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But　glory　to　him　who　died　in　vain。

Another　poet　wrote　of　the　sad　fate　of　Wang　Zifu　and　his　friends：

Greatheartedly　these　signed　the　silken　roll；
And　pledged　themselves　to　save　their　king　from　shame。
Alas！　Black　death　of　them　took　heavy　toll；
To　write　their　names　upon　the　roll　of　fame。

But　the　slaughter　of　the　conspirators　and　their　whole　households　did　not　appease　the　wrath　of　the　Prime　Minister。　The　Emperor's　consort　was　a　sister　of　Dong　Cheng；　and；　sword　in　hand；　Cao　Cao　went　into　the　Forbidden　City　determined　to　slay　her　also。　The　Emperor　cherished　her　tenderly；　the　more　so　as　she　was　then　in　the　fifth　month　of　pregnancy。　That　day；　as　they　often　did；　the　Emperor；　Consort　Dong；　and　Empress　Fu　were　sitting　in　their　private　apartment　secretly　talking　of　the　decree　entrusted　to　Dong　Cheng　and　asking　each　other　why　nothing　seemed　to　have　been　done。　The　sudden　appearance　of　the　angry　Prime　Minister；　armed　as　he　was；　frightened　them　greatly。
〃Does　Your　Majesty　know　that　Dong　Cheng　conspired　against　me？〃　said　he。
〃Dong　Zhuo　died　long　ago；〃　replied　the　Emperor。
〃Not　Dong　Zhuo………Dong　Cheng！〃　roared　Cao　Cao。
The　Emperor's　heart　trembled；　but　he　gasped　out；　〃Really　I　did　not　know！〃
〃So　the　cut　finger　and　the　blood　written　decree　are　all　forgotten；　eh？〃
The　Emperor　was　silent。　Cao　Cao　bade　his　lictors　seize　Consort　Dong。　The　Emperor　interposed　asking　pity　for　her　condition。
But　Cao　Cao　said；　〃If　Heaven　had　not　interposed　and　defeated　the　plot；　I　should　be　a　dead　man。　How　could　I　leave　this　woman　to　work　evil　to　me　by　and　by？〃
Said　the　Emperor；　〃Immure　her　in　one　of　the　palaces　till　her　confinement。　Do　not　harm　her　now！〃
〃Do　you　wish　me　to　spare　her　offspring　to　avenge　the　mother？〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃I　pray　that　my　body　may　be　spared　mutilation　and　not　put　to　shame；〃　said　Consort　Dong。
Cao　Cao　bade　his　men　show　her　the　white　silk　cord。　The　Emperor　wept　bitterly。
〃Do　not　hate　me　in　the　below　realms　of　the　Nine　Golden　Springs；〃　said　the　Emperor　to　her。
His　tears　fell　like　rain。　Empress　Fu　also　joined　in　the　lament；　but　Cao　Cao　said；　〃You　are　behaving　like　a　lot　of　children。〃
And　he　told　the　lictors　to　take　Consort　Dong　away　and　strangle　her　in　the　courtyard。

In　vain　had　the　fair　girl　found　favor　in　the　sight　of　her　lord。
She　died；　and　the　fruit　of　her　womb　perished。
Stern　and　calm　her　lord　sat；　powerless　to　save。
Hiding　his　face　while　tears　gushed　forth。

