horsemen next, leaving a few men in the camp to beat the watches and maintain an appearance of occupation.

After travelling a short distance they passed some mounds. Suddenly torches blazed out and on the summit stood one who shouted, "Do not let Liu Pei run away; I, the Minister, am here awaiting him."

Liu Pei dashed along the first clear road he saw.

Chao Yün said, "Fear not, my lord, only follow me," and setting his spear he galloped in front opening a lane as he went. Yüan-tê gripped his double sword and followed close. As they were winning through, Hsü Ch'u came in pursuit and engaged Chao Yün, and two other companies bore down as well. Seeing the situation so desperate Yüan-tê plunged into the wilds and fled. Gradually the sounds of battle became fainter and died away while he went deeper and deeper into the hills, a single horseman fleeing for his life. He kept on his way till daybreak, when a company suddenly appeared beside the road. Yüan-tê saw these men with terror at first, but was presently relieved to find they were led by the friendly Liu P'i. They were a company of his defeated men escorting the family of their chief. With them also were Sun Ch'ien, Chien Yung and Mi Fang.

They told him that the attack on their city had been too strong to be resisted and so they had been compelled to abandon the defence, that the enemy had followed them and only Kuan's timely arrival had saved them.

"I do not know where my brother is," said Liu Pei.

"All will come right if you will push on," said Liu P'ei. They pushed on. Before they had gone far the beating of drums was heard and suddenly appeared Chang Ho with a company of soldiers. He cried, "Liu Pei, quickly dismount and surrender.'

Yüan-tê was about to retire when he saw a red flag waving from a rampart on the hills and down came rushing another body of men under Kao Lan. Thus checked in front and his retreat cut off, Yüan-tê looked up to Heaven and cried, "O Heaven, why am I brought to this state of misery? Nothing is left me now but death." And he drew his sword to slay himself.

But Liu P'i stayed his hand saying, "Let me try to fight a way out and save you."

As he spoke Kao Lan's force was on the point of engaging his. The two leaders met and in the third bout Liu P'i was cut down. Liu Pei at once rushed up to fight, but just then there was sudden confusion in the rear ranks of the opponents and a warrior dashed up and thrust at Kao Lan with his spear. Kao Lan fell from his steed. The newcomer was Chao Yün.

His arrival was most opportune. He urged forward his steed thrusting right and left, and the enemy's ranks broke and

scattered. Then the first force under Chang Ho came into the fight and the leader and Chao Yün fought thirty or more bouts. However, this proved enough, for Ho turned his horse away recognising that he was worsted. Yün vigorously attacked, but was forced into a narrow space in the hills where he was hemmed in. While seeking for some outlet they saw Yün-ch'ang, Kuan P'ing and Chou Ts'ang, with three hundred men, coming along. Soon Chang Ho was driven off and then they came out of the narrow defile and occupied a strong position among the hills where they made a camp.

Yüan-tê sent Yün-ch'ang for news of the missing brother. Chang Fei. He had been attacked by Hsiahou Yüan, but had vigorously resisted, beaten him off and followed him up. Then Yo Chin had come along and surrounded Chang Fei. In this pass he was found by Yün-ch'ang, who had heard of his plight from some of his scattered men met on the way. Now they drove off the enemy. The two brothers returned. Soon they heard of the approach of a large body of Ts'ao Ts'ao's army. Yüan-tê then bade Sun Ch'ien guard his family and sent him on ahead, while he and the others kept off the enemy, sometimes giving battle and anon marching. Seeing that Yüan-tê was retiring, Ts'ao Ts'ao let him go and left the pursuit.

When Yuan-tê collected his men he found they numbered only a thousand, and this halting and broken force marched as fast as possible to the west. Coming to a river they asked the natives its name and were told it was the Han, and near it Yüan-tê made a temporary camp. When the local people found out who was in the camp they presented flesh and wine.

A feast was given upon a sandy bank of the Han. After they had drunk awhile, Yüan-tê addressed his faithful followers, saying, "All you, fair Sirs, have talents fitting you to be advisers to a monarch, but your destiny has led you to follow poor me. My fate is distressful and full of misery. To-day I have not a spot to call my own and I am indeed leading you astray. Therefore I say you should abandon me and go to some illustrious lord where you may be able to become famous."

At these words they all covered their faces and wept. Yünch'ang said, "Brother, you are wrong to speak thus. When the great Founder of Han contended with Hsiang Yü he was defeated many times, but he won at Chiuli Hill and that achievement was the foundation of a Dynasty that endured for four centuries. Victory and defeat are but ordinary events in a soldier's career and why should you give up?"

"Success and failure both have their seasons," said Sun Ch'ien, "and we are not to grieve. Chingchou, which your illustrious relative, Liu Piao, coinmands, is a rich and prosperous country. Liu Piao is of your house, why not go to him?" "Only that I fear he may not receive me," said Liu Pei.

"Then let me go and prepare the way. I will make Liu Ching-hsing come out to his borders to welcome you."

So with his lord's approval Sun Ch'ien set off immediately and hastened to Chingchou. When the genuflexions and ceremonies of greeting were over Liu Piao asked the reason of the visit.

