。

At　sight　of　the　opponents；　Cao　Ren　flourished　his　whip　and　began　to　hurl　abuse　at　them；　〃Zhou　Yu；　you　babe！　I　think　your　fate　has　met　you。　You　dare　not　face　my　army！〃

The　stream　of　insult　never　ceased。

Presently　Zhou　Yu　could　stand　it　no　longer。　Riding　out　to　the　front　he　cried；　〃Here　I　am；　base　churl。　Look　at　me！〃

The　whole　Cao　Ren's　army　were　taken　aback。　But　Cao　Ren　turned　to　those　about　him　and　said；　〃Let　us　all　revile　him！〃

And　the　whole　army　yelled　insults。

Zhou　Yu　grew　angry　and　sent　Pan　Zhang　out　to　fight。　But　before　he　had　delivered　his　first　blow；　Zhou　Yu　suddenly　uttered　a　loud　cry；　and　he　fell　to　the　ground　with　blood　gushing　from　his　mouth。

At　this　Cao　Ren's　army　rushed　to　the　battle；　and　the　army　of　the　South　Land　pressed　forward　to　meet　them。　A　fierce　struggle　waged　around　the　General's　body；　but　he　was　borne　off　safely　and　taken　to　his　tent。

〃Do　you　feel　better？〃　asked　Cheng　Pu　anxiously。

〃It　was　a　ruse　of　mine；〃　whispered　Zhou　Yu　in　reply。

〃But　what　avails　it？〃

〃I　am　not　suffering；　but　I　did　that　to　make　our　enemies　think　I　was　very　ill　and　so　oppose　them　by　deceit。　I　will　send　a　few　trusty　men　to　pretend　desertion　and　tell　them　I　am　dead。　That　will　cause　them　to　try　a　night　raid　on　the　camp；　and　we　shall　have　an　ambush　ready　for　them。　We　shall　get　Cao　Ren　easily。〃

〃The　plan　seems　excellent；〃　said　Cheng　Pu。

Soon　from　the　tent　there　arose　the　sound　of　wailing　as　for　the　dead。　The　soldiers　around　took　up　the　cry　and　said　one　to　another；　〃The　General　is　dead　of　his　wound；〃　and　they　all　put　on　the　symbols　of　mourning。

Meanwhile　Cao　Ren　was　consulting　with　his　officers。

Said　he；　〃Zhou　Yu　lost　his　temper；　and　that　has　caused　his　wound　to　reopen　and　broug