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〃There！〃　exclaimed　Zhou　Yu。　〃Zhuge　Liang　knows　the　times　perfectly　well；　and　he　agrees　with　me。〃

〃But；　both　of　you；　why　do　you　say　this？〃　said　Lu　Su。

Said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃Cao　Cao　is　an　excellent　mander；　so　good　that　no　one　dares　oppose　him。　Only　very　few　have　ever　attempted　it；　and　they　have　been　exterminated………the　world　knows　them　no　more。　The　only　exception　is　Liu　Bei；　who　did　not　understand　the　conditions　and　vigorously　contended　against　him；　with　the　result　that　he　is　now　at　Jiangxia　in　a　very　parlous　state。　To　submit　is　to　secure　the　safety　of　wives　and　children；　to　be　rich　and　honored。　But　the　dignity　of　the　country　would　be　left　to　chance　and　fate………however；　that　is　not　worth　consideration。〃

Lu　Su　interrupted　angrily；　〃Would　you　make　our　lord　crook　the　knee　to　such　a　rebel　as　Cao　Cao？〃

〃Well；〃　replied　Zhuge　Liang；　〃there　is　another　way；　and　a　cheaper。　There　would　be　no　need　to　lead　the　sheep　and　shoulder　wine　pots　for　presents；　nor　any　need　to　yield　territory　and　surrender　seals　of　office。　It　would　not　even　be　necessary　to　cross　the　river　yourselves。　All　you　would　require　is　a　simple　messenger　and　a　little　boat　to　ferry　a　couple　of　persons　across　the　river。　If　Cao　Cao　only　got　these　two　under　his　hand；　his　hordes　and　legions　would　just　drop　their　weapons；　furl　their　banners；　and　silently　vanish　away。〃

〃What　two　persons　could　cause　Cao　Cao　to　go　away　as　you　say？〃　asked　Zhou　Yu。

〃Two　persons　who　could　be　easily　spared　from　this　populous　country。　They　would　not　be　missed　any　more　than　a　leaf　from　a　tree　or　a　grain　of　millet　from　a　granary。　But　if　Cao　Cao　could　only　get　them；　would　he　not　go　away　rejoicing？〃

〃But　who　are　the　two？〃　asked　Zhou　Yu　again。

〃When　I　was　living　in　the　country；　they　told　me　that　Cao　Cao　was　building　a　pavilion　on　the　River　Zhang。　It　was　to　be　named　the　Bronze　Bird　Tower。　It　is　an　exceedingly　handsome　building；　and　he　has　sought　throughout　all　the　world　for　the　most　beautiful　women　to　live　in　it。　For　Cao　Cao　really　is　a　sensualist。

＇e＇　Fan　Li　was　adviser　of　Gou　Jian；　the　king　of　Yue。　Fan　Li　helped　Gou　Jian　plot　the　〃Beauty　Ruse〃　in　order　to　destroy　Fu　Zha；　the　king　of　Wu。　After　Yue　triumphed　over　Wu；　Fan　Li　resigned　from　politics。　。。。。。

＇e＇　Xi　Shi　was　a　beautiful　lady　who　helped　King　Gou　Jian　of　Yue　defeat　the　powerful　kingdom　of　Wu　in　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period。　Acting　on　Fan　Lis　counsel；　Xi　Shi　made　Fu　Zha；　the　king　of　Wu；　fall　madly　in　love　with　her　and　dismiss　or　kill　his　loyal　ministers。　After　Wu　had　been　thus　weakened；　Guo　Jian　attacked　and　conquered　Wu。　Fu　Zha　died　in　the　fight。　Legend　has　it　that　having　pleted　her　task；　Xi　Shi　went　away　with　Fan　Li；　and　they　became　wealthy　merchants　and　did　a　lot　of　charity　works。　Another　story　says　that　after　Fu　Zha　died；　Xi　Shi　discovered　he　truly　loved　her；　and　she　mitted　suicide　to　be　with　him。　。。。。。

〃Now　there　are　two　very　famous　beauties　in　Wu；　born　of　the　Qiao　family。　So　beautiful　are　they　that　birds　alight　and　fishes　drown；　the　moon　hides　her　face　and　the　flowers　blush　for　shame　at　sight　of　them。　Cao　Cao　has　declared　with　an　oath　that　he　only　wants　two　things　in　this　world：　The　imperial　throne　in　peace　and　the　sight　of　those　two　women　on　the　Bronze　Bird　Terraces。　Given　these　two；　he　would　go　down　to　his　grave　without　regret。　This　expedition　of　his；　his　huge　army　that　threatens　this　country；　has　for　its　real　aim　these　two　women。　Why　do　you　not　buy　these　two　from　their　father；　the　State　Patriarch　Qiao；　for　any　sum　however　large　and　send　them　over　the　river？　The　object　of　the　army　being　attained；　it　will　simply　be　marched　away。　This　is　the　use　that　Fan　Li*　of　Yue　made　to　the　king　of　Wu　of　the　famous　beauty　Xi　Shi*。〃

〃How　do　you　know　Cao　Cao　so　greatly　desires　these　two？〃　said　Zhou　Yu。

〃Because　his　son　Cao　Zhi；　who　is　an　able　writer；　at　the　mand　of　his　father　wrote　a　poem　An　Ode　to　the　Bronze　Bird　Terrace；　theme　only　allowing　allusions　to　the　family　fitness　for　the　throne。　He　has　sworn　to　possess　these　two　women。　I　think　I　can　remember　the　poem；　if　you　wish　to　hear　it。　I　admire　it　greatly。〃

〃Try；〃　said　Zhou　Yu。

So　Zhuge　Liang　recited　the　poem：

〃Let　me　follow　in　the　footsteps　of　the　enlightened　ruler　that　I　may　rejoice；

And　ascend　the　storied　terrace　that　I　may　gladden　my　heart；

That　I　may　see　the　wide　extent　of　the　palace；

That　I　may　gaze　upon　the　plans　of　the　virtuous　one。

He　has　established　the　exalted　gates　high　as　the　hills；

He　has　built　the　lofty　towers　piercing　the　blue　vault；

He　has　set　up　the　beautiful　building　in　the　midst　of　the　heavens；

Whence　the　eye　can　range　over　the　cities　of　the　west。

On　the　banks　of　the　rolling　River　Zhang　he　planned　it；

Whence　abundance　of　fruits　could　be　looked　for　in　his　gardens。