第一小说网

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第117部分（第2页）

〃You　spoke　of　the　moon　paling　the　stars　and　the　raven　flying　southward　without　finding　a　resting　place。　These　are　ill…omened　words。〃

〃How　dare　you　try　to　belittle　my　endeavor？〃　cried　Cao　Cao；　very　wrathful。　And　with　that　he　smote　Liu　Fu　with　his　spear　and　slew　him。

The　assembly　broke　up；　and　the　guests　dispersed　in　fear　and　confusion。　Next　day；　when　Cao　Cao　had　recovered　from　his　drunken　bout；　he　was　very　grieved　at　what　he　had　done。　When　the　murdered　mans　son；　Liu　Xi；　came　to　crave　the　body　of　his　father　for　burial；　Cao　Cao　wept　and　expressed　his　sorrow。

〃I　am　guilty　of　your　fathers　death。　I　was　drunk　yesterday。　I　regret　the　deed　exceedingly。　Your　father　shall　be　interred　with　the　honors　of　a　minister　of　the　highest　rank。〃

Cao　Cao　sent　an　escort　of　soldiers　to　take　the　body　to　the　homeland　for　burial。

A　few　days　after；　the　two　leaders　of　the　naval　force；　Mao　Jie　and　Yu　Jin；　came　to　say　the　ships　were　all　connected　together　by　chains　as　had　been　ordered；　and　all　was　now　ready。　They　asked　for　the　mand　to　start。

Thereupon　the　leaders　of　both　land　and　naval　forces　were　assembled　on　board　a　large　ship　in　the　center　of　the　squadron　to　receive　orders。　The　various　armies　and　squadrons　were　distinguished　by　different　flags：　Mao　Jie　and　Yu　Jin　led　the　central　naval　squadron　with　yellow　flag；　Zhang　He；　the　leading　squadron；　red　flag；　Lu　Qian；　the　rear　squadron；　black　flag；　Wen　Ping；　the　left　squadron；　blue　flag；　and　Li　Tong；　the　right　squadron；　white　flag。　On　shore　Xu　Huang　manded　the　horsemen　with　red　flag；　Li　Dian；　the　vanguard；　black　flag；　Yue　Jing；　the　left　wing；　blue　flag；　and　Xiahou　Yuan；　the　right　wing；　white　flag。　Xiahou　Dun　and　Cao　Hong　were　in　reserve；　and　the　general　staff　was　under　the　leadership　of　Xu　Chu　and　Zhang　Liao。　The　other　leaders　were　ordered　to　remain　in　camps；　but　ready　for　action。

All　being　ready；　the　squadron　drums　beat　the　roll　thrice；　and　the　ships　sailed　out　under　a　strong　northwest　wind　on　a　trial　cruise。　When　they　got　among　the　waves；　they　were　found　to　be　as　steady　and　immovable　as　the　dry　land　itself。　The　northern　soldiers　showed　their　delight　at　the　absence　of　motion　by　capering　and　flourishing　their　weapons。　The　ships　moved　on；　the　squadrons　keeping　quite　distinct。　Fifty　light　cruisers　sailed　to　and　fro　keeping　order　and　urging　progress。

Cao　Cao　watched　his　navy　from　the　mand　Terrace　and　was　delighted　with　their　evolutions　and　maneuvers。　Surely　this　meant　plete　victory。　He　ordered　the　recall　and　the　squadrons　returned　in　perfect　order　to　their　base。

Then　Cao　Cao　went　to　his　tent　and　summoned　his　advisers。

He　said；　〃If　Heaven　had　not　been　on　my　side；　should　I　have　got　this　excellent　plan　from　the　Young　Phoenix？　Now　that　the　ships　are　attached　firmly　to　each　other；　one　may　traverse　the　river　as　easily　as　walking　on　firm　earth。〃

〃The　ships　are　firmly　attached　to　each　other；〃　said　Cheng　Yu；　〃but　you　should　be　prepared　for　an　attack　by　fire　so　that　they　can　scatter　to　avoid　it。〃

