Chapter 43 of the main text: Zhuge Liang's verbal battle among scholars, Lu Zijing's strong opposition to public opinion

 Chapter 43 of the main text: Zhuge Liang's verbal battle among scholars, Lu Zijing's strong opposition to public opinion

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But Lu Su and Kong Ming resigned from Xuan De and Liu Qi, and boarded the boat to look for Chai Sang County. The two of them were discussing in the boat, and Lu Su said to Kong Ming, "Sir, when you see General Sun, you must not truthfully say that Cao Cao has many soldiers and generals." Kong Ming replied, "You don't need to be reminded by your son. Liang has his own way of responding." When the ship arrived at the shore, Lu Su asked Kong Ming to rest temporarily in the inn and go to see Sun Quan first. Quan Zheng gathered civil and military officials in the hall to discuss matters. Upon hearing of Lu Su's return, he urgently called in and asked, "Zijing went to Jiangxia to explore the truth and falsehood." Su replied, "We already know the plan, but we still have room for Xu to report." Quan General Cao issued a proclamation to Su, saying, "Yesterday, Cao sent an envoy to this place. I sent an envoy first, but now the assembly has discussed and decided." Su accepted the proclamation and read it. It is briefly said: "I have been ordered by the emperor to suppress the crime. The southern commander of the army, Liu Cong, restrained his hands; the people of Jingxiang, hope to submit to the wind. Today, I have a million strong soldiers and a thousand generals, and I want to hunt together with the general in Jiangxia to jointly suppress Liu Bei and divide the land. It is good to form an alliance forever. Fortunately, do not wait and see, and quickly give me a reply." Lu Su finished reading and said, "What is the respect of the lord?" Quan replied, "There is no consensus." Zhang Zhao said, "Cao Cao has a million troops, and under the name of the emperor, he will conquer the four directions and reject them. And if the lord's general can refuse to control, the Yangtze River will also be affected. Now that we have gained control of Jingzhou and the danger of the Yangtze River, we are invincible. It is better to accept surrender than to resort to foolish tactics, as it is a safe strategy. The strategists all said," The words of Zibu are in accordance with the will of heaven. "Sun Quan pondered and remained silent. Zhang Zhao once again said, "Your Highness, there is no need to be suspicious. If you surrender, the people of Eastern Wu will be safe, and the six counties of Jiangnan can be protected." Sun Quan lowered his head and remained silent.

In an instant, Quan changed his clothes and Lu Su followed Quan Hou. Quan knew Su's intention, so he held Su's hand and said, "What do you want?" Su replied, "Just as everyone said, it deeply misleads the general. Everyone can surrender to Cao Cao, but the general cannot surrender to Cao Cao. The great loss of my solitary hope. Zijing proposed a great plan, which is exactly the same as my opinion. This day, Zijing bestowed it upon me! However, Cao Xin has gained the support of Yuan Shao and the army of Jingzhou, which may make it difficult to resist the enemy Su said, "Su has arrived in Jiangxia and brought Zhuge Liang, the younger brother of Zhuge Jin, here. Your Highness can ask him, and you will know the truth." Quan said, "Is Mr. Wolong here?" Su said, "He is resting in the inn now." Quan said, "Tonight, we haven't seen each other yet. Tomorrow, we will gather under the tent, teach me the handsome man from Jiangdong first, and then ascend to the hall to discuss matters." Su was ordered to leave. The next day, when I arrived at the inn, I saw Kong Ming and instructed him, "Now that I see my lord, it is impossible to say that Cao Cao has too many soldiers." Kong Ming smiled and said, "Liang saw the opportunity and changed, and there was no mistake." Su then led Kong Ming to the curtain. I saw Zhang Zhao, Gu Yong, and a group of more than twenty civil and military personnel, dressed in formal attire and sitting upright. Kong Ming met one by one and asked for their names. The ceremony has ended and I am sitting in the guest seat. Zhang Zhao and others saw Kong Mingfeng's ethereal appearance and majestic demeanor, and predicted that this person would come to persuade him. Zhang Zhaoxian criticized him with words and said, "Zhao is a scholar of the lowest level in the eastern part of the Yangtze River. I have long heard that his master is lying high in the middle of the dragon, and I compare himself to him. Is there any truth to this statement?" Kong Ming replied, "This is a small comparison in my life." Zhao said, "Recently, I heard that Mr. Liu Yuzhou was fortunate enough to have his master in a thatched cottage, thinking that he was like a fish in water and wanted to sweep through Jingxiang. Now that he belongs to Cao Cao, what is his opinion without trial?" Kong Ming thought to himself that Zhang Zhaoxian was the first strategist under Sun Quan's command. If he did not first defeat him, how could he say that he had won Sun Quan? "Kong Ming replied," I see that taking the land of Han is as easy as pie. My lord. Liu Yuzhou practiced benevolence and righteousness, and could not bear to take away the