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Liu Bei weled Liu Qi with joy； and his soldiers joined in with the main body； and the whole fleet sailed on； while they told each other their adventures。
Unexpectedly in the southwest there appeared a line of fighting ships swishing up before a fair wind。
Liu Qi said； 〃All my troops are here； and now there is an enemy barring the way。 If they are not Cao Cao's ships； they must be from the South Land。 We have a poor chance。 What now？〃
Liu Bei went to the prow and gazed at them。 Presently he made out a figure in a turban and Taoist robe sitting in the bows of one of the boats and knew it to be Zhuge Liang。 Behind him stood Sun Qian。
When they were quite near； Liu Bei asked Zhuge Liang how he came to be there。
And Zhuge Liang reported what he had done； saying； 〃When I reached Jiangxia； I sent Guan Yu to land at Hanjin with reinforcements； for I feared pursuit from Cao Cao and knew that road you would take instead of Jiangling。 So I prayed your nephew to go to meet you； while I went to Xiakou to muster as many soldiers as possible。〃
The new…ers added to their strength； and they began once more to consider how their powerful enemy might be overe。
Said Zhuge Liang； 〃Xiakou is strong and a good strategic point。 It is also rich and suited for a lengthy stay。 I would ask you； my lord； to make it a permanent camp。 Your nephew can go to Jiangxia to get the fleet in order and prepare weapons。 Thus we can create two threatening angles for our position。 If we all return to Jiangxia； the position will be weakened。〃
Liu Qi replied； 〃The Directing Instructor's words are excellent； but I wish rather my uncle stayed awhile in Jiangxia till the army was in thorough order。 Then he could go to Xiakou。〃
〃You speak to the point； nephew；〃 replied Liu Bei。
Then leaving Guan Yu with five thousand troops at Xiakou he； with Zhuge Liang and his nephew； went to Jiangxia。
When Cao Cao saw Guan Yu with a force ready to attack； he feared lest a greater number were hidden away behind； so he stopped the pursuit。 He also feared lest Liu Bei should take Jiangling； so he marched thither with all haste。
The two officers in mand at Jingzhou City； Deng Yi and Liu Xin； had heard of the death of their lord Liu Zong at Xiangyang and； knowing that there was no chance of successful defense against Cao Cao's armies； they led out the people of Jingzhou to the outskirts and offered submission。 Cao Cao entered the city and； after restoring order and confidence； he released Han Song and gave him the dignified office of Director of Ambassadorial Receptions。 He rewarded the others。
Then said Cao Cao； 〃Liu Bei has gone to Jiangxia and may ally himself with the South Land； and the opposition to me will be greater。 Can he be destroyed？〃
Xun You said； 〃The splendor of your achievements has spread wide。 Therefore you might send a messenger to invite Sun Quan to a grand hunting party at Jiangxia； and you two could seize Liu Bei； share Jingzhou with Sun Quan； and make a solemn treaty。 Sun Quan will be too frightened not to e over to you； and your end will be gained。〃
Cao Cao agreed。 He sent the letters by a messenger； and he prepared his army………horse and foot and marines。 He had in all eight hundred thirty thousand troops； but he called them a million。 The attack was to be by land and water at the same time。
The fleet advanced up the river in two lines。 On the west it extended to Jingxia； on the east to Qichun。 The stockades stretched one hundred miles。
The story of Cao Cao's movements and successes reached Sun Quan； then in camp at Chaisang。 He assembled his strategists to decide on a scheme of defense。
Lu Su said； 〃Jingzhou is contiguous to our borders。 It is strong and defensive； its people are rich。 It is the sort of country that an emperor or a king should have。 Liu Biao's recent death gives an excuse for me to be sent to convey condolence and； once there； I shall be able to talk over Liu Bei and the officers of the late Imperial Protector to bine with you against Cao Cao。 If Liu Bei does as I wish； then success is yours。〃
Sun Quan thought this a good plan； so he had the necessary letters prepared； and the gifts； and sent Lu Su with them。
All this time Liu Bei was at Jiangxia where； with Zhuge Liang and Liu Qi； he was endeavoring to evolve a good plan of campaign。
Zhuge Liang said； 〃Cao Cao's power is too great for us to cope with。 Let us go over to the South Land and ask help from Sun Quan。 If we can set north and south at grips； we ought to be able to get some advantage from our intermediate position between them。〃
〃But will they be willing to have anything to do with us？〃 said Liu Bei。 〃The South Land is a large and populous country； and Sun Quan has ambitions of his own。〃
