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oot　to　work　with　his　soldiers　and　to　see　that　work　went　on　continuously　and　no　one　dared　be　a　laggard。　Thus　encouraged；　the　army　became　invincible；　and　no　defense　could　withstand　their　onslaught。　In　a　very　short　time　the　walls　were　scaled；　the　gates　battered　in；　and　the　besiegers　were　in　possession。　The　officers　of　the　garrison………Li　Deng；　Yue　Jiu；　Liang　Gang；　and　Chen　Ji………were　captured　alive　and　were　executed　in　the　market　place。　All　the　paraphernalia　of　imperial　state　were　burned；　and　the　whole　city　wrecked。
When　the　question　of　crossing　the　river　in　pursuit　of　Yuan　Shu　came　up；　Xun　Yu　opposed　it；　saying；　〃The　country　has　suffered　from　short　crops　for　years；　and　we　should　be　unable　to　get　grain。　An　advance　would　weary　the　army；　harm　the　people；　and　possibly　end　in　disaster。　I　advise　a　return　to　the　capital　to　wait　there　till　the　spring　wheat　shall　have　been　harvested　and　we　have　plenty　of　food。〃
Cao　Cao　hesitated。
Before　he　had　made　up　his　mind；　there　came　an　urgent　message：　〃Zhang　Xiu；　with　the　support　of　Liu　Biao；　was　ravaging　the　country　all　round。　There　were　rebellions　in　Nanyang　and　Jiangling；　and　Cao　Hong　could　not　cope　with　it。　Cao　Hong　had　been　worsted　already　in　several　engagements　and　was　in　sore　straits。〃
Cao　Cao　at　once　wrote　to　Sun　Ce　to　mand　the　Great　River　so　as　to　prevent　any　move　on　the　part　of　Liu　Biao；　while　he　prepared　his　army　to　go　to　deal　with　Zhang　Xiu。　Before　marching　Cao　Cao　directed　Liu　Bei　to　station　at　Xiaopei；　as　he　and　Lu　Bu　being　as　brothers　might　help　each　other。
When　Lu　Bu　had　left　for　Xuzhou；　Cao　Cao　said　secretly　to　Liu　Bei；　〃I　am　leaving　you　at　Xiaopei　to　dig　a　'pitfall　for　the　tiger。'　You　will　only　take　advice　from　Chen　Deng　and　Chen　Gui；　and　there　can　be　no　mishap。　You　will　find　so…and…so　your　ally　when　needed。〃
So　Cao　Cao　marched　to　Xuchang　where　he　heard　that　Duan　Wei　had　slain　Li　Jue　and　Wu　Xi　killed　Guo　Si；　and　they　presented　the　heads　of　these　two。　Beside　the　whole　clan　of　Li　Jue；　more　than　two　hundred；　had　been　arrested　and　brought　to　the　capital。　They　were　all　put　to　death　at　various　gates　and　their　heads　exposed　as　warning。　The　people　cheered　the　end　of　those　two　rebels。
In　the　Emperor's　palace　a　large　number　of　officials　were　assembled　at　a　peace　banquet。　The　Emperor　rewarded　the　two　successful　leaders；　Duan　Wei　with　the　title　of　General　Who　Destroys　Rebellion　and　Wu　Xi　General　Who　Wrecks　Villainy；　and　sent　to　guard　Changan。　They　came　to　audience　to　express　their　gratitude　and　marched　away。
Then　Cao　Cao　sent　in　a　memorial　that　Zhang　Xiu　was　in　rebellion；　and　an　army　must　be　sent　against　him。　The　Emperor　in　person　arranged　the　chariot　and　escorted　Cao　Cao　out　of　the　city　when　he　went　to　take　mand　of　the　expedition。　It　was　the　summer；　the　fourth　month　of　the　third　year　of　Rebuilt　Tranquillity　（AD　198）。　Xun　Yu　was　in　chief　military　mand　in　Xuchang。
The　army　marched　away。　In　the　course　of　the　march　they　passed　through　a　wheat　region；　and　the　grain　was　ready　for　harvesting　but　the　peasants　had　fled　for　fear；　and　the　corn　was　uncut。　Cao　Cao　sent　proclamations　to　all　villages　and　towns：
