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Zhou　Yu　received　him　and；　having　saluted　in　proper　form；　Sun　Qian　said；　〃My　lord　sent　me　on　this　special　mission　to　felicitate　the　General　on　his　great　virtue　and　offer　some　unworthy　gifts。〃
〃Where　is　Liu　Bei？〃　asked　Zhou　Yu。
〃He　is　now　encamped　at　Youkou；　the　mouth　of　River　You。〃
〃Is　Zhuge　Liang　there？〃　asked　Zhou　Yu；　taken　aback。
〃Both　are　there；〃　said　Sun　Qian。
〃Then　return　quickly；　and　I　will　e　in　person　to　thank　them。〃
The　presents　handed　over；　Sun　Qian　was　sent　back　forthwith　to　his　own　camp。　Then　Lu　Su　asked　Zhou　Yu　why　he　had　started　when　he　heard　where　Liu　Bei　was　camped。
〃Because；〃　replied　Zhou　Yu；　〃camping　at　the　mouth　of　River　You　means　that　he　has　the　intention　of　taking　Nanjun。　Having　spent　much　military　energy　and　spared　no　expenditure；　we　thought　the　territory　should　fall　to　us　easily。　Those　others　are　opposed　to　us；　and　they　wish　to　get　the　advantage　of　what　we　have　already　acplished。　However；　they　must　remember　that　I　am　not　dead　yet。〃
〃How　can　you　prevent　them？〃　asked　Lu　Su。
〃I　will　go　myself　and　speak　with　them。　If　all　goes　well；　then；　let　it　be　so。　In　case　it　does　not；　then　I　shall　immediately　settle　up　with　Liu　Bei　without　waiting　for　Nanjun　to　be　taken。〃
〃I　should　like　to　acpany　you；〃　said　Lu　Su。
The　General　and　his　friend　started；　taking　with　them　a　guard　of　three　thousand　light　horse。　Having　arrived　at　Youkou；　they　sought　out　Sun　Qian；　who；　in　turn；　went　in　to　see　Liu　Bei　and　told　him　Zhou　Yu　had　e　to　render　thanks。
〃Why　has　he　e？〃　asked　Liu　Bei　of　his　Directing　Instructor。
〃He　is　not　likely　to　e　out　of　simple　politeness。　Surely　he　has　e　in　connection　with　Nanjun。〃
〃But　if　he　brings　an　army；　can　we　stand　against　it？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。
〃When　he　es；　you　may　reply　thus　and　thus。〃
Then　they　drew　up　the　warships　in　the　river　and　ranged　the　soldiers　upon　the　bank。　When　the　arrival　of　Zhou　Yu　was　formally　announced；　Zhao　Yun；　with　some　horsemen；　went　to　wele　him。　When　Zhou　Yu　saw　what　bold　soldiers　they　looked；　he　began　to　feel　unfortable；　but　he　went　on　his　way。　Being　met　at　the　camp　gates　by　Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang；　he　was　taken　in　to　the　chief　tent；　where　the　ceremonies　were　performed　and　preparations　for　a　banquet　had　been　made。
Presently　Liu　Bei　raised　his　cup　in　felicitation　on　the　recent　victory　gained　by　his　guest。　The　banquet　proceeded。
After　a　few　more　courses　Zhou　Yu　said；　〃Of　course　you　are　camped　here　with　no　other　idea　than　to　take　Nanjun？〃
Liu　Bei　said；　〃We　heard　you　were　going　to　take　the　place　and　came　to　assist。　Should　you　not　take　it；　then　we　will　occupy　it。〃
Zhou　Yu　laughed；　saying；　〃We　of　the　South　Land　have　long　wished　for　this　territory。　Now　that　it　is　within　our　grasp；　we　naturally　shall　take　it。〃
Liu　Bei　said；　〃There　is　always　some　uncertainty。　Cao　Cao　left　Cao　Ren　to　guard　the　region；　and　you　may　be　certain　that　there　is　good　strategy　behind　Cao　Ren；　to　say　nothing　of　his　boldness　as　a　warrior。　I　fear　you　may　not　get　it。〃
〃Well；　if　we　do　not　take　it　then；　Sir；　you　may　have　it；〃　said　Zhou　Yu。
