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The　soldiers　told　their　lord；　〃The　General　was　intoxicated　at　the　time　of　the　attack。〃
So　Yuan　Shao　ordered　Chunyu　Qiong　to　be　forthwith　executed。
Guo　Tu；　fearing　lest　Zhang　He　and　Gao　Lan　would　return　and　testify　the　whole　truth；　began　to　intrigue　against　them。
First　Guo　Tu　went　to　his　lord；　saying；　〃Those　two；　Zhang　He　and　Gao　Lan；　were　certainly　very　glad　when　your　armies　were　defeated。〃
〃Why　do　you　say　this？〃　asked　Yuan　Shao。
〃O　they　have　long　cherished　a　desire　to　go　over　to　Cao　Cao。　So　when　you　sent　them　on　the　duty　of　destroying　his　camp；　they　did　not　do　their　best　and　so　brought　about　this　disaster。〃
Yuan　Shao　accordingly　sent　to　recall　these　two　to　be　interrogated　as　to　their　faults。　But　Guo　Tu　sent　a　messenger　in　advance　to　warn　them；　as　though　in　friendly　guise；　of　the　adverse　fate　that　awaited　them。
So　when　the　orders　reached　them　to　return　to　answer　for　their　faults；　Gao　Lan　asked；　〃For　what　reason　are　we　recalled？〃
〃Indeed　I　do　not　know；〃　said　the　messenger。
Gao　Lan　drew　his　sword　and　killed　the　messenger。
Zhang　He　was　astonished　at　this　demonstration；　but　Gao　Lan　said；　〃Our　lord　has　allowed　someone　to　malign　us　and　say　we　have　been　bought　by　Cao　Cao。　What　is　the　sense　in　our　sitting　still　and　awaiting　destruction？　Rather　let　us　surrender　to　Cao　Cao　in　reality　and　save　our　lives。〃
〃I　have　been　wanting　to　do　this　for　some　time；〃　replied　Zhang　He。
Wherefore　both；　with　their　panies；　made　their　way　to　Cao　Cao's　camp　to　surrender。
When　they　arrived；　Xiahou　Dun　said　to　his　master；　〃These　two　have　e　to　surrender；　but　I　have　doubts　about　them。〃
Cao　Cao　replied；　〃I　will　meet　them　generously　and　win　them　over；　even　if　they　have　treachery　in　their　hearts。〃

