t　venture　out　to　attack　so　strong　a　force　as　was　attacking　them。

Hu　Zun　made　a　camp　at　Xutang。　It　was　then　the　depth　of　winter　and　intensely　cold。　Heavy　snow　fell。　Thinking　that　no　warlike　operations　were　possible　in　such　weather；　Hu　Zun　and　his　officers　made　a　great　feast。

In　the　midst　of　the　feasting　came　one　to　report：　〃Thirty　ships　are　ing　in　the　river。〃

Hu　Zun　went　out　to　look　and　saw　them　e　into　the　bank。　He　made　out　a　hundred　troops　on　each。

As　they　were　so　few；　he　returned　to　the　feast　and　told　his　officers；　〃Only　three　thousand　sailors。　There　is　nothing　to　be　alarmed　at。〃

Giving　orders　to　keep　a　careful　watch；　they　all　returned　to　enjoy　themselves。

Ding　Feng's　ships　were　all　drawn　up　in　line。　Then　he　said　to　his　officers；　〃Today　there　is　indeed　a　grand　opportunity　for　a　brave　soldier　to　distinguish　himself。　W