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〃No；　I　know　not。〃
〃It　was　your　nephew　Shen　Rong　who　gave　up　the　gate；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃He　was　always　unprincipled；　and　it　has　e　to　this！〃　said　Shen　Pei。
〃The　other　day　when　I　approached　the　city；　why　did　you　shoot　so　hard　at　me？〃
〃I　am　sorry　we　shot　too　little。〃
〃As　a　faithful　adherent　of　the　Yuans；　you　could　do　no　otherwise。　Now　will　you　e　over　to　me？〃
〃Never；　I　will　never　surrender。〃
Xin　Pi　threw　himself　on　the　ground　with　lamentations；　saying；　〃Eighty　of　my　people　murdered　by　this　ruffian。　I　pray　you　slay　him；　O　Prime　Minister！〃
〃Alive；　I　have　served　the　Yuans；〃　said　Shen　Pei；　〃dead；　I　will　be　their　ghost！　I　am　no　flattering　time…server　as　you　are。　Kill　me！〃
Cao　Cao　gave　the　order。　They　led　him　away　to　put　him　to　death。
On　the　execution　ground　he　said　to　the　executioners；　〃My　lord　is　in　the　north；　I　pray　you　not　to　make　me　face　the　south。〃
So　Shen　Pei　knelt　facing　the　north　and　extended　his　neck　for　the　fatal　stroke。

Who　of　all　the　official　throng
In　the　North　was　true　like　Shen　Pei？
Sad　his　fate！　He　served　a　fool；
But　faithful；　as　the　ancient　humans。
Straight　and　true　was　every　word；
Never　from　the　road　he　swerved。
Faithful　unto　death；　he　died
Gazing　toward　the　lord　he'd　served。

Thus　died　Shen　Pei　and　from　respect　for　his　character　Cao　Cao　ordered　that　he　be　buried　honorably　on　the　north　of　the　city。
The　Prime　Minister　then　entered　the　city　of　Yejun。　As　he　was　starting；　he　saw　the　executioners　hurrying　forward　a　prisoner　who　proved　to　be　Chen　Lin。
〃You　wrote　that　manifesto　for　Yuan　Shao。　If　you　had　only　directed　your　diatribe　against　me；　it　would　not　have　mattered。　But　why　did　you　shame　my　forefathers？〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃When　the　arrow　is　on　the　string；　it　must　fly；〃　replied　Chen　Lin。
Those　about　Cao　Cao　urged　him　to　put　Chen　Lin　to　death；　but　he　was　spared　on　account　of　his　genius　and　given　a　civil　post。
Now　Cao　Cao's　eldest　son　was　named　Cao　Pi。　At　the　taking　of　the　cities　he　was　eighteen　years　of　age。　When　he　was　born　a　dark　purplish　halo　hung　over　the　house　for　a　whole　day。　One　who　understood　the　meaning　of　such　manifestations　had　secretly　told　Cao　Cao　that　the　halo　belonged　to　the　imperial　class　and　portended　honors　which　could　not　be　put　into　words。
At　eight　the　lad　could　pose　very　skillfully；　and　he　was　well　read　in　ancient　history。　Now　he　was　an　adept　at　all　military　arts　and　very　fond　of　fencing。　He　had　gone　with　his　father　on　the　expedition　to　Jizhou。　When　Yejun　had　fallen；　he　led　his　escort　in　the　direction　of　the　Yuan　family　dwelling；　and　when　he　reached　it；　he　strode　in；　sword　in　hand。　When　some　mander　would　have　stayed　him；　saying　that　by　order　of　the　Prime　Minister　no　one　was　to　enter　the　house；　Cao　Pi　bade　them　begone。　The　guards　fell　back　and　he　made　his　way　into　the　private　rooms；　where　he　saw　two　women　weeping　in　each　other's　arms。　He　went　forward　to　slay　them。

Four　generations　of　honors；　gone　like　a　dream；
Fate　follows　on　ever　surely；　though　slow　she　seems。

