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第208部分（第2页）

The　envoy　bowed。　Then　Deng　Zhi　was　ordered　to　return　to　Wu　and　thank　its　ruler　for　his　courtesy；　and　he　was　to　acpany　Zhang　Wen。　So　both；　having　taken　leave　of　the　Prime　Minister；　set　out　on　their　journey　to　the　east。

In　the　meantime　Sun　Quan　was　beginning　to　feel　perplexed　at　the　long　delay　of　his　envoy。　He　had　summoned　a　council　to　discuss　this　question；　when　the　report　came　that　his　own　envoy　had　returned；　and　Deng　Zhi　was　with　him。　They　were　brought　in　forthwith。　Zhang　Wen；　having　made　his　obeisance；　began　to　discourse　upon　the　virtue　of　the　Ruler　of　Shu　and　Zhuge　Liang　and　to　lay　before　his　lord　the　proposal　for　a　league　of　peace。　Deng　Zhi；　the　Chair　of　the　Secretariat；　was　empowered　to　discuss　this　matter。

Turning　to　Deng　Zhi；　Sun　Quan　said；　〃Would　it　not　be　a　happy　result　if　tranquillity　should　be　restored　to　the　empire　by　the　destruction　of　Wei；　and　Wu　and　Shu　should　share　its　administration？〃

〃The　sky　knows　not　two　suns；〃　replied　Deng　Zhi；　〃nor　can　the　people　recognize　two　kings。　If　Wei　be　destroyed；　no　one　can　say　upon　whom　the　divine　mand　will　devolve。　But　one　who　bees　an　overlord　must　perfect　his　virtue；　and　those　who　bee　ministers　must　be　wholly　loyal。　In　this　way　strife　will　cease。〃

Sun　Quan　smiled；　saying；　〃And　your　sincerity　is　beyond　question。〃

Deng　Zhi　was　dismissed　with　rich　gifts；　and　after　this　Wu　and　Shu　were　good　friends。

The　negotiations　between　his　two　rivals　were　reported　in　Capital　Luoyang　without　loss　of　time；　and　Cao　Pi　was　very　angry。

〃If　they　have　made　an　alliance；　it　can　only　mean　that　they　cherish　the　intention　of　swallowing　the　Middle　Land。　My　best　move　is　to　strike　first。〃

He　called　a　great　council。　This　council　lacked　the　presence　of　Regent　Marshal　Cao　Ren　and　Grand　mander　Jia　Xu；　who　had　both　died。

In　the　council　Counselor　Xin　Pi　stepped　forward　and　said；　〃The　Middle　Land　is　extensive；　but　the　population　so　sparse　that　no　successful　army　could　be　raised　just　now。　My　advice　is　to　wait　ten　years；　spending　that　period　in　forming　an　army　and　in　cultivating　the　land　till　stores　and　weapons　shall　have　been　accumulated。　Then　both　our　rivals　may　be　destroyed。〃

〃This　is　only　the　distorted　opinion　of　a　perverted　pedant。　Having　made　this　league；　Shu　and　Wu　may　fall　upon　us　at　any　moment。　This　matter　cannot　be　postponed　for　ten　years；〃　said　the　Ruler　of　Wei。

An　edict　appeared　manding　the　enlistment　of　soldiers　and　the　formation　of　an　army　to　subdue　Wu。

Sima　Yi　then　said；　〃Battleships　are　necessary；　as　Wu　is　protected　by　the　Great　River。　Your　Majesty　must　lead　small　and　big　vessels。　The　navy　can　advance　by　way　of　River　Huai；　taking　Shouchun。　When　you　reach　Guangling；　the　river　is　to　be　crossed　and　Nanxu　is　to　be　captured。　Then　Wu　will　be　subdued。〃

This　plan　was　accepted；　and　the　construction　of　dragon　ships　was　put　in　hand　and　went　on　day　and　night。　Ten　were　built　two　hundred　spans　long　to　carry　two　thousand　marines　each。　They　also　collected　three　thousand　fighting　ships。

In　the　autumn　of　the　fifth　year　of　Yellow　Dawn　（AD　224）　the　various　generals　assembled；　and　Cao　Zhen　was　appointed　leader　of　the　first　corps。　Zhang　Liao；　Zhang　He；　Wen　Ping；　and　Xu　Huang　were　Chief　manders；　Xu　Chu　and　Lu　Qian　were　guards　of　the　Center　Army；　and　Cao　Xiu　manded　the　rear　guard；　the　strategists　were　Liu　Ye　and　Jiang　Ji。　In　all；　land　and　marine　forces　numbered　over　three　hundred　thousand　troops。　When　the　starting　day　was　decided　upon；　Sima　Yi　was　made　Chair　of　the　Secretariat　and　left　in　the　capital　with　the　powers　of　Regent　Marshal。

