However； when Cao Cao got these two letters； he was still doubtful and called together his advisers to talk over the matter。
Said he； 〃On the other side Gan Ning has been put to shame by the mander…in…Chief whom he is prepared to betray for the sake of revenge。 Huang Gai has been punished and sent Kan Ze to propose that he should e over to our side。 Only I still distrust the whole thing。 Who will go over to the camp to find out the real truth？〃
Then Jiang Gan spoke up； saying； 〃I failed in my mission the other day and am greatly mortified。 I will risk my life again and； this time； I shall surely bring good news。〃
Cao Cao approved of him as messenger and bade him start。 Jiang Gan set out in a small craft and speedily arrived in the Three Gorges； landing near the naval camp。 Then he sent to inform Zhou Yu。
Hearing who it was； Zhou Yu chuckled； saying； 〃Success depends upon this man。〃
Then Zhou Yu called Lu Su and told him to call Pang Tong to e and do certain things for him。
This Pang Tong was from Xiangyang。 And he had gone to the east of the river to get away from the strife。 Lu Su had remended him to Zhou Yu； but he had not yet presented himself。
When Zhou Yu sent Lu Su to ask what scheme of attack he would remend against Cao Cao； Pang Tong had said to Lu Su； 〃You must use fire against him。 But the river is wide and if one ship is set on fire； the others will scatter unless they are fastened together so that they must remain in one place。 That is the one road to success。〃
Lu Su took this message to the General； who pondered over it and then said； 〃The only person who can manage this is Pang Tong himself。〃
〃Cao Cao is very wily；〃 said Lu Su。 〃How can Pang Tong go？〃
So Zhou Yu was sad and undecided。 He could think of no method till suddenly the means presented itself in the arrival of Jiang Gan。
Zhou Yu at once sent instructions to Pang Tong how to act； and then sat himself in his tent to await his visitor Jiang Gan。
But the visitor became ill at ease and suspicious when he saw that his old student friend did not e to wele him； and he took the precaution of sending his boat into a retired spot to be made fast before he went to the General's tent。
When Zhou Yu saw Jiang Gan； Zhou Yu put on an angry face and said； 〃My friend； why did you treat me so badly？〃
Jiang Gan laughed and said； 〃I remembered the old days when we were as brothers； and I came expressly to pour out my heart to you。 Why do you say I treated you badly？〃
〃You came to persuade me to betray my master； which I would never do unless the sea dried up and the rocks perished。 Remembering the old times； I filled you with wine and kept you to sleep with me。 And you； you plundered my private letters and stole away with never a word of farewell。 You betrayed me to Cao Cao and caused the death of my two friends on the other side and so caused all my plans to miscarry。 Now what have you e for？ Certainly； it is not out of kindness to me。 I would cut you in two； but I still care for our old friendship。 I would send you back again； but within a day or two I shall attack that rebel。 If I let you stay in my camp； my plans will leak out。 So I am going to tell my attendants to conduct you to a certain retired hut in the Western Hills； and keep you there till I shall have won the victory。 Then I will send you back again。〃
Jiang Gan tried to say something； but Zhou Yu would not listen。 He turned his back and went into the recesses of his tent。 The attendants led the visitor off； set him on a horse； and took him away over the hills to the small hut； leaving two soldiers to look after him。
When Jiang Gan found himself in the lonely hut； he was very depressed and had no desire to eat or sleep。 But one night； when the stars were very brilliant； he strolled out to enjoy them。 Presently he came to the rear of his lonely habitation and heard； near by； someone crooning over a book。 Approaching with stealthy steps； he saw a tiny cabin half hidden in a cliff whence a slender beam or two of light stole out between the rafters。 He went nearer and peeping in； saw a man reading by the light of a lamp near which hung a sword。 And the book was Sun Zi's classic 〃The Art of War。〃
