Asking Liu Bei if he likes Ma Chao, Zhuge Liang tells Liu Bei that all he has to do is to devise a simple scheme and Ma Chao will come over to Liu Bei, who is naturally elated. From the series's portrayal, Zhuge Liang's strategies had never failed so far.
Jian Yong pays a visit to Zhang Lu's advisor, Yang Song, well known to be a very greedy person, with lavish gifts and a proposal to make Zhang Lu the 汉宁王。 Yang Song tells Jian Yong, should he fail in his task, he will be laughed at by Liu Bei. Jian Yong tells him, everyone in Han Zhong knows that he is just below Zhang Lu and above everyone else, the ruler listens to his advise as long as it comes from him. Even if it cannot be done, my Lord Liu Bei says that he is willing to make a friend with you, these gifts are a ''meeting gift.''
Yang says, my heart is not at ease, Ma Chao is at the battlefield, and here I am back stabbing him, how unrighteous. Jian Yong replies, I have heard of your righteousness, but Ma Chao is not righteous. Do think about it: Should Ma Chao be successful in his expedition, his position and status will be above yours. Besides, Ma Chao has lost Xi Liang, wldn't he want to have Han Zhong for himself?
Driven by the bribery of gifts, Yang Song next tells Liu Zhang, even if Liu Bei were to lose Yi Zhou, it might not necessary belong to him. Why did Ma Chao seek us? It is because he is defeated by Cao Cao, lost Xi Liang and has nowhere to go. I am worried that once Ma Chao takes Yi Zhou, he might be independent then.
Zhang Lu questions if there is any proof, Yang tells him, the scouts reply, Ma Chao is at Jia Meng Guan, not winning nor losing, not advancing nor retreating, is because he is having secret discussions with Liu Bei. Liu Bei wants Ma Chao to have Han Zhong, whilst Liu Bei takes Chuan Di. But Ma Chao wants Liu Bei to have Han Zhong, and have Chuan Di for himself. Hence the neutral stand for a show. Both of them are quarreling over who should have Han Zhong, and who should have Chuan Di. But once they have decided, both the Han, Chuan lands will be divided up, be it Liu Bei, be it Ma Chao, one of them will attack you.
Zhang Lu goes, yes yes yes, yes yes yes, let us not alarm Ma Chao now, send a messenger immediately for him to recall the troops, just tell him that Cao Cao is invading. Yang replies, yes sir. Ma Chao and Ma Dai knows that it is not possible for Cao Cao to attack, he is engaging Sun Quan's army in the 荆江 area, how can he be advancing into Han Zhong at the same time? Even if that were the case, Zhang Lu should have received news a long time ago. At this time, Zhang Fei arrives to challenge Ma Chao outside his camp. Ma Chao goes out to engage him, and orders his men to tell Zhang Lu that he will retreat once he has taken Jia Meng Guan.
Zhang Lu is infuriated that Ma Chao had disobeyed his orders, Yang, taking the opportunity, went on to add, Ma Chao does not want to retreat, this proves that his heart is not with you. My Lord, you must safeguard yourself. Zhang Lu orders Yang to visit Ma Chao in person, and tell him, it is ok not to withdraw his troops, but, I give him a month to do 3 things. 1. Take Xi Chuan 2. Behead Liu Zhang 3. Defeat Liu Bei. If these 3 conditions are not met, I will cut off his provisions.
Ma Chao tells Yang that each of the conditions is hard to achieve, what-more 3 of them in a month? This is cleary forcing me to an deadend. Yang replies, it is not that our Lord is forcing you, you yourself have laid down the military command in writing, in front of him to capture Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang and it has been months since, yet your progress is only at the entrance, not advancing nor retreating. Our Lord loves you hence he wants you back to Han Zhong, the provisions are all in Han Zhong, without them, how can you continue to wage war? Ma Chao tells Yang Song to inform Zhang Lu that he will recall his troops.
