d　body　fell　into　the　water。　Then　the　battle　became　confused；　and　the　attacking　ships　rowed　hard　to　get　away。　The　southerners　pursued　but　soon　came　in　sight　of　Wen　Ping's　supporting　fleet。　Once　more　the　ships　engaged　and　the　forces　fought　with　each　other。

Zhou　Yu　with　his　officers　stood　on　the　summit　of　a　mountain　and　watched　his　own　and　the　enemy　ships　out　on　the　river。　The　flags　and　the　ensigns　were　all　in　perfect　order。　Then　he　saw　Wen　Ping　and　his　own　fleets　engaged　in　battle；　and　soon　it　was　evident　that　the　former　was　not　a　match　for　his　own　sailors。　Wen　Ping　turned　about　to　retire；　Han　Dang　and　Zhou　Tai　pursued。　Zhou　Yu　fearing　lest　his　sailors　should　go　too　far；　then　hoisted　the　white　flag　of　recall。

To　his　officers　Zhou　Yu　said；　〃The　masts　of　the　northern　ships　stand　thick　as　reeds。　Cao　Cao　himself　is　full　of　wiles。　How　can　we　destroy　him？〃

No　one　replied；　for　just　then　the　great　yellow　flag　that　flapped　in　the　breeze　in　the　middle　of　Cao　Cao's　fleet　suddenly　fell　over　into　the　river。

Zhou　Yu　laughed。

〃That　is　a　bad　omen；〃　said　he。

Then　an　extra　violent　blast　of　wind　came　by；　and　the　waves　rose　high　and　beat　upon　the　bank。　A　corner　of　his　own　flag　flicked　Zhou　Yu　on　the　cheek；　and　suddenly　a　thought　flashed　through　his　mind。　Zhou　Yu　uttered　a　loud　cry；　staggered；　and　fell　backward。　They　picked　him　up。　There　was　blood　upon　his　lips；　and　he　was　unconscious。　Presently；　however；　he　revived。

And　once　he　laughed；　then　gave　a　cry；

This　is　hard　to　ensure　a　victory。

Zhou　Yu's　fate　will　appear　as　the　story　unfolds。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　49　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　49

Chapter　49

On　Seven…Star　Altar；　Zhuge　Liang　Sacrifices　To　The　Winds；

At　Three