“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.”

Coming 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 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 humans on the other side who hate Zhou Yu. If I may use my little tongue in your service, I can induce them to come over to you; and 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, who 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 comb in his hair, who stopped him, saying, “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 completely destroy them. This sort of mischievous work may have been enough to blind Cao Cao, but I saw it all.”

Pang Tong become 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.

CHAPTER 48. Banquet On The Great River, Cao Cao Sings A Song; Battle On Open Water, The Northern Soldiers Fight With The Chained Ships.

In the last chapter Pang Tong was brought up with a sudden shock when some one 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.