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Said　he；　〃They　have　no　formation。　We　can　easily　rout　them。〃
Then　he　handed　over　his　ensign　of　mand　to　Zhang　Liao　who；　with　Xu　Chu；　Yu　Jin；　and　Xu　Huang；　made　a　vigorous　attack　from　four　different　points；　with　the　result　that　the　enemy　was　thrown　into　confusion。　Zhang　Liao　rode　forward　and　slew　King　Mao　Dun；　and　the　other　generals　gave　in。　Yuan　Xi　and　Yuan　Shang　with　a　few　thousand　of　horse　got　away　east　into　Liaodong。
Cao　Cao　then　led　his　army　into　Liucheng。　For　his　services；　Tian　Chou　was　conferred　the　rank　of　Lord　of　Liucheng　and　mander　of　that　county。
But　Tian　Chou　declined　the　rank；　saying　with　tears；　〃I　am　a　renegade　and　a　fugitive。　It　is　my　good　fortune　that　you　spared　my　life；　and　how　can　I　accept　a　rank　for　betraying　Lulong？　I　would　rather　die　than　accept　the　lordship。〃
Cao　Cao　recognized　that　reason　was　on　Tian　Chou's　side　and　conferred　upon　him　the　office　of　Court　Counselor。　Cao　Cao　then　pacified　the　Xiongnu　Chieftains；　collected　a　large　number　of　horses；　and　at　once　set　out　on　the　homeward　march。
The　season　was　winter；　cold　and　dry。　For　seventy　miles　there　was　no　water；　and　grain　also　was　scanty。　The　troops　fed　on　horse　flesh。　They　had　to　dig　very　deep；　three　or　four　hundred　spans　to　find　water。
When　Cao　Cao　reached　Yezhou；　he　rewarded　those　who　had　remonstrated　with　him　against　the　expedition。
He　said；　〃I　took　some　risk　in　going　so　far；　but　by　good　fortune　I　have　succeeded。　With　the　aid　of　Heaven　I　have　secured　victory。　I　could　not　be　guided　by　your　advice；　but　still　they　were　counsels　of　safety；　and　therefore　I　reward　you　to　prove　my　appreciation　of　advice　and　that　hereafter　you　may　not　fear　to　speak　your　minds。〃
Adviser　Guo　Jia　did　not　live　to　see　the　return　of　his　lord。　His　coffin　was　placed　on　the　bier　in　a　hall　of　the　government　offices；　and　Cao　Cao　went　thither　to　sacrifice　to　his　manes。
Cao　Cao　mourned　for　him；　crying；　〃Alas！　Heaven　has　smitten　me：　Guo　Jia　is　dead！〃
Then　turning　to　his　officers　he　said；　〃You；　gentlemen；　are　of　the　same　age　as　myself；　but　he　was　very　young　to　die。　I　needed　him　for　the　future　generation；　and　unhappily　he　has　been　torn　from　me　in　the　flower　of　his　age。　My　heart　and　my　bowels　are　torn　with　grief。〃
The　servants　of　the　late　adviser　presented　his　last　testament；　which　they　said　his　dying　hand　had　written；　and　he　had　told　them　to　say；　〃If　the　Prime　Minister　shall　follow　the　advice　given　herein；　then　Liaodong　will　be　secure。〃
Cao　Cao　opened　the　cover　and　read；　nodding　his　head　in　agreement　and　uttering　deep　sighs。　But　no　other　person　knew　what　was　written　therein。
Shortly　after；　Xiahou　Dun　at　the　head　of　a　delegation　presented　a　petition；　saying；　〃For　a　long　time　the　Governor　of　Liaodong；　Gongsun　Kang；　has　been　contumacious；　and　it　bodes　ill　for　peace　that　the　Yuan　brothers　have　fled　to　him。　Would　it　not　be　well　to　attack　before　they　move　against　you？〃
〃I　need　not　trouble　your　tiger　courage；　Sirs；〃　said　Cao　Cao　smiling。　〃Wait　a　few　days　and　you　will　see　the　heads　of　our　two　enemies　sent　to　me。〃
They　could　not　believe　it。
