The Three Kingdoms Volume 2 (18 page)

Bu Zhi was silenced. Then suddenly another man asked, “What do you think of Cao Cao?”

It was Xue Zong who had raised the question. Zhuge Liang replied, “Isn’t it obvious that he is a rebel against the Hans? No need to ask at all.”

“You are mistaken,” said Xue Zong. “The Hans have outlasted their allotted time and the end is near. Cao Cao already has two-thirds of the country and people are turning to him. Liu Bei fails to recognize the will of Heaven and insists on contending with him. It is like trying to smash a stone with an egg. Failure is certain.”

Zhuge Liang angrily rsponded: “How can you utter such undutiful words, as if you knew neither father nor emperor? Loyalty and filial duty are the essentials of a man born into this world. As a servant of Han it is your obligation to help destroy whoever turns against his emperor. Cao Cao’s forbears enjoyed the bounty of Han, but instead of showing gratitude, he nourishes in his bosom thoughts of rebellion. The whole country is incensed against him yet you allege that he is destined to rule. Truly you are a man who knows neither father nor emperor, a man unworthy to talk with. Pray say no more.”

Shame spread over Xue Zong’s face and he could not answer back. Soon another person took up the debate and said: “Although Cao Cao overawes the Emperor to coerce the nobles, yet he is the descendant of a prime minister of Han, while Liu Bei, though he says he is descended from a prince, has no proof whatsoever. In the eyes of the world he is just a weaver of mats, a seller of straw sandals. Who is he to compete with Cao Cao?”

Zhuge Liang recognized the speaker to be Lu Ji. He replied with a smile: “Are you not that Lu Ji who, as a child, pocketed oranges home for your mother when you were sitting among Yuan Shu’s guests? Please sit quietly and listen to me. Inasmuch as Cao Cao is a descendant of a prime minister of the state, he is by heredity a servant of the House of Han all his life—yet he has usurped all state power and tyrannized over the court, inflicting every indignity upon his lord. Not only has he betrayed his emperor, but he has also brought shame to his ancestors. So he is both a traitor of Han and a renegade of his family. My lord Liu Bei is a noble scion of the imperial house upon whom the Emperor has conferred rank, as is recorded in the annals. How, then, can you say there is no proof of his imperial origin? Besides, the founder of the dynasty was himself of lowly origin, and yet he finally won the empire. Where is the shame in weaving mats and selling straw sandals? Your immature views are those of a child, unfit to be mentioned in the presence of scholars of standing.”

This put a stop of Lu Ji’s speech, but another of those present started up: “Zhuge Liang’s words are arbitrary and unreasonable. It is not proper argument and it is no use continuing the debate. But may I ask which branch of the classical canon is your specialty?”

Zhuge Liang looked at his questioner, who was named Yan Jun, and said: “Selecting passages and choosing phrases are the business of the pedants of every age—what else are they good for? How can these people know about establishing an empire or running a government? History has produced sagacious statesmen like Yi Yin, formerly a farmer in Shen and Lu Shang, a fisherman of the Wei River, as well as great generals and ministers like Zhang Liang, Chen Ping, Deng Yu, and Geng Yan. All of them were of transcendent ability, but I have never heard of them making special studies of classical canons. Would they behave like students of books, who while away their time between the brush and the inkstone, engaged in literary futility?”

Yan Jun hung his head with shame, unable to answer. However, yet another disputant, Cheng De-shu, suddenly said loudly: “You are fond of boastful words, sir, but they do not give any proof of your scholarship. I am inclined to think that a real scholar would just laugh at you.”

Zhuge Liang replied, “There are scholars and scholars. There is the noble scholar, loyal and patriotic, of perfect rectitude and an enemy 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 composing odes and in hoary age still striving to understand the classics. Thousands of words flow from his brush but there is not a solid idea in his breast. He may, like Yang Xiong, glorify his name with his writings and yet stoop to serve a tyrant such as Wang Mang. No wonder Yang Xiong had to throw himself out of a window in the end. That is the way of the scholar of the mean type. Though he composes odes by the hundred, what is the use of him?”

