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Cao　and　the　different　opinions　his　advisers　held　one　and　another　and　all　his　doubts　and　fears。
〃If　I　fight；　I　might　fail。　But　if　I　offer　to　surrender；　perhaps　Cao　Cao　will　not　tolerate　me；〃　said　he。
Then　she　replied；　〃Have　you　forgotten　the　last　words　of　my　sister？〃
As　to　one　recovering　from　a　fit　of　drunkenness；　or　waking　out　of　a　dream；　so　came　to　him　the　dying　words　of　the　mother　who　bore　him。

His　mother's　advice　he　called　to　mind；
〃In　Zhou　Yu's　counsels　you　safety　find。〃

What　happened　will　be　told　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　44　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　44
　Chapter　44
Zhuge　Liang　Stirs　Zhou　Yu　To　Actions；
Sun　Quan　Decides　To　Attack　Cao　Cao。
The　dying　message　which　Lady　Wu　recalled　to　Sun　Quan's　memory　was；　〃For　internal　matters　consult　Zhang　Zhao；　for　external　policy　Zhou　Yu。〃
Wherefore　Zhou　Yu　was　summoned。
But　Zhou　Yu　was　already　on　the　way。　He　had　been　training　his　naval　forces　on　Poyang　Lake　when　he　heard　of　the　approach　of　Cao　Cao's　hosts　and　had　started　for　Chaisang　without　loss　of　time。　So；　before　the　messenger　ordered　to　call　him　could　start；　he　had　already　arrived。　As　he　and　Lu　Su　were　close　friends；　the　latter　went　to　wele　him　and　told　him　of　all　that　had　happened。
〃Have　no　anxiety；〃　said　Zhou　Yu。　〃I　shall　be　able　to　decide　this。　But　go　quickly　and　beg　Zhuge　Liang　to　e　to　see　me。〃
So　Lu　Su　went　to　seek　out　Zhuge　Liang。
Zhou　Yu　had　many　other　visitors。　First　came　Zhang　Zhao；　Zhang　Hong；　Gu　Yong；　and　Bu　Zhi　to　represent　their　faction　to　find　out　what　might　be　afoot。
They　were　received；　and　after　the　exchange　of　the　usual　monplaces；　Zhang　Zhao　said；　〃Have　you　heard　of　our　terrible　danger？〃
〃I　have　heard　nothing；〃　said　Zhou　Yu。
〃Cao　Cao　and　his　hordes　are　encamped　up　the　Han　River。　He　has　just　sent　letters　asking　our　lord　to　hunt　with　him　in　Jiangxia。　He　may　have　a　desire　to　absorb　this　country　but；　if　so；　the　details　of　his　designs　are　still　secret。　We　prayed　our　master　to　give　in　his　submission　and　so　avoid　the　horrors　of　war；　but　now　Lu　Su　has　returned　bringing　with　him　the　Directing　Instructor　of　Liu　Bei's　army；　Zhuge　Liang。　Zhuge　Liang；　desiring　to　avenge　himself　for　the　recent　defeat；　has　talked　our　lord　into　a　mind　for　war；　and　Lu　Su　persists　in　supporting　that　policy。　They　only　await　your　final　decision。〃
〃Are　you　all　unanimous　in　your　opinions？〃
〃We　are　perfectly　unanimous；〃　said　Zhang　Zhao。
Zhou　Yu　said；　〃The　fact　is　I　have　also　desired　to　submit　for　a　long　time。　I　beg　you　to　leave　me　now；　and　tomorrow　we　will　see　our　master；　and　I　shall　make　up　his　mind　for　him。〃
So　they　took　their　leave。　Very　soon　came　the　military　party　led　by　Cheng　Pu；　Huang　Gai；　and　Han　Dang。　They　were　admitted　and　duly　inquired　after　their　host's　health。
Then　the　leader　Cheng　Pu　said；　〃Have　you　heard　that　our　country　is　about　to　pass　under　another's　government？〃
〃No；　I　have　heard　nothing；〃　replied　the　host。
