Читаем Three Kingdoms Romance полностью

The battle at the Red Cliffs made him famous;

Though young in years he gained a veteran's reputation.

Deep feeling, his music declared its intensity;

Subtle, with excess hospitality he foiled a plot;

Persuasive, he obtained a large gift of grain from Lu Su;

Capable, he led an army of millions.

Baqiu was his deathbed, there his fate met him.

Sadly indeed they mourned him.

After his death his generals sent his dying memorial to the Marquis of Wu, who was most deeply affected and wept aloud at the sad tidings of his death. When Sun Quan opened the letters, he saw that Lu Su was named as the dead general's successor, This is the letter:

“Possessing but ordinary abilities, there was no reason why I should have been the recipient of your confidence and

high office, but I have not spared myself in the leadership of the great army under my command that thereby I might prove my gratitude. Yet none can measure life and the number of our days is ordained by fate. Before I could achieve even my poor intentions, my feeble body has failed me. I regret it without measure. I die with Cao Cao threatening and our northern borders disturbed, and with Liu Bei in your family as though you were feeding a fierce tiger. None can foretell the fate of the empire in these nervous days of stress and of peculiar anxiety for you.

“Lu Su is most loyal, careful in all matters and a fitting man to succeed to my office. When a person is near death, his words are wise; and if I may haply retain your regard, I may die but I shall not decay.”

“Zhou Yu should have been a king's counselor,” cried Sun Quan, amid his tears. “He has left me alas! too soon, and whom have I to lean upon? But he recommends Lu Su, and I can do nothing better than take that advice.”

Whereupon Sun Quan appointed Lu Su to the vacant command, Commandership-in-Chief. Sun Quan also saw that the coffin of his beloved general was sent to Chaisang ready for the funeral sacrifices.

The night of Zhou Yu's death, Zhuge Liang was gazing up at the heavens when he saw a star of a general fall to the earth.

“Zhou Yu is dead,” said he with a smile.

At dawn he sent to tell Liu Bei, who sent people to find out, and they came back to say it was true Zhou Yu had died.

“Now that this has come to pass, what should we do?” said Liu Bei.

“Lu Su will succeed,” said Zhuge Liang. “And I see in the heavens signs of an assembly of generals in the southeast, so I shall go there. The mourning for Zhou Yu will serve as a pretext. I may find some able leaders there to be of help to you.”

“I am afraid lest the generals of the South Land harm you,” said Liu Bei.

“While Zhou Yu lived, I did not fear; is there anything to dread now that he is gone?”

However, Zhuge Liang took Zhao Yun as commander of his escort when he embarked for Baqiu, and on the road he heard of Lu Su's succession to the late general's post. As the coffin of Zhou Yu had been sent to Chaisang, Zhuge Liang continued his journey thither and, on landing, was kindly received by Lu Su. The officers of the South Land did not conceal their enmity, but the sight of the redoubtable Zhao Yun, always close at hand, kept them from trying to hurt Zhuge Liang.

The officers brought by Zhuge Liang were arranged in order before the bier, and he himself poured the libation. Then he knelt and read this threnody:

“Alas, Zhou Yu! Hapless are you in your early death. Length of days is in the hands of God, yet do humans suffer

and my heart is deeply grieved for you. I pour this libation that your spirit may enjoy its fragrance.

“I lament you. I lament your younger days passed in the companionship of Sun Ce, when, preferring eternal principles to material wealth, you abode in a humble cottage.