YÜAN SHAO DEFEATED AT THE FERRY:
TSʻAO TSʻAO BURNS THE WUCHʻAO GRANARIES.
Hearing that Yüan Shao was hastening to attack at Kuantu, Hsiahou Tun
wrote to the capital urgently asking for reinforcements, and Tsʻao
Tsʻao told off seventy legions with which he marched. Hsün Yü was left
to guard the capital.
Just as Yüan’s army was starting Tʻien Fêng sent out a remonstrance
from his prison cell denouncing the policy of attack and counselling
Shao to wait upon such times as Heaven should appoint.
An enemy said to Yüan, “Why does this Tʻien Fêng utter ill-omened
words? My lord is sending forth an army in the cause of humanity and
justice.”
Easily moved to anger Yüan Shao was going to execute Tʻien, but this
time he forbore at the entreaties of many of his officers. However, he
was not appeased, for he said, “I will punish him when I return from
conquering Tsʻao Tsʻao.”
Meanwhile he hastened to start. The banners of his host filled the
horizon, their swords were as trees in the forest. They marched to
Yangwu and there made a strong camp.
Then Chü Shou once more opposed any hasty movement, saying, “Though our
soldiers are many they are not so bold as the enemy; however, veterans
as are the enemy they have not ample supplies. Therefore they will wish
to force on a speedy battle, while our policy is to hold them off and
delay. If we can keep from a decisive battle long enough the victory
will be ours without fighting.”
This advice did not appeal to the General. Said he, threateningly,
“Tʻien Fêng spake discouraging words to my armies and I will assuredly
put him to death on my return. How dare you follow in the same way?”
He summoned the lictors and sent away the adviser in chains, saying,
“When I have overcome Tsʻao then will I deal with you and Tʻien Fêng
together.”
The huge army was camped in four divisions, one toward each point of
the compass. The camps were ninety li in circuit. Scouts and spies were
sent out to discover the strong and the weak points of the enemy.
Tsʻao’s army arrived and were smitten with fear when they heard of the
strength of their enemy. The leader called together his council. Then
said the adviser Hsün Yu, “The enemy are many but not terrible. Ours is
an army of veterans, every man worth ten, but our advantage lies in a
speedy battle for unhappily our stores are insufficient for a long
campaign.”
“You speak to the point,” said Tsʻao. “I think the same.”
Therefore he issued orders to press forward and force on a battle. Yüan
Shao’s men took up the challenge and the two sides were arrayed. On
Yüan’s side a legion of crossbow men were placed in ambush on the two
wings, while half a legion of archers held the centre. The signal for
general attack was a bomb and the onset was to continue through three
rolls of the drum.
Yüan Shao wore a silver helmet and breastplate and an embroidered robe
held in by a jewelled belt. He took up his post in the centre with his
numerous captains ranged right and left. His banners and ensigns made a
brave show.
When the Tsʻao army centre opened and the banners moved aside the great
captain appeared on horseback with his staff of doughty leaders all
fully armed. Pointing with his whip at Yüan Shao he cried, “In the
presence of the Emperor I pressed your claims to consideration and
obtained for you the title of Generalissimo; why do you now plan
rebellion?”
Yüan replied, “You take the title of a minister of Han, but you are
really a rebel against the House. Your crimes and evil deeds reach to
the heavens, and you are worse than the usurper Mang and the rebel Cho.
What are these slanderous words about rebellion that dare you address
to me?”
“I have a command to make you prisoner.”
“I have the Girdle Decree to arrest rebels,” replied Yüan.
Then Tsʻao became wrathful and bade Chang Liao ride forth as his
champion. From the other side rode Chang Ho on a curvetting steed. The
two champions fought four or five bouts with no advantage to either. In
his heart Tsʻao thought the contest amazing. Then Hsü Chʻu whirled up
his sword and went to help. To match him rode out Kao Lan with his
spear in rest, and the contestants were now four, battling two and two.
