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e　view　stretched　wide　on　every　side。
Cao　Cao's　heart　was　jubilant；　and　he　harangued　the　assembly；　saying；　〃My　one　aim　since　I　enlisted　my　first　small　band　of　volunteers　has　been　the　removal　of　evil　from　the　state；　and　I　have　sworn　to　cleanse　the　country　and　restore　tranquillity。　Now　there　is　only　left　this　land　of　the　south　to　withstand　me。　I　am　at　the　head　of　a　hundred　legions。　I　depend　upon　you；　gentlemen；　and　have　no　doubt　of　my　final　success。　After　I　have　subdued　the　South　Land；　there　will　be　no　trouble　in　all　the　country。　Then　we　shall　enjoy　wealth　and　honor　and　revel　in　peace。〃
They　rose　in　a　body　and　expressed　their　appreciation；　saying；　〃We　trust　that　you　may　soon　report　plete　victory；　and　we　shall　all　repose　in　the　shade　of　your　good　fortune。〃
In　his　elation；　Cao　Cao　bade　the　servants　bring　more　wine　and　they　drank　till　late　at　night。
Warmed　and　mellowed；　the　host　pointed　to　the　south　bank；　saying；　〃Zhou　Yu　and　Lu　Su　know　not　the　appointed　time。　Heaven　is　aiding　me　bringing　upon　them　the　misfortune　of　the　desertion　of　their　most　trusted　friends。〃
〃O　Prime　Minister；　say　nothing　of　these　things　lest　they　bee　known　to　the　enemy；〃　said　Xun　You。
But　the　Prime　Minister　only　laughed。
〃You　are　all　my　trusty　friends；〃　said　he；　〃both　officers　and　humble　attendants。　Why　should　I　refrain？〃
Pointing　to　Xiakou；　he　continued；　〃You　do　not　reckon　for　much　with　your　puny　force；　Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang。　How　foolish　of　you　to　attempt　to　shake　the　Taishan　Mountains！〃
Then　turning　to　his　officers；　he　said；　〃I　am　now　fifty…four；　and　if　I　get　the　South　Land；　I　shall　have　the　wherewithal　to　rejoice。　In　the　days　of　long　ago；　the　Patriarch　Duke　Qiao　in　the　south　and　I　were　great　friends；　and　we　came　to　an　agreement　on　certain　matters；　for　I　knew　his　two　daughters………Elder　Qiao　and　Younger　Qiao………were　lovely　beyond　words。　Then　by　some　means；　they　became　wives　to　Sun　Ce　and　Zhou　Yu。　But　now　my　palace　of　rest　is　built　on　the　River　Zhang；　and　victory　over　the　South　Land　will　mean　that　I　marry　these　two　fair　women。　I　will　put　them　in　the　Bronze　Bird　Tower；　and　they　shall　rejoice　my　declining　years。　My　desires　will　then　be　pletely　attained。〃
He　smiled　at　the　anticipation。
Du　Mu；　a　famous　poet　of　the　Tang　Dynasty；　in　one　poem　says：

A　broken　halberd　buried　in　the　sand；
With　deep　rust　eaten；
Loud　tells　of　ancient　battles　on　the　strand；
When　Cao　Cao　was　beaten。
Had　eastern　winds　Zhou　Yu's　plan　refused　to　aid
And　fan　the　blaze；
The　two　fair　Qiaos；　in　the　Bronze　Bird's　shade；
Would　have　been　locked　at　spring　age。

But　suddenly　amid　the　merriment　was　heard　the　hoarse　cry　of　a　raven　flying　toward　the　south。
〃Why　does　the　raven　thus　cry　in　the　night？〃　said　Cao　Cao　to　those　about　him。

＇e＇　The　moon　of　the　south　is　very　beautiful。　Those　who　visit　the　south　seem　to　say　the　moon　there　is　brighter　than　anywhere　else。
〃The　moon　is　so　bright　that　it　thinks　it　is　day*；〃　said　they；　〃and　so　it　leaves　its　tree。〃
Cao　Cao　laughed。　By　this　time　he　was　quite　intoxicated。　He　set　up　his　spear　in　the　prow　of　the　ship　and　poured　a　libation　into　the　river　and　then　drank　three　brimming　goblets。
