holding three thousand measures, I went to ask for help. Lu Su pointed to one granary and said, 'Take that as a gift.' Such was his generosity!"

"He has always been fond of fencing and horse archery. He was living in Chuo. His grandmother died while he was there and he went to bury her in Tungch'êng and then his friend, Liu Tzu-yang, wished to engage him to go to Ch'aohu and join Chêng Pao. However, he hesitated about that and has not gone yet. You should invite him without loss of time."

Sun Ch'üan at once sent Chou Yü to engage the services of this man and he set out. When the obeisances were over he laid before his friend the inducements that his own master held out. He replied that as he had been engaged by Liu Tzuyang to go to Ch'aohu he was just starting thither.

Said Chou Yü, "Of old Ma Yüan said to Kuang-Wu, 'This is an age when not only do princes select their ministers, but ministers choose their princes.' Now our General Sun calls to him the wise and treats his officers well. Thus he engages the help of the wonderful and gets the services of the extraordinary in a way that few others do. But if you are not engaged elsewhere come with me to Wu as the best thing to do."

Lu Su returned with him and saw Sun Ch'üan, who treated him with the greatest deference and with him discussed affairs very fully. The conference proved so interesting that it went on all day and neither felt fatigue.

One day at the close of the usual reception, the chief kept Lu Su to dine with him. They sat up late and by and by slept. on the same couch as would the closest of friends. In the dead of night Sun Ch'üan said to his bedfellow, "The Dynasty is failing and everything is at sixes and sevens. I have received a great charge from my father and brother and I am thinking of imitating the actions of Huan and Wên and becoming the leader of the feudal lords and I pray you instruct me."

Lu Su replied, "Of old Han Kao-Tsu wished to honour and serve the Emperor I, but could not on account of Hsiang Yü's evil doings. Now Ts'ao Ts'ao can be compared with Hsiang Yü; how can you be Huan and Wên? My humble opinion is that the Hans have fallen beyond hope of recovery and Ts'ao Ts'ao cannot be destroyed and that the only key to your schemes is to secure your present position in order to keep the master hand and control the combinations among the others. Now take advantage of the turmoil in the north to smite Huang Tsu and attack Liu Piao. Thereby you will command the whole length of the Great River (Yangtse). Then you may style yourself Emperor or King and thereafter as may be. This was how Kao-Tsu acted."

He

Hearing this Sun Ch'üan was very greatly pleased. threw on some clothing, got up and thanked his new-found adviser. Next day Sun Ch'üan gave him costly gifts and sent robes and hangings to his mother.

Lu Su then recommended a friend of his to the young man's notice, a man of wide reading and great ability. He was also a filial son. His double name was Chuko Chin and he came from Nanyang. Sun Ch'üan treated him as a superior guest. This man dissuaded Sun Ch'üan from making common cause with Yüan Shao, but advised him rather to favour Ts'ao Ts'ao, against whom he could plan when occasion served. Sun Ch'üan therefore sent back the messenger Ch'ên Chên with despatches that broke off all negotiations.

Hearing of Sun Ts'ê's death, Ts'ao Ts'ao was for sending an expedition against Chiangnan. But a certain historian, Chang Hung, dissuaded him, saying that it would be mean to take advantage of the period of mourning.

"And if you should not overcome him you will make him an enemy instead of being a friend. It would be preferable to treat him generously."

So Ts'ao memorialised the throne and obtained for Sun Ch'üan the title of Generalissimo and Prefect of Kueichi, while Chang Hung was appointed under him as Tu-yu.

And a seal of office was sent him. The new appointment pleased Sun Ch'üan and he was also glad to get Chang Hung back again. He was sent to act jointly with Chang Chao.

Chang Hung was the means of getting another into Sun Ch'üan's service. His friend was Ku Yung, known also as Yüan-t'an, a disciple of the historian Ts'ai Yung. He was a man of few words and an abstainer from wine. He was very correct in all things. Sun Ch'üan employed him in the administration.

Henceforward Sun Ch'üan's rule was very prosperous and he waxed mightily in influence and won the love of all the people.

When Chiên Chên had returned and related the events in Wu, and told of the honours that Ts'ao Ts'ao had obtained for the young man in return for his support, Yüan Shao was very wroth and he set about preparing for an attack on the capital with a force of seventy legions of northern men.

Although in the south they rest from war,

They rattle the spears 'neath the northern star.

Later it will be seen which side conquered.

CHAPTER XXX.

YUAN SHAO DEFEATED AT THE FERRY:

TS'AO TS'AO BURNS THE WUCH'AO GRANARIES.

Hearing that Yuan Shao was hastening to attack at Kuantu,

Hsiahou Tun wrote to the capital urgently asking for reinforcements, and Ts'ao Ts'ao told off seventy legions with which he marched. Hsün Yü was left to guard the capital.

Just as Yüan's army was starting Tien 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 T'ien 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 T'ien, but this time he forebore 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 Ts'ao Ts'ao."

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 Chu 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, "Tien 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 Ts'ao then will I deal with you and T'ien 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.

Ts'ao'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 Ts'ao. "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 Ts'ao 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 Ts'ao 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 Ts'ao thought the contest amazing. Then Hsü Ch'u 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 Ts'ao ordered three companies under Hsiahou Tun and Ts'ao 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 Ts'ao'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 P'ei said, "Now send ten legions to guard Kuantu and get near Ts'ao'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 Hsüch'ang 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 Ts'ao's camp. Ts'ao'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. Ts'ao'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 Yuan army laughed and jeered when they saw their enemies crouching under their shields and crawling on the ground to avoid their missiles.

Ts'ao 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 ballista and so destroy them."

Ts'ao 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 ballista 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 P'ei, the strategist, thought out another plan. He set men to tunnel under the walls into the midst of Ts'ao's camp and called this corps "The Sappers." Ts'ao'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 Ts'ao held Ki antu 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