Then Tsʻao ordered three companies under Hsiahou Tun and Tsʻao Hung to
attack the opponents’ array. Thereupon on Yüan’s side the signal for
attack was also given and the legion of crossbow men on the wings shot
and the centre archers let fly all together. The arrows flew all over
the field in front and Tsʻao’s men could not advance. They hastened
away toward the south. Yüan threw his soldiers on their rear and they
were broken. They went away toward Kuantu and Yüan advanced another
stage. He camped near them.
Then Shên Pʻei said, “Now send ten legions to guard Kuantu and get near
Tsʻao’s camp, then throw up observation mounds to get a clear view of
the enemy and choose vantage points whence to shoot arrows into the
midst of their host. If we can force him to evacuate this place we
shall have gained a strategical point whence Hsüchʻang can be
attacked.”
Yüan adopted this suggestion. From each of the camps they sought out
the strongest veterans who dug with iron spades and carried earth to
raise mounds near Tsʻao’s camp.
Tsʻao’s men saw what their enemies were doing and were anxious to make
a sortie and drive them off. But the archers and crossbow men came out
commanding the narrow throat through which it was necessary to attack
and stayed them. At the end of ten days they had thrown up more than
half a hundred mounds and on the summit of each was a lofty tower,
whence the archers could command their opponents’ camp. Tsʻao’s men
were greatly frightened and held up their bucklers to keep off the
various missiles. From the mounds the arrows flew down, pang! pang!
like a fierce rain. The men of the Yüan army laughed and jeered when
they saw their enemies crouching under their shields and crawling on
the ground to avoid their missiles.
Tsʻao saw that his soldiers were getting out of hand under this attack
so he called a council. Liu Yeh spoke up saying, “Let us make ballistæ
and so destroy them.”
Tsʻao at once had models brought and set cunning workmen to make these
machines. They soon constructed some hundreds and placed them along the
walls of the camp inside, just opposite the high ladders on the enemy’s
mounds.
Then they watched for the archers to ascend the towers. As soon as they
began to shoot all the ballistæ began to heave their stone balls into
the skies and they wrought great havoc. There was no shelter from them
and enormous numbers of the archers were killed. Yüan’s men called
these machines “Rumblers” and after their appearance the archers dared
not ascend the mounds to shoot.
Then Shên Pʻei, the strategist, thought out another plan. He set men to
tunnel under the walls into the midst of Tsʻao’s camp and called this
corps “The Sappers.” Tsʻao’s men saw the enemy digging out pits behind
the mounds and told the chief, who at once sought a counter plan from
Liu Yeh.
“As Yüan Shao can no longer attack openly he is attacking secretly and
is tunnelling a road under ground into the midst of our camp,” said he.
“But how to meet it?”
“We can surround the camp with a deep moat which renders their tunnel
useless.”
So a deep moat was dug as quickly as possible and when the enemy
sappers arrived thereat, lo! their labour had been in vain and the sap
was useless.
It is recorded that Tsʻao held Kuantu throughout the eighth and ninth
months when, the men being worn out and provisions failing, he began to
think of giving up and returning to the capital. As he could not make
up his mind he referred his difficulties by letter to Hsün Yü, whom he
had left to guard Hsüchʻang. The reply he got was to this effect:—“I
have received your command to decide whether to continue the campaign
or retire. It appears to me that Yüan Shao assembled such large forces
at Kuantu with the expectation of winning a decision. You, Sir, are
very weak while he is very strong and if you cannot get the better of
him he will be able to work his will on you for this is a crisis of
empire. Your opponents are indeed numerous, but their leader knows not
how to use them. With your military genius and discernment where are
you not sure to succeed? Now though your numbers are small it is not as
when Chʻu and Han were between Jungyang and Chʻêngkao. You are securely
intrenched with your hands on his throat, and even if you cannot
advance, that state of things cannot endure for ever but must change.
This is the time to play some unexpected move and you must not miss it.
The device I leave to your illustrious ingenuity.”
