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〃Do　not　ask　too　much。　You　will　see　presently。〃
Soon　after　all　the　officers　were　summoned　to　the　main　tent；　and　Zhuge　Liang's　presence　was　desired。　He　went　contentedly　enough。
When　all　were　seated；　Zhou　Yu　suddenly　addressed　Zhuge　Liang；　saying；　〃I　am　going　to　fight　a　battle　with　the　enemy　soon　on　the　water。　What　weapons　are　the　best？〃
〃On　a　great　river　arrows　are　the　best；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
〃Your　opinion　and　mine　agree。　But　at　the　moment　we　are　short　of　them。　I　wish　you　would　undertake　to　supply　about　a　hundred　thousand　arrows　for　the　naval　fight。　As　it　is　for　the　public　service；　you　will　not　decline；　I　hope。〃
〃Whatever　task　the　mander…in…Chief　lays　upon　me；　I　must　certainly　try　to　perform；〃　replied　Zhuge　Liang。　〃May　I　inquire　by　what　date　you　require　the　hundred　thousand　arrows？〃
〃Could　you　have　them　ready　in　ten　days？〃
〃The　enemy　will　be　here　very　soon。　Ten　days　will　be　too　late；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
〃In　how　many　days　do　you　estimate　the　arrows　can　be　ready？〃
〃Let　me　have　three　days。　Then　you　may　send　for　your　hundred　thousand。〃
〃No　joking；　remember！〃　said　Zhou　Yu。　〃There　is　no　joking　in　war　time。〃
〃Dare　I　joke　with　the　mander…in…Chief？　Give　me　a　formal　military　order。　If　I　have　not　pleted　the　task　in　three　days；　I　will　take　my　punishment。〃
Zhou　Yu；　secretly　delighted；　sent　for　the　secretaries　and　prepared　the　mission　then　and　there。
Then　he　drank　to　the　success　of　the　undertaking　and　said；　〃I　shall　have　to　congratulate　you　most　heartily　when　this　is　acplished。〃
〃This　day　is　too　late　to　count；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃On　the　third　from　tomorrow　morning　send　five　hundred　small　boats　to　the　river　side　to　convey　the　arrows。〃
They　drank　a　few　more　cups　together；　and　then　Zhuge　Liang　took　his　leave。
After　he　had　gone；　Lu　Su　said；　〃Do　you　not　think　there　is　some　deceit　about　this？〃
〃Clearly　it　is　not　I！　It　is　he　who　has　signed　his　own　death　warrant；〃　said　Zhou　Yu。　〃Without　being　pressed　in　the　least；　he　asked　for　a　formal　order　in　the　face　of　the　whole　assembly。　Even　if　he　grew　a　pair　of　wings；　he　could　not　escape。　Only　I　will　just　order　the　workers　to　delay　him　as　much　as　they　can；　and　not　supply　him　with　materials；　so　that　he　is　sure　to　fail。　And　then；　when　the　certain　penalty　is　incurred；　who　can　criticize？　You　can　go　and　inquire　about　it　all　and　keep　me　informed。〃
So　off　went　Lu　Su　to　seek　Zhuge　Liang；　who　at　once　reproached　him　with　having　blabbed　about　the　former　business。
Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃He　wants　to　hurt　me；　as　you　know；　and　I　did　not　think　you　could　not　keep　my　secret。　And　now　there　is　what　you　saw　today；　and　how　do　you　think　I　can　get　a　hundred　thousand　arrows　made　in　three　days？　You　will　simply　have　to　rescue　me。〃
〃You　brought　the　misfortune　on　yourself；　and　how　can　I　rescue　you？〃　said　Lu　Su。
〃I　look　to　you　for　the　loan　of　twenty　vessels；　manned　each　by　thirty　people。　I　want　blue　cotton　screens　and　bundles　of　straw　lashed　to　the　sides　of　the　boats。　I　have　good　use　for　them。　On　the　third　day；　I　shall　undertake　to　deliver　the　fixed　number　of　arrows。　But　on　no　account　must　you　let　Zhou　Yu　know；　or　my　scheme　will　be　wrecked。〃
