Now Yuan Shu was in Huainan. He had broad lands and abundant grain, and he had the jade seal Sun Ce had handed over to him, so he began to consider claiming the imperial title. He called a large meeting of his followers and asked,

“It was only Liu Bang of Han who began as a district chief at Sishui, yet he gained all under Heaven. Four hundred years have now passed, Heaven’s pattern has spent its course, and all beneath Heaven is in turmoil. Our house has held rank for four generations with three high offices, and the people have long relied on our house. I wish to obey Heaven, follow the people, and set myself in the center imperial seat. What do you all think?”

The clerk Yan Xiang answered, “This must not be done. In the past, Zhou King Houji amassed virtue and merit until Wen Wang; even when he held two parts of the underworld? Not; even after three-quarters of the world, he still served the Yin. Your family is indeed noble, but not as flourishing as that of Zhou. The Han house has declined, but it is not as cruel as King Zhou of Yin. This matter is absolutely not feasible.”

Yuan Shu growled. “Our Yuan surname came from Chen. Chen was descended from Great Shun. By the order of earth receiving fire, this is exactly my age and destiny. Also there is a prophecy: ‘The one who will replace Han is Tu Gao.’ My courtesy name is Gonglu; it exactly fulfills that prophecy. And I still have the national jade seal: if I do not be king, I would oppose Heaven and Man. My mind is fixed. Anyone who keeps speaking too much will be executed.”

He therefore proclaimed the title Zhong, appointed officials from the court downward, rode in the dragon and phoenix sedan chair, performed sacrifices at the southern and northern suburbs, made Fengfang’s daughter his empress, and named his son crown prince. He then ordered Lü Bu’s daughter to be brought as consort to the crown prince. Then he learned that Lü Bu had already taken Han Yin to Xu and delivered him to Cao Cao, who had him executed. He was furious, so he made Zhang Xun a Great General and made him command more than twenty thousand men, dividing them into seven routes to campaign against Xu Province.

The first route, with Great General Zhang Xun, took the center. The second route, with Senior General Qiao Rui, went to the left. The third route, with Senior General Chen Ji, went to the right. The fourth, with Deputy General Lei Bo, went to the left. The fifth, with Deputy General Chen Lan, went to the right. The sixth, with the surrendered general Han Xian, went to the left. The seventh, with the surrendered general Yang Feng, went to the right. Each route took subordinate heroes, and they all set out that same day.

Yuan Shu made Jin Shang, Yanzhou Inspector, Grand Commandant, to supervise the transport of grain and silver for all seven routes. Jin Shang refused. Yuan Shu executed him and made Ji Ling the chief officer for relief coordination among the seven routes. Yuan Shu himself brought out thirty thousand troops and sent Li Feng, Liang Gang, and Yue Jiu as rapid-response messengers to aid the seven routes.

Lü Bu sent scouts and learned that Zhang Xun’s army would go straight on the Great Road into Xu Province, while Qiao Rui’s army would take Xiaopei, Chen Ji’s Yidu, Lei Bo’s Langye, Chen Lan’s Qihe, Han Xian’s Xiapu, and Yang Feng’s Junshan. The seven armies rode fifty li a day and robbed as they moved. In haste he summoned his advisers. Chen Gong and his father Chen Gui arrived.

Chen Gong said, “The disorder in Xu Province was invited by Chen Gui and his son. They flattered the court for rank and salary, and today they have shifted the calamity to the general himself. You should have the heads of those two beheaded and presented to Yuan Shu; his army will then withdraw.”

Lü Bu listened and immediately ordered Chen Gui and Chen Deng to be arrested. Chen Deng laughed aloud. “What kind of fool’s resolve is this? I see Yuan Shu’s seven routes of soldiers as seven mounds of rotting straw. Why should we pay this any mind?”

Lü Bu said, “If you can propose a way to break the enemy, then your death sentence will be set aside.”

Chen Deng said, “If the general were to heed a fool’s plan, Xu Province could be kept safe.”

Lü Bu said, “Explain it.”

Chen Deng said, “Yuan Shu’s army is large, but it is a disordered host and not one to trust itself. We can hold with our proper troops and then break it with unexpected forces; everything will succeed. There is one more plan: it not only preserves peace in Xu Province but can also capture Yuan Shu alive.”

Lü Bu said, “From where will that plan come?”

