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After reading it through he said； smiling； 〃The old thief thinks there are no people in this land that he writes in this contemptuous strain。〃
〃What do you think； Sir？〃 asked Sun Quan。
〃Have you discussed this with the officials？〃 asked Zhou Yu。
〃We have been discussing this for days。 Some counsel surrender and some advise fight。 I am undecided； and therefore I have asked you to e and decide the point。〃
〃Who advise surrender？〃 asked Zhou Yu。
〃Zhang Zhao and his party are firmly set in this opinion。〃
Zhou Yu then turned to Zhang Zhao and said； 〃I should be pleased to hear why you are for surrender； Master。〃
Then Zhang Zhao replied； 〃Cao Cao has been attacking all opponents in the name of the Emperor； who is entirely in his hands。 He does everything in the name of the government。 Lately he has taken Jingzhou and thereby increased his prestige。 Our defense against him was the Great River； but now he also has a large fleet and can attack by water。 How can we withstand him？ Wherefore I counsel submission till some chance shall offer。〃
〃This is but the opinion of an ill…advised student；〃 said Zhou Yu。 〃How can you think of abandoning this country that we have held for three generations？〃
〃That being so；〃 said Sun Quan； 〃where is a plan to e from？〃
〃Though Cao Cao assumes the name of the Prime Minister of the empire； he is at heart a rebel。 You； O General； are able in war and brave。 You are the heir to your father and brother。 You mand brave and tried soldiers； and you have plentiful supplies。 You are able to overrun the whole country and rid it of every evil。 There is no reason why you should surrender to a rebel。
〃Moreover； Cao Cao has undertaken this expedition in defiance of all the rules of war。 The north is unsubdued。 Ma Teng and Han Sui threaten his rear； and yet he persists in his southern march。 This is the first point against Cao Cao。 The northern soldiers are unused to fighting on the water。 Cao Cao is relinquishing his well…tried cavalry and trusting to ships。 That is the second point against him。 Again； we are now in full winter and the weather is at its coldest so there is no food for the horses。 That is the third point against。 Soldiers from the central state marching in a wet country among lakes and rivers will find themselves in an unaccustomed climate and suffer from malaria。 That is the fourth point against。 Now when Cao Cao's armies have all these points against them； defeat is certain； however numerous they may be； and you can take Cao Cao captive just as soon as you wish。 Give me a few legions of veterans； and I will go and destroy him。〃
Sun Quan started up from his place； saying； 〃The rebellious old rascal has been wanting to overthrow the Hans and set up himself for years。 He has rid himself of all those he feared； save only myself； and I swear that one of us two shall go now。 Both of us cannot live。 What you say； noble friend； is just what I think； and Heaven has certainly sent you to my assistance。〃
〃Thy servant will fight a decisive battle；〃 said Zhou Yu； 〃and shrink not from any sacrifice。 Only； General； do not hesitate。〃
Sun Quan drew the sword that hung at his side and slashed off a corner of the table in front of him； exclaiming； 〃Let any other person mention surrender； and he shall be served as I have served this table！〃
Then he handed the sword to Zhou Yu； at the same time giving him a mission as mander…in…Chief and Supreme Admiral； Cheng Pu being Vice…Admiral。 Lu Su was also nominated as Assistant mander。
In conclusion Sun Quan said； 〃With this sword you will slay any officer who may disobey your mands。〃
Zhou Yu took the sword and turning to the assembly said； 〃You have heard our lord's charge to me to lead you to destroy Cao Cao。 You will all assemble tomorrow at the riverside camp to receive my orders。 Should any be late or fail； then the full rigor of military law………the seven prohibitions and the fifty…four capital penalties………there provided； will be enforced。〃
Zhou Yu took leave of Sun Quan and left the chamber。 The various officers also went their several ways。
When Zhou Yu reached his own place； he sent for Zhuge Liang to consult over the business in hand。 He told Zhuge Liang of the decision that had been taken and asked for a plan of campaign。
〃But your master has not yet made up his mind；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃Till he has； no plan can be decided upon。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃In his heart； Sun Quan is still fearful of Cao Cao's numbers and frets over the inequality of the two armies。 You will have to explain away those numbers and bring him to a final decision before anything can be effected。〃
