him。〃

〃With　northern　troops　unused　to　shipboard；　I　could　never　have　crossed　the　river　but　for　this　chaining　plan；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

Then　he　saw　two　of　the　secondary　leaders　stand　up；　and　they　said；　〃We　are　from　the　north；　but　we　are　also　sailors。　Pray　give　us　a　small　squadron；　and　we　will　seize　some　of　the　enemy's　flags　and　drums　for　you　that　we　may　prove　ourselves　adepts　on　the　water。〃

The　speakers　were　two　men　who　had　served　under　Yuan　Shao；　named　Jiao　Chu　and　Zhang　Neng。

〃I　do　not　think　naval　work　would　suit　you　two；　born　and　brought　up　in　the　north；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃The　southern　soldiers　are　thoroughly　accustomed　to　ships。　You　should　not　regard　your　lives　as　a　child's　plaything。〃

They　cried；　〃If　we　fail；　treat　us　according　to　army　laws！〃

〃The　fighting　ships　are　all　chained　together；　there　are　only　small；　twenty…men　boats　free。　They　are　unsuitable　for　fighting。〃

〃If　we　took　large　ships；　where　would　be　the　wonderful　in　what　we　will　do？　No；　give　us　a　score　of　the　small　ships；　and　we　will　take　half　each　and　go　straight　to　the　enemy's　naval　port。　We　will　just　seize　a　flag；　slay　a　leader；　and　e　home。〃

〃I　will　let　you　have　the　twenty　ships　and　five　hundred　of　good；　vigorous　marines　with　long　spears　and　stiff　crossbows。　Early　tomorrow　the　main　fleet　shall　make　a　demonstration　on　the　river；　and　I　will　also　tell　Wen　Ping　to　support　you　with　thirty　ships。〃

The　two　men　retired　greatly　elated。

Next　morning；　very　early；　food　was　prepared；　and　at　the　fifth　watch　all　was　ready　for　a　start。　Then　from　the　naval　camp　rolled　out　the　drums　and　the　gongs　clanged；　as　the　ships　moved　out　and　took　up　their　positions；　the　various　flags　fluttering　in　the　morning　breeze。　And　the　two　intrepid　leaders　with　their　squadron　of　small