Chen Deng replied, “Han Xian and Yang Feng were old Han officials who fled because they feared Cao Cao and went to Yuan Shu without any home to rely on. Yuan Shu will lightly dismiss them, and they will not be happy serving him deeply. If, with forged tally letters, they become inside allies, and if Liu Bei links with them as an outside partner, Yuan Shu will surely be captured.”

Lü Bu said, “You must go to Han Xian and Yang Feng in person and deliver a letter.” Chen Deng agreed.

Lü Bu then issued a general order at Xu and, at the same time, sent written letters to Yuzhou, and then ordered Chen Deng to ride out with a few mounted men to meet Han Xian on the Xiapu road.

Han Xian arrived with his men, set up camp, and then entered for audience. He asked, “You are a man of Lü Bu. Why have you come here?”

Chen Deng laughed. “I am an officer of the Great Han. How can I be called a man of Lü Bu? If you, once an officer of Han, are now a retainer of rebel thieves, then all your former service in protecting Guan Zhong is now for nothing. I think, sir, that Yuan Shu is deeply suspicious by nature and in time will surely kill you. If you do not act now, you will repent too late.”

Han Xian sighed. “I wish to return to Han, but I have no gate to do it through.”

Then Chen Deng produced Lü Bu’s letter. Han Xian read it and said, “Now I understand. Return at once. Yang Feng and I will turn our spears and strike together. Watch for the signal fires, and Minister Wenhou can meet us with troops.”

Chen Deng left and quickly reported to Lü Bu.

Lü Bu split his force into five routes. Gao Shun led one to Xiaopei against Qiao Rui. Chen Gong led one to Yidu against Chen Ji. Zhang Liao and Zang Ba led one to Langye against Lei Bo. Song Xian and Wei Xu led one to Qihe against Chen Lan. Lü Bu led one himself along the Great Road against Zhang Xun.

Each route had ten thousand men, while the rest stayed to guard the city. Lü Bu camped his forces thirty li outside the city. When Zhang Xun’s army arrived, thinking that Lü Bu’s force was not that strong, he drew back twenty li and waited for the other four routes to join.

At the second watch that night, Han Xian and Yang Feng split their troops in various places and set fires, signaling Lü Bu’s army to enter the camp. Zhang Xun’s army was thrown into disorder. Lü Bu seized the opportunity to cut through and destroy them, and Zhang Xun ran.

At dawn, Lü Bu rode onward and in time collided with Ji Ling’s relieving force. Just as the two armies were about to meet, Han Xian and Yang Feng’s two routes came charging in. Ji Ling was heavily defeated and fled. Lü Bu gave chase, and his men captured him; they took countless horses and armor and arms.

When the mountain road opened, Yuan Shu’s banner-and-flag cluster appeared. At the front it revealed a line of mounted men beneath dragon-and-phoenix and sun-and-moon standards, four kinds of drum banners and five directional flags, golden gourd clubs and silver axes, yellow-yellow silk streamers and white horsehair plumes, and yellow gauze mantles with gold-spiked canopies. There stood Yuan Shu in polished golden armor, two sabers hanging on his wrists, in front of his formation, shouting at Lü Bu,

“Turncoat servant of one’s lord!”

Lü Bu flew into a rage and strode forward with his halberd raised. Liu Feng of Yuan’s side came running with a spear to meet him. In fewer than three bouts of combat, Lü Bu wounded Liu Feng’s hand with his spear. Liu Feng cast away his spear and ran.

Lü Bu led his men in a violent charge and slaughter and Yuan Shu’s army broke into utter confusion. Lü Bu pursued from the rear and captured many horses and many men, as well as robes and armor.

Yuan Shu withdrew with his broken troops, and after scarcely going a few li, a compact force appeared from behind the mountain and blocked the way. At its front was Guan Yu. He shouted, “Rebel! Face death if you dare not submit!” Yuan Shu panicked and ran. The rest of his men scattered. Guan Yu cut down many in a sweep of battle.

Yuan Shu gathered his broken force and fled back to Huainan.

Lü Bu won the victory and invited Guan Yu, and also Yang Feng and Han Xian with their men, into Xu Province, where he arranged a grand banquet and entertained them. The soldiers all received rewards.

The next day, Guan Yu took his leave and returned. Lü Bu kept Han Xian as Administrator of Yidu and Yang Feng as Administrator of Langye. They discussed leaving the two there in Xu Province.

