快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

Yuan　Tan　started　from　Pingyuan　with　a　force　in　pursuit。　He　had　proceeded　only　a　dozen　miles　when　he　heard　a　bomb　and　two　bodies　of　troops　came　out　in　front　of　him　and　checked　his　progress。　Their　leaders　were　Lu　Xiang　and　Lu　Kuang。
Yuan　Tan　reined　in　and　addressed　them；　saying；　〃While　my　father　lived；　I　never　treated　you　badly。　Why　do　you　support　my　brother　and　try　to　injure　me？〃
The　two　generals　had　no　reply　to　make；　but　they　dismounted　and　bowed　before　him　yielding　submission。
Yuan　Tan　said；　〃Do　not　surrender　to　me　but　to　the　Prime　Minister。〃
And　he　led　them　back　to　camp；　where　he　waited　the　arrival　of　Cao　Cao　and　then　presented　the　pair。　Cao　Cao　received　them　well。　He　promised　his　daughter　to　Yuan　Tan　to　wife；　and　he　appointed　the　two　brothers　as　advisers。
When　Yuan　Tan　asked　Cao　Cao　to　attack　Jizhou；　the　reply　was：　〃Supplies　are　short　and　difficult　to　transport。　I　must　turn　the　waters　of　River　Ji　into　the　White　River　whereby　to　convey　my　grain　and　afterwards　I　can　advance。〃
Ordering　Yuan　Tan　to　remain　in　Pingyuan；　Cao　Cao　retired　into　camp　at　Liyang。　The　two　brothers　Lu　Xiang　and　Lu　Kuang；　who　were　renegades　from　Yuan　Shang；　were　now　raised　to　noble　rank　and　followed　the　army　as　supernumeraries。
Guo　Tu　noted　this　advancement　and　said　to　Yuan　Tan；　〃He　has　promised　you　a　daughter　to　wife。　I　fear　that　bodes　no　good。　Now　he　has　given　titles　of　nobility　to　the　two　Lus　and　taken　them　with　him。　This　is　a　bait　for　the　northern　people；　and　at　the　same　time　he　intends　evil　toward　us。　You；　my　lord；　should　have　two　generals'　seals　engraved　and　send　them　secretly　to　the　brothers　so　that　you　may　have　friends　at　court　ready　for　the　day　when　Cao　Cao　shall　have　broken　your　brother's　power；　and　we　can　begin　to　work　against　him。〃
The　seals　were　engraved　and　sent。
As　soon　as　the　Lu　brothers　received　them；　they　informed　Cao　Cao；　who　smiled；　saying；　〃He　wants　your　support　so　he　sends　you　seals　as　officers。　I　will　consider　it　as　soon　as　Yuan　Shang　has　been　dealt　with。　In　the　meantime　you　may　accept　the　seals　till　I　shall　decide　what　to　do。〃
Thenceforward　Cao　Cao　planned　Yuan　Tan's　doom。
Shen　Pei　and　his　master　also　discussed　the　current　situation。　Yuan　Shang　said；　〃Cao　Cao　is　getting　grain　into　the　White　River；　which　means　an　attack　on　Jizhou。　What　is　to　be　done？〃
Shen　Pei　replied；　〃Send　letters　to　Yin　Kai；　mander　of　Wuan；　bidding　him　camp　at　Maocheng　to　secure　the　road　to　Shangdang；　and　direct　Ju　Gu；　son　of　Ju　Shou；　to　maintain　Handan　as　a　distant　auxiliary。　Then　you　may　advance　on　Pingyuan　and　attack　Cao　Cao。〃
The　plan　seemed　good。　Yuan　Shang　left　Shen　Pei　and　Chen　Lin　in　charge　of　Yejun；　appointed　two　manders　Ma　Yan　and　Zhang　Zi　as　Van　Leaders；　and　set　out　hastily　for　Pingyuan。
When　Yuan　Tan　heard　of　the　approach　of　his　brother's　army；　he　sent　urgent　messages　to　Cao　Cao；　who　said　to　himself；　〃I　am　going　to　get　Jizhou　this　time。〃
Just　at　this　time　it　happened　that　Xun　You　came　down　from　the　capital。　When　he　heard　that　Yuan　Shang　was　attacking　his　brother　Yuan　Tan；　he　sought　Cao　Cao　and　said；　〃You；　Sir；　sit　here　on　guard。　Are　you　waiting　till　Heaven's　thunder　shall　strike　the　two　Yuans？〃
