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ect of their hatred entered Jizhou City*。
Yuan Shao's first act was to confer on Han Fu a high sounding title………General Who Demonstrates Grand and Vigor Courage in Arms………； but the administration was entrusted to four of Yuan Shao's confidants………Tian Feng； Ju Shou； Xu You； and Peng Ji………who speedily deprived the Imperial Protector of all power。 Full of chagrin； Han Fu soon abandoned all； even his family； and rode alone to take refuge with the Governor of Chenliu； Zhang Miao。
Hearing of Yuan Shao's invasion； Gongsun Zan sent his brother； Gongsun Yue； to see the usurper and demand his share of the region。
〃I want to see your elder brother himself。 He and I have things to discuss；〃 said Yuan Shao。
Thus Gongsun Yue was sent back。 But after traveling some fifteen miles on the homeward road； Gongsun Yue saw a group of soldiers appear。
〃We are guards of Prime Minister Dong Zhuo！〃 cried the soldiers。
Instantly； Gongsun Yue was killed by a flight of arrows。 Those of Gongsun Yue's followers who escaped carried the news to their late master's brother。
Gongsun Zan was very angry and said； 〃Yuan Shao prevailed on me to attack； and now he has taken possession。 Also he pretends the murderers of my brother were not his people。 Shall I not avenge my brother's injury？〃
Gongsun Zan brought up all his force to the attack。 Learning the movement； Yuan Shao sent out his army； and they met at River Pan。 They halted on opposite sides of the river； over which was a bridge。
Gongsun Zan took his station on the bridge and cried to his enemy； 〃Renegade； how dared you mislead me？〃
Yuan Shao rode to the other end of the bridge and； pointing at Gongsun Zan； replied； 〃Han Fu yielded place to me because he was unequal to the rule。 What concern is it of yours？〃
Gongsun Zan replied； 〃Formerly you were regarded as loyal and public spirited； and we chose you chief of the confederacy。 Now your deeds prove you cruel and base and wolf…hearted in behavior。 How can you look the world in the face？〃
〃Who will capture him？〃 cried Yuan Shao in a rage。
At once Wen Chou rode out with his spear set。 Gongsun Zan rode down the bridge to the enemy's side； where the two engaged。 Ten bouts showed Gongsun Zan the terrible power of Wen Chou； and so he drew off。 The enemy came on。 Gongsun Zan took refuge within his formation； but Wen Chou cut his way in and rode this way and that； slaying right and left。 The four best of Gongsun Zan's generals offered joint battle； but one fell under the first stroke of the doughty warrior； and the other three fled。 Wen Chou followed clearing through to the rear of the army。 Gongsun Zan made for the mountains。
Wen Chou forced his horse to its utmost pace； crying hoarsely； 〃Down！ Dismount and surrender！〃
Gongsun Zan fled for life。 His bow and quiver dropped from his shoulders； his helmet fell off； and his hair streamed straight behind him as he rode in and out between the sloping hills。 Then his steed stumbled and he was thrown； rolling over and over to the foot of the slope。
Wen Chou was now very near and poising his spear for the thrust。 Then suddenly came out from the shelter of a grassy mound on the left a general of youthful mien； but sitting his steed bravely and holding a sturdy spear。 He rode directly at Wen Chou； and Gongsun Zan crawled up the slope to look on。
The new warrior was of middle height with bushy eyebrows and large eyes； a broad face and a heavy jowl； a youth of manding presence。 The two exchanged some fifty bouts and yet neither had the advantage。 Then Gongsun Zan's rescue force came along； and Wen Chou turned and rode away。 The youth did not pursue。
Gongsun Zan hurried down the hill and asked the young fellow who he was。
He bowed low and replied； 〃My name is Zhao Yun from Changshan。 I first served Yuan Shao； but when I saw that he was disloyal to his prince and careless of the welfare of the people； I left him and I was on my way to offer service to you。 This meeting in this place is most unexpected。〃
Gongsun Zan was very pleased； and the two went together to the camp； where they at once busied themselves with preparations for a new battle。
Next day Gongsun Zan prepared for fight by dividing his army into two wings。 He had five thousand cavalry in the center； all mounted on white horses。 Gongsun Zan had formerly seen service against the northern frontier tribes； the Qiang Peoples； where he always placed his white horses in the van of his army； and thus he had won the sobriquet of General Who mands White Horses。 The tribes held him so much in fear that they always fled as soon as the white horses； their sacred creatures； appeared。
