“What are you going to do, my lord?” asked Lu Su as he finished reading the letter.
“I have not yet decided.”
Zhang Zhao said, “With his huge army of a million men Cao Cao is overpowering his opponents on all sides in the name of the Emperor. If you resist him you would be opposing the court. Moreover, your most important defense against him is the Yangtze, but now by occupying Jingzhou he, too, has the river to his advantage. It will be impossible for us to withstand him, and the only way to ensure tranquillity, in my humble opinion, is submission.”
“What he has said accords with the manifest decree of providence,” echoed all the other advisors.
Sun Quan remained silent and thoughtful.
Zhang Zhao again took up the argument. “Do not hesitate, my lord,” he added. “Submission to Cao Cao means peace for the people of Wu and safety for your six districts.”
Sun Quan still remained silent, his head bent in deep thought. After a while he rose and went inside and Lu Su followed him. Knowing that Lu Su wanted to tell him something, Sun Quan took Lu Su by the hand and asked, “What do you think?”
“What they are all saying is the worst advice. All of us can submit to Cao Cao but you cannot.”
“Why not? How do you explain that?”
“If people like myself submitted we would be sent back to our home villages and retain our official posts in various districts. But if you should submit, where could you go? You would be given the title of a nobleman, perhaps. You would have only one carriage, one saddled horse, and a few attendants. That is all. Would you be able to sit facing the south and call yourself ruler of your territory? Each one of them is thinking for himself and you should not listen to them. You, General, must decide on your great plan quickly.”
Sun Quan sighed, “I was truly disappointed with all their talk. Now you have just spoken of a great plan and your view is the same as mine. Surely Heaven has expressly sent you to me. However, Cao Cao has become all the more stronger now that he has obtained Yuan Shao’s army and Liu Biao’s men in Jingzhou. I fear he is almost too powerful to contend with.”
“I have brought back with me Zhuge Liang, the younger brother of Zhuge Jin, from my trip to Jiangxia. If you question him he can explain the true situation to you.”
“Is Master Sleeping Dragon really here?”
“Yes, he is resting in the guesthouse.”
“It is too late to see him today. But tomorrow I will assemble all my officials and let him meet the best of our men first. After that we will discuss the matter.”
With these instructions Lu Su retired. The next day he went to the guesthouse to see Zhuge Liang and cautioned him again not to mention how powerful Cao Cao’s army was.
Zhuge Liang said with a smile, “I will act as circumstances dictate. You can be sure I will not upset your plan.”
He was then conducted to where more than twenty high officials, both civil and military, were assembled. They formed a dignified conclave as they sat in state with their tall headdresses and broad girdles.
Zhang Zhao sat at the head and Zhuge Liang first saluted him. Then, after exchanging formal greetings with each of them, he took the seat for the guest. They, on their part, noted his refined and elegant manner and his commanding figure and they thought to themselves that he had come to promote his views to them.
Zhang Zhao led the way in trying to challenge the guest. “I am the least competent scholar of our district,” he said. “But I have long heard that you compared yourself to Guan Zhong and Yue Yi when you lived as a hermit in Longzhong. Is there any truth in this?”
“To a small extent I did,” replied Zhuge Liang.
“I heard that Liu Bei paid three visits to you in your cottage, and that he was so delighted to have you as his advisor that he considered himself as lucky as a fish getting back to water. Then he thought he could possess the vast area around Jingzhou and Xiangyang. Yet today all that country belongs to Cao Cao. I should like to hear your account of this.”
Zhuge Liang thought, “This Zhang Zhao is Sun Quan’s first advisor. Unless I can get the better of him I will never have a chance with his master.” So he replied, “In my opinion the taking of the area around the Han River was as simple as turning over one’s hand. But my master is both righteous and humane and would not stoop to taking the land of a member of his own house. So he refused Liu Biao’s offer of succession. But Liu Zong, a mere lad, misled by specious words, submitted secretly to Cao Cao, which enabled him to become all powerful. My master is at present stationed in Jiangxia, but he has plans for the future that are not easily understood by ordinary folks.”
“In that case, your deeds are at variance with your words,” retorted Zhang Zhao. “You regard yourself as equal to Guan Zhong and Yue Yi. Well, Guan Zhong, as chief minister of Duke Huan, put his master at the very head of the feudal nobles, making him the supreme ruler of all the land. And under the able guidance of Yue Yi the feeble country of Yan captured more than seventy cities of Qi. These two were truly men of the most distinguished talents the land has ever known.
“But what about you? When you lived as a recluse in the cottage you passed your time in idleness, scorning the wind and the moon, or sitting leisurely clasping your knees. Now you have entered the service of Liu Bei you should bring good to the people, remove evils, and destroy rebels and brigands. Before he obtained your help, Liu Bei was able to claim some territory as his own. With you to help, all men looked up to him, expecting him to accomplish great things. Even school boys said that he was like a tiger that had grown wings—and that the Hans would be restored and Cao Cao and his faction would be exterminated. Old ministers of the court as well as hermits in the mountains rubbed their eyes and waited, believing that the time had finally come when the clouds of darkness that covered the sky would be lifted to reveal the brilliant splendor of the sun and the moon; people would be rescued out of fire and water; and all the country would be able to rest in peace and comfort.
