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£º¡¡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£º
¡¨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¡¡maintai