〃What　preparations　are　necessary？〃　asked　Cao　Cao。

〃Just　a　youth　as　my　servant　and　a　couple　of　rowers。　Nothing　else。〃

Cao　Cao　offered　him　wine；　wished　him　success；　and　sent　him　on　his　way。

Clad　in　a　simple　white　robe　and　seated　in　his　little　craft；　the　messenger　reached　Zhou　Yu's　camp　and　bade　the　guards　say　that　an　old　friend　Jiang　Gan　wished　to　see　him。

The　mander　was　in　his　tent　at　a　council　when　the　message　came；　and　he　laughed　as　he　said　to　those　about　him；　〃A　persuader　is　ing。〃

Then　he　whispered　certain　instructions　in　the　ear　of　each　one　of　them；　and　they　went　out　to　await　his　arrival。

Zhou　Yu　received　his　friend　in　full　ceremonial　garb。　A　crowd　of　officers　in　rich　silken　robes　were　about　him。　The　guest　appeared；　his　sole　attendant　a　lad　dressed　in　a　simple　blue　gown。　Jiang　Gan　bore　himself　proudly　as　he　advanced；　and　Zhou　Yu　made　a　low　obeisance。

〃You　have　been　well　I　hope　since　last　we　me