e left to guard the camp。 Cheng Pu was greatly impressed with Zhou Yu's ordering of the grand attack。
Then came a messenger bearing a mandate from Sun Quan making Lu Xun Leader of the Van。 He was ordered to go to Qichun。 Sun Quan himself would support Lu Xun。 Zhou Yu also sent two mand units； one to the Western Hills to make fire signals； and the other to the Southern Hills to hoist flags。
So all being prepared they waited for dusk。
Liu Bei was at Xiakou anxiously awaiting the return of his adviser。 Then appeared a fleet； led by Liu Qi； who had e to find out how matters were progressing。
Liu Bei sent to call him to the battle tower and said； 〃The southeast wind had begun to blow； and that Zhao Yun had gone to meet Zhuge Liang。〃
Not long after a single sail was seen ing up before the wind； and Liu Bei knew it was Zhuge Liang； the Directing Instructor of the Army。
So Liu Bei and Liu Qi went down to meet the boat。 Soon the vessel reached the shore； and Zhuge Liang and Zhao Yun disembarked。
Liu Bei was very glad； and after they had inquired after each other's well…being； Zhuge Liang said； 〃There is no time to tell of any other things now。 Are the soldiers and ships ready？〃
〃They have long been ready；〃 replied Liu Bei。 〃They only await you to direct how they are to be used。〃
The three then went to the tent and took their seats。
Zhuge Liang at once began to issue orders： 〃Zhao Yun； with three thousand troops is to cross the river and go to the Black Forest by the minor road。 He will choose a dense jungle and prepare an ambush。 Tonight； after the fourth watch； Cao Cao will hurry along that way。 When half his troops have passed； the jungle is to be fired。 Cao Cao will not be wholly destroyed but many will perish。〃
〃There are two roads；〃 said Zhao Yun。 〃One leads to the southern regions and the other to Jingzhou。 I do not know by which he will e。〃
〃The south road is too dangerous。 Cao Cao will certainly pass along the Jingzhou road； so that he may get away to Xuchang。〃
Then Zhao Yun went away。
Next Zhuge Liang said to Zhang Fei； 〃You will take three thousand troops over the river to cut the road to Yiling。 You will ambush in the Hulu Valley。 Cao Cao； not daring to go to South Yiling； will go to North Yiling。 Tomorrow； after the rain； he will halt to refresh his troops。 As soon as the smoke is seen to rise from their cooking fires； you will fire the hill side。 You will not capture Cao Cao； but you will render excellent service。〃
So Zhang Fei left。 Next was called Mi Zhu； Mi Fang； and Liu Feng。 They were to take mand of three squadrons and go along the river to collect beaten soldiers and their weapons。
The three left。 Then Zhuge Liang said to Liu Qi； 〃The country around Wuchang is very important； and I wish you to take mand of your own troops and station them at strategic points。 Cao Cao； being defeated； will flee thither； and you will capture him。 But you are not to leave the city without the best of reasons。〃
And Liu Qi took leave。
Then Zhuge Liang said to Liu Bei； 〃I wish you to remain quietly and calmly in Fankou； in a high tower； to watch Zhou Yu work out his great scheme this night。〃
All this time Guan Yu has been silently waiting his turn； but Zhuge Liang said no word to him。
When Guan Yu could bear this no longer； he cried； 〃Since I first followed my brother to battle many years ago； I have never been left behind。 Now that great things are afoot； is there no work for me？ What is meant by it？〃
〃You should not be surprised。 I wanted you for service at a most important point； only that there was a something standing in the way that prevented me from sending you；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
〃What could stand in the way？ I wish you would tell me。〃
〃You see Cao Cao was once very kind to you； and you cannot help feeling grateful。 Now when his soldiers have been beaten； he will have to flee along the Huarong Road。 If I sent you to guard it； you would have to let him pass。 So I will not send you。〃
〃You are most considerate； Instructor。 But though it is true that he treated me well； yet I slew two of his most redoubtable opponents； Yan Liang and Wen Chou； by way of repayment； beside raising a siege。 If I happened upon him on this occasion； I should hardly let him go。〃
〃But what if you did？〃
〃You could deal with me by military rules。〃
〃Then put that in writing。〃
So Guan Yu wrote a formal undertaking and gave the document to Zhuge Liang。
〃What happens if Cao Cao does not pass that way？〃 said Guan Yu。
〃I will give you a written engagement that he will pass。〃 Then Zhuge Liang continued； 〃On the hills by the Huarong Valley； you are to raise a heap of wood and grass to make a great column of smoke and mislead Cao Cao into ing。〃
〃If Cao Cao sees a smoke； he will suspect an ambush and will not e；〃 said Guan Yu。
〃You are very simple；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃Do you not know more of war's ruses than that？ Cao Cao is an able leader； but you can deceive him this time。 When he sees the smoke； he will take it as a subterfuge and risk going that way。 But do not let your kindness of heart rule your conduct。〃
