三国演义英文版-第108部分

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ade　many　incursions　into　our　territory。　That　was　the　price　of　peace。　You　surely　would　not　grudge　two　more　women　from　among　the　mon　people。〃
〃You　do　not　know；　Sir；〃　replied　Zhou　Yu。　〃Of　those　two　women　of　the　Qiao　family　you　mentioned；　Elder　Qiao　is　the　widow　of　Sun　Ce；　our　late　ruler；　and　Younger　Qiao　is　my　wife！〃
Zhuge　Liang　feigned　the　greatest　astonishment　and　said；　〃No　indeed：　I　did　not　know。　I　blundered………a　deadly　fault………a　deadly　fault！〃
〃One　of　us　two　has　to　go：　Either　the　old　rebel　or　I。　We　shall　not　both　live。　I　swear　that！〃　cried　Zhou　Yu。
〃However；　such　a　matter　needs　a　good　deal　of　thought；〃　replied　Zhuge　Liang。　〃We　must　not　make　any　mistake。〃
Zhou　Yu　replied；　〃I　hold　a　sacred　trust　from　my　late　lord；　Sun　Ce。　I　would　not　bow　the　knee　to　any　such　as　Cao　Cao。　What　I　said　just　now　was　to　see　how　you　stood。　I　left　Poyang　Lake　with　the　intention　of　attacking　the　north；　and　nothing　can　change　that　intention；　not　even　the　sword　at　my　breast　or　the　ax　on　my　neck。　But　I　trust　you　will　lend　an　arm；　and　we　will　smite　Cao　Cao　together。〃
〃Should　I　be　happy　enough　not　to　be　rejected；　I　would　render　such　humble　service　as　I　could。　Perhaps　presently　I　might　be　able　to　offer　a　plan　to　oppose　him。〃
〃I　am　going　to　see　my　lord　tomorrow　to　discuss　this　matter；〃　said　Zhou　Yu。
Zhuge　Liang　and　Lu　Su　then　left。
Next　day　at　dawn　Sun　Quan　went　to　the　council　chamber；　where　his　officials；　civil　and　military；　were　already　assembled。　They　numbered　about　sixty　in　all。　The　civil；　with　Zhang　Zhao　at　their　head；　were　on　the　right；　the　military；　with　Cheng　Pu　as　their　leader；　were　ranged　on　the　left。　All　were　in　full　ceremonial　dress；　and　the　swords　of　the　soldiers　clanked　on　the　pavement。
Soon　Zhou　Yu　entered。
When　Sun　Quan　had　finished　the　usual　gracious　remarks；　Zhou　Yu　said；　〃I　hear　that　Cao　Cao　is　encamped　on　the　river　and　has　sent　a　dispatch　to　you；　my　lord。　I　would　ask　what　your　opinion　is。〃
Thereupon　the　dispatch　was　produced　and　handed　to　Zhou　Yu。
After　reading　it　through　he　said；　smiling；　〃The　old　thief　thinks　there　are　no　people　in　this　land　that　he　writes　in　this　contemptuous　strain。〃
〃What　do　you　think；　Sir？〃　asked　Sun　Quan。
〃Have　you　discussed　this　with　the　officials？〃　asked　Zhou　Yu。
〃We　have　been　discussing　this　for　days。　Some　counsel　surrender　and　some　advise　fight。　I　am　undecided；　and　therefore　I　have　asked　you　to　e　and　decide　the　point。〃
〃Who　advise　surrender？〃　asked　Zhou　Yu。
〃Zhang　Zhao　and　his　party　are　firmly　set　in　this　opinion。〃
Zhou　Yu　then　turned　to　Zhang　Zhao　and　said；　〃I　should　be　pleased　to　hear　why　you　are　for　surrender；　Master。〃