As　has　been　related　the　two　Yuan　Xi　and　Yuan　Shang　escaped　to　the　east　with　a　few　hundreds　of　horse。　The　Governor　of　Liaodong　was　a　son　of　Gongsun　Du　the　Warlike；　the　General　of　Han。　Gongsun　Kang　was　a　native　of　Xiangping。　When　he　heard　that　Yuan　Xi　and　Yuan　Shang　were　on　their　way　to　his　territory；　he　called　a　council　to　decide　upon　his　plan。
At　the　council　Gongsun　Gong　rose；　saying；　〃When　Yuan　Shao　was　alive；　he　nourished　the　plan　of　adding　this　territory　to　his　own。　Now　his　sons；　homeless；　with　a　broken　army　and　no　officers；　are　ing　here。　It　seems　to　me　like　the　dove　stealing　the　magpie's　nest。　If　we　offer　them　shelter；　they　will　assuredly　intrigue　against　us。　I　advise　that　they　be　inveigled　into　the　city；　put　to　death；　and　their　heads　sent　to　Cao　Cao；　who　will　be　most　grateful　to　us。〃
Said　the　Governor　Gongsun　Kang；　〃I　have　one　fear：　Cao　Cao　will　e　against　us。　If　so；　it　would　be　better　to　have　the　help　of　the　Yuans　against　him。〃
〃Then　you　can　send　spies　to　ascertain　whether　Cao　Cao's　army　is　preparing　to　attack　us。　If　it　is；　then　save　the　Yuans　alive；　if　not；　then　follow　my　advice。〃
It　was　decided　to　wait　till　the　spies　came　back。
In　the　meantime；　Yuan　Xi　and　Yuan　Shang　had　taken　counsel　together　as　they　approached　Liaodong；　saying；　〃Liaodong　has　a　large　army；　strong　enough　to　oppose　Cao　Cao。　We　will　go　thither　and　submit　till　we　can　slay　the　Governor　and　take　possession。　Then　when　we　are　strong　enough；　we　will　attack　and　recover　our　own　land。〃
With　these　intentions　they　went　into　the　city。　They　were　received　and　lodged　in　the　guests'　quarters。　But　when　they　wished　to　see　Gongsun　Kang；　he　put　them　off　with　the　excuse　of　indisposition。
However；　before　many　days　the　spies　returned　with　the　news　that　Cao　Cao's　army　was　quiescent　and　there　was　no　hint　of　any　attack。
Then　Gongsun　Kang　called　Yuan　Xi　and　Yuan　Shang　into　his　presence。　But　before　they　came　he　hid　swordsmen　and　ax…men　behind　the　arras　in　the　hall。　When　the　visitors　came　and　had　made　their　salutations；　Gongsun　Kang　bade　them　be　seated。
Now　it　was　bitterly　cold　and　on　the　couches　where　they　were　sitting　were　no　coverings。　So　Yuan　Shang　said；　〃May　we　have　cushions？〃
The　host　said；　〃When　your　heads　take　that　long；　long　journey；　will　there　be　any　cushions？〃
Before　Yuan　Shang　could　recover　from　his　fright；　Gongsun　Kang　shouted；　〃Why　do　you　not　begin？〃
At　this　out　rushed　the　assassins　and　the　heads　of　the　two　brothers　were　cut　off　as　they　sat。　Packed　in　a　small　wooden　box　they　were　sent　to　Cao　Cao　at　Yezhou。
All　this　time　Cao　Cao　had　been　calmly　waiting。　His　impatient　officers　had　petitioned　in　a　body；　saying；　〃Let's　march　to　the　capital　to　ward　off　Liu　Biao's　threat　if　we　are　not　going　to　attack　the　east。〃
Cao　Cao　said；　〃I　am　waiting　for　the　heads　of　the　enemy。　We　will　go　as　soon　as　the　heads　arrive。〃
In　their　secret　hearts　they　laughed。　But　then；　surely　enough；　messenger　soon　came　from　Liaodong　bringing　the　heads。　Then　they　were　greatly　surprised。
And　when　the　messenger　presented　Gongsun　Kang's　letters；　Cao　Cao　cried；　〃Just　as　Guo　Jia　said！〃
