北斗星小说网

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第113部分（第1页）

t　their　prows　pointed　east　and　to　go　closer　in　so　that　many　arrows　might　hit　them。

Zhuge　Liang　ordered　the　drums　to　be　kept　beating　till　the　sun　was　high　and　the　fog　began　to　disperse；　when　the　boats　got　under　way　and　sailed　down　stream。　The　whole　twenty　boats　were　bristling　with　arrows　on　both　sides。

As　they　left；　Zhuge　Liang　asked　all　the　crews　to　shout　derisively；　〃We　thank　you；　Sir　Prime　Minister；　for　the　arrows！〃

They　told　Cao　Cao；　but　by　the　time　he　came；　the　light　boats　helped　by　the　swift　current　were　seven　miles　long　down　the　river　and　pursuit　was　impossible。　Cao　Cao　saw　that　he　had　been　duped　and　was　very　sorry；　but　there　was　no　help　for　it。

On　the　way　down　Zhuge　Liang　said　to　his　panion；　〃Every　boat　must　have　five　or　six　thousand　arrows　and　so；　without　the　expenditure　of　an　ounce　of　energy；　we　must　have　more　than　ten　myriad　arrows；　which　tomorrow　can　be　shot　back　again　at　Cao　Caos　army　to　his　great　inconvenience。〃

〃You　are　really　superhuman；〃　said　Lu　Su。　〃But　how　did　you　know　there　would　be　a　thick　fog　today？〃

〃One　cannot　be　a　leader　without　knowing　the　workings　of　heaven　and　the　ways　of　earth。　One　must　understand　the　secret　gates　and　the　interdependence　of　the　elements；　the　mysteries　of　tactics　and　the　value　of　forces。　It　is　but　an　ordinary　talent。　I　calculated　three　days　ago　that　there　would　be　a　fog　today；　and　so　I　set　the　limit　at　three　days。　Zhou　Yu　would　give　me　ten　days；　but　neither　artificers　nor　materials；　so　that　he　might　find　occasion　to　put　me　to　death　as　I　knew。　But　my　fate　lies　with　the　Supreme；　and　how　could　Zhou　Yu　harm　me？〃

Lu　Su　could　not　but　agree。　When　the　boats　arrived；　five　hundred　soldiers　were　in　readiness　on　the　bank　to　carry　away　the　arrows。　Zhuge　Liang　bade　them　go　on　board　the　boats；　collect　them　and　bear　them　to　the　tent　of　the　mander…in…Chief。　Lu　Su　went　to　report　that　the　arrows　had　been　obtained　and　told　Zhou　Yu　by　what　means。

Zhou　Yu　was　amazed　and　sighed　sadly；　saying；　〃He　is　better　than　I。　His　methods　are　more　than　human。〃

Thick　lies　the　fog　on　the　river；

Nature　is　shrouded　in　white；

Distant　and　near　are　confounded；

Banks　are　no　longer　in　sight。

Fast　fly　the　pattering　arrows；

Stick　in　the　boats　of　the　fleet。

Now　can　full　tale　be　delivered；

Zhuge　Liang　is　victor　plete。

When；　shortly　after　his　return；　Zhuge　Liang　went　to　the　tent　of　the　mander…in…Chief；　he　was　weled　by　Zhou　Yu；　who　came　forward　to　greet　him；　saying；　〃Your　superhuman　predictions　pel　ones　esteem。〃

〃There　is　nothing　remarkable　in　that　trifling　trick；〃　replied　he。

Zhou　Yu　led　him　within　and　wine　was　brought。

Then　Zhou　Yu　said；　〃My　lord　sent　yesterday　to　urge　me　to　advance；　but　I　have　no　master　plan　ready。　I　wish　you　would　assist　me；　Master。〃

〃But　where　should　I；　a　man　of　poor　everyday　ability；　find　such　a　plan　as　you　desire？〃

〃I　saw　the　enemys　naval　camp　just　lately；　and　it　looked　very　plete　and　well　organized。　It　is　not　an　ordinary　place　to　attack。　I　have　thought　of　a　plan；　but　I　am　not　sure　it　will　answer。　I　should　be　happy　if　you　would　decide　for　me。〃

〃General；〃　replied　Zhuge　Liang；　〃do　not　say　what　your　plan　is；　but　each　of　us　will　write　in　the　palm　of　his　hand　and　see　whether　our　opinions　agree。〃

