Zhuge Liang said, “Cao Cao's power is too great for us to cope with. Let us go over to the South Land and ask help from Sun Quan. If we can set north and south at grips, we ought to be able to get some advantage from our intermediate position between them.” “But will they be willing to have anything to do with us?” said Liu Bei. “The South Land is a large and populous country, and Sun Quan has ambitions of his own.”
Zhuge Liang replied, “Cao Cao with his army of a million holds the Han River and the Great River. The South Land will certainly send to find out all possible about the position. Should any messenger come, I shall borrow a little boat and make a little trip over the river and trust to my little lithe tongue to set north and south at each other's throats. If the south wins, we will assist in destroying Cao Cao in order to get Jingzhou; if the north wins, we shall profit by the victory to get the South Land. So we shall get some advantage either way.”
“That is a very fine view to take,” said Liu Bei. “But how are you going to get hold of any one from the South Land to talk to?”
Liu Bei's question was answered by the arrival of Lu Su, and as the ship touched the bank and the envoy came ashore, Zhuge Liang laughed, saying, “It is done!”
Turning to Liu Qi he asked, “When Sun Ce died, did your country send any condolences?”
“It is impossible there would be any mourning courtesies between them and us; we had caused the death of his father, Sun Jian.”
“Then it is certain that this envoy does not come to present condolences but to spy out the land.”
So he said to Liu Bei, “When Lu Su asks about the movements of Cao Cao, you will know nothing. If he presses the matter, say he can ask me.”
Having thus prepared their scheme, they sent to welcome the envoy, who entered the city in mourning garb. The gifts having been accepted, Liu Qi asked Lu Su to meet Liu Bei. When the introductory ceremonies were over, the three men went to one of the inner chambers to drink a cup of wine.
Presently Lu Su said to Liu Bei, “By reputation I have known you a long time, Uncle Liu Bei, but till today I have not met you. I am very gratified at seeing you. You have been fighting Cao Cao, though, lately, so I suppose you know all about him. Has he really so great an army? How many, do you think, he has?”
“My army was so small that we fled whenever we heard of his approach; so I do not know how many he had.”
“You had the advice of Zhuge Liang, and you used fire on Cao Cao twice. You burned him almost to death so that you can hardly say you know nothing about his soldiers,” said Lu Su.
“Without asking my adviser, I really do not know the details.”
“Where is Zhuge Liang? I should like to see him,” said Lu Su.
So they sent for him and he was introduced. When the ceremonies were over, Lu Su said, “I have long admired your genius but have never been fortunate enough to meet you. Now that I have met you, I hope I may speak of present politics.”
Replied Zhuge Liang, “I know all Cao Cao's infamies and wickednesses, but to my regret we were not strong enough to withstand him. That is why we avoided him.”
“Is the Imperial Uncle going to stay here?” “The Princely One is an old friend of Wu Ju, Governor of Changwu, and intends to go to him.”
“Wu Ju has few troops and insufficient supplies; he cannot ensure safety for himself. How can he receive the Uncle?” said Lu Su.
“Changwu is not one to remain in long, but it is good enough for the present. We can make other plans for the future.”
Lu Su said, “Sun Quan is strongly posted in the six southern territories and is exceedingly well supplied. He treats able people and scholars with the greatest courtesy and so they gather round him. Now if you are seeking a plan for your Prince, you cannot do better than send some friend to confer with him.”
“There have never been any relations between my master and yours,” said Zhuge Liang. “I fear there would be nothing but a waste of words. Besides, we have no one to send.”
“Your elder brother Zhuge Jin is there as adviser and is longing to see you. I am but a simple wight, but I should be pleased to discuss affairs with my master and you.”
“But Zhuge Liang is my Directing Instructor,” said Liu Bei, “and I cannot do without him. He cannot go.”
Lu Su pressed him. Liu Bei pretended to refuse permission.
“It is important; I pray you give me leave to go,” said Zhuge Liang.
Then Liu Bei consented. And they soon took leave and the two set out by boat for Sun Quan's headquarters.
The result of this journey will appear in the following chapter.