When　leaving　the　Palace；　Cao　Cao　gave　strict　orders　to　the　keepers；　saying　〃Anyone　of　the　imperial　relatives　by　marriage　who　enter　the　Palace　will　be　put　to　death；　and　the　guards　will　share　the　same　punishment　for　lack　of　zeal。〃
To　make　more　sure　he　appointed　three　thousand　Imperial　Guards　from　his　own　troops　and　appointed　Cao　Hong　to　the　mand。
Then　said　Cao　Cao　to　his　counselor　Cheng　Yu；　〃The　conspirators　in　the　capital　have　been　removed；　it　is　true；　but　there　are　yet　two　others；　Ma　Teng　and　Liu　Bei。　These　must　not　be　left。〃
Cheng　Yu　replied；　〃Ma　Teng　is　strong　in　the　west　and　would　not　be　easily　captured。　He　might　be　enticed　to　the　capital　by　suave　words　and　kindly　praises；　when　he　would　be　at　your　mercy。　Liu　Bei　is　at　Xuzhou；　strongly　posted　in　an　ox…horn　formation；　and　not　to　be　lightly　attacked。　More　than　this；　Yuan　Shao　is　at　Guandu；　and　his　one　desire　is　to　attack　you。　Any　attempt　on　the　east　will　send　Liu　Bei　to　Yuan　Shao　for　help；　and　Yuan　Shao　will　e　here　at　once。　Then　what　will　you　do？〃
〃You　are　at　fault；〃　replied　Cao　Cao。　〃Liu　Bei　is　a　bold　warrior。　If　we　wait　till　he　is　fully　fledged　and　winged；　he　will　be　more　difficult　to　deal　with。　Yuan　Shao　may　be　strong；　but　he　is　not　to　be　feared。　He　is　too　undeciding　to　act。〃
As　they　were　discussing　these　things；　Guo　Jia　came　in；　and　Cao　Cao　suddenly　referred　the　matter　to　him。
〃If　I　attack　Liu　Bei；　then　Yuan　Shao　is　to　be　feared。　What　do　you　think　of　it？〃
Guo　Jia　said；　〃Yuan　Shao　by　nature　is　dilatory　and　hesitating；　and　his　various　advisers　are　jealous　of　each　other。　He　is　not　to　be　feared。　Liu　Bei　is　getting　together　a　new　army　and　has　not　yet　won　their　hearts。　You　could　settle　the　east　in　one　battle。〃
〃This　advice　is　in　harmony　with　my　thinking；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
And　he　prepared　an　army　of　two　hundred　thousand　troops；　to　move　in　five　divisions　against　Xuzhou。
Scouts　took　the　news　of　these　preparations　to　Xuzhou。　Sun　Qian　first　went　to　Xiapi　to　tell　Guan　Yu　and　then　went　to　Xiaopei　to　tell　Liu　Bei。　The　two　discussed　the　position　and　decided　that　help　must　be　sought。　So　letters　were　written　to　Yuan　Shao　and　given　to　Sun　Qian；　who　went　north；　sought　Tian　Feng；　and　asked　him　to　arrange　an　interview　with　Yuan　Shao。　Sun　Qian　was　introduced　and　presented　his　letters。
But　Yuan　Shao　was　of　melancholy　countenance；　and　his　dress　was　all　awry。　Tian　Feng　said；　〃Why　this　disarray；　my　lord？〃
〃I　am　about　to　die；〃　replied　Yuan　Shao。
〃But　why　do　you　utter　such　words？〃
〃I　have　three　sons；　but　only　the　youngest　is　clever　enough　to　understand　my　ideas。　Now　he　is　suffering　from　scabies　which　places　his　life　in　jeopardy。　Think　you　that　I　have　any　heart　to　talk　over　any　other　affairs？〃
〃But；〃　said　Tian　Feng；　〃the　present　bination　of　circumstances　is　unparalleled。　Cao　Cao　is　going　to　attack　the　east；　and　Xuchang　will　be　empty。　You　can　enter　it　with　a　few　volunteers　and　so　perform　good　service　to　the　Emperor　and　save　the　people　from　sorrow。　You　have　only　to　make　up　your　mind　to　act。〃
〃I　know　the　chance　is　excellent；　but　I　am　worried　and　distressed　and　fear　failure。〃
〃What　are　you　distressed　about？〃　said　Tian　Feng。
〃Among　my　sons　only　this　special　one　is　remarkable；　and　if　anything　happens；　I　am　done。〃
Thus　it　became　evident　that　no　army　would　be　dispatched。
In　confirmation　of　this；　Yuan　Shao　said　to　Sun　Qian；　〃Go　home　and　tell　Liu　Bei　the　real　reason；　and　say　that　if　anything　untoward　happen；　he　can　e　over　to　me；　and　I　will　find　some　means　of　helping　him。〃
Tian　Feng　struck　the　ground　with　his　staff。
〃It　is　such　a　pity！〃　cried　he。　〃Just　as　a　unique　opportunity　presents　itself；　everything　is　spoiled　by　the　illness　of　a　child。〃
He　went　out。　Sun　Qian　saw　that　no　help　could　be　hoped　for　and　set　out　to　return。　When　he　had　arrived　and　related　what　he　had　seen；　Liu　Bei　was　quite　alarmed　and　asked　what　could　be　done。
〃Do　not　be　troubled；　brother；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。　〃We　can　destroy　Cao　Cao　merely　by　a　sudden　attack　before　his　army　shall　have　time　to　camp。〃
〃That　would　be　according　to　the　rules　of　war；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃You　have　always　been　a　bold　warrior；　and　that　move　against　Liu　Dai　shows　that　you　are　being　a　strategist　too。〃
So　Liu　Bei　gave　Zhang　Fei　mand　of　enough　soldiers　to　carry　out　this　plan。
Now　while　Cao　Cao　was　in　the　midst　of　his　march　toward　Xiaopei；　a　tornado　sprang　up　and　the　howling　gale　tore　down　one　of　the　banners　and　broke　the　staff。　Cao　Cao　called　together　his　advisers　and　leaders　to　ask　them　what　this　portended。
Xun　Yu　said；　〃From　what　direction　was　the　wind　at　the　time；　and　what　was　the　color　of　the　flag？〃
〃The　wind　was　from　the　southeast；　and　the　flag　was　blue　and　red。〃
〃There　is　only　one　interpretation：　A　raid　on　the　camp　will　occur　tonight。〃
Cao　Cao　nodded。　At　that　moment　Mao　Jie　entered　and　reported　a　similar　incident。　Cao　Cao　asked　him　the　portent。
〃My　thinking　tells　me　it　means　a　night　raid；〃　replied　he。