Cheng De-shu could find no words to reply. Seeing how eloquent Zhuge Liang was in his argument, all of them turned pale with awe.

However, two others wanted to continue the debate, but before they could continue suddenly in burst a man who shouted angrily: “Zhuge Liang is the genius of our time, yet you are all attempting to humiliate him. This is not the way to show respect to a guest. Now Cao Cao’s huge army is at our very border but instead of discussing how to oppose him you waste your time wrangling with words.”

All eyes turned toward the speaker—it was Huang Gai of Lingling, who was in charge of the grain supplies of Wu. He turned to address Zhuge Liang: “There is a saying that it is better to remain silent than to gain profit by talk. Why not give your valuable advice to our lord instead of wasting your time in debate with this crowd?”

“They do not understand things of the world and tried to humiliate me,” replied Zhuge Liang. “I had to reply.”

Then Huang Gai and Lu Su accompanied him to see their master. At the central gate they met his brother, Zhuge Jin. Zhuge Liang bowed to him deferentially.

“Why didn’t you come to see me, brother?” asked Zhuge Jin.

“I’m now in the service of my lord Liu Bei and it is my duty to put public affairs before private obligations,” said Zhuge Liang. “I can’t attend to any private matters till my work is done. You must pardon me, brother.”

“Come and talk to me after you have seen our lord,” said Zhuge Jin and then he went on his way.

As they went along to the audience chamber Lu Su again cautioned Zhuge Liang against any rash speech and he nodded consent. When they arrived there, Sun Quan came down the steps to welcome his guest and was extraordinarily gracious. After the salutations Zhuge Liang was invited to sit while the officials were drawn up in two lines—on one side, the civil and on the other, the military. Lu Su stood beside Zhuge Liang and waited to hear what he would say.

After he presented Liu Bei’s compliments, Zhuge Liang stole glances at his host, noting with admiration his bright eyes, brown beard, and dignified look. He thought to himself: “Judging from his appearance he is certainly no common man. He is one to be inspired, but not to be persuaded. When he asks me I will try to stir him up to action.”

Presently tea was served and Sun Quan began to speak.

“Lu Su has often spoken of your genius,” he said. “It is a great pleasure to meet you. I hope you will instruct me.”

“I have neither talent nor learning,” said Zhuge Liang modestly. “I fear you will be disappointed in me.”

“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 is weak and his officers are few,” answered Zhuge Liang, “and Xinye is a small city short of supplies. How could we oppose such a force as Cao Cao’s?”

“How many men does he have in all?”

“Horse and foot, land and marine, he has more than a million men.”

“Isn’t there something exaggerated about that?” asked Sun Quan.

“Not at all—when Cao Cao was in Yanzhou he already had 200,000 men from Qingzhou. He gained another 500–600,000 when Yuan Shao fell. Recently he has recruited more than 300–400,000 in the central areas. Now he has acquired 200–300,000 more from Jingzhou. If you add them all together the total is no less than 1.5 million. I said just a million because I was afraid of frightening your people.”

At this Lu Su, much disturbed, turned pale and looked anxiously at Zhuge Liang who, however, pretended not to notice.

Sun Quan asked again, “How many officers does he have?”

“Well, his clever strategists and experienced officers number to more than one or even two thousand,” replied Zhuge Liang.

“What will be Cao Cao’s next move now that he has taken Jingzhou?”

“He is camped along the river and is preparing a fleet. If he does not intend to invade your territory, what other place does he want to take?”

“If that is his intention, it is a case of fight or not fight. I hope you can decide that for me.”

“I have something to say, but I fear, sir, you might not care to hear it.”

“I would like to hear your valuable view,” answered Sun Quan.

