Yuan and Cao each bring up horse and foot armies. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei together capture Generals Wang Zhong and Liu Dai.

Thereupon Chen Deng presented his plan to Liu Bei, whose courtesy name was Xuande: “Cao Cao fears Yuan Shao most. Shao sits on Ji, Qing, You, and Bing, commanding a million armed men, and he has many literati and generals. Why not write a letter and send envoys to ask for help?”

Liu Bei replied, “Shao has never traded greetings with me, and he just defeated his own younger brother. Why would he dare to assist now?”

Chen Deng said, “There is one man in all this world with three generations of family ties to Yuan Shao. If we can get one letter to him, Yuan Shao will certainly come to assist.”

Liu Bei asked who he was.

Chen Deng said, “It is the one you greet with bowing and careful ritual each day. How could you have forgotten him?”

Liu Bei said with a start, “Could it be Master Zheng Kangcheng?”

Chen Deng smiled and said, “It is.”

In truth, Zheng Kangcheng was named Xuan. He was eager to learn and skilled in many arts. He once studied under Ma Rong. Whenever Ma Rong lectured, he would set up a red pavilion, place his students in the front, and line his female attendants on both sides. Xuan listened for three years and never glanced askew; Ma Rong found this astonishing.

After he finished learning and returned home, Rong sighed, “Only one man, Zheng Xuan, has received the secret of my teaching.”

Zheng Xuan’s maids all knew the Classic of Poetry. One maid once offended him; Xuan ordered her to kneel on the stairs.

She joked, “Why stoop down into the mud?”

She immediately answered, “I had spoken a slight word in haste and met his anger.” So elegant was her diction.

In Emperor Huan’s reign, Xuan rose to Shangshu. Later, because of the Disturbance of the Ten Attendants, he left office, returned to the fields, and lived in Xu Province.

When Liu Bei had been in Zhuo Commandery, he had once been his disciple. Afterward, when Liu Bei served as Administrator of Xu Province, he came often to visit and seek instruction, and showed him singular respect.

At once Liu Bei vividly remembered this man and was overjoyed. He and Chen Deng together went to Zheng Xuan’s house to ask him to write a letter. Xuan gladly agreed and wrote one missive, then gave it to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei immediately sent Sun Qian at night to take it and deliver it to Yuan Shao. After reading it, Yuan Shao privately reflected, “Liu Bei has destroyed my brother; I should not help him. Yet because this is at the command of Shangshu Zheng, I have no choice but to go.”

He gathered his civil and military officers and discussed mustering troops to strike Cao Cao.

Advisor Tian Feng said, “War has continued for years. The people are exhausted, and the granaries have little reserve. It is not possible to raise a great army anew. First send men to report victory to the Son of Heaven. If he does not grant passage, then submit a memorial saying Cao Cao blocks our royal road. Then raise troops and station them at Liyang. Also in Hebei increase boats and transport craft, repair weapons, distribute selected troops, and post detachments along the border. In three years, major matters can be settled.”

Counselor Shen Pei said, “Not so. With your divine prowess, my lord, to pacify the north of the river and raise the army against Cao bandit is as easy as turning over your palm. Why delay by the months?”

Counselor Ju Shou said, “A strategy to conquer is not only a matter of strength. Now Cao Cao’s laws are implemented and his soldiers are disciplined; he is nothing like Gongsun Zan, who sat trapped and remained vulnerable. Abandoning a winning memorial and raising an army with no name is not what my lord should do.”

Counselor Guo Tu said, “This is not true. To raise an army against Cao Cao is no such thing as being nameless. My lord should secure a great undertaking at once. I would follow Shangshu Zheng’s words: join Liu Bei in upholding righteousness and exterminating Cao’s bandit. Heaven’s will is above and the people’s feeling below. This would truly be a heaven-sent blessing.”

The four could not agree. Yuan Shao hesitated. Just then Xu You and Xun Shen entered from outside.

Shao said, “The two of you have much discernment. Hear how you advise.”

After they had offered courtesy, Shao said, “Shangshu Zheng has written, ordering me to raise troops and aid Liu Bei in attacking Cao Cao. Should we raise troops, or not?”

Both answered together, “My lord can let numbers master numbers; let the strong attack the weak. Strike down the Han bandit and assist the imperial house. Raise troops.”

