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Meanwhile Tian Feng's gaoler came to him one day； saying； 〃Above all humans I felicitate you。〃
〃What is the joyful occasion and why felicitate？〃 said Tian Feng。
The gaoler replied； 〃Imperial Protector Yuan Shao has been defeated and is on his way back。 He will treat you with redoubled respect。〃
〃Now am I a dead man！〃 said Tian Feng。
〃Why say you that； Sir； when all people give you joy？〃
〃The Imperial Protector appears liberal； but he is jealous and forgetful of honest advice。 Had he been victorious； he might have pardoned me。 Now that he has been defeated and put to shame； I may not hope to live。〃
But the gaoler did not believe Tian Feng。 Before long came the letter and the sword with the fatal order。
The gaoler was dismayed； but the victim said； 〃I knew all too well that I should have to die。〃
The gaoler wept。
Tian Feng said； 〃An able person born into this world who does not recognize and serve the right lord is ignorant。 Today I die； but I am not deserving of pity。〃
Whereupon he cut his throat in the prison。
Ju Shou but yesterday was killed；
Tian Feng ends his life his fate fulfilled；
The Yellow River's main beams break one by one；
Mourn ye that Yuan House！ Its day is done。
Thus died Tian Feng； pitied of all who heard of his fate。
When Yuan Shao came home in Jizhou； he was with troubled mind and distorted thoughts。 He could not attend to the business of government and became so ill that his second wife； who came of the Liu family and had replaced the first wife after her death； besought him to make his last dispositions。
Now three sons had been born to Yuan Shao： Yuan Tan the eldest； who was mander at Qingzhou； Yuan Xi； who ruled over Youzhou； and Yuan Shang； borne to him by Lady Liu。 This youngest son was very handsome and noble looking； and his father's favorite。 So he was kept at home。
After the defeat at Guandu； the lad's mother was constantly urging that her son should be named as successor； and Yuan Shao called together four of his counselors to consider this matter。 These four happened to be divided in their sympathies： Shen Pei and Peng Ji being in favor of the youngest son； and Xin Ping and Guo Tu supporters of the eldest。
When they met to consult； Yuan Shao said； 〃As there is nought but war and trouble outside our borders； it is necessary that tranquillity within be early provided for； and I wish to appoint my successor。 My eldest son is hard and cruel； my second is mild and unfit。 The third has the outward form of a hero； appreciates the wise； and is courteous to his subordinates。 I wish him to succeed； but I wish that you tell me your opinions。〃
Guo Tu said； 〃Yuan Tan is your first born； and he is in a position of authority beyond your control。 If you pass over the eldest in favor of the youngest； you sow the seeds of turbulence。 The prestige of the army has been somewhat lowered and enemies are on our border。 Should you add to our weakness by making strife between father and son； elder and younger brothers？ Rather consider how the enemy may be repulsed and turn to the question of the heirship later。〃
Then the natural hesitation of Yuan Shao asserted itself； and he could not make up his mind。 Soon came news that his sons Yuan Tan was ing from Qingzhou with sixty thousand troops； Yuan Xi ing from Youzhou with fifty thousand troops； and his nephew Gao Gan ing from Bingzhou with fifty thousand troops to help him； and he turned his attention to preparations for fighting Cao Cao。
When Cao Cao drew up his victorious army on the banks of Yellow River； the aged natives brought an offering of food and sauce to bid him wele。 Their venerable and hoary appearances led Cao Cao to treat them with the highest respect。
He invited them to be seated and said to them； 〃Venerable Sirs； what may be your age？〃
〃We are nearly a hundred；〃 replied the old villagers。
〃I should be very sorry if my army had disturbed your village；〃 said Cao Cao。
One of them said； 〃In the days of the Emperor Huan a yellow star was seen over by way of the ancient states of Chu and Song in the southwest。 Yin Kui of Liaodong； who was learned in astrology； happened to be passing the night here； and he told us that the star foretold the arrival in these parts； fifty years hence； of a true and honest man here in the Yellow River。 Lo！ That is exactly fifty years ago。 Now Yuan Shao is very hard on the people and they hate him。 You； Sir； having raised this army in the cause of humanity and righteousness； out of pity for the people and to punish crimes； and having destroyed the hordes of Yuan Shao at Guandu； just fulfill the prophecy of Yin Kui。 The millions of the land may look now for tranquillity。〃
