onfidently the day when Heaven shall offer you the desired opportunity。 Then you may depute a worthy leader to go to the northeast while you take mand of an expedition to the northwest； and will you not find the warmest wele prepared for you by the people？ This done； the pletion of the task will be easy。 The Hans will be restored。 And these are my counsels in all these operations； if you will only undertake them。〃
＇e＇ The River Lands were West River Land； which was the region of Yizhou； and East River Land； which corresponded to Hanzhong。 Both River Lands were the mountainous lands west of Jingzhou。
Zhuge Liang paused while he bade the lad bring out a map。 As this was unrolled Zhuge Liang went on； 〃There you see the fifty…four counties of the west。 Should you wish to take the overlordship； you will yield the Heaven's favor to Cao Cao in the north； and you will relinquish the Earth's advantage to Sun Quan in the south。 You； General； will hold the Human's heart and plete the trinity。 Jingzhou is to be taken first as a home； the River Lands* next for the foundation of domination。 When you are firmly established； you can lay your plans for the attainment of the whole empire。〃
As Zhuge Liang ceased his harangue； Liu Bei left his place and saluted him； saying； 〃Your words； O Master； render everything so clear that the clouds are swept aside and I see the clear sky。 But Jingzhou belongs to Liu Biao； my kinsman； and Yizhou to another kinsman Liu Zhang。 I could hardly take the lands from them。〃
〃I have studied the stars and I know Liu Biao is not long for this world。 Further； Liu Zhang is not the sort of man to endure。 Both places will certainly fall to you。〃
Liu Bei bowed his acknowledgments。 And so； in one conversation； Zhuge Liang proved that he； who had lived in plete retirement all his life； knew and foresaw the tripod division into which the empire was to break。 True； indeed； is it that throughout all the ages no one has ever equaled his intelligence and mastery of the situation。
Behold； when Liu Bei frets that he is weak；
Then Sleeping Dragon is not far to seek；
When he desires to know how things will hap；
The Master； smiling； shows him on the map。
〃Though I be of small repute and scanty virtue；〃 said Liu Bei； 〃I hope； O Master； you will not despise me for my worthlessness； but will leave this retreat to help me。 I will assuredly listen most reverently to your words。〃
Zhuge Liang replied； 〃I have long been happy on my farm and am fond of my leisure。 I fear I cannot obey your mand。〃
Liu Bei wept。 〃If you will not； O Master； what will bee of the people？〃
The tears rolled down unchecked upon the lapel and sleeves of Liu Bei's robe。 This proved to Zhuge Liang the sincerity of his desire。
Hence； Zhuge Liang said； 〃General； if you will accept me； I will render what trifling service I can。〃
Liu Bei was greatly delighted。 He called in Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to make their bow and brought out the gifts he had prepared。 Zhuge Liang refused all the gifts。
〃These are not gifts to engage your services； but mere proof of my regard；〃 said Liu Bei。
Then the presents were accepted。 They all remained that night at the farm。 Next day Zhuge Jun returned； and his brother said to him； 〃Uncle Liu Bei has e thrice to see me； and now I must go with him。 Keep up the farm in my absence and do not let the place go to ruin。 As soon as my work is acplished； I will certainly return。〃
Then； turning from his humble home；
He thought of peaceful days to e；
When he should take the homeward way
And never beyond the valley stray。
But duty kept him in the west；
And there he found his place of rest。
An old poem may be quoted here：
The Founder of Han seized his gleaming blade
And at Mangdang Hills the blood of the white snake flowed。
He conquered Qin； destroyed Chu； and entered Xianyang。
After two centuries of rule the line was near broken；
But Liu Xiu restored the glory at Capital Luoyang。
And his children occupied the throne
Till decay began in the days of Huan and Ling。
The Emperor Xian removed the capital to Xuchang；
And； within the four seas； all was confusion。
Bold spirits started up in fierce contention。
Cao Cao； seized the favorable moment
And the imperial authority passed into his hands。
While the Suns made to themselves
A glorious heritage at the Great River；
Solitary and poor； Liu Bei wandered from place to place；
Till he found a haven in Xinye。
Sorely distressed he was at the sorrows of the people；
But Sleeping Dragon conceived a noble ambition；
Within his breast were thoughts
Of great things to be acplished by force of arms。
Then； because of the parting words of Xu Shu；
And by the thrice repeated visits to his retreat；
The great hero found and knew his mentor。
When the age of Zhuge Liang was but thrice nine years；
He turned from his books； put aside his lute；
And left the peaceful fields he had loved；
Under his guidance Jingzhou was taken
And the two Lands of the Rivers conquered。
He unrolled great schemes； as one all knowing；
In speech； he went to and fro in the world；
The sound of war drums rolled from his tongue；
