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n but capture our enemy。〃
〃Let us have it。〃
＇e＇ Han Xian used to be a White Wave rebel leader。 Yang Feng had been a mander under Li Jue。 When the Emperor fled from Changan to Luoyang； he enlisted these two leaders as escorts to fend off Li Jue and Guo Si's pursuit。 （chapter 13）
Chen Deng said； 〃Han Xian and Yang Feng*； two of the leaders of our enemies； are old servants of the Han Dynasty who fled from fear of Cao Cao and； being homeless； sought refuge with Yuan Shu。 He despises them； and they are dissatisfied with his service。 A little letter from the court will secure their help as our allies； and with Liu Bei to help us on the outside； we can certainly overe Yuan Shu。〃
〃You shall take the letters yourself；〃 said Lu Bu。
Chen Deng agreed； and a memorial detailing his intentions was sent to the capital； letters to Yuzhou to Liu Bei； and finally Chen Deng was sent； with a small escort； to wait for Han Xian on the road to Xiapi。
When Han Xian's army had halted and pitched camp； Chen Deng went to see Han Xian who said； 〃What are you here for？ You belong to Lu Bu。〃
〃I am an official of the court of the great Hans。 Why do you call me a Lu Bu's man？ If you； General； hitherto a minister of state； now serve a traitor； you will nullify the grand services you rendered in protecting the Emperor in the flight from Changan。 Beside； the suspicious Yuan Shu will assuredly do you some harm； and you will regret not having taken this opportunity to work against him。〃
Han Xian sighed； saying； 〃I would return to my allegiance if there should be any opportunity。〃
Thereupon Chen Deng gave him Lu Bu's letter asking for cooperation。
Han Xian read it and said； 〃Yes； I know。 You may return to your master and say General Yang Feng and I will turn our weapons and smite Yuan Shu。 Look out for a signal flare； and let your master e to our aid。〃
As soon as Chen Deng had got back and reported his success； Lu Bu divided his troops into five divisions； each of ten thousand； and sent them to five threatened towns to meet his enemies。 Gao Shun led one army to Xiaopei against Qiao Rui； Chen Gong to Yidu against Chen Ji； Zhang Liao and Zang Ba to Langye against Lei Bo； Song Xian and Wei Xu to Jieshi against Chen Lan。 Lu Bu himself led against the main body under Zhang Xun； leaving a small guard in Xuzhou City。
Lu Bu camped ten miles from the walls。 When the enemy came up； Zhang Xun thought Lu Bu too strong to attack with the force he had； so he retired seven miles to await reinforcements。
That night； in the second watch； Han Xian and Yang Feng arrived； and soon the flare was lighted as arranged。 Lu Bu's troops were admitted to the camp and caused great confusion。 Then Lu Bu gave a full attack； and Zhang Xun was routed and fled。 Lu Bu pursued till daylight； when he fell in with one of the other bodies led by Ji Ling。 Both sides faced each other； but at the very beginning of the engagement Yang Feng and Han Xian also attacked； and Ji Ling was forced to fly。
Lu Bu went in pursuit but soon another force came out from the rear of some hills。 These looked very imposing。 As the ranks opened Lu Bu saw a leader's guard with flags bearing dragons and phoenixes and representations of the sun and moon； the stars in the four groups of the Great Bear Constellation； the five directions of the Earth； golden gourds； silver axes； yellow halberds； white yaks' tails； all imperial emblems。 And beneath a yellow silken parasol sat Yuan Shu on horseback； clad in silver mail with a sword handle showing at each wrist。
Standing out in front of the array； Yuan Shu railed at his opponent calling him traitor and bastard。 Lu Bu said nothing but rode forward ready for battle； and Li Deng； one of Yuan Shu's leaders； advanced to take the challenge。 They met； but at the third bout； Li Deng was wounded in the hand； whereupon his spear fell to the ground； and he fled。 Lu Bu waved on the advance； and his men prevailed。 The other side fled； leaving much spoil； clothing； mail； and horses。
Yuan Shu's defeated troops had not gone far when a strong army； led by Guan Yu； appeared barring his way。
〃Traitor！ Why have they not slain you？〃 cried Guan Yu。
Whereat Yuan Shu fled in great trepidation； and his army melted into fugitives in all directions。 The new army fell upon them with great slaughter。 Yuan Shu and the remnant of his army retreated into the below regions of River Huai。
Victory being now secure； Lu Bu； in pany with Guan Yu； Yang Feng； and Han Xian returned to Xuzhou； where there were banquets and feasting and rewards for the soldiers and generals of five divisions。 These over； Guan Yu took his leave and returned to Yuzhou； while Han Xian was appointed Governor of Yidu； and Yang Feng Governor of Langye。