Shao said, “What you both have seen accords with my heart.” He decided to proceed with the campaign. He first ordered Sun Qian to report back to Zheng Xuan and arranged with Liu Bei for support preparations. At the same time he appointed Shen Pei and Feng Ji as commanders-in-chief, Tian Feng, Xun Shen, and Xu You as strategists, Yan Liang and Wenchou as generals, and raised 150,000 horse and 150,000 infantry, 300,000 selected soldiers in total, to advance on Liyang.

The assignments now made, Guo Tu said, “Since my lord will take a great campaign against Cao Cao, he must publicize Cao’s crimes by sending proclamations to every commandery, laying out each accusation, and thus make the war legitimate.”

Shao approved. He ordered his recorder, Chen Lin, to draft the edict. Lin was styled Kongzhang, already famed for talent; under Emperor Ling he had been a bureau official. After he had remonstrated with He Jin and was not heard, Dong Zhuo’s disorder later drove him to flee to Ji Province, where Shao employed him as a secretary. Now he was ordered to draft at once.

The text read:

It is well known that a wise ruler designs against peril to alter changing conditions, and a loyal minister worries over danger to found authority. Therefore extraordinary men come forth before extraordinary acts arise, and only then do extraordinary achievements appear. What is extraordinary is not sought by ordinary men.

In former times, the strong Qin pressed a weak ruler; Zhao Gao seized the reins of government, making power and rank all his own. The world feared coercion and dared not speak truly. At the end there came the fall of the Qin and the ruin of its ancestors, with humiliation lasting to this day as warning to posterity. When the empress dowager Lü and the Du Lu clan later monopolized government in their final years, they controlled both armies, ruled the two frontiers, made decisions on all matters, removed restraints, and punished officials; they insulted superiors while crushing subordinates, and the whole realm grew cold of heart. Therefore in response to this, Marquis Jiang and Zhu-Xu raised their prestige in righteous anger, eradicated the tyrants, and reestablished the Grand Ancestor. Thus kingly order revived and clear brilliance returned. This is the clearest demonstration of how ministers may rightfully seize authority.

Grand Commandant Cao Cao: his father’s father, Zhongchangshi Teng, together with Zuo Huan and Xu Huan, were wicked together, greedy and violent, harming the people and perverting the laws. His own father Song was raised from beggary; he bought office through bribes and carried golden chariots and jade tablets into office for the sake of gain. He stole from the Department of State Treasury and overturned great vessels. Cao, by inheritance and corruption, is base by nature. He is flashy, crafty, and likes trouble and disaster.

In the government, Dong Zhuo was bold and domineering. He swept away the murderous officials and overthrew those who confronted him, then continued the slaughter from Dong Zhuo onward, invading offices and plundering the state. Thus, with sword and drum he issued commands across Dongxia, gathering heroes, discarding the worthy and taking up power. So he and Cao conferred and plotted together; he gave Cao command as a second adviser, saying his skills were like those of a hunting hound and claw, fit to be entrusted. In time Cao proved shallow, cunning, and fickle, rushing in and withdrawing easily, wounding and killing men, losing soldiers and teachers again and again. Dong repeatedly sent fresh troops to replace losses, kept him in post after repairs, and eventually made him Inspector of Yanzhou in the Eastern Commandery, praising him with tiger-like insignia and honoring him to secure authority, hoping to reap a reward for Cao’s one decisive strike. In the end Cao inherited privilege and became arrogant, proceeding with outrage, stripping and seizing without mercy, harming the worthy and favoring the wicked.

Therefore Bojiang Prefect Bianrang, famed for talent and greatness, was famous throughout the world. He spoke plainly, spoke uprightly, and never flattered. He met death at the stake, while his wife shared him in the fire, for saying the truth against him. Since then the world of scholars burned with grief, and the people’s resentment only deepened. One man lifted up his arms, and the whole commandery rose with one voice. Thus Bianrang was driven from the western regions and land lost to Lü Bu; he wandered eastward, grasping only a few footholds and holding none in place. Dong Zhuo, in line with strengthening the strong and casting off the weak, did not even openly take the side of rebels, and so took up banner and armor, and swept away to campaign again. When drums and gongs sounded, rebel forces scattered. He rescued this suffering and restored the district lordship. For the people of Yanzhou, Dong Zhuo had no benevolence, yet caused him the greatest harm.

