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cy　is　to　hold　them　off　and　delay。　If　we　can　keep　from　a　decisive　battle　long　enough；　the　victory　will　be　ours　without　fighting。〃
This　advice　did　not　appeal　to　Yuan　Shao。
Said　he；　threateningly；　〃Tian　Feng　spoke　discouraging　words　to　my　armies；　and　I　will　assuredly　put　him　to　death　on　my　return。　How　dare　you　follow　in　the　same　way？〃
Yuan　Shao　summoned　the　lictors　and　sent　away　the　adviser　in　chains；　saying；　〃When　I　have　overe　Cao　Cao；　then　will　I　deal　with　you　and　Tian　Feng　together　〃
The　huge　army　was　camped　in　four　divisions；　one　toward　each　point　of　the　pass。　The　camps　were　thirty　miles　in　circuit。　Scouts　and　spies　were　sent　out　to　discover　the　strong　and　the　weak　points　of　the　enemy。
Cao　Cao's　army　arrived　and　were　smitten　with　fear　when　they　heard　of　the　strength　of　their　enemy。　The　leader　called　together　his　council。
Then　said　Adviser　Xun　You；　〃The　enemy　are　many　but　not　terrible。　Ours　is　an　army　of　veterans；　every　soldier　of　ours　worth　ten　of　theirs。　But　our　advantage　lies　in　a　speedy　battle；　for　unhappily　our　stores　are　insufficient　for　a　long　campaign。〃
〃You　speak　to　the　point；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃I　think　the　same。〃
Therefore　Cao　Cao　issued　orders　to　press　noisily　forward　and　force　on　a　battle。　Yuan　Shao's　soldiers　took　up　the　challenge；　and　the　two　sides　were　arrayed。　On　Yuan　Shao's　side；　Shen　Pei　placed　ten　thousand　of　crossbowmen　in　ambush　on　the　two　wings；　while　five　thousand　of　archers　held　the　center。　The　signal　for　general　attack　was　a　bomb；　and　the　onset　was　to　continue　through　three　rolls　of　the　drum。
Yuan　Shao　wore　a　silver　helmet　and　breastplate　and　an　embroidered　robe　held　in　by　a　jeweled　belt。　He　took　up　his　post　in　the　center　with　his　manders………Gao　Lan；　Zhang　He；　Han　Meng；　Chunyu　Qiong；　and　others………ranged　right　and　left。　His　banners　and　ensigns　made　a　brave　show。
When　Cao　Cao's　army's　center　opened　and　the　banners　moved　aside；　the　chieftain　appeared　on　horseback　with　his　staff　of　doughty　leaders　all　fully　armed………Xu　Chu；　Zhang　Liao；　Xu　Huang；　Li　Dian；　and　others。
Pointing　with　his　whip　at　Yuan　Shao；　Cao　Cao　cried；　〃In　the　presence　of　the　Emperor；　I　pressed　your　claims　to　consideration　and　obtained　for　you　the　title　of　Regent　Marshal。　Why　do　you　now　plan　rebellion？〃
Yuan　Shao　replied；　〃You　take　the　title　of　a　minister　of　Han；　but　you　are　really　a　rebel　against　the　House。　Your　crimes　and　evil　deeds　reach　to　the　heavens；　and　you　are　worse　than　the　usurper　Wang　Mang　and　the　rebel　Dong　Zhuo。　What　are　these　slanderous　words　about　rebellion　that　dare　you　address　to　me？〃
〃I　have　a　mand　to　make　you　prisoner！〃
〃I　have　the　Girdle　Decree　to　arrest　rebels！〃　replied　Yuan　Shao。
