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bled　and　fell　to　a　thrust　of　the　young　Ma　Chao's　spear。　The　victor　turned　to　retire　into　the　formation；　but　Li　Meng　rode　after　Ma　Chao　to　avenge　his　fallen　colleague。
Ma　Chao　did　not　see　Li　Meng；　but　his　father　called　out　〃You　are　followed！〃
Hardly　had　Ma　Teng　spoken　when　he　saw　that　the　pursuer　was　a　prisoner　seated　on　his　son's　steed。　Now　Ma　Chao　had　known　he　was　followed；　but　pretended　not　to　see；　waiting　till　his　enemy　should　have　e　close　and　lifted　his　spear　to　strike。　Then　Ma　Chao　suddenly　wheeled　about。　The　spear　thrust　met　only　empty　air；　and　as　the　horses　passed；　Ma　Chao's　powerful　arm　shot　out　and　pulled　Li　Meng　from　the　saddle。　Thus　Li　Meng　and　Wang　Fang's　soldiers　were　left　leaderless　and　fled　in　all　directions。　The　army　of　Ma　Teng　and　Han　Sui　dashed　in　pursuit；　and　a　plete　victory　was　scored。　They　pressed　into　one　of　the　passes　and　made　a　camp。　Then　they　decapitated　Li　Meng　and　exposed　his　head。
When　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　heard　that　both　the　boastful　generals　had　fallen　under　the　hand　of　one　young　man；　they　knew　that　Jia　Xu　had　given　good　advice　and　was　gifted　with　clear　prescience。　So　they　valued　his　plans　the　more　highly　and　decided　to　act　on　the　defensive。　They　refused　all　challenges　to　bat。
Surely　enough　after　a　couple　of　months　the　supplies　of　the　Xiliang　force　were　all　exhausted　and　the　leaders　began　to　consider　retreat。
Just　at　this　juncture　a　household　servant　of　Ma　Yu's　family　betrayed　his　master　and　told　of　the　conspiracy　of　the　three　court　officials　to　assist　the　attackers。　The　two　chiefs　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　in　revenge　seized　the　three　conspirators………Ma　Yu；　Chong　Shao；　and　Liu　Fan………；　with　every　member　of　their　households；　and　beheaded　them　in　the　market　place。　The　heads　of　the　three　were　exposed　at　the　front　gate　of　the　capital。
Being　short　of　food　and　hearing　of　the　destruction　of　their　three　adherents　in　the　city；　the　only　course　for　Ma　Teng　and　Han　Sui　was　to　retreat。　At　once　Zhang　Ji　went　in　pursuit　of　Ma　Teng；　and　Fan　Chou　followed　Han　Sui。　The　retreating　army　under　Ma　Teng　was　beaten；　and　only　by　Ma　Chao's　desperate　efforts　were　the　pursuers　driven　off。
Fan　Chou　pursued　the　other　army。　When　he　had　e　close；　Han　Sui　rode　boldly　up　and　addressed　him；　saying；　〃You　and　I；　Sir；　are　fellow　villagers。　Why　then　behave　so　unfriendly？〃
Fan　Chou　replied；　〃I　must　obey　the　mands　of　my　chief。〃
〃I　am　here　for　the　service　of　the　state。　Why　do　you　press　me　so　hard？〃　said　Han　Sui。
At　this　Fan　Chou　turned　his　horse；　called　in　his　troops；　and　left　Han　Sui　in　peace。　Unwittingly　a　nephew　of　Li　Jue　had　been　a　witness　of　this　scene；　and　when　he　saw　the　enemy　allowed　to　go　free；　he　returned　and　told　his　uncle。　Angry　that　his　enemy　had　escaped；　Li　Jue　would　have　sent　an　army　to　wreak　vengeance　on　his　general。
But　his　adviser　Jia　Xu　again　came　in；　saying；　〃The　people　are　yet　unsettled；　it　was　dangerous　to　provoke　another　war。　Instead；　invite　Fan　Chou　to　a　banquet　and；　while　the　feast　was　in　progress；　executing　him　for　dereliction　of　duty。〃
