o Shanyang。 Perforce therefore the fighting ceased。
In Xuzhou。 Imperial Protector Tao Qian； over sixty years of age； suddenly fell seriously ill； and he summoned his confident； Mi Zhu； to his chamber to make arrangements for the future。
As to the situation the adviser said； 〃Cao Cao abandoned his attack on this place because of his enemy's seizure of Yanzhou； and now they are both keeping the peace solely because of the famine。 But Cao Cao will surely renew the attack in the spring。 When Liu Bei refused to allow you to vacate office in his favor； you were in full vigor。 Now you are ill and weak； and you can make this a reason for retirement。 He will not refuse again。〃
So a message was sent to the little garrison town Xiaopei calling Liu Bei to a counsel on military affairs。 This brought him with his brothers and a slender escort。 He was at once called in to the sick man's chamber。 Quickly disposing of the inquiries about his health； Tao Qian soon came to the real object of his call for Liu Bei。
〃Sir； I asked you to e for the sole reason that I am dangerously ill and likely to die at any time。 I look to you； Illustrious Sir； to consider the Hans and their empire as more important than anything else； and so to take over the symbols of office of this region； the mission and the seal； that I may close my eyes in peace。〃
〃You have two sons； why not depute them to relieve you？〃 said Liu Bei。
〃Both lack the requisite talents。 I trust you will instruct them after I have gone； but do not let them have the guidance of affairs。〃
〃But I am unequal to so great a charge。〃
〃I will remend to you one who could assist you。 He is Sun Qian from Beihai who could be appointed to some post。〃
Turning to Mi Zhu； Tao Qian said； 〃The noble Liu Bei here is the most prominent man of the time； and you should serve him well。〃
Still would Liu Bei have put from him such a post； but just then the Imperial Protector； pointing to his heart to indicate his sincerity； passed away。
When the ceremonial wailing of the officials was over； the insignia of office were brought to Liu Bei。 But he would have none of them。 The following days the inhabitants of the town and country around crowded into the state residence； bowing and with tears； calling upon Liu Bei to receive the charge。
〃If you do not； we cannot live in pence；〃 said they。
To these requests his brothers added their persuasion； till at length he consented to assume the administrative duties。 He forthwith appointed Sun Qian and Mi Zhu as his Advisers； and Chen Deng his Secretary。 He moved his army from Xiaopei to Xuzhou City； and he put forth proclamations to reassure the people。
He also attended to the burial ceremonies； he and all his army dressing in mourning。 After the fullest sacrifices and ceremonies； a burial place for the late Imperial Protector was found close to the source of the Yellow River。 The dead man's testament was forwarded to court。
The news of the events in Xuzhou duly reached the ears of Cao Cao； then in Juancheng。
Said he； angrily； 〃I have missed my revenge。 This Liu Bei has simply stepped into mand of the region without expending half an arrow： He sat still and attained his desire。 But I will put him to death and then dig up Tao Qian's corpse in revenge for the death of my noble father！〃
Orders were issued for the army to prepare for a new campaign against Xuzhou。
＇e＇ The Land Within the Passes； or Guanzhong； was the area around Changan。
But Adviser Xun Yu remonstrated with Cao Cao； saying； 〃The Supreme Ancestor secured the Land Within the Passes* and his illustrious successor on the throne； Liu Xiu； took Henei。 They both first consolidated their position whereby they could mand the whole empire。 Their whole progress was from success to success。 Hence they acplished their great designs in spite of difficulties。
〃Illustrious Sir； your Land Within the Passes and your Henei are Yanzhou and the Yellow River； which you had first； and which is of the utmost strategic point of the empire。 If you undertake this expedition against Xuzhou leaving many troops here for defense； you will not acplish your design； if you leave too few； Lu Bu will fall upon us。 And finally if you lose this and fail to gain Xuzhou； whither will you retire？ That region is not vacant。 Although Tao Qian has gone； Liu Bei holds it； and since the people support him； they will fight to the death for him。 To abandon this place for that is to exchange the great for the small； to barter the trunk for the branches； to leave safety and run into danger。 I would implore you to reflect well。〃
Cao Cao replied； 〃It is not a good plan to keep soldiers idle here during such scarcity。〃
〃If that is so； it would be more advantageous to attack the eastern counties of Chencheng； Yingchuan； and Runan； and feed your army on their supplies。 The remnants of the Yellow Scarves； He Yi and Huang Shao； are there with stores and treasures of all kinds that they have amassed by plundering wherever they could。 Rebels of their stamp are easily broken。 Break them； and you can feed your army with their grain。 Moreover； both the court and the mon people will join in blessing you。〃
This new design appealed strongly to Cao Cao； and he quickly began his preparations to carry it out。 He left Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren to guard Juancheng； while his main body； under his own mand； marched to seize Chencheng。 This done they went to Runan and Yingchuan。
Now when the Yellow Scarves leaders； He Yi and Huang Shao； knew that Cao Cao was approaching。 They came out in a great body to oppose him。 They met at Goat Hill。 Though the rebels were numerous； they were a poor lot； a mere pack of beasts without organization and lacking discipline。 Cao Cao ordered his strong archers and vigorous crossbowmen to keep them in check。
