In the meantime Cao Cao's army； marching very leisurely； had arrived at Xiangyang。
Walking one day beside River Yu； he suddenly uttered a great cry； and when his officers asked the reason thereof； he replied； 〃I remembered that here； only a year ago； I lost my great general： Dian Wei。 Is that not a reason to grieve？〃
Thereupon Cao Cao gave orders to halt； while he should make a great sacrifice and mourn for his lost leader。 At the ceremony he himself burned incense and wailed and prostrated himself。 The army was much affected by his devotion。 After the sacrifices to the lost hero； he sacrificed to the names of his nephew Cao Amin and his eldest son Cao Ang； both of whom had died at the same time。 He also sacrificed to his lost soldiers and even to his Dawan steed which had been killed by an arrow。
Next day Xun Yu wrote to tell Cao Cao that Liu Biao had gone to help Zhang Xiu and was camped at Anzhong； thereby cutting his road of retreat。
Cao Cao replied to the letter； saying； 〃I have been marching only a short distance each day and of course knew of the pursuit。 But my plans are laid and； as I am near Anzhong； my enemy will be broken。 You need not have any fears。〃
Then Cao Cao hastened his march till he came near where Liu Biao had taken position。 Zhang Xiu still shortened the distance。 Cao Cao ordered his men during the night to open a secret way through a pass； where he laid an ambush。
With the first light of dawn Liu Biao and Zhang Xiu met。 As Cao Cao's force looked small； they thought he had retired so they boldly advanced into the pass to smite him。 Then the ambush was opened； and both the attackers' forces were cut up。 The fighting ended； Cao Cao's soldiers went outside the pass and encamped。
The two leaders on the other side restored order among their beaten troops and then held a conference。
〃How could we have foreseen such a wicked ruse？〃 said Liu Biao。
〃Let us try again；〃 said Zhang Xiu。
Wherefore they joined forces at Anzhong。
But Xun Yu discovered through his spies that Yuan Shao was preparing an attack on Capital Xuchang； so he at once wrote to Cao Cao who； much disturbed by this news； set out homeward right away。 When Zhang Xiu heard this through his scouts； he wished to follow the retreating army。
Jia Xu opposed it and said； 〃It will lead to a defeat。〃
However； Liu Biao said； 〃It is wrong to lose such a chance。〃
And so finally pursuit was decided upon。 They had not marched more than four miles before they came upon Cao Cao's rearguard； who fought with great vigor and bravery so that the pursuers were beaten off and went home disfited。
Zhang Xiu said to Jia Xu； 〃This defeat es from my not following your advice。〃
〃Now set your army in order and pursue；〃 said Jia Xu。
〃But we have just suffered defeat！〃 cried both leaders。 〃Do you now counsel pursuit？〃
〃Yes； and the result will be a great victory if you go now。 I will venture my head on that；〃 said Jia Xu。
Zhang Xiu had confidence； but Liu Biao was afraid and would not acpany him。 So one army only started in pursuit。
However； this was enough。 Cao Cao's rear…guard was thoroughly routed and abandoned their wagons and their baggage in their hasty flight。 Zhang Xiu pursued； but suddenly a troop came out from the shelter of some hills and checked him。 Fearful to try further； he hastened back to Anzhong。
The other general； Liu Biao； asked the adviser to explain his apparent inconsistency； saying； 〃When our veteran and brave soldiers were going to pursue those who retreated； you said our men would lose the day； and when defeated men pursued the victors； you foretold victory。 You were right in both cases； but we wish you would enlighten us。〃
〃It is easy to explain。 You； Generals； although skilled leaders； are not a match for our enemy。 Though Cao Cao had lost a battle； he had able generals to keep the rear and guard against pursuit。 Our soldiers are good； but not a match for them。 That is how I knew。 For as much as Cao Cao's hurried retreat was due to trouble in the capital； and he had beaten off our attack； I knew he would retire at his utmost speed and not take his usual precautions。 I ventured to take advantage of his laxity。〃
Liu Biao and Zhang Xiu could not but affirm his plete understanding of the conditions。 On the advice of Jia Xu then Liu Biao returned to Jingzhou； while Zhang Xiu took up his position at Xiangyang so that each strengthened the other as the lips protect the teeth from cold。
When Cao Cao； during his retreat； heard that his army was being pursued； he hastily turned back to support the rearguard。 Then he saw the pursuing army draw off。
The soldiers of the beaten rearguard said； 〃Had it not been for the troops that came out of the hills； we should all have been lost。〃
〃What troops？〃 asked Cao Cao in surprise。
The leader of the troops then advanced； slung his spear and； dismounting； made a low obeisance。 He was Li Tong； Imperial mander； from Jiangxia。
Cao Cao asked him why he had e。
Li Tong replied； 〃I was in mand at Runan when I heard of the struggle going on； so I came to lend you any help I could。〃
