快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

Then　Zhou　Yu　took　off　the　manding　sword　which　he　wore　as　mander…in…Chief　and　handed　it　to　Taishi　Ci；　saying；　〃You　take　this　and　wear　it　for　the　day　as　master　of　the　feast。　This　day　we　meet　only　as　friends　and　speak　only　of　friendship；　and　if　anyone　shall　begin　a　discussion　of　the　questions　at　issue　between　Cao　Cao　and　the　South　Land；　just　slay　him。〃
Taishi　Ci　took　the　sword　and　seated　himself　in　his　place。　Jiang　Gan　was　not　a　little　overe；　but　he　said　no　word。
Zhou　Yu　said；　〃Since　I　assumed　mand；　I　have　tasted　no　drop　of　wine；　but　today　as　an　old　friend　is　present　and　there　is　no　reason　to　fear　him；　I　am　going　to　drink　freely。〃
So　saying　he　quaffed　a　huge　goblet　and　laughed　loudly。
The　rhinoceros　cups　went　swiftly　round　from　guest　to　guest　till　all　were　half　drunk。　Then　Zhou　Yu；　laying　hold　of　the　guest's　hand；　led　him　outside　the　tent。　The　guards　who　stood　around　all　braced　themselves　up　and　seized　their　shinning　weapons。
〃Do　you　not　think　my　soldiers　a　fine　lot　of　fellows？〃　said　Zhou　Yu。
〃Strong　as　bears　and　bold　as　tigers；〃　replied　Jiang　Gan。
Then　Zhou　Yu　led　him　to　the　rear　of　the　tent　whence　he　saw　the　grain　and　forage　piled　up　in　mountainous　heaps。
〃Do　you　not　think　I　have　a　fairly　good　store　of　grain　and　forage？〃
〃Your　troops　are　brave　and　your　supplies　ample：　The　empire's　gossip　is　not　baseless；　indeed。〃
Zhou　Yu　pretended　to　be　quite　intoxicated　and　went　on；　〃When　you　and　I　were　students　together；　we　never　looked　forward　to　a　day　like　this；　did　we？〃
〃For　a　genius　like　you；　it　is　nothing　extraordinary；〃　said　the　guest。
Zhou　Yu　again　seized　his　hand；　and　they　sat　down。

＇e＇　Su　Qin　was　prime　minister　of　six　states　during　the　Warring　States　period。　Su　Qin　was　the　leader　of　the　〃Perpendicular　Unionists〃；　the　diplomats　who　lobbied　a　group　of　states　from　north　to　south　to　make　war　with　Qin。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Zhang　Yi　was　prime　minister　of　Qin　during　the　Warring　States　period。　Zhang　Yi　was　the　leader　of　the　〃Horizontal　Unionists〃；　the　diplomats　who　persuaded　a　group　of　states　from　east　to　west　to　make　peace　with　Qin。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Li　Yiji　was　a　diplomat　and　adviser　of　Liu　Bang。　Li　Yiji　went　on　mission　to　discuss　peace　between　Liu　Bang　and　King　Tian　Guang　of　Qi。　Li　Yiji　demanded　a　ceasefire　as　condition　for　talk。　Tian　Guang　plied。　While　the　discussion　was　going　on；　Liu　Bang　attacked。　Tian　Guang　enraged　and　threw　Li　Yiji　into　boiling　oil。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Lu　Jia　was　a　philosopher；　diplomat；　and　counselor　to　Liu　Bang。　Author　of　〃New　Discourses〃　that　advocaded　goodness　and　justice　instead　of　harshness　and　punishment。　In　BC　196；　Liu　Bang　made　it　a　law　that　people　with　virtues　were　to　be　remended　to　the　government　for　office。　。。。。。
〃A　man　of　the　time；　I　have　found　a　proper　lord　to　serve。　In　his　service；　we　rely　upon　the　right　feeling　between　minister　and　prince　outside；　and　at　home　we　are　firm　in　the　kindly　feeling　of　relatives。　He　listens　to　my　words　and　follows　my　plans。　We　share　the　same　good　or　evil　fortune。　Even　when　the　great　old　persuaders　like　Su　Qin*；　Zhang　Yi*；　Lu　Jia*；　and　Li　Yiji*　lived　again；　even　when　their　words　poured　forth　like　a　rushing　river；　their　tongues　were　as　a　sharp　sword；　it　is　impossible　to　move　such　as　I　am！〃
Zhou　Yu　burst　into　a　loud　laugh　as　he　finished；　and　Jiang　Gan's　face　had　bee　clay…colored。　Zhou　Yu　then　led　his　guest　back　into　the　tent；　and　again　they　fell　to　drinking。
Presently　Zhou　Yu　pointed　to　the　others　at　table　and　said；　〃These　are　all　the　best　and　bravest　of　the　land　of　the　south。　One　might　call　this　the　'Gathering　of　Heroes。'〃
They　drank　on　till　daylight　failed　and　continued　after　lamps　had　been　lit。　Zhou　Yu　even　gave　an　exhibition　of　sword　play　and　sang　this　song：

