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egions　and　counties　ought　to　organize　volunteers　and　set　them　along　their　borders　to　demonstrate　their　force　and　prove　their　loyal　support　of　the　dynasty。　Will　not　this　be　rendering　extraordinary　service？
〃The　rank　of　lordship；　with　feudal　rights　over　five　thousand　households　and　a　money　reward　of　five　millions；　will　be　the　reward　of　the　one　who　brings　the　head　of　Cao　Cao。　No　questions　will　be　asked　of　those　who　surrender。　I　publish　abroad　this　notice　of　my　bounty　and　the　rewards　offered　that　you　may　realize　that　the　dynasty　is　in　real　danger。〃
Yuan　Shao　read　this　effusion　with　great　joy。　He　at　once　ordered　copies　to　be　posted　everywhere；　in　towns　and　cities；　at　gates；　tax　stations；　ferries；　and　passes。　Copies　found　their　way　to　the　capital；　and　one　got　into　Cao　Cao's　palace。　That　day　he　happened　to　be　in　bed　with　a　bad　headache。　The　servants　took　the　paper　to　the　sick　man's　room。　He　read　it　and　was　frightened　from　the　tips　of　his　hair　to　the　marrow　of　his　very　bones。　He　broke　out　into　a　cold　perspiration；　and　his　headache　vanished。
Cao　Cao　bounded　out　of　bed　and　said　to　Cao　Hong；　〃Who　wrote　this？〃
〃They　say　it　is　Chen　Lin's　brush；〃　replied　he。
Cao　Cao　laughed；　〃They　have　the　literary　gift；　they　would　rather　have　the　military　too　to　back　it　up。　This　fellow　may　be　a　very　elegant　writer；　but　what　if　Yuan　Shao's　fighting　capacity　falls　short？〃
Cao　Cao　called　his　advisers　together　to　consider　the　next　move。
Kong　Rong　heard　of　the　summons　and　went　to　Cao　Cao；　saying；　〃You　should　not　fight　with　Yuan　Shao：　He　is　too　strong。　Make　peace。〃
Xun　Yu　said；　〃He　is　despicable。　Do　not　make　peace。〃
Kong　Rong　replied；　〃His　land　is　wide　and　his　people　strong。　He　has　many　skillful　strategists　like　Guo　Tu；　Xu　You；　Peng　Ji；　and　Shen　Pei；　loyal　leaders　like　Tian　Feng　and　Ju　Shou；　and　formidable　generals　like　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou；　able　manders　like　Gao　Lan；　Zhang　He；　Han　Meng；　and　Chunyu　Qiong。　You　cannot　say　he　is　despicable。〃
Xun　Yu　laughed；　saying；　〃His　army　is　a　rabble。　One　general；　Tian　Feng；　is　bold　but　treacherous；　another；　Xu　You；　is　greedy　and　ignorant；　Shen　Pei　is　devoted　but　stupid；　Peng　Ji　is　steady　but　useless。　And　these　four　of　such　different　temperaments；　mutually　inpatible；　will　make　for　confusion　rather　than　efficiency。　The　brave　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou　are　worthless　and　can　be　disposed　of　in　the　first　battle；　and　the　others　such　as　Gao　Lan；　Zhang　He；　Han　Meng；　and　Chunyu　Qiong　are　poor；　rough　stuff。　What　is　the　use　even　of　their　hundred　thousands？〃
Kong　Rong　was　silent；　and　Cao　Cao　smiled。
〃They　are　even　as　Xun　Yu　describes；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
Then　Cao　Cao　issued　orders。　Generals　Liu　Dai　and　Wang　Zhong　were　to　lead　an　army　of　fifty　thousand　troops；　displaying　the　Prime　Minister's　banners；　and　march　against　Xuzhou　to　attack　Liu　Bei。
This　Liu　Dai　had　been　Imperial　Protector　of　Yanzhou　but　had　surrendered　to　Cao　Cao　and　entered　Cao　Cao's　service　after　the　fall　of　his　region。　Cao　Cao　had　given　him　a　rank　as　Supernumerary　Leader　and　now　was　disposed　to　make　use　of　him。