Later, he received the Son of Heaven in return and the realm was in turmoil. At this time Ji Province still faced danger on its northern frontiers, and he had neither time nor freedom to govern. Therefore he used Xu Hun as Director of Palace Affairs, sending him out to Cao and ordering him to repair ancestral temples and guard the young sovereign. Cao then seized his opportunity: he carried out forced transfers in turn, set himself above palace regulations, insulted the imperial house, broke the law and manners; while seated over the Three Platforms he monopolized court politics, gave rewards at his pleasure, and made punishment dependent on his tongue. Those he favored gained five kinships; those he hated were wiped out three generations. Men who spoke in gatherings were publicly executed; those who spoke privately were secretly punished. The great officers held back their words, and officials along the roads watched one another with narrowed eyes. At court, Shangshu clerks still attended assembly, and ministers and chancellors merely filled seats.

Thus Grand Commandant Yang Biao had administered two ministries and reached the highest post in the empire. Cao took advantage of a speck of resentment to wrong him; he brought him to trial through the fivefold tortures. Acting on impulse and ignoring order, he made himself tyrant. Another counsellor, Zhao Yan, loyal and straightforward, gave advice that ought to have been heeded, and because he spoke with reason in this holy court, he was rewarded and honored. Yet Cao sought to blind the times’ clarity and close all roads of counsel; he took people alive and dead by his own hand without waiting for petitions. He then despoiled the mother of the former Prince of Henei, Liang Xianwang’s mother, by excavating her tomb. Though her tomb, mulberry fields, and cypresses deserved reverence, Cao led officers, clerks, and soldiers to the grave, personally exposed coffins, stripped and robbed the corpse for treasures. Even now the sacred court weeps and the people of the realm lament.

Cao has also established a detachment called the Faqiu Zhonglang General and a "touch-gold" Colonel of the Bodyguard; wherever he goes, gates are smashed and no tomb is left unviolated. He holds the rank of one of the Three Excellencies, yet he behaves as a common thief and bandit, defiling the state and harming the people, spreading poison among the human and spirit worlds. He makes household regulations cruelly harsh and multiplies controls. Tax offices and checkpoints block roads with nets and traps; where one lifts a hand one is cast in a net, where one sets a foot down one trips a device. Therefore in Yan and Yu there are endless poor peasants and the Emperor’s capital has complaints and cries. Surveying the records, no ruler has been as wicked, greedy, cruel, and ferocious as Cao.

Dong Zhuo had begun to investigate outside traitors but had not yet finished training. He sought to patch over appearances. Yet Cao’s wolfish, wild ambition concealed disaster and plotting, desiring to break the pillars, leave the Han too weak and alone, remove loyal and upright men, and become the age’s sole predatory hero. Formerly, he marched north against Gongsun Zan, a ruthless and violent rebel, who withstood siege for a year. Cao, while Gongsun was not broken, secretly exchanged letters and orders, offering aid to the royal army while secretly striking a blow from the side. When this was exposed by couriers, Gongsun too was felled, so Cao’s sharpness was blunted and his plan failed.

Now he has established himself at Aocang, blocking the river and strengthening his base, hoping to use a mantis axe against the great chariot. The government that bears the spirit and mandate of Han has been shattered by this one man who claims authority over the universe: a hundred thousand spears, a thousand ferocious horsemen; he has gathered fierce men from Zhongyi, Yu, Huo and others; the force of good bows and taut crossbows; he crossed Taihang from Bingzhou and passed through Ji and Luo in Qingzhou. His great army moved down the Yellow River and formed its front there, then down to Wan and Ye to press behind from Anhwe, like striking with thunder-wolf pace. He would be like setting blazing fire to withered thistle or pouring burning coals across the blue sea. What could not be destroyed by such force?

Again, the officers and soldiers under Cao that can fight were mostly drawn from You and Ji, or former command staff, all homesick and longing for return, weeping as they looked north. The rest of Yanzhou and Yuzhou men were remnants of Lü Bu’s and Zhang Yang’s survivors, forced by collapse and threat into opportunistic obedience. Many were broken and embittered, each made enemy to all.

If they turn their banners and advance in return, if they climb high posts and beat drums and horns, if they raise white banners and open a path to surrender, they will collapse like a crumbling wall; no blade of blood need be drawn. The imperial house now declines and order frays; the court has not one loyal support, no ministers capable of mediating between ruler and world. In the close lands around the capitals, all polished officials keep head bent and feathers hidden, having no place to lean; though there are ministers of loyalty and righteousness, they stand under tyrants’ fear and cannot yet show their integrity. Cao keeps seven hundred chosen troops and surrounds the imperial palace, pretending imperial bodyguard while inwardly being kidnappers; fearing rebellion within grows like a sprout, this is why. This is the time when ministers pour out liver and brain for the state and heroes should win their merit.

