Cao Cao adopted the suggestion； and care was taken that the report spread far around。 It came to the ears of Yuan Shao's soldiers； and they repeated it in camp。 Yuan Shao believed it and ordered his son Yuan Tan with fifty thousand troops to rescue Yejun； and General Xin Ming with another fifty thousand to go to Liyang； and they marched away at once。 Cao Cao heard that these armies had started； and at once dispatched troops in eight divisions to make a simultaneous attack on the nearly empty camp。 Yuan Shao's troops were too dispirited to fight and gave way on all sides。
Yuan Shao without waiting to don his armor went forth in simple dress with an ordinary cap upon his head and mounted his steed。 His youngest son； Yuan Shang； followed him。 Four of the enemy generals………Zhang Liao； Xu Chu； Xu Huang； and Yu Jin………with their forces pressed in his rear； and Yuan Shao hastened across the river； abandoning all his documents and papers； baggage； treasure； and stores。 Only eight hundred horsemen followed him over the stream。 Cao Cao's troops followed hard but could not e up with him。 However； they captured all his impedimenta； and they slew some eighty thousands of his army so that the watercourses ran blood and the drowned corpses could not be counted。 It was a most plete victory for Cao Cao； and he made over all the spoil to the army。
Among the papers of Yuan Shao was found a bundle of letters showing secret correspondence between him and many persons in the capital and army。
Cao Cao's personal staff suggested that the names of those concerned should be abstracted and the persons arrested； but their lord said； 〃Yuan Shao was so strong that even I could not be sure of safety。 How much less other people？〃
So Cao Cao ordered the papers to be burned and nothing more was said。
Now when Yuan Shao's soldiers ran away； Ju Shou； being a prisoner； could not get away and was captured。
Taken before Cao Cao； who knew him； Ju Shou cried aloud； 〃I will not surrender！〃
Said Cao Cao； 〃Yuan Shao was foolish and neglected your advice： Why still cling to the path of delusion？ Had I had you to help me； I should have been sure of the empire。〃
Ju Shou was well treated in the camp； but he stole a horse and tried to get away to Yuan Shao。 This angered Cao Cao who recaptured him and put him to death； which he met with brave posure。
〃I have slain a faithful and righteous man！〃 then said Cao Cao sadly。
And the victim was honorably buried at Guandu。 His tomb bore the inscription This is the tomb of Ju Shou the Loyal and Virtuous 。
Ju Shou was honest and virtuous；
The best in Yuan Shao's train；
From him the stars no secrets held；
In tactics all was plain。
For him no terrors had grim death。
Too lofty was his spirit；
His captor slew him； but his tomb
Bears witness to his merit。
Cao Cao now gave orders to attack Jizhou。
In feeling over confident； that's where one's weakness lay；
The other bettered him by plans which never went astray。
The following chapter will tell who won the next campaign。
Main Next to Chapter 31 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 31
Chapter 31
Cao Cao Overes Yuan Shao In Cangting；
Liu Bei Seeks Shelter With Liu Biao In Jingzhou。
Cao Cao lost no time in taking advantage of Yuan Shao's flight； but smote hard at the retreating army。 Yuan Shao without helmet or proper dress； and with few followers； crossed hastily to the north bank at Liyang。 He was met by one of his generals； Jiang Yiqu； who took him in and forted him and listened to the tale of misfortunes。 Next Jiang Yiqu called in the scattered remnants of the army； and when the soldiers heard that their old lord was alive they swarmed to him like ants； so that Yuan Shao quickly became strong enough to attempt the march to Jizhou。 Soon the army set out and at night halted at Huang Hills。
That evening； sitting in his tent； Yuan Shao seemed to hear a far off sound of lamentation。 He crept out quietly to listen and found it was his own soldiers telling each other tales of woe。 This one lamented an elder brother lost； that one grieved for his younger brother abandoned； a third mourned a panion missing； a fourth； a relative cut off。 And each beat his breast and wept。
