The warrior sheathed his sword and said humbly； 〃Whither may my mistress be going； and why goes she privily？〃
〃My mother is ill and on the point of death。 I had no time to inform any person of my departure；〃 said Lady Sun。
〃But why take the young master if you are going merely to see a sick person？〃 said Zhao Yun。
〃Liu Shan is my son； and I would not leave him behind to be neglected。〃
〃Mistress； you have acted wrongly。 My lord has but this one son of his body； and I rescued the child lord from among many thousand troops of Cao Cao in the great battle at Long Slope Bridge in Dangyang。 There is no reason for you to take him away。〃
Lady Sun took refuge in anger。 〃You leave my family affairs alone； you mon soldier！〃 cried she。
〃My lady； if you will go； then go； but leave the young master behind。〃
〃You are a rebel； jumping on board the ship like that！〃 cried Lady Sun。
〃If you will not leave the young lord behind； I refuse to let you go； e what may；〃 said Zhao Yun。
Lady Sun called in her maids to seize him； but he just pushed them off。 Then he took the boy from her arms and ran out to the prow of the ship。 He tried to get the vessel in to the bank； but no one would aid him； and he thought it would be wrong to begin to slay indiscriminately。 He knew not what to do in such a quandary。 And Lady Sun was screaming to her maids to take the boy away from him。 But he kept too firm a grip on the child； and the good sword in his other hand kept everyone at bay。
Zhou Shan was at the helm； giving all his attention to getting the ship out into the current and away down the river。 He steered for the middle of the stream； where the wind was strong。 Zhao Yun； one hand taken up with holding the boy； was quite unable to get the vessel in toward the shore。
Just as things looked most desperate； Zhao Yun saw a string of ships filing out from a creek lower down the stream； flags fluttering and drums beating。 He thought that certainly all was over and he was about to fall a victim to a stratagem of the South Land； when he noticed a mighty warrior standing in the prow of the leading craft。 He was armed with a long spear； and it was Zhang Fei。
Zhang Fei also shouted； 〃Sister…in…law！ Leave the child lord。〃
Zhang Fei had been out scouting when he heard the news of his sister…in…law's sudden departure； and he at once made for the River Yu with the intention of intercepting her flight。 He had arrived just in the nick of time to cut off the ships of the South Land。 Very soon； sword in hand； he had boarded the vessel。 As Zhang Fei came on board； Zhou Shan drew his sword and advanced toward him； but one sweep of Zhang Fei's blade laid him on the deck dead。 And the grim warrior hung his head at the feet of Lady Sun。
〃Why this very unseemly behavior？〃 cried Lady Sun； now quite frightened。
〃Sister；〃 said Zhang Fei； 〃you thought very little of my brother when you set out on this mad journey。 That was behaving rudely。〃
〃My mother is very ill。 It is a matter of life and death；〃 cried she。 〃If I had waited for your brother's permission to go； I should have been too late。 If you do not let me go now； I will throw myself into the river。〃
Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei took counsel together。 They said to each other； 〃It is hardly the correct thing for servants to force their lord's wife into mitting suicide。 Suppose we keep the child and let the vessel go。〃
Then they said； 〃O Lady； we cannot allow the wife of our exalted brother to die a death of shame； and so we will take our leave。 We trust you will not forget our brother and that you will return quickly。〃
Taking the child with them； they left the vessel； and the five ships of the South Land continued their voyage down stream。 One poet has praised the conduct of Zhao Yun：
Before； Zhao Yun saved Liu Shan；
What time his mother died；
Again like service he performs；
Upon the Great River's tide。
The soldiers of Wu all in the ship；
Were stricken down with fear
Search all the world； you never find
Of bold Zhao Yun the peer。
Another has eulogized Zhang Fei：
At Long Slope Bridge；
With rage Zhang Fei boiled；
Like wild beast roared；
And warriors recoiled。
From danger now
His prince is saved。
On history's page
His name is graved。
Quite satisfied with their success； the two warriors sailed homeward。 Before they had gone far； they met Zhuge Liang with a squadron of ships。 He was very pleased to find they had recovered the child； and they three joyfully returned to Jingzhou； whence an account of the whole adventure was written to Liu Bei。
When Lady Sun reached her home； she related the story of the death of Zhou Shan and the carrying off of the child。 Naturally Sun Quan was very wrath at the miscarriage of his scheme； and he resolved to attack Jingzhou in revenge for his messenger's murder。
〃Now that my sister has returned home； there is no longer any family tie to prevent the attack； and I will take full measure of revenge for the death of my general；〃 said Sun Quan。
So he called the council to consider the expedition。
But before they could decide upon any plan； their deliberations were suddenly cut short by the news that Cao Cao was ing down upon the South Land with four hundred thousand troops； burning to avenge his defeat at the Red Cliffs。 All thoughts now turned toward repelling his attack。
Adviser Zhang Hong； who had retired to his home ill； had just died； and his testament was sent to his lord to read。 Therein he advised Sun Quan：
〃My lord； the seat of government should be removed to the old land of Moling； where the scenery seems to bear the impress of kingly dignity； befitting a person who cherishes the ambition of founding an enduring dynasty。〃
