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Pang Tong smiled； 〃If you are as high…minded as that； there is no great difficulty。〃
〃Still I wish you would instruct me。〃
So Pang Tong whispered something in his ear； which seemed to please Xu Shu greatly； for he thanked him most cordially and took his leave。 Then Pang Tong betook himself to his boat and left for the southern shore。
His friend gone； Xu Shu mischievously spread certain rumors in the camp； and next day were to be seen everywhere soldiers in small groups； some talking； others listening； heads together and ears stretched out； till the camps seemed to buzz。
Some of the officers went to Cao Cao and told him； saying； 〃A rumor is running around the camps that Han Sui and Ma Teng are marching from Xiliang to attack the capital。〃
This troubled Cao Cao； who called together his advisers to council。
Said he； 〃The only anxiety I have felt in this expedition was about the possible doings of Han Sui and Ma Teng。 Now there is a rumor running among the soldiers； and though I know not whether it be true or false； it is necessary to be on one's guard。〃
At this point Xu Shu said； 〃You have been kind enough to give me an office； Sir； and I have really done nothing in return。 If I may have three thousand troops； I will march at once to San Pass and guard this entrance。 If there be any pressing matter； I will report at once。〃
〃If you would do this； I should be quite at my ease。 There are already troops beyond the Pass； who will be under your mand； and now I will give you three thousand of horse and foot； and Zang Ba shall lead the van and march quickly。〃
Xu Shu took leave of the Prime Minister and left in pany with Zang Ba。 This was Pang Tong's scheme to secure the safety of Xu Shu。
A poem says：
Cao Cao marched south； but at his back
There rode the fear of rear attack。
Pang Tong's good counsel Xu Shu took；
And thus the fish escaped the hook。
Cao Cao's anxiety diminished after he had thus sent away Xu Shu。 Then he rode round all the camps； first the land forces and then the naval。 He boarded one of the large ships and thereon set up his standard。 The naval camps were arranged along two lines； and every ship carried a thousand bows and crossbows。
While Cao Cao remained with the fleet； it occurred the full moon of the eleventh month of the thirteenth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity （AD 208）。 The sky was clear； there was no wind； and the river lay unruffled。 He prepared a great banquet； with music； and thereto invited all his leaders。 As evening drew on； the moon rose over the eastern hills in its immaculate beauty； and beneath it lay the broad belt of the river like a band of pure silk。 It was a great assembly； and all the guests were clad in gorgeous silks and embroidered robes； and the arms of the fighting soldiers glittered in the moonlight。 The officers； civil and military； were seated in their proper order of precedence。
The setting； too； was exquisite。 The Southern Hills were outlined as in a picture； the boundaries of Chaisang lay in the east； the river showed west as far as Xiakou； on the south lay the Fan Mountains； on the north was the Black Forest。 The view stretched wide on every side。
Cao Cao's heart was jubilant； and he harangued the assembly； saying； 〃My one aim since I enlisted my first small band of volunteers has been the removal of evil from the state； and I have sworn to cleanse the country and restore tranquillity。 Now there is only left this land of the south to withstand me。 I am at the head of a hundred legions。 I depend upon you； gentlemen； and have no doubt of my final success。 After I have subdued the South Land； there will be no trouble in all the country。 Then we shall enjoy wealth and honor and revel in peace。〃
They rose in a body and expressed their appreciation； saying； 〃We trust that you may soon report plete victory； and we shall all repose in the shade of your good fortune。〃
In his elation； Cao Cao bade the servants bring more wine and they drank till late at night。
Warmed and mellowed； the host pointed to the south bank； saying； 〃Zhou Yu and Lu Su know not the appointed time。 Heaven is aiding me bringing upon them the misfortune of the desertion of their most trusted friends。〃
〃O Prime Minister； say nothing of these things lest they bee known to the enemy；〃 said Xun You。
But the Prime Minister only laughed。
