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r Fu ran beside the camp。 He ordered his soldiers to collect firewood and grass ready for the blaze he intended to make at night as his signal。 He also sent Li Mu； a civil officer； disguised as an officer of Cao Cao's army； to inform Shen Pei of his intentions。
Li Mu reached the city wall safely and called out to the guards to open。 Shen Pei recognized his voice and let him in。 Thus Shen Pei knew of the arrangements for his relief； and it was agreed that a blaze should be raised within the city so that the sortie could be simultaneous with Yuan Shang's attack。 Orders were given to collect inflammables。
Then said Li Mu； 〃As your food supply is short； it would be well for the old people； the feeble soldiers and the women to surrender。 This will e upon them as a surprise； and we will send the soldiers out behind them。〃
Shen Pei promised to do all this； and next day they hoisted on the wall a white flag with the words The populace of Jizhou surrender！ on it。
〃Ho ho！ This means no food；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃They are sending away the non…batants to escape feeding them。 And the soldiers will follow behind them。〃
Cao Cao bade Zhang Liao and Xu Huang laid an ambush of three thousand troops on both sides while he went near the wall in full state。 Presently the gates were opened and out came the people supporting their aged folks and leading their little ones by the hand。 Each carried a white flag。 As soon as the people had passed the gate； the soldiers followed with a rush。
Then Cao Cao showed a red flag； and the ambushing soldiers led by Zhang Liao and Xu Huang fell upon the sortie。 The troops tried to return and Cao Cao's force made a direct attack。 The chase continued to the drawbridge； but there Cao Cao's force met with a tremendous shower of arrows and crossbow bolts which checked the advance。 Cao Cao's helmet was struck and the crest carried away。 His leaders came to pull him back； and the army retired。
As soon as Cao Cao had changed his dress and mounted a fresh horse； he set out at the head of the army to attack Yuan Shang's camp。
Yuan Shang led the defense。 The attack came simultaneously from many directions。 The defenders were quite disorganized and presently defeated。 Yuan Shang led his troops back by the West Hills and made a camp under their shelter。 Thence he sent messengers to urge Ma Yan and Zhang Zi to bring up the supports。 He did not know that Cao Cao had sent Lu Xiang and Lu Kuang to persuade these two into surrender and that they had already passed under Cao Cao's banner； and he had conferred upon them the title of lordship。
Just before going to attack the West Hills； Cao Cao sent Lu Xiang； Lu Kuang； Ma Yan； and Zhang Zi to seize the source of Yuan Shang's supplies。
Yuan Shang had realized he could not hold the hills； so he went by night to Lankou。 Before he could get camped； he saw flaring lights springing up all around him and soon an attack began。 He was taken aback and had to oppose the enemy with his men half armed； his steeds unsaddled。 His army suffered； and he had to retreat another fifteen miles。 By that time his force was too enfeebled to show any resistance； and as no other course was possible； he sent the Imperial Protector of Yuzhou； Yin Ku； to Cao Cao's camp and ask that he might surrender。
Cao Cao feigned to consent； but that night he sent Zhang Liao and Xu Huang to raid Yuan Shang's camp。 Then it became flight； abandoning everything； seals； emblems of office； and even personal clothing。 Yuan Shang made for the Zhongshan Mountains。
Then Cao Cao came to attack Jizhou City； and to help out this Xun You suggested drowning the city by turning the course of the River Zhang。 Cao Cao adopted the suggestion and at once sent a small number of men to dig a channel to lead the water to the city。 All told； it was seventeen miles。
Shen Pei saw the diggers from the city wall and noticed that they made only a shallow channel。
He chuckled； saying to himself； 〃What is the use of such a channel to drown out the city from a deep river？〃
So he made no preparations to keep out the water。
But as soon as night came on； Cao Cao increased his army of diggers tenfold and by daylight the channel was deepened to twenty spans and the water was flowing in a great stream into the city where it already stood some spans deep。 So this misfortune was added to the lack of food。
Xin Pi now displayed the captured seal and garments of Yuan Shang hung out on spears； to the great shame of their late owner； and called upon the people of the city to surrender。 This angered Shen Pei； who avenged the insult by putting to death on the city wall the whole of the Xin family who were within the city。 There were eighty of them； and their severed heads were cast down from the walls。 Xin Pi wept exceedingly。
