However； Chen Deng secretly told Cao Cao； saying； 〃Lu Bu is cruel； stupid； and facile。 The longer he remains； the worse。〃
〃I know Lu Bu quite well；〃 replied Cao Cao。 〃He is a wolf with a savage heart； and it will be hard to feed him for long。 If it had not been for you and your father； I should not have known all the circumstances and you must help me to get rid of him。〃
〃Anything the Prime Minister wishes to do shall have my assistance；〃 was the reply。
As a reward Cao Cao obtained an annually grant of two thousand carts of grain for Chen Gui and the governorship of Guangling for Chen Deng； who then took his leave。
As he was saying farewell； Cao Cao took him by the hand； saying； 〃I shall depend upon you in the eastern affairs。〃
Chen Deng nodded acquiescence。 Then he returned to Lu Bu； who asked him how the visit was。
Chen Deng told him； 〃My father received a generous annuity； and I was made Governor of Guangling。〃
Lu Bu enraged； saying； 〃You did not ask Xuzhou for me； but you got something for yourself。 Your father advised me to help Cao Cao by breaking off the marriage； and now I get nothing at all of what I asked； while you and your father get everything。 I have been victimized by your father。〃
He threatened Chen Deng with his sword。
Chen Deng only laughed； saying； 〃O General； how unwary you are！〃
〃I； unwary？〃
〃When I saw Cao Cao； I said that to keep you going was like feeding a tiger。 The tiger must be kept fully fed or he would eat humans。 But Cao Cao laughed and replied； 'No； not that。 One must treat the mander like a falcon。 Not feed it till the foxes and hares are done。 Hungry； the bird is of use； full fed it flies away。' I asked who were the quarry。 He replied； 'Yuan Shu of the South of River Huai； Sun Ce of the South Land； Yuan Shao of Jizhou； Liu Biao of Jingzhou； Liu Zhang of Yizhou； and Zhang Lu of Hanzhong； these are the foxes and hares。'〃
Lu Bu threw aside his sword and laughed； saying； 〃Yes； he understands me。〃
But just about that time came news of the advance of Yuan Shu on Xuzhou； and that frightened Lu Bu。
When discord rose between Qin and Jin；
They were attacked by Yue and Wu；
And when a promised bride never came；
An army marched to enforce the claim。
How all this fell out will be shown in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 17 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Yuan Shu Marches Out An Army Of Seven Divisions；
Cao Cao And Three Generals Join Forces。
The south of River Huai was very fruitful； and Yuan Shu； as governor of such a large territory； was very influential。 He was not a little puffed up。 The possession of the Imperial Hereditary Seal； pledged by Sun Ce； added to his pride。 And he seriously thought of assuming the full style。
＇e＇ Liu Bang's first office was assistant to a magistrate in Pei。
＇e＇ King Wen； aka the Scholar King； founder of the Zhou Dynasty； father of King Wu。 King Wen did not actually founded the dynasty； but he laid the foundation for Zhou。 At the end of Shang Dynasty； the state Zhou of King Wen had already possessed two…thirds of the empire； but King Wen still faithfully served the last emperor of Shang。 The final conquest was pleted by King Wu and King Wu's brother； the Duke of Zhou。 。。。。。
＇e＇ King Yao； King Shun； and King Yu （BC 2400…2200） were the three ideal rulers in ancient China。 They ascended the throne by their virtues and merits； and not by heritage。 King Yu was also the founder of Xia Dynasty。 。。。。。
As a preliminary he assembled all his officers and addressed them thus： 〃The Supreme Ancestor； the Founder of Han Dynasty； was only a very minor official*； and yet he became ruler of the empire。 The dynasty has endured four centuries； and its measure of fortune has run out。 It no longer possesses authority； the cauldron is on the point of boiling over。 My family has held the highest offices of state for four generations and is universally respected。 Wherefore I wish； in response to the will of Heaven and the desire of the people； to assume the Imperial Dignity。 What think ye of the proposal； my officers？〃
Secretary Yan Xiang rose in opposition at once； saying； 〃You may not do this。 King Wen； the Ancestor of the Zhou*； was of distinguished virtue and held many offices。 Till the last years of Shang Dynasty； he had two thirds of the empire。 Still he served and was loyal to the ruling house。 Your house is honorable； but it is not so glorious as that of Zhou。 The Hans may be reduced； but they are not so abominably cruel as those of the Shang Dynasty that they are to be overthrown。 Indeed this should not be done。〃
Yuan Shu did not hear this with pleasure。
Said he； 〃We Yuans came from the Chen family； the same ancestry with King Shun*。 By the rule of interpreting the signs of fate； the day has e when earth （Chen） receives fire （Liu）。 Beside there is an oracle saying； 'One who replaces the Hans must wade through deep mire。' My name means 'the high road。' It fits exactly。 Further than this； I possess the Imperial Hereditary Seal and must bee lord of all； or I turn from Heaven's own way。 Finally； I have made up my mind； so if anyone says too much； that person will simply suffer death。〃
Yuan Shu arrogated himself the insignia of royalty and assigned Second Glory the reign title。 He set up officials with titles only given by an emperor； and rode in a chariot decorated with the dragon and phoenix； and offered sacrifices after the manner of an emperor in the north and south suburbs。 Also he appointed the daughter of Feng Fang his Empress and his son Heir Apparent； and he pressed for the early wedding of Lu Bu's daughter with his son so that the Palace entourage might be plete。
But when Yuan Shu heard of the fate of his marriage ambassador； Han Yin； who was sent to the capital and was executed； Yuan Shu was very angry and began at once to plan for revenge。 He made Zhang Xun his Grand mander and gave Zhang Xun the mand of more than two hundred thousand soldiers with the instruction to invade Xuzhou。 The army consisted of seven divisions under seven manders： Zhang Xun led the Center Army； Qiao Rui； the First Left Army； Lei Bo； the Second Left Army； Han Xian； the Third Left Army； Chen Ji； First Right Army； Chen Lan； Second Right Army； and Yang Feng； the Third Right Army。 Each mander was instructed to make a certain town his objective。
The Imperial Protector of Yangzhou； Jin Shang； was ordered to superintend the missariat； but he declined the office。 And so Yuan Shu put Jin Shang to death。 Ji Ling was in mand of the reserves to help wherever he was required。 Yuan Shu led thirty thousand troops； and he appointed three generals； Li Deng； Liang Gang； and Yue Jiu； to go up and down and coordinate the grand march。
Lu Bu found out from his scouts that his own Xuzhou City was the objective of Zhang Xun； the other towns to be first attacked being Xiaopei； Yidu； Langye； Jieshi； Xiapi； and Junshan。 The invading armies were marching twenty miles a day； and plundering the countryside as they advanced。
Lu Bu summoned his advisers to a council to which came Chen Gong； Chen Deng； and Chen Gui。
When all had assembled； Chen Gong said； 〃This misfortune that has e to us is due to the two Chens； who fawned upon the central government in order to obtain rank and appointments。 Now remove the evil by putting these two to death and sending their heads to Yuan Shu。 Then he will retire and leave us in peace。〃
Lu Bu acquiesced and had the two arrested。
But the son； Chen Deng； only laughed； saying； 〃What is this anxiety about？ These seven armies are no more to me than so many heaps of rotting straw。 They are not worth thinking about。〃
〃If you can show us how to overe them； I will spare your life；〃 said Lu Bu。
〃General； if you will listen to poor me； the region will be perfectly safe。〃
〃Let us hear what you have to say。〃
〃Yuan Shu's troops are numerous but they are only a flock of crows； they are not an army under a leader。 There is no mutual confidence。 I can keep them at bay with the ordinary guards of the place and could overe them by some unsuspected stratagem。 If I should fail； I have another plan by which I can not only protect the region but capture our enemy。〃
〃Let us have it。〃
＇e＇ Han Xian used to be a White Wave rebel leader。 Yang Feng had been a mander under Li Jue。 When the Emperor fled from Changan to Luoyang； he enlisted these two leaders as escorts to fend off Li Jue and Guo Si's pursuit。 （chapter 13）
Chen Deng said； 〃Han Xian and Yang Feng*； two of the leaders of our enemies； are old servants of the Han Dynasty who fled from fear of Cao Cao and； being homeless； sought refuge with Yuan Shu。 He despises them； and they are dissatisfied with his service。 A little letter from the court will secure their help as our allies； and with Liu Bei to help us on the outside； we can certainly overe Yuan Shu。〃
〃You shall take the letters yourself；〃 said Lu Bu。
Chen Deng agreed； and a memorial detailing his intentions was sent to the capital； letters to Yuzhou to Liu Bei； and finally Chen Deng was sent； with a small escort； to wait for Han Xian on the road to Xiapi。
When Han Xian's army had halted and pitched camp； Chen Deng went to see Han Xian who said； 〃What are you here for？ You belong to Lu Bu。〃
〃I am an official of the court of the great Hans。 Why do you call me a Lu Bu's man？ If you； General； hitherto a minister of state； now serve a traitor； you will nullify the grand services you rendered in protecting the Emperor in the flight from Changan。 Beside； the suspicious Yuan Shu will assuredly do you some harm； and you will regret not having taken this opportunity to work against him。〃
Han Xian sighed； saying； 〃I would return to my allegiance if there should be any opportunity。〃
Thereupon Chen Deng gave him Lu Bu's letter asking for cooperation。
Han Xian read it and said； 〃Yes； I know。 You may return to your master and say General Yang Feng and I will turn our weapons and smite Yuan Shu。 Look out for a signal flare； and let your master e to our aid。〃
As soon as Chen Deng had got back and reported his success； Lu Bu divided his troops into five divisions； each of ten thousand； and sent them to five threatened towns to meet his enemies。 Gao Shun led one army to Xiaopei against Qiao Rui； Chen Gong to Yidu against Chen Ji； Zhang Liao and