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！
〃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 enough。
When all were seated； Zhou Yu suddenly addressed Zhuge Liang； saying； 〃I am going to fight a battle with the enemy soon on the water。 What weapons are the best？〃
〃On a great river arrows are the best；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
〃Your opinion and mine agree。 But at the moment we are short of them。 I wish you would undertake to supply about a hundred thousand arrows for the naval fight。 As it is for the public service； you will not decline； I hope。〃
〃Whatever task the mander…in…Chief lays upon me； I must certainly try to perform；〃 replied Zhuge Liang。 〃May I inquire by what date you require the hundred thousand arrows？〃
〃Could you have them ready in ten days？〃
〃The enemy will be here very soon。 Ten days will be too late；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
〃In how many days do you estimate the arrows can be ready？〃
〃Let me have three days。 Then you may send for your hundred thousand。〃
〃No joking； remember！〃 said Zhou Yu。 〃There is no joking in war time。〃
〃Dare I joke with the mander…in…Chief？ Give me a formal military order。 If I have not pleted the task in three days； I will take my punishment。〃
Zhou Yu； secretly delighted； sent for the secretaries and prepared the mission then and there。
Then he drank to the success of the undertaking and said； 〃I shall have to congratulate you most heartily when this is acplished。〃
〃This day is too late to count；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃On the third from tomorrow morning send five hundred small boats to the river side to convey the arrows。〃
They drank a few more cups together； and then Zhuge Liang took his leave。
After he had gone； Lu Su said； 〃Do you not think there is some deceit about this？〃
〃Clearly it is not I！ It is he who has signed his own death warrant；〃 said Zhou Yu。 〃Without being pressed in the least； he asked for a formal order in the face of the whole assembly。 Even if he grew a pair of wings； he could not escape。 Only I will just order the workers to delay him as much as they can； and not supply him with materials； so that he is sure to fail。 And then； when the certain penalty is incurred； who can criticize？ You can go and inquire about it all and keep me informed。〃
So off went Lu Su to seek Zhuge Liang； who at once reproached him with having blabbed about the former business。
Zhuge Liang said； 〃He wants to hurt me； as you know； and I did not think you could not keep my secret。 And now there is what you saw today； and how do you think I can get a hundred thousand arrows made in three days？ You will simply have to rescue me。〃
〃You brought the misfortune on yourself； and how can I rescue you？〃 said Lu Su。
〃I look to you for the loan of twenty vessels； manned each by thirty people。 I want blue cotton screens and bundles of straw lashed to the sides of the boats。 I have good use for them。 On the third day； I shall undertake to deliver the fixed number of arrows。 But on no account must you let Zhou Yu know； or my scheme will be wrecked。〃
Lu Su consented； and this time he kept his word。 He went to report to his chief as usual； but he said nothing about the boats。
He only said； 〃Zhuge Liang is not using bamboo or feathers or glue or varnish； but has some other way of getting arrows。〃
〃Let us await the three days' limit；〃 said Zhou Yu； puzzled though confident。
On his side Lu Su quietly prepared a score of light swift boats； each with its crew and the blue screens and bundles of grass plete and； when these were ready； he placed them at Zhuge Liang's disposal。
Zhuge Liang did nothing on the first day； nor on the second。 On the third day at the middle of the fourth watch； Zhuge Liang sent a private message asking Lu Su to e to his boat。
〃Why have you sent for me； Sir？〃 asked Lu Su。
〃I want you to go with me to get those arrows。〃
〃Whither are you going？〃
〃Do not ask。 You will see。〃
Then the twenty boats were fastened together by long ropes and moved over to the north bank。 The night proved very foggy and the mist was very dense along the river； so that one person could scarcely see another。 In spite of the fog； Zhuge Liang urged the boats forward as if into the vast fairy kingdom。
There is a poem on these river fogs：
Mighty indeed is the Great River！
Rising far in the west； in the Emei and Min Mountains；
Plowing its way through Wu； east flowing； resistless；
Swelled by its nine tributary streams； rolling down from the far north；
Aided and helped by a hundred rivulets swirling and foaming；
