Cui Yan replied； 〃The empire is rent； and the country is torn； the Yuan brothers are at war； and the people have been stripped naked。 Yet； Sir； you do not hasten to inquire after local conditions and how to rescue the people from misery； but first pute the possibilities of taxation。 Can you expect to gain the support of our people by such means？〃
Cao Cao accepted the rebuke； changed the policy； thanked him； and treated him all the better for it。
As soon as Jizhou was settled； Cao Cao sent to find out the movements of Yuan Tan。 He heard Yuan Tan was ravaging Ganling； Anping； Bohai； and Hejian。 Moreover； the scouts brought the news that Yuan Shang had fled to Zhongshan； and Yuan Tan led an expedition against him； but Yuan Shang would not face a battle。 He had gone away to Youzhou to his brother Yuan Xi。 Yuan Tan； having gathered Yuan Shang's troops； prepared for another attempt on Jizhou。
Whereupon Cao Cao summoned him。 Yuan Tan refused to e； and Cao Cao sent letters breaking off the marriage between Yuan Tan and his daughter。 Soon after Cao Cao led an expedition against Yuan Tan and marched to Pingyuan； whereupon Yuan Tan sent to Liu Biao to beg assistance。 Liu Biao sent for Liu Bei to consult about this。
Liu Bei said； 〃Cao Cao is very strong now that he has overe Jizhou； and the Yuans will be unable to hold out for long。 Nothing is to be gained by helping Yuan Tan； and it may give Cao Cao the loophole he is always looking for to attack this place。 My advice is to keep the army in condition and devote all our energies to defense。〃
〃Agreed； but what shall we say？〃 said Liu Biao。
〃Write to both the brothers as peacemaker in gracious terms。〃
Accordingly Liu Biao wrote thus to Yuan Tan：
〃When the superior person would escape danger； that person does not go to an enemy state。 I heard recently that you had crooked the knee to Cao Cao； which was ignoring the enmity between him and your father； rejecting the duties of brotherhood； and leaving behind you the shame of an alliance with the enemy。 If your brother； the successor to Jizhou； has acted unfraternally； your duty was to bend your inclination to follow him and wait till the state of affairs had settled。 Would it not have been very noble to bring about the redress of wrongs？〃
And to Yuan Shang； Liu Biao wrote：
〃Your brother； the ruler of Qingzhou； is of an impulsive temperament and confuses right with wrong。 You ought first to have destroyed Cao Cao in order to put an end to the hatred which your father bore him and； when the situation had bee settled； to have endeavored to redress the wrongs。 Would not that have been well？ If you persist in following this mistaken course； remember the hound and the hare； both so wearied that the peasant got them all。〃
From this letter Yuan Tan saw that Liu Biao had no intention of helping him； and feeling he alone could not withstand Cao Cao。 He abandoned Pingyuan and fled to Nanpi； whither Cao Cao pursued him。
The weather was very cold and the river was frozen； so that the grain boats could not move。 Wherefore Cao Cao ordered the inhabitants to break the ice and tow the boats。 When the peasants heard the order they ran away。 Cao Cao angrily wished to arrest and behead them。 When they heard this； they went to his camp in a body and offered their heads to the sword。
〃If I do not kill you； my order will not be obeyed；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃Yet supposing I cut off your heads； but I cannot bear to do that severity。 Quickly flee to the hills and hide so that my soldiers do not capture you。〃
The peasants left weeping。
Then Yuan Tan led out his army against Cao Cao。 When both sides were arrayed； Cao Cao rode to the front。
Pointing with his whip at his opponent； Cao Cao railed at him； saying； 〃I treated you well。 Why then have you turned against me？〃
Yuan Tan replied； 〃You have invaded my land； captured my cities； and broken off my marriage。 Yet you accuse me of turning against you！〃
Cao Cao ordered Xu Huang to go out and give battle。 Yuan Tan bade Peng An accept the challenge。 After a few bouts Peng An was slain； and Yuan Tan； having lost； fled and went into Nanpi； where he was besieged。 Yuan Tan； panic…stricken； sent Xin Ping to see Cao Cao and arrange surrender。
