Jiang　Gan's　face　had　bee　clay…colored。　Zhou　Yu　then　led　his　guest　back　into　the　tent；　and　again　they　fell　to　drinking。

Presently　Zhou　Yu　pointed　to　the　others　at　table　and　said；　〃These　are　all　the　best　and　bravest　of　the　land　of　the　south。　One　might　call　this　the　'Gathering　of　Heroes。'〃

They　drank　on　till　daylight　failed　and　continued　after　lamps　had　been　lit。　Zhou　Yu　even　gave　an　exhibition　of　sword　play　and　sang　this　song：

When　a　man　is　in　the　world；　O；

He　ought　to　do　his　best。

And　when　he's　done　his　best；　O。

He　ought　to　have　his　rest。

And　when　I　have　my　rest；　O；

I'll　quaff　my　wine　with　zest。

And　when　I'm　drunk　as　drunk　can　be；　O；

I'll　sing　the　madman's　litany。

A　burst　of　applause　greeted　the　song。　By　this　time　it　was　getting　late；　and　the　guest　begged　to　be　excused。

〃The　wine　is　too　much　for　me；〃　said　Jiang　Gan。

His　host　bade　them　clear　the　table。

As　all　the　others　left；　Zhou　Yu　said；　〃It　has　been　many　a　day　since　I　shared　a　couch　with　my　friend；　but　we　will　do　so　tonight。〃

Putting　on　the　appearance　of　irresponsible　intoxication；　he　led　Jiang　Gan　into　the　tent　and　they　went　to　bed。　Zhou　Yu　simply　fell；　all　dressed　as　he　was；　and　lay　there　emitting　uncouth　grunts　and　groans；　so　that　to　the　guest　sleep　was　impossible。

Jiang　Gan　lay　and　listened　to　the　various　camp　noises　without　and　his　host's　thunderous　snores　within。　About　the　second　watch　he　rose　and　looked　at　his　friend　by　the　dim　light　of　the　small　lamp。　He　also　saw　on　the　table　a　heap　of　papers；　and　ing　out　and　looking　at　them　furtively；　he　saw　they　were　letters。　Among　them　he　saw　one　marked　as　ing　from　Cai　Mao　and　Zhang　Yun；　Cao　Cao's　Supreme　Admiral　and　Vice…Admiral。　He　read　it　and　this　is　what　it　sai