〃How many ships has he？〃 asked Zhou Yu。
They replied； 〃Only one； and the escort is only about a score。〃
〃His fate is sealed；〃 said Zhou Yu。
Zhou Yu sent for the executioners and placed them in hiding between the outer and inner tents； and when all was arranged for the assassination he contemplated； he went out to receive his visitor。 Liu Bei came with his brother and escort into the midst of the army to the mander's tent。
After the salutations； Zhou Yu wished Liu Bei to take the upper seat； but he declined saying； 〃General； you are famous throughout all the empire； while I am a nobody。 Do not overwhelm me with too great deference。〃
So they took the positions of simple friends； and refreshments were brought in。
Now by chance Zhuge Liang came on shore and heard that his master had arrived and was with the mander…in…Chief。 The news gave Zhuge Liang a great shock； and he said to himself； 〃What is to be done now？〃
He made his way to the reception tent and stole a look therein。 He saw murder written on Zhou Yu's countenance and noted the assassins hidden within the walls of the tent。 Then he got a look at Liu Bei； who was laughing and talking quite unconcernedly。 But when he noticed the redoubtable figure of Guan Yu near his master's side； he became quite calm and contented。
〃My lord faces no danger；〃 said Zhuge Liang； and he went away to the river bank to await the end of the interview。
Meanwhile the banquet of wele proceeded。 After the wine had gone around several times； Zhou Yu picked up a cup to give the signal agreed upon。 But at that moment Zhou Yu saw so fierce a look upon the face of the trusty henchman who stood； sword in hand； behind his guest； that Zhou Yu hesitated and hastily asked who he was。
〃That is my brother； Guan Yu；〃 replied Liu Bei。
Zhou Yu； quite startled； said； 〃Is he the slayer of Yan Liang and Wen Chou？〃
〃Exactly； he it is；〃 replied Liu Bei。
The sweat of fear broke out all over Zhou Yu's body and trickled down his back。 Then he poured out a cup of wine and presented it to Guan Yu。
Just then Lu Su came in； and Liu Bei said to him； 〃Where is Zhuge Liang？ I would trouble you to ask him to e。〃
〃Wait till we have defeated Cao Cao；〃 said Zhou Yu； 〃then you shall see him。〃
Liu Bei dared not repeat his request； but Guan Yu gave him a meaningful look which Liu Bei understood and rose； saying； 〃I would take leave now。 I will e again to congratulate you when the enemy has been defeated and your success shall be plete。〃
Zhou Yu did not press him to remain； but escorted him to the great gates of the camp； and Liu Bei left。 When he reached the river bank； they found Zhuge Liang awaiting them in their boat。
Liu Bei was exceedingly pleased； but Zhuge Liang said； 〃Sir； do you know in how great danger you were today？〃
Suddenly sobered； Liu Bei said； 〃No； I did not think of danger。〃
〃If Guan Yu had not been there； you would have been killed；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
Liu Bei； after a moment's reflection； saw that it was true。 He begged Zhuge Liang to return with him to Fankou； but Zhuge Liang refused。
〃I am quite safe；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃Although I am living in the tiger's mouth； I am as steady as the Taishan Mountains。 Now； my lord； return and prepare your ships and soldiers。 On the twentieth day of the eleventh month； send Zhao Yun with a small ship to the south bank to wait for me。 Be sure there is no miscarriage。〃
〃What are your intentions？〃 said Liu Bei。
〃When the southeast wind begins； I shall return。〃
Liu Bei would have questioned him further； but Zhuge Liang pressed him to go。 So the boat started up river again； while Zhuge Liang returned to his temporary lodging。
The boat had not proceeded far when appeared a small fleet of fifty ships sweeping down with the current； and in the prow of the leading vessel stood a tall figure armed with a spear。 Guan Yu was ready to fight。 But when they were near； they recognized that was Zhang Fei； who had e down fearing lest his brother might be in some difficulty from which the strong arm of Guan Yu might even be insufficient to rescue him。
The three brothers thus returned together。
After Zhou Yu； having escorted Liu Bei to the gate of his camp； had returned to his quarters； Lu Su soon came to see him。
〃Then you had cajoled Liu Bei into ing； why did you not carry out your plan？〃 asked Lu Su。
〃Because of that Guan Yu。 He is a very tiger； and he never left his brother for a moment。 If anything had been attempted； he would certainly have had my life。〃
Lu Su knew that Zhou Yu spoke the truth。 Then suddenly they announced a messenger with a letter from Cao Cao。 Zhou Yu ordered them to bring him in and took the letter。 But when he saw the superscription The First Minister of Han to mander…in…Chief Zhou Yu ； he fell into a frenzy of rage； tore the letter to fragments； and threw them on the ground。
〃To death with this fellow！〃 cried he。
〃When two countries are at war； their emissaries are not slain；〃 said Lu Su。
〃Messengers are slain to show one's dignity and independence；〃 replied Zhou Yu。
The unhappy bearer of the letter was decapitated； and his head sent back to Cao Cao by the hands of his escort。
Zhou Yu then decided to move。 The van under Gan Ning was to advance； supported by two wings led by Han Dang and Jiang Qin。 Zhou Yu would lead the center body in support。 The next morning the early meal was eaten in the fourth watch； and the ships got under weigh in the fifth with a great beating of drums。
