“My lord, you know well who lost, and why, in the conflict between Liu Pang and Hsiang Yü; the former won only by superior wisdom. Hsiang Yü was the stronger, but in the end he was overcome. Your rival has ten weak points whereas you have ten strong ones, and, though his army is large, it is not terrible.
“Shao is over-much devoted to ceremony and deportment; while you are sympathetic and natural; this is an excellence in conduct. He is antagonistic and drives; you are conciliatory and lead; so you have the advantage of popular approval. For many years the government has been lax and he makes it more so: you strive vigorously after efficiency; this is the excellence of able administration. He is outwardly liberal but grudging at heart, and too given to nepotism: you appear exacting, but you understand and use men after their ability; this is the advantage of correct appreciation. He is a visionary and lacking in decision: you are a man of prompt decision and direct action; this is an advantage in policy. He loves to gather about him men of renown: you treat a man as you find him regardless of his reputation; this is where you excel in moral virtue. He is compassionate to those at hand, but careless about those out of sight: your care is all-embracing; this is where you excel in humanity. He lends a ready ear to calumny and is misled: you may be flooded with evil counsel, but you preserve independence; this is where you excel in perspicacity. His sense of right and wrong is confused: your appreciation is accurate and clear; this is where you excel in administrative capacity. He loves the make-believe force, but is ignorant of military essentials: you would overcome with far inferior numbers as you possess military genius; this is where you excel in war. With your ten superiorities you will have no difficulty in overcoming Shao.”
“How can I be worth as much as you say?” said Tsʻao, smiling.
“What he has said about the ten points in your favour agrees exactly with what I think,” said Hsün Yü. “Shao’s army is not formidable in spite of its size.”
“The real and dangerous enemy is Lü Pu,” said Kuo Chia. “When Yüan Shao has gone north to destroy Kunsun Tsan, we ought to sweep away Lü Pu and so clear away our danger from that side, for if this is not done our attack on Shao will be the signal for an attempt on the capital. That would be most serious.”
Tsʻao Tsʻao saw things in the same light as his advisers and began to discuss plans for an attack on Lü Pu. Sün Yü was of opinion that they should first secure the fidelity and aid of Liu Pei. So letters were written and they waited his assurance before moving a soldier. Then, in order to reassure Yüan Shao, his emissary was treated with great kindness and a
