Placing Liu Bei in the seat of highest honor； Tao Qian bowed before him and then addressed the assembly； 〃I am old and feeble； and my two sons lack the ability to hold so important an office as this。 The noble Liu Bei is a descendant of the imperial house。 He is of lofty virtue and great talent。 Let him then take over the rule of this region； and only too willingly I shall retire to have leisure to nurse my health。〃
Liu Bei replied； 〃I came at the request of Governor Kong Rong； because it was the right thing to do。 Xuzhou is saved； but if I take it； surely the world will say I am a wicked man。〃
Mi Zhu said； 〃You may not refuse。 The House of Han is falling； their realm is crumbling； and now is the time for doughty deeds and signal services。 This is a fertile region； well populated and rich； and you are the man to rule over it。〃
〃But I cannot accept；〃 said Liu Bei。
〃Imperial Protector Tao Qian is a great sufferer；〃 said Chen Deng； 〃and cannot see to matters。 You may not decline； Sir。〃
Said Liu Bei； 〃Yuan Shu belongs to a family of rulers； who have held the highest offices of state four times in three generations。 The multitude people respects him。 Why not invite him to this task？〃
〃Because Yuan Shu is a drying skeleton in a dark tomb： Not worth talking about。 This opportunity is a gift from Heaven； and you will never cease to regret its loss；〃 said Kong Rong。
So spoke Kong Rong； but still Liu Bei obstinately refused。
Tao Qian besought him with tears； saying； 〃I shall die if you leave me； and there will be none to close my eyes。〃
〃Brother； you should accept the offer thus made；〃 said Guan Yu。
〃Why so much fuss？〃 said Zhang Fei。 〃We have not taken the place。 It is he who wishes to give it you。〃
〃You all persuade me to do what is wrong；〃 said Liu Bei。
Seeing he could not persuade Liu Bei； Tao Qian then said； 〃As you are set in determination； perhaps you will consent to encamp at Xiaopei。 It is only a little town； but thence you can keep watch and ward over the region。〃
They all with one voice prayed Liu Bei to consent； so he gave in。 The feast of victory being now ended； the time came to say farewell。 When Zhao Yun took his leave； Liu Bei held his hands alternately while dashing away the falling tears。 Kong Rong and Tien Kai went home to their own places。
When Liu Bei and his brothers took up their abode in Xiaopei； they first repaired the defenses； and then they put out proclamations in order to calm the inhabitants。
In the meantime Cao Cao had marched toward his own region。
Cao Ren met and told him； 〃Lu Bu is very powerful； and he has Chen Gong as adviser。 Yanzhou is as good as lost； with the exception of three counties which have been vigorously and desperately defended by Xun Yu and Cheng Yu。〃
Cao Cao said； 〃I own that Lu Bu is a bold fighter but nothing more； he has no craft。 So we need not fear him seriously。〃
Then he gave orders to make a strong camp till they could think out some victorious plan。
Lu Bu； knowing of Cao Cao's return； called two of his subordinate generals； Xue Lan and Li Fang； to him and assigned to them the task of holding the city of Yanzhou； saying； 〃I have long waited for opportunity to employ your skill。 Now I give you ten thousand soldiers； and you are to hold the city while I go forth to attack Cao Cao。〃
They accepted。
But Chen Gong； the strategist； came in hastily； saying； 〃General； you are going away； whither？〃
〃I am going to camp my troops at Puyang； that vantage point。〃
〃You are making a mistake；〃 said Chen Gong。 〃The two you have chosen to defend this city are unequal to the task。 For this expedition remember that about sixty miles due south； on the treacherous road to the Taishan Mountains； is a very advantageous position where you should place your best men in ambush。 Cao Cao will hasten homeward by double marches when he hears what has happened。 If you strike when half his troops have gone past this point； you may seize him。〃
Said Lu Bu； 〃I am going to occupy Puyang and see what develops。 How can you guess my big plan？〃
So Lu Bu left Xue Lan in mand at Yanzhou and went away。
Now when Cao Cao approached the dangerous part of the road near the Taishan Mountains； Guo Jia warned him to take care as there was doubtless an ambush。
But Cao Cao laughed； saying； 〃We know all Lu Bu's dispositions。 Xue Lan is keeping the city。 Do you think Lu Bu has laid an ambush？ I shall tell Cao Ren to besiege Yanzhou； and I shall go to Puyang。〃
In Puyang； when Chen Gong heard of the enemy's approach； he spoke； saying； 〃The enemy will be fatigued with long marches； so attack quickly before they have time to recover。〃
Lu Bu replied； 〃I； a single horseman； am afraid of none。 I e and go as I will。 Think you I fear this Cao Cao？ Let him settle his camp； I will take him after that。〃
Now Cao Cao neared Puyang； and he made a camp。 The next day he led out his manders； and they arrayed their armies in open country。 Cao Cao took up his station on horseback between the two standards； watching while his opponents arrived and formed up in a circular area。
