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Then　the　natural　hesitation　of　Yuan　Shao　asserted　itself；　and　he　could　not　make　up　his　mind。　Soon　came　news　that　his　sons　Yuan　Tan　was　ing　from　Qingzhou　with　sixty　thousand　troops；　Yuan　Xi　ing　from　Youzhou　with　fifty　thousand　troops；　and　his　nephew　Gao　Gan　ing　from　Bingzhou　with　fifty　thousand　troops　to　help　him；　and　he　turned　his　attention　to　preparations　for　fighting　Cao　Cao。
When　Cao　Cao　drew　up　his　victorious　army　on　the　banks　of　Yellow　River；　the　aged　natives　brought　an　offering　of　food　and　sauce　to　bid　him　wele。　Their　venerable　and　hoary　appearances　led　Cao　Cao　to　treat　them　with　the　highest　respect。
He　invited　them　to　be　seated　and　said　to　them；　〃Venerable　Sirs；　what　may　be　your　age？〃
〃We　are　nearly　a　hundred；〃　replied　the　old　villagers。
〃I　should　be　very　sorry　if　my　army　had　disturbed　your　village；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
One　of　them　said；　〃In　the　days　of　the　Emperor　Huan　a　yellow　star　was　seen　over　by　way　of　the　ancient　states　of　Chu　and　Song　in　the　southwest。　Yin　Kui　of　Liaodong；　who　was　learned　in　astrology；　happened　to　be　passing　the　night　here；　and　he　told　us　that　the　star　foretold　the　arrival　in　these　parts；　fifty　years　hence；　of　a　true　and　honest　man　here　in　the　Yellow　River。　Lo！　That　is　exactly　fifty　years　ago。　Now　Yuan　Shao　is　very　hard　on　the　people　and　they　hate　him。　You；　Sir；　having　raised　this　army　in　the　cause　of　humanity　and　righteousness；　out　of　pity　for　the　people　and　to　punish　crimes；　and　having　destroyed　the　hordes　of　Yuan　Shao　at　Guandu；　just　fulfill　the　prophecy　of　Yin　Kui。　The　millions　of　the　land　may　look　now　for　tranquillity。〃
〃How　dare　I　presume　that　I　am　he？〃　said　Cao　Cao　with　a　smile。
Wine　was　served　and　refreshments　brought　in；　and　the　old　gentlemen　was　sent　away　with　presents　of　silk　stuffs。　And　an　order　was　issued　to　the　army　that　if　anyone　killed　so　much　as　a　fowl　or　a　dog　belonging　to　the　villagers；　he　should　be　punished　as　for　murder。　And　the　soldiers　obeyed　with　fear　and　trembling　while　Cao　Cao　rejoiced　in　his　heart。
It　was　told　Cao　Cao　that　the　total　army　from　the　four　regions　under　the　Yuan　family　amounted　to　two　hundred　thirty　thousand　soldiers　and　they　were　camped　at　Cangting。　Cao　Cao　then　advanced　nearer　to　them　and　made　a　strong　camp。
Next　day　the　two　armies　were　arrayed　over　against　each　other。　On　one　side　Cao　Cao　rode　to　the　front　surrounded　by　his　manders；　and　on　the　other　appeared　Yuan　Shao　supported　by　his　three　sons；　his　nephew；　and　his　leaders。
Cao　Cao　spoke　first；　〃Yuan　Shao；　your　schemes　are　poor；　your　strength　is　exhausted；　why　still　refuse　to　think　of　surrender？　Are　you　waiting　till　the　sword　shall　be　upon　your　neck？　Then　it　will　be　too　late。〃
Yuan　Shao　turned　to　those　about　him；　saying；　〃Who　dares　go　out？〃
His　son　Yuan　Shang　was　anxious　to　exhibit　his　prowess　in　the　presence　of　his　father；　so　he　flourished　his　pair　of　swords　and　rode　forth。
Cao　Cao　pointed　him　out　to　his　officers　and　asked；　〃Anyone　knows　him？〃
〃He　is　the　youngest　son　of　Yuan　Shao；〃　was　the　reply。
