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Here　some　of　the　pursuers　came　up；　and　Cao　Amin　was　hacked　to　pieces。　Cao　Cao　dashed　into　the　river　and　reached　the　further　side；　but　there　an　arrow　struck　his　steed　in　the　eye　and　it　fell。　Cao　Cao's　eldest　son；　Cao　Ang；　dismounted　and　yielded　his　horse　to　his　father；　who　galloped　on。　Cao　Ang　was　killed　by　arrows；　but　Cao　Cao　himself　got　away。　Soon　after　he　met　several　of　his　officers　who　had　rallied　a　few　troops。
The　soldiers　of　Qingzhou　under　Xiahou　Dun　seized　the　occasion　to　plunder　the　people。　Yu　Jin　took　his　army；　fell　upon　them；　and　slew　many。　Thus　he　protected　and　appeased　the　people。　The　plunderers；　meeting　Cao　Cao　on　the　road；　knelt　down　howling　and　said　Yu　Jin　had　mutinied　and　attacked　them。　Cao　Cao　was　surprised；　and　he　gave　order　to　Xiahou　Dun；　Xu　Chu；　Li　Dian；　and　Yue　Jing　to　attack　Yu　Jin。
Now　when　Yu　Jin　saw　his　master　and　a　great　pany　approaching；　he　at　once　stopped　the　attack　and　set　his　troops　to　make　a　camp。
An　officer　asked　him；　〃The　Qingzhou　soldiers　say　you　have　turned　traitor。　Why　do　you　not　explain　now　that　the　Prime　Minister　has　arrived？　Why　first　make　a　camp？〃
Yu　Jin　replied；　〃Our　enemies　are　ing　up　in　our　rear　and　are　very　close。　It　is　necessary　to　prepare　for　defense　or　we　shall　not　withstand　them。　Explanation　is　a　small　matter；　but　defense　is　very　important。〃
Soon　after　the　camp　was　finished；　Zhang　Xiu　fell　upon　them。　Yu　Jin　himself　rode　out　to　face　them。　Zhang　Xiu　drew　back。　The　other　generals　of　Yu　Jin；　seeing　he　advance　thus　boldly；　also　attacked；　and　Zhang　Xiu　was　overe。　They　pursued　him　a　great　distance　until　his　force　was　almost　annihilated。　With　the　miserable　remnant　he　finally　fled　to　Liu　Biao。
Cao　Cao's　army　reformed；　and　the　manders　mustered。　Then　Yu　Jin　went　to　see　his　master　and　told　him　of　the　conduct　of　the　Qingzhou　soldiers　and　their　looting　and　why　he　had　attacked　them。
〃Why　did　you　not　tell　me　before　you　made　the　camp？〃
Yu　Jin　related　what　had　occurred。
Said　Cao　Cao；　〃When　the　first　thought　of　a　leader　in　the　time　of　greatest　stress　is　to　maintain　order　and　to　strengthen　his　defenses；　giving　no　thought　to　slander　but　shouldering　his　burdens　bravely；　and　when　he　thereby　turns　a　defeat　into　a　victory；　who；　even　of　the　ancient　leaders；　can　excel　Yu　Jin？〃
Cao　Cao　rewarded　Yu　Jin　with　a　golden　armor　and　the　lordship　of　Yishou。　But　Cao　Cao　reprimanded　Xiahou　Dun　for　the　lack　of　discipline　among　his　soldiers。
Sacrifices　in　honor　of　the　dead　warrior　Dian　Wei　were　instituted。　Cao　Cao　himself　led　the　wailing　and　paid　due　honors。
Turning　to　his　officers　he　said；　〃I　have　lost　my　first　born　son；　but　I　grieve　not　so　heavily　for　him　as　for　Dian　Wei。　I　weep　for　him！〃
All　were　sad　at　the　loss　of　this　general。　Then　orders　were　issued　to　return　to　the　capital。
When　Imperial　Legate　Wang　Ze；　bearing　the　imperial　decree；　reached　Xuzhou；　he　was　met　by　Lu　Bu；　who　conducted　him　into　the　residence　where　the　decree　was　read。　It　conferred　Lu　Bu　the　title　General　Who　Pacifies　the　East；　and　a　special　seal　acpanied　the　mandate。　The　private　mediating　letter　was　also　handed　over　and　the　messenger　detailed　the　high　appreciation　in　which　Lu　Bu　was　held　by　the　Chief　Minister　of　State。　Lu　Bu　was　greatly　pleased。
