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　standard；　bade　Han　Dang　respond。　The　two　champions　fought　near　two　score　bouts；　and　then　Cao　Hong　fled。　Thereupon　Cao　Ren　came　out　to　help　him；　and　Zhou　Tai　rode　out　at　full　speed　to　meet　him。　These　two　exchanged　a　half　score　passes　and　then　Cao　Ren　tied。
Cao　Ren's　army　fell　into　confusion。　Thereupon　Zhou　Yu　gave　the　signal　for　the　advance　of　both　his　wings；　and　the　forces　of　Cao　Ren　were　sore　smitten　and　defeated。　Zhou　Yu　pursued　to　the　city　wall；　but　Cao　Ren's　troops　did　not　enter　the　city。　Instead；　they　went　away　northwest。　Han　Dang　and　Zhou　Tai　pressed　them　hard。
Zhou　Yu；　seeing　the　city　gates　standing　wide　open　and　no　guards　upon　the　walls；　ordered　the　raiding　of　the　city。　A　few　score　horsemen　rode　in　first；　Zhou　Yu　followed　and　whipping　his　steed。　As　he　galloped　into　the　enclosure　around　the　gate；　Chen　Jiao　stood　on　the　defense　tower。　When　he　saw　Zhou　Yu　enter；　in　his　heart　he　applauded　the　god…like　perspicacity　of　the　Prime　Minister　Cao　Cao。
Then　was　heard　the　clap…clap　of　a　watchman's　rattle。　At　this　signal　the　archers　and　crossbowmen　let　fly；　and　the　arrows　and　bolts　flew　forth　in　a　sudden　fierce　shower；　while　those　who　had　won　their　way　to　the　van　of　the　inrush　went　headlong　into　a　deep　trench。　Zhou　Yu　managed　to　pull　up　in　time；　but　turning　to　escape；　he　was　wounded　in　the　left　side　and　fell　to　the　ground。　Niu　Jin　rushed　out　from　the　city　to　capture　the　chief；　but　Xu　Sheng　and　Ding　Feng　at　the　risk　of　their　lives　got　him　away　safe。　Then　the　troops　of　Cao　Ren　dashed　out　of　the　city　and　wrought　confusion　among　the　troops　of　the　South　Land；　who　trampled　each　other　down　and　many　more　fell　into　the　trenches。　Cheng　Pu　tried　to　draw　off；　but　Cao　Ren　and　Cao　Hong　came　toward　him　from　different　directions；　and　the　battle　went　hardly　against　the　soldiers　of　Zhou　Yu；　till　help　came　from　Ling　Tong；　who　bore　back　their　assailants。　Satisfied　with　their　success；　Cao　Ren　led　his　forces　into　the　city；　while　the　losers　marched　back　to　their　own　camp。
Zhou　Yu；　sorely　wounded；　was　taken　to　his　own　tent　and　the　army　physician　called　in。　With　iron　forceps；　he　extracted　the　sharp　bolt　and　dressed　the　wound　with　a　lotion　designed　to　counteract　the　poison　of　the　metal。　But　the　pain　was　intense；　and　the　patient　rejected　all　nourishment。
The　physician　said；　〃The　missile　had　been　poisoned；　and　the　wound　will　require　a　long　time　to　heal。　You；　General；　must　be　kept　quiet　and　especially　free　from　any　irritation；　which　will　cause　the　wound　to　reopen。〃
Thereupon　Cheng　Pu　gave　orders　that　each　division　was　to　remain　in　camp。　Three　days　later；　Niu　Jin　came　within　sight　and　challenged　the　men　of　the　South　Land　to　battle；　but　they　did　not　stir。　The　enemy　hurled　at　them　taunts　and　insults　till　the　sun　had　fallen　low　in　the　sky；　but　it　was　of　no　avail　and　Niu　Jin　withdrew。
Next　day　Niu　Jin　returned　and　repeated　his　insulting　abuse。　Cheng　Pu　dared　not　tell　the　wounded　general。　The　third　day；　waxing　bolder；　the　enemy　came　to　the　very　gates　of　the　stockade；　the　leader　shouting　that　he　had　e　for　the　purpose　of　capturing　Zhou　Yu。
