ed　to　move。　The　van　under　Gan　Ning　was　to　advance；　supported　by　two　wings　led　by　Han　Dang　and　Jiang　Qin。　Zhou　Yu　would　lead　the　center　body　in　support。　The　next　morning　the　early　meal　was　eaten　in　the　fourth　watch；　and　the　ships　got　under　weigh　in　the　fifth　with　a　great　beating　of　drums。

Cao　Cao　was　greatly　angered　when　he　heard　that　his　letter　had　been　torn　to　fragments；　and　he　resolved　to　attack　forthwith。　His　advance　was　led　by　the　Supreme　Admiral　Cai　Mao；　the　Vice…Admiral　Zhang　Yun；　and　others　of　the　Jingzhou　officers　who　had　joined　his　side。　Cao　Cao　went　as　hastily　as　possible　to　the　meeting　of　the　three　rivers　and　saw　the　ships　of　the　South　Land　sailing　up。

In　the　bow　of　the　foremost　ship　from　the　south　stood　a　fine　figure　of　a　warrior；　who　cried；　〃I　am　Gan　Ning。　I　challenge　anyone　to　bat！〃

Cai　Mao　sent　his　young　brother；　Cai　Xun；　to　accept　the　challenge。　But　as　Cai　Xun's　ship　approached；　Gan　Ning　shot　an　arrow　and　Cai　Xun　fell。　Gan　Ning　pressed　forward；　his　crossbowmen　keeping　up　a　heavy　discharge　which　Cao　Cao's　troops　could　not　stand。　The　wings　of　Han　Dang　from　the　left　and　Jiang　Qin　from　the　right　also　joined　in。

Cao　Cao's　soldiers；　being　mostly　from　the　dry　plains　of　the　north；　did　not　know　how　to　fight　effectually　on　water；　and　the　southern　ships　had　the　battle　all　their　own　way。　The　slaughter　was　very　great。　However；　after　a　contest　lasting　till　afternoon；　Zhou　Yu　thought　it　more　prudent；　in　view　of　the　superior　numbers　of　his　enemy；　not　to　risk　further　the　advantage　he　had　gained。　So　he　beat　the　gongs　as　the　signal　to　cease　battle　and　recall　the　ships。

Cao　Cao　was　worsted；　but　his　ships　returned　to　the　bank；　where　a　camp　was　made　and　order　was　restored。

Cao　Cao　sent　for　his　defeated　leaders　and　reproached　them；　say