position in order to keep the master hand and control the binations among the others。 Now take advantage of the turmoil in the north to smite Huang Zu and attack Liu Biao in Jingzhou。 Thereby you will mand the whole length of the Great River。 Then you may consolidate the empire and bee the Son of Heaven。 This was how the Supreme Ancestor acted。〃
Hearing this Sun Quan was very greatly pleased。 He threw on some clothing； got up； and thanked his newly…found adviser。 Next day Sun Quan gave Lu Su costly gifts and sent robes and silks to his mother。
Lu Su then remended a friend of his to Sun Quan's notice； a man of wide reading and great ability。 He was also a filial son。 His name was Zhuge Jin； and he came from Nanyang。 Sun Quan treated Zhuge Jin as a superior guest。 This man dissuaded Sun Quan from making mon cause with Yuan Shao； but advised him rather to favor Cao Cao； against whom he could plan when occasion served。 Sun Quan therefore sent back the messenger Chen Zhen with dispatches that broke off all negotiations。
Hearing of Sun Ce's death； Cao Cao was for sending an expedition against the south。
But Zhang Hong dissuaded him； saying； 〃It would be mean to take advantage of the period of mourning。 And if you should not overe him； you will make him an enemy instead of being a friend。 It would be preferable to treat him generously。〃
So Cao Cao memorialized the Throne and obtained for Sun Quan the title of General and Governor of Kuaiji； while Zhang Hong was appointed mander under Sun Quan。
And a seal of office was sent to Sun Quan by Zhang Hong。 The new appointment pleased Sun Quan； and he was greatly glad to get Zhang Hong back again。 Then Zhang Hong was sent to act jointly with Zhang Zhao in the administration。
Zhang Hong was the means of getting another into Sun Quan's service。 His friend was Gu Yong； a disciple of the Historian Cai Yong。 Gu Yong was a man of few words and an abstainer from wine。 He was very correct in all things。 Sun Quan appointed Gu Yong Deputy Governor。
Henceforward Sun Quan's rule was very prosperous； and he waxed mightily in influence and won the love of all the people。
When Chen Zhen had returned and related the events in the South Land and told of the honors that Cao Cao had obtained for Sun Quan in return for his support； Yuan Shao was very wroth； and he set about preparing for an attack on Xuchang with a force of seven hundred thousand northern soldiers。
Although in the south they rest from war；
They rattle the spears beneath the northern star。
Later it will be seen which side conquered。
Main Next to Chapter 30 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 30
Chapter 30
Shunning Advice； Yuan Shao Loses Leaders and Granaries；
Using Strategy； Cao Cao Scores Victory At Guandu。
Hearing that Yuan Shao was hastening to attack at Guandu； Xiahou Dun wrote to the capital urgently asking for reinforcements； and Cao Cao told off seventy thousand troops with which he marched。 Xun Yu was left to guard the capital。
Just as Yuan Shao's army was starting； Tian Feng sent out a remonstrance from his prison cell； saying； 〃My lord； a hasty attack in full scale will bring disaster to our army。 It is best now to wait upon such times as Heaven should appoint。〃
Peng Ji said to Yuan Shao； 〃Why does this Tian Feng utter ill…omened words？ My lord is sending forth an army in the cause of humanity and justice。〃
Easily moved to anger； Yuan Shao was going to execute Tian Feng； but this time he forbore at the entreaties of many of his officers。
However； he was not appeased； for he said； 〃I will punish Tian Feng when I return from conquering Cao Cao。〃
Meanwhile Yuan Shao hastened to start。 The banners of his host filled the horizon； their swords were as trees in the forest。 They marched to Yangwu and there made a strong camp。
Then Ju Shou once more opposed any hasty movement； saying； 〃Though our soldiers are many； they are not so bold as the enemy。 However； veterans as are the enemy； they have not ample supplies。 Therefore they will wish to force on a speedy battle； while our policy is to hold them off and delay。 If we can keep from a decisive battle long enough； the victory will be ours without fighting。〃
This advice did not appeal to Yuan Shao。
Said he； threateningly； 〃Tian Feng spoke discouraging words to my armies； and I will assuredly put him to death on my return。 How dare you follow in the same way？〃
Yuan Shao summoned the lictors and sent away the adviser in chains； saying； 〃When I have overe Cao Cao； then will I deal with you and Tian Feng together 〃
The huge army was camped in four divisions； one toward each point of the pass。 The camps were thirty miles in circuit。 Scouts and spies were sent out to discover the strong and the weak points of the enemy。
Cao Cao's army arrived and were smitten with fear when they heard of the strength of their enemy。 The leader called together his council。
Then said Adviser Xun You； 〃The enemy are many but not terrible。 Ours is an army of veterans； every soldier of ours worth ten of theirs。 But our advantage lies in a speedy battle； for unhappily our stores are insufficient for a long campaign。〃
〃You speak to the point；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃I think the same。〃
Therefore Cao Cao issued orders to press noisily forward and force on a battle。 Yuan Shao's soldiers took up the challenge； and the two sides were arrayed。 On Yuan Shao's side； Shen Pei placed ten thousand of crossbowmen in ambush on the two wings； while five thousand of archers held the center。 The signal for general attack was a bomb； and the onset was to continue through three rolls of the drum。
Yuan Shao wore a silver helmet and breastplate and an embroidered robe held in by a jeweled belt。 He took up his post in the center with his manders………Gao Lan； Zhang He； Han Meng； Chunyu Qiong； and others………ranged right and left。 His banners and ensigns made a brave show。
When Cao Cao's army's center opened and the banners moved aside； the chieftain appeared on horseback with his staff of doughty leaders all fully armed………Xu Chu； Zhang Liao； Xu Huang； Li Dian； and others。
Pointing with his whip at Yuan Shao； Cao Cao cried； 〃In the presence of the Emperor； I pressed your claims to consideration and obtained for you the title of Regent Marshal。 Why do you now plan rebellion？〃
Yuan Shao replied； 〃You take the title of a minister of Han； but you are really a rebel against the House。 Your crimes and evil deeds reach to the heavens； and you are worse than the usurper Wang Mang and the rebel Dong Zhuo。 What are these slanderous words about rebellion that dare you address to me？〃
〃I have a mand to make you prisoner！〃
〃I have the Girdle Decree to arrest rebels！〃 replied Yuan Shao。
Then Cao Cao became wrathful and bade Zhang Liao ride forth as his champion。 From the other side rode Zhang He on a curvetting steed。 The two champions fought forty or fifty bouts with no advantage to either。 In his heart Cao Cao thought the contest amazing。 Then Xu Chu whirled up his sword and went to help。 From the other side； to match him rode out Gao Lan with his spear set； and the contestants were now four； battling two and two。 Then Cao Cao ordered three thousand troops under Xiahou Dun and Cao Hong to attack the opponents' array。 Thereupon on Yuan Shao's side； Shen Pei gave the signal for attack； and the legion of crossbowmen on the wings shot and the center archers let fly all together。 The arrows flew all over the field in front； and Cao Cao's troops could not advance。 They hastened away toward the south。 Yuan Shao threw his soldiers on their rear； and they were broken。 They fled away toward Guandu； and Yuan Shao advanced another stage。 He camped near them。
Then Shen Pei said； 〃Now send one hundred thousand soldiers to guard Guandu； and get near Cao Cao's camp。 Then build up observation mounds to get a clear view of the enemy； and choose vantage points whence to shoot arrows into the midst of their host。 If we can force him to evacuate this place； we shall have gained a strategic point whence Capital Xuchang can be attacked。〃
Yuan Shao adopted this suggestion。 From each of the camps； they sought out the strongest veterans who dug with iron spades and carried earth to raise mounds near Cao Cao's camp。
Cao Cao's sold