So Shen Pei left the army。 Then a force of twenty thousand troops was told off to defend the depot in Wuchao。 The leaders of this body were Chunyu Qiong； Gui Yuanjin； Han Juzi； Lu Weihuang； and Zhao Rui。
Of these generals； Chunyu Qiong was a hard man and a heavy drinker； who in his cups was a terror to the soldiers。 Under the idle life of guarding the supply depot； the leaders gave themselves up to indulgence and drank heavily。
In Cao Cao's army food was also getting scarce； and a message was sent to Capital Xuchang to send grain quickly。 The messenger with the letter； however； had not gone far when he fell into the hands of Yuan Shao's guards； who took him to the adviser Xu You。
Seeing from the letter that Cao Cao was short of supplies； Xu You went to Yuan Shao and told him； saying； 〃Cao Cao and we have been at grips here for a long time； and Capital Xuchang must be undefended。 A small army sent quickly could take it； and at the same moment an attack here would deliver Cao Cao into our hands。 Now is the moment to strike； for his supplies are short。〃
Yuan Shao replied； 〃Cao Cao is full of ruses； and this letter is artfully designed to bring about a battle to suit himself。〃
〃If you do not take this chance； he will do you some injury by and by。〃
Just at this juncture in came a dispatch from Yejun in which； after some details regarding the forwarding of grain； Shen Pei said he had discovered that Xu You had been in the habit of receiving bribes while in Jizhou and had winked at his relatives collecting excess taxes。 One of his son and nephew were then in prison。
At this Yuan Shao turned on Xu You angrily and said； 〃How can you have the face to stand before me and propose plans； you extortionate fellow？ You and Cao Cao have old liking for each other； and he has bribed you to do his dirty work for him and help his base schemes。 Now you want to betray my army。 I ought to take off your head； but temporarily I will let your neck carry it away。 Get out and never let me see you again。〃
The discredited adviser sighed and went out； saying； 〃Faithful words offend his ear。 He is a pest and unworthy of advice from me。 And now that Shen Pei has injured my son and nephew； how can I look my fellow folks in the face again？〃
And Xu You drew his sword to end his life。 But his people prevented that。
They said； 〃If Yuan Shao rejects your honest words； then assuredly he will be taken by Cao Cao。 You are an old friend of Cao Cao's： Why not abandon the shade for the sunlight？〃
Just these few words awakened Xu You to consciousness of his position； and he decided to leave Yuan Shao and go over to Cao Cao for he was an old friend。
Vainly now for chances lost
Yuan Shao sighs； once he was great。
Had he taken Xu You's advice；
Cao Cao had not set up a state。
Xu You stealthily left the camp and set out for Cao Cao's lines。 He was captured on the way。 He told his captors： 〃I am an old friend of the Prime Minister。 Go and tell the Prime Minister that Xu You of Nanyang wishes to see him。〃
They did so。 Cao Cao was resting in his tent； his clothing loose and fortable after the toils of the day。 When he heard who wished to see him； he arose quite joyfully and hastily ran out； on bare feet； to receive Xu You。 Cao Cao went forth to greet him。 They saw each other in the distance； and Cao Cao clapped his hands with gladness； bowing to the ground when near enough to his visitor。
Xu You hastened to help him rise； saying； 〃Sir； you； a great minister； should not thus salute a simple civilian like me。〃
〃But you are my old friend； and no name or office makes any difference to us；〃 replied Cao Cao。
〃Having been unable to choose the lord I would serve； I bowed my head before Yuan Shao wishing to support him sincerely。 But he was deaf to my words and disregarded my plans。 Wherefore I have left him and e now to see my old friend from whom I hope employment。〃
〃If you are willing to e； then have I indeed a helper；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃I desire you to give me a scheme for the destruction of Yuan Shao。〃
〃I counseled him to send a light force to take Capital Xuchang and at the same time attack here in full scale so that head and tail be both attacked。〃
Cao Cao was alarmed； saying； 〃If he does so； I am lost！〃
〃How much grain have you in store？〃 said the new adviser。
〃Enough for a year。〃
〃I think not quite；〃 said Xu You； smiling。
〃Well； half a year。〃
The visitor shook out his sleeves； rose and hurried toward the door of the tent； saying； 〃I offer him good counsel； and he repays me with deceit。 Could I have expected it？〃
Cao Cao held him back。
〃Do not be angry；〃 said he。 〃I will tell you the truth。 Really I have here only enough for three months。〃
〃Everybody says you are a marvel of wickedness； and indeed it is true；〃 said Xu You。
〃But who does not know that in war there is no objection to deceit？〃 replied Cao Cao。
Then whispering in Xu You's ear； he said； 〃Actually here I have only supplies for this month's use。〃
〃O do not throw dust in my eyes any more。 Your grain is exhausted and I know it。〃
Cao Cao was startled； for he thought no one knew of the straits he was in。
〃How did you find that out？〃 said Cao Cao。
Xu You produced the captured letter； saying； 〃Who wrote that？〃
〃Where did you get it？〃
Whereupon Xu You told Cao Cao the story of the captured messenger。
Cao Cao seized him by the hand； saying； 〃Since our old friendship has brought you to me； I hope you have some plan to suggest to me。〃
Xu You said； 〃To oppose a great army with a small one is to walk in the way of destruction； unless you inflict quick defeat。 I can propose a plan which will defeat the innumerable hordes of Yuan Shao without fighting a battle。 But will you follow my advice？〃