foundation of the same sect, so he strongly declined. Liu Cong, a young man, listened to the flattery and secretly surrendered, which allowed Cao Cao to become rampant. Now that our lord is stationed in Jiangxia, there is a good plan, which cannot be easily known. "Zhao said," If this is the case, it is a violation of your words and deeds. The gentleman compared himself to Guan, Yue, Guan Zhongxiang, and Huan Gong, who dominated the feudal lords and ruled the country; Leyi supported the weak Yan and conquered over seventy cities: these two individuals are truly talented and helpful to the world. The gentleman is in the thatched cottage, but he is smiling arrogantly and sitting dangerously with his knees crossed. Now that I am engaged in Liu Yuzhou, I must promote the interests of all living beings and eliminate bandits. Before Liu Yuzhou obtained his master's title, he still roamed the world and ruled over the cities; Mr. Jinde, everyone looks up to him. Although three feet of childlike innocence, also known as a fierce tiger with wings, will witness the revival of the Han dynasty and the downfall of the Cao family. Old officials of the court and hermits in the mountains and forests all looked away, thinking that they could sweep away the clouds of the sky, look up at the radiance of the sun and moon, save the people in the midst of water and fire, and conquer the world on the altar at this moment. Mr. He returned to Yuzhou on his own, and as soon as Cao's troops left, he abandoned his armor and weapons, fleeing in the wind; The superior cannot report to Liu Biao to pacify the common people, and the subordinate cannot assist the solitary and occupy the territory; Abandoning Xinye, going to Fancheng, defeated Dangyang, and heading to Xiakou, with no place to hide: after gaining the master in Yuzhou, it is not as good as it was in the beginning. Guan Zhong, Le Yi, what is the outcome like? Foolish words, fortunately don't take offense! ”Kongming smiled blankly and said, "The roc flies for thousands of miles. How can birds know its ambition? For example, when people suffer from serious diseases, they should drink it with millet Congee first and take it with medicine; when their internal organs are reconciled and their body is gradually settled, they should eat meat to fill it, and then take strong medicine to cure it: the root of the disease will be gone, and people will have a whole life. If they do not wait for the qi to be gentle, they will take strong medicine and taste to seek security, which is really difficult. My lord Liu Yuzhou, defeated by the Japanese army in Runan, left Liu Biao, whose soldiers were less than a thousand, and will stop, Zhang, Zhao Yunzhi: This is just like the time when the disease has won extremely. Xinye is a remote county, where people are scarce and food is scarce. Yuzhou is just a temporary shelter. Will it really sit here? Despite the endless supply of armored troops, unstable city walls, untrained armies, and insufficient food supply, the burning of fortifications in Bowang and the use of water in Baihe have left Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren's generation in awe. It is rumored that the use of troops by Guan Zhong and Le Yi may not have exceeded this level. As for Liu Cong's surrender, it is unknown in Yuzhou; And I can't bear to take advantage of the chaos and seize the foundation of the same clan. This is truly a great act of benevolence and righteousness. When Yang was defeated, Yuzhou saw hundreds of thousands of people who went to Yi, supporting the elderly and young, and could not bear to abandon them. They traveled ten miles a day without any intention of advancing to Jiangling, and willingly joined in the defeat. This is also a great act of benevolence and righteousness. Being outnumbered and losing is a common occurrence. In the past, Emperor Gao was defeated by Xiang Yu, but in the Battle of Gaixia, he succeeded. Isn't this the good plan of Han Xin? Fu Xin has been serving the high emperor for a long time and has never been tired of winning. There is a mastermind behind the national plan and the safety of the country. Those who are not compared to those who boast and argue, deceive others with false praise: sitting and discussing, no one can reach them; Adapt to the situation, unable to do anything. Sincerely make the world laugh! ”This speech left Zhang Zhao speechless.

Suddenly, a person on the seat raised a voice and asked, "Cao Gong's army is stationed at a million soldiers, with a thousand generals. Long Xiang is watching closely, swallowing the Yangtze River and Xia. Why does Gong behave like this?" Kong Ming looked at him and realized it was Yu Fanye. Kong Ming said, "Cao Cao gathered Yuan Shao's ants at Xiakou and only sought advice from others, yet still spoke fearlessly. This is really a big lie!" Kong Ming said, "Liu Yuzhou, with thousands of righteous and righteous troops, can withstand a million cruel people. He retreated to Xiakou, so he waited for the right time. Now that the troops in Jiangdong are well-equipped and the Yangtze River is at risk, he still wants to make his lord kneel down and surrender to the bandits, disregarding the ridicule of the world. Therefore, Liu Yuzhou is really not afraid of the bandits!" Yu Fan cannot agree.

