untain stream or in a pleasantly shaded forest。 At our lord's mand； I prepared this map； and he sent me to ask your opinion。〃
〃Who advised such an arrangement？ He ought to be put to death； whoever it was！〃 cried Zhuge Liang； tapping the table at his side。
〃It is entirely our lord's own work。 No other had any hand in it；〃 said Ma Liang。
〃The life and energy of the Hans are done indeed；〃 said Zhuge Liang sorrowfully。 〃Our lord has mitted those very faults which the rules of the Art of War lay down as to be particularly avoided。 The camps are made where free movement is impossible； and nothing can save him if the enemy use fire。 Beside； what defense is possible along a two…hundred…mile front？ Disaster is at hand； and Lu Xun sees it all； which explains his obstinate refusal to e out into the open。 Go back as quickly as you can； and tell our lord that this will not do； that it must be changed at once。〃
〃But if I am too late………if Wu has already attacked and won………； what then？〃
〃The enemy will not dare to follow up their victory by a march on Chengdu。 So this capital is secure。〃
〃Why will they not？〃
〃Wei is behind their back： That is why。 Our lord will be pelled to shelter in Baidicheng。 I have already placed ten thousand troops in hiding at Fishbelly Creek。〃
〃Have you？ I have been up and down that creek three or four times without seeing a soldier。 I do not see the reason of telling lies to me；〃 said Ma Liang。
〃You will see。 Do not ask so many questions。〃
With the precious instructions which he had persuaded Zhuge Liang to draw up； Ma Liang hastened back to the imperial camp； while Zhuge Liang went to the capital to prepare a relief expedition。
The soldiers of Shu had bee slack and idle and no longer maintained adequate defense； wherefore Lu Xun perceived that his moment had arrived； and called his generals to his tent to receive orders。
〃There has been no fighting since I received our lord's mand。 I have spent the time in acquiring a knowledge of the enemy。 As a preliminary operation I want to capture a camp on the south bank。 Who volunteers？〃
Out stepped Han Dang and Zhou Tai and Ling Tong； all three at once； each crying that he wanted to be sent。 But they were sent back。 The mander…in…Chief did not want any of them。
Then he called up the junior general； Chunyu Dan； and said； 〃You will take the fourth camp on the south side。 The mander of that post is Fu Tong。 You may have five thousand troops。 I shall support you。〃
Chunyu Dan took the order and was gone。
Then Lu Xun summoned Xu Sheng and Ding Feng and said； 〃Each of you will take three thousand troops and bivouac two miles from the camp； so that if Chunyu Dan is repulsed and pursued； you can rescue him。〃
Chunyu Dan marched between the lights and reached the camp he was to capture just after the third watch。 His drums rolled； and he attacked at once。 The defenders came out led by Fu Tong； who； spear ready to thrust； rode straight toward the leader of the attack and forced him back。 Suddenly there arose the roll of other drums； and a cohort under Zhao Rong barred the way。 Chunyu Dan turned off along another road； escaping with loss of many troops。
But he was not yet safe。 Some distance farther he ran against the Mang tribesmen leader Shamo Ke。 However； Chunyu Dan avoided him also and went on his way； pursued now by three parties。 Soon he reached the spot two miles from the camp； and here the two leaders of Shu………Xu Sheng and Ding Feng………； who had been placed ready to afford succor； came out and stopped the pursuit。 When the enemy had retired； Chunyu Dan was escorted back to camp。
He was wounded； and with the arrow still undrawn he appeared before Lu Xun and apologized for his failure。
〃It was no fault of yours；〃 said the mander…in…Chief。 〃I wanted to test the force of our enemy。 My plan of attack is quite ready。〃
〃The enemy is very strong and will not be easily overe；〃 said Xu Sheng and Ding Feng。 〃We have now suffered great loss to no purpose。〃
〃This plan of mine would not hoodwink Zhuge Liang； but happily he is not here。 His absence will allow me to score a great success。〃
Then he summoned his generals to receive orders： 〃Zhu Ran is to lead the marine force。 He is to advance next day afternoon； when the southeast wind will serve。 His ships are laden with reeds and straw； which are to be used as ordered。 Han Dang is to attack the north bank； Zhou Tai the south。 Each soldier； in addition to his weapons； is to carry a bundle of straw or reeds； with sulfur and saltpeter hidden therein； and each has a piece of tinder。 They are to advance； and； when they reach the Shu camps； they are to start a conflagration。 But they are to burn only alternate camps； twenty in all； leaving the others untouched。 They are to advance and pursue the enemy until they capture Liu Bei。〃
The leaders received the orders and so set out。
The First Ruler was in his own camp； pondering over a plan to destroy the armies of Wu； when suddenly the staff that bore the great standard in front of his own tent fell over and lay on the ground。 There was no wind to account for this； so he turned to Cheng Jin and asked what it might portend。
〃It means only one thing： The troops of Wu will raid the camp tonight；〃 said Cheng Jin。
〃They will not dare after the slaughter of yesterday。〃
〃But suppose that was only a reconnaissance。 What then？〃
Just then a report came in that some troops of Wu could be seen； very far off； going along the hills eastward。
〃They are soldiers meant to put us in confusion；〃 said the First Ruler。 〃Tell the generals not to move； but let Guan Xing and Zhang Bao； with a small mounted force； go out to reconnoiter。〃
It was dusk when these two returned； and they then reported： 〃Fire is seen among the camps on the north bank。〃
The Emperor hastily bade Guan Xing go to rescue the north camps and Zhang Bao to the south to find out what was really happening。 And they started。
About the middle of the first watch the wind got up and blew strong from the east。 Then fire arose from the camp on the left of the First Ruler's own。 He was starting to extinguish this flame when another fire began in the camp on his right。 With the aid of the strong breeze both fires became fierce； and soon the trees caught。 A confused roar showed the gathering strength of the fire。 The soldiers of the burning camps were rushing into the First Ruler's own camp to escape the fire； and in their confusion they trampled on each other； so that many died。
Behind them came the troops of Wu bent on slaughter。 Ignorant of how many they might be； the First Ruler mounted and dashed for Feng Xi's camp； but that also was in flames； which seemed to rise to the very sky。 By this time flames were rising from both sides of the river； so that everything was as visible as by day。
Feng Xi leaped to his horse and fled； followed by a band of his mounted troops。 This small force ran against the soldiers of Wu under Xu Sheng。 A melee ensued； thereupon the First Ruler turned and galloped west。 Xu Sheng then left Feng Xi and went in pursuit。 Presently the Emperor saw a party of soldiers in the way and became greatly alarmed。
This was Ding Feng's army； and the First Ruler was between two foes。 In his terror he saw no possibility of safe