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Only the richly prosperous rule of Kings Wu and Huan
Could pare with that of the sacred understanding
That fortune！ What beauty！
The gracious kindness spreads afar；
The imperial family is supported；
Peace reigns over all the empire；
Bounded only by the universe。
Bright as the glory of the sun and moon；
Ever honorable and ever enduring；
The Ruler shall live to the age of the eastern emperor；
The dragon banner shall wave to the farthest limit。
His glorious chariot shall be guided with perfect wisdom；
His thoughts shall reform all the world；
Felicitous produce shall be abundant；
And the people shall rest firm。
My desire is that these towers shall endure forever；
And that joy shall never cease through all the ages。
Zhou Yu listened to the end but then suddenly jumped up in a tremendous rage。
Turning to the north and pointing with his finger； he cried； 〃You old rebel； this insult is too deep！〃
Zhuge Liang hastily rose too and soothed him； saying； 〃But remember the Khan of the Xiongnu People。 The Han emperor gave him a princess of the family to wife although he had made 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