ly　ordered　out　General　Huang　Gai。　On　the　other　side　Cai　Mao　rode　forth　with　his　sword　set　to　strike。　But　after　a　few　bouts　Huang　Gai　dealt　Cai　Mao　a　blow　with　the　iron　whip　on　the　armor　just　over　the　heart。　Cai　Mao　turned　his　steed　and　fled；　and　Sun　Jian　got　through　with　a　sudden　rush。

However；　there　arose　the　sound　of　gongs　and　drums　on　the　hills　behind；　and　there　was　Liu　Biao　in　person　with　a　large　army。

Sun　Jian　rode　straight　up　to　him　and　bowing　low　spoke；　〃Why　did　you；　on　the　faith　of　a　letter　from　Yuan　Shao；　try　to　coerce　the　chief　of　a　neighboring　region？〃

〃You　have　concealed　the　state　jewel；　and　I　want　you　to　restore　it；〃　was　Liu　Biao's　reply。

〃If　I　have　this　thing；　may　I　die　a　violent　death！〃

〃If　you　want　me　to　believe　you；　let　me　search　your　baggage。〃

〃What　force　have　you　that　you　dare　e　to　flout　me　thus？〃

And　only　Liu　Biao's　prompt　retirement　prevented　a　battle。　Sun　Jian　proceeded　on　his　way。　But　from　the　rear　of　the　second　hill　an　ambush　suddenly　discovered　itself；　and　Kuai　Yue　and　Cai　Mao　were　still　pursuing。　Sun　Jian　seemed　entirely　hemmed　in。

What　does　a　man　to　hold　the　state　jewel　for；

If　its　possession　lead　to　strife？

How　Sun　Jian　got　clear　of　the　difficulty　will　presently　be　told。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　7　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　7

Chapter　7

Yuan　Shao　Fights　Gongsun　Zan　At　The　River　Pan；

Sun　Jian　Attacks　Liu　Biao　Across　The　Great　River。

＇e＇　The　Yangtze　or　Yangzi　river；　which　flows　from　west　to　east　to　the　Pacific　at　Shanghai。

At　the　close　of　the　last　chapter　Sun　Jian　was　surrounded。　However；　aided　by　Cheng　Pu；　Huang　Gai；　and　Han　Dang；　he　eventually　fought　his　way　through；　though　with　the　loss　of　more　than