〃We　helped　General　Sun　Quan　to　establish　his　authority　here　and　carve　out　this　kingdom；　and　to　gain　that　end　we　fought　many　a　battle　before　we　conquered　the　country。　Now　our　lord　lends　his　ear　to　his　civil　officers　and　desires　to　submit　himself　to　Cao　Cao。　This　is　a　most　shameful　and　pitiful　course；　and　we　would　rather　die　than　follow　it。　So　we　hope　you　will　decide　to　fight；　and　you　may　depend　upon　our　struggling　to　the　last　person。〃
〃And　are　you　unanimous；　Generals？〃　asked　Zhou　Yu。
Huang　Gai　suddenly　started　up　and　smote　his　forehead；　saying；　〃They　may　take　my　head；　but　I　swear　never　to　surrender。〃
〃Not　one　of　us　is　willing　to　surrender；〃　cried　all　the　others。
〃My　desire　also　is　to　decide　matters　with　Cao　Cao　on　the　battlefield。　How　could　we　think　of　submission？　Now　I　pray　you　retire；　Generals；　and　when　I　see　our　lord；　I　will　settle　his　doubts。〃
So　the　war　party　left。　They　were　quickly　succeeded　by　Zhuge　Jin；　Lu　Fan；　and　their　faction。
They　were　brought　in　and；　after　the　usual　courtesies；　Zhuge　Jin　said；　〃My　brother　has　e　down　the　river　saying　that　Liu　Bei　desires　to　ally　himself　with　our　lord　against　Cao　Cao。　The　civil　and　military　hold　different　opinions　as　to　the　course　to　be　pursued。　But　as　my　brother　is　so　deeply　concerned；　I　am　unwilling　to　say　much　on　either　side。　We　are　awaiting　your　decision。〃
〃And　what　do　you　think　about　it？〃　asked　Zhou　Yu。
〃Submission　is　an　easy　road　to　tranquillity；　while　the　result　of　war　is　hard　to　foretell。〃
Zhou　Yu　smiled；　〃I　shall　have　my　mind　made　up。　e　tomorrow　to　the　palace；　and　the　decision　shall　be　announced。〃
The　trimmers　took　their　leave。　But　soon　after　came　Lu　Meng；　Gan　Ning；　and　their　supporters；　also　desirous　of　discussing　the　same　thing；　and　they　told　him　that　opinions　differed　greatly；　some　being　for　peace　and　others　for　war。　One　party　constantly　disputed　with　the　other。
〃I　must　not　say　much　now；〃　replied　Zhou　Yu；　〃but　you　will　see　tomorrow　in　the　palace；　when　the　matter　will　be　fully　debated。〃
They　went　away　leaving　Zhou　Yu　smiling　cynically。
About　eventide　Lu　Su　and　Zhuge　Liang　came；　and　Zhou　Yu　went　out　to　the　main　gate　to　receive　them。
When　they　had　taken　their　proper　seats；　Lu　Su　spoke　first；　saying；　〃Cao　Cao　has　e　against　the　South　Land　with　a　huge　army。　Our　master　cannot　decide　whether　to　submit　or　give　battle　and　waits　for　your　decision。　What　is　your　opinion？〃
Zhou　Yu　replied；　〃We　may　not　oppose　Cao　Cao　when　he　acts　at　the　mand　of　the　Emperor。　Moreover；　he　is　very　strong；　and　to　attack　him　is　to　take　serious　risks。　In　my　opinion；　opposition　would　mean　defeat　and；　since　submission　means　peace；　I　have　decided　to　advise　our　lord　to　write　and　offer　surrender。〃
〃But　you　are　wrong！〃　stammered　Lu　Su。　〃This　country　has　been　under　the　same　rule　for　three　generations　and　cannot　be　suddenly　abandoned　to　some　other。　Our　late　lord　Sun　Ce　said　that　you　were　to　be　consulted　on　matters　beyond　the　border；　and　we　depended　upon　you　to　keep　the　country　as　secure　and　solid　as　the　Taishan　Mountains。　Now　you　adopt　the　view　of　the　weaklings　and　propose　to　yield！　I　cannot　believe　you　mean　it。〃
Replied　Zhou　Yu；　〃The　six　territories　contain　countless　people。　If　I　am　the　means　of　bringing　upon　them　the　misery　of　war；　they　will　hate　me。　So　I　have　decided　to　advise　submission。〃