Next　came　news　that　a　messenger　from　Yuan　Shu　had　arrived。
When　he　had　been　introduced；　he　said；　〃My　master's　project　of　declaring　himself　emperor　is　advancing。　He　has　already　built　a　Palace　and　will　speedily　choose　Empress　and　concubines　and　would　e　to　the　South　of　River　Huai。　He　is　looking　forward　to　receiving　the　fiancee　of　the　Heir　Apparent。〃
〃Has　the　rebel　gone　so　far？〃　cried　Lu　Bu　in　a　rage。
He　put　the　messenger　to　death　and　Han　Yin　into　the　cage。　He　drafted　a　memorial　of　thanks　and　sent　it　to　the　capital；　at　the　same　time　sending；　too；　Han　Yin；　the　unfortunate　agent　who　had　arranged　the　marriage　alliance。　He　also　replied　to　Cao　Cao's　private　meditating　letter　asking　to　be　confirmed　in　his　protectorship　of　Xuzhou。　The　letter　was　sent　by　the　hand　of　Chen　Deng。
Cao　Cao　was　pleased　to　hear　of　the　rupture　of　the　marriage　arrangement　between　the　houses　of　Yuans　and　Lus；　and　forthwith　put　Han　Yin　to　death　in　the　market　place。
However；　Chen　Deng　secretly　told　Cao　Cao；　saying；　〃Lu　Bu　is　cruel；　stupid；　and　facile。　The　longer　he　remains；　the　worse。〃
〃I　know　Lu　Bu　quite　well；〃　replied　Cao　Cao。　〃He　is　a　wolf　with　a　savage　heart；　and　it　will　be　hard　to　feed　him　for　long。　If　it　had　not　been　for　you　and　your　father；　I　should　not　have　known　all　the　circumstances　and　you　must　help　me　to　get　rid　of　him。〃
〃Anything　the　Prime　Minister　wishes　to　do　shall　have　my　assistance；〃　was　the　reply。
As　a　reward　Cao　Cao　obtained　an　annually　grant　of　two　thousand　carts　of　grain　for　Chen　Gui　and　the　governorship　of　Guangling　for　Chen　Deng；　who　then　took　his　leave。
As　he　was　saying　farewell；　Cao　Cao　took　him　by　the　hand；　saying；　〃I　shall　depend　upon　you　in　the　eastern　affairs。〃
Chen　Deng　nodded　acquiescence。　Then　he　returned　to　Lu　Bu；　who　asked　him　how　the　visit　was。
Chen　Deng　told　him；　〃My　father　received　a　generous　annuity；　and　I　was　made　Governor　of　Guangling。〃
Lu　Bu　enraged；　saying；　〃You　did　not　ask　Xuzhou　for　me；　but　you　got　something　for　yourself。　Your　father　advised　me　to　help　Cao　Cao　by　breaking　off　the　marriage；　and　now　I　get　nothing　at　all　of　what　I　asked；　while　you　and　your　father　get　everything。　I　have　been　victimized　by　your　father。〃
He　threatened　Chen　Deng　with　his　sword。
Chen　Deng　only　laughed；　saying；　〃O　General；　how　unwary　you　are！〃
〃I；　unwary？〃
〃When　I　saw　Cao　Cao；　I　said　that　to　keep　you　going　was　like　feeding　a　tiger。　The　tiger　must　be　kept　fully　fed　or　he　would　eat　humans。　But　Cao　Cao　laughed　and　replied；　'No；　not　that。　One　must　treat　the　mander　like　a　falcon。　Not　feed　it　till　the　foxes　and　hares　are　done。　Hungry；　the　bird　is　of　use；　full　fed　it　flies　away。'　I　asked　who　were　the　quarry。　He　replied；　'Yuan　Shu　of　the　South　of　River　Huai；　Sun　Ce　of　the　South　Land；　Yuan　Shao　of　Jizhou；　Liu　Biao　of　Jingzhou；　Liu　Zhang　of　Yizhou；　and　Zhang　Lu　of　Hanzhong；　these　are　the　foxes　and　hares。'〃
Lu　Bu　threw　aside　his　sword　and　laughed；　saying；　〃Yes；　he　understands　me。〃
But　just　about　that　time　came　news　of　the　advance　of　Yuan　Shu　on　Xuzhou；　and　that　frightened　Lu　Bu。

