　up　in　the　mind　of　Sun　Quan。
When　the　troop　of　advisers　had　retired；　Lu　Su　came　in；　saying；　〃They　came　to　exhort　you　not　to　fight；　but　to　pel　you　to　surrender。　All　this　is　simply　because　they　wish　to　secure　the　safety　of　their　families。　They　distort　their　sense　of　duty　to　serve　their　own　ends；　and　I　hope　you　will　not　take　their　advice。〃
Sun　Quan　being　sunk　in　thought　and　saying　nothing；　Lu　Su　went　on；　〃If　you　hesitate；　you　will　certainly　be　led　astray　by　the　majority　and…〃
〃Retire　for　a　time；〃　said　his　master。　〃I　must　think　it　over　carefully。〃
So　Lu　Su　left　the　chamber。　Among　the　soldiers　some　wished　for　war；　but　of　the　civil　officers；　all　were　in　favor　of　surrender；　and　so　there　were　many　discussions　and　much　conflict　of　opinion。　Sun　Quan　went　to　his　private　apartments　greatly　perplexed。　There　his　worry　was　easily　discernible；　and　he　neither　ate　nor　slept。　He　was　quite　unable　to　decide　finally　upon　a　course　of　action。
Then　Lady　Wu；　the　sister　of　his　late　mother；　whom　he　also　regarded　as　his　own　mother；　asked　him　what　so　troubled　him；　and　he　told　her　of　the　threatened　danger　of　Cao　Cao　and　the　different　opinions　his　advisers　held　one　and　another　and　all　his　doubts　and　fears。
〃If