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termined to take the western country on the Imperial Uncle's behalf and； that done； Jingzhou can be exchanged for it without further delay。 However； when the army marches through； it will be expected of you to contribute some necessary supplies。〃
Zhuge Liang here nodded his head rapidly； at the same time saying； 〃We could hardly have hoped for such kindness。〃
And Liu Bei saluted with joined hands and said； 〃This is due to your friendly efforts on our behalf。〃
〃When the brave army arrives； we shall certainly e out to meet it and entertain the soldiers；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
Lu Su felt great satisfaction and was quite happy at his success。 He took his leave and went homeward。 But Liu Bei as yet did not understand。
〃What is their intention？〃 said he。
His adviser smiled； saying； 〃Zhou Yu's end is very near。 The ruse he is now trying would not take in a child。〃
〃Why？〃
〃This is the ruse known as 'Borrow a Road to Destroy the Host'。 Under the pretense of taking the west； they intend to capture this place； and when you go out to pliment the army； you will be seized and they will dash into the city which they hope to find unprepared。〃
〃And what are we to do？〃
〃Have no anxiety； my lord。 All we have to do is to prepare a hidden bow to get the fierce tiger； to spread the enticing bait to hook the great leviathan。 Wait till Zhou Yu es。 If he is not killed； he will be nine…tenths a corpse。 We will call in Zhao Yun for orders and give him secret instructions； and I will dispose the others。〃
And Liu Bei was glad。
Let Zhou Yu lay what plans he will；
Zhuge Liang anticipates his skill；
That land of rivers fair bait did look；
But he forgot the hidden hook。
Lu Su hastened back to Zhou Yu to tell him that all was going as he desired and Liu Bei would e out to wele the army。
Zhou Yu laughed with glee； saying； 〃At last！ Now they will fall into my trap。〃
Zhou Yu bade Lu Su prepare a petition for the information of the Marquis； and he ordered Cheng Pu to bring up reinforcements。 He himself had nearly recovered from the arrow wound and felt well。 He made his dispositions for the advance； appointing Gan Ning Van Leader； Xu Sheng and Ding Feng the manders of the body； and Ling Tong and Lu Meng Rear Guards。 The army numbered fifty thousand troops； and Zhou Yu marched with the second division。 While voyaging in his ship； he was always smiling to think how he was to have Zhuge Liang at last。
At Xiakou he inquired； 〃Is there anyone to wele the brave army？〃
They told him； 〃The Imperial Uncle has sent Mi Zhu to greet us。〃
And Mi Zhu was called。
〃What of the preparations for the army？〃 asked Zhou Yu as soon as Mi Zhu came。
〃My master has seen to that。 All is prepared；〃 said Mi Zhu。
〃Where is the Imperial Uncle？〃 asked Zhou Yu。
〃He is at the city of Jingzhou； waiting outside the walls to offer you the cup of greeting。〃
〃This expedition is on your account；〃 said Zhou Yu。 〃When one undertakes so long a march and such a task； the rewards for the army must be very substantial。〃
Having got this idea of what Zhou Yu expected； Mi Zhu returned to his own city； while the southern battle ships in close order sailed up the river and took their places along the bank。 As they went on； the most perfect tranquillity seemed to reign on all sides。 Not a ship was visible anywhere； and no one hindered。 Zhou Yu pressed forward till he came quite near Jingzhou； and still the wide river lay calm。 But the spies who came back reported two white flags flying on the city walls。
Still not a person was seen； and Zhou Yu began to feel suspicious。 He had his ship navigated in shore； and he himself landed on the bank； where he mounted a horse and； with a small army of three thousand veterans under Gan Ning； Xu Sheng； and Ding Feng； traveled along the land road。
By and bye he came to the city wall。 There was no sign of life。 Reining in his steed； he bade them challenge the gate。
Then someone from the wall asked； 〃Who is there？〃
The soldiers of the South Land replied； 〃The mander…in…Chief of the South Land； Zhou Yu； in person。〃
Immediately was heard the thud of a club； and the wall became alive with troops all armed。 And from the tower came out Zhao Yun who said； 〃Why are you here； General？〃
〃I am going to take the west for you；〃 replied Zhou Yu。 〃Do you not know？〃
〃The Directing Instructor knows that you want to try the ruse of 'Borrow a Road to Destroy the Host'。 And so he stationed me here。 And my master bade me say that he and the ruler of the West River Land are both members of the reigning family so that he could not think of such baseness as attacking Yizhou。 If you people of the South Land do so； he will be forced to go away into the mountains and bee a recluse。 He could not bear to lose the confidence of humankind。〃