As　he　lowered　the　spear；　he　said；　〃This　is　the　spear　that　broke　up　the　Yellow　Scarves；　captured　Lu　Bu；　destroyed　Yuan　Shao；　and　subdued　Yuan　Shu；　whose　armies　are　now　mine。　In　the　north　it　reached　to　Liaodong；　and　it　stretched　out　over　the　whole　south。　It　has　never　failed　in　its　task。　The　present　scene　moves　me　to　the　depths；　and　I　will　sing　a　song　in　which　you　shall　acpany　me。〃
And　so　he　sang：

〃When　goblets　are　brimming　then　sang　is　near　birth；
But　life　is　full　short　and　has　few　days　of　mirth；
Life　goes　as　the　dew　drops　fly　swiftly　away；
Beneath　the　glance　of　the　glowing　hot　ruler　of　day。
Human's　life　may　be　spent　in　the　noblest　enterprise；
But　sorrowful　thoughts　in　his　heart　oft　arise。
Let　us　wash　clean　away　the　sad　thoughts　that　intrude；
With　bumpers　of　wine　such　as　Du　Kang　once　brewed。
Gone　is　my　day　of　youthful　fire
And　still　ungained　is　my　desire。
The　deer　feed　on　the　level　plain
And　joyful　call；　then　feed　again。
My　noble　guests　are　gathered　round。
The　air　is　trilled　with　joyful　sound。
Bright　my　future　lies　before　me。
As　the　moonlight　on　this　plain；
But　I　strive　in　vain　to　reach　it。
When　shall　I　my　wish　attain？
None　can　answer；　and　so　sadness
Grips　my　inmost　heart　again。
Far　north　and　south；
Wide　east　and　west；
We　safety　seek；
Vain　is　the　quest。
Human's　heart　oft　yearns
For　converse　sweet。
And　my　heart　burns
When　old　friends　greet。
The　stars　are　paled　by　the　full　moon's　light；
The　raven　wings　his　southward　flight。
And　thrice　he　circles　round　a　tree；
No　place　thereon　to　rest　finds　he。
They　weary　not　the　mountains　of　great　height；
The　waters　deep　of　depth　do　not　plain；
Duke　Zhou　no　leisure　found　by　day　or　night
Stern　toil　is　his　who　would　the　empire　gain。〃

The　song　made　they　sang　it　with　him　and　were　all　exceedingly　merry；　save　one　guest　who　suddenly　said；　〃When　the　great　army　is　on　the　point　of　battle　and　lives　are　about　to　be　risked；　why　do　you；　O　Prime　Minister；　speak　such　ill　words？〃
Cao　Cao　turned　quickly　toward　the　speaker；　who　was　Liu　Fu；　Imperial　Protector　of　Yangzhou。　This　Liu　Fu　sprang　from　Hefei。　When　first　appointed　to　his　post；　he　had　gathered　in　the　terrified　and　frightened　people　and　restored　order。　He　had　founded　schools　and　encouraged　the　people　to　till　the　land。　He　had　long　served　under　Cao　Cao　and　rendered　valuable　service。
When　Liu　Fu　spoke；　Cao　Cao　dropped　his　spear　to　the　level　and　said；　〃What　ill…omened　words　did　I　use？〃
〃You　spoke　of　the　moon　paling　the　stars　and　the　raven　flying　southward　without　finding　a　resting　place。　These　are　ill…omened　words。〃
〃How　dare　you　try　to　belittle　my　endeavor？〃　cried　Cao　Cao；　very　wrathful。　And　with　that　he　smote　Liu　Fu　with　his　spear　and　slew　him。
The　assembly　broke　up；　and　the　guests　dispersed　in　fear　and　confusion。　Next　day；　when　Cao　Cao　had　recovered　from　his　drunken　bout；　he　was　very　grieved　at　what　he　had　done。　When　the　murdered　man's　son；　Liu　Xi；　came　to　crave　the　body　of　his　father　for　burial；　Cao　Cao　wept　and　expressed　his　sorrow。
