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the wall and on this erected steps so that they could look over into the city。
Cao Cao rode round the city closely inspecting the defenses。 Three days later he issued an order to make a mound of earth and brushwood at the northwest corner； as he would mount the walls at that point。 He was observed from within the city by Jia Xu。
Jia Xu went to Zhang Xiu and said； 〃I know what Cao Cao intends； and I can defeat him by a countermove。〃
Even amongst the very foremost
There is one who leads the way；
Someone sees through your devices；
Be as crafty as ye may。
What the counter…move was will be told in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 18 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Giving Counsels； Jia Xu Directs A Great Victory；
Braving Battlefield； Xiahou Dun Loses An Eye。
Jia Xu； as he had guessed the enemy's intention； had also devised a countermove。 So he went to his chief and said； 〃I saw Cao Cao very carefully reconnoitering round about the city。 He certainly noticed that the southeast corner of the wall had been lately restored with mud bricks of a different kind； and that the fencing barrier is badly out of repair。 He will try to effect an entrance there。 Wherefore he is making a feint attack at the opposite point。 He is piling up straw and making ostentatious preparations whereby to cajole us into withdrawing from the real point of attack to defend the northwest。 His troops will scale the walls in the darkness and try to enter at the southeast。〃
〃Supposing your surmise correct； what do you advise？〃 asked Zhang Xiu。
〃The countermove is plain。 You issue an order for our best and bravest soldiers to fill their bellies； to take only the lightest outfit and conceal themselves in the houses near the southeast corner。 Then disguise the townspeople as soldiers and send them to pretend to defend the northwest。 Tonight we will let the enemy climb up the walls and enter the city and； once they are fairly within； give the signal and the concealed soldiers will rush out upon them。 We may even capture Cao Cao himself。〃
The stratagem was decided upon。
Soon the scouts told Cao Cao： 〃The defenders of the city have moved to the northwest where noisy preparations for defense are going on。 The opposite corner is left undefended。〃
〃They have fallen into my trap！〃 said Cao Cao gleefully。
He ordered his troops to prepare shovels and hooks and all the gear needed for scaling walls； and all day they kept up the attack on the northwest angle。
But at the second watch they dispatched the veterans to the opposite corner； where they climbed the wall； broke up the fencing barrier； and got into the city apparently without disturbing any of the guards。 There was no sign of life anywhere as they entered。 But just as they were leaving the wall； suddenly a bomb exploded and they found themselves in an ambush。 They turned to retire； but Zhang Xiu immediately fell on the rear and began a slaughter。 Cao Cao's troops were totally defeated and fled out of the gate into the country。 Zhang Xiu kept up the pursuit till daybreak； when he retired into the city again。
Cao Cao then rallied his army and mustered his soldiers。 He had lost fifty thousand and much baggage； while two of his generals； Lu Qian and Yu Jin were wounded。
Cao Cao being thus worsted； Jia Xu advised Zhang Xiu to write off to Liu Biao to cut off Cao Cao's retreat so that he might be utterly destroyed。
Liu Biao was preparing an army for this purpose； when a scout came to say that Sun Ce had encamped in the river at Hukou。
Kuai Liang said； 〃This move of Sun Ce in the river is part of Cao Cao's strategy； and there will be never…ending regret if Cao Cao is allowed to escape。 An immediate expedition is necessary。〃
Wherefore Liu Biao moved out with his army to Anzhong to block Cao Cao； leaving Huang Zu to hold Jingzhou's points of vantage。 Zhang Xiu； having been informed of the movement of Liu Biao； went with Jia Xu to smite Cao Cao on the rear。
In the meantime Cao Cao's army； marching very leisurely； had arrived at Xiangyang。
Walking one day beside River Yu； he suddenly uttered a great cry； and when his officers asked the reason thereof； he replied； 〃I remembered that here； only a year ago； I lost my great general： Dian Wei。 Is that not a reason to grieve？〃
Thereupon Cao Cao gave orders to halt； while he should make a great sacrifice and mourn for his lost leader。 At the ceremony he himself burned incense and wailed and prostrated himself。 The army was much affected by his devotion。 After the sacrifices to the lost hero； he sacrificed to the names of his nephew Cao Amin and his eldest son Cao Ang； both of whom had died at the same time。 He also sacrificed to his lost soldiers and even to his Dawan steed which had been killed by an arrow。