Chen Gui said, “No. Han Xian and Yang Feng hold the east of Shandong. If the two remain for less than a year, all the cities and fortresses of Shandong will belong to that general.”

Lü Bu agreed. He settled the two for the time being at Yidu and Langye and left them awaiting orders.

Chen Deng privately asked his father, “Why did you not keep those two in Xu Province as the root for killing Lü Bu?”

Chen Gui said, “If those two help Lü Bu, they will become, instead of cutting him off, claws and teeth added to a tiger.” Chen Deng agreed with his father’s high judgment.

Yuan Shu, defeated, returned to Huainan and sent an envoy to Sun Ce in Jiangdong to ask for troops for revenge. Sun Ce was furious.

“You have relied on my jade seal to claim the imperial title, gone against the Han house, and committed great treason. I was preparing to strike you for this wrong. How could I now help a rebel traitor?”

He wrote a letter and cut all ties.

The messenger bore that letter back to Yuan Shu. After reading it, Yuan Shu shouted, “An insolent child with a loud mouth—who dares to answer me so! I will punish him first!” Chief Clerk Yang spoke up, remonstrating hard and nearly stopping him.

After sending the letter, Sun Ce organized defense and placed troops to guard the river mouth. Then Cao Cao arrived. He appointed Sun Ce Prefect of Kuaiji and ordered him to raise troops and campaign against Yuan Shu. Sun Ce conferred and wanted to mobilize, but Chief Clerk Zhang Zhao advised him first to send a letter to Cao Cao asking him to move south and, if so, Sun Ce would follow in support. If the two armies aided one another, Yuan Shu’s army would collapse. If any accident arose, Cao Cao might rescue them. Sun Ce took this advice and sent a message to Cao Cao with this intent.

Cao Cao came to Xu, and remembering Dian Wei, he ordered sacrifices in his honor. He made Dian Wan his son, title Zhonglang, and took him into the household. Then a report came that Sun Ce had sent an envoy with a letter. After reading it, word also arrived that Yuan Shu was short of grain and was raiding Chenliu, and planned to exploit the opportunity to attack. Cao Cao therefore raised his army southward. He kept Cao Ren in Xu and sent the remainder on campaign: one hundred and seventy thousand horse and infantry with over one thousand grain carts. He first sent men to join Sun Ce, Liu Bei, and Lü Bu.

When the army reached the boundary of Yuzhang, Xuande already drew out his own soldiers to welcome them, and Cao Cao ordered him to come into camp.

After they met, Liu Bei presented two severed heads.

Cao Cao said in astonishment, “Whose heads are these?”

Xuande said, “These are the heads of Han Xian and Yang Feng.”

Cao Cao asked, “How did you obtain them?”

Xuande answered, “Lü Bu put the two in charge at Yidu and Langye, and they unexpectedly unleashed their troops to loot the people. Everyone among the people came to resent them. So I set up a feast, invited them under pretense of debate, and in the middle of drinking used cups as our signal so that Guan and Zhang, my two brothers, slew them and all their men surrendered. I have come now to admit my guilt.”

Cao Cao said, “You have removed a danger to the state. That is great merit, not guilt.”

He then gave Xuande great reward and joined forces to the border of Xu Province. Lü Bu came out to receive him and Cao Cao spoke kindly, appointing him as Left General and promising that upon return to the capital he would exchange the seals and baton for him. Lü Bu was overjoyed.

Cao Cao placed Lü Bu’s troops on the left and Xuande’s on the right, and he took personal command in the center with Xiahou Dun and Yu Jin as vanguard.

Yuan Shu learned that Cao Cao’s army was arriving. He ordered Senior General Qiao Rui to lead fifty thousand as vanguard. The two armies met at the border gate of Shouchun. Qiao Rui charged first on horseback, and after fewer than three exchanges Xiahou Dun thrust him through to death.

Yuan Shu’s army broke and ran back to the city. Then news came that Sun Ce had sent ships to attack the west bank of the river. Lü Bu moved his force against the east bank, while Liu Bei with Guan and Zhang attacked the south. Cao Cao himself moved one hundred and seventy thousand men against the north.