The　fate　of　the　two　women　will　be　told　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　33　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　33
　Chapter　33
A　Gallant　Warrior；　Cao　Pi　Marries　Lady　Zhen；
An　Expiring　Star；　Guo　Jia　Settles　Liaodong。
As　was　said；　Cao　Pi；　having　made　his　way　into　the　Yuans'　palace；　saw　two　women　there　whom　he　was　about　to　kill。　Suddenly　a　red　light　shone　in　his　eyes；　and　he　paused。
Lowering　his　sword　he　said；　〃Who　are　you？〃
〃Thy　handmaid　is　the　widow　of　the　late　Yuan　Shao；　Lady　Liu；〃　said　the　elder　of　the　two；　〃and　this　is　the　wife　of　Yuan　Xi；　his　second　son。　She　was　of　the　Zhen　family。　When　Yuan　Xi　was　sent　to　mand　in　Youzhou；　her　family　objected　to　her　going　so　far　from　home　and　she　stayed　behind。〃

＇e＇　Lady　Zhen；　a　famous　lady　in　the　North　of　Yellow　River　（Hebei）；　wife　to　Yuan　Xi；　son　of　Yuan　Shao。　When　Yuan　Shao　was　defeated　by　Cao　Cao；　both　Cao　Cao's　sons　Cao　Pi　and　Cao　Zhi　claimed　her；　not　to　mention　Cao　Cao　himself。　Cao　Pi　eventually　won　her　hand；　wedded　her；　and　made　her　an　empress。　She　later　became　the　Goddess　of　River　Luo；　according　to　folktales。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Xu　You　devised　the　plans　to　destroy　the　Wuchao　granary　of　Yuan　Shao。
Cao　Pi　drew　Lady　Zhen　toward　him　and　looked　at　her　closely。　Her　hair　hung　disordered；　her　face　was　dusty　and　tear…stained；　but　when；　with　the　sleeve　of　his　inner　garment；　he　had　wiped　sway　these　disfigurements；　he　saw　a　woman　of　exquisite　loveliness；　with　a　plexion　clear　as　jade　touched　with　the　tender　bloom　of　a　flower　petal；　a　woman　indeed　beautiful　enough　to　ruin　a　kingdom*。
〃I　am　the　son　of　the　Prime　Minister；〃　said　he　turning　to　the　elder　woman。　〃I　will　guarantee　your　safety；　so　you　need　fear　nothing。〃
He　then　put　by　his　sword　and　sat　down　at　the　upper　end　of　the　room。
As　Cao　Cao　was　entering　the　gate　of　the　conquered　city　of　Yejun；　Xu　You　rode　up　very　quickly；　passed　him；　and　pointed　with　his　whip　at　the　gate；　saying；　〃Sir　Prime　Minister；　you　would　not　have　been　here　but　for　my　plans！*〃
Cao　Cao　laughed；　but　his　generals　were　very　annoyed。
When　Cao　Cao　reached　the　residence；　he　stopped　at　the　gate　and　asked；　〃Has　anyone　had　gone　in？〃
The　guard　at　the　gate　said；　〃Your　son　is　within。〃
Cao　Cao　called　him　out　and　chided　him；　but　the　wife　of　the　late　Imperial　Protector　interposed；　saying；　〃But　not　for　your　son　we　had　not　been　saved。　I　desire　to　present　to　you　a　lady；　of　the　Zhen　family；　as　a　handmaid　to　your　son。〃
Cao　Cao　bade　them　bring　out　the　girl　and　she　bowed　before　him。　After　looking　at　her　intently；　he　said；　〃Just　the　wife　for　him！〃
And　he　told　Cao　Pi　to　take　Lady　Zhen　to　wife。
After　the　conquest　of　Jizhou　had　been　made　quite　sure；　Cao　Cao　made　a　ceremonial　visit　to　the　Yuan　family　cemetery；　where　he　sacrificed　at　the　tomb　of　his　late　rival；　bowed　his　head；　and　lamented　bitterly。

＇e＇　Yan　and　Dai　were　two　ancient　states　in　the　north　during　the　Warring　States　period。　。。。。。
