But then one of the courtiers suddenly said； 〃Your servant can propose a plan by which Shu will be overe and Wu submits。〃
The generals lead their beaten soldiers home；
The victors plan new deeds for days to e。
Who offered this plan？ Succeeding chapters will tell。
Main Next to Chapter 96 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 96
Chapter 96
Shedding Tears； Zhuge Liang Puts Ma Su To Death；
Cutting Hair； Zhou Fang Beguiles Cao Xiu。
The proposer of the great plan that was to conquer the empire was the Chair of the Secretariat； named Sun Zu。
〃Noble Sir； expound your excellent scheme；〃 said the Ruler of Wei。
And Sun Zu said； 〃When your great progenitor； Emperor Cao； first got Zhang Lu； he was at a critical stage in his career； but thenceforward all went well。 He used to say the land of Nanzheng is really a natural hell。 In the Xie Valley there are one hundred fifty miles of rocks and caves； so that it is an impossible country for an army。 If Wei be denuded of soldiers in order to conquer Shu； then for sure we shall be invaded by Wu on the east。 My advice is to divide the army among the various generals and appoint each a place of strategic value to hold； and let them train their forces。 In a few years the Middle Land will be prosperous and wealthy； while the other two Shu and Wu； will have been reduced by mutual quarrels and will fall an easy prey。 I hope Your Majesty will consider whether this is not a superior plan。〃
〃What does the General think？〃 said Cao Rui to Sima Yi。
He replied； 〃Chairman Sun Zu says well。〃
So Cao Rui bade Sima Yi draw up a scheme of defense and station the soldiers； leaving Guo Huai and Zhang He to guard Changan。 And having rewarded