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| Simplified Chinese version |
《诸葛亮舌战群儒，鲁子敬力排众议 - Zhuge Liang Disputes With The Southern Scholars; Lu Su Denounces The Majority Opinion》 |
| 1 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 却说鲁肃、孔明辞了玄德、刘琦，登舟望柴桑郡来。二人在舟中共议，鲁肃谓孔明曰：“先生见孙将军，切不可实言曹操兵多将广。”孔明曰：“不须子敬叮咛，亮自有对答之语。”及船到岸，肃请孔明于馆驿中暂歇，先自往见孙权。权正聚文武于堂上议事，闻鲁肃回，急召入问曰：“子敬往江夏，体探虚实若何？”肃曰：“已知其略，尚容徐禀。”权将曹操檄文示肃曰：“操昨遣使赍文至此，孤先发遣来使，现今会众商议未定。”肃接檄文观看。其略曰： |
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In the boat on the way to Chaisang, the two travelers beguiled the time by discussing affairs. Lu Su impressed upon his companion, saying, "When you see my master, do not reveal the truth about the magnitude of Cao Cao's army." "You do not have to remind me," replied Zhuge Liang, "but I shall know how to reply." When the boat arrived, Zhuge Liang was lodged in the guests' quarters, and Lu Su went alone to see his master. Lu Su found Sun Quan actually at a council, assembled to consider the situation. Lu Su was summoned thereto and questioned at once upon what he had discovered. "I know the general outline, but I want a little time to prepare my report," replied Lu Su. Then Sun Quan produced Cao Cao's letter and gave it to Lu Su. "That came yesterday. I have sent the bearer of it back, and this gathering is to consider the reply," said he. Lu Su read the letter: | |
| 孤近承帝命，奉诏伐罪。旄麾南指，刘琮束手；荆襄之民，望风归顺。今统雄兵百万，上将千员，欲与将军会猎于江夏，共伐刘备，同分土地，永结盟好。幸勿观望，速赐回音。 | ||
| "When I, the Prime Minister, received the imperial command to punish a fault, my banners went south and Liu Zong became my prisoner, while the people of Jingzhou flocked to my side at the first rumor of my coming. Under my hand are one million strong and a thousand able leaders. My desire is, General, that we go on a great hunting expedition into Jiangxia and together attack Liu Bei. We will share his land between us, and we will swear perpetual amity. If happily you would not be a mere looker-on, I pray you reply quickly." | ||
| 2 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 鲁肃看毕曰：“主公尊意若何？”权曰：“未有定论。”张昭曰：“曹操拥百万之众，借天子之名，以征四方，拒之不顺。且主公大势可以拒操者，长江也。今操既得荆州，长江之险，已与我共之矣，势不可敌。以愚之计，不如纳降为万安之策。”众谋士皆曰：“子布之言，正合天意。”孙权沈吟不语。张昭又曰：“主公不必多疑。如降操则东吴民安，江南六郡可保矣。”孙权低头不语。 |
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"What have you decided upon, my lord?" asked Lu Su as he finished the letter. "I have not yet decided." Then Zhang Zhao said, "It would be imprudent to withstand Cao Cao's hundred legions backed by the imperial authority. Moreover, your most important defense against him is the Great River; and since Cao Cao has gained possession of Jingzhou, the river is his ally against us. We cannot withstand him, and the only way to tranquillity, in my opinion, is submission." "The words of the speaker accord with the manifest decree of providence," echoed all the assembly. Sun Quan remaining silent and thoughtful. | |
| 3 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 须臾，权起更衣，鲁肃随于权后。权知肃意，乃执肃手而言曰：“卿欲如何？”肃曰：“恰才众人所言，深误将军。众人皆可降曹操，惟将军不可降曹操。”权曰：“何以言之？”肃曰：“如肃等降操，当以肃还乡党累官，故不失州郡也；将军降操，欲安所归乎？位不过封侯，车不过一乘，骑不过一匹，从不过数人，岂得南面称孤哉？众人之意，各自为己，不可听也。将军宜早定大计。” |
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Zhang Zhao again took up the argument, saying, "Do not hesitate, my lord. Submission to Cao Cao means tranquillity to the people of the South Land and safety for the inhabitants of the six territories." Sun Quan still remained silent. His head bent in deep thought. Presently he arose and paced slowly out at the door, and Lu Su followed him. Outside he took Lu Su by the hand, saying, "What do you desire?" "What they have all been saying is very derogatory to you. A common person might submit. You cannot." "Why? How do you explain that?" "If people like us servants submitted, we would just return to our village or continue holding our offices, and everything would go on as before. If you submit, whither will you go? You will be created a lord of some humble fief, perhaps. You will have one carriage, no more; one saddle horse, that is all. Your retinue will be some ten. Will you be able to sit facing the south and call yourself by the kingly title of 'The Solitary'? Each one in that crowd of hangers-on is thinking for himself, is purely selfish, and you should not listen to them, but take a line of your own and that quickly. Determine to play a bold game!" | |
| 4 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 权叹曰：“诸人议论，大失孤望。子敬开说大计，正与吾见相同。此天以子敬赐我也！但操新得袁绍之众，近又得荆州之兵，恐势大难以抵敌。”肃曰：“肃至江夏，引诸葛瑾之弟诸葛亮在此，主公可问之，便知虚实。”权曰：“卧龙先生在此乎？”肃曰：“现在馆驿中安歇。”权曰：“今日天晚，且未相见。来日聚文武于帐下，先教见我江东英俊，然后升堂议事。” |