Dian Wei was sent out to challenge。 The rebel leaders chose a second…rate champion for their side； who rode out and was vanquished in the third bout。 Then Cao Cao's army pushed forward； and they made a camp at Goat Hill。
The following day the rebel Huang Shao himself led forth his army and made his battle array along a circle。 A leader advanced on foot to offer bat。 He wore a yellow turban on his head and a green robe。 His weapon was an iron mace。
He shouted； 〃I am He Man； the devil who shoots across the sky。 Who dare fight with me？〃
Cao Hong uttered a great shout and jumped from the saddle to accept the challenge。 Sword in hand he advanced on foot and the two engaged in fierce bat in the face of both armies。 They exchanged some fifty blows； neither gaining the advantage。 Then Cao Hong feigned defeat and ran away。 He Man went after him。 Just as he closed； Cao Hong tried a feint and then suddenly wheeling about； wounded his adversary。 Another slash； and He Man lay dead。
At once Li Dian dashed forward into the midst of the Yellow Scarves and laid hands on the rebel chief Huang Shao whom he carried off captive。 Cao Cao's troops then set on and scattered the rebels。 The spoil of treasure and food was immense。
The other rebel leader； He Yi； fled with a few hundred horsemen toward Kobei Hills。 But while on their road thither there suddenly appeared a force led by a certain swashbuckler who shall be nameless for the moment。 This bravo was a well…built man； thickset and stout。 With a waist ten span in girth。 He used a long sword。
He barred the way of retreat。 He Yi set his spear and rode toward him。 But at the first encounter the bravo caught He Yi under his arm and bore He Yi off a prisoner。 All the rebels were terror…stricken； dropped from their horses and allowed themselves to be bound。 Then the victor drove them like cattle into an enclosure with high banks。
Presently Dian Wei； still pursuing the rebels； reached Kobei Hills。 The swashbuckler went out to meet him。
〃Are you also a Yellow Scarves rebel？〃 said Dian Wei。
〃I have some hundreds of them prisoners in an enclosure here。〃
〃Why not bring them out？〃 said Dian Wei。
〃I will if you win this sword from my hand。〃
This annoyed Dian Wei who attacked him。 They engaged and the bat lasted for two long hours and then was still undecided。 Both rested a while。 The swashbuckler was the first to recover and renewed the challenge。 They fought till dusk and then； as their horses were quite spent； the bat was once more suspended。
In the meantime some of Dian Wei's men had run off to tell the story of this wondrous fight to Cao Cao who hastened in amazement； followed by many officers to watch it and see the result。
Next day the unknown warrior rode out again； and Cao Cao saw him。 In Cao Cao's heart he rejoiced to see such a doughty hero and desired to gain his services。 So Cao Cao bade Dian Wei feign defeat。
Dian Wei rode out in answer to the challenge； and some thirty bouts were fought。 Then Dian Wei turned and fled toward his own side。 The bravo followed and came quite close。 But a flight of arrows drove him away。
Cao Cao hastily drew off his men for one and a half miles and then secretly sent a certain number to dig a pitfall and sent troops armed with hooks to lie in ambush。
The following day Dian Wei was sent out with one hundred horse。 His adversary nothing loath came to meet Dian Wei。
〃Why does the defeated leader venture forth again？〃 cried he laughing。
The swashbuckler spurred forward to join battle； but Dian Wei； after a faint show of fighting； turned his horse and rode away。 His adversary intent upon capture； took no care； and he and his horse all blundered into the pitfall。 The hookmen took him captive； bound him； and carried him before Cao Cao。
As soon as he saw the prisoner； Cao Cao advanced from his tent； sent away the soldiers； and with his own hands loosened the leader's bonds。 Then he brought out clothing and dressed him； bade him be seated and asked who he was and whence he came。
〃I am named Xu Chu。 I am from Qiao。 When the rebellion broke out； I and my relations of some hundreds built a stronghold within a rampart for protection。 One day the robbers came； but I had stones ready for them。 I told my relatives to keep on bringing them up to me and I threw them； hitting somebody every time I threw。 This drove off the robbers。 Another day they came and we were short of grain。 So I agreed with them to an exchange of plow oxen against grain。 They delivered the grain and were driving away the oxen when the beasts took fright and tore off to their pens。 I seized two of oxen by the tail； one with each hand； and hauled them backwards a hundred or so paces。 The robbers were so amazed that they thought no more about oxen but went their way。 So they never troubled us again。〃
〃I have heard of your mighty exploits；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃Will you join my army？〃
〃That is my strongest desire；〃 said Xu Chu。
So Xu Chu called up his clan； some hundreds in all； and they formally submitted to Cao Cao。 Xu Chu received the rank of general and received ample rewards。 The two rebel leaders； He Yi and Huang Shao； were executed。 Runan and Yingchuan were now perfectly pacified。
Cao Cao withdrew his army and went back to Juancheng。 Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren came out to wele him； and they told him that spies had reported Yanzhou City to be left defenseless。 Lu Bu's generals； Xue Lan and Li Fang； had given up all its garrison to plundering the surrounding country。 They wanted him to go against it without loss of time。
〃W