〃Here　are　witnesses　to　your　words；〃　said　Liu　Bei；　naming　Lu　Su；　Zhuge　Liang；　and　those　at　table。　〃I　hope　you　will　never　repent　what　you　have　just　said。〃
Lu　Su　stammered　and　seemed　unwilling　to　be　cited　as　one　of　the　witnesses；　but　Zhou　Yu　said；　〃When　the　word　of　a　noble　person　has　gone　forth；　it　is　ended。　He　never　regrets。〃
〃This　speech　of　yours；　Sir；　is　very　generous；〃　interjected　Zhuge　Liang。　〃The　South　Land　shall　try　first。　But　if　the　place　does　not　fall；　there　is　no　reason　why　my　lord　should　not　capture　it。〃
The　two　visitors　then　took　their　leave　and　rode　away。
As　soon　as　they　had　left；　Liu　Bei　turned　to　Zhuge　Liang　and　said；　〃O　Master；　you　bade　me　thus　reply　to　Zhou　Yu。　But　though　I　did　so；　I　have　turned　it　over　and　over　in　my　mind　without　finding　any　reason　in　what　I　said。　I　am　alone　and　weak；　without　a　single　foot　of　land　to　call　my　own。　I　desired　to　get　possession　of　Nanjun　that　I　might　have；　at　least；　a　temporary　shelter；　yet　I　have　said　that　Zhou　Yu　may　attack　it　first。　If　it　falls　to　the　South　Land；　how　can　I　get　possession？〃
Zhuge　Liang　laughed　and　replied；　〃First　I　advised　you　to　attack　Jingzhou；　but　you　would　not　listen。　Do　you　remember？〃
〃But　it　belonged　to　Liu　Biao；　and　I　could　not　bear　to　attack　it　then。　Now　it　belongs　to　Cao　Cao；　I　might　do　so。〃
〃Do　not　be　anxious；〃　replied　the　adviser。　〃Let　Zhou　Yu　go　and　attack　it。　Some　day；　my　lord；　I　shall　make　you　sit　in　the　high　place　thereof。〃
〃But　what　design　have　you？〃
〃So　and　so；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　whispering。
Liu　Bei　was　satisfied　with　the　reply；　and　only　strengthened　his　position　at　Youkou。
In　the　meantime　Zhou　Yu　and　Lu　Su　returned　to　their　own　camp；　and　the　latter　said；　〃Why　did　you　tell　Liu　Bei　that　he　might　attack　Nanjun？〃
〃I　can　take　it　with　a　flick　of　my　finger；〃　replied　Zhou　Yu；　〃but　I　just　manifested　a　little　pretended　kindliness。〃
Then　he　inquired　among　his　officers　for　a　volunteer　to　attack　the　city。　Jiang　Qin　offered　himself；　and　was　put　in　mand　of　the　vanguard；　with　Xu　Sheng　and　Ding　Feng　as　helpers。　He　was　given　five　thousand　of　veterans；　and　they　moved　across　the　river。　Zhou　Yu　promised　to　follow　with　supports。
On　the　other　side　Cao　Ren　ordered　Cao　Hong　to　guard　Yiling；　and　so　hold　one　corner　of　an　ox…horn　defense。
When　the　news　came　that　the　South　Land's　force　had　crossed　the　River　Han；　Cao　Ren　said；　〃We　will　defend　and　not　offer　battle。〃
But　General　Niu　Jin　said　impetuously；　〃To　let　the　enemy　approach　the　walls　and　not　offer　battle　is　timidity。　Our　troops；　lately　worsted；　need　heartening　and　must　show　their　mettle。　Let　me　have　five　hundred　of　veterans；　and　I　will　fight　to　a　finish。〃
Cao　Ren　could　not　withstand　this　offer；　and　so　the　five　hundred　went　out　of　the　city。　At　once　Ding　Feng　came　to　challenge　the　leader；　and　they　fought　a　few　bouts。　Then　Ding　Feng　pretended　to　be　defeated；　gave　up　the　fight；　and　retreated　into　his　own　lines。　Niu　Jin　followed　him　hard。　When　he　had　got　within　the　South　Land's　formation；　at　a　signal　from　Ding　Feng；　the　army　closed　round　and　Niu　Jin　was　surrounded。　He　pushed　right　and　left；　but　could　find　no　way　out。　Seeing　Niu　Jin　in　the　toils；　Cao　Ren；　who　had　watched　the　fight　from　the　wall；　donned　his　armor　and　came　out　of　the　city　at　the　head　of　his　own　bold　pany　of　horsemen　and　burst　in　among　the　forces　of　the　South　Land　to　try　to　rescue　his　colleague。　Beating　back　Xu　Sheng；　Cao　Ren　fought　his　way　in　and　presently　rescued　Niu　Jin。
