is 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 to act in full sympathy with his day and leave to future ages a fine reputation。 There is the scholar of the mean type； a pedant and nothing more。 He labors constantly with his pen； in his callow youth posing odes and in hoary age still striving to understand the classical books pletely。 Thousands of words flow from his pen； but there is not a solid idea in his breast。 He may； as did Yang Xiong； glorify the age with his writings and yet stoop to serve a tyrant such as Wang Mang。 No wonder Yang Xiong threw himself out of a window； he had to。 That is the way of the scholar of mean type。 Though he poses odes by the hundred； what is the use of him？〃
Cheng Deshu could make no reply。 The other officers now began to hold this man of torrential speech in wholesome fear。
Only two of them； Zhang Wen and Luo Tong； had failed to challenge him； but when they would have tried to pose Zhuge Liang； suddenly someone appeared from without and angrily shouted； 〃This is not paying fit respect to a guest。 You have among you the most wonderful man of the day； and you all sit there trying to entangle him in speech while our archenemy Cao Cao is nearing our borders。 Instead of discussing how to oppose Cao Cao； you are all wrangling and disputing。〃
All eyes turned toward the speaker。 It was Huang Gai of Lingling； who was the Chief of the missariat of the South Land。
He turned to address Zhuge Liang； saying； 〃There is a saying that though something may be gained by talk； there is more to be got by silence。 Why not give my lord the advantage of your valuable advice instead of wasting time in discussion with this crowd？〃
〃They did not understand；〃 replied Zhuge Liang； 〃and it was necessary to enlighten them； so I had to speak。〃
As Huang Gai and Lu Su led the guest toward their master's apartments； they met his brother Zhuge Jin。 Zhuge Liang saluted him with the deference due to an elder brother。
Zhuge Jin said； 〃Why have you not been to see me； brother？〃
〃I am now in the service of Liu Bei of Yuzhou； and it is right that public affairs precede private obligations。 I cannot attend to any private matters till my work is done。 You must pardon me； brother。〃
〃After you have seen Marquis Sun Quan； you will e and tell me your news；〃 said he as he left。
As they went along to the audience chamber； Lu Su again cautioned Zhuge Liang against any rash speech； saying； 〃Do not tell the magnitude of Cao Cao's forces。 Please remember。〃
The latter nodded but made no other reply。 When they reached the hall； Sun Quan came down the steps to wele his guests and was extraordinarily gracious。 After the mutual salutations； the guest was given a chair while the Marquis' officials were drawn up in two lines； on one side the civil； on the other the military。 Lu Su stood beside Zhuge Liang and listened to his introductory speech。
As Zhuge Liang spoke of Liu Bei's intentions； he glanced up at his host。 He noted the green eyes and purple beard and the dignified manding air of the man and thought within himself； 〃Certainly in appearance this is no mon man。 He is one to be incited perhaps； but not to be persuaded。 It will be better to see what he has to say first； then I will try to stir him to action。〃
The serving of tea being now finished； Sun Quan began with the usual gracious ceremonial expressions。
〃Lu Su has often spoken of your genius；〃 said the host。 〃It is a great pleasure to meet you。 I trust you will confer upon me the advantage of your instruction。〃
〃I am neither clever nor learned；〃 was the reply。 〃It humiliates me to hear such words。〃
〃You have been at Xinye lately； and you helped your master to fight that decisive battle with Cao Cao； so you must know exactly the measure of his military strength。〃
〃My master's army was small and his generals were few； the city was paltry and lacked supplies。 Hence no stand could be made against such a force as Cao Cao had。〃
〃How many has he in all？〃
〃Horse and foot； land and marine； he has a million。〃
〃Is there not some doubt about that？〃 said Sun Quan； surprised。
〃None whatever。 When Cao Cao went to Yanzhou； he had the two hundred thousand soldiers of Qingzhou。 He gained five or six hundred thousand more when Yuan Shao fell。 He has three or four hundred thousand troops newly recruited in the capital。 Lately he has acquired two or three hundred thousand troops in Jingzhou。 And if these be reckoned up； the total is not less than a million and a half。 Hence I said a million for I was afraid of frightening your officers。〃
Lu Su was much disturbed and turned pale。 He looked meaningfully at the bold speaker； but Zhuge Liang would not see。 Sun Quan went on to ask if his archenemy had a corresponding number of leaders。
〃Cao Cao has enough administrators and strategists to control such a host； and his capable and veteran leaders are more than a thousand； perhaps more than two thousand。〃
〃What will be Cao Cao's next move now that he has overe Jingzhou？〃
〃He is camped along the river； and he has collected a fleet。 If he does not intend to invade the South Land； what can his intentions be？〃
〃Since that is his intention； it is a case of fight or not fight。 I wish you would decide that for me。〃
〃I have something I could say； but I fear； Sir； you would not care to hear it。〃
〃I am desirous of hearing your most valuable opinion。〃
〃Strife has prevailed for a long time； and so you have raised your army in the South Land and Liu Bei collected his forces south of the Han River to act in contest for the empire against Cao Cao。 Now Cao Cao has overe most of his difficulties； and his recent conquest of Jingzhou has won him great and wide renown。 Though there might be one bold enough to tackle him； yet there is no foothold for such。 That is how Liu Bei has been forced to e here。 But； General； I wish you to measure your forces and decide whether you can venture to meet Cao Cao and that without loss of time。 If you cannot； then follow the advice of your councilors： Cease your military preparations and yield； turn your face to the north and serve。〃
Sun Quan did not reply。 But his guest went on； 〃You have the reputation of being reasonable； but I know also you are inclined to hesitate。 Still this matter is most important； and evil will be quickly upon you if you do not decide。〃
Then replied Sun Quan； 〃If what you say represents the actual conditions； why does not Liu Bei yield？〃
＇e＇ Tian Heng was a warrior of Qi at the end of the Warring States period and Qin Dynasty。 In his bid to regain the lost kingdom of Qi； Tian Heng rebelled against Qin and fought both Liu Bang and Xiang Yu。 Read Tian Heng Island 。
〃Well； you know Tian Heng*； that hero of the state of Qi： His character was too noble for him to submit to any shame。 It is necessary to remember that Liu Bei also is an off…shoot from the Dynastic Family； beside being a man of great renown。 Everyone looks up to him。 His lack of success is simply the will of Heaven； but manifestly he could not bow the knee to anyone。〃
These last words touched Sun Quan to the quick； and he could not control his anger。 He shook out his sleeves； rose； and left the audience chamber。 Those present smiled at each other as they dispersed。
But Lu Su was annoyed and reproached Zhuge Liang for his maladroit way of talking to Sun Quan； saying； 〃Luckily for you； my lord is too large…minded to rebuke you to your face； for you spoke to him most contemptuously。〃
Zhuge Liang threw back his head and laughed。
〃What a sensitive fellow it is！〃 cried he。 〃I know how Cao Cao could be destroyed； but he never asked me。 So I said nothing。〃
〃If you really do know how that could be done； I will certainly beg my lord to ask you。〃
〃Cao Cao's hosts in my eyes are but as swarms of ants。 I have but to lift my hand； and they will be crushed；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
Lu Su at once went into his master's private room； where he found Sun Quan still very irritable and angry。
〃Zhuge Liang insulted me too deeply；〃 said Sun Quan。
〃I have already reproached him；〃 said Lu Su； 〃and he laughed and said you were too sensitive。 He would not give you any advice without being asked for it。 Why did you not seek advice from him； my lord？〃
At once Sun Quan's anger changed to joy。
He said； 〃So he had a plan ready； and his words were mean