Cao Cao was greatly angered when he heard that his letter had been torn to fragments； and he resolved to attack forthwith。 His advance was led by the Supreme Admiral Cai Mao； the Vice…Admiral Zhang Yun； and others of the Jingzhou officers who had joined his side。 Cao Cao went as hastily as possible to the meeting of the three rivers and saw the ships of the South Land sailing up。
In the bow of the foremost ship from the south stood a fine figure of a warrior； who cried； 〃I am Gan Ning。 I challenge anyone to bat！〃
Cai Mao sent his young brother； Cai Xun； to accept the challenge。 But as Cai Xun's ship approached； Gan Ning shot an arrow and Cai Xun fell。 Gan Ning pressed forward； his crossbowmen keeping up a heavy discharge which Cao Cao's troops could not stand。 The wings of Han Dang from the left and Jiang Qin from the right also joined in。
Cao Cao's soldiers； being mostly from the dry plains of the north； did not know how to fight effectually on water； and the southern ships had the battle all their own way。 The slaughter was very great。 However； after a contest lasting till afternoon； Zhou Yu thought it more prudent； in view of the superior numbers of his enemy； not to risk further the advantage he had gained。 So he beat the gongs as the signal to cease battle and recall the ships。
Cao Cao was worsted； but his ships returned to the bank； where a camp was made and order was restored。
Cao Cao sent for his defeated leaders and reproached them； saying； 〃You did not do your best。 You let an inferior force overe you。〃
Cai Mao defended himself； saying； 〃The Jingzhou marines have not been exercised for a long time； and the others have never been trained for naval warfare at all。 A naval camp must be instituted； the northern soldiers trained； and the Jingzhou force drilled。 When they have been made efficient； they will win victories。〃
〃You are the Supreme Admiral。 If you know what should be done； why have you not done it？〃 said Cao Cao。 〃What is the use of telling me this？〃
So Cai Mao and Zhang Yun organized a naval camp on the river bank。 They established twenty…four 〃Water Gates；〃 with the large ships outside as a sort of rampart； and under their protection the smaller ships went to and fro freely。 At night when the lanterns and torches were lit； the very sky was illuminated； and the water shone red with the glare。 On land the smoke of the camp fires could be traced for one hundred mile without a break。
Zhou Yu returned to camp and feasted his victorious fighting force。 A messenger bore the joyful tidings of victory to his master Sun Quan。 When night fell； Zhou Yu went up to the summit of one of the hills and looked out over the long line of bright lights stretching toward the west； showing the extent of the enemy's camp。 He said nothing； but a great fear came in upon him。
Next day Zhou Yu decided that he would go in person to find out the strength of the enemy。 So he bade them prepare a small squadron which he manned with strong； hardy men armed with powerful bows and stiff crossbows。 He also placed musicians on each ship。 They set sail and started up the stream。 When they got opposite Cao Cao's camp； the heavy stones that served as anchors were dropped； and the music was played while Zhou Yu scanned the enemy's naval camp。 What he saw gave him no satisfaction； for everything was most admirable。
He said； 〃How well and correctly built is that naval base！ Anyone knows the names of those in mand？〃
〃They are Cai Mao and Zhang Yun；〃 said his officers。
〃They have lived in the south a long time；〃 said Zhou Yu； 〃and are thoroughly experienced in naval warfare。 I must find some means of removing them before I can effect anything。〃
Meanwhile on shore the sentinels had told Cao Cao that the enemy craft were spying upon them； and Cao Cao ordered out some ships to capture the spies。 Zhou Yu saw the motion of the manding flags on shore and hastily gave the order to unmoor and sail down stream。 The squadron at once got under way and scattered； to and fro went the oars； and each ship seemed to fly。 Before Cao Cao's ships could get out after them； they were all far away。
Cao Cao's ships took up the chase but soon saw pursuit was useless。 They returned and reported their failure。
Again Cao Cao found fault with his officers and said； 〃The other day you lost a battle； and the soldiers were greatly dispirited。 Now the enemy have spied out our camp。 What can be done？〃
In eager response to his question one stepped out； saying； 〃When I was a youth； Zhou Yu and I were fellow students and pledged friends。 My three…inch tongue is still good； and I will go over and persuade him to surrender。〃
Cao Cao； rejoiced to find so speedy a solution； looked at the speaker。 It was Jiang Gan of Jiujiang； one of the counseling staff in the camp。
〃Are you a good friend of Zhou Yu？〃 said Cao Cao。
〃Rest content； O Prime Minister；〃 replied Jiang Gan。 〃If I only get on the other side of the river； I shall succeed。〃
〃What preparations are necessary？〃 asked Cao Cao。
〃Just a youth as my servant and a couple of rowers。 Nothing else。〃
Cao Cao offered him wine； wished him success； and sent him on his way。
Clad in a simple white robe and seated in his little craft； the messenger reached Zhou Yu's camp and bade the guards say that an old friend Jiang Gan wished to see him。
The mander was in his tent at a council when the message came； and he laughed as he said to those about him； 〃A persuader is ing。〃
Then he whispered certain instructions in the ear of each one of them； and they went out to await his arrival。
Zhou Yu received his friend in full ceremonial garb。 A crowd of officers in rich silken robes were about him。 The guest appeared； his sole attendant a lad dressed in a simple blue gown。 Jiang Gan bore himself proudly as he advanced； and Zhou Yu made a low obeisance。
〃You have been well I hope since last we me