asons； you are to seize and behead Zhuge Liang。 Rich reward will be given when you bring his head back。〃
Xu Sheng and Ding Feng went off on their errand； the former leading dagger and ax…men going as fast as oars could propel them along the river； the latter at the head of archers and bowmen on horseback。 The southeast wind buffeted them as they went on their way。
High was raised the Seven Stars Altar；
On it prayed the Sleeping Dragon
For an eastern wind； and straightway
Blew the wind。 Had not the wizard
Exercised his mighty magic
Nought had Zhou Yu's skill availed。
Ding Feng first arrived。 He saw the guards with their flags； dropped off his steed； and marched to the altar； sword in hand。 But he found no Zhuge Liang。
When he asked the guards； they told him； saying； 〃He has just gone down。〃
Ding Feng ran down the hill to search。 There he met his fellow Xu Sheng； and they joined forces。
Presently a simple soldier told them； saying； 〃The evening before a small； fast boat anchored there near a sand spit； and Zhuge Liang was seen to go on board。 Then the boat went up river。〃
So Xu Sheng and Ding Feng divided their party into two； one to go by water； the other by land。
Xu Sheng bade his boatmen put on all sail and take every advantage of the wind。 Before very long he saw the fugitive's boat ahead； and when near enough； stood in the prow of his own and shouted； 〃Do not flee； O Instructor of the Army！ The General requests your presence。〃
Zhuge Liang； who was seated in the stern of his boat； just laughed aloud； saying； 〃Return and tell the General to make good use of his soldiers。 Tell him I am going up river for a spell and will see him again another day。〃
〃Pray wait a little while；〃 cried Xu Sheng。 〃I have something most important to tell you！〃
〃I knew all about it； that Zhou Yu would not let me go and that he wanted to kill me。 That is why Zhao Yun was waiting for me。 You had better not approach nearer。〃
Seeing the other ship had no sail； Xu Sheng thought he would assuredly e up with it and so maintained the pursuit。
Then when he got too close； Zhao Yun fitted an arrow to the bowstring and； standing up in the stern of his boat； cried； 〃You know who I am； and I came expressly to escort the Directing Instructor。 Why are you pursuing him？ One arrow would kill you； only that would cause a breach of the peace between two houses。 I will shoot and just give you a specimen of my skill。〃
With that he shot； and the arrow whizzed overhead cutting the rope that held up the sail。 Down came the sail trailing in the water and the boat swung round。 Then Zhao Yun's boat hoisted its sail； and the fair wind speedily carried it out of sight。
On the bank stood Ding Feng。 He bade his rade e to the shore and said； 〃Zhuge Liang is too clever for anyone； and Zhao Yun is bravest of the brave。 You remember what he did at Dangyang； at the Long Slope Bridge。 All we can do is to return and report。〃
So they returned to camp and told their master about the preparations that Zhuge Liang had made to ensure safety。 Zhou Yu was indeed puzzled at the depth of his rival's insight。
〃I shall have no peace day or night while he lives；〃 said Zhou Yu。
〃At least wait till Cao Cao is done with；〃 said Lu Su。
And Zhou Yu knew Lu Su spoke wisely。
Having summoned the leaders to receive orders； first Zhou Yu gave orders to Gan Ning： 〃Take with you the false deserter Cai Zhong and his soldiers； and go along the south bank； showing the flags of Cao Cao； till you reach the Black Forest just opposite the enemy's main store of grain and forage。 Then you are to penetrate as deeply as possible into the enemy's lines and light a torch as a signal。 Cai He is to be kept in camp for another purpose。〃
The next order was： 〃Taishi Ci is to lead two thousand troops as quickly as possible to Huangzhou and cut the enemy's munications with Hefei。 When near the enemy； he is to give a signal。 If he sees a red flag； he will know that our lord； Sun Quan； is at hand with reinforcements。〃
Gan Ning and Taishi Ci had the farthest to go and started first。
Then Lu Meng was sent into the Black Forest with three thousand troops as a support to Gan Ning who was ordered to set fire to Cao Cao's depot。 A fourth party of three thousand troops was led by Ling Tong to the borders of Yiling and attack as soon as the signal from the forest was seen。 A fifth party of three thousand under Dong Xi went to Hanyang to fall upon the enemy along the River Han。 Their signal was a white flag； and a sixth division of three thousand manded by Pan Zhang would support them。
When these six parties had gone off。 Huang Gai got ready his fire ships and sent a soldier with a note to tell Cao Cao that he was ing over that evening。 Four naval squadrons were told off to support Huang Gai。
The four squadrons； each of three hundred ships； were placed under four manders： Han Dang； Zhou Tai； Jiang Qin； and Chen Wu。 Twenty fire ships preceded each fleet。 Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu went on board one of the large ships to direct the battle。 Their guards were Ding Feng and Xu Sheng。 Lu Su； Kan Ze； and the advisers were left to guard the camp。 Cheng Pu was greatly impressed with Zhou Yu's ordering of the grand attack。
Then came a messenger bearing a mandate from Sun Quan making Lu Xun Leader of the Van。 He was ordered to go to Qichun。 Sun Quan himself would support Lu Xun。 Zhou Yu also sent two mand units； one to the Western Hills to make fire signals； and the other to the Southern Hills to hoist flags。
So all being prepared they waited for dusk。
Liu Bei was at Xiakou anxiously awaiting the return of his adviser。 Then appeared a fleet； led by Liu Qi； who had e to find out how matters were progressing。
Liu Bei sent to call him to the battle tower and said； 〃The southeast wind had begun to blow； and that Zhao Yun had gone to meet Zhuge Liang。〃
Not long after a single sail was seen ing up before the wind； and Liu Bei knew it was Zhuge Liang； the Directing Instructor of the Army。
So Liu Bei and Liu Qi went down to meet the boat。 Soon the vessel reached the shore； and Zhuge Liang and Zhao Yun disembarked。
Liu Bei was very glad； and after they had inquired after each other's well…being； Zhuge Liang said； 〃There is no time to tell of any other things now。 Are the soldiers and ships ready？〃
〃They have long been ready；〃 replied Liu Bei。 〃They only await you to direct how they are to be used。〃
The three then went to the tent and took their seats。
Zhuge Liang at once began to issue orders： 〃Zhao Yun； with three thousand troops is to cross the river and go to the Black Forest by the minor road。 He will choose a dense jungle and prepare an ambush。 Tonight； after the fourth watch； Cao Cao will hurry along that way。 When half his troops have passed； the jungle is to be fired。 Cao Cao will not be wholly destroyed but many will perish。〃
〃There are two roads；〃 said Zhao Yun。 〃One leads to the southern regions and the other to Jingzhou。 I do not know by which he will e。〃
〃The south road is too dangerous。 Cao Cao will certainly pass along the Jingzhou road； so that he may get away to Xuchang。〃
Then Zhao Yun went away。
Next Zhuge Liang said to Zhang Fei； 〃You will take three thousand troops over the river to cut the road to Yiling。