This　seemed　good　to　Li　Jue；　so　the　banquet　was　prepared。　Zhang　Ji　and　Fan　Chou　accepted　their　invitations　and　went　cheerfully。
Toward　the　latter　part　of　the　entertainment　a　sudden　change　came　over　their　host　Li　Jue；　and　he　suddenly　asked　Fan　Chou；　〃Why　have　you　been　intriguing　with　Han　Sui？　You　are　turning　traitor；　eh？〃
The　unhappy　guest　was　taken　aback。　Before　he　could　frame　his　words　to　reply；　he　saw　the　assassins　rush　out　with　swords　and　axes。　In　a　moment　all　was　over；　and　Fan　Chou's　head　lay　beneath　the　table。
Scared　beyond　measure；　his　fellow…guest　Zhang　Ji　groveled　on　the　floor。
〃Fan　Chou　was　a　traitor；〃　said　the　host；　raising　Zhang　Ji　by　the　arm；　〃and　he　has　his　deserts。　You　are　my　friend　and　need　not　fear。〃
Li　Jue　gave　Zhang　Ji　mand　of　Fan　Chou's　army　with　which　Zhang　Ji　returned　to　his　headquarters　garrison　in　Hongnong。
No　one　of　the　leaders　among　the　leaguers　dared　attempt　an　attack　on　the　party　newly　risen　from　Dong　Zhuo's　disaffection；　while　on　the　other　hand　Jia　Xu　never　ceased　to　urge　his　masters　to　exert　themselves　for　the　welfare　of　the　people　and　thus　to　tempt　wise　people　to　join　them。　And　by　these　means　the　government　began　to　prosper；　and　the　court　to　reassert　its　authority。
However；　a　new　trouble　arose　in　the　shape　of　a　resurgence　of　Yellow　Scarves　in　Qingzhou。　They　came；　under　numerous　chieftains；　in　the　number　of　hundreds　of　thousand　and　plundered　any　place　they　reached。
Minister　Zhu　Jun　said　he　knew　of　one　who　could　destroy　this　sedition；　and　when　asked　who　was　the　man　he　proposed；　Zhu　Jun　said；　〃You　want　to　destroy　this　horde　of　rebels；　you　will　fail　unless　you　get　the　service　of　Cao　Cao。〃
〃And　where　is　he？〃　asked　Li　Jue。
〃He　is　Governor　of　Dongjun。　He　has　a　large　army；　and　you　have　only　to　order　him　to　act。　The　rising　will　be　broken。〃
A　messenger　went　post　haste　with　a　mand　for　Cao　Cao　and　Bao　Xin；　Lord　of　Jibei；　to　act　together　in　quelling　the　rebellion。　As　soon　as　Cao　Cao　received　the　court　mand；　he　arranged　with　his　colleague　first　to　attack　the　rebels　at　Shouyang。　Bao　Xin　made　a　dash　right　into　their　midst　and　inflicting　damage　wherever　he　could；　but　he　was　killed　in　a　battle。　Cao　Cao　pursued　the　rebels　as　they　fled。　Ten　thousand　surrendered。　Then　Cao　Cao　put　his　quondam　enemies　in　the　van。　When　his　army　reached　any　place；　many　more　surrendered　and　joined　him。　After　three　months　of　these　tactics；　he　had　won　over　many　thousands；　both　of　soldiers　and　ordinary　folks。
Of　these　new　adherents　the　strongest　and　boldest　were　made　the　Qingzhou　Army；　and　the　others　were　sent　home　to　their　fields。　In　consequence　of　these　successes　Cao　Cao's　prestige　and　fame　became　very　great　and　increased　daily。　He　reported　his　success　to　Capital　Changan　and　was　rewarded　with　the　title　of　General　Who　Guards　the　East。

＇e＇　Yanzhou　had　belonged　to　Liu　Dai；　but　he　submitted　to　Cao　Cao；　and　Cao　Cao　used　the　region　as　his　base。