So　brush　and　ink　were　sent　for；　and　Zhou　Yu　first　wrote　on　his　own　palm；　and　then　passed　the　pen　to　Zhuge　Liang　who　also　wrote。　Then　getting　close　together　on　the　same　bench；　each　showed　his　hand　to　the　other；　and　both　burst　out　laughing；　for　both　had　written　the　same　word；　〃Fire。〃

〃Since　we　are　of　the　same　opinion；〃　said　Zhou　Yu；　〃there　is　no　longer　any　doubt。　But　our　intentions　must　be　kept　secret。〃

〃Both　of　us　are　public　servants；　and　what　would　be　the　sense　of　telling　our　plans？　I　do　not　think　Cao　Cao　will　be　on　his　guard　against　this；　although　he　has　had　two　experiences。　You　may　put　your　scheme　into　force。〃

They　finished　their　wine　and　separated。　Not　an　officer　knew　a　word　of　the　generals　plans。

Now　Cao　Cao　had　expended　a　myriad　arrows　in　vain　and　was　much　irritated　in　consequence。　He　deeply　desired　revenge。

Then　Xun　You　proposed　a　ruse；　saying；　〃The　two　strategists　on　the　side　of　the　enemy　are　Zhou　Yu　and　Zhuge　Liang；　two　men　most　difficult　to　get　the　better　of。　Let　us　send　someone　who　shall　pretend　to　surrender　to　them　but　really　be　a　spy　on　our　behalf　and　a　helper　in　our　schemes。　When　we　know　what　is　doing；　we　can　plan　to　meet　it。〃

〃I　had　thought　of　that　myself；〃　replied　Cao　Cao。　〃Whom　do　you　think　the　best　person　to　send？〃

〃Cai　Mao　has　been　put　to　death；　but　all　his　clan　and　family　are　in　the　army；　and　his　two　younger　brothers　are　junior　generals。　You　have　them　most　securely　in　your　power　and　may　send　them　to　surrender。　The　ruler　of　the　South　Land　will　never　suspect　deceit　there。〃

Cao　Cao　decided　to　act　on　this　plan；　and　in　the　evening　summoned　Cai　Zhong　and　Cai　He　to　his　tent；　where　he　told　them；　saying；　〃I　want　you　two　pretend　to　surrender　to　the　South　Land　so　that　you　can　gather　intelligence　and　sent　it　back。　When　all　done；　you　will　be　richly　rewarded。　But　do　not　betray　me。〃

〃Our　families　are　in　Jingzhou；　and　that　place　is　yours；〃　replied　they。　〃Should　we　dare　betray？　You　need　have　no　doubts；　Sir。　You　will　soon　see　the　heads　of　both　Zhou　Yu　and　Zhuge　Liang　at　your　feet。〃

Cao　Cao　gave　them　generous　gifts。　Soon　after　the　two　men；　each　with　his　five　hundred　soldiers；　set　sail　with　a　fair　wind　for　the　opposite　bank。

Now　as　Zhou　Yu　was　preparing　for　the　attack；　the　arrival　of　some　northern　ships　was　announced。　They　bore　the　two　younger　brothers　of　Cai　Mao；　who　had　e　as　deserters。

They　were　led　in　and；　bowing　before　the　general；　said；　weeping；　〃Our　innocent　brother　has　been　put　to　death；　and　we　desire　vengeance。　So　we　have　e　to　offer　allegiance　to　you。　We　pray　you　appoint　us　to　the　vanguard。〃

Zhou　Yu　appeared　very　pleased　and　made　them　presents。　Then　he　ordered　them　to　join　Gan　Ning　in　leading　the　van。　They　thanked　him　and　regarded　their　scheme　as　already　a　success。

But　Zhou　Yu　gave　Gan　Ning　secret　orders；　saying；　〃They　have　e　without　their　families；　and　so　I　know　their　desertion　is　only　pretense。　They　have　been　sent　as　spies；　and　I　am　going　to　meet　their　ruse　with　one　of　my　own。　They　shall　have　some　information　to　send。　You　will　treat　them　well；　but　keep　a　careful　guard　over　them。　On　the　day　our　soldiers　start　the　offense；　they　shall　be　sacrificed　to　the　flag。　But　be　very　careful　that　nothing　goes　wrong。〃