Before　they　had　finished　speaking；　from　their　own　side　rode　out　Shi　Huan；　armed　with　a　spear。　The　two　champions　fought　a　little　while　and　suddenly　Yuan　Shang　whipped　up　his　horse；　made　a　feint　and　fled。　His　opponent　followed。　Yuan　Shang　took　his　bow；　fitted　an　arrow；　turned　in　his　saddle；　and　shot　at　Shi　Huan；　wounding　him　in　the　left　eye。　Shi　Huan　fell　from　the　saddle　and　died　on　the　spot。
Yuan　Shao　seeing　his　son　thus　get　the　better　of　his　opponent；　gave　the　signal　for　attack；　and　the　whole　army　thundered　forward。　The　onslaught　was　heavy；　but　presently　the　gongs　on　both　sides　sounded　the　retire　and　the　battle　ceased。
When　he　had　returned　to　camp；　Cao　Cao　took　counsel　to　find　a　plan　to　overe　Yuan　Shao。　Then　Cheng　Yu　proposed　the　plan　of　the　〃Ten　Ambushes〃　and　persuaded　Cao　Cao　to　retire　upon　the　river；　placing　troops　in　ambush　as　he　went。　Thus　would　Yuan　Shao　be　inveigled　into　pursuit　as　far　as　the　river；　when　Cao　Cao's　army　would　be　forced　to　make　a　desperate　stand　or　be　driven　into　the　water。
Cao　Cao　accepted　this　suggestion　and　told　off　ten　panies　of　five　thousand　soldiers　each　to　lie　in　ten　ambush　on　two　sides　of　the　road　of　retreat。　The　arrangement　of　the　ambushes　were　thus：　On　the　left；　first　pany　under　Xiahou　Dun；　second　pany；　Zhang　Liao；　third　pany；　Li　Dian；　fourth　pany；　Yue　Jing；　fifth　pany；　Xiahou　Yuan；　on　the　right；　first　pany　was　under　Cao　Hong；　second　pany；　Zhang　He；　third　pany；　Xu　Huang；　fourth　pany；　Yu　Jin；　fifth　pany；　Gao　Lan。　Xu　Chu　manded　the　advanced　front。
Next　day　the　ten　panies　started　first　and　placed　themselves　right　and　left　as　ordered。　In　the　night　Cao　Cao　ordered　the　advanced　front　to　feign　an　attack　on　the　camp；　which　roused　all　the　enemy　in　all　their　camps。　This　done；　Xu　Chu　retreated　and　Yuan　Shao's　army　came　in　pursuit。　The　roar　of　battle　went　on　without　cessation；　and　at　dawn　Cao　Cao's　army　rested　on　the　river　and　could　retreat　no　farther。
Then　Cao　Cao　shouted；　〃There　is　no　road　in　front；　so　all　must　fight　or　die。〃
The　retreating　army　turned　about　and　advanced　vigorously。　Xu　Chu　simply　flew　to　the　front；　smote　and　killed　ten　generals　and　threw　Yuan　Shao's　army　into　confusion。　They　tried　to　turn　and　march　back；　but　Cao　Cao　was　close　behind。　Then　the　drums　of　the　enemy　were　heard；　and　right　and　left　there　appeared　two　ambush　panies　of　Gao　Lan　and　Xiahou　Yuan。　Yuan　Shao　collected　about　him　his　three　sons　and　his　nephew；　and　they　were　enabled　to　cut　an　alley　out　and　flee。　Three　miles　further　on　they　fell　into　another　ambush　of　Yue　Jing　and　Yu　Jin；　and　here　many　troops　of　Yuan　Shao　were　lost　so　that　their　corpses　lay　over　the　countryside　and　the　blood　filled　the　water　courses。　Another　three　miles　and　they　met　the　third　pair　of　Li　Dian　and　Xu　Huang　barring　their　road。
Here　they　lost　heart　and　bolted　for　an　old　camp　of　their　own　that　was　near；　and　bade　their　men　prepare　a　meal。　But　just　as　the　food　was　ready　to　eat；　down　came　Zhang　Liao　and　Zhang　He　and　burst　into　the　camp。
Yuan　Shao　mounted　and　fled　as　far　as　Cangting；　when　he　was　tired　and　his　steed　spent。　But　there　was　no　rest；　for　Cao　Cao　came　in　close　pursuit。　It　seemed　now　a　race　for　life。　But　presently　Yuan　Shao　found　his　onward　course　again　blocked　by　Xiahou　Dun　and　Cao　Hong；　and　he　groaned　aloud。
