Ling Tong turned to his rival and bowed low。
〃I could not have supposed you would have rendered me such a service； Sir；〃 said he to Gan Ning。
This episode ended the strife and enmity between the two leaders； who thereafter swore perpetual friendship。
On the other side Cao Cao saw to it that Yue Jing's wound was dressed。 Next day he launched an attack against Ruxu along five different lines。 He himself led one army in the center； on the left Zhang Liao and Li Dian led two armies； on the right Xu Huang and Pang De manded the other two。 Each army was ten thousand strong； and they marched to give battle on the river bank。 The crews and fighting troops of the South Land's naval squadron were greatly frightened by the approach of these armies。
〃You have eaten the bread of your prince； and you must give loyal service。 Why fear？〃 said Xu Sheng。
Thereupon he put some hundreds of his best men into small boats； went along the bank； and broke into the legion under Li Dian。 Meanwhile Dong Xi on the ships beat drums and cheered them on。 But a great storm came on； lashing the river to fury； and the waves rolled mountains high。 The larger ships rolled as if they would overturn； and the soldiers of Wu were frightened。 They started to get down into the bulkier cargo…boats to save their lives。 But Dong Xi threatened them with his sword； cutting down some half score of the mutineers。
〃My orders are to hold this point against the enemy；〃 shouted he。 〃We dare not abandon the ships！〃
However； the wind increased； and presently the bold Dong Xi was thrown into the river by the rolling of his ship and was drowned； together with his men。
Xu Sheng dashed hither and thither among Li Dian's army； slaying right and left。 Chen Wu； hearing the noise of battle； set out for the river bank。 On his way Chen Wu met Pang De and the legion under him。 A melee ensued。 Then Sun Quan with Zhou Tai and his troops joined in。
The small force from the ships that had attacked Li Dian was now surrounded。 So Sun Quan gave the signal for an onslaught that should rescue them。 This failed； and Sun Quan was himself surrounded in turn and soon in desperate straits。 From a height； Cao Cao saw his difficulties and sent in Xu Chu to cut Sun Quan's column in halves so that neither half could aid the other。
When Zhou Tai had cut an alley out of the press and reached the riverside； he looked for his master。 But Sun Quan was nowhere visible； so Zhou Tai dashed once again into the battle。
ing to his own troops； he cried； 〃Where is our lord？〃
They pointed to where the press was most dense。 Zhou Tai stiffened and dashed in。
Presently he reached his lord's side and cried out； 〃My lord； follow me； and I will hack a way out！〃
Zhou Tai fought his way out to the river bank。 Then he turned to look； and Sun Quan was not behind him。 So he turned back； forced his way in； and once again found his way to his master's side。
〃I cannot get out。 The arrows are too thick！〃 said Sun Quan。
〃Then go first； my lord； and I will follow！〃
Sun Quan then urged his steed as fast as he could go； and Zhou Tai kept off all pursuit。 Zhou Tai sustained many wounds and the arrows rattled on his helmet； but he got clear at last and Sun Quan was safe。 As they neared the river bank； Lu Meng came up with some of the naval force and escorted Sun Quan down to the ships。
〃I owe my safety to Zhou Tai； who thrice came to my aid；〃 said Sun Quan。 〃But Xu Sheng is still in the thick of the fight； and how can we save him？〃
〃I will go to his rescue；〃 cried Zhou Tai。
Whirling his spear； Zhou Tai again plunged into the battle and presently brought his colleague safely out of the press。 Both were severely wounded。
Lu Meng ordered his troops to keep up a rapid flight of arrows so as to mand the bank； and in this way the two leaders were enabled to get on board the ships。
Now Chen Wu had engaged the legion under Pang De。 Being inferior in force and no aid being forthing； Chen Wu was forced into a valley where the trees and undergrowth were very dense。 He tried to turn； but was caught by the branches； and while so entangled he was killed by Pang De。
When Cao Cao saw that Sun Quan had escaped from the battle to the river bank； he urged his steed forward in pursuit。 He sent flights of arrows toward the fugitives。 By this time Lu Meng's troops had emptied their quivers； and he began to be very anxious。 But just then a fleet of ships sailed up led by Lu Xun； the son…in…law of Sun Ce； who came with one hundred thousand marines and drove back Cao Cao's army。 Then he landed to pursue。 He captured many thousands of horses and slew many men； so that Cao Cao was quite defeated and retired。 Then they sought and found the body of Chen Wu among the slain。
Sun Quan was much grieved when he came to know that Chen Wu had been slain and Dong Xi drowned； and wept sore。 Men were sent to seek for Dong Xi's body； which at last was found。 Both generals were buried with great honors。
As a repense for Zhou Tai's services in Sun Quan's rescue； Sun Quan prepared in his honor a great banquet； where Sun Quan himself offered Zhou Tai a goblet of wine and plimented and embraced him while the tears coursed down his cheeks。
〃Twice you saved my life； careless of your own；〃 cried Sun Quan； 〃and you have received many wounds。 It is as if your skin had been engraved and painted。 What sort of a man should I be if I did not treat you as one of my own flesh and blood？ Can I regard you； Noble Sir； merely as a unit in my army？ You are my meritorious minister。 I share the glory you have won and mine are your joys and sorrows。〃
