〃Now that you have e； the design is as good as acplished；〃 said Sun Ce。
Zhou Yu was introduced to Zhu Zhi and Lu Fan。
Zhou Yu said； 〃Do you know of the two Zhangs of Guangling？ They would be most useful people in working out your schemes。〃
〃Who are they； the two Zhangs？〃 said Sun Ce。
〃They are men of transcendent genius who are living near here for the sake of tranquillity in these turbulent times。 Their names are Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong。 Why not invite them to help you； brother？〃
Sun Ce lost no time in sending letters and gifts； but they both declined。 Then he visited them in person； was greatly pleased with their speech and by dint of large gifts and much persuasion； got them to promise to join him。 Sun Ce appointed them both Counselors and Generals。
The plan of the attack upon Yangzhou Region was the next matter for discussion。 The Imperial Protector； Liu Yao； was of Donglai； a scion of the imperial family and brother of the Imperial Protector of Yanzhou； Liu Dai。 Liu Yao had long ruled in Yangzhou and headquartered in Shouchun。 But Yuan Shu had forced him to flee to the southeast of the Great River。 He retired to Que and now was battling with Wu Jing in Linyang。
Hearing of the meditated attack on him； Liu Yao summoned his generals to take counsel。
Said General Zhang Ying； 〃I will take an army and entrench at Niuzhu。 No army can get past that； whatever its strength。〃
Zhang Ying was interrupted by another who shouted； 〃And let me lead the van！〃
All eyes turned to this man。 It was Taishi Ci who； after helping Kong Rong raise the siege of Beihai； had e to serve Liu Yao。
Hearing him offer to undertake the hazardous post of van leader； Liu Yao said； 〃But you are still young and not yet equal to such a charge。 Rather stay by my side and await my orders。〃
Taishi Ci withdrew in disappointment。
Soon Zhang Ying led his army to Niuzhu； where the stores of grain located。 When Sun Ce approached； Zhang Ying went to meet him； and the two armies faced each other above the Bullock Rapid。 Zhang Ying roundly abused his opponent； and Huang Gai rode out to attack him。 But before the bat had proceeded far； there arose an alarm of fire in Zhang Ying's camp。 Zhang Ying turned back； and then Sun Ce advanced in full force； pelling the enemy to abandon their possession。 The defeated general fled to the hills。
Now the incendiaries who had brought about this result were two； named Jiang Qin from Shouchun and Zhou Tai from Jiujiang； who in these turbulent times had got together a band of kindred spirits and lived by plundering the country along the Great River。 They knew Sun Ce by reputation as a man who treated able people very liberally and wished to join him。 So they came with their band； three hundred strong； and helped him in this way as an introduction。 Sun Ce weled them and gave the leaders rank。 After taking possession of the stores of all kinds abandoned by the runaways； and enlisting four thousand of those who surrendered into his own ranks； Sun Ce moved forward to attack Shenting。
After his defeat Zhang Ying returned to his master and told his misfortune。 Liu Yao was going to punish his failure by death； but listened to his advisers； who asked for mercy for the unfortunate man； and sent him to mand the garrison in Lingling。 Liu Yao himself set out to meet the invaders。 He camped south of the Sacred Hills。 Sun Ce camped on the opposite side of the hills。
Sun Ce inquired the natives； 〃Is there a temple of Liu Xiu the Founder of Latter Hans in the vicinity？〃
They said； 〃There is a temple to the south on the summit of the hills。〃
〃I dreamed last night that Liu Xiu called me； so I will go and pray there；〃 said Sun Ce。
But Counselor Zhang Zhao advised； 〃My lord； you should not go as the enemy is on the other side； and you may fall into an ambush。〃
〃The spirit will help me： What need I fear？〃
So Sun Ce put on his armor； took his spear and mounted； taking with him twelve of his manders as an escort。 They rode up the hills； dismounted； burned incense； and they all bowed in the shrine。
Then Sun Ce knelt and made a vow； saying； 〃If I； Sun Ce； succeed in my task and restore the authority of my late father； then will I restore this temple and order sacrifices at the four seasons。〃
When they had remounted； Sun Ce said； 〃I am going to ride along the ridge and reconnoiter the enemy's position。〃
His manders begged him to refrain； but he was obstinate； and they rode there together； noting the villages below。
A soldier of the other side going along a bye road quickly reported the presence of horsemen on the ridge； and Liu Yao said； 〃It is certainly Sun Ce trying to inveigle us to battle。 But do not go out。〃
Taishi Ci jumped up； saying； 〃What better chance to capture him？〃
So； without orders he armed himself and rode through the camp； crying； 〃If there be any valiant men among you； follow me！〃
No one moved save a subaltern who said； 〃He is a brave man； and I will go with him。〃
So he also went。 The others only laughed at the pair。
Now having seen all he wished； Sun Ce thought it time to return and wheeled round his horse。 But when he was going over the summit； someone shouted； 〃Stay； Sun Ce！〃
Sun Ce turned。 Two horsemen were ing at full speed down the next hill。 Sun Ce halted and drew up his little escort right and left； he himself with his spear ready。
〃Which is Sun Ce？〃 shouted Taishi Ci。
〃Who are you？〃 was the reply。
〃I； Taishi Ci of Laihuang； e to take him prisoner。〃
〃Then I am he；〃 said Sun Ce； laughing。 〃e both of you together。 I am not afraid of you。 If I were； I should not be Sun Ce！〃
〃You and all your crowd e on； and I will not blench！〃 cried Taishi Ci putting his horse at a gallop and setting his spear。
Sun Ce braced himself for the shock； and the battle began。 Fifty bouts were fought and still neither batant had the advantage。 Sun Ce's manders whispered to each other their admiration and amazement。 Taishi Ci saw that the spearmanship of his opponent showed no weak point whereby he could gain the advantage； so he decided to resort to guile。 Feigning defeat he would lead Sun Ce to pursue。 Taishi Ci however did not retire along the road by which he had e； but took a path leading around the hill instead of over it。 His antagonist followed； shouting； 〃He who retreats is no worthy soldier！〃
But Taishi Ci thought within himself； 〃He has twelve others at his back and I only one。 If I capture him； the others will retake him。 I will inveigle him into some secret spot and then try。〃
So flying and fighting by turns he led Sun Ce； an eager pursuer； down to the plain。 Here Taishi Ci suddenly wheeled about and attacked。 Again they exchanged half a hundred bouts； without result。 Then Sun Ce made a fierce thrust； which his opponent evaded by gripping the spear under his arm； while he himself did the same with his opponent's spear。 Neither was wounded but each exerting his utmost strength to pull the other out of the saddle they both came to the ground。
Their steeds galloped off they knew not whither； while the two men； each dropping his spear； began a hand to hand struggle。 Soon their fighting robes were in tatters。 Sun Ce gripped the short lance that Taishi Ci carried at his back； while Taishi Ci tore off Sun Ce's helmet。 Sun Ce t