is colleague's foresight。 He set out his troops in fighting order。
Cao Cao rode forward； crying； 〃Rebels； abductors； drovers of the people； where are you going？〃
Lu Bu replied； 〃Treacherous simpleton； what mad words are these？〃
Then from Cao Cao army rode forth Xiahou Dun with his spear set； and Lu Bu and Xiahou Dun engaged。 The bat had hardly begun when Li Ru with a cohort came in from the left。 Cao Cao bade Xiahou Yuan meet this onslaught。 However； on the other side appeared Guo Si and his pany。 Cao Cao sent Cao Ren against Guo Si。 The onrush on three sides was too much to withstand； and Lu Bu's army was overwhelming； so Xiahou Dun had to retire to the main line。 Thereupon Lu Bu's armored troops attacked and pleted the defeat。 The beaten army of Cao Cao turned toward Yingyang。
They got as far as the foot of a hill in the evening about the second watch； and the moon made it as light as day。 Here they halted to reform。 Just as they were burying the boilers to prepare a meal； there arose a great noise of shouting on all sides and out came the troops of Governor Xu Rong from the ambush fresh to attack。
Cao Cao； thrown into a flurry； mounted and fled。 He ran right in the way of the waiting Xu Rong。 Then he dashed off in another direction； but Xu Rong shot an arrow after him which struck him in the shoulder。 The arrow still in the wound； Cao Cao fled for his life。 As he went over the hill； two soldiers lying in wait among the grass suddenly dashed out and wounded his horse； which fell and rolled over。 And as he slipped from the saddle； he was seized and made prisoner。
Just then a horseman came； riding at full speed and whirling his sword up； cut down both the captors； and rescued Cao Cao。 It was Cao Hong。
Cao Cao said； 〃I am doomed； good brother。 Go and save yourself！〃
〃My lord； mount my horse quickly！ I will go afoot；〃 said Cao Hong。
〃If those wretches e up； what then？〃 said Cao Cao。
〃The world can do without Cao Hong； but not without you； my lord！〃
〃If I live； I shall owe you my life；〃 said Cao Cao。
So he mounted。 Cao Hong tore off his own breastplate； gripped his sword； and went on foot after the horse。 Thus they proceeded till the fourth watch when they saw before them a broad stream； and behind they still heard the shouts of pursuers drawing nearer and nearer。
〃This is my fate；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃I am really doomed！〃
Cao Hong helped Cao Cao down from his horse。 Then taking off his fighting robe and helmet； Cao Hong took the wounded man on his back and waded into the stream。 When they reached the further side； the pursuers had already gained the bank whence they shot arrows。
Cao Cao all wet pushed on。 Dawn was near。 They went on another ten miles and then sat down to rest under a precipice。 Suddenly loud shouting was heard and a party of horse appeared。 It was Governor Xu Rong who had forded the river higher up。 Just at this moment Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan； with several dozens men； came along。
〃Hurt not my lord！〃 cried Xiahou Dun to Xu Rong； who at once rushed at him。
But the bat was short。 Xu Rong speedily fell under a spear thrust of Xiahou Dun； and his troops were driven off。 Before long Cao Cao's other generals arrived。 Sadness and joy mingled in the greetings。 They gathered together the few hundreds of soldiers left and then returned to Luoyang。
When the confederate lords entered Luoyang； Sun Jian； after extinguishing the fires； camped within the walls； his own tent being set up near the Dynastic Temple。 His people cleared away the debris and closed the rifted tombs。 The gates were barred。 On the site of the Dynastic Temple he put up a mat shed containing three apartments； and here he begged the lords to meet and replace the sacred tablets； with solemn sacrifices and prayers。
This ceremony over； the others left and Sun Jian returned to his camp。 That night the stars and moon vied with each other in brightness。 As Sun Jian sat in the open air looking up at the heavens； he noticed a mist spreading over the stars of the Constellation Draco。
〃The Emperor's star is dulled；〃 said Sun Jian with a sigh。 〃No wonder a rebellious minister disturbs the state； the people sit in dust and ashes； and the capital is a waste。〃
And his tears began to fall。
Then a soldier pointing to the south said； 〃There is a beam of colored light rising from a well！〃
Sun Jian bade his people light torches and descend into the well。 Soon they brought up the corpse of a woman； not in the least decayed although it had been there many days。 She was dressed in Palace clothing and from her neck hung an embroidered bag。 Opening this a red box was found； with a golden lock； and when the box was opened； they saw a jade seal； square in shape； four inches each way。 On it were delicately engraved five dragons intertwined。 One corner had been broken off and repaired with gold。 There were eight characters in the seal style of engraving which interpreted read：
I have received the mand from Heaven： May my time be always long and prosperous。
Sun Jian showed this to his adviser； General Cheng Pu； who at once recognized it as the Imperial Hereditary Seal of the Emperor。
＇e＇ Bian He of the state of Chu （circa BC 800） found a jadestone in Jing Mountains and presented it to two Chu kings； but he was sentenced to amputation of both feet because the stone was thought as fake。 When a new king took the throne； Bian He tried once more； and this time the stone was recognized as the purest kind of jade。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Li Si （BC 280…208） was the statesman who was responsible for most of the radical political and cutural innovations made in Qin after BC 221。 。。。。。