Terrified, Yuan Shu quickly gathered his civil and military commanders to deliberate. Chief Clerk Yang advised:

“Shouchun has suffered years of drought and heat; everyone is short of grain. Now that soldiers are stirring the people again, the people all resent it, and it will not be easy to resist the enemy. It is better not to fight inside Shouchun. Keep the army there and do not make battle. Let time run and their grain run out, and change will surely come. Your Majesty should lead the troops across the Huai. First, this is ground we are accustomed to, and second, it briefly avoids their sharpness.”

Yuan Shu took that advice. He left Li Feng, Yue Jiu, Liang Gang, and Chen Ji in four groups totaling one hundred thousand to hold Shouchun. He moved out with the rest, and with him all the treasuries, gold, jade, and precious goods, and crossed the Huai.

Cao Cao’s army of one hundred and seventy thousand consumed vast amounts of grain each day. Many prefectures were in drought, and support from adjacent districts was impossible. Cao Cao pushed for a swift assault, but Li Feng and the rest kept their gates shut.

The armies faced each other for more than a month. Supplies neared exhaustion. Cao Cao wrote to Sun Ce and borrowed one hundred thousand hu of grain, which still did not cover their dispersing needs.

Supply officer Ren Jun and his subordinate warehouse captain Wang Hou reported to Cao Cao: “The army has great numbers and little grain. What are we to do?”

Cao Cao said, “Issue it in small measures for now to pass this immediate crisis.”

Wang Hou said, “If the soldiers complain, what then?”

Cao Cao replied, “I have a way.”

Following orders, Wang Hou distributed the grain in small measures. Cao Cao secretly sent agents into each camp to listen in. In every place the men lamented and said the Chancellor was deceiving the soldiers. Cao Cao then summoned Wang Hou privately and said, “I need to borrow one thing from you in order to settle the men’s minds. You must not spare anything.”

Wang Hou said, “Your Excellency is borrowing what from me for no fault of mine.”

Cao Cao said, “I know you are innocent, yet if I do not execute you, the army’s heart will change. When you die, your wife and children I will raise and support, so do not worry.”

Before Wang Hou could speak again, Cao Cao called for the executioner, who dragged him out the gate and executed him with one stroke. He hung the head on a high pole and posted a bulletin: “Wang Hou broke the small measures and stole official grain. He is punished by military law.”

From that moment the grumbling among the men began to ease.

The next day, Cao Cao gave this order to commanders of every camp: “If the city is not broken within three days, by joint assault, all of you will be executed!” Cao Cao rode to the foot of the walls, overseeing troops carrying earth and stone to fill the ditches and block the moats. From the city walls arrows and stones rained down. Two assistant officers, fearing the danger, turned back; Cao Cao drew his sword and executed both before the city wall, then dismounted and personally filled the pits.

At once all the troops surged forward, and the army’s strength surged high. The city defenses gave way. The Cao soldiers rushed to storm and opened the gates, cutting the locks. Large formations surged inside. Li Feng, Chen Ji, Yue Jiu, and Liang Gang were all captured alive.

Cao Cao ordered all of them executed in the market.

He burned fake palace buildings and halls and all prohibited objects of indulgence. Shouchun was emptied and stripped of its goods.

The commanders discussed crossing the Huai and pursuing Yuan Shu, when Xun Yu remonstrated: “This year has been drought-stricken and grain is hard to come by. If we push further we will waste the army and harm the people. It is not surely beneficial. Better to return to Xu and wait until next spring, when wheat ripens and supply is prepared before trying again.”

Cao Cao hesitated. At once a mounted messenger came:

“Zhang Xiu, relying on Liu Biao, has become unruly again; counties in Nanyang have risen again. Cao Hong cannot hold them and has been forced to yield over several engagements. They have come to give emergency warning today.”

Cao Cao immediately wrote to Sun Ce and ordered him to deploy across the river as a front against any force Liu Biao might send, so that he would not dare act rashly. Cao Cao then ordered a prompt return that day and planned separately how to campaign against Zhang Xiu.

Before leaving, he left Xuande to keep troops at Xiaopei and to conclude a brotherly pact with Lü Bu for mutual relief and no more raids on each other.

Lü Bu led his men back toward Xu Province.

Before departing, Cao Cao told Xuande privately: “I kept you at Xiaopei as a plan to dig a pit and wait for a tiger. You should only discuss things with Chen Gui and his son and avoid any loss. I will aid you from the outside.” They parted.

