ad　returned；　and　Deng　Zhi　was　with　him。　They　were　brought　in　forthwith。　Zhang　Wen；　having　made　his　obeisance；　began　to　discourse　upon　the　virtue　of　the　Ruler　of　Shu　and　Zhuge　Liang　and　to　lay　before　his　lord　the　proposal　for　a　league　of　peace。　Deng　Zhi；　the　Chair　of　the　Secretariat；　was　empowered　to　discuss　this　matter。

Turning　to　Deng　Zhi；　Sun　Quan　said；　〃Would　it　not　be　a　happy　result　if　tranquillity　should　be　restored　to　the　empire　by　the　destruction　of　Wei；　and　Wu　and　Shu　should　share　its　administration？〃

〃The　sky　knows　not　two　suns；〃　replied　Deng　Zhi；　〃nor　can　the　people　recognize　two　kings。　If　Wei　be　destroyed；　no　one　can　say　upon　whom　the　divine　mand　will　devolve。　But　one　who　bees　an　overlord　must　perfect　his　virtue；　and　those　who　bee　ministers　must　be　wholly　loyal。　In　this　way　strife　will　cease。〃

Sun　Quan　smiled；　saying；　〃And　your　sincerity　is　beyond　question。〃

Deng　Zhi　was　dismissed　with　rich　gifts；　and　after　this　Wu　and　Shu　were　good　friends。

The　negotiations　between　his　two　rivals　were　reported　in　Capital　Luoyang　without　loss　of　time；　and　Cao　Pi　was　very　angry。

〃If　they　have　made　an　alliance；　it　can　only　mean　that　they　cherish　the　intention　of　swallowing　the　Middle　Land。　My　best　move　is　to　strike　first。〃

He　called　a　great　council。　This　council　lacked　the　presence　of　Regent　Marshal　Cao　Ren　and　Grand　mander　Jia　Xu；　who　had　both　died。

In　the　council　Counselor　Xin　Pi　stepped　forward　and　said；　〃The　Middle　Land　is　extensive；　but　the　population　so　sparse　that　no　successful　army　could　be　raised　just　now。　My　advice　is　to　wait　ten　years；　spending　that　period　in　forming　an　army　and　in　cultivating　the　land　till　stores　and　weapons　shall　have　been　accumulated。　Then　both　our　rivals　may　be　destroyed。〃

〃This　is　on