Thus they planned； and Lu Su was duly received with all honor。
When the salutations were over and host and guest were about to be seated； Lu Su said； 〃Sir； now that you are the husband of a daughter of Wu； you have bee my lord； and I dare not sit in your presence。〃
Liu Bei laughed。 〃You are an old friend；〃 said he。 〃Why this excessive humility？〃
So Lu Su took his seat。 And when tea had been served； the guest said； 〃I have e at the order of my master to discuss the subject of Jingzhou。 You； O Imperial Uncle； have had the use of the place for a long time。 Now that your two houses are allied by marriage； there should be the most friendly relations between you two； and you should hand it back to my master。〃
At this Liu Bei covered his face and began to cry。
〃What is the matter？〃 asked the guest。
Liu Bei only wept the more bitterly。
Then Zhuge Liang came in from behind a screen； saying； 〃I have been listening。 Do you know why my lord weeps so bitterly？〃
〃Really I know not。〃
〃But it is easy to see。 When my lord got the temporary occupation of Jingzhou； he gave the promise to return it when he had got the West River Land。 But reflect。 Liu Zhang of Yizhou is my lord's younger brother； and both of them are blood relations of the ruling family。 If my lord were to move an army to capture another region； he fears the blame of the ignorant。 And if he yields this place before he has another； where could he rest？ Yet while he retains this place； it seems to shame you。 The thing is hard on both sides； and that is why he weeps so bitterly。〃
The close of Zhuge Liang's speech seemed to move Liu Bei to greater grief； for he beat his breast and stamped his feet and wept yet more bitterly。
Lu Su attempted to console him； saying； 〃Be not so distressed； O Uncle。 Let us hear what Zhuge Liang can propose。〃
Zhuge Liang said； 〃I would beg you to return to your master and tell him all。 Tell him of this great trouble； and entreat him to let us stay here a little longer。〃
〃But suppose he refuses： What then？〃 said Lu Su。
〃How can he refuse since he is related by marriage to my master？〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃I shall expect to hear glad tidings through you。〃
Lu Su was really the first of generous people。 Seeing Liu Bei in such distress； he could do no other than consent and say he would do so。 Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang both thanked him most cordially； and after a banquet the emissary went down into his ship to return。
On the way Lu Su called in to see Zhou Yu at Chaisang and told him。
But Zhou Yu stamped his foot with rage and said； 〃My friend； you have been fooled again。 Long ago when Liu Bei was dependent on Liu Biao； he always cherished the intention to supplant him。 Think you that he really pities Liu Zhang？ This sort of evasive policy will certainly cause you much trouble。 However； I have a scheme which I think Zhuge Liang will not be able to get the better of。 Only you will have to make another journey。〃
〃I should be pleased to hear your fine scheme；〃 said Lu Su。
〃Do not go to see our master。 Return to Jingzhou and say to Liu Bei that since his family and the Suns are related by marriage； they really form but one house； and since he has qualms about attacking the west； we will do it for him。 Thus； the South Land will march an army under this pretext； but really go to Jingzhou； and we shall take him unprepared。 The road to the west runs through his city； and we will call upon him for supplies。 He will e out to thank the army； and we will assassinate him whereby we shall revenge ourselves and at the same time remove a source of future evil。〃
This seemed an excellent plan to Lu Su； and he returned at once to Jingzhou。 Before receiving him； Liu Bei talked over the matter with his adviser。
Said Zhuge Liang； 〃Lu Su has not seen the Marquis of Wu。 He has called in at Chaisang； and he and Zhou Yu have decided upon some scheme； which he is to talk you into accepting。 However； let him talk。 You； my lord； only watch me； and when I nod my head； then you agree to whatever he may propose。〃