At this Zhou Yu turned his horse as if to return。 Just then his scouts came up to report： 〃Armed bands are moving toward us from all four sides； led by Guan Yu； Zhang Fei； Huang Zhong； and Wei Yan。 Their number is unknown； but the sound of their tramping shakes the heavens。 They say they want to capture the mander…in…Chief。〃
At these tidings Zhou Yu's excitement became so intense that he fell to the ground with a great cry； and the old wound reopened。
The game was now too deep； in vain he sought
A countermove； his efforts came to nought。
Later chapters will show what was Zhou Yu's fate。
Main Next to Chapter 57 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 57
Chapter 57
Sleeping Dragon Mourns At Chaisang；
Young Phoenix Intervenes At Leiyang。
In the last chapter it was said that a sudden rage filled the bosom of Zhou Yu； and he fell to the ground。 Then he was carried to his boat。 It only added to his rage and mortification to be told that Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang could be seen on the top of one of the hills apparently feasting and enjoying some music。 He lay grinding his teeth with vexation。
〃They say I shall never be able to get Yizhou！ But I will………I swear I will。〃
Soon after Sun Quan's brother Sun Hu arrived； and Zhou Yu told him his vexations。
〃My brother sent me to assist you；〃 said Sun Hu。
Zhou Yu ordered Sun Hu to press the army forward for Yizhou； and they got to Baqiu。 There they stopped； for the scouts reported large forces under Liu Bei's generals………Liu Feng and Guan Ping………barring the water route in the Great River。 This failure did not make the mander…in…Chief any calmer。
About this time a letter from Zhuge Liang arrived； which ran like this：
〃Since our parting at Chaisang I have thought of you often。 Now es to me a report that you desire to take the West River Land； which I regret to say I consider impossible。 The people there are strong； and the country is precipitous and defensible。 Imperial Protector Liu Zhang may be weak within； but he is strong enough to defend himself。
〃Now indeed； General； you would go far and you would render great services； yet can anyone foretell the final result？ No； not even Wu Qi the Great General could say for certain； nor could Sun Zi the Famed Strategist be sure of a successful issue。 Cao Cao suffered severe defeat at the Red Cliffs。 Think you he will ever cease to hope for revenge？ Now if you undertake a long expedition； will he not seize the occasion to fall upon the South Land and grind it to powder？ Such a deed would be more than I could bear； and I venture to warn you of the possible danger if haply you may condescend to regard it。〃
The letter made Zhou Yu feel very sorrowful； and he sighed deeply。 He called for paper and ink and wrote to the Marquis of Wu。
Having done this； he said to his assembled officers； 〃I have honestly tried to do my best for our house； but my end is at hand。 The number of my days is acplished。 You must continue to aid our master till his end shall be achieved…〃
He stopped； for he had swooned。
Slowly he regained consciousness； and as he looked up to heaven； he sighed heavily； 〃O God； since thou made Zhou Yu； why did thou also create Zhuge Liang？〃
Soon after he passed away。 He was only thirty…six。
The battle at the Red Cliffs made him famous；
Though young in years he gained a veteran's reputation。
Deep feeling； his music declared its intensity；
Subtle； with excess hospitality he foiled a plot；
Persuasive； he obtained a large gift of grain from Lu Su；
Capable； he led an army of millions。
Baqiu was his deathbed； there his fate met him。
Sadly indeed they mourned him。
After his death his generals sent his dying memorial to the Marquis of Wu； who was most deeply affected and wept aloud at the sad tidings of his death。 When Sun Quan opened the letters； he saw that Lu Su was named as the dead general's successor； This is the letter：
〃Possessing but ordinary abilities； there was no reason why I should have been the recipient of your confidence and high office； but I have not spared myself in the leadership of the great army under my mand that thereby I might prove my gratitude。 Yet none can measure life； and the number of our days is ordained by fate。 Before I could achieve even my poor intentions； my feeble body has failed me。 I regret it without measure。 I die with Cao Cao threatening and our northern borders disturbed； and with Liu Bei in your family as though you were feeding a fierce tiger。 None can foretell the fate of the e