u　Yu　still　retained　control　of　the　expedition。　He　knew　that　the　enemy　came　daily　to　the　gates　of　his　camp　and　reviled　him；　although　none　of　his　officers　told　him。　One　day　Cao　Ren　came　in　person；　and　there　was　much　rolling　of　drums　and　shouting。　Cheng　Pu；　however；　steadily　refused　to　accept　the　challenge　and　would　not　let　anyone　go　out。

Then　Zhou　Yu　summoned　the　officers　to　his　bedside　and　said；　〃What　mean　the　drums　and　the　shouting？〃

〃The　soldiers　are　drilling；〃　was　the　reply。

〃Why　do　you　deceive　me？〃　said　Zhou　Yu　angrily。　〃Do　I　not　know　that　our　enemies　e　day　by　day　to　our　gates　and　insult　us？　Yet　Cheng　Pu　suffers　this　in　silence　and　makes　no　use　of　his　powers　and　authority。〃

He　sent　for　Cheng　Pu　and；　when　he　arrived；　asked　him　why　he　acted　thus。

〃Because　you　are　ill；　and　the　physician　said　you　were　on　no　account　to　be　provoked　to　anger。　Wherefore；　although　the　enemy　challenged　us　to　battle；　I　kept　it　from　you。〃

〃And　if　you　do　not　fight；　what　think　you　should　be　done？〃　said　Zhou　Yu。

And　they　all　said　they　desired　to　return　to　the　South　Land　till　he　had　recovered　from　his　wound；　when　they　would　make　another　expedition。

Zhou　Yu　lay　and　listened。　Suddenly　he　sprang　up；　crying；　〃The　noble　person　who　has　eaten　of　his　lord's　bounty　should　die　in　his　lord's　battles。　To　return　home　dead　and　wrapped　in　a　horse's　hide　is　a　happy　fate。　Am　I　the　sort　of　people　to　bring　to　nought　the　grand　designs　of　my　lord？〃

So　speaking　he　proceeded　to　gird　on　his　armor；　and　he　mounted　his　horse。　The　wonder　of　the　officers　only　redoubled　when　their　General　placed　himself　at　the　head　of　some　hundreds　of　horsemen　and　went　out　of　the　camp　gates　toward　the　enemy；　then　fully　arrayed。　Cao　Ren；　their　general；　stood　beneath　the　great　standard