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at； the defeated will take this road and will be pelled to abandon their horses； which we shall capture。〃
Zhou Yu approved； and the men set out。 When the main army drew near Yiling； Zhou Yu asked who would try to break through the besiegers； and Zhou Tai offered himself。 He girded on his sword； mounted his steed； and burst straight into the Cao Hong's army。 He got through to the city wall。
From the city wall Gan Ning saw the approach of his friend Zhou Tai and went out to wele him。 Zhou Tai told him the mander…in…Chief was on the way to his relief； and Gan Ning at once bade the defenders prepare from within to support the attack of the rescuers。
When the news of the approach of Zhou Yu had reached Yiling； Cao Hong； Cao Chun； and Niu Jin had sent to tell Cao Ren； who was at Nanjun； and at the same time they prepared to repel the assailants。
As the army of the South Land came near； they at once attacked。 Simultaneously Gan Ning and Zhou Tai went out to attack on two sides； and the troops of Cao Hong were thrown into confusion。 The soldiers of the South Land fell on lustily； and the three leaders all fled by a bye road； but； finding the way barred with felled trees and other obstacles； they had to abandon their horses and go afoot。 In this way the troops of the South Land gained some five hundred steeds。
Zhou Yu； pressing on as quickly as possible toward Nanjun； came upon Cao Ren and his army marching to save Yiling。 The two armies engaged and fought a battle which lasted till late in the evening。 Then both drew off； and Cao Ren withdrew into the city。
During the night he called his officers to a council。
Then said Cao Hong； 〃The loss of Yiling has brought us to a dangerous pass。 Now it seems the time to open the guide…letter of the Prime Minister； and see what plans he arranged for our salvation in this peril。〃
〃You but say what I think；〃 replied Cao Ren。
Whereupon he tore open the guide…letter and read it。 His face lighted up with joy； and he at once issued orders to have the morning meal prepared at the fifth watch。 At daylight the whole army moved out of the city through three gates； but they left a semblance of occupation in the shape of banners on the walls。
Zhou Yu went up to the tower of observation and looked over the city。 He saw that the flags along the battlements had no guards behind them； and he noticed that all troops carried bundles at their waists behind so that they were ready for a long march。
Thought Zhou Yu to himself； 〃Cao Ren must be prepared for a long march。〃
So Zhou Yu went down from the tower of observation and sent out an order for two wings of the army to be ready。 One of these was to attack and； in case of its success； the other was to pursue at full speed till the clanging of the gongs should call them to return。 He took mand of the leading force in person； and Cheng Pu manded the other。 Thus they advanced to attack the city。
The armies being arrayed facing each other； the drums rolled out across the plain。 Cao Hong rode forth and challenged； and Zhou Yu； from his place by the standard； bade Han Dang respond。 The two champions fought near two score bouts； and then Cao Hong fled。 Thereupon Cao Ren came out to help him； and Zhou Tai rode out at full speed to meet him。 These two exchanged a half score passes and then Cao Ren tied。
Cao Ren's army fell into confusion。 Thereupon Zhou Yu gave the signal for the advance of both his wings； and the forces of Cao Ren were sore smitten and defeated。 Zhou Yu pursued to the city wall； but Cao Ren's troops did not enter the city。 Instead； they went away northwest。 Han Dang and Zhou Tai pressed them hard。
Zhou Yu； seeing the city gates standing wide open and no guards upon the walls； ordered the raiding of the city。 A few score horsemen rode in first； Zhou Yu followed and whipping his steed。 As he galloped into the enclosure around the gate； Chen Jiao stood on the defense tower。 When he saw Zhou Yu enter； in his heart he applauded the god…like perspicacity of the Prime Minister Cao Cao。
Then was heard the clap…clap of a watchman's rattle。 At this signal the archers and crossbowmen let fly； and the arrows and bolts flew forth in a sudden fierce shower； while those who had won their way to the van of the inrush went headlong into a deep trench。 Zhou Yu managed to pull up in time； but turning to escape； he was wounded in the left side and fell to the ground。 Niu Jin rushed out from the city to capture the chief； but Xu Sheng and Ding Feng at the risk of their lives got him away safe。 Then the troops of Cao Ren dashed out of the city and wrought confusion among the troops of the South Land； who trampled each other down and many more fell into the trenches。 Cheng Pu tried to draw off； but Cao Ren and Cao Hong came toward him from different directions； and the battle went hardly against the soldiers of Zhou Yu； till help came from Ling Tong； who bore back their assailants。 Satisfied with their success； Cao Ren led his forces into the city； while the losers marched back to their own camp。