＇e＇　Zhang　Liang；　aka　Zhang　Zifang；　the　master　strategist　for　Liu　Bang。　His　family　had　served　the　state　of　Han　as　chief　ministers　during　the　Warring　States　period。　It　is　said　that　he　received　the　strategy　book　of　Lu　Wang　from　a　mysterious　old　man。　When　he　was　young；　Zhang　Liang　plotted　to　assasinate　the　First　Emperor；　but　failed。　He　later　rebeled　against　Qin。　Joined　Liu　Bang　（BC　206）　to　fight　against　Qin　and　then　Chu。　Remended　Han　Xin　to　Liu　Bang。　Zhang　Liang's　insights　had　earned　him　the　name　〃The　Teacher　of　Emperor〃。　After　Liu　Bang　won　the　empire；　Zhang　Liang　was　enobled　as　Lord　of　Liu；　but　did　not　take　office；　instead　he　resigned　from　political　life　and　traveled。　。。。。。
At　his　headquarters　in　Yanzhou*；　Cao　Cao　weled　wise　counselors　and　bold　warriors；　and　many　gathered　around　him。　Two　clever　persons；　uncle　and　nephew；　came　at　the　same　time；　both　from　Yanzhou；　named　Xun　Yu　and　Xun　You。　The　uncle　had　once　been　in　the　service　of　Yuan　Shao。
Cao　Cao　rejoiced　when　he　had　won　the　elder　Xun　to　his　side；　saying；　〃Xun　Yu　is　my　Zhang　Liang*！〃
He　made　Xun　Yu　a　Marching　General。　The　nephew　Xun　You　was　famed　for　his　ability　and　had　been　in　the　court　service　when　it　was　in　Luoyang；　but　he　had　abandoned　that　career　and　retired　to　his　village。　Cao　Cao　made　him　a　Military　Instructor。
Xun　Yu　said　to　Cao　Cao；　〃There　is　a　certain　wise　person　of　Yanzhou　somewhere；　but　I　do　not　know　in　whose　service　he　is。〃
〃Who　is　he？〃
〃Cheng　Yu。　He　belongs　to　the　eastern　part　of　Yanzhou。〃
〃Yes；　I　have　heard　of　him；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
So　a　messenger　was　sent　to　his　native　place　to　inquire。　Cheng　Yu　was　away　in　the　hills　engaged　in　study；　but　he　came　at　Cao　Cao's　invitation。
〃I　shall　prove　unworthy　of　your　remendation；〃　said　Cheng　Yu　to　his　friend　Xun　Yu；　〃for　I　am　rough　and　ignorant。　But　have　you　forgotten　a　fellow　villager　of　yours；　Guo　Jia？　He　is　really　able。　Why　not　spread　the　net　to　catch　him？〃
〃I　had　nearly　forgotten；〃　said　Xun　Yu　suddenly。
So　he　told　Cao　Cao　of　this　man；　who　was　at　once　invited。
Guo　Jia；　discussing　the　world　at　large　with　Cao　Cao；　remended　Liu　Ye　from　Henan；　who　was　a　descendant　of　Liu　Xiu　the　Founder　of　Latter　Han。　When　Liu　Ye　had　arrived；　he　was　the　means　of　inviting　two　more：　Man　Chong　from　Shanyang；　and　Lu　Qian　from　Wucheng；　who　were　already　known　to　Cao　Cao　by　reputation。　These　two　brought　to　their　new　master's　notice　the　name　of　Mao　Jie　from　Chenliu；　who　also　came　and　was　given　office。　Then　a　famous　leader；　with　his　troop　of　some　hundreds；　arrived　to　offer　service。　This　was　Yu　Jin　of　Taishan；　an　expert　horseman　and　archer；　and　skilled　beyond　his　fellows　in　every　form　of　military　exercise。　He　was　made　an　army　inspector。
Then　another　day　Xiahou　Dun　brought　a　fellow　to　present　to　Cao　Cao。
〃Who　is　he？〃　asked　Cao　Cao。
〃He　is　from　Chenliu　and　is　named　Dian　Wei。　He　is　the　boldest　of　the　bold；　the　strongest　of　the　strong。　He　was　one　of　Zhang　Miao's　people；　but　quarreled　with　his　tent　panions　and　killed　some　dozens　of　them　with　his　fists。　Then　he　fled　to　the　mountains　where　I　found　him。　I　was　out　shooting　and　saw　him　follow　a　tiger　across　a　stream。　I　persuaded　him　to　join　my　troop；　and　I　remend　him。〃
〃I　see　he　is　no　ordinary　man；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃He　is　fine　and　straight　and　looks　very　powerful　and　bold。〃
