Yuan Shang seizes Jizhou in fraternal strife;
Xu You’s counsel turns the Zhang River against them.

After Yuan Shang executed Shi Huan, he grew proud of his courage. He did not wait for Yuan Tan and the others to bring their troops, but led several tens of thousands out of Liyang to meet Cao’s forward detachment. Zhang Liao rode out first. Yuan Shang charged in with his spear, and within three close rounds of fighting he could not hold the line and was routed. Zhang Liao pressed the attack into the rout, cutting down Yuan Shang’s men as Shang could not rally the field and hurried his men back toward Jizhou.

When Yuan Shao heard of Yuan Shang’s defeat, fear struck him anew. His old illness returned; he vomited blood for several dou, then sank unconscious. Lady Liu rushed in and carried him into his inner chamber, but his condition worsened. In panic she summoned Shen Pei and Feng Ji; they sat beside the sickbed to discuss matters after he died. Yuan Shao could only nod and point to his fingertips. He could not speak. Lady Liu asked, “Will Shang be able to continue the line?” Yuan Shao nodded once. Shen Pei wrote a will beside the sickbed.

Yuan Shao rolled onto his side, shouted once, and vomited blood again before he died. Later, someone wrote this poem:

Generations of ministers raised up a great name, a young man’s bold spirit strode unbounded. He drew in three thousand outstanding guests, and by mere talk amassed a hundred thousand soldiers. With a sheep’s form but tiger skin, his achievements came to little; with phoenix plumage and rooster’s heart, his enterprise never reached completion. Most to be pitied is this wound, when sorrow for the clan was borne only by two brothers.

After Yuan Shao’s death, Shen Pei and the others took charge of the funeral rites. Lady Liu then ordered the five favored concubines Yuan Shao loved to be all executed. Fearing their spirits might one day meet him beneath the earth again, she shaved their heads, pierced their faces, and disfigured their bodies. Her jealousy was that cruel.

Yuan Shang feared that concubine households might still hurt them, so he ordered all of them killed as well. Shen Pei and Feng Ji then installed Yuan Shang as Grand Marshal-General and appointed him governor of Jizhou, Qing Province, Youzhou, and Bing Province, and sent envoys to announce his father’s death.

At that time Yuan Tan had already set out from Qing Province with his troops. When he learned that his father had died, he conferred with Guo Tu and Xin Ping. Guo Tu said, “Your Lordship is not in Jizhou now. Shen Pei and Feng Ji will surely set Xianfu as lord. You should move at once.” Xin Ping said, “Shen and Feng have surely prepared a scheme already. If you go quickly, you will walk into their trap.”

Yuan Tan asked, “What should I do?”

Guo Tu answered, “We can station troops outside the city and observe how they move. I will go into the city to inspect myself.”

Yuan Tan followed this counsel. Guo Tu entered Jizhou and met Yuan Shang. After the formal exchange of ceremony, Shang asked, “Why did brother not come?”

“Because I was sick in camp and could not meet him,” Guo Tu said.

Shang said, “Our father gave me his command: he set me as lord and made you General of Chariots and Cavalry. Cao’s army is pressing on us. Go out as the forward commander; I will follow with troops and reinforce in time.”

Guo Tu said, “There is no one in the camp to discuss a good plan. I ask that you take Shen Pei and Feng Ji as advisers.”

Shang said, “I also want this and that pair of men to keep advising me day and night. How can I let them leave?”

Guo Tu said, “Then send one of them away. Let the two draw lots, and the one chosen goes.”

Shang had no choice. He ordered a lot to be drawn; Feng Ji was chosen. Shang immediately gave Feng Ji the seals and instructed him to go with Guo Tu to Yuan Tan’s camp.

When Feng Ji arrived with Guo Tu, he saw that Tan was not sick and felt uneasy. He presented the seals and ribbons of office. Tan flew into a rage and wished Feng Ji executed. Guo Tu spoke in private and counseled, “Cao’s army is still pressing in. Keep Feng Ji here only for now to calm Shang’s mind. Once we break Cao, we can still contend for Jizhou later.”

Tan accepted this and at once broke camp and moved toward Liyang, where he met Cao’s forces. He dispatched Wang Zhao to fight. Cao sent Xu Huang to meet him. The two generals fought only a few rounds; Xu Huang cut Wang Zhao down from under his horse. Cao’s troops then pressed their advantage and Yuan Tan suffered a heavy defeat.