〃If　we　do　not　make　most　desperate　efforts；　we　are　all　captives！〃　said　he。
And　they　plunged　forward。　His　second　son　Yuan　Xi　and　his　nephew　Gao　Gan　were　wounded　by　arrows；　and　most　of　his　soldiers　were　dead　or　had　disappeared。　He　gathered　his　sons　into　his　arms　and　wept　bitterly。　Then　he　fell　into　a　swoon。　He　was　picked　up；　but　his　mouth　was　full　of　blood　which　ran　forth　in　a　bright　scarlet　stream。
He　sighed；　saying；　〃Many　battles　have　I　fought；　and　little　did　I　think　to　be　driven　to　this。　Heaven　is　afflicting　me。　You　had　better　return　each　to　his　own　territory　and　swear　to　fight　this　Cao　Cao　to　the　end。〃
Then　Yuan　Shao　bade　Xin　Ping　and　Guo　Tu　as　quickly　as　possible　follow　Yuan　Tan　to　Qingzhou　and　prepare　to　give　battle　to　Cao　Cao　lest　he　should　invade。　Yuan　Xi　was　told　to　go　to　Youzhou　and　Gao　Gan　to　Bingzhou。
So　each　started　to　prepare　armies　and　horses　for　repulsing　Cao　Cao。　Yuan　Shao　with　his　youngest　son　Yuan　Shang　and　the　remnant　of　his　officers　went　away　to　Jizhou；　and　military　operations　were　suspended　for　a　time。
Meanwhile　Cao　Cao　was　distributing　rewards　to　his　army　for　the　late　victory；　and　his　spies　were　scouting　all　about　Jizhou。　He　soon　learned　that　Yuan　Shao　was　ill；　and　that　the　youngest　son　Yuan　Shang　and　Shen　Pei　were　in　mand　of　the　city；　while　his　brothers　and　cousin　had　returned　each　to　his　own。　Cao　Cao's　advisers　were　in　favor　of　a　speedy　attack。
But　he　objected；　saying；　〃Jizhou　is　large　and　well　supplied。　Shen　Pei　is　an　able　strategist。　And　it　behooves　me　to　be　careful。　I　would　rather　wait　till　the　autumn　when　the　crops　have　been　gathered　in　so　that　the　people　will　not　suffer。〃
While　the　attack　was　being　talked　over　there　came　letters　from　Xun　Yu：
〃Liu　Bei　was　strengthening　himself　at　Runan　with　the　force　of　Liu　Pi　and　Gong　Du　and；　when　he　heard　that　you　was　attacking　Jizhou；　he　said　he　would　take　the　opportunity　to　march　on　the　capital。　Wherefore　you；　Sir；　should　hasten　homeward　to　defend　Xuchang。〃
This　news　disconcerted　Cao　Cao。　He　left　Cao　Hong　in　mand　on　the　river　bank；　with　orders　to　maintain　the　appearance　of　strength　there；　while　he　led　the　main　part　of　his　army　to　meet　the　threatened　attack　from　Runan。
Meanwhile　Liu　Bei；　his　brothers；　and　the　leaders；　having　gone　forth　with　the　intention　of　attacking　the　capital；　had　reached　a　point　near　the　Rang　Mountains　when　Cao　Cao　came　upon　them。　So　Liu　Bei　camped　by　the　hills　and　divided　his　army　into　three；　sending　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　with　ten　thousand　troops　each　to　entrench　themselves　southeast　and　southwest　respectively　of　the　main　body；　which　he　and　Zhao　Yun　manded。
When　Cao　Cao　came　near；　Liu　Bei　beat　his　drums　and　went　out　to　where　Cao　Cao　had　already　arrayed　his　army。
Cao　Cao　called　Liu　Bei　to　a　parley；　and　when　the　latter　appeared　under　his　great　standard；　Cao　Cao　pointed　his　whip　at　him　and　railed；　saying；　〃I　treated　you　as　a　guest　of　the　highest　consideration。　Why　then　do　you　turn　your　back　on　righteousness　and　forget　kindness？〃
