Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/205

 was not taken within three days. Ts‘ao Ts‘ao in person went up to the very walls to superintend the work of filling up the moat. The defenders kept up constant showers of stones and arrows. Two inferior officers, who left their stations in fear, were slain by Ts‘ao Ts‘ao himself. Thereafter he went on foot to see that work went on continuously and no one dared be a laggard. Thus encouraged the army became invincible and no defence could withstand their onslaught. In a very short time the walls were scaled, the gates battered in and the besiegers were in possession. The officers of the garrison were captured alive and were executed in the market place. All the paraphernalia of imperial state were burned and the whole city wrecked.

When the question of crossing the river in pursuit of Yüan Shu came up Hsün Yü opposed it saying, “The country has suffered from short crops for years and we should be unable to get grain. An advance would weary the army, harm the people and possibly end in disaster. I advise a return to the capital to wait there till the spring wheat shall have been harvested and we have plenty of food.”

Ts‘ao Ts‘ao hesitated and before he had made up his mind there came an urgent message saying Chang Hsiu, with the support of Liu Piao, was ravaging the country all round, that there was rebellion in Nanyang and Ts‘ao Hung could not cope with it. He had been worsted already in several engagements and was in sore straits.

Ts‘ao Ts‘ao at once wrote to Sun Ts‘ê to command the river so as to prevent any move on the part of Liu Piao, while he prepared his army to go to deal with Chang Hsiu. Before marching he directed Liu Pei to camp at Hsiaop‘ei, as he and Lü Pu, being as brothers, might help each other.

When Lü Pu had left for Hsüchou Ts‘ao Ts‘ao said secretly to Yüan-tê, “I am leaving you at Hsiaop‘ei as a pitfall for the tiger. You will only take advice from the two Ch‘êns and there can be no mishap. You will find so-and-so your ally when needed.”

So Ts‘ao Ts‘ao marched to Hsütu where he heard that Tuan Wei had slain Li Ts‘ui and Wu Hsi had killed Kuo Ssŭ and they presented the heads of these two. Beside the whole clan of Li Tsʻui had been arrested and brought to the capital. They were all put to death at various gates and their heads exposed. People thought this very harsh dealing.

In the Emperor’s palace a large number of officials were assembled at a peace banquet. The two successful leaders Tuan and Wu were rewarded with titles and sent to guard Ch‘angan. They came to audience to express their gratitude and marched away.

Then Ts‘ao Ts‘ao sent in a memorial that Chang Hsiu was in rebellion and an army must be sent against him. The