〃I　am　guilty　of　your　father's　death。　I　was　drunk　yesterday。　I　regret　the　deed　exceedingly。　Your　father　shall　be　interred　with　the　honors　of　a　minister　of　the　highest　rank。〃
Cao　Cao　sent　an　escort　of　soldiers　to　take　the　body　to　the　homeland　for　burial。
A　few　days　after；　the　two　leaders　of　the　naval　force；　Mao　Jie　and　Yu　Jin；　came　to　say　the　ships　were　all　connected　together　by　chains　as　had　been　ordered；　and　all　was　now　ready。　They　asked　for　the　mand　to　start。
Thereupon　the　leaders　of　both　land　and　naval　forces　were　assembled　on　board　a　large　ship　in　the　center　of　the　squadron　to　receive　orders。　The　various　armies　and　squadrons　were　distinguished　by　different　flags：　Mao　Jie　and　Yu　Jin　led　the　central　naval　squadron　with　yellow　flag；　Zhang　He；　the　leading　squadron；　red　flag；　Lu　Qian；　the　rear　squadron；　black　flag；　Wen　Ping；　the　left　squadron；　blue　flag；　and　Li　Tong；　the　right　squadron；　white　flag。　On　shore　Xu　Huang　manded　the　horsemen　with　red　flag；　Li　Dian；　the　vanguard；　black　flag；　Yue　Jing；　the　left　wing；　blue　flag；　and　Xiahou　Yuan；　the　right　wing；　white　flag。　Xiahou　Dun　and　Cao　Hong　were　in　reserve；　and　the　general　staff　was　under　the　leadership　of　Xu　Chu　and　Zhang　Liao。　The　other　leaders　were　ordered　to　remain　in　camps；　but　ready　for　action。
All　being　ready；　the　squadron　drums　beat　the　roll　thrice；　and　the　ships　sailed　out　under　a　strong　northwest　wind　on　a　trial　cruise。　When　they　got　among　the　waves；　they　were　found　to　be　as　steady　and　immovable　as　the　dry　land　itself。　The　northern　soldiers　showed　their　delight　at　the　absence　of　motion　by　capering　and　flourishing　their　weapons。　The　ships　moved　on；　the　squadrons　keeping　quite　distinct。　Fifty　light　cruisers　sailed　to　and　fro　keeping　order　and　urging　progress。
Cao　Cao　watched　his　navy　from　the　mand　Terrace　and　was　delighted　with　their　evolutions　and　maneuvers。　Surely　this　meant　plete　victory。　He　ordered　the　recall　and　the　squadrons　returned　in　perfect　order　to　their　base。
Then　Cao　Cao　went　to　his　tent　and　summoned　his　advisers。
He　said；　〃If　Heaven　had　not　been　on　my　side；　should　I　have　got　this　excellent　plan　from　the　Young　Phoenix？　Now　that　the　ships　are　attached　firmly　to　each　other；　one　may　traverse　the　river　as　easily　as　walking　on　firm　earth。〃
〃The　ships　are　firmly　attached　to　each　other；〃　said　Cheng　Yu；　〃but　you　should　be　prepared　for　an　attack　by　fire　so　that　they　can　scatter　to　avoid　it。〃
The　General　laughed。
〃You　look　a　long　way　ahead；〃　said　he；　〃but　you　see　what　cannot　happen。〃
〃Cheng　Yu　speaks　much　to　the　point；〃　said　Xun　You。　〃Why　do　you　laugh　at　him？〃
Cao　Cao　said；　〃Anyone　using　fire　depends　upon　the　wind。　This　is　now　winter　and　only　west　winds　blow。　You　will　get　neither　east　nor　south　winds。　I　am　on　the　northwest；　and　the　enemy　is　on　the　southeast　bank。　If　they　use　fire；　they　will　destroy　themselves。　I　have　nothing　to　fear。　If　it　was　the　tenth　moon；　or　early　spring；　I　would　provide　against　fire。〃
〃The　Prime　Minister　is　indeed　wise；〃　said　the　others　in　chorus。　〃None　can　equal　him。〃
〃With　northern　troops　unused　to　shipboard；　I　could　never　have　crossed　the　river　but　for　this　chaining　plan；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
