Emperor in person arranged the chariot and escorted his Minister out of the city when he went to take command of the expedition. It was the summer, the fourth month of the third year of the period Chien-An (199 A.D.). Hsün Yü was in chief military command in Hsütu.
The army marched away. In the course of the march they passed through a wheat district and the grain was ready for harvesting but the peasants had fled for fear and the corn was uncut. Ts‘ao Ts‘ao caused it to be made known all about that he was sent on the expedition by command of the Emperor to capture a rebel and save the people. He could not avoid moving in the harvest season but if any one trampled down the corn he should be put to death. Military law was so severe that the people need fear no damage. The people were very pleased and lined the road, wishing success to the expedition. When the soldiers passed wheat fields they dismounted and pushed aside the stalks so that none were trampled down.
One day, when Ts‘ao Ts‘ao was riding through the fields, a dove suddenly got up, startling the horse so that he swerved into the standing grain and a large patch was trampled down. Ts‘ao at once called the Provost Marshal and bade him decree the sentence for the crime of trampling down corn.
“How can I deal with your crime?” asked the Provost Marshal.
“I made the rule and I have broken it. Can I otherwise satisfy public opinion?”
He laid hold of the sword by his side and made to take his own life. All hastened to prevent him and Kuo Chia said, “In ancient days, the days of the Spring and Autumn history, the laws were not applied to the persons of the most honourable. You are the supreme leader of a mighty army and must not wound yourself.”
Ts‘ao Ts‘ao pondered for a long time. At last he said, “Since there exists the reason just quoted I may perhaps escape the death penalty.”
Then with his sword he cut off his hair and threw it on the ground saying, “I cut off the hair as touching the head.”
Then he sent a man to exhibit the hair throughout the whole army saying, “The Minister, having trodden down some corn, ought to have lost his head by the terms of the order; now here is his hair cut off as an attack on the head.”
This deed was a stimulus to discipline all through the army so that not a man dared be disobedient. A poet wrote:—
A myriad soldiers march along and all are brave and bold,
And their myriad inclinations by one leader are controlled.
That crafty leader shore his locks when forfeit was his head,
O full of guile wert thou, Ts‘ao Ts‘ao, as every one has said.
On the first news of the approach of Tsʻao Tsʻao with an army Chang Hsiu wrote to Liu Piao for help. Then he sent
