Sun Tsʻê seized his hand and said, laughing, “If you had taken me at that fight we had near the shrine, would you have killed me?” “Who can say?” said Tʻaishih smiling. Sun Tsʻê laughed also and they entered his tent, where the captive leader was placed in the seat of honour at a banquet. Tʻaishih said, “Can you trust me so far as to let me go to muster as many as I can of the soldiers of my late master? Under the smart of this defeat they will turn against him and they would be a great help to you.” “Exactly what I most desire. I will make an agreement with you that at midday to-morrow you will return.” Tʻaishih agreed and went off. All the captains said he would never return. “He is trustworthy and will not break his word,” said the chief. None of the officers believed he would come back. But the next day they set up a bamboo rod in the gate of the camp and just as the shadow marked noon Tʻaishih Tzŭ returned, bringing with him about a thousand men. Sun Tsʻê was pleased and his officers had to confess that he had rightly judged his man. Sun Tsʻê had now several legions and Chiangtung was his. He improved the conditions of the people and maintained order so that his adherents and supporters daily increased. He was called Sun Lang (the Bright One). When his army approached the people used to flee in terror, but when it had arrived and they saw that no one was permitted to loot and not the least attempt was made on their houses, they rejoiced and presented the soldiers with oxen and wine, for which they were in turn duly rewarded. Gladness filled the country side. The soldiers who had followed Liu Yu were kindly treated. Those who wished to join Sun’s army did so; those who preferred not to be soldiers were sent home with presents. And thus Sun Tsʻê won the respect and praise of every one in Kiangnan and became very powerful. Sun Tsʻê then settled his mother and the remainder of the family in Chʻüa, setting his brother Chʻüan and Chou Tʻai over the city. Then he headed an expedition to the south to reduce the Wu districts. At that time there was a certain Yen Pai-hu, or the White Tiger, who styled himself Prince Tê of Eastern Wu and ruled over the Wu districts. Hearing of Sun Tsʻê’s approach, the “Prince” sent his brother Yen Yü with an army against him and they met at Fêngchʻiao. Yen Yü, sword in hand, took his stand on a bridge and this was reported to Sun Tsʻê, who prepared to accept the challenge. Chang Hung tried to dissuade him saying, “Forasmuch as my lord’s fate is bound up with that of the army, he should not risk a conflict with a mere robber. I would that you should remember your own value.” “Your words, O Elder One, are as gold and precious stones, but I fear that my soldiers will not carry out my commands unless I myself share their dangers.”