“They are men of transcendent genius who are living near here for the sake of tranquillity in these troublous times. Their names are Chang Chao and Chang Hung. Why not invite them to help you, brother?” Sun Tsʻê lost no time in sending letters and gifts, but they both declined. Then he visited them in person, was greatly pleased with their speech and by dint of large gifts and much persuasion, got them to promise to join him. They were given substantial offices. The plan of the attack upon Yangchou was the next matter for discussion. The Prefect, Liu Yu, was of Tunglai, a scion of the Imperial family and brother of the governor of Yenchow. He had long ruled in Yangchou, but Yüan Shu had forced him to leave his usual abiding city and retire to Chʻüa. Hearing of the meditated attack on him he summoned his captains to take counsel. Said Chang Ying, “I will take an army and entrench at Niuchu. No army can get past that, whatever its strength.” He was interrupted by another who shouted, “And let me lead the van!” All eyes turned to this man; is was Tʻaishih Tzŭ who, after raising the siege of Pohai, had come on a visit to the Prefect and stayed on. Hearing him offer to undertake the hazardous post of van-leader Liu Yu said, “But you are still young and not yet equal to such a charge. Rather stay by my side and obey my orders.” Tʻaishih Tzŭ withdrew in high dudgeon. Soon Chang Ying led his army to Niuchu, leaving his stores of grain at Tiko. When Sun Tsʻê approached, Chang Ying went to meet him and the two armies faced each other above Niuchutʻan, (Bullock Island Rapid). Chang Ying roundly abused his opponent and Huang Kai rode out to attack, but before the combat had proceeded far there arose an alarm of fire in Chang Ying’s camp. Chang Ying turned back and then Sun Tsʻê advanced in full force, compelling the enemy to abandon their possession. The defeated general fled to the hills. Now the incendiaries who had brought about this result were two, named Chiang Chʻin and Chou Tʻai, both from the Kiukiang district, who in these troublous times had got together a band of kindred spirits and lived by plundering the country along the Yangtse River. They knew Sun Tsʻê by reputation as a man who treated able men very liberally and wished to join him. So they came with their band, three hundred strong, and helped him in this way as an introduction. Sun Tsʻê welcomed them and gave the leaders rank. After taking possession of the stores of all kinds abandoned by the runaways, and enlisting a large number of those who surrendered into his own ranks, he moved forward to attack Shêntʻing.