第289部分(第3/7 页)

e　and　rotting：　We　can　use　them。　I　am　seventy　years　of　age　and　must　soon　die。　If　any　one　of　these　three　events　happen………the　death　of　Sun　Hao；　the　destruction　of　these　ships；　or　my　death………then　success　will　be　difficult　to　ensure。　I　pray　Your　Majesty　not　to　miss　the　tide。〃

At　the　next　assembly　of　officers　Sima　Yan　said　to　them；　〃I　have　decided　to　act。　I　have　received　similar　advice　from　Yang　Hu　and　Wang　Jun。〃

At　this　arose　Minister　Wang　Hun　and　said；　〃I　hear　Sun　Hao　intends　to　march　north　to　the　Middle　Land　and　has　his　army　ready。　Report　says　it　is　formidable　and　would　be　hard　to　defeat。　I　counsel　to　await　another　year　till　that　army　has　lost　its　first　vigor。〃

A　mand　to　cease　warlike　preparations　was　the　result　of　this　counsel。　The　Ruler　of　Jin　betook　himself　to　his　private　chamber　where　he　engaged　in　a　game　of　chess　with　Secretary　Zhang　Hua　as　opponent。　While　at　the　game；　another　memorial　arrived。　It　was　from　Du　Yu。　It　read：

〃Formerly　Yang　Hu　explained　his　plans　confidentially　to　Your　Majesty；　but　did　not　lay　them　before　the　court。　The　result　has　been　much　debate　and　conflict　of　opinion。　In　every　project　there　are　pros　and　cons；　but　in　this　the　arguments　are　mostly　in　favor。　The　worst　that　can　happen　is　failure。　Since　last　autumn　the　proposed　attack　has　bee　generally　known；　and；　if　we　stop　now；　Sun　Hao　will　be　frightened　and　remove　the　capital　to　Wuchang；　repair　his　fortifications　in　the　South　Land；　and　move　his　threatened　people　out　of　danger。　Then　the　southern　capital　cannot　be　assaulted；　nor　is　there　anything　left　in　the　countryside　to　rob。　Hence　next　year's　attack　will　also　fail。〃

Just　as　the　Ruler　of　Jin　finished　reading；　Zhang　Hua　pushed　aside　the　board；　rose　and　drew　his　hands　into　his　sleeves；　saying；　〃Your　Majesty's　skill　in　wa