Just as Yuan Shao's army was starting； Tian Feng sent out a remonstrance from his prison cell； saying； 〃My lord； a hasty attack in full scale will bring disaster to our army。 It is best now to wait upon such times as Heaven should appoint。〃
Peng Ji said to Yuan Shao； 〃Why does this Tian Feng utter ill…omened words？ My lord is sending forth an army in the cause of humanity and justice。〃
Easily moved to anger； Yuan Shao was going to execute Tian Feng； but this time he forbore at the entreaties of many of his officers。
However； he was not appeased； for he said； 〃I will punish Tian Feng when I return from conquering Cao Cao。〃
Meanwhile Yuan Shao hastened to start。 The banners of his host filled the horizon； their swords were as trees in the forest。 They marched to Yangwu and there made a strong camp。
Then Ju Shou once more opposed any hasty movement； saying； 〃Though our soldiers are many； they are not so bold as the enemy。 However； veterans as are the enemy； they have not ample supplies。 Therefore they will wish to force on a speedy battle； while our policy is to hold them off and delay。 If we can keep from a decisive battle long enough； the victory will be ours without fighting。〃
This advice did not appeal to Yuan Shao。
Said he； threateningly； 〃Tian Feng spoke discouraging words to my armies； and I will assuredly put him to death on my return。 How dare you follow in the same way？〃
Yuan Shao summoned the lictors and sent away the adviser in chains； saying； 〃When I have overe Cao Cao； then will I deal with you and Tian Feng together 〃
The huge army was camped in four divisions； one toward each point of the pass。 The camps were thirty miles in circuit。 Scouts and spies were sent out to discover the strong and the weak points of the enemy。
Cao Cao's army arrived and were smitten with fear when they heard of the strength of their enemy。 The leader called together his council。
Then said Adviser Xun You； 〃The enemy are many but not terrible。 Ours is an army of veterans； every soldier of ours worth ten of theirs。 But our advantage lies in a speedy battle； for unhappily our stores are insufficient for a long campaign。〃
〃You speak to the point；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃I think the same。〃
Therefore Cao Cao issued orders to press noisily forward and force on a battle。 Yuan Shao's soldiers took up the challenge； and the two sides were arrayed。 On Yuan Shao's side； Shen Pei placed ten thousand of crossbowmen in ambush on the two wings； while five thousand of archers held the center。 The signal for general attack was a bomb； and the onset was to continue through three rolls of the drum。
Yuan Shao wore a silver helmet and breastplate and an embroidered robe held in by a jeweled belt。 He took up his post in the center with his manders………Gao Lan； Zhang He； Han Meng； Chunyu Qiong； and others………ranged right and left。 His banners and ensigns made a brave show。
When Cao Cao's army's center opened and the banners moved aside； the chieftain appeared on horseback with his staff of doughty leaders all fully armed………Xu Chu； Zhang Liao； Xu Huang； Li Dian； and others。
Pointing with his whip at Yuan Shao； Cao Cao cried； 〃In the presence of the Emperor； I pressed your claims to consideration and obtained for you the title of Regent Marshal。 Why do you now plan rebellion？〃
Yuan Shao replied； 〃You take the title of a minister of Han； but you are really a rebel against the House。 Your crimes and evil deeds reach to the heavens； and you are worse than the usurper Wang Mang and the rebel Dong Zhuo。 What are these slanderous words about rebellion that dare you address to me？〃
〃I have a mand to make you prisoner！〃
〃I have the Girdle Decree to arrest rebels！〃 replied Yuan Shao。
Then Cao Cao became wrathful and bade Zhang Liao ride forth as his champion。 From the other side rode Zhang He on a curvetting steed。 The two champions fought forty or fifty bouts with no advantage to either。 In his heart Cao Cao thought the contest amazing。 Then Xu Chu whirled up his sword and went to help。 From the other side； to match him rode out Gao Lan with his spear set； and the contestants were now four； battling two and two。 Then Cao Cao ordered three thousand troops under Xiahou Dun and Cao Hong to attack the opponents' array。 Thereupon on Yuan Shao's side； Shen Pei gave the signal for attack； and the legion of crossbowmen on the wings shot and the center archers let fly all together。 The arrows flew all over the field in front； and Cao Cao's troops could not advance。 They hastened away toward the south。 Yuan Shao threw his soldiers on their rear； and they were broken。 They fled away toward Guandu； and Yuan Shao advanced another stage。 He camped near them。
Then Shen Pei said； 〃Now send one hundred thousand soldiers to guard Guandu； and get near Cao Cao's camp。 Then build up observation mounds to get a clear view of the enemy； and choose vantage points whence to shoot arrows into the midst of their host。 If we can force him to evacuate this place； we shall have gained a strategic point whence Capital Xuchang can be attacked。〃
Yuan Shao adopted this suggestion。 From each of the camps； they sought out the strongest veterans who dug with iron spades and carried earth to raise mounds near Cao Cao's camp。
Cao Cao's soldiers saw what their enemies were doing and were anxious to make a sortie and drive them off。 But the archers and crossbowmen came out manding the narrow throat through which it was necessary to attack and stayed them。 At the end of ten days； they had build up more than half a hundred mounds； and on the summit of each was a lofty tower； whence the archers could mand their opponents' camp。 Cao Cao's soldiers were greatly frightened and held up their bucklers to keep off the various missiles。 From the mounds the arrows flew down like a fierce rain after each roll of drums。 The soldiers of Yuan Shao's army laughed and jeered when they saw their enemies crouching under their shields and crawling on the ground to avoid their missiles。