“Why then, since you went to Liu Bei, have his men been giving up their armor and spears and fleeing like rats before Cao Cao’s army? On the one hand he failed to show his gratitude to Liu Biao by bringing tranquillity to his people. On the other, he was unable to protect his orphan sons and preserve his land? In fact, he has suffered one setback after another. He has abandoned Xinye, fled to Fancheng, been defeated at Dangyang, and escaped to Xiakou, unable to find a single place for shelter. Thus, since you joined Liu Bei, he has been worse off than before. Was it thus with Guan Zhong and Yue Yi? I trust you will forgive me for my blunt words.”
Zhuge Liang waited till he had finished his long speech, then laughed and said, “How can the common birds understand the aspirations of the roc that flies 10,000 li? Let me give you an illustration. When a man falls seriously ill, the physician must first administer soft gruel and mild drugs until his inner system is gradually regulated and his body calms down. Then he may give him meat to nourish him and powerful drugs to cure him. Thus the disease will be fully expelled and the man restored to health. If the physician does not wait till the humors and pulse are in harmony, but applies his strong drugs too early, it will be difficult to restore the patient’s health.
“In the past my master suffered defeat at Runan and had to seek refuge with Liu Biao. He had then less than one thousand soldiers and only three officers. His situation was much the same as a patient in critical condition. Xinye was but a secluded, rustic town with few inhabitants and scanty supplies, and my master only retired there as a temporary refuge. Do you think he intended to stay there permanently? Yet, with our insufficient armor and weapons, weak fortifications, untrained men, and inadequate supplies, we burned Cao Cao’s camps at Bowang and flooded his troops at the White River, frightening away able generals like Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren. I doubt whether Guan Zhong and Yue Yi could have done any better. As for the surrender of Liu Zong, my master knew nothing of it at first, and later he was too noble and righteous to take advantage of t
he chaos to seize a kinsman’s territory. Now with regard to my lord’s defeat at Dangyang it must be remembered that his advance was hampered by a huge following of common people, and he was too humane to abandon them. He never thought of making a speedy journey into Jiangling, but willingly suffered with his people, advancing only some ten li a day. This is a striking instance of his magnanimity.
“Small forces are no match for large armies and victory and defeat are common episodes in every military campaign. The great founder of the Hans suffered many defeats at the hands of Xiang Yu, but he finally conquered his opponent at the Battle of Gaixia. Was not this due to the strategy of his general, Han Xin? Yet, in his long service to his master, Han Xin was not always victorious. Indeed, important issues of the state and security of the government depend on a masterplan, far removed from the deceitful talks of bragging babblers, who surpass all when it comes to talking but fail to produce a single capable man when it comes to making decisions to meet changing situations. Truly such people are the laughingstock of all the country.”
Zhang Zhao’s flow of eloquence was cut short as he could find no reply to this. Then another in the assembly lifted up his voice, saying, “But what do you think of Cao Cao’s power at present? There he is, encamped with a million soldiers and a thousand officers, invincible as a dragon and fearsome as a tiger. He has taken Jiangxia already in one swallow, as we can see.” The speaker was Yu Fan.
Zhuge Liang replied, “Cao Cao has merely acquired Yuan Shao’s swarms of ants and stolen Liu Biao’s motley rabble. There is nothing to fear, even though he has millions of men.”
Yu Fan smiled icily, “Defeated at Dangyang and exhausted in schemes at Xiakou, you are now reduced to begging for help from others—yet you talk about having no fear. Aren’t you trying to take people in with your boastful words?”
“My master’s humane and just force consisted of only a few thousand men,” retorted Zhuge Liang. “How could he oppose a million fierce brutes? He has withdrawn to Xiakou for some breathing space. Now here you are in the east, equipped with a powerful army and ample supplies, as well as the natural barrier of the Yangtze, yet you are trying to persuade your lord to bend his knee before a rebel and to be the ridicule of the whole land. Compared to this, my master Liu Bei is not afraid of the rebel Cao Cao.”
Yu Fan, too, had nothing to reply. Next, another man in the assembly asked: “Are you trying to sell your ideas to us here in Wu with a tongue like that of Zhang Yi or Su Qin of old?”
Zhuge Liang looked at the speaker and found him to be Bu Zhi. He replied, “You regard those two as mere persuasive talkers, without realizing that they were also great heroes. Su Qin bore the prime minister’s seals of six kingdoms while Zhang Yi was twice prime minister of Qin. Both were men of outstanding ability who brought about the reformation of their governments. They were not to be compared with those who quail before the strong and overbear the weak, who fear the dagger and run away from the sword. You gentlemen, on hearing Cao Cao’s crafty and empty threats, have been so frightened that you advise your lord to surrender. Do you dare to scorn Su Qin and Zhang Yi?”
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 Ca
o’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.”
The Three Kingdoms, Volume 2: The Sleeping Dragon: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation Page 12