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tion and tell them I am dead。 That will cause them to try a night raid on the camp； and we shall have an ambush ready for them。 We shall get Cao Ren easily。〃
〃The plan seems excellent；〃 said Cheng Pu。
Soon from the tent there arose the sound of wailing as for the dead。 The soldiers around took up the cry and said one to another； 〃The General is dead of his wound；〃 and they all put on the symbols of mourning。
Meanwhile Cao Ren was consulting with his officers。
Said he； 〃Zhou Yu lost his temper； and that has caused his wound to reopen and brought on that flow of blood。 You saw him fall to the ground； and he will assuredly die soon。〃
Just then there came in one who said that a few men had e over from the enemy asking to be allowed to join the army of Cao Ren。 Among them were two of Cao Cao's men who had been made prisoners。 Cao Ren sent for the deserters and questioned them。
They told him； saying； 〃Zhou Yu's wound reopened at his anger； and he died in the camp that day。 The leaders are all clothing in white and in mourning。 We desert because we have been put to shame by the second in mand。〃
Pleased at this news； Cao Ren at once began to arrange to make a night attack on the camp and； if possible； get the head of the dead general to send to the capital。
〃Success depends upon promptitude； so act without delay；〃 said Chen Jiao。
Niu Jin was told off as Van Leader； Cao Ren himself led the center； while the rear was manded by Cao Hong and Cao Chun。 Chen Jiao and a small force were left to guard Nanjun。
At the first watch they left the city and took the way toward Zhou Yu's camp。 When they drew near； not a soldier was visible in the camp； but flags and banners and spears were all there； evidently to keep up an appearance of preparation。 Feeling at once that they had been tricked； they turned to retreat。
But a bomb exploded； and this was the signal for an attack on all four sides。 Han Dang and Jiang Qin pressed in from the east； Zhou Tai and Pan Zhang； from the west； Chen Wu and Lu Meng； from the north； and Xu Sheng and Ding Feng； from the south。 The result was a severe defeat for the raiders； and the army of Cao Ren was entirely broken and scattered abroad so that no one part of the beaten army could aid the other。
Cao Ren； with a few horsemen got out of the press and presently met Cao Hong。 The two leaders ran away together； and by the fifth watch they had got near Nanjun。 Then they heard a beating of drums； and Ling Tong appeared barring the way。 There was a small skirmish； and Cao Ren went off at an angle。 But he fell in with Gan Ning； who attacked him vigorously。 Cao Ren dared not go back to Nanjun； but he made for Xiangyang along the main road。 The forces of the South Land pursued him for a time and then desisted。
Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu then made their way to Nanjun where they were startled to see flags on the walls and every sign of occupation。
Before they had recovered from their surprise； there appeared one who cried； 〃Pardon； General！ I had orders from the Directing Instructor to take this city。 I am Zhao Yun of Changshan。〃
Zhou Yu was fiercely angry and gave orders to assault the city； but the defenders sent down flights and flights of arrows； and his troops could not stay near the rampart。 So he withdrew and took counsel。 In the meantime he decided to send Gan Ning with a force of several thousand to capture Jingzhou City； and Ling Tong with another army to take Xiangyang。 Nanjun could be taken later。
But even as these orders were being given； the scouts came in hurriedly to report； saying； 〃After Nanjun fell； Zhuge Liang； suddenly forging a military mission； induced the guards of Jingzhou City to leave it and go to the rescue of Cao Ren。 Whereupon Zhang Fei occupied the capital。〃
Soon after another messenger came； saying； 〃Xiahou Dun； at Xiangyang； received from Zhuge Liang dispatches； supported by a mission in due form； saying that Cao Ren was in danger and needed help； whereupon Xiahou Dun marched off； and Guan Yu seized that city。〃
Thus the two cities that Zhou Yu wanted had fallen； without the least effort； into the hands of his rival Liu Bei。
〃How did Zhuge Liang get this military mission with which he has imposed on the generals？〃 asked Zhou Yu。
Cheng Pu replied； 〃He seized that of Chen Jiao and so has got all this region into his power。〃
Zhou Yu uttered a great cry； for at that moment his wound had suddenly burst open。
A city falls； but not to us the gain；
The guerdon is another's； ours the pain。
The next chapter will say what befell Zhou Yu。
Main Next to Chapter 52 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 52
