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ook his son； Taishi Heng； into his own palace to be brought up。
In Jingzhou； when Liu Bei heard of the series of misfortunes that had befallen Sun Quan and of his retirement to Nanxu； he and Zhuge Liang discussed their plans。
Said Zhuge Liang； 〃I was studying the sky and saw a falling star in the northwest。 The imperial family is to suffer a loss。〃
Zhuge Liang had scarcely said this when they brought news of the death of Liu Qi； son of Liu Biao。
Liu Bei at once began to wail bitterly。
But his adviser said to him； 〃Life and death are beyond our control； wherefore weep not； my lord； for grief harms the body。 Rather consider what is necessary to be done。 Send someone to assume control and make arrangements for the interment。〃
〃Who can go？〃 asked Liu Bei。
〃No other than Guan Yu。〃
So they sent Guan Yu to guard the city of Xiangyang。
Liu Bei at once began to feel troubled about his promise to surrender Jingzhou on the death of Liu Qi。 Zhuge Liang did not consider this a matter of moment。
Zhuge Liang said； 〃I will have somewhat to say to anyone who es to ask fulfillment of the promise。〃
In half a month it was announced that Lu Su would e to mourn at the funeral。
To claim the promise one will e；
But they will send him empty home。
What reply Zhuge Liang made may be read in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 54 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 54
Chapter 54
The Dowager Marchioness Sees Her Son…In…Law；
The Imperial Uncle Takes A Worthy Consort。
Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang went out of the city to wele the envoy of the South Land and led him to the guest…house。
After the usual greetings； Lu Su said； 〃Hearing of the death of your nephew； my lord Sun Quan has prepared some gifts and sent me to take his place at the funeral sacrifices。 General Zhou Yu also sends regards to the Imperial Uncle and to you； Master Zhuge Liang。〃
Both rose at once and thanked him for the courtesy。 Then the gifts were handed over and a banquet prepared； and while it was in progress； the guest brought up the real object of his visit。
〃You said； Sir； that Jingzhou should be returned to us after the death of Liu Qi。 Now that that event has happened； rendition bees due； and I should be glad to know when the transfer can take place。〃
〃We will discuss that later。 In the meantime let us go on with our wine；〃 said Liu Bei。
So the feasting continued。 Some time later Lu Su returned to the subject； but this time his host remained silent。
However； Zhuge Liang； changing color； said； 〃Lu Su； you are unreasonable。 You could not wait till some other has to explain this matter to you。 From the very foundation of the empire by our illustrious ancestor； the great heritage has descended in due course till today when； unhappily； evil doers have risen among the powerful and they have seized upon such portions as they could。 But with God's favor and help； unity is nearly restored。 My lord is a scion of the Imperial House； a great great grandson of Emperor Jing。 Now； as the Emperor's Uncle； should he not have a share of the empire？ Moreover； Liu Biao was my lord's elder brother； and there is certainly nothing extraordinary in one brother's succession to another's estate。
〃What is your master？ The son of a petty official on the banks of the River Qiantang； absolutely without merit so far as the state is concerned。 Just because he is powerful； he holds actual possession of six territories and eighty…one counties； which has whetted his insatiable appetite till he now desires to swallow the whole empire。 The land is the estate of the Liu family and my lord； who is of that name； has no share thereof； while your master； whose name is Sun； would dispute with； and even fight him。 Beside； at the battle at the Red Cliffs my lord did good service and acquired great merit while his manders risked their lives。 Was it solely the strength of your southern soldiers that won that fight？ Had I not brought that southeast wind that meant so much for Zhou Yu； could he have done anything？ Had the South Land been conquered； it is needless to say that the two paramount beauties would now be gracing the Bronze Bird Palace。 And as for yourself and other officers； insignificant though your families be； could you have been sure to survive？ Just now my lord did not reply because he was willing to believe rather that a scholar of your abilities would understand without a detailed explanation； and I trust now that you will。〃
This speech absolutely shut the guest's mouth for a time； and he said no word in reply。 But after an interval he said； 〃What you say； Zhuge Liang； I think is devoid of reason； and means much unpleasantness for me。〃