Then　Cheng　Pu　called　together　his　officers；　and　they　discussed　the　feasibility　of　retirement　into　the　South　Land　that　they　might　seek　the　opinion　of　Sun　Quan。
Ill　as　he　was；　Zhou　Yu　still　retained　control　of　the　expedition。　He　knew　that　the　enemy　came　daily　to　the　gates　of　his　camp　and　reviled　him；　although　none　of　his　officers　told　him。　One　day　Cao　Ren　came　in　person；　and　there　was　much　rolling　of　drums　and　shouting。　Cheng　Pu；　however；　steadily　refused　to　accept　the　challenge　and　would　not　let　anyone　go　out。
Then　Zhou　Yu　summoned　the　officers　to　his　bedside　and　said；　〃What　mean　the　drums　and　the　shouting？〃
〃The　soldiers　are　drilling；〃　was　the　reply。
〃Why　do　you　deceive　me？〃　said　Zhou　Yu　angrily。　〃Do　I　not　know　that　our　enemies　e　day　by　day　to　our　gates　and　insult　us？　Yet　Cheng　Pu　suffers　this　in　silence　and　makes　no　use　of　his　powers　and　authority。〃
He　sent　for　Cheng　Pu　and；　when　he　arrived；　asked　him　why　he　acted　thus。
〃Because　you　are　ill；　and　the　physician　said　you　were　on　no　account　to　be　provoked　to　anger。　Wherefore；　although　the　enemy　challenged　us　to　battle；　I　kept　it　from　you。〃
〃And　if　you　do　not　fight；　what　think　you　should　be　done？〃　said　Zhou　Yu。
And　they　all　said　they　desired　to　return　to　the　South　Land　till　he　had　recovered　from　his　wound；　when　they　would　make　another　expedition。
Zhou　Yu　lay　and　listened。　Suddenly　he　sprang　up；　crying；　〃The　noble　person　who　has　eaten　of　his　lord's　bounty　should　die　in　his　lord's　battles。　To　return　home　dead　and　wrapped　in　a　horse's　hide　is　a　happy　fate。　Am　I　the　sort　of　people　to　bring　to　nought　the　grand　designs　of　my　lord？〃
So　speaking　he　proceeded　to　gird　on　his　armor；　and　he　mounted　his　horse。　The　wonder　of　the　officers　only　redoubled　when　their　General　placed　himself　at　the　head　of　some　hundreds　of　horsemen　and　went　out　of　the　camp　gates　toward　the　enemy；　then　fully　arrayed。　Cao　Ren；　their　general；　stood　beneath　the　great　standard。
At　sight　of　the　opponents；　Cao　Ren　flourished　his　whip　and　began　to　hurl　abuse　at　them；　〃Zhou　Yu；　you　babe！　I　think　your　fate　has　met　you。　You　dare　not　face　my　army！〃
The　stream　of　insult　never　ceased。
Presently　Zhou　Yu　could　stand　it　no　longer。　Riding　out　to　the　front　he　cried；　〃Here　I　am；　base　churl。　Look　at　me！〃
The　whole　Cao　Ren's　army　were　taken　aback。　But　Cao　Ren　turned　to　those　about　him　and　said；　〃Let　us　all　revile　him！〃
And　the　whole　army　yelled　insults。
Zhou　Yu　grew　angry　and　sent　Pan　Zhang　out　to　fight。　But　before　he　had　delivered　his　first　blow；　Zhou　Yu　suddenly　uttered　a　loud　cry；　and　he　fell　to　the　ground　with　blood　gushing　from　his　mouth。
At　this　Cao　Ren's　army　rushed　to　the　battle；　and　the　army　of　the　South　Land　pressed　forward　to　meet　them。　A　fierce　struggle　waged　around　the　General's　body；　but　he　was　borne　off　safely　and　taken　to　his　tent。
〃Do　you　feel　better？〃　asked　Cheng　Pu　anxiously。
〃It　was　a　ruse　of　mine；〃　whispered　Zhou　Yu　in　reply。
〃But　what　avails　it？〃
〃I　am　not　suffering；　but　I　did　that　to　make　our　enemies　think　I　was　very　ill　and　so　oppose　them　by　deceit。　I　will　send　a　few　trusty　men　to　pretend　desertion　and　tell　them　I　am　dead。　That　will　cause　them　to　try　a　night　raid　on　the　camp；　and　we　shall　have　an　ambush　ready　for　them。　We　shall　get　Cao　Ren　easily。〃