The　spies　told　the　Prince　of　Wus　attendants　of　the　dangers；　and　the　latter　hastened　to　inform　the　Prince。

They　said；　〃Cao　Pi　is　leading　the　dragon　fleet　and　manding　three　hundred　thousand　marines　and　ground　forces　against　the　South　Land；　and　the　danger　is　very　great。〃

When　Sun　Quan　met　his　council；　Gu　Yong　said；　〃My　lord；　you　can　call　upon　Shu　for　help　according　to　the　treaty。　Write　to　Zhuge　Liang　and　get　him　to　send　out　an　army　through　Hanzhong　so　as　to　divert　part　of　Weis　army。　Also　you　send　an　army　to　Nanxu　to　oppose　them　there。〃

〃I　shall　have　to　recall　Lu　Xun；〃　said　the　Prince。　〃He　is　the　only　man　to　undertake　this　great　task。〃

〃Do　not　move　him　if　you　can　help　it。　He　is　necessary　for　the　protection　of　Jingzhou。〃

〃Yes；　I　know。　But　there　is　no　other　strong　enough　to　help　me。〃

At　these　words　Xu　Sheng　advanced；　saying；　〃I　know　I　am　not　very　able；　but　I　desire　to　be　given　an　army　to　meet　this　danger。　If　Cao　Pi　crosses　the　river　in　person；　I　will　make　him　prisoner　and　present　him　at　the　gate　of　the　Palace。　If　he　does　not　e　over　here；　I　will　slay　so　many　of　his　soldiers　that　his　army　shall　not　dare　even　to　look　southward。〃

Sun　Quan　was　pleased　to　find　a　willing　volunteer；　and　replied；　〃Noble　Sir；　what　anxiety　need　I　feel　if　I　have　your　protection？〃

Xu　Sheng　was　given　the　title　of　General　Who　Protects　the　East　and　made　Chief　mander　of　all　the　forces　in　Nanxu　and　Jianye。　As　soon　as　he　had　received　his　orders；　he　retired。　He　gave　mand　to　gather　enormous　quantities　of　weapons；　and　had　many　flags　and　banners　made　for　the　protection　of　the　river　banks。

But　another　impetuous　young　leader　was　anxious　to　take　more　vigorous　measures；　and　he　stood　forth；　saying；　〃My　lord　has　laid　upon　you；　O　General；　a　heavy　responsibility。　But　if　you　really　desire　to　destroy　the　invading　force　and　capture　Cao　Pi；　you　should　send　an　army　to　meet　him　on　the　north　side　in　the　South　of　River　Huai。　I　fear　failure　if　you　wait　till　the　northern　troops　have　e　this　far。〃

The　young　man　was　Sun　Shao；　nephew　of　the　Prince　of　Wu。　Sun　Shao　was　born　to　a　Yu　family；　and　he　was　adopted　by　Sun　Ce　and　given　the　Sun　family　name。　He　had　already　the　title　of　General　Who　Possesses　Wide　Prestige；　and　was　in　mand　at　Guangling。　Though　young　and　impetuous；　he　was　very　valiant。

Said　Xu　Sheng；　〃Cao　Pis　army　is　strong　and　its　leaders　famous。　I　hold　that　we　may　not　cross　the　river　to　meet　him；　but　wait　the　arrival　of　his　ships　on　the　other　side。　Then　I　shall　carry　out　my　plan。〃

〃I　have　three　thousand　troops　of　my　own；　and　I　know　the　country　about　Guangling　thoroughly。　Let　me　go　across　the　river　and　fight　a　battle。　I　will　willingly　undergo　the　penalty　if　I　fail；〃　said　Sun　Shao。

However；　Xu　Sheng　refused；　and　all　the　pleadings　of　his　impetuous　general　were　vain。

And　when　Sun　Shao　still　persisted；　the　mander　grew　angry　and　said；　〃What　control　shall　I　have　if　you　are　allowed　to　disobey　orders？〃

Xu　Sheng　ordered　the　lictors　to　take　Sun　Shao　out　and　put　him　to　death。

They　led　him　away；　and　forthwith　the　black　flag　was　hoisted。　But　one　of　Sun　S