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Sun Quan sighed, "They all talk and talk: They miss my point of view. Now you have just spoken of a bold game, and your view is the same as mine. Surely God has expressly sent you to me. Still Cao Cao is now the stronger by all Yuan Shao's and Liu Biao's armies, and he has possession of Jingzhou. I fear he is almost too powerful to contend with." "I have brought back with me Zhuge Liang, the younger brother of our Zhuge Jin. If you questioned him, he would explain clearly." "Is Master Sleeping Dragon really here?" "Really here, in the guest-house." "It is too late to see him today. But tomorrow I will assemble my officials, and you will introduce him to all my best. After that we will debate the matter." | |
| 5 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 肃领命而去；次日至馆驿中见孔明，又嘱曰：“今见我主，切不可言曹操兵多。”孔明笑曰：“亮自见机而变，决不有误。”肃乃引孔明至幕下。早见张昭、顾雍等一班文武，二十馀人，峨冠博带，整衣端坐。孔明逐一相见，各问姓名。施礼已毕，坐于客位。张昭等见孔明丰神飘洒，器宇轩昂，料道此人必来游说。张昭先以言挑之曰：“昭乃江东微末之士，久闻先生高卧隆中，自比管、乐。此语果有之乎？”孔明曰：“此亮平生小可之比也。”昭曰：“近闻刘豫州三顾先生于草庐之中，幸得先生，以为如鱼得水，思欲席卷荆、襄。今一旦以属曹操，未审是何主见？” |
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With these instructions Lu Su retired. Next day he went to the guest-house and conveyed Sun Quan's commands to the guest, particularly saying, "When you see my master, say nothing of the magnitude of Cao Cao's army." Zhuge Liang smiled, saying, "I shall act as circumstances dictate. You may be sure I shall make no mistakes." Zhuge Liang was then conducted to where the high officers, civil and military to the number of forty and more, were assembled. They formed a dignified conclave as they sat in stately ranks with their tall headdresses and broad girdles. Zhang Zhao sat at the head, and Zhuge Liang first saluted him. Then, one by one, he exchange the formal courtesies with them all. This done he took his seat in the guest's chair. They, on their part, noted with interest Zhuge Liang's refined and elegant manner and his commanding figure, thinking within themselves, "Here is a persuader fitted for discourse." Zhang Zhao led the way in trying to bait the visitor. He said, "You will pardon the most insignificant of our official circle, myself, if I mention that people say you compare yourself with those two famous men of talent, Guan Zhong and Yue Yi. Is there any truth in this?" "To a trifling extent I have compared myself with them," replied Zhuge Liang. "I have heard that Liu Bei made three journeys to visit you when you lived in retirement in your simple dwelling in the Sleeping Dragon Ridge, and that when you consented to serve him, he said he was as lucky as a fish in getting home to the ocean. Then he desired to possess the region about Jingzhou. Yet today all that country belongs to Cao Cao. I should like to hear your account of all that." | |
| 6 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 孔明自思张昭乃孙权手下第一个谋士，若不先难倒他，如何说得孙权；遂答曰：“吾观取汉上之地，易如反掌。我主刘豫州躬行仁义，不忍夺同宗之基业，故力辞之。刘琮孺子，听信佞言，暗自投降，致使曹操得以猖獗。今我主屯兵江夏，别有良图，非等闲可知也。” |
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Zhuge Liang thought, "This Zhang Zhao is Sun Quan's first adviser. Unless I can nonplus him, I shall never have a chance with his master." So he replied, "In my opinion the taking of the region around the Han River was as simple as turning over one's hand. But my master Liu Bei is both righteous and humane and would not stoop to filching the possession of a member of his own house. So he refused the offer of succession. But Liu Zong, a stupid lad, misled by specious words, submitted to Cao Cao and fell victim to his ferocity. My master is in camp at Jiangxia, but what his future plans may be cannot be divulged at present." | |
| 7 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 昭曰：“若此，是先生言行相违也。先生自比管、乐。管仲相桓公，霸诸侯，一匡天下；乐毅扶持微弱之燕，下齐七十馀城；此二人者，真济世之才也。先生在草庐之中，但笑傲风月，抱膝危坐；今既从事刘豫州，当为生灵兴利除害，剿灭乱贼。且刘豫州未得先生之时，尚且纵横寰宇，割据城池；今得先生，人皆仰望；虽三尺童蒙，亦谓彪虎生翼，将见汉室复兴，曹氏即灭矣；朝廷旧臣，山林隐士，无不拭目而待：以为拂高天之云翳，仰日月之光辉，拯斯民于水火之中，措天下于衽席之上，在此时也。何先生自归豫州，曹兵一出，弃甲抛戈，望风而窜；上不能报刘表以安庶民，下不能辅孤子而据疆土；乃弃新野，走樊城，败当阳，奔夏口，无容身之地？是豫州既得先生之后，反不如其初也。管仲、乐毅，果如是乎？愚直之言，幸勿见怪！” |
