Zhuge Liang's Diplomatic Mission To Jiangdong
Zhuge Liang went to Jiangdong on a diplomatic mission to discuss the formation of an alliance between Liu Bei and Sun Quan to counter Cao Cao. Lu Su first introduced Zhuge Liang to the civil officials and scholars under Sun Quan, who mostly advocated surrender to Cao Cao. In a subsequent debate, Zhuge Liang manage to silence all those who challenged him through his eloquent responses to their queries and comments, as well as insults and taunts. Among those who challenged Zhuge Liang include Zhang Zhao, Yu Fan, Bu Zhi, Xue Zong, Lu Ji (陸績), Yan Jun and Cheng Bing. Zhang Wen and Luo Tong also wanted to challenge Zhuge Liang, but Huang Gai arrived and stopped the debate.
Subsequently, Lu Su introduced Zhuge Liang to Sun Quan's viceroy Zhou Yu. Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu had a conversation in the latter's house, with Lu Su present as well. Zhuge Liang said that he had a plan to make Cao Cao to retreat without a war - send Cao Cao the Two Qiaos. He also pretended that he did not know who the Qiao sisters were married to. When Zhou Yu asked Zhuge Liang for evidence that Cao Cao was after the Two Qiaos, Zhuge said he heard that Cao Cao asked his son Cao Zhi to write a poem titled Ode to the Bronze Sparrow Platform (銅雀臺賦). Zhuge Liang then recited the poem and pointed out that Cao Cao's desire to take the Qiaos for himself was evident in the poem. Zhou Yu was enraged and he hardened his decision to ally with Liu Bei and fight Cao Cao.
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