Lu　Su　consented；　and　this　time　he　kept　his　word。　He　went　to　report　to　his　chief　as　usual；　but　he　said　nothing　about　the　boats。
He　only　said；　〃Zhuge　Liang　is　not　using　bamboo　or　feathers　or　glue　or　varnish；　but　has　some　other　way　of　getting　arrows。〃
〃Let　us　await　the　three　days'　limit；〃　said　Zhou　Yu；　puzzled　though　confident。
On　his　side　Lu　Su　quietly　prepared　a　score　of　light　swift　boats；　each　with　its　crew　and　the　blue　screens　and　bundles　of　grass　plete　and；　when　these　were　ready；　he　placed　them　at　Zhuge　Liang's　disposal。
Zhuge　Liang　did　nothing　on　the　first　day；　nor　on　the　second。　On　the　third　day　at　the　middle　of　the　fourth　watch；　Zhuge　Liang　sent　a　private　message　asking　Lu　Su　to　e　to　his　boat。
〃Why　have　you　sent　for　me；　Sir？〃　asked　Lu　Su。
〃I　want　you　to　go　with　me　to　get　those　arrows。〃
〃Whither　are　you　going？〃
〃Do　not　ask。　You　will　see。〃
Then　the　twenty　boats　were　fastened　together　by　long　ropes　and　moved　over　to　the　north　bank。　The　night　proved　very　foggy　and　the　mist　was　very　dense　along　the　river；　so　that　one　person　could　scarcely　see　another。　In　spite　of　the　fog；　Zhuge　Liang　urged　the　boats　forward　as　if　into　the　vast　fairy　kingdom。
There　is　a　poem　on　these　river　fogs：

Mighty　indeed　is　the　Great　River！
Rising　far　in　the　west；　in　the　Emei　and　Min　Mountains；
Plowing　its　way　through　Wu；　east　flowing；　resistless；
Swelled　by　its　nine　tributary　streams；　rolling　down　from　the　far　north；
Aided　and　helped　by　a　hundred　rivulets　swirling　and　foaming；
Ocean　receives　it　at　last　weling；　joyful；　its　waters。
Therein　abide　sea　nymphs　and　water　gods；
Enormous　whales　a　thousand　fathoms　long；
Nine…headed　monstrous　beasts；　reptiles　and　octopi；
Demons　and　uncouth　creatures　wondrous　strange。
In　faith　it　is　the　home　and　safe　retreat
Of　devils　and　sprites；　and　wondrous　growths；
And　eke　the　battle　ground　of　valiant　humans。
At　times　occur　strange　strife　of　elements；
When　darkness　strives　on　light's　domains　that　encroach；
Whereat　arises　in　the　vaulted　dome　of　blue
White　wreaths　of　fog　that　toward　the　center　roll。
Then　darkness　falls；　too　dense　for　any　torch
Illumine；　only　clanging　sounds　can　pass。
The　fog　at　first　appears；　a　vaporous　wreath
Scarce　visible。　But　thickening　fast；　it　veils
The　Southern　Hills；　the　painted　leopard's　home。
And　spreads　afar；　until　the　northern　sea
Leviathans　are　amazed　and　lose　their　course。
And　denser　yet　it　touches　on　the　sky。
And　spreads　a　heavy　mantle　over　the　earth。
Then；　wide　as　is　the　high　pitched　arch　of　heaven；
Therein　appears　no　single　rift　of　blue。
Now　mighty　whales　lead　up　their　spouses　to　sport
Upon　the　waves；　the　sinuous　dragons　dive
Deep　down　and；　breathing；　swell　the　heaving　sea；
The　earth　is　moist　as　with　the　early　rains；
And　spring's　creative　energy　is　chilled。
Both　far　and　wide　and　high　the　damp　fog　spreads；
Great　cities　on　the　eastern　bank　are　hid；
Wide　ports　and　mountains　in　the　south　are　lost；
Whole　fleets　of　battle　ships；　a　thousand　keels；
Hide　in　the　misty　depths；　frail　fishing　boats