Thus was his duty assigned Guan Yu； and he left； taking his adopted son Guan Ping； his general Zhou Cang； and five hundred swordsmen。
Said Liu Bei； 〃His sense of rectitude is very profound。 I fear if Cao Cao should e that way； my brother will let him pass。〃
〃I have consulted the stars lately； and the rebel Cao Cao is not fated to e to his end yet。 I have purposely designed this manifestation of kindly feeling for Guan Yu to acplish and so act handsomely。〃
〃Indeed there are few such far…seeing humans as you are；〃 said Liu Bei。
The two then went to Fankou whence they might watch Zhou Yu's evolutions。 Sun Qian and Jian Yong were left on guard of Xiakou。
Cao Cao was in his great camp in conference with his advisers and awaiting the arrival of Huang Gai。 The southeast wind was very strong that day； and Cheng Yu was insisting on the necessity for precaution。
But Cao Cao laughed； saying； 〃The Winter Solstice depends upon the sun and nothing else。 There is sure to be a southeast wind at some one or other of its recurrences。 I see nothing to wonder at。〃
Just then they announced the arrival of a small boat from the other shore with a letter from Huang Gai。 The bearer of the letter was brought in and presented it。 Cao Cao read it：
〃Zhou Yu has kept such strict watch that there has been no chance of escape。 But now some grain is ing down river； and I； Huang Gai； have been named as escort mander which will give me the opportunity I desire。 I will slay one of the known generals and bring his head as an offering when I e。 This evening at the third watch； if boats are seen with dragon toothed flags； they will be the grain boats。〃
This letter delighted Cao Cao who； with his officers； went to the naval camp and boarded a great ship to watch for the arrival of Huang Gai。
In the South Land； when evening fell； Zhou Yu sent for Cai He and bade the soldiers bind him。
The unhappy man protested； saying； 〃I have mitted no crime！〃
But Zhou Yu said； 〃What sort of a fellow are you； think you； to e and pretend to desert to my side？ I need a small sacrifice for my flag； and your head will serve my purpose。 So I am going to use it。〃
Cai He being at the end of his tether unable to deny the charge suddenly cried； 〃Two of your own side； Kan Ze and Gan Ning； are also in the plot！〃
〃Under my directions！〃 said Zhou Yu。
Cai He was exceedingly repentant and sad； but Zhou Yu bade them take Cai He to the river bank where the black standard had been set up and there； after the pouring of a libation and the burning of paper； Cai He was beheaded； his blood being a sacrifice to the flag。
This ceremony over； the ships started； and Huang Gai took his place on the third ship。 He merely wore breast armor and carried a keen blade。 On his flag were written four large characters Van Leader Huang Gai 。 With a fair wind his fleet sailed toward the Red Cliffs。
The wind was strong and the waves ran high。 Cao Cao in the midst of the central squadron eagerly scanned the river which rolled down under the bright moon like a silver serpent writhing in innumerable folds。 Letting the wind blow full in his face； Cao Cao laughed aloud for he was now to obtain his desire。
Then a soldier pointing to the river said； 〃The whole south is one mass of sails； and they are ing up on the wind。〃
Cao Cao went to a higher point and gazed at the sails intently； and his officers told him that the flags were black and dragon shaped； and indented； and among them there flew one very large banner on which was a name Huang Gai。
〃That is my friend； the deserter！〃 said he joyfully。 〃Heaven is on my side today。〃
As the ships drew closer； Cheng Yu said； 〃Those ships are treacherous。 Do not let them approach the camp。〃
〃How know you that？〃 asked Cao Cao。
And Cheng Yu replied； 〃If they were laden with grain； they would lie deep in the water。 But these are light and float easily。 The southeast wind is very strong； and if they intend treachery； how can we defend ourselves？〃
Cao Cao began to understand。 Then he asked who would go out to stop the approaching fleet； and Wen Ping volunteered； saying； 〃I am well used to the waters。〃
Thereupon Wen Ping sprang into a small light craft and sailed out； followed by ten cruisers which came at his signal。
Standing in the prow of his ship； Wen Ping called out to those advancing toward them； 〃You southern ships are not to approach！ Such are the orders of the Prime Minister。 Stop there in mid stream！〃
The soldiers all yelled to them to lower their sails。 The shout had not died away when a bowstring twanged； and Wen Ping rolled down into the ship with an arrow in the left arm。 Confusion reigned on his ship； and all the others hurried back to their camp。
When the ships were about a mile of distant； Huang Gai waved his sword and the leading ships broke forth into fire； which； under the force of the strong wind； soon gained strength and the ships became as fiery arrows。 Soon the whole twenty dashed into the naval camp。
All Cao Cao's ships were gathered there； and as they were firmly chained together not one could escape from the others and flee。 There was a roar of bombs and fireships came on from all sides at once。 The face of the three rivers was speedily covered with fire whic