This letter greatly pleased Tsʻao and he urged upon his men to use
every effort to maintain the position.
Yüan having retired some thirty li, Tsʻao sent out scouts to ascertain
his new dispositions. One of Hsü Huang’s officers captured an enemy spy
and sent him to his chief, who interrogated him and found out that a
convoy of supplies was expected and that this spy and others had been
sent to find out what were the risks of the route. Hsü Huang went at
once to tell Tsʻao. When the adviser Hsün Yu heard that the commander
of the convoy was Han Mêng he said, “That fellow is a valiant fool. A
few companies of light horse sent to intercept him can capture the
whole train and cause much trouble in the enemy’s camp.”
“Whom should I send?” asked Tsʻao.
“You might send Hsü Huang; he is capable of such a task.”
So Hsü was deputed and he took with him Shih Huan, who had captured the
spy, and his company. And this party was supported by Chang Liao and
Hsü Chʻu.
It was night when the commissariat train of many thousands of carts
drew near Yüan Shao’s camp. As they passed through a defile Tsʻao’s men
came out and stopped the train. Han Mêng galloped up to give battle but
was soon overcome. The guard was scattered and soon the whole train was
in flames. The escort and their leader got away.
The glow of the flames seen from Shao’s camp caused great
consternation, which became fear when the escaped soldiers rode in and
told their tale.
Yüan sent out Chang Ho and Kao Lan to try to intercept the raiders and
they came upon Hsü Huang and his company. Just as they were attacking
reinforcements came up and the Yüan men were between two fires. They
were cut to pieces and the successful captains rode back to Kuantu,
where they were richly rewarded.
As an additional safeguard Tsʻao made a supporting outpost in front of
the main camp to be the apex of a triangle of defence.
When Han Mêng returned with his woeful tidings Yüan Shao was angry and
threatened to put him to death. His colleagues begged him off.
Then said Shên Pʻei, “Food is very important for an army in the field
and must be defended with the greatest diligence. Wuchʻao is our main
depôt and must be carefully guarded.”
“My plans being complete,” said Shao, “you may as well return to Yehtu
and undertake the control of the supplies. Let there be no shortage.”
So Shên Pʻei left the army.
Then a force of two legions under six captains was told off to defend
the depôt. One of these captains, Shunyu Chʻiung, was a hard man and a
heavy drinker, who in his cups was a terror to the men. Under the idle
life of guarding the supply depôt the leaders gave themselves up to
indulgence and drank heavily.
In Tsʻao’s army also food was getting scarce and a message was sent to
the capital to send grain quickly. The messenger with the letter,
however, had not gone far when he fell into the hands of Shao’s men,
who took him to the adviser Hsü Yu. Seeing from the letter that Tsʻao
was short of supplies the adviser went to his master and told him
saying, “Tsʻao Tsʻao and we have been at grips here for a long time and
the capital must be undefended. A small army sent quickly could take it
and at the same moment an attack here would deliver Tsʻao into our
hands. Now is the moment to strike, for his supplies are short.”
Shao replied, “Tsʻao is full of ruses and this letter is artfully
designed to bring about a battle to suit himself.”
“If you do not take this chance he will do you some injury by and by.”
Just at this juncture in came a despatch from Yehchün in which, after
some details regarding the forwarding of grain, Shên Pʻei said he had
discovered that Hsü Yu had been in the habit of receiving bribes while
in Chʻichou and had winked at his relatives collecting excess taxes.
One son and nephew were then in prison.
At this Yüan Shao turned on Hsü Yu angrily and said, “How can you have
the face to stand before me and propose plans, you extortionate fellow?
You and Tsʻao Tsʻao have old likings for each other and he has bribed
you to do his dirty work for him and help his base schemes. Now you
want to betray my army. I ought to take off your head, but temporarily
I will let your neck carry it away. Get out and never let me see you
again.”