High　riding　on　a　wave　are　seen………and　lost。
The　gloom　increases　and　the　domed　sky
Grows　dark　and　darker　as　the　sun's　light　fails。
The　daylight　dies；　dim　twilight's　reign　begins；
The　ruddy　hills　dissolve　and　lose　their　hue。
The　skill　of　matchless　King　Yu　would　fail　to　sound
The　depth　and　height；　and　Li　Lou's　eye；　though　keen；
Could　never　pierce　this　gloom。
Now　is　the　time；　O　sea　and　river　gods；　to　use　your　powers。
The　gliding　fish　and　creeping　water　folk
Are　lost；　there　is　no　track　for　bird　or　beast。
Fair　Penglai　Isles　are　hidden　from　our　sight；
The　lofty　gates　of　heaven　have　disappeared。
Nature　is　blurred　and　indistinct；　as　when
A　driving　rain　storm　hurries　over　the　earth。
And　then；　perhaps；　within　the　heavy　haze；
A　noisome　serpent　vents　his　venom　foul
And　plagues　descend；　or　impish　demons　work
Their　wicked　wills。
Ills　fall　on　humans　but　do　not　stay；
Heaven's　cleansing　breath　sweeps　them　sway；
But　while　they　last　the　mean　ones　cry；
The　nobler　suffer　silently。
The　greatest　turmoil　is　a　sign
Of　quick　return　to　state　benign。

The　little　fleet　reached　Cao　Cao's　naval　camp　about　the　fifth　watch；　and　Zhuge　Liang　gave　orders　to　form　line　lying　prows　west；　and　then　to　beat　the　drums　and　shout。
〃But　what　shall　we　do　if　they　attack　us？〃　exclaimed　Lu　Su。
Zhuge　Liang　replied　with　a　smile；　〃I　think　their　fleet　will　not　venture　out　in　this　fog。　Go　on　with　your　wine；　and　let　us　be　happy。　We　will　go　back　when　the　fog　lifts。〃
As　soon　as　the　shouting　from　the　river　was　heard　by　those　in　the　camp；　the　two　admirals；　Mao　Jie　and　Yu　Jin；　ran　off　to　report　to　Cao　Cao；　who　said；　〃ing　up　in　a　fog　like　this　means　that　they　have　prepared　an　ambush　for　us。　Do　not　go　out；　but　get　all　the　force　together　and　shoot　at　them。〃
He　also　sent　orders　to　the　ground　camps　to　dispatch　six　thousand　of　archers　and　crossbowmen　to　aid　the　marines。
The　naval　forces　were　then　lined　up　shooting　on　the　bank　to　prevent　a　landing。　Presently　the　soldiers　arrived；　and　ten　thousand　and　more　soldiers　were　shooting　down　into　the　river；　where　the　arrows　fell　like　rain。　By　and　bye　Zhuge　Liang　ordered　the　boats　to　turn　round　so　that　their　prows　pointed　east　and　to　go　closer　in　so　that　many　arrows　might　hit　them。
Zhuge　Liang　ordered　the　drums　to　be　kept　beating　till　the　sun　was　high　and　the　fog　began　to　disperse；　when　the　boats　got　under　way　and　sailed　down　stream。　The　whole　twenty　boats　were　bristling　with　arrows　on　both　sides。
As　they　left；　Zhuge　Liang　asked　all　the　crews　to　shout　derisively；　〃We　thank　you；　Sir　Prime　Minister；　for　the　arrows！〃
They　told　Cao　Cao；　but　by　the　time　he　came；　the　light　boats　helped　by　the　swift　current　were　seven　miles　long　down　the　river　and　pursuit　was　impossible。　Cao　Cao　saw　that　he　had　been　duped　and　was　very　sorry；　but　there　was　no　help　for　it。
On　the　way　down　Zhuge　Liang　said　to　his　panion；　〃Every　boat　must　have　five　or　six　thousand　arrows　and　so；　without　the　expenditure　of　an　ounce　of　energy；　we　must　have　more　than　ten　myriad　arrows；　which　tomorrow　can　be　shot　back　again　at　Cao　Cao's　army　to　his　great　inconvenience。〃
