〃General Cao Cao is indeed a trusty servant！〃 said the Emperor。
Orders were given to advance； Cao Hong leading the escort。 By and by scouts came to say that the rebels were ing up very quickly。 The Emperor bade Xiahou Dun divide his force into two parts to oppose them。 Xiahou Dun and Cao Hong's armies threw out two wings with cavalry in front and foot behind。 They attacked with vigor and beat off the Li Jue and Guo Si's rebels with severe loss of ten thousand。 Then Xiahou Dun and Cao Hong begged the Emperor to return to Luoyang； and Xiahou Dun guarded the city。
Next day Cao Cao came with his great army； and having got them duly camped he went into the city to audience。 He knelt at the foot of the steps； but was called up hither to stand beside the Emperor and be thanked。
Cao Cao replied； 〃Having been the recipient of great bounty； thy servant owes the state much gratitude。 The measure of evil of the two rebels is full； I have two hundred thousand of good soldiers to oppose them； and those soldiers are fully equal to securing the safety of Your Majesty and the Throne。 The preservation of the state sacrifice is the matter of real moment。〃
High honors were conferred on Cao Cao。 He was appointed mander of Capital District； Minister of War； and granted Military Insignia。
The two rebels； Li Jue and Guo Si； wished to attack Cao Cao's army while fatigued from its long march。 But their adviser； Jia Xu； opposed this； saying； 〃There was no hope of victory。 He has both strong soldiers and brave leaders。 Submission may bring us amnesty。〃
Li Jue was angry at the suggestion； crying； 〃Do you wish to dishearten the army？〃
And he drew his sword on Jia Xu。 But the other officers interceded and saved the adviser。 That same night Jia Xu stole out of the camp and； quite alone； took his way home to his native village。
Soon the rebels decided to offer battle。 In reply； Cao Cao sent out Xu Chu； Cao Ren； and Dian Wei with three hundred horse。 These three leaders dashed into the rebels army but quickly retired。 This maneuver was repeated； and again repeated before the real battle array was formed。
Then Li Xian and Li Bie； nephews of Li Jue； rode out。 At once from Cao Cao's side dashed out Xu Chu and cut down Li Xian。 Li Bie was so startled that he fell out of the saddle。 He too was slain。 The victor Xu Chu rode back to his own side with the two heads。
＇e＇ Fan Kuai （BC ？…189） a brave general of Liu Bang。 He and Liu Bang had been close friends in their native Pei； where he was a butcher and Liu Bang later held a minor office。 Enobled as Lord of Zuo。 。。。。。
When Xu Chu offered them to the chief； Cao Cao patted him on the back； crying； 〃You are really my Fan Kuai*！〃
Next a general move forward was made； Xiahou Dun and Cao Hong leading the two wings and Cao Cao in the center。 They advanced to the roll of the drum。 The rebels fell back before them and presently fled。 They pursued； Cao Cao himself leading； sword in hand。 The slaughter went on till night。 Ten thousands were killed and many more surrendered。 Li Jue and Guo Si went west； flying in panic like dogs from a falling house。 Having no place of refuge they took to the hills and hid among the brushwood。
Cao Cao's army returned and camped again near the capital。
Then Yang Feng and Han Xian said one to another； 〃This Cao Cao has done a great service； and he will be the man in power。 There will be no place for us。〃
So they represented to the Emperor that they wished to pursue the rebels； and under this excuse withdrew their army and camped at Daliang。
One day the Emperor sent to summon Cao Cao to audience。 The messenger was called in。 Cao Cao noticed that the messenger looked remarkably well and could not understand it seeing that everyone else looked hungry and famine stricken。
So Cao Cao said； 〃You look plump and well； Sir； how do you manage it？〃
〃Only this： I have lived meager for thirty years。〃
Cao Cao nodded； 〃What office do you hold？〃
〃I am a graduate remended for filial piety and honesty。 I had offices under Yuan Shao and Zhang Yang； but came here when the Emperor returned。 Now I am one of the secretaries。 I am a native of Dingtao； and my name is Dong Zhao。〃
Cao Cao got up from his place and crossed over； saying； 〃I have heard of you。 How happy I am to meet you！〃
Then wine was brought into the tent； and Xun Yu was called in and introduced。 While they were talking； a man came in to report that a party was moving eastward。 Cao Cao ordered to find out whose people these were； but Dong Zhao knew at once。
〃They are old leaders under the rebels； Yang Feng and the White Wave General Han Xian。 They are running off because you have e； Illustrious Sir！〃
〃Do they mistrust me？〃 said Cao Cao。
〃They are not worthy of your attention。 They are a poor lot。〃
〃What of this departure of Li Jue and Guo Si？〃
〃Tigers without claws； birds without wings………they will not escape you very long。 They are not worth thinking about。〃
Cao Cao saw that he and his guest had much in mon； so he began to talk of affairs of state。
Said Dong Zhao； 〃You； Illustrious Sir； with your noble army have swept away rebellion and have bee the mainstay of the Throne； an achievement worthy of the ancient Five Protectors。 But the officials will look at it in very different ways and not all favorably to you。 I think you would not be wise to remain here； and I advise a change of capital to Xuchang。 However； it must be remembered that the restoration of the capital has been published far and wide and the attention of all the people is concentrated on Luoyang； hoping for a period of rest and tranquillity。 Another move will displease many。 However； the performance of extraordinary deed may mean the acquisition of extraordinary merit。 It is for you to decide。〃
