all along the south bank there appeared no glimmer of light。
〃What do you think it means？〃 said Cao Pi。
The courtiers replied； 〃They heard that Your Majesty's heavenly army was ing； and ran away like so many rats。〃
The Ruler of Wei laughed to himself。 When daylight came there came with it a thick fog； so that nothing on the bank could be seen。 After a time； a breeze blew off the fog； and then； to their immense surprise； they found that the whole length of the South of the Great River as far as they could see was one battlement； with towers at intervals； while spears and swords glittered in the sun and flags and pennons fluttered in the breeze。
In just a short time several reports came： 〃A long wall by the Great River has grown up in a night and stood there with carts and masts of ships lying along it； stretching some one hundred miles from Shidou to Nanxu。〃
The fact was that the wall was an imitation； and the warriors that manned it were bundles of reeds dressed in soldiers' uniforms。 And this was Xu Sheng's tactic。 But the sight chilled the ardor of the invaders。
〃My hosts of troops are no use against such warriors。 We can do nothing against those talents of the South Land；〃 said Cao Pi。
He thought over this sadly enough。 But now the wind had increased in force； and white bers began to heave up in the river； and waters broke over his boat； drenching the dragon robes。 The ship seemed as if it would roll right over。 So Cao Zhen sent out small boats to rescue his master and his people。 But they were too affrighted to move。 Wherefore Wen Ping； who was in charge； leaped on board and helped the Emperor down into one of the smaller craft； which then flew away before the wind and got safely into a creek。
Soon came a hasty