be sure I shall make no mistakes。〃
Zhuge Liang was then conducted to where the high officers； civil and military to the number of forty and more； were assembled。 They formed a dignified conclave as they sat in stately ranks with their tall headdresses and broad girdles。
Zhang Zhao sat at the head； and Zhuge Liang first saluted him。 Then； one by one； he exchange the formal courtesies with them all。 This done he took his seat in the guest's chair。
They； on their part； noted with interest Zhuge Liang's refined and elegant manner and his manding figure； thinking within themselves； 〃Here is a persuader fitted for discourse。〃
Zhang Zhao led the way in trying to bait the visitor。 He said； 〃You will pardon the most insignificant of our official circle； myself； if I mention that people say you pare yourself with those two famous men of talent； Guan Zhong and Yue Yi。 Is there any truth in this？〃
〃To a trifling extent I have pared myself with them；〃 replied Zhuge Liang。
〃I have heard that Liu Bei made three journeys to visit you when you lived in retirement in your simple dwelling in the Sleeping Dragon Ridge； and that when you consented to serve him； he said he was as lucky as a fish in getting home to the ocean。 Then he desired to possess the region about Jingzhou。 Yet today all that country belongs to Cao Cao。 I should like to hear your account of all that。〃
Zhuge Liang thought； 〃This Zhang Zhao is Sun Quan's first adviser。 Unless I can nonplus him； I shall never have a chance with his master。〃
So he replied； 〃In my opinion the taking of the region around the Han River was as simple as turning over one's hand。 But my master Liu Bei is both righteous and humane and would not stoop to filching the possession of a member of h