Chapter 52
Zhuge Liang Negotiates With Lu Su；
Zhao Yun Captures Guiyang。
Zhou Yu's anger at seeing that his rival； Zhuge Liang； had surprised Nanjun； and at hearing the same news of Jingzhou and Xiangyang； was but natural。 And this sudden fit of rage caused his wound to reopen。 However； he soon recovered。 All his officers besought him to accept the situation。
But he said； 〃What but the death of that bumpkin Zhuge Liang will assuage my anger？ If Cheng Pu can but aid me in an attack on Nanjun； I can certainly restore it to the South Land。〃
Soon Lu Su came in； to whom Zhou Yu said； 〃I simply must fight Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang till it is decided which shall have the upper hand。 I must also recapture the cities。 Perhaps you can assist me。〃
〃It cannot be done；〃 replied Lu Su。 〃We are now at grips with Cao Cao； and victory or defeat is undecided。 Our lord has not been successful in overing Hefei。 Do not fight near home； or it will be like people of the same household destroying each other。 Should Cao Cao take advantage of this position to make a sudden descent； we should be in a parlous condition。 Further； you must remember that Liu Bei and Cao Cao are united by the bonds of old friendship。 If the pressure bees too great； Liu Bei may relinquish these cities； offer them to Cao Cao； and join forces with him to attack the south。 That would be a real misfortune。〃
〃I cannot help being angry；〃 said Zhou Yu； 〃to think that we should have used our resources for their benefit。 They get all the advantage。〃
〃Well； let me go and see Liu Bei and talk reason to him。 If I can arrive at no understanding； then attack at once。〃
〃Excellent proposal！〃 cried all present。
So Lu Su； with his escort； went away to Nanjun to carry out his proposal and try to arrange matters。 He reached the city wall and summoned the gate； whereat Zhao Yun came out to speak with him。
〃I have something to say to Liu Bei；〃 said he。 〃I wish to see him。〃
〃My lord and Zhuge Liang are in Jingzhou；〃 was the reply。
Lu Su turned away and hasted to Jingzhou。 He found the walls bedecked with flags and everything in excellent order。 In his heart he admired the sight； and thought what an able person was the mander of that army。
The guards reported his arrival； and Zhuge Liang ordered them to throw wide the gate。 Lu Su was led to the government house and； after the usual exchange of salutes； Zhuge Liang and his visitor took their respective seats。
Having finished the tea； Lu Su said； 〃My master； Marquis Sun Quan； and the mander of his army； Zhou Yu； have sent me to lay before the Imperial Uncle their views。 When Cao Cao led his huge host southward； he gave out that it was for the conquest of the South Land。 But really his intention was to destroy Liu Bei。 Happily our army was able to repulse that mighty host and so saved him。 Wherefore Jingzhou with its nine territories of forty…two counties ought to belong to us。 But by a treacherous move； your master has occupied Jingzhou and Xiangyang； so that we have spent our treasure in vain and our armies have fought to no purpose。 The Imperial Uncle has reaped the benefits to the full。 This is not as it should be。〃
Zhuge Liang replied； 〃Lu Su； you are a man of high intelligence。 Why do you hold such language？ You know the saying that all things return to their owner。 These places have never belonged to the South Land； but were of the patrimony of Liu Biao； and though he is dead； his son remains。 Should not the uncle assist the nephew to recover his own？ Could my master have refrained？〃
〃If the nephew Liu Qi； the rightful heir； had occupied these cities； there would have been something to say。 But he is at Jiangxia and not here。〃
〃Would you like to see him？〃 said Zhuge Liang。
At the same time he ordered the servants to request Liu Qi to e。 Thereupon Liu Qi at once appeared； supported by two attendants。
Addressing Lu Su； Liu Qi said； 〃I am too weak to perform the correct ceremonies。 I pray you pardon me； Lu Su。〃
Lu Su said not a word。 He was too much taken aback。 However； he recovered himself presently and said； 〃But if the heir had not been here； what then？〃
〃The heir is living but from day to day。 Should he go； then………there will be something to talk about。〃
〃Should he die； then you ought to return these cities to us。〃
〃You state the exact facts；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
Then a banquet was prepared and； that over； Lu Su took his leave。 He hastened back to his own camp and gave Zhou Yu an account of his mission。
〃But what is there for us in the chance of Liu Qi's death？〃 said Zhou Yu。 〃He is in his very first youth。 When will these places fall to us？〃
〃Rest content； General。 L