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Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 33
Chapter 33
A Gallant Warrior； Cao Pi Marries Lady Zhen；
An Expiring Star； Guo Jia Settles Liaodong。
As was said； Cao Pi； having made his way into the Yuans' palace； saw two women there whom he was about to kill。 Suddenly a red light shone in his eyes； and he paused。
Lowering his sword he said； 〃Who are you？〃
〃Thy handmaid is the widow of the late Yuan Shao； Lady Liu；〃 said the elder of the two； 〃and this is the wife of Yuan Xi； his second son。 She was of the Zhen family。 When Yuan Xi was sent to mand in Youzhou； her family objected to her going so far from home and she stayed behind。〃
＇e＇ Lady Zhen； a famous lady in the North of Yellow River （Hebei）； wife to Yuan Xi； son of Yuan Shao。 When Yuan Shao was defeated by Cao Cao； both Cao Cao's sons Cao Pi and Cao Zhi claimed her； not to mention Cao Cao himself。 Cao Pi eventually won her hand； wedded her； and made her an empress。 She later became the Goddess of River Luo； according to folktales。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Xu You devised the plans to destroy the Wuchao granary of Yuan Shao。
Cao Pi drew Lady Zhen toward him and looked at her closely。 Her hair hung disordered； her face was dusty and tear…stained； but when； with the sleeve of his inner garment； he had wiped sway these disfigurements； he saw a woman of exquisite loveliness； with a plexion clear as jade touched with the tender bloom of a flower petal； a woman indeed beautiful enough to ruin a kingdom*。
〃I am the son of the Prime Minister；〃 said he turning to the elder woman。 〃I will guarantee your safety； so you need fear nothing。〃
He then put by his sword and sat down at the upper end of the room。
As Cao Cao was entering the gate of the conquered city of Yejun； Xu You rode up very quickly； passed him； and pointed with his whip at the gate； saying； 〃Sir Prime Minister； you would not have been here but for my plans！*〃
Cao Cao laughed； but his generals were very annoyed。
When Cao Cao reached the residence； he stopped at the gate and asked； 〃Has anyone had gone in？〃
The guard at the gate said； 〃Your son is within。〃
Cao Cao called him out and chided him； but the wife of the late Imperial Protector interposed； saying； 〃But not for your son we had not been saved。 I desire to present to you a lady； of the Zhen family； as a handmaid to your son。〃
Cao Cao bade them bring out the girl and she bowed before him。 After looking at her intently； he said； 〃Just the wife for him！〃
And he told Cao Pi to take Lady Zhen to wife。
After the conquest of Jizhou had been made quite sure； Cao Cao made a ceremonial visit to the Yuan family cemetery； where he sacrificed at the tomb of his late rival； bowed his head； and lamented bitterly。
＇e＇ Yan and Dai were two ancient states in the north during the Warring States period。 。。。。。
Turning to his generals； he said； 〃Not long ago when Yuan Shao and I worked together in military matters； he asked me； saying； 'If this disturbance does not cease； what fronts should be held？' And I replied asking him what he thought。 He said； 'In the North of Yellow River； to the south I would hold the Yellow River； on the north； guard against Yan and Dai* and absorb the hordes from the Gobi Desert。 Thence southward I would try for the empire； and do you not think I might succeed？' I replied saying； 'I depend upon the wisdom and force of the world directed by scholars； then every thing would be possible。' These words seem as if spoken only yesterday； and now he is gone。 Thinking over it I cannot refrain from tears。〃
His officers were deeply affected。 Cao Cao treated the widow generously； giving her gold and silks and food to her content。
He also issued a further order that the taxes in the North of Yellow River would be remitted in consideration of the sufferings of the people during the warlike operations。 He sent up a memorial to the Throne and formally became Imperial Protector of Jizhou。
One day Xu Chu； riding in at the east gate； met Xu You； who called out to him； 〃Would you fellows be riding through here if it had not been for me？〃
Xu Chu replied； 〃We fellows； those who survive and those who perished； risked our lives in bloody battle to get this city； so do not brag of your deeds！〃
〃You are a lot of blockheads； not worth talking about；〃 said Xu You。
Xu Chu in his anger drew his sword and ran Xu You through。 Then he took Xu You's head and went to tell Cao Cao the reason。
Said Cao Cao； 〃He and I were old friends； and we could joke together。 Why did you kill him？〃
Cao Cao blamed Xu Chu very severely and gave orders that Xu You should be buried honorably。
