to　Zhuge　Liang　and　get　him　to　send　out　an　army　through　Hanzhong　so　as　to　divert　part　of　Wei's　army。　Also　you　send　an　army　to　Nanxu　to　oppose　them　there。〃

〃I　shall　have　to　recall　Lu　Xun；〃　said　the　Prince。　〃He　is　the　only　man　to　undertake　this　great　task。〃

〃Do　not　move　him　if　you　can　help　it。　He　is　necessary　for　the　protection　of　Jingzhou。〃

〃Yes；　I　know。　But　there　is　no　other　strong　enough　to　help　me。〃

At　these　words　Xu　Sheng　advanced；　saying；　〃I　know　I　am　not　very　able；　but　I　desire　to　be　given　an　army　to　meet　this　danger。　If　Cao　Pi　crosses　the　river　in　person；　I　will　make　him　prisoner　and　present　him　at　the　gate　of　the　Palace。　If　he　does　not　e　over　here；　I　will　slay　so　many　of　his　soldiers　that　his　army　shall　not　dare　even　to　look　southward。〃

Sun　Quan　was　pleased　to　find　a　willing　volunteer；　and　replied；　〃Noble　Sir；　what　anxiety　need　I　feel　if　I　have　your　protection？〃

Xu　Sheng　was　given　the　title　of　General　Who　Protects　the　East　and　made　Chief　mander　of　all　the　forces　in　Nanxu　and　Jianye。　As　soon　as　he　had　received　his　orders；　he　retired。　He　gave　mand　to　gather　enormous　quantities　of　weapons；　and　had　many　flags　and　banners　made　for　the　protection　of　the　river　banks。

But　another　impetuous　young　leader　was　anxious　to　take　more　vigorous　measures；　and　he　stood　forth；　saying；　〃My　lord　has　laid　upon　you；　O　General；　a　heavy　responsibility。　But　if　you　really　desire　to　destroy　the　invading　force　and　capture　Cao　Pi；　you　should　send　an　army　to　meet　him　on　the　north　side　in　the　South　of　River　Huai。　I　fear　failure　if　you　wait　till　the　northern　troops　have　e　this　far。〃

The　young　man　was　Sun　Shao；　nephew　of　the　Prince　of　Wu。　Sun　Shao　was　born　to　a　Yu　family；　and　he　was　adopted　by　Sun　Ce　and　given　the　Sun　family　name。　He　had　alrea