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Cao Cao was startled； for he thought no one knew of the straits he was in。
〃How did you find that out？〃 said Cao Cao。
Xu You produced the captured letter； saying； 〃Who wrote that？〃
〃Where did you get it？〃
Whereupon Xu You told Cao Cao the story of the captured messenger。
Cao Cao seized him by the hand； saying； 〃Since our old friendship has brought you to me； I hope you have some plan to suggest to me。〃
Xu You said； 〃To oppose a great army with a small one is to walk in the way of destruction； unless you inflict quick defeat。 I can propose a plan which will defeat the innumerable hordes of Yuan Shao without fighting a battle。 But will you follow my advice？〃
〃I very much desire to know your plan；〃 said Cao Cao。
〃Your enemy's stores of all kinds are at Wuchao； where the mander of the guard is that drunkard Chunyu Qiong。 You can send some of your trusty veterans to pretend they belong to one of Yuan Shao's generals； Jiang Qi； sent to help guard the depot。 These soldiers can find an opportunity to fire the grain and stores of all kinds； which will upset all Yuan Shao's calculations。 In three days Yuan Shao is no more。〃
Cao Cao greatly approved。 He treated Xu You very liberally and kept him in his camp。 Forthwith he chose five thousand of horse and foot ready for the expedition。
Zhang Liao protested； saying； 〃The enterprise will be futile as the grain depot will certainly be well guarded。 Without caution； we may be victims of the treachery on the part of the newly arrived Xu You。〃
〃Xu You is no traitor；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃He has e sent by Heaven to defeat Yuan Shao。 If we do not get grain； it will be hard to hold out。 I have to either follow his advice or sit still and be hemmed in。 If he were a traitor； he would hardly remain in my camp。 Moreover this raid has been my desire for a long time。 Have no doubts： The raid will certainly succeed。〃
〃Well； then； you must look out for an attack here while the camp is undefended。〃
〃That is already well provided for；〃 said Cao Cao gleefully。
The arrangements for the raid on the grain depot were made with extreme care to ensure success。 Cao Cao assigned Xun You； Jia Xu； and Cao Hong to guard the main camp； together with Xu You； Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan to guard the left camp； Cao Ren and Li Dian to guard the right camp。 When all was ready they set out； Cao Cao himself in the center； with Zhang Liao and Xu Chu as van leaders and Xu Huang and Yu Jin as rear guard。 The army showed the ensigns of their opponents。 The troops carried bundles of grass and faggots to make a blaze。 The soldiers were gagged and the horses tied round the muzzles so as to prevent any noise。 They set out at dusk。
The night was fine and the stars shone brightly。
Ju Shou； still a prisoner in Yuan Shao's camp； saw the stars were very brilliant and told his gaolers to conduct him out to the central pavilion whence he could study them。 While watching he saw the planet Venus invade the quarter of the Bear and Lyra； which startled him very greatly。
〃Some misfortune is near！〃 said Ju Shou。
So although it was still night； he went to see his master。 But Yuan Shao was sleeping after indulgence in too much wine and was in bad humor。 However； when they had roused him saying that the prisoner had a secret message to deliver； he got up。
〃While I happened to be studying the aspect of the heavens；〃 said the night visitor； 〃I saw Venus； then between Hydra and Cancer； suddenly shoot into the neighborhood of the Bear and Lyra。 There is danger of a robber raid； and special precautions must be taken at the grain depot。 Lose no time in sending good soldiers and vigorous leaders thither； and keep a lookout on the byways among the hills that you may escape the wiles of Cao Cao。〃
〃You are a criminal！〃 said Yuan Shao。 〃How dare you e with such wild nonsense to upset my armies。〃
And turning to the gaolers Yuan Shao continued； 〃I bade you confine him。 Why did you let him e？〃
Then he issued orders to put the gaolers to death and appointed others to keep the prisoner in close custody。
Ju Shou went away； wiping his falling tears and sighing deeply； 〃Our soldiers' destruction is at hand； and I know not where our poor corpses may find a resting place。〃
Blunt truth offended Yuan Shao；
Too stupid any plan to make；
His stores destroyed this is evident
That Jizhou also is at stake。
Cao Cao's raiding party went along through the night。 Passing one of Yuan Shao's outpost camps； they were challenged。
Cao Cao sent forward a man to say； 〃Jiang Qi has orders to go to Wuchao to guard the grain stores。〃
