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　spit；　and　Zhuge　Liang　was　seen　to　go　on　board。　Then　the　boat　went　up　river。〃
So　Xu　Sheng　and　Ding　Feng　divided　their　party　into　two；　one　to　go　by　water；　the　other　by　land。
Xu　Sheng　bade　his　boatmen　put　on　all　sail　and　take　every　advantage　of　the　wind。　Before　very　long　he　saw　the　fugitive's　boat　ahead；　and　when　near　enough；　stood　in　the　prow　of　his　own　and　shouted；　〃Do　not　flee；　O　Instructor　of　the　Army！　The　General　requests　your　presence。〃
Zhuge　Liang；　who　was　seated　in　the　stern　of　his　boat；　just　laughed　aloud；　saying；　〃Return　and　tell　the　General　to　make　good　use　of　his　soldiers。　Tell　him　I　am　going　up　river　for　a　spell　and　will　see　him　again　another　day。〃
〃Pray　wait　a　little　while；〃　cried　Xu　Sheng。　〃I　have　something　most　important　to　tell　you！〃
〃I　knew　all　about　it；　that　Zhou　Yu　would　not　let　me　go　and　that　he　wanted　to　kill　me。　That　is　why　Zhao　Yun　was　waiting　for　me。　You　had　better　not　approach　nearer。〃
Seeing　the　other　ship　had　no　sail；　Xu　Sheng　thought　he　would　assuredly　e　up　with　it　and　so　maintained　the　pursuit。
Then　when　he　got　too　close；　Zhao　Yun　fitted　an　arrow　to　the　bowstring　and；　standing　up　in　the　stern　of　his　boat；　cried；　〃You　know　who　I　am；　and　I　came　expressly　to　escort　the　Directing　Instructor。　Why　are　you　pursuing　him？　One　arrow　would　kill　you；　only　that　would　cause　a　breach　of　the　peace　between　two　houses。　I　will　shoot　and　just　give　you　a　specimen　of　my　skill。〃
With　that　he　shot；　and　the　arrow　whizzed　overhead　cutting　the　rope　that　held　up　the　sail。　Down　came　the　sail　trailing　in　the　water　and　the　boat　swung　round。　Then　Zhao　Yun's　boat　hoisted　its　sail；　and　the　fair　wind　speedily　carried　it　out　of　sight。
On　the　bank　stood　Ding　Feng。　He　bade　his　rade　e　to　the　shore　and　said；　〃Zhuge　Liang　is　too　clever　for　anyone；　and　Zhao　Yun　is　bravest　of　the　brave。　You　remember　what　he　did　at　Dangyang；　at　the　Long　Slope　Bridge。　All　we　can　do　is　to　return　and　report。〃
So　they　returned　to　camp　and　told　their　master　about　the　preparations　that　Zhuge　Liang　had　made　to　ensure　safety。　Zhou　Yu　was　indeed　puzzled　at　the　depth　of　his　rival's　insight。
〃I　shall　have　no　peace　day　or　night　while　he　lives；〃　said　Zhou　Yu。
〃At　least　wait　till　Cao　Cao　is　done　with；〃　said　Lu　Su。
And　Zhou　Yu　knew　Lu　Su　spoke　wisely。
Having　summoned　the　leaders　to　receive　orders；　first　Zhou　Yu　gave　orders　to　Gan　Ning：　〃Take　with　you　the　false　deserter　Cai　Zhong　and　his　soldiers；　and　go　along　the　south　bank；　showing　the　flags　of　Cao　Cao；　till　you　reach　the　Black　Forest　just　opposite　the　enemy's　main　store　of　grain　and　forage。　Then　you　are　to　penetrate　as　deeply　as　possible　into　the　enemy's　lines　and　light　a　torch　as　a　signal。　Cai　He　is　to　be　kept　in　camp　for　another　purpose。〃
The　next　order　was：　〃Taishi　Ci　is　to　lead　two　thousand　troops　as　quickly　as　possible　to　Huangzhou　and　cut　the　enemy's　munications　with　Hefei。　When　near　the　enemy；　he　is　to　give　a　signal。　If　he　sees　a　red　flag；　he　will　know　that　our　lord；　Sun　Quan；　is　at　hand　with　reinforcements。〃
Gan　Ning　and　Taishi　Ci　had　the　farthest　to　go　and　started　first。
