ng light grass； as the blue ocean poured on glowing embers。 Is there any hope that he escape destruction？
〃Of the hordes of Cao Cao； those who can fight are from the north or from other camps； and they all desire to return home。 They weep whenever they look to the north。 The others belong to Yanzhou or Yuzhou； being remnants of the armies of Lu Bu and Zhang Yang。 Beaten； stern necessity forced them to accept service； but they take it only as a temporary expedient。 They who have been wounded hate each other。 If I give the signal to return and send my drums to the mountain tops； and wave the white flag to show them they may surrender； they will melt away like dew before the sun； and no blood will be shed。 The victory will be mine。
〃Now the Hans are failing and the bonds of empire are relaxed。 The sacred dynasty has no supporter； the ministers are not strong enough to cope with the difficulties。 Within the capital the responsible ministers are crestfallen and helpless。 There is no one to rely upon。 Such loyal and high principled people as are left are browbeaten by a tyrannical minister。 How can they manifest their virtue？
〃Cao Cao has surrounded the Palace with seven hundred veterans； the ostensible object being to guard the Emperor； but the covert design being to hold him prisoner。 I fear this is but the first step in usurpation； and so I take my part。 Now is the time for loyal ministers to sacrifice their lives； the opportunity for officers to perform meritorious deeds。 Can I fail to urge you？
〃Cao Cao has forged mands to himself to undertake the control of government affairs and； in the name of the state； sends out calls for military assistance。 I fear lest distant regions may obey his behest and send troops to help him； to the detriment of the multitude and their everlasting shame。 No wise person will do so。
〃The forces of four regions………Bingzhou； Jizhou； Qingzhou； and Youzhou………are moving out simultaneously。 When this call reaches Jingzhou； you will see their forces cooperate with those of Liu Biao。 All regions and counties ought to organize volunteers and set them along their borders to demonstrate their force and prove their loyal support of the dynasty。 Will not this be rendering extraordinary service？
〃The rank of lordship； with feudal rights over five thousand households and a money reward of five millions； will be the reward of the one who brings the head of Cao Cao。 No questions will be asked of those who surrender。 I publish abroad this notice of my bounty and the rewards offered that you may realize that the dynasty is in real danger。〃
Yuan Shao read this effusion with great joy。 He at once ordered copies to be posted everywhere； in towns and cities； at gates； tax stations； ferries； and passes。 Copies found their way to the capital； and one got into Cao Cao's palace。 That day he happened to be in bed with a bad headache。 The servants took the paper to the sick man's room。 He read it and was frightened from the tips of his hair to the marrow of his very bones。 He broke out into a cold perspiration； and his headache vanished。
Cao Cao bounded out of bed and said to Cao Hong； 〃Who wrote this？〃
〃They say it is Chen Lin's brush；〃 replied he。
Cao Cao laughed； 〃They have the literary gift； they would rather have the military too to back it up。 This fellow may be a very elegant writer； but what if Yuan Shao's fighting capacity falls short？〃
Cao Cao called his advisers together to consider the next move。
Kong Rong heard of the summons and went to Cao Cao； saying； 〃You should not fight with Yuan Shao： He is too strong。 Make peace。〃
Xun Yu said； 〃He is despicable。 Do not make peace。〃
Kong Rong replied； 〃His land is wide and his people strong。 He has many skillful strategists like Guo Tu； Xu You； Peng Ji； and Shen Pei； loyal leaders like Tian Feng and Ju Shou； and formidable generals like Yan Liang and Wen Chou； able manders like Gao Lan； Zhang He； Han Meng； and Chunyu Qiong。 You cannot say he is despicable。〃
Xun Yu laughed； saying； 〃His army is a rabble。 One general； Tian Feng； is bold but treacherous； another； Xu You； is greedy and ignorant； Shen Pei is devoted but stupid； Peng Ji is steady but useless。 And these four of such different temperaments； mutually inpatible； will make for confusion rather than efficiency。 The brave Yan Liang and Wen Chou are worthless and can be disposed of in the first battle； and the others such as Gao Lan； Zhang He； Han Meng； and Chunyu Qiong are poor； rough stuff。 What is the use even of their hundred thousands？〃
Kong Rong was silent； and Cao Cao smiled。
〃They are even as Xun Yu describes；〃 said Cao Cao。
Then Cao Cao issued orders。 Generals Liu Dai and Wang Zhong were to lead an army of fifty thousand troops； displaying the Prime Minister's banners； and march against Xuzhou to attack Liu Bei。
This Liu Dai had been Imperial Protector of Yanzhou but had surrendered to Cao Cao and entered Cao Cao's service after the fall of his region。 Cao Cao had given him a rank as Supernumerary Leader and now was disposed to make use of him。
Cao Cao himself took mand of a large army of two hundred thousand troops for a simultaneous attack on Yuan Shao at Liyang。
