ade　many　incursions　into　our　territory。　That　was　the　price　of　peace。　You　surely　would　not　grudge　two　more　women　from　among　the　mon　people。〃

〃You　do　not　know；　Sir；〃　replied　Zhou　Yu。　〃Of　those　two　women　of　the　Qiao　family　you　mentioned；　Elder　Qiao　is　the　widow　of　Sun　Ce；　our　late　ruler；　and　Younger　Qiao　is　my　wife！〃

Zhuge　Liang　feigned　the　greatest　astonishment　and　said；　〃No　indeed：　I　did　not　know。　I　blundered………a　deadly　fault………a　deadly　fault！〃

〃One　of　us　two　has　to　go：　Either　the　old　rebel　or　I。　We　shall　not　both　live。　I　swear　that！〃　cried　Zhou　Yu。

〃However；　such　a　matter　needs　a　good　deal　of　thought；〃　replied　Zhuge　Liang。　〃We　must　not　make　any　mistake。〃

Zhou　Yu　replied；　〃I　hold　a　sacred　trust　from　my　late　lord；　Sun　Ce。　I　would　not　bow　the　knee　to　any　such　as　Cao　Cao。　What　I　said　just　now　was　to　see　how　you　stood。　I　left　Poyang　Lake　with　the　intention　of　attacking　the　north；　and　nothing　can　change　that　intention；　not　even　the　sword　at　my　breast　or　the　ax　on　my　neck。　But　I　trust　you　will　lend　an　arm；　and　we　will　smite　Cao　Cao　together。〃

〃Should　I　be　happy　enough　not　to　be　rejected；　I　would　render　such　humble　service　as　I　could。　Perhaps　presently　I　might　be　able　to　offer　a　plan　to　oppose　him。〃

〃I　am　going　to　see　my　lord　tomorrow　to　discuss　this　matter；〃　said　Zhou　Yu。

Zhuge　Liang　and　Lu　Su　then　left。

Next　day　at　dawn　Sun　Quan　went　to　the　council　chamber；　where　his　officials；　civil　and　military；　were　already　assembled。　They　numbered　about　sixty　in　all。　The　civil；　with　Zhang　Zhao　at　their　head；　were　on　the　right；　the　military；　with　Cheng　Pu　as　their　leader；　were　ranged　on　the　left。　All　were　in　full　ceremonial　dress；　and　the　swords　of　the　soldiers　clanked　on　the　pavement。

Soon　Zhou　Yu　entered。

Wh