Then　Zhang　Zhao　replied；　〃Cao　Cao　has　been　attacking　all　opponents　in　the　name　of　the　Emperor；　who　is　entirely　in　his　hands。　He　does　everything　in　the　name　of　the　government。　Lately　he　has　taken　Jingzhou　and　thereby　increased　his　prestige。　Our　defense　against　him　was　the　Great　River；　but　now　he　also　has　a　large　fleet　and　can　attack　by　water。　How　can　we　withstand　him？　Wherefore　I　counsel　submission　till　some　chance　shall　offer。〃
〃This　is　but　the　opinion　of　an　ill…advised　student；〃　said　Zhou　Yu。　〃How　can　you　think　of　abandoning　this　country　that　we　have　held　for　three　generations？〃
〃That　being　so；〃　said　Sun　Quan；　〃where　is　a　plan　to　e　from？〃
〃Though　Cao　Cao　assumes　the　name　of　the　Prime　Minister　of　the　empire；　he　is　at　heart　a　rebel。　You；　O　General；　are　able　in　war　and　brave。　You　are　the　heir　to　your　father　and　brother。　You　mand　brave　and　tried　soldiers；　and　you　have　plentiful　supplies。　You　are　able　to　overrun　the　whole　country　and　rid　it　of　every　evil。　There　is　no　reason　why　you　should　surrender　to　a　rebel。
〃Moreover；　Cao　Cao　has　undertaken　this　expedition　in　defiance　of　all　the　rules　of　war。　The　north　is　unsubdued。　Ma　Teng　and　Han　Sui　threaten　his　rear；　and　yet　he　persists　in　his　southern　march。　This　is　the　first　point　against　Cao　Cao。　The　northern　soldiers　are　unused　to　fighting　on　the　water。　Cao　Cao　is　relinquishing　his　well…tried　cavalry　and　trusting　to　ships。　That　is　the　second　point　against　him。　Again；　we　are　now　in　full　winter　and　the　weather　is　at　its　coldest　so　there　is　no　food　for　the　horses。　That　is　the　third　point　against。　Soldiers　from　the　central　state　marching　in　a　wet　country　among　lakes　and　rivers　will　find　themselves　in　an　unaccustomed　climate　and　suffer　from　malaria。　That　is　the　fourth　point　against。　Now　when　Cao　Cao's　armies　have　all　these　points　against　them；　defeat　is　certain；　however　numerous　they　may　be；　and　you　can　take　Cao　Cao　captive　just　as　soon　as　you　wish。　Give　me　a　few　legions　of　veterans；　and　I　will　go　and　destroy　him。〃
Sun　Quan　started　up　from　his　place；　saying；　〃The　rebellious　old　rascal　has　been　wanting　to　overthrow　the　Hans　and　set　up　himself　for　years。　He　has　rid　himself　of　all　those　he　feared；　save　only　myself；　and　I　swear　that　one　of　us　two　shall　go　now。　Both　of　us　cannot　live。　What　you　say；　noble　friend；　is　just　what　I　think；　and　Heaven　has　certainly　sent　you　to　my　assistance。〃
〃Thy　servant　will　fight　a　decisive　battle；〃　said　Zhou　Yu；　〃and　shrink　not　from　any　sacrifice。　Only；　General；　do　not　hesitate。〃
Sun　Quan　drew　the　sword　that　hung　at　his　side　and　slashed　off　a　corner　of　the　table　in　front　of　him；　exclaiming；　〃Let　any　other　person　mention　surrender；　and　he　shall　be　served　as　I　have　served　this　table！〃
Then　he　handed　the　sword　to　Zhou　Yu；　at　the　same　time　giving　him　a　mission　as　mander…in…Chief　and　Supreme　Admiral；　Cheng　Pu　being　Vice…Admiral。　Lu　Su　was　also　nominated　as　Assistant　mander。
In　conclusion　Sun　Quan　said；　〃With　this　sword　you　will　slay　any　officer　who　may　disobey　your　mands。〃