Tan withdrew with his broken army into Liyang and asked for aid from Shang. Shang and Shen Pei discussed it and sent only more than five thousand soldiers.

Cao Cao learned that the relief force had arrived and sent Yue Jin and Li Dian with troops halfway to meet them. The two wings closed in and slaughtered the force.

When Tan saw that Shang had sent no more than five thousand and that they had been cut down en route, he was furious and had Feng Ji brought forward.

Feng Ji said, “Allow me to write to your lord, asking him to come himself and save us.”

Tan ordered Feng Ji to write. He sent a messenger to Jizhou with the letter.

Shen Pei and Shang discussed it. Shen said, “Guo Tu is a man with many plans. He did not contend with us earlier because Cao is pressing on us now. If we defeat Cao, he will surely contend for Jizhou. Better to hold back our relief and use Cao’s strength to remove him.”

Shang accepted this and refused to send help. When the messenger returned, Tan was furious and executed Feng Ji; he spoke of submitting to Cao.

A confidential informer had already reported this to Shang. Shang and Shen said, “If Tan were to submit to Cao and then unite with him in battle, Jizhou is in danger.” They therefore left Shen Pei and Grand General Su You to hold Jizhou and brought the main army to Liyang to relieve Tan.

Shang asked who would lead the vanguard. The two great generals, Lü Kuang and Lü Xiang, both volunteered. Shang selected thirty thousand men and made them the vanguard to go first to Liyang.

When Tan learned that Shang had come, he abandoned thought of surrender. He camped inside the city; Shang camped outside, setting a wedge form.

Not long after, Yuan Xi and Gao Gan each brought troops and camped outside in three separate positions, riding out each day to contest Cao’s army. Shang was defeated repeatedly, and Cao was victorious repeatedly.

By the spring of the eighth year of Jian’an, in the third month, Cao divided his forces and attacked. Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi, Shang, and Gao Gan all suffered major defeats and abandoned Liyang.

Cao pressed them and marched toward Jizhou. Tan and Shang entered the city and held firm, while Xi and Gan camped thirty li away, making a show of strength. Cao’s army attacked day after day without breaking through.

Guo Jia then said, “The Yuan family has displaced elders and raised youths; power has merged among brothers into rival camps. If pressed, they rush to each other’s aid; if given breathing room, they fight. Better to bring the army south into Jing Province and campaign against Liu Biao, waiting for the Yuan brothers to turn on one another. Then when the change comes, strike them and settle the matter in one stroke.”

Cao liked the argument and, appointing Jia Xu to command Liyang, ordered Cao Hong to guard Guandu. He then moved with the main army to Jing Province.

When Tan and Shang heard that Cao’s army had withdrawn, each rejoiced. Yuan Xi and Gao Gan took their leave.

Yuan Tan and Guo Tu and Xin Ping met again. “I was the eldest son, yet I could not inherit our father’s legacy; Shang is the son of the concubine and inherited the great rank,” Tan said. “My heart is not at peace with it.”

Guo Tu said, “Your Lordship should station your troops outside the walls and invite Xianfu and Shen Pei to drink. Hide swords and axe-men among the attendants and kill them. Then it is done.”

Tan followed this counsel.

At that time Wang Xiu arrived from Qing Province. Tan laid out this plan to him. Wang Xiu said, “Brothers are like right and left hands. To cut against one another and then claim I must prevail—can that ever succeed? If blood is denied in kinship, who will any longer count a father or brother? Let slanderers divide siblings for one day’s gain; stop your ears and do not listen.”

Tan grew enraged and sent him off in anger, then summoned Shang.

Shang and Shen Pei consulted. Shen said, “This is surely Guo Tu’s design. If you go, you will surely be caught in it. Better to seize the moment and strike.”

Shang agreed, so he donned armor and led fifty thousand men from the city.

When Tan saw Shang’s army advancing he knew the plot had leaked. He threw on armor and rode at once. They met with front lines and exchanged abuse.

Tan said, “You drugged our father to death, stole the rank, and now come to kill your brother!”

The two brothers fought in person. Tan was badly defeated. Shang rushed ahead amid darts and stones and pressed forward to kill as he pursued. Tan took his broken force back to Pingyuan and Shang withdrew.

