〃No； I know not。〃
〃It was your nephew Shen Rong who gave up the gate；〃 said Cao Cao。
〃He was always unprincipled； and it has e to this！〃 said Shen Pei。
〃The other day when I approached the city； why did you shoot so hard at me？〃
〃I am sorry we shot too little。〃
〃As a faithful adherent of the Yuans； you could do no otherwise。 Now will you e over to me？〃
〃Never； I will never surrender。〃
Xin Pi threw himself on the ground with lamentations； saying； 〃Eighty of my people murdered by this ruffian。 I pray you slay him； O Prime Minister！〃
〃Alive； I have served the Yuans；〃 said Shen Pei； 〃dead； I will be their ghost！ I am no flattering time…server as you are。 Kill me！〃
Cao Cao gave the order。 They led him away to put him to death。
On the execution ground he said to the executioners； 〃My lord is in the north； I pray you not to make me face the south。〃
So Shen Pei knelt facing the north and extended his neck for the fatal stroke。
Who of all the official throng
In the North was true like Shen Pei？
Sad his fate！ He served a fool；
But faithful； as the ancient humans。
Straight and true was every word；
Never from the road he swerved。
Faithful unto death； he died
Gazing toward the lord he'd served。
Thus died Shen Pei and from respect for his character Cao Cao ordered that he be buried honorably on the north of the city。
The Prime Minister then entered the city of Yejun。 As he was starting； he saw the executioners hurrying forward a prisoner who proved to be Chen Lin。
〃You wrote that manifesto for Yuan Shao。 If you had only directed your diatribe against me； it would not have mattered。 But why did you shame my forefathers？〃 said Cao Cao。
〃When the arrow is on the string； it must fly；〃 replied Chen Lin。
Those about Cao Cao urged him to put Chen Lin to death； but he was spared on account of his genius and given a civil post。
Now Cao Cao's eldest son was named Cao Pi。 At the taking of the cities he was eighteen years of age。 When he was born a dark purplish halo hung over the house for a whole day。 One who understood the meaning of such manifestations had secretly told Cao Cao that the halo belonged to the imperial class and portended honors which could not be put into words。
At eight the lad could pose very skillfully； and he was well read in ancient history。 Now he was an adept at all military arts and very fond of fencing。 He had gone with his father on the expedition to Jizhou。 When Yejun had fallen； he led his escort in the direction of the Yuan family dwelling； and when he reached it； he strode in； sword in hand。 When some mander would have stayed him； saying that by order of the Prime Minister no one was to enter the house； Cao Pi bade them begone。 The guards fell back and he made his way into the private rooms； where he saw two women weeping in each other's arms。 He went forward to slay them。
Four generations of honors； gone like a dream；
Fate follows on ever surely； though slow she seems。
The fate of the two women will be told in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 33 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 33
Chapter 33
A Gallant Warrior； Cao Pi Marries Lady Zhen；
An Expiring Star； Guo Jia Settles Liaodong。
As was said； Cao Pi； having made his way into the Yuans' palace； saw two women there whom he was about to kill。 Suddenly a red light shone in his eyes； and he paused。
Lowering his sword he said； 〃Who are you？〃
〃Thy handmaid is the widow of the late Yuan Shao； Lady Liu；〃 said the elder of the two； 〃and this is the wife of Yuan Xi； his second son。 She was of the Zhen family。 When Yuan Xi was sent to mand in Youzhou； her family objected to her going so far from home and she stayed behind。〃
＇e＇ Lady Zhen； a famous lady in the North of Yellow River （Hebei）； wife to Yuan Xi； son of Yuan Shao。 When Yuan Shao was defeated by Cao Cao； both Cao Cao's sons Cao Pi and Cao Zhi claimed her； not to mention Cao Cao himself。 Cao Pi eventually won her hand； wedded her； and made her an empress。 She later became the Goddess of River Luo； according to folktales。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Xu You devised the plans to destroy the Wuchao granary of Yuan Shao。