However；　having　got　out；　Cao　Ren　saw　several　score　of　horsemen　still　in　the　middle　unable　to　make　their　way　out；　whereupon　he　turned　again　to　the　battle　and　dashed　in　to　their　rescue。　This　time　he　met　Jiang　Qin　on　whom　Cao　Ren　and　Niu　Jin　made　a　violent　attack。　Then　his　brother　Cao　Chun　came　up　with　supports；　and　the　great　battle　ended　in　a　defeat　for　the　troops　of　the　South　Land。
So　Cao　Ren　went　back　victor；　while　the　unhappy　Jiang　Qin　returned　to　report　his　failure。　Zhou　Yu　was　very　angry　and　would　have　put　to　death　his　hapless　subordinate　but　for　the　intervention　of　the　other　officers。　Then　Zhou　Yu　prepared　for　another　attack　where　he　himself　would　lead。
But　Gan　Ning　said；　〃General；　do　not　be　in　too　great　hurry。　Let　me　go　first　and　attack　Yiling；　the　supporting　angle　of　the　ox…horn　formation。　After　that　the　conquest　of　Nanjun　will　be　easy。〃
Zhou　Yu　accepted　the　plan　and　Gan　Ning；　with　three　thousand　troops；　went　to　attack　Yiling。
When　news　of　the　approaching　army　reached　him；　Cao　Ren　called　to　his　side　Chen　Jiao；　who　said；　〃If　Yiling　be　lost；　then　Nanjun　is　lost　too。　So　help　must　be　sent　quickly。〃
Thereupon　Cao　Chun　and　Niu　Jin　were　sent　by　secret　ways　to　the　aid　of　Cao　Hong。　Cao　Chun　sent　a　messenger　to　the　city　to　ask　that　they　should　cause　a　diversion　by　a　sortie　at　the　time　the　reinforcements　should　arrive。
So　when　Gan　Ning　drew　near；　Cao　Hong　went　out　to　meet　and　engage　him。　They　fought　a　score　of　rounds；　but　Cao　Hong　was　overe　at　last；　and　Gan　Ning　took　the　city。　However；　as　evening　fell　the　reinforcements　under　Cao　Chun　and　Niu　Jin　came　up；　and　the　captor　was　surrounded　in　the　city　he　had　taken。　The　scouts　went　off　immediately　to　tell　Zhou　Yu　of　this　sudden　change　of　affairs　which　greatly　alarmed　him。
〃Let　us　hasten　to　his　rescue；〃　said　Cheng　Pu。
〃Our　place　is　of　the　greatest　importance；〃　said　Zhou　Yu；　〃and　I　am　afraid　to　leave　it　undefended　lest　Cao　Ren　should　attack。〃
〃But　Gan　Ning　is　one　of　our　first　leaders　and　must　be　rescued；〃　said　Lu　Meng。
〃I　should　like　to　go　myself　to　his　aid；　but　whom　can　I　leave　here　in　my　place？〃　said　Zhou　Yu。
〃Leave　Ling　Tong　here；〃　said　Lu　Meng。　〃I　will　push　on　ahead；　and　you　can　protect　my　advance。　In　less　than　ten　days　we　shall　be　singing　the　paean　of　victory。〃
〃Are　you　willing？〃　said　Zhou　Yu　to　the　man　who　was　to　act　for　him。
Ling　Tong　said；　〃If　the　ten…day　period　is　not　exceeded；　I　may　be　able　to　carry　on　for　that　time。　I　am　unequal　to　more　than　that。〃
Ling　Tong's　consent　pleased　Zhou　Yu　who　started　at　once；　leaving　ten　thousand　troops　for　the　defense　of　the　camp。
Lu　Meng　said　to　his　chief；　〃South　of　Yiling　is　a　little…used　road　that　may　prove　very　useful　in　an　attack　on　Nanjun。　Let　us　send　a　party　to　fell　trees　and　barricade　this　road　so　that　horses　cannot　pass。　In　case　of　defeat；　the　defeated　will　take　this　road　and　will　be　pelled　to　abandon　their　horses；　which　we　shall　capture。〃