〃But　do　you　not　realize　our　lord's　might　and　the　strength　of　our　country？　If　Cao　Cao　does　attack；　it　is　very　uncertain　that　he　will　realize　his　desire。〃
The　two　wrangled　for　a　long　time；　while　Zhuge　Liang　sat　smiling　with　folded　arms。
Presently　Zhou　Yu　asked；　〃Why　do　you　smile　thus；　Master？〃
And　Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃I　am　smiling　at　no　other　than　your　opponent　Lu　Su；　who　knows　nothing　of　the　affairs　of　the　day。〃
〃Master；〃　said　Lu　Su；　〃what　do　you　mean？〃
〃Why；　this　intention　to　submit　is　perfectly　reasonable。　It　is　the　one　proper　thing。〃
〃There！〃　exclaimed　Zhou　Yu。　〃Zhuge　Liang　knows　the　times　perfectly　well；　and　he　agrees　with　me。〃
〃But；　both　of　you；　why　do　you　say　this？〃　said　Lu　Su。
Said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃Cao　Cao　is　an　excellent　mander；　so　good　that　no　one　dares　oppose　him。　Only　very　few　have　ever　attempted　it；　and　they　have　been　exterminated………the　world　knows　them　no　more。　The　only　exception　is　Liu　Bei；　who　did　not　understand　the　conditions　and　vigorously　contended　against　him；　with　the　result　that　he　is　now　at　Jiangxia　in　a　very　parlous　state。　To　submit　is　to　secure　the　safety　of　wives　and　children；　to　be　rich　and　honored。　But　the　dignity　of　the　country　would　be　left　to　chance　and　fate………however；　that　is　not　worth　consideration。〃
Lu　Su　interrupted　angrily；　〃Would　you　make　our　lord　crook　the　knee　to　such　a　rebel　as　Cao　Cao？〃
〃Well；〃　replied　Zhuge　Liang；　〃there　is　another　way；　and　a　cheaper。　There　would　be　no　need　to　'lead　the　sheep　and　shoulder　wine　pots'　for　presents；　nor　any　need　to　yield　territory　and　surrender　seals　of　office。　It　would　not　even　be　necessary　to　cross　the　river　yourselves。　All　you　would　require　is　a　simple　messenger　and　a　little　boat　to　ferry　a　couple　of　persons　across　the　river。　If　Cao　Cao　only　got　these　two　under　his　hand；　his　hordes　and　legions　would　just　drop　their　weapons；　furl　their　banners；　and　silently　vanish　away。〃
〃What　two　persons　could　cause　Cao　Cao　to　go　away　as　you　say？〃　asked　Zhou　Yu。
〃Two　persons　who　could　be　easily　spared　from　this　populous　country。　They　would　not　be　missed　any　more　than　a　leaf　from　a　tree　or　a　grain　of　millet　from　a　granary。　But　if　Cao　Cao　could　only　get　them；　would　he　not　go　away　rejoicing？〃
〃But　who　are　the　two？〃　asked　Zhou　Yu　again。
〃When　I　was　living　in　the　country；　they　told　me　that　Cao　Cao　was　building　a　pavilion　on　the　River　Zhang。　It　was　to　be　named　the　Bronze　Bird　Tower。　It　is　an　exceedingly　handsome　building；　and　he　has　sought　throughout　all　the　world　for　the　most　beautiful　women　to　live　in　it。　For　Cao　Cao　really　is　a　sensualist。

＇e＇　Fan　Li　was　adviser　of　Gou　Jian；　the　king　of　Yue。　Fan　Li　helped　Gou　Jian　plot　the　〃Beauty　Ruse〃　in　order　to　destroy　Fu　Zha；　the　king　of　Wu。　After　Yue　triumphed　over　Wu；　Fan　Li　resigned　from　politics。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Xi　Shi　was　a　beautiful　lady　who　helped　King　Gou　Jian　of　Yue　defeat　the　powerful　kingdom　of　Wu　in　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period。　Acting　on　Fan　Li's　counsel；　Xi　Shi　made　Fu　Zha；　the　king　of　Wu；　fall　madly　in　love　with　her　and　dismiss　or　kill　his　loyal　ministers。　After　Wu　had　been　thus　weakened；　Guo　Jian　attacked　and　conquered　Wu。　Fu　Zha　died　in　the　fight。　Legend　has　it　that　having　pleted　her　task；　Xi　Shi　went　away　with　Fan　Li；　and　they　became　wealthy　merchants　and　did　a　lot　of　charity　works。　Another　story　says　that　after　Fu　Zha　died；　Xi　Shi　discovered　he　truly　loved　her；　and　she　mitted　suicide　to　be　with　him。　。。。。。