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Zhang Zhao said, "Be it so; but your words and your deeds are something discordant. You say you are the equal of the two famous ones. Well, Guan Zhong, as minister of Prince Huan, put his master at the very head of the feudal nobles, making his master's will supreme in all the land. Under the able statesmanship of Yue Yi, the feeble state of Yan conquered Qi, reducing nearly seventy of its cities. These two were men of most commanding and conspicuous talent. "When you lived in retirement, you smiled scornfully at ordinary people, passed your days in idleness, nursing your knees and posing in a superior manner, implying that if you had control of affairs, Liu Bei would be more than human; he should bring good to everybody and remove all evil; rebellion and robbery would be no more. Poor Liu Bei, before he obtained your help, was an outcast and a vagabond, stealing a city here and there where he could. With you to help him, he was to become the cynosure of every eye, and every lisping school child was to say that he was a tiger who had grown wings; the Hans were to be restored and Cao Cao and his faction exterminated; the good old days would be restored, and all the people who had been driven into retirement by the corruption of political life would wake up, rub the sleep out of their eyes, and be in readiness to lift the cloud of darkness that covered the sky and gaze up at the glorious brilliancy of the sun and moon, to pull the people out of fire and water and put all the world to rest on a couch of comfort. That was all supposed to happen forthwith. "Why then, when you went to Xinye, did not Cao Cao's army throw aside their arms and armors and flee like rats? Why could you not have told Liu Biao how to give tranquillity to his people? Why could you not aid his orphan son to protect his frontiers? Instead you abandoned Xinye and fled to Fancheng; you were defeated at Dangyang and fled to Xiakou with no place to rest in. Thus, after you had joined Liu Bei, he was worse off than before. Was it thus with Guan Zhong and Yue Yi? I trust you do not mind my blunt speech." | |
| 8 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 孔明听罢，哑然而笑曰：“鹏飞万里，其志岂群鸟能识哉？譬如人染沈疴，当先用糜粥以饮之，和药以服之；待其腑脏调和，形体渐安，然后用肉食以补之，猛药以治之；则病根尽去，人得全生也。若不待气脉和缓，便投以猛药厚味，欲求安保，诚为难矣。吾主刘豫州，向日军败于汝南，寄迹刘表，兵不满千，将止关、张、赵云而已；此正如病势尪羸已极之时也。新野山僻小县，人民稀少，粮食鲜薄，豫州不过暂借以容身，岂真将坐守于此耶？夫以甲兵不完，城郭不固，军不经练，粮不继日，然而博望烧屯，白河用水，使夏侯敦、曹仁辈心惊胆裂。窃谓管仲、乐毅之用兵，未必过此。至于刘琮降操，豫州实出不知；且又不忍乘乱夺同宗之基业，此真大仁大义也。当阳之败，豫州见有数十万赴义之民，扶老携幼相随，不忍弃之，日行十里，不思进取江陵，甘与同败，此亦大仁大义也。寡不敌众，胜负乃其常事。昔高皇数败于项羽，而垓下一战成功，此非韩信之良谋乎？夫信久事高皇，未尝累胜。盖国家大计，社稷安危，是有主谋，非比夸辩之徒，虚誉欺人，──坐议立谈，无人可及；临机应变，百无一能。──诚为天下笑耳！” |
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Zhuge Liang waited till Zhang Zhao had closed his oration, then laughed and said, "How can the common birds understand the long flight of the cranes? Let me use an illustration. A man has fallen into a terrible malady. First the physician must administer hashish, then soothing drugs until his viscera shall be calmed into harmonious action. When the sick man's body shall have been reduced to quietude, then may he be given strong meats to strengthen him and powerful drugs to correct the disorder. Thus the disease will be quite expelled, and the man restored to health. If the physician does not wait till the humors and pulse are in harmony, but throws in his strong drugs too early, it will be difficult to restore the patient. "My master suffered defeat at Runan and went to Liu Biao. He had then less than one thousand soldiers and only three generals —-Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Zilong. That was indeed a time of extreme weakness. Xinye was a secluded, rustic town with few inhabitants and scanty supplies, and my master only retired there as a temporary refuge. How could he even think of occupying and holding it? Yet, with insufficient force, in a weak city, with untrained men and inadequate supplies, we burned Xiahou Dun at Bowang Slope, drowned Cao Ren and Cao Hong and their army in the White River, and set them in terror as they fled. I doubt whether the two ancient heroes would have done any better. As to the surrender of Liu Zong, Liu Bei knew nothing of it. And he was too noble and too righteous to take advantage of a kinsman's straits to seize his inheritance. As for the defeat at Dangyang, it must be remembered that Liu Bei was hampered with a huge voluntary following of common people, with their aged relatives and their children, whom he was too humane to abandon. He never thought of taking Jiangling, but willingly suffered with his people. This is a striking instance of his magnanimity. "Small forces are no match for large armies. Victory and defeat are common episodes in every campaign. The great Founder of the Hans suffered many defeats at the hands of Xiang Yu, but Liu Bang finally conquered at Gaixia, and that battle was decisive. Was not this due to the strategy of Han Xin who, though he had long served Liu Bang, had never won a victory. Indeed real statesmanship and the restoration of stable government is a master plan far removed from the vapid discourses and debates of a lot of bragging babblers and specious and deceitful talkers, who, as they themselves say, are immeasureably superior to the rest of humankind but who, when it comes to deeds and decisions to meet the infinite and constant vicissitudes of affairs, fail to throw up a single capable person. Truly such people are the laughing stock of all the world." | |