＇e＇　The　last　king　of　Shang　Dynasty　was　King　Zhou；　who　was　cruel　and　corrupt。　King　Zhou　had　three　uncles………Bi　Gan；　Qi　Zi；　and　Wei　Zi………who　served　as　ministers。　When　these　three　officials　repeatedly　failed　to　persuade　King　Zhou　to　repent；　Wei　Zi　resigned　his　post；　while　Qi　Zi　pretended　to　be　insane。　Bi　Gan　stayed　and　continued　persuading　the　king；　who　later　executed　Bi　Gan。　Later　the　Duke　of　Zhou　overthrew　Shang　Dynasty　and　enobled　Wei　Zi；　Qi　Zi；　and　the　wife　and　the　son　of　Bi　Gan。　Wei　Zi　became　known　as　the　Duke　of　Song。　Qi　Zi　left　for　Korea　where　he　became　a　ruler。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Before　serving　Han；　Han　Xin　had　been　an　officer　under　Xiang　Yu。　Disappointed　because　his　plans　were　rejected；　Han　Xin　left　Xiang　Yu　and　joined　Liu　Bang's　camp；　where　he　was　made　mander…in…Chief　by　remendations　of　Xiao　He　and　Zhang　Liang。　Enobled　as　King　of　Qi；　then　King　of　Chu。　。。。。。
The　camp　gates　were　opened　to　the　two　officers；　and　they　were　invited　to　enter。　They　laid　down　their　weapons；　removed　their　armor；　and　bowed　to　the　ground　before　Cao　Cao；　who　said；　〃If　Yuan　Shao　had　listened　to　you；　he　would　not　have　suffered　defeat。　Now　you　two　ing　to　surrender　are　like　Wei　Zi*　leaving　the　falling　House　of　Shang　to　go　to　Zhou　and　Han　Xin*　leaving　Xiang　Yu　to　go　over　to　the　rising　House　of　Han。〃
Cao　Cao　made　them　Generals　and　conferred　upon　Zhang　He　the　title　of　Lord　of　Duting　and　upon　Gao　Lan　Lord　of　Donglai；　which　pleased　them　much。
And　so　as　Yuan　Shao　had　formerly　driven　sway　his　adviser；　Xu　You；　so　now　he　had　alienated　two　leaders　and　had　lost　his　stores　at　Wuchao；　and　his　army　was　depressed　and　down…hearted。
When　Xu　You　advised　Cao　Cao　to　attack　Yuan　Shao　as　promptly　as　he　could；　the　two　newly　surrendered　generals　volunteered　to　lead　the　way。　So　Cao　Cao　sent　Zhang　He　and　Gao　Lan　to　make　a　first　attack　on　the　camp；　and　they　left　in　the　night　with　three　thousand　troops。　The　fighting　went　on　confusedly　all　night　but　stayed　at　dawn。　Yuan　Shao　had　lost　half　of　his　army。
Then　Xun　You　suggested　a　plan　to　Cao　Cao；　saying；　〃Now　is　the　moment　to　spread　a　report　that　an　army　will　go　to　take　Suanzao　and　attack　Yejun；　and　another　to　take　Liyang　and　intercept　the　enemy's　retreat。　Yuan　Shao；　when　he　hears　of　this；　will　be　alarmed　and　tell　off　his　troops　to　meet　this　new　turn　of　affairs；　and　while　he　is　making　these　new　dispositions；　we　can　have　him　at　great　disadvantage。〃
Cao　Cao　adopted　the　suggestion；　and　care　was　taken　that　the　report　spread　far　around。　It　came　to　the　ears　of　Yuan　Shao's　soldiers；　and　they　repeated　it　in　camp。　Yuan　Shao　believed　it　and　ordered　his　son　Yuan　Tan　with　fifty　thousand　troops　to　rescue　Yejun；　and　General　Xin　Ming　with　another　fifty　thousand　to　go　to　Liyang；　and　they　marched　away　at　once。　Cao　Cao　heard　that　these　armies　had　started；　and　at　once　dispatched　troops　in　eight　divisions　to　make　a　simultaneous　attack　on　the　nearly　empty　camp。　Yuan　Shao's　troops　were　too　dispirited　to　fight　and　gave　way　on　all　sides。
Yuan　Shao　without　waiting　to　don　his　armor　went　forth　in　simple　dress　with　an　ordinary　cap　upon　his　head　and　mounted　his　steed。　His　youngest　son；　Yuan　Shang；　followed　him。　Four　of　the　enemy　generals………Zhang　Liao；　Xu　Chu；　Xu　Huang；　and　Yu　Jin………with　their　forces　pressed　in　his　rear；　and　Yuan　Shao　hastened　across　the　river；　abandoning　all　his　documents　and　papers；　baggage；　treasure；　and　stores。　Only　eight　hundred　horsemen　followed　him　over　the　stream。　Cao　Cao's　troops　followed　hard　but　could　not　e　up　with　him。　However；　they　captured　all　his　impedimenta；　and　they　slew　some　eighty　thousands　of　his　army　so　that　the　watercourses　ran　blood　and　the　drowned　corpses　could　not　be　counted。　It　was　a　most　plete　victory　for　Cao　Cao；　and　he　made　over　all　the　spoil　to　the　army。
Among　the　papers　of　Yuan　Shao　was　found　a　bundle　of　letters　showing　secret　correspondence　between　him　and　many　persons　in　the　capital　and　army。
Cao　Cao's　personal　staff　suggested　that　the　names　of　those　concerned　should　be　abstracted　and　the　persons　arrested；　but　their　lord　said；　〃Yuan　Shao　was　so　strong　that　even　I　could　not　be　sure　of　safety。　How　much　less　other　people？〃
So　Cao　Cao　ordered　the　papers　to　be　burned　and　nothing　more　was　said。
Now　when　Yuan　Shao's　soldiers　ran　away；　Ju　Shou；　being　a　prisoner；　could　not　get　away　and　was　captured。
Taken　before　Cao　Cao；　who　knew　him；　Ju　Shou　cried　aloud；　〃I　will　not　surrender！〃
Said　Cao　Cao；　〃Yuan　Shao　was　foolish　and　neglected　your　advice：　Why　still　cling　to　the　path　of　delusion？　Had　I　had　you　to　help　me；　I　should　have　been　sure　of　the　empire。〃
Ju　Shou　was　well　treated　in　the　camp；　but　he　stole　a　horse　and　tried　to　get　away　to　Yuan　Shao。　This　angered　Cao　Cao　who　recaptured　him　and　put　him　to　death；　which　he　met　with　brave　posure。
〃I　have　slain　a　faithful　and　righteous　man！〃　then　said　Cao　Cao　sadly。
And　the　victim　was　honorably　buried　at　Guandu。　His　tomb　bore　the　inscription　This　is　the　tomb　of　Ju　Shou　the　Loyal　and　Virtuous　。