〃I　have　thought　it　all　out；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
Then　he　ordered　Cao　Hong　to　go　and　fight　against　Yejun；　while　he　led　another　army　against　Yin　Kai　in　Maocheng。　Yin　Kai　could　make　no　adequate　defense　and　was　killed　by　Xu　Chu。　His　soldiers　ran　away　and　presently　joined　Cao　Cao's　army。　Next　Cao　Cao　led　the　army　to　Handan；　and　Ju　Gu　came　out　to　fight　him。　Zhang　Liao　advanced　to　fight　with　Ju　Gu；　and　after　the　third　encounter　Ju　Gu　was　defeated　and　fled。　Zhang　Liao　went　after　him；　and　when　their　two　horses　were　not　far　apart；　Zhang　Liao　took　his　bow　and　shot。　The　fleeing　warrior　fell　as　the　bowstring　twanged。　Cao　Cao　pleted　the　rout；　and　Ju　Gu's　force　was　broken　up。
Now　Cao　Cao　led　his　armies　to　an　attack　on　Yejun。　Cao　Hong　had　arrived　before；　and　a　regular　siege　began。　The　army　enpassed　the　city　and　began　by　throwing　up　great　mounds。　They　also　tunneled　subterranean　ways。
Within　the　city　Shen　Pei　turned　his　whole　care　to　the　defense　and　issued　the　severest　mands。　The　mander　of　the　East　Gate；　Feng　Li；　got　intoxicated　and　failed　to　keep　his　watch　for　which　he　was　severely　punished。　Feng　Li　resented　this；　sneaked　out　of　the　city；　went　over　to　the　besiegers；　and　told　them　how　the　place　could　be　attacked。
〃The　earth　within　the　Pearly　Gate　is　solid　enough　to　be　tunneled；　and　entrance　can　be　effected　there；〃　said　the　traitor。
So　Feng　Li　was　sent　with　three　hundred　men　to　carry　out　his　plan　under　cover　of　darkness。
After　Feng　Li　had　deserted　to　the　enemy；　Shen　Pei　went　every　night　to　the　wall　to　inspect　the　soldiers　on　duty。　The　night　of　the　sapping　he　went　there　as　usual　and　saw　that　there　were　no　lights　outside　the　city　and　all　was　perfectly　quiet。
So　he　said　to　himself；　〃Feng　Li　is　certain　to　try　to　e　into　the　city　by　an　underground　road。〃
Whereupon　he　ordered　his　troops　to　bring　up　stones　and　pile　them　on　the　cover　of　the　tunnel　opening。　The　opening　was　stopped　up　and　the　attacking　party　perished　in　the　tunnel　they　had　excavated。
Cao　Cao　having　failed　in　this　attempt　abandoned　the　scheme　of　underground　attack。　He　drew　off　the　army　to　a　place　above　the　River　Huan　to　await　till　Yuan　Shang　should　return　to　relieve　the　city。
Yuan　Shang　heard　of　the　defeat　of　Yin　Kai　and　Ju　Gu；　and　the　siege　of　his　own　city；　and　bethought　himself　of　relieving　it。
One　of　his　manders；　Ma　Yan；　said；　〃The　high　road　will　surely　be　ambushed。　We　must　find　some　other　way。　We　can　take　a　by…road　from　the　West　Hills　and　get　through　by　River　Fu；　whence　we　can　fall　upon　Cao　Cao's　camp。〃
The　plan　was　acceptable　and　Yuan　Shang　started　off　with　the　main　body；　Ma　Yan　and　Zhang　Zi　being　rear　guard。
Cao　Cao's　spies　soon　found　out　this　move；　and　when　they　reported　it；　he　said；　〃If　Yuan　Shang　es　by　the　high　road；　I　shall　have　to　keep　out　of　the　way；　but　if　by　the　West　Hills'　by…road；　I　can　settle　him　in　one　battle。　And　I　think　he　will　show　a　blaze　as　a　signal　to　the　besieged　that　they　may　make　a　sortie。　I　shall　prepare　to　attack　both。〃