Alas　for　the　weakness　of　this　descendant　of　kings！
He　placed　his　faith　on　a　night　raid。
But　the　broken　staff　of　a　banner　warned　his　enemy。
Why　should　the　ancient　of　days　favor　the　wicked？

〃This　is　evidently　providence；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
And　he　began　to　make　preparations。　He　told　off　nine　bodies　of　troops　to　take　stations；　leaving　only　one　of　them　as　if　camped　while　he　placed　the　others　in　ambush　at　eight　points。
There　was　but　little　moonlight　as　Liu　Bei　and　Zhang　Fei　marched　their　respective　armies　toward　Cao　Cao's　camp。　They　had　left　Sun　Qian　to　guard　Xiaopei。　Zhang　Fei；　since　he　was　the　originator　of　the　stratagem；　led　the　way　with　some　light　horse。　As　they　drew　near；　everything　seemed　very　quiet　and　no　one　seemed　moving。　Then　suddenly　lights　flashed　out　all　about　them；　and　Zhang　Fei　saw　he　had　fallen　into　a　trap。　At　once　from　all　the　eight　directions　came　out　the　ambushing　troops。　From　east；　west；　north；　south　were　Zhang　Liao；　Xu　Chu；　Li　Dian；　and　Yu　Jin。　From　northeast；　northwest；　southeast；　southwest　were　Xiahou　Dun；　Xiahou　Yuan；　Xu　Huang；　and　Yue　Jing。
Zhang　Fei；　dashing　this　way　and　rushing　that；　guarding　his　van　and　protecting　his　rear；　vainly　tried　to　clear　himself。　The　soldiers　he　had；　being　originally　Cao　Cao's　troops；　soon　gave　in　and　returned　to　their　old　leader。　The　position　became　very　desperate。
Zhang　Fei　met　Xu　Huang　and　engaged　him；　but　his　rear　was　also　attacked　by　Yue　Jing。　At　length　he　cut　an　alley　out　and　with　a　half　score　of　his　troops　started　to　return　to　Xiaopei。　The　retreat　was　cut　off。　He　thought　to　make　for　Xuzhou　but　felt　certain　that　way　was　also　barred。　No　other　way　seemed　open；　and　so　he　made　for　the　Mangdang　Hills。
As　Liu　Bei　drew　near　the　camp；　he　intended　to　attack　when　he　heard　the　din　of　battle。　Then　he　was　attacked　in　the　rear　and　very　soon　had　lost　half　his　force。　Next　Xiahou　Dun　came　to　attack。　Thereupon　Liu　Bei　bolted。　He　was　pursued　by　Xiahou　Yuan。　Presently　Liu　Bei　looked　about　him　and　found　he　had　less　than　half　a　hundred　soldiers　following　him。　He　set　his　face　in　the　direction　of　Xiaopei。
But　before　long　Liu　Bei　saw　that　place　was　in　flames。　So　he　changed　his　plan　and　went　toward　Xiapi。　However　he　found　the　whole　countryside　full　of　the　enemy；　and　he　could　not　get　through。　So　he　bethought　himself　of　the　promise　of　Yuan　Shao；　that　he　would　find　refuge　if　things　went　unfavorable；　and　determined　to　go　to　Yuan　Shao　till　he　could　form　some　other　plan。　Wherefore　he　took　the　Qingzhou　road。　But　it　also　was　blocked；　and　he　went　into　the　open　country　and　made　his　way　north；　not　without　being　pursued　and　losing　the　remainder　of　his　few　followers。