Turning　to　his　generals；　he　said；　〃Not　long　ago　when　Yuan　Shao　and　I　worked　together　in　military　matters；　he　asked　me；　saying；　'If　this　disturbance　does　not　cease；　what　fronts　should　be　held？'　And　I　replied　asking　him　what　he　thought。　He　said；　'In　the　North　of　Yellow　River；　to　the　south　I　would　hold　the　Yellow　River；　on　the　north；　guard　against　Yan　and　Dai*　and　absorb　the　hordes　from　the　Gobi　Desert。　Thence　southward　I　would　try　for　the　empire；　and　do　you　not　think　I　might　succeed？'　I　replied　saying；　'I　depend　upon　the　wisdom　and　force　of　the　world　directed　by　scholars；　then　every　thing　would　be　possible。'　These　words　seem　as　if　spoken　only　yesterday；　and　now　he　is　gone。　Thinking　over　it　I　cannot　refrain　from　tears。〃
His　officers　were　deeply　affected。　Cao　Cao　treated　the　widow　generously；　giving　her　gold　and　silks　and　food　to　her　content。
He　also　issued　a　further　order　that　the　taxes　in　the　North　of　Yellow　River　would　be　remitted　in　consideration　of　the　sufferings　of　the　people　during　the　warlike　operations。　He　sent　up　a　memorial　to　the　Throne　and　formally　became　Imperial　Protector　of　Jizhou。
One　day　Xu　Chu；　riding　in　at　the　east　gate；　met　Xu　You；　who　called　out　to　him；　〃Would　you　fellows　be　riding　through　here　if　it　had　not　been　for　me？〃
Xu　Chu　replied；　〃We　fellows；　those　who　survive　and　those　who　perished；　risked　our　lives　in　bloody　battle　to　get　this　city；　so　do　not　brag　of　your　deeds！〃
〃You　are　a　lot　of　blockheads；　not　worth　talking　about；〃　said　Xu　You。
Xu　Chu　in　his　anger　drew　his　sword　and　ran　Xu　You　through。　Then　he　took　Xu　You's　head　and　went　to　tell　Cao　Cao　the　reason。
Said　Cao　Cao；　〃He　and　I　were　old　friends；　and　we　could　joke　together。　Why　did　you　kill　him？〃
Cao　Cao　blamed　Xu　Chu　very　severely　and　gave　orders　that　Xu　You　should　be　buried　honorably。
Cao　Cao　inquired　for　any　wise　and　reputable　people　who　were　known　to　be　living　in　the　region　and　was　told：　〃mander　Cui　Yan；　of　Dongwu；　who　had　on　many　occasions　given　valuable　advice　to　Yuan　Shao。　As　the　advice　was　not　followed；　he　had　pleaded　indisposition　and　remained　at　home。〃
Cao　Cao　sent　for　this　man；　gave　him　an　office　and　said　to　him；　〃According　to　the　former　registers；　there　are　three　hundred　thousand　households　in　the　region　so　that　one　may　well　call　it　a　major　region。〃
Cui　Yan　replied；　〃The　empire　is　rent；　and　the　country　is　torn；　the　Yuan　brothers　are　at　war；　and　the　people　have　been　stripped　naked。　Yet；　Sir；　you　do　not　hasten　to　inquire　after　local　conditions　and　how　to　rescue　the　people　from　misery；　but　first　pute　the　possibilities　of　taxation。　Can　you　expect　to　gain　the　support　of　our　people　by　such　means？〃
Cao　Cao　accepted　the　rebuke；　changed　the　policy；　thanked　him；　and　treated　him　all　the　better　for　it。
As　soon　as　Jizhou　was　settled；　Cao　Cao　sent　to　find　out　the　movements　of　Yuan　Tan。　He　heard　Yuan　Tan　was　ravaging　Ganling；　Anping；　Bohai；　and　Hejian。　Moreover；　the　scouts　brought　the　news　that　Yuan　Shang　had　fled　to　Zhongshan；　and　Yuan　Tan　led　an　expedition　against　him；　but　Yuan　Shang　would　not　face　a　battle。　He　had　gone　away　to　Youzhou　to　his　brother　Yuan　Xi。　Yuan　Tan；　having　gathered　Yuan　Shang's　troops；　prepared　for　another　attempt　on　Jizhou。
Whereupon　Cao　Cao　summoned　him。　Yuan　Tan　refused　to　e；　and　Cao　Cao　sent　letters　breaking　off　the　marriage　between　Yuan　Tan　and　his　daughter。　Soon　after　Cao　Cao　led　an　expedition　against　Yuan　Tan　and　marched　to　Pingyuan；　whereupon　Yuan　Tan　sent　to　Liu　Biao　to　beg　assistance。　Liu　Biao　sent　for　Liu　Bei　to　consult　about　this。