Zhou　Yu　took　the　sword　and　turning　to　the　assembly　said；　〃You　have　heard　our　lord's　charge　to　me　to　lead　you　to　destroy　Cao　Cao。　You　will　all　assemble　tomorrow　at　the　riverside　camp　to　receive　my　orders。　Should　any　be　late　or　fail；　then　the　full　rigor　of　military　law………the　seven　prohibitions　and　the　fifty…four　capital　penalties………there　provided；　will　be　enforced。〃
Zhou　Yu　took　leave　of　Sun　Quan　and　left　the　chamber。　The　various　officers　also　went　their　several　ways。
When　Zhou　Yu　reached　his　own　place；　he　sent　for　Zhuge　Liang　to　consult　over　the　business　in　hand。　He　told　Zhuge　Liang　of　the　decision　that　had　been　taken　and　asked　for　a　plan　of　campaign。
〃But　your　master　has　not　yet　made　up　his　mind；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃Till　he　has；　no　plan　can　be　decided　upon。〃
〃What　do　you　mean？〃
〃In　his　heart；　Sun　Quan　is　still　fearful　of　Cao　Cao's　numbers　and　frets　over　the　inequality　of　the　two　armies。　You　will　have　to　explain　away　those　numbers　and　bring　him　to　a　final　decision　before　anything　can　be　effected。〃
〃What　you　say　is　excellent；〃　said　Zhou　Yu；　and　he　went　to　the　palace　that　night　to　see　his　master。
Sun　Quan　said；　〃You　must　have　something　of　real　importance　to　say　if　you　e　like　this　at　night。〃
Zhou　Yu　said；　〃I　am　making　my　dispositions　tomorrow。　You　have　quite　made　up　your　mind？〃
〃The　fact　is；〃　said　Sun　Quan；　〃I　still　feel　nervous　about　the　disparity　of　numbers。　Surely　we　are　too　few。　That　is　really　all　I　feel　doubtful　about。〃
〃It　is　precisely　because　you　have　this　one　remaining　doubt　that　I　am　e。　And　I　will　explain。　Cao　Cao's　letter　speaks　of　a　million　of　marines；　and　so　you　feel　doubts　and　fears　and　do　not　wait　to　consider　the　real　truth。　Let　us　examine　the　case　thoroughly。　We　find　that　he　has　of　central　regions'　soldiers；　say；　some　one　hundred　fifty　thousand　troops；　and　many　of　them　are　sick。　He　only　got　seventy　or　eighty　thousand　northern　soldiers　from　Yuan　Shao；　and　many　of　those　are　of　doubtful　loyalty。　Now　these　sick　men　and　these　men　of　doubtful　loyalty　seem　a　great　many；　but　they　are　not　at　all　fearsome。　I　could　smash　them　with　fifty　thousand　soldiers。　You；　my　lord；　have　no　further　anxiety。〃
Sun　Quan　patted　his　general　on　the　back；　saying；　〃You　have　explained　my　difficulty　and　relieved　my　doubts。　Zhang　Zhao　is　a　fool　who　constantly　bars　my　expeditions。　Only　you　and　Lu　Su　have　any　real　understanding　of　my　heart。　Tomorrow　you　and　Lu　Su　and　Cheng　Pu　will　start；　and　I　shall　have　a　strong　reserve　ready　with　plentiful　supplies　to　support　you。　If　difficulties　arise；　you　can　at　once　send　for　me；　and　I　will　engage　with　my　own　army。〃
Zhou　Yu　left。　But　in　his　innermost　heart；　he　said　to　himself；　〃If　that　Zhuge　Liang　can　gauge　my　master's　thoughts　so　very　accurately；　he　is　too　clever　for　me　and　will　be　a　danger。　He　will　have　to　be　put　out　of　the　way。〃
Zhou　Yu　sent　a　messenger　over　to　Lu　Su　to　talk　over　this　last　scheme。　When　he　had　laid　it　bare；　Lu　Su　did　not　favor　it。