〃How dare I presume that I am he？〃 said Cao Cao with a smile。
Wine was served and refreshments brought in； and the old gentlemen was sent away with presents of silk stuffs。 And an order was issued to the army that if anyone killed so much as a fowl or a dog belonging to the villagers； he should be punished as for murder。 And the soldiers obeyed with fear and trembling while Cao Cao rejoiced in his heart。
It was told Cao Cao that the total army from the four regions under the Yuan family amounted to two hundred thirty thousand soldiers and they were camped at Cangting。 Cao Cao then advanced nearer to them and made a strong camp。
Next day the two armies were arrayed over against each other。 On one side Cao Cao rode to the front surrounded by his manders； and on the other appeared Yuan Shao supported by his three sons； his nephew； and his leaders。
Cao Cao spoke first； 〃Yuan Shao； your schemes are poor； your strength is exhausted； why still refuse to think of surrender？ Are you waiting till the sword shall be upon your neck？ Then it will be too late。〃
Yuan Shao turned to those about him； saying； 〃Who dares go out？〃
His son Yuan Shang was anxious to exhibit his prowess in the presence of his father； so he flourished his pair of swords and rode forth。
Cao Cao pointed him out to his officers and asked； 〃Anyone knows him？〃
〃He is the youngest son of Yuan Shao；〃 was the reply。
Before they had finished speaking； from their own side rode out Shi Huan； armed with a spear。 The two champions fought a little while and suddenly Yuan Shang whipped up his horse； made a feint and fled。 His opponent followed。 Yuan Shang took his bow； fitted an arrow； turned in his saddle； and shot at Shi Huan； wounding him in the left eye。 Shi Huan fell from the saddle and died on the spot。
Yuan Shao seeing his son thus get the better of his opponent； gave the signal for attack； and the whole army thundered forward。 The onslaught was heavy； but presently the gongs on both sides sounded the retire and the battle ceased。
When he had returned to camp； Cao Cao took counsel to find a plan to overe Yuan Shao。 Then Cheng Yu proposed the plan of the 〃Ten Ambushes〃 and persuaded Cao Cao to retire upon the river； placing troops in ambush as he went。 Thus would Yuan Shao be inveigled into pursuit as far as the river； when Cao Cao's army would be forced to make a desperate stand or be driven into the water。
Cao Cao accepted this suggestion and told off ten panies of five thousand soldiers each to lie in ten ambush on two sides of the road of retreat。 The arrangement of the ambushes were thus： On the left； first pany under Xiahou Dun； second pany； Zhang Liao； third pany； Li Dian； fourth pany； Yue Jing； fifth pany； Xiahou Yuan； on the right； first pany was under Cao Hong； second pany； Zhang He； third pany； Xu Huang； fourth pany； Yu Jin； fifth pany； Gao Lan。 Xu Chu manded the advanced front。
Next day the ten panies started first and placed themselves right and left as ordered。 In the night Cao Cao ordered the advanced front to feign an attack on the camp； which roused all the enemy in all their camps。 This done； Xu Chu retreated and Yuan Shao's army came in pursuit。 The roar of battle went on without cessation； and at dawn Cao Cao's army rested on the river and could retreat no farther。
Then Cao Cao shouted； 〃There is no road in front； so all must fight or die。〃
The retreating army turned about and advanced vigorously。 Xu Chu simply flew to the front； smote and killed ten generals and threw Yuan Shao's army into confusion。 They tried to turn and march back； but Cao Cao was close behind。 Then the drums of the enemy were heard； and right and left there appeared two ambush panies of Gao Lan and Xiahou Yuan。 Yuan Shao collected about him his three sons and his nephew； and they were enabled to cut an alley out and flee。 Three miles further on they fell into another ambush of Yue Jing and Yu Jin； and here many troops of Yuan Shao were lost so that their corpses lay over the countryside and the blood filled the water courses。 Another three miles and they met the third pair of Li Dian and Xu Huang barring their road。
Here they lost heart and bolted for an old camp of their own that was near； and bade their men prepare a meal。 But just as the food was ready to eat； down came Zhang Liao and Zhang He and burst into the camp。
Yuan Shao mounted and fled as far as Cangting； when he was tired and his steed spent。 But there was no rest； for Cao Cao came in close pursuit。 It seemed now a race for life。 But presently Yuan Shao found his onward course again blocked by Xiahou Dun and Cao Hong； and he groan