is at the head of a great army； one cannot get away even for a moment。 If your master would only e here； it would be very gracious on his part。〃
Mi Zhu agreed that Liu Bei might e and presently took his leave。
Then Lu Su asked Zhou Yu； 〃What is your reason for desiring Liu Bei to e？〃
〃Liu Bei is the one bold and dangerous man and must be removed。 I am taking this opportunity to persuade him to e。 When he shall be slain； a great danger will cease to threaten our interests。〃
Lu Su tried to dissuade him from this scheme； but Zhou Yu was deaf to all Lu Su said。
Zhou Yu even issued orders： 〃Arrange half a hundred executioners to be ready to hide within the lining of the tent if Liu Bei decides to e； and when I drop a cup； that will be a signal for them to fall on and slay him。〃
Mi Zhu returned and told Liu Bei that his presence was desired by Zhou Yu。 Suspecting nothing； Liu Bei at once ordered them to prepare a fast vessel to take him without loss of time。
Guan Yu was opposed to his going； saying； 〃Zhou Yu is artful and treacherous； and there is no news from Zhuge Liang。 Pray think more carefully。〃
Liu Bei replied； 〃I have joined my forces to theirs in this attack on our mon enemy。 If Zhou Yu wishes to see me and I refuse to go； it is a betrayal。 Nothing will succeed if both sides nourish suspicions。〃
〃If you have finally decided to go； then will I go with you；〃 said Guan Yu。
〃And I also；〃 cried Zhang Fei。
But Liu Bei said； 〃Let Guan Yu e with me while you and Zhao Yun keep guard。 Jian Yong will hold Exian。 I shall not be away long。〃
So leaving these orders； Liu Bei embarked with Guan Yu on a small boat。 The escort did not exceed twenty。 The light craft traveled very quickly down the river。 Liu Bei rejoiced greatly at the sight of the war vessels in tiers by the bank； the soldiers in their breastplates； and all the pomp and panoply of war。 All was in excellent order。
As soon as he arrived； the guards ran to tell Zhou Yu。
〃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 S