hile　Zhou　Yu　scanned　the　enemy's　naval　camp。　What　he　saw　gave　him　no　satisfaction；　for　everything　was　most　admirable。

He　said；　〃How　well　and　correctly　built　is　that　naval　base！　Anyone　knows　the　names　of　those　in　mand？〃

〃They　are　Cai　Mao　and　Zhang　Yun；〃　said　his　officers。

〃They　have　lived　in　the　south　a　long　time；〃　said　Zhou　Yu；　〃and　are　thoroughly　experienced　in　naval　warfare。　I　must　find　some　means　of　removing　them　before　I　can　effect　anything。〃

Meanwhile　on　shore　the　sentinels　had　told　Cao　Cao　that　the　enemy　craft　were　spying　upon　them；　and　Cao　Cao　ordered　out　some　ships　to　capture　the　spies。　Zhou　Yu　saw　the　motion　of　the　manding　flags　on　shore　and　hastily　gave　the　order　to　unmoor　and　sail　down　stream。　The　squadron　at　once　got　under　way　and　scattered；　to　and　fro　went　the　oars；　and　each　ship　seemed　to　fly。　Before　Cao　Cao's　ships　could　get　out　after　them；　they　were　all　far　away。

Cao　Cao's　ships　took　up　the　chase　but　soon　saw　pursuit　was　useless。　They　returned　and　reported　their　failure。

Again　Cao　Cao　found　fault　with　his　officers　and　said；　〃The　other　day　you　lost　a　battle；　and　the　soldiers　were　greatly　dispirited。　Now　the　enemy　have　spied　out　our　camp。　What　can　be　done？〃

In　eager　response　to　his　question　one　stepped　out；　saying；　〃When　I　was　a　youth；　Zhou　Yu　and　I　were　fellow　students　and　pledged　friends。　My　three…inch　tongue　is　still　good；　and　I　will　go　over　and　persuade　him　to　surrender。〃

Cao　Cao；　rejoiced　to　find　so　speedy　a　solution；　looked　at　the　speaker。　It　was　Jiang　Gan　of　Jiujiang；　one　of　the　counseling　staff　in　the　camp。

〃Are　you　a　good　friend　of　Zhou　Yu？〃　said　Cao　Cao。

〃Rest　content；　O　Prime　Minister；〃　replied　Jiang　Gan。　〃If　I　only　get　on　the　other　side　of　the　river；　I　shall　succeed。〃