第103部分(第4/7 页)

Zong　at　Xiangyang　and；　knowing　that　there　was　no　chance　of　successful　defense　against　Cao　Cao's　armies；　they　led　out　the　people　of　Jingzhou　to　the　outskirts　and　offered　submission。　Cao　Cao　entered　the　city　and；　after　restoring　order　and　confidence；　he　released　Han　Song　and　gave　him　the　dignified　office　of　Director　of　Ambassadorial　Receptions。　He　rewarded　the　others。

Then　said　Cao　Cao；　〃Liu　Bei　has　gone　to　Jiangxia　and　may　ally　himself　with　the　South　Land；　and　the　opposition　to　me　will　be　greater。　Can　he　be　destroyed？〃

Xun　You　said；　〃The　splendor　of　your　achievements　has　spread　wide。　Therefore　you　might　send　a　messenger　to　invite　Sun　Quan　to　a　grand　hunting　party　at　Jiangxia；　and　you　two　could　seize　Liu　Bei；　share　Jingzhou　with　Sun　Quan；　and　make　a　solemn　treaty。　Sun　Quan　will　be　too　frightened　not　to　e　over　to　you；　and　your　end　will　be　gained。〃

Cao　Cao　agreed。　He　sent　the　letters　by　a　messenger；　and　he　prepared　his　army………horse　and　foot　and　marines。　He　had　in　all　eight　hundred　thirty　thousand　troops；　but　he　called　them　a　million。　The　attack　was　to　be　by　land　and　water　at　the　same　time。

The　fleet　advanced　up　the　river　in　two　lines。　On　the　west　it　extended　to　Jingxia；　on　the　east　to　Qichun。　The　stockades　stretched　one　hundred　miles。

The　story　of　Cao　Cao's　movements　and　successes　reached　Sun　Quan；　then　in　camp　at　Chaisang。　He　assembled　his　strategists　to　decide　on　a　scheme　of　defense。

Lu　Su　said；　〃Jingzhou　is　contiguous　to　our　borders。　It　is　strong　and　defensive；　its　people　are　rich。　It　is　the　sort　of　country　that　an　emperor　or　a　king　should　have。　Liu　Biao's　recent　death　gives　an　excuse　for　me　to　be　sent　to　convey　condolence　and；　once　there；　I　shall　be　able　to　talk　over　Liu　Bei　and　the　officers　of　the　late　Imperial　Protector　to　bin