Soon Cao Hong reported： 〃The enemy's fleet blankets the river； but no sign of movements。〃
Feeling suspicious； Cao Cao led his army to the river to watch the enemy and deploy his troops。 On the river he saw displayed a fleet of ships all arranged in admirable order； the divisions being marked by distinctive flags。 The equipment glittered in the sunlight。 In the center was a large ship whereon was a huge umbrella； and beneath the shade sat Sun Quan in the midst of his staff。
〃That is the sort of son to have；〃 said Cao Cao in admiration； 〃not such piglets and puppies as Liu Biao's。〃
Suddenly； at the explosion of a bomb； the ships got under way and came flying toward him； while a force moved out of River Ruxu。 Cao Cao's soldiers at once retired in great haste。 A pany led by the green…eyed； purple…bearded Sun Quan made straight for Cao Cao； who hastily retreated。 But Cao Cao was sore pressed by other Sun Quan's manders； Han Dang and Zhou Tai； and it had gone hard with him but that Xu Chu came to his rescue and fought with the troops of the South Land till his master could escape。 Xu Chu fought some score bouts before he could draw off and return to his own aide。
When Cao Cao returned to camp； he conferred rich rewards upon his henchman who had saved him； and he reprimanded his other leaders for their too hasty retirement。
〃You blunt the keen spirits of the army。 And if you do such a thing again； I will put you to death；〃 said Cao Cao。
About midnight that night there arose great motion at the gates of the camp。 When Cao Cao went outside； he found that the enemy had crept up secretly and started a conflagration。 The soldiers of the South Land forced their way into the stockade and went hither and thither； slaying till morning broke。 Then Cao Cao and his army retired。
Cao Cao was greatly distressed by this misfortune。 He was sitting in his tent poring over the Book of War when Cheng Yu came in to see him。
〃O Prime Minister；〃 said Cheng Yu； 〃you who know so thoroughly the art of war； have you forgotten the maxim to strike quickly？ You had your army ready； but you postponed action and allowed your enemies to build the ramparts at River Ruxu。 Now you will find it hard to capture the place。 It would be better now to retreat on the capital and await a more propitious moment。〃
Cao Cao listened； but said nothing。 After a time Cheng Yu went away。 Cao Cao remained seated in his tent； leaning on a small table by his side。 And he fell asleep。 Suddenly he heard a sound as of a rushing stream or galloping squadrons of horse； and out of the river in front of him arose a huge red sun； so bright that his eyes were dazzled by it。 Looking up at the sky； he saw two other suns as if reflections of this one。 And as he wondered； the first sun suddenly flew up and then dropped among the hills in front of his camp with a roar like thunder。
This woke him。 He was in his tent and had been dreaming； and the sentry at his tent door was just reporting noon。
Soon he had his horse saddled and rode out； with a small escort of fifty riders； toward the spot he had seen in his dream。 As he stood gazing around him； an army of horse came along with Sun Quan at their head。 Sun Quan wore a glittering helmet and was clad in silver armor。
Seeing his chief enemy； Sun Quan showed no sign of haste or dismay； but reined in his steed on a rise。
Pointing with his whip at Cao Cao； Sun Quan said； 〃Behold the all…powerful minister who holds the Middle Land in the hollow of his hand！ He has reached the acme of wealth and good fortune and yet he is not content； but must e to encroach upon our South Land。〃
Cao Cao replied； 〃You are disobedient； and the mand of the Emperor is to exterminate you！〃
〃What words！〃 cried Sun Quan with a laugh。 〃Are you not ashamed？ Everyone knows that you control every act of the Emperor and you tyrannize over the nobles。 I am no rebel against the dynasty； but I do desire to capture you and reform the government。〃
Cao Cao grew angry at this speech and bade his generals go over and take Sun Quan prisoner。 But before they could obey； Han Dang and Zhou Tai； Chen Wu and Pan Zhang led out two armies of soldiers from left and right at the sound of beating drums； and arrows and crossbow bolts began to fall like raindrops around Cao Cao。 He turned to retire； and the archers and bowmen followed him。 However； presently appeared Xu Chu； with the Tiger Guards； who rescued Cao Cao and took him back to his camp。 The army of the South Land had scored a victory； and they marched back to River Ruxu。
Alone in his camp； Cao Cao thought； 〃This Sun Quan certainly is no ordinary man； and by the presage of the sun in my dream he will bee an emperor。〃
He began to think it would be well to retire from the expedition； only that he feared the troops of the South Land would exult over him。 So the two armies remained facing each other a whole month； fighting occasional skirmishes and battles in which victory fell sometimes to the one and sometimes to the other。
And so it went on till the new year； and the spring rains filled the watercourses to overflowing； and the soldiers were wading in deep mud。 Their sufferings were extreme； and Cao Cao became sad at heart。 At the council board his officers were divided； some being for retirement and others anxious to hold on till the warm weather。 Their chief could not make up his mind。
Then there came a messenger from the South Land bearing a letter of Sun Quan； which read：
〃You and I； O Prime Minister； are both servants of Han； but you are careless for the tranquillity of the people and think only of battle； thereby causing great suffering。 Is this conduct worthy of a kindly person？