Then　Cao　Cao　became　wrathful　and　bade　Zhang　Liao　ride　forth　as　his　champion。　From　the　other　side　rode　Zhang　He　on　a　curvetting　steed。　The　two　champions　fought　forty　or　fifty　bouts　with　no　advantage　to　either。　In　his　heart　Cao　Cao　thought　the　contest　amazing。　Then　Xu　Chu　whirled　up　his　sword　and　went　to　help。　From　the　other　side；　to　match　him　rode　out　Gao　Lan　with　his　spear　set；　and　the　contestants　were　now　four；　battling　two　and　two。　Then　Cao　Cao　ordered　three　thousand　troops　under　Xiahou　Dun　and　Cao　Hong　to　attack　the　opponents'　array。　Thereupon　on　Yuan　Shao's　side；　Shen　Pei　gave　the　signal　for　attack；　and　the　legion　of　crossbowmen　on　the　wings　shot　and　the　center　archers　let　fly　all　together。　The　arrows　flew　all　over　the　field　in　front；　and　Cao　Cao's　troops　could　not　advance。　They　hastened　away　toward　the　south。　Yuan　Shao　threw　his　soldiers　on　their　rear；　and　they　were　broken。　They　fled　away　toward　Guandu；　and　Yuan　Shao　advanced　another　stage。　He　camped　near　them。
Then　Shen　Pei　said；　〃Now　send　one　hundred　thousand　soldiers　to　guard　Guandu；　and　get　near　Cao　Cao's　camp。　Then　build　up　observation　mounds　to　get　a　clear　view　of　the　enemy；　and　choose　vantage　points　whence　to　shoot　arrows　into　the　midst　of　their　host。　If　we　can　force　him　to　evacuate　this　place；　we　shall　have　gained　a　strategic　point　whence　Capital　Xuchang　can　be　attacked。〃
Yuan　Shao　adopted　this　suggestion。　From　each　of　the　camps；　they　sought　out　the　strongest　veterans　who　dug　with　iron　spades　and　carried　earth　to　raise　mounds　near　Cao　Cao's　camp。
Cao　Cao's　soldiers　saw　what　their　enemies　were　doing　and　were　anxious　to　make　a　sortie　and　drive　them　off。　But　the　archers　and　crossbowmen　came　out　manding　the　narrow　throat　through　which　it　was　necessary　to　attack　and　stayed　them。　At　the　end　of　ten　days；　they　had　build　up　more　than　half　a　hundred　mounds；　and　on　the　summit　of　each　was　a　lofty　tower；　whence　the　archers　could　mand　their　opponents'　camp。　Cao　Cao's　soldiers　were　greatly　frightened　and　held　up　their　bucklers　to　keep　off　the　various　missiles。　From　the　mounds　the　arrows　flew　down　like　a　fierce　rain　after　each　roll　of　drums。　The　soldiers　of　Yuan　Shao's　army　laughed　and　jeered　when　they　saw　their　enemies　crouching　under　their　shields　and　crawling　on　the　ground　to　avoid　their　missiles。
Cao　Cao　saw　that　his　troops　were　getting　out　of　hand　under　this　attack；　so　he　called　a　council。
Liu　Ye　spoke　up；　saying；　〃Let　us　make　catapults　and　so　destroy　them。〃
Cao　Cao　at　once　had　models　brought　and　set　cunning　workers　to　make　these　stone…throwing　machines。　They　soon　constructed　some　hundreds　and　placed　them　along　the　walls　of　the　camp　inside；　just　opposite　the　high　ladders　on　the　enemy's　mounds。
Then　Cao　Cao's　troops　watched　for　Yuan　Shao's　archers　to　ascend　the　towers。　As　soon　as　the　archers　began　to　shoot；　all　the　catapults　began　to　heave　stone　balls　into　the　skies　and　they　wrought　great　havoc。　There　was　no　shelter　from　the　falling　stones；　and　enormous　numbers　of　the　archers　were　killed。　Yuan　Shao's　troops　called　these　machines　〃Rumblers；〃　and　after　their　appearance　the　archers　dared　not　ascend　the　mounds　to　shoot。
Then　Shen　Pei；　the　strategist；　thought　out　another　plan。　He　set　troops　to　tunnel　under　the　walls　into　the　midst　of　Cao　Cao's　camp　and　called　this　corps　〃The　Sappers〃。　Cao　Cao's　soldiers　saw　the　enemy　digging　out　pits　behind　the　mounds　and　told　the　chief；　who　at　once　sought　a　counter　plan　from　Liu　Ye。