The discredited adviser sighed and went out, saying, “Faithful words
offend his ear. He is a pest and unworthy of advice from me. And now
that Shên Pʻei has injured my son and nephew how can I look my fellow
men in the face again?”
And he drew his sword to end his life. But his people prevented that.
They said, “If Yüan Shao rejects your honest words then assuredly he
will be taken by Tsʻao Tsʻao. You are an old friend of Tsʻao’s; why not
abandon the shade for the sunlight?”
Just these few words awakened him to consciousness of his position and
he decided to leave Yüan Shao and go over to Tsʻao Tsʻao for he was an
old friend.
Vainly now for chances lost
Yüan sighs; once he was great.
Had he taken Hsü’s advice,
Tsʻao had not set up a State.
Hsü Yu stealthily left the camp and set out for Tsʻao’s lines. He was
captured on the way. He told his captors he was an old friend of the
Minister’s and asked them to tell him that Hsü Yu of Nanyang wished to
see him.
They did so. Tsʻao was resting in his tent, his clothing loose and
comfortable after the toils of the day. When he heard who wished to see
him he arose quite joyfully and dressed himself hastily to receive Hsü.
He went forth to greet him. They saw each other in the distance and
Tsʻao Tsʻao clapped his hands with gladness bowing to the ground when
near enough to his visitor. Hsü Yu hastened to help him rise, saying,
“Sir, you, a great Minister, should not thus salute a simple civilian
like me.”
“But you are my old friend and no name or office makes any difference
to us,” replied Tsʻao.
“Having been unable to choose the lord I would serve I had to bow my
head before Yüan Shao. But he was deaf to my words and disregarded my
plans. Wherefore I have left him and come now to see my old friend from
whom I hope employment.”
“If Tzŭ-yuan is willing to come then have I indeed a helper,” said
Tsʻao. “I desire you to give me a scheme for the destruction of Yüan
Shao.”
“I counselled him to send a light force to take the capital so that
head and tail be both attacked.”
Tsʻao was alarmed. “If he does so, I am lost.”
“How much grain have you in store?” said the new adviser.
“Enough for a year.”
“I think not quite,” said Yu smiling.
“Well, half a year.”
The visitor shook out his sleeves, rose and hurried toward the door of
the tent, saying, “I offer him good counsel and he repays me with
deceit. Could I have expected it?”
Tsʻao held him back. “Do not be angry,” said he. “I will tell you the
truth. Really I have here only enough for three months.”
“Everybody says you are a marvel of wickedness and indeed it is true,”
said Yu.
“But who does not know that in war there is no objection to deceit?”
replied Tsʻao. Then whispering in the other’s ear he said, “Actually
here I have only supplies for this month’s use.”
“O do not throw dust in my eyes any more. Your grain is exhausted and I
know it.”
Tsʻao was startled, for he thought no one knew of the straits he was
in.
“How did you find that out?” said he.
Hsü Yu produced the letter, saying, “Who wrote that?”
“Where did you get it?”
Whereupon he told Tsʻao the story of the captured messenger. Tsʻao
seized him by the hand saying, “Since our old friendship has brought
you to me I hope you have some plan to suggest to me.”
Hsü Yu said, “To oppose a great army with a small one is to walk in the
way of destruction unless you inflict quick defeat. I can propose a
plan which will defeat the innumerable hordes of Yüan Shao without
fighting a battle. But will you follow my advice?”
“I desire to know your plan,” said Tsʻao.
“Your enemy’s stores of all kinds are at Wuchʻao, where the commander
of the guard is that drunkard Shunyu Chʻiung. You can send some of your
trusty veterans to pretend they belong to Chiang Chi, one of Yüan’s
generals, sent to help guard the depôt. These men can find an
opportunity to fire the grain and stores of all kinds, which will upset
all Yüan Shao’s calculations.”
Tsʻao approved. He treated Hsü Yu very liberally and kept him in his
camp. Forthwith he chose five companies of horse and foot ready for the
expedition. Chang Liao protested the enterprise would be futile as the
grain depôt would certainly be well guarded and he suggested treachery
on the part of the newly arrived strategist.