He　hastened　toward　Qingzhou　City；　traveling　one　hundred　miles　a　day。　When　he　reached　the　city　and　summoned　the　gate；　the　guards　asked　who　he　was　and　they　told　the　Governor；　who　was　Yuan　Shao's　eldest　son；　Yuan　Tan。　Yuan　Tan　was　greatly　surprised；　but　he　opened　the　gates　and　went　to　meet　Liu　Bei；　whom　he　treated　with　due　consideration。
Liu　Bei　told　the　story　of　his　defeat　and　said　he　wished　for　harbor。　He　was　given　suitable　quarters　and　hospitably　entertained；　while　the　young　man　wrote　to　inform　his　father。　Then　Yuan　Tan　provided　an　escort　and　sent　Liu　Bei　on　his　journey　as　far　as　the　boundary　of　Pingyuan。
At　the　city　of　Yejun；　Liu　Bei　was　met　by　Yuan　Shao　in　person　ten　miles　outside　the　city；　with　a　great　escort。　Liu　Bei　made　a　humble　obeisance　which　Yuan　Shao　hastened　to　return　and　said；　〃I　have　been　very　distressed　that；　on　account　of　my　son's　illness；　I　did　not　e　to　your　aid。　It　is　a　great　joy　to　see　you；　the　one　desire　of　my　life　is　satisfied。〃
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃The　poor　Liu　Bei　you　see　here　has　long　desired　to　take　refuge　with　you；　but　fate　has　hitherto　denied　him　that　privilege。　Now　attacked　by　Cao　Cao；　my　family　lost；　I　remembered　that　you；　General；　would　receive　good　people　from　all　sides。　Wherefore　I　put　my　pride　in　my　pocket。　I　trust　that　I　may　be　found　worthy　and　one　day　I　will　prove　my　gratitude。〃
Yuan　Shao　received　him　with　much　pleasure　and　treated　him　exceedingly　well。　And　they　both　lived　in　Yuan　Shao's　home　region　Jizhou。
After　the　capture　of　Xiaopei；　Cao　Cao　pressed　on　toward　Xuzhou　City；　which；　after　a　short　defense　and　the　flight　of　Mi　Zhu　and　Jian　Yong；　was　surrendered　by　Chen　Deng。　Cao　Cao　led　his　army　into　the　city；　restored　order；　and　pacified　the　people。　Next　he　wanted　to　press　on　to　Xiapi；　where　Guan　Yu　was　holding　out　and　keeping　guard　of　Liu　Bei's　family。
Xun　Yu　said；　〃Guan　Yu　is　there；　in　charge　of　his　brother's　family；　and　he　will　defend　the　city　to　the　last。　If　you　do　not　take　it　quickly；　Yuan　Shao　will　get　it。〃
Cao　Cao　said；　〃I　have　always　loved　Guan　Yu；　both　for　his　warlike　abilities　and　his　principles。　I　would　engage　him　to　enter　my　service。　I　would　rather　send　someone　to　talk　him　into　surrender。〃
〃He　will　not　do　that；〃　said　Guo　Jia。　〃His　sense　of　right　is　too　solid。　I　fear　anyone　who　went　to　speak　with　him　would　suffer。〃
Then　suddenly　a　man　stepped　out；　saying；　〃I　know　him　slightly；　and　I　will　go。〃
The　speaker　was　Zhang　Liao。
Cheng　Yu　looked　at　him　and　said；　〃Though　you　are　an