spiracy against Lu Bu。〃
〃But if they helped him； on the other hand； we should lengthen the tiger's claws and teeth；〃 said Chen Gui。
So Chen Deng could only approve of his father's precautions。
Yuan Shu returned home burning to avenge his defeat； so he sent to the South Land to ask a loan of troops from Sun Ce。
But Sun Ce said； 〃On the strength of holding the State Seal； he secretly calls himself emperor and rebels against the Hans。 I would rather punish such a renegade than help him。〃
So Sun Ce rejected。 The letter refusing help added to Yuan Shu's anger。
〃What next from this callow youth？〃 cried Yuan Shu。 〃I will smite him before I deal with the others。〃
But his adviser； Yang Dajiang； dissuaded him from this course。
Having refused help to his powerful rival； Sun Ce thought it wise to take measures for his own safety。 So he stationed an army at Jiangkou。 Soon after came a messenger from Cao Cao bearing Sun Ce's appointment as Governor of Kuaiji with orders to raise an army and reduce Yuan Shu。
Sun Ce was inclined to carry out these orders； but he called a council at which Zhang Zhao opposed this course。
Said he； 〃Although recently defeated； Yuan Shu has large army and ample supplies。 He is not to be attacked lightly。 You had better write to Cao Cao persuading him to attack the South of River Huai and we will be auxiliaries。 Between the two armies； Yuan Shu must certainly be defeated。 If by the remotest chance we lose； we have Cao Cao to e to our rescue。〃
This plan was adopted； and a messenger was sent to lay it before Cao Cao。 In the meantime； after the defeat at River Yu； Cao Cao had reached Xuchang where his first thought was to institute sacrifices to his beloved lost leader； Dian Wei。 He conferred rank upon his son Dian Man and took him into his own palace to be cared for。
Presently arrived Sun Ce's messenger with letters； and next came a report that Yuan Shu； being short of food； had made a raid on Chenliu。 Cao Cao thought the moment opportune； so he issued orders for the south expedition； leaving Cao Ren to hold the capital。 The army marched； horse and foot； one hundred seventy thousand； with missariat wagons of food to the number of over a thousand。 Messages were sent to summon Sun Ce； Liu Bei； and Lu Bu。
Liu Bei was the first to wele the grand army at his Yuzhou borders； and he was called in to the Prime Minister's tent。 After the usual salutations； two human heads were produced by Liu Bei。
〃Whose are these？〃 asked Cao Cao in surprise。
〃The heads of Han Xian and Yang Feng。〃
〃Why did this happen？〃
〃They were sent to control Yidu and Langye； but they allowed their soldiers to plunder the people。 Bitter plaints arose； so I invited them to a banquet and my brothers dispatched them when I gave the signal by dropping a cup。 Their armies gave in at once。 Now I have to apologize for my fault。〃
〃You have removed an evil； which is a grand service： Why talk of a fault？〃
And Cao Cao praised Liu Bei's action。
When the joint army reached Lu Bu's Xuzhou borders； he came to meet it。 Cao Cao spoke graciously to him and conferred upon him the title of General of the Left Army； promising him an official seal as soon as he returned to the capital。 Lu Bu was very pleased。
Then the three armies were made into one force； Cao Cao being in the center； Lu Bu to the left wing； and Liu Bei to the right wing。 Xiahou Dun and Yu Jin were Leaders of the Van。
On Yuan Shu's side； General Qiao Rui with fifty thousand troops was appointed Van Leader。 The armies met on the confines of the city of Shouchun。 Qiao Rui and Xiahou Dun rode out and opened battle。 But Qiao Rui fell in the third bout； and his troops fled into the city。
Then came news that Sun Ce's fleet was near and would attack on the west。 The other three land corps took each one face………Cao Cao on the north； Lu Bu on the east； and Liu Bei on the south。 The city of Shouchun was in a parlous state。
At this juncture Yuan Shu summoned his officers。
Yang Dajiang explained the case； 〃Shouchun has suffered from drought for several years； and the people are on the verge of famine。 Sending an army would add to the distress and anger the people； and victory would be uncertain。 I advise not to send any more soldiers there； but to hold on till the besiegers are conquered by lack of supplies。 Meanwhile； Your Highness； with regiment of guards； will move over to the other side of River Huai； which is quite ready； and we shall also escape the enemy's ferocity。〃
So due arrangements was made。 One hundred thousand troops under Li Deng； Yue Jiu； Liang Gang； and Chen Ji were appointed to guard Shouchun。 Then a general move was made to the other side of the River Huai。 Not only the remained army went over； but all the accumulated wealth of the Yuan family； gold and silver； jewels and precious stones； were moved also。
Cao Cao's army of one hundred seventy thousand needed daily a considerable quantity of food； and as the country around had been famine…stricken for several years； nothing could be got there。 So he tried to hasten the military operations and capture the city。 On the other hand； the defenders knew the value of delay and simply held on。 After a month's vigorous siege； the fall of Shouchun seemed as far off as it was at first； and supplies were very short。 Letters were sent to Sun Ce who sent a hundred thousand carts of grain。 When the usual distribution became impossible； the Chief of the missariat； Ren Jun； and the Controller of the Granaries； Wang Hou； presented a statement asking what was to be done。
〃Serve out with a smaller measure；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃That will save us for a time。〃
〃But if the soldiers murmur； what then？〃