So　Cao　Cao　made　his　preparations。　Now　Yuan　Shang　went　out　by　River　Fu　east　toward　Yangping；　and　near　this　he　camped。　Thence　to　Yejun　was　five　miles。　River　Fu　ran　beside　the　camp。　He　ordered　his　soldiers　to　collect　firewood　and　grass　ready　for　the　blaze　he　intended　to　make　at　night　as　his　signal。　He　also　sent　Li　Mu；　a　civil　officer；　disguised　as　an　officer　of　Cao　Cao's　army；　to　inform　Shen　Pei　of　his　intentions。
Li　Mu　reached　the　city　wall　safely　and　called　out　to　the　guards　to　open。　Shen　Pei　recognized　his　voice　and　let　him　in。　Thus　Shen　Pei　knew　of　the　arrangements　for　his　relief；　and　it　was　agreed　that　a　blaze　should　be　raised　within　the　city　so　that　the　sortie　could　be　simultaneous　with　Yuan　Shang's　attack。　Orders　were　given　to　collect　inflammables。
Then　said　Li　Mu；　〃As　your　food　supply　is　short；　it　would　be　well　for　the　old　people；　the　feeble　soldiers　and　the　women　to　surrender。　This　will　e　upon　them　as　a　surprise；　and　we　will　send　the　soldiers　out　behind　them。〃
Shen　Pei　promised　to　do　all　this；　and　next　day　they　hoisted　on　the　wall　a　white　flag　with　the　words　The　populace　of　Jizhou　surrender！　on　it。
〃Ho　ho！　This　means　no　food；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃They　are　sending　away　the　non…batants　to　escape　feeding　them。　And　the　soldiers　will　follow　behind　them。〃
Cao　Cao　bade　Zhang　Liao　and　Xu　Huang　laid　an　ambush　of　three　thousand　troops　on　both　sides　while　he　went　near　the　wall　in　full　state。　Presently　the　gates　were　opened　and　out　came　the　people　supporting　their　aged　folks　and　leading　their　little　ones　by　the　hand。　Each　carried　a　white　flag。　As　soon　as　the　people　had　passed　the　gate；　the　soldiers　followed　with　a　rush。
Then　Cao　Cao　showed　a　red　flag；　and　the　ambushing　soldiers　led　by　Zhang　Liao　and　Xu　Huang　fell　upon　the　sortie。　The　troops　tried　to　return　and　Cao　Cao's　force　made　a　direct　attack。　The　chase　continued　to　the　drawbridge；　but　there　Cao　Cao's　force　met　with　a　tremendous　shower　of　arrows　and　crossbow　bolts　which　checked　the　advance。　Cao　Cao's　helmet　was　struck　and　the　crest　carried　away。　His　leaders　came　to　pull　him　back；　and　the　army　retired。
As　soon　as　Cao　Cao　had　changed　his　dress　and　mounted　a　fresh　horse；　he　set　out　at　the　head　of　the　army　to　attack　Yuan　Shang's　camp。
Yuan　Shang　led　the　defense。　The　attack　came　simultaneously　from　many　directions。　The　defenders　were　quite　disorganized　and　presently　defeated。　Yuan　Shang　led　his　troops　back　by　the　West　Hills　and　made　a　camp　under　their　shelter。　Thence　he　sent　messengers　to　urge　Ma　Yan　and　Zhang　Zi　to　bring　up　the　supports。　He　did　not　know　that　Cao　Cao　had　sent　Lu　Xiang　and　Lu　Kuang　to　persuade　these　two　into　surrender　and　that　they　had　already　passed　under　Cao　Cao's　banner；　and　he　had　conferred　upon　them　the　title　of　lordship。
Just　before　going　to　attack　the　West　Hills；　Cao　Cao　sent　Lu　Xiang；　Lu　Kuang；　Ma　Yan；　and　Zhang　Zi　to　seize　the　source　of　Yuan　Shang's　supplies。
Yuan　Shang　had　realized　he　could　not　hold　the　hills；　so　he　went　by　night　to　Lankou。　Before　he　could　get　camped；　he　saw　flaring　lights　springing　up　all　around　him　and　soon　an　attack　began。　He　was　taken　aback　and　had　to　oppose　the　enemy　with　his　men　half　armed；　his　steeds　unsaddled。　His　army　suffered；　and　he　had　to　retreat　another　fifteen　miles。　By　that　time　his　force　was　too　enfeebled　to　show　any　resistance；　and　as　no　other　course　was　possible；　he　sent　the　Imperial　Protector　of　Yuzhou；　Yin　Ku；　to　Cao　Cao's　camp　and　ask　that　he　might　surrender。