| 9 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 这一篇言语，说得张昭并无一言回答。座上忽一人抗声问曰：“今曹公兵屯百万，将列千员，龙骧虎视，平吞江夏，公以为何如？”孔明视之，乃虞翻也。孔明曰：“曹操收袁绍蚁聚之兵，劫刘表乌合之众，虽数百万不足惧也。”虞翻冷笑曰：“军败于当阳，计穷于夏口，区区求救于人，而犹言不惧，此真大言欺人也！”孔明曰：“刘豫州以数千仁义之师，安能敌百万残暴之众，退守夏口，所以待时也。今江东兵精粮足，且有长江之险，犹欲使其主屈膝降贼，不顾天下耻笑；由此论之，刘豫州真不惧操贼者矣！” |
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Zhang Zhao found no reply to this diatribe. But another in the assembly lifted up his voice, saying, "But what of Cao Cao's present position? There he is, encamped with one hundred legions and a thousand leaders. Whither he goes he is invincible as wriggling dragon, and whither he looks he is as fearsome as roaring tiger. He seems to have taken Jiangxia already, as we see." The speaker was Yu Fan. And Zhuge Liang replied, "Cao Cao has acquired the swarms of Yuan Shao and stolen the crowds of Liu Biao. Yet I care not for all his mob legions." Yu Fan smiled icily, saying, "When you got thrashed at Dangyang and in desperation sent this way and that to ask help, even then did you not care? But do you think big talk really takes people in?" Zhuge Liang replied, "Liu Bei had a few thousand scrupulous soldiers to oppose against a million fierce brutes. He retired to Xiakou for breathing space. The South Land have strong and good soldiers, and there are ample supplies, and the Great River is a defense. Is now a time for you to convince your lord to bend the knee before a renegade, to be careless of his honor and reputation? As a fact Liu Bei is not the sort of man to fear such a rebel as Cao Cao." | |
| 10 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 虞翻不能对。座间又一人问曰：“孔明欲效仪、秦之舌，游说东吴耶？”孔明视之，乃步骘也。孔明曰：“步子山以苏秦、张仪为辩士，不知苏秦、张仪亦豪杰也。苏秦佩六国相卬，张仪两次相秦，皆有匡扶人国之谋，非比畏强凌弱，惧刀避剑之人也。君等闻曹操虚发诈伪之词，便畏惧请降，敢笑苏秦、张仪乎？” |
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Yu Fan had nothing to reply. Next, Bu Zhi, who was among those seated, said, "Will you talk of our southern land with a tongue like the tongues of the persuaders Zhang Yi and Su Qin in the ancient time?" Zhuge Liang replied, "You regard those two as mere speculative talkers; you do not recognize them also as heroes. Su Qin bore the Prime Ministers' seals of six federated states; Zhang Yi was twice Prime Minister of the state of Qin. Both were men of conspicuous ability who brought about the reformation of their governments. They are not to be compared with those who quail before the strong and overbear the weak, who fear the dagger and run away from the sword. You, Sir, have listened to Cao Cao's crafty and empty threat, and it has frightened you into advising surrender. Dare you ridicule Su Qin and Zhang Yi?" | |
| 11 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 步骘默默然无语。忽一人问曰：“孔明以操何如人也。”孔明视其人，乃薛综也。孔明答曰：“曹操乃汉贼也，又何必问？”综曰：“公言差矣。汉历传至今，天数将终。今曹公已有天下三分之二，人皆归心。刘豫州不识天时，强欲与争，正如以卵击石，安得不败乎？”孔明厉声曰：“薛敬文安得出此无父无君之言乎！夫人生天地间，以忠孝为立身之本。公既为汉臣，则见有不臣之人，当誓共戮之，臣之道也。今曹操祖宗叨食汉禄，不思报效，反怀纂逆之心，天下之所共愤。公乃以天数归之，真无父无君之人也！不足与语！请勿复言！” |
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Bu Zhi was silenced. Then suddenly another interjected the question, "What do you think of Cao Cao?" It was Xue Zong who had spoken. And Zhuge Liang replied, "Cao Cao is one of the rebels against the dynasty. Why ask about him?" "You are mistaken," said Xue Zong. "The Hans have outlasted their allotted time, and the end is near. Cao Cao already has two-thirds of the empire, and people are turning to him. Your master has not recognized the fateful moment, and to contend with a man so strong is to try to smash stones with eggs. Failure is certain." Zhuge Liang angrily replied, "Why do you speak so undutiful words, as if you knew neither father nor prince? Loyalty and filial duty are the essentials of a person's being. For a minister of Han, correct conduct demands that one is pledged to the destruction of anyone who does not follow the canon of a minister's duty. Cao Cao's forbears enjoyed the bounty of Han, but instead of showing gratitude, he nourishes in his bosom thoughts of rebellion. The whole world is incensed against him, and yet you would claim for him the indication of destiny. Truly you are a man who knows neither father nor prince, a man unworthy of any words, and I decline to argue with you further." | |
| 12 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 薛综满面羞惭，不能对答。座上又一人应声问曰：“曹操虽挟天子以令诸侯，犹是相国曹参之后。刘豫州虽云中山靖王苗裔，却无可稽考，眼见只是织席贩屦之夫耳，何足与曹操抗衡哉！”孔明视之，乃陆绩也。孔明笑曰：“公非袁术座间怀橘之陆郎乎？请安坐听吾一言。曹操既为曹相国之后，则世为汉臣矣；今乃专权肆横，欺凌君父，是不惟无君，亦且蔑祖；不惟汉室之乱臣，亦曹氏之贼子也！刘豫州堂堂帝胄，当今皇帝，按谱赐爵，何云无可稽考？且高祖起身亭长，而终有天下；织席贩屦，又何足为辱乎？公小儿之见，不足与高士共语！” |
