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rched to Pingyuan； whereupon Yuan Tan sent to Liu Biao to beg assistance。 Liu Biao sent for Liu Bei to consult about this。
Liu Bei said； 〃Cao Cao is very strong now that he has overe Jizhou； and the Yuans will be unable to hold out for long。 Nothing is to be gained by helping Yuan Tan； and it may give Cao Cao the loophole he is always looking for to attack this place。 My advice is to keep the army in condition and devote all our energies to defense。〃
〃Agreed； but what shall we say？〃 said Liu Biao。
〃Write to both the brothers as peacemaker in gracious terms。〃
Accordingly Liu Biao wrote thus to Yuan Tan：
〃When the superior person would escape danger； that person does not go to an enemy state。 I heard recently that you had crooked the knee to Cao Cao； which was ignoring the enmity between him and your father； rejecting the duties of brotherhood； and leaving behind you the shame of an alliance with the enemy。 If your brother； the successor to Jizhou； has acted unfraternally； your duty was to bend your inclination to follow him and wait till the state of affairs had settled。 Would it not have been very noble to bring about the redress of wrongs？〃
And to Yuan Shang； Liu Biao wrote：
〃Your brother； the ruler of Qingzhou； is of an impulsive temperament and confuses right with wrong。 You ought first to have destroyed Cao Cao in order to put an end to the hatred which your father bore him and； when the situation had bee settled； to have endeavored to redress the wrongs。 Would not that have been well？ If you persist in following this mistaken course； remember the hound and the hare； both so wearied that the peasant got them all。〃
From this letter Yuan Tan saw that Liu Biao had no intention of helping him； and feeling he alone could not withstand Cao Cao。 He abandoned Pingyuan and fled to Nanpi； whither Cao Cao pursued him。
The weather was very cold and the river was frozen； so that the grain boats could not move。 Wherefore Cao Cao ordered the inhabitants to break the ice and tow the boats。 When the peasants heard the order they ran away。 Cao Cao angrily wished to arrest and behead them。 When they heard this； they went to his camp in a body and offered their heads to the sword。
〃If I do not kill you； my order will not be obeyed；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃Yet supposing I cut off your heads； but I cannot bear to do that severity。 Quickly flee to the hills and hide so that my soldiers do not capture you。〃
The peasants left weeping。
Then Yuan Tan led out his army against Cao Cao。 When both sides were arrayed； Cao Cao rode to the front。
Pointing with his whip at his opponent； Cao Cao railed at him； saying； 〃I treated you well。 Why then have you turned against me？〃
Yuan Tan replied； 〃You have invaded my land； captured my cities； and broken off my marriage。 Yet you accuse me of turning against you！〃
Cao Cao ordered Xu Huang to go out and give battle。 Yuan Tan bade Peng An accept the challenge。 After a few bouts Peng An was slain； and Yuan Tan； having lost； fled and went into Nanpi； where he was besieged。 Yuan Tan； panic…stricken； sent Xin Ping to see Cao Cao and arrange surrender。
〃He is nothing but a tickle…minded child；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃He is never of the same mind two days running； and I cannot depend upon what he says。 Now your brother Xin Pi is in my employ and has a post of importance； you had better remain here also。〃
〃Sir Prime Minister； you are in error；〃 said Xin Ping。 〃It is said that the lord's honor is the servant's glory； the lord's sadness is the servant's shame。 How can I turn my back on the family I have so long served？〃
Cao Cao felt he could not be persuaded and sent him back。 Xin Ping returned and told Yuan Tan the surrender could not be arranged。
Yuan Tan turned on him angrily； saying； 〃Your brother is with Cao Cao； and you want to betray me also！〃
At this unmerited reproach such a huge wave of anger welled up in Xin Ping's breast that he was overe and fell in a swoon。 They carried him out； but the shock had been too severe； and soon after he died。 Yuan Tan regretted his conduct when it was too late。
Then Guo Tu said； 〃Tomorrow when we go out to battle； we will drive the people out in front as a screen for the soldiers； and we must fight a winning battle。〃