Tan and Guo Tu discussed another advance and sent Cen Bi forward at the head of troops. Shang himself led his army out of Jizhou.

The two camps faced each other at distance, banners and drums answering across the field. Cen Bi rode forward, taunting the array. Shang wanted to fight him himself. Lü Kuang, spurring his horse, flourished his sword and came to meet him. The two met for many rounds, and Lü Kuang cut Cen Bi from underneath his horse.

Tan was defeated again and fled yet again to Pingyuan. Shen Pei urged Shang to press on and pursue to Pingyuan.

Shang pursued and reached Pingyuan. Tan could not withstand it, withdrew into the city, and held firm behind the walls. Shang then encircled it from three sides and attacked.

Tan and Guo Tu took counsel again. Guo Tu said, “Now grain is low inside the city, and their soldiers are hard-hit and keen. They are not our equal in force. My thought is to send men to surrender to Cao and ask him to move against Jizhou. When he comes, Shang will have to return and can be intercepted then. If Cao defeats Shang, we then absorb his army and hold it back to repel Cao. Cao’s men have come far and their grain is thin; he will soon have to withdraw. Then we can still hold Jizhou and work toward further gains.”

Tan asked, “Who can carry this?”

Guo Tu said, “Xin Pi, your brother Xin Pi, courtesy name Zuozhi, who serves as Magistrate of Pingyuan. He is a man of words and can carry your message.”

Tan summoned Xin Pi immediately, and Xin Pi’s face brightened at the summons. Tan handed him a sealed letter and sent him out with three thousand troops.

At night Xin Pi took the letter and rode out through the pass. He carried the dispatch to Cao’s camp.

At that time Cao had encamped at Xiping to attack Liu Biao. Liu Biao had sent Liu Bei, courtesy name Xuande, with troops as the vanguard to meet him. Before battle began, Xin Pi reached Cao’s camp.

After the formal courtesies, Xin Pi stated fully what Yuan Tan requested and presented the letter.

Cao read it and kept Xin Pi in camp while he and his ministers deliberated.

Cheng Yu said, “Yuan Tan has been struck by Shang too harshly and came to submit only because he had no choice. His request cannot be trusted.”

Lü Qian and Man Chong also said, “Since the Chancellor has brought the army here, how could he leave Liu Biao and then go to aid Tan?”

Xun You said, “The three above do not advise well. In my view: the world is in upheaval. Liu Biao sits between the Jiang and the Han waters and does not dare to step out. That shows he lacks great ambition. If the Yuan clans of four commanderies hold tens of thousands of armed men and the brothers still kept peace, the world is not yet secure. Now, as brothers and brothers attack each other, they are pressed and exhausted and throw themselves in. It is the hour for the house of Yuan to fall apart. We should first remove Shang, and then after events unfold, destroy Tan. This is the chance; do not miss it.”

Cao rejoiced. He invited Xin Pi to drink and asked, “Is Tan truly coming in surrender, or is he feigning? Can Shang’s army surely be overcome?”

Xin Pi said, “My lord, do not ask if it is true or false. Judge only its likelihood. The Yuan house has suffered losses for years; their military stores are exhausted by outside wars, and scheming ministers were executed at home. Brothers have become separated by slander; the state is split in two. On top of that famine and disasters strike together and people are hard-pressed; anyone, wise or not, can see collapse ahead. This is Heaven’s time to destroy the Yuans.

If Your Excellency advances to seize Ye and Shang does not return, he loses his nest; if he returns, Tan will then strike from the rear. Under Your Excellency’s pressure, the exhausted troops will fall like dry leaves in an autumn wind. This way is better than marching to Jing Province now. Jing is a rich and pleasant land, with order among state and people, and cannot be moved lightly. More than all the other dangers, Hebei is the greatest threat. If Hebei is pacified, the hegemonic enterprise is complete. Please consider this, my lord.”

Cao smiled, “I regret I meet Xin Zuo only now.”

He ordered the army to return that day and seize Jizhou.

Liu Bei feared Cao had designs and did not dare to press pursuit. He led his army back to Jing Province.

When Shang heard that Cao had crossed the river, he hurriedly brought his army back to Ye and ordered Lü Kuang and Lü Xiang to cover the rear.