Cao　Cao　himself　took　mand　of　a　large　army　of　two　hundred　thousand　troops　for　a　simultaneous　attack　on　Yuan　Shao　at　Liyang。
Adviser　Cheng　Yu　said；　〃The　two　Liu　Dai　and　Wang　Zhong　sent　against　Liu　Bei　are　unequal　to　their　task。〃
〃I　know；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃They　are　not　meant　to　fight　Liu　Bei。　It　is　merely　a　feint。　They　have　orders　not　to　make　any　real　attack　till　I　have　overe　Yuan　Shao。　Then　Liu　Bei　will　be　next。〃
Liu　Dai　and　Wang　Zhong　went　their　way；　and　Cao　Cao　marched　out　his　grand　army；　which　came　into　touch　with　the　enemy；　then　thirty　miles　distant；　at　Liyang。　Both　sides　made　fortified　camps　and　waited　watching　each　other。　This　went　on　for　two　months　of　the　autumn。
There　was　dissension　in　Yuan　Shao's　camp。　Xu　You　was　at　enmity　with　his　colleague；　Shen　Pei；　who　was　in　manding　position；　and　the　strategist　Ju　Shou　resented　the　rejection　of　his　plan。　So　they　would　not　attack。　Yuan　Shao　also　could　not　make　up　his　mind。
Tired　of　this　state　of　inaction；　Cao　Cao　then　gave　orders　to　his　manders：　Zang　Ba　was　to　continue　the　pressure　on　Qingzhou　and　Xuzhou；　Yu　Jin　and　Li　Dian　to　deploy　troops　along　the　Yellow　River；　Cao　Ren　to　quarter　the　main　force　at　Guandu。　Then　Cao　Cao　with　an　army　marched　back　to　Capital　Xuchang。
The　five　legions　sent　against　Liu　Bei　went　into　camp　thirty…five　miles　from　Xuzhou。　The　camp　made　an　imposing　display　of　the　banners　of　the　Prime　Minister；　but　no　attacks　followed。　Their　spies　were　very　busy　north　of　the　river　to　get　news　of　Cao　Cao's　movement。　On　the　defensive　side；　Liu　Bei；　as　he　was　uncertain　of　the　strength　of　the　force　against　him；　dared　not　move。
Suddenly　orders　came　for　the　Cao　Cao's　army　to　attack；　and　then　discord　showed　itself。
Liu　Dai　said；　〃The　Prime　Minister　orders　an　attack：　You　advance。〃
Wang　Zhong　replied；　〃You　were　named　first。〃
〃I　am　the　mander…in…Chief。　It　is　not　my　place　to　go　first。〃
〃I　will　go　with　you　in　joint　mand；〃　said　Wang　Zhong。
〃Let　us　cast　lots；　and　he　upon　whom　the　lot　falls　must　go；〃　said　Liu　Dai。
They　drew　lots；　and　it　fell　to　Wang　Zhong；　who　advanced　toward　Xuzhou　with　half　the　force。
When　Liu　Bei　heard　of　the　threatened　attack；　he　called　Chen　Deng　to　consult。
Liu　Bei　said；　〃There　is　dissension　in　Yuan　Shao's　camp　at　Liyang；　so　they　do　not　advance。　We　do　not　know　where　Cao　Cao　is；　but　his　own　banner　is　not　displayed　in　his　Liyang's　camp。　Why　then　is　it　shown　here？〃
Chen　Deng　replied；　〃His　tricks　take　a　hundred　forms。　It　must　be　that　he　regards　the　north　as　more　important　and　has　gone　there　to　look　after　its　defense。　He　dares　not　show　his　flag　there；　and　I　feel　sure　it　is　only　meant　to　mislead　us。　He　is　not　here。〃
Liu　Bei　then　asked　whether　one　of　his　brothers　would　find　out　the　truth；　and　Zhang　Fei　volunteered　to　go。
〃I　fear　you　are　unsuited　for　this；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃You　are　too　impetuous。〃
〃If　Cao　Cao　is　there；　I　will　haul　him　over　here；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。
〃Let　me　go　first　and　find　out；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
〃If　you　go；　I　shall　feel　more　at　ease；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
