ave　but　little　weight　to　what　he　said；　and　presently　he　went　back　to　his　own　tent。　It　was　just　then　the　time　for　the　autumn　rains；　and　a　heavy　downpour　came　on；　lasting　several　days。　Orders　were　given　to　get　ready　boats　and　rafts　and　such　things。　Guan　Ping　could　not　think　what　such　preparations　meant　in　a　dry　land　campaign。　So　he　asked　his　father。

〃Do　you　not　know　even？〃　replied　his　father。　〃Our　enemies　have　camped　in　difficult　ground　instead　of　the　open　country　and　are　crowded　in　the　dangerous　valley　there。　After　some　days　of　this　rain；　River　Xiang　will　swell；　and　I　shall　send　people　to　dam　up　all　the　outlets　and　so　let　the　water　rise　very　high。　When　at　its　highest；　I　shall　open　the　dams　and　let　the　water　out　over　Fancheng。　That　valley　will　be　flooded　too；　and　all　the　soldiers　will　bee　aquatic　animals。〃

The　Wei　armies　had　camped　in　the　gully；　and　after　several　days　of　heavy　rain；　Army　Inspector　Cheng　He　ventured　to　speak　to　his　mander。

He　said；　〃The　army　is　camped　near　the　mouth　of　a　stream　in　a　depression。　There　are　hills　around　us；　but　they　are　too　far　off　to　keep　the　water　away。　Our　soldiers　are　already　suffering　from　these　heavy　rains；　and；　moreover；　they　say　the　Jingzhou　troops　have　moved　to　higher　ground。　More　than　that；　at　River　Han　they　are　preparing　boats　and　rafts　so　that　they　can　take　advantage　of　the　floods　if　there　are　any。　Our　army　will　be　in　great　danger；　and　something　should　be　done。〃

But　Yu　Jin　scoffed　at　his　words；　saying；　〃You　fool！　Do　you　want　to　injure　the　spirit　of　our　soldiers？　Talk　no　more；　or　your　head　will　be　fallen。〃

Cheng　He　went　away　greatly　ashamed。

Then　Cheng　He　went　to　Pang　De；　who　saw　the　force　of　his　words　and　said；　〃What　you　said　is　excellent。　If　Yu　Jin　will　not　move　camp　tomorrow；　I　myself　wi