〃The　plan　seems　excellent；〃　said　Cheng　Pu。
Soon　from　the　tent　there　arose　the　sound　of　wailing　as　for　the　dead。　The　soldiers　around　took　up　the　cry　and　said　one　to　another；　〃The　General　is　dead　of　his　wound；〃　and　they　all　put　on　the　symbols　of　mourning。
Meanwhile　Cao　Ren　was　consulting　with　his　officers。
Said　he；　〃Zhou　Yu　lost　his　temper；　and　that　has　caused　his　wound　to　reopen　and　brought　on　that　flow　of　blood。　You　saw　him　fall　to　the　ground；　and　he　will　assuredly　die　soon。〃
Just　then　there　came　in　one　who　said　that　a　few　men　had　e　over　from　the　enemy　asking　to　be　allowed　to　join　the　army　of　Cao　Ren。　Among　them　were　two　of　Cao　Cao's　men　who　had　been　made　prisoners。　Cao　Ren　sent　for　the　deserters　and　questioned　them。
They　told　him；　saying；　〃Zhou　Yu's　wound　reopened　at　his　anger；　and　he　died　in　the　camp　that　day。　The　leaders　are　all　clothing　in　white　and　in　mourning。　We　desert　because　we　have　been　put　to　shame　by　the　second　in　mand。〃
Pleased　at　this　news；　Cao　Ren　at　once　began　to　arrange　to　make　a　night　attack　on　the　camp　and；　if　possible；　get　the　head　of　the　dead　general　to　send　to　the　capital。
〃Success　depends　upon　promptitude；　so　act　without　delay；〃　said　Chen　Jiao。
Niu　Jin　was　told　off　as　Van　Leader；　Cao　Ren　himself　led　the　center；　while　the　rear　was　manded　by　Cao　Hong　and　Cao　Chun。　Chen　Jiao　and　a　small　force　were　left　to　guard　Nanjun。
At　the　first　watch　they　left　the　city　and　took　the　way　toward　Zhou　Yu's　camp。　When　they　drew　near；　not　a　soldier　was　visible　in　the　camp；　but　flags　and　banners　and　spears　were　all　there；　evidently　to　keep　up　an　appearance　of　preparation。　Feeling　at　once　that　they　had　been　tricked；　they　turned　to　retreat。
But　a　bomb　exploded；　and　this　was　the　signal　for　an　attack　on　all　four　sides。　Han　Dang　and　Jiang　Qin　pressed　in　from　the　east；　Zhou　Tai　and　Pan　Zhang；　from　the　west；　Chen　Wu　and　Lu　Meng；　from　the　north；　and　Xu　Sheng　and　Ding　Feng；　from　the　south。　The　result　was　a　severe　defeat　for　the　raiders；　and　the　army　of　Cao　Ren　was　entirely　broken　and　scattered　abroad　so　that　no　one　part　of　the　beaten　army　could　aid　the　other。
Cao　Ren；　with　a　few　horsemen　got　out　of　the　press　and　presently　met　Cao　Hong。　The　two　leaders　ran　away　together；　and　by　the　fifth　watch　they　had　got　near　Nanjun。　Then　they　heard　a　beating　of　drums；　and　Ling　Tong　appeared　barring　the　way。　There　was　a　small　skirmish；　and　Cao　Ren　went　off　at　an　angle。　But　he　fell　in　with　Gan　Ning；　who　attacked　him　vigorously。　Cao　Ren　dared　not　go　back　to　Nanjun；　but　he　made　for　Xiangyang　along　the　main　road。　The　forces　of　the　South　Land　pursued　him　for　a　time　and　then　desisted。
Zhou　Yu　and　Cheng　Pu　then　made　their　way　to　Nanjun　where　they　were　startled　to　see　flags　on　the　walls　and　every　sign　of　occupation。
Before　they　had　recovered　from　their　surprise；　there　appeared　one　who　cried；　〃Pardon；　General！　I　had　orders　from　the　Directing　Instructor　to　take　this　city。　I　am　Zhao　Yun　of　Changshan。〃