Next, Zhang Lu comments to Yang Song that Ma Chao has recalled the army and crossed the borders to Han Zhong in just 3 days, an extraordinary speed. Yang Song took another stab at Ma Chao's back, asking Zhang Lu if he is recalling the army or or advancing the army. Just then, he had refused to come back, right now, he comes back in such a rush, could there be plot? My Lord, you must be guard yourself! Zhang Lu says, quick, close all the gates, do not allow Ma Chao to enter Han Zhong.
At the gates, the guards do not allow Ma Dai to pass through the gates and shoots at him and his men. Ma Dai is injured on his arm, and retreats to Ma Chao's tent. Zhuge Liang then pays them a visit. I am specially here to be persuade you, replying why he is there to Ma Chao. Ma Chao tells him, my sword is freshly sharpened, and lacks a head to chop. Please make yourself clear, otherwise, please try my sword. Zhuge Liang smiles and replies, disaster is not far from you, I am afraid that your new sword will not be able to behead me, you will be the first to try.
What trouble am I in? says Ma Chao.
(The new Zhuge Liang in this series speaks quickly, in idioms, and is hard to understand)
The Closing Pitch
Zhuge Liang goes on: 我听说越国西族，善毁者不能闭其美， 齐国无盐，善美者也不能掩其丑。日中则昃，月满而亏。皆世间常理。 You have a feud with Cao Cao as he had killed your father, and extreme hatred with 陇西. You can only sit around and watch, as you look at your sword and sigh. For one, you cannot rescue Liu Zhang and make the 荆州 Jing Zhou army retreat。On the other hand, you have no control over Yang Song and cannot even meet Zhang Lu. The 4 seas have no place for you, all your life you have no Lord. In the past, you lost the battle at i渭桥 Wei Qiao, and lost 冀城 Ji Cheng, today it is repeating. How can you face the people of the world?
Ma Chao sighs and says, you are absolutely right, I, Ma Chao am a hero of the world, but today I really have nowhere left to go. Zhuge Liang asks, since you are willing to listen to me, why do you have soldiers placed in your tent with swords? Ma Chao orders the men to step down and Zhuge Liang continued. General Ma, my Lord Liu Bei appreciates talent like his own life, this is renowned across the 4 seas. Sworn against the tyranny of Cao Cao, it is his desire to kill Cao Cao and to restore the Han.
Your father in the past had once laid down a blood oath with my lord on the secret imperial edict on the emperor's jade belt to kill Cao Cao, I am sure you are aware of this. General, you were originally a hero, a righteous person of the present times, for survival, you had no choice but to go under Zhang Lu. It is truly your misfortune. Why don't you give up the dark for the light, and come over to Liu Bei? One, you can fulfill your father's ambition and seek revenge for him, on top of that, you can get rid of a tyrant like Cao Cao, and contribute to rendering a meritorious service. You father in heaven, will smile for you.
Ma Chao looks at Ma Dai, who nods at him. Both of them kneels in front of Zhuge Liang. Our Lord has gained another tiger general, Yi Zhou shall be ours soon. Ma Chao tells Zhuge Liang, allow me to take Yi Zhou as a contribution for our Lord.
Notes:
- 越国 Yue Guo (generic term for states in south China at different historical periods)
- 齐国 Qi Guo (Qi State of Western Zhou and Warring States 1122-856BC, centered in Shandong)
- 陇西 Long Xi [Longxi County in Ding (4th) Xi (1st), Gansu]
- 渭 Wei (4th) (Wei River in Shanxi through the Guanzhong plains)
- 冀城 Ji (4th) (abbrievation for Hebei province)
Factors of Success:
- Knowing the enemy: Zhang Lu's character, Yang Song's greed and influence;
- Knowing the target: Ma Chao's pride, ambition and failures.
- Using the human emotion: of Liu Bei's former alliance with Ma Teng.
With the conquered Xi Chuan, Liu Bei remains at Cheng Du and established himself as one of the 3 powers of the world taking up the western lands commonly known today. Cao Cao is in the north, while Sun Quan takes up eastern Jiang Dong.
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