Shen Pei's nephew Shen Rong； one of the gate wardens； was a dear friend of Xin Pi； and the murder of Xin Pi's family greatly distressed him。 He wrote a secret letter offering to betray the city and tied it to an arrow； which he shot out among the besiegers。 The soldiers found it； gave it to Xin Pi who took it to his chief。
Cao Cao issued an order： 〃The family of the Yuans should be spared when the city should be taken and that no one who surrendered should be put to death。〃
The next day the soldiers entered by the west gate； opened for them by Shen Rong。 Xin Pi was the first to prance in on horseback and the army followed。
When Shen Pei； who was on the southeast of the city； saw the enemy within the gates； he placed himself at the head of some horsemen and dashed toward them。 He was met and captured by Xu Huang who bound him and led him outside the city。
On the road they met Xin Pi； who ground his teeth with rage at the murderer of his relatives and then struck the prisoner over the head with his whip； crying； 〃Murder！ Blood drinker！ You will meet your death！〃
Shen Pei retorted； 〃Traitor！ Seller of the city！ I am very sorry I was not to have slain you before。〃
When the captive was taken into Cao Cao's presence； Cao Cao said； 〃Do you know who opened the gate to let me in？〃
〃No； I know not。〃
〃It was your nephew Shen Rong who gave up the gate；〃 said Cao Cao。
〃He was always unprincipled； and it has e to this！〃 said Shen Pei。
〃The other day when I approached the city； why did you shoot so hard at me？〃
〃I am sorry we shot too little。〃
〃As a faithful adherent of the Yuans； you could do no otherwise。 Now will you e over to me？〃
〃Never； I will never surrender。〃
Xin Pi threw himself on the ground with lamentations； saying； 〃Eighty of my people murdered by this ruffian。 I pray you slay him； O Prime Minister！〃
〃Alive； I have served the Yuans；〃 said Shen Pei； 〃dead； I will be their ghost！ I am no flattering time…server as you are。 Kill me！〃
Cao Cao gave the order。 They led him away to put him to death。
On the execution ground he said to the executioners； 〃My lord is in the north； I pray you not to make me face the south。〃
So Shen Pei knelt facing the north and extended his neck for the fatal stroke。
Who of all the official throng
In the North was true like Shen Pei？
Sad his fate！ He served a fool；
But faithful； as the ancient humans。
Straight and true was every word；
Never from the road he swerved。
Faithful unto death； he died
Gazing toward the lord he'd served。
Thus died Shen Pei and from respect for his character Cao Cao ordered that he be buried honorably on the north of the city。
The Prime Minister then entered the city of Yejun。 As he was starting； he saw the executioners hurrying forward a prisoner who proved to be Chen Lin。
〃You wrote that manifesto for Yuan Shao。 If you had only directed your diatribe against me； it would not have mattered。 But why did you shame my forefathers？〃 said Cao Cao。
〃When the arrow is on the string； it must fly；〃 replied Chen Lin。
Those about Cao Cao urged him to put Chen Lin to death； but he was spared on account of his genius and given a civil post。
Now Cao Cao's eldest son was named Cao Pi。 At the taking of the cities he was eighteen years of age。 When he was born a dark purplish halo hung over the house for a whole day。 One who understood the meaning of such manifestations had secretly told Cao Cao that the halo belonged to the imperial class and portended honors which could not be put into words。
At eight the lad could pose very skillfully； and he was well read in ancient history。 Now he was an adept at all military arts and very fond of fencing。 He had gone with his father on the expedition to Jizhou。 When Yejun had fallen； he led his escort in the direction of the Yuan family dwelling； and when he reached it； he strode in； sword in hand。 When some mander would have stayed him； saying that by order of the Prime Minister no one was to enter the house； Cao Pi bade them begone。 The guards fell back and he made his way into the private rooms； where he saw two women weeping in each other's arms。 He went forward to slay them。
Four generations of honors； gone like a dream；
Fate follows on ever surely； though slow she seems。
The fate of the two women will be told in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 33 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 33
Chapter 33
A Gallant Warrior； Cao Pi Marries Lady Zhen；
An Expiring Star； Guo Jia Settles Liaodong。
As was