Then　he　saw　two　of　the　secondary　leaders　stand　up；　and　they　said；　〃We　are　from　the　north；　but　we　are　also　sailors。　Pray　give　us　a　small　squadron；　and　we　will　seize　some　of　the　enemy's　flags　and　drums　for　you　that　we　may　prove　ourselves　adepts　on　the　water。〃
The　speakers　were　two　men　who　had　served　under　Yuan　Shao；　named　Jiao　Chu　and　Zhang　Neng。
〃I　do　not　think　naval　work　would　suit　you　two；　born　and　brought　up　in　the　north；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃The　southern　soldiers　are　thoroughly　accustomed　to　ships。　You　should　not　regard　your　lives　as　a　child's　plaything。〃
They　cried；　〃If　we　fail；　treat　us　according　to　army　laws！〃
〃The　fighting　ships　are　all　chained　together；　there　are　only　small；　twenty…men　boats　free。　They　are　unsuitable　for　fighting。〃
〃If　we　took　large　ships；　where　would　be　the　wonderful　in　what　we　will　do？　No；　give　us　a　score　of　the　small　ships；　and　we　will　take　half　each　and　go　straight　to　the　enemy's　naval　port。　We　will　just　seize　a　flag；　slay　a　leader；　and　e　home。〃
〃I　will　let　you　have　the　twenty　ships　and　five　hundred　of　good；　vigorous　marines　with　long　spears　and　stiff　crossbows。　Early　tomorrow　the　main　fleet　shall　make　a　demonstration　on　the　river；　and　I　will　also　tell　Wen　Ping　to　support　you　with　thirty　ships。〃
The　two　men　retired　greatly　elated。
Next　morning；　very　early；　food　was　prepared；　and　at　the　fifth　watch　all　was　ready　for　a　start。　Then　from　the　naval　camp　rolled　out　the　drums　and　the　gongs　clanged；　as　the　ships　moved　out　and　took　up　their　positions；　the　various　flags　fluttering　in　the　morning　breeze。　And　the　two　intrepid　leaders　with　their　squadron　of　small　scouting　boats　went　down　the　lines　and　out　into　the　stream。
Now　a　few　days　before　the　sound　of　Cao　Cao's　drums　had　been　heard　on　the　southern　bank；　Zhou　Yu　had　watched　the　maneuvers　of　the　northern　fleet　on　the　open　river　from　the　top　of　a　hill　till　the　fleet　had　gone　in　again。　So　when　the　sound　of　drums　was　again　heard；　all　the　southern　army　went　up　the　hills　to　watch　the　northern　fleet。　All　they　saw　was　a　squadron　of　small　ships　bounding　over　the　waves。
As　the　northern　fleet　came　nearer；　the　news　was　taken　to　Zhou　Yu　who　called　for　volunteers　to　go　out　against　them。　Han　Dang　and　Zhou　Tai　offered　themselves。　They　were　accepted　and　orders　were　issued　to　the　camps　to　remain　ready　for　action　but　not　to　move　till　told。
Han　Dang　and　Zhou　Tai　sailed　out　each　with　a　small　squadron　of　five　ships　in　line。
The　two　braggarts　from　the　north；　Jiao　Chu　and　Zhang　Neng；　really　only　trusted　to　their　boldness　and　luck。　Their　ships　came　down　under　the　powerful　strokes　of　the　oars。　As　they　neared；　the　two　leaders　put　on　their　heart…protectors；　gripped　their　spears；　and　each　took　his　station　in　the　prow　of　the　leading　ship　of　his　division。　Jiao　Chu's　ship　led　and　as　soon　as　he　came　near　enough；　his　troops　began　to　shoot　at　Han　Dang；　who　fended　off　the　arrows　with　his　buckler。　Jiao　Chu　twirled　his　long　spear　as　he　engaged　his　opponent。　But；　at　the　first　thrust；　he　was　killed。
His　rade　Zhang　Neng　with　the　other　ships　was　ing　up　with　great　shouts；　when　Zhou　Tai　sailed　up　at　an　angle；　and　these　two　squadron