〃Exactly my own inclination！〃 said Cao Cao； seizing his guest's hand。 〃But are there not dangers？ Yang Feng at Daliang and the court officials！〃
〃That is easily managed。 Write to Yang Feng and set his mind at rest。 Then say to the high officials plainly that there is no food in the capital here； and so you are going to another place where there is； and where there is no danger of scarcity。 When they hear it； they will approve。〃
Cao Cao had now decided； and as his guest took leave； Cao Cao seized his hands once more； saying； 〃I shall need your advice in future affairs。〃
Dong Zhao thanked and left。 Thereafter Cao Cao and his advisers secretly discussed the change of capital。
＇e＇ Jin state occupied the western part of the empire； in the mountainous area north of the Yellow River。 During the Spring and Autumn period； under the leadership of Duke Wen and his successors； Jin grew into a very large state； which broke into three states in the Warring States period。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Wei was a state in the Warring States period。 Wei came into existence after the partition of Jin。 Succeeded Jin in dominating the empire。 。。。。。
Now Court Counselor Wang Li； who was an astrologer； said to Liu Cai； Royal Clan Recorder； 〃I have been studying the stars。 Since last spring Venus has been nearing the Guard star in the neighborhood of the Measure； and the Cowherd （the Great Bear and Vega） crossing the River of Heaven。 Mars has been retrograding and came into conjunction with Venus in the Gate of Heaven； so that metal （Venus） and fire （Mars） are mingled。 Thence must emerge a new ruler。 The aura of the Hans is exhausted； and the ancient states of Jin* and Wei* must increase。〃
A secret memorial was presented to the Emperor； saying：
〃The Mandate of Heaven has its course and the five elements………metal； wood； water； fire； and earth………are out of proportion。 Earth attacking fire is Wei attacking Han； and the successor to the empire of Han is in Wei。〃
Cao Cao heard of these sayings and memorials and sent a man to the astrologer to say； 〃Your loyalty is well known； but the ways of Heaven are past finding out。 The less said the better。〃
Then Cao Cao discussed with Xun Yu。
The adviser expounded the meaning thus： 〃The virtue of Han was fire； your element is earth。 Xuchang is under the influence of earth； and so your fortune depends on getting there。 Fire can overe earth； as earth can multiply wood。 Dong Zhao and Wang Li agree； and you have only to hide your time。〃
So Cao Cao made up his mind。
Next day at court he said； 〃Luoyang is deserted and cannot be restored； nor can it be supplied easily with food。 Xuchang is a noble city； resourceful and close to Luyang； which is a grain basin。 It is everything that a capital should be。 I venture to request that the court move thither。〃
The Emperor dared not oppose and the officials were too overawed to have any independent opinion； so they chose a day to set out。 Cao Cao manded the escort； and the officials all followed。 When they had traveled a few stages they saw before them a high mound and from behind this there arose the beating of drums。
Then Yang Feng and Han Xian came out and barred the way。 In front of all stood Xu Huang； who shouted； 〃Cao Cao is stealing away the Emperor！〃
Cao Cao rode out and took a good look at this man。 He seemed a fine fellow； and in his secret soul Cao Cao greatly admired him； although he was an enemy。 Then Cao Cao ordered Xu Chu to go and fight Xu Huang。 The bat was battle…ax against broadsword； and the two men fought more than half a hundred bouts without advantage to either side。 Cao Cao then beat the gongs and drew off his troops。
In the camp a council was called。 Cao Cao said； 〃The two rebels themselves need not be discussed； but Xu Huang is a fine general； and I was unwilling to use any great force against him。 I want to win him over to our side。〃
Then stepped out Man Chong； replying； 〃Do not let that trouble you。 I will have a word with him。 I shall disguise myself as a soldier this evening and steal over to the enemy's camp to talk to him。 I shall incline his heart toward you。〃
That night Man Chong； duly disguised； got over to the other side and made his way to the tent of Xu Huang； who sat there by the light of a candle。 Xu Huang was still wearing his coat of mail。
Suddenly Man Chong ran out in front and saluted； saying； 〃You have been well since we parted； old friend？〃
Xu Huang jumped up in surprise； gazed into the face of the speaker a long time； and presently said； 〃What！ You are Man Chong of Shanyang？ What are you doing here？〃
〃I am an officer in General Cao Cao's army。 Seeing my old friend out in front of the army today； I wanted to say a word to him。 So I took the risk of stealing in this evening and here I am。〃
Xu Huang invited Man Chong in； and they sat down。
Then said Man Chong； 〃There are very few as bold as you on the earth。 Why then do you serve such as your present chiefs； Yang Feng and Han Xian？ My master is the most prominent man in the world………a man who delights in wise people and appreciates soldiers as everyone knows。 Your valor today won his entire admiration； and so he took care that the attack was not vigorous enough to sacrifice you。 Now he has sent me to invite you to join him。 Will you not leave darkness for light and help him in his magnificent task？〃
Xu Huang sat a long time pondering over the offer。
Then he said； with a sigh； 〃I know my masters are doomed to failure； but I have followed their fortunes a long time and do not like to leave them。〃
〃But you know the prudent bird selects its tree； and the