nted　it。　Henceforward　his　thoughts　turned　toward　an　attack　on　Cao　Cao。

About　this　time　the　Governor　of　Wujun；　Xu　Gong；　sent　a　secret　letter　to　the　capital　to　Cao　Cao；　saying：

＇e＇　Xiang　Yu　（BC　232…202）　was　the　leader　of　Chu　and　a　rival　of　Liu　Bang　in　contending　the　empire　after　the　fall　of　Qin。　。。。。。

〃Sun　Ce　is　a　turbulent　fellow　of　the　Xiang　Yu　type*；　and　the　government　ought；　under　the　appearance　of　showing　favor　to　him；　to　recall　him　to　the　capital；　for　he　is　a　danger　in　the　southern　regions。〃

But　the　bearer　of　this　letter　was　captured　on　the　Great　River　and　sent　to　Sun　Ce；　who　immediately　put　him　to　death。　Then　Sun　Ce　treacherously　sent　to　ask　the　author　of　the　letter　to　e　and　consult　over　some　affair。　The　unsuspecting　Xu　Gong　came。

Sun　Ce　produced　the　letter；　saying；　〃So　you　wish　to　send　me　to　the　land　of　the　dead；　eh？〃

And　thereupon　the　executioners　came　in　and　strangled　Xu　Gong。　The　family　of　the　victim　scattered；　but　three　of　his　clients　determined　to　avenge　him　if　only　they　could　find　some　means　of　attacking　Sun　Ce。

One　day　Sun　Ce　went　hunting　in　the　hills　to　the　west　of　Dantu。　A　stag　was　started；　and　Sun　Ce　pressed　after　it　at　topmost　speed　and　followed　it　deep　into　the　forest。　Presently　he　came　upon　three　armed　men　standing　among　the　trees。　Rather　surprised　to　see　them　there；　he　reined　in　and　asked　who　they　were。

〃We　belong　to　Han　Dang's　army　and　are　shooting　deer；〃　was　the　reply。

So　Sun　Ce　shook　his　bridle　to　proceed。　But　just　as　he　did　so；　one　of　the　men　thrust　at　him　with　a　spear　and　wounded　his　thigh。　Sun　Ce　drew　the　sword　at　his　side；　dashed　forward；　and　tried　to　cut　down　the　aggressor。　The　blade　of　his　sword　suddenly　fell　to　the　ground；　only　the　hilt　remaining　in　his　hand。　Then　one　of　the　ass