That night they assembled all the mon people of the place and forced into their hands swords and spears。 At daylight they opened the four gates； and a huge party with much shouting came out at each； peasantry carrying arms in front； and soldiers behind them。 They pushed on toward Cao Cao's camps； and a melee began lasted till near midday。 But this was quite indecisive； although heaps of dead lay everywhere。
Seeing that success was at best only partial； Cao Cao rode out to the hills near and thence had the drums beaten for a new attack under his own eye。 His officers and troops； seeing that he could observe them in person； exerted themselves to the utmost； and Yuan Tan's army was severely defeated。 Of the peasantry driven into the battlefield； multitudes were slain。
Cao Hong； who displayed very great valor； burst into the press of battle and met Yuan Tan face to face。 The two slashed and hammered at each other； and Yuan Tan was killed。
Guo Tu saw that his side was wholly disorganized and tried to withdraw into the shelter of Nanpi。 Yue Jing saw this and opened a tremendous discharge of arrows so that Guo Tu fell and the moat was soon filled with dead。
The city of Nanpi fell to Cao Cao。 He entered and set about restoring peace and order。 Then suddenly appeared a new army under two of Yuan Xi's generals； Jiao Chu and Zhang Neng。 Cao Cao led out his troops to meet them； but the two manders laid down their arms and yielded。 They were rewarded with the rank of lordship。
Then Zhang Yan； the leader of the Black Hills Brigands； came with one hundred thousand troops and gave in his submission。 He was made General Who Pacifies the North。
By an order of Cao Cao； the head of Yuan Tan was exposed； and death was threatened to anyone who should lament for him。 Nevertheless a man dressed in mourning attire was arrested for weeping below the exposed head at the north gate。 Taken into Cao Cao's presence； he said he was Wang Xiu and had been an officer in Qingzhou。 He had been expelled because he had remonstrated with Yuan Tan。 But when the news of Yuan Tan's death came； he had e to weep for his late master。
〃Did you know of my mand？〃 said Cao Cao。
〃I knew it。〃
〃Yet you were not afraid？〃
〃When one has received favors from a man in life； it would be wrong not to mourn at his death。 How can one stand in the world if one forgets duty through fear？ If I could bury his body； I would not mind death。〃
Cao Cao said； 〃And there were many such as this in the north。 What a pity that the Yuan family could not make the best of them！ But if they had done so； I should never have dared to turn my eyes toward this place。〃
The intrepid mourner was not put to death。 The remains of Yuan Tan were properly interred； and Wang Xiu was well treated and even given an appointment。
In his new position Wang Xiu was asked for advice about the best way to proceed against Yuan Shang； who had fled to his second brother； but Wang Xiu remained silent； thereby winning from Cao Cao renewed admiration for his constancy。
〃He is indeed loyal！〃 said Cao Cao。
Then he questioned Guo Jia； who advised him； saying； 〃Give Yuan Xi's former generals the mand and ask them to attack Youzhou。〃
Whereupon Jiao Chu and Zhang Neng were given the mand and reinforced by the armies under Lu Xiang； Lu Kuang； Ma Yan； and Zhang Zi to bring about the surrender of Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang。 Then six generals； to attack Youzhou along three routes。 Other armies led by Li Dian； Yue Jing； and Zhang Yan were sent against Gao Gan at Bingzhou。
The two Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang heard of Cao Cao's advance with dismay for they had no hope of successful resistance。 Therefore they abandoned Youzhou and hastily marched into Liaoxi to seek refuge with the Wuhuan tribespeople in the frontier Wuhuan State。
Then Wuhuan Chu； new Imperial Protector of Youzhou； was not disposed to incur the enmity of the powerful Cao Cao； so he called his subordinates together to swear them to support him。
Wuhuan Chu said； 〃I understand that Cao Cao is the most powerful man of the day； and I am going to support him； and those who do not go with me I shall put to death。〃
Each in turn smeared his lips with the blood of sacrifice and took the oath； till it came to the turn of Han Heng。
Instead he dashed his sword to the ground； crying； 〃I have received great promotions and benefits from the Yuans。 Now my lord has been vanquished。 My knowledge was powerless to save him； and my bravery insufficient to cause me to die for him： I have failed in my duty。 But I refuse to mit the crowning act of treachery and ally myself with Cao Cao。〃
This speech made the others turn pale。