When Tan saw Shang’s withdrawal, he mustered the Pingyuan troops in full and advanced in pursuit. In less than several dozen li, a cannon sounded once and both armies rushed out at once. Lü Kuang took the left, and Lü Xiang the right; the two brothers cut off Tan.

Tan reined in and said, “While our father was alive, I did not treat you as lesser generals. Why now do you, because you are with my brother, press in and block me?”

The two generals dismounted and surrendered to Tan.

Tan said, “Do not submit to me. Submit to Chancellor Cao.”

Tan had them follow him back into camp and sent word to Cao requesting aid in taking Jizhou.

Cao was delighted and offered to marry his daughter to Tan, then made Lü Kuang and Lü Xiang his mediators.

Tan asked Cao for help in taking Jizhou. Cao replied, “At present grain transport is not linked, and the labor is heavy. I have already cut a channel from the Ji River and blocked the Qi River into Bai Gou to open the grain road; after that I can move forward.” He ordered Tan to hold in Pingyuan for now.

Cao withdrew his army back to Liyang and made Lü Kuang and Lü Xiang marquises to serve with his force.

Guo Tu advised Tan, “Cao’s marriage offer may not be sincere. He has rewarded and brought these two into his army to keep a cage over northern hearts. In time this will become our disaster. Your Lordship should immediately carve two generals’ seals, send them secretly to those two brothers, and make them an inside support. When Cao destroys Shang, strike immediately and make your move.”

Tan followed this advice. He had two general seals made at once and sent them secretly to Lü Kuang and Lü Xiang.

When the two received them, they carried the seals directly to Cao and presented them.

Cao laughed, “Tan has sent these seals in secret and expects you both to aid him from inside after he has broken Shang. He thinks to grab the matter for himself. Keep them for now. I have my own design.” From then on Cao came to bear a secret intention to kill Tan.

Shang and Shen Pei discussed: “Now that Cao’s army has set up grain logistics into Bai Gou, he will certainly move against Jizhou. How do we answer?”

Shen said, “Issue orders to Yin Kai, the commandant of Wuan, to garrison at Maocheng and secure the grain road through Shangdang; and ask Ju Hu, son of Ju Shou, to hold Handan for distant support. Your Lordship should march on Pingyuan and attack Tan quickly, first breaking him off, and only then strike Cao.”

Shang rejoiced. He left Shen Pei and Chen Lin to hold Jizhou, and sent Ma Yan and Zhang Yi as the vanguard for the first move. He then led troops out at night.

When Tan realized Shang’s army was near, he called in urgent aid from Cao.

Cao said, “This time, I will surely take Jizhou.”

As he spoke, Xu You came from Xuchang. Hearing that Shang had again attacked Tan, he entered and said to Cao, “My lord, why do you sit here? Do you wait to be struck by heaven and die with the two Yuans?”

Cao smiled and said, “I have already calculated it.” He ordered Cao Hong forward first against Ye, while he brought one army to attack Yin Kai.

When the troops arrived in range, Yin Kai rode out to meet them.

“Where is Xu Zhongkang?” Cao asked.

Xu Chu answered at once, and rode out, driving his horse straight at Yin Kai. He took him unprepared and struck him down under the saddle with one stroke. The rest of Yin Kai’s men broke and fled.

Cao offered all who would surrender clemency and then ordered his men to take Handan.

Ju Hu came forward in relief. Zhang Liao rode out to meet him. They fought fewer than three rounds, and Ju Hu was badly defeated. Zhang Liao pursued from behind.

The two horses did not separate far, and Zhang Liao took his bow quickly and shot him from under his saddle.

Cao signaled the horsemen to cover the kill. The rest of the men scattered.

Then Cao moved the main army forward to Jizhou. Cao Hong had already come near the wall. Cao ordered all three commands to circle the city and build an earthen embankment, then secretly dig a tunnel beneath it.

Shen Pei held the defense firm and imposed strict discipline. Feng Li, who commanded the east gate, became careless in drunkenness and neglected the watch, so Shen Pei sharply rebuked him. Feng Li nursed the grudge and slipped out by night to surrender to Cao.

Cao asked how to break in. Feng Li said, “The gate breach is deeply packed with earth. We should dig into the city through a tunnel.” Cao ordered Feng Li to lead three hundred stout men and dig at midnight.

