on to plundering the surrounding country。 They wanted him to go against it without loss of time。
〃With our soldiers fresh from victory； the city will fall at a tap of the drum；〃 said they。
So Cao Cao marched the army straight to the city。 An attack was quite unexpected but the two leaders； Xue Lan and Li Fang； hurried out their few soldiers to fight。 Xu Chu； the latest recruit； said he wished to capture these two and he would make of them an introductory gift。
The task was given him and he rode forth。 Li Fang with his halberd advanced to meet Xu Chu。 The bat was brief as Li Fang fell in the second bout。 His colleague Xue Lan retired with his troops。 But he found the drawbridge had been seized by Li Dian； so that he could not get shelter within the city。 Xue Lan led his men toward Juye。 But Lu Qian pursued and killed him with an arrow。 His soldiers scattered to the four winds。 And thus Yanzhou was recaptured。
Next Cheng Yu proposed an expedition to take Puyang。 Cao Cao marched his army out in perfect order。 The van leaders were Dian Wei and Xu Chu； Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan led the left wing； Li Dian and Yue Jing led the right wing； Yu Jin and Lu Qian guarded the rear。 Cao Cao himself manded the center。
When they approached Puyang； Lu Bu wished to go out in person and alone to attack； but his adviser Chen Gong protested； saying； 〃General； you should not go out until the arrival of the other officers。〃
〃Whom do I fear？〃 said Lu Bu。
So he threw caution to the winds and went out of the city。 He met his foes and he began to revile them。 The redoubtable Xu Chu went to fight with him； but after twenty bouts neither batant was any the worse。
〃He is not the sort that one man can overe；〃 said Cao Cao。
And he sent Dian Wei to attack Lu Bu from another direction。 Lu Bu stood the double onslaught。 Soon after the flank manders joined in………Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan attacking the left； Li Dian and Yue Jing surrounding the right。 Lu Bu had six opponents。 These proved really too many for him so he turned his horse and rode back to the city。
But when the members of the Tian family saw him ing back beaten； they raised the drawbridge。
Lu Bu shouted； 〃Open the gates！ Let me in！〃
But the Tians said； 〃We have gone over to Cao Cao！〃
This was hard to hear and the beaten man abused them roundly before he left。 Chen Gong got away through the east gate taking with him the general's family。
Thus Puyang came into Cao Cao's hands； and for their present services the Tian family were pardoned their previous fault。
However； Liu Ye said； 〃Lu Bu is a savage beast。 If let alive； he will be a great danger。 Hunt him down！〃
Liu Ye was ordered to keep Puyang。 Wherefore Cao Cao determined to follow Lu Bu to Dingtao whither he had gone for refuge。
Lu Bu； Zhang Miao； and Zhang Chao were assembled in the city。 Gao Shun and other generals were out foraging。 Cao Cao army arrived but did not attack for many days； and presently he withdrew fifteen miles and made a stockade。 It was the time of harvest； and he set his soldiers to cut the wheat for food。 The spies reported this to Lu Bu who came over to see。 But when he saw that Cao Cao's stockade lay near a thick wood； he feared an ambush and retired。 Cao Cao heard that Lu Bu had e and gone and guessed the reason。
〃He fears an ambush in the wood；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃We will set up flags there and deceive him。 There is a long embankment near the camp but behind it there is no water。 There we will lay an ambush to fall upon Lu Bu when he es to burn the wood。〃
So Cao Cao hid all his soldiers behind the embankment except half a hundred drummers； and he got together many peasants to loiter within the stockade as though it was not empty。
Lu Bu rode back and told Chen Gong what he had seen。
〃This Cao Cao is very crafty and full of wiles；〃 said the adviser。 〃Do not act。〃
〃I will use fire this time and burn out his ambush；〃 said Lu Bu。
Next morning Lu Bu rode out； and there he saw flags flying everywhere in the wood。 He ordered his troops forward to set fire on all sides。 But to his surprise no one rushed out to make for the stockade。 Still he heard the beating of drums and doubt filled his mind。 Suddenly he saw a party of soldiers move out from the shelter of the stockade。 He galloped over to see what it meant。
Then the signal…bombs exploded； out rushed the troops and all their leaders dashed forward。 Xiahou Dun； Xiahou Yuan； Xu Chu； Dian Wei； Li Dian； and Yue Jing all attacked at once。 Lu Bu was at a loss and fled into the open country。 One of his generals； Cheng Lian； was killed by an arrow of Yue Jing。 Two thirds of his troops were lost； and the beaten remainder went to tell Chen Gong what had e to pass。
〃We had better leave；〃 said Chen Gong。 〃An empty city cannot be held。〃
So Chen Gong and Gao Shun； taking their chief's family with them； abandoned Dingtao。 When Cao Cao's soldiers got into the city； they met with no resistance。 Zhang Chao mitted suicide by burning himself。 Zhang Miao fled to Yuan Shu。
Thus the whole northeast fell under the power of Cao Cao。 He immediately tranquilized the people and rebuilt the cities and their defenses。
Lu Bu in his retreat fell in with his generals； and Chen Gong also rejoined him； so that he was by no means broken。
〃I have but small army；〃 said Lu Bu； 〃but still enough to break Cao Cao。〃
And so he retook the backward road。 Indeed：
Thus does fortune alternate； victory； defeat；
The happy conqueror today； tomorrow； must retreat？
What was the fate of Lu Bu will appear later。
Main Next to Chapter 13 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Li Jue and Guo Si Duel In Changan；
