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I should e to harm。 Should I be defeated； the state would totter； and so I may not risk real misfortune for the sake of an empty reputation for kindness。 There be some of you who do not know my heart。〃
As he closed； they all rose and bowed their heads； saying； 〃None are your equals； O Prime Minister； not even Duke of Zhou* or the great Minister Yi Yin*。〃
A poem has been written referring to this：
Had Duke Zhou； the virtuous； died； while foul…mouthed slander
was spreading vile rumors；
Or Wang Mang； the treacherous； while he was noted for the
deference paid to learned men；
None would have known their real characters。
After this oration Cao Cao drank many cups of wine in quick succession till he became very intoxicated。 He bade his servants bring him brush and inkstone so that he might pose a poem。
But as he was beginning to write； they announced； 〃The Marquis of Wu has sent Hua Xin as an envoy and presented a memorial to appoint Liu Bei Imperial Protector of Jingzhou。 Sun Quan's sister is now Liu Bei's wife； while on the River Han； the greater part of the nine territories is under Liu Bei's rule。〃
Cao Cao was seized with quaking fear at the news and threw the pen on the floor。
Cheng Yu said to him； 〃O Prime Minister； you have been among fighting soldiers by myriads and in danger from stones and arrows many a time and never quailed。 Now the news that Liu Bei has got possession of a small tract of country throws you into a panic。 Why is it thus？〃
Cao Cao replied； 〃Liu Bei is a dragon among humans。 All his life hitherto he has never found his element； but now that he has obtained Jingzhou： It is as if the dragon； once captive； had escaped to the mighty deep。 There is good reason for me to quake with fear。〃
〃Do you know the reason of the ing of Hua Xin？〃 said Cheng Yu。
〃No； I know not；〃 said the Prime Minister。
〃Liu Bei is Sun Quan's one terror； and Sun Quan would attack Liu Bei were it not for you； O Prime Minister。 Sun Quan feels you would fall upon him while he was smiting his enemy。 Wherefore he has taken this means of calming Liu Bei's suspicions and fears and at the same time directing your enmity toward Liu Bei and from himself。〃
Cao Cao nodded。 〃Yes；〃 he said。
Cheng Yu continued； 〃Now this is my plan to set Sun Quan and Liu Bei at one another and give you the opportunity to destroy both。 It can be done easily。〃
〃What is your plan？〃 asked Cao Cao。
〃The one prop of the South Land is Zhou Yu。 Remove it by memorializing that Zhou Yu be appointed Governor of Nanjun。 Then get Cheng Pu made Governor of Jiangxia； and cause the Emperor to retain this Hua Xin in the capital to await some important post。 Zhou Yu will assuredly attack Liu Bei； and that will be our chance。 Is not the scheme good？〃
〃Friend Cheng Yu； you are a man after my own heart。〃
Wherefore Cao Cao summoned the emissary from the South Land and overwhelmed him with gifts。 That day was the last of the feastings and merry…makings； and Cao Cao； with all the pany； returned to the capital where he forthwith presented a memorial assigning Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu to the governorships of Nanjun and Jiangxia； and Hua Xin was retained at the capital with a post of ministry。
The messenger bearing the missions for their new offices went down to the South Land； and both Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu accepted the appointments。 Having taken over his mand； the former thought all the more of the revenge he contemplated and； to bring matters to a head； he wrote to Sun Quan asking him to send Lu Su and renew the demand for the rendition of Jingzhou。
Wherefore Lu Su was summoned； and his master said to him； 〃You are the guarantor in the loan of Jingzhou to Liu Bei。 He still delays to return it； and how long am I to wait？〃
〃The writing said plainly that the rendition would follow the occupation of Yizhou。〃
Sun Quan shouted back； 〃Yes； it said so！ But so far they have not moved a soldier to the attack。 I will not wait till old age has e to us all。〃
〃I will go and inquire？〃 said Lu Su。
So he went down into a ship and sailed to Jingzhou。
Meanwhile Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang were at Jingzhou gathering in supplies from all sides； drilling their troops； and training their armies。 From all quarters people of learning flocked to their side。 In the midst of this they heard of Lu Su's ing； and Liu Bei asked Zhuge Liang what he thought。
Zhuge Liang replied； 〃Just lately Sun Quan concerned himself with getting you appointed Imperial Protector of Jingzhou： That was calculated to inspire Cao Cao with fear。 Cao Cao obtained for Zhou Yu the governorship of Nanjun： That was designed to stir up strife between our two houses and set us fighting so that he might acplish his own ends。 This visit of Lu Su means that Zhou Yu； having taken over his new governorship； wishes to force us out of this place。〃
