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Here some of the pursuers came up； and Cao Amin was hacked to pieces。 Cao Cao dashed into the river and reached the further side； but there an arrow struck his steed in the eye and it fell。 Cao Cao's eldest son； Cao Ang； dismounted and yielded his horse to his father； who galloped on。 Cao Ang was killed by arrows； but Cao Cao himself got away。 Soon after he met several of his officers who had rallied a few troops。
The soldiers of Qingzhou under Xiahou Dun seized the occasion to plunder the people。 Yu Jin took his army； fell upon them； and slew many。 Thus he protected and appeased the people。 The plunderers； meeting Cao Cao on the road； knelt down howling and said Yu Jin had mutinied and attacked them。 Cao Cao was surprised； and he gave order to Xiahou Dun； Xu Chu； Li Dian； and Yue Jing to attack Yu Jin。
Now when Yu Jin saw his master and a great pany approaching； he at once stopped the attack and set his troops to make a camp。
An officer asked him； 〃The Qingzhou soldiers say you have turned traitor。 Why do you not explain now that the Prime Minister has arrived？ Why first make a camp？〃
Yu Jin replied； 〃Our enemies are ing up in our rear and are very close。 It is necessary to prepare for defense or we shall not withstand them。 Explanation is a small matter； but defense is very important。〃
Soon after the camp was finished； Zhang Xiu fell upon them。 Yu Jin himself rode out to face them。 Zhang Xiu drew back。 The other generals of Yu Jin； seeing he advance thus boldly； also attacked； and Zhang Xiu was overe。 They pursued him a great distance until his force was almost annihilated。 With the miserable remnant he finally fled to Liu Biao。
Cao Cao's army reformed； and the manders mustered。 Then Yu Jin went to see his master and told him of the conduct of the Qingzhou soldiers and their looting and why he had attacked them。
〃Why did you not tell me before you made the camp？〃
Yu Jin related what had occurred。
Said Cao Cao； 〃When the first thought of a leader in the time of greatest stress is to maintain order and to strengthen his defenses； giving no thought to slander but shouldering his burdens bravely； and when he thereby turns a defeat into a victory； who； even of the ancient leaders； can excel Yu Jin？〃
Cao Cao rewarded Yu Jin with a golden armor and the lordship of Yishou。 But Cao Cao reprimanded Xiahou Dun for the lack of discipline among his soldiers。
Sacrifices in honor of the dead warrior Dian Wei were instituted。 Cao Cao himself led the wailing and paid due honors。
Turning to his officers he said； 〃I have lost my first born son； but I grieve not so heavily for him as for Dian Wei。 I weep for him！〃
All were sad at the loss of this general。 Then orders were issued to return to the capital。
When Imperial Legate Wang Ze； bearing the imperial decree； reached Xuzhou； he was met by Lu Bu； who conducted him into the residence where the decree was read。 It conferred Lu Bu the title General Who Pacifies the East； and a special seal acpanied the mandate。 The private mediating letter was also handed over and the messenger detailed the high appreciation in which Lu Bu was held by the Chief Minister of State。 Lu Bu was greatly pleased。
Next came news that a messenger from Yuan Shu had arrived。
When he had been introduced； he said； 〃My master's project of declaring himself emperor is advancing。 He has already built a Palace and will speedily choose Empress and concubines and would e to the South of River Huai。 He is looking forward to receiving the fiancee of the Heir Apparent。〃
〃Has the rebel gone so far？〃 cried Lu Bu in a rage。
He put the messenger to death and Han Yin into the cage。 He drafted a memorial of thanks and sent it to the capital； at the same time sending； too； Han Yin； the unfortunate agent who had arranged the marriage alliance。 He also replied to Cao Cao's private meditating letter asking to be confirmed in his protectorship of Xuzhou。 The letter was sent by the hand of Chen Deng。
Cao Cao was pleased to hear of the rupture of the marriage arrangement between the houses of Yuans and Lus； and forthwith put Han Yin to death in the market place。
