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peared a force led by a certain swashbuckler who shall be nameless for the moment。 This bravo was a well…built man； thickset and stout。 With a waist ten span in girth。 He used a long sword。
He barred the way of retreat。 He Yi set his spear and rode toward him。 But at the first encounter the bravo caught He Yi under his arm and bore He Yi off a prisoner。 All the rebels were terror…stricken； dropped from their horses and allowed themselves to be bound。 Then the victor drove them like cattle into an enclosure with high banks。
Presently Dian Wei； still pursuing the rebels； reached Kobei Hills。 The swashbuckler went out to meet him。
〃Are you also a Yellow Scarves rebel？〃 said Dian Wei。
〃I have some hundreds of them prisoners in an enclosure here。〃
〃Why not bring them out？〃 said Dian Wei。
〃I will if you win this sword from my hand。〃
This annoyed Dian Wei who attacked him。 They engaged and the bat lasted for two long hours and then was still undecided。 Both rested a while。 The swashbuckler was the first to recover and renewed the challenge。 They fought till dusk and then； as their horses were quite spent； the bat was once more suspended。
In the meantime some of Dian Wei's men had run off to tell the story of this wondrous fight to Cao Cao who hastened in amazement； followed by many officers to watch it and see the result。
Next day the unknown warrior rode out again； and Cao Cao saw him。 In Cao Cao's heart he rejoiced to see such a doughty hero and desired to gain his services。 So Cao Cao bade Dian Wei feign defeat。
Dian Wei rode out in answer to the challenge； and some thirty bouts were fought。 Then Dian Wei turned and fled toward his own side。 The bravo followed and came quite close。 But a flight of arrows drove him away。
Cao Cao hastily drew off his men for one and a half miles and then secretly sent a certain number to dig a pitfall and sent troops armed with hooks to lie in ambush。
The following day Dian Wei was sent out with one hundred horse。 His adversary nothing loath came to meet Dian Wei。
〃Why does the defeated leader venture forth again？〃 cried he laughing。
The swashbuckler spurred forward to join battle； but Dian Wei； after a faint show of fighting； turned his horse and rode away。 His adversary intent upon capture； took no care； and he and his horse all blundered into the pitfall。 The hookmen took him captive； bound him； and carried him before Cao Cao。
As soon as he saw the prisoner； Cao Cao advanced from his tent； sent away the soldiers； and with his own hands loosened the leader's bonds。 Then he brought out clothing and dressed him； bade him be seated and asked who he was and whence he came。
〃I am named Xu Chu。 I am from Qiao。 When the rebellion broke out； I and my relations of some hundreds built a stronghold within a rampart for protection。 One day the robbers came； but I had stones ready for them。 I told my relatives to keep on bringing them up to me and I threw them； hitting somebody every time I threw。 This drove off the robbers。 Another day they came and we were short of grain。 So I agreed with them to an exchange of plow oxen against grain。 They delivered the grain and were driving away the oxen when the beasts took fright and tore off to their pens。 I seized two of oxen by the tail； one with each hand； and hauled them backwards a hundred or so paces。 The robbers were so amazed that they thought no more about oxen but went their way。 So they never troubled us again。〃
〃I have heard of your mighty exploits；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃Will you join my army？〃
〃That is my strongest desire；〃 said Xu Chu。
So Xu Chu called up his clan； some hundreds in all； and they formally submitted to Cao Cao。 Xu Chu received the rank of general and received ample rewards。 The two rebel leaders； He Yi and Huang Shao； were executed。 Runan and Yingchuan were now perfectly pacified。
Cao Cao withdrew his army and went back to Juancheng。 Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren came out to wele him； and they told him that spies had reported Yanzhou City to be left defenseless。 Lu Bu's generals； Xue Lan and Li Fang； had given up all its garrison to plundering the surrounding country。 They wanted him to go against it without loss of time。
〃With our soldiers fresh from victory； the city will fall at a tap of the drum；〃 said they。
So Cao Cao marched the army straight to the city。 An attack was quite unexpected but the two leaders； Xue Lan and Li Fang； hurried out their few soldiers to fight。 Xu Chu； the latest recruit； said he wished to capture these two and he would make of them an introductory gift。