〃He　is。　He　killed　a　man　once　to　avenge　a　friend　and　carried　his　head　through　the　whole　market　place。　Hundreds　saw　him；　but　dared　not　e　near。　The　weapon　he　uses　now　is　a　couple　of　spears；　each　weighs　a　hundred　and　twenty　pounds；　and　he　vaults　into　the　saddle　with　these　under　his　arm。〃
Cao　Cao　bade　the　man　give　proof　of　his　skill。　So　Dian　Wei　galloped　to　and　fro　carrying　the　spears。　Then　he　saw　away　among　the　tents　a　huge　banner　swaying　dangerously　with　the　force　of　the　wind　and　on　the　point　of　falling。　A　crowd　of　soldiers　were　vainly　struggling　to　keep　it　steady。　Down　he　leaped；　shouted　to　the　men　to　clear　out　and　held　the　staff　quite　steady　with　one　hand；　keeping　it　perfectly　upright　in　spite　of　the　strong　wind。

＇e＇　E　Lai；　whose　physical　strength　was　extraordinary；　was　a　general　of　King　Zhou；　the　last　king　of　Shang　Dynasty。
〃This　is　old　E　Lai*　again！〃　said　Cao　Cao。
He　gave　Dian　Wei　a　post　in　the　headquarters　and　besides　made　Dian　Wei　presents　of　an　embroidered　robe　he　was　wearing　and　a　swift　steed　with　a　handsome　saddle。
Cao　Cao　encouraged　able　people　to　assist　him；　and　he　had　advisers　on　the　civil　side　and　valiant　generals　in　the　army。　He　became　famous　throughout　the　East　of　the　Pass。
Now　Cao　Cao's　father；　Cao　Song；　was　living　at　Langye；　whither　he　had　gone　as　a　place　free　from　the　turmoil　of　the　partisan　struggles。　Cao　Cao　wished　to　be　united　with　him。　As　a　dutiful　son；　Cao　Cao　sent　the　Governor　of　Taishan；　Ying　Shao；　to　escort　his　father　to　Yanzhou。　Old　Cao　Song　read　the　letter　with　joy；　and　the　family　prepared　to　move。　They　were　some　forty　in　all；　with　a　train　of　a　hundred　servants　and　many　carts。
Their　road　led　through　Xuzhou　Region　where　the　Imperial　Protector；　Tao　Qian；　was　a　sincere　and　upright　man　who　had　long　wished　to　get　on　good　terms　with　Cao　Cao　but；　hitherto；　had　found　no　means　of　effecting　a　bond　of　union。　Hearing　that　the　family　of　the　great　man　was　passing　through　his　region；　Tao　Qian　went　to　wele　them；　treated　them　with　great　cordiality；　feasting　and　entertaining　them　for　two　days；　and　when　they　left；　he　escorted　them　to　his　boundary。　Further　he　sent　with　them　one　General　Zhang　Kai　with　a　special　escort　of　five　hundred。
The　whole　party　reached　the　county　of　Huafei。　It　was　the　end　of　summer；　just　turning　into　autumn；　and　at　this　place　they　were　stopped　by　a　tremendous　storm　of　rain。　The　only　shelter　was　an　old　temple　and　thither　they　went。　The　family　occupied　the　main　rooms　and　the　escort　the　two　side　wings。　The　men　of　the　escort　were　drenched；　angry；　and　discontented。
Then　Zhang　Kai　called　some　of　his　petty　officers　to　a　secret　spot　and　said；　〃We　are　old　Yellow　Scarves　and　only　submitted　to　Tao　Qian　because　there　was　no　other　choice。　We　have　never　got　much　out　of　it。　Now　here　is　the　Cao　family　with　no　end　of　gear；　and　we　can　be　rich　very　easily。　We　will　make　a　sudden　onslaught　tonight　at　the　third　watch　and　slay　the　whole　lot。　Then　we　shall　have　plenty　of　treasure；　and　we　will　get　away　to　the　mountains。〃
They　all　agreed。　The　storm　continued　into　the　night　and　as　Cao　Song　sat　waiting　anxiously　for　signs　of　clearing；　he　suddenly　heard　a　hubbub　at　the　west　end　of　the　temple。　His　brother；　Cao　De；　drawing　his　sword；　went　out　to　see　what　it　was　about；　a