“Hsü Yu is no traitor,” said Tsʻao. “He has come sent by Heaven to
defeat Yüan Shao. If we do not get grain it will be hard to hold out
and I have either to follow his advice or sit still and be hemmed in.
If he was a traitor he would hardly remain in my camp. Moreover this
raid has been my desire for a long time. Have no doubts; the raid will
certainly succeed.”
“Well, then, you must look out for an attack here while the camp is
undefended.”
“That is already well provided for,” said Tsʻao gleefully.
The defenders of the camp were then told off. Among them was Hsü Yü.
The arrangements for the raid on the grain depôt were made with extreme
care to ensure success. When all was ready they set out, Tsʻao himself
in the centre. The army showed the ensigns of their opponents. The men
carried bundles of grass and faggots to make a blaze. The men were
gagged and the horses tied round the muzzles so as to prevent any
noise.
They set out at dusk. The night was fine and the stars shone brightly.
Chü Shou, still a prisoner in Yüan Shao’s camp, saw the stars were very
brilliant and told his gaolers to conduct him out to the central
pavilion whence he could study them. While watching he saw the planet
Venus invade the quarter of the Bear and Lyra, which startled him very
greatly.
“Some misfortune is near,” said he.
So although it was still night he went to see his master. But Yüan Shao
was sleeping after indulgence in too much wine and was in bad humour.
However, when they had roused him saying that the prisoner had a secret
message to deliver, he got up.
“While I happened to be studying the aspect of the heavens,” said the
night visitor, “I saw Venus, then between Hydra and Cancer, suddenly
shoot into the neighbourhood of the Bear and Lyra. There is danger of a
robber raid and special precautions must be taken at the grain depôt.
Lose no time in sending good soldiers and vigorous leaders thither and
keep a lookout on the byeways among the hills that you may escape the
wiles of Tsʻao Tsʻao.”
“You are a criminal,” said Shao. “How dare you come with such wild
nonsense to upset my armies.”
And turning to the gaolers he continued, “I bade you confine him; why
did you let him come?”
Then he issued orders to put the gaolers to death and appointed others
to keep the prisoner in close custody.
Chü Shou went away, wiping his falling tears and sighing deeply. “Our
soldiers’ destruction is at hand and I know not where my poor corpse
may find a resting place.”
Blunt truth offended Yüan Shao,
Too stupid any plan to make,
His stores destroyed ’tis evident
That Chʻichou also is at stake.
Tsʻao Tsʻao’s raiding party went along through the night. Passing one
of Yüan Shao’s outpost camps they were challenged. Tsʻao sent forward a
man to say, “Chiang Chi has orders to go to Wuchʻao to guard the grain
stores.”
Seeing that the raiders marched under the ensigns of Yüan Shao the
guard had no suspicions and let them pass. At every post this ruse was
effective and they got safely through.
They reached their objective at the end of the fourth watch, the straw
and wood were placed in position without loss of time and the blaze
started. Then the captains beat to attack.
At the time of the attack Shunyu Chʻiung and his companions were all
asleep after a heavy drinking bout. However, when the alarm was given,
they sprang up and asked what was the matter. The hubbub was
indescribable. Very soon the fuddled officers were caught with hooks
and hauled out of their camp.
Mu Yüan-chin and Chao Jui were just returning from taking grain to the
camp and seeing the flames arise, they hastened to assist. Some of
Tsʻao’s soldiers ran to tell him that some of the enemy were coming up
in the rear and ask him to send reinforcements, but he only replied by
ordering the generals to press on to the front till the enemy was
actually close at hand and then face about. So the attack was pressed
and they all hastened forward.
Very soon the fire gained strength and thick smoke hung all around
filling the sky. When Mu and Chao drew near, Tsʻao turned about and
attacked them. They could not stand this for a moment and both captains
were killed. Finally the stores of grain and forage were utterly
destroyed.
