ding and came into conjunction with Venus in the Gate of Heaven； so that metal （Venus） and fire （Mars） are mingled。 Thence must emerge a new ruler。 The aura of the Hans is exhausted； and the ancient states of Jin* and Wei* must increase。〃
A secret memorial was presented to the Emperor； saying：
〃The Mandate of Heaven has its course and the five elements………metal； wood； water； fire； and earth………are out of proportion。 Earth attacking fire is Wei attacking Han； and the successor to the empire of Han is in Wei。〃
Cao Cao heard of these sayings and memorials and sent a man to the astrologer to say； 〃Your loyalty is well known； but the ways of Heaven are past finding out。 The less said the better。〃
Then Cao Cao discussed with Xun Yu。
The adviser expounded the meaning thus： 〃The virtue of Han was fire； your element is earth。 Xuchang is under the influence of earth； and so your fortune depends on getting there。 Fire can overe earth； as earth can multiply wood。 Dong Zhao and Wang Li agree； and you have only to hide your time。〃
So Cao Cao made up his mind。
Next day at court he said； 〃Luoyang is deserted and cannot be restored； nor can it be supplied easily with food。 Xuchang is a noble city； resourceful and close to Luyang； which is a grain basin。 It is everything that a capital should be。 I venture to request that the court move thither。〃
The Emperor dared not oppose and the officials were too overawed to have any independent opinion； so they chose a day to set out。 Cao Cao manded the escort； and the officials all followed。 When they had traveled a few stages they saw before them a high mound and from behind this there arose the beating of drums。
Then Yang Feng and Han Xian came out and barred the way。 In front of all stood Xu Huang； who shouted； 〃Cao Cao is stealing away the Emperor！〃
Cao Cao rode out and took a good look at this man。 He seemed a fine fellow； and in his secret soul Cao Cao greatly admired him； although he was an enemy。 Then Cao Cao ordered Xu Chu to go and fight Xu Huang。 The bat was battle…ax against broadsword； and the two men fought more than half a hundred bouts without advantage to either side。 Cao Cao then beat the gongs and drew off his troops。
In the camp a council was called。 Cao Cao said； 〃The two rebels themselves need not be discussed； but Xu Huang is a fine general； and I was unwilling to use any great force against him。 I want to win him over to our side。〃
Then stepped out Man Chong； replying； 〃Do not let that trouble you。 I will have a word with him。 I shall disguise myself as a soldier this evening and steal over to the enemy's camp to talk to him。 I shall incline his heart toward you。〃
That night Man Chong； duly disguised； got over to the other side and made his way to the tent of Xu Huang； who sat there by the light of a candle。 Xu Huang was still wearing his coat of mail。
Suddenly Man Chong ran out in front and saluted； saying； 〃You have been well since we parted； old friend？〃
Xu Huang jumped up in surprise； gazed into the face of the speaker a long time； and presently said； 〃What！ You are Man Chong of Shanyang？ What are you doing here？〃
〃I am an officer in General Cao Cao's army。 Seeing my old friend out in front of the army today； I wanted to say a word to him。 So I took the risk of stealing in this evening and here I am。〃
Xu Huang invited Man Chong in； and they sat down。
Then said Man Chong； 〃There are very few as bold as you on the earth。 Why then do you serve such as your present chiefs； Yang Feng and Han Xian？ My master is the most prominent man in the world………a man who delights in wise people and appreciates soldiers as everyone knows。 Your valor today won his entire admiration； and so he took care that the attack was not vigorous enough to sacrifice you。 Now he has sent me to invite you to join him。 Will you not leave darkness for light and help him in his magnificent task？〃
Xu Huang sat a long time pondering over the offer。
Then he said； with a sigh； 〃I know my masters are doomed to failure； but I have followed their fortunes a long time and do not like to leave them。〃
〃But you know the prudent bird selects its tree； and the wise servant chooses his master。 When one meets a worthy master and lets him go； one is very reckless。〃
〃I am willing to do what you say；〃 said Xu Huang； rising。
〃Why not put these two to death as an introductory gift？〃 said Man Chong。
〃It is very wrong for a servant to slay his master。 I will not do that。〃
〃True； you are really a good man。〃
Then Xu Huang； taking only a few horsemen of his own men with him； left that night and deserted to Cao Cao。 Soon someone took the news to Yang Feng； who at the head of a thousand strong horsemen； set out to capture the deserter。
As they drew close； Yang Feng called out； 〃Betrayer！ Stop there！〃
But Yang Feng fell into an ambush。 Suddenly the whole mountain side was lit up with torches and out sprang Cao Cao's troops； he himself being in mand。
〃I have been waiting here a long time。 Do not run away！〃 cried Cao Cao。