Cao also forged orders, sending troops by his own command. If he sends demands to distant commanderies and officers and they can no longer provide grain and pay, he will treat refusal as rebellion and disgraceful surrender, and make the world laugh. Therefore a wise ruler would not do so.

From this day, all four commands of You, Bing, Qing, and Ji were ordered forward. When copies arrived in Jingzhou, troops were to be assembled and coordinated with the forces of Jianzhong. Each commandery was to mobilize its righteous soldiers, cover its borders, raise arms, and jointly support the ancestral state; in this way an extraordinary achievement would be made.

Whoever captures Cao’s head will be made a marquis of five thousand households and granted fifty million coins. For the soldiers, escorts, junior officers, and all officials who surrender, none should be questioned. Spread wide the promise of mercy, publicize the seal and rewards, and issue notices to all under heaven so they all know that the sacred court is constrained by coercion and helplessness. By imperial ordinance!

Shao was delighted by the edict and immediately ordered copies to be distributed through every commandery and posted at every gate, pass, and strait.

When the edict reached Xudu, Cao Cao was then afflicted with a severe headache, lying in bed. His attendants presented it to him. Cao saw it and felt his bones and hair rise; cold sweat poured down his body; in spite of himself his headache eased, and he sprang up from the bed in one leap. Turning to Cao Hong, he asked, “Who wrote this text?”

Cao Hong said, “It is said to be Chen Lin’s hand.”

Cao laughed. “A man of letters can only be judged by his strategy in arms. Chen Lin is talented in prose, but is his way of war enough for Yuan Shao?” He then gathered his officers and counsel and discussed how to meet the threat.

Kong Rong heard of it and came to see Cao: “Yuan Shao has such force; we cannot battle him. We can only make peace.”

Xun Yu said, “Yuan Shao is not a man fit for use. Why speak of peace?”

Kong Rong replied, “Yuan Shao is vast in land and strong in people. His subordinates, such as Xu You, Guo Tu, and Shen Pei, are all men of talent and plans. Tian Feng and Ju Shou are loyal ministers. Yan Liang and Wen Chou are the foremost of the three armies in courage. Others like Gaolan, Zhang He, and Chunyu Qiong are famous generals of the age. Why would one call Shao useless?”

Xun Yu laughed. “Yuan Shao has many soldiers but no order. Tian Feng is rigid and overbearing. Xu You is greedy and no wise. Shen Pei is single-minded and without plotting. Feng Ji is upright and of no use. These men cannot be coordinated; they are bound to internal discord. Yan Liang and Wen Chou are courage of common men; a single battle could catch them. As for the rest, if they are thousands of ordinary men, what is to be said?”

Kong Rong fell silent.

Cao laughed broadly. “None of this escapes Xun Wenruo’s calculations.” He then summoned the front commander Liu Dai and rear commander Wang Zhong, ordered them to lead fifty thousand each under the flag of the Chancellor, and advance from Xudu into Xu Province to strike Liu Bei.

Liu Dai, it should be said, had once been Administrator of Yanzhou. After Cao took Yanzhou, Dai surrendered and was made a subordinate general; this is why Cao now assigned him to lead together with Wang Zhong.

Cao himself, however, moved out with 200,000 troops to Liyang to resist Yuan Shao.

Cheng Yu warned, “I fear Liu Dai and Wang Zhong cannot fulfill this commission.”

Cao said, “I also know that Liu Bei is no ordinary enemy. For now we will make only an empty show.”

He instructed, “Do not rush forward recklessly. Once I break Yuan Shao, then we return in full force and crush Bei.”

Liu Dai and Wang Zhong took the army out.

Cao led one main force to Liyang.

The two main armies stood eighty li apart and dug deep trenches and raised high ramparts, holding ground without fighting. From the eighth month to the tenth, they remained so.

In truth, Xu You did not enjoy that Shen Pei led the forces, and Ju Shou resented that Shao did not adopt his scheme. They never agreed and never sought active advance. Yuan Shao was full of doubt and did not intend to push forward. Cao therefore called forward the former subordinate of Lü Bu, Zang Ba, to guard Qing and Xu; Yu Jin and Li Dian were posted along the river; Cao Ren was made overall commander of the main army, which encamped at Guandu. Cao withdrew with one contingent back to Xudu.

