Romance of Three Kingdoms Written by: Luo Guanzhong Translated by: C.H. Brewitt Taylor Ebook design by: DW Three Kingdoms Romance of Three Kingdoms Chapter 43 that we go on a great hunting expedition into Jiangxia and Zhuge Liang Disputes With The Southern Scholars; together attack Liu Bei. We will share his land between us, Lu Su Denounces The Majority Opinion. and we will swear perpetual amity. If happily you would not be a mere looker-on, I pray you reply quickly.” In the boat on the way to Chaisang, the two travelers “What have you decided upon, my lord?” asked Lu Su as beguiled the time by discussing affairs. he finished the letter. Lu Su impressed upon his companion, saying, “When you “I have not yet see my master, do not reveal the truth about the magnitude decided.” of Cao Cao’s army.” Then Zhang Zhao “You do not have to remind me,” replied Zhuge Liang, said, “It would be “but I shall know how to reply.” imprudent to withstand When the boat arrived, Zhuge Liang was lodged in the Cao Cao’s hundred guests’ quarters, and Lu Su went alone to see his master. legions backed by the Lu Su found Sun Quan actually at a council, assembled to imperial authority. consider the situation. Lu Su was summoned thereto and Moreover, your most questioned at once upon what he had discovered. important defense “I know the general outline, but I want a little time to against him is the prepare my report,” replied Lu Su. Great River; and Then Sun Quan produced Cao Cao’s letter and gave it since Cao Cao has to Lu Su. gained possession of “That came yesterday. I have sent the bearer of it back, Jingzhou, the river is Zhang Zhao and this gathering is to consider the reply,” said he. his ally against us. We cannot withstand him, and the only Lu Su read the letter: way to tranquillity, in my opinion, is submission.” “When I, the Prime “The words of the speaker accord with the manifest Minister, received the decree of providence,” echoed all the assembly. imperial command Sun Quan remaining silent and thoughtful. to punish a fault, my Zhang Zhao again took up the argument, saying, “Do not banners went south hesitate, my lord. Submission to Cao Cao means tranquillity and Liu Zong became to the people of the South Land and safety for the inhabitants my prisoner, while the of the six territories.” people of Jingzhou Sun Quan still remained silent. His head bent in deep flocked to my side at the thought. Presently he arose and paced slowly out at the first rumor of my coming. Under my hand are one million door, and Lu Su followed him. strong and a thousand able leaders. My desire is, General, Outside he took Lu Su by the hand, saying, “What do Chapter 43 Romance of Three Kingdoms you desire?” Cao’s army.” “What they have all been saying is very derogatory to Zhuge Liang smiled, saying, “I shall act as circumstances you. A common person might submit. You cannot.” dictate. You may be sure I shall make no mistakes.” “Why? How do you explain that?” Zhuge Liang “If people like us servants submitted, we would just was then conducted return to our village or continue holding our offices, and to where the high everything would go on as before. If you submit, whither officers, civil and will you go? You will be created a lord of some humble fief, military to the perhaps. You will have one carriage, no more; one saddle number of forty horse, that is all. Your retinue will be some ten. Will you be and more, were able to sit facing the south and call yourself by the kingly assembled. They title of ‘The Solitary’? Each one in that crowd of hangers-on formed a dignified is thinking for himself, is purely selfish, and you should not conclave as they listen to them, but take a line of your own and that quickly. sat in stately ranks with their tall headdresses and broad Determine to play a bold game!” girdles. Sun Quan sighed, “They all talk and talk: They miss my Zhang Zhao sat at the head, and Zhuge Liang first saluted point of view. Now you have just spoken of a bold game, him. Then, one by one, he exchange the formal courtesies and your view is the same as mine. Surely God has expressly with them all. This done he took his seat in the guest’s sent you to me. Still Cao Cao is now the stronger by all chair. Yuan Shao’s and Liu Biao’s armies, and he has possession They, on their part, noted with interest Zhuge Liang’s of Jingzhou. I fear he is almost too powerful to contend refined and