He　amply　rewarded　the　messenger；　and　the　Governor　of　Liaodong　was　made　Lord　of　Xiangping　and　General　of　the　Left　Army。　When　the　officers　asked　what　had　happened；　Cao　Cao　told　them　what　the　late　adviser　had　predicted。　He　read　to　them　the　dead　officer's　testament；　which　ran　something　like　this：
〃Yuan　Xi　and　Yuan　Shang　are　going　to　Liaodong。　Illustrious　Sir；　you　are　on　no　account　to　attack；　for　Gongsun　Kang　has　long　lived　in　fear　lest　the　Yuans　should　absorb　his　country。　When　they　arrive；　Gongsun　Kang　will　hesitate。　If　you　attack；　he　will　save　the　Yuans　to　help　him；　if　you　wait；　they　will　work　against　each　other。　This　is　evident。〃
The　officers　simply　jumped　with　surprise　to　see　how　perfectly　events　had　been　foreseen。　Then　Cao　Cao　at　the　head　of　all　his　officers　performed　a　grand　sacrifice　before　the　coffin　of　the　wise　Guo　Jia。　He　had　died　at　the　age　of　thirty…eight；　after　eleven　years　of　meritorious　and　wonderful　service　in　wars。

When　Heaven　permitted　Guo　Jia's　birth；
It　made　him　ablest　man　on　earth。
He　knew　by　rote　all　histories；
From　him　war　kept　no　mysteries。
Like　Fan　Li's；　his　plans　were　quite　decisive；
As　Chen　Ping's；　his　strokes　were　most　incisive。
Too　soon　he　ran　his　earthly　race；
Too　soon　the　great　beam　fell　from　place。

When　Cao　Cao　returned　to　Jizhou；　he　sent　off　the　coffin　of　his　late　adviser　to　Capital　Xuchang　where　it　was　interred。
Then　Cheng　Yu　and　others　said；　〃As　the　north　has　been　overe；　it　is　time　to　settle　the　south。〃
Cao　Cao　was　pleased　and　said；　〃That　has　long　occupied　my　thoughts。〃
The　last　night　he　spent　in　Jizhou；　Cao　Cao　went　to　the　eastern　corner　tower　and　stood　there　regarding　the　sky。　His　only　panion　was　Xun　You。
Presently　Cao　Cao　said；　〃That　is　a　very　brilliant　glow　there　in　the　south。　It　seems　too　strong　for　me　to　do　anything　there。〃
〃What　is　there　that　can　oppose　your　heaven…high　prestige？〃　said　Xun　You。
Suddenly　a　beam　of　golden　light　shot　up　out　of　the　earth。
〃Surely　a　treasure　is　buried　there；〃　remarked　Xun　You。
They　went　down　from　the　city　wall；　called　some　guards；　and　led　them　to　the　point　whence　the　light　proceeded。　There　the　men　were　ordered　to　dig。

The　southern　skies　with　portents　glow；
The　northern　lands　their　treasures　show。

What　the　diggers　found　will　appear　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　34　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　34
　Chapter　34
Behind　The　Screen；　Lady　Cai　Overhears　A　Secret；
Across　The　Tan　Torrent；　The　Dilu　Horse　Carries　Its　Master。
The　diggers　at　the　spot　whence　the　golden　light　proceeded　presently　unearthed　a　bronze　bird。　Looking　at　it；　Cao　Cao　turned　to　his　panion；　saying；　〃What　is　the　portent？〃

＇e＇　King　Shun　was　an　ideal　king　in　ancient　China。　King　Yao　gave　him　the　throne　due　to　his　virtues　and　merits。　。。。。。
〃You　will　remember　that　the　mother　of　the　praiseworthy　King　Shun*　dreamed　of　a　jade　bird　before　his　birth；　so　certainly　it　is　a　felicitous　omen；〃　said　Xun　You。
Cao　Cao　was　very　pleased；　and　he　ordered　forthwith　the　building　of　a　lofty　tower　to　celebrate　the　find；　and　they　began　to　dig　foundations　and　cut　timber；　to　burn　tiles　and　to　smooth　bricks　for　the　Bronze　Bird　Tower　on　the　banks　of　the　River　Zhang。　Cao　Cao　set　a　year　for　the　building。
