out；　〃Why　do　you　not　make　an　obeisance？〃

Deng　Zhi　replied；　〃The　envoy　of　the　superior　state　does　not　make　an　obeisance　to　the　ruler　of　a　smaller　country。〃

〃If　you　do　not　control　that　tongue　of　yours；　but　will　let　it　wag；　you　will　be　like　that　fellow　Li　Yiji　who　went　to　talk　to　Qi。　You　will　soon　find　yourself　in　the　cauldron。〃

Then　Deng　Zhi　laughed　aloud；　saying；　〃People　say　there　are　many　sages　in　Wu。　No　one　would　believe　that　they　would　be　frightened　of　a　simple　scholar。〃

This　reply　only　increased　Sun　Quan's　anger；　and　he　said；　〃Who　fears　an　unmerited　fool　like　you？〃

〃If　you　fear　not　the　envoy；　why　so　anxious　about　what　he　may　have　to　say？〃

〃Because　you　e　here　as　spokesman　of　Zhuge　Liang；　and　you　want　me　to　sever　with　Wei　and　turn　to　your　country。　Is　not　that　your　message？〃

〃I　am　a　simple　scholar　of　Shu；　and　I　am　e　to　explain　matters　to　the　state　of　Wu。　But　here　I　find　armed　guards　and　a　boiling　cauldron　all　prepared　against　an　envoy。　How　can　I　form　any　other　opinion　than　that　you　will　not　allow　me　to　speak？〃

As　soon　as　Sun　Quan　heard　these　words；　he　bade　the　soldiers　go；　and　called　the　envoy　into　the　hall。

There　he　invited　Deng　Zhi　to　a　seat　and　said；　〃What　is　the　real　matter　between　Wei　and　Wu？　I　desire　that　you　would　inform　me。〃

Then　Deng　Zhi　replied；　〃Do　you；　great　Prince；　desire　to　discuss　peace　with　Wei　or　with　Shu？〃

〃I　really　desire　to　discuss　peace　with　the　Ruler　of　Shu。　But　he　is　young　and　inexperienced　and　ignorant；　and　unable　to　carry　a　matter　through。〃

〃Prince；　you　are　a　valiant　warrior；　just　as　Zhuge　Liang　is　a　great　minister。　Now　Shu　has　the　strength　of　its　mountainous　geography　just　as　Wu　has　the　protection　of　its　three　rivers。　If　these　two　countries　are　at　peace；　they　ar