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But Guo Jia was of different advice。
〃You are wrong；〃 said he。 〃Though the prestige of our lord fills the empire； yet the peoples of the desert； relying upon their inaccessibility； will not be prepared against us。 Wherefore I say attack； and we shall conquer them。 Beside Yuan Shao was kind to the nomads； and the two brothers have been more so。 They must be destroyed。 As for Liu Biao he is a mere gossip； who needs not cause the least anxiety。 And Liu Bei is unfit for any heavy responsibility and will take no trouble over a light one。 You may leave the base with perfect safety and make as long an expedition as you choose。 Nothing will happen。〃
〃You speak well； O Guo Jia；〃 said Cao Cao。
He led his legions； heavy and light； to the edge of the desert； with many wagons。 The expedition marched into the Gobi Desert。 The rolling ocean of yellow sand spread its waves before them； and they saw far and near the eddying sand pillars； and felt the fierce winds that drove them forward。 The road became precipitous and progress difficult。 Cao Cao began to think of returning and spoke thereof to Guo Jia； who had advised the journey。
Guo Jia had speedily fallen victim to the effects of the climate； and at this time he lay in his cart very ill。
Cao Cao's tears fell as he said； 〃My friend； you are suffering for my ambition to subdue the Gobi Desert。 I cannot bear to think you should be ill。〃
〃You have always been very good to me；〃 said the sick man； 〃and I can never repay what I owe you。〃
〃The country is exceedingly precipitous； and I am thinking of going back。 What think you？〃
Guo Jia replied； 〃The success of an expedition of this kind depends upon celerity。 To strike a sudden blow on a distant spot with a heavy baggage train is difficult。 To ensure success the need is light troops and a good road to strike quickly before an enemy has time to prepare。 Now you must find guides who know the road well。〃
Then the sick adviser was left at Yezhou for treatment； and they sought among the natives for some persons to serve as guides。 Tian Chou； one of Yuan Shao's old generals； knew those parts well； and Cao Cao called him and questioned him。
Tian Chou said； 〃Between autumn and summer this route is under water； the shallow places too heavy for wheeled traffic； the deep parts insufficient for boats。 It is always difficult。 Therefore you would do better to return and at Lulong cross the Baitan Pass into the desert。 Then advance to Liucheng and smite before there is time to prepare。 One sudden rush will settle King Mao Dun。〃
For this valuable information and plan； Tian Chou was made General Who Calms the North； and went in advance as leader and guide。 Next after him came Zhang Liao； and Cao Cao brought up the rear。 They advanced by double marches。
Tian Chou led Zhang Liao to White Wolf Hills； where they came upon Yuan Xi； Yuan Shang； and King Mao Dun and a force of ten thousand cavalry。 Zhang Liao galloped to inform his chief； and Cao Cao rode up to the top of an eminence to survey the foe。 He saw a large mass of cavalry without any military formation advancing in a disorderly crowd。
Said he； 〃They have no formation。 We can easily rout them。〃
Then he handed over his ensign of mand to Zhang Liao who； with Xu Chu； Yu Jin； and Xu Huang； made a vigorous attack from four different points； with the result that the enemy was thrown into confusion。 Zhang Liao rode forward and slew King Mao Dun； and the other generals gave in。 Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang with a few thousand of horse got away east into Liaodong。
Cao Cao then led his army into Liucheng。 For his services； Tian Chou was conferred the rank of Lord of Liucheng and mander of that county。
But Tian Chou declined the rank； saying with tears； 〃I am a renegade and a fugitive。 It is my good fortune that you spared my life； and how can I accept a rank for betraying Lulong？ I would rather die than accept the lordship。〃
Cao Cao recognized that reason was on Tian Chou's side and conferred upon him the office of Court Counselor。 Cao Cao then pacified the Xiongnu Chieftains； collected a large number of horses； and at once set out on the homeward march。
The season was winter； cold and dry。 For seventy miles there was no water； and grain also was scanty。 The troops fed on horse flesh。 They had to dig very deep； three or four hundred spans to find water。
When Cao Cao reached Yezhou； he rewarded those who had remonstrated with him against the expedition。
He said； 〃I took some risk in going so far； but by good fortune I have succeeded。 With the aid of Heaven I have secured victory。 I could not be guided by your advice； but still they were counsels of safety； and therefore I reward you to prove my appreciation of advice and that hereafter you may not fear to speak your minds。〃