〃He is nothing but a tickle…minded child；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃He is never of the same mind two days running； and I cannot depend upon what he says。 Now your brother Xin Pi is in my employ and has a post of importance； you had better remain here also。〃
〃Sir Prime Minister； you are in error；〃 said Xin Ping。 〃It is said that the lord's honor is the servant's glory； the lord's sadness is the servant's shame。 How can I turn my back on the family I have so long served？〃
Cao Cao felt he could not be persuaded and sent him back。 Xin Ping returned and told Yuan Tan the surrender could not be arranged。
Yuan Tan turned on him angrily； saying； 〃Your brother is with Cao Cao； and you want to betray me also！〃
At this unmerited reproach such a huge wave of anger welled up in Xin Ping's breast that he was overe and fell in a swoon。 They carried him out； but the shock had been too severe； and soon after he died。 Yuan Tan regretted his conduct when it was too late。
Then Guo Tu said； 〃Tomorrow when we go out to battle； we will drive the people out in front as a screen for the soldiers； and we must fight a winning battle。〃
That night they assembled all the mon people of the place and forced into their hands swords and spears。 At daylight they opened the four gates； and a huge party with much shouting came out at each； peasantry carrying arms in front； and soldiers behind them。 They pushed on toward Cao Cao's camps； and a melee began lasted till near midday。 But this was quite indecisive； although heaps of dead lay everywhere。
Seeing that success was at best only partial； Cao Cao rode out to the hills near and thence had the drums beaten for a new attack under his own eye。 His officers and troops； seeing that he could observe them in person； exerted themselves to the utmost； and Yuan Tan's army was severely defeated。 Of the peasantry driven into the battlefield； multitudes were slain。
Cao Hong； who displayed very great valor； burst into the press of battle and met Yuan Tan face to face。 The two slashed and hammered at each other； and Yuan Tan was killed。
Guo Tu saw that his side was wholly disorganized and tried to withdraw into the shelter of Nanpi。 Yue Jing saw this and opened a tremendous discharge of arrows so that Guo Tu fell and the moat was soon filled with dead。
The city of Nanpi fell to Cao Cao。 He entered and set about restoring peace and order。 Then suddenly appeared a new army under two of Yuan Xi's generals； Jiao Chu and Zhang Neng。 Cao Cao led out his troops to meet them； but the two manders laid down their arms and yielded。 They were rewarded with the rank of lordship。
Then Zhang Yan； the leader of the Black Hills Brigands； came with one hundred thousand troops and gave in his submission。 He was made General Who Pacifies the North。
By an order of Cao Cao； the head of Yuan Tan was exposed； and death was threatened to anyone who should lament for him。 Nevertheless a man dressed in mourning attire was arrested for weeping below the exposed head at the north gate。 Taken into Cao Cao's presence； he said he was Wang Xiu and had been an officer in Qingzhou。 He had been expelled because he had remonstrated with Yuan Tan。 But when the news of Yuan Tan's death came； he had e to weep for his late master。
〃Did you know of my mand？〃 said Cao Cao。
〃I knew it。〃
〃Yet you were not afraid？〃
〃When one has received favors from a man in life； it would be wrong not to mourn at his death。 How can one stand in the world if one forgets duty through fear？ If I could bury his body； I would not mind death。〃
Cao Cao said； 〃And there were many such as this in the north。 What a pity that the Yuan family could not make the best of them！ But if they had done so； I should never have dared to turn my eyes toward this place。〃
The intrepid mourner was not put to death。 The remains of Yuan Tan were properly interred； and Wang Xiu was well treated and even given an appointment。
In his new position Wang Xiu was asked for advice about the best way to proceed against Yuan Shang； who had fled to his second brother； but Wang