Then the natural hesitation of Yuan Shao asserted itself； and he could not make up his mind。 Soon came news that his sons Yuan Tan was ing from Qingzhou with sixty thousand troops； Yuan Xi ing from Youzhou with fifty thousand troops； and his nephew Gao Gan ing from Bingzhou with fifty thousand troops to help him； and he turned his attention to preparations for fighting Cao Cao。
When Cao Cao drew up his victorious army on the banks of Yellow River； the aged natives brought an offering of food and sauce to bid him wele。 Their venerable and hoary appearances led Cao Cao to treat them with the highest respect。
He invited them to be seated and said to them； 〃Venerable Sirs； what may be your age？〃
〃We are nearly a hundred；〃 replied the old villagers。
〃I should be very sorry if my army had disturbed your village；〃 said Cao Cao。
One of them said； 〃In the days of the Emperor Huan a yellow star was seen over by way of the ancient states of Chu and Song in the southwest。 Yin Kui of Liaodong； who was learned in astrology； happened to be passing the night here； and he told us that the star foretold the arrival in these parts； fifty years hence； of a true and honest man here in the Yellow River。 Lo！ That is exactly fifty years ago。 Now Yuan Shao is very hard on the people and they hate him。 You； Sir； having raised this army in the cause of humanity and righteousness； out of pity for the people and to punish crimes； and having destroyed the hordes of Yuan Shao at Guandu； just fulfill the prophecy of Yin Kui。 The millions of the land may look now for tranquillity。〃
〃How dare I presume that I am he？〃 said Cao Cao with a smile。
Wine was served and refreshments brought in； and the old gentlemen was sent away with presents of silk stuffs。 And an order was issued to the army that if anyone killed so much as a fowl or a dog belonging to the villagers； he should be punished as for murder。 And the soldiers obeyed with fear and trembling while Cao Cao rejoiced in his heart。
It was told Cao Cao that the total army from the four regions under the Yuan family amounted to two hundred thirty thousand soldiers and they were camped at Cangting。 Cao Cao then advanced nearer to them and made a strong camp。
Next day the two armies were arrayed over against each other。 On one side Cao Cao rode to the front surrounded by his manders； and on the other appeared Yuan Shao supported by his three sons； his nephew； and his leaders。
Cao Cao spoke first； 〃Yuan Shao； your schemes are poor； your strength is exhausted； why still refuse to think of surrender？ Are you waiting till the sword shall be upon your neck？ Then it will be too late。〃
Yuan Shao turned to those about him； saying； 〃Who dares go out？〃
His son Yuan Shang was anxious to exhibit his prowess in the presence of his father； so he flourished his pair of swords and rode forth。
Cao Cao pointed him out to his officers and asked； 〃Anyone knows him？〃
〃He is the youngest son of Yuan Shao；〃 was the reply。
Before they had finished speaking； from their own side rode out Shi Huan； armed with a spear。 The two champions fought a little while and suddenly Yuan Shang whipped up his horse； made a feint and fled。 His opponent followed。 Yuan Shang took his bow； fitted an arrow； turned in his saddle； and shot at Shi Huan； wounding him in the left eye。 Shi Huan fell from the saddle and died on the spot。
Yuan Shao seeing his son thus get the better of his opponent； gave the signal for attack； and the whole army thundered forward。 The onslaught was heavy； but presently the gongs on both sides sounded the retire and the battle ceased。
When he had returned to camp； Cao Cao took counsel to find a plan to overe Yuan Shao。 Then Cheng Yu proposed the plan of the 〃Ten Ambushes〃 and persuaded Cao Cao to retire upon the river； placing troops in ambush as he went。 Thus would Yuan Shao be inveigled into pursuit as far as the river； when Cao Cao's army would be forced to make a desperate stand or be driven into the water。
Cao Cao accepted this suggestion and told off ten panies of five thousand soldiers each to lie in ten ambush on two sides of the road of retreat。 The arrangement of the ambushes were thus： On the left； first pany under Xiahou Dun； second pany； Zhang Liao； third pany； Li Dian； fourth pany； Yue Jing； fifth pany； Xiahou Yuan； on the right； first pany was under Cao Hong； second pany； Zhang He； third pany； Xu Huang； fourth pany； Yu Jin； fifth pany； Gao Lan。 Xu Chu manded the advanced front。
Next day the ten panies started first and placed themselves right and left as ordered。 In the night Cao Cao ordered the advanced front to feign an attack on the camp； which roused all the enemy in all their camps。 This done； Xu Chu retreated and Yuan Shao's army came in pursuit。 The roar of battle went on without cessation； and at dawn Cao Cao's army rested on the river and could retreat no farther。
Then Cao Cao shouted； 〃There is no road in front； so all must fight or die。〃
