按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
impossible to move such as I am！〃
Zhou Yu burst into a loud laugh as he finished； and Jiang Gan's face had bee clay…colored。 Zhou Yu then led his guest back into the tent； and again they fell to drinking。
Presently Zhou Yu pointed to the others at table and said； 〃These are all the best and bravest of the land of the south。 One might call this the 'Gathering of Heroes。'〃
They drank on till daylight failed and continued after lamps had been lit。 Zhou Yu even gave an exhibition of sword play and sang this song：
When a man is in the world； O；
He ought to do his best。
And when he's done his best； O。
He ought to have his rest。
And when I have my rest； O；
I'll quaff my wine with zest。
And when I'm drunk as drunk can be； O；
I'll sing the madman's litany。
A burst of applause greeted the song。 By this time it was getting late； and the guest begged to be excused。
〃The wine is too much for me；〃 said Jiang Gan。
His host bade them clear the table。
As all the others left； Zhou Yu said； 〃It has been many a day since I shared a couch with my friend； but we will do so tonight。〃
Putting on the appearance of irresponsible intoxication； he led Jiang Gan into the tent and they went to bed。 Zhou Yu simply fell； all dressed as he was； and lay there emitting uncouth grunts and groans； so that to the guest sleep was impossible。
Jiang Gan lay and listened to the various camp noises without and his host's thunderous snores within。 About the second watch he rose and looked at his friend by the dim light of the small lamp。 He also saw on the table a heap of papers； and ing out and looking at them furtively； he saw they were letters。 Among them he saw one marked as ing from Cai Mao and Zhang Yun； Cao Cao's Supreme Admiral and Vice…Admiral。 He read it and this is what it said：
〃We surrendered to Cao Cao； not for the sake of pay but under stress of circumstances。 Now we have been able to hold these northern soldiers into this naval camp but； as soon as occasion offers； we mean to have the rebel's head to offer as a sacrifice to your banner。 From time to time there will be reports as occasions serve； but you may trust us。 This is our humble reply to your letter。〃
〃Those two were connected with the South Land in the beginning；〃 thought Jiang Gan； so he secreted the letter in his dress and began to examine the others。 But at that moment Zhou Yu turned over； and so Jiang Gan hastily blew out the light and went to his couch。
Zhou Yu was muttering as he lay there as if dreaming； saying； 〃Friend； I am going to let you see Cao Cao's head in a day or two。〃
Jiang Gan hastily made some reply to load on his host to say more。 Then came； 〃Wait a few days； you will see Cao Cao's head。 The old wretch！〃
Jiang Gan tried to question him as to what he meant； but Zhou Yu was fast asleep and seemed to hear nothing。 Jiang Gan lay there on his couch wide awake till the fourth watch was beating。
Then someone came in； saying； 〃General； are you awake？〃
At that moment as if suddenly awakened from the deepest slumber； Zhou Yu started up and said； 〃Who is this on the couch？〃
The voice replied； 〃Do you not remember； General？ You asked your old friend to stay the night with you。 It is he； of course。〃
〃I drank too much last night；〃 said Zhou Yu in a regretful tone； 〃and I forgot。 I seldom indulge to excess and am not used to it。 Perhaps I said many things I ought not。〃
The voice went on； 〃A man has arrived from the north。〃
〃Speak lower；〃 said Zhou Yu； and turning toward the sleeper； he called him by name。 But Jiang Gan affected to be sound asleep and made no sign。
Zhou Yu crept out of the tent； while Jiang Gan listened with all his ears。 He heard the man say； 〃Cai Mao and Zhang Yun； the two manders； have e。〃
But listening as he did with straining ears； he could not make out what followed。 Soon after Zhou Yu reentered and again called out his panion's name。 But no reply came； for Jiang Gan was pretending to be in the deepest slumber and to hear nothing。 Then Zhou Yu undressed and went to bed。
As Jiang Gan lay awake； he remembered that Zhou Yu was known to be meticulously careful in affairs； and if in the morning Zhou Yu found that a letter had disappeared； he would certainly slay the offender。 So Jiang Gan lay there till near daylight and then called out to his host。 Getting no reply； he rose； dressed； and stole out of the tent。 Then he called his servant and made for the camp gate。
〃Whither are you going； Sir？〃 said the watchmen at the gate。
〃I fear I am in the way here；〃 replied Jiang Gan； 〃and so I have taken leave of the mander…in…Chief for a time。 So do not stop me。〃
