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ng around the hill instead of over it。 His antagonist followed； shouting； 〃He who retreats is no worthy soldier！〃
But Taishi Ci thought within himself； 〃He has twelve others at his back and I only one。 If I capture him； the others will retake him。 I will inveigle him into some secret spot and then try。〃
So flying and fighting by turns he led Sun Ce； an eager pursuer； down to the plain。 Here Taishi Ci suddenly wheeled about and attacked。 Again they exchanged half a hundred bouts； without result。 Then Sun Ce made a fierce thrust； which his opponent evaded by gripping the spear under his arm； while he himself did the same with his opponent's spear。 Neither was wounded but each exerting his utmost strength to pull the other out of the saddle they both came to the ground。
Their steeds galloped off they knew not whither； while the two men； each dropping his spear； began a hand to hand struggle。 Soon their fighting robes were in tatters。 Sun Ce gripped the short lance that Taishi Ci carried at his back； while Taishi Ci tore off Sun Ce's helmet。 Sun Ce tried to stab with the short lance but Taishi Ci fended off the blow with the helmet as a shield。
Then arose a great shouting。 Liu Yao had e up with a thousand soldiers。 Sun Ce seemed now in sore straits。 His twelve followers came up； and each batant let go his hold。 Taishi Ci quickly found another steed； seized a spear； and mounted。 Sun Ce； whose horse had been caught by Cheng Pu； also mounted； and a confused battle began between the handful of men on one side and a whole thousand troops on the other。 It swayed and drifted down the hill side。 However； soon Zhou Yu leading his troops came to the rescue； and as evening drew on a tempest put an end to the fight。 Both sides drew off and returned to camp。
Next day Sun Ce led his army to the front of Liu Yao's camp； and the challenge was accepted。 The armies were drawn up。
Sun Ce hung the short lance he had seized from Taishi Ci at the end of his spear； waved it in front of the line of battle； and ordered his soldiers to shout； 〃If the owner of this had not fled； he would have been stabbed to death！〃
On the other side they hung out Sun Ce's helmet； and the soldiers shouted back； 〃Sun Ce's head is here already！〃
Both sides thus yelled defiance at each other； one side boasting； the other bragging。 Then Taishi Ci rode out challenging Sun Ce to a duel to the death； and Sun Ce would have accepted。
But Cheng Pu said； 〃My lord should not trouble himself。 I will take him。〃
And Cheng Pu rode forth。
〃You are no antagonist for me；〃 said Taishi Ci。 〃Tell your master to e out。〃
This incensed Cheng Pu； who rode at his opponent； and they two fought thirty bouts。 The duel was stopped by the gongs of Liu Yao。
〃Why did you sound the retreat？〃 said Taishi Ci。 〃I was just going to capture the wretch。〃
〃Because I have just heard that Que has been captured。 Zhou Yu led a surprise force thither； and Chen Wu was in league with him to betray the city。 We have no home now。 I will hasten to Moling to get the help of Xue Li and Ze Rong to retake the city。〃
The army retired； Taishi Ci with it； without being pursued。
On the other side Zhang Zhao said to Sun Ce； 〃Zhou Yu's attack is the cause of this move； they are in no mood to fight。 A night raid on their camp would finish them。〃
The army was divided into five divisions for the night surprise and hastened toward the camp where they scored a victory。 Their opponents scattered in all directions。 Taishi Ci alone made a determined stand； and as he could not withstand a whole army； he fled with ten horsemen to Jingxian。
Now Sun Ce acquired a new adherent in the person of Chen Wu。 He was a soldier of middle height； sallow of plexion and red eye； an odd looking man。 But Sun Ce held him in high esteem； appointed him mander； and put him in the van of the attack on Xue Li。 As Van Leader； Chen Wu and a dozen horsemen made a dash into the enemy's formation； where they slew half a hundred men。 So Xue Li would not fight but remained within his defenses。 As Sun Ce was attacking the city； a spy came in with the news that Liu Yao and Ze Rong had gone to attack Niuzhu； which made Sun Ce move thither in haste。 His two opponents were ready for battle。
〃I am here！〃 said Sun Ce； 〃You had better give in。〃
A general came out from behind Liu Yao to accept the challenge。 It was Yu Mi。 But in the third bout Sun Ce made him prisoner and carried him off to the other side。 Seeing his colleague thus captured； Fan Neng rode out to the rescue and got quite close。 But just as he was going to thrust； all Sun Ce's soldiers shouted； 〃There is a man behind you going to strike secretly！〃