〃Now　there　are　two　very　famous　beauties　in　Wu；　born　of　the　Qiao　family。　So　beautiful　are　they　that　birds　alight　and　fishes　drown；　the　moon　hides　her　face　and　the　flowers　blush　for　shame　at　sight　of　them。　Cao　Cao　has　declared　with　an　oath　that　he　only　wants　two　things　in　this　world：　The　imperial　throne　in　peace　and　the　sight　of　those　two　women　on　the　Bronze　Bird　Terraces。　Given　these　two；　he　would　go　down　to　his　grave　without　regret。　This　expedition　of　his；　his　huge　army　that　threatens　this　country；　has　for　its　real　aim　these　two　women。　Why　do　you　not　buy　these　two　from　their　father；　the　State　Patriarch　Qiao；　for　any　sum　however　large　and　send　them　over　the　river？　The　object　of　the　army　being　attained；　it　will　simply　be　marched　away。　This　is　the　use　that　Fan　Li*　of　Yue　made　to　the　king　of　Wu　of　the　famous　beauty　Xi　Shi*。〃
〃How　do　you　know　Cao　Cao　so　greatly　desires　these　two？〃　said　Zhou　Yu。
〃Because　his　son　Cao　Zhi；　who　is　an　able　writer；　at　the　mand　of　his　father　wrote　a　poem　'An　Ode　to　the　Bronze　Bird　Terrace；'　theme　only　allowing　allusions　to　the　family　fitness　for　the　throne。　He　has　sworn　to　possess　these　two　women。　I　think　I　can　remember　the　poem；　if　you　wish　to　hear　it。　I　admire　it　greatly。〃
〃Try；〃　said　Zhou　Yu。
So　Zhuge　Liang　recited　the　poem：

〃Let　me　follow　in　the　footsteps　of　the　enlightened　ruler　that　I　may　rejoice；
And　ascend　the　storied　terrace　that　I　may　gladden　my　heart；
That　I　may　see　the　wide　extent　of　the　palace；
That　I　may　gaze　upon　the　plans　of　the　virtuous　one。
He　has　established　the　exalted　gates　high　as　the　hills；
He　has　built　the　lofty　towers　piercing　the　blue　vault；
He　has　set　up　the　beautiful　building　in　the　midst　of　the　heavens；
Whence　the　eye　can　range　over　the　cities　of　the　west。
On　the　banks　of　the　rolling　River　Zhang　he　planned　it；
Whence　abundance　of　fruits　could　be　looked　for　in　his　gardens。
The　two　towers　rise；　one　on　either　flank；
This　named　Golden　Phoenix；　that　Jade　Dragon。
He　would　have　the　two　Qiaos；　these　beautiful　ladies　of　Wu；
That　he　might　rejoice　with　them　morning　and　evening。
Look　down；　there　is　the　grand　beauty　of　an　imperial　city；
And　the　rolling　vapors　lie　floating　beneath。
He　will　rejoice　in　the　multitude　of　scholars　that　assemble；
Answering　to　the　felicitous　dream　of　King　Wen。
Look　up；　and　there　is　the　gorgeous　harmony　of　springtime；
And　the　singing　of　many　birds　delighting　the　ear；
The　lofty　sky　stands　over　all。
The　house　desires　success　in　its　double　undertaking；
That　the　humane　influence　may　be　poured　out　over　all　the　world；
That　the　perfection　of　reverence　may　be　offered　to　the　Ruler。
Only　the　richly　prosperous　rule　of　Kings　Wu　and　Huan
Could　pare　with　that　of　the　sacred　understanding
That　fortune！　What　beauty！
The　gracious　kindness　spreads　afar；
The　i