I have listened to their suggestions," replied Lu Su, "and those peopleare misleading you. You cannot make useful plans with them. I couldwelcome Cao Cao, but not you.

The Chief Clerk Zhang Zhao and others said,78"Lord Cao is like a jackalor a tiger. He controlsthe Son of Heavenas a means to justify his attacks, and whateverhe does he can claim to support the imperial court. If we oppose him now, it willappear as disobedience to the throne

"Now if you can indeed order your brave commanders to take twenty orthirty thousand men, to join with Yuzhou and ally our forces, then Cao Cao's army will certainlybe destroyed. When his army is destroyed he willhave to withdrawto the north, and in this way the power of Jing [under LiuBei] and of Wu [under Sun Quan] will be greatly increased: we can balanceCao Caolike the legs of a tripod cauldron. The possibilitiesof victory anddefeat rest on this day!"76Sun Quan was most impressed, and he discussed the matterwith his ministers

"Tian Heng was a single man from Qi," replied Zhuge Liang, "but heprotected his honour and refusedto disgrace[389] himself.74Liu Yuzhou is adescendant of the royal house, his courage and ability are known throughall the world, and he is respected and admired by the people and the gentryas naturally as water returns to the sea. If a man such as that cannotsucceed, itmay be a decision of Heaven, but how could he submit toanother?"2089 Sun Quan was furious. "I am not going to collect the resourcesof Wu and anarmy of a hundred thousand men and put them under someone else'sorders. I have made my calculations. And as to the idea that Yuzhou is theonly man who can face up to Cao Cao: Yuzhou has just been defeated, howis he to resist this threat?""Though his army was defeated at the Chang Slope," said Zhuge Liang,"the troops that have returnedto him, added tothe fleet commandedby Guan Yu, amount to ten thousand men, all armed and trained. And LiuQi has joined him with fighting men from Jiangxia, again no fewer than tenthousand men.

"I ask you to measure your strength, and give him a place to defendhimself. If you are ever going to use the people of Wu and Yue against thepower of central China, then the sooner the better. If you cannotmanage it, then why have you not restrained your troops, curbed your armedmen, and facednorth to serve Cao Cao? You pretend that you will submit andobey, but in fact you have not made up your mind. Time is pressing: unlessyou make a decision, misfortune maycome at any moment.

Liu Wangzhi would not follow this advice, and he too later came to grief.Liu Yi fled to Yang province.

Liu Biao had appointed Liu Wangzhi of Nanyang as an Assistant Officer.Two of his friends, however, were executed by Liu Biao on account of falseaccusations. Since he himself had made honest criticisms which were notwell-received, Liu Wangzhi sent in a petition asking to go home.Liu Wangzhi's younger brother Yi said to him, "When Zhao [Jianzi] killed[Dou] Mingdu, Zhongni [Confucius] turned away. You caneithertake Hui of Liuxiaas a model: stay at court and maintain your virtue regardless of others'bad conduct; or you can follow the example of Fan Li: go away and changeyour occupation. Just sitting there disapproving is no use at all."

"In former days," replied Wen Ping, "I failed to assist Liu Jing-zhou servethe state. Though Jingzhou is dead, I was still hoping to hold the line of theHan and maintain that territory intact. That way, if I lived I would not beturning my back on the orphaned and weak, and if I diedthere wouldbe no shame below the ground. The decision, however, has been taken outof my hands, and so we come to this. Indeed, I am sad and ashamed and Icould notface comingto audienceany earlier." He sobbed and wept.Cao Caowas sorry for him, and addressed him by his style, "Zhongye,you are truly a loyal servant."56He treated him with great courtesy, allowedhim to retain all his troops, and appointed him AdministratorofJiangxia

Cao Caoreleased Han Song from prison, treated him with the courtesyof apersonal friend, and hadhim make gradings of the good and the bad officialsof the province. All his nominees were appointed

The mother of Xu Shu was captured by Cao Cao, and Xu Shu made hisexcuses to Liu Bei. Pointing to his breast, he said, "In the beginning, thereason I sought to plan with you for the hegemony was because of thissquare inch of territory [the heart]. Now I have lost my mother, my heart isconfused, and can be no help in your affairs. I therefore beg leave to go.

"In carrying out a great affair," replied Liu Bei, "the people aretheessential thing. Now that the people have turned to me, how can I desert them?"

Then Liu Biao became very ill, and Liu Qi returned to attend his sick-bed.Cai Mao and Zhang Yun were afraid that if he saw Liu Biao, thefather andson would be reunited, and Liu Biao would change his mind about thesuccession. So they said to Liu Qi, "The General has ordered you to lookafter Jiangxia, and that is a most important post. Now you have left yourpeople and come back without permission. You will only upset him andmake his illness worse. This is not the way to show filial respect." Theystopped him outside the doorway and refused to let him see his father. LiuQi wept and went away.

