第113部分(第3/7 页)

the　same　word；　〃Fire。〃

〃Since　we　are　of　the　same　opinion；〃　said　Zhou　Yu；　〃there　is　no　longer　any　doubt。　But　our　intentions　must　be　kept　secret。〃

〃Both　of　us　are　public　servants；　and　what　would　be　the　sense　of　telling　our　plans？　I　do　not　think　Cao　Cao　will　be　on　his　guard　against　this；　although　he　has　had　two　experiences。　You　may　put　your　scheme　into　force。〃

They　finished　their　wine　and　separated。　Not　an　officer　knew　a　word　of　the　general's　plans。

Now　Cao　Cao　had　expended　a　myriad　arrows　in　vain　and　was　much　irritated　in　consequence。　He　deeply　desired　revenge。

Then　Xun　You　proposed　a　ruse；　saying；　〃The　two　strategists　on　the　side　of　the　enemy　are　Zhou　Yu　and　Zhuge　Liang；　two　men　most　difficult　to　get　the　better　of。　Let　us　send　someone　who　shall　pretend　to　surrender　to　them　but　really　be　a　spy　on　our　behalf　and　a　helper　in　our　schemes。　When　we　know　what　is　doing；　we　can　plan　to　meet　it。〃

〃I　had　thought　of　that　myself；〃　replied　Cao　Cao。　〃Whom　do　you　think　the　best　person　to　send？〃

〃Cai　Mao　has　been　put　to　death；　but　all　his　clan　and　family　are　in　the　army；　and　his　two　younger　brothers　are　junior　generals。　You　have　them　most　securely　in　your　power　and　may　send　them　to　surrender。　The　ruler　of　the　South　Land　will　never　suspect　deceit　there。〃

Cao　Cao　decided　to　act　on　this　plan；　and　in　the　evening　summoned　Cai　Zhong　and　Cai　He　to　his　tent；　where　he　told　them；　saying；　〃I　want　you　two　pretend　to　surrender　to　the　South　Land　so　that　you　can　gather　intelligence　and　sent　it　back。　When　all　done；　you　will　be　richly　rewarded。　But　do　not　betray　me。〃

〃Our　families　are　in　Jingzhou；　and　that　place　is　yours；〃　replied　they。　〃Should　we　dare　betray？　You　need　have　no　doubts；　Sir。　You　will　soon　see　the　heads　of　both　Zhou　Yu　and　Zhuge