scouting　boats　went　down　the　lines　and　out　into　the　stream。

Now　a　few　days　before　the　sound　of　Cao　Cao's　drums　had　been　heard　on　the　southern　bank；　Zhou　Yu　had　watched　the　maneuvers　of　the　northern　fleet　on　the　open　river　from　the　top　of　a　hill　till　the　fleet　had　gone　in　again。　So　when　the　sound　of　drums　was　again　heard；　all　the　southern　army　went　up　the　hills　to　watch　the　northern　fleet。　All　they　saw　was　a　squadron　of　small　ships　bounding　over　the　waves。

As　the　northern　fleet　came　nearer；　the　news　was　taken　to　Zhou　Yu　who　called　for　volunteers　to　go　out　against　them。　Han　Dang　and　Zhou　Tai　offered　themselves。　They　were　accepted　and　orders　were　issued　to　the　camps　to　remain　ready　for　action　but　not　to　move　till　told。

Han　Dang　and　Zhou　Tai　sailed　out　each　with　a　small　squadron　of　five　ships　in　line。

The　two　braggarts　from　the　north；　Jiao　Chu　and　Zhang　Neng；　really　only　trusted　to　their　boldness　and　luck。　Their　ships　came　down　under　the　powerful　strokes　of　the　oars。　As　they　neared；　the　two　leaders　put　on　their　heart…protectors；　gripped　their　spears；　and　each　took　his　station　in　the　prow　of　the　leading　ship　of　his　division。　Jiao　Chu's　ship　led　and　as　soon　as　he　came　near　enough；　his　troops　began　to　shoot　at　Han　Dang；　who　fended　off　the　arrows　with　his　buckler。　Jiao　Chu　twirled　his　long　spear　as　he　engaged　his　opponent。　But；　at　the　first　thrust；　he　was　killed。

His　rade　Zhang　Neng　with　the　other　ships　was　ing　up　with　great　shouts；　when　Zhou　Tai　sailed　up　at　an　angle；　and　these　two　squadrons　began　shooting　arrows　at　each　other　in　clouds。　Zhou　Tai　fended　off　the　arrows　with　his　shield　and　stood　gripping　his　sword　firmly　till　his　ships　came　within　a　few　spans　of　the　enemy's　ships；　when　he　leaped　across　and　cut　down　Zhang　Neng。　Zhang　Neng's　dea