Zhuge Liang replied, "Have you never heard how Shensheng stayedinside and so came into danger, while Chong'er went [376] away and savedhimself?"33Liu Qi took the point, and made secret plans to leave thecapital

clan, so the Lady Cailoved Zong and disliked Qi. Cai Mao, younger brother of Liu Biao's wife, andhis sister's son Zhang Yun were both in Liu Biao's favour, and every daythey slandered Qi and praisedZong.

In the eighth month, on the day dingwei[21 Sep] the Ministerof theHousehold Chi Lü of Shanyang was appointedImperial Coun-sellor

Above thiswere a thousand [369] men with crossbows to give covering fire. Arrowspoured down like rain, and the army could not get forward.

I know Liu Biao: he cannot plan far ahead, and his sons are likewise of poor quality; neither is capable [368] of inheriting or maintaining his fortune. Your Honour should plan to deal with them early, before Cao Caocan get at them

Then Su Fei spoke to Huang Zu, and Gan Ning was appointed magistrateofZhu,so he got away to Sun Quan.

In the spring, in the first month the Excellencyover the Masses Zhao Wenrecommended Cao Cao's son Cao Pi for office. Cao Caoreported that, "ZhaoWen has recommended a junior member of my family. His judgementcannot be trusted." He had the emperordismiss him.1

Ye

"Spread out on all sides," clearly signal-ing his intent to make way. When Cao Cao saw Lord Guan turn aside, he and his commanders bolted past, and when Lord Guan came back, they were gone.

Had I been in com-mand, I would have set an ambush right here to meet our ex-hausted troops with their well-rested ones.

Why al-low him to remain among us and cause trouble, when his elimi-nation would save such great grief?

Within mo-ments a stiff gale was coming up out of the southeast.

That day Kongming ascended and descended three times, but of a southeast wind no sign was seen.

To break Cao's back With fire we attack. Everything is set, save The east wind we lack!

Suddenly a dreadful thought came to Zhou Yu. With a loud cry he fell over backwards, blood foaming up in his mouth. The commanders rushed to his assistance, but their leader had lost consciousness. Indeed:

Now at winter's depth, there are only north winds and west winds—how could there be a south wind or an east wind? Our position is north-west; their troops are all on the southern shore. If they use fire, they will only burn out their own troops.

These are ominous words." "You dare to wreck our delight and enthusiasm!" Cao cried angrily. With a single heave of his spear Cao Cao pierced Liu Fu through, killing him. The assembly was aghast. The banquet was dismissed. The following day, sobered and wracked with remorse, Cao Cao wept as he told Liu Xi, the son who had come to claim the body, "Yesterday while drunk I did your father a terrible injustice, for which I can never atone. He shall be interred with the highest honors, those reserved for the three elder lords." Cao Cao sent soldiers to escort the coffin for burial in Liu Fu's native district.

Had that east wind not done Zhou Yu a turn,

Every man here—whether attendants or companions of our table—is in our deepest trust. Let us be free with one another.

he wind calm,

"I do not care for wealth and status," Pang Tong answered. "My one con-cern is the common people.

In Red Cliffs' bitter trial, they fought with fire: Fire's the perfect weapon, all agreed. But it was Pang Tong's boat-connecting scheme That let Zhou Yu accomplish his great deed.

make them fast with iron hoops, stem to stem and stern to stern. Then, if wide planks are laid so that horses as well as men can cross from ship to ship, however rough the waves or steep the swells, what will you have to fear?"

The truth was that at this time Cao's men, unable to adjust to the southern clime, had been seized with nausea and vomiting,

'boat-connecting scheme.

get into Zhou Yu's camp and find out what's going on? "

Refusing Cao Cao's parting offer of gold and silk

"We are doing what Heaven ordains and men ap-prove." Cao poured wine to entertain him.

"Let me die and be done."

As a beneficiary of the Suns' generous favor, I should never wa-ver in my loyalty. But it is evident to all that the soldiers of the six southern districts have no chance whatsoever of stopping the north's million-fold host. All the southern generals and officials, even the most obtuse, recognize the impossibility of it—except for that rascal Zhou Yu, who, out of shallow willfulness and an ex-aggerated sense of his own ability, seems determined to "smash a rock with an egg." He has, moreover, assigned rewards and pun-ishments without reason so that the blameless suffer and the de-serving are ignored. And I, humiliated without cause after long years of service to the house of Sun, feel heartfelt hatred. Believ-ing that Your Excellency handles all situations with true sincerity and welcomes men of ability with true humility, I have decided to lead my men in surrender to you, both to establish my merit and to erase my shame. Provisions and equipment will be offered in accompanying ships. Weeping bitter blood, I speak bent to the ground. Never doubt me!