Zhou　Yu　approved；　and　the　men　set　out。　When　the　main　army　drew　near　Yiling；　Zhou　Yu　asked　who　would　try　to　break　through　the　besiegers；　and　Zhou　Tai　offered　himself。　He　girded　on　his　sword；　mounted　his　steed；　and　burst　straight　into　the　Cao　Hong's　army。　He　got　through　to　the　city　wall。
From　the　city　wall　Gan　Ning　saw　the　approach　of　his　friend　Zhou　Tai　and　went　out　to　wele　him。　Zhou　Tai　told　him　the　mander…in…Chief　was　on　the　way　to　his　relief；　and　Gan　Ning　at　once　bade　the　defenders　prepare　from　within　to　support　the　attack　of　the　rescuers。
When　the　news　of　the　approach　of　Zhou　Yu　had　reached　Yiling；　Cao　Hong；　Cao　Chun；　and　Niu　Jin　had　sent　to　tell　Cao　Ren；　who　was　at　Nanjun；　and　at　the　same　time　they　prepared　to　repel　the　assailants。
As　the　army　of　the　South　Land　came　near；　they　at　once　attacked。　Simultaneously　Gan　Ning　and　Zhou　Tai　went　out　to　attack　on　two　sides；　and　the　troops　of　Cao　Hong　were　thrown　into　confusion。　The　soldiers　of　the　South　Land　fell　on　lustily；　and　the　three　leaders　all　fled　by　a　bye　road；　but；　finding　the　way　barred　with　felled　trees　and　other　obstacles；　they　had　to　abandon　their　horses　and　go　afoot。　In　this　way　the　troops　of　the　South　Land　gained　some　five　hundred　steeds。
Zhou　Yu；　pressing　on　as　quickly　as　possible　toward　Nanjun；　came　upon　Cao　Ren　and　his　army　marching　to　save　Yiling。　The　two　armies　engaged　and　fought　a　battle　which　lasted　till　late　in　the　evening。　Then　both　drew　off；　and　Cao　Ren　withdrew　into　the　city。
During　the　night　he　called　his　officers　to　a　council。
Then　said　Cao　Hong；　〃The　loss　of　Yiling　has　brought　us　to　a　dangerous　pass。　Now　it　seems　the　time　to　open　the　guide…letter　of　the　Prime　Minister；　and　see　what　plans　he　arranged　for　our　salvation　in　this　peril。〃
〃You　but　say　what　I　think；〃　replied　Cao　Ren。
Whereupon　he　tore　open　the　guide…letter　and　read　it。　His　face　lighted　up　with　joy；　and　he　at　once　issued　orders　to　have　the　morning　meal　prepared　at　the　fifth　watch。　At　daylight　the　whole　army　moved　out　of　the　city　through　three　gates；　but　they　left　a　semblance　of　occupation　in　the　shape　of　banners　on　the　walls。
Zhou　Yu　went　up　to　the　tower　of　observation　and　looked　over　the　city。　He　saw　that　the　flags　along　the　battlements　had　no　guards　behind　them；　and　he　noticed　that　all　troops　carried　bundles　at　their　waists　behind　so　that　they　were　ready　for　a　long　march。
Thought　Zhou　Yu　to　himself；　〃Cao　Ren　must　be　prepared　for　a　long　march。〃
So　Zhou　Yu　went　down　from　the　tower　of　observation　and　sent　out　an　order　for　two　wings　of　the　army　to　be　ready。　One　of　these　was　to　attack　and；　in　case　of　its　success；　the　other　was　to　pursue　at　full　speed　till　the　clanging　of　the　gongs　should　call　them　to　return。　He　took　mand　of　the　leading　force　in　person；　and　Cheng　Pu　manded　the　other。　Thus　they　advanced　to　attack　the　city。
The　armies　being　arrayed　facing　each　other；　the　drums　rolled　out　across　the　plain。　Cao　Hong　rode　forth　and　challenged；　and　Zhou　Yu；　from　his　place　by　the　standard；　bade　Han　Dang　respond。　The　two　champions　fought　near　two　score　bouts；　and　then　Cao　Hong　f