Cao　Cao　feigned　to　consent；　but　that　night　he　sent　Zhang　Liao　and　Xu　Huang　to　raid　Yuan　Shang's　camp。　Then　it　became　flight；　abandoning　everything；　seals；　emblems　of　office；　and　even　personal　clothing。　Yuan　Shang　made　for　the　Zhongshan　Mountains。
Then　Cao　Cao　came　to　attack　Jizhou　City；　and　to　help　out　this　Xun　You　suggested　drowning　the　city　by　turning　the　course　of　the　River　Zhang。　Cao　Cao　adopted　the　suggestion　and　at　once　sent　a　small　number　of　men　to　dig　a　channel　to　lead　the　water　to　the　city。　All　told；　it　was　seventeen　miles。
Shen　Pei　saw　the　diggers　from　the　city　wall　and　noticed　that　they　made　only　a　shallow　channel。
He　chuckled；　saying　to　himself；　〃What　is　the　use　of　such　a　channel　to　drown　out　the　city　from　a　deep　river？〃
So　he　made　no　preparations　to　keep　out　the　water。
But　as　soon　as　night　came　on；　Cao　Cao　increased　his　army　of　diggers　tenfold　and　by　daylight　the　channel　was　deepened　to　twenty　spans　and　the　water　was　flowing　in　a　great　stream　into　the　city　where　it　already　stood　some　spans　deep。　So　this　misfortune　was　added　to　the　lack　of　food。
Xin　Pi　now　displayed　the　captured　seal　and　garments　of　Yuan　Shang　hung　out　on　spears；　to　the　great　shame　of　their　late　owner；　and　called　upon　the　people　of　the　city　to　surrender。　This　angered　Shen　Pei；　who　avenged　the　insult　by　putting　to　death　on　the　city　wall　the　whole　of　the　Xin　family　who　were　within　the　city。　There　were　eighty　of　them；　and　their　severed　heads　were　cast　down　from　the　walls。　Xin　Pi　wept　exceedingly。
Shen　Pei's　nephew　Shen　Rong；　one　of　the　gate　wardens；　was　a　dear　friend　of　Xin　Pi；　and　the　murder　of　Xin　Pi's　family　greatly　distressed　him。　He　wrote　a　secret　letter　offering　to　betray　the　city　and　tied　it　to　an　arrow；　which　he　shot　out　among　the　besiegers。　The　soldiers　found　it；　gave　it　to　Xin　Pi　who　took　it　to　his　chief。
Cao　Cao　issued　an　order：　〃The　family　of　the　Yuans　should　be　spared　when　the　city　should　be　taken　and　that　no　one　who　surrendered　should　be　put　to　death。〃
The　next　day　the　soldiers　entered　by　the　west　gate；　opened　for　them　by　Shen　Rong。　Xin　Pi　was　the　first　to　prance　in　on　horseback　and　the　army　followed。
When　Shen　Pei；　who　was　on　the　southeast　of　the　city；　saw　the　enemy　within　the　gates；　he　placed　himself　at　the　head　of　some　horsemen　and　dashed　toward　them。　He　was　met　and　captured　by　Xu　Huang　who　bound　him　and　led　him　outside　the　city。
On　the　road　they　met　Xin　Pi；　who　ground　his　teeth　with　rage　at　the　murderer　of　his　relatives　and　then　struck　the　prisoner　over　the　head　with　his　whip；　crying；　〃Murder！　Blood　drinker！　You　will　meet　your　death！〃
Shen　Pei　retorted；　〃Traitor！　Seller　of　the　city！　I　am　very　sorry　I　was　not　to　have　slain　you　before。〃
When　the　captive　was　taken　into　Cao　Cao's　presence；　Cao　Cao　said；　〃Do　you　know　who　opened　the　gate　to　let　me　in？〃
〃No；　I　know　not。〃
〃It　was　your　nephew　Shen　Rong　who　gave　up　t