Cao Pi drew Lady Zhen toward him and looked at her closely。 Her hair hung disordered； her face was dusty and tear…stained； but when； with the sleeve of his inner garment； he had wiped sway these disfigurements； he saw a woman of exquisite loveliness； with a plexion clear as jade touched with the tender bloom of a flower petal； a woman indeed beautiful enough to ruin a kingdom*。
〃I am the son of the Prime Minister；〃 said he turning to the elder woman。 〃I will guarantee your safety； so you need fear nothing。〃
He then put by his sword and sat down at the upper end of the room。
As Cao Cao was entering the gate of the conquered city of Yejun； Xu You rode up very quickly； passed him； and pointed with his whip at the gate； saying； 〃Sir Prime Minister； you would not have been here but for my plans！*〃
Cao Cao laughed； but his generals were very annoyed。
When Cao Cao reached the residence； he stopped at the gate and asked； 〃Has anyone had gone in？〃
The guard at the gate said； 〃Your son is within。〃
Cao Cao called him out and chided him； but the wife of the late Imperial Protector interposed； saying； 〃But not for your son we had not been saved。 I desire to present to you a lady； of the Zhen family； as a handmaid to your son。〃
Cao Cao bade them bring out the girl and she bowed before him。 After looking at her intently； he said； 〃Just the wife for him！〃
And he told Cao Pi to take Lady Zhen to wife。
After the conquest of Jizhou had been made quite sure； Cao Cao made a ceremonial visit to the Yuan family cemetery； where he sacrificed at the tomb of his late rival； bowed his head； and lamented bitterly。
＇e＇ Yan and Dai were two ancient states in the north during the Warring States period。 。。。。。
Turning to his generals； he said； 〃Not long ago when Yuan Shao and I worked together in military matters； he asked me； saying； 'If this disturbance does not cease； what fronts should be held？' And I replied asking him what he thought。 He said； 'In the North of Yellow River； to the south I would hold the Yellow River； on the north； guard against Yan and Dai* and absorb the hordes from the Gobi Desert。 Thence southward I would try for the empire； and do you not think I might succeed？' I replied saying； 'I depend upon the wisdom and force of the world directed by scholars； then every thing would be possible。' These words seem as if spoken only yesterday； and now he is gone。 Thinking over it I cannot refrain from tears。〃
His officers were deeply affected。 Cao Cao treated the widow generously； giving her gold and silks and food to her content。
He also issued a further order that the taxes in the North of Yellow River would be remitted in consideration of the sufferings of the people during the warlike operations。 He sent up a memorial to the Throne and formally became Imperial Protector of Jizhou。
One day Xu Chu； riding in at the east gate； met Xu You； who called out to him； 〃Would you fellows be riding through here if it had not been for me？〃
Xu Chu replied； 〃We fellows； those who survive and those who perished； risked our lives in bloody battle to get this city； so do not brag of your deeds！〃
〃You are a lot of blockheads； not worth talking about；〃 said Xu You。
Xu Chu in his anger drew his sword and ran Xu You through。 Then he took Xu You's head and went to tell Cao Cao the reason。
Said Cao Cao； 〃He and I were old friends； and we could joke together。 Why did you kill him？〃
Cao Cao blamed Xu Chu very severely and gave orders that Xu You should be buried honorably。
Cao Cao inquired for any wise and reputable people who were known to be living in the region and was told： 〃mander Cui Yan； of Dongwu； who had on many occasions given valuable advice to Yuan Shao。 As the advice was not followed； he had pleaded indisposition and remained at home。〃
Cao Cao sent for this man； gave him an office and said to him； 〃According to the former registers； there are three hundred thousand households in the region so that one may well call it a major region。〃
Cui Yan replied； 〃The empire is rent； and the country is torn； the Yuan brothers are at war； and the people have been str