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weeping； and they two sat down。
〃I was weeping from regret at being unable to continue my father's work；〃 said Sun Ce。
〃Why stay here bound to the service of a master？ The Governor of Dangyang is in distress。 Why not get mand of an army under the pretense of an expedition to relieve Wu Jing？ Escape the shadow of Yuan Shu and take control of Dangyang； then you can acplish great things。〃
While these two were talking； another man suddenly entered； saying； 〃I know what you two are planning； Noble Sirs。 Under my hand is a band of one hundred bold fellows ready to help Sun Ce in whatever he wishes to do。〃
The speaker was one of Yuan Shu's advisers named Lu Fan； from Runan。 They three then sat and discussed schemes。
〃The one fear is that Yuan Shu will refuse to give you the troops；〃 said Lu Fan。
〃I still have the Imperial Hereditary Seal that my father left me： That should be good security。〃
〃Yuan Shu earnestly desires that jewel；〃 said Zhu Zhi。 〃He will certainly lend you troops on that pledge。〃
The three talked over their plans； gradually settling the details； and not many days after Sun Ce obtained an interview with his patron。
Assuming the appearance of deep grief Sun Ce said； 〃I have been unable to avenge my father。 Now the Imperial Protector of Yangzhou； Liu Yao； is opposing my mother's brother； and my mother and her family are in danger in Que。 Wherefore I would borrow a few thousands of fighting men to rescue them。 As perhaps； Illustrious Sir； you may lack confidence in me； I am willing to deposit the Imperial Hereditary Seal； left me by my late father； as a pledge。〃
〃Let me see it if you have it；〃 said Yuan Shu。 〃I do not want the jewel really； but you may as well leave it with me。 I will lend you three thousand troops and five hundred horses。 Return as soon as peace can be made。 As your rank is hardly sufficient for such powers； I will memorialize to obtain for you higher rank with the title of General Who Exterminates Brigands； and you can soon start。〃
Sun Ce thanked his patron most humbly and soon put the army in motion； taking with him his two new advisers and his father's generals………Zhu Zhi； Lu Fan； Cheng Pu； Huang Gai； Han Dang； and others。
When Sun Ce reached Linyang； he saw a body of troops in front of him； at their head a dashing leader of handsome and refined mien。 As soon as this mander saw Sun Ce； he dismounted and made obeisance。 It was Zhou Yu from Shucheng。
When Sun Jian was opposing the tyrant Dong Zhuo； he moved his family to Shucheng where the Zhou family had lived。 And as Zhou Yu and Sun Ce were of the same age all but two months； they became exceedingly good friends and sworn brothers； Sun Ce being the elder in virtue of his two months' seniority。 Zhou Yu was on his way to visit Sun Ce's uncle； Governor Wu Jing of Dangyang； when the happy meeting took place。
Naturally Sun Ce confided his projects and inmost ideas to his friend； who at once said； 〃I shall put my whole life and energy to serve you to reach that grand goal。〃
〃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 wor