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The blush of shame overspread Xue Zong's face, and he said no more. But another, Lu Ji, took up the dispute and said, "Although Cao Cao overawes the Emperor and in his name coerces the nobles, yet he is the descendant of the Supreme Ancestor's Prime Minister Cao Shen; while your master, though he says he is descended from a prince, has no proof thereof. In the eyes of the world, Liu Bei is just a weaver of mats, a seller of straw shoes. Who is he to strive with Cao Cao?" Zhuge Liang laughed and replied, "Are you not that Lu Ji who pocketed the orange when you were sitting among Yuan Shu's guests? Listen to me: I have a word to say to you. Inasmuch as Cao Cao is a descendant of a minister of state, he is by heredity a servant of the Hans. But now he has monopolized all state authority and knows only his own arbitrary will, heaping every indignity upon his lord. Not only does he forget his prince, but he ignores his ancestors; not only is he a rebellious servant of Han, but the renegade of his family. Liu Bei of Yuzhou is a noble scion of the imperial family upon whom the Emperor has conferred rank, as is recorded in the annals. How then can you say there is no evidence of his imperial origin? Beside, the very founder of the dynasty was himself of lowly origin, and yet he became emperor. Where is the shame in weaving mats and selling shoes? Your mean, immature views are unfit to be mentioned in the presence of scholars of standing." | |
| 13 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 陆绩语塞。座上一人忽曰：“孔明所言，皆强词夺理，均非正论，不必再言。且请问孔明治何经典？”孔明视之，乃严畯也。孔明曰：“寻章摘句，世之腐儒也，何能兴邦立事？且古耕莘、伊尹、钓渭、子牙、张良、陈平之流，邓禹、耿弇之辈，皆有匡扶宇宙之才，未审其生平治何经典。岂亦效书生区区于笔砚之间，数黑论黄，舞文弄墨而已乎？” |
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This put a stop to Lu Ji's flow of eloquence. But another of those present said, "Zhuge Liang's words are overbearing, and he distorts reason. It is not proper argument, and he had better say no more. But I would ask him what classical canon he studied." Zhuge Liang looked at his interlocutor, who was Yan Jun, and said, "The dryasdusts of every age select passages and choose phrases. What else are they good for? Do they ever initiate a policy or manage an affair? Yi Yin, who was a farmer in the state of Shen, and Lu Wang, the fisherman of the River Wei, Zhang Liang and Chen Ping, Zheng Yu and Geng Yan —-all were men of transcendent ability, but I have never inquired what classical canon they followed or on whose essays they formed their style. Would you liken them to your rusty students of books, whose journeyings are comprised between their brush and their inkstone, who spend their days in literary futilities, wasting both time and ink?" | |
| 14 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 严畯低头丧气而不能对。忽又一人大声曰：“公好为大言，未必真有实学，恐适为儒者所笑耳。”孔明视其人，乃汝南程德枢也。孔明答曰：“儒有君子小人之别。君子之儒，忠君爱国，守正恶邪，务使泽及当时，名留后世。若夫小人之儒，惟务雕虫，专工翰墨，青春作赋，皓首穷经；笔下虽有千言，胸中实无一策；且如扬雄以文章名世，而屈身事莽，不免投阁而死，此所谓小人之儒也；虽日赋万言，亦何取哉！” |
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No reply was forthcoming. Yan Jun hung his head with shame. But another disputant, Cheng Deshu by name, suddenly shouted, "You are mightily fond of big words, Sir, but they do not give any proof of your scholarship after all. I am inclined to think that a real scholar would just laugh at you." Zhuge Liang replied, "There is the noble scholar, loyal and patriotic, of perfect rectitude and a hater of any crookedness. The concern of such a scholar is to act in full sympathy with his day and leave to future ages a fine reputation. There is the scholar of the mean type, a pedant and nothing more. He labors constantly with his pen, in his callow youth composing odes and in hoary age still striving to understand the classical books completely. Thousands of words flow from his pen, but there is not a solid idea in his breast. He may, as did Yang Xiong, glorify the age with his writings and yet stoop to serve a tyrant such as Wang Mang. No wonder Yang Xiong threw himself out of a window; he had to. That is the way of the scholar of mean type. Though he composes odes by the hundred, what is the use of him?" | |
| 15 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 程德枢不能对。众人见孔明对答如流，尽皆失色。时座上张温、骆统二人，又欲问难。忽一人自外而入，厉声言曰：“孔明乃当世奇才，君等以唇舌相难，非敬客之礼也。曹操大军临境，不思退敌之策，乃徒斗口耶！” |