Next day Xun Yu wrote to tell Cao Cao that Liu Biao had gone to help Zhang Xiu and was camped at Anzhong； thereby cutting his road of retreat。
Cao Cao replied to the letter； saying； 〃I have been marching only a short distance each day and of course knew of the pursuit。 But my plans are laid and； as I am near Anzhong； my enemy will be broken。 You need not have any fears。〃
Then Cao Cao hastened his march till he came near where Liu Biao had taken position。 Zhang Xiu still shortened the distance。 Cao Cao ordered his men during the night to open a secret way through a pass； where he laid an ambush。
With the first light of dawn Liu Biao and Zhang Xiu met。 As Cao Cao's force looked small； they thought he had retired so they boldly advanced into the pass to smite him。 Then the ambush was opened； and both the attackers' forces were cut up。 The fighting ended； Cao Cao's soldiers went outside the pass and encamped。
The two leaders on the other side restored order among their beaten troops and then held a conference。
〃How could we have foreseen such a wicked ruse？〃 said Liu Biao。
〃Let us try again；〃 said Zhang Xiu。
Wherefore they joined forces at Anzhong。
But Xun Yu discovered through his spies that Yuan Shao was preparing an attack on Capital Xuchang； so he at once wrote to Cao Cao who； much disturbed by this news； set out homeward right away。 When Zhang Xiu heard this through his scouts； he wished to follow the retreating army。
Jia Xu opposed it and said； 〃It will lead to a defeat。〃
However； Liu Biao said； 〃It is wrong to lose such a chance。〃
And so finally pursuit was decided upon。 They had not marched more than four miles before they came upon Cao Cao's rearguard； who fought with great vigor and bravery so that the pursuers were beaten off and went home disfited。
Zhang Xiu said to Jia Xu； 〃This defeat es from my not following your advice。〃
〃Now set your army in order and pursue；〃 said Jia Xu。
〃But we have just suffered defeat！〃 cried both leaders。 〃Do you now counsel pursuit？〃
〃Yes； and the result will be a great victory if you go now。 I will venture my head on that；〃 said Jia Xu。
Zhang Xiu had confidence； but Liu Biao was afraid and would not acpany him。 So one army only started in pursuit。
However； this was enough。 Cao Cao's rear…guard was thoroughly routed and abandoned their wagons and their baggage in their hasty flight。 Zhang Xiu pursued； but suddenly a troop came out from the shelter of some hills and checked him。 Fearful to try further； he hastened back to Anzhong。
The other general； Liu Biao； asked the adviser to explain his apparent inconsistency； saying； 〃When our veteran and brave soldiers were going to pursue those who retreated； you said our men would lose the day； and when defeated men pursued the victors； you foretold victory。 You were right in both cases； but we wish you would enlighten us。〃
〃It is easy to explain。 You； Generals； although skilled leaders； are not a match for our enemy。 Though Cao Cao had lost a battle； he had able generals to keep the rear and guard against pursuit。 Our soldiers are good； but not a match for them。 That is how I knew。 For as much as Cao Cao's hurried retreat was due to trouble in the capital； and he had beaten off our attack； I knew he would retire at his utmost speed and not take his usual precautions。 I ventured to take advantage of his laxity。〃
Liu Biao and Zhang Xiu could not but affirm his plete understanding of the conditions。 On the advice of Jia Xu then Liu Biao returned to Jingzhou； while Zhang Xiu took up his position at Xiangyang so that each strengthened the other as the lips protect the teeth from cold。
When Cao Cao； during his retreat； heard that his army was being pursued； he hastily turned back to support the rearguard。 Then he saw the pursuing army draw off。
The soldiers of the beaten rearguard said； 〃Had it not been for the troops that came out of the hills； we should all have been lost。〃
〃What troops？〃 asked Cao Cao in surprise。
The leader of the troops then advanced； slung his spear and； dismounting； made a low obeisance。 He was Li Tong； Imperial mander； from Jiangxia。
Cao Cao asked him why he had e。
Li Tong replied； 〃I was in mand at Runan when I heard of the struggle going on； so I came to lend you any help I could。〃
To show his gratitude； Cao Cao conferred upon Li Tong the title Lord Who Renders High Services； and confirmed him in his mand as the defense of Runan against Liu Biao and Zhang Xiu。 Then Li Tong expressed his th