When　a　man　is　in　the　world；　O；
He　ought　to　do　his　best。
And　when　he's　done　his　best；　O。
He　ought　to　have　his　rest。
And　when　I　have　my　rest；　O；
I'll　quaff　my　wine　with　zest。
And　when　I'm　drunk　as　drunk　can　be；　O；
I'll　sing　the　madman's　litany。

A　burst　of　applause　greeted　the　song。　By　this　time　it　was　getting　late；　and　the　guest　begged　to　be　excused。
〃The　wine　is　too　much　for　me；〃　said　Jiang　Gan。
His　host　bade　them　clear　the　table。
As　all　the　others　left；　Zhou　Yu　said；　〃It　has　been　many　a　day　since　I　shared　a　couch　with　my　friend；　but　we　will　do　so　tonight。〃
Putting　on　the　appearance　of　irresponsible　intoxication；　he　led　Jiang　Gan　into　the　tent　and　they　went　to　bed。　Zhou　Yu　simply　fell；　all　dressed　as　he　was；　and　lay　there　emitting　uncouth　grunts　and　groans；　so　that　to　the　guest　sleep　was　impossible。
Jiang　Gan　lay　and　listened　to　the　various　camp　noises　without　and　his　host's　thunderous　snores　within。　About　the　second　watch　he　rose　and　looked　at　his　friend　by　the　dim　light　of　the　small　lamp。　He　also　saw　on　the　table　a　heap　of　papers；　and　ing　out　and　looking　at　them　furtively；　he　saw　they　were　letters。　Among　them　he　saw　one　marked　as　ing　from　Cai　Mao　and　Zhang　Yun；　Cao　Cao's　Supreme　Admiral　and　Vice…Admiral。　He　read　it　and　this　is　what　it　said：
〃We　surrendered　to　Cao　Cao；　not　for　the　sake　of　pay　but　under　stress　of　circumstances。　Now　we　have　been　able　to　hold　these　northern　soldiers　into　this　naval　camp　but；　as　soon　as　occasion　offers；　we　mean　to　have　the　rebel's　head　to　offer　as　a　sacrifice　to　your　banner。　From　time　to　time　there　will　be　reports　as　occasions　serve；　but　you　may　trust　us。　This　is　our　humble　reply　to　your　letter。〃
〃Those　two　were　connected　with　the　South　Land　in　the　beginning；〃　thought　Jiang　Gan；　so　he　secreted　the　letter　in　his　dress　and　began　to　examine　the　others。　But　at　that　moment　Zhou　Yu　turned　over；　and　so　Jiang　Gan　hastily　blew　out　the　light　and　went　to　his　couch。
Zhou　Yu　was　muttering　as　he　lay　there　as　if　dreaming；　saying；　〃Friend；　I　am　going　to　let　you　see　Cao　Cao's　head　in　a　day　or　two。〃
Jiang　Gan　hastily　made　some　reply　to　load　on　his　host　to　say　more。　Then　came；　〃Wait　a　few　days；　you　will　see　Cao　Cao's　head。　The　old　wretch！〃
Jiang　Gan　tried　to　question　him　as　to　what　he　meant；　but　Zhou　Yu　was　fast　asleep　and　seemed　to　hear　nothing。　Jiang　Gan　lay　there　on　his　couch　wide　awake　till　the　fourth　watch　was　beating。
Then　someone　came　in；　saying；　〃General；　are　you　awake？〃
At　that　moment　as　if　suddenly　awakened　from　the　deepest　slumber；　Zhou　Yu　started　up　and　said；　〃Who　is　this　on　the　couch？〃
The　voice　replied；　〃Do　you　not　remember；　General？　You　asked　your　old　friend　to　stay　the　night　with　you。　It　is　he；　of　course。〃
〃I　drank　too　much　last　night；〃　said　Zhou　Yu　in　a　regretful　tone；　〃and　I　forgot。　I　seldom　indulge　to　excess　and　am　not　used　to　it。　Perhaps　I　said　many　things　I　ought　not。〃