Then Sun Quan bade Zhou Tai open his dress and exhibit his wounds for all the assembly to see。 The skin was gashed all over as if his body had been scored with a knife。 Sun Quan pointed to the wounds； one after another； and asked how each one had been received。 And； as Zhou Tai told him； for every wound Sun Quan made him drink off a goblet of wine till he became thoroughly intoxicated。 Sun Quan then presented him with a green silk parasol and bade him use it on all occasions as a sign of the glory that was his。
But Sun Quan found his opponents too stable。 At the end of a month the two armies were both at Ruxu and neither had won a victory。
Then said Zhang Zhao and Gu Yong； 〃Cao Cao is too strong； and we cannot overe him by mere force。 If the struggle continues longer； you will only lose more soldiers。 You had better seek to make peace。〃
Sun Quan followed this advice and dispatched Bu Zhi on a peace mission to Cao Cao's camp。 Sun Quan offered a yearly tribute。 Cao Cao also saw that the South Land was too strong to be overe； and consented。
Cao Cao insisted； 〃The Marquis should first send away his army； and then I would retire。〃
Bu Zhi returned with this message； and Sun Quan sent away the greater part； leaving only Zhou Tai and Jiang Qin to hold Ruxu。 The army returned to Capital Jianye。
Cao Cao left Cao Ren and Zhang Liao in charge of Hefei； and he marched the army back to Capital Xuchang。
On arrival； all Cao Cao's officers； military and civil； persuaded him to bee Prince of Wei。 Only the Chair of the Secretariat； Cui Yan； spoke strongly against the scheme。
〃You are； then； the only man who knows not the fate of Xun Yu；〃 said his colleagues。
〃Such times！ Such deeds！〃 cried Cui Yan。 〃You are guilty of rebellion； but you may mit it yourselves。 I will bear no part in it。〃
Certain enemies told Cao Cao； and Cui Yan was thrown into prison。 At his trial he glared like a tiger； and his very beard curled with contempt。 He raged and cursed at Cao Cao for a betrayer of his prince； and a rebel。 The interrogating magistrate reported his conduct to Cao Cao； who ordered Cui Yan to be beaten to death in prison。
Cui Yan of Qinghe；
Firm and unyielding was he；
With beard crisp curling and gleaming eyes；
Which showed the man of stone and iron within。
He drove the evil from his presence；
And his glory is fair and high。
For loyalty to his lord of Han；
His fame shall increase as the ages roll。
In the twenty…first year of Rebuilt Tranquillity （216）； in the fifth month of that year； a great memorial signed by many officers went up to Emperor Xian； praying：
＇e＇ Yi Yin was was helper and prime minister of King Tang； the founder of Shang Dynasty。 After King Tang's death； Yi Yin served his sons and grandson。 Soon after Tai Jia； King Tang's grandson； ascended the throne； he mitted many faults； and Yi Yin； acting as regent； exiled Tai Jia to Tong Palace………the burial place of King Tang。 After three years Yi Yin returned him the throne。 Tai Jia eventually became an enlightened emperor。 Shang Dynasty lasted for 650 years （BC 1700…1050）。 It was this act of Yi Yin rather than his services in building up an empire that has made him immortal。 Whether he did right in temporarily dethroning the king was open to question； until a final verdict was rendered by Mencius who thought that his ends amply justified his means。 This historical event attests the extent of the power exercised by a prime minister in those days。 。。。。。
＇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）。 。。。。。
〃The Duke of Wei has rendered so great services that no minister before him； in Heaven as well as on Earth； not even Yi Yin* and the Duke of Zhou*； could match his manifest merits to the state。 Thus； the title of kingship should be granted to him。〃
The memorial was approved； and a draft edict was prepared by the famous Zhong Yao to make Cao Cao Prince of Wei。 Thrice Cao Cao with seeming modesty pretended to decline the honor； but thrice was his refusal rejected。 Finally he made his obeisance and was enrolled as Prince of Wei with the usual insignia and privileges； a coronet with twelve strings of beads and a chariot with gilt shafts； drawn by six steeds。 Using the formalities of the Son of God； he decorated his imperial chariot with bells and had the roads cleared when he passed along。 He built himself a Palace at Yejun。
Then he began to discuss the appointment of an heir…apparent。 His principal wife； Lady Ding； was without issue； but a concubine； Lady Liu； had borne him a son； Cao Ang； who had been killed in battle at the siege of Wancheng when Cao Cao fought against Zhang Xiu。 A second concubine； Lady Bian； had borne him four sons： Cao Pi； Cao Zhang； Cao Zhi； and Cao Xiong。 Wherefore he elevated Lady Bian to the rank of Queen of Wei in place of Lady Ding。
The third son； Cao Zhi； was very clever and a ready master of position。 Cao Cao wished him to be named the heir。
Then the eldest son； Cao Pi sought from the High Adviser Jia Xu a plan to secure his rights of primogeniture； and Jia Xu told him to do so and so。 Thereafter； whenever the father went out on any military expedition； Cao Zhi wrote fulsome panegyrics； but Cao Pi wept so copiously at bidding his father farewell that the courtiers were deeply affected and remarked that though Cao Zhi was crafty and clever； he was not so sincerely filial as Cao Pi。 Cao Pi also bought over his father's immediate attendants； who then rang the