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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 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 wil