Then　Lu　Meng　was　sent　into　the　Black　Forest　with　three　thousand　troops　as　a　support　to　Gan　Ning　who　was　ordered　to　set　fire　to　Cao　Cao's　depot。　A　fourth　party　of　three　thousand　troops　was　led　by　Ling　Tong　to　the　borders　of　Yiling　and　attack　as　soon　as　the　signal　from　the　forest　was　seen。　A　fifth　party　of　three　thousand　under　Dong　Xi　went　to　Hanyang　to　fall　upon　the　enemy　along　the　River　Han。　Their　signal　was　a　white　flag；　and　a　sixth　division　of　three　thousand　manded　by　Pan　Zhang　would　support　them。
When　these　six　parties　had　gone　off。　Huang　Gai　got　ready　his　fire　ships　and　sent　a　soldier　with　a　note　to　tell　Cao　Cao　that　he　was　ing　over　that　evening。　Four　naval　squadrons　were　told　off　to　support　Huang　Gai。
The　four　squadrons；　each　of　three　hundred　ships；　were　placed　under　four　manders：　Han　Dang；　Zhou　Tai；　Jiang　Qin；　and　Chen　Wu。　Twenty　fire　ships　preceded　each　fleet。　Zhou　Yu　and　Cheng　Pu　went　on　board　one　of　the　large　ships　to　direct　the　battle。　Their　guards　were　Ding　Feng　and　Xu　Sheng。　Lu　Su；　Kan　Ze；　and　the　advisers　were　left　to　guard　the　camp。　Cheng　Pu　was　greatly　impressed　with　Zhou　Yu's　ordering　of　the　grand　attack。
Then　came　a　messenger　bearing　a　mandate　from　Sun　Quan　making　Lu　Xun　Leader　of　the　Van。　He　was　ordered　to　go　to　Qichun。　Sun　Quan　himself　would　support　Lu　Xun。　Zhou　Yu　also　sent　two　mand　units；　one　to　the　Western　Hills　to　make　fire　signals；　and　the　other　to　the　Southern　Hills　to　hoist　flags。
So　all　being　prepared　they　waited　for　dusk。
Liu　Bei　was　at　Xiakou　anxiously　awaiting　the　return　of　his　adviser。　Then　appeared　a　fleet；　led　by　Liu　Qi；　who　had　e　to　find　out　how　matters　were　progressing。
Liu　Bei　sent　to　call　him　to　the　battle　tower　and　said；　〃The　southeast　wind　had　begun　to　blow；　and　that　Zhao　Yun　had　gone　to　meet　Zhuge　Liang。〃
Not　long　after　a　single　sail　was　seen　ing　up　before　the　wind；　and　Liu　Bei　knew　it　was　Zhuge　Liang；　the　Directing　Instructor　of　the　Army。
So　Liu　Bei　and　Liu　Qi　went　down　to　meet　the　boat。　Soon　the　vessel　reached　the　shore；　and　Zhuge　Liang　and　Zhao　Yun　disembarked。
Liu　Bei　was　very　glad；　and　after　they　had　inquired　after　each　other's　well…being；　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃There　is　no　time　to　tell　of　any　other　things　now。　Are　the　soldiers　and　ships　ready？〃
〃They　have　long　been　ready；〃　replied　Liu　Bei。　〃They　only　await　you　to　direct　how　they　are　to　be　used。〃
The　three　then　went　to　the　tent　and　took　their　seats。
Zhuge　Liang　at　once　began　to　issue　orders：　〃Zhao　Yun；　with　three　thousand　troops　is　to　cross　the　river　and　go　to　the　Black　Forest　by　the　minor　road。　He　will　choose　a　dense　jungle　and　prepare　an　ambush。　Tonight；　after　the　fourth　watch；　Cao　Cao　will　hurry　along　that　way。　When　half　his　troops　have　passed；　the　jungle　is　to　be　fired。　Cao　Cao　will　not　be　wholly　destroyed　but　many　will　perish。〃
〃There　are　two　roads；〃　said　Zhao　Yun。　〃One　leads　to　the　southern　regions　and　the　other　to　Jingzhou。　I　do　not　know　by　which　he　will　e。〃
〃The　south　road　is　too　dangerous。　Cao　Cao　will　certainly　pass　along　the　Jingzhou　road；　so　that　he　may　get　away　to　Xuchang。〃
Then　Zhao　Yun　went　away。