〃No；　no；〃　said　Lu　Su；　〃it　is　self…destruction　to　make　away　with　your　ablest　officer　before　Cao　Cao　shall　have　been　destroyed。〃
〃But　Zhuge　Liang　will　certainly　help　Liu　Bei　to　our　disadvantage。〃
〃Try　what　his　brother　Zhuge　Jin　can　do　to　persuade　him。　It　would　be　an　excellent　thing　to　have　these　two　in　our　service。〃
〃Yes；　indeed；〃　replied　Zhou　Yu。
Next　morning　at　dawn；　Zhou　Yu　went　to　his　camp　and　took　his　seat　in　the　council　tent。　The　armed　guards　took　up　their　stations　right　and　left；　and　the　officers　ranged　themselves　in　lines　to　listen　to　the　orders。
Now　Cheng　Pu；　who　was　older　than　Zhou　Yu　but　was　made　second　in　mand；　was　very　angry　at　being　passed　over；　so　he　made　a　pretense　of　indisposition　and　stayed　away　from　this　assembly。　But　he　sent　his　eldest　son；　Cheng　Zi；　to　represent　him。
Zhou　Yu　addressed　the　gathering；　saying；　〃The　law　knows　no　partiality；　and　you　will　all　have　to　attend　to　your　several　duties。　Cao　Cao　is　now　more　absolute　than　ever　was　Dong　Zhuo；　and　the　Emperor　is　really　a　prisoner　in　Xuchang；　guarded　by　the　most　cruel　soldiers。　We　have　a　mand　to　destroy　Cao　Cao；　and　with　your　willing　help　we　shall　advance。　The　army　must　cause　no　hardship　to　the　people　anywhere。　Rewards　for　good　service　and　punishments　for　faults　shall　be　given　impartially。〃
Having　delivered　this　charge；　Zhou　Yu　told　off　Han　Dang　and　Huang　Gai　as　Leaders　of　the　Van；　and　ordered　the　ships　under　their　own　mand　to　get　under　way　and　go　to　the　Three　Gorges。　They　would　get　orders　by　and　bye。　Then　he　appointed　four　armies　with　two　leaders　over　each：　The　first　body　was　under　Jiang　Qin　and　Zhou　Tai；　the　second；　Pan　Zhang　and　Ling　Tong；　the　third；　Taishi　Ci　and　Lu　Meng；　the　fourth；　Lu　Xun　and　Dong　Xi。　Lu　Fan　and　Zhu　Zhi　were　appointed　inspectors；　to　move　from　place　to　place　and　keep　the　various　units　up　to　their　work　and　acting　with　due　regard　to　the　general　plan。　Land　and　marine　forces　were　to　move　simultaneously。　The　expedition　would　soon　start。
Having　received　their　orders；　each　returned　to　his　mand　and　busied　himself　in　preparation。　Cheng　Zi；　the　son　of　Cheng　Pu；　returned　and　told　his　father　what　arrangements　had　been　made；　and　Cheng　Pu　was　amazed　at　Zhou　Yu's　skill。
Said　he；　〃I　have　always　despised　Zhou　Yu　as　a　mere　student　who　would　never　be　a　general；　but　this　shows　that　he　has　a　leader's　talent。　I　must　support　him。〃
So　Cheng　Pu　went　over　to　the　quarters　of　the　mander…in…Chief　and　confessed　his　fault。　He　was　received　kindly　and　all　was　over。
Next　Zhou　Yu　sent　for　Zhuge　Jin　and　said　to　him；　〃Evidently　your　brother　is　a　genius；　a　man　born　to　be　a　king's　counselor。　Why　then　does　he　serve　Liu　Bei？　Now　that　he　is　here；　I　wish　you　to　use　every　effort　to　persuade　him　to　stay　with　us。　Thus　our　lord　would　gain　able　support　and　you　two　brothers　would　be　together；　which　would　be　pleasant　for　you　both。　I　wish　yo