Adviser Guo Jia did not live to see the return of his lord。 His coffin was placed on the bier in a hall of the government offices； and Cao Cao went thither to sacrifice to his manes。
Cao Cao mourned for him； crying； 〃Alas！ Heaven has smitten me： Guo Jia is dead！〃
Then turning to his officers he said； 〃You； gentlemen； are of the same age as myself； but he was very young to die。 I needed him for the future generation； and unhappily he has been torn from me in the flower of his age。 My heart and my bowels are torn with grief。〃
The servants of the late adviser presented his last testament； which they said his dying hand had written； and he had told them to say； 〃If the Prime Minister shall follow the advice given herein； then Liaodong will be secure。〃
Cao Cao opened the cover and read； nodding his head in agreement and uttering deep sighs。 But no other person knew what was written therein。
Shortly after； Xiahou Dun at the head of a delegation presented a petition； saying； 〃For a long time the Governor of Liaodong； Gongsun Kang； has been contumacious； and it bodes ill for peace that the Yuan brothers have fled to him。 Would it not be well to attack before they move against you？〃
〃I need not trouble your tiger courage； Sirs；〃 said Cao Cao smiling。 〃Wait a few days and you will see the heads of our two enemies sent to me。〃
They could not believe it。
As has been related the two Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang escaped to the east with a few hundreds of horse。 The Governor of Liaodong was a son of Gongsun Du the Warlike； the General of Han。 Gongsun Kang was a native of Xiangping。 When he heard that Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang were on their way to his territory； he called a council to decide upon his plan。
At the council Gongsun Gong rose； saying； 〃When Yuan Shao was alive； he nourished the plan of adding this territory to his own。 Now his sons； homeless； with a broken army and no officers； are ing here。 It seems to me like the dove stealing the magpie's nest。 If we offer them shelter； they will assuredly intrigue against us。 I advise that they be inveigled into the city； put to death； and their heads sent to Cao Cao； who will be most grateful to us。〃
Said the Governor Gongsun Kang； 〃I have one fear： Cao Cao will e against us。 If so； it would be better to have the help of the Yuans against him。〃
〃Then you can send spies to ascertain whether Cao Cao's army is preparing to attack us。 If it is； then save the Yuans alive； if not； then follow my advice。〃
It was decided to wait till the spies came back。
In the meantime； Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang had taken counsel together as they approached Liaodong； saying； 〃Liaodong has a large army； strong enough to oppose Cao Cao。 We will go thither and submit till we can slay the Governor and take possession。 Then when we are strong enough； we will attack and recover our own land。〃
With these intentions they went into the city。 They were received and lodged in the guests' quarters。 But when they wished to see Gongsun Kang； he put them off with the excuse of indisposition。
However； before many days the spies returned with the news that Cao Cao's army was quiescent and there was no hint of any attack。
Then Gongsun Kang called Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang into his presence。 But before they came he hid swordsmen and ax…men behind the arras in the hall。 When the visitors came and had made their salutations； Gongsun Kang bade them be seated。
Now it was bitterly cold and on the couches where they were sitting were no coverings。 So Yuan Shang said； 〃May we have cushions？〃
The host said； 〃When your heads take that long； long journey； will there be any cushions？〃
Before Yuan Shang could recover from his fright； Gongsun Kang shouted； 〃Why do you not begin？〃
At this out rushed the assassins and the heads of the two brothers were cut off as they sat。 Packed in a small wooden box they were sent to Cao Cao at Yezhou。
All this time Cao Cao had been calmly waiting。 His impatient officers had petitioned in a body； saying； 〃Let's march to the capital to ward off Liu Biao's threat if we are not going to attack the east。〃
Cao Cao said； 〃I am waiting for the heads of the enemy。 We will go as soon as the heads arrive。〃
In their secret hearts they laughed。 But then； surely enough； messenger soon came from Liaodong bringing the heads。 Then they were greatly surprised。
And when the messenger presented Gongsun Kang's letters； Cao Cao cried； 〃Just as Guo Jia said！〃
He amply rewarded the messenger； and the Governor of Liaodong was made Lord of Xiangping