elegant manner and his commanding figure, with.” thinking within themselves, “Here is a persuader fitted for “I have brought back with me Zhuge Liang, the younger discourse.” brother of our Zhuge Jin. If you questioned him, he would Zhang Zhao led the way in trying to bait the visitor. He explain clearly.” said, “You will pardon the most insignificant of our official “Is Master Sleeping Dragon really here?” circle, myself, if I “Really here, in the guest-house.” mention that people “It is too late to see him today. But tomorrow I will say you compare assemble my officials, and you will introduce him to all my yourself with those best. After that we will debate the matter.” two famous men of With these instructions Lu Su retired. talent, Guan Zhong Next day he went to the guest-house and conveyed Sun and Yue Yi. Is there Quan’s commands to the guest, particularly saying, “When any truth in this?” you see my master, say nothing of the magnitude of Cao “To a trifling Chapter 43 Romance of Three Kingdoms extent I have compared myself with them,” replied Zhuge human; he should bring good to everybody and remove all Liang. evil; rebellion and robbery would be no more. Poor Liu Bei, “I have heard that Liu Bei made three journeys to visit before he obtained your help, was an outcast and a vagabond, you when you lived in retirement in your simple dwelling in stealing a city here and there where he could. With you to the Sleeping Dragon Ridge, and that when you consented to help him, he was to become the cynosure of every eye, and serve him, he said he was as lucky as a fish in getting home every lisping school child was to say that he was a tiger who to the ocean. Then he desired to possess the region about had grown wings; the Hans were to be restored and Cao Jingzhou. Yet today all that country belongs to Cao Cao. I Cao and his faction exterminated; the good old days would should like to hear your account of all that.” be restored, and all the people who had been driven into Zhuge Liang thought, “This Zhang Zhao is Sun Quan’s retirement by the corruption of political life would wake up, first adviser. Unless I can nonplus him, I shall never have a rub the sleep out of their eyes, and be in readiness to lift the chance with his master.” cloud of darkness that covered the sky and gaze up at the So he replied, “In my opinion the taking of the region glorious brilliancy of the sun and moon, to pull the people around the Han River was as simple as turning over one’s out of fire and water and put all the world to rest on a couch hand. But my master Liu Bei is both righteous and humane of comfort. That was all supposed to happen forthwith. and would not stoop to filching the possession of a member “Why then, when you went to Xinye, did not Cao Cao’s of his own house. So he refused the offer of succession. But army throw aside their arms and armors and flee like Liu Zong, a stupid lad, misled by specious words, submitted rats? Why could you not have told Liu Biao how to give to Cao Cao and fell victim to his ferocity. My master is in tranquillity to his people? Why could you not aid his orphan camp at Jiangxia, but what his future plans may be cannot son to protect his frontiers? Instead you abandoned Xinye be divulged at present.” and fled to Fancheng; you were defeated at Dangyang and Zhang Zhao said, “Be it so; but your words and your fled to Xiakou with no place to rest in. Thus, after you had deeds are something discordant. You say you are the equal joined Liu Bei, he was worse off than before. Was it thus of the two famous ones. Well, Guan Zhong, as minister of with Guan Zhong and Yue Yi? I trust you do not mind my Prince Huan, put his master at the very head of the feudal blunt speech.” nobles, making his master’s will supreme in all the land. Zhuge Liang Under the able statesmanship of Yue Yi, the feeble state waited till Zhang of Yan conquered Qi, reducing nearly seventy of its cities. Zhao had closed These two were men of most commanding and conspicuous his oration, then talent. laughed and said, “When you lived in retirement, you smiled scornfully “How can the at ordinary people, passed your days in idleness, nursing common birds your knees and posing in a superior manner, implying that understand the if you had control of affairs, Liu Bei would be more than long flight of the 10 Chapter 43 Romance of Three Kingdoms 11 cranes? Let me use an illustration.