〃As　Yuan　Shao　can　no　longer　attack　openly；　he　is　attacking　secretly　and　is　tunneling　a　road　under　ground　into　the　midst　of　our　camp；〃　said　Liu　Ye。
〃But　how　to　meet　it？〃
〃We　can　surround　the　camp　with　a　deep　moat　which　renders　their　tunnel　useless。〃
So　a　deep　moat　was　dug　as　quickly　as　possible；　and　when　the　enemy　sappers　arrived　thereat；　lo！　their　labor　had　been　in　vain　and　the　sap　was　useless。
Cao　Cao　held　Guandu　throughout　the　eighth　and　ninth　months　when；　his　army　being　worn　out　and　provisions　failing；　he　began　to　think　of　giving　up　and　returning　to　the　capital。　As　he　could　not　make　up　his　mind；　he　referred　his　difficulties　by　letter　to　Xun　Yu；　whom　he　had　left　to　guard　Xuchang。　The　reply　he　got　was　to　this　effect：
〃I　have　received　your　mand　to　decide　whether　to　continue　the　campaign　or　retire。　It　appears　to　me　that　Yuan　Shao　assembled　such　large　forces　at　Guandu　with　the　expectation　of　winning　a　decision。　You；　Sir；　are　very　weak　while　he　is　very　strong。　If　you　cannot　get　the　better　of　him；　he　will　be　able　to　work　his　will　on　you；　and　this　will　be　a　crisis　of　the　empire。　Your　opponents　are　indeed　numerous；　but　their　leader　knows　not　how　to　use　them。　With　your　military　genius　and　discernment；　where　are　you　not　sure　to　succeed？　Now　though　your　numbers　are　small；　your　situation　is　still　brighter　than　Liu　Bang's　when　he　faced　against　Xiang　Yu　in　Jungyang　and　Chenggao。　You　are　securely　entrenched　with　your　hands　on　Yuan　Shao's　throat；　and　even　if　you　cannot　advance；　that　state　of　things　cannot　endure　forever　but　must　change。　This　is　the　time　to　play　some　unexpected　move；　and　you　must　not　miss　it。　The　device　I　leave　to　your　illustrious　ingenuity。〃
This　letter　greatly　pleased　Cao　Cao；　and　he　urged　upon　his　troops　to　use　every　effort　to　maintain　the　position。
Yuan　Shao　then　retired　some　ten　miles；　and　Cao　Cao　sent　out　scouts　to　ascertain　his　new　dispositions。　One　of　Xu　Huang's　officers；　Shi　Huan；　captured　an　enemy　spy　and　sent　him　to　his　chief。　Xu　Huang　interrogated　him　and　found　out　that　a　convoy　of　supplies　was　expected　and　that　this　spy　and　others　had　been　sent　to　find　out　what　the　risks　of　the　route　were。　Xu　Huang　went　at　once　to　tell　Cao　Cao。
When　Xun　You　heard　that　the　mander　of　the　convoy　was　Han　Meng；　he　said；　〃That　fellow　is　a　valiant　fool。　A　few　thousand　light　horse　sent　to　intercept　him　can　capture　the　whole　train　and　cause　much　trouble　in　the　enemy's　camp。〃
〃Whom　should　I　send？〃　asked　Cao　Cao。
〃You　might　send　Xu　Huang。　He　is　capable　of　such　a　task。〃
So　Xu　Huang　was　deputed；　and　he　took　with　him　Shi　Huan；　who　had　captured　the　spy；　and　his　pany。　And　this　party　was　supported　by　Zhang　Liao　and　Xu　Chu。
It　was　night　when　the　missariat　train　of　many　thousands　of　wagons　drew　near　Yuan　Shao's　camp。　As　they　passed　through　a　defile；　Xu　Huang　and　Shi　Huan　came　out　and　stopped　the　train。　Han　Meng　galloped　up　to　give　battle　but　was　soon　overe。　The　guard　was　scattered；　and　soon　the　whole　train　was　in　flames。　The　escort　and　their　leader　fled　away。
The　glow　of　the　flames　seen　from　Yuan　Shao's　camp　caused　great　consternation；　which　became　fear　when　the　escaped　soldiers　rode　in　and　told　their　tale。