Ocean receives it at last weling； joyful； its waters。
Therein abide sea nymphs and water gods；
Enormous whales a thousand fathoms long；
Nine…headed monstrous beasts； reptiles and octopi；
Demons and uncouth creatures wondrous strange。
In faith it is the home and safe retreat
Of devils and sprites； and wondrous growths；
And eke the battle ground of valiant humans。
At times occur strange strife of elements；
When darkness strives on light's domains that encroach；
Whereat arises in the vaulted dome of blue
White wreaths of fog that toward the center roll。
Then darkness falls； too dense for any torch
Illumine； only clanging sounds can pass。
The fog at first appears； a vaporous wreath
Scarce visible。 But thickening fast； it veils
The Southern Hills； the painted leopard's home。
And spreads afar； until the northern sea
Leviathans are amazed and lose their course。
And denser yet it touches on the sky。
And spreads a heavy mantle over the earth。
Then； wide as is the high pitched arch of heaven；
Therein appears no single rift of blue。
Now mighty whales lead up their spouses to sport
Upon the waves； the sinuous dragons dive
Deep down and； breathing； swell the heaving sea；
The earth is moist as with the early rains；
And spring's creative energy is chilled。
Both far and wide and high the damp fog spreads；
Great cities on the eastern bank are hid；
Wide ports and mountains in the south are lost；
Whole fleets of battle ships； a thousand keels；
Hide in the misty depths； frail fishing boats
High riding on a wave are seen………and lost。
The gloom increases and the domed sky
Grows dark and darker as the sun's light fails。
The daylight dies； dim twilight's reign begins；
The ruddy hills dissolve and lose their hue。
The skill of matchless King Yu would fail to sound
The depth and height； and Li Lou's eye； though keen；
Could never pierce this gloom。
Now is the time； O sea and river gods； to use your powers。
The gliding fish and creeping water folk
Are lost； there is no track for bird or beast。
Fair Penglai Isles are hidden from our sight；
The lofty gates of heaven have disappeared。
Nature is blurred and indistinct； as when
A driving rain storm hurries over the earth。
And then； perhaps； within the heavy haze；
A noisome serpent vents his venom foul
And plagues descend； or impish demons work
Their wicked wills。
Ills fall on humans but do not stay；
Heaven's cleansing breath sweeps them sway；
But while they last the mean ones cry；
The nobler suffer silently。
The greatest turmoil is a sign
Of quick return to state benign。
The little fleet reached Cao Cao's naval camp about the fifth watch； and Zhuge Liang gave orders to form line lying prows west； and then to beat the drums and shout。
〃But what shall we do if they attack us？〃 exclaimed Lu Su。
Zhuge Liang replied with a smile； 〃I think their fleet will not venture out in this fog。 Go on with your wine； and let us be happy。 We will go back when the fog lifts。〃
As soon as the shouting from the river was heard by those in the camp； the two admirals； Mao Jie and Yu Jin； ran off to report to Cao Cao； who said； 〃ing up in a fog like this means that they have prepared an ambush for us。 Do not go out； but get all the force together and shoot at them。〃
He also sent orders to the ground camps to dispatch six thousand of archers and crossbowmen to aid the marines。
The naval forces were then lined up shooting on the bank to prevent a landing。 Presently the soldiers arrived； and ten thousand and more soldiers were shooting down into the river； where the arrows fell like rain。 By and bye Zhuge Liang ordered the boats to turn round so that their prows pointed east and to go closer in so that many arrows might hit them。
Zhuge Liang ordered the drums to be kept beating till the sun was high and the fog began to disperse； when the boats got under way and sailed down stream。 The whole twenty boats were bristling with arrows on both sides。
As they left； Zhuge Liang asked all the crews to shout derisively； 〃We thank you； Sir Prime Minister； for the arrows！〃
They told Cao Cao； but by the time he came； the light boats helped by the swift current were seven miles long down the river and pursuit was impossible。 Cao Cao saw that he had been duped and was very sorry； but there was no help for it。
On the way down Zhuge Liang said to his panion； 〃Every boat must have five or six thousand arrows and so； without the expenditure of an ounce of energy； we must have more than ten myriad arrows； which tomorrow can be shot back again at Cao Cao's army to his great inconvenience。〃
〃You are really superhuman；〃 said Lu Su。 〃But how did you know there would be a thick fog today？〃
〃One canno