you　into　accepting。　However；　let　him　talk。　You；　my　lord；　only　watch　me；　and　when　I　nod　my　head；　then　you　agree　to　whatever　he　may　propose。〃

Lu　Su　was　then　admitted　and　said；　〃The　Marquis　of　Wu　praises　the　noble　virtue　of　the　Imperial　Uncle；　and　after　consultation　with　his　officers；　he　has　determined　to　take　the　western　country　on　the　Imperial　Uncle's　behalf　and；　that　done；　Jingzhou　can　be　exchanged　for　it　without　further　delay。　However；　when　the　army　marches　through；　it　will　be　expected　of　you　to　contribute　some　necessary　supplies。〃

Zhuge　Liang　here　nodded　his　head　rapidly；　at　the　same　time　saying；　〃We　could　hardly　have　hoped　for　such　kindness。〃

And　Liu　Bei　saluted　with　joined　hands　and　said；　〃This　is　due　to　your　friendly　efforts　on　our　behalf。〃

〃When　the　brave　army　arrives；　we　shall　certainly　e　out　to　meet　it　and　entertain　the　soldiers；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

Lu　Su　felt　great　satisfaction　and　was　quite　happy　at　his　success。　He　took　his　leave　and　went　homeward。　But　Liu　Bei　as　yet　did　not　understand。

〃What　is　their　intention？〃　said　he。

His　adviser　smiled；　saying；　〃Zhou　Yu's　end　is　very　near。　The　ruse　he　is　now　trying　would　not　take　in　a　child。〃

〃Why？〃

〃This　is　the　ruse　known　as　'Borrow　a　Road　to　Destroy　the　Host'。　Under　the　pretense　of　taking　the　west；　they　intend　to　capture　this　place；　and　when　you　go　out　to　pliment　the　army；　you　will　be　seized　and　they　will　dash　into　the　city　which　they　hope　to　find　unprepared。〃

〃And　what　are　we　to　do？〃

〃Have　no　anxiety；　my　lord。　All　we　have　to　do　is　to　prepare　a　hidden　bow　to　get　the　fierce　tiger；　to　spread　the　enticing　bait　to　hook　the　great　leviathan。　Wait　till　Zhou　Yu　es。　If　he　is　not　killed；　he　will　be　nine…tenths　a　corpse。　We　will　call　in　Zhao　Yun　for　order