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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　wait　in　his　camp　while　he　called　his　officers　to　a　council。
The　council　met。　Cheng　Yu　said；　〃Yuan　Tan　has　been　forced　into　making　this　offer　because　of　the　pressure　of　his　brother's　attack。　Put　no　trust　in　him。〃
Lu　Qian　and　Man　Chong　said；　〃You　have　led　your　armies　here　for　a　special　purpose。　How　can　you　abandon　that　and　go　to　assist　Yuan　Tan？〃
〃Gentlemen；　not　one　of　you　is　giving　good　advice；〃　interposed　Xun　You。　〃This　is　how　I　regard　it。　Since　there　is　universal　trouble；　in　the　midst　of　which　Liu　Biao　remains　quietly　content　with　his　position　between　the　River　Zhang　and　the　River　Han；　it　is　evident　that　he　has　no　ambition　to　enlarge　his　borders。　The　Yuans　hold　four　regions　and　have　many　legions　of　soldiers。　Harmony　between　the　two　brothers　means　success　for　the　family；　and　none　can　foresee　what　will　happen　in　the　empire。　Now　take　advantage　of　this　fraternal　conflict　and　let　them　fight　till　they　are　weakened　and　have　to　yield　to　our　Prime　Minister。　Then　Yuan　Shang　can　be　removed；　and　when　the　times　are　suitable；　Yuan　Tan　can　be　destroyed　in　his　turn。　Thus　peace　will　ensue。　This　present　bination　of　circumstances　is　to　be　taken　advantage　of　to　full　measure。〃
Cao　Cao　realized　the　truth　of　this　and　treated　Xin　Pi　well。
At　a　banquet　Cao　Cao　said；　〃But　is　this　surrender　of　Yuan　Tan　real　or　false？　Do　you　really　think　that　Yuan　Shang's　army　is　sure　to　overe　him？〃
Xin　Pi　replied；　〃Illustrious　Sir；　do　not　inquire　into　the　degree　of　sincerity；　rather　regard　the　situation。　The　Yuans　have　been　suffering　military　losses　for　years　and　are　powerless　without；　while　their　strategists　are　put　to　death　within。　The　brothers　seize　every　chance　to　speak　evil　of　each　other；　and　their　country　is　divided。　Add　to　this　famine；　supplemented　by　calamities　and　general　exhaustion；　and　everybody；　wise　as　well　as　simple；　can　see　that　the　catastrophe　is　near　and　the　time　ordained　of　Heaven　for　the　destruction　of　the　Yuans　is　at　hand。　Now　you　have　a　force　attacking　the　capital　of　Jizhou………Yejun………and　if　Yuan　Shang　will　not　return　to　give　aid；　the　place　of　refuge　is　lost。　If　he　helps；　then　Yuan　Tan　will　follow　up　and　smite　him；　making　use　of　your　power　to　destroy　the　remnant　of　his　brother's　army；　just　as　the　autumn　gale　sweeps　away　the　fallen　leaves。　Now　Liu　Biao's　Jingzhou　is　rich；　the　government　peaceful；　the　people　submissive；　and　it　cannot　be　shaken。　Moreover；　there　is　no　greater　threat　to　it　than　the　North　of　Yellow　River。　If　that　be　reduced；　then　the　task　is　plete。　I　pray　you；　Sir；　think　of　it。〃
〃I　am　sorry　that　I　did　not　meet　you　earlier；〃　said　Cao　Cao；　much　gratified　with　this　speech。
Forthwith　orders　were　given　to　return　and　attack　Jizhou。　Liu　Bei；　fearing　this　retirement　was　only　a　ruse；　allowed　it　to　proceed　without　interference　and　himself　returned　to　Jingzhou。
When　Yuan　Shang　heard　that　Cao　Cao　had　crossed　the　Yellow　River；　he　hastily　led　his　army　back　to　Yejun；　ordering　Lu　Xiang　and　Lu　Kuang　to　guard　the　rear。
Yuan　Tan　started　from　Pingyuan　with　a　force　in　pursuit。　He　had　proceeded　only　a　dozen　miles　when　he　heard　a　bomb　and　two　b