第104部分(第2/7 页)

　Su。

〃That　came　yesterday。　I　have　sent　the　bearer　of　it　back；　and　this　gathering　is　to　consider　the　reply；〃　said　he。

Lu　Su　read　the　letter：

〃When　I；　the　Prime　Minister；　received　the　imperial　mand　to　punish　a　fault；　my　banners　went　south　and　Liu　Zong　became　my　prisoner；　while　the　people　of　Jingzhou　flocked　to　my　side　at　the　first　rumor　of　my　ing。　Under　my　hand　are　one　million　strong　and　a　thousand　able　leaders。　My　desire　is；　General；　that　we　go　on　a　great　hunting　expedition　into　Jiangxia　and　together　attack　Liu　Bei。　We　will　share　his　land　between　us；　and　we　will　swear　perpetual　amity。　If　happily　you　would　not　be　a　mere　looker…on；　I　pray　you　reply　quickly。〃

〃What　have　you　decided　upon；　my　lord？〃　asked　Lu　Su　as　he　finished　the　letter。

〃I　have　not　yet　decided。〃

Then　Zhang　Zhao　said；　〃It　would　be　imprudent　to　withstand　Cao　Cao's　hundred　legions　backed　by　the　imperial　authority。　Moreover；　your　most　important　defense　against　him　is　the　Great　River；　and　since　Cao　Cao　has　gained　possession　of　Jingzhou；　the　river　is　his　ally　against　us。　We　cannot　withstand　him；　and　the　only　way　to　tranquillity；　in　my　opinion；　is　submission。〃

〃The　words　of　the　speaker　accord　with　the　manifest　decree　of　providence；〃　echoed　all　the　assembly。

Sun　Quan　remaining　silent　and　thoughtful。

Zhang　Zhao　again　took　up　the　argument；　saying；　〃Do　not　hesitate；　my　lord。　Submission　to　Cao　Cao　means　tranquillity　to　the　people　of　the　South　Land　and　safety　for　the　inhabitants　of　the　six　territories。〃

Sun　Quan　still　remained　silent。　His　head　bent　in　deep　thought。　Presently　he　arose　and　paced　slowly　out　at　the　door；　and　Lu　Su　followed　him。

Outside　he　took　Lu　Su　by　the　hand；　saying；　〃What　do　you　desire？〃

〃What　they　have　all　been　saying　is