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Accordingly Guo Tu entered the city and sought an interview with the young Imperial Protector。
〃Why did not my brother e？〃 asked Yuan Shang after the usual salutes。
Guo Tu said； 〃He cannot e as he is in the camp unwell。〃
〃By the mand of my late father； I take the lordship。 Now I confer upon my brother the rank of General of the Flying Cavalry； and I wish him to go at once to attack Cao Cao； who is pressing on the borders。 I will follow as soon as my army is in order。〃
〃There is no one in our camp to give advice；〃 said Guo Tu。 〃I wish to have the services of Shen Pei and Peng Ji。〃
〃I also need the help of these two；〃 said Yuan Shang。 〃And as I am always working at schemes； I do not see how I can do without them。〃
〃Then let one of these two go；〃 replied Guo Tu。
Yuan Shang could do no other than accede to this request； so he bade the two men cast lots who should go。 Peng Ji drew the lot and was appointed； receiving a seal of office。 Then he acpanied Guo Tu to the camp。 But when he arrived and found Yuan Tan in perfect health； he grew suspicious and resigned。
Yuan Tan angrily refused to accept his resignation and was disposed to put him to death； but Guo Tu privately dissuaded him； saying； 〃Cao Cao is on the borders； and Peng Ji must be kept here to allay your brother's suspicions。 After we have beaten Cao Cao； we can at once make an attempt on Jizhou。〃
Yuan Tan agreed and forthwith broke up his camp to march against the enemy。 He reached Liyang and lost no time in offering battle。 He chose for his champion Wang Zhao and； when Wang Zhao rode out； Cao Cao sent Xu Huang to meet him。 These two had fought but a few bouts when Wang Zhao was slain。 At once Cao Cao's army pressed forward； and Yuan Tan suffered a severe defeat。 Yuan Tan drew off his army and retired into Liyang； whence he sent to his brother for reinforcements。
Yuan Shang and his adviser Shen Pei discussed the matter and only five thousand troops were sent。 Cao Cao hearing of the dispatch of this meager force sent Li Dian and Yue Jing to waylay them； and the half legion was destroyed。 When Yuan Tan heard of the inadequate force sent and their destruction； he was very wrath and roundly abused Peng Ji。
Peng Ji replied； 〃Let me write to my lord and pray him to e himself。〃
So Peng Ji wrote and the letter was sent。 When it arrived； Yuan Shang again consulted Shen Pei。
The Counselor said； 〃Guo Tu； your elder brother's adviser； is very guileful。 Formerly he left without discussion because Cao Cao was on the border。 If Cao Cao be defeated； there will certainly be an attempt on you。 The better plan is to withhold assistance and use Cao Cao's hand to destroy your rival。〃
Yuan Shang took his advice and no help was sent。 When the messenger returned to Liyang without success； Yuan Tan was very angry and showed it by putting Peng Ji to death。 He also began to talk of surrendering to Cao Cao。 Soon spies brought news of this to Yuan Shang； and again Shen Pei was called in。
Yuan Shang said； 〃If Yuan Tan goes over to Cao Cao； they will both attack Jizhou； and we shall be in great danger。〃
Finally Shen Pei and General Su You were left to take care of the defense of the city； and Yuan Shang marched his army to the rescue of his brother。
〃Who dares lead the van？〃 said Yuan Shang。
Two brothers named Lu Xiang and Lu Kuang volunteered； and thirty thousand troops were given them。 They were the first to reach Liyang。
Yuan Tan was pleased that Yuan Shang had decided to play a brotherly part and e to his aid； so he at once abandoned all thought of going over to the enemy。 He being in the city； Yuan Shang camped outside； making that an ox…horn formation of their strategic position。
Before long Yuan Xi； the second brother； and their cousin； Gao Gan； arrived with their legions and also camped outside the city。
Engagements took place daily； and Yuan Shang suffered many defeats。 On the other hand Cao Cao was victorious and elated。 In the second month of the eighth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity （AD 203）； Cao Cao made separate attacks on all four armies and won the day against each。 Then the Yuans abandoned Liyang； and Cao Cao pursued them to Jizhou； where Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang went into the city to defend it； while their brother and cousin camped about ten miles away making a show of great force。
When Cao Cao had made many attacks without success； Guo Jia proffered the following plan。