Seeing that the raiders marched under the ensigns of Yuan Shao； the guard had no suspicions and let them pass。 At every post this ruse was effective； and they got safely through。 They reached their objective at the end of the fourth watch； the straw and wood were placed in position without loss of time； and the blaze started。 Then Cao Cao's manders beat to attack。
At this time Chunyu Qiong and his panions were all asleep after a heavy drinking bout。 However； when the alarm was given； they sprang up and asked what was the matter。 The hubbub was indescribable。 Very soon the fuddled officers were caught with hooks and hauled out of their camp。
Yuan Shao's generals Gui Yuanjin and Zhao Rui were just returning from taking grain to the camp and seeing the flames arise； they hastened to assist。
Some of Cao Cao's soldiers ran to him； saying； 〃The enemy is ing up in the rear。 Send reinforcements。〃
But Cao Cao only replied； 〃Press on to the front till the enemy is actually close at hand and then face about。〃
So the attack was pressed on and they all hastened forward。 Very soon the fire gained strength； and thick smoke hung all around filling the sky。 When Gui Yuanjin and Zhao Rui drew near； Cao Cao turned about and attacked them。 They could not stand this for a moment； and both generals were killed。 Finally the stores of grain and forage were utterly destroyed。
The mander； Chunyu Qiong； was made prisoner and taken to Cao Cao who ordered him to be deprived of ears； nose； and hands。 He was bound on a horse and sent； thus horribly mutilated； to his master。
From Yuan Shao's camp； the flames of the burning depot were seen away in the north； and they knew what they meant。 Yuan Shao hastily summoned his officers to a council to send a rescue party。
＇e＇ Sun Bin military strategist； a descendant of Sun Zi。 Sun Bin served as military counselor during the Warring States period in Qi。 He wrote a treatise named The Art of War of Sun Bin。 。。。。。
＇e＇ In the Warring States period； Wei was attacking Zhao when Zhao sent to Qi to seek help。 Sun Bin； a strategist of Qi； devised a scheme to attack Wei's important base。 Facing this new threat； Wei had to withdraw its force to defend the base； and thus Zhao was relieved。 Sun Bin then laid an ambush on Wei's retreat and scored a victory for Qi。
Zhang He offered to go with Gao Lan； but Guo Tu said； 〃You may not go。 It is certain that Cao Cao is there in person； wherefore his camp is undefended。 Let loose our soldiers on the camp； and that will speedily bring Cao Cao back again。 This is how Sun Bin* besieged Wei and thereby rescued Zhao*。〃
But Zhang He said； 〃Not so； Cao Cao is too wily not to have fully prepared against a chance attack。 If we attack his camp and fail and Chunyu Qiong should be caught； we shall all be captured too。〃
Guo Tu said； 〃Cao Cao will be too intent on the destruction of the grain to think of leaving a guard。 I entreat you to attack his camp。〃
So Yuan Shao sent five thousand soldiers under Zhang He and Gao Lan to attack Cao Cao's camp； and he sent ten thousand with Jiang Qi to go to recover the grain store。
Now after overing Chunyu Qiong； Cao Cao's troops dressed themselves in the armor and clothing of the defeated soldiers and put out their emblems； thus posing as defeated force running back to their own headquarters。 And when they happened upon Jiang Qi's rescue body； they said they had been beaten at Wuchao and were retreating。 So Cao Cao's troops were suffered to pass without molestation while Jiang Qi hastened on。 But soon Jiang Qi came to Zhang Liao and Xu Chu who cried out； 〃Stop！〃
And before Jiang Qi could make any opposition； Zhang Liao had cut him down。 Soon his force were killed or dispersed； and the victors sent false messengers to Yuan Shao's camp to say that Jiang Qi had attacked and driven away the attackers of the granaries。 So no more relief were sent that way。 However； Yuan Shao sent reinforcements to Guandu。
In due course； the Yuan Shao's force came down upon Cao Cao's camp at Guandu； and the defenders………Xiahou Dun； Cao Ren； and Cao Hong………at once came out and fought them on three sides so that they were worsted。 By the time reinforcements arrived； Cao Cao's army； returning from the raid； had also e； and Yuan Shao's army were attacked in the rear。 So they were quite surrounded。 However； Zhang He and Gao Lan managed to force their way out and got away。
When the remains of the defenders of the grain stores reached their master's camp； they were mustered。 Seeing the mutilated state of their one time leader； Yuan Shao asked how Chunyu Qiong had e to betray his trust and to suffer thus。
The soldiers told their lord； 〃The General was intoxicated at the time of the attack。〃
So Yu