arter；　lighted　the　incense；　and　sprinkled　the　water　in　the　basins。　This　done　he　gazed　into　the　heavens　and　prayed　silently。　The　prayer　ended　he　descended　and　returned　to　his　tent。　After　a　brief　rest　he　allowed　the　soldiers　by　turns　to　go　away　to　eat。

Thrice　that　day　he　ascended　the　altar　and　thrice　descended；　but　there　was　no　sign　of　the　wind。

During　that　time；　Zhou　Yu；　with　Cheng　Pu　and　Lu　Su　and　other　military　officials　on　duty；　sat　waiting　in　the　tent　till　the　wished…for　wind　should　blow　and　the　attack　could　be　launched。　Messengers　were　also　sent　to　Sun　Quan　to　prepare　to　support　the　forward　movement。

Huang　Gai　had　his　fire　ships　ready；　twenty　of　them。　The　fore　parts　of　the　ships　were　thickly　studded　with　large　nails；　and　they　were　loaded　with　dry　reeds；　wood　soaked　in　fish　oil；　and　covered　with　sulfur；　saltpeter；　and　other　inflammables。　The　ships　were　covered　in　with　black　oiled　cloth。　In　the　prow　of　each　was　a　black　dragon　flag　with　indentations。　A　fighting　ship　was　attached　to　the　stern　of　each　to　propel　it　forward。　All　were　ready　and　awaited　orders　to　move。

Meanwhile　Cao　Cao's　two　spies；　Cai　He　and　Cai　Zhong；　were　being　guarded　carefully　in　an　outer　camp　far　from　the　river　bank　and　daily　entertained　with　feasting。　They　were　not　allowed　to　know　of　the　preparations。　The　watch　was　so　close　that　not　a　trickle　of　information　reached　the　prisoners。

Presently；　while　Zhou　Yu　was　anxiously　awaiting　in　his　tent　for　the　desired　wind；　a　messenger　came　to　say　that　Sun　Quan　had　anchored　at　a　place　thirty　miles　from　the　camp；　where　he　awaited　news　from　the　mander…in…Chief。

Lu　Su　was　sent　to　warn　all　the　various　manders　to　be　ready；　the　ships　and　their　weapons；　sails　and　oars；　all　for　instant　use；　and　to　impress　upon　them　the　penalties　o