When　discord　rose　between　Qin　and　Jin；
They　were　attacked　by　Yue　and　Wu；
And　when　a　promised　bride　never　came；
An　army　marched　to　enforce　the　claim。

How　all　this　fell　out　will　be　shown　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　17　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　17
　Chapter　17
Yuan　Shu　Marches　Out　An　Army　Of　Seven　Divisions；
Cao　Cao　And　Three　Generals　Join　Forces。
The　south　of　River　Huai　was　very　fruitful；　and　Yuan　Shu；　as　governor　of　such　a　large　territory；　was　very　influential。　He　was　not　a　little　puffed　up。　The　possession　of　the　Imperial　Hereditary　Seal；　pledged　by　Sun　Ce；　added　to　his　pride。　And　he　seriously　thought　of　assuming　the　full　style。

＇e＇　Liu　Bang's　first　office　was　assistant　to　a　magistrate　in　Pei。
＇e＇　King　Wen；　aka　the　Scholar　King；　founder　of　the　Zhou　Dynasty；　father　of　King　Wu。　King　Wen　did　not　actually　founded　the　dynasty；　but　he　laid　the　foundation　for　Zhou。　At　the　end　of　Shang　Dynasty；　the　state　Zhou　of　King　Wen　had　already　possessed　two…thirds　of　the　empire；　but　King　Wen　still　faithfully　served　the　last　emperor　of　Shang。　The　final　conquest　was　pleted　by　King　Wu　and　King　Wu's　brother；　the　Duke　of　Zhou。　。。。。。
＇e＇　King　Yao；　King　Shun；　and　King　Yu　（BC　2400…2200）　were　the　three　ideal　rulers　in　ancient　China。　They　ascended　the　throne　by　their　virtues　and　merits；　and　not　by　heritage。　King　Yu　was　also　the　founder　of　Xia　Dynasty。　。。。。。
As　a　preliminary　he　assembled　all　his　officers　and　addressed　them　thus：　〃The　Supreme　Ancestor；　the　Founder　of　Han　Dynasty；　was　only　a　very　minor　official*；　and　yet　he　became　ruler　of　the　empire。　The　dynasty　has　endured　four　centuries；　and　its　measure　of　fortune　has　run　out。　It　no　longer　possesses　authority；　the　cauldron　is　on　the　point　of　boiling　over。　My　family　has　held　the　highest　offices　of　state　for　four　generations　and　is　universally　respected。　Wherefore　I　wish；　in　response　to　the　will　of　Heaven　and　the　desire　of　the　people；　to　assume　the　Imperial　Dignity。　What　think　ye　of　the　proposal；　my　officers？〃
Secretary　Yan　Xiang　rose　in　opposition　at　once；　saying；　〃You　may　not　do　this。　King　Wen；　the　Ancestor　of　the　Zhou*；　was　of　distinguished　virtue　and　held　many　offices。　Till　the　last　years　of　Shang　Dynasty；　he　had　two　thirds　of　the　empire。　Still　he　served　and　was　loyal　to　the　ruling　house。　Your　house　is　honorable；　but　it　is　not　so　glorious　as　that　of　Zhou。　The　Hans　may　be　reduced；　but　they　are　not　so　abominably　cruel　as　those　of　the　Shang　Dynasty　that　they　are　to　be　overthrown。　Indeed　this　should　not　be　done。〃
Yuan　Shu　did　not　hear　this　with　pleasure。
Said　he；　〃We　Yuans　came　from　the　Chen　family；　the　same　ancestry　with　King　Shun*。　By　the　rule　of　interpreting　the　signs　of　fate；　the　day　has　e　when　earth　（Chen）　receives　fire　（Liu）。　Beside　there　is　an　oracle　saying；　'One　who　replaces　the　Hans　must　wade　through　deep　mire。'　My　name　means　'the　high　road。'　It　fits　exactly。　Further　than　this；　I　possess　the　Imperial　Hereditary　Seal　and　must　bee　lord　of　all；　or　I　turn　from　Heaven's　own　way。　Finally；　I　have　made　up　my　mind；　so　if　anyone　says　too　much；　that　person　will　simply　suffer　death。〃