And all said； 〃Had he but listened to Tian Feng； we had not met this disaster！〃
Yuan Shao； very remorseful； said； 〃I did not hearken unto Tian Feng； and now my soldiers have been beaten and I was nearly lost。 How can I return and look him in the face？〃
Next day the march was resumed； and Yuan Shao met Peng Ji with reinforcements； to whom he said； 〃I disregarded Tian Feng's advice and have brought myself to defeat。 Now shall I be greatly ashamed to look him in the face。〃
This tribute to Tian Feng's prescience roused the jealousy of Peng Ji； who replied； 〃Yes； when he heard the news of your defeat； though he was a prisoner； he clapped his hands for joy and said； 'Indeed； just as I foretold！'〃
〃How dare he laugh at me； the blockhead？ Assuredly he shall die；〃 said Yuan Shao。
Whereupon Yuan Shao wrote a letter and sent therewith a sword to slay the prisoner。
Meanwhile Tian Feng's gaoler came to him one day； saying； 〃Above all humans I felicitate you。〃
〃What is the joyful occasion and why felicitate？〃 said Tian Feng。
The gaoler replied； 〃Imperial Protector Yuan Shao has been defeated and is on his way back。 He will treat you with redoubled respect。〃
〃Now am I a dead man！〃 said Tian Feng。
〃Why say you that； Sir； when all people give you joy？〃
〃The Imperial Protector appears liberal； but he is jealous and forgetful of honest advice。 Had he been victorious； he might have pardoned me。 Now that he has been defeated and put to shame； I may not hope to live。〃
But the gaoler did not believe Tian Feng。 Before long came the letter and the sword with the fatal order。
The gaoler was dismayed； but the victim said； 〃I knew all too well that I should have to die。〃
The gaoler wept。
Tian Feng said； 〃An able person born into this world who does not recognize and serve the right lord is ignorant。 Today I die； but I am not deserving of pity。〃
Whereupon he cut his throat in the prison。
Ju Shou but yesterday was killed；
Tian Feng ends his life his fate fulfilled；
The Yellow River's main beams break one by one；
Mourn ye that Yuan House！ Its day is done。
Thus died Tian Feng； pitied of all who heard of his fate。
When Yuan Shao came home in Jizhou； he was with troubled mind and distorted thoughts。 He could not attend to the business of government and became so ill that his second wife； who came of the Liu family and had replaced the first wife after her death； besought him to make his last dispositions。
Now three sons had been born to Yuan Shao： Yuan Tan the eldest； who was mander at Qingzhou； Yuan Xi； who ruled over Youzhou； and Yuan Shang； borne to him by Lady Liu。 This youngest son was very handsome and noble looking； and his father's favorite。 So he was kept at home。
After the defeat at Guandu； the lad's mother was constantly urging that her son should be named as successor； and Yuan Shao called together four of his counselors to consider this matter。 These four happened to be divided in their sympathies： Shen Pei and Peng Ji being in favor of the youngest son； and Xin Ping and Guo Tu supporters of the eldest。
When they met to consult； Yuan Shao said； 〃As there is nought but war and trouble outside our borders； it is necessary that tranquillity within be early provided for； and I wish to appoint my successor。 My eldest son is hard and cruel； my second is mild and unfit。 The third has the outward form of a hero； appreciates the wise； and is courteous to his subordinates。 I wish him to succeed； but I wish that you tell me your opinions。〃
Guo Tu said； 〃Yuan Tan is your first born； and he is in a position of authority beyond your control。 If you pass over the eldest in favor of the youngest； you sow the seeds of turbulence。 The prestige of the army has been somewhat lowered and enemies are on our border。 Should you add to our weakness by making strife between father and son； elder and younger brothers？ Rather consider how the enemy may be repulsed and turn to the question of the heirship later。〃
Then the natural hesitation of Yuan Shao asserted itself； and he could not make up hi