Liu　Bei　said；　〃Cao　Cao　is　very　strong　now　that　he　has　overe　Jizhou；　and　the　Yuans　will　be　unable　to　hold　out　for　long。　Nothing　is　to　be　gained　by　helping　Yuan　Tan；　and　it　may　give　Cao　Cao　the　loophole　he　is　always　looking　for　to　attack　this　place。　My　advice　is　to　keep　the　army　in　condition　and　devote　all　our　energies　to　defense。〃
〃Agreed；　but　what　shall　we　say？〃　said　Liu　Biao。
〃Write　to　both　the　brothers　as　peacemaker　in　gracious　terms。〃
Accordingly　Liu　Biao　wrote　thus　to　Yuan　Tan：
〃When　the　superior　person　would　escape　danger；　that　person　does　not　go　to　an　enemy　state。　I　heard　recently　that　you　had　crooked　the　knee　to　Cao　Cao；　which　was　ignoring　the　enmity　between　him　and　your　father；　rejecting　the　duties　of　brotherhood；　and　leaving　behind　you　the　shame　of　an　alliance　with　the　enemy。　If　your　brother；　the　successor　to　Jizhou；　has　acted　unfraternally；　your　duty　was　to　bend　your　inclination　to　follow　him　and　wait　till　the　state　of　affairs　had　settled。　Would　it　not　have　been　very　noble　to　bring　about　the　redress　of　wrongs？〃
And　to　Yuan　Shang；　Liu　Biao　wrote：
〃Your　brother；　the　ruler　of　Qingzhou；　is　of　an　impulsive　temperament　and　confuses　right　with　wrong。　You　ought　first　to　have　destroyed　Cao　Cao　in　order　to　put　an　end　to　the　hatred　which　your　father　bore　him　and；　when　the　situation　had　bee　settled；　to　have　endeavored　to　redress　the　wrongs。　Would　not　that　have　been　well？　If　you　persist　in　following　this　mistaken　course；　remember　the　hound　and　the　hare；　both　so　wearied　that　the　peasant　got　them　all。〃
From　this　letter　Yuan　Tan　saw　that　Liu　Biao　had　no　intention　of　helping　him；　and　feeling　he　alone　could　not　withstand　Cao　Cao。　He　abandoned　Pingyuan　and　fled　to　Nanpi；　whither　Cao　Cao　pursued　him。
The　weather　was　very　cold　and　the　river　was　frozen；　so　that　the　grain　boats　could　not　move。　Wherefore　Cao　Cao　ordered　the　inhabitants　to　break　the　ice　and　tow　the　boats。　When　the　peasants　heard　the　order　they　ran　away。　Cao　Cao　angrily　wished　to　arrest　and　behead　them。　When　they　heard　this；　they　went　to　his　camp　in　a　body　and　offered　their　heads　to　the　sword。
〃If　I　do　not　kill　you；　my　order　will　not　be　obeyed；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃Yet　supposing　I　cut　off　your　heads；　but　I　cannot　bear　to　do　that　severity。　Quickly　flee　to　the　hills　and　hide　so　that　my　soldiers　do　not　capture　you。〃
The　peasants　left　weeping。
Then　Yuan　Tan　led　out　his　army　against　Cao　Cao。　When　both　sides　were　arrayed；　Cao　Cao　rode　to　the　front。
Pointing　with　his　whip　at　his　opponent；　Cao　Cao　railed　at　him；　saying；　〃I　treated　you　well。　Why　then　have　you　turned　against　me？〃
Yuan　Tan　replied；　〃You　have　invaded　my　land；　captured　my　cities；　and　broken　off　my　marriage。　Yet　you　accuse　me　of　turning　against　you！〃
Cao　Cao　ordered　Xu　Huang　to　go　out　and　give　battle。　Yuan　Tan　bade　Peng　An　accept　the　challenge。　After　a　few　bouts　Peng　An　was　slain；　and　Yuan　Tan；　having　lost；　fled　and　went　into　Nanpi；　where　he　was　besieged。　Yuan　Tan；　panic…stricken；　sent　Xin　Ping　to　see　Cao　Cao　and　arrange　s