〃What unpleasantness？〃 asked Zhuge Liang。
The guest replied； 〃When Liu Bei was in serious straits at Dangyang； I conducted you across the river and introduced you to my lord。 I opposed Zhou Yu when he was going to capture Jingzhou； and then it came to agreement that the place was to be ours when the young man died。 And I pledged myself to that。 Now how can I go back and say you break your promise？ Both my lord and Zhou Yu will hold me guilty。 I would not mind death so much； but I fear that my master will be very wrathful and make war on the Imperial Uncle； who will have no place of refuge and he will look ridiculous in the eyes of the world for no reason。〃
Replied Zhuge Liang； 〃I care not for Cao Cao with his million troops and the Emperor in name at his back； and do you think I fear such a youngster as Zhou Yu？ However； as it may cause you some loss of consideration； I will try to persuade my master to put the matter in writing and give you a paper to the effect that he is temporarily occupying Jingzhou as a base。 When he can obtain possession of some other city； this shall be returned to you。 What think you the South Land would say to this？〃
〃Wait till what other place was obtained？〃 said Lu Su。
〃My master can scarcely think of attacking the Middle Land yet； but Liu Zhang in Yizhou is ignorant and weak； and my master will attack him。 If he gets the western region； then this place will be given up to you。〃
Lu Su had no alternative and accepted the offer。 Liu Bei with his own hand wrote the pledge and sealed it。 Zhuge Liang being named as guarantor also signed the document。
〃Since I belong to this side of the pact and one can hardly have a guarantor of the same party； I would trouble you； Lu Su； also to sign。 It will look better when you reach the South Land again；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
Lu Su said； 〃I know that your master is perfectly honorable and will adhere to the bargain。〃
And so Lu Su signed。 Then he received the document in formal style and took his departure。 He was sent off with every mark of great respect； both Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang attending him to his boat。
There the Directing Instructor delivered him a last exhortation； 〃When you see your master； speak discreetly and explain fully so as not to create a bad impression。 If he rejects our document； we may get angry and we will take his whole country。 The one thing now is for our two houses to live in harmony and not give our mon enemy； Cao Cao； an opportunity against us。〃
Lu Su went down into his ship。 He reached Chaisang and there saw Zhou Yu； who said； 〃Well； how did you speed with your demand for Jingzhou？〃
〃Here is the document；〃 said Lu Su； giving it to Zhou Yu to read。
〃You have been victimized by Zhuge Liang！〃 said Zhou Yu； stamping his foot with irritation。 〃In name it may be temporary occupation； but in fact it is humbug。 They say the place is to be returned when they get the west。 Who knows when that will be？ Suppose ten years： Then it will be ten years before they give us Jingzhou。 What is the use of such a document as this？ And you are a guarantor of its due performance！ If they do not give us the city； you get into trouble。 Suppose our lord finds you in the wrong； what then？〃
Lu Su was dumbfounded。 When he had somewhat recovered his self…possession； he said； 〃I think Liu Bei will be true to me。〃
〃You； my friend； are simple and sincere。 Liu Bei is a scoundrel adventurer； and Zhuge Liang is a slippery customer。 They and you are utterly different。〃
〃What then is to be done？〃 cried Lu Su distressfully。
〃You are my dear friend； and your kindness in freely offering your store of grain to relieve my army is still fresh in my memory。 Of course I will save you。 Do not be anxious； but wait a few days till we get news of what is doing on the north of the river； and then we can decide upon a plan。〃
Lu Su passed some very uneasy days。 Then the scouts came back saying that in Jingzhou everything seemed in excellent order and the white flags were flying everywhere； while outside the city they were building a magnificent mausoleum for Lady Gan； wife of Liu Bei。 All the soldiers were in mourning。
When Zhou Yu knew who was dead； he said to Lu Su； 〃My scheme is made。 You will see Liu Bei just stand still to be bound； and we shall get Jingzhou like turning a hand。〃
〃What is the main spring of your plan？〃 said Lu Su。
〃Liu Bei will want to remarry； and our lord has a sister； Sun Ren。 She is a tough lady； whose women guards number many hundreds； all armed with weapons of war。 Her apartments also are full of such things。 I will write to our lord to send an intermediary