Cao Cao, taking advantage of Yuan Shao’s defeat, set his mounts and horses in order and continued to pursue in a sweeping line. Yuan Shao, in a broad sash and a plain robe, led more than eight hundred riders and rushed to the north bank of Liyang. General Jiang Yiqu came out of the camp to receive him. Shao reported what had happened before, and Jiang then called out to the soldiers to disperse. When they heard that Yuan Shao had arrived, they gathered again in crowds and the army revived, and they resolved to return to Ji Province. On the next day’s march they camped for the night on a wild mountain. In his tent Shao heard distant weeping and went alone to listen. It was his former troops, clustered together, talking through their pain over the loss of brothers and companions, of abandoned comrades and dead relatives; each beat his chest and cried out. All of them said, “If we had listened to Tian Feng, how could we have come to this calamity?” Shao was consumed with remorse: “I should have listened to Tian Feng. The army has been broken and ruined. I return now, but with what face can I meet him?”

The next day, after mounting and setting out, Feng Ji came out with a detachment to receive him. Shao said to Feng Ji, “I should have listened to Tian Feng and now lost my army. I am returning to a face I no longer can show.” Feng Ji slandered him: “Tian Feng, in prison, heard of the Lord’s defeat; he slapped his hands and laughed, saying, ‘Just as I expected; it was no surprise to me.’” Shao, furious, said, “How dare that base scholar laugh at me! I will kill him myself!” He then ordered an envoy to carry a precious sword to the jail in Ji Province to take Tian Feng’s head.

Tian Feng was in prison. One day a jail officer came to him saying, “An assistant officer has come to offer congratulations.” Tian Feng said, “What is there to be congratulated for?” “Yuan General has suffered a great defeat and is returning,” said the jailer. “You will surely be honored.” Tian Feng laughed. “I am dead now.” The jailer asked, “Everyone rejoices on your behalf. Why do you speak of death?” “Yuan General,” Tian Feng replied, “is outwardly broad but inwardly jealous and distrustful, and does not honor loyalty and devotion. If he had won, he might have pardoned me. Now that he has lost, he is ashamed; I do not expect to live.”

The jailer did not believe him. Suddenly an envoy arrived with a sword, conveying Yuan Shao’s order to seize Tian Feng’s head. Only then did the jailer start in shock. Tian Feng said, “I knew I must die.” The jailers all wept.

“‘A man truly a gentleman should not serve a lord he does not know,’ Tian Feng said. ‘To live now and die under this one—what is there to lament?’ He slit his own throat in the prison.”

Later people composed a verse:

Yesterday Jushou died in the camp; today Tian Feng perished in prison. The pillars of Hebei are broken, and yet Benchu has not lost his clan and state?

When news of Tian Feng’s death spread, all who heard it lamented. Yuan Shao returned to Ji Province, restless and mentally shaken, and no longer attending to state affairs. His wife Liu Shi urged him to settle the matter of his heir. Shao had three sons: his eldest, Yuan Tan, courtesy name Xianzhong, served as Administrator of Qing Province; his second, Yuan Xi, courtesy name Xianyi, served as Administrator of You Province; the third, Yuan Shang, courtesy name Xianfu, was born to his later wife Liu Shi. Yuan Shang was handsome and imposing, and Shao loved him deeply, so he kept him at his side.

Since the defeat at Guandu, Liu Shi had urged Shao to appoint Shang as heir. Shao then consulted four men: Shen Pei, Feng Ji, Xin Ping, and Guo Tu. In truth, Shen and Feng favored Yuan Shang, while Xin and Guo favored Yuan Tan. Each man pushed his own candidate.

Shao then told all four, “The outer threat has not ended; internal matters must be settled quickly. I will now consider which son should succeed. The first son, Tan, is hard of nature, quick to kill; the second, Xi, is soft and timid, hard to bring to completion. The third, Shang, has the look of a hero, honors worthy scholars and men of virtue. I would have him set as heir. What is each of your opinions?”