Lu Bu was in front； followed by eight of his generals； all strong men： Zhang Liao of Mayi； backed by Hao Meng； Cao Xing； and Cheng Lian； Zang Ba of Huaying； backed by Wei Xu； Song Xian； and Hou Cheng。 They led an army of fifty thousand in total。
The drums began their thunderous roll； and Cao Cao； pointing to his opponent； said； 〃You and I had no quarrel； why then did you invade my land？〃
〃The empire of Han is the possession of all。 What is your special claim？〃 said Lu Bu。
So saying； Lu Bu ordered Zang Ba to ride forth and challenge。 From Cao Cao's side the challenge was accepted by Yue Jing。 The two steeds approached each other； two spears were lifted both together； and they exchanged near thirty blows with no advantage to either。 Then Xiahou Dun rode out to help his colleague and； in reply； out went Zhang Liao from Lu Bu's side。 And they four fought。
Then fierce anger seized upon Lu Bu。 Setting his trident halberd； he urged his Red Hare forward to where the fight was waging。 Seeing him approach； Xiahou Dun and Yue Jing both fled； but Lu Bu pressed on after them； and Cao Cao's army lost the day。 Retiring ten miles； they made a new camp。 Lu Bu called in and mustered his troops。
The day having gone against him； Cao Cao called a council； and Yu Jin said； 〃From the hill tops today I saw a camp of our enemies on the west of Puyang。 They were but few men therein； and tonight after today's victory； it will not be defended。 Let us attack； and if we can take the camp； we shall strike fear into the heart of Lu Bu。 This is our best plan。〃
Cao Cao thought so too。 He and six of his generals………Cao Hong； Li Dian； Mao Jie； Lu Qian； Yu Jin； and Dian Wei………and twenty thousand horse and foot left that night by a secret road for the camp。
In his camp Lu Bu was rejoicing for that day's victory； when Chen Gong reminded him； saying； 〃The western camp is importance point； and it might be attacked。〃
But Lu Bu replied； 〃The enemy will not dare approach after today's defeat。〃
〃Cao Cao is a very able mander；〃 replied Chen Gong。 〃You must keep a good lookout for him lest he attack our weak spot。〃
So arrangements were made for defense。 Generals Gao Shun； Wei Xu； and Hou Cheng were ordered to march there。
At dusk Cao Cao reached the camp and began an immediate attack on all four sides。 The defenders could not hold him off。 They ran in all directions； and the camp was captured。 Near the fourth watch； when the defending party came； Cao Cao sallied forth to meet them and met Gao Shun。 Another battle then began and waged till dawn。 About that time a rolling of drums was heard in the west； and they told Cao Cao that Lu Bu himself was at hand。 Thereupon Cao Cao abandoned the attack and fled。
Gao Shun； Wei Xu； and Hou Cheng pursued him； Lu Bu taking the lead。 Cao Cao's two generals； Yu Jin and Yue Jing； attacked the pursuers but could not check them。 Cao Cao went away north。 But from behind some hills came out Zhang Liao and Zang Ba to attack。 Lu Qian and Cao Hong were sent to stop the attackers； but Lu Qian and Cao Hong were both defeated。 Cao Cao sought safety in the west。 Here again his retreat was met by Lu Bu's four generals； Hao Meng； Cao Xing； Cheng Lian； and Song Xian。
The fight became desperate。 Cao Cao dashed at the enemy's array。 The din was terrible。 Arrows fell like pelting rain upon them； and they could make no headway。
Cao Cao was desperate and cried out in fear； 〃Who can save me？〃
Then from the crush dashed out Dian Wei with his double spears； crying； 〃Fear not； my lord！〃
Dian Wei leapt from his steed； leaned his double spears against a wall and laid hold of a handful of battle…axes。 Turning to his followers he said； 〃When the ruffians are at ten paces； call out to me。〃
Then he set off with mighty strides； plunging forward； careless of the flying arrows。 Lu Bu's horsemen followed； and when they got near； Dian Wei's followers shouted； 〃Ten paces！〃
〃Five； then call！〃 shouted back Dian Wei； and went on。
Presently； 〃Five paces！〃
Then Dian Wei spun round and flung the battle…axes。 With every fling a man fell from the saddle and never a battle…ax missed。
Having thus slain ten or so the remainder fled； and Dian Wei quickly remounted his steed； set his twin spears and rushed again into the fight with a vigor that none could withstand。 One by one his opponents yielded； and he was able to lead Cao Cao safely out of the press of battle。 Cao Cao and his manders went to their camp。
But as evening fell； the noise of pursuit fell on their ears； and soon appeared Lu Bu himself。
〃Cao Cao； you rebel； do not flee！〃 shouted Lu Bu as he approached with his halberd ready for a thrust。
All stopped and looked in each others' faces： The soldiers were weary； their steeds spent。 Fear smote them； and they looked around for some place of refuge。
You may lead your lord safely out of the press；
But what if the enemy follow？
We cannot say here what Cao Cao's fate was； but the next chapter will relate。
Main Next to Chapter 12 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Tao Qian Thrice Offers Xuzhou To Liu Bei；
Cao Cao Retakes Yanzhou From Lu Bu。
The last chapter closed with Cao Cao in great danger。 However； help came。 Xiahou Dun with a body of soldi