。　Then　Cao　Cao　and　his　army　retired。

Cao　Cao　was　greatly　distressed　by　this　misfortune。　He　was　sitting　in　his　tent　poring　over　the　Book　of　War　when　Cheng　Yu　came　in　to　see　him。

〃O　Prime　Minister；〃　said　Cheng　Yu；　〃you　who　know　so　thoroughly　the　art　of　war；　have　you　forgotten　the　maxim　to　strike　quickly？　You　had　your　army　ready；　but　you　postponed　action　and　allowed　your　enemies　to　build　the　ramparts　at　River　Ruxu。　Now　you　will　find　it　hard　to　capture　the　place。　It　would　be　better　now　to　retreat　on　the　capital　and　await　a　more　propitious　moment。〃

Cao　Cao　listened；　but　said　nothing。　After　a　time　Cheng　Yu　went　away。　Cao　Cao　remained　seated　in　his　tent；　leaning　on　a　small　table　by　his　side。　And　he　fell　asleep。　Suddenly　he　heard　a　sound　as　of　a　rushing　stream　or　galloping　squadrons　of　horse；　and　out　of　the　river　in　front　of　him　arose　a　huge　red　sun；　so　bright　that　his　eyes　were　dazzled　by　it。　Looking　up　at　the　sky；　he　saw　two　other　suns　as　if　reflections　of　this　one。　And　as　he　wondered；　the　first　sun　suddenly　flew　up　and　then　dropped　among　the　hills　in　front　of　his　camp　with　a　roar　like　thunder。

This　woke　him。　He　was　in　his　tent　and　had　been　dreaming；　and　the　sentry　at　his　tent　door　was　just　reporting　noon。

Soon　he　had　his　horse　saddled　and　rode　out；　with　a　small　escort　of　fifty　riders；　toward　the　spot　he　had　seen　in　his　dream。　As　he　stood　gazing　around　him；　an　army　of　horse　came　along　with　Sun　Quan　at　their　head。　Sun　Quan　wore　a　glittering　helmet　and　was　clad　in　silver　armor。

Seeing　his　chief　enemy；　Sun　Quan　showed　no　sign　of　haste　or　dismay；　but　reined　in　his　steed　on　a　rise。

Pointing　with　his　whip　at　Cao　Cao；　Sun　Quan　said；　〃Behold　the　all…powerful　minister　who　holds　the　Middle　Land　in　the　hollow　of　his　hand！　He　has　reached　t