When Li Jue and Guo Si heard that both the boastful generals had fallen under the hand of one young man； they knew that Jia Xu had given good advice and was gifted with clear prescience。 So they valued his plans the more highly and decided to act on the defensive。 They refused all challenges to bat。
Surely enough after a couple of months the supplies of the Xiliang force were all exhausted and the leaders began to consider retreat。
Just at this juncture a household servant of Ma Yu's family betrayed his master and told of the conspiracy of the three court officials to assist the attackers。 The two chiefs Li Jue and Guo Si in revenge seized the three conspirators………Ma Yu； Chong Shao； and Liu Fan………； with every member of their households； and beheaded them in the market place。 The heads of the three were exposed at the front gate of the capital。
Being short of food and hearing of the destruction of their three adherents in the city； the only course for Ma Teng and Han Sui was to retreat。 At once Zhang Ji went in pursuit of Ma Teng； and Fan Chou followed Han Sui。 The retreating army under Ma Teng was beaten； and only by Ma Chao's desperate efforts were the pursuers driven off。
Fan Chou pursued the other army。 When he had e close； Han Sui rode boldly up and addressed him； saying； 〃You and I； Sir； are fellow villagers。 Why then behave so unfriendly？〃
Fan Chou replied； 〃I must obey the mands of my chief。〃
〃I am here for the service of the state。 Why do you press me so hard？〃 said Han Sui。
At this Fan Chou turned his horse； called in his troops； and left Han Sui in peace。 Unwittingly a nephew of Li Jue had been a witness of this scene； and when he saw the enemy allowed to go free； he returned and told his uncle。 Angry that his enemy had escaped； Li Jue would have sent an army to wreak vengeance on his general。
But his adviser Jia Xu again came in； saying； 〃The people are yet unsettled； it was dangerous to provoke another war。 Instead； invite Fan Chou to a banquet and； while the feast was in progress； executing him for dereliction of duty。〃
This seemed good to Li Jue； so the banquet was prepared。 Zhang Ji and Fan Chou accepted their invitations and went cheerfully。
Toward the latter part of the entertainment a sudden change came over their host Li Jue； and he suddenly asked Fan Chou； 〃Why have you been intriguing with Han Sui？ You are turning traitor； eh？〃
The unhappy guest was taken aback。 Before he could frame his words to reply； he saw the assassins rush out with swords and axes。 In a moment all was over； and Fan Chou's head lay beneath the table。
Scared beyond measure； his fellow…guest Zhang Ji groveled on the floor。
〃Fan Chou was a traitor；〃 said the host； raising Zhang Ji by the arm； 〃and he has his deserts。 You are my friend and need not fear。〃
Li Jue gave Zhang Ji mand of Fan Chou's army with which Zhang Ji returned to his headquarters garrison in Hongnong。
No one of the leaders among the leaguers dared attempt an attack on the party newly risen from Dong Zhuo's disaffection； while on the other hand Jia Xu never ceased to urge his masters to exert themselves for the welfare of the people and thus to tempt wise people to join them。 And by these means the government began to prosper； and the court to reassert its authority。
However； a new trouble arose in the shape of a resurgence of Yellow Scarves in Qingzhou。 They came； under numerous chieftains； in the number of hundreds of thousand and plundered any place they reached。
Minister Zhu Jun said he knew of one who could destroy this sedition； and when asked who was the man he proposed； Zhu Jun said； 〃You want to destroy this horde of rebels； you will fail unless you get the service of Cao Cao。〃
〃And where is he？〃 asked Li Jue。
〃He is Governor of Dongjun。 He has a large army； and you have only to order him to act。 The rising will be broken。〃
A messenger went post haste with a mand for Cao Cao and Bao Xin； Lord of Jibei； to act together in quelling the rebellion。 As soon as Cao Cao received the court mand； he arranged with his colleague first to attack the rebels at Shouyang。 Bao Xin made a dash right into their midst and inflicting damage wherever he could； but he was killed in a battle。 Cao Cao pursued the rebels as they fled。 Ten thousand surrendered。 Then Cao Cao put his quondam enemies in the van。 When his army reached any place； many more surrendered and joined him。 After three months of these tactics； he had won over many thousands； both of soldiers and ordinary folks。
Of these new adherents the strongest and boldest were made the Qingzhou Army； and the others were sent home to their fields。 In consequence of these successes Cao Cao's prestige and fame became very great and increased daily。 He reported his success to Capital Changan and was rewarded with the title of General Who Guards the East。
＇e＇ Yanzhou had belonged to Liu Dai； but he submitted to Cao Cao； and Cao Cao used the region as his base。
＇e＇ Zhang Liang； aka Zhang Zifang； the master strategist for Liu Bang。 His family had served the state of Han as chief ministers during the Warring States period。 It is said that he received the strategy book of Lu Wang from a mysterious old man。 When he was young； Zhang Liang plotted to assasinate the First Emperor； but failed。 He later rebeled against Qin。 Joined Liu Bang （BC 206） to fight against Qin and then Chu。 Remended Han Xin to Liu Bang。 Zhang Liang's insights had earned him the name 〃The Teacher of Emperor〃。 After Liu Bang won the empire； Zhang Liang was enobled as Lord of Liu； but did not take office； instead he resigned from political life and traveled。 。。。。。