“For a long time the empire has been in utter chaos. So you have taken the region east of the Yangtze and my master has assembled his forces south of the Han River, to challenge Cao Cao for the empire. Now Cao Cao has overcome most obstacles and his recent conquest of Jingzhou has made him the one man to fear across the land. Even though there are heroes bold enough to wrestle with him, they have no footholds to display such heroism. That is why my master has been forced to flee here. But, General, I think you must estimate your own strength before you act. If you think you are able to resist Cao Cao’s army of the north, then you should break with him without loss of time. If not, then perhaps you should follow the advice of your counselors—cease your military preparations and serve under Cao Cao.”

Before Sun Quan could reply his guest went on: “Beneath your outward show of submission you are inwardly still hesitating. The situation is developing quickly and disaster will be upon you if you do not act soon.”

Then Sun Quan replied, “If your words are true, why doesn’t Liu Bei yield?”

“In the past, Tian Heng was only a brave warrior of the state of Qi, yet he would not suffer the shame of submission—let alone my master, who is a descendent of the imperial family as well as a man of great renown, respected by all. His lack of success so far is simply the will of Heaven but he will never bow his knee to anyone.”

These last words touched Sun Quan to the quick and he could scarcely control his anger. With a flick of his sleeves, he rose and left the audience chamber. The officials present snickered as they dispersed.

Greatly annoyed, Lu Su reproached Zhuge Liang for his insolent way of talking to Sun Quan. “Luckily for you my lord is too high-minded to rebuke you to your face, but your disparaging speech was a monstrous insult to him.”

Zhuge Liang threw back his head and laughed. “What a sensitive man he is!” he cried. “I know how to destroy Cao Cao, but he never asked me—so I said nothing.”

“If you do know how that could be done, I will certainly beg my lord to ask you.”

“Cao Cao’s million men are but swarms of ants in my eyes. I have only to lift my hand and they will be crushed to powder.”

Lu Su at once went in to see his master, who was still smoldering with anger. “Zhuge Liang insulted me too deeply,” said Sun Quan to him.

“I have also reproached him for this,” said Lu Su, “and he laughed and said you were too sensitive. He would not disclose his plan to defeat Cao Cao without being asked for it. Why 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 meant to provoke me. My shortsightedness nearly disrupted a great cause.”

So he returned to the audience chamber where Zhuge Liang was still seated and asked him to continue his speech. He apologized courteously: “Please do not take offense for my rudeness just now.”

“And I also was rude,” replied Zhuge Liang. “I beg you to pardon me.”

Zhuge Liang was then invited into the inner chamber, where wine was served. After the wine had gone round several times, Sun Quan said, “Cao Cao has always regarded as his most-hated enemies Lu Bu, Liu Biao, Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Liu Bei, and myself. Now most of these are gone and only Liu Bei and I remain. I cannot allow the entire land of Wu to be dictated by another and I have decided to fight it out with him. But the only one who could assist me in withstanding Cao Cao is Liu Bei, but he has been defeated lately. How can he withstand another battle?”

Zhuge Liang replied, “Although we have suffered a defeat recently, Guan Yu is still commanding 10,000 veterans and Liu Qi leads another 10,000 men of Jiangxia. Cao Cao’s army comes from afar and his men are worn out after the long journey. During his last battle with us his light cavalry rode 300
li
in a day and a night in pursuit of us. Just as a crossbow, at its final kick, cannot even penetrate the finest gauze, so his army has no more strength. Besides, the soldiers are from the north and unskilled in marine warfare, while the men of Jingzhou, though from the south, are unwilling supporters. They have no desire to help Cao Cao. Now if you, General, and my master fight together with one heart and mind, Cao Cao will certainly be defeated and he will be compelled to withdraw to the north. Then your country and Jingzhou will be strong and firmly established. But the scheme must be carried out without delay and only you can decide.”

Sun Quan replied with great joy: “Your words, sir, have enlightened me at once. My mind is made up and I have no more doubts. I will begin preparations for our joint attack against Cao Cao without delay.”