〃What　is　this　excellent　scheme？〃　said　Cao　Cao。

〃The　river　is　wide；　and　the　tides　ebb　and　flow。　The　winds　and　waves　are　never　at　rest。　Your　troops　from　the　north　are　unused　to　ships；　and　the　motion　makes　them　ill。　If　your　ships；　large　and　small；　were　classed　and　divided　into　thirties；　or　fifties；　and　joined　up　stem　to　stem　by　iron　chains　and　boards　spread　across　them；　to　say　nothing　of　soldiers　being　able　to　pass　from　one　to　the　next；　even　horses　could　move　about　on　them。　If　this　were　done；　then　there　would　be　no　fear　of　the　wind　and　the　waves　and　the　rising　and　falling　tides。〃

ing　down　from　his　seat；　Cao　Cao　thanked　his　guest；　saying；　〃I　could　never　defeat　the　land　of　the　south　without　this　scheme　of　yours。〃

〃That　is　only　my　idea；〃　said　Pang　Tong。　〃It　is　for　you　to　decide　about　it。〃

Orders　were　then　issued　to　call　up　all　the　blacksmiths　and　set　them　to　work；　night　and　day；　forging　iron　chains　and　great　bolts　to　lock　together　the　ships。　And　the　soldiers　rejoiced　when　they　heard　of　the　plan。

In　the　Red　Cliffs'　fight　they　used　the　flame；

The　weapon　here　will　be　the　same。

By　Pang　Tong's　advice　the　ships　were　chained；

Else　Zhou　Yu　had　not　that　battle　gained。

Pang　Tong　further　told　Cao　Cao；　saying；　〃I　know　many　bold　people　on　the　other　side　who　hate　Zhou　Yu。　If　I　may　use　my　little　tongue　in　your　service；　I　can　induce　them　to　e　over　to　you。　If　Zhou　Yu　be　left　alone；　you　can　certainly　take　him　captive。　And　Liu　Bei　is　of　no　account。〃

〃Certainly　if　you　could　render　me　so　great　a　service；　I　would　memorialize　the　Throne　and　obtain　for　you　one　of　the　highest　offices；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

〃I　am　not　doing　this　for　the　sake　of　wealth　or　honors；　but　from　a　desire　to　succor　humankind。　If　you　cross　the　river；　I　pra