〃I very much desire to know your plan；〃 said Cao Cao。
〃Your enemy's stores of all kinds are at Wuchao； where the mander of the guard is that drunkard Chunyu Qiong。 You can send some of your trusty veterans to pretend they belong to one of Yuan Shao's generals； Jiang Qi； sent to help guard the depot。 These soldiers can find an opportunity to fire the grain and stores of all kinds； which will upset all Yuan Shao's calculations。 In three days Yuan Shao is no more。〃
Cao Cao greatly approved。 He treated Xu You very liberally and kept him in his camp。 Forthwith he chose five thousand of horse and foot ready for the expedition。
Zhang Liao protested； saying； 〃The enterprise will be futile as the grain depot will certainly be well guarded。 Without caution； we may be victims of the treachery on the part of the newly arrived Xu You。〃
〃Xu You is no traitor；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃He has e sent by Heaven to defeat Yuan Shao。 If we do not get grain； it will be hard to hold out。 I have to either follow his advice or sit still and be hemmed in。 If he were a traitor； he would hardly remain in my camp。 Moreover this raid has been my desire for a long time。 Have no doubts： The raid will certainly succeed。〃
〃Well； then； you must look out for an attack here while the camp is undefended。〃
〃That is already well provided for；〃 said Cao Cao gleefully。
The arrangements for the raid on the grain depot were made with extreme care to ensure success。 Cao Cao assigned Xun You； Jia Xu； and Cao Hong to guard the main camp； together with Xu You； Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan to guard the left camp； Cao Ren and Li Dian to guard the right camp。 When all was ready they set out； Cao Cao himself in the center； with Zhang Liao and Xu Chu as van leaders and Xu Huang and Yu Jin as rear guard。 The army showed the ensigns of their opponents。 The troops carried bundles of grass and faggots to make a blaze。 The soldiers were gagged and the horses tied round the muzzles so as to prevent any noise。 They set out at dusk。
The night was fine and the stars shone brightly。
Ju Shou； still a prisoner in Yuan Shao's camp； saw the stars were very brilliant and told his gaolers to conduct him out to the central pavilion whence he could study them。 While watching he saw the planet Venus invade the quarter of the Bear and Lyra； which startled him very greatly。
〃Some misfortune is near！〃 said Ju Shou。
So although it was still night； he went to see his master。 But Yuan Shao was sleeping after indulgence in too much wine and was in bad humor。 However； when they had roused him saying that the prisoner had a secret message to deliver； he got up。
〃While I happened to be studying the aspect of the heavens；〃 said the night visitor； 〃I saw Venus； then between Hydra and Cancer； suddenly shoot into the neighborhood of the Bear and Lyra。 There is danger of a robber raid； and special precautions must be taken at the grain depot。 Lose no time in sending good soldiers and vigorous leaders thither； and keep a lookout on the byways among the hills that you may escape the wiles of Cao Cao。〃
〃You are a criminal！〃 said Yuan Shao。 〃How dare you e with such wild nonsense to upset my armies。〃
And turning to the gaolers Yuan Shao continued； 〃I bade you confine him。 Why did you let him e？〃
Then he issued orders to put the gaolers to death and appointed others to keep the prisoner in close custody。
Ju Shou went away； wiping his falling tears and sighing deeply； 〃Our soldiers' destruction is at hand； and I know not where our poor corpses may find a resting place。〃
Blunt truth offended Yuan Shao；
Too stupid any plan to make；
His stores destroyed this is evident
That Jizhou also is at stake。
Cao Cao's raiding party went along through the night。 Passing one of Yuan Shao's outpost camps； they were challenged。
Cao Cao sent forward a man to say； 〃Jiang Qi has orders to go to Wuchao to guard the grain stores。〃
Seeing that the raiders marched under the ensigns of Yuan Shao； the guard had no suspicions and let them pass。 At every post this ruse was effective； and they got safely through。 They reached their objective at the end of the fourth watch； the straw and wood were placed in position without loss of time； and the blaze started。 Then Cao Cao's manders beat to attack。
At this time Chunyu Qiong and his panions were all asleep after a heavy drinking bout。 However； when the alarm was given； they sprang up and asked what was the matter。 The hubbub was indescribable。 Very soon the fuddled officers were caught with hooks and hauled out of their camp。
Yuan Shao's generals Gui Yuanjin and Zhao Rui were just returning from taking grain to the camp and seeing the flames arise； they hastened to assist。
Some of Cao Cao's soldiers ran to him； saying； 〃The enemy is ing up in the rear。 Send reinforcements。〃
But Cao Cao only replied； 〃Press on to the front till the enemy is actually close at hand and then face about。〃
So the attack was pressed on and they all hastened forward。 Very soon the fire gained strength； and thick smoke hung all around filling the sky。 When Gui Yuanjin and Zhao Rui drew near； Cao Cao turned about and attacked them。 They could not stand this for a moment； and both generals were killed。 Finally the stores of grain and forage were utterly destroyed。
The mander； Chunyu Qiong； was made prisoner and taken to Cao Cao who ordered him to be deprived of ears； nose； and hands。 He was bound on a horse and sent； thus horribly mutilated； to his master。
From Yuan Shao's camp； the flames of the burning depot were seen away in the north； and they knew what they meant。 Yuan Shao hastily summoned his