To show his gratitude； Cao Cao conferred upon Li Tong the title Lord Who Renders High Services； and confirmed him in his mand as the defense of Runan against Liu Biao and Zhang Xiu。 Then Li Tong expressed his thanks and took his leave。
＇e＇ Wu was a state in the Spring and Autumn period。 Located southeast in the Great River Plain （the South Land）。 Became dominant in BC 506； when her army defeated Chu under the leadership of Wu Qi。 。。。。。
On his return to the capital； Cao Cao presented a memorial on the good services rendered by Sun Ce； and the Emperor made him Lord of Wu* with the title General Who Destroys Rebels。 The messenger bearing the decree bore also the order to repress Liu Biao。
Cao Cao went to his palace and there received the ceremonial calls of congratulation。 These finished； Xun Yu asked； saying； 〃You； Sir； marched very leisurely to Anzhong： How came it that you felt certain of victory？〃
Cao Cao replied； 〃My soldiers； who retire and find their retreat cut off； fight vigorously and desperately。 I retired slowly to entice the enemy into following whereby I could do as I wished with them。 Basing my movements on these considerations I felt secure。〃
Xun Yu bowed his head in admiration。
When Guo Jia entered； Cao Cao said； 〃Why so late； Sir？〃
The visitor drew a letter from his sleeve； saying to his master； 〃Yuan Shao sends this expressing he desires to send an army to attack Gongsun Zan and wishes you to lend provisions and troops。〃
〃I heard Yuan Shao was going to attack Xuchang。 I suppose my return has made him change his intention；〃 said Cao Cao。
Then he opened the letter and read it。 It was couched in very arrogant terms。
〃Yuan Shao is so exceedingly rude that I will attack him；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃Only I think I am not quite strong enough。 What should be done？〃
Guo Jia said； 〃My lord； you know well who lost； and why； in the conflict between Liu Bang； the Supreme Ancestor； and Xiang Yu； his rival。 The former won only by superior wisdom。 Xiang Yu was the stronger； but in the end he was overe。 Your rival has ten weak points whereas you have ten strong ones； and； though his army is large； it is not terrible。〃
Then Guo Jia continued； 〃Yuan Shao is overmuch devoted to ceremony and deportment； while you are sympathetic and natural； this is an excellence in conduct。 He is antagonistic and drives； you are conciliatory and lead； so you have the advantage of popular approval。 For many years the government has been lax； and he makes it more so； you strive vigorously after efficiency； this is the excellence of able administration。 He is outwardly liberal but grudging at heart； and too given to nepotism； you appear exacting； but you understand and use people after their ability； this is the advantage of correct appreciation。 He is a visionary but lacking in decision； you are a man of prompt decision and direct action； this is an advantage in policy。 He loves to gather about him people of renown； you treat people as you find them regardless of their reputation； this is where you excel in moral virtue。 He is passionate to those at hand； but careless about those out of sight； your care is all…embracing； this is where you excel in humanity。 He lends a ready ear to calumny and is misled； you may be flooded with evil counsel； but you preserve independence； this is where you excel in perspicacity。 His sense of right and wrong is confused； your appreciation is accurate and clear； this is where you excel in administrative capacity。 He loves the make…believe force； but is ignorant of military essentials； you would overe with far inferior numbers as you possess military genius； this is where you excel in war。 With your ten superiorities； you will have no difficulty in overing Yuan Shao。〃
〃How can I be worth as much as you say？〃 said Cao Cao； smiling。
〃What Guo Jia has said about the ten points in your favor agrees exactly with what I think；〃 said Xun Yu。 〃Yuan Shao's army is not formidable in spite of its size。〃
〃The real and dangerous enemy is Lu Bu；〃 said Guo Jia。 〃When Yuan Shao has gone north to destroy Gongsun Zan； we ought to sweep away Lu Bu and so clear away our danger from that side； for if this is not done； our attack on Yuan Shao will be the signal for an attempt on the capital。 That would be most serious。〃
Cao Cao saw things in the same light as his advisers and began to discuss plans for an attack on Lu Bu。 Xun Yu was of opinion that they should first secure the fidelity and aid of Liu Bei。 So letters were written； and they waited his assurance before moving a soldier。 Then； in order to reassure Yuan Shao； his emissary was treated with great kindness； and a memorial presented to the Emperor asking extra honors for him。 Yuan Shao was made Imperial Protector of the four northern regions………Jizhou； Qingzhou； Youzhou； and Bingzhou。 With all this a private letter was written by Cao Cao urging upon him to attack Gongsun Zan and promising assistance。 So Yuan Shao's army started。
In the meantime the two Chen Deng and Chen Gui were playing their game。 At every feast and gathering in Xuzhou； they uttered the most fulsome praises of Lu Bu。 Chen Gong was greatly displeased and took an opportunity to talk about them to his master。
〃They flatter