At his headquarters in Yanzhou*； Cao Cao weled wise counselors and bold warriors； and many gathered around him。 Two clever persons； uncle and nephew； came at the same time； both from Yanzhou； named Xun Yu and Xun You。 The uncle had once been in the service of Yuan Shao。
Cao Cao rejoiced when he had won the elder Xun to his side； saying； 〃Xun Yu is my Zhang Liang*！〃
He made Xun Yu a Marching General。 The nephew Xun You was famed for his ability and had been in the court service when it was in Luoyang； but he had abandoned that career and retired to his village。 Cao Cao made him a Military Instructor。
Xun Yu said to Cao Cao； 〃There is a certain wise person of Yanzhou somewhere； but I do not know in whose service he is。〃
〃Who is he？〃
〃Cheng Yu。 He belongs to the eastern part of Yanzhou。〃
〃Yes； I have heard of him；〃 said Cao Cao。
So a messenger was sent to his native place to inquire。 Cheng Yu was away in the hills engaged in study； but he came at Cao Cao's invitation。
〃I shall prove unworthy of your remendation；〃 said Cheng Yu to his friend Xun Yu； 〃for I am rough and ignorant。 But have you forgotten a fellow villager of yours； Guo Jia？ He is really able。 Why not spread the net to catch him？〃
〃I had nearly forgotten；〃 said Xun Yu suddenly。
So he told Cao Cao of this man； who was at once invited。
Guo Jia； discussing the world at large with Cao Cao； remended Liu Ye from Henan； who was a descendant of Liu Xiu the Founder of Latter Han。 When Liu Ye had arrived； he was the means of inviting two more： Man Chong from Shanyang； and Lu Qian from Wucheng； who were already known to Cao Cao by reputation。 These two brought to their new master's notice the name of Mao Jie from Chenliu； who also came and was given office。 Then a famous leader； with his troop of some hundreds； arrived to offer service。 This was Yu Jin of Taishan； an expert horseman and archer； and skilled beyond his fellows in every form of military exercise。 He was made an army inspector。
Then another day Xiahou Dun brought a fellow to present to Cao Cao。
〃Who is he？〃 asked Cao Cao。
〃He is from Chenliu and is named Dian Wei。 He is the boldest of the bold； the strongest of the strong。 He was one of Zhang Miao's people； but quarreled with his tent panions and killed some dozens of them with his fists。 Then he fled to the mountains where I found him。 I was out shooting and saw him follow a tiger across a stream。 I persuaded him to join my troop； and I remend him。〃
〃I see he is no ordinary man；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃He is fine and straight and looks very powerful and bold。〃
〃He is。 He killed a man once to avenge a friend and carried his head through the whole market place。 Hundreds saw him； but dared not e near。 The weapon he uses now is a couple of spears； each weighs a hundred and twenty pounds； and he vaults into the saddle with these under his arm。〃
Cao Cao bade the man give proof of his skill。 So Dian Wei galloped to and fro carrying the spears。 Then he saw away among the tents a huge banner swaying dangerously with the force of the wind and on the point of falling。 A crowd of soldiers were vainly struggling to keep it steady。 Down he leaped； shouted to the men to clear out and held the staff quite steady with one hand； keeping it perfectly upright in spite of the strong wind。
＇e＇ E Lai； whose physical strength was extraordinary； was a general of King Zhou； the last king of Shang Dynasty。
〃This is old E Lai* again！〃 said Cao Cao。
He gave Dian Wei a post in the headquarters and besides made Dian Wei presents of an embroidered robe he was wearing and a swift steed with a handsome saddle。
Cao Cao encouraged able people to assist him； and he had advisers on the civil side and valiant generals in the army。 He became famous throughout the East of the Pass。
Now Cao Cao's father； Cao Song； was living at Langye； whither he had gone as a place free from the turmoil of the partisan struggles。 Cao Cao wished to be united with him。 As a dutiful son； Cao Cao sent the Governor of Taishan； Ying Shao； to escort his father to Yanzhou。 Old Cao Song read the letter with joy； and the family prepared to move。 They were some forty in all； with a train of a hundred servants and many carts。
Their road led through Xuzhou Region where the Imperial Protector； Tao Qian； was a sincere and upright man who had long wished to get on good terms with Cao Cao but； hitherto； had found no means of effecting a bond of union。 Hearing that the family of the great man was passing through his region； Tao Qian went to wele them； treated them with great cordiality； feasting and entertaining them for two days； and when they left； he escorted them to his boundary。 Further he sent with them one General Zhang Kai with a special escort of five hundred。
The whole party reached the county of Huafei。 It was the end of summer； just turning into autumn； and at this place they were stopped by a tremendous storm of rain。 The only shelter was an old temple and thither they went。 The family occupied the main rooms and the escort the two side wings。 The men of the escort were drenched； angry； and discontented。
Then Zhang Kai called some of his petty officers to a secret spot and said； 〃We are old Yellow Scarves and only submitted to Tao Qian because there was no other choice。 We have never got much out of it。 Now here is the Cao family with no end of gear； and we can be rich very easily。 We will make a sudden onslaught tonight at the third watch and slay the whole lot。 Then we shall have plenty of treasure； and we will get away to the mountains。〃
They all agreed。 The storm continued into the night and as Cao Song sat waiting anxiously for signs of clearing； he suddenly heard a hubbub at the w