He said； 〃There is dissension among the Yuans because the elder has been superseded in the succession。 The brothers are about equally strong and each has his party。 If we oppose them； they unite to assist each other； but if we have patience； they will be weakened by family strife。 Wherefore send first a force to reduce Liu Biao in Jingzhou； and let the fraternal quarrels develop。 When they have fully developed； we can smite them and settle the matter。〃
Cao Cao approved of the plan。 So leaving Jia Xu as Governor of Liyang and Cao Hong as guard at Guandu； the army went away toward Jingzhou。
The two brothers Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang congratulated each other on the withdrawal of their enemy； and their brother Yuan Xi and their cousin Gao Gan marched their armies back to their own districts。
Then the quarrels began。 Yuan Tan said to his confidants Guo Tu and Xin Ping； 〃I； the eldest； have been prevented from succeeding my father； while the youngest son； born of a second wife； received the main heritage。 My heart is bitter。〃
Said Guo Tu； 〃Camp your army outside； invite your brother and Shen Pei to a banquet； and assassinate them。 The whole matter is easily settled。〃
And Yuan Tan agreed。 It happened that Adviser Wang Xiu came just then from Qingzhou whom Yuan Tan took into his confidence。
Wang Xiu opposed the murder plan； saying； 〃Brothers are as one's limbs。 How can you possibly succeed if at a moment of conflict with an enemy you cut off one of your hands？ If you abandon your brother and sever relationship； whom will you take in all the world as a relation？ That fellow Guo Tu is a dangerous mischief…maker； who would sow dissension between brothers for a momentary advantage； and I beg you to shut your ears and not listen to his persuasions。〃
This was displeasing to Yuan Tan； and he angrily dismissed Wang Xiu； while he sent the treacherous invitation to his brother。
Yuan Shang and Shen Pei talked over the matter。
Shen Pei said； 〃I recognize one of Guo Tu's stratagems and if you go； my lord； you will be the victim of their plot。 Rather strike at them at once。〃
Whereupon Yuan Shang rode out to battle。 His brother Yuan Tan； seeing him e with fifty thousand troops； knew that his treachery had been discovered； so he also took the field。 When the forces were near enough； Yuan Tan opened on Yuan Shang with a volley of abuse。
〃You poisoned my father and usurped the succession。 Now you e out to slay your elder brother？〃
The battle went against Yuan Tan。 Yuan Shang himself took part in the fight； risking the arrows and the stones。 He urged on his troops and drove his brother off the field。 Yuan Tan took refuge in Pingyuan。 Yuan Shang drew off his army to his own city。
Yuan Tan and Guo Tu decided upon a new attack； and this time they chose General Cen Bi as Leader of the Van。 Yuan Shang went to meet him。 When both sides had been arrayed and the banners were flying and the drums beating； Cen Bi rode out to challenge and railed at his opponent。 At first Yuan Shang was going to answer the challenge himself； but Lu Kuang had advanced。 Lu Kuang and Cen Bi met but had fought only a few bouts when Cen Bi fell。 Yuan Tan's soldiers were once more defeated and ran away to Pingyuan。 Shen Pei urged his master to press for the advantage； and Yuan Tan was driven into the city； where he fortified himself and would not go out。 So the city was besieged on three sides。
Yuan Tan asked his strategist what should be done next； and Guo Tu said； 〃The city is short of food； the enemy is flushed with victory； and we cannot stand against them。 My idea is to send someone to offer surrender to Cao Cao and thus get him to attack Jizhou。 Your brother will be forced to return thither； which will leave you free to join in the attack。 We may capture Yuan Shang。 Should Cao Cao begin to get the better of your brother's army； we will lend our force to help Yuan Shang against Cao Cao； and as Cao Cao's base of supply is distant； we shall drive him off。 And we can seize on Jizhou and begin our great design。〃
〃Supposing this scheme be attempted； who is the man for a messenger？〃
〃I have one Xin Pi； Xin Ping's younger brother。 Xin Pi is the magistrate here in this very place。 He is a fluent speaker and good scholar and suited to your purpose。〃
So Xin Pi was summoned and came readily enough。 Letters were given him and an escort of three thousand soldiers took him beyond the border。 He traveled as quickly as possible。
At that time Cao Cao's camp was at the Xiping Pass and he was attacking Liu Biao； who had sent Liu Bei out to offer the first resistance。 No battle had yet taken place。
Soon after his arrival； Xin Pi was admitted to the Prime Minister's presence。 After the ceremonies of greeting； Cao Cao asked the object of the visit。 Xin Pi explained that Yuan Tan wanted assistance and presented his dispatches。 Cao Cao read them and told the messenger to wai