So　Guan　Yu　set　out　with　three　thousand　soldiers　to　reconnoiter。　It　was　then　early　winter；　and　snow　was　falling　from　a　gloomy　sky。　They　marched　regardless　of　the　snow　and　came　near　Wang　Zhong's　camp　with　arms　all　ready　to　attack。　Guan　Yu　summoned　Wang　Zhong　to　a　parley。
〃The　Prime　Minister　is　here。　Why　do　you　not　surrender？〃　said　Wang　Zhong。
〃Beg　him　to　e　to　the　front；　for　I　would　speak　with　him；〃　replied　Guan　Yu。
〃Is　he　likely　to　e　out　to　see　such　as　you；〃　said　Wang　Zhong。
Guan　Yu　angrily　dashed　forward；　and　Wang　Zhong　set　his　spear　to　meet　him。　Guan　Yu　rode　till　he　came　close　to　his　antagonist；　then　suddenly　wheeled　away。　Wang　Zhong　went　after　him　and　followed　up　a　slope。　Just　as　they　passed　the　crest；　Guan　Yu　suddenly　wheeled　again；　shouted；　and　came　on　flourishing　the　mighty　sword。　Wang　Zhong　could　not　withstand　that　and　fled。　But　Guan　Yu；　changing　the　huge　sword　to　his　left　hand；　with　his　right　laid　hold　of　his　victim　by　the　straps　of　his　breastplate；　lifted　him　out　of　the　saddle；　and　rode　away　to　his　own　lines　with　the　captive　laid　across　the　pommel　of　his　saddle。　Wang　Zhong's　army　scattered。
The　captive　was　sent　to　Xuzhou；　where　he　was　summoned　into　the　presence　of　Liu　Bei。
〃Who　are　you？　What　office　do　you　hold？　How　dare　you　falsely　display　the　ensigns　of　the　Prime　Minister？〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃What　do　you　mean　by　falsely　when　I　simply　obeyed　my　orders？〃　said　Wang　Zhong。　〃My　master　wanted　to　produce　the　impression　that　he　was　present。　Really　he　was　not　there。〃
Liu　Bei　treated　him　kindly；　giving　him　food　and　clothing；　but　put　him　in　prison　till　his　colleague　could　be　captured。
Guan　Yu　said　to　Liu　Bei；　〃I　knew　you　had　peaceful　intentions　in　your　mind；　therefore；　I　captured　Wang　Zhong　instead　of　slaying　him。〃
〃I　was　afraid　of　Zhang　Fei's　hasty　and　impulsive　temper；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃He　would　have　slain　this　man。　So　I　could　not　send　him。　There　is　no　advantage　in　killing　people　of　this　sort；　and　while　alive　they　are　often　useful　in　amicable　settlements。〃
Here　Zhang　Fei　said；　〃You　have　got　this　Wang　Zhong；　now　I　will　go　and　get　the　other　man。〃
〃Be　careful；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃Liu　Dai　was　once　Imperial　Protector　of　Yanzhou；　and　he　was　one　of　the　nobles　who　met　at　Tiger　Trap　Pass　to　destroy　Dong　Zhuo。　He　is　not　to　be　despised。〃
〃I　do　not　think　him　worth　talking　about　so　much。　I　will　bring　him　in　alive　just　as　Second　Brother　did　this　other。〃
〃I　fear　that　if　his　life　be　lost；　it　may　upset　our　designs；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃If　I　kill　him；　I　will　forfeit　my　own　life；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。
So　he　was　given　three　thousand　soldiers　and　went　off　quickly。
The　capture　of　his　colleague　made　Liu　Dai　careful。　He　strengthened　his　defenses　and　kept　behind　them。　He　took　no　notice　of　the　daily　challenges　and　continual　insults　which　began　with　Zhang　Fei's　arrival。
After　some　days　Zhang　Fei　evolved　a　ruse。　He　issued　orders　to　prepare　to　rush　the　enemy's　camp　at　night；　but　he　himself　spent　the　day　drinking。　Pretending　to　be　very　intoxicated；　he　held　a　court…martial；　and　one　soldier　was　severely　flogged　for　a　breach　of　discipline。
The　man　was　left　bound　in　the　midst　of　the　camp；　Zhang　Fei　saying；　〃Wait　till　I　am　ready　to　start　tonight：　You　shall　be　sacrificed　to　the　flag。〃