〃What you say is excellent；〃 said Zhou Yu； and he went to the palace that night to see his master。
Sun Quan said； 〃You must have something of real importance to say if you e like this at night。〃
Zhou Yu said； 〃I am making my dispositions tomorrow。 You have quite made up your mind？〃
〃The fact is；〃 said Sun Quan； 〃I still feel nervous about the disparity of numbers。 Surely we are too few。 That is really all I feel doubtful about。〃
〃It is precisely because you have this one remaining doubt that I am e。 And I will explain。 Cao Cao's letter speaks of a million of marines； and so you feel doubts and fears and do not wait to consider the real truth。 Let us examine the case thoroughly。 We find that he has of central regions' soldiers； say； some one hundred fifty thousand troops； and many of them are sick。 He only got seventy or eighty thousand northern soldiers from Yuan Shao； and many of those are of doubtful loyalty。 Now these sick men and these men of doubtful loyalty seem a great many； but they are not at all fearsome。 I could smash them with fifty thousand soldiers。 You； my lord； have no further anxiety。〃
Sun Quan patted his general on the back； saying； 〃You have explained my difficulty and relieved my doubts。 Zhang Zhao is a fool who constantly bars my expeditions。 Only you and Lu Su have any real understanding of my heart。 Tomorrow you and Lu Su and Cheng Pu will start； and I shall have a strong reserve ready with plentiful supplies to support you。 If difficulties arise； you can at once send for me； and I will engage with my own army。〃
Zhou Yu left。 But in his innermost heart； he said to himself； 〃If that Zhuge Liang can gauge my master's thoughts so very accurately； he is too clever for me and will be a danger。 He will have to be put out of the way。〃
Zhou Yu sent a messenger over to Lu Su to talk over this last scheme。 When he had laid it bare； Lu Su did not favor it。
〃No； no；〃 said Lu Su； 〃it is self…destruction to make away with your ablest officer before Cao Cao shall have been destroyed。〃
〃But Zhuge Liang will certainly help Liu Bei to our disadvantage。〃
〃Try what his brother Zhuge Jin can do to persuade him。 It would be an excellent thing to have these two in our service。〃
〃Yes； indeed；〃 replied Zhou Yu。
Next morning at dawn； Zhou Yu went to his camp and took his seat in the council tent。 The armed guards took up their stations right and left； and the officers ranged themselves in lines to listen to the orders。
Now Cheng Pu； who was older than Zhou Yu but was made second in mand； was very angry at being passed over； so he made a pretense of indisposition and stayed away from this assembly。 But he sent his eldest son； Cheng Zi； to represent him。
Zhou Yu addressed the gathering； saying； 〃The law knows no partiality； and you will all have to attend to your several duties。 Cao Cao is now more absolute than ever was Dong Zhuo； and the Emperor is really a prisoner in Xuchang； guarded by the most cruel soldiers。 We have a mand to destroy Cao Cao； and with your willing help we shall advance。 The army must cause no hardship to the people anywhere。 Rewards for good service and punishments for faults shall be given impartially。〃
Having delivered this charge； Zhou Yu told off Han Dang and Huang Gai as Leaders of the Van； and ordered the ships under their own mand to get under way and go to the Three Gorges。 They would get orders by and bye。 Then he appointed four armies with two leaders over each： The first body was under Jiang Qin and Zhou Tai； the second； Pan Zhang and Ling Tong； the third； Taishi Ci and Lu Meng； the fourth； Lu Xun and Dong Xi。 Lu Fan and Zhu Zhi were appointed inspectors； to move from place to place and keep the various units up to their work and acting with due regard to the general plan。 Land and marine forces were to move simultaneously。 The expedition would soon start。
Having received their orders； each returned to his mand and busied himself in preparation。 Cheng Zi； the son of Cheng Pu； returned and told his father what arrangements had been made； and Cheng Pu was amazed at Zhou Yu's skill。
Said he； 〃I have always despised Zhou Yu as a mere student who would never be a general； but this shows that he has a leader's talent。 I must support him。〃
So Cheng Pu went over to the quarters of the mander…in…Chief and confessed his fault。 He was received kindly and all was over。
Next Zhou Yu sent for Zhuge Jin and said to him； 〃Evidently your brother is a genius； a man born to be a king's counselor。 Why then does he serve Liu Bei？ Now that he is here； I wish you to use every effort to persuade him to stay with us。 Thus our lord would gain able support and you two brother