Hsiang Yu s army had built a walled camp at Kai-hsia, but his soldiers were few and his supplies exhausted. The Han army, joined by the forces of the other leaders, surrounded them with several lines of troops. In the night Hsiang Yu heard the Han armies all about him singing the songs of Ch'u. "Has Han already conquered Chu?" he exclaimed in astonishment. "How many men of Chu they have with them!" Then he rose in the night and drank within the curtains of his tent. With him were the beautiful lady Yuh, who enjoyed his favor and followed wherever he went, and his famous steed Dapple, which he always rode. Hsiang Yu, filled with passionate sorrow, began to sing sadly, composing this song: