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 officers to a council to send a rescue party。
＇e＇ Sun Bin military strategist； a descendant of Sun Zi。 Sun Bin served as military counselor during the Warring States period in Qi。 He wrote a treatise named The Art of War of Sun Bin。 。。。。。
＇e＇ In the Warring States period； Wei was attacking Zhao when Zhao sent to Qi to seek help。 Sun Bin； a strategist of Qi； devised a scheme to attack Wei's important base。 Facing this new threat； Wei had to withdraw its force to defend the base； and thus Zhao was relieved。 Sun Bin then laid an ambush on Wei's retreat and scored a victory for Qi。
Zhang He offered to go with Gao Lan； but Guo Tu said； 〃You may not go。 It is certain that Cao Cao is there in person； wherefore his camp is undefended。 Let loose our soldiers on the camp； and that will speedily bring Cao Cao back again。 This is how Sun Bin* besieged Wei and thereby rescued Zhao*。〃
But Zhang He said； 〃Not so； Cao Cao is too wily not to have fully prepared against a chance attack。 If we attack his camp and fail and Chunyu Qiong should be caught； we shall all be captured too。〃
Guo Tu said； 〃Cao Cao will be too intent on the destruction of the grain to think of leaving a guard。 I entreat you to attack his camp。〃
So Yuan Shao sent five thousand soldiers under Zhang He and Gao Lan to attack Cao Cao's camp； and he sent ten thousand with Jiang Qi to go to recover the grain store。
Now after overing Chunyu Qiong； Cao Cao's troops dressed themselves in the armor and clothing of the defeated soldiers and put out their emblems； thus posing as defeated force running back to their own headquarters。 And when they happened upon Jiang Qi's rescue body； they said they had been beaten at Wuchao and were retreating。 So Cao Cao's troops were suffered to pass without molestation while Jiang Qi hastened on。 But soon Jiang Qi came to Zhang Liao and Xu Chu who cried out； 〃Stop！〃
And before Jiang Qi could make any opposition； Zhang Liao had cut him down。 Soon his force were killed or dispersed； and the victors sent false messengers to Yuan Shao's camp to say that Jiang Qi had attacked and driven away the attackers of the granaries。 So no more relief were sent that way。 However； Yuan Shao sent reinforcements to Guandu。
In due course； the Yuan Shao's force came down upon Cao Cao's camp at Guandu； and the defenders………Xiahou Dun； Cao Ren； and Cao Hong………at once came out and fought them on three sides so that they were worsted。 By the time reinforcements arrived； Cao Cao's army； returning from the raid； had also e； and Yuan Shao's army were attacked in the rear。 So they were quite surrounded。 However； Zhang He and Gao Lan managed to force their way out and got away。
When the remains of the defenders of the grain stores reached their master's camp； they were mustered。 Seeing the mutilated state of their one time leader； Yuan Shao asked how Chunyu Qiong had e to betray his trust and to suffer thus。
The soldiers told their lord； 〃The General was intoxicated at the time of the attack。〃
So Yuan Shao ordered Chunyu Qiong to be forthwith executed。
Guo Tu； fearing lest Zhang He and Gao Lan would return and testify the whole truth； began to intrigue against them。
First Guo Tu went to his lord； saying； 〃Those two； Zhang He and Gao Lan； were certainly very glad when your armies were defeated。〃
〃Why do you say this？〃 asked Yuan Shao。
〃O they have long cherished a desire to go over to Cao Cao。 So when you sent them on the duty of destroying his camp； they did not do their best and so brought about this disaster。〃
Yuan Shao accordingly sent to recall these two to be interrogated as to their faults。 But Guo Tu sent a messenger in advance to warn them； as though in friendly guise； of the adverse fate that awaited them。
So when the orders reached them to return to answer for their faults； Gao Lan asked； 〃For what reason are we recalled？〃
〃Indeed I do not know；〃 said the messenger。
Gao Lan drew his sword and killed the messenger。
Zhang He was astonished at this demonstration； but Gao Lan said； 〃Our lord has allowed someone to malign us and say we have been bought by Cao Cao。 What is the sense in our sitting still and awaiting destruction？ Rather let us surrender to Cao Cao in reality and save our lives。〃
〃I have been wanting to do this for some time；〃 replied Zhang He。
Wherefore both； with their panies； made their way to Cao Cao's camp to surrender。
When they arrived； Xiahou Dun said to his master； 〃These two have e to surrender； but I have doubts about them。〃
Cao Cao replied； 〃I will meet them generously and win them over； even if they have treachery in their hearts。〃
＇e＇ The last king of Shang Dynasty was King Zhou； who was cruel and corrupt。 King Zhou had three uncles………Bi Gan； Qi Zi； and Wei Zi………who served as ministers。 When these three officials repeatedly failed to persuade King Zhou to repent； Wei Zi resigned his post； while Qi Zi pretended to be insane。 Bi Gan stayed and continued persuading the king； who later executed Bi Gan。 Later the Duke of Zhou overthrew Shang Dynasty and enobled Wei Zi； Qi Zi； and the wife and the son of Bi Gan。 Wei Zi became known as the Duke of Song。 Qi Zi left for Korea where he became a ruler。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Before serving Han； Han Xin had been an officer under Xiang Yu。 Disappointed because his plans were rejected； Han Xin left Xiang Yu and joined Liu Bang's camp； where he was made mander…in…Chief by remendations of Xiao He and Zhang Liang。 Enobled as King of Qi； then King of Chu。 。。。。。
The camp gates were opened to the two officers； and they were invited to enter。 They laid down their weapons； removed their armor； and bowed to the ground before Cao Cao； who said； 〃If Yuan Shao had listened to you； he would not have suffered defeat。 Now you two ing to surrender are like Wei Zi* leaving the falling House of Shang to go to Zhou and Han Xin* leaving Xiang Yu to go over to the rising House of Han。〃
Cao Cao made them Generals and conferred upon Zhang He the title of Lord of Duting and upon Gao Lan Lord of Donglai； which pleased them much。
And so as Yuan Shao had formerly driven sway his adviser； Xu You； so now he had alienated two leaders and had lost his stores at Wuchao； and his army was depressed and down…hearted。
When Xu You advised Cao Cao to attack Yuan Shao as promptly as he could； the two newly surrendered generals volunteered to lead the way。 So Cao Cao sent Zhang He and Gao Lan to make a first attack on the camp； and they left in the night with three thousand troops。 The fighting went on confusedly all night but stayed at dawn。 Yuan Shao had lost half of his army。
Then Xun You suggested a plan to Cao Cao； saying； 〃Now is the moment to spread a report that an army will go to take Suanzao and attack Yejun； and another to take Liyang and intercept the enemy's retreat。 Yuan Shao； when he hears of this； will be alarmed and tell off his troops to meet this new turn of affairs； and while he is making these new dispositions； we can have him at great disadvantage。〃
Cao Cao adopted the suggestion； and care was taken that the report spread far around。 It came to the ears of Yuan Shao's soldiers； and they repeated it in camp。 Yuan Shao believed it and ordered his son Yuan Tan with fifty thousand troops to rescue Yejun； and General Xin Ming with another fifty thousand to go to Liyang； and they marched away at once。 Cao Cao heard that these armies had started； and at once dispatched troops in eight divisions to make a simultaneous attack on the nearly empty camp。 Yuan Shao's troops were too dispirited to fight and gave way on all sides。
Yuan Shao without waiting to don his armor went forth in simple dress with an ordinary cap upon his head and mounted his steed。 His youngest son； Yuan Shang； followed him。 Four of the enemy generals………Zhang Liao； Xu Chu； Xu Huang； and Yu Jin………with their forces pressed in his rear； and Yuan Shao hastened across the river； abandoning all his documents and papers； baggage； treasure； and stores。 Only eight hundred horsemen followed him over the stream。 Cao Cao's troops followed hard but could not e up with him。 However； they captured all his impedimenta； and they slew some eighty thousands of his army so that the watercourses ran blood and the drowned corpses could not be counted。 It was a most plete victory for Cao Cao； and he made over all the spoil to the army。
Among the papers of Yuan Shao was found a bundle of letters showing secret correspondence between him and many persons in the capital and army。
Cao Cao's personal staff suggested that the names of those concerned should be abstracted and the persons arrested； but their lord said； 〃Yuan Shao was so strong that even I could not be sure of safety。 How much less other people？〃
So Cao Cao ordered the papers to be burned and nothing more was said。
Now when Yuan Shao's soldiers ran away； Ju Shou； being a prisoner； could not get away and was captured。
Taken before Cao Cao； who knew him； Ju Shou cried aloud； 〃I will not surrender！〃
Said Cao Cao； 〃Yuan Shao was foolish and neglected your advice： Why still cling to the path of delusion？ Had I had you to help me； I should have been sure of the empire。〃
Ju Shou was well treated in the camp； but he stole a horse and tried to get away to Yuan Shao。 This angered Cao Cao who recaptured him and put him to death； which he met with brave posure。
〃I have slain a faithful and righteous man！〃 then said Cao Cao sadly。
And the victim was honorably buried at Guandu。 His tomb bore the inscription This is the tomb of Ju Shou the Loyal and Virtuous 。
Ju Shou was honest and virtuous；
The best in Yuan Shao's train；
From him the stars no secrets held；
In tactics all was plain。
For him no terrors had grim death。
Too lofty was his spirit；
His captor slew him； but his tomb
Bears witness to his merit。
Cao Cao now gave orders to attack Jizhou。
In feeling over confident； that's where one's weakness lay；
The other bettered him by plans which never went astray。
The following chapter will tell who won the next campaign。
Main Next to Chapter 31 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 31
Chapter 31
Cao Cao Overes Yuan Shao In Cangting；
Liu Bei Seeks Shelter With Liu Biao In Jingzhou。
Cao Cao lost no time in taking advantage of Yuan Shao's flight； but smote hard at the retreating army。 Yuan Shao without helmet or proper dress； and with few followers； crossed hastily to the north bank at Liyang。 He was met by one of his generals； Jiang Yiqu； who took him in and forted him and listened to the tale of misfortunes。 Next Jiang Yiqu called in the scattered remnants of the army； and when the soldiers heard that their old lord was alive they swarmed to him like ants； so that Yuan Shao quickly became strong enough to attempt the march to Jizhou。 Soon the army set out and at night halted at Huang Hills。
That evening； sitting in his tent； Yuan Shao seemed to hear a far off sound of lamentation。 He crept out quietly to listen and found it was his own soldiers telling each other tales of woe。 This one lamented an elder brother lost； that one grieved for his younger brother abandoned； a third mourned a panion missing； a fourth； a relative cut off。 And each be