Zhuge Liang replied； 〃Cao Cao with his army of a million holds the Han River and a half of the Great River。 The South Land will certainly send to find out all possible about the position。 Should any messenger e； I shall borrow a little boat and make a little trip over the river and trust to my little lithe tongue to set north and south at each other's throats。 If the south wins； we will assist in destroying Cao Cao in order to get Jingzhou。 If the north wins； we shall profit by the victory to get the South Land。 So we shall get some advantage either way。〃
〃That is a very fine view to take；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃But how are you going to get hold of anyone from the South Land to talk to？〃
Liu Bei's question was answered by the arrival of Lu Su； and as the ship touched the bank and the envoy came ashore； Zhuge Liang laughed； saying； 〃It is done！〃
Turning to Liu Qi he asked； 〃When Sun Ce died； did your country send any condolences？〃
〃It is impossible there would be any mourning courtesies between them and us。 We had caused the death of his father； Sun Jian。〃
〃Then it is certain that this envoy does not e to present condolences but to spy out the land。〃
So he said to Liu Bei； 〃When Lu Su asks about the movements of Cao Cao； you will know nothing。 If he presses the matter； say he can ask me。〃
Having thus prepared their scheme； they sent to wele the envoy； who entered the city in mourning garb。 The gifts having been accepted； Liu Qi asked Lu Su to meet Liu Bei。 When the introductory ceremonies were over； the three men went to one of the inner chambers to drink a cup of wine。
Presently Lu Su said to Liu Bei； 〃By reputation I have known you a long time； Uncle Liu Bei； but till today I have not met you。 I am very gratified at seeing you。 You have been fighting Cao Cao； though； lately； so I suppose you know all about him。 Has he really so great an army？ How many； do you think； he has？〃
〃My army was so small that we fled whenever we heard of his approach。 So I do not know how many he had。〃
〃You had the advice of Zhuge Liang； and you used fire on Cao Cao twice。 You burned him almost to death so that you can hardly say you know nothing about his soldiers；〃 said Lu Su。
〃Without asking my adviser； I really do not know the details。〃
〃Where is Zhuge Liang？ I should like to see him；〃 said Lu Su。
So they sent for him； and he was introduced。
When the ceremonies were over； Lu Su said； 〃I have long admired your genius but have never been fortunate enough to meet you。 Now that I have met you； I hope I may speak of present politics。〃
Replied Zhuge Liang； 〃I know all Cao Cao's infamies and wickednesses； but to my regret we were not strong enough to withstand him。 That is why we avoided him。〃
〃Is the Imperial Uncle going to stay here？〃
〃The Princely One is an old friend of Wu Ju； Governor of Changwu； and intends to go to him。〃
〃Wu Ju has few troops and insufficient supplies。 He cannot ensure safety for himself。 How can he receive the Uncle？〃 said Lu Su。
〃Changwu is not one to remain in long； but it is good enough for the present。 We can make other plans for the future。〃
Lu Su said； 〃Sun Quan is strongly posted in the six southern territories and is exceedingly well supplied。 He treats able people and scholars with the greatest courtesy and so they gather round him。 Now if you are seeking a plan for your Prince； you cannot do better than send some friend to confer with him。〃
〃There have never been any relations between my master and yours；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃I fear there would be nothing but a waste of words。 Besides； we have no one to send。〃
〃Your elder brother Zhuge Jin is there as adviser and is longing to see you。 I am but a simple wight； but I should be pleased to discuss affairs with my master and you。〃
〃But Zhuge Liang is my Directing Instructor；〃 said Liu Bei； 〃and I cannot do without him。 He cannot go。〃
Lu Su pressed him。 Liu Bei pretended to refuse permission。
〃It is important。 I pray you give me leave to go；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
Then Liu Bei consented。 And they soon took leave and the two set out by boat for Sun Quan's headquarters。
A little boat sailed down the stream
With Zhuge Liang well content；
For he could see his enemies
To fiery perdition sent。
The result of this journey will appear in the following chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 43 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 43
Chapter 43
Zhuge Liang Disputes With The Southern Scholars；
Lu Su Denounces The Majority Opinion。
In the boat on the way to Chaisang； the two travelers beguiled the time by discus