Yuan　Shu　arrogated　himself　the　insignia　of　royalty　and　assigned　Second　Glory　the　reign　title。　He　set　up　officials　with　titles　only　given　by　an　emperor；　and　rode　in　a　chariot　decorated　with　the　dragon　and　phoenix；　and　offered　sacrifices　after　the　manner　of　an　emperor　in　the　north　and　south　suburbs。　Also　he　appointed　the　daughter　of　Feng　Fang　his　Empress　and　his　son　Heir　Apparent；　and　he　pressed　for　the　early　wedding　of　Lu　Bu's　daughter　with　his　son　so　that　the　Palace　entourage　might　be　plete。
But　when　Yuan　Shu　heard　of　the　fate　of　his　marriage　ambassador；　Han　Yin；　who　was　sent　to　the　capital　and　was　executed；　Yuan　Shu　was　very　angry　and　began　at　once　to　plan　for　revenge。　He　made　Zhang　Xun　his　Grand　mander　and　gave　Zhang　Xun　the　mand　of　more　than　two　hundred　thousand　soldiers　with　the　instruction　to　invade　Xuzhou。　The　army　consisted　of　seven　divisions　under　seven　manders：　Zhang　Xun　led　the　Center　Army；　Qiao　Rui；　the　First　Left　Army；　Lei　Bo；　the　Second　Left　Army；　Han　Xian；　the　Third　Left　Army；　Chen　Ji；　First　Right　Army；　Chen　Lan；　Second　Right　Army；　and　Yang　Feng；　the　Third　Right　Army。　Each　mander　was　instructed　to　make　a　certain　town　his　objective。
The　Imperial　Protector　of　Yangzhou；　Jin　Shang；　was　ordered　to　superintend　the　missariat；　but　he　declined　the　office。　And　so　Yuan　Shu　put　Jin　Shang　to　death。　Ji　Ling　was　in　mand　of　the　reserves　to　help　wherever　he　was　required。　Yuan　Shu　led　thirty　thousand　troops；　and　he　appointed　three　generals；　Li　Deng；　Liang　Gang；　and　Yue　Jiu；　to　go　up　and　down　and　coordinate　the　grand　march。
Lu　Bu　found　out　from　his　scouts　that　his　own　Xuzhou　City　was　the　objective　of　Zhang　Xun；　the　other　towns　to　be　first　attacked　being　Xiaopei；　Yidu；　Langye；　Jieshi；　Xiapi；　and　Junshan。　The　invading　armies　were　marching　twenty　miles　a　day；　and　plundering　the　countryside　as　they　advanced。
Lu　Bu　summoned　his　advisers　to　a　council　to　which　came　Chen　Gong；　Chen　Deng；　and　Chen　Gui。
When　all　had　assembled；　Chen　Gong　said；　〃This　misfortune　that　has　e　to　us　is　due　to　the　two　Chens；　who　fawned　upon　the　central　government　in　order　to　obtain　rank　and　appointments。　Now　remove　the　evil　by　putting　these　two　to　death　and　sending　their　heads　to　Yuan　Shu。　Then　he　will　retire　and　leave　us　in　peace。〃
Lu　Bu　acquiesced　and　had　the　two　arrested。
But　the　son；　Chen　Deng；　only　laughed；　saying；　〃What　is　this　anxiety　about？　These　seven　armies　are　no　more　to　me　than　so　many　heaps　of　rotting　straw。　They　are　not　worth　thinking　about。〃
〃If　you　can　show　us　how　to　overe　them；　I　will　spare　your　life；〃　said　Lu　Bu。
〃General；　if　you　will　listen　to　poor　me；　the　region　will　be　perfectly　safe。〃
〃Let　us　hear　what　you　have　to　say。〃
〃Yuan　Shu's　troops　are　numerous　but　they　are　only　a　flock　of　crows；　they　are　not　an　army　under　a　leader。　There　is　no　mutual　confidence。　I　can　keep　them　at　bay　with　the　ordinary　guards　of　the　place　and　could　overe　them　by　some　unsuspected　stratagem。　If　I　should　fail；　I　have　another　plan　by　which　I　can　not　only　protect　the　region　but　capture　our　enemy。〃
〃Let　us　have　it。〃

＇e＇　Han