Among the papers of Yüan Shao was found a bundle of letters showing secret correspondence between him and many persons in the capital and army. Ts‘ao’s personal staff suggested that the names of those concerned should be abstracted and the persons arrested, but their lord said, “Shao was so strong that even I could not be sure of safety; how much less other men?”
So he ordered the papers to be burned and nothing more was said.
Now when Yüan Shao’s men ran away Chü Shou, being a prisoner, could not get away and was captured. Taken before Ts‘ao, who knew him, he cried aloud, “I will not surrender.”
Said Ts‘ao, “Yüan Shao was foolish and neglected your advice; why still cling to the path of delusion? Had I had you to help me I should have been sure of the Empire.”
The prisoner was well treated in the camp but he stole a horse and tried to get away to Yüan Shao. This angered