第106部分(第2/7 页)

nd　his　capable　and　veteran　leaders　are　more　than　a　thousand；　perhaps　more　than　two　thousand。〃

〃What　will　be　Cao　Cao's　next　move　now　that　he　has　overe　Jingzhou？〃

〃He　is　camped　along　the　river；　and　he　has　collected　a　fleet。　If　he　does　not　intend　to　invade　the　South　Land；　what　can　his　intentions　be？〃

〃Since　that　is　his　intention；　it　is　a　case　of　fight　or　not　fight。　I　wish　you　would　decide　that　for　me。〃

〃I　have　something　I　could　say；　but　I　fear；　Sir；　you　would　not　care　to　hear　it。〃

〃I　am　desirous　of　hearing　your　most　valuable　opinion。〃

〃Strife　has　prevailed　for　a　long　time；　and　so　you　have　raised　your　army　in　the　South　Land　and　Liu　Bei　collected　his　forces　south　of　the　Han　River　to　act　in　contest　for　the　empire　against　Cao　Cao。　Now　Cao　Cao　has　overe　most　of　his　difficulties；　and　his　recent　conquest　of　Jingzhou　has　won　him　great　and　wide　renown。　Though　there　might　be　one　bold　enough　to　tackle　him；　yet　there　is　no　foothold　for　such。　That　is　how　Liu　Bei　has　been　forced　to　e　here。　But；　General；　I　wish　you　to　measure　your　forces　and　decide　whether　you　can　venture　to　meet　Cao　Cao　and　that　without　loss　of　time。　If　you　cannot；　then　follow　the　advice　of　your　councilors：　Cease　your　military　preparations　and　yield；　turn　your　face　to　the　north　and　serve。〃

Sun　Quan　did　not　reply。　But　his　guest　went　on；　〃You　have　the　reputation　of　being　reasonable；　but　I　know　also　you　are　inclined　to　hesitate。　Still　this　matter　is　most　important；　and　evil　will　be　quickly　upon　you　if　you　do　not　decide。〃

Then　replied　Sun　Quan；　〃If　what　you　say　represents　the　actual　conditions；　why　does　not　Liu　Bei　yield？〃

＇e＇　Tian　Heng　was　a　warrior　of　Qi　at　the　end　of　the　Warring　States　period　and　Qin　Dynasty。　In　his　bid　to　regain　the　lost　kingdom　of　Qi；　Tian