〃I　am　sent　on　the　expedition　by　mand　of　the　Emperor　to　capture　a　rebel　and　save　the　people。　I　cannot　avoid　moving　in　the　harvest　season；　but　if　anyone　trample　down　the　corn；　he　shall　be　put　to　death。　Military　law　is　strict　without　exception；　and　the　people　need　fear　no　damage。〃
The　people　were　very　pleased　and　lined　the　road；　wishing　success　to　the　expedition。　When　the　soldiers　passed　wheat　fields；　they　dismounted　and　pushed　aside　the　stalks　so　that　none　were　trampled　down。
One　day；　when　Cao　Cao　was　riding　through　the　fields；　a　dove　suddenly　got　up；　startling　the　horse　so　that　it　swerved　into　the　standing　grain；　and　a　large　patch　was　trampled　down。　Cao　Cao　at　once　called　the　Provost　Marshal　and　bade　him　decree　the　sentence　for　the　crime　of　trampling　down　corn。
〃How　can　I　deal　with　your　crime？〃　asked　the　Provost　Marshal。
〃I　made　the　rule；　and　I　have　broken　it。　Can　I　otherwise　satisfy　public　opinion？〃
Cao　Cao　laid　hold　of　the　sword　by　his　side　and　made　to　take　his　own　life。　All　hastened　to　prevent　him。
Guo　Jia　said；　〃In　ancient　days；　the　days　of　the　Spring　and　Autumn　history；　the　laws　were　not　applied　to　those　of　the　most　important。　You　are　the　supreme　leader　of　a　mighty　army　and　must　not　wound　yourself。〃
Cao　Cao　pondered　for　a　long　time。　At　last　he　said；　〃Since　there　exists　the　reason　just　quoted；　I　may　perhaps　escape　the　death　penalty。〃
Then　with　his　sword　he　cut　off　his　hair　and　threw　it　on　the　ground；　saying；　〃I　cut　off　the　hair　as　touching　the　head。〃
Then　he　sent　messengers　to　exhibit　the　hair　throughout　the　whole　army；　saying；　〃The　Prime　Minister；　having　trodden　down　some　corn；　ought　to　have　lost　his　head　by　the　terms　of　the　order；　now　here　is　his　hair　cut　off　as　an　attack　on　the　head。〃
This　deed　was　a　stimulus　to　discipline　all　through　the　army　so　that　not　a　person　dared　be　disobedient。　A　poet　wrote：

A　myriad　soldiers　march　along　and　all　are　brave　and　bold；
And　their　myriad　inclinations　by　one　leader　are　controlled。
That　crafty　leader　shore　his　locks　when　forfeit　was　his　head；
O　full　of　guile　were　thou；　Cao　Cao；　as　everyone　has　said。

On　the　first　news　of　the　approach　of　Cao　Cao　with　an　army；　Zhang　Xiu　wrote　to　Liu　Biao　for　help。　Then　Zhang　Xiu　led　out　his　troops；　with　his　two　generals；　Lei　Xu　and　Zhang　Xian。
When　the　array　was　plete　Zhang　Xiu　took　his　station　in　front　and　pointing　at　Cao　Cao　railed　at　him；　saying；　〃O　false　and　pretended　supporter　of　benevolence　and　justice！　O　shameless　one！　You　are　just　a　beast　of　the　forest；　and　absolutely　devoid　of　humanity。〃
This　annoyed　Cao　Cao　who　sent　out　Xu　Chu　against　the　insulter。　Zhang　Xian　came　to　meet　him　and　fell　in　the　third　bout。　Thence　Zhang　Xiu's　troops　fled　and　were　pursued　to　the　very　walls　of　Nanyang；　only　managing　to　get　within　just　before　the　pursuit　came　up。　The　city　was　then　closely　besieged。
Seeing　the　moat　was　so　wide　and　deep　that　approach　to　the　wall　would　be　difficult；　Cao　Cao's　manders　began　to　fill　up　the　ditch　with　earth。　Then　with　sand　bags；　brushwood；　and　bundles　of　grass　they　built　a　great　mound　near　the　wall　and　on　this　erected　steps　so　that　they　could　look　over　into　the　city。