The words from his heart stirred one to the utmost depths。
The dragon pranced； the tiger glared；
And peace was brought to the world。
Through all the ages his fame shall never decay。
After taking leave of Zhuge Jun； Liu Bei and his followers left for Xinye； with Zhuge Liang as panion。 When they took up their abode there； Zhuge Liang was treated as a mentor； eating at the same table； sleeping on the same couch as Liu Bei。 They spent whole days conversing over the affairs of the empire。
Zhuge Liang said； 〃Cao Cao is training his troops for naval service in Aquamarine Lake； and hence certainly intends to invade the country south of the Great River。 We ought to send our spies to ascertain what Cao Cao and Sun Quan are really doing。〃
So spies were dispatched。
Now after Sun Quan succeeded to the heritage of his father and brother； he sent far and wide to invite people of ability to aid him。 He established lodging places for them in Kuaiji in Wu； and directed Gu Yong and Zhang Hong to wele and entertain all those who came。 And year by year they flocked in； one remending another。 Among them were Kan Ze of Kuaiji； Yan Jun of Pengcheng； Xue Yong of Beishan； Cheng Bing of Runan； Zhu Huan of Wujun； Lu Ji of the same place； Zhang Wen of Wucheng； Luo Tong of Kuaiji； and Wu Can of Wushang。 All these scholars were treated with great deference。
Many able leaders came also。 Among them were Lu Meng of Runan； Lu Xun of Wujun； Xu Sheng of Langye； Pan Zhang of Dongjun； and Ding Feng of Lujiang。 Thus Sun Quan obtained the assistance of many people of ability both in peace and war and all went well with him。
In the seventh year of Rebuilt Tranquillity （AD 202）； Cao Cao had broken the power of Yuan Shao。 Then he sent a messenger to the South Land ordering Sun Quan to send his son to court to serve in the retinue of the Emperor。 Sun Quan； however； hesitated to ply with this request； and the matter was the subject of much discussion。 His mother； Lady Wu； sent for Zhou Yu and Zhang Zhao and asked their advice。
Zhang Zhao said； 〃Cao Cao wishes a son to be present at court as a hostage whereby he has a hold upon us； as formerly was the case with all the feudal chiefs。 If we do not ply with this request； he will doubtless attack the region。 There is some peril。〃
Zhou Yu said； 〃Our lord has succeeded to the heritage and has a large army of veterans and ample supplies。 He has able officers ready to do his bidding。 So why should he be pelled to send a hostage to any person？ To send a hostage is to be forced into joining Cao Cao； and to carry out his behests； whatever they be。 Then we shall be in his power。 It would be better not to send； but rather to wait patiently the course of events and prepare plans to attack。〃
〃That is also my opinion；〃 said the Dowager。
So Sun Quan dismissed the messenger but did not send his son。 Cao Cao resented this and had since nourished schemes against the South Land。 But their realization had been delayed by the dangers on the north and； so far； no attack had been made。
Late in the eighth year （AD 203）； Sun Quan led his armies against Huang Zu and fought on the Great River； where he was successful in several battles。 One of Sun Quan's leaders； Ling Cao； led a fleet of light vessels up the river and broke into Xiakou but was killed by an arrow of Gan Ning； a general of Huang Zu。 Ling Cao left a son； Ling Tong； fifteen years of age； who led another expedition to recover his father's corpse and was so far successful。 After that； as the war was inclined to go against him； Sun Quan returned again to his own country。
Now Sun Quan's younger brother； Sun Yi； was Governor of Dangyang。 He was a hard man and given to drink and； in his cups； very harsh to his people； ordering the infliction of severe floggings。 Two of his officers； Military Inspector Gui Lan and Secretary Dai Yuan； bore their chief a grudge and sought to assassinate him。 They took into their confidence one Bian Hong； of the escort； and the three plotted to kill their master at a great assembly of officials at Dangyang amid the banquets。
Sun Yi's wife； Lady Xu； was skilled in divination； and on the day of the great banquet she cast a most inauspicious lot。 Wherefore she besought her husband to stay away from the assembly。 But he was obstinate and went。 The faithless guardsman followed his master in the dusk when the gathering dispersed； and stabbed him with a dagger。
The two prime movers at once seized Bian Hong and beheaded him in the market place。 Then they went to Sun Yi's residence； which they plundered。
Gui Lan was taken with the beauty of the dead Governor's wife and told her； 〃I had avenged the death of your husband； and you must go with me。〃
Lady Xu pleaded； saying； 〃It is too soon after my husband's death to think of remarriage。 But as soon as the thirty…day mourning sacrifices are over； I will be yours。〃
She thus obtained a respite； which she utilized to send for two old generals of her husband； Sun Gao and Fu Ying。 They came and she tearfully told her tale。
〃My husband had great faith in you。 Now Gui Lan and Dai Yuan have passed his death and have laid the crime on Bian Hong。 They have plundered my house and car