Cao Cao inquired for any wise and reputable people who were known to be living in the region and was told： 〃mander Cui Yan； of Dongwu； who had on many occasions given valuable advice to Yuan Shao。 As the advice was not followed； he had pleaded indisposition and remained at home。〃
Cao Cao sent for this man； gave him an office and said to him； 〃According to the former registers； there are three hundred thousand households in the region so that one may well call it a major region。〃
Cui Yan replied； 〃The empire is rent； and the country is torn； the Yuan brothers are at war； and the people have been stripped naked。 Yet； Sir； you do not hasten to inquire after local conditions and how to rescue the people from misery； but first pute the possibilities of taxation。 Can you expect to gain the support of our people by such means？〃
Cao Cao accepted the rebuke； changed the policy； thanked him； and treated him all the better for it。
As soon as Jizhou was settled； Cao Cao sent to find out the movements of Yuan Tan。 He heard Yuan Tan was ravaging Ganling； Anping； Bohai； and Hejian。 Moreover； the scouts brought the news that Yuan Shang had fled to Zhongshan； and Yuan Tan led an expedition against him； but Yuan Shang would not face a battle。 He had gone away to Youzhou to his brother Yuan Xi。 Yuan Tan； having gathered Yuan Shang's troops； prepared for another attempt on Jizhou。
Whereupon Cao Cao summoned him。 Yuan Tan refused to e； and Cao Cao sent letters breaking off the marriage between Yuan Tan and his daughter。 Soon after Cao Cao led an expedition against Yuan Tan and marched to Pingyuan； whereupon Yuan Tan sent to Liu Biao to beg assistance。 Liu Biao sent for Liu Bei to consult about this。
Liu Bei said； 〃Cao Cao is very strong now that he has overe Jizhou； and the Yuans will be unable to hold out for long。 Nothing is to be gained by helping Yuan Tan； and it may give Cao Cao the loophole he is always looking for to attack this place。 My advice is to keep the army in condition and devote all our energies to defense。〃
〃Agreed； but what shall we say？〃 said Liu Biao。
〃Write to both the brothers as peacemaker in gracious terms。〃
Accordingly Liu Biao wrote thus to Yuan Tan：
〃When the superior person would escape danger； that person does not go to an enemy state。 I heard recently that you had crooked the knee to Cao Cao； which was ignoring the enmity between him and your father； rejecting the duties of brotherhood； and leaving behind you the shame of an alliance with the enemy。 If your brother； the successor to Jizhou； has acted unfraternally； your duty was to bend your inclination to follow him and wait till the state of affairs had settled。 Would it not have been very noble to bring about the redress of wrongs？〃
And to Yuan Shang； Liu Biao wrote：
〃Your brother； the ruler of Qingzhou； is of an impulsive temperament and confuses right with wrong。 You ought first to have destroyed Cao Cao in order to put an end to the hatred which your father bore him and； when the situation had bee settled； to have endeavored to redress the wrongs。 Would not that have been well？ If you persist in following this mistaken course； remember the hound and the hare； both so wearied that the peasant got them all。〃
From this letter Yuan Tan saw that Liu Biao had no intention of helping him； and feeling he alone could not withstand Cao Cao。 He abandoned Pingyuan and fled to Nanpi； whither Cao Cao pursued him。
The weather was very cold and the river was frozen； so that the grain boats could not move。 Wherefore Cao Cao ordered the inhabitants to break the ice and tow the boats。 When the peasants heard the order they ran away。 Cao Cao angrily wished to arrest and behead them。 When they heard this； they went to his camp in a body and offered their heads to the sword。
〃If I do not kill you； my order will not be obeyed；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃Yet supposing I cut off your heads； but I cannot bear to do that severity。 Quickly flee to the hills and hide so that my soldiers do not capture you。〃
The peasants left weeping。
Then Yuan Tan led out his army against Cao Cao。 When both sides were arrayed； Cao Cao rode to the front。
Pointing with his whip at his opponent； Cao Cao railed at him； saying； 〃I treated you well。 Why then have you turned against me？〃
Yuan Tan replied； 〃You have invaded my land； captured my cities； and broken off my marriage。 Yet you accuse me of turning against you！〃
Cao Cao ordered Xu Huang to go out and give battle。 Yuan Tan bade Peng An accept the challenge。 After a few bouts Peng An was slain； and Yuan Tan； having lost； fled and went into Nanpi； where he was besieged。 Yuan Tan； panic…stricken； sent Xin Ping to see Cao Ca