When Zhou Yu reached his own place； he sent for Zhuge Liang to consult over the business in hand。 He told Zhuge Liang of the decision that had been taken and asked for a plan of campaign。
〃But your master has not yet made up his mind；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃Till he has； no plan can be decided upon。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃In his heart； Sun Quan is still fearful of Cao Cao's numbers and frets over the inequality of the two armies。 You will have to explain away those numbers and bring him to a final decision before anything can be effected。〃
〃What you say is excellent；〃 said Zhou Yu； and he went to the palace that night to see his master。
Sun Quan said； 〃You must have something of real importance to say if you e like this at night。〃
Zhou Yu said； 〃I am making my dispositions tomorrow。 You have quite made up your mind？〃
〃The fact is；〃 said Sun Quan； 〃I still feel nervous about the disparity of numbers。 Surely we are too few。 That is really all I feel doubtful about。〃
〃It is precisely because you have this one remaining doubt that I am e。 And I will explain。 Cao Cao's letter speaks of a million of marines； and so you feel doubts and fears and do not wait to consider the real truth。 Let us examine the case thoroughly。 We find that he has of central regions' soldiers； say； some one hundred fifty thousand troops； and many of them are sick。 He only got seventy or eighty thousand northern soldiers from Yuan Shao； and many of those are of doubtful loyalty。 Now these sick men and these men of doubtful loyalty seem a great many； but they are not at all fearsome。 I could smash them with fifty thousand soldiers。 You； my lord； have no further anxiety。〃
Sun Quan patted his general on the back； saying； 〃You have explained my difficulty and relieved my doubts。 Zhang Zhao is a fool who constantly bars my expeditions。 Only you and Lu Su have any real understanding of my heart。 Tomorrow you and Lu Su and Cheng Pu will start； and I shall have a strong reserve ready with plentiful supplies to support you。 If difficulties arise； you can at once send for me； and I will engage with my own army。〃
Zhou Yu left。 But in his innermost heart； he said to himself； 〃If that Zhuge Liang can gauge my master's thoughts so very accurately； he is too clever for me and will be a danger。 He will have to be put out of the way。〃
Zhou Yu sent a messenger over to Lu Su to talk over this last scheme。 When he had laid it bare； Lu Su did not favor it。
〃No； no；〃 said Lu Su； 〃it is self…destruction to make away with your ablest officer before Cao Cao shall have been destroyed。〃
〃But Zhuge Liang will certainly help Liu Bei to our disadvantage。〃
〃Try what his brother Zhuge Jin can do to persuade him。 It would be an excellent thing to have these two in our service。〃
〃Yes； indeed；〃 replied Zhou Yu。
Next morning at dawn； Zhou Yu went to his camp and took his seat in the council tent。 The armed guards took up their stations right and left； and the officers ranged themselves in lines to listen to the orders。
Now Cheng Pu； who was older than Zhou Yu but was made second in mand； was very angry at being passed over； so he made a pretense of indisposition and stayed away from this assembly。 But he sent his eldest son； Cheng Zi； to represent him。
Zhou Yu addressed the gathering； saying； 〃The law knows no partiality； and you will all have to attend to your several duties。 Cao Cao is now more absolute than ever was Dong Zhuo； and the Emperor is really a prisoner in Xuchang； guarded by the most cruel soldiers。 We have a mand to destroy Cao Cao； and with your willing help we shall advance。 The army must cause no hardship to the people anywhere。 Rewards for good service and punishments for faults shall be given impartially。〃
Having delivered this charge； Zhou Yu told off Han Dang and Huang Gai as Leaders of the Van； and ordered the ships under their own mand to get under way and go to the Three Gorges。 They would get orders by and bye。 Then he appointed four armies with two leaders over each： The first body was under Jiang Qin and Zhou Tai； the second； Pan Zhang and Ling Tong； the third； Taishi Ci and Lu Meng； the fourth； Lu Xun and Dong Xi。 Lu Fan and Zhu Zhi were appointed inspectors； to move from place to place and keep the various units up to their work and acting with due regard to the general plan。 Land and marine forces were to move simultaneously。 The expedition would soon start。
Having received their orders； each returned to his mand and busied himself in preparation。 Cheng Zi； the son of Cheng Pu； returned and told his father what arrangements had been made； and Cheng Pu was amazed at Zhou Yu's skill。
Said he； 〃I have always despised Zhou Yu as a mere student who would never be a general； but this shows that he has a leader's talent。 I must support him。〃
So Cheng Pu went over to the quarters of the mander…in…Chief and confessed his fault。 He was received kindly and all was over。
Next Zhou Yu sent for Zhuge Jin and said to him； 〃Evidently your brother is a genius； a man born to be a king's counselor。 Why then does he serve Liu Bei？ Now that he is here； I wish you to use every effort to persuade him to stay with us。 Thus our lord would gain able support and you two brothers would be together； which would be pleasant for you both。 I wish you success。〃
Zhuge Jin replied； 〃I am ashamed of the little service I have rendered since I came here； and I can do no other than obey your mand to the best of my ability。〃
Thereupon he went away to his brother； whom he found in the guest…house。 The younger brother received him； and when he had reached the inner rooms； Zhuge Liang bowed respectfully and； weeping； told his experiences since they parted and his sorrow at their separation。
＇e＇ Bo Yi and Shu Qi were two sons of the lord of Guzhu。 Their father wished to establish ＇the younger son＇ Shu Qi as his heir。 Upon their father's death； Shu Qi abdicated in favor of Bo Yi。 But Bo Yi said： 〃It is our father's will ＇that you should rule＇。〃 Then he ran away。 Shu Qi was not willing to reign either； and ran away。 The people of the state named a middle son as heir。 。。。。。
Then Zhuge Jin； weeping also； said； 〃Brother； do you remember the story of Bo Yi and Shu Qi*； the brothers who would not be separated？〃
〃Ah； Zhou Yu has sent him to talk me over；〃 thought Zhuge Liang。 So he replied； 〃They were two of the noble people of old days。 Yes； I know。〃
〃Those two； although they perished of hunger near the Shouyang Hills； yet never separated。 You and I； born of the same mother and suckled at the same breast； yet serve different masters and never meet。 Are you not ashamed when you think of such examples as Bo Yi and Shu Qi？〃
Zhuge Liang replied； 〃You are talking now of love； but what I stand for is duty。 We are both men of Han； and Liu Bei is of the family。 If you； brother； could leave the South Land and join me in serving the rightful branch； then on the one side we should be honored as Ministers of Han； and on the other we should be together as people of the same flesh and blood should be。 Thus love and duty would both receive their proper meed。 What do you think of it； my brother？〃
〃I came to persuade him and lo！ It is I who is being talked over；〃 thought Zhuge Jin。
He had no fitting reply