shout； 〃If the owner of this had not fled； he would have been stabbed to death！〃
On the other side they hung out Sun Ce's helmet； and the soldiers shouted back； 〃Sun Ce's head is here already！〃
Both sides thus yelled defiance at each other； one side boasting； the other bragging。 Then Taishi Ci rode out challenging Sun Ce to a duel to the death； and Sun Ce would have accepted。
But Cheng Pu said； 〃My lord should not trouble himself。 I will take him。〃
And Cheng Pu rode forth。
〃You are no antagonist for me；〃 said Taishi Ci。 〃Tell your master to e out。〃
This incensed Cheng Pu； who rode at his opponent； and they two fought thirty bouts。 The duel was stopped by the gongs of Liu Yao。
〃Why did you sound the retreat？〃 said Taishi Ci。 〃I was just going to capture the wretch。〃
〃Because I have just heard that Que has been captured。 Zhou Yu led a surprise force thither； and Chen Wu was in league with him to betray the city。 We have no home now。 I will hasten to Moling to get the help of Xue Li and Ze Rong to retake the city。〃
The army retired； Taishi Ci with it； without being pursued。
On the other side Zhang Zhao said to Sun Ce； 〃Zhou Yu's attack is the cause of this move； they are in no mood to fight。 A night raid on their camp would finish them。〃
The army was divided into five divisions for the night surprise and hastened toward the camp where they scored a victory。 Their opponents scattered in all directions。 Taishi Ci alone made a determined stand； and as he could not withstand a whole army； he fled with ten horsemen to Jingxian。
Now Sun Ce acquired a new adherent in the person of Chen Wu。 He was a soldier of middle height； sallow of plexion and red eye； an odd looking man。 But Sun Ce held him in high esteem； appointed him mander； and put him in the van of the attack on Xue Li。 As Van Leader； Chen Wu and a dozen horsemen made a dash into the enemy's formation； where they slew half a hundred men。 So Xue Li would not fight but remained within his defenses。 As Sun Ce was attacking the city； a spy came in with the news that Liu Yao and Ze Rong had gone to attack Niuzhu； which made Sun Ce move thither in haste。 His two opponents were ready for battle。
〃I am here！〃 said Sun Ce； 〃You had better give in。〃
A general came out from behind Liu Yao to accept the challenge。 It was Yu Mi。 But in the third bout Sun Ce made him prisoner and carried him off to the other side。 Seeing his colleague thus captured； Fan Neng rode out to the rescue and got quite close。 But just as he was going to thrust； all Sun Ce's soldiers shouted； 〃There is a man behind you going to strike secretly！〃
At this Sun Ce turned and shouted so thunderously loud that Fan Neng fell out of his saddle from mere fright。 He split his skull and died。 When Sun Ce reached his standard； he threw his prisoner to the ground。 And Yu Mi was also dead； crushed to death between the arm and the body of his captor。 So in a few moments Sun Ce had disposed of two enemies； one crushed to death and one frightened to death。 Thereafter Sun Ce was called the Little Prince。
Liu Yao had a defeat。 The greater portion of his force surrendered； and the number of those slain exceeded ten thousand。 Liu Yao himself fled to Yuzhang and sought safety with Liu Biao； Imperial Protector of Jingzhou。
An attack on Moling was the next move。 As soon as Sun Ce arrived at the moat； he summoned mander Xue Li to surrender。 Someone let fly a furtive arrow from the wall which wounded Sun Ce in the left thigh so severely that he fell from his steed。 Hastily his officers picked up their wounded chief and returned to the camp where the arrow was pulled out and the wound dressed with the medicines suitable for injuries by metals。
By Sun Ce's mand the story was spread abroad that the hurt had been fatal； and all the soldiers set up cries of lamentation。 The camp was broken up。 Xue Li； Zhang Ying； and Chen Heng made a night sortie but fell into a carefully prepared ambush。
Presently Sun Ce himself appeared on horseback； shouting： 〃Sun Ce is here still！〃
His sudden appearance created such a panic that the soldiers dropped their weapons and fell on their faces。 Sun Ce gave orders not to kill them。 But their leaders fell： Zhang Ying from Chen Wu's spear thrust as he turned to run away； Chen Heng was killed by Jiang Qin's arrow； and the mander； Xue Li； was slain in the turbulence。 Thus Sun Ce got possession of Moling。 Having calmed the people； he sent his soldiers away to Jingxian； where Taishi Ci was in mand。
Taishi Ci had assembled two thousand veterans in addition to his own troops for the purpose of avenging his master。 Sun Ce and Zhou Yu on the other hand consulted how to capture him alive。
Zhou Yu planned； 〃Attack the city on three sides； leaving the east gate free for flight。 Some distance off an ambush shall be prepared； when Taishi Ci； his men fatigued and horses spent； shall fall an easy victim。〃
The latest recruits under Taishi Ci's banner were mostly hillmen and unaccustomed to discipline。 Beside； the walls of the city were pitiably low。 One night Sun Ce ordered Chen Wu to strip off his long dress； leave his arms save a dagger； clamber up the ramparts； and set fire to the city。 Seeing the flames spreading； Taishi Ci made for the east gate and； as soon as he got outside； Sun Ce followed in pursuit。 The pursuit was maintained for some fifteen miles when the pursuers stopped。
Taishi Ci went on as long as possible； finally halting to rest in a spot surrounded by reeds。 Suddenly a tremendous shouting arose。 Taishi Ci was just starting when tripping ropes arose all round； his horse was thrown and he found himself a prisoner。