He found his way to the river bank and reembarked。 Then； with flying oars； he hastened back to Cao Cao's camp。 When he arrived； Cao Cao asked at once how he had sped； and he had to acknowledge failure。
〃Zhou Yu is very clever and perfectly high…minded；〃 said Jiang Gan。 〃Nothing that I could say moved him in the least。〃
〃Your failure makes me look ridiculous；〃 said Cao Cao。
〃Well； if I did not win over Zhou Yu； I found out something for you。 Send away these people； and I will tell you；〃 said Jiang Gan。
The servants were dismissed； and then Jiang Gan produced the letter he had stolen from Zhou Yu's tent。 He gave it to Cao Cao。 Cao Cao was very angry and sent for Cai Mao and Zhang Yun at once。
As soon as they appeared； he said； 〃I want you two to attack。〃
Cai Mao replied； 〃But the soldiers are not yet sufficiently trained。〃
〃The soldiers will be well enough trained when you have sent my head to Zhou Yu； eh？〃
Both manders were dumb…founded； having not the least idea what this meant。 They remained silent for they had nothing to say。 Cao Cao bade the executioners lead them away to instant death。 In a short time their heads were produced。
By this time Cao Cao had thought over the matter； and it dawned upon him that he had been tricked。 A poem says：
No one could stand against Cao Cao；
Of sin he had full share；
But Zhou Yu was more treacherous；
And caught him in a snare。
Two manders to save their lives；
Betrayed a former lord；
Soon after； as was very met。
Both fell beneath the sword。
The death of these two naval manders caused much consternation in the camp； and all their colleagues asked the reason for their sudden execution。 Though Cao Cao knew they had been victimized； he would not acknowledge it。
So he said； 〃These two had been remiss； and so had been put to death。〃
The others were aghast； but nothing could be done。 Two other officers； Mao Jie and Yu Jin； were put in mand of the naval camp。
Spies took the news to Zhou Yu； who was delighted at the success of his ruse。
〃Those two Cai Mao and Zhang Yun were my only source of anxiety；〃 said he。 〃Now they are gone： I am quite happy。〃
Lu Su said； 〃General； if you can continue like this； you need not fear Cao Cao。〃
〃I do not think any of them saw my game；〃 said Zhou Yu； 〃except Zhuge Liang。 He beats me； and I do not think this ruse was hidden from him。 You go and sound him。 See if he knew。〃
Zhou Yu's treacherous plot succeeded well；
Dissension sown； his rivals fell。
Drunk with success was he； but sought
To know what cynic Zhuge Liang thought。
What passed between Lu Su and Zhuge Liang will next be related。
Main Next to Chapter 46 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 46
Chapter 46
Using Strategy； Zhuge Liang Borrows Arrows；
Joining A Ruse； Huang Gai Accepts Punishment。
Lu Su departed on his mission and found Zhuge Liang seated in his little craft。
〃There has been so much to do that I have not been able to e to listen to your instructions；〃 said Lu Su。
〃That is truly so；〃 said Zhuge Liang； 〃and I have not yet congratulated the mander…in…Chief。〃
〃What have you wished to congratulate him upon？〃
〃Why Sir； the matter upon which he sent you to find out whether I knew about it or not。 Indeed I can congratulate him on that。〃
Lu Su turned pale and gasped； saying； 〃But how did you know； Master？〃
〃The ruse succeeded well thus played off on Jiang Gan。 Cao Cao has been taken in this once； but he will soon rise to it。 Only he will not confess his mistake。 However； the two men are gone； and the South Land is freed from a grave anxiety。 Do you not think that is a matter for congratulation？ I hear Mao Jie and Yu Jin are the new admirals； and in their hands lie both good and evil for the fate of the northern fleet。〃
Lu Su was quite dumbfounded。 He stayed a little time longer passing the time in making empty remarks； and then took his leave。
As he was going away； Zhuge Liang cautioned him； saying； 〃Do not let Zhou Yu know that I know his ruse。 If you let him know； he will seek some chance to do me harm。〃
Lu Su promised。 Nevertheless he went straight to his chief and related the whole thing just as it happened。
〃Really he must be got rid of；〃 said Zhou Yu。 〃I have quite decided to put the man out of the way。〃
〃If you slay him； will not Cao Cao laugh at you？〃
〃Oh； no； I will find a legitimate way of getting rid of him so that he shall go to his death without resentment。〃
〃But how can you find a legitimate way of assassinating him？〃
〃Do not ask too much。 You will see presently。〃
Soon after all the officers were summoned to the main tent； and Zhuge Liang's presence was desired。 He went contentedly en