〃But spring with its heavy rains is at hand； and you would be wise to retire while you can。 If not； you may expect a repetition of the misfortune at the Red Cliffs。 It would be well to consider this。〃
And on the back of the letter was a note in a line running thus： 〃No tranquillity for me while you live！〃
Cao Cao read the letter and laughed。
〃Sun Quan speaks the truth！〃 said he。
He rewarded the messenger and issued orders to retreat。 The Governor of Lujiang； Zhu Guang； was left to guard Huancheng。 The army marched for the capital。
Sun Quan returned to Jianye。
At a meeting of his advisers Sun Quan said； 〃Cao Cao has marched north； Liu Bei is at Jiameng Pass。 Why should I not lead the army that has just repulsed the northern forces to take Jingzhou？〃
Thereupon Zhang Zhao offered another plan； saying； 〃Do not move a soldier。 I know how to keep Liu Bei from returning to Jingzhou。〃
Cao Cao's army march away；
Sun Quan's thoughts then southward stray。
The scheme proposed by Zhang Zhao will be unfolded in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 62 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 62
Chapter 62
Taking Of River Fu Pass； Yang Huai and Gao Pei Are Slain；
Siege Of Luocheng； Huang Zhong and Wei Yan Rival。
Zhang Zhao proceeded to unfold his device： 〃If you undertake any expedition farther west； Cao Cao will undoubtedly return to the attack。 Rather write two letters； one to Liu Zhang saying that Liu Bei has leagued himself with you against the west； which will raise suspicions in the mind of Liu Zhang and cause him to attack his guest； and another letter persuading Zhang Lu to march upon Jingzhou； which will uproot Liu Bei。 Between these two conflicting matters； Liu Bei cannot give supports to all fronts； and we can march against Jingzhou。〃
Sun Quan approved； wrote the two letters； and sent them by two messengers。
In the meantime； Liu Bei had been winning the hearts of the people about Jiameng Pass； where his army lay。 When he received the news of his wife's flight and of Cao Cao's attack on Ruxu； he called in Pang Tong and laid the matter before him。
〃The victor of Ruxu； whoever it is； will assuredly possess himself of our region of Jingzhou；〃 said Liu Bei at the close。
〃You need not trouble about that region；〃 said Pang Tong。 〃I do not think the South Land or the Middle Land will try to take it so long as Zhuge Liang is there。 But； my lord； write to Liu Zhang telling him you wish to return on account of this threatening danger。 It will be a plausible excuse。 You may say that on account of Cao Cao's attack； Sun Quan has sent to you for help； and that as his country and yours are neighbors and dependent upon each other for safety you cannot refuse。 Further； you will assure him that there is no danger of any invasion by Zhang Lu。 However； we have too few troops for our purpose and insufficient grain； so you must also urge your relative to send you thirty or forty thousand of veterans and a plentiful supply of food。 He will not refuse； and with more soldiers and provisions we can do as we please。〃
Liu Bei agreed to this and sent a messenger to Chengdu。 When his messenger reached the River Fu Pass； Yang Huai and Gao Pei； who manded the garrison； already knew of the design； and the former of the two generals went with him to the city。
After reading the letter； the Imperial Protector asked Yang Huai； 〃Why did you e with the messenger？〃
〃Only because of that letter；〃 Yang Huai replied。 〃This Liu Bei； from the day he first entered Yizhou； has been trying to win over the hearts of your people by a display of kindness and virtue。 He certainly intends no good； and I think you should refuse both the troops and the supplies he asks。 To help him is like adding fuel to a fire。〃
〃We are affectionate brothers； and I must help him；〃 said the Imperial Protector。
〃Liu Bei is nothing but a vagabond swashbuckler；〃 someone cried； 〃and if you keep him here in the west； you are loosing a tiger in your household。 If you give him the troops and supplies he asks； you are adding wings to your tiger。〃
Turning whence the voice proceeded； they recognized the speaker as one Liu Ba； a native of Lingling。 His words threw the Imperial Protector into a state of doubt and hesitation。 Huang Quan also dissuaded him most earnestly； and finally Liu Zhang actually decided to send only four thousand of worn…out soldiers and a paltry supply of grain。 At the same time fresh orders enjoining a diligent watchfulness were sent to the guardians of the passes。
When Liu Bei read the letter that acpanied the Imperial Protector's miserable contribution to his strength； he was furious and cried； 〃I have been spending myself in your defense； and this is my reward！ You are mean and greedy enough to stint my supplies。 How can you expect generous service？〃
Liu Bei tore the letter to fragments and execrated the writer thereof。 The bearer of the letter fled back to the capital。
Then said Pang Tong； 〃You have hitherto laid too much stress on humanity and righteousness。 However； that is all over now； and all affection between you two is at an end； now that you have torn up that letter。〃
〃Yes。 And since that is so； what next？〃 asked Liu Bei。
〃I have three schemes ready in my mind。 You may choose which pleases you。〃
〃What are your three schemes？〃
〃The first； and best； is to send an army forthwith and seize Chengdu。 The second is to capture and put to death the two generals of the River Fu Pass。 They are the two most famous fighting men in this land。 If you give out that you are returning to Jingzhou； they will assuredly e to say farewell。 Seize and put them to death； and the Pass