About this time Pang Shu； who had been hiding and protecting Lu Bu's family in Changan since his disappearance； restored them to him。 This deed angered Li Jue and Guo Si so that they put Pang Shu to death and wrote to Lu Bu's protector to serve him the same。 To escape this Lu Bu once again had to flee and this time joined himself to Zhang Miao； the Governor of Chenliu。
Lu Bu arrived just as Zhang Miao's brother； Zhang Chao； was introducing Chen Gong。
Chen Gong said to Zhang Miao； 〃The rupture of the empire has begun； and warriors are seizing what they can。 It is strange that you； with all the advantages of population and provisions you enjoy； do not strike for independence。 Cao Cao has gone on an expedition against the east； leaving his own territory defenseless。 Lu Bu is one of the fighting people of the day。 If you and he together attacked and got Yanzhou； you could then proceed to the dominion。〃
Zhang Miao was pleased and resolved to try。 He ordered an attack； and soon Lu Bu was in possession of Yanzhou and its neighborhood； all but three small counties of Juancheng； Fanxia； and Dongjun； which were vigorously and desperately defended by Xun Yu and Cheng Yu in concert。 Cao Cao's cousin； Cao Ren； had fought many battles but was repeatedly defeated； and the messenger with the evil tidings had e from him asking prompt help。
Cao Cao was greatly disturbed by this and said； 〃If my own region be lost； I have no home to return to。 I must do something at once。〃
〃The best thing would be to bee friends with Liu Bei at any cost and return to Yanzhou；〃 said Guo Jia。
Then Cao Cao wrote to Liu Bei； gave the letter to the waiting messenger and broke camp。 The news that the enemy had left was very gratifying to Tao Qian； who then invited his various defenders into Xuzhou City and prepared banquets and feasts in token of his gratitude。
At one of these； when the feasting was over； he proceeded with his wish of retirement in favor of Liu Bei。
Placing Liu Bei in the seat of highest honor； Tao Qian bowed before him and then addressed the assembly； 〃I am old and feeble； and my two sons lack the ability to hold so important an office as this。 The noble Liu Bei is a descendant of the imperial house。 He is of lofty virtue and great talent。 Let him then take over the rule of this region； and only too willingly I shall retire to have leisure to nurse my health。〃
Liu Bei replied； 〃I came at the request of Governor Kong Rong； because it was the right thing to do。 Xuzhou is saved； but if I take it； surely the world will say I am a wicked man。〃
Mi Zhu said； 〃You may not refuse。 The House of Han is falling； their realm is crumbling； and now is the time for doughty deeds and signal services。 This is a fertile region； well populated and rich； and you are the man to rule over it。〃
〃But I cannot accept；〃 said Liu Bei。
〃Imperial Protector Tao Qian is a great sufferer；〃 said Chen Deng； 〃and cannot see to matters。 You may not decline； Sir。〃
Said Liu Bei； 〃Yuan Shu belongs to a family of rulers； who have held the highest offices of state four times in three generations。 The multitude people respects him。 Why not invite him to this task？〃
〃Because Yuan Shu is a drying skeleton in a dark tomb： Not worth talking about。 This opportunity is a gift from Heaven； and you will never cease to regret its loss；〃 said Kong Rong。
So spoke Kong Rong； but still Liu Bei obstinately refused。
Tao Qian besought him with tears； saying； 〃I shall die if you leave me； and there will be none to close my eyes。〃
〃Brother； you should accept the offer thus made；〃 said Guan Yu。
〃Why so much fuss？〃 said Zhang Fei。 〃We have not taken the place。 It is he who wishes to give it you。〃
〃You all persuade me to do what is wrong；〃 said Liu Bei。
Seeing he could not persuade Liu Bei； Tao Qian then said； 〃As you are set in determination； perhaps you will consent to encamp at Xiaopei。 It is only a little town； but thence you can keep watch and ward over the region。〃
They all with one voice prayed Liu Bei to consent； so he gave in。 The feast of victory being now ended； the time came to say farewell。 When Zhao Yun took his leave； Liu Bei held his hands alternately while dashing away the falling tears。 Kong Rong and Tien Kai went home to their own places。