After Feng Li had gone out and surrendered, Shen Pei climbed the city walls each night to inspect troops and horses himself. That night at the gate tower he looked out and saw no lights outside the walls. He said, “Feng Li will bring men in through a tunnel.” He urgently ordered the best troops to throw stones against the gate and close the gate shutters. Feng Li and his three hundred stout men died inside the earth.

Cao therefore gave up this tunnel plan and withdrew the army to the banks of the Huan River to wait for Shang to turn back. Shang was attacking Pingyuan. Hearing that Cao had broken Yin Kai and Ju Hu and had the city under heavy siege, he returned his army to rescue Jizhou.

Officer Ma Yan said, “If we take the main road, Cao certainly has an ambush. Take the smaller route through the Fushui mouth by way of the western hills and strike Cao’s camp at its rear; then the encirclement will be broken.”

Shang followed this and led the main force first, leaving Ma Yan and Zhang Yi to cover the rear.

A messenger quickly informed Cao.

Cao said, “If they come by the main road, we will evade; if they come by the smaller western-hill road, one battle may catch them. He will surely light signal fires for aid. I will divide my troops.”

As planned, Cao made his dispositions.

Shang left through the Fushui River mouth and moved east to Yangping, camping at Yangping Pavilion seventeen li from Jizhou, with one side anchored on the Fushui.

Shang had his soldiers pile wood and dry grass, and in the evening they were set alight as signal beacons. He sent his chief clerk Li Fu, disguised as Cao’s metropolitan commander, down toward the city and to shout, “Open the gate!”

Shen Pei recognized Li Fu’s voice immediately and said to him when he entered the city, “Shang has arrayed troops at Yangping Pavilion and waits for support; if troops from the city go out, raise beacon fires as well.” He then ordered fire signals to be prepared in the city.

Li Fu said, “There is no grain in the city. Send out the old and weak, invalid soldiers, and women with their households to surrender. Cao will not be prepared; once they have gone out, I will advance behind the people.”

Shen approved his argument.

The next day, a white banner flew over the city walls, bearing the words: “The people of Jizhou surrender.”

Cao said, “This is the city saying it has no grain and sending old and weak people down; afterwards soldiers will come out.” He ordered Zhang Liao and Xu Huang to bring three thousand horsemen and men each, and hide on both sides. Cao himself rode forward beneath his banner to the gate.

As expected, when the gate opened there came out old and young, old and weak men with women, carrying white flags and banners.

After all civilians had gone, soldiers surged out. Cao raised a red flag and the two wings under Zhang Liao and Xu Huang struck out in disorder and slaughtered. City soldiers had to run back in.

Cao remounted and rode to the Diao Bridge side. Crossbow bolts fell like rain from the city, one striking his helmet and nearly piercing through the top of it. His generals hurried him back into formation.

He changed his armor and horse, then returned with the commanders to attack Shang’s camp. Shang came out to meet him.

Meanwhile all columns converged; both armies charged together and mixed in close fighting. Shang was badly defeated. He withdrew and drew his men to camp under the western hills. He sent urgent orders for Ma Yan and Zhang Yi to arrive.

He did not know that Cao had already sent Lü Kuang and Lü Xiang to summon the two generals.

The two came down with them and surrendered. Cao likewise made them marquises.

That same day he advanced to assault the western hills, and first sent Lü Kuang, Lü Xiang, Ma Yan, and Zhang Yi to cut off Shang’s food route.

Shang knew the western hills could not hold. In the night he fled through Yikou. Before his camp was set, fires rose in every direction and ambush troops surged from every side; men had not put on armor and horses had not taken saddles. Shang’s army was in rout and ran fifty li before it broke.

In final desperation he sent Yin Kui, Inspector of Yuzhou, to Cao’s camp to petition surrender. Cao pretended to accept, then that night sent Zhang Liao and Xu Huang to seize Shang’s camp.

Shang threw away his seals, badges, armor, and military kit and fled toward Zhongshan.

Cao returned with the army to Jizhou.

Xu You offered this strategy: “Why not release the waters of the Zhang River and flood them?”

Cao approved the idea. He ordered men outside the city to dig a large channel and embankment around Jizhou, extending for forty li.

On the city wall Shen Pei saw Cao’s men digging shallow trenches and laughed to himself. “They mean to release Zhang River water into the city and drown it. But this is so shallow—can it serve?” he said and made no new preparation.

