ents on these considerations I felt secure。〃
Xun Yu bowed his head in admiration。
When Guo Jia entered； Cao Cao said； 〃Why so late； Sir？〃
The visitor drew a letter from his sleeve； saying to his master； 〃Yuan Shao sends this expressing he desires to send an army to attack Gongsun Zan and wishes you to lend provisions and troops。〃
〃I heard Yuan Shao was going to attack Xuchang。 I suppose my return has made him change his intention；〃 said Cao Cao。
Then he opened the letter and read it。 It was couched in very arrogant terms。
〃Yuan Shao is so exceedingly rude that I will attack him；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃Only I think I am not quite strong enough。 What should be done？〃
Guo Jia said； 〃My lord； you know well who lost； and why； in the conflict between Liu Bang； the Supreme Ancestor； and Xiang Yu； his rival。 The former won only by superior wisdom。 Xiang Yu was the stronger； but in the end he was overe。 Your rival has ten weak points whereas you have ten strong ones； and； though his army is large； it is not terrible。〃
Then Guo Jia continued； 〃Yuan Shao is overmuch devoted to ceremony and deportment； while you are sympathetic and natural； this is an excellence in conduct。 He is antagonistic and drives； you are conciliatory and lead； so you have the advantage of popular approval。 For many years the government has been lax； and he makes it more so； you strive vigorously after efficiency； this is the excellence of able administration。 He is outwardly liberal but grudging at heart； and too given to nepotism； you appear exacting； but you understand and use people after their ability； this is the advantage of correct appreciation。 He is a visionary but lacking in decision； you are a man of prompt decision and direct action； this is an advantage in policy。 He loves to gather about him people of renown； you treat people as you find them regardless of their reputation； this is where you excel in moral virtue。 He is passionate to those at hand； but careless about those out of sight； your care is all…embracing； this is where you excel in humanity。 He lends a ready ear to calumny and is misled； you may be flooded with evil counsel； but you preserve independence； this is where you excel in perspicacity。 His sense of right and wrong is confused； your appreciation is accurate and clear； this is where you excel in administrative capacity。 He loves the make…believe force； but is ignorant of military essentials； you would overe with far inferior numbers as you possess military genius； this is where you excel in war。 With your ten superiorities； you will have no difficulty in overing Yuan Shao。〃
〃How can I be worth as much as you say？〃 said Cao Cao； smiling。
〃What Guo Jia has said about the ten points in your favor agrees exactly with what I think；〃 said Xun Yu。 〃Yuan Shao's army is not formidable in spite of its size。〃
〃The real and dangerous enemy is Lu Bu；〃 said Guo Jia。 〃When Yuan Shao has gone north to destroy Gongsun Zan； we ought to sweep away Lu Bu and so clear away our danger from that side； for if this is not done； our attack on Yuan Shao will be the signal for an attempt on the capital。 That would be most serious。〃
Cao Cao saw things in the same light as his advisers and began to discuss plans for an attack on Lu Bu。 Xun Yu was of opinion that they should first secure the fidelity and aid of Liu Bei。 So letters were written； and they waited his assurance before moving a soldier。 Then； in order to reassure Yuan Shao； his emissary was treated with great kindness； and a memorial presented to the Emperor asking extra honors for him。 Yuan Shao was made Imperial Protector of the four northern regions………Jizhou； Qingzhou； Youzhou； and Bingzhou。 With all this a private letter was written by Cao Cao urging upon him to attack Gongsun Zan and promising assistance。 So Yuan Shao's army started。
In the meantime the two Chen Deng and Chen Gui were playing their game。 At every feast and gathering in Xuzhou； they uttered the most fulsome praises of Lu Bu。 Chen Gong was greatly displeased and took an opportunity to talk about them to his master。