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Cheng Deshu could make no reply. The other officers now began to hold this man of torrential speech in wholesome fear. Only two of them, Zhang Wen and Luo Tong, had failed to challenge him, but when they would have tried to pose Zhuge Liang, suddenly someone appeared from without and angrily shouted, "This is not paying fit respect to a guest. You have among you the most wonderful man of the day, and you all sit there trying to entangle him in speech while our archenemy Cao Cao is nearing our borders. Instead of discussing how to oppose Cao Cao, you are all wrangling and disputing!" | |
| 16 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 众视其人，乃零陵人，姓黄，名盖，字公覆，现为东吴粮官。当时黄盖谓孔明曰：“愚闻多言获利，不如默而无言。何不将金石之论为我主言之，乃与众人辩论也？”孔明曰：“诸君不知世务，互相问难，不容不答耳。” |
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All eyes turned toward the speaker. It was Huang Gai of Lingling, who was the Chief of the Commissariat of the South Land. He turned to address Zhuge Liang, saying, "There is a saying that though something may be gained by talk, there is more to be got by silence. Why not give my lord the advantage of your valuable advice instead of wasting time in discussion with this crowd?" "They did not understand," replied Zhuge Liang, "and it was necessary to enlighten them, so I had to speak." | |
| 17 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 于是黄盖与鲁肃引孔明入；至中门，正遇诸葛瑾，孔明施礼。瑾曰：“贤弟既到江东，如何不来见我？”孔明曰：“弟既事豫州，理宜先公后私，公事未毕，不敢及私。望兄见谅。”瑾曰：“贤弟见过吴侯，却来叙话。”说罢自去。 |
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As Huang Gai and Lu Su led the guest toward their master's apartments, they met his brother Zhuge Jin. Zhuge Liang saluted him with the deference due to an elder brother. Zhuge Jin said, "Why have you not been to see me, brother?" "I am now in the service of Liu Bei of Yuzhou, and it is right that public affairs precede private obligations. I cannot attend to any private matters till my work is done. You must pardon me, brother." "After you have seen Marquis Sun Quan, you will come and tell me your news," said he as he left. | |
| 18 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 鲁肃曰：“适间所嘱，不可有误。”孔明点头应诺。引至堂上，孙权降阶而迎，优礼相待。施礼毕，赐孔明坐。众文武分两行而立。鲁肃立于孔明之侧，只看他讲话。孔明致玄德之意毕，偷眼看孙权：碧眼紫须，堂堂仪表。孔明暗思：“此人相貌非常，只可激，不可说。等他问时，用言激之便了。” |
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As they went along to the audience chamber, Lu Su again cautioned Zhuge Liang against any rash speech, saying, "Do not tell the magnitude of Cao Cao's forces. Please remember." The latter nodded but made no other reply. When they reached the hall, Sun Quan came down the steps to welcome his guests and was extraordinarily gracious. After the mutual salutations, the guest was given a chair while the Marquis' officials were drawn up in two lines, on one side the civil, on the other the military. Lu Su stood beside Zhuge Liang and listened to his introductory speech. As Zhuge Liang spoke of Liu Bei's intentions, he glanced up at his host. He noted the green eyes and purple beard and the dignified commanding air of the man and thought within himself, "Certainly in appearance this is no common man. He is one to be incited perhaps, but not to be persuaded. It will be better to see what he has to say first, then I will try to stir him to action." | |
| 19 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 献茶已毕，孙权曰：“多闻鲁子敬谈足下之才，今幸得相见，敢求教益。”孔明曰：“不才无学，有辱明问。”权曰：“足下近在新野，佐刘豫州与曹操决战，必深知彼军虚实。”孔明曰：“刘豫州兵微将寡，更兼新野城小无粮，安能与曹操相持？”权曰：“曹兵共有多少？”孔明曰：“马步水军，约有一百馀万。”权曰：“莫非诈乎？”孔明曰：“非诈也。曹操就兖州已有青州军二十万；平了袁绍，又得五六十万；中原新招之兵三四十万；今又得荆州之军二三十万：以此计之，不下一百五十万。亮以百万言之，恐惊江东之士也。” |
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The serving of tea being now finished, Sun Quan began with the usual gracious ceremonial expressions. "Lu Su has often spoken of your genius," said the host. "It is a great pleasure to meet you. I trust you will confer upon me the advantage of your instruction." "I am neither clever nor learned," was the reply. "It humiliates me to hear such words." "You have been at Xinye lately, and you helped your master to fight that decisive battle with Cao Cao, so you must know exactly the measure of his military strength." "My master's army was small and his generals were few; the city was paltry and lacked supplies. Hence no stand could be made against such a force as Cao Cao had." "How many has he in all?" "Horse and foot, land and marine, he has a million." "Is there not some doubt about that?" said Sun Quan, surprised. "None whatever. When Cao Cao went to Yanzhou, he had the two hundred thousand soldiers of Qingzhou. He gained five or six hundred thousand more when Yuan Shao fell. He has three or four hundred thousand troops newly recruited in the capital. Lately he has acquired two or three hundred thousand troops in Jingzhou. And if these be reckoned up, the total is not less than a million and a half. Hence I said a million for I was afraid of frightening your officers." | |
