This was displeasing to Yuan Tan； and he angrily dismissed Wang Xiu； while he sent the treacherous invitation to his brother。
Yuan Shang and Shen Pei talked over the matter。
Shen Pei said； 〃I recognize one of Guo Tu's stratagems and if you go； my lord； you will be the victim of their plot。 Rather strike at them at once。〃
Whereupon Yuan Shang rode out to battle。 His brother Yuan Tan； seeing him e with fifty thousand troops； knew that his treachery had been discovered； so he also took the field。 When the forces were near enough； Yuan Tan opened on Yuan Shang with a volley of abuse。
〃You poisoned my father and usurped the succession。 Now you e out to slay your elder brother？〃
The battle went against Yuan Tan。 Yuan Shang himself took part in the fight； risking the arrows and the stones。 He urged on his troops and drove his brother off the field。 Yuan Tan took refuge in Pingyuan。 Yuan Shang drew off his army to his own city。
Yuan Tan and Guo Tu decided upon a new attack； and this time they chose General Cen Bi as Leader of the Van。 Yuan Shang went to meet him。 When both sides had been arrayed and the banners were flying and the drums beating； Cen Bi rode out to challenge and railed at his opponent。 At first Yuan Shang was going to answer the challenge himself； but Lu Kuang had advanced。 Lu Kuang and Cen Bi met but had fought only a few bouts when Cen Bi fell。 Yuan Tan's soldiers were once more defeated and ran away to Pingyuan。 Shen Pei urged his master to press for the advantage； and Yuan Tan was driven into the city； where he fortified himself and would not go out。 So the city was besieged on three sides。
Yuan Tan asked his strategist what should be done next； and Guo Tu said； 〃The city is short of food； the enemy is flushed with victory； and we cannot stand against them。 My idea is to send someone to offer surrender to Cao Cao and thus get him to attack Jizhou。 Your brother will be forced to return thither； which will leave you free to join in the attack。 We may capture Yuan Shang。 Should Cao Cao begin to get the better of your brother's army； we will lend our force to help Yuan Shang against Cao Cao； and as Cao Cao's base of supply is distant； we shall drive him off。 And we can seize on Jizhou and begin our great design。〃
〃Supposing this scheme be attempted； who is the man for a messenger？〃
〃I have one Xin Pi； Xin Ping's younger brother。 Xin Pi is the magistrate here in this very place。 He is a fluent speaker and good scholar and suited to your purpose。〃
So Xin Pi was summoned and came readily enough。 Letters were given him and an escort of three thousand soldiers took him beyond the border。 He traveled as quickly as possible。
At that time Cao Cao's camp was at the Xiping Pass and he was attacking Liu Biao； who had sent Liu Bei out to offer the first resistance。 No battle had yet taken place。
Soon after his arrival； Xin Pi was admitted to the Prime Minister's presence。 After the ceremonies of greeting； Cao Cao asked the object of the visit。 Xin Pi explained that Yuan Tan wanted assistance and presented his dispatches。 Cao Cao read them and told the messenger to wait in his camp while he called his officers to a council。
The council met。 Cheng Yu said； 〃Yuan Tan has been forced into making this offer because of the pressure of his brother's attack。 Put no trust in him。〃
Lu Qian and Man Chong said； 〃You have led your armies here for a special purpose。 How can you abandon that and go to assist Yuan Tan？〃
〃Gentlemen； not one of you is giving good advice；〃 interposed Xun You。 〃This is how I regard it。 Since there is universal trouble； in the midst of which Liu Biao remains quietly content with his position between the River Zhang and the River Han； it is evident that he has no ambition to enlarge his borders。 The Yuans hold four regions and have many legions of soldiers。 Harmony between the two brothers means success for the family； and none can foresee what will happen in the empire。 Now take advantage of this fraternal conflict and let them fight till they are weakened and have to yield to our Prime Minister。 Then Yuan Shang can be removed； and when the times are suitable； Yuan Tan can be destroyed in his turn。 Thus peace will ensue。 This present bination of circumstances is to be taken advantage of to full measure。〃
Cao Cao realized the truth of this and treated Xin Pi well。
At a banquet Cao Cao said； 〃But is this surrender of Yuan Tan real or false？ Do you really think that Yuan Shang's army is sure to overe him？〃
Xin Pi replied； 〃Illustrious Sir； do not inquire into the degree of sincerity； rather regard the situation。 The Yuans have been suffering military losses for years and are powerless without； while their strategists are put to death within。 The brothers seize every chance to speak evil of each other； and their country is divided。 Add to this famine； supplemented by calamities and general exhaustion； and everybody； wise as well as simple； can see that the catastrophe is near and the time ordained of Heaven for the destruction of the Yuans is at hand。 Now you have a force attacking the capital of Jizhou………Yejun………and if Yuan Shang will not return to give aid； the place of refuge is lost。 If he helps； then Yuan Tan will follow up and smite him； making use of your power to destroy the remnant of his brother's army； just as the autumn gale sweeps away the fallen leaves。 Now Liu Biao's Jingzhou is rich； the government peaceful； the people submissive； and it cannot be shaken。 Moreover； there is no greater threat to it than the North of Yellow River。 If that be reduced； then the task is plete。 I pray you； Sir； think of it。〃
〃I am sorry that I did not meet you earlier；〃 said Cao Cao； much gratified with this speech。
Forthwith orders were given to return and attack Jizhou。 Liu Bei； fearing this retirement was only a ruse； allowed it to proceed without interference and himself returned to Jingzhou。
When Yuan Shang heard that Cao Cao had crossed the Yellow River； he hastily led his army back to Yejun； ordering Lu Xiang and Lu Kuang to guard the rear。
Yuan Tan started from Pingyuan with a force in pursuit。 He had proceeded only a dozen miles when he heard a bomb and two bodies of troops came out in front of him and checked his progress。 Their leaders were Lu Xiang and Lu Kuang。
Yuan Tan reined in and addressed them； saying； 〃While my father lived； I never treated you badly。 Why do you support my brother and try to injure me？〃
The two generals had no reply to make； but they dismounted and bowed before him yielding submission。
Yuan Tan said； 〃Do not surrender to me but to the Prime Minister。〃
And he led them back to camp； where he waited the arrival of Cao Cao and then presented the pair。 Cao Cao received them well。 He promised his daughter to Yuan Tan to wife； and he appointed the two brothers as advisers。
When Yuan Tan asked Cao Cao to attack Jizhou； the reply was： 〃Supplies are short and difficult to transport。 I must turn the waters of River Ji into the White River whereby to convey my grain and afterwards I can advance。〃
Ordering Yuan Tan to remain in Pingyuan； Cao Cao retired into camp at Liyang。 The two brothers Lu Xiang and Lu Kuang； who were renegades from Yuan Shang； were now raised to noble rank and followed the army as supernumeraries。
Guo Tu noted this advancement and said to Yuan Tan； 〃He has promised you a daughter to wife。 I fear that bodes no good。 Now he has given titles of nobility to the two Lus and taken them with him。 This is a bait for the northern people； and at the same time he intends evil toward us。 You； my lord； should have two generals' seals engraved and send them secretly to the brothers so that you may have friends at court ready for the day when Cao Cao shall have broken your brother's power； and we can begin to work against him。〃
The seals were engraved and sent。
As soon as the Lu brothers received them； they informed Cao Cao； who smiled； saying； 〃He wants your support so he sends you seals as officers。 I will consider it as soon as Yuan Shang has been dealt with。 In the meantime you may accept the seals till I shall decide what to do。〃
Thenceforward Cao Cao planned Yuan Tan's doom。
Shen Pei and his master also discussed the current situation。 Yuan Shang said； 〃Cao Cao is getting grain into the White River； which means an attack on Jizhou。 What is to be done？〃
Shen Pei replied； 〃Send letters to Yin Kai； mander of Wuan； bidding him camp at Maocheng to secure the road to Shangdang； and direct Ju Gu； son of Ju Shou； to maintain Handan as a distant auxiliary。 Then you may advance on Pingyuan and attack Cao Cao。〃
The plan seemed good。 Yuan Shang left Shen Pei and Chen Lin in charge of Yejun； appointed two manders Ma Yan and Zhang Zi as Van Leaders； and set out hastily for Pingyuan。
When Yuan Tan heard of the approach of his brother's army； he sent urgent messages to Cao Cao； who said to himself； 〃I am going to get Jizhou this time。〃
Just at this time it happened that Xun You came down from the capital。 When he heard that Yuan Shang was attacking his brother Yuan Tan； he sought Cao Cao and said； 〃You； Sir； sit here on guard。 Are you waiting till Heaven's thunder shall strike the two Yuans？〃
〃I have thought it all out；〃 said Cao Cao。
Then he ordered Cao Hong to go and fight against Yejun； while he led another army against Yin Kai in Maocheng。 Yin Kai could make no adequate defense and was killed by Xu Chu。 His soldiers ran away and presently joined Cao Cao's army。 Next Cao Cao led the army to Handan； and Ju Gu came out to fight him。 Zhang Liao advanced to fight with Ju Gu； and after the third encounter Ju Gu was defeated and fled。 Zhang Liao went after him； and when their two horses were not far apart； Zhang Liao took his bow and shot。 The fleeing warrior fell as the bowstring twanged。 Cao Cao pleted the rout； and Ju Gu's force was broken up。
Now Cao Cao led his armies to an attack on Yejun。 Cao Hong had arrived before； and a regular siege began。 The army enpassed the city and began by throwing up great mounds。 They also tunneled subterranean ways。
Within the city Shen Pei turned his whole care to the defense and issued the severest mands。 The mander of the East Gate； Feng Li； got intoxicated and failed to keep his watch for which he was severely punished。 Feng Li resented this； snea