〃You　are　really　superhuman；〃　said　Lu　Su。　〃But　how　did　you　know　there　would　be　a　thick　fog　today？〃
〃One　cannot　be　a　leader　without　knowing　the　workings　of　heaven　and　the　ways　of　earth。　One　must　understand　the　secret　gates　and　the　interdependence　of　the　elements；　the　mysteries　of　tactics　and　the　value　of　forces。　It　is　but　an　ordinary　talent。　I　calculated　three　days　ago　that　there　would　be　a　fog　today；　and　so　I　set　the　limit　at　three　days。　Zhou　Yu　would　give　me　ten　days；　but　neither　artificers　nor　materials；　so　that　he　might　find　occasion　to　put　me　to　death　as　I　knew。　But　my　fate　lies　with　the　Supreme；　and　how　could　Zhou　Yu　harm　me？〃
Lu　Su　could　not　but　agree。　When　the　boats　arrived；　five　hundred　soldiers　were　in　readiness　on　the　bank　to　carry　away　the　arrows。　Zhuge　Liang　bade　them　go　on　board　the　boats；　collect　them　and　bear　them　to　the　tent　of　the　mander…in…Chief。　Lu　Su　went　to　report　that　the　arrows　had　been　obtained　and　told　Zhou　Yu　by　what　means。
Zhou　Yu　was　amazed　and　sighed　sadly；　saying；　〃He　is　better　than　I。　His　methods　are　more　than　human。〃

Thick　lies　the　fog　on　the　river；
Nature　is　shrouded　in　white；
Distant　and　near　are　confounded；
Banks　are　no　longer　in　sight。
Fast　fly　the　pattering　arrows；
Stick　in　the　boats　of　the　fleet。
Now　can　full　tale　be　delivered；
Zhuge　Liang　is　victor　plete。

When；　shortly　after　his　return；　Zhuge　Liang　went　to　the　tent　of　the　mander…in…Chief；　he　was　weled　by　Zhou　Yu；　who　came　forward　to　greet　him；　saying；　〃Your　superhuman　predictions　pel　one's　esteem。〃
〃There　is　nothing　remarkable　in　that　trifling　trick；〃　replied　he。
Zhou　Yu　led　him　within　and　wine　was　brought。
Then　Zhou　Yu　said；　〃My　lord　sent　yesterday　to　urge　me　to　advance；　but　I　have　no　master　plan　ready。　I　wish　you　would　assist　me；　Master。〃
〃But　where　should　I；　a　man　of　poor　everyday　ability；　find　such　a　plan　as　you　desire？〃
〃I　saw　the　enemy's　naval　camp　just　lately；　and　it　looked　very　plete　and　well　organized。　It　is　not　an　ordinary　place　to　attack。　I　have　thought　of　a　plan；　but　I　am　not　sure　it　will　answer。　I　should　be　happy　if　you　would　decide　for　me。〃
〃General；〃　replied　Zhuge　Liang；　〃do　not　say　what　your　plan　is；　but　each　of　us　will　write　in　the　palm　of　his　hand　and　see　whether　our　opinions　agree。〃
So　brush　and　ink　were　sent　for；　and　Zhou　Yu　first　wrote　on　his　own　palm；　and　then　passed　the　pen　to　Zhuge　Liang　who　also　wrote。　Then　getting　close　together　on　the　same　bench；　each　showed　his　hand　to　the　other；　and　both　burst　out　laughing；　for　both　had　written　the　same　word；　〃Fire。〃
〃Since　we　are　of　the　same　opinion；〃　said　Zhou　Yu；　〃there　is　no　longer　any　doubt。　But　our　intentions　must　be　kept　secret。〃
〃Both　of　us　are　public　servants；　and　what　would　be　the　sense　of　telling　our　plans？　I　do　not　think　Cao　Cao　will　be　on　his　guard　against　this；　although　he　has　had　two　experiences。　You　may　put　your　scheme　into　force。〃
They　finished　their　wine　and　separated。　Not　an　officer　knew　a　word　of　the　general's　plans。
Now　Cao　Cao　had　expended　a　myriad　arrows　in　vain　and　was　much　irritated　in　consequence。　He　deeply　desired　revenge。
Then　Xun　You　proposed　a　ruse；　saying；　〃The　two　strategists　on　the　side　of　the　enemy　are　Zhou　Yu　and