〃They flatter you to your face； but what is in their hearts？ You ought to be most carefully on your guard。〃
〃Hold your tongue！〃 was the angry reply。 〃You are simply slandering them without the slightest excuse。 You want to harm good people。〃
〃No ears for loyal words；〃 said Chen Gong； as he went away sad at heart； 〃and we shall suffer。〃
He thought seriously of abandoning Lu Bu； but that would be too painful a wrench。 Beside he feared people would laugh at him。
So the days passed sorrowfully for him。 One day； with a few horsemen； he rode out to the country near Xiaopei to hunt。 On the high road he saw a messenger galloping along in hot haste and began to wonder what it might mean。 He left the hunt； rode across country； and intercepted the rider。
〃Where are you from？ Who sent you？〃 asked Chen Gong。
The messenger made no reply for he knew to what party his captors belonged。 But they searched him and found a letter； the secret reply to Cao Cao's letter from Liu Bei。 The messenger and the letter were both taken straight to Lu Bu。
Lu Bu questioned the man； who said； 〃The Prime Minister sent me to bear a letter to Imperial Protector Liu Bei。 I was now taking back the reply。 I know nothing more； and I am ignorant of the contents of the letters。〃
So Lu Bu tore it open and read：
〃I have received your mands concerning the destruction of Lu Bu； and dare I for a moment venture to disregard them？ But my force is weak and I must act with extreme circumspection。 If you move your main body； then I will hasten forward； and in the meantime my army shall be got ready and weapons prepared。 I await your mand。〃
Lu Bu was really alarmed。
〃The wretches！〃 cried he。 〃To dare to act thus！〃
The unhappy messenger was put to death and countermoves planned。 Chen Gong and Zang Ba went to enlist the help of the Taishan Mountains bandits………Sun Guan； Wu Dun； Yin Li； and Chang Xi………so that they would take Yanzhou in the East of Huashang Mountains。 Gao Shun and Zhang Liao went to attack Liu Bei in Xiaopei。 Song Xian and Wei Xu went west to attack Runan and Yingchuan。 And Lu Bu took mand of a large body of troops ready to afford help wherever needed。
The departure of the army under Gao Shun against Xiaopei was reported to Liu Bei； who assembled his officers at a council。
Sun Qian advised sending a message to the capital to inform Cao Cao of their danger。 In response to the chief's call； Jian Yong； a fellow townsman of Liu Bei； offered to take the message。 Up to that moment Jian Yong had served as a secretary。 So a letter was written； and Jian Yong set out at once on his journey。
Then preparations were made for defense： Liu Bei manding at the south gate； Sun Qian at the north gate； Guan Yu at the west gate； and Zhang Fei at the east gate。 Mi Zhu and his brother Mi Fang manded the family guard in the center。
The two Mis were put in mand of the house guard because they were Liu Bei's brothers…in…law； Liu Bei had taken a sister of Mi Zhu as a second wife。 Hence they were suitable men to guard the family。
In due course Gao Shun came to the south gate。 Liu Bei ascended the tower and said； 〃I have no quarrel with your master； why do you e here with an army？〃
〃You have plotted with Cao Cao to injure my master as we know now： Why should I not bind you？〃
So saying Gao Shun gave the signal to attack。 But Liu Bei did not go out to repulse Gao Shun； he only kept the gate fast closed。
Soon after； Zhang Liao led an attack on the west gate； then kept by Guan Yu； who addressed Zhang Liao from the wall。
〃You are too good a man to waste yourself on rebels；〃 said Guan Yu。
Zhang Liao hung his head and made no reply。 Guan Yu knew that Zhang Liao had a sound heart and high principles and said no more； as he was unwilling to wound Zhang Liao。 Nor did he go out to attack。
Zhang Liao then drew off and proceeded to the east gate； and Zhang Fei went out to give battle。 Soon it was told Guan Yu； who came over quickly。 He saw Zhang Fei going out； but Zhang Liao was already withdrawing。 Zhang Fei wished to pursue； but his brother held him back。
〃He is afraid and so has gone away。 It would be best to pursue；〃 said Zhang Fei。
〃No；〃 said Guan Yu。 〃As a warrior he is not