At this Sun Ce turned and shouted so thunderously loud that Fan Neng fell out of his saddle from mere fright。 He split his skull and died。 When Sun Ce reached his standard； he threw his prisoner to the ground。 And Yu Mi was also dead； crushed to death between the arm and the body of his captor。 So in a few moments Sun Ce had disposed of two enemies； one crushed to death and one frightened to death。 Thereafter Sun Ce was called the Little Prince。
Liu Yao had a defeat。 The greater portion of his force surrendered； and the number of those slain exceeded ten thousand。 Liu Yao himself fled to Yuzhang and sought safety with Liu Biao； Imperial Protector of Jingzhou。
An attack on Moling was the next move。 As soon as Sun Ce arrived at the moat； he summoned mander Xue Li to surrender。 Someone let fly a furtive arrow from the wall which wounded Sun Ce in the left thigh so severely that he fell from his steed。 Hastily his officers picked up their wounded chief and returned to the camp where the arrow was pulled out and the wound dressed with the medicines suitable for injuries by metals。
By Sun Ce's mand the story was spread abroad that the hurt had been fatal； and all the soldiers set up cries of lamentation。 The camp was broken up。 Xue Li； Zhang Ying； and Chen Heng made a night sortie but fell into a carefully prepared ambush。
Presently Sun Ce himself appeared on horseback； shouting： 〃Sun Ce is here still！〃
His sudden appearance created such a panic that the soldiers dropped their weapons and fell on their faces。 Sun Ce gave orders not to kill them。 But their leaders fell： Zhang Ying from Chen Wu's spear thrust as he turned to run away； Chen Heng was killed by Jiang Qin's arrow； and the mander； Xue Li； was slain in the turbulence。 Thus Sun Ce got possession of Moling。 Having calmed the people； he sent his soldiers away to Jingxian； where Taishi Ci was in mand。
Taishi Ci had assembled two thousand veterans in addition to his own troops for the purpose of avenging his master。 Sun Ce and Zhou Yu on the other hand consulted how to capture him alive。
Zhou Yu planned； 〃Attack the city on three sides； leaving the east gate free for flight。 Some distance off an ambush shall be prepared； when Taishi Ci； his men fatigued and horses spent； shall fall an easy victim。〃
The latest recruits under Taishi Ci's banner were mostly hillmen and unaccustomed to discipline。 Beside； the walls of the city were pitiably low。 One night Sun Ce ordered Chen Wu to strip off his long dress； leave his arms save a dagger； clamber up the ramparts； and set fire to the city。 Seeing the flames spreading； Taishi Ci made for the east gate and； as soon as he got outside； Sun Ce followed in pursuit。 The pursuit was maintained for some fifteen miles when the pursuers stopped。
Taishi Ci went on as long as possible； finally halting to rest in a spot surrounded by reeds。 Suddenly a tremendous shouting arose。 Taishi Ci was just starting when tripping ropes arose all round； his horse was thrown and he found himself a prisoner。
Taishi Ci was taken back to camp。 As soon as Sun Ce heard the news； he himself rode out to order the guards to leave the prisoner； whose bonds he loosened with his own hands。 Then he took off his own embroidered robe and put it on the captive。 They entered the camp together。
〃I knew you were a real hero；〃 said Sun Ce。 〃That worm Liu Yao had no use for such as you； and so he got beaten。〃
Taishi Ci； overe by this kindness and good treatment； then formally surrendered。
Sun Ce seized his hand and said； laughing； 〃If you had taken me at that fight we had near the shrine； would you have killed me？〃
〃Who can say？〃 said Taishi Ci smiling。
Sun Ce laughed also and they entered his tent； where Taishi Ci was placed in the seat of honor at a banquet。
Taishi Ci said； 〃Can you trust me so far as to let me go to muster as many as I can of the soldiers of my late master？ Under the smart of this defeat they will turn against him； and they would be a great help to you。〃
〃Exactly what I most desire。 I will make an agreement with you that at midday tomorrow you will return。〃
Taishi Ci agreed and went off。 All the generals said he would never return。
〃He is trustworthy and will not break his word；〃 said the chief。
None of the officers believed he would e back。 But the next day they set up a bamboo rod in the gate of the camp； and just as the shadow marked noon Taishi Ci returned； bringing with him about a thousand troops。 Sun Ce was pleased； and his officers had to confess that he had rightly judged his man。
Sun Ce thus marched his army to the South Land； and his enemies fled or surrendered before hi