| 20 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 鲁肃在旁，闻言失色，以目视孔明；孔明只做不见，权曰：“曹操部下战将，还有多少？”孔明曰：“足智多谋之士，能征惯战之将，何止一二千人！”权曰：“今曹操平了荆楚，复有远图乎？”孔明曰：“即今沿江下寨，准备战船，不欲图江东，待取何地？”权曰：“若彼有吞并之意，战与不战，请足下为我一决。”孔明曰：“亮有一言，但恐将军不肯听从。”权曰：“愿闻高论。”孔明曰：“向者宇内大乱，故将军起江东，刘豫州收众汉南，与曹操并争天下。今操芟除大难，略已平矣；近又新破荆州，威震海内；纵有英雄，无用武之地：故豫州遁逃至此。愿将军量力而处之。若能以吴越之众，与中国抗衡，不如早与之绝；若其不能，何不从众谋士之论，按兵束甲，北面而事之？” |
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Lu Su was much disturbed and turned pale. He looked meaningfully at the bold speaker, but Zhuge Liang would not see. Sun Quan went on to ask if his archenemy had a corresponding number of leaders. "Cao Cao has enough administrators and strategists to control such a host, and 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 overcome 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 overcome 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 come 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." | |
| 21 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 权未及答。孔明又曰：“将军外托服从之名，内怀疑贰之见，事急而不断，祸至无日矣。”权曰：“诚如君言，刘豫州何不降操？”孔明曰：“昔田横齐之壮士耳，犹守义不辱，况刘豫州王室之胄，英才盖世，众士仰慕？事之不济，此乃天也，又安能屈处人下乎？” |
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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?" "Well, you know Tian Heng, that hero of the state of Qi: His character was too noble for him to submit to any shame. It is necessary to remember that Liu Bei also is an off-shoot from the Dynastic Family, beside being a man of great renown. Everyone looks up to him. His lack of success is simply the will of Heaven, but manifestly he could not bow the knee to anyone." | |
| 22 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 孙权听了孔明此言，不觉勃然变色，拂衣而起，退入后堂。众皆哂笑而散。鲁肃责孔明曰：“先生何故出此言？幸是吾主宽洪大度，不即面责。先生之言，藐视吾主甚矣。”孔明仰面笑曰：“何如此不能容物耶？我自有破曹之计，彼不问我，我故不言。”肃曰：“果有良策，肃当请主公求教。”孔明曰：“吾视曹操百万之众，如群蚁耳！但我一举手，则皆为虀粉矣！” |
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These last words touched Sun Quan to the quick, and he could not control his anger. He shook out his sleeves, rose, and left the audience chamber. Those present smiled at each other as they dispersed. But Lu Su was annoyed and reproached Zhuge Liang for his maladroit way of talking to Sun Quan, saying, "Luckily for you, my lord is too large-minded to rebuke you to your face, for you spoke to him most contemptuously." Zhuge Liang threw back his head and laughed. "What a sensitive fellow it is!" cried he. "I know how Cao Cao could be destroyed, but he never asked me. So I said nothing." "If you really do know how that could be done, I will certainly beg my lord to ask you." "Cao Cao's hosts in my eyes are but as swarms of ants. I have but to lift my hand, and they will be crushed," said Zhuge Liang. | |
| 23 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 肃闻言，便入后堂，见孙权。权怒气未息，顾谓肃曰：“孔明欺吾太甚！”肃曰：“臣亦以此责孔明，孔明反笑主公不能容物，破曹之策，孔明不肯轻言。主公何不求之？”权回嗔作喜曰：“原来孔明有良谋，故以言词激我。我一时浅见，几误大事。”便同鲁肃重复出堂，再请孔明叙话。权见孔明，谢曰：“适来冒渎清严，幸勿见罪。”孔明亦谢曰：“亮言语冒犯，望乞恕罪。”权邀孔明入后堂，置酒相待。 |
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Lu Su at once went into his master's private room, where he found Sun Quan still very irritable and angry. "Zhuge Liang insulted me too deeply," said Sun Quan. "I have already reproached him," said Lu Su, "and he laughed and said you were too sensitive. He would not give you any advice without being asked for it. Why did you not seek advice from him, my lord?" At once Sun Quan's anger changed to joy. He said, "So he had a plan ready, and his words were meant to provoke me. I did despise him for a moment, and it has very nearly lost me." So Sun Quan returned to the audience chamber where the guest was still seated and begged Zhuge Liang to continue his speech. Sun Quan spoke courteously, saying, "I offended you just now. I hope you are not implacable." "And I also was rude," replied Zhuge Liang. "I entreat pardon." Host and guest retired to the inner room where wine was served. | |
| 24 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 数巡之后，权曰：“曹操平生所恶者，吕布、刘表、袁绍、袁术、豫州与孤耳。今数雄已灭，独豫州与孤尚存。孤不能以全吴之地，受制于人。吾计决矣。非刘豫州莫与当曹操者。然豫州新败之后，安能抗此难乎？”孔明曰：“豫州虽新败，然关云长犹率精兵万人；刘琦领江夏战士，亦不下万人。曹操之众，远来疲惫；近追豫州，轻骑一日夜行三百里。此所谓“强弩之末，势不能穿鲁缟”者也。且北方之人，不习水战。荆州士民附操者，迫于势耳，非本心也。今将军诚能与豫州协力同心，破曹军必矣。操军破必北还，则荆吴之势强，而鼎足之形成矣。成败之机，在于今日。惟将军裁之。” |