Guo Tu said, “Among your three sons, Tan is the eldest and he is away. If Your Lordship were to set aside the elder for a younger brother, disorder will be sown in this root itself. At present military prestige is still diminished and enemy forces are pressing hard at the border. Can we now allow sons and brothers to contend with one another and throw the house into further strife? For the present, Lord, first settle strategy against the enemies at hand. Leave the question of succession for another time.”

Shao hesitated and did not decide. Suddenly word arrived that Yuan Xi was coming with sixty thousand from You Province, Yuan Tan with fifty thousand from Qing Province, and his nephew Gao Gan with fifty thousand from Bing Province. They all arrived in Ji Province to aid the coming fight. Shao rejoiced, then repaired his men and riders and prepared once more to fight Cao Cao.

By then Cao Cao had brought his victorious forces and arrayed them along the river. The local people offered him grain and food in rustic pitchers to receive him. Cao saw several elderly men, all with hair and beards entirely white, and ordered them into his pavilion, seating them and asking, “Sirs, how many years have you?” “They are nearly a hundred,” they answered. Cao said, “My troops disturbed your village. That sits badly with me.” The elders answered, “In the time of Emperor Huan, a yellow star appeared between Chu and Song. Yin Kui, a man from Liaodong who studied the stars, passed through this area at night and told old men like us, ‘The yellow star appearing in a dry pattern means its light points to this place. In fifty years, a true gentleman will arise between Liang and Pei.’ As we count years, it is exactly fifty now. Yuan Benchu has overtaxed and squeezed the people, and all the people resent him. The Chancellor now raises a principled army, to relieve the people and punish crime. In the battle at Guandu, he shattered Yuan Shao’s host of ten hundred thousand; this accords with Yin Kui’s words. Surely the common people can now hope for peace.”

Cao laughed: “How dare I presume to match such words?” He then offered wine, food, and silk, sent them off. He then ordered the three armies: “If anyone among the soldiers, once in the villages, kills a household’s chickens or dogs, he will be punished as if he had killed a man.” The soldiers and civilians were immediately subdued and respectful, and Cao was pleased within himself.

Reports came that Yuan Shao had gathered troops from four provinces, reaching two or three hundred thousand men, and had come to set camp before Cangting. Cao marched forward, and his camp was fixed. The next day, both armies faced each other and arrayed themselves.

Cao brought his generals into the ranks; Yuan Shao also brought out his three sons and his nephew with civil officials and military commanders before the lines. Cao said, “Benchu has spent every possible effort, and yet he still refuses to think of surrender? He waits only until the blade rests at his throat before regretting—too late.”

Shao, furious, looked back at the assembled commanders and shouted, “Who dares to ride out?” Yuan Shang wanted to show himself before his father. He swung his twin sabers and came out and spurred into battle, charging back and forth.

Cao asked the officers, “Who is this man?” One who knew him answered, “That is Yuan Shang, Yuan Shao’s third son.”

Before the answer was finished, one officer lowered his spear and came out fast. Cao recognized him as Shi Huan, a company leader under Xu Huang. The two riders met without three full exchanges. Yuan Shang turned his horse and cut away and fled. Shi Huan pursued. Shang drew his bow and set an arrow to the string, then turned back in the saddle and fired; it struck Shi Huan in the left eye. He fell from his horse and died.

When Shao saw his son victorious, he cracked his whip and pointed. “Now,” he shouted, indicating, and a great mass of horse and men surged forward to mix in close fight. They fought fiercely and in one round of hard combat, both sides blew the signal gongs and withdrew to camp.

Cao consulted with his commanders for a way to break Shao. Cheng Yu offered the stratagem of a ten-sided ambush. He urged Cao: “Withdraw the army to the riverbank, hide ten ambush columns there, and lure Shao to pursue. If he reaches us by the river, our army will have no way to retreat and must fight to the death. That is when we can beat him.”