However； Chen Deng secretly told Cao Cao； saying； 〃Lu Bu is cruel； stupid； and facile。 The longer he remains； the worse。〃
〃I know Lu Bu quite well；〃 replied Cao Cao。 〃He is a wolf with a savage heart； and it will be hard to feed him for long。 If it had not been for you and your father； I should not have known all the circumstances and you must help me to get rid of him。〃
〃Anything the Prime Minister wishes to do shall have my assistance；〃 was the reply。
As a reward Cao Cao obtained an annually grant of two thousand carts of grain for Chen Gui and the governorship of Guangling for Chen Deng； who then took his leave。
As he was saying farewell； Cao Cao took him by the hand； saying； 〃I shall depend upon you in the eastern affairs。〃
Chen Deng nodded acquiescence。 Then he returned to Lu Bu； who asked him how the visit was。
Chen Deng told him； 〃My father received a generous annuity； and I was made Governor of Guangling。〃
Lu Bu enraged； saying； 〃You did not ask Xuzhou for me； but you got something for yourself。 Your father advised me to help Cao Cao by breaking off the marriage； and now I get nothing at all of what I asked； while you and your father get everything。 I have been victimized by your father。〃
He threatened Chen Deng with his sword。
Chen Deng only laughed； saying； 〃O General； how unwary you are！〃
〃I； unwary？〃
〃When I saw Cao Cao； I said that to keep you going was like feeding a tiger。 The tiger must be kept fully fed or he would eat humans。 But Cao Cao laughed and replied； 'No； not that。 One must treat the mander like a falcon。 Not feed it till the foxes and hares are done。 Hungry； the bird is of use； full fed it flies away。' I asked who were the quarry。 He replied； 'Yuan Shu of the South of River Huai； Sun Ce of the South Land； Yuan Shao of Jizhou； Liu Biao of Jingzhou； Liu Zhang of Yizhou； and Zhang Lu of Hanzhong； these are the foxes and hares。'〃
Lu Bu threw aside his sword and laughed； saying； 〃Yes； he understands me。〃
But just about that time came news of the advance of Yuan Shu on Xuzhou； and that frightened Lu Bu。
When discord rose between Qin and Jin；
They were attacked by Yue and Wu；
And when a promised bride never came；
An army marched to enforce the claim。
How all this fell out will be shown in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 17 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Yuan Shu Marches Out An Army Of Seven Divisions；
Cao Cao And Three Generals Join Forces。
The south of River Huai was very fruitful； and Yuan Shu； as governor of such a large territory； was very influential。 He was not a little puffed up。 The possession of the Imperial Hereditary Seal； pledged by Sun Ce； added to his pride。 And he seriously thought of assuming the full style。
＇e＇ Liu Bang's first office was assistant to a magistrate in Pei。
＇e＇ King Wen； aka the Scholar King； founder of the Zhou Dynasty； father of King Wu。 King Wen did not actually founded the dynasty； but he laid the foundation for Zhou。 At the end of Shang Dynasty； the state Zhou of King Wen had already possessed two…thirds of the empire； but King Wen still faithfully served the last emperor of Shang。 The final conquest was pleted by King Wu and King Wu's brother； the Duke of Zhou。 。。。。。
＇e＇ King Yao； King Shun； and King Yu （BC 2400…2200） were the three ideal rulers in ancient China。 They ascended the throne by their virtues and merits； and not by heritage。 King Yu was also the founder of Xia Dynasty。 。。。。。
As a preliminary he assembled all his officers and addressed them thus： 〃The Supreme Ancestor； the Founder of Han Dynasty； was only a very minor official*； and yet he became ruler of the empire。 The dynasty has endured four centuries； and its measure of fortune has run out。 It no longer possesses authority； the cauldron is on the point of boiling over。 My family has held the highest offices of state for four generations and is universally respected。 Wherefore I wish； in response to the will of Heaven and the desire of the people； to assume the Imperial Dignity。 What think ye of the proposal； my officers？〃
Secretary Yan Xiang rose in opposition at on