Yang Feng was pletely surprised and tried to draw off； but was quickly surrounded。 Then Han Xian came to his rescue； and a confused battle began。 Yang Feng succeeded in escaping； while Cao Cao kept up the attack on the two disordered armies。 A great number of the rebels gave in； and the leaders found they had too few men left to maintain their independence； so they betook themselves to Yuan Shu。
When Cao Cao returned to camp； the newly surrendered general was presented and well received。 Then again the cavalcade set out for the new capital。 In due time they reached Xuchang； and they built palaces and halls； an ancestral temple and an altar； terraces and public offices。 The walls were repaired； storehouses built and all put in order。
Then came the rewards for Cao Cao's adherents and others。 Dong Cheng and thirteen others were raised to rank of lordship。 All good service was rewarded； certain others again； who deserved it； were punished； all according to Cao Cao's sole decision。
Cao Cao himself was made Prime Minister； Regent Marshal； and Lord of Wuping。 Xun Yu was made Imperial Counselor and Chair of the Secretariat； Xun You； Minister of War； Guo Jia； Minister of Rites and Religion； Liu Ye； Minister of Works； Mao Jie； Minister of Agriculture； and together with Ren Jun； they were put over the supervision of military farms and stores。 Cheng Yu was appointed Lord of Dongping； Dong Zhao； Magistrate of Luoyang； Man Chong； Magistrate of Xuchang。 Xiahou Dun； Xiahou Yuan； Cao Ren； Cao Hong； Lu Qian； Li Dian； Yue Jing； Yu Jin； and Xu Huang were made manders； Xu Chu and Dian Wei； manders of Capital District。 All good service received full recognition。
Cao Cao was then the one man of the court。 All memorials went first to him and were then submitted to the Throne。 When state matters were in order； Cao Cao gave a great banquet in his private quarters to all his advisers； and affairs outside the capital were the subject of discussion。
Then Cao Cao said； 〃Liu Bei has his army at Xuzhou； and he carries on the administration of the region。 Lu Bu fled to Liu Bei when defeated； and Liu Bei gave Lu Bu Xiaopei to live in。 If these two agreed to join forces and attack； my position would be most serious。 What precautions can be taken？〃
Then rose Xu Chu； saying； 〃Give me fifty thousand of picked soldiers； and I will give the Prime Minister both their heads。〃
Xun Yu said； 〃O Leader； you are brave； but we must consider the present circumstance。 We cannot start a sudden war just as the capital has been changed。 However； there is a certain ruse known as 'Rival Tigers and One Prey。' Liu Bei has no decree authorizing him to govern the region。 You； Sir Prime Minister； can procure one for him； and when sending it； and so conferring upon him right in addition to his might； you can enclose a private note telling him to get rid of Lu Bu。 If he does； then he will have lost a vigorous warrior from his side； and he could be dealt with as occasions serve。 Should he fail； then Lu Bu will slay him。 This is 'Rival Tigers and One Prey' ruse； they wrangle and bite each other。〃
Cao Cao agreed that this was a good plan； so he memorialized for the formal appointment； which he sent to Liu Bei。 Liu Bei was created General Who Conquers the East； Lord of Yicheng； and Imperial Protector of Xuzhou as well。 At the same time a private note was enclosed。
In Xuzhou； when Liu Bei heard of the change of capital； he began to prepare a congratulatory address。 In the midst of this an imperial messenger was announced and was met which all ceremony outside the gate。 When the epistle had been reverently received； a banquet was prepared for the messenger。
The messenger said； 〃This decree was obtained for you by Prime Minister Cao Cao。〃
Liu Bei thanked him。 Then the messenger drew forth his secret letter。
After reading it； Liu Bei said； 〃This matter can be easily arranged。〃
The banquet over and the messenger conducted to his lodging to seek repose。 Liu Bei； before going to rest； called in his councilors to consider the letter。
〃There need be no punction about putting him to death；〃 said Zhang Fei。 〃Lu Bu is a bad man。〃
〃But he came to me for protection in his weakness： How can I put him to death？ That would be immoral；〃 said Liu Bei。
〃If he was a good man； it would be difficult；〃 replied Zhang Fei。
Liu Bei would not consent。
Next day； when Lu Bu came to offer congratulations； he was received as usual。 He said； 〃I have e to felicitate you on the receipt of the imperial bounty。〃
Liu Bei thanked him in due form。 But then he saw Zhang Fei draw his sword and e up the hall as if to slay Lu Bu。 Liu Bei hastily interfered and stopped Zhang Fei。
Lu Bu was surprised and said； 〃Why do you wish to slay me； Zhang Fei？〃
〃Cao Cao says you are immoral and tells my brother to kill you；〃 shouted Zhang Fei。
Liu Bei shouted again and again to Zhang Fei to go away； and he led Lu Bu into the private apartments out of the way。 Then he told Lu Bu the whole story and showed him the secret letter。
Lu Bu wept as he finished reading； 〃This is that miscreant's scheme for sowing discord between us。〃
〃Be not anxious； elder brother；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃I pledge myself not to be guilty of such an infamous crime。〃
Lu Bu again and again expressed his gratitude； and Liu Bei kept him for a time。