ced around to meet the rebels。 Under three…side attack； the rebels lost heavily and fled to the walls of Qingzhou City。 But Imperial Protector Gong Jing led out an armed body to attack them； and the rebels were entirely defeated and many slain。 Qingzhou was no longer in danger。
Though fierce as tigers soldiers be；
Battle are won by strategy。
A hero es； he gains renown；
Already destined for a crown。
After the celebrations in honor of victory were over； mander Zhou Jing proposed to return to Youzhou。
But Liu Bei said； 〃We are informed that Imperial mander Lu Zhi has been struggling with a horde of rebels led by Zhang Jue at Guangzong。 Lu Zhi was once my teacher； and I want to go help him。〃
So Liu Bei and Zhou Jing separated； and the three brothers with their troops made their way to Guangzong。 They found Lu Zhi's camp； were admitted to his presence； and declared the reason of their ing。 The mander received them with great joy； and they remained with him while he made his plans。
At that time Zhang Jue's one hundred fifty thousand troops and Lu Zhi's fifty thousand troops were facing each other。 Neither had had any success。
Lu Zhi said to Liu Bei； 〃I am able to surround these rebels here。 But the other two brothers； Zhang Ba and Zhang Lian； are strongly entrenched opposite Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun at Yingchuan。 I will give you a thousand more troops； and with these you can go to find out what is happening； and we can then settle the moment for concerted attack。〃
So Liu Bei set off and marched as quickly as possible to Yingchuan。 At that time the imperial troops were attacking with success； and the rebels had retired upon Changshe。 They had encamped among the thick grass。
Seeing this； Huangfu Song said to Zhu Jun； 〃The rebels are camping in the field。 We can attack them by fire。〃
So the Imperial manders bade every man cut a bundle of dry grass and laid an ambush。 That night the wind blew a gale； and at the second watch they started a blaze。 At the same time Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun's troops attacked the rebels and set their camp on fire。 The flames rose to the very heaven。 The rebels were thrown into great confusion。 There was no time to saddle horses or don armor： They fled in all directions。
The battle continued until dawn。 Zhang Lian and Zhang Ba； with a group of flying rebels； found a way of escape。 But suddenly a troop of soldiers with crimson banners appeared to oppose them。 Their leader was a man of medium stature with small eyes and a long beard。 He was Cao Cao； a Beijuo man； holding the rank of Cavalry mander。 His father was Cao Song； but he was not really a Cao。 Cao Song had been born to the Xiahou family； but he had been brought up by Eunuch Cao Teng and had taken this family name。
As a young man Cao Cao had been fond of hunting and delighted in songs and dancing。 He was resourceful and full of guile。 An uncle； seeing the young fellow so unsteady； used to get angry with him and told his father of his misdeeds。 His father remonstrated with him。
But Cao Cao made equal to the occasion。 One day； seeing his uncle ing； he fell to the ground in a pretended fit。 The uncle alarmed ran to tell his father； who came； and there was the youth in most perfect health。
〃But your uncle said you were in a fit。 Are you better？〃 said his father。
〃I have never suffered from fits or any such illness；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃But I have lost my uncle's affection； and he has deceived you。〃
Thereafter； whatever the uncle might say of his faults； his father paid no heed。 So the young man grew up licentious and uncontrolled。
A man of the time named Qiao Xuan said to Cao Cao； 〃Rebellion is at hand； and only a man of the greatest ability can succeed in restoring tranquillity。 That man is yourself。〃
And He Yong of Nanyang said of him； 〃The dynasty of Han is about to fall。 He who can restore peace is this man and only he。〃
Cao Cao went to inquire his future of a wise man of Runan named Xu Shao。
〃What manner of man am I？〃 asked Cao Cao。
The seer made no reply； and again and again Cao Cao pressed the question。
Then Xu Shao replied； 〃In peace you are an able subject； in chaos you are a crafty hero！〃
Cao Cao greatly rejoiced to hear this。
＇e＇ One of the Ten Regular Attendants
Cao Cao graduated at twenty and earned a reputation of piety and integrity。 He began his career as manding Officer in a county within the Capital District。 In the four gates of the city he guarded； he hung up clubs of various sorts； and he would punish any breach of the law whatever the rank of the offender。 Now an uncle of Eunuch Jian Shuo* was found one night in the streets with a sword and was arrested。 In due course he was beaten。 Thereafter no one dared to offend again； and Cao Cao's name became heard。 Soon he became a magistrate of Dunqiu。
At the outbreak of the Yellow Scarves； Cao Cao held the rank of General and was given mand of five thousand horse and foot to help fight at Yingchuan。 He just happened to fall in with the newly defeated rebels whom he cut to pieces。 Thousands were slain and endless banners and drums and horses were captured； together with huge sums of money。 However； Zhang Ba and Zhang Lian got away； and after an interview with Huangfu Song； Cao Cao went in pursuit of them。
Meanwhile Liu Bei and his brothers were hastening toward Yingchuan； when they heard the din of battle and saw flames rising high toward the sky。 But they arrived too late for the fighting。 They saw Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun to whom they told the intentions of Lu Zhi。
〃The rebel power is quite broken here；〃 said the manders； 〃but they will surely make for Guangzong to join Zhang Jue。 You can do nothing better than hasten back。〃
The three brothers thus retraced their steps。 Half way along the road they met a party of soldiers escorting a prisoner in a cage…cart。 When they drew near； they saw the prisoner was no other than Lu Zhi； the man they were going to help。 Hastily dismounting； Liu Bei asked what had happened。
Lu Zhi explained； 〃I had surrounded the rebels and was on the point of smashing them； when Zhang Jue employed some of his supernatural powers and prevented my victory。 The court sent down Eunuch Zhuo Feng to inquire into my failure； and that official demanded a bribe。 I told him how hard pressed we were and asked him where； in the circumstances； I could find a gift for him。 He went away in wrath and reported that I was hiding behind my ramparts and would not give battle and that I disheartened my army。 So I was superseded by Dong Zhuo； and I have to go to the capital to answer the charge。〃
This story put Zhang Fei into a rage。 He was for slaying the escort and setting free Lu Zhi。 But Liu Bei checked him。
〃The government will take the due course；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃You must not act hastily！〃
And the escort and the three brothers went two ways。
It was useless to continue on that road to Guangzong； so Guan Yu proposed to go back to Zhuo； and they retook the road。 Two days later they heard the thunder of battle behind some hills。 Hastening to the top； they beheld the government soldiers suffering great loss； and they saw the countryside was full of Yellow Scarves。 On the rebels' banners were the words Zhang Jue the Lord of Heaven written large。
〃We will attac