Next　Zhuge　Liang　said　to　Zhang　Fei；　〃You　will　take　three　thousand　troops　over　the　river　to　cut　the　road　to　Yiling。　You　will　ambush　in　the　Hulu　Valley。　Cao　Cao；　not　daring　to　go　to　South　Yiling；　will　go　to　North　Yiling。　Tomorrow；　after　the　rain；　he　will　halt　to　refresh　his　troops。　As　soon　as　the　smoke　is　seen　to　rise　from　their　cooking　fires；　you　will　fire　the　hill　side。　You　will　not　capture　Cao　Cao；　but　you　will　render　excellent　service。〃
So　Zhang　Fei　left。　Next　was　called　Mi　Zhu；　Mi　Fang；　and　Liu　Feng。　They　were　to　take　mand　of　three　squadrons　and　go　along　the　river　to　collect　beaten　soldiers　and　their　weapons。
The　three　left。　Then　Zhuge　Liang　said　to　Liu　Qi；　〃The　country　around　Wuchang　is　very　important；　and　I　wish　you　to　take　mand　of　your　own　troops　and　station　them　at　strategic　points。　Cao　Cao；　being　defeated；　will　flee　thither；　and　you　will　capture　him。　But　you　are　not　to　leave　the　city　without　the　best　of　reasons。〃
And　Liu　Qi　took　leave。
Then　Zhuge　Liang　said　to　Liu　Bei；　〃I　wish　you　to　remain　quietly　and　calmly　in　Fankou；　in　a　high　tower；　to　watch　Zhou　Yu　work　out　his　great　scheme　this　night。〃
All　this　time　Guan　Yu　has　been　silently　waiting　his　turn；　but　Zhuge　Liang　said　no　word　to　him。
When　Guan　Yu　could　bear　this　no　longer；　he　cried；　〃Since　I　first　followed　my　brother　to　battle　many　years　ago；　I　have　never　been　left　behind。　Now　that　great　things　are　afoot；　is　there　no　work　for　me？　What　is　meant　by　it？〃
〃You　should　not　be　surprised。　I　wanted　you　for　service　at　a　most　important　point；　only　that　there　was　a　something　standing　in　the　way　that　prevented　me　from　sending　you；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
〃What　could　stand　in　the　way？　I　wish　you　would　tell　me。〃
〃You　see　Cao　Cao　was　once　very　kind　to　you；　and　you　cannot　help　feeling　grateful。　Now　when　his　soldiers　have　been　beaten；　he　will　have　to　flee　along　the　Huarong　Road。　If　I　sent　you　to　guard　it；　you　would　have　to　let　him　pass。　So　I　will　not　send　you。〃
〃You　are　most　considerate；　Instructor。　But　though　it　is　true　that　he　treated　me　well；　yet　I　slew　two　of　his　most　redoubtable　opponents；　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou；　by　way　of　repayment；　beside　raising　a　siege。　If　I　happened　upon　him　on　this　occasion；　I　should　hardly　let　him　go。〃
〃But　what　if　you　did？〃
〃You　could　deal　with　me　by　military　rules。〃
〃Then　put　that　in　writing。〃
So　Guan　Yu　wrote　a　formal　undertaking　and　gave　the　document　to　Zhuge　Liang。
〃What　happens　if　Cao　Cao　does　not　pass　that　way？〃　said　Guan　Yu。
〃I　will　give　you　a　written　engagement　that　he　will　pass。〃　Then　Zhuge　Liang　continued；　〃On　the　hills　by　the　Huarong　Valley；　you　are　to　raise　a　heap　of　wood　and　grass　to　make　a　great　column　of　smoke　and　mislead　Cao　Cao　into　ing。〃
〃If　Cao　Cao　sees　a　smoke；　he　will　suspect　an　ambush　and　will　not　e；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
〃You　are　very　simple；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃Do　you　not　know　more　of　war's　ruses　than　that？　Cao　Cao　is　an　able　leader；　but　you　can　deceive　him　this　time。　When　he　sees　the　smoke；　he　will　take　it　as　a　subterfuge　and　risk　going　that　way。　But　do　not　let　your　kindness　of　heart　rule　your　conduct。〃
Thus　was　his　duty　assigned　Guan　Yu；　and　he　left；　taking　his　adopted　son　Guan　Ping；　his　general　Zhou　Cang；　and　five　hundred　swordsmen。