Elsewhere, Liu Dai and Wang Zhong had left Xu Province and camped one hundred li out. Their middle camp, flying only a false Chancellorship banner, did not dare to advance and only listened for news from the north. Here in this place Liu Bei also did not know Cao’s true position and did not dare to move on his own; he only gathered intelligence from the north.

Suddenly Cao Cao sent men urging Liu Dai and Wang Zhong to engage in battle. The two discussed in camp.

Liu Dai said, “The Chancellor urges us to attack the city. You should go first.”

Wang Zhong said, “The Chancellor has sent you first.”

Liu Dai said, “I am the principal commander. How can I go first?”

Wang Zhong said, “I will go with you.”

Liu Dai said, “Let us draw lots. Whoever draws the ‘first’ goes.”

Wang Zhong drew the character for “first” and had to take only half his troops when he went to attack Xu Province.

When Liu Bei heard the horsemen had arrived, he asked Chen Deng to confer: “Although Benchu is encamped at Liyang, his ministers are not in accord and he has not yet advanced. We do not know where Cao Cao truly is. In Liyang’s army there is no Cao banner; why do we here see another banner?”

Chen Deng said, “Cao has a hundred schemes. He treats Hebei as vital and watches personally. He is deliberately not placing his banner here, only making a show of strength. I think Cao is not here.”

Liu Bei asked which of his two younger brothers could reconnoiter.

Zhang Fei said, “Your younger brother will go.”

Liu Bei said, “You are rash and hot-tempered; you may not go.”

Zhang Fei said, “Even if Cao Cao is there, I can seize him.”

Zhang Yun said, “Let this brother go observe their movements.”

Liu Bei said, “If Yunchang goes, I will be at ease.”

So Yunchang led three thousand horse and marched out from Xu Province. It was early winter. The sky was overcast, snow fell in whirls. All horsemen and cavalry were arrayed in snow.

Yunchang rode hard, sword drawn, and rode out, calling loudly for Wang Zhong to respond.

Wang Zhong came out and said, “Why has the Chancellor not yet surrendered here?”

Yunchang said, “Invite the Chancellor to the field; I have words to speak.”

Wang Zhong said, “Would the Chancellor step out to see you?”

Yunchang grew angry and spurred forward. Wang Zhong raised his spear to meet him. The two horses collided and Yunchang wheeled his mount away. Wang Zhong chased. They turned at a hillside. Yunchang turned again, shouted once, and then cut straight in with his blade.

Wang Zhong could not block him, so he bolted at speed. Yunchang with his left hand lowered his treasure sword, and with his right grabbed the chin strap on Wang Zhong’s armor; he dragged him from the saddle and carried him crosswise on his horse back to the original camp. Wang Zhong’s troops scattered in all directions in flight.

Yunchang took Wang Zhong captive and returned to Xu Province to see Liu Bei.

Liu Bei asked, “Who are you? What post do you hold? How dare you pretend to be Chancellor Cao?”

Wang Zhong said, “How could I fake it? I was ordered to create this false show and feint as an uncertainty. The Chancellor is not actually here.”

Liu Bei ordered him given clothes and food, kept him temporarily under watch, and said they would execute this after capturing Liu Dai and then confer. Yunchang said, “My elder brother has a wish for peace, so I brought the general alive.”

Liu Bei said, “I feared Yide was violent and rash, and might kill Wang Zhong, so I did not send him. There is no benefit in killing such men; keep him alive so that he may serve as ground for negotiation.”

Zhang Fei said, “Our second brother has captured Wang Zhong. I will go and capture Liu Dai alive.”

Liu Bei said, “Liu Dai formerly governed Yanzhou. In the campaign against Dong Zhuo at Hulao, he was also a commanding lord. He is now a vanguard general; we cannot underestimate him.”

Zhang Fei replied, “How important can such a man be? If I can capture him like Yide, all will be done.”

Liu Bei said, “I fear his life may be lost and our cause go awry.”

Zhang Fei said, “If it comes to killing, I will pay for his life.”

Liu Bei set out with three thousand soldiers.

When Liu Dai heard Wang Zhong had been captured, he held his camp tight and did not come out. Zhang Fei shouted abuse daily in front of the camp. Dai heard it was Zhang Fei and all the more dared not come out. Fei held out several days and planned: “Tonight at the second watch, break into their camp; by day, drink in the tent pretending to be drunk. Then seek out offences among the soldiers, beat someone, and tie them in camp, saying: ‘When I march out at night, bring me back our banners.’”