Another person in the seat asked, "Does Kong Ming want to use the Qin tongue to persuade the Eastern Wu?" Kong Ming looked at him and said, "He is walking a carriage. Kong Ming said, "Buzishan regards Su Qin and Zhang Yi as debaters, but I don't know that Su Qin and Zhang Yi are also heroes. Su Qin has the seal of six states, and Zhang Yi has twice visited Qin, both of which have strategies to support the country. They are not like those who fear the strong and bully the weak, or fear knives and swords. When you hear Cao Cao's false words, you are afraid to surrender and dare to laugh at Su Qin and Zhang Yi?" Bu Tai remained silent. Suddenly, someone asked, "Why does Kong Ming treat Cao Cao like a human?" Kong Ming regarded him as Xue Zongye. Kong Ming replied, "Cao Cao is a traitor to the Han Dynasty, so why bother asking?" Kong Ming replied, "Your words are wrong. The Han Dynasty has been passed down to this day, and the days will come to an end. Now, Cao Gong has two-thirds of the world, and everyone has returned to his heart. When Liu Yuzhou did not know heaven, he wanted to fight fiercely, just like hitting a stone with an egg, and he was invincible." Kong Ming sternly said, "Xue Jingwen came up with this words of no father and no ruler! Your wife was born in heaven and earth, and loyalty and filial piety are the foundation of her life. As a Han minister, if you see anyone who does not obey, you will swear to kill them together: the way of the ministers. Today, Cao Cao's ancestors eat Han's wealth without thinking about it. To repay the debt and harbor the desire for usurpation and rebellion is the common anger of the world. The heavens are rewarded by the number of days, and it is truly a person without a father or ruler! Words are not enough! Please do not speak again!" Xue Zong blushed and could not answer. Another person sitting in the seat answered and asked, "Although Cao Cao used the emperor to command the princes, he was still after the prime minister Cao Can. Although Liu Yuzhou mentioned the Miao descendants of Prince Jing of Zhongshan, there is no evidence to verify. Seeing that he was only a man who weaves mats and sells goods, how could he resist Cao Cao?" Kong Ming regarded him as Lu Ji. Kong Ming smiled and said, "Is it not the land lord who is holding oranges between the seats of Yuan Shu? Please sit down and listen to me: after Cao Cao became the Prime Minister of Cao, he became a Han official in the world; now he is monopolizing power and bullying the emperor's father. He is not only a ruler without a ruler, but also a traitor to his ancestors. He is not only a chaotic minister of the Han dynasty, but also a thief of the Cao family. Liu Yuzhou is a proud emperor, and the current emperor is granted a title according to the genealogy. Why is there no evidence to verify? Moreover, Gao Zu stands up and the pavilion is long, and there will eventually be a world; weaving mats and selling clothes is not enough to be an insult? From the perspective of the public and children, it is not enough to speak with the high officials!" Lu Ji was speechless. The sentence is:.

The person sitting on the seat suddenly said, "What Kong Ming said is all unreasonable and not a correct argument. There is no need to say it again. May I ask what classic works Kong Mingzhi has?" Kong Ming looked at it harshly. Kong Ming said, "Searching for chapters and excerpts, how can a corrupt scholar in the world prosper and establish a country? Moreover, ancient cultivators such as Shen Yi Yin, fishing for Wei Zi Ya, Zhang Liang, Chen Ping, and others like Deng Yu and Geng Yan all have the talent to support the universe. They have not yet examined the classics of their lives. How can they also be like scholars, just counting black and yellow, and dancing with ink between pens and inkstones?" With a stern and dejected expression, he could not respond.