Cao Cao saw that his troops were getting out of hand under this attack； so he called a council。
Liu Ye spoke up； saying； 〃Let us make catapults and so destroy them。〃
Cao Cao at once had models brought and set cunning workers to make these stone…throwing machines。 They soon constructed some hundreds and placed them along the walls of the camp inside； just opposite the high ladders on the enemy's mounds。
Then Cao Cao's troops watched for Yuan Shao's archers to ascend the towers。 As soon as the archers began to shoot； all the catapults began to heave stone balls into the skies and they wrought great havoc。 There was no shelter from the falling stones； and enormous numbers of the archers were killed。 Yuan Shao's troops called these machines 〃Rumblers；〃 and after their appearance the archers dared not ascend the mounds to shoot。
Then Shen Pei； the strategist； thought out another plan。 He set troops to tunnel under the walls into the midst of Cao Cao's camp and called this corps 〃The Sappers〃。 Cao Cao's soldiers saw the enemy digging out pits behind the mounds and told the chief； who at once sought a counter plan from Liu Ye。
〃As Yuan Shao can no longer attack openly； he is attacking secretly and is tunneling a road under ground into the midst of our camp；〃 said Liu Ye。
〃But how to meet it？〃
〃We can surround the camp with a deep moat which renders their tunnel useless。〃
So a deep moat was dug as quickly as possible； and when the enemy sappers arrived thereat； lo！ their labor had been in vain and the sap was useless。
Cao Cao held Guandu throughout the eighth and ninth months when； his army being worn out and provisions failing； he began to think of giving up and returning to the capital。 As he could not make up his mind； he referred his difficulties by letter to Xun Yu； whom he had left to guard Xuchang。 The reply he got was to this effect：
〃I have received your mand to decide whether to continue the campaign or retire。 It appears to me that Yuan Shao assembled such large forces at Guandu with the expectation of winning a decision。 You； Sir； are very weak while he is very strong。 If you cannot get the better of him； he will be able to work his will on you； and this will be a crisis of the empire。 Your opponents are indeed numerous； but their leader knows not how to use them。 With your military genius and discernment； where are you not sure to succeed？ Now though your numbers are small； your situation is still brighter than Liu Bang's when he faced against Xiang Yu in Jungyang and Chenggao。 You are securely entrenched with your hands on Yuan Shao's throat； and even if you cannot advance； that state of things cannot endure forever but must change。 This is the time to play some unexpected move； and you must not miss it。 The device I leave to your illustrious ingenuity。〃
This letter greatly pleased Cao Cao； and he urged upon his troops to use every effort to maintain the position。
Yuan Shao then retired some ten miles； and Cao Cao sent out scouts to ascertain his new dispositions。 One of Xu Huang's officers； Shi Huan； captured an enemy spy and sent him to his chief。 Xu Huang interrogated him and found out that a convoy of supplies was expected and that this spy and others had been sent to find out what the risks of the route were。 Xu Huang went at once to tell Cao Cao。
When Xun You heard that the mander of the convoy was Han Meng； he said； 〃That fellow is a valiant fool。 A few thousand light horse sent to intercept him can capture the whole train and cause much trouble in the enemy's camp。〃
〃Whom should I send？〃 asked Cao Cao。
〃You might send Xu Huang。 He is capable of such a task。〃
So Xu Huang was deputed； and he took with him Shi Huan； who had captured the spy； and his pany。 And this party was supported by Zhang Liao and Xu Chu。
It was night when the missariat train of many thousands of wagons drew near Yuan Shao's camp。 As they passed through a defile； Xu Huang and Shi Huan came out and stopped the train。 Han Meng galloped up to give battle but was soon overe。 The guard was scattered； and soon the whole train was in flames。 The escort and their leader fled away。
The glow of the flames seen from Yuan Shao's camp caused great consternation； which became fear when the escaped soldiers rode in and told their tale。
Yuan Shao sent out Zhang He and Gao Lan to try to intercept the raiders； and they came upon Xu Huang and his pany。 Just as Zhang He and Gao Lan were attacking； reinforcements from Zhang Liao and Xu Chu came up； and the Yuan Shao's troops were between two fires。 They were cut to pieces and the successful generals of Cao Cao rode back to Guandu； where they were richly rewarded。
As an additional safeguard； Cao Cao made a supporting outpost in front of the main camp to be the apex of a triangle of defense。
When Han Meng returned with his woeful tidings； Yuan Shao was angry and threatened to put him to death。 His colleagues begged him off。
Then said Shen Pei； 〃Food is very important for an army in the field and must be defended with the greatest diligence。 Wuchao is our main depot and must be carefully guarded。〃
〃My plans being plete；〃 said Yuan Shao。 〃You may as well return to Capital Yejun of Jizhou and undertake the control of the supplies。 Let there be no shortage。〃
So Shen Pei left the army。 Then a force of twenty thousand troops was