But he secretly allowed his men to slip out at once. They escaped and went straight to Liu Dai’s camp with a report of the planned raid. Liu Dai saw the surrendered soldier badly wounded and listened. He believed his words. He left camp seemingly empty and posted hidden troops outside.

That night, Zhang Fei divided his troops in three columns. In the center he sent just over thirty men to raid the camp and set it on fire. He also ordered two wings to swing out behind Liu Dai’s camp. When flames rose, that would be the signal to close and strike.

At the second watch, Zhang Fei with selected troops first cut off Liu Dai’s retreat. The middle column of thirty or so men burst into the camp and set it ablaze. Liu Dai’s ambush waited until they entered fully; then both wings came out together. Dai’s army descended into confusion, not knowing how many soldiers they faced, and scattered.

Liu Dai gathered a remnant force and tried to break out, only to run into Zhang Fei. In the narrow streets there was no space to avoid one another. They met horse to horse once, and at the first clash, Zhang Fei captured him alive. The rest surrendered.

Fei sent word to Xu Province at once.

When Liu Bei heard this he said to Zhang Fei, “Yide has always been rough; today he has used strategy too. I have no worries.” Then he rode out himself to greet him at the gate.

Zhang Fei said, “My older brother says I am violent and rash. How is this now?”

Liu Bei said, “Do not incite him with words; how would he not follow cunning?”

Zhang Fei laughed.

When Liu Bei saw them bring Liu Dai bound, he dismounted in haste and untied him, saying, “Younger brother Zhang Fei, I have committed an affront. Please forgive the offense.” He brought him into Xu Province and released Wang Zhong, then received them both.

Liu Bei said, “Formerly a cart guard wanted to harm me, so I had no choice but to strike him. Chancellor Cao misread my loyalty and sent two generals to come and question me. I have received great grace from the Chancellor and was ready to repay it; how could I rebel? If these two generals go to Xudu and petition for me with fair words, such is my hope.”

Liu Dai and Wang Zhong said, “We deeply owe your lordship for not killing us. When we return to the Chancellor, our entire households and the old and young of ours will protect and serve him.”

Liu Bei thanked them. On the next day he returned all their army mounts and sent them out beyond the city walls.

Liu Dai and Wang Zhong had not yet gone ten li when a drum sounded. Zhang Fei blocked their path and roared, “My brother was too careless! How can he capture bandit generals and then release them?”

Liu Dai and Wang Zhong trembled in their saddles.

Zhang Fei opened his eyes, held his spear out, and dashed toward them. From behind came another man on a flying horse shouting, “Do not be rude!” Looking back, it was Yunchang.

Only then did Liu Dai and Wang Zhong breathe.

Yunchang said, “Since elder brother has released them, how can my younger brother not follow law?”

Zhang Fei said, “This time they have been released. If they return again, it is no late to kill.”

Liu Dai and Wang Zhong retreated together, saying, “Even if the Chancellor orders our whole families punished, we will never return. Please show us mercy.”

Zhang Fei said, “Even if Cao Cao comes himself, not a sliver of his armor will leave! Let this time pass with the count of two heads marked.”

Liu Dai and Wang Zhong clutched their heads and fled like rats.

Zhang Fei and Guan Yu returned to Liu Bei and said, “Cao Cao will surely return.”

Sun Qian told Liu Bei, “The land around Xu Province is under enemy. It cannot be held long. Better divide troops and hold Xiao Pei, defend Pizhou, and become a projecting flank to guard against Cao Cao.”

Liu Bei accepted his counsel. He ordered Yunchang to hold Xiaopei. Lady Gan and Lady Mi were also placed at Xiaopei: Lady Gan was from Xiaopei; Lady Mi was the sister of Mi Zhu.

Sun Qian, Jian Yong, Mi Zhu, and Mi Fang were ordered to defend Xu Province. Liu Bei and Zhang Fei moved to Xiaopei.

Liu Dai and Wang Zhong returned to Cao Cao and reported everything about Liu Bei’s lack of rebellion. Cao Cao shouted in fury, “You have shamed the state by these tasks, what use are you?” and ordered his men to bring them out and behead them.

The verse that followed read:

Dogs and hogs do not hold in combat against a tiger. Fish and shrimp vainly contend with dragons.

How this turned out will be told in the next chapter.