Adviser Cheng Yu said； 〃The two Liu Dai and Wang Zhong sent against Liu Bei are unequal to their task。〃
〃I know；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃They are not meant to fight Liu Bei。 It is merely a feint。 They have orders not to make any real attack till I have overe Yuan Shao。 Then Liu Bei will be next。〃
Liu Dai and Wang Zhong went their way； and Cao Cao marched out his grand army； which came into touch with the enemy； then thirty miles distant； at Liyang。 Both sides made fortified camps and waited watching each other。 This went on for two months of the autumn。
There was dissension in Yuan Shao's camp。 Xu You was at enmity with his colleague； Shen Pei； who was in manding position； and the strategist Ju Shou resented the rejection of his plan。 So they would not attack。 Yuan Shao also could not make up his mind。
Tired of this state of inaction； Cao Cao then gave orders to his manders： Zang Ba was to continue the pressure on Qingzhou and Xuzhou； Yu Jin and Li Dian to deploy troops along the Yellow River； Cao Ren to quarter the main force at Guandu。 Then Cao Cao with an army marched back to Capital Xuchang。
The five legions sent against Liu Bei went into camp thirty…five miles from Xuzhou。 The camp made an imposing display of the banners of the Prime Minister； but no attacks followed。 Their spies were very busy north of the river to get news of Cao Cao's movement。 On the defensive side； Liu Bei； as he was uncertain of the strength of the force against him； dared not move。
Suddenly orders came for the Cao Cao's army to attack； and then discord showed itself。
Liu Dai said； 〃The Prime Minister orders an attack： You advance。〃
Wang Zhong replied； 〃You were named first。〃
〃I am the mander…in…Chief。 It is not my place to go first。〃
〃I will go with you in joint mand；〃 said Wang Zhong。
〃Let us cast lots； and he upon whom the lot falls must go；〃 said Liu Dai。
They drew lots； and it fell to Wang Zhong； who advanced toward Xuzhou with half the force。
When Liu Bei heard of the threatened attack； he called Chen Deng to consult。
Liu Bei said； 〃There is dissension in Yuan Shao's camp at Liyang； so they do not advance。 We do not know where Cao Cao is； but his own banner is not displayed in his Liyang's camp。 Why then is it shown here？〃
Chen Deng replied； 〃His tricks take a hundred forms。 It must be that he regards the north as more important and has gone there to look after its defense。 He dares not show his flag there； and I feel sure it is only meant to mislead us。 He is not here。〃
Liu Bei then asked whether one of his brothers would find out the truth； and Zhang Fei volunteered to go。
〃I fear you are unsuited for this；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃You are too impetuous。〃
〃If Cao Cao is there； I will haul him over here；〃 said Zhang Fei。
〃Let me go first and find out；〃 said Guan Yu。
〃If you go； I shall feel more at ease；〃 said Liu Bei。
So Guan Yu set out with three thousand soldiers to reconnoiter。 It was then early winter； and snow was falling from a gloomy sky。 They marched regardless of the snow and came near Wang Zhong's camp with arms all ready to attack。 Guan Yu summoned Wang Zhong to a parley。
〃The Prime Minister is here。 Why do you not surrender？〃 said Wang Zhong。
〃Beg him to e to the front； for I would speak with him；〃 replied Guan Yu。
〃Is he likely to e out to see such as you；〃 said Wang Zhong。
Guan Yu angrily dashed forward； and Wang Zhong set his spear to meet him。 Guan Yu rode till he came close to his antagonist； then suddenly wheeled away。 Wang Zhong went after him and followed up a slope。 Just as they passed the crest； Guan Yu suddenly wheeled again； shouted； and came on flourishing the mighty sword。 Wang Zhong could not withstand that and fled。 But Guan Yu； changing the huge sword to his left hand； with his right laid hold of his victim by the straps of his breastplate； lifted him out of the saddle； and rode away to his own lines with the captive laid across the pommel of his saddle。 Wang Zhong's army scattered。
The captive was sent to Xuzhou； where he was summoned into the presence of Liu Bei。
〃Who are you？ What office do you hold？ How dare you falsely display the ensigns of the Prime Minister？〃 said Liu Bei。
〃What do you mean by falsely when I simply obeyed my orders？〃 said Wang Zhong。 〃My master wanted to produce the impression that he was present。 Really he was not there。〃
Liu Bei treated him kindly； giving him food and clothing； but put him in prison till his colleague could be captured。
Guan Yu said to Liu Bei； 〃I knew you had peaceful intentions in your mind； therefore； I captured Wang Zhong instead of slaying him。〃
〃I was afraid of Zhang Fei's hasty and impulsive temper；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃He would have slain this man。 So I could not send him。 There is no advantage in killing people of this sort； and while alive they are often useful in amicable settlements。〃
Here Zhang Fei said； 〃You have got this Wang Zhong； now I will go and get the other man。〃
〃Be careful；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃Liu Dai was once Imperial Protector of Yanzhou； and he was one of the nobles who met at Tiger Trap Pass to destroy Dong Zhuo。 He is not to be despised。〃
〃I do not think