Said Sun, "The Princely Liu is one of the heroes of the day although just at the moment he may lack soldiers and leaders. His mind is set upon restoring the Dynasty to its pristine glory, and at Junan the two commanders, Liu and Kung, though bound to him by no ties, were content to die for the sake of his ideals. You, illustrious Sir, like Liu Pei, are a scion of the Imperial stock. Now the Princely One has recently suffered defeat and thinks of seeking a home in the east with Sun Chung-mou (Sun Ch'üan). I have ventured to dissuade him, saying that he should not turn from a relative and go to a mere acquaintance; telling him that you, Sir, are well known as courteous to the wise and condescending to scholars, so that they flock to you as the waters flow to the east, and that certainly you would show kindness to one of the same ancestry. Wherefore he has sent me to explain matters and request your commands."

"He is my brother," said Piao, "and I have long desired to see him, but no opportunity has occurred. I should be very happy if he would come."

Ts'ai Mao, who was sitting by, here broke in with "No, no! Liu Pei first followed Lü Pu, then he served Ts'ao Ts'ao, and next he joined himself to Yüan Shao. And he stayed with none of these, so that you can see what manner of man he is. If he come here Ts'ao Ts'ao will assuredly come against us and fight. Better cut off this messenger's head and send it as an offering to Ts'ao Ts'ao, who would reward you well for the service."

Sun Ch'ien sat unmoved while this harangue was pronounced, saying at the end, "I am not afraid of death. Liu, the Princely One, is true and loyal to the State and so out of sympathy with Lü Pu, or Ts'ao Ts'ao, or Yüan Shao. It is true he followed these three, but there was no help for it. Now he knows your chief is a member of the family, so that both are of the same ancestry, and that is why he has come far to join him. How can you slander a good man like that?" Liu Piao bade Ts'ao Mao be silent and said, "I have decided and you need say no more.'

Whereat Ts'ai Mao sulkily left the audience chamber.

Then Sun Ch'ien was told to return with the news that Yüan-tê would be welcome and Prefect Liu Piao went thirty li beyond his boundaries to meet his guest. When Yüan-tê arrived he behaved to his host with the utmost politeness and was warmly welcomed in return. Then Liu Pei introduced his

two sworn-brothers and friends and they entered Chingchou, where Liu Pei finally was lodged in the Prefect's own residence.

As soon as Ts'ao Ts'ao knew whither his enemy had gone he wished to attack Liu Piao, but Ch'êng Yü advised against any attempt so long as Yüan Shao, the dangerous enemy, was left with power to inflict damage. He advised return to the capital to refresh the men so that they might be ready for a campaign in the mild spring weather.

Ts'ao accepted his advice and set out for the capital. In the first month of the eighth year of the period "Established Tranquillity," Ts'ao Ts'ao once again began to think of war, and sent to garrison Junan as a precaution against Liu Piao. Then, after arranging for the safety of the capital, he marched a large army to Kuantu, the camp of the year before.

As to Yüan Shao, who had been suffering from blood-spitting but was now in better health, he began to think of measures against Hsütu, but Shên P'ei dissuaded him saying, "You are not yet recovered from the fatigues of last year. It would be better to make your position impregnable and set to improving the army."

When the news of Ts'ao's approach arrived, Yüan said, "If we allow the foe to get close to the city before we march to the river we shall have missed our opportunity. go out to repel this army."

I must

Here his son interposed, "Father, you are not sufficiently recovered for a campaign and should not go so far. Let me lead the army against this enemy."

Yüan consented, and he sent to Ch'ingchou and Yuchou and Pingchou to call upon his other two sons and his nephew to attack Ts'ao Ts'ao at the same time as his own army.

Against Junan they beat the drum,

And from Ch'ichou the armies come.

To whom the victory will be seen in the next chapter.

CHAPTER XXXII.

CH'ICHOU TAKEN: YUAN SHANG STRIVES:

THE CHANG RIVER CUT: Hsu Yu's SCHEME.

Yuan Shang was puffed up with pride after his victory over

Shih Huan and, without deigning to wait the arrival of his brothers, he marched out to Liyang to meet the army of Ts'ao Ts'ao. Chang Liao came out to challenge him, and Yüan Shang, accepting the challenge rode out with spear set. But he only lasted to the third bout when he had to give way. Chang Liao smote with full force and Shang, quite broken, fled pell mell to Ch'ichou. His defeat was a heavy shock to his father, who had a severe fit of hemorrhage at the news and swooned.

The Lady Liu, his wife, got him to bed as quickly as possible, but he did not rally and she soon saw it was necessary to prepare for the end. So she sent for Shên P'ei and Fêng Chi that the succession might be settled. They came and stood by the sick man's bed, but by this time he could no longer speak; he only made motions with his hands. When his wife put the formal question, whether Shang was to succeed, he nodded his head. Shên P'ei at the bedside wrote out the dying man's testament. Presently he uttered a loud moan, a fresh fit of bleeding followed and he passed away.

Born of a line of nobles famous for generations,

He himself in his youth was wayward always and headstrong,
Vainly he called to his side captains skilled and courageous,
Gathered beneath his banner countless legions of soldiers,
For he was timid at heart, a lambkin dressed as a tiger,
Merely a cowardly chicken, phoenix-feathered but spurless.
Pitiful was the fate of his house; for when he departed

Brother with brother strove and quarrels arose in the household. Shên P'ei and some others set about the mourning ceremonies for the dead man. His wife, the Lady Liu, put to death five of his favourite concubines, and such was the bitterness of her jealousy that, not content with this, she shaved off the hair and slashed the faces of their poor corpses lest their spirits should meet and rejoin her late husband in the land of shades beneath the Nine Springs. Her son followed up this piece of cruelty by slaying all the relatives of the unhappy concubines lest they should avenge their death.

Shên P'ei and Fêng Chi declared Yüan Shang successor with the titles of Minister of War and General Governor of the four