The commander, Shunyu Chʻiung, was made prisoner and taken to Tsʻao who
ordered him to be deprived of ears, nose and hands. He was bound on a
horse and sent, thus horribly mutilated, to his master.
From Yüan’s camp the flames of the burning depôt were seen away in the
north and they knew what they meant. Yüan hastily summoned his officers
to a council to send a rescue party. Chang Ho offered to go with Kao
Lan but Kuo Tʻu said, “You may not go; it is certain that Tsʻao Tsʻao
is there in person, wherefore his camp is undefended. Let loose our
soldiers on the camp and that will speedily bring Tsʻao back again.
This is how Sun Pin besieged Wei and thereby rescued Han.”
But Chang Ho said, “Not so; Tsʻao is too wily not to have fully
prepared against a chance attack. If we attack his camp and fail and
Shunyu Chʻiung should be caught we shall all be captured too.”
Kuo Tʻu said, “Tsʻao will be too intent on the destruction of the grain
to think of leaving a guard. I entreat you to attack his camp.”
So five companies under Chang Ho and Kao Lan were sent to attack
Tsʻao’s camp and Chiang Chi was sent to try to recover the grain store.
Now after overcoming Shunyu, Tsʻao’s men dressed themselves in the
armour and clothing of the defeated soldiers and put out their emblems,
thus posing as defeated men running back to their own headquarters. And
when they happened upon Chiang Chi’s rescue legion they said they had
been beaten at Wuchʻao and were retreating. So they were suffered to
pass without molestation while Chiang Chi hastened on. But soon he came
to Chang Liao and Hsü Chu who cried out to him to stop. And before he
could make any opposition Chang Liao had cut him down. Soon his men
were killed or dispersed and the victors sent false messengers to
Shao’s camp to say that Chiang Chi had attacked and driven away the
defenders of the granaries. So no more reliefs were sent that way.
However, reinforcements were sent to Kuantu.
In due course the Yüan men came down upon Tsʻao’s camp at Kuantu and
the defenders at once came out and fought them on three sides so that
they were worsted. By the time reinforcements arrived Tsʻao’s army,
returning from the raid, had also come and Yüan’s men were attacked in
the rear. So they were quite surrounded. However, Chang Ho and Kao Lan
managed to force their way out and got away.
When the remains of the defenders of the grain stores reached their
master’s camp they were mustered. Seeing the mutilated state of their
one time leader, Shao asked how he had come to betray his trust and to
suffer thus and the soldiers told their lord that their commander had
been intoxicated at the time of the attack. So Shunyu was forthwith
executed.
Kuo Tʻu, fearing lest Chang Ho and Kao Lan would return and testify the
whole truth, began to intrigue against them. First he went to his lord
saying, “Those two, Chang and Kao, were certainly very glad when your
armies were defeated.”
“Why do you say this?” asked Yüan.
“O they have long cherished a desire to go over to Tsʻao Tsʻao, so when
you sent them on the duty of destroying his camp they did not do their
best and so brought about this disaster.”
Shao accordingly sent to recall these two to be interrogated as to
their faults. But Kuo Tʻu, their enemy, sent a messenger in advance to
warn them, as though in friendly guise, of the adverse fate that
awaited them. So when the orders reached them to return to answer for
their faults they asked why they were recalled. When the messenger
disclaimed all knowledge of the reasons, Kao Lan drew his sword and
killed him. Chang Ho was stupefied at this demonstration but Lan said,
“Our lord has allowed some one to malign us and say we have been bought
by Tsʻao Tsʻao. What is the sense in our sitting still and awaiting
destruction? Rather let us surrender to Tsʻao Tsʻao in reality and save
our lives.”
“I have been wanting to do this for some time,” replied Chang Ho.
Wherefore both, with their companies, made their way to Tsʻao Tsʻao’s
camp to surrender.