The Emperor Establishes Anyi The New Capital。
The last chapter told of the defeat of Lu Bu； and his gathering the remnant of his army at Dingtao。 When all his generals had joined him； he began to feel strong enough to try conclusions with Cao Cao once again。
Said Chen Gong； who was opposed to this course； 〃Cao Cao is too strong right now。 Seek some place where we can rest a time before trying。〃
〃Suppose I went to Yuan Shao；〃 said Lu Bu。
〃Send first to make inquiries。〃
Lu Bu agreed。
The news of the fighting between Cao Cao and Lu Bu had reached Jizhou； and one of Yuan Shao's advisers； Shen Pei； warned him； saying； 〃Lu Bu is a savage beast。 If he gets possession of Yanzhou； he will certainly attempt to add this region to it。 For your own safety you should help to crush him。〃
Wherefore Yuan Shao sent Yan Liang with fifty thousand troops to destroy Lu Bu。 The spies heard this and at once told Lu Bu； who was greatly disturbed and called in Chen Gong。
〃Go over to Liu Bei； who has lately succeeded to Xuzhou。〃
Hence Lu Bu went thither。
Hearing this； Liu Bei said； 〃Lu Bu is a hero； and we will receive him with honor。〃
But Mi Zhu was strongly against receiving him； saying； 〃He was a cruel； bloodthirsty beast。〃
But Liu Bei replied； 〃How would misfortune have been averted from Xuzhou if he had not attacked Yanzhou？ He cannot be our enemy now that he es seeking an asylum。〃
〃Brother； your heart is really too good。 Although it may be as you say； yet it would be well to prepare；〃 said Zhang Fei。
The new Imperial Protector with a great following met Lu Bu ten miles outside the city gates； and the two chiefs rode in side by side。 They proceeded to the residence and there； after the elaborate ceremonies of reception were over； they sat down to converse。
Said Lu Bu； 〃After Wang Yun and I plotted to slay Dong Zhuo and my misfortune in the Li Jue and Guo Si's sedition； I drifted about from one place to another； and none of the nobles east of the Huashang Mountains seemed willing to receive me。 When Cao Cao with wicked ambition invaded this region and you； Sir； came to its rescue； I aided you by attacking Yanzhou and thus diverting a portion of his force。 I did not think then that I should be the victim of a vile plot and lose my leaders and my soldiers。 But now if you will； I offer myself to you that we may together acplish great designs。〃
Liu Bei replied； 〃When the late Tao Qian died； there was no one to administer Xuzhou； and so I assumed that task for a time。 Now since you are here； General； it is most suitable that I step down in your favor。〃
Whereupon Liu Bei handed the insignia and the seal of authority to Lu Bu。 Lu Bu was on the point of accepting them； when he saw Guan Yu and Zhang Fei； who stood behind the Imperial Protector； glaring at him with angry eyes。
So Lu Bu put on a smile and said； 〃I may be something of a fighting man； but I could not rule a great region like this。〃
Liu Bei repeated his offer。 But Chen Gong said； 〃The strong guest does not oppress his host。 You need not fear； Lord Liu Bei。〃
Then Liu Bei desisted。 Banquets were held and dwelling places prepared for the guest and his retinue。
As soon as convenient； Lu Bu returned the feast。 Liu Bei went with his two brothers。 Half through the banquet Lu Bu requested Liu Bei to retire to one of the inner private rooms； whither Guan Yu and Zhang Fei followed him。 There Lu Bu bade his wife and daughter bow as to their benefactor。 Here also Liu Bei showed excessive modesty。
Lu Bu said； 〃Good younger brother； you need not be so very modest。〃
Zhang Fei heard what Lu Bu said； and his eyes glared； crying； 〃What sort of a man are you that dares call our brother 'younger brother'？ He is one of the ruling family………a jade leaf on a golden branch。 e out； and I will fight you three hundred bouts for the insult。〃
Liu Bei hastily checked the impulsive one； and Guan Yu persuaded him to go away。 Then Liu Bei apologized； saying； 〃My poor brother talks wildly after he has been drinking。 I hope you will not blame him。〃
Lu Bu nodded； but said nothing。 Soon after the guests departed。 But as the host escorted Liu Bei to his carriage； he saw Zhang Fei galloping up armed as for a fray。
〃Lu Bu； you and I will fight that duel of three hundred bouts！〃 shouted Zhang Fei。
Liu Bei bade Guan Yu check him。 Next day Lu Bu came to take leave of his host。
〃You； O Lord； kindly received me； but I fear your brothers and I cannot agree。 So I will seek some other asylum。〃
〃General； if you go； the blame is mine。 My rude brother has offended and must eventually apologize。 In the meantime what think you of a temporary sojourn at the town where I was encamped for some time； Xiaopei？ The place is small and mean； but it is near； and I will see to it that you are supplied with all you need。〃
Lu Bu thanked him and accepted this offer。 He led his troops there and took up residence。 After he had gone； Liu Bei buried his annoyance； and Zhang Fei did not again refer to the matter。
That Cao Cao had subdued the east of the Huashang Mountains has been stated before。 He memorialized the Throne and was rewarded with the title of General Who Exhibits Firm Virtue and Lord of Feiting。 At this time the rebellious Li Jue was manding the court； and he had made himself Regent Marshal； and his colleague Guo Si styled himself Grand mander。 Their conduct was abominable but no one dared to criticize them。
Imperial Guardian Yang Biao and Minister Zhu Jun privately talked with Emperor Xian and said； 〃Cao Cao has two hundred thousand troops and many capable advisers and leaders。 It would be well for the empire if he would lend his support to the imperial family and hel