第112部分(第2/7 页)

〃What　have　you　wished　to　congratulate　him　upon？〃

〃Why　Sir；　the　matter　upon　which　he　sent　you　to　find　out　whether　I　knew　about　it　or　not。　Indeed　I　can　congratulate　him　on　that。〃

Lu　Su　turned　pale　and　gasped；　saying；　〃But　how　did　you　know；　Master？〃

〃The　ruse　succeeded　well　thus　played　off　on　Jiang　Gan。　Cao　Cao　has　been　taken　in　this　once；　but　he　will　soon　rise　to　it。　Only　he　will　not　confess　his　mistake。　However；　the　two　men　are　gone；　and　the　South　Land　is　freed　from　a　grave　anxiety。　Do　you　not　think　that　is　a　matter　for　congratulation？　I　hear　Mao　Jie　and　Yu　Jin　are　the　new　admirals；　and　in　their　hands　lie　both　good　and　evil　for　the　fate　of　the　northern　fleet。〃

Lu　Su　was　quite　dumbfounded。　He　stayed　a　little　time　longer　passing　the　time　in　making　empty　remarks；　and　then　took　his　leave。

As　he　was　going　away；　Zhuge　Liang　cautioned　him；　saying；　〃Do　not　let　Zhou　Yu　know　that　I　know　his　ruse。　If　you　let　him　know；　he　will　seek　some　chance　to　do　me　harm。〃

Lu　Su　promised。　Nevertheless　he　went　straight　to　his　chief　and　related　the　whole　thing　just　as　it　happened。

〃Really　he　must　be　got　rid　of；〃　said　Zhou　Yu。　〃I　have　quite　decided　to　put　the　man　out　of　the　way。〃

〃If　you　slay　him；　will　not　Cao　Cao　laugh　at　you？〃

〃Oh；　no；　I　will　find　a　legitimate　way　of　getting　rid　of　him　so　that　he　shall　go　to　his　death　without　resentment。〃

〃But　how　can　you　find　a　legitimate　way　of　assassinating　him？〃

〃Do　not　ask　too　much。　You　will　see　presently。〃

Soon　after　all　the　officers　were　summoned　to　the　main　tent；　and　Zhuge　Liang's　presence　was　desired。　He　went　contentedly　enough。

When　all　were　seated；　Zhou　Yu　suddenly　addressed　Zhuge　Liang；　saying；　〃I　am　going　to　fight　a　battle　with　the　enemy　soon　on　the　water。　Wh