Without the battered-body trick,'" Kongming remarked, "how could Cao Cao be taken in? Zhou Yu will be sending Huang Gai over to 'defect,' so he wants Cai Zhong and Cai He to re-port today's events to Cao Cao. But it is imperative that Zhou Yu not know that I know.

But I need a man to play the same game for us." "I am willing to do it," Huang Gai answered. "

"Thanks to the prime minister for the ar-rows!"

At times the forces of yin and yang that govern nature fail, and day and darkness seem as one, turning the vast space into a fear-ful monochrome. Everywhere the fog, stock-still. Not even a cart-load can be spotted. But the sound of gong or drum carries far.

How am I supposed to produce one hun-dred thousand arrows in three days? You have to save me!"

"Dare I trifle with the chief com-mander?" countered Kongming. "I beg to submit my pledge un-der martial law: if I fail to finish in three days' time, I will gladly suffer the maximum punishment."

If you kill him," Lu Su argued, "Cao Cao will have the last laugh.

subterfuge

"So Cai Mao and Zhang Yun are in league with the Southland!"

Terror-stricken, Jiang Gan said little.

My ear may not be so fine as the great musician Shi Kuang's, but I can discern good music and good intentions too."

But despite his advantage, Zhou Yu, still wary of Cao Cao's greater numbers, beat the gong recalling his boats.

"I do so to show my confidence in our strength," answered Zhou Yu.

"Look for a southeast wind. That's when I'll come back."

"There'll be time enough for meeting when Cao Cao is defeated,"

He is safe,"

"But they are our allies in the struggle against Cao Cao,"

I'll raid Cao's supplies myself with ten thousand men."

"I have mastered the fine points of every form of warfare, naval, foot, horse, and chariot. I fear no failure

to Zhou Yu's satisfaction, Kongming accepted the as-signment enthusiastically.

"He wonders if the few can withstand the many. Before our cause can succeed, General, you will have to reassure him by making an analysis of the enemy's numerical strength."

Any officer or official who advocates sub-mission will be dealt with so!

but merely to send a solitary rep-resentative to escort two persons to the river. If Cao Cao can get hold of these two, his million-man host will discard their armor, furl their banners, and retire from the field."

Tomorrow before our lord I shall advocate sending a representative to convey our submission."

"I have some ideas of my own,

"This shall roll before I submit." The group echoed his oath.

We are advocating submission to spare the Southland a debacle;

Discussion of joint action to wipe out Cao Cao shall begin this very day

Lord Guan commands ten thousand elite troops, and Liu Qi's fighters from Jiangxia number no less. Cao Cao's host is exhausted, having come so far. In their recent pursuit of Lord Liu, their light cavalry was covering three hundred /¿a day— clearly a case of 'a spent arrow unable to pierce fine silk.' Con-sider too that the northerners are unused to naval warfare and that the officers and men from Jingzhou follow Cao by coercion, not by choice. General, if you can unite hand and heart with Lord Liu, the destruction of Cao's army and his return to the north can be guaranteed. Then with the strengthening of the South-land and Jingzhou, a tripodal balance of power will come into being in the empire. The means to shape the outcome are in your hands today. It is for you to use them."

At this invitation Kongming began to speak: "When the realm was in turmoil, you formed a state in the south and Lord Liu ral-lied his hosts below the River Han in order to contest the em-pire with Cao Cao. Now Cao has freed himself of his greatest dif-ficulties and has stabilized his position to a certain degree. This fresh triumph in Jingzhou has made him feared throughout the land, and whatever heroes would oppose him lack the base for waging war. That is why Lord Liu made good his removal to this region. I would urge you to weigh your strength and address the problem. If you can lead the forces of the south in contention with the north for mastery of the area, then break with Cao Cao at once. Otherwise, why, follow your advisers'judgment, lay down your arms, face north, and submit to his rule." Before Sun Quan could respond, Kongming continued: "Gen-eral, you have let it be known that you incline toward submission, but I know how torn you are. The situation is precarious. Act be-fore disaster strikes." "If all you say is true," Sun Quan said, "why hasn't Lord Liu submitted?" "Tian Heng," answered Kongming, "the stalwart loyalist of Qi, held fast to his honor and refused to disgrace himself. A scion of the royal house, renowned in his time, looked up to by men of learning everywhere, how could Lord Liu do less? His failures are ordained and not of his own mak-ing. He will not be humiliated."