Cheng Pu said； 〃This seal has a history。 In olden days Bian He* saw a phoenix sitting on a certain stone at the foot of the Jing Mountains。 He offered the stone at court。 The King of Chu split open the stone and found a piece of jade。 In the twenty…sixth year of Qin Dynasty （BC 221）； a jade cutter made a seal from it； and Li Si*； the First Emperor's Prime Minister； engraved the characters。 Two years later； while the First Emperor was sailing in Dongting Lake； a terrific storm arrived。 The Emperor threw the seal to the water as a propitiatory offering； and the storm immediately ceased。 Ten years later again； when the First Emperor was making a progress and had reached Huaying； an old man by the road side handed a seal to one of the attendants saying； 'This is now restored to the ancestral dragon！' and had then disappeared。 Thus the jewel returned to Qin。
〃The next year the First Emperor died。 Later Zi Ying； the last Emperor of Qin and grandson of the First Emperor； presented the seal to Liu Bang the Supreme Ancestor； the founder of Han Dynasty。 Two hundred years later； in Wang Mang's rebellion； the Emperor's mother； Lady Yuan； struck two of the rebels； Wang Xun and Su Xian； with the seal and broke off a corner； which was repaired with gold。 Liu Xiu the Latter Han Founder got possession of it at Yiyang； and it has been regularly bequeathed hereafter。
＇e＇ The Yangtze or Yangzi river； which flows from west to east to the Pacific at Shanghai。
〃I heard this treasured seal had been lost during the trouble in the Palace when the Ten Regular Attendants hurried off the Emperor。 It was missed on His Majesty's return。 Now my lord has it and certainly will e to the imperial dignity。 But you must not remain here in the north。 Quickly go home to Changsha； south of the Great River*； where you can lay plans for the acplishment of the great design。〃
〃Your words exactly accord with my thoughts；〃 said Sun Jian。 〃Tomorrow I will make an excuse that I am unwell and get away。〃
The soldiers were told to keep the discovery a secret。 But one among them was a patriot of the elected chief of the confederacy………Yuan Shao。 He thought this might be of great advantage to him； so he stole away out of the camp and betrayed his master。 He went to Yuan Shao's camp； informed the secret； and received a liberal reward。 Yuan Shao kept the informant in his own camp。
Next morning Sun Jian came to take leave； saying； 〃I am rather unwell and wish to return to Changsha。〃
Yuan Shao laughed； saying； 〃I know what you are suffering from： It is called the Imperial Hereditary Seal！〃
This was a shock to Sun Jian； and he paled but said； 〃Whence these words？〃
Yuan Shao said； 〃The armies were raised for the good of the state and to relieve it from oppression。 The seal is state property； and since you have got hold of it； you should publicly hand it over to me as chief。 When Dong Zhuo has been slain； it must go back to the government。 What do you mean by concealing it and going away？〃
〃How could the seal get into my hands？〃 said Sun Jian。
〃Where is the article out of the well near the Hall of Paragons？〃
〃I have it not： Why harass me thus？〃
〃Quickly produce it； or it will be the worst for you！〃
Sun Jian pointing toward the heavens as an oath said； 〃If I have this jewel and am hiding it myself； may my end be unhappy and my death violent！〃
The lords all said； 〃After an oath like this； we think he cannot have it。〃
Then Yuan Shao called out his informant。
〃When you pulled that thing out of the well； was this man there？〃 asked he of Sun Jian。
Sun Jian's anger burst forth； and he sprang forward to kill the man。
Yuan Shao also drew his sword； saying； 〃You touch that soldier and it is an insult to me！〃
Behind Sun Jian； Generals Cheng Pu； Huang Gai； and Han Dang stepped forth； behind Yuan Shao； Generals Yan Liang and Wen Chou were ready to act。 In a moment on all sides swords flew from their scabbards。 But the confusion was stayed by the efforts of the others； and Sun Jian left the assembly。 Soon he broke up his camp and marched to his own place。
Yuan Shao was not satisfied。 He wrote to Jingzhou Region and sent the letter by a trusty hand to tell Imperial Protector Liu Biao to stop Sun Jian and take away the seal。
Just after this came the news of the defeat and misfortune of Cao Cao； and when he was ing home； Yuan Shao sent out to wele him and conduct him into camp。 They also prepared a feast to console him。
During the feast Cao Cao said sadly； 〃My object was for the public good； and all you gentlemen nobly supported me。 My plan was to get Yuan Shao with his Henei troops to approach Mengching； and my force at Qiao to keep Chenggao； while the others of you to hold Suanzao； to close the passes of Huanyuan and Daigu； and to take possession of the granaries； to control the points of vantage； and thus to secure the Capital District。 I planned for Yuan Shu with his Nanyang army to occupy the counties of Danshi and Xilin and go into Wu Pass to help the three supports。 All were to fortify their positions and not to fight。 Advantage lay in a diverse military coalition that could show the empire a possibility of dealing with the rebellion。 We could have convinced the people to side with us against Dong Zhuo。 Victory would have been ours at once。 But then came delays and doubts and inaction； and the confidence of the people was lost； and I am ashamed。〃
＇e＇ Liu Dai was the Imperial Protector of Yanzhou at that time。
No reply was possible and the guests dispersed。 Cao Cao saw that the others mistrusted him； and in his heart knew that nothing could be acplished。 So he led off his force to Yanzhou Region*。
Then Gongsun Zan said to Liu Bei； 〃This Yuan Shao is an incapable；