〃This is no mon person；〃 thought Jiang Gan； and so he knocked at the door。
The door was opened by the reader； who bade him wele with cultivated and refined ceremony。 Jiang Gan inquired his name。
The host replied； 〃I am Pang Tong。〃
〃Then you are surely the Master known as Young Phoenix； are you not？〃
〃Yes； I am he。〃
〃How often have I heard you talked about！ You are famous。 But why are you hidden away in this spot？〃
〃That fellow Zhou Yu is too conceited to allow that anyone else has any talent； and so I live here quietly。 But who are you； Sir？〃
〃I am Jiang Gan。〃
Then Pang Tong made him wele and led him in； and the two sat down to talk。
〃With your gifts； you would succeed anywhere；〃 said Jiang Gan。 〃If you would enter Cao Cao's service； I would remend you to him。〃
〃I have long desired to get away from here。 And if you； Sir； will present me； there is no time like the present。 If Zhou Yu heard of my wish； he would kill me； I am sure。〃
So without more ado； they made their way down the hill to the water's edge to seek the boat in which Jiang Gan had e。 They embarked and； rowing swiftly； they soon reached the northern shore。 At the central camp； Jiang Gan landed and went to seek Cao Cao to whom he related the story of the discovery of his new acquaintance。
When Cao Cao heard that the newer was Master Young Phoenix； Cao Cao went to meet him personally； made him very wele； and soon they sat down to talk on friendly terms。
Cao Cao said； 〃And so Zhou Yu in his youth is conceited and annoys his officers and rejects all their advice： I know that。 But your fame has been long known to me； and now that you have been gracious enough to turn my way； I pray you not to be thrifty of your advice。〃
〃I； too； know well that you are a model of military strategy；〃 said Pang Tong； 〃but I should like to have one look at your disposition。〃
So horses were brought； and the two rode out to the lines； host and visitor on equal terms； side by side。 They ascended a hill whence they had a wide view of the land base。
＇e＇ Wu Qi； aka Wu Zi； a famous general in the Warring States period。 He first served Lu； then went to Wei； his native； and led Wei army against Qin。 He made enemies in Wei； so he fled to Chu； where King Dao made him prime minister。 Wu Qi made Chu a powerful state； expanded her territory； defended her against Wei； Zhao； and Han； and attacked Qin。 But right after King Dao died； Wu Qi was put to death by his enemies at court。 Wu Qi is the author of a military treatise named 〃Wu Qi's Art of War〃。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Sun Zi （aka Sun Wu； Sunzi； Suntzu； Sun…tzu； Sun tzu） the author of the famed treatise The Art of War。 A general of Wu in the Spring and Autumn period； Sun Zi made her the mightiest state during his lifetime by defeating Chu and conquering Yue。 His treatise the Art of War is still avidly read today by many。 。。。。。
After looking all round Pang Tong remarked； 〃Wu Qi the Great General*； came to life again； could not do better； nor Sun Zi the Famed Strategist* if he reappeared！ All accords with the precepts。 The camp is beside the hills and is flanked by a forest。 The front and rear are within sight of each other。 Gates of egress and ingress are provided； and the roads of advance and retirement are bent and broken。〃
〃Master； I entreat you not to overpraise me； but to advise me where I can make further improvements；〃 said Cao Cao。
Then the two men rode down to the naval camp； where twenty four gates were arranged facing south。 The cruisers and the battleships were all lined up so as to protect the lighter crafts which lay inside。 There were channels to pass to and fro and fixed anchorages and stations。
Pang Tong surveying all this smiled； saying； 〃Sir Prime Minister； if this is your method of warfare； you enjoy no empty reputation。〃
Then pointing to the southern shore； he went on； 〃Zhou Yu！ Zhou Yu！ You are finished。 You will have to die。〃
Cao Cao was mightily pleased。 They rode back to the chief tent and wine was brought。 They discussed military matters； and Pang Tong held forth at length。 Remarks and ments flowed freely be