he acme of wealth and good fortune and yet he is not content； but must e to encroach upon our South Land。〃
Cao Cao replied； 〃You are disobedient； and the mand of the Emperor is to exterminate you！〃
〃What words！〃 cried Sun Quan with a laugh。 〃Are you not ashamed？ Everyone knows that you control every act of the Emperor and you tyrannize over the nobles。 I am no rebel against the dynasty； but I do desire to capture you and reform the government。〃
Cao Cao grew angry at this speech and bade his generals go over and take Sun Quan prisoner。 But before they could obey； Han Dang and Zhou Tai； Chen Wu and Pan Zhang led out two armies of soldiers from left and right at the sound of beating drums； and arrows and crossbow bolts began to fall like raindrops around Cao Cao。 He turned to retire； and the archers and bowmen followed him。 However； presently appeared Xu Chu； with the Tiger Guards； who rescued Cao Cao and took him back to his camp。 The army of the South Land had scored a victory； and they marched back to River Ruxu。
Alone in his camp； Cao Cao thought； 〃This Sun Quan certainly is no ordinary man； and by the presage of the sun in my dream he will bee an emperor。〃
He began to think it would be well to retire from the expedition； only that he feared the troops of the South Land would exult over him。 So the two armies remained facing each other a whole month； fighting occasional skirmishes and battles in which victory fell sometimes to the one and sometimes to the other。
And so it went on till the new year； and the spring rains filled the watercourses to overflowing； and the soldiers were wading in deep mud。 Their sufferings were extreme； and Cao Cao became sad at heart。 At the council board his officers were divided； some being for ret