第一小说网

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第110部分（第2页）

〃When　two　countries　are　at　war；　their　emissaries　are　not　slain；〃　said　Lu　Su。

〃Messengers　are　slain　to　show　ones　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　Xuns　ship　approached；　Gan　Ning　shot　an　arrow　and　Cai　Xun　fell。　Gan　Ning　pressed　forward；　his　crossbowmen　keeping　up　a　heavy　discharge　which　Cao　Caos　troops　could　not　stand。　The　wings　of　Han　Dang　from　the　left　and　Jiang　Qin　from　the　right　also　joined　in。

Cao　Caos　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　Supreme　Admiral。　If　you　know　what　should　be　done；　why　have　you　not　done　it？〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃What　is　the　use　of　telling　me　this？〃

So　Cai　Mao　and　Zhang　Yun　organized　a　naval　camp　on　the　river　bank。　They　established　twenty…four　〃Water　Gates；〃　with　the　large　ships　outside　as　a　sort　of　rampart；　and　under　their　protection　the　smaller　ships　went　to　and　fro　freely。　At　night　when　the　lanterns　and　torches　were　lit；　the　very　sky　was　illuminated；　and　the　water　shone　red　with　the　glare。　On　land　the　smoke　of　the　camp　fires　could　be　traced　for　one　hundred　mile　without　a　break。

Zhou　Yu　returned　to　camp　and　feasted　his　victorious　fighting　force。　A　messenger　bore　the　joyful　tidings　of　victory　to　his　master　Sun　Quan。　When　night　fell；　Zhou　Yu　went　up　to　the　summit　of　one　of　the　hills　and　looked　out　over　the　long　line　of　bright　lights　stretching　toward　the　west；　showing　the　extent　of　the　enemys　camp。　He　said　nothing；　but　a　great　fear　came　in　upon　him。

Next　day　Zhou　Yu　decided　that　he　would　go　in　person　to　find　out　the　strength　of　the　enemy。　So　he　bade　them　prepare　a　small　squadron　which　he　manned　with　strong；　hardy　men　armed　with　powerful　bows　and　stiff　crossbows。　He　also　placed　musicians　on　each　ship。　They　set　sail　and　started　up　the　stream。　When　they　got　opposite　Cao　Caos　camp；　the　heavy　stones　that　served　as　anchors　were　dropped；　and　the　music　was　played　while　Zhou　Yu　scanned　the　enemys　naval　camp。　What　he　saw　gave　him　no　satisfaction；　for　everything　was　most　admirable。

He　said；　〃How　well　and　correctly　built　is　that　naval　base！　Anyone　knows　the　names　of　those　in　mand？〃

〃They　are　Cai　Mao　and　Zhang　Yun；〃　said　his　officers。

〃They　have　lived　in　the　south　a　long　time；〃　said　Zhou　Yu；　〃and　are　thoroughly　experienced　in　naval　warfare。　I　must　find　some　means　of　removing　them　before　I　can　effect　anything。〃

Meanwhile　on　shore　the　sentinels　had　told　Cao　Cao　that　the　enemy　craft　were　spying　upon　them；　and　Cao　Cao　ordered　out　some　ships　to　capture　the　spies。　Zhou　Yu　saw　the　motion　of　the　manding　flags　on　shore　and　hastily　gave　the　order　to　unmoor　and　sail　down　stream。　The　squadron　at　once　got　under　way　and　scattered；　to　and　fro　went　the　oars；　and　each　ship　seemed　to　fly。　Before　Cao　Caos　ships　could　get　out　after　them；　they　were　all　far　away。

Cao　Caos　ships　took　up　the　chase　but　soon　saw　pursuit　was　useless。　They　returned　and　reported　their　failure。

Again　Cao　Cao　found　fault　with　his　officers　and　said；　〃The　other　day　you　lost　a　battle；　and　the　soldiers　were　greatly　dispirited。　Now　the　enemy　have　spied　out　our　camp。　What　can　be　done？〃

In　eager　response　to　his　question　one　stepped　out；　saying；　〃When　I　was　a　youth；　Zhou　Yu　and　I　were　fellow　students　and　pledged　friends。　My　three…inch　tongue　is　still　good；　and　I　will　go　over　and　persuade　him　to　surrender。〃

Cao　Cao；　rejoiced　to　find　so　speedy　a　solution；　looked　at　the　speaker。　It　was　Jiang　Gan　of　Jiujiang；　one　of　the　counseling　staff　in　the　camp。

〃Are　you　a　good　friend　of　Zhou　Yu？〃　said　Cao　Cao。

〃Rest　content；　O　Prime　Minister；〃　replied　Jiang　Gan。　〃If　I　only　get　on　the　other　side　of　the　river；　I　shall　succeed。〃

〃What　preparations　are　necessary？〃　asked　Cao　Cao。

〃Just　a　youth　as　my　servant　and　a　couple　of　rowers。　Nothing　else。〃

Cao　Cao　offered　him　wine；　wished　him　success；　and　sent　him　on　his　way。

Clad　in　a　simple　white　robe　and　seated　in　his　little　craft；　the　messenger　reached　Zhou　Yus　camp　and　bade　the　guards　say　that　an　old　friend　Jiang　Gan　wished　to　see　him。

The　mander　was　in　his　tent　at　a　council　when　the　message　came；　and　he　laughed　as　he　said　to　those　about　him；　〃A　persuader　is　ing。〃

Then　he　whispered　certain　instructions　in　the　ear　of　each　one　of　them；　and　they　went　out　to　await　his　arrival。

Zhou　Yu　received　his　friend　in　full　ceremonial　garb。　A　crowd　of　officers　in　rich　silken　robes　were　about　him。　The　guest　appeared；　his　sole　attendant　a　lad　dressed　in　a　simple　blue　gown。　Jiang　Gan　bore　himself　proudly　as　he　advanced；　and　Zhou　Yu　made　a　low　obeisance。

〃You　have　been　well　I　hope　since　last　we　me