Cao　Cao　rode　round　the　city　closely　inspecting　the　defenses。　Three　days　later　he　issued　an　order　to　make　a　mound　of　earth　and　brushwood　at　the　northwest　corner；　as　he　would　mount　the　walls　at　that　point。　He　was　observed　from　within　the　city　by　Jia　Xu。
Jia　Xu　went　to　Zhang　Xiu　and　said；　〃I　know　what　Cao　Cao　intends；　and　I　can　defeat　him　by　a　countermove。〃

Even　amongst　the　very　foremost
There　is　one　who　leads　the　way；
Someone　sees　through　your　devices；
Be　as　crafty　as　ye　may。

What　the　counter…move　was　will　be　told　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　18　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　18
　Chapter　18
Giving　Counsels；　Jia　Xu　Directs　A　Great　Victory；
Braving　Battlefield；　Xiahou　Dun　Loses　An　Eye。
Jia　Xu；　as　he　had　guessed　the　enemy's　intention；　had　also　devised　a　countermove。　So　he　went　to　his　chief　and　said；　〃I　saw　Cao　Cao　very　carefully　reconnoitering　round　about　the　city。　He　certainly　noticed　that　the　southeast　corner　of　the　wall　had　been　lately　restored　with　mud　bricks　of　a　different　kind；　and　that　the　fencing　barrier　is　badly　out　of　repair。　He　will　try　to　effect　an　entrance　there。　Wherefore　he　is　making　a　feint　attack　at　the　opposite　point。　He　is　piling　up　straw　and　making　ostentatious　preparations　whereby　to　cajole　us　into　withdrawing　from　the　real　point　of　attack　to　defend　the　northwest。　His　troops　will　scale　the　walls　in　the　darkness　and　try　to　enter　at　the　southeast。〃
〃Supposing　your　surmise　correct；　what　do　you　advise？〃　asked　Zhang　Xiu。
〃The　countermove　is　plain。　You　issue　an　order　for　our　best　and　bravest　soldiers　to　fill　their　bellies；　to　take　only　the　lightest　outfit　and　conceal　themselves　in　the　houses　near　the　southeast　corner。　Then　disguise　the　townspeople　as　soldiers　and　send　them　to　pretend　to　defend　the　northwest。　Tonight　we　will　let　the　enemy　climb　up　the　walls　and　enter　the　city　and；　once　they　are　fairly　within；　give　the　signal　and　the　concealed　soldiers　will　rush　out　upon　them。　We　may　even　capture　Cao　Cao　himself。〃
The　stratagem　was　decided　upon。
Soon　the　scouts　told　Cao　Cao：　〃The　defenders　of　the　city　have　moved　to　the　northwest　where　noisy　preparations　for　defense　are　going　on。　The　opposite　corner　is　left　undefended。〃
〃They　have　fallen　into　my　trap！〃　said　Cao　Cao　gleefully。
He　ordered　his　troops　to　prepare　shovels　and　hooks　and　all　the　gear　needed　for　scaling　walls；　and　all　day　they　kept　up　the　attack　on　the　northwest　angle。
But　at　the　second　watch　they　dispatched　the　veterans　to　the　opposite　corner；　where　they　climbed　the　wall；　broke　up　the　fencing　barrier；　and　got　into　the　city　apparently　without　disturbing　any　of　the　guards。　There　was　no　sign　of　life　anywhere　as　they　entered。　But　just　as　they　were　leaving　the　wall；　suddenly　a　bomb　exploded　and　they　found　themselves　in　an　ambush。　They　turned　to　retire；　but　Zhang　Xiu　immediately　fell　on　the　rear　and　began　a　slaughter。　Cao　Cao's　troops　were　totally　defeated　and　fled　out　of　the　gate　into　the　country。　Zhang　Xiu　kept　up　the　pursuit　till　daybreak；　when　he　retired　into　the　city　again。