〃You are all my trusty friends；〃 said he； 〃both officers and humble attendants。 Why should I refrain？〃
Pointing to Xiakou； he continued； 〃You do not reckon for much with your puny force； Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang。 How foolish of you to attempt to shake the Taishan Mountains！〃
Then turning to his officers； he said； 〃I am now fifty…four； and if I get the South Land； I shall have the wherewithal to rejoice。 In the days of long ago； the Patriarch Duke Qiao in the south and I were great friends； and we came to an agreement on certain matters； for I knew his two daughters………Elder Qiao and Younger Qiao………were lovely beyond words。 Then by some means； they became wives to Sun Ce and Zhou Yu。 But now my palace of rest is built on the River Zhang； and victory over the South Land will mean that I marry these two fair women。 I will put them in the Bronze Bird Tower； and they shall rejoice my declining years。 My desires will then be pletely attained。〃
He smiled at the anticipation。
Du Mu； a famous poet of the Tang Dynasty； in one poem says：
A broken halberd buried in the sand；
With deep rust eaten；
Loud tells of ancient battles on the strand；
When Cao Cao was beaten。
Had eastern winds Zhou Yu's plan refused to aid
And fan the blaze；
The two fair Qiaos； in the Bronze Bird's shade；
Would have been locked at spring age。
But suddenly amid the merriment was heard the hoarse cry of a raven flying toward the south。
〃Why does the raven thus cry in the night？〃 said Cao Cao to those about him。
＇e＇ The moon of the south is very beautiful。 Those who visit the south seem to say the moon there is brighter than anywhere else。
〃The moon is so bright that it thinks it is day*；〃 said they； 〃and so it leaves its tree。〃
Cao Cao laughed。 By this time he was quite intoxicated。 He set up his spear in the prow of the ship and poured a libation into the river and then drank three brimming goblets。
As he lowered the spear； he said； 〃This is the spear that broke up the Yellow Scarves； captured Lu Bu； destroyed Yuan Shao； and subdued Yuan Shu； whose armies are now mine。 In the north it reached to Liaodong； and it stretched out over the whole south。 It has never failed in its task。 The present scene moves me to the depths； and I will sing a song in which you shall acpany me。〃
And so he sang：
〃When goblets are brimming then sang is near birth；
But life is full short and has few days of mirth；
Life goes as the dew drops fly swiftly away；
Beneath the glance of the glowing hot ruler of day。
Human's life may be spent in the noblest enterprise；
But sorrowful thoughts in his heart oft arise。
Let us wash clean away the sad thoughts that intrude；
With bumpers of wine such as Du Kang once brewed。
Gone is my day of youthful fire
And still ungained is my desire。
The deer feed on the level plain
And joyful call； then feed again。
My noble guests are gathered round。
The air is trilled with joyful sound。
Bright my future lies before me。
As the moonlight on this plain；
But I strive in vain to reach it。
When shall I my wish attain？
None can answer； and so sadness
Grips my inmost heart again。
Far north and south；
Wide east and west；
We safety seek；
Vain is the quest。
Human's heart oft yearns
For converse sweet。
And my heart burns
When old friends greet。
The stars are paled by the full moon's light；
The raven wings his southward flight。
And thrice he circles round a tree；
No place thereon to rest finds he。
They weary not the mountains of great height；
The waters deep of depth do not plain；
Duke Zhou no leisure found by day or night
Stern toil is his who would the empire gain。〃
The song made they sang it with him and were all exceedingly merry； save one guest who suddenly said； 〃When the great army is on the point of battle and lives are about to be risked； why do you； O Prime Minister； speak such ill words？〃
Cao Cao turned quickly toward the speaker； who was Liu Fu； Imperial Protector of Yangzhou。 This Liu Fu sprang from Hefei。 When first appointed to his post； he had gathered in the terrified and frightened people and restored order。 He had founded schools and encouraged the people to till the land。 He had long served under Cao Cao and rendered valuable service。
When Liu Fu spoke； Cao Cao dropped his spear to the level and said； 〃What ill…omened words did I use？〃
〃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 man's 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 father's death。 I was drunk yesterday。 I