When Liu Bei and his brothers took up their abode in Xiaopei； they first repaired the defenses； and then they put out proclamations in order to calm the inhabitants。
In the meantime Cao Cao had marched toward his own region。
Cao Ren met and told him； 〃Lu Bu is very powerful； and he has Chen Gong as adviser。 Yanzhou is as good as lost； with the exception of three counties which have been vigorously and desperately defended by Xun Yu and Cheng Yu。〃
Cao Cao said； 〃I own that Lu Bu is a bold fighter but nothing more； he has no craft。 So we need not fear him seriously。〃
Then he gave orders to make a strong camp till they could think out some victorious plan。
Lu Bu； knowing of Cao Cao's return； called two of his subordinate generals； Xue Lan and Li Fang； to him and assigned to them the task of holding the city of Yanzhou； saying； 〃I have long waited for opportunity to employ your skill。 Now I give you ten thousand soldiers； and you are to hold the city while I go forth to attack Cao Cao。〃
They accepted。
But Chen Gong； the strategist； came in hastily； saying； 〃General； you are going away； whither？〃
〃I am going to camp my troops at Puyang； that vantage point。〃
〃You are making a mistake；〃 said Chen Gong。 〃The two you have chosen to defend this city are unequal to the task。 For this expedition remember that about sixty miles due south； on the treacherous road to the Taishan Mountains； is a very advantageous position where you should place your best men in ambush。 Cao Cao will hasten homeward by double marches when he hears what has happened。 If you strike when half his troops have gone past this point； you may seize him。〃
Said Lu Bu； 〃I am going to occupy Puyang and see what develops。 How can you guess my big plan？〃
So Lu Bu left Xue Lan in mand at Yanzhou and went away。
Now when Cao Cao approached the dangerous part of the road near the Taishan Mountains； Guo Jia warned him to take care as there was doubtless an ambush。
But Cao Cao laughed； saying； 〃We know all Lu Bu's dispositions。 Xue Lan is keeping the city。 Do you think Lu Bu has laid an ambush？ I shall tell Cao Ren to besiege Yanzhou； and I shall go to Puyang。〃
In Puyang； when Chen Gong heard of the enemy's approach； he spoke； saying； 〃The enemy will be fatigued with long marches； so attack quickly before they have time to recover。〃
Lu Bu replied； 〃I； a single horseman； am afraid of none。 I e and go as I will。 Think you I fear this Cao Cao？ Let him settle his camp； I will take him after that。〃
Now Cao Cao neared Puyang； and he made a camp。 The next day he led out his manders； and they arrayed their armies in open country。 Cao Cao took up his station on horseback between the two standards； watching while his opponents arrived and formed up in a circular area。
Lu Bu was in front； followed by eight of his generals； all strong men： Zhang Liao of Mayi； backed by Hao Meng； Cao Xing； and Cheng Lian； Zang Ba of Huaying； backed by Wei Xu； Song Xian； and Hou Cheng。 They led an army of fifty thousand in total。
The drums began their thunderous roll； and Cao Cao； pointing to his opponent； said； 〃You and I had no quarrel； why then did you invade my land？〃
〃The empire of Han is the possession of all。 What is your special claim？〃 said Lu Bu。
So saying； Lu Bu ordered Zang Ba to ride forth and challenge。 From Cao Cao's side the challenge was accepted by Yue Jing。 The two steeds approached each other； two spears were lifted both together； and they exchanged near thirty blows with no advantage to either。 Then Xiahou Dun rode out to help his colleague and； in reply； out went Zhang Liao from Lu Bu's side。 And they four fought。
Then fierce anger seized upon Lu Bu。 Setting his trident halberd； he urged his Red Hare forward to where the fight was waging。 Seeing him approach； Xiahou Dun and Yue Jing both fled； but Lu Bu pressed on after them； and Cao Cao's army lost the day。 Retiring ten miles； they made a new camp。 Lu Bu called in and mustered his troops。
The day having gone against him； Cao Cao called