Cao approved. Left side: one squad under Xiahou Dun, second under Zhang Liao, third under Li Dian, fourth under Yue Jin, fifth under Xiahou Yuan. Right side: one under Cao Hong, second under Zhang He, third under Xu Huang, fourth under Yu Jin, fifth under Gao Lan. In the center, Xu Chu led the vanguard. The next day the ten columns moved ahead and the ambushes were set in place on both flanks.

Toward midnight Cao ordered Xu Chu to advance with his men in the posture of a surprise assault on camp. The five hundred camps of Yuan Shao all rose together. Xu Chu then turned and gave the look of flight. Shao brought his army forward in pursuit, their cries unending. By dawn, they reached the river, where Cao’s army had no route to retreat.

Cao shouted aloud, “There is no way forward. What say you, soldiers? Why not fight to the death?” The troops wheeled and rushed with renewed strength. Xu Chu, leaping on horseback in front, cut down more than ten of Shao’s commanders. Yuan Shao’s army fell into disorder.

Shao hurriedly withdrew, but behind him Cao’s army pressed. As they moved, a drumbeat sounded, and Xiahou Yuan on the left and Gao Lan on the right burst out with both armies. Shao pulled together Yuan Shang and Gao Gan and charged madly along the blood-stained road. Less than ten li farther, Yue Jin on the left and Yu Jin on the right struck out; they killed so many that Yuan Shao’s army lay sprawled across the ground and blood ran in channels. Not yet five li farther, Li Dian on the left and Xu Huang on the right met and intercepted, slaughtering them in another hard bout.

Shao and his sons, their courage gone, terrified in heart, ran back into the old camp and ordered the three divisions to prepare food. Just as they were about to eat, Zhang Liao on the left and Zhang He on the right came straight and broke into camp. Shao scrambled onto a horse and pushed forward toward Cangting. Men and horses were tired and exhausted and wished to rest; behind them Cao’s whole army pursued, and Shao fled as if for life.

While in flight, Cao Hong on the left and Xiahou Dun on the right blocked his way. Shao shouted, “If we do not fight now to death, we will all be taken!” He drove forward with force and broke through the heavy ring. Yuan Xi and Gao Gan were both wounded by arrows. Their horses and mounts were nearly gone.

Shao embraced Yuan Shang and wept once, then suddenly fainted. His men quickly tried to revive him, but he spat blood continuously from his mouth. “I have seen more than ten battles in my life,” he sighed, “yet I did not expect to be brought to shame today. Heaven has stripped my life away! Each of you, return to your own province. Swear to settle this in combat against the Cao bandits.”

He then ordered Xin Ping and Guo Tu to hurry after Yuan Tan to Qing Province to reorganize there, lest Cao Cao violate the borders. He told Yuan Xi to return to You Province and Gao Gan to return to Bing Province, each to gather and reassemble their forces for possible deployment. Shao withdrew with Yuan Shang and entered Ji Province to recover his health, leaving Shang with Shen Pei and Feng Ji to handle military affairs temporarily.

Cao Cao, after his great victory at Cangting, gave rich rewards to the three armies and sent men to probe the conditions of Ji Province. His informants reported, “Shao is bedridden. Yuan Shang and Shen Pei hold the city tightly. Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi, and Gao Gan have returned to their home provinces.” All urged Cao to attack at once.

Cao replied, “Ji Province has enormous grain stores; Shen Pei also has military acumen. We should not force a quick capture. At present the crops are still in the fields; if we strike now, we risk ruining the people’s labor. Better to wait until after harvest in autumn.”

While they debated, a message arrived from Xun Yu: “Liu Bei is in Runan with tens of thousands gathered under Liu Pi and Gongdu. He heard that Your Excellency had led the army to campaign in the north, and set Liu Pi to guard Runan. Liu Bei himself is leading troops to exploit the opening and march on Xuchang. Excellency should return your army swiftly to oppose him.”