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃Under　the　name　of　Prime　Minister　you　are　really　a　rebel。　I　am　a　direct　descendant　of　the　family；　and　I　have　a　secret　decree　from　the　Throne　to　take　such　offenders　as　you。〃
As　he　said　these　words；　he　produced　and　recited　the　decree　which　is　known　as　the　〃Girdle　Mandate。〃
Cao　Cao　grew　very　angry　and　ordered　Xu　Chu　to　go　out　to　battle。　As　Liu　Bei's　champion；　out　rode　Zhao　Yun　with　spear　ready　to　thrust。　The　two　warriors　exchanged　thirty　bouts　without　advantage　to　either。　Then　there　arose　an　earth…rending　shout　and　up　came　the　two　brothers；　Guan　Yu　from　the　southeast　and　Zhang　Fei　from　the　southwest。　The　three　armies　then　began　a　great　attack；　which　proved　too　much　for　Cao　Cao's　troops；　fatigued　by　a　long　march；　and　they　were　worsted　and　fled。　Liu　Bei　having　scored　this　victory　returned　to　camp。
Next　day　he　sent　out　Zhao　Yun　again　to　challenge　the　enemy；　but　it　was　not　accepted　and　Cao　Cao's　army　remained　ten　days　without　movement。　Then　Zhang　Fei　offered　a　challenge　which　also　was　not　accepted。　And　Liu　Bei　began　to　feel　anxious。
Then　unexpectedly　came　news　that　the　enemy　had　stopped　a　train　of　supplies　brought　by　Gong　Du；　and　at　once　Zhang　Fei　went　to　the　rescue。　Worse　still　was　the　news　that　followed；　that　an　army　led　by　Xiahou　Dun　had　got　in　behind　to　attack　Runan。
Quite　dismayed；　Liu　Bei　said；　〃If　this　be　true；　I　have　enemies　in　front　and　rear　and　have　no　place　to　go。〃
He　then　sent　Guan　Yu　to　try　to　recover　the　city　and　thus　both　his　brothers　were　absent　from　his　side。　One　day　later　a　horseman　rode　up　to　say　that　Runan　had　fallen；　its　defender　Liu　Pi　had　fled；　and　Guan　Yu　was　surrounded。　To　make　the　matters　worse；　the　news　came　that　Zhang　Fei；　who　had　gone　to　rescue　Gong　Du；　was　in　like　case。
Liu　Bei　tried　to　withdraw　his　troops；　fearing　all　the　time　an　attack　from　Cao　Cao。　Suddenly　the　sentinels　came　in；　saying：　〃Xu　Chu　is　at　the　camp　gate　offering　a　challenge。〃
Liu　Bei　did　not　allow　his　army　to　go　out。　They　waited　till　dawn；　and　then　Liu　Bei　bade　the　soldiers　get　a　good　meal　and　be　ready　to　start。　When　ready　the　foot　went　out　first；　the　horsemen　next；　leaving　a　few　troops　in　the　camp　to　beat　the　watches　and　maintain　an　appearance　of　occupation。
After　traveling　some　miles；　they　passed　some　mounds。　Suddenly　torches　blazed　out；　and　on　the　summit　stood　one　who　shouted；　〃Do　not　let　Liu　Bei　run　away！　I；　the　Prime　Minister；　am　here　awaiting　you！〃
Liu　Bei　dashed　along　the　first　clear　road　he　saw。
Zhao　Yun　said；　〃Fear　not；　my　lord；　only　follow　me！〃
And　setting　his　spear；　Zhao　Yun　galloped　in　front　opening　an　alley　as　he　went。　Liu　Bei　gripped　his　double　swords　and　followed　close。　As　they　were　winning　through；　Xu　Chu　came　in　pursuit　and　engaged　Zhao　Yun；　and　two　other　panies　led　by　Yu　Jin　and　Li　Dian　bore　down　as　well。　Seeing　the　situation　so　desperate；　Liu　Bei　plunged　into　the　wilds　and　fled。　Gradually　the　sounds　of　battle　became　fainter　and　died　away　while　he　went　deeper　and　deeper　into　the　hills；　a　single　horseman　fleeing　for　his　life。　He　kept　on　his　way　till　daybreak；　when　a　pany　suddenly　appeared　beside　the　road。　Liu　Bei　saw　these　men　with　terror　at　first；　but　was　presently　relieved　to　find　they　wer