The retreating army turned about and advanced vigorously。 Xu Chu simply flew to the front； smote and killed ten generals and threw Yuan Shao's army into confusion。 They tried to turn and march back； but Cao Cao was close behind。 Then the drums of the enemy were heard； and right and left there appeared two ambush panies of Gao Lan and Xiahou Yuan。 Yuan Shao collected about him his three sons and his nephew； and they were enabled to cut an alley out and flee。 Three miles further on they fell into another ambush of Yue Jing and Yu Jin； and here many troops of Yuan Shao were lost so that their corpses lay over the countryside and the blood filled the water courses。 Another three miles and they met the third pair of Li Dian and Xu Huang barring their road。
Here they lost heart and bolted for an old camp of their own that was near； and bade their men prepare a meal。 But just as the food was ready to eat； down came Zhang Liao and Zhang He and burst into the camp。
Yuan Shao mounted and fled as far as Cangting； when he was tired and his steed spent。 But there was no rest； for Cao Cao came in close pursuit。 It seemed now a race for life。 But presently Yuan Shao found his onward course again blocked by Xiahou Dun and Cao Hong； and he groaned aloud。
〃If we do not make most desperate efforts； we are all captives！〃 said he。
And they plunged forward。 His second son Yuan Xi and his nephew Gao Gan were wounded by arrows； and most of his soldiers were dead or had disappeared。 He gathered his sons into his arms and wept bitterly。 Then he fell into a swoon。 He was picked up； but his mouth was full of blood which ran forth in a bright scarlet stream。
He sighed； saying； 〃Many battles have I fought； and little did I think to be driven to this。 Heaven is afflicting me。 You had better return each to his own territory and swear to fight this Cao Cao to the end。〃
Then Yuan Shao bade Xin Ping and Guo Tu as quickly as possible follow Yuan Tan to Qingzhou and prepare to give battle to Cao Cao lest he should invade。 Yuan Xi was told to go to Youzhou and Gao Gan to Bingzhou。
So each started to prepare armies and horses for repulsing Cao Cao。 Yuan Shao with his youngest son Yuan Shang and the remnant of his officers went away to Jizhou； and military operations were suspended for a time。
Meanwhile Cao Cao was distributing rewards to his army for the late victory； and his spies were scouting all about Jizhou。 He soon learned that Yuan Shao was ill； and that the youngest son Yuan Shang and Shen Pei were in mand of the city； while his brothers and cousin had returned each to his own。 Cao Cao's advisers were in favor of a speedy attack。
But he objected； saying； 〃Jizhou is large and well supplied。 Shen Pei is an able strategist。 And it behooves me to be careful。 I would rather wait till the autumn when the crops have been gathered in so that the people will not suffer。〃
While the attack was being talked over there came letters from Xun Yu：
〃Liu Bei was strengthening himself at Runan with the force of Liu Pi and Gong Du and； when he heard that you was attacking Jizhou； he said he would take the opportunity to march on the capital。 Wherefore you； Sir； should hasten homeward to defend Xuchang。〃
This news disconcerted Cao Cao。 He left Cao Hong in mand on the river bank； with orders to maintain the appearance of strength there； while he led the main part of his army to meet the threatened attack from Runan。
Meanwhile Liu Bei； his brothers； and the leaders； having gone forth with the intention of attacking the capital； had reached a point near the Rang Mountains when Cao Cao came upon them。 So Liu Bei camped by the hills and divided his army into three； sending Guan Yu and Zhang Fei with ten thousand troops each to entrench themselves southeast and southwest respectively of the main body； which he and Zhao Yun manded。
When Cao Cao came near； Liu Bei beat his drums and went out to where Cao Cao had already arrayed his army。
Cao Cao called Liu Bei to a parley； and when the latter appeared under his great standard； Cao Cao pointed his whip at him and railed； saying； 〃I treated you as a guest of the highest consideration。 Why then do you turn your back on righteousness and forget kindness？〃
Liu Bei replied； 〃Under the name of Prime Minister you are really a rebel。 I am a direct descendant of the family； and I have a secret decree from the Throne to take such offenders as you。〃
As he said these words； he produced and recited the decree which is known as the 〃Girdle Mandate。〃
Cao Cao grew very angry and ordered Xu Chu to go out to battle。 As Liu Bei's champion； out rode Zhao Yun with spear ready to thrust。 The two warriors exchanged thirty bouts without advantage to either。 Then there arose an earth…rending shout and up came the two brothers； Guan Yu from the southeast and Zhang Fei from the southwest。 The three armies then began a great attack； which proved too much for Cao Cao's troops； fatigued by a long march； and they were worsted and fled。 Liu Bei having scored this victory returned to camp。
Next day he sent out Zhao Yun again to challenge the enemy； but it was not accepted and Cao Cao's army remained ten days without movement。 Then Zhang Fei offered a challenge which also was not accepted。 And Liu Bei began to feel anxious。
Then unexpectedly came news that the enemy had stopped a train of supp