His　younger　son；　Cao　Zhi；　said；　〃If　you　build　a　terraced　tower；　you　should　add　two　others；　one　on　each　side。　The　center　tower　as　the　tallest　should　be　called　the　Bronze　Bird　Tower。　The　side　towers　named　Jade　Dragon　Tower　and　Golden　Phoenix　Tower。　Then　connect　these　by　flying　bridges　and　the　effect　will　be　noble。〃
〃My　son；　your　words　are　very　good；　and　by　and　bye　when　the　building　is　plete；　I　can　solace　my　old　age　therein。〃
Cao　Cao　had　five　sons；　but　this　one　Cao　Zhi　was　the　most　clever　and　his　essays　were　particularly　elegant。　His　father　was　very　fond　of　him　and；　seeing　that　the　young　man　took　an　interest　in　the　building；　Cao　Cao　left　him　with　his　elder　brother　Cao　Pi　at　Yejun　to　superintend　the　work；　while　he　led　a　half…a…million　army　that　had　recently　been　captured　from　the　Yuans　back　to　Capital　Xuchang。
When　he　arrived；　he　distributed　rewards　liberally　and　memorialized　the　Throne　obtaining　the　title　of　the　Pure　Lord　for　the　late　Guo　Jia。　And　he　took　Guo　Jia's　son；　Guo　Ye；　to　be　brought　up　in　his　own　family。
Next　Cao　Cao　began　to　consider　the　reduction　of　Liu　Biao's　power。
Xun　You　said；　〃The　Grand　Army　has　only　just　returned　from　the　north　and　needs　rest。　Wait　half　a　year　that　the　soldiers　may　recover　from　the　fatigue　of　the　campaign；　and　both　Liu　Biao　and　Sun　Quan　will　fall　at　the　first　roll　of　the　drums。〃
Presently　Cao　Cao　approved　of　this　plan。　To　enrich　his　troops；　he　assigned　certain　lands　to　them　to　till　while　they　rested。
In　Jingzhou；　Liu　Biao　had　been　very　generous　to　Liu　Bei　ever　since　he　had　e　as　a　fugitive　seeking　shelter。　One　day　at　a　banquet　there　came　news　that　two　generals；　Zhang　Wu　and　Chen　Sun；　who　had　tendered　their　submission；　had　suddenly　begun　plundering　the　people　in　Jiangxia。　They　evidently　meant　rebellion。
〃If　they　really　rebel；　it　will　cause　a　lot　of　trouble；〃　said　Liu　Biao；　rather　dismayed。
〃Do　not　let　that　trouble　you。　I　will　go　and　settle　it；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
Pleased　with　this　proposal；　Liu　Biao　told　off　thirty　thousand　troops　and　placed　them　under　his　friend；　and　the　army　marched　as　soon　as　the　orders　were　issued。　In　a　short　time　it　reached　the　scene；　and　the　two　malcontents　came　out　to　fight。　Liu　Bei；　Guan　Yu；　Zhang　Fei；　and　Zhao　Yun　took　their　stand　beneath　the　great　banner　and　looked　over　at　the　enemy。
Zhang　Wu　was　riding　a　handsome　prancing　horse；　and　Liu　Bei　said；　〃He　certainly　has　a　fine　steed。〃
As　he　spoke；　Zhao　Yun　galloped　out　with　his　spear　set　and　dashed　toward　the　enemy。　Zhang　Wu　came　out　to　meet　him；　but　the　bat　was　very　brief　for　Zhang　Wu　was　soon　killed　by　a　spear　thrust。　Thereupon　Zhao　Yun　laid　a　hand　upon　the　bridle　of　the　fallen　man's　horse　to　lead　it　back　to　his　own　side。　The　slain　rebel's　panion　Chen　Sun　at　once　rode　after　Zhao　Yun；　whereupon　Zhang　Fei　uttered　a　loud　shout　and　rode　out　to　meet　him。　With　one　thrust　Zhang　Fei　slew　the　rebel。　Their　followers　now　scattered；　and　Liu　Bei　speedily　restored　order　in　Jiangxia　and　returned　to　Jingzhou　City。
Liu　Biao；　grateful　for　this　service；　rode　out　to　the　boundary　to　wele　the　victor