That night Cao added ten times the usual number of soldiers and labored through the night to dig. By dawn the trench was two zhang wide and deep, and water from the Zhang flowed in to several chi deep.

At the same time grain failed, and the men began to starve.

Outside the city, Xin Pi held up a spear and prodded the seals, robes, and garments of Yuan Shang to attract the city, inviting it to surrender.

Shen Pei grew furious and had more than eighty members of Xin Pi’s household, old and young, executed atop the city wall, their heads cast down.

Xin Pi wept without end. Shen Rong, Shen Pei’s nephew and long friend of Xin Pi, grieving over the deaths of Xin Pi’s household, secretly wrote a letter of surrender and tied it to an arrow, shooting it into the city.

A soldier picked up the message, and Xin Pi delivered it to Cao.

Before entering Jizhou, Cao issued this order first: once we are in, no one is to kill the elders or children of the Yuan household, and civilians who surrender are to be spared.

At dawn the next morning, Shen Rong opened the west gate and let Cao’s army in. Xin Pi sprang into the saddle first and entered. The captains followed and overran Jizhou.

From the southeast city tower Shen Pei saw Cao’s army had entered. He rode out with a few horsemen to die in battle. He met Xu Huang at close range and was captured alive; as he was led out he encountered Xin Pi.

Xin Pi ground his teeth and pointed with his whip to the head, saying, “Traitor! You brought Cao to break my Jizhou; today you die!”

Shen Pei growled back, “Traitorous cur! You brought Cao to destroy my Jizhou, and I regret I did not kill you sooner!”

Xu Huang presented Shen to Cao.

Cao asked, “Do you know who opened the gate for me?”

Shen said, “I do not know.”

Cao said, “It was your nephew, Shen Rong.”

Shen snapped, “Can a boy of mine do such a thing?”

Cao asked, “Why were there so many crossbow bolts outside the gate yesterday?”

Shen answered, “I regret it deeply, I regret it.”

Cao said, “You were loyal to the Yuan, and this is only what such loyalty demands. Will you submit to me now?”

Shen replied, “No. No.”

Xin Pi knelt and cried out, “My household of more than eighty was all killed by this traitor. I beg the Chancellor to have him executed, so this grudge is avenged.”

Shen said, “I was born to serve the Yuan and die a ghost of the Yuan. I am no like you, who slander and flatter. Kill me now!”

Cao ordered him bound out. At the end he shouted to the executioner, “Carry this out quickly!” He knelt facing north and said, “My lord is in the north; let me not die with my face turned south.” Then he held out his neck to the blade.

Later someone wrote this poem of lament:

Hebei has many worthy men; who is equal to Shen, the upright minister? Fate gave him an ignorant lord and a ruined house, and still his heart joined the ancients. Loyal and upright in speech, with no hidden schemes, his ambition knew no greed. Even at death he faced the north, and those who had surrendered were all ashamed.

After Shen died, Cao honored his loyalty and told him worthy burial north of the city walls.

Many officers asked Cao to enter the city. Just as he was about to move, an executioner arrived carrying one man. Cao saw it was Chen Lin.

Cao said, “You drafted a memorial for Benchu before; your crimes were by no means light. Why then would I bring disgrace on your ancestors and your parents as well?”

Chen Lin replied, “When an arrow is on the string, one cannot keep it from release.”

Many urged Cao to execute him, but Cao pitied his talent and spared him, appointing him to service.

Now Cao’s eldest son Cao Pi, courtesy name Zihuan, was eighteen years old. Since he had been eight he had already been able to compose texts of style, with uncommon talent. He was learned in ancient matters, adept at riding and archery, and good with the sword.

When Cao had taken Jizhou, Pi followed his father in the army. He first took command of his own bodyguard and rode straight to Yuan Shao’s household, dismounted, drew his sword, and entered.

A general stepped forward to block him: “My lord has ordered this, and no one may enter the Yuan household.”

Cao Pi shouted him away, then pressed forward with sword into the rear hall.

He saw two women embracing and weeping, and moved on as if to kill them.

Four generations of lords and nobles are only dreams now, and another household of blood and bone meets calamity once more. Who can know what fate now awaits? How this turned out will be told in the next chapter.