f　being　caught　unprepared。　The　soldiers　were　indeed　ready　for　the　fight　and　yearning　for　the　fray。

But　the　sky　remained　obstinately　clear；　and　as　night　drew　nigh　no　breath　of　air　stirred。

〃We　have　been　cajoled；〃　said　Zhou　Yu。　〃Indeed　what　possibility　is　there　of　a　southeast　wind　in　midwinter？〃

〃Zhuge　Liang　would　not　use　vain　and　deceitful　words；〃　replied　Lu　Su。

Towards　the　third　watch；　the　sound　of　a　movement　arose　in　the　air。　Soon　the　flags　fluttered　out。　And　when　the　mander…in…Chief　went　out　to　make　sure；　he　saw　they　were　flowing　toward　the　northwest。　In　a　very　short　time　the　southeast　wind　was　in　full　force。

Zhou　Yu　was；　however；　frightened　at　the　power　of　the　man　whose　help　he　had　invoked。

He　said；　〃Really　the　man　has　power　over　the　heavens　and　authority　over　the　earth。　His　methods　are　incalculable；　beyond　the　ken　of　god　or　devil。　He　cannot　be　allowed　to　live　to　be　a　danger　to　our　land　of　the　south。　We　must　slay　him　soon　to　fend　off　later　evils。〃

So　Zhou　Yu　resolved　to　mit　a　crime　to　remove　his　dangerous　rival。

He　called　two　of　the　generals　of　his　guard；　Ding　Feng　and　Xu　Sheng；　and　said　to　them；　〃Each　of　you　take　a　party　of　one　hundred　troops；　one　along　the　river；　the　other　along　the　road；　to　the　altar　on　the　mountains。　As　soon　as　you　get　there；　without　asking　questions　or　giving　reasons；　you　are　to　seize　and　behead　Zhuge　Liang。　Rich　reward　will　be　given　when　you　bring　his　head　back。〃

Xu　Sheng　and　Ding　Feng　went　off　on　their　errand；　the　former　leading　dagger　and　ax…men　going　as　fast　as　oars　could　propel　them　along　the　river；　the　latter　at　the　head　of　archers　and　bowmen　on　horseback。　The　southeast　wind　buffeted　them　as　they　went　on　their　way。

High　was　raised　the　Seven　Stars　Altar；

On　it　pray