When they arrived, Hsiahou Tun said to his master, “These two have come
to surrender but I have doubts about them.”
Tsʻao replied, “I will meet them generously and win them over even if
they have treachery in their hearts.”
The camp gates were opened to the two officers and they were invited to
enter. They laid down their weapons, removed their armour and bowed to
the ground before Tsʻao who said, “If Yüan Shao had listened to you he
would not have suffered defeat. Now you two coming to surrender are
like Wei Tzŭ going to Yin and Han Hsin going over to Han.”
He gave both men the rank of general and the title of marquis, which
pleased them much.
And so as Yüan Shao had formerly driven away his adviser, Hsü Yu, so
now he had alienated two captains and had lost his stores at Wuchʻao
and the army was depressed and down-hearted.
When Hsü Yu advised Tsʻao to attack as promptly as he could the two
newly surrendered men volunteered to lead the way. So these two were
sent to make a first attack on the camp, and left in the night with
three divisions. The fighting went on confusedly all night but stayed
at dawn. Shao had lost heavily.
Then Hsün Yu suggested a plan saying, “Now is the moment to spread a
report that a party of men will go to take Suantsao and attack Yehchün,
and another to take Liyang and intercept the enemy’s retreat. Yüan
Shao, when he hears of this, will be alarmed and tell off his men to
meet this new turn of affairs, and while he is making these new
dispositions we can have him at great disadvantage.”
The suggestion was adopted and care was taken that the report spread
far around. It came to the ears of Yüan’s soldiers and they repeated it
in camp. Yüan Shao believed it and ordered Yüan Shang with five legions
to rescue Yehchün, and Hsin Ming with another five to go to Liyang and
they marched away at once. Tsʻao heard that these armies had started
and at once despatched eight divisions to make a simultaneous attack on
the nearly empty camp. Yüan Shao’s men were too dispirited to fight and
gave way on all sides.
Yüan Shao without waiting to don his armour went forth in simple dress
with an ordinary cap upon his head and mounted his steed. His son Shang
followed him. Four of the enemy captains with their men pressed in his
rear and Shao hastened across the river, abandoning all his documents
and papers, baggage, treasure and stores. Only eight hundred men
followed him over the stream. Tsʻao Tsʻao’s men followed hard but could
not come up with him; however, they captured all his impedimenta and
they slew many thousands of his men so that the watercourses ran blood
and the drowned corpses could not be counted. It was a most complete
victory for Tsʻao and he made over all the spoil to the army.
Among the papers of Yüan Shao was found a bundle of letters showing
secret correspondence between him and many persons in the capital and
army. Tsʻao’s personal staff suggested that the names of those
concerned should be abstracted and the persons arrested, but their lord
said, “Shao was so strong that even I could not be sure of safety; how
much less other men?”
So he ordered the papers to be burned and nothing more was said.
Now when Yüan Shao’s men ran away Chü Shou, being a prisoner, could not
get away and was captured. Taken before Tsʻao, who knew him, he cried
aloud, “I will not surrender.”
Said Tsʻao, “Yüan Shao was foolish and neglected your advice; why still
cling to the path of delusion? Had I had you to help me I should have
been sure of the Empire.”
The prisoner was well treated in the camp but he stole a horse and
tried to get away to Yüan Shao. This angered Tsʻao who put him to
death, which he met with brave composure.
“I have slain a faithful and righteous man,” then said Tsʻao sadly. And
the victim was honourably buried at Kuantu. His tomb bore the
inscription “This is the tomb of Chü the loyal and virtuous.”
Chü honest was and virtuous,
The best in Yüan’s train,
From him the stars no secrets held,
In tactics all was plain.
For him no terrors had grim death,
Too lofty was his spirit,
His captor slew him, but his tomb
Bears witness to his merit.
Tsʻao Tsʻao now gave orders to attack Chʻichou.
In feeling over confident, that’s where one’s weakness lay;
The other bettered him by plans which never went agley.
The following chapter will tell who won the next campaign.