Cao was greatly startled. He left Cao Hong to garrison the riverbank and create an appearance of force. He personally brought the main army out toward Runan to meet Liu Bei.

That evening Liu Bei, with Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and others, marched with troops to strike Xuchang. Near the land of Rangshan they met Cao’s soldiers coming to kill them. Liu Bei camped below Rangshan.

The army divided into three groups: Guan Yu held men at the southeast corner, Zhang Fei at the southwest corner, and Liu Bei with Zhao Yun at the southern center. Cao’s troops arrived, and Liu Bei sounded a challenge. Cao formed battle lines and called for parley. Liu Bei rode out under his banner. Cao, with his whip raised, rebuked him: “I treated you as a high guest; how have you betrayed loyalty and forgotten kindness?”

Liu Bei answered, “You claim to be the Han Chancellor, but you are truly a traitor to the state! I am of Han imperial kin. I bear a secret imperial edict to come and suppress rebel traitors.” Then he recited on horseback the hidden edict.”

Cao flew into a rage and ordered Xu Chu into combat. Liu Bei rode out with Zhao Yun at his back, who took up a spear and rode with him. The two commanders met, and for more than thirty exchanges neither won. Suddenly a huge cry rose. From the southeast corner, Guan Yu charged in collision; from the southwest, Zhang Fei brought his army and charged. All three fronts converged to give the slaughter. Cao’s army, tired from traveling from afar, could not stand it and broke in retreat. Liu Bei won the day and returned to camp.

The next day Liu Bei sent Zhao Yun out to skirmish. Cao’s army did not leave camp for ten days. Liu Bei sent Zhang Fei again; Cao still did not come out.

Liu Bei grew suspicious. Suddenly word came that Gongdu had brought grain and was now surrounded by Cao’s army, and Liu Bei rushed to send Zhang Fei to relieve him. Soon after came word that Xiahou Dun had moved out and was marching behind to strike directly at Runan. Liu Bei was shocked and said, “If this happens, I will be attacked in front and back and have nowhere to turn to!” He dispatched Zhang Fei to save Runan.

Both armies then departed.

After less than one day, a rider arrived with the report that Xiahou Dun had already broken through Runan, that Liu Pi had abandoned the city and fled, and that Guan Yu was now himself enclosed. Liu Bei was deeply alarmed. In another message, he heard Zhang Fei sent to save Gongdu had also been surrounded. Liu Bei wished to turn back, but feared Cao’s force might strike from behind. Then he heard Xu Chu had come out to engage near camp. Liu Bei did not dare to ride out.

At first light he ordered the soldiers to eat fully; foot soldiers rose first and cavalry followed. He spread a false order in camp as the watch changed. After six or so li of movement from camp, they turned around a clay knoll. When the torchlights rose together, a shout sounded from the hilltop: “Let no one let Liu Bei get away! Your Excellency the Chancellor is waiting right here!”

Liu Bei looked for a path in alarm. Zhao Yun said, “My lord, do not worry. Follow me only.” Zhao Yun cast his spear, leapt into the saddle, broke a path with force, and Liu Bei followed behind him, gripping his twin swords.

As the fight went on, Xu Chu arrived and battled Zhao Yun at close range. Behind him Yu Jin and Li Dian came too. Liu Bei saw the danger and fled in disorder. Hearing the shouted voices behind them grow faint and distant, Liu Bei looked for a hidden deep-mountain path and fled on a lone horse.

He made it to dawn, when suddenly from the side burst out a band of soldiers. Liu Bei was startled; looking, he saw Liu Pi leading more than a thousand of his battered men and escorting Liu Bei’s household people. Sun Qian, Jian Yong, and Mi Fang also arrived and said: “Xiahou Dun’s force is sharp and keen, and for that reason we abandoned the city. Cao’s soldiers came pressing in; only because Guan Yu held the line were we able to escape.”