Ju　Shou　was　honest　and　virtuous；
The　best　in　Yuan　Shao's　train；
From　him　the　stars　no　secrets　held；
In　tactics　all　was　plain。
For　him　no　terrors　had　grim　death。
Too　lofty　was　his　spirit；
His　captor　slew　him；　but　his　tomb
Bears　witness　to　his　merit。

Cao　Cao　now　gave　orders　to　attack　Jizhou。

In　feeling　over　confident；　that's　where　one's　weakness　lay；
The　other　bettered　him　by　plans　which　never　went　astray。

The　following　chapter　will　tell　who　won　the　next　campaign。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　31　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　31
　Chapter　31
Cao　Cao　Overes　Yuan　Shao　In　Cangting；
Liu　Bei　Seeks　Shelter　With　Liu　Biao　In　Jingzhou。
Cao　Cao　lost　no　time　in　taking　advantage　of　Yuan　Shao's　flight；　but　smote　hard　at　the　retreating　army。　Yuan　Shao　without　helmet　or　proper　dress；　and　with　few　followers；　crossed　hastily　to　the　north　bank　at　Liyang。　He　was　met　by　one　of　his　generals；　Jiang　Yiqu；　who　took　him　in　and　forted　him　and　listened　to　the　tale　of　misfortunes。　Next　Jiang　Yiqu　called　in　the　scattered　remnants　of　the　army；　and　when　the　soldiers　heard　that　their　old　lord　was　alive　they　swarmed　to　him　like　ants；　so　that　Yuan　Shao　quickly　became　strong　enough　to　attempt　the　march　to　Jizhou。　Soon　the　army　set　out　and　at　night　halted　at　Huang　Hills。
That　evening；　sitting　in　his　tent；　Yuan　Shao　seemed　to　hear　a　far　off　sound　of　lamentation。　He　crept　out　quietly　to　listen　and　found　it　was　his　own　soldiers　telling　each　other　tales　of　woe。　This　one　lamented　an　elder　brother　lost；　that　one　grieved　for　his　younger　brother　abandoned；　a　third　mourned　a　panion　missing；　a　fourth；　a　relative　cut　off。　And　each　beat　his　breast　and　wept。
And　all　said；　〃Had　he　but　listened　to　Tian　Feng；　we　had　not　met　this　disaster！〃
Yuan　Shao；　very　remorseful；　said；　〃I　did　not　hearken　unto　Tian　Feng；　and　now　my　soldiers　have　been　beaten　and　I　was　nearly　lost。　How　can　I　return　and　look　him　in　the　face？〃
Next　day　the　march　was　resumed；　and　Yuan　Shao　met　Peng　Ji　with　reinforcements；　to　whom　he　said；　〃I　disregarded　Tian　Feng's　advice　and　have　brought　myself　to　defeat。　Now　shall　I　be　greatly　ashamed　to　look　him　in　the　face。〃
This　tribute　to　Tian　Feng's　prescience　roused　the　jealousy　of　Peng　Ji；　who　replied；　〃Yes；　when　he　heard　the　news　of　your　defeat；　though　he　was　a　prisoner；　he　clapped　his　hands　for　joy　and　said；　'Indeed；　just　as　I　foretold！'〃
〃How　dare　he　laugh　at　me；　the　blockhead？　Assuredly　he　shall　die；〃　said　Yuan　Shao。
Whereupon　Yuan　Shao　wrote　a　letter　and　sent　therewith　a　sword　to　slay　the　prisoner。
Meanwhile　Tian　Feng's　gaoler　came　to　him　one　day；　saying；　〃Above　all　humans　I　felicitate　you。〃
〃What　is　the　joyful　occasion　and　why　felicitate？〃　said　Tian　Feng。
The　gaoler　replied；　〃Imperial　Protector　Yuan　Shao　has　been　defeated　and　is　on　his　way　back。　He　will　treat　you　with　redoubled　respect。〃
〃Now　am　I　a　dead　man！〃　said　Tian　Feng。
〃Why　say　you　that；　Sir；　when　all　people　give　you　joy？〃
〃The　Imperial　Protector　appears　liberal；　but　he　is　jealous　and　forgetful　of　honest　advice。　Had　he　been　victorious；　he　might　have　pardoned　me。　Now　that　he　has　been　defeated　and　put　to　shame；　I　may　not　hope　to　live。〃
But　the　gaoler　did　not　believe　Tian　Feng。　Before　long　came　the　letter　and　the　sword　with　the　fatal　order。
The　gaoler　was　dismayed；　but　the　victim　said；　〃I　knew　all　too　well　that　I　should　have　to　die。〃
The　gaoler　wept。
Tian　Feng　said；　〃An　able　person　born　into　this　world　who　does　not　recognize　and　serve　the　right　lord　is　ignorant。　Today　I　die；　but　I　am　not　deserving　of　pity。〃
Whereupon　he　cut　his　throat　in　the　prison。

