very derogatory to you。 A mon person might submit。 You cannot。〃
〃Why？ How do you explain that？〃
〃If people like us servants submitted； we would just return to our village or continue holding our offices； and everything would go on as before。 If you submit； whither will you go？ You will be created a lord of some humble fief； perhaps。 You will have one carriage； no more； one saddle horse； that is all。 Your retinue will be some ten。 Will you be able to sit facing the south and call yourself by the kingly title of 'The Solitary'？ Each one in that crowd of hangers…on is thinking for himself； is purely selfish； and you should not listen to them； but take a line of your own and that quickly。 Determine to play a bold game！〃
Sun Quan sighed； 〃They all talk and talk： They miss my point of view。 Now you have just spoken of a bold game； and your view is the same as mine。 Surely God has expressly sent you to me。 Still Cao Cao is now the stronger by all Yuan Shao's and Liu Biao's armies； and he has possession of Jingzhou。 I fear he is almost too powerful to contend with。〃
〃I have brought back with me Zhuge Liang； the younger brother of our Zhuge Jin。 If you questioned him； he would explain clearly。〃
〃Is Master Sleeping Dragon really here？〃
〃Really here； in the guest…house。〃
〃It is too late to see him today。 But tomorrow I will assemble my officials； and you will introduce him to all my best。 After that we will debate the matter。〃
With these instructions Lu Su retired。
Next day he went to the guest…house and conveyed Sun Quan's mands to the guest； particularly saying； 〃When you see my master； say nothing of the magnitude of Cao Cao's army。〃
Zhuge Liang smiled； saying； 〃I shall act as circumstances dictate。 You may