There had been a question of keeping these two in Xuzhou City； but Chen Gui opposed it； saying； 〃Let them hold those places in Huashang Mountains； which will be all yours within a year。〃
So Han Xian and Yang Feng were sent to these two cities in the meantime to await orders。
〃Why not retain them here？〃 asked Chen Deng secretly of his father。 〃They would be a basis for our conspiracy against Lu Bu。〃
〃But if they helped him； on the other hand； we should lengthen the tiger's claws and teeth；〃 said Chen Gui。
So Chen Deng could only approve of his father's precautions。
Yuan Shu returned home burning to avenge his defeat； so he sent to the South Land to ask a loan of troops from Sun Ce。
But Sun Ce said； 〃On the strength of holding the State Seal； he secretly calls himself emperor and rebels against the Hans。 I would rather punish such a renegade than help him。〃
So Sun Ce rejected。 The letter refusing help added to Yuan Shu's anger。
〃What next from this callow youth？〃 cried Yuan Shu。 〃I will smite him before I deal with the others。〃
But his adviser； Yang Dajiang； dissuaded him from this course。
Having refused help to his powerful rival； Sun Ce thought it wise to take measures for his own safety。 So he stationed an army at Jiangkou。 Soon after came a messenger from Cao Cao bearing Sun Ce's appointment as Governor of Kuaiji with orders to raise an army and reduce Yuan Shu。
Sun Ce was inclined to carry out these orders； but he called a council at which Zhang Zhao opposed this course。
Said he； 〃Although recently defeated； Yuan Shu has large army and ample supplies。 He is not to be attacked lightly。 You had better write to Cao Cao persuading him to attack the South of River Huai and we will be auxiliaries。 Between the two armies； Yuan Shu must certainly be defeated。 If by the remotest chance we lose； we have Cao Cao to e to our rescue。〃
This plan was adopted； and a messenger was sent to lay it before Cao Cao。 In the meantime； after the defeat at River Yu； Cao Cao had reached Xuchang where his first thought was to institute sacrifices to his beloved lost leader； Dian Wei。 He conferred rank upon his son Dian Man and took him into his own palace to be cared for。
Presently arrived Sun Ce's messenger with letters； and next came a report that Yuan Shu； being short of food； had made a raid on Chenliu。 Cao Cao thought the moment opportune； so he issued orders for the south expedition； leaving Cao Ren to hold the capital。 The army marched； horse and foot； one hundred seventy thousand； with missariat wagons of food to the number of over a thousand。 Messages were sent to summon Sun Ce； Liu Bei； and Lu Bu。
Liu Bei was the first to wele the grand army at his Yuzhou borders； and he was called in to the Prime Minister's tent。 After the usual salutations； two human heads were produced by Liu Bei。
〃Whose are these？〃 asked Cao Cao in surprise。
〃The heads of Han Xian and Yang Feng。〃
〃Why did this happen？〃
〃They were sent to control Yidu and Langye； but they allowed their soldiers to plunder the people。 Bitter plaints arose； so I invited them to a banquet and my brothers dispatched them when I gave the signal by dropping a cup。 Their armies gave in at once。 Now I have to apologize for my fault。〃
〃You have removed an evil； which is a grand service： Why talk of a fault？〃
And Cao Cao praised Liu Bei's action。
When the joint army reached Lu Bu's Xuzhou borders； he came to meet it。 Cao Cao spoke graciously to him and conferred upon him the title of General of the Left Army； promising him an official seal as soon as he returned to the capital。 Lu Bu was very pleased。
Then the three armies were made into one force； Cao Cao being in the center； Lu Bu to the left wing； and Liu Bei to the right wing。 Xiahou Dun and Yu Jin were Leaders of the Van。
On Yuan Shu's side； General Qiao Rui with fifty thousand troops was appointed Van Leader。 The armies met on the confines of the city of Shouchun。 Qiao Rui and Xiahou Dun rode out and opened battle。 But Qiao Rui fell in the third bout； and his troops fled into the city。
Then came news that Sun Ce's fleet was near and would attack on the west。 The other three land corps took each one face………Cao Cao on the north； Lu Bu on the east； and Liu Bei on the south。 The city of Shouchun was in a parlous state。
At this juncture Yuan Shu summoned his officers。
Yang Dajiang explained the case； 〃Shouchun has suffered from drought for several years； and the people are on the verge of famine。 Sending an army would add to the distress and anger the people； and victory would be uncer