Ju　Shou　but　yesterday　was　killed；
Tian　Feng　ends　his　life　his　fate　fulfilled；
The　Yellow　River's　main　beams　break　one　by　one；
Mourn　ye　that　Yuan　House！　Its　day　is　done。

Thus　died　Tian　Feng；　pitied　of　all　who　heard　of　his　fate。
When　Yuan　Shao　came　home　in　Jizhou；　he　was　with　troubled　mind　and　distorted　thoughts。　He　could　not　attend　to　the　business　of　government　and　became　so　ill　that　his　second　wife；　who　came　of　the　Liu　family　and　had　replaced　the　first　wife　after　her　death；　besought　him　to　make　his　last　dispositions。
Now　three　sons　had　been　born　to　Yuan　Shao：　Yuan　Tan　the　eldest；　who　was　mander　at　Qingzhou；　Yuan　Xi；　who　ruled　over　Youzhou；　and　Yuan　Shang；　borne　to　him　by　Lady　Liu。　This　youngest　son　was　very　handsome　and　noble　looking；　and　his　father's　favorite。　So　he　was　kept　at　home。
After　the　defeat　at　Guandu；　the　lad's　mother　was　constantly　urging　that　her　son　should　be　named　as　successor；　and　Yuan　Shao　called　together　four　of　his　counselors　to　consider　this　matter。　These　four　happened　to　be　divided　in　their　sympathies：　Shen　Pei　and　Peng　Ji　being　in　favor　of　the　youngest　son；　and　Xin　Ping　and　Guo　Tu　supporters　of　the　eldest。
When　they　met　to　consult；　Yuan　Shao　said；　〃As　there　is　nought　but　war　and　trouble　outside　our　borders；　it　is　necessary　that　tranquillity　within　be　early　provided　for；　and　I　wish　to　appoint　my　successor。　My　eldest　son　is　hard　and　cruel；　my　second　is　mild　and　unfit。　The　third　has　the　outward　form　of　a　hero；　appreciates　the　wise；　and　is　courteous　to　his　subordinates。　I　wish　him　to　succeed；　but　I　wish　that　you　tell　me　your　opinions。〃
Guo　Tu　said；　〃Yuan　Tan　is　your　first　born；　and　he　is　in　a　position　of　authority　beyond　your　control。　If　you　pass　over　the　eldest　in　favor　of　the　youngest；　you　sow　the　seeds　of　turbulence。　The　prestige　of　the　army　has　been　somewhat　lowered　and　enemies　are　on　our　border。　Should　you　add　to　our　weakness　by　making　strife　between　father　and　son；　elder　and　younger　brothers？　Rather　consider　how　the　enemy　may　be　repulsed　and　turn　to　the　question　of　the　heirship　later。〃
Then　the　natural　hesitation　of　Yuan　Shao　asserted　itself；　and　he　could　not　make　up　his　mind。　Soon