Sun Quan read this document out to his councilors at this meeting； not without many tears in memory of the writer。
He told them； saying； 〃Zhang Hong was sincere till his death。 I cannot withstand his last advice！〃
＇e＇ Jianye since then has been a southern capital of China for successive dynasties。 A beautiful place； Jianye was considered a treasure by the emperors of Yuan Dynasty （Mongol rule）。 Located near Shanghai where the Great River meets the East Sea； Jianye's modern name is Nanjing。
And Sun Quan at once gave orders to build a walled city named Shidou in Moling； and changed the name of the land to Jianye*。 Henceforth he intended to make his capital there。
As a protection against Cao Cao； Admiral Lu Meng proposed building a rampart at River Ruxu。
Some other officers opposed this； saying； 〃When the enemy appears； you will have to land in order to attack him； and after that you will return to your ships。 What is the use of a rampart？〃
Lu Meng replied； 〃One must prepare against possibilities。 Soldiers vary in keenness and sometimes lose battles。 If an urgent occasion arises； the soldiers may be unable to reach the water's edge； and how then are they to embark？ They will then need shelter。〃
＇e＇ Duke of Zhou was brother of King Wu； who was the founder of Zhou Dynasty。 After King Wu's death； the Duke of Zhou served his young son as regent。 The Duke of Zhou pletely ended the Shang domination； and he helped establish the Zhou administrative framework； which served as a model for future Chinese dynasties。 Zhou Dynasty lasted for 800 years （BC 1050…221）。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Lu Wang was a master strategist； founding minister of Zhou Dynasty； counselor to King Wen。 Before joining King Wen； Lu Wang had been a fisher； who mediated on the river bank on political events。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Wei was a state in the Warring States period。 Wei came into existence after the partition of Jin。 Succeeded Jin in dominating the empire for some time。 。。。。。
Sun Quan said； 〃Provision against eventualities； such as he proposes； is good。 Against a distant risk provide； and sorrow walks not by your side。〃
So they sent soldiers to build ramparts at River Ruxu； and as the work ceased not day or night the wall was soon pleted。
In the capital Cao Cao's influence and glory waxed daily greater。 High Counselor Dong Zhao proposed that the title of duke should be conferred upon him。
Dong Zhao said； 〃In all history； no one has rendered such services as you have； O Prime Minister； not even Duke of Zhou* or Lu Wang*。 These thirty years you have exposed yourself to all risks； been bed by the wind and bathed by the rain； and you have swept evil from the empire； succored the distressed； and restored the Hans。 Who of all statesmen can rank with you？ It would be fitting for you to bee the Duke of Wei* and receive the Nine Dignities； that your merit and virtue be known to all。〃
Now the Nine Dignities； or signs of honor； were：
1。 Chariots： Gilded chariots drawn by eight horses
2。 Court dresses： Dragon…embroidered robes； headdresses； and shoes
3。 Music at banquets： By royal bands
4。 Red doors： Symbols of wealth
5。 Inner staircase： Protection for every step
6。 Imperial Tiger Guard： Three hundred at the gates
7。 Imperial axes： manding and ceremonial symbols
8。 Bow and arrows： Red…lacquered bow with a hundred arrows
9。 Libation vessels： Jade tablets and libation cups
However； all the courtiers were not of one mind。
Said High Adviser Xun Yu； 〃This should not be done； O Prime Minister。 You raised a force by an appeal to the innate sense of righteousness of the people； and with that force you restored the Han authority。 Now you should remain loyal and humble。 The virtuous person loves people with a virtuous love and would not act in this way。〃
Cao Cao did not take this opposition kindly。
Dong Zhao said； 〃How can we disappoint the hopes of many because of the words of one？〃
So a memorial went to the Throne； and Cao Cao's ambitions and desires were gratified with the title of Duke of Wei。 The Nine Dignities were added。
〃I did not think to see this day！〃 said Xun Yu； sighing。
This remark was repeated to the newly created Duke and angered him。 He took it to mean that Xun Yu would no longer aid him or favor his designs。
＇e＇ In previous campaigns； Cao Cao always left Xun Yu at the capital and appointed Xun Yu Court Administrator； who managed Cao Cao's affair in his absence。
In the winter of the seventeenth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity （AD 212）； Cao Cao decided to send an army to conquer the South Land； and he ordered Xun Yu to go with it*。 Xun Yu understood from this that Cao Cao wished his death； so he declined the appointment on the plea of illness。 While Xun Yu was at home； he received one day a box such as one sent with presents of dainties。 It was addressed in Cao Cao's own handwriting。 Opening it； Xun Yu found therein nothing。 He understood； so he took poison and died。 He was fifty…two years of age。
Xun Yu's talents were to all people known；
That was sad that at the door of power he tripped。
Posterity is wrong to class him with the noble Zhang Liang；
For； nearing death； he dared not face his lord of Han。
News of Xun Yu's death came to Cao Cao in the form of the ordinary letter of mourning by his son； Xun Yun。 Then Cao Cao was sorry and gave orders for an imposing funeral。 He also obtained for the dead man the posthumous title of lordship。
The northern army reached River Ruxu； whence Cao Cao sent a reconnaissance of thirty thousand troops led by Cao Hong down to the river。
Soon Cao Hong reported： 〃The enemy's fleet blankets the river； but no sign of movements。〃
Feeling suspicious；