Zhou Yu； sorely wounded； was taken to his own tent and the army physician called in。 With iron forceps； he extracted the sharp bolt and dressed the wound with a lotion designed to counteract the poison of the metal。 But the pain was intense； and the patient rejected all nourishment。
The physician said； 〃The missile had been poisoned； and the wound will require a long time to heal。 You； General； must be kept quiet and especially free from any irritation； which will cause the wound to reopen。〃
Thereupon Cheng Pu gave orders that each division was to remain in camp。 Three days later； Niu Jin came within sight and challenged the men of the South Land to battle； but they did not stir。 The enemy hurled at them taunts and insults till the sun had fallen low in the sky； but it was of no avail and Niu Jin withdrew。
Next day Niu Jin returned and repeated his insulting abuse。 Cheng Pu dared not tell the wounded general。 The third day； waxing bolder； the enemy came to the very gates of the stockade； the leader shouting that he had e for the purpose of capturing Zhou Yu。
Then Cheng Pu called together his officers； and they discussed the feasibility of retirement into the South Land that they might seek the opinion of Sun Quan。
Ill as he was； Zhou Yu still retained control of the expedition。 He knew that the enemy came daily to the gates of his camp and reviled him； although none of his officers told him。 One day Cao Ren came in person； and there was much rolling of drums and shouting。 Cheng Pu； however； steadily refused to accept the challenge and would not let anyone go out。
Then Zhou Yu summoned the officers to his bedside and said； 〃What mean the drums and the shouting？〃
〃The soldiers are drilling；〃 was the reply。
〃Why do you deceive me？〃 said Zhou Yu angrily。 〃Do I not know that our enemies e day by day to our gates and insult us？ Yet Cheng Pu suffers this in silence and makes no use of his powers and authority。〃
He sent for Cheng Pu and； when he arrived； asked him why he acted thus。
〃Because you are ill； and the physician said you were on no account to be provoked to anger。 Wherefore； although the enemy challenged us to battle； I kept it from you。〃
〃And if you do not fight； what think you should be done？〃 said Zhou Yu。
And they all said they desired to return to the South Land till he had recovered from his wound； when they would make another expedition。
Zhou Yu lay and listened。 Suddenly he sprang up； crying； 〃The noble person who has eaten of his lord's bounty should die in his lord's battles。 To return home dead and wrapped in a horse's hide is a happy fate。 Am I the sort of people to bring to nought the grand designs of my lord？〃
So speaking he proceeded to gird on his armor； and he mounted his horse。 The wonder of the officers only redoubled when their General placed himself at the head of some hundreds of horsemen and went out of the camp gates toward the enemy； then fully arrayed。 Cao Ren； their general； stood beneath the great standard。
At sight of the opponents； Cao Ren flourished his whip and began to hurl abuse at them； 〃Zhou Yu； you babe！ I think your fate has met you。 You dare not face my army！〃
The stream of insult never ceased。
Presently Zhou Yu could stand it no longer。 Riding out to the front he cried； 〃Here I am； base churl。 Look at me！〃
The whole Cao Ren's army were taken aback。 But Cao Ren turned to those about him and said； 〃Let us all revile him！〃
And the whole army yelled insults。
Zhou Yu grew angry and sent Pan Zhang out to fight。 But before he had delivered his first blow； Zhou Yu suddenly uttered a loud cry； and he fell to the ground with blood gushing from his mouth。
At this Cao Ren's army rushed to the battle； and the army of the South Land pressed forward to meet them。 A fierce struggle waged around the General's body； but he was borne off safely and taken to his tent。
〃Do you feel better？〃 asked Cheng Pu anxiously。
〃It was a ruse of mine；〃 whispered Zhou Yu in reply。
〃But what avails it？〃
〃I am not suffering； but I did that to make our enemies think I was very ill and so oppose them by deceit。 I will send a few trusty men to pretend desertion and tell them I am dead。 That will cause them to try a night raid on the camp； and we shall hav