fense； you will not acplish your design； if you leave too few； Lu Bu will fall upon us。 And finally if you lose this and fail to gain Xuzhou； whither will you retire？ That region is not vacant。 Although Tao Qian has gone； Liu Bei holds it； and since the people support him； they will fight to the death for him。 To abandon this place for that is to exchange the great for the small； to barter the trunk for the branches； to leave safety and run into danger。 I would implore you to reflect well。〃
Cao Cao replied； 〃It is not a good plan to keep soldiers idle here during such scarcity。〃
〃If that is so； it would be more advantageous to attack the eastern counties of Chencheng； Yingchuan； and Runan； and feed your army on their supplies。 The remnants of the Yellow Scarves； He Yi and Huang Shao； are there with stores and treasures of all kinds that they have amassed by plundering wherever they could。 Rebels of their stamp are easily broken。 Break them； and you can feed your army with their grain。 Moreover； both the court and the mon people will join in blessing you。〃
This new design appealed strongly to Cao Cao； and he quickly began his preparations to carry it out。 He left Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren to guard Juancheng； while his main body； under his own mand； marched to seize Chencheng。 This done they went to Runan and Yingchuan。
Now when the Yellow Scarves leaders； He Yi and Huang Shao； knew that Cao Cao was approaching。 They came out in a great body to oppose him。 They met at Goat Hill。 Though the rebels were numerous； they were a poor lot； a mere pack of beasts without organization and lacking discipline。 Cao Cao ordered his strong archers and vigorous crossbowmen to keep them in check。
Dian Wei was sent out to challenge。 The rebel leaders chose a second…rate champion for their side； who rode out and was vanquished in the third bout。 Then Cao Cao's army pushed forward； and they made a camp at Goat Hill。
The following day the rebel Huang Shao himself led forth his army and made his battle array along a circle。 A leader advanced on foot to offer bat。 He wore a yellow turban on his head and a green robe。 His weapon was an iron mace。
He shouted； 〃I am He Man； the devil who shoots across the sky。 Who dare fight with me？〃
Cao Hong uttered a great shout and jumped from the saddle to accept the challenge。 Sword in hand he advanced on foot and the two engaged in fierce bat in the face of both armies。 They exchanged some fifty blows； neither gaining the advantage。 Then Cao Hong feigned defeat and ran away。 He Man went after him。 Just as he closed； Cao Hong tried a feint and then suddenly wheeling about； wounded his adversary。 Another slash； and He Man lay dead。
At once Li Dian dashed forward into the midst of the Yellow Scarves and laid hands on the rebel chief Huang Shao whom he carried off captive。 Cao Cao's troops then set on and scattered the rebels。 The spoil of treasure and food was immense。
The other rebel leader； He Yi； fled with a few hundred horsemen toward Kobei Hills。 But while on their road thither there suddenly appeared a force led by a certain swashbuckler who shall be nameless for the moment。 This bravo was a well…built man； thickset and stout。 With a waist ten span in girth。 He used a long sword。
He barred the way of retreat。 He Yi set his spear and rode toward him。 But at the first encounter the bravo caught He Yi under his arm and bore He Yi off a prisoner。 All the rebels were terror…stricken； dropped from their horses and allowed themselves to be bound。 Then the victor drove them like cattle into an enclosure with high banks。
Presently Dian Wei； still pursuing the rebels； reached Kobei Hills。 The swashbuckler went out to meet him。
〃Are you also a Yellow Scarves rebel？〃 said Dian Wei。
〃I have some hundreds of them prisoners in an enclosure here。〃
〃Why not bring them out？〃 said Dian Wei。
〃I will if you win this sword from my hand。〃
This annoyed Dian Wei who attacked him。 They engaged and the bat lasted for two long hours and then was still undecided。 Both rested a while。 The swashbuckler was the first to recover and renewed the challenge。 They fought till dusk and then； as their horses were quite spent； the bat was once more suspended。
In the meantime some of Dian Wei's men had run off to tell the story of this wondrous fight to Cao Cao who hastened in amazement； followed by many officers to watch it and see the result。
Next day the unknown warrior rode out again； and Cao Cao saw him。 In Cao Cao's heart he rejoiced to see such a doughty hero and desired to gain his services。 So Cao Cao bade Dian Wei feign defeat。
Dian Wei rode out in answer to the challenge； and some thirty bouts were fought。 Then Dian Wei turned and fled toward his own side。 The bravo followed and came quite close。 But a flight of arrows drove him away。
Cao Cao hastily drew off his men for one and a half miles and then secretly sent a certain number to dig a pitfall and sent troops armed with hooks to lie in ambush。
The following day Dian Wei was sent out with one hundred horse。 His adversary nothing loath came to meet Dian Wei。
〃Why does the defeated leader venture forth again？〃 cried he laughing。
The swashbuckler spurred forward to join battle； but Dian Wei； after a faint show of fighting； turned his horse and rode away。 His adversary intent upon capture； took no care； and he and his horse all blundered into the pitfall。 The hookmen took him captive； bound him； and carried him before Cao Cao。
As soon as he saw the prisoner； Cao Cao advanced from his tent； sent away the soldiers； and with his own hands loosened the leader's bonds。 Then he brought out clothing and dressed him； bade him be seated and asked who he was and whence he came。
〃I am named Xu Chu。 I am from Qiao。 When the rebellion broke out； I and my relations of some hundreds built a stronghold within a rampart for protection。 One day the robbers came； but I had stones ready for them。 I told my relatives to keep on bringing them up to me and I threw them； hitting somebody every time I threw。 This drove off the robbers。 Another day they came and we were short of grain。 So I agreed with them to an exchange of plow oxen against grain。 They delivered the grain and were driving away the oxen when the beasts took fright and tore off to their pens。 I seized two of oxen by the tail； one with each hand； and hauled them backwards a hundred or so paces。 The robbers were so amazed that they thought no more about oxen but went their way。 So they never troubled us again。〃
〃I have heard of your mighty exploits；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃Will you join my army？〃
〃That is my strongest desire；〃 said Xu Chu。
So Xu Chu called up his clan； some hundreds in all； and they formally submitted to Cao Cao。 Xu Chu received the rank of general and received ample rewards。 The two rebel leaders； He Yi and Huang Shao； were executed。 Runan and Yingchuan were now perfectly pacified。
Cao Cao withdrew his army and went back to Juancheng。 Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren came out to wele him； and they told him that spies had reported Yanzhou City to be left defenseless。 Lu Bu's generals； Xue Lan and Li Fang； had given up all its garrison to plundering the surrounding country。 They wanted him to go against it without loss of time。
〃With our soldiers fresh from victory； the city will fall at a tap of the drum；〃 said they。
So Cao Cao marched the army straight to the city。 An attack was quite unexpected but the two leaders； Xue Lan and Li Fang； hurried out their few soldiers to fight。 Xu Chu； the latest recruit； said he wished to capture these two and he would make of them an introductory gift。
The task was given him and he rode forth。 Li Fang with his halberd advanced to meet Xu Chu。 The bat was brief as Li Fang fell in the second bout。 His colleague Xue Lan retired with his troops。 But he found the drawbridge had been seized by Li Dian； so that he could not get shelter within the city。 Xue Lan led his men toward Juye。 But Lu Qian pursued and killed him with an arrow。 His soldiers scattered to the four winds。 And thus Yanzhou was recaptured。
Next Cheng Yu proposed an expedition to take Puyang。 Cao Cao marched his army out in perfect order。 The van leaders were Dian Wei and Xu Chu； Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan led the left wing； Li Dian an