Chapter 48: Lu Su asks for Jing Zhou to be returned
Lu Su has a discussion with Zhang Fei, Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang.
Zhang Fei retorted to his earlier remark of respectfully asking for Jing Zhou back: My brother did not lend anything from you, why should we return you anything? Lu Su replied, Yi De this is a good statement, where is the goodness? It is as good as saying, if there is a loan, there must be a return. Is that right? Zhang Fei typically Zhang Fei: yes! Zhuge Liang clears his throat as Zhang Fei mumbled, I didn't say anything wrong lol.
Lu Su continued: Royal Uncle Liu had been a straw sandal weaver in your earlier years, General Zhang a butcher selling meat, although you are men of status today, no matter what, you have been in business before. Before it was a small business, right now, a very big business. Regardless of the size of the business be it big or small, the rules are the same: What rules? Whoever invests more shall benefit more. Is that right?
Replying to Zhang Fei's request to not beat around the bush, he went on, first, have Royal Uncle Liu ever borrowed anything from Dong Wu? General Zhang says no, but I say there is. You have loaned 50,000 men from Dong Wu and the lives of 8400 soldiers. 6 months ago, Cao Cao went on a southern expedition leading a 1 million strong army, successfully uniting Jing Xiang and its surrounding prefectures. At that time, you had less than 100 mou of land, soldiers, a handful of thousands. It is Jiang Dong that raised the army in the fight against Cao Cao, and defeated his army at Chi Bi. This then gave u a moment to breathe, and your victory today. As for us, we have paid a heavy price, for the men, horses, provisions and life, now that the war is over, yet we have nothing. You have taken advantage of the situation by occupying Jing, Xiang. Royal Uncle, Yide, please ask your hearts, does this business go with the rules? Is this in accordance to the heavens, or to 人情？ Is this in to the benevolence and uprighteousness that you have always stood for?
Zhuge Liang quickly added, Zi Jing Zi Jing, what a sharp mouth you have. Although we have spent much time together before, I failed to see that. You must drink as punishment. Zi Jing cupped his hands together, saying, you flatter me, in an emergency, even an honest man will open his mouth and bite.
Understand, understand, Zhuge Liang replied. Just now, you mentioned about the rules of business. Fine, in that case I shall talk about the rules of business. In the battle of Chi Bi, Dong Wu had spent much much effort, so your returns should be more than ours. But coming to the root, Jing Zhou is not a benefit. It belongs to Liu Biao, it is territory the Han Emperor bestowed on Liu Biao 38 years ago, how can you say the land belongs to Dong Wu? How can you treat the emperor's gift as a mere item for sale? After Liu Biao died, Jing Xiang was then dominated by Cao Cao. Today, his son, Liu Ci, had begged his uncle many times to help him reclaim his father's land, that is the reason why my lord could not avoid the swords of the army, not be calculative of life and death, and obtained Jing Xiang from Cao Ren to return to Liu Ci. Your lord is a benevolant ruler, Zhou Yu and yourself are the heroes of the times, surely, you cannot be thick skinned and take Jing Xiang away from Liu Ci? If that is the case, adding a little laughter as he said, what is the difference with the likes of Dong Zhuo who snatches from others?
Lu Su: Kongming, even if the true intention of obtaining Jing Zhou, is really to to return to Liu Ci, why did you use the 'borrowing of army' strategy to lure the Dong Wu troops to attack Cao Ren in force while you took the opportunity to seize the city? In doing so, have you taken us as your ally?
Kongming, raising his voice, pointed his fan at Lu Su, May I dare to ask Zi Jing, has Jiang Dong taken us as allies? Zi Jing asked, what do you mean? Kongming told him, when Zhou Yu attacked Cao Ren, he claimed he brought along 30,000 troops, but the provisions on board your ship amounts to an army size of 50,000 men. Why did he bring so many people? Obviously, after he obtains Jing Zhou, he will attack Jiang Xia seizing the moment of victory, apprehending my Lord and his men. Jiang Xia is small, and there it is hard for retreat. Should my Lord not take Jing Zhou, I'm afraid he would have already ended up in Zhou Yu's prisoner.
Having a debate with Kongming, really takes great effort to no benefit, Lu Su said.
Liu Bei told him that he had already returned Jing Zhou to Liu Ci, and wrote to the court to appoint him as governor. When Lu Su asked where Liu Ci was, 6 men carried him out together with his bed, Liu Ci looking like he is already dead.
Finally, their stand off ended with an agreement, that as long as Liu Ci is alive, naturally, Jing Zhou would belong to him, but should he not be around, then it shall be returned to Dong Wu. When that day comes and if you still do not return Jing Zhou, I am afraid that you do not reason anymore. Kongming said, then we shall discuss when that day comes. Lu Su, in a stern tone, tells him, do not use the word discuss, we have already gave a lot of leeway. My intention is, should Liu Ci not be around, these cities should be returned to us. Zhuge Liang retorted, Zi Jing, I've always thought of you as a calm person, I never thought you are actually as calculative as Zhou Yu. Zi Jing said, It is good you understand Zhou Yu's temperament, pardon my straightforwardness, he really does have a very bad temper. In his moods, he recognises no one and fears no one, even my Lord cannot stop him. Most importantly, once he is angry, Jiang Dong's 100,000 army will follow him whole heartedly. Royal Uncle Liu, if you do not agree with me on this matter today, it means not giving Zhou Yu an avenue to step down, when that happens, he will station 50,000 troops for 3 years outside the city of Nan Jun. When that day comes, both our sides will have a hard time.
Liu Bei, laughed and agreed with Lu Su: Kongming, Let Lu Su's will be done, now that it is settled, let us drink.
Interim Plans
Being surrounded by Cao Cao and Sun Quan, Liu Bei had to consolidate his power and accumulate land and army.
Ma Liang advised Liu Bei in the presence of Zhuge Liang: Jing Zhou is like a tree growing on the mountain top, blown about by the east wind, blown about by the west wind, if you do not want the tree to fall, one way is for the tree to grow a thousand roots, the other way is for the lone tree to become a forest. Jing Zhou and Xiang Yang has been ravaged by war year after year, the population is declining, they lack army and provisions.
And on the northern side, the 4 prefectures of 长沙 Chang Sha, 武陵 Wu Ling, 桂阳 ＧｕｉYang, 零陵 Ling Ling have not seen war, it is a good area to accumulate your army and provisions. My lord, you need to capture this 4 cities in order for Jing Zhou to be peaceful.
On the western side of the 湘江 (Xiang Jiang, a river in Hunan Province), you can capture Ling Ling, followed by Wu Ling, on the eastern side of the Xiang Jiang, you can capture Gui Yang, followed by Chang Sha.
Zhuge Liang oked the advice, adding to bring Liu Ci back to Xiang Yang to recuperate from his illness. Regardless of the court's decision to confer the official title on him, let's make that official. With that, the agenda for the capture of the 4 cities would be 'more official', since it used to belong to Liu Biao anyway.
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