English Story

诸葛亮吊孝

This is a story from Three Kingdoms. Zhou Yu, chief commander of Wu, was talented and proficient in strategies and tactics but was narrow-minded and intolerant of others. He discussed with Zhuge Liang plans to conquer Cao Cao while simultaneously pondering how to murder Zhuge Liang. Zhou Yu had been wounded by a poisonous arrow when he was attacking Nanjun. Zhou's wound burst when he learned that Zhuge Liang had already taken over Nanjun, Jingzhou and Xiangyang. Zhou Yu, with a healing wound, racked(折磨,榨取) his brains for ways to capture Jingzhou. His strategies, however, were all seen through by Zhuge Liang who even sent him a mocking message. Zhou Yu was vexed again. "Since You(the Heaven) made me, Zhou Yu, why did You make Zhuge Liang too?" Zhou Yu grudgingly(勉强地) asked before he took his last breath.

Learning of Zhou Yu's demise, Zhuge Liang decided to go to pay respects. Fearing that Zhuge Liang might be murdered, Liu Bei send Zhao Yun with 500 warriors to protect him. Before Zhou Yu's coffin, Zhuge Liang personally offered libation(奠酒) , kneeled on the ground, and read his eulogy. Tears of grief gushed forth from Zhuge Liang. All the generals from Wu were moved. When Lu Su saw Zhuge Liang was in such grievance, he said to himself, “Zhou Liang was narrow-minded and he brought on his own death.”