on　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。〃

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。〃

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；　a