At　the　same　time　he　gave　secret　orders　to　the　custodians　to　let　the　man　escape。　The　man　found　his　opportunity；　crept　out　of　camp；　and　went　over　to　the　enemy；　to　whom　he　betrayed　the　plan　of　a　night　attack。　As　the　man　bore　signs　of　savage　punishment；　Liu　Dai　was　the　more　disposed　to　credit　his　desertion　and　tale。　So　Liu　Dai　made　his　arrangements；　putting　the　greater　part　of　his　troops　in　ambush　outside　his　camp　so　that　it　was　empty。
That　night；　having　divided　his　army　into　three　parties；　Zhang　Fei　went　to　attack　the　camp。　A　few　men　were　ordered　to　advance　directly；　dash　in　and　set　fire　going。　Two　larger　bodies　of　troops　were　to　go　round　to　the　rear　of　the　camp　and　attack　when　they　saw　the　fire　well　started。　At　the　third　watch；　Zhang　Fei；　with　his　veterans；　went　to　cut　off　Liu　Dai's　road　to　the　rear。
The　thirty　men　told　off　to　start　a　conflagration　made　their　way　into　the　camp　and　were　successful。　When　the　flames　arose；　the　ambushing　troops　rushed　out　but　only　to　find　themselves　attacked　on　both　sides。　This　confused　them；　and　as　they　knew　nothing　of　the　number　of　their　assailants；　they　were　panic　stricken　and　scattered。
Liu　Dai；　with　a　pany　of　footmen　got　clear　of　the　fight　and　fled；　but　he　went　straight　toward　Zhang　Fei。　Escape　was　impossible；　and　the　two　men　rode　up　each　to　attack　the　other。　Zhang　Fei　captured　his　opponent；　and　the　men　surrendered。　Zhang　Fei　sent　news　of　this　success　to　his　brothers。
Liu　Bei　said；　〃Hitherto　Zhang　Fei　has　been　rather　violent；　but　this　time　he　has　acted　wisely；　and　I　am　very　pleased。〃
They　rode　out　to　wele　Zhang　Fei。
〃You　said　I　was　too　rough。　How　now？〃　said　Zhang　Fei　to　his　brothers。
〃If　I　had　not　put　you　on　your　mettle；　you　would　not　have　evolved　this　stratagem；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
Zhang　Fei　laughed。　Then　appeared　the　captive　Liu　Dai；　in　bonds。
Liu　Bei　at　once　dismounted　and　loosed　the　cords；　saying；　〃My　young　brother　was　rather　hasty；　but　you　must　pardon　him。〃
So　Liu　Dai　was　freed。　He　was　taken　into　the　city；　his　colleague　was　released；　and　both　were　cared　for。
Liu　Bei　said　to　them；　〃I　could　not　help　putting　Deputy　Imperial　Protector　Che　Zhou　to　death　when　he　tried　to　kill　me；　but　Cao　Cao　took　it　as　disaffection　and　sent　you　two　generals　to　punish　me。　I　have　received　much　kindness　from　him　and　certainly　would　not　show　ingratitude　by　killing　you。　I　wish　you　to　speak　for　me　and　explain　when　you　get　back。〃
〃We　are　deeply　grateful　that　you　spare　our　lives；　and　we　will　certainly　do　so　in　gratitude　for　what　our　wives　and　children　owe　you。〃
Next　day　the　two　leaders　and　their　army　were　allowed　to　depart　unscathed。　But　before　they　had　got　three　miles　from　the　boundary；　they　heard　a　mighty　shouting　and　there　appeared　Zhang　Fei　barring　the　road。
〃My　brother　made　a　mistake　in　letting　you　go。　He　did　not　understand。　How　could　he　give　freedom　to　two　rebels？〃
This　made　the　two　men　quake　with　fear；　but　as　the　fierce　eyed　warrior　with　uplifted　sword　was　bearing　down　upon　them；　they　heard　another　man　galloping　up　and　shouting；　〃Do　not　behave　so　disgracefully！〃
The　newer　was　Guan　Yu；　and　his　appearance　relieved　the　unhappy　men　of　all　fear。
〃Why　do　you　stop　them　since　our　brother　set　them　fr