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After it had gone round several times, Sun Quan said, "The enemies of Cao Cao were Lu Bu, Liu Biao, Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Liu Bei, and my poor self. Now most of these are gone, and only Liu Bei and I remain. I will never allow the land of Wu to be dictated to by another. The only one who could have withstood Cao Cao was Liu Bei, but he has been defeated lately and what can he do now against such force?" Zhuge Liang replied, "Although defeated, Liu Bei still has Guan Yu with ten thousand veterans. And Liu Qi still leads the troops of Jiangxia, another ten thousand. Cao Cao's army is far from home, and the soldiers are worn out. They made a frantic effort to come up with my master, and the light horse marched one hundred miles in a day and a night. This was the final kick of the crossbow spring, and the bolt was not swift enough to penetrate even the thin silken vesture of Lu. The army can do no more. They are northern people, unskilled in water warfare, and the people of Jingzhou are unwilling supporters. They have no desire to help Cao Cao. Now if you, General, will assist Liu Bei, Cao Cao will certainly be broken, and he must retire northwards. Then your country and Jingzhou will be strong, and the tripod will be firmly established. But the scheme must be carried out without delay, and only you can decide." | |
| 25 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 权大悦曰：“先生之言，顿开茅塞。吾意已决，更无他疑。即日商议起兵，共灭曹操。”遂令鲁肃将此意传谕文武官员，就送孔明于馆驿安歇。 |
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Sun Quan joyfully replied, "Your words, Master, open up the road clearly. I have decided and shall have no further doubts." So the orders were issued forthwith to prepare for a joint attack on Cao Cao. And Sun Quan bade Lu Su bear the news of his decision to all his officers. He himself escorted Zhuge Liang to the guest-quarters and saw to his comfort. | |
| 26 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 张昭知孙权欲兴兵，遂与众议曰：“中了孔明之计也！”急入见权曰：“昭等闻主公将兴兵与曹操争锋。主公自思比袁绍若何？曹操向日兵微将寡，尚能一鼓克袁绍，何况今日拥百万之众南征，岂可轻敌？若听诸葛亮之言，妄动甲兵，此所谓负薪救火也。”孙权只低头不语。顾雍曰：“刘备因为曹操所败，故欲借我江东之兵以拒之，主公奈何为其所用乎？愿听子布之言。” |
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When Zhang Zhao heard of the decision he met his colleagues and said to them, "Our master has fallen into the trap set by this Zhuge Liang." They went in a body to their lord and said, "We hear you are going to attack Cao Cao. But how do you stand when compared with Yuan Shao? In those days Cao Cao was comparatively weak, and yet he overcame. What is he like today with his countless legions? He is not to be lightly attacked, and to listen to Zhuge Liang's advice to engage in a conflict is like carrying fuel to a fire." Sun Quan made no reply, and Gu Yong took up the argument. Gu Yong said, "Liu Bei has been defeated, and he wants to borrow our help to beat his enemy. Why must our lord lend himself to his schemes? Pray listen to our leader's words." | |
| 27 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 孙权沈吟未决。张昭等出，鲁肃入见曰：“适张子布等，又劝主公休动兵，力主降议，此皆全躯保妻子之臣，为自谋之计耳。愿主公勿听也。”孙权尚在沈吟。肃曰：“主公若迟疑，必为众人误矣。”权曰：“卿且暂退，容我三思。”肃乃退出。时武将或有要战的，文官都是要降的，议论纷纷不一。 |
| Zhuge Liang Disputes With...: |
Doubts again surged up in the mind of Sun Quan. When the troop of advisers had retired, Lu Su came in, saying, "They came to exhort you not to fight, but to compel you to surrender. All this is simply because they wish to secure the safety of their families. They distort their sense of duty to serve their own ends, and I hope you will not take their advice." Sun Quan being sunk in thought and saying nothing, Lu Su went on, "If you hesitate, you will certainly be led astray by the majority and ——-" "Retire for a time," said his master. "I must think it over carefully." So Lu Su left the chamber. Among the soldiers some wished for war, but of the civil officers, all were in favor of surrender; and so there were many discussions and much conflict of opinion. | |
| 28 | 诸葛亮舌... : | 且说孙权退入内宅，寝食不安，犹豫不决。吴国太见权如此，问曰：“何事在心，寝食俱废？”权曰：“今曹操屯兵于江汉，有下江南之意。问诸文武，或欲降者，或欲战者。欲待战来，恐寡不敌众；欲待降来，又恐曹操不容：因此犹豫不决。”吴国太曰：“汝何不记吾姐临终之语乎？”孙权如醉方醒，似梦初觉，想出这句话来。正是：追思国母临终语，引得周郎立战功。毕竟说著甚的，且看下文分解。 |
| Zhuge Liang Disputes With...: |
Sun Quan went to his private apartments greatly perplexed. There his worry was easily discernible, and he neither ate nor slept. He was quite unable to decide finally upon a course of action. Then Lady Wu, the sister of his late mother, whom he also regarded as his own mother, asked him what so troubled him, and he told her of the threatened danger of Cao Cao and the different opinions his advisers held one and another and all his doubts and fears. "If I fight, I might fail. But if I offer to surrender, perhaps Cao Cao will not tolerate me," said he. Then she replied, "Have you forgotten the last words of my sister?" As to one recovering from a fit of drunkenness, or waking out of a dream, so came to him the dying words of the mother who bore him. His mother's advice he called to mind, "In Zhou Yu's counsels you safety find." What happened will be told in the next chapter. |
URN: ctp:sanguo-yanyi/ch43