s　between　them　and　us。　We　had　caused　the　death　of　his　father；　Sun　Jian。〃

〃Then　it　is　certain　that　this　envoy　does　not　e　to　present　condolences　but　to　spy　out　the　land。〃

So　he　said　to　Liu　Bei；　〃When　Lu　Su　asks　about　the　movements　of　Cao　Cao；　you　will　know　nothing。　If　he　presses　the　matter；　say　he　can　ask　me。〃

Having　thus　prepared　their　scheme；　they　sent　to　wele　the　envoy；　who　entered　the　city　in　mourning　garb。　The　gifts　having　been　accepted；　Liu　Qi　asked　Lu　Su　to　meet　Liu　Bei。　When　the　introductory　ceremonies　were　over；　the　three　men　went　to　one　of　the　inner　chambers　to　drink　a　cup　of　wine。

Presently　Lu　Su　said　to　Liu　Bei；　〃By　reputation　I　have　known　you　a　long　time；　Uncle　Liu　Bei；　but　till　today　I　have　not　met　you。　I　am　very　gratified　at　seeing　you。　You　have　been　fighting　Cao　Cao；　though；　lately；　so　I　suppose　you　know　all　about　him。　Has　he　really　so　great　an　army？　How　many；　do　you　think；　he　has？〃

〃My　army　was　so　small　that　we　fled　whenever　we　heard　of　his　approach。　So　I　do　not　know　how　many　he　had。〃

〃You　had　the　advice　of　Zhuge　Liang；　and　you　used　fire　on　Cao　Cao　twice。　You　burned　him　almost　to　death　so　that　you　can　hardly　say　you　know　nothing　about　his　soldiers；〃　said　Lu　Su。

〃Without　asking　my　adviser；　I　really　do　not　know　the　details。〃

〃Where　is　Zhuge　Liang？　I　should　like　to　see　him；〃　said　Lu　Su。

So　they　sent　for　him；　and　he　was　introduced。

When　the　ceremonies　were　over；　Lu　Su　said；　〃I　have　long　admired　your　genius　but　have　never　been　fortunate　enough　to　meet　you。　Now　that　I　have　met　you；　I　hope　I　may　speak　of　present　politics。〃

Replied　Zhuge　Liang；　〃I　know　all　Cao　Cao's　infamies　and　wickednesses；　but　to　my　regret　we　were　not　strong　enough　to　withstand　him。　That　is　why　we　avoided　him。〃