The　General　laughed。

〃You　look　a　long　way　ahead；〃　said　he；　〃but　you　see　what　cannot　happen。〃

〃Cheng　Yu　speaks　much　to　the　point；〃　said　Xun　You。　〃Why　do　you　laugh　at　him？〃

Cao　Cao　said；　〃Anyone　using　fire　depends　upon　the　wind。　This　is　now　winter　and　only　west　winds　blow。　You　will　get　neither　east　nor　south　winds。　I　am　on　the　northwest；　and　the　enemy　is　on　the　southeast　bank。　If　they　use　fire；　they　will　destroy　themselves。　I　have　nothing　to　fear。　If　it　was　the　tenth　moon；　or　early　spring；　I　would　provide　against　fire。〃

〃The　Prime　Minister　is　indeed　wise；〃　said　the　others　in　chorus。　〃None　can　equal　him。〃

〃With　northern　troops　unused　to　shipboard；　I　could　never　have　crossed　the　river　but　for　this　chaining　plan；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

Then　he　saw　two　of　the　secondary　leaders　stand　up；　and　they　said；　〃We　are　from　the　north；　but　we　are　also　sailors。　Pray　give　us　a　small　squadron；　and　we　will　seize　some　of　the　enemys　flags　and　drums　for　you　that　we　may　prove　ourselves　adepts　on　the　water。〃

The　speakers　were　two　men　who　had　served　under　Yuan　Shao；　named　Jiao　Chu　and　Zhang　Neng。

〃I　do　not　think　naval　work　would　suit　you　two；　born　and　brought　up　in　the　north；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃The　southern　soldiers　are　thoroughly　accustomed　to　ships。　You　should　not　regard　your　lives　as　a　childs　plaything。〃

They　cried；　〃If　we　fail；　treat　us　according　to　army　laws！〃

〃The　fighting　ships　are　all　chained　together；　there　are　only　small；　twenty…men　boats　free。　They　are　unsuitable　for　fighting。〃

〃If　we　took　large　ships；　where　would　be　the　wonderful　in　what　we　will　do？　No；　give　us　a　score　of　the　small　ships；　and　we　will　take　half　each　and　go　straight　to　the　enemys　naval　port。　We　will　just　seize　a　flag；　slay　a　leader；　and　e　home。〃

〃I　will　let　you　have　the　twenty　ships　and　five　hundred　of　good；　vigorous　marines　with　long　spears　and　stiff　crossbows。　Early　tomorrow　the　main　fleet　shall　make　a　demonstration　on　the　river；　and　I　will　also　tell　Wen　Ping　to　support　you　with　thirty　ships。〃

The　two　men　retired　greatly　elated。

Next　morning；　very　early；　food　was　prepared；　and　at　the　fifth　watch　all　was　ready　for　a　start。　Then　from　the　naval　camp　rolled　out　the　drums　and　the　gongs　clanged；　as　the　ships　moved　out　and　took　up　their　positions；　the　various　flags　fluttering　in　the　morning　breeze。　And　the　two　intrepid　leaders　with　their　squadron　of　small　scouting　boats　went　down　the　lines　and　out　into　the　stream。

Now　a　few　days　before　the　sound　of　Cao　Caos　drums　had　been　heard　on　the　southern　bank；　Zhou　Yu　had　watched　the　maneuvers　of　the　northern　fleet　on　the　open　river　from　the　top　of　a　hill　till　the　fleet　had　gone　in　again。　So　when　the　sound　of　drums　was　again　heard；　all　the　southern　army　went　up　the　hills　to　watch　the　northern　fleet。　All　they　saw　was　a　squadron　of　small　ships　bounding　over　the　waves。

As　the　northern　fleet　came　nearer；　the　news　was　taken　to　Zhou　Yu　who　called　for　volunteers　to　go　out　against　them。　Han　Dang　and　Zhou　Tai　offered　themselves。　They　were　accepted　and　orders　were　issued　to　the　camps　to　remain　ready　for　action　but　not　to　move　till　told。