"Mounted, foot, and naval, all told, over one million troops,"

How can the text-bound pedant revive our nation or further our cause? And what of the ancient sages—Yi Yin, who tilled the soil in Shen, or Jiang Ziya, who fished the River Wei? What of men like Zhang Liang and Chen Ping, Zheng Yu and Geng Yan? These worthies sustained their kings in time of peril. What canons did they mas-ter? Do you really think they simply spent their days confined be-tween the pen and the inkstone like schoolmen arguing over texts, flourishing words, wielding brushes?"

If Cao Cao is the de-scendant of the great minister Cao Shen, then the Caos have been the subjects of the Han from that day to this. For him to mo-nopolize power and recklessly wield it, deceiving and abusing the sovereign, is more than negation of the emperor, it is nullifi-cation of his own sacred ancestor. This makes Cao Cao more than a seditious subject; it makes him a traitorous son

Another from the council picked up the argument. "Though Cao Cao enjoins the nobles through coercion of the Emperor, yet he is himself a descendant of the Supreme Ancestor's prime minister, Cao Shen. Lord Liu claims descent from Prince Jing of Zhongshan, but that has never actually been verified. As far as anyone can tell, he is a mere mat-weaver, a sandal merchant, hardly a worthy contender with Cao Cao."

"The few cannot oppose the many, and a warrior learns to en-dure his reverses. The founder of the Han, Gao Zu, was defeated over and over by Xiang Yu, but the final victory at Gaixia was the result of Han Xin's good counsel, was it not? The same Han Xin who, in his long history of service to Gao Zu, had compiled no impressive record of victories! For the grand strategy of the dy-nasty, the security of our sacred altars, truly there is a master plan-ner, one utterly different from the boasting rhetoricians whose empty reputations overawe people, who have no peer in armchair debate and standing discussions, of whom not even one in a hun-dred has any idea how to confront a crisis or cope with its rapid development. What a farce to amuse the world!"

"When Lord Liu suffered defeat at Runan, he threw himself on Liu Biao's mercy. He had less than a thousand men and no generals at all, except for Lord Guan, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Zi-long. He was like a man wasted by disease. Xinye, a small town off in the hills, with few people and scant grain, was no more than a temporary refuge, hardly a place to hold permanently. And yet, despite our poor weapons, weak city walls, untrained forces, and day-to-day shortages of grain, we burned Cao out at Bowang, flooded him out at the White River, and put his leading generals, Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren, in a state of panic and dismay. I am not sure that Guan Zhong and Yue Yi surpassed us in warfare. "As for Liu Zong's surrender to Cao Cao, the truth is that Lord Liu knew nothing about it. Nor could he bear to exploit the trea-son of the Cais to steal a kinsman's estate—such is his great hu-manity and devotion to honor. In the case of the Dangyang de-feat, Lord Liu had several hundred thousand subjects, including the elderly and many young people, who were determined to fol-low him. Could he leave them to their fate? He was moving a mere ten li each day but never thought of racing ahead to capture Jiang-ling. He was content to suffer defeat with his people if he had

Lord Liu scurried for safety the moment Cao Cao stepped into the field, abandoning his obligations to Liu Biao for the security of the people of Jingzhou, and failing to sustain Liu Zong in the defense of his land. And what followed? Lord Liu quit Xinye, fled Fan, lost Dangyang, and bolted to Xiakou for refuge. But no one will have him! The fact is that Lord Liu was better off before you came. How does that measure up to what Guan Zhong and Yue Yi did for their lords? Kindly forgive my simple frankness."

"Zhang Zhao's views," the counselors declared in unison, "conform to the wishes of Heaven itself."

After he had read the document, Lu Su said to Sun Quan, "What is your most honored view, my lord?" "A decision has yet to be reached," he responded. The adviser Zhang Zhao joined the discussion, saying, "Commanding a host of one million, cloaked in the Emperor's authority, Cao Cao has campaigned the length and breadth of the land. To resist is to rebel. Moreover, your major advantage was the Great River—until Cao Cao took Jingzhou. Now we share the river's strategic benefits with him. Really, there is no opposing him, and in my poor estimation we would do better with the total security which submission will af-ford."

Under a recent imperial mandate, I have authority to act against state criminals. Our banners tilted southward; Liu Zong bound his hands in submission. The populace of Jingzhou, sensing the direction of events, has transferred its allegiance to us. We have one million hardy warriors and a thousand able generals. We pro-pose that you join us, General, in a hunting expedition to Jiangxia in order to strike the decisive blow against Liu. Then, sharing the territory between us, we may seal an everlasting amity. Please do not hesitate but favor us with a speedy reply.

Lu Su and Kongming bade Xuande and Liu Qi good-bye and sailed for Chaisang.