Then Cao Cao brought his army back to Xu. News arrived that Du Wei had killed Li Jue, Wu Xi had killed Guo Fan, and brought their heads. Du Wei also had brought Li Jue and over two hundred of his household alive and in chains to Xu.

Cao Cao ordered them divided among the gates and executed, posting proclamations with their head counts. The people praised the justice.

The Son of Heaven entered the hall, assembled civil and military officials, and held a peace banquet. He made Du Wei General Who Disturbs the Rebellious and Wu Xi General Who Crushes Distress, assigning both to command troops and station at Chang’an. The two offered thanks and withdrew.

Cao Cao then petitioned that Zhang Xiu had rebelled and requested orders for a campaign. The Son of Heaven personally arranged the phoenix carriage and sent Cao Cao out as chief commander in person. It was the summer of the third year of Jian’an, the fourth month.

Cao Cao left Xun Yu in Xu, reassigned troops and generals, and personally marshaled the main army.

Along the march he saw a stretch of wheat already ripe. Because of the army’s movement, villagers had fled outside and did not dare to reap.

He sent proclamations to village elders and officers everywhere along the route: “I am acting on the Son of Heaven’s explicit order to dispatch troops to punish rebels and clear dangers for the people. Though we were forced to march while wheat was ripe, all major officers and commanders should know: if any feet tread down any wheat in the field, the penalty is beheading. Army law is strict. The people need not be alarmed or confused.”

Hearing this, the people rejoiced and praised it. They stood in the dust and blocked the road to bow in respect.

Officer cavalry passed through the wheat with every unit dismounting to hold the stalks by hand, passing the grain down to each other so it would not be trampled.

As Cao Cao rode, a startled bird rose from the wheat and his horse went wild-eyed into the fields, trampling a wide swath of grain.

Cao Cao immediately called for the military clerk and inquired whether he should charge himself with the crime. The clerk said, “Can the Chancellor be investigated for a crime?”

Cao Cao replied, “I made the law; I have broken it. How can I ask the troops to obey if I do not uphold it?” Then he drew his side sword as if to cut his own throat. They rushed and saved him.

Guo Jia said, “In the rites of the Spring and Autumn, law did not apply to the honored one. The Grand Commander in charge of the whole army cannot choose self-harm.”

After long thought, Cao Cao said, “Since the ancient principle says law does not apply to the honored one, I will for now forgo death.” He drew his sword through his own hair and threw it to the ground, saying, “I cut my hair to substitute for my head.” He had the hair shown to the entire army and said, “The Chancellor trampled the wheat and would by law have been beheaded; instead he has given his hair in place.”

The whole army was now solemnly alert and strictly obeyed the order.

Later people commented in verse:

For ten thousand tiger-charged troops, ten thousand hearts can still be stirred, One man gives an order, but the multitude is hard to restrain. He drew his sword and cut his hair, exchanging it for his head— Now one can see how deep the arts of Cao Cao are.

Then Zhang Xiu learned that Cao Cao was arriving with his forces. He immediately sent a letter to Liu Biao asking for back-up support and at the same time sent Generals Lei Xu and Zhang Xian out of the city to meet him.

The two forces faced one another in a circle. Zhang Xiu rode out, pointed at Cao Cao, and shouted,

“You are one who pretends benevolence and has no sense of morality, no better than a beast!”

Cao Cao was furious and ordered Xu Chu to ride out. Zhang Xian met him in combat. In only three exchanges, Xu Chu beheaded Zhang Xian from horseback, and Zhang Xiu’s army suffered a major defeat. Cao Cao drove his forces to Nanyang and put the city under siege.

Zhang Xiu closed the gates and did not come out.

Cao Cao besieged and attacked. He saw the moat was very wide and deep and the waters strong, and it was hard to reach the walls in one stroke. So he ordered soldiers to carry earth to fill the moat, to use earth sacks and mixed brushwood and straw, and to make bench-like ladders at the city’s edge. He had observation ladders raised and then personally rode around the city.

After three days, Cao Cao ordered soldiers to stack brushwood at the southwest angle and, gathering his commanders there, directed his men to use that place to scale up. Within the city, Jia Xu saw this development and said to Zhang Xiu,

“I already understand Cao Cao’s intention. Now we can use strategy to counter strategy and proceed accordingly.”

The verse then ran:

Among the strong there are still stronger hands; If one uses deceit, then only one who knows deceit can meet it. How this turned out will be told in the next chapter.