Before the Battle of Red Cliffs, Cao Cao had taken Jingzhou and its fleet. Sun Quan called his officials together and asked for their advice. According to the Records of the Three Kingdoms, all who spoke said that the best plan was to “welcome” Cao Cao, that is, to submit. Zhou Yu argued for war, and Sun Quan agreed with him.
A note to the same chapter, from the Jiangbiao Zhuan, describes what Sun Quan did next. He drew his sword and cut the desk in front of him. “Any officer or official who dares to speak again of welcoming Cao Cao will be like this desk.” (诸将吏敢复有言当迎操者，与此案同)