Liu Bei said, “Do you know where Guan Yu is now?” Liu Pi said, “General, ride on for the moment. We can think of him after.”

After some li, a drum sounded. In front came a clump of mounted men bursting out. At its front rode a great commander: Zhang He, shouting, “Liu Bei, dismount and surrender at once!”

Liu Bei, just about to turn back, saw a red standard stirring atop the hill, and an army pouring out from within a mountain fold, with Gao Lan at its head. Liu Bei saw no way forward and cried to heaven, “Why has Heaven brought me to this extreme plight? When the matter has come to this, I am better dead!” He reached for his sword to commit suicide.

Liu Pi rushed forward and checked him: “Allow me to die fighting and cut our way back to save you.” Once said, he went into collision with Gao Lan. They fought less than three rounds, and Gao Lan cut him down from his horse.

As Liu Bei stood in panic and was about to join the fight, Gao Lan’s rear troops suddenly faltered. One officer crashed into the formation; at the rise of his spear, Gao Lan flipped and toppled from his horse. When Liu Bei looked, it was Zhao Yun.

Liu Bei rejoiced. Zhao Yun spurred his horse and with spear drove apart the rear ranks, then rode forward again and fought Zhang He alone. Zhang He and Zhao Yun fought for more than thirty exchanges, then Zhang He wheeled his horse and withdrew in defeat. Zhao Yun pushed his advance, cutting and clearing, but Zhang He’s soldiers blocked the mountain pass and the trail narrowed too much to pass.

While trying to break through, Guan Yu, Guan Ping, and Zhou Cang arrived with three hundred men. They attacked from both sides and drove back Zhang He. Each of them then came out of the pass opening, occupying the mountain pass and setting camp below.

Liu Bei ordered Guan Yu to seek Zhang Fei. It turned out Zhang Fei had gone to save Gongdu. Gongdu had already been killed by Xiahou Yuan. Fei fought hard and drove Xiahou Yuan back, then pursued slowly, but was in turn surrounded by an army led by Yue Jin. Guan Yu met failed troops on the way, followed their trail and, after driving Yue Jin off, returned together with Fei to Liu Bei.

A report then came that a large body of Cao’s army was arriving, so Liu Bei ordered Sun Qian and the others to protect women and children and move first. Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun held behind, fighting while retreating. When Cao saw Liu Bei had gone far, he withdrew and did not pursue. Liu Bei’s broken force numbered not a thousand; they fled in disorder.

Reaching a river, Liu Bei called to locals to ask what it was. It was the Han River. Liu Bei made a temporary camp.

The locals recognized Liu Bei and brought lamb and wine. They gathered together to drink on the riverbank. Liu Bei sighed, saying to them all, “My lords, all of you have the ability to be counselors of kings, and it is unfortunate to have followed Liu Bei. The fate of this man is grave and has drawn all of you in. Today I own no standing place to plant even a bodkin, and I truly fear I am ruining all of you. Why should you not abandon Liu Bei and enter service under the Son of Heaven to earn your own fame?”

All covered their faces and wept.

Guan Yu said, “Your words are mistaken. In former days, High Ancestor quarreled with Xiang Yu over the empire and was defeated by him many times; only after the battle at Jiu Li Mountain did he succeed and thereby open the foundation of four hundred years. Victory and defeat are constant in war. How can one destroy one’s own will?”

Sun Qian said, “Success and failure come by time. Do not abandon your spirit. We are not far from Jing Province now. Liu Jingsheng holds Jiuzhou with heavy troops and ample supplies, and he is of the same imperial line as you. Why not go to submit there?”

Liu Bei said, “I only fear he will not welcome me.”

Sun Qian replied, “Let me go first and explain; I will have Liu Jingsheng come out beyond the borders and receive Your Grace.”

Liu Bei was greatly heartened and at once sent Sun Qian under cover of the night to Jing Province. He entered the commandery and presented himself to Liu Biao. After formal greetings, Liu Biao asked, “General, why has Liu Bei come here?”