Yuan　Shao　sent　out　Zhang　He　and　Gao　Lan　to　try　to　intercept　the　raiders；　and　they　came　upon　Xu　Huang　and　his　pany。　Just　as　Zhang　He　and　Gao　Lan　were　attacking；　reinforcements　from　Zhang　Liao　and　Xu　Chu　came　up；　and　the　Yuan　Shao's　troops　were　between　two　fires。　They　were　cut　to　pieces　and　the　successful　generals　of　Cao　Cao　rode　back　to　Guandu；　where　they　were　richly　rewarded。
As　an　additional　safeguard；　Cao　Cao　made　a　supporting　outpost　in　front　of　the　main　camp　to　be　the　apex　of　a　triangle　of　defense。
When　Han　Meng　returned　with　his　woeful　tidings；　Yuan　Shao　was　angry　and　threatened　to　put　him　to　death。　His　colleagues　begged　him　off。
Then　said　Shen　Pei；　〃Food　is　very　important　for　an　army　in　the　field　and　must　be　defended　with　the　greatest　diligence。　Wuchao　is　our　main　depot　and　must　be　carefully　guarded。〃
〃My　plans　being　plete；〃　said　Yuan　Shao。　〃You　may　as　well　return　to　Capital　Yejun　of　Jizhou　and　undertake　the　control　of　the　supplies。　Let　there　be　no　shortage。〃
So　Shen　Pei　left　the　army。　Then　a　force　of　twenty　thousand　troops　was　told　off　to　defend　the　depot　in　Wuchao。　The　leaders　of　this　body　were　Chunyu　Qiong；　Gui　Yuanjin；　Han　Juzi；　Lu　Weihuang；　and　Zhao　Rui。
Of　these　generals；　Chunyu　Qiong　was　a　hard　man　and　a　heavy　drinker；　who　in　his　cups　was　a　terror　to　the　soldiers。　Under　the　idle　life　of　guarding　the　supply　depot；　the　leaders　gave　themselves　up　to　indulgence　and　drank　heavily。
In　Cao　Cao's　army　food　was　also　getting　scarce；　and　a　message　was　sent　to　Capital　Xuchang　to　send　grain　quickly。　The　messenger　with　the　letter；　however；　had　not　gone　far　when　he　fell　into　the　hands　of　Yuan　Shao's　guards；　who　took　him　to　the　adviser　Xu　You。
Seeing　from　the　letter　that　Cao　Cao　was　short　of　supplies；　Xu　You　went　to　Yuan　Shao　and　told　him；　saying；　〃Cao　Cao　and　we　have　been　at　grips　here　for　a　long　time；　and　Capital　Xuchang　must　be　undefended。　A　small　army　sent　quickly　could　take　it；　and　at　the　same　moment　an　attack　here　would　deliver　Cao　Cao　into　our　hands。　Now　is　the　moment　to　strike；　for　his　supplies　are　short。〃
Yuan　Shao　replied；　〃Cao　Cao　is　full　of　ruses；　and　this　letter　is　artfully　designed　to　bring　about　a　battle　to　suit　himself。〃
〃If　you　do　not　take　this　chance；　he　will　do　you　some　injury　by　and　by。〃
Just　at　this　juncture　in　came　a　dispatch　from　Yejun　in　which；　after　some　details　regarding　the　forwarding　of　grain；　Shen　Pei　said　he　had　discovered　that　Xu　You　had　been　in　the　habit　of　receiving　bribes　while　in　Jizhou　and　had　winked　at　his　relatives　collecting　excess　taxes。　One　of　his　son　and　nephew　were　then　in　prison。
At　this　Yuan　Shao　turned　on　Xu　You　angrily　and　said；　〃How　can　you　have　the　face　to　stand　before　me　and　propose　plans；　you　extortionate　fellow？　You　and　Cao　Cao　have　old　liking　for　each　other；　and　he　has　bribed　you　to　do　his　dirty　work　for　him　and　help　his　base　schemes。　Now　you　want　to　betray　my　army。　I　ought　to　take　off　your　head；　but　temporarily　I　will　let　your　neck　carry　it　away。　Get　out　and　never　let　me　see　you　again。〃
The　discredited　adviser　sighed　and　went　out；　saying；　〃Faithful　words　offend　his　ear。　He　is　a　pest　and　unworthy　of　advice　from　me。　And　now　that　Shen