Said　Liu　Bei；　〃His　sense　of　rectitude　is　very　profound。　I　fear　if　Cao　Cao　should　e　that　way；　my　brother　will　let　him　pass。〃
〃I　have　consulted　the　stars　lately；　and　the　rebel　Cao　Cao　is　not　fated　to　e　to　his　end　yet。　I　have　purposely　designed　this　manifestation　of　kindly　feeling　for　Guan　Yu　to　acplish　and　so　act　handsomely。〃
〃Indeed　there　are　few　such　far…seeing　humans　as　you　are；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
The　two　then　went　to　Fankou　whence　they　might　watch　Zhou　Yu's　evolutions。　Sun　Qian　and　Jian　Yong　were　left　on　guard　of　Xiakou。
Cao　Cao　was　in　his　great　camp　in　conference　with　his　advisers　and　awaiting　the　arrival　of　Huang　Gai。　The　southeast　wind　was　very　strong　that　day；　and　Cheng　Yu　was　insisting　on　the　necessity　for　precaution。
But　Cao　Cao　laughed；　saying；　〃The　Winter　Solstice　depends　upon　the　sun　and　nothing　else。　There　is　sure　to　be　a　southeast　wind　at　some　one　or　other　of　its　recurrences。　I　see　nothing　to　wonder　at。〃
Just　then　they　announced　the　arrival　of　a　small　boat　from　the　other　shore　with　a　letter　from　Huang　Gai。　The　bearer　of　the　letter　was　brought　in　and　presented　it。　Cao　Cao　read　it：
〃Zhou　Yu　has　kept　such　strict　watch　that　there　has　been　no　chance　of　escape。　But　now　some　grain　is　ing　down　river；　and　I；　Huang　Gai；　have　been　named　as　escort　mander　which　will　give　me　the　opportunity　I　desire。　I　will　slay　one　of　the　known　generals　and　bring　his　head　as　an　offering　when　I　e。　This　evening　at　the　third　watch；　if　boats　are　seen　with　dragon　toothed　flags；　they　will　be　the　grain　boats。〃
This　letter　delighted　Cao　Cao　who；　with　his　officers；　went　to　the　naval　camp　and　boarded　a　great　ship　to　watch　for　the　arrival　of　Huang　Gai。
In　the　South　Land；　when　evening　fell；　Zhou　Yu　sent　for　Cai　He　and　bade　the　soldiers　bind　him。
The　unhappy　man　protested；　saying；　〃I　have　mitted　no　crime！〃
But　Zhou　Yu　said；　〃What　sort　of　a　fellow　are　you；　think　you；　to　e　and　pretend　to　desert　to　my　side？　I　need　a　small　sacrifice　for　my　flag；　and　your　head　will　serve　my　purpose。　So　I　am　going　to　use　it。〃
Cai　He　being　at　the　end　of　his　tether　unable　to　deny　the　charge　suddenly　cried；　〃Two　of　your　own　side；　Kan　Ze　and　Gan　Ning；　are　also　in　the　plot！〃
〃Under　my　directions！〃　said　Zhou　Yu。
Cai　He　was　exceedingly　repentant　and　sad；　but　Zhou　Yu　bade　them　take　Cai　He　to　the　river　bank　where　the　black　standard　had　been　set　up　and　there；　after　the　pouring　of　a　libation　and　the　burning　of　paper；　Cai　He　was　beheaded；　his　blood　being　a　sacrifice　to　the　flag。
This　ceremony　over；　the　ships　started；　and　Huang　Gai　took　his　place　on　the　third　ship。　He　merely　wore　breast　armor　and　carried　a　keen　blade。　On　his　flag　were　written　four　large　characters　Van　Leader　Huang　Gai　。　With　a　fair　wind　his　fleet　sailed　toward　the　Red　Cliffs。
The　wind　was　strong　and　the　waves　ran　high。　Cao　Cao　in　the　midst　of　the　central　squadron　eagerly　scanned　the　river　which　rolled　down　under　the　bright　moon　like　a　silver　serpent　writhing　in　innumerable　folds。　Letting　the　wind　blow　full　in　his　face；　Cao　Cao　laughed　aloud　for　he　was　now　to　obtain　his　desire。
Then　a　soldier