Taishi Ci was taken back to camp。 As soon as Sun Ce heard the news； he himself rode out to order the guards to leave the prisoner； whose bonds he loosened with his own hands。 Then he took off his own embroidered robe and put it on the captive。 They entered the camp together。
〃I knew you were a real hero；〃 said Sun Ce。 〃That worm Liu Yao had no use for such as you； and so he got beaten。〃
Taishi Ci； overe by this kindness and good treatment； then formally surrendered。
Sun Ce seized his hand and said； laughing； 〃If you had taken me at that fight we had near the shrine； would you have killed me？〃
〃Who can say？〃 said Taishi Ci smiling。
Sun Ce laughed also and they entered his tent； where Taishi Ci was placed in the seat of honor at a banquet。
Taishi Ci said； 〃Can you trust me so far as to let me go to muster as many as I can of the soldiers of my late master？ Under the smart of this defeat they will turn against him； and they would be a great help to you。〃
〃Exactly what I most desire。 I will make an agreement with you that at midday tomorrow you will return。〃
Taishi Ci agreed and went off。 All the generals said he would never return。
〃He is trustworthy and will not break his word；〃 said the chief。
None of the officers believed he would e back。 But the next day they set up a bamboo rod in the gate of the camp； and just as the shadow marked noon Taishi Ci returned； bringing with him about a thousand troops。 Sun Ce was pleased； and his officers had to confess that he had rightly judged his man。
Sun Ce thus marched his army to the South Land； and his enemies fled or surrendered before his force。 He had now several legions and the southeast of the Great River was his。 He improved the conditions of the people and maintained order so that his adherents and supporters daily increased。 He was called Sun Ce the Bright。
When Sun Ce's army approached； the people used to flee in terror； but when it had arrived and they saw that no one was permitted to loot and not the least attempt was made on their houses； they rejoiced and presented the soldiers with oxen and wine； for which they were in turn duly rewarded。 Gladness filled the country side。 The soldiers who had followed Liu Yao were kindly treated。 Those who wished to join Sun Ce's army did so； those who preferred not to be soldiers were sent home with presents。 And thus Sun Ce won the respect and praise of everyone and became very powerful。
Sun Ce then settled his mother and the remainder of the family in Que； setting his brother； Sun Quan； and Zhou Tai over the city of Xuancheng。 Then he headed an expedition to the south to reduce Wujun。
＇e＇ Wu was a state in the Spring and Autumn period。 Located southeast in the Great River Plain （the South Land）。 Became dominant in BC 506； when her army defeated Chu under the leadership of Wu Qi。 。。。。。
At that time there was a certain Yan Baihu； or the White Tiger； who styled himself King of East Wu* and ruled over Wujun。 His armies stationed at Wucheng and Jiaxing。 Hearing of Sun Ce's approach； Yan Baihu sent his brother； Yan Yu； with an army against Sun Ce； and they met at Maple Bridge。
Yan Yu； sword in hand； took his stand on the bridge； and this was reported to Sun Ce； who prepared to accept the challenge。
Zhang Hong tried to dissuade him； saying； 〃For as much as my lord's fate is bound up with that of the army； he should not risk a conflict with a mere robber。 I wish that you should remember your own value。〃
〃Your words； O Wise One； are as gold and precious stones； but I fear that my soldiers will not carry out my mands unless I myself share their dangers。〃
However； Sun Ce sent forth Han Dang to take up the challenge。 Just as Han Dang reached the bridge； Jiang Qin and Chen Wu； who had dropped down the river in a small boat； passed under the bridge。 Though the arrows fell in clouds on the bank； the two men rushed up and fiercely attacked Yan Yu as he stood on the bridge。 Yan Yu fled and Han Dang went in pursuit。 But Yan Yu smote up to the west gate of the city into which he entered。
Sun Ce laid siege to Wujun both by land and water。 For three days no one came out to offer battle。 Then at the head of his army； Sun Ce came to the west gate and summoned the warden。 An officer of inconsiderable rank came out and stood with one hand resting on a beam while with the other he gave point to his abuse of those below。 Quickly Taishi Ci's hands sought his bow and an arrow was on the string。
〃See me hit that fellow's hand；〃 said he； turning to his panions。
Even as the sound of his voice died away； the bowstring twanged； the arrow sped and lodged in the beam； firmly pinning thereto the officer's hand。 Both sides； those on the wall and those below it； marveled and acclaimed at such marksmanship。
The wounded man was taken away。
When Yan Baihu the White Tiger heard of the exploit； he said； 〃How can we hope to withstand an army with such leaders as this in it？〃
And his thoughts turned toward a peace。 He sent his brother Yan Yu out to see Sun Ce； who received him civilly； invited him into the tent； and set wine before him。
〃And what does your brother propose？〃 said Sun Ce。
〃He is willing to share this region with you；〃 was the reply。
〃The rat！ How dare he put himself on a level with me？〃 cried Sun Ce。
Sun Ce manded to put the messenger to death。 Yan Yu started up and drew his sword； but out flew Sun Ce's blade； and the unhappy messenger fell to the ground。 His head was hacked off and sent into the city to his brother。
This had its effect。 Yan Baihu saw resistance was hopeless； so he abandoned Wujun and fled。 Sun Ce pressed the attack。 Huang Gai captured Jiaxing； and Taishi Ci took Wucheng。 Several other southern cit