The chief said； 〃For a great undertaking； there must be lofty principles。 However； success does not necessarily depend upon universal support； and since Han Heng is actuated by such sentiments； then let him follow his conscience。〃
So Wuhuan Chu turned Han Heng out of the assembly。 Wuhuan Chu then went out of the city to meet and wele Cao Cao's army and rendered his submission。 He was well received and the title given him of General Who Guards the North。
Then the scouts came to report： 〃Generals Li Dian； Yue Jing； and Zhang Yan had marched to Bingzhou； but that Gao Gan had occupied Huguan Pass and could not be dislodged。〃
So Cao Cao marched thither himself。 The defender still maintaining his position； Cao Cao asked for plans。 Xun You proposed that a band should go over pretending to be deserters。 Cao Cao assented and then called the two Lu Xiang and Lu Kuang； to whom he gave whispered orders。 They left with their panies。
Soon they came near the pass and called out； saying； 〃We are old officers in Yuan Shao's armies forced into surrender to Cao Cao。 We find him so false and he treats us so meanly that we want to return to help our old master。 Wherefore quickly open your gates to us。〃
Gao Gan was suspicious； but he let the two officers e up to the pass； and when they had stripped off their armor and left their horses； they were permitted to enter。
And they said to Gao Gan； 〃Cao Cao's troops are new to the country and not settled。 You ought to fall upon their camp this very evening。 If you approve； we will lead the attack。〃
Gao Gan decided to trust them and prepared to attack； giving the two brothers the leadership of ten thousand soldiers。 But as they drew near Cao Cao's camp； a great noise arose behind them and they found themselves in an ambush attacked on all sides。 Realizing too late that he had been the victim of a ruse； Gao Gan retreated to the pass； but found it occupied by Li Dian and Yue Jing。 Gao Gan then made the best of his way to the Chieftain of the Xiongnu People。 Cao Cao gave orders to hold the passes and sent panies in pursuit。
When Gao Gan reached the boundary of the Xiongnu State； he met Ce Xian； the Khan of the northern tribespeople。
Gao Gan dismounted and made a low obeisance； saying； 〃Cao Cao is conquering and absorbing all the borders and your turn； O King； will e quickly。 I pray you help me and let us smite together for the safety of the northern regions。〃
Ce Xian the Khan replied； 〃I have no quarrel with Cao Cao。 Why then should he invade my land？ Do you desire to embroil me with him？〃
He would have nothing to do with Gao Gan and sent him sway。 At his wits' end； Gao Gan decided to try to join Liu Biao and go southward so far on his journey as Shanglu when he was taken prisoner and put to death by Governor Wang Yan。 His head was sent to Cao Cao； and Wang Yan received lordship for this service。
Thus Bingzhou was conquered。 Then Cao Cao began to discuss the overthrow of the Wuhuan State。
Cao Hong； speaking in the name of other officials； said； 〃The two Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang are nearly done for and too weak to be feared。 They have fled far into the Sea of Sand。 If we pursue them thither； it may bring down Liu Biao and Liu Bei upon the capital。 Should we be unable to rescue it； the misfortune would be immense。 Wherefore we beg you to return to Xuchang。〃
But Guo Jia was of different advice。
〃You are wrong；〃 said he。 〃Though the prestige of our lord fills the empire； yet the peoples of the desert； relying upon their inaccessibility； will not be prepared against us。 Wherefore I say attack； and we shall conquer them。 Beside Yuan Shao was kind to the nomads； and the two brothers have been more so。 They must be destroyed。 As for Liu Biao he is a mere gossip； who needs not cause the least anxiety。 And Liu Bei is unfit for any heavy responsibility and will take no trouble over a light one。 You may leave the base with perfect safety and make as long an expedition as you choose。 Nothing will happen。〃
〃You speak well； O Guo Jia；〃 said Cao Cao。
He led his legions； heavy and light； to the edge of the desert； with many wagons。 The expedition marched into the Gobi Desert。 The rolling ocean of yellow sand spread its waves before them； and they saw far and near the eddying sand pillars； and felt the fierce winds that drove them forward。 The road became precipitous and progress difficult。 Cao Cao began to think of returning and spoke thereof to Guo Jia； who had advised the journey。
Guo Jia had speedily fallen victim