〃I shall have another device。〃
As ordered the controller issued grain in a short measure。 Cao Cao sent secretly to find out how the army took this； and when he found that plaints were general and the soldiers were saying that the Prime Minister was fooling them； he sent a secret summons to the controller。
When Wang Hou came； Cao Cao said； 〃I want to ask you to lend me something to pacify the soldiers with。 You must not refuse。〃
〃What does the Prime Minister wish？〃
〃I want the loan of your head to expose to the soldiery。〃
〃But I have done nothing wrong！〃 exclaimed the unhappy man。
〃I know that； but if I do not put you to death； there will be a mutiny。 After you are gone； your wife and children shall be my care。 So you need not grieve on their account。〃
Wang Hou was about to remonstrate further； but Cao Cao gave a signal。 The executioners hustled Wang Hou out； and he was beheaded。 His head was exposed on a tall pole； and a notice said； 〃In accordance with military law； Wang Hou had been put to death for peculation and the use of a short measure in issuing grain。〃
This appeased the discontent。 Next followed a general order threatening death to all manders if the city was not taken within three days。 Cao Cao in person went up to the very walls to superintend the work of filling up the moat。 The defenders kept up constant showers of stones and arrows。 Two inferior officers； who left their stations in fear； were slain by Cao Cao himself。 Thereafter he went on foot to work with his soldiers and to see that work went on continuously and no one dared be a laggard。 Thus encouraged； the army became invincible； and no defense could withstand their onslaught。 In a very short time the walls were scaled； the gates battered in； and the besiegers were in possession。 The officers of the garrison………Li Deng； Yue Jiu； Liang Gang； and Chen Ji………were captured alive and were executed in the market place。 All the paraphernalia of imperial state were burned； and the whole city wrecked。
When the question of crossing the river in pursuit of Yuan Shu came up； Xun Yu opposed it； saying； 〃The country has suffered from short crops for years； and we should be unable to get grain。 An advance would weary the army； harm the people； and possibly end in disaster。 I advise a return to the capital to wait there till the spring wheat shall have been harvested and we have plenty of food。〃
Cao Cao hesitated。
Before he had made up his mind； there came an urgent message： 〃Zhang Xiu； with the support of Liu Biao； was ravaging the country all round。 There were rebellions in Nanyang and Jiangling； and Cao Hong could not cope with it。 Cao Hong had been worsted already in several engagements and was in sore straits。〃
Cao Cao at once wrote to Sun Ce to mand the Great River so as to prevent any move on the part of Liu Biao； while he prepared his army to go to deal with Zhang Xiu。 Before marching Cao Cao directed Liu Bei to station at Xiaopei； as he and Lu Bu being as brothers might help each other。
When Lu Bu had left for Xuzhou； Cao Cao said secretly to Liu Bei； 〃I am leaving you at Xiaopei to dig a 'pitfall for the tiger。' You will only take advice from Chen Deng and Chen Gui； and there can be no mishap。 You will find so…and…so your ally when needed。〃
So Cao Cao marched to Xuchang where he heard that Duan Wei had slain Li Jue and Wu Xi killed Guo Si； and they presented the heads of these two。 Beside the whole clan of Li Jue； more than two hundred； had been arrested and brought to the capital。 They were all put to death at various gates and their heads exposed as warning。 The people cheered the end of those two rebels。
In the Emperor's palace a large number of officials were assembled at a peace banquet。 The Emperor rewarded the two successful leaders； Duan Wei with the title of General Who Destroys Rebellion and Wu Xi General Who Wrecks Villainy； and sent to guard Changan。 They came to audience to express their gratitude and marched away。
Then Cao Cao sent in a memorial that Zhang Xiu was in rebellion； and an army must be sent against him。 The Emperor in person arranged the chariot and escorted Cao Cao out of the city when he went to take mand of the expedition。 It was the summer； the fourth month of the third year of Rebuilt Tranquillity （AD 198）。 Xun Yu was in chief military mand in Xuchang。
The army marched away。 In the course of the march they passed through a wheat region； and the grain was ready for harvesting but the peasants had fled for fear； and the corn was uncut。 Cao Cao sent proclamations to all villages and towns：
〃I am sent on the expedition by mand of the Emperor to capture a rebel and save the people。 I cannot avoid moving in the harvest season； but if anyone trample down the corn； he shall be put to death。 Military law is strict without exception； and the people need fear no damage。〃
The people were very pleased and lined the road； wishing success to the expedition。 When the soldiers passed wheat fields； they dismounted and pushed aside the stalks so that none were trampled down。
One day； when Cao Cao was riding through the fields； a dove suddenly got up； startling the horse so that it swerved into the standing grain； and a large patch was trampled down。 Cao Cao at once called the Provost Marshal and bade him decree the sentence for the crime of trampling down corn。
〃How can I deal with your crime？〃 asked the Provost Marshal。
〃I made the rule； and I have broken it。 Can I otherwise satisfy public opinion？〃
Cao Cao laid hold of the sword by his side and made to take his own life。 All hastened to prevent him。
Guo Jia said； 〃In ancient days； the days of the Spring and Autumn history； the