The　voice　went　on；　〃A　man　has　arrived　from　the　north。〃
〃Speak　lower；〃　said　Zhou　Yu；　and　turning　toward　the　sleeper；　he　called　him　by　name。　But　Jiang　Gan　affected　to　be　sound　asleep　and　made　no　sign。
Zhou　Yu　crept　out　of　the　tent；　while　Jiang　Gan　listened　with　all　his　ears。　He　heard　the　man　say；　〃Cai　Mao　and　Zhang　Yun；　the　two　manders；　have　e。〃
But　listening　as　he　did　with　straining　ears；　he　could　not　make　out　what　followed。　Soon　after　Zhou　Yu　reentered　and　again　called　out　his　panion's　name。　But　no　reply　came；　for　Jiang　Gan　was　pretending　to　be　in　the　deepest　slumber　and　to　hear　nothing。　Then　Zhou　Yu　undressed　and　went　to　bed。
As　Jiang　Gan　lay　awake；　he　remembered　that　Zhou　Yu　was　known　to　be　meticulously　careful　in　affairs；　and　if　in　the　morning　Zhou　Yu　found　that　a　letter　had　disappeared；　he　would　certainly　slay　the　offender。　So　Jiang　Gan　lay　there　till　near　daylight　and　then　called　out　to　his　host。　Getting　no　reply；　he　rose；　dressed；　and　stole　out　of　the　tent。　Then　he　called　his　servant　and　made　for　the　camp　gate。
〃Whither　are　you　going；　Sir？〃　said　the　watchmen　at　the　gate。
〃I　fear　I　am　in　the　way　here；〃　replied　Jiang　Gan；　〃and　so　I　have　taken　leave　of　the　mander…in…Chief　for　a　time。　So　do　not　stop　me。〃
He　found　his　way　to　the　river　bank　and　reembarked。　Then；　with　flying　oars；　he　hastened　back　to　Cao　Cao's　camp。　When　he　arrived；　Cao　Cao　asked　at　once　how　he　had　sped；　and　he　had　to　acknowledge　failure。
〃Zhou　Yu　is　very　clever　and　perfectly　high…minded；〃　said　Jiang　Gan。　〃Nothing　that　I　could　say　moved　him　in　the　least。〃
〃Your　failure　makes　me　look　ridiculous；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃Well；　if　I　did　not　win　over　Zhou　Yu；　I　found　out　something　for　you。　Send　away　these　people；　and　I　will　tell　you；〃　said　Jiang　Gan。
The　servants　were　dismissed；　and　then　Jiang　Gan　produced　the　letter　he　had　stolen　from　Zhou　Yu's　tent。　He　gave　it　to　Cao　Cao。　Cao　Cao　was　very　angry　and　sent　for　Cai　Mao　and　Zhang　Yun　at　once。
As　soon　as　they　appeared；　he　said；　〃I　want　you　two　to　attack。〃
Cai　Mao　replied；　〃But　the　soldiers　are　not　yet　sufficiently　trained。〃
〃The　soldiers　will　be　well　enough　trained　when　you　have　sent　my　head　to　Zhou　Yu；　eh？〃
Both　manders　were　dumb…founded；　having　not　the　least　idea　what　this　meant。　They　remained　silent　for　they　had　nothing　to　say。　Cao　Cao　bade　the　executioners　lead　them　away　to　instant　death。　In　a　short　time　their　heads　were　produced。
By　this　time　Cao　Cao　had　thought　over　the　matter；　and　it　dawned　upon　him　that　he　had　been　tricked。　A　poem　says：

No　one　could　stand　against　Cao　Cao；
Of　sin　he　had　full　share；
But　Zhou　Yu　was　more　treacherous；
And　caught　him　in　a　snare。
Two　manders　to　save　their　lives；
Betrayed　a　former　lord；
Soon　after；　as　was　very　met。
Both　fell　beneath　the　sword。

