u was no match for Xu Sheng； as was soon evident； wherefore he led his troops to retire。
〃Xu Sheng is too strong；〃 said Zhang Pu when he saw Cao Xiu。
〃Then will we defeat him by a surprise；〃 said Cao Xiu。
He sent Zhang Pu with twenty thousand troops to hide in the south of Shiding； while another equal party under Xue Qiao was sent north。
And Cao Xiu arranged； saying； 〃Tomorrow I will lead a thousand soldiers to provoke the troops of Wu into battle； then I will feign defeat and lead them to the hills in the north； when a bomb will explode and a three…pronged ambush will bring us victory。〃
On the other side Lu Xun called his two generals； Zhu Huan and Quan Zong； and said； 〃Each of you is to lead thirty thousand troops and take a cross cut from Shiding to the enemy's camp。 Give a fire signal behind the camp on arrival； and then the main army will advance to the camp's front for a double at