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＇e＇ Han Xin was a general of Liu Bang。 Before serving Han； Han Xin had been an officer under Xiang Yu。 Disappointed because his plans were rejected； Han Xin left Xiang Yu and joined Liu Bang's camp； where he was made mander…in…Chief by remendations of Xiao He and Zhang Liang。 Enobled as King of Qi； then King of Chu。 。。。。。
〃Small forces are no match for large armies。 Victory and defeat are mon episodes in every campaign。 The great Founder of the Hans suffered many defeats at the hands of Xiang Yu； but Liu Bang finally conquered at Gaixia； and that battle was decisive。 Was not this due to the strategy of Han Xin* who； though he had long served Liu Bang； had never won a victory。 Indeed real statesmanship and the restoration of stable government is a master plan far removed from the vapid discourses and debates of a lot of bragging babblers and specious and deceitful talkers； who； as they themselves say； are immeasureably superior to the rest of humankind but who； when it es to deeds and decisions to meet the infinite and constant vicissitudes of affairs； fail to throw up a single capable person。 Truly such people are the laughing stock of all the world。〃
Zhang Zhao found no reply to this diatribe。
But another in the assembly lifted up his voice； saying； 〃But what of Cao Cao's present position？ There he is； encamped with one hundred legions and a thousand leaders。 Whither he goes he is invincible as wriggling dragon； and whither he looks he is as fearsome as roaring tiger。 He seems to have taken Jiangxia already； as we see。〃
The speaker was Yu Fan。
And Zhuge Liang replied； 〃Cao Cao has acquired the swarms of Yuan Shao and stolen the crowds of Liu Biao。 Yet I care not for all his mob legions。〃
Yu Fan smiled icily； saying； 〃When you got thrashed at Dangyang and in desperation sent this way and that to ask help； even then did you not care？ But do you think big talk really takes people in？〃
Zhuge Liang replied； 〃Liu Bei had a few thousand scrupulous soldiers to oppose against a million fierce brutes。 He retired to Xiakou for breathing space。 The South Land have strong and good soldiers； and there are ample supplies； and the Great River is a defense。 Is now a time for you to convince your lord to bend the knee before a renegade； to be careless of his honor and reputation？ As a fact Liu Bei is not the sort of man to fear such a rebel as Cao Cao。〃
Yu Fan had nothing to reply。
Next； Bu Zhi； who was among those seated； said； 〃Will you talk of our southern land with a tongue like the tongues of the persuaders Zhang Yi and Su Qin in the ancient time？〃
＇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。 At the end of the Warring States； Qin conquerred all six other states and unified China under one rule for the first time。 。。。。。
Zhuge Liang replied； 〃You regard those two as mere speculative talkers； you do not recognize them also as heroes。 Su Qin* bore the Prime Ministers' seals of six federated states； Zhang Yi* was twice Prime Minister of the state of Qin。 Both were men of conspicuous ability who brought about the reformation of their governments。 They are not to be pared with those who quail before the strong and overbear the weak； who fear the dagger and run away from the sword。 You； Sir； have listened to Cao Cao's crafty and empty threat； and it has frightened you into advising surrender。 Dare you ridicule Su Qin and Zhang Yi？〃
Bu Zhi was silenced。
Then suddenly another interjected the question； 〃What do you think of Cao Cao？〃
It was Xue Zong who had spoken。
And Zhuge Liang replied； 〃Cao Cao is one of the rebels against the dynasty。 Why ask about him？〃
〃You are mistaken；〃 said Xue Zong。 〃The Hans have outlasted their allotted time； and the end is near。 Cao Cao already has two…thirds of the empire； and people are turning to him。 Your master has not recognized the fateful moment； and to contend with a man so strong is to try to smash stones with eggs。 Failure is certain。〃
Zhuge Liang angrily replied； 〃Why do you speak so undutiful words； as if you knew neither father nor prince？ Loyalty and filial duty are the essentials of a person's being。 For a minister of Han； correct conduct demands that one is pledged to the destruction of anyone who does not follow the canon of a minister's duty。 Cao Cao's forbears enjoyed the bounty of Han； but instead of showing gratitude； he nourishes in his bosom thoughts of rebellion。 The whole world is incensed against him； and yet you would claim for him the indication of destiny。 Truly you are a man who knows neither father nor prince； a man unworthy of any words； and I decline to argue with you further。〃
The blush of shame overspread Xue Zong's face； and he said no more。
But another； Lu Ji； took up the dispute and said； 〃Although Cao Cao overawes the Emperor and in his name coerces the nobles； yet he is the descendant of the Supreme Ancestor's Prime Minister Cao Shen； while your master； though he says he is descended from a prince； has no proof thereof。 In the eyes of the world； Liu Bei is just a weaver of mats； a seller of straw shoes。 Who is he to strive with Cao Cao？〃
＇e＇ It was the day in the South of River Huai； when Yuan Shu spread a banquet for the child prodigies of the region。 Lu Ji was among the invited。 During the party； Lu Ji stole an orange for his mother。 Due to this act； his name was written in the 〃List of Filial Children〃。
Zhuge Liang laughed and replied； 〃Are you not that Lu Ji who pocketed the orange when you were sitting among Yuan Shu's guests*？ Listen to me： I have a word to say to you。 Inasmuch as Cao Cao is a descendant of a minister of state； he is by heredity a servant of the Hans。 But now he has monopolized all state authority and knows only his own arbitrary will； heaping every indignity upon his lord。 Not only does he forget his prince； but he ignores his ancestors； not only is he a rebellious servant of Han； but the renegade of his family。 Liu Bei of Yuzhou is a noble scion of the imperial family upon whom the Emperor has conferred rank； as is recorded in the annals。 How then can you say there is no evidence of his imperial origin？ Beside； the very founder of the dynasty was himself of lowly origin； and yet he became emperor。 Where is the shame in weaving mats and selling shoes？ Your mean； immature views are unfit to be mentioned in the presence of scholars of standing。〃
This put a stop to Lu Ji's flow of eloquence。
But another of those present said； 〃Zhuge Liang's words are overbearing； and he distorts reason。 It is not proper argument； and he had better say no more。 But I would ask him what classical canon he studied。〃
＇e＇ Yi Yin was the founding minister of Shang Dynasty； Lu Wang； of Zhou Dynasty； Zhang Liang and Chen Ping； of Han Dynasty。
Zhuge Liang looked at his interlocutor； who was Yan Jun； and said； 〃The dryasdusts of every age select passages and choose phrases。 What else are they good for？ Do they ever initiate a policy or manage an affair？ Yi Yin； who was a farmer in the state of Shen； and Lu Wang； the fisherman of the River Wei； Zhang Liang and Chen Ping； Zheng Yu and Geng Yan*………all were men of transcendent ability； but I have never inquired what classical canon they followed or on whose essays they formed their style。 Would you liken them to your rusty students of books； whose journeyings are prised between their brush and their inkstone； who spend their days in literary futilities； wasting both time and ink？〃
No reply was forthing。 Yan Jun hung his head with shame。
But another disputant； Cheng Deshu by name； suddenly shouted； 〃You are mightily fond of big words； Sir； but they do not give any proof of your scholarship after all。 I am inclined to think that a real scholar would just laugh at you。〃
Zhuge Liang replied； 〃There is the noble scholar； loyal and patriotic； of perfect rectitude and a hater of any crookedness。 The concern of such a scholar is