On Yuan Shao's side Yan Liang and Wen Chou were Leaders of the Van。 Each had one thousand of archers and crossbowmen。 They were set out half on either side； those on the left to shoot at Gongsun Zan's right and those on the right to shoot at his left。 In the center was Qu Yi with eight hundred bowmen and ten thousand of foot and horse。 Yuan Shao took mand of the reserve force in the rear。
In this fight Gongsun Zan employed his new adherent Zhao Yun for the first time and； as Gongsun Zan did not feel assured of Zhao Yun's good faith； put him in mand of a pany at the rear。 The Van Leader was Yan Guang； and Gongsun Zan himself manded the center。 He took his place on horseback on the bridge beside an enormous red standard on which was displayed the word manding General in gold embroidery。
From sunrise to noon the drums rolled for the attack； but Yuan Shao's army made no move。 Qu Yi made his bowmen hide under their shields。 They heard the roar of explosions； the whistling of arrows； and the rattle of the drums； as Yan Guang approached from the other side； but Qu Yi and his men lay closer than ever and never stirred。 They waited till Yan Guang had got close on them and then； as the sound of a bomb rent the air； the whole eight hundred men let fly their arrows in a cloud。 Yan Guang was quite taken aback and would have retired； but Qu Yi rode furiously toward him； whirled up his sword and cut him down。
So Gongsun Zan's army lost that battle。 The two wings that should have e to the rescue were kept back by the bowmen under Yan Liang and Wen Chou。 Yuan Shao's troops advanced right up to the bridge。 Then Qu Yi rode forward； slew the standard bearer； and hacked through the staff of the embroidered banner。 Seeing this； Gongsun Zan turned his steed and galloped away。
Qu Yi followed。 But just as he caught up the fugitive； there came prancing forth Zhao Yun； who rode directly at him with spear ready to strike。 After a few bouts Qu Yi was laid in the dust。 Then Zhao Yun attacked the soldiers and turned the tide。 Plunging forward on this side； dashing in on that； he went through as if there were no antagonists and； seeing this； Gongsun Zan turned and came again into the fight。 The final victory was on his side。
From the scouts sent to find out how the battle went； Yuan Shao heard the good news of Qu Yi's success in slaying the standard bearer； capturing the flag； and his pursuit。 So Yuan Shao took no further care but rode out with his General Tian Feng and a few guards to look on at the enemy and enjoy his victory。
〃Ha ha！〃 Yuan Shao laughed。 〃Gongsun Zan is an incapable。〃
But even as Yuan Shao spoke； he saw in front the redoubtable Zhao Yun。 His guards hastened to prepare their bows； but before they could shoot； Zhao Yun was in their midst； and men were falling before him wherever he went。 The others fled。 Gongsun Zan's army then gathered round and hemmed in Yuan Shao。
Tian Feng then said to his master； 〃Sir； take refuge in this empty building here！〃
But Yuan Shao dashed his helmet to the ground； crying； 〃The brave one rather faces death in the battle than seeks safety behind a wall！〃
This bold speech gave new courage to his soldiers who now fought fiercely and with such success that Zhao Yun could nowhere force his way in。 Yuan Shao was soon reinforced by the arrival of his main body and Yan Liang； and the two armies pressed forward。 Zhao Yun could only just get Gongsun Zan safe out of the press。 Then they fought their way back to the bridge。 But Yuan Shao's troops still came on and fought their way across the bridge； forcing multitudes of their adversaries into the water； where many were drowned。
Yuan Shao was leading in person and his troops still advanced。 But not more than two miles； for soon a great shouting was heard behind some hills； whence suddenly burst out a body of troops led by Liu Bei； Guan Yu； and Zhang Fei。
At Pingyuan they had heard of the struggle between their protector and his enemy； Yuan Shao； and had at once set out to help。 Now the three riders； each with his peculiar weapon； flew straight at Yuan Shao； who was so frightened that his soul seemed to leave his body and fly beyond the confines of heaven。
His sword fell from his hand and he fled for his life。 He was chased across the bridge when Gongsun Zan called in his army； and they returned to camp。
After the usual greetings Gongsun Zan said； 〃If you had not e to our help； we should have been in very bad case。〃
Liu Bei and Zhao Yun were made acquainted with each other； and a warm affection sprang up from the very first so that they were always together。
Yuan Shao had lost that battle； and Gongsun Zan would not risk anothe