Suddenly, another person shouted loudly, "Gong Hao is a great speaker, but may not necessarily have practical knowledge. He is afraid to be laughed at by Confucian scholars." Kong Ming regarded him as Cheng Deshu from Runan. Kong Ming replied, "There is a distinction between a gentleman and a petty person in Confucianism. A gentleman's Confucianism is loyal to the emperor and loves the country, upholds righteousness and evil, and strives to bring good to the times, leaving a name for future generations. If a petty person's Confucianism only focuses on carving insects, specializes in calligraphy, writes poems in youth, and has a bright head and poor scriptures; although there are thousands of words in his writings, he has no strategy in his heart. And if Yang Xiong is famous for his writings, but bends his body and acts recklessly, he will inevitably throw himself into the pavilion and die. This so-called petty person's Confucianism; even if he writes ten thousand words every day, how can it be obtained!" Cheng Deshu cannot agree. Everyone turned pale when they saw Kong Ming answering fluently. At that moment, Zhang Wen and Luo Tong were about to ask questions. Suddenly, a person entered from outside and sternly said, "Kong Ming is a genius in this world. Your words and mouth are difficult to understand, and it is not a proper etiquette to respect guests. When Cao Cao's army approached the border, they did not think of a strategy to retreat from the enemy, but only engaged in verbal battles!" Everyone saw him as a native of Lingling, with the surname Huang, the given name Gai, the courtesy name Gongfu, and currently serving as a grain official in Eastern Wu. At that time, Huang Gai said to Kong Ming, "It's better to remain silent than to benefit from hearing too many words. Why don't we take the discussion of gold and stone as our main topic and debate with everyone?" Kong Ming said, "You are ignorant of worldly affairs and ask each other questions, and cannot help but answer." So Huang Gai and Lu Su introduced Kong Ming into the conversation. At the middle gate, I met Zhuge Jin and Kong Ming saluted. Jin said, "Since you have arrived in Jiangdong, why didn't you come to see me. Lu Su said, "As instructed by Shi Jian, there must be no mistakes." Kong Ming nodded in agreement. Leading to the hall, Sun Quan lowered his rank and greeted him with courtesy. After the ceremony is completed, Kong Ming will be granted a seat. The civil and military stand in two lines. Lu Su stood beside Kong Ming, watching him speak. Kong Ming's intention to convey Xuande was completed, and he sneaked a glance at Sun Quan: blue eyes and purple beard, a distinguished figure. Kong Ming thought to himself, "This person has a very good appearance and can only be provoked, not spoken. When he asks, use words to provoke him." After offering tea, Sun Quan said, "I have heard that Lu Zijing talked about his talent, and now I am fortunate to meet him and dare to seek guidance." Kong Ming said, "Without talent and learning, it is shameful for Ming to ask." Quan said, "With your feet close to Xinye, I will assist Liu Yuzhou in a decisive battle with Cao Cao, and you will know the strength and weakness of his army. The cavalry and navy have about one million soldiers," Quan said. "Is it a fraud?" Kong Ming said, "It's not a fraud. Cao Cao already had two hundred thousand soldiers in Qingzhou, and after pacifying Yuan Shao, he gained five to six hundred thousand more. He also recruited three to four hundred thousand new soldiers from the Central Plains; Now we have an army of two to three hundred thousand in Jingzhou, which amounts to no less than 1.5 million. With a million words, I fear to startle the scholars of Jiangdong. ”Lu Su stood beside him, lost his composure at the words, and turned his gaze to Kong Ming; Kong Ming can only do without seeing. Quan said, "How many generals are there under Cao Cao?" Kong Ming said, "There are more than one or two thousand wise and resourceful soldiers who are accustomed to warfare." Quan said, "Now that Cao Cao has pacified Jing and Chu, do we have distant plans again? Due to the chaos, the general rose up in Jiangdong, and Liu Yuzhou recruited many Han Nan troops to compete with Cao Cao for the world. Today, Cao Cao has overcome the great difficulty and has slightly calmed down. He has also recently defeated Jingzhou, which is powerful in the sea. Even if there are heroes, there is no place for military force. Therefore, Yuzhou fled here. May the general handle it according to his abilities: if he can confront China with the forces of Wu and Yue, it would be better to cut them off early; If it cannot, why not follow the advice of the strategists and act in accordance with the principles of the north? ”Right not yet answered. Kong Ming once again said, "General, under the guise of obedience, there are two doubts within. The situation is urgent and continuous, and the disaster will last forever!" Quan said, "As you said, why don't Liu Yuzhou surrender?" Kong Ming said, "In the past, the fields were horizontal, and the brave soldiers of Qi still upheld their righteousness and did not insult them. As for the royal family of Liu Yuzhou, their talents were unparalleled, and all the scholars admired them. This is the fate of the situation. They are able to bow down to the people with ease!" Upon hearing Kong Ming's words, Sun Quan suddenly changed his color, brushed his clothes, and retreated into the back hall. Everyone laughed and dispersed. Lu Su scolded Kong Ming, saying, "Sir, why did you say such a thing? Fortunately, my lord is broad and generous, and he doesn't blame me in person. Your words are very disrespectful to my lord." Kong Ming looked up and smiled, saying, "Why can't we tolerate things like this! I have my own plan to defeat Cao, and he doesn't ask me, so I won't speak." Su said, "If you have a good plan, Su should ask for your advice." Kong Ming said, "I see Cao Cao's million followers, like a swarm of ants! But when I raise my hand, they are all crushed powder!" Su heard these words and went to the back hall to see Sun Quan. Quan's anger did not subside, and Gu said to Su, "Kong Ming bullied me too much!" Su said, "I also blamed Kong Ming for this. Kong Ming laughed at my lord for not being able to tolerate things. The strategy of defeating Cao Cao was not easy for Kong Ming, so why didn't my lord seek it?" Quan retorted with anger and joy, saying, "So Kong Ming has a good plan, so he provoked me with words. I had a shallow understanding for a moment and made a few mistakes." He then repeated with Lu Su and asked Kong Ming to speak again. Quan saw Kong Ming and thanked him, saying, "It's appropriate to offend your dignity. Fortunately, I won't be held accountable." Kong Ming also thanked him, saying, "If you offend me with your words, please forgive me." Quan invited Kong Ming into the back hall and treated him with wine.

