rks and ments flowed freely between the two； and Cao Cao formed an exalted opinion of his new adherent's abilities and treated him with the greatest honor。
By and bye the guest seemed to have succumbed to the influence of many cups and said； 〃Have you any capable medical people in your army？〃
〃What are they for； Master？〃 said Cao Cao。
〃There is a lot of illness among the marines； and you ought to find some remedy。〃
The fact was that at this time Cao Cao's men were suffering from the climate。 Many were vomiting and not a few had died。 It was a source of great anxiety to him； and when the newer suddenly mentioned it； of course he had to ask advice。
Pang Tong said； 〃Your marine force is excellent； but there is just one defect。 It is not quite perfect。〃
Cao Cao pressed him to say where the imperfection lay。
〃I have a plan to overe the ailment of the soldiers so that no one shall be sick and all fit for service。〃
〃What is this excellent scheme？〃 said Cao Cao。
〃The river is wide； and the tides ebb and flow。 The winds and waves are never at rest。 Your troops from the north are unused to ships； and the motion makes them ill。 If your ships； large and small； were classed and divided into thirties； or fifties； and joined up stem to stem by iron chains and boards spread across them； to say nothing of soldiers being able to pass from one to the next； even horses could move about on them。 If this were done； then there would be no fear of the wind and the waves and the rising and falling tides。〃
ing down from his seat； Cao Cao thanked his guest； saying； 〃I could never defeat the land of the south without this scheme of yours。〃
〃That is only my idea；〃 said Pang Tong。 〃It is for you to decide about it。〃
Orders were then issued to call up all the blacksmiths and set them to work； night and day； forging iron chains and great bolts to lock together the ships。 And the soldiers rejoiced when they heard of the plan。
In the Red Cliffs' fight they used the flame；
The weapon here will be the same。
By Pang Tong's advice the ships were chained；
Else Zhou Yu had not that battle gained。
Pang Tong further told Cao Cao； saying； 〃I know many bold people on the other side who hate Zhou Yu。 If I may use my little tongue in your service； I can induce them to e over to you。 If Zhou Yu be left alone； you can certainly take him captive。 And Liu Bei is of no account。〃
〃Certainly if you could render me so great a service； I would memorialize the Throne and obtain for you one of the highest offices；〃 said Cao Cao。
〃I am not doing this for the sake of wealth or honors； but from a desire to succor humankind。 If you cross the river； I pray you be merciful。〃
〃I am Heaven's means of doing right and could not bear to slay the people。〃
Pang Tong thanked him and begged for a document that would protect his own family。
Cao Cao asked； 〃Where do they live？〃
〃All are near the river bank。〃
And Cao Cao ordered a protection declaration to be prepared。 Having sealed it； he gave it to Pang Tong。
Pang Tong said； 〃You should attack as soon as I have gone； but do not let Zhou Yu doubt anything。〃
Cao Cao promised secrecy； and the wily traitor took his leave。 Just as he was about to embark； he met a man in a Taoist robe； with a bamboo b in his hair； who stopped him。
The man said； 〃You are very bold。 Huang Gai is planning to use the 'personal injury ruse'； and Kan Ze has presented the letter of pretended desertion。 You have proffered the fatal scheme of chaining the ships together lest the flames may not pletely destroy them。 This sort of mischievous work may have been enough to deceive Cao Cao； but I saw it all。〃
Pang Tong bee helpless with fear………his viscera flown away； his spirit scattered。
By guileful means one may succeed；
The victims too find friends in need。
The next chapter will tell who the stranger was。
Main Next to Chapter 48 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 48
Chapter 48
Banquet On The Great River； Cao Cao Sings A Song；
Battle On Water； The Northern Soldiers Fight With Chained Ships。
In the last chapter Pang Tong was brought up with a sudden shock when someone seized him and said of his scheme。 Upon turning to look at the man； Pang Tong saw it was Xu Shu； an old friend； and his heart revived。
Looking around and seeing no one near； Pang Tong said； 〃It would be a pity if you upset my plan。 The fate of the people of all the eighty…one southern counties is in your hands。〃
Xu Shu smiled； saying； 〃And what of the fate of these eight hundred thirty thousand soldiers and horse of the north？〃
〃Do you intend to wreck my scheme； Xu Shu？〃
〃I have never forgotten the kindness of Uncle Liu Bei； nor my oath to avenge the death of my mother at Cao Cao's hands。 I have said I would never think out a plan for him。 So am I likely to wreck yours now； brother？ But I have followed Cao Cao's army thus far； and after they shall have been defeated； good and bad will suffer alike and how can I escape？ Tell me how I can secure safety； and I sew up my lips and go away。〃
Pang Tong smiled； 〃If you are as high…minded as that； there is no great difficulty。〃
〃Still I wish you would instruct me。〃
So Pang Tong whispered something in his ear； which seemed to please Xu Shu greatly； for he thanked him most cordially and took his leave。 Then Pang Tong betook himself to his boat and left for the southern shore。
His friend gone； Xu Shu mischievously spread certain rumors in the camp； and next day were to be seen everywhere soldiers in small groups； some talking； others listening； heads together and ears stretched out； till the camps seemed to buzz。
Some of the officers went to Cao Cao and told him； saying； 〃A rumor is running around the camps that Han Sui and Ma Teng are marching from Xiliang to attack the capital。〃
This troubled Cao Cao； who called together his advisers to council。
Said he； 〃The only anxiety I have felt in this expedition was about the possible doings of Han Sui and Ma Teng。 Now there is a rumor running among the soldiers； and though I know not whether it be true or false； it is necessary to be on one's guard。〃
At this point Xu Shu said； 〃You have been kind enough to give me an office； Sir； and I have really done nothing in return。 If I may have three thousand troops； I will march at once to San Pass and guard this entrance。 If there be any pressing matter； I will report at once。〃
〃If you would do this； I should be quite at my ease。 There are already troops beyond the Pass； who will be under your mand； and now I will give you three thousand of horse and foot； and Zang Ba shall lead the van and march quickly。〃
Xu Shu took leave of the Prime Minister and left in pany with Zang Ba。 This was Pang Tong's scheme to secure the safety of Xu Shu。
A poem says：
Cao Cao marched south； but at his back
There rode the fear of rear attack。
Pang Tong's good counsel Xu Shu took；
And thus the fish escaped the hook。
Cao Cao's anxiety diminished after he had thus sent away Xu Shu。 Then he rode round all the camps； first the land forces and then the naval。 He boarded one of the large ships and thereon set up his standard。 The naval camps were arranged along two lines； and every ship carried a thousand bows and crossbows。
While Cao Cao remained with the fleet； it occurred the full moon of the eleventh month of the thirteenth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity （AD 208）。 The sky was clear； there was no wind； and the river lay unruffled。 He prepared a great banquet； with music； and thereto invited all his leaders。 As evening drew on； the moon rose over the eastern hills in its immaculate beauty； and beneath it lay the broad belt of the river like a band of pure silk。 It was a great assembly； and all the guests were clad in gorgeous silks and embroidered robes； and the arms of the fighting soldiers glittered in the moonlight。 The officers； civil and military； were seated in their proper order of precedence。
The setting； too； was exquisite。 The Southern Hills were outlined as in a picture； the boundaries of Chaisang lay in the east； the river showed west as far as Xiakou； on the south lay the Fan Mountains； on the north was the Black Forest。 The view stretched wide on every side。
Cao Cao's heart was jubilant； and he harangued the assembly； s