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 regret the deed exceedingly。 Your father shall be interred with the honors of a minister of the highest rank。〃
Cao Cao sent an escort of soldiers to take the body to the homeland for burial。
A few days after； the two leaders of the naval force； Mao Jie and Yu Jin； came to say the ships were all connected together by chains as had been ordered； and all was now ready。 They asked for the mand to start。
Thereupon the leaders of both land and naval forces were assembled on board a large ship in the center of the squadron to receive orders。 The various armies and squadrons were distinguished by different flags： Mao Jie and Yu Jin led the central naval squadron with yellow flag； Zhang He； the leading squadron； red flag； Lu Qian； the rear squadron； black flag； Wen Ping； the left squadron； blue flag； and Li Tong； the right squadron； white flag。 On shore Xu Huang manded the horsemen with red flag； Li Dian； the vanguard； black flag； Yue Jing； the left wing； blue flag； and Xiahou Yuan； the right wing； white flag。 Xiahou Dun and Cao Hong were in reserve； and the general staff was under the leadership of Xu Chu and Zhang Liao。 The other leaders were ordered to remain in camps； but ready for action。
All being ready； the squadron drums beat the roll thrice； and the ships sailed out under a strong northwest wind on a trial cruise。 When they got among the waves； they were found to be as steady and immovable as the dry land itself。 The northern soldiers showed their delight at the absence of motion by capering and flourishing their weapons。 The ships moved on； the squadrons keeping quite distinct。 Fifty light cruisers sailed to and fro keeping order and urging progress。
Cao Cao watched his navy from the mand Terrace and was delighted with their evolutions and maneuvers。 Surely this meant plete victory。 He ordered the recall and the squadrons returned in perfect order to their base。
Then Cao Cao went to his tent and summoned his advisers。
He said； 〃If Heaven had not been on my side； should I have got this excellent plan from the Young Phoenix？ Now that the ships are attached