〃Then how shall we reply？〃
〃If Lu Su introduces the subject； you will at once set up loud lamentations。 When the sound of lamentation is at its height； I will appear and talk over your visitor。〃
Thus they planned； and Lu Su was duly received with all honor。
When the salutations were over and host and guest were about to be seated； Lu Su said； 〃Sir； now that you are the husband of a daughter of Wu； you have bee my lord； and I dare not sit in your presence。〃
Liu Bei laughed。 〃You are an old friend；〃 said he。 〃Why this excessive humility？〃
So Lu Su took his seat。 And when tea had been served； the guest said； 〃I have e at the order of my master to discuss the subject of Jingzhou。 You； O Imperial Uncle； have had the use of the place for a long time。 Now that your two houses are allied by marriage； there should be the most friendly relations between you two； and you should hand it back to my master。〃
At this Liu Bei covered his face and began to cry。
〃What is the matter？〃 asked the guest。
Liu Bei only wept the more bitterly。
Then Zhuge Liang came in from behind a screen； saying； 〃I have been listening。 Do you know why my lord weeps so bitterly？〃
〃Really I know not。〃
〃But it is easy to see。 When my lord got the temporary occupation of Jingzhou； he gave the promise to return it when he had got the West River Land。 But reflect。 Liu Zhang of Yizhou is my lord's younger brother； and both of them are blood relations of the ruling family。 If my lord were to move an army to capture another region； he fears the blame of the ignorant。 And if he yields this place before he has another； where could he rest？ Yet while he retains this place； it seems to shame you。 The thing is hard on both sides； and that is why he weeps so bitterly。〃
The close of Zhuge Liang's speech seemed to move Liu Bei to greater grief； for he beat his breast and stamped his feet and wept yet more bitterly。
Lu Su attempted to console him； saying； 〃Be not so distressed； O Uncle。 Let us hear what Zhuge Liang can propose。〃
Zhuge Liang said； 〃I would beg you to return to your master and tell him all。 Tell him of this great trouble； and entreat him to let us stay here a little longer。〃
〃But suppose he refuses： What then？〃 said Lu Su。
〃How can he refuse since he is related by marriage to my master？〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃I shall expect to hear glad tidings through you。〃
Lu Su was really the first of generous people。 Seeing Liu Bei in such distress； he could do no other than consent and say he would do so。 Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang both thanked him most cordially； and after a banquet the emissary went down into his ship to return。
On the way Lu Su called in to see Zhou Yu at Chaisang and told him。
But Zhou Yu stamped his foot with rage and said； 〃My friend； you have been fooled again。 Long ago when Liu Bei was dependent on Liu Biao； he always cherished the intention to supplant him。 Think you that he really pities Liu Zhang？ This sort of evasive policy will certainly cause you much trouble。 However； I have a scheme which I think Zhuge Liang will not be able to get the better of。 Only you will have to make another journey。〃
〃I should be pleased to hear your fine scheme；〃 said Lu Su。
〃Do not go to see our master。 Return to Jingzhou and say to Liu Bei that since his family and the Suns are related by marriage； they really form but one house； and since he has qualms about attacking the west； we will do it for him。 Thus； the South Land will march an army under this pretext； but really go to Jingzhou； and we shall take him unprepared。 The road to the west runs through his city； and we will call upon him for supplies。 He will e out to thank the army； and we will assassinate him whereby we shall revenge ourselves and at the same time remove a source of future evil。〃
This seemed an excellent plan to Lu Su； and he returned at once to Jingzhou。 Before receiving him； Liu Bei talked over the matter with his adviser。
Said Zhuge Liang； 〃Lu Su has not seen the Marquis of Wu。 He has called in at Chaisang； and he and Zhou Yu have decided upon some scheme； which he is to talk you into accepting。 However； let him talk。 You； my lord； only watch me； and when I nod my head； then you agree to whatever he may propose。〃
Lu Su was then admitted and said； 〃The Marquis of Wu praises the noble virtue of the Imperial Uncle； and after consultation with his officers； he has determined to take the western country on the Imperial Uncle's behalf and； that done； Jingzhou can be