The task was given him and he rode forth。 Li Fang with his halberd advanced to meet Xu Chu。 The bat was brief as Li Fang fell in the second bout。 His colleague Xue Lan retired with his troops。 But he found the drawbridge had been seized by Li Dian； so that he could not get shelter within the city。 Xue Lan led his men toward Juye。 But Lu Qian pursued and killed him with an arrow。 His soldiers scattered to the four winds。 And thus Yanzhou was recaptured。
Next Cheng Yu proposed an expedition to take Puyang。 Cao Cao marched his army out in perfect order。 The van leaders were Dian Wei and Xu Chu； Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan led the left wing； Li Dian and Yue Jing led the right wing； Yu Jin and Lu Qian guarded the rear。 Cao Cao himself manded the center。
When they approached Puyang； Lu Bu wished to go out in person and alone to attack； but his adviser Chen Gong protested； saying； 〃General； you should not go out until the arrival of the other officers。〃
〃Whom do I fear？〃 said Lu Bu。
So he threw caution to the winds and went out of the city。 He met his foes and he began to revile them。 The redoubtable Xu Chu went to fight with him； but after twenty bouts neither batant was any the worse。
〃He is not the sort that one man can overe；〃 said Cao Cao。
And he sent Dian Wei to attack Lu Bu from another direction。 Lu Bu stood the double onslaught。 Soon after the flank manders joined in………Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan attacking the left； Li Dian and Yue Jing surrounding the right。 Lu Bu had six opponents。 These proved really too many for him so he turned his horse and rode back to the city。
But when the members of the Tian family saw him ing back beaten； they raised the drawbridge。
Lu Bu shouted； 〃Open the gates！ Let me in！〃
But the Tians said； 〃We have gone over to Cao Cao！〃
This was hard to hear and the beaten man abused them roundly before he left。 Chen Gong got away through the east gate taking with him the general's family。
Thus Puyang came into Cao Cao's hands； and for their present services the Tian family were pardoned their previous fault。
However； Liu Ye said； 〃Lu Bu is a savage beast。 If let alive； he will be a great danger。 Hunt him down！〃
Liu Ye was ordered to keep Puyang。 Wherefore Cao Cao determined to follow Lu Bu to Dingtao whither he had gone for refuge。
Lu Bu； Zhang Miao； and Zhang Chao were assembled in the city。 Gao Shun and other generals were out foraging。 Cao Cao army arrived but did not attack for many days； and presently he withdrew fifteen miles and made a stockade。 It was the time of harvest； and he set his soldiers to cut the wheat for food。 The spies reported this to Lu Bu who came over to see。 But when he saw that Cao Cao's stockade lay near a thick wood； he feared an ambush and retired。 Cao Cao heard that Lu Bu had e and gone and guessed the reason。
〃He fears an ambush in the wood；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃We will set up flags there and deceive him。 There is a long embankment near the camp but behind it there is no water。 There we will lay an ambush to fall upon Lu Bu when he es to burn the wood。〃
So Cao Cao hid all his soldiers behind the embankment except half a hundred drummers； and he got together many peasants to loiter within the stockade as though it was not empty。
Lu Bu rode back and told Chen Gong what he had seen。
〃This Cao Cao is very crafty and full of wiles；〃 said the adviser。 〃Do not act。〃
〃I will use fire this time and burn out his ambush；〃 said Lu Bu。
Next morning Lu Bu rode out； and there he saw flags flying everywhere in the wood。 He ordered his troops forward to set fire on all sides。 But to his surprise no one rushed out to make for the stockade。 Still he heard the beating of drums and doubt filled his mind。 Suddenly he saw a party of soldiers move out from the shelter of the stockade。 He galloped over to see what it meant。
Then the signal…bombs exploded； out rushed the troops and all their leaders dashed forward。 Xiahou Dun； Xiahou Yuan； Xu Chu； Dian Wei； Li Dian； and Yue Jing all attacked at once。 Lu Bu was at a loss and fled into the open country。 One of his generals； Cheng Lian； was killed by an arrow of Yue Jing。 Two thirds of his troops were lost； and the beaten remainder went to tell Chen Gong what had e to pass。
〃We had better leave；〃 said Chen Gong。 〃An empty city cannot be held。〃
So Chen Gong and Gao Shun； taking their chief's family with them； abandoned Dingtao。 When Cao Cao's soldiers got into the city； they met with no resistance。 Zhang Chao mitted suicide by burning himself。 Zhang Miao fled to Yuan Shu。
Thus the whole northeast fell under the power of Cao Cao。 He immediately tranquilized the people and rebuilt the cities and their defenses。
Lu Bu in his retreat fell in with his generals； and Chen Gong als