Lu Su was then admitted and said； 〃The Marquis of Wu praises the noble virtue of the Imperial Uncle； and after consultation with his officers； he has determined to take the western country on the Imperial Uncle's behalf and； that done； Jingzhou can be exchanged for it without further delay。 However； when the army marches through； it will be expected of you to contribute some necessary supplies。〃
Zhuge Liang here nodded his head rapidly； at the same time saying； 〃We could hardly have hoped for such kindness。〃
And Liu Bei saluted with joined hands and said； 〃This is due to your friendly efforts on our behalf。〃
〃When the brave army arrives； we shall certainly e out to meet it and entertain the soldiers；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
Lu Su felt great satisfaction and was quite happy at his success。 He took his leave and went homeward。 But Liu Bei as yet did not understand。
〃What is their intention？〃 said he。
His adviser smiled； saying； 〃Zhou Yu's end is very near。 The ruse he is now trying would not take in a child。〃
〃Why？〃
〃This is the ruse known as 'Borrow a Road to Destroy the Host'。 Under the pretense of taking the west； they intend to capture this place； and when you go out to pliment the army； you will be seized and they will dash into the city which they hope to find unprepared。〃
〃And what are we to do？〃
〃Have no anxiety； my lord。 All we have to do is to prepare a hidden bow to get the fierce tiger； to spread the enticing bait to hook the great leviathan。 Wait till Zhou Yu es。 If he is not killed； he will be nine…tenths a corpse。 We will call in Zhao Yun for orders and give him secret instructions； and I will dispose the others。〃
And Liu Bei was glad。
Let Zhou Yu lay what plans he will；
Zhuge Liang anticipates his skill；
That land of rivers fair bait did look；
But he forgot the hidden hook。
Lu Su hastened back to Zhou Yu to tell him that all was going as he desired and Liu Bei would e out to wele the army。
Zhou Yu laughed with glee； saying； 〃At last！ Now they will fall into my trap。〃
Zhou Yu bade Lu Su prepare a petition for the information of the Marquis； and he ordered Cheng Pu to bring up reinforcements。 He himself had nearly recovered from the arrow wound and felt well。 He made his dispositions for the advance； appointing Gan Ning Van Leader； Xu Sheng and Ding Feng the manders of the body； and Ling Tong and Lu Meng Rear Guards。 The army numbered fifty thousand troops； and Zhou Yu marched with the second division。 While voyaging in his ship； he was always smiling to think how he was to have Zhuge Liang at last。
At Xiakou he inquired； 〃Is there anyone to wele the brave army？〃
They told him； 〃The Imperial Uncle has sent Mi Zhu to greet us。〃
And Mi Zhu was called。
〃What of the preparations for the army？〃 asked Zhou Yu as soon as Mi Zhu came。
〃My master has seen to that。 All is prepared；〃 said Mi Zhu。
〃Where is the Imperial Uncle？〃 asked Zhou Yu。
〃He is at the city of Jingzhou； waiting outside the walls to offer you the cup of greeting。〃
〃This expedition is on your account；〃 said Zhou Yu。 〃When one undertakes so long a march and such a task； the rewards for the army must be very substantial。〃
Having got this idea of what Zhou Yu expected； Mi Zhu returned to his own city； while the southern battle ships in close order sailed up the river and took their places along the bank。 As they went on； the most perfect tranquillity seemed to reign on all sides。 Not a ship was visible anywhere； and no one hindered。 Zhou Yu pressed forward till he came quite near Jingzhou； and still the wide river lay calm。 But the spies who came back reported two white flags flying on the city walls。
Still not a person was seen； and Zhou Yu began to feel suspicious。 He had his ship navigated in shore； and he himself landed on the bank； where he mounted a horse and； with a small army of three thousand veterans under Gan Ning； Xu Sheng； and Ding Feng； traveled along the land road。
By and bye he came to the city wall。 There was no sign of life。 Reining in his steed； he bade them challenge the gate。
Then someone from the wall asked； 〃Who is there？〃
The soldiers of the South Land replied； 〃The mander…in…Chief of the South Land； Zhou Yu； in person。〃
Immediately was heard the thud of