sparity　of　numbers。　Surely　we　are　too　few。　That　is　really　all　I　feel　doubtful　about。〃

〃It　is　precisely　because　you　have　this　one　remaining　doubt　that　I　am　e。　And　I　will　explain。　Cao　Cao's　letter　speaks　of　a　million　of　marines；　and　so　you　feel　doubts　and　fears　and　do　not　wait　to　consider　the　real　truth。　Let　us　examine　the　case　thoroughly。　We　find　that　he　has　of　central　regions'　soldiers；　say；　some　one　hundred　fifty　thousand　troops；　and　many　of　them　are　sick。　He　only　got　seventy　or　eighty　thousand　northern　soldiers　from　Yuan　Shao；　and　many　of　those　are　of　doubtful　loyalty。　Now　these　sick　men　and　these　men　of　doubtful　loyalty　seem　a　great　many；　but　they　are　not　at　all　fearsome。　I　could　smash　them　with　fifty　thousand　soldiers。　You；　my　lord；　have　no　further　anxiety。〃

Sun　Quan　patted　his　general　on　the　back；　saying；　〃You　have　explained　my　difficulty　and　relieved　my　doubts。　Zhang　Zhao　is　a　fool　who　constantly　bars　my　expeditions。　Only　you　and　Lu　Su　have　any　real　understanding　of　my　heart。　Tomorrow　you　and　Lu　Su　and　Cheng　Pu　will　start；　and　I　shall　have　a　strong　reserve　ready　with　plentiful　supplies　to　support　you。　If　difficulties　arise；　you　can　at　once　send　for　me；　and　I　will　engage　with　my　own　army。〃

Zhou　Yu　left。　But　in　his　innermost　heart；　he　said　to　himself；　〃If　that　Zhuge　Liang　can　gauge　my　master's　thoughts　so　very　accurately；　he　is　too　clever　for　me　and　will　be　a　danger。　He　will　have　to　be　put　out　of　the　way。〃

Zhou　Yu　sent　a　messenger　over　to　Lu　Su　to　talk　over　this　last　scheme。　When　he　had　laid　it　bare；　Lu　Su　did　not　favor　it。

〃No；　no；〃　said　Lu　Su；　〃it　is　self…destruction　to　make　away　with　your　ablest　officer　before　Cao　Cao　shall　have　been　destroyed。〃

〃But　Zhuge　Liang　will　certainly　help　Liu　Bei　to　our　disadvantage。〃

〃Tr