After several rounds, Quan said, "Those who Cao Cao had always despised in his life: Lu Bu, Liu Biao, Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Yuzhou, and Gu Er. Now that several heroes have been defeated, only Yuzhou and Gu still exist. Gu cannot be controlled by others over the entire Wu territory. I have made up my mind. Without Liu Yuzhou, there is no one like Cao Cao; but after the new defeat of Yuzhou, is it difficult to resist this?" Kong Ming said, "Although Yuzhou has been defeated again, Guan Yunchang still leads ten thousand elite soldiers; Liu Qi leads the soldiers of Jiangxia, but not less than ten thousand. Cao Cao's army is exhausted from afar; when chasing Yuzhou, he lightly rides for three hundred miles in a day and night. As the saying goes, at the end of a strong crossbow, those who cannot penetrate the Lu dynasty's borders are not capable. Moreover, people in the north are not familiar with water warfare. Those who are loyal to the military in Jingzhou are not motivated by the situation. Now, General Cheng can work together with Yuzhou to defeat the Cao army. If the Cao army is defeated, they will return to the north, and the power of Jing and Wu will be strong, forming a strong and powerful force. The opportunity for success or failure lies in today. Only the general will dismiss it. ”Quan Dayue said, "Sir's words have cleared the way. My decision has been made, and there is no doubt about it. Let's discuss and launch an attack today to defeat Cao Cao together!" He then ordered Lu Su to convey this message to the civil and military officials, and sent Kong Ming to rest at the inn. Zhang Zhao knew that Sun Quan wanted to raise an army, so he discussed with the crowd and said, "I fell for Kong Ming's plan!" He urgently went to see Quan and said, "Zhao and others heard that our lord will raise an army to compete with Cao Cao. What does our lord think of himself as compared to Yuan Shao? Cao Cao has only a few soldiers to the Japanese, but he can still defeat Yuan Shao with one drum. Besides, today he has a million strong army marching south, how can he underestimate the enemy? If we listen to Zhuge Liang's words and rashly use armor, it would be like putting out a fire with pay." Sun Quan only lowered his head and remained silent. Gu Yong said, "Liu Bei was defeated by Cao Cao, so he wanted to use our troops in Jiangdong to resist him. How could our lord use them? I am willing to listen to Zi Bu's words." Sun Quan remained silent and undecided. Zhang Zhao and others went out, and Lu Su came in and said, "It is appropriate for Zhang Zibu and others to advise the lord to cease military action and strongly advocate for surrender. These are all ministers who protect their wives with all their bodies, and they are plotting for themselves. The original lord should not listen." Sun Quan was still pondering. Su said, "If the lord hesitates, it will be a mistake for everyone." Quan said, "Your Highness, please leave for now. Let me think twice." Su withdrew. Military commanders or those who are about to fight, civil officials are all going to surrender, and there are divergent opinions. Let's talk about Sun Quan retreating into the inner house, restless and indecisive. Wu Guotai saw this and asked, "What's in your heart? Are you tired of sleep and food?" Quan replied, "Now that Cao Cao is stationed in Jianghan, he has the intention of going down to Jiangnan. Ask all the civil and military officials whether they want to surrender or fight. If they want to wait for the battle to come, they may be outnumbered; if they want to surrender, they may fear Cao Cao will not allow it, so they hesitate." Wu Guotai said, "Why don't you remember my sister's dying words?" Sun Quan woke up drunk, like a dream, and came up with this sentence. It is precisely: Remembering the dying words of the mother country that inspired Zhou Lang to make military achievements. After all, it's a big deal, let's break it down in the following text.