Cao　Cao　then　rallied　his　army　and　mustered　his　soldiers。　He　had　lost　fifty　thousand　and　much　baggage；　while　two　of　his　generals；　Lu　Qian　and　Yu　Jin　were　wounded。
Cao　Cao　being　thus　worsted；　Jia　Xu　advised　Zhang　Xiu　to　write　off　to　Liu　Biao　to　cut　off　Cao　Cao's　retreat　so　that　he　might　be　utterly　destroyed。
Liu　Biao　was　preparing　an　army　for　this　purpose；　when　a　scout　came　to　say　that　Sun　Ce　had　encamped　in　the　river　at　Hukou。
Kuai　Liang　said；　〃This　move　of　Sun　Ce　in　the　river　is　part　of　Cao　Cao's　strategy；　and　there　will　be　never…ending　regret　if　Cao　Cao　is　allowed　to　escape。　An　immediate　expedition　is　necessary。〃
Wherefore　Liu　Biao　moved　out　with　his　army　to　Anzhong　to　block　Cao　Cao；　leaving　Huang　Zu　to　hold　Jingzhou's　points　of　vantage。　Zhang　Xiu；　having　been　informed　of　the　movement　of　Liu　Biao；　went　with　Jia　Xu　to　smite　Cao　Cao　on　the　rear。
In　the　meantime　Cao　Cao's　army；　marching　very　leisurely；　had　arrived　at　Xiangyang。
Walking　one　day　beside　River　Yu；　he　suddenly　uttered　a　great　cry；　and　when　his　officers　asked　the　reason　thereof；　he　replied；　〃I　remembered　that　here；　only　a　year　ago；　I　lost　my　great　general：　Dian　Wei。　Is　that　not　a　reason　to　grieve？〃
Thereupon　Cao　Cao　gave　orders　to　halt；　while　he　should　make　a　great　sacrifice　and　mourn　for　his　lost　leader。　At　the　ceremony　he　himself　burned　incense　and　wailed　and　prostrated　himself。　The　army　was　much　affected　by　his　devotion。　After　the　sacrifices　to　the　lost　hero；　he　sacrificed　to　the　names　of　his　nephew　Cao　Amin　and　his　eldest　son　Cao　Ang；　both　of　whom　had　died　at　the　same　time。　He　also　sacrificed　to　his　lost　soldiers　and　even　to　his　Dawan　steed　which　had　been　killed　by　an　arrow。
Next　day　Xun　Yu　wrote　to　tell　Cao　Cao　that　Liu　Biao　had　gone　to　help　Zhang　Xiu　and　was　camped　at　Anzhong；　thereby　cutting　his　road　of　retreat。
Cao　Cao　replied　to　the　letter；　saying；　〃I　have　been　marching　only　a　short　distance　each　day　and　of　course　knew　of　the　pursuit。　But　my　plans　are　laid　and；　as　I　am　near　Anzhong；　my　enemy　will　be　broken。　You　need　not　have　any　fears。〃
Then　Cao　Cao　hastened　his　march　till　he　came　near　where　Liu　Biao　had　taken　position。　Zhang　Xiu　still　shortened　the　distance。　Cao　Cao　ordered　his　men　during　the　night　to　open　a　secret　way　through　a　pass；　where　he　laid　an　ambush。
With　the　first　light　of　dawn　Liu　Biao　and　Zhang　Xiu　met。　As　Cao　Cao's　force　looked　small；　they　thought　he　had　retired　so　they　boldly　advanced　into　the　pass　to　smite　him。　Then　the　ambush　was　opened；　and　both　the　attackers'　forces　were　cut　up。　The　fighting　ended；　Cao　Cao's　soldiers　went　outside　the　pass　and　encamped。
The　two　leaders　on　the　other　side　restored　order　among　their　beaten　troops　and　then　held　a　conference。
〃How　could　we　have　foreseen　such　a　wicked　ruse？〃　said　Liu　Biao。
〃Let　us　try　again；〃　said　Zhang　Xiu。
Wherefore　they　joined　forces　at　Anzhong。
But　Xun　Yu　discovered　through　his　spies　that　Yuan　Shao　was　preparing　an　attack　on　Capital　Xuchang；　so　he　at　once　wrote　to　Cao　Cao　who；　much　disturbed　by　this　news；　set　out　homeward　right　away。　When　Zhang　Xiu　heard　this　through　his　scouts；　he　wished　to　fol