That was all supposed to happen forthwith。
〃Why then； when you went to Xinye； did not Cao Cao's army throw aside their arms and armors and flee like rats？ Why could you not have told Liu Biao how to give tranquillity to his people？ Why could you not aid his orphan son to protect his frontiers？ Instead you abandoned Xinye and fled to Fancheng； you were defeated at Dangyang and fled to Xiakou with no place to rest in。 Thus； after you had joined Liu Bei； he was worse off than before。 Was it thus with Guan Zhong and Yue Yi？ I trust you do not mind my blunt speech。〃
Zhuge Liang waited till Zhang Zhao had closed his oration； then laughed and said； 〃How can the mon birds understand the long flight of the cranes？ Let me use an illustration。 A man has fallen into a terrible malady。 First the physician must administer hashish； then soothing drugs until his viscera shall be calmed into harmonious action。 When the sick man's body shall have been reduced to quietude； then may he be given strong meats to strengthen him and powerful drugs to correct the disorder。 Thus the disease will be quite expelled； and the man restored to health。 If the physician does not wait till the humors and pulse are in harmony； but throws in his strong drugs too early； it will be difficult to restore the patient。
〃My master suffered defeat at Runan and went to Liu Biao。 He had then less than one thousand soldiers and only three generals………Guan Yu； Zhang Fei； and Zhao Yun。 That was indeed a time of extreme weakness。 Xinye was a secluded； rustic town with few inhabitants and scanty supplies； and my master only retired there as a temporary refuge。 How could he even think of occupying and holding it？ Yet； with insufficient force； in a weak city； with untrained men and inadequate supplies；