The　death　of　these　two　naval　manders　caused　much　consternation　in　the　camp；　and　all　their　colleagues　asked　the　reason　for　their　sudden　execution。　Though　Cao　Cao　knew　they　had　been　victimized；　he　would　not　acknowledge　it。
So　he　said；　〃These　two　had　been　remiss；　and　so　had　been　put　to　death。〃
The　others　were　aghast；　but　nothing　could　be　done。　Two　other　officers；　Mao　Jie　and　Yu　Jin；　were　put　in　mand　of　the　naval　camp。
Spies　took　the　news　to　Zhou　Yu；　who　was　delighted　at　the　success　of　his　ruse。
〃Those　two　Cai　Mao　and　Zhang　Yun　were　my　only　source　of　anxiety；〃　said　he。　〃Now　they　are　gone：　I　am　quite　happy。〃
Lu　Su　said；　〃General；　if　you　can　continue　like　this；　you　need　not　fear　Cao　Cao。〃
〃I　do　not　think　any　of　them　saw　my　game；〃　said　Zhou　Yu；　〃except　Zhuge　Liang。　He　beats　me；　and　I　do　not　think　this　ruse　was　hidden　from　him。　You　go　and　sound　him。　See　if　he　knew。〃

Zhou　Yu's　treacherous　plot　succeeded　well；
Dissension　sown；　his　rivals　fell。
Drunk　with　success　was　he；　but　sought
To　know　what　cynic　Zhuge　Liang　thought。

What　passed　between　Lu　Su　and　Zhuge　Liang　will　next　be　related。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　46　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　46
　Chapter　46
Using　Strategy；　Zhuge　Liang　Borrows　Arrows；
Joining　A　Ruse；　Huang　Gai　Accepts　Punishment。
Lu　Su　departed　on　his　mission　and　found　Zhuge　Liang　seated　in　his　little　craft。
〃There　has　been　so　much　to　do　that　I　have　not　been　able　to　e　to　listen　to　your　instructions；〃　said　Lu　Su。
〃That　is　truly　so；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃and　I　have　not　yet　congratulated　the　mander…in…Chief。〃
〃What　have　you　wished　to　congratulate　him　upon？〃
〃Why　Sir；　the　matter　upon　which　he　sent　you　to　find　out　whether　I　knew　about　it　or　not。　Indeed　I　can　congratulate　him　on　that。〃
Lu　Su　turned　pale　and　gasped；　saying；　〃But　how　did　you　know；　Master？〃
〃The　ruse　succeeded　well　thus　played　off　on　Jiang　Gan。　Cao　Cao　has　been　taken　in　this　once；　but　he　will　soon　rise　to　it。　Only　he　will　not　confess　his　mistake。　However；　the　two　men　are　gone；　and　the　South　Land　is　freed　from　a　grave　anxiety。　Do　you　not　think　that　is　a　matter　for　congratulation？　I　hear　Mao　Jie　and　Yu　Jin　are　the　new　admirals；　and　in　their　hands　lie　both　good　and　evil　for　the　fate　of　the　northern　fleet。〃
Lu　Su　was　quite　dumbfounded。　He　stayed　a　little　time　longer　passing　the　time　in　making　empty　remarks；　and　then　took　his　leave。
As　he　was　going　away；　Zhuge　Liang　cautioned　him；　saying；　〃Do　not　let　Zhou　Yu　know　that　I　know　his　ruse。　If　you　let　him　know；　he　will　seek　some　chance　to　do　me　harm。〃
Lu　Su　promised。　Nevertheless　he　went　straight　to　his　chief　and　related　the　whole　thing　just　as　it　happened。
〃Really　he　must　be　got　rid　of；〃　said　Zhou　Yu。　〃I　have　quite　decided　to　put　the　man　out　of　the　way。〃
〃If　you　slay　him；　will　not　Cao　Cao　laugh　at　you？〃
〃Oh；　no；　I　will　find　a　legitimate　way　of　getting　rid　of　him　so　that　he　shall　go　to　his　death　without　resentment。〃
〃But　how　can　you　find　a　legitimate　way　of　assassinating　him？〃
〃Do　not　ask　too　much。　You　will　see　presently。〃
Soon　after　all　the　officers　were　summone