第95部分(第2/7 页)

ent　for　former　deeds。　After　all；　every　person　was　bound　to　do　his　best　for　his　master。　He　would　e　with　alacrity　if　he　only　felt　sure　of　a　wele。　I　pray　you　express　your　pleasure。〃

This　was　good　news　for　Sun　Quan　and　he　said；　〃With　his　help；　I　could　destroy　Huang　Zu。〃

Then　Sun　Quan　bade　Lu　Meng　bring　Gan　Ning　to　see　him。

When　the　salutations　were　over；　the　chief　said；　〃My　heart　is　entirely　captivated　by　your　ing。　I　feel　no　resentment　against　you。　I　hope　you　will　have　no　doubts　on　that　score；　and　I　may　as　well　tell　you　that　I　desire　some　plan　for　the　destruction　of　Huang　Zu。〃

＇e＇　Ba　and　Shu　indicated　the　lands　of　two　ancient　states　west　of　Jingzhou。　These　mountainous　lands　were　often　called　West　River　Land。

Gan　Ning　replied；　〃The　dynasty　is　decadent　and　without　influence。　Cao　Cao　will　finally　absorb　the　country　down　to　the　river　unless　he　is　opposed。　Liu　Biao　provides　nothing　against　the　future；　and　his　sons　are　quite　unfitted　to　succeed　him。　You　should　lay　your　plans　to　oust　him　at　once　before　Cao　Cao　anticipates　you。　The　first　attack　should　be　made　on　Huang　Zu；　who　is　getting　old　and　avaricious；　so　that　everyone　hates　him。　He　is　totally　unprepared　for　a　fight　and　his　army　is　undisciplined。　He　would　fall　at　the　first　blow。　If　he　were　gone；　you　would　control　the　western　passes　and　could　conquer　the　lands　of　Ba　and　Shu*。　And　you　would　be　securely　established。〃

〃The　advice　is　most　valuable；〃　said　Sun　Quan；　and　he　made　his　preparations。

Zhou　Yu　was　appointed　mander…in…Chief；　Lu　Meng　was　Van　Leader；　Dong　Xi　and　Gan　Ning　were　Generals。　Sun　Quan　himself　would　mand　the　main　army　of　one　hundred　thousand　troops。

The　spies　reported　that　to　Huang　Zu　who；　at　the　news　of　an　expedition　against　him；　called　his　officers　together　to　c