Sun Qian answered, “General Liu is among heroes of the age. Though his troops are few and his commanders few, his aim is to support and straighten the state. Liu Pi and Gongdu in Runan were once no intimates, yet they died to him all the same. Your Excellency and this general are kin under the Han court. This master was recently defeated and now wishes to go south to Jiangdong, to Sun Zhongmou. I have dared to remonstrate with him, saying: ‘It is not proper to turn against one’s kin and go to distant lands. In Jing Province, Liu General honors the worthy and lowers men of worth; men return there as waters return to the eastern sea. How much more can those of one generation relate by blood?’ Thus the general has sent me first to report and beg your command.”

Liu Biao was delighted. “Liu Bei is my younger brother. I have long wished to meet him, but could not. That he has honored us with his presence is truly a blessing.”

Cai Mao interposed slander: “He should not be admitted. Liu Bei first followed Lü Bu, then served Cao Cao, lately went over to Yuan Shao, and all times he did not persist. His character can be seen there. If we take him in, Cao Cao will certainly send forces against us and needlessly inflame war. Why not, instead, behead Sun Qian and present his head to Cao Cao. Cao will then treat Your Excellency richly.”

Sun Qian replied straight, “Sun Qian does not fear death. General Liu serves the state with loyal intent and is not like Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, or Lü Bu. His past following was only out of necessity. I now hear he is a Han branch descendant, with feeling as close as shared kinship. How can such a man slander one so upright as to be jealous of him and call forth betrayal?”

On hearing this, Liu Biao cried out at Cai Mao, “My decision is made. You need not speak further.” Cai Mao, ashamed and resentful, withdrew.

Liu Biao then ordered Sun Qian to report first to Liu Bei and at the same time personally rode out thirty li beyond the city gate to welcome him. Liu Bei saw Liu Biao and executed the rites with great deference. Biao in turn treated him generously. Liu Bei brought Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and others to bow and meet Liu Biao. Liu Biao then entered Jing Province with Liu Bei and assigned separate houses for each to stay in.

Cao Cao learned that Liu Bei had already gone to Jing Province, seeking refuge under Liu Biao, and he considered leading an army to attack it. Cheng Yu said, “Yuan Shao has not yet been eliminated, and if we now strike Jing Province in haste, and Yuan Shao rises from the north, we will not know where victory lies. Better to return to Xuchang, let the army recover its strength, and in spring next year break first Yuan Shao and then take Jing Province afterward. In one campaign, we can gather benefits in both north and south.”

Cao accepted this advice, then raised the army and returned to Xuchang.

By the eighth year of Jian'an, in the first month, Cao held another council to raise troops. First he ordered Xiahou Dun and Man Chong to garrison Runan to resist Liu Biao. He left Cao Ren and Xun Yu to guard Xuchang, then personally took command of the main army and marched back to Guandu to establish camp.

Now it is said that Yuan Shao, who had suffered coughing blood since the past year, had by now only partly recovered. He conferred and sought to attack Xuchang. Shen Pei remonstrated, “The defeat at Guandu and Cangting this past year has not fully recovered the morale of the army. We should still dig deep moats and build high stockades to rebuild the strength of men and people.”

While deliberating, a report came that Cao Cao was moving his forces toward Guandu, marching to attack Ji Province. Shao said, “If we wait until enemy troops stand at the foot of the wall and then move to the riverbank, it will be too late. I will myself lead the main army out to meet him.” Yuan Shang said, “Father is still unwell and not fully recovered. He should not campaign afar. I will lead troops to meet the enemy.” Shao allowed it and sent men to Qing Province for Yuan Tan, to You Province for Yuan Xi, and to Bing Province for Gao Gan, saying all four columns were to strike Cao together.

Now the war drums have only just sounded at Runan, and from north Ji the campaign drums are raised again.

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