Zhou　Yu　was　fiercely　angry　and　gave　orders　to　assault　the　city；　but　the　defenders　sent　down　flights　and　flights　of　arrows；　and　his　troops　could　not　stay　near　the　rampart。　So　he　withdrew　and　took　counsel。　In　the　meantime　he　decided　to　send　Gan　Ning　with　a　force　of　several　thousand　to　capture　Jingzhou　City；　and　Ling　Tong　with　another　army　to　take　Xiangyang。　Nanjun　could　be　taken　later。
But　even　as　these　orders　were　being　given；　the　scouts　came　in　hurriedly　to　report；　saying；　〃After　Nanjun　fell；　Zhuge　Liang；　suddenly　forging　a　military　mission；　induced　the　guards　of　Jingzhou　City　to　leave　it　and　go　to　the　rescue　of　Cao　Ren。　Whereupon　Zhang　Fei　occupied　the　capital。〃
Soon　after　another　messenger　came；　saying；　〃Xiahou　Dun；　at　Xiangyang；　received　from　Zhuge　Liang　dispatches；　supported　by　a　mission　in　due　form；　saying　that　Cao　Ren　was　in　danger　and　needed　help；　whereupon　Xiahou　Dun　marched　off；　and　Guan　Yu　seized　that　city。〃
Thus　the　two　cities　that　Zhou　Yu　wanted　had　fallen；　without　the　least　effort；　into　the　hands　of　his　rival　Liu　Bei。
〃How　did　Zhuge　Liang　get　this　military　mission　with　which　he　has　imposed　on　the　generals？〃　asked　Zhou　Yu。
Cheng　Pu　replied；　〃He　seized　that　of　Chen　Jiao　and　so　has　got　all　this　region　into　his　power。〃
Zhou　Yu　uttered　a　great　cry；　for　at　that　moment　his　wound　had　suddenly　burst　open。

A　city　falls；　but　not　to　us　the　gain；
The　guerdon　is　another's；　ours　the　pain。

The　next　chapter　will　say　what　befell　Zhou　Yu。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　52　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　52
　Chapter　52
Zhuge　Liang　Negotiates　With　Lu　Su；
Zhao　Yun　Captures　Guiyang。
Zhou　Yu's　anger　at　seeing　that　his　rival；　Zhuge　Liang；　had　surprised　Nanjun；　and　at　hearing　the　same　news　of　Jingzhou　and　Xiangyang；　was　but　natural。　And　this　sudden　fit　of　rage　caused　his　wound　to　reopen。　However；　he　soon　recovered。　All　his　officers　besought　him　to　accept　the　situation。
But　he　said；　〃What　but　the　death　of　that　bumpkin　Zhuge　Liang　will　assuage　my　anger？　If　Cheng　Pu　can　but　aid　me　in　an　attack　on　Nanjun；　I　can　certainly　restore　it　to　the　South　Land。〃
Soon　Lu　Su　came　in；　to　whom　Zhou　Yu　said；　〃I　simply　must　fight　Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang　till　it　is　decided　which　shall　have　the　upper　hand。　I　must　also　recapture　the　cities。　Perhaps　you　can　assist　me。〃
〃It　cannot　be　done；〃　replied　Lu　Su。　〃We　are　now　at　grips　with　Cao　Cao；　and　victory　or　defeat　is　undecided。　Our　lord　has　not　been　successful　in　overing　Hefei。　Do　not　fight　near　home；　or　it　will　be　like　people　of　the　same　household　destroying　each　other。　Should　Cao　Cao　take　advantage　of　this　position　to　make　a　sudden　descent；　we　should　be　in　a　parlous　condition。　Further；　you　must　remember　that　Liu　Bei　and　Cao　Cao　are　united　by　the　bonds　of　old　friendship。　If　the　pressure　bees　too　great；　Liu　Bei　may　relinquish　these　cities；　offer　them　to　Cao　Cao；　and　join　forces　with　him　to　attack　the　south。　That　would　be　a　real　misfortune。〃
〃I　cannot　help　being　angry；〃　said　Zhou　Yu；　〃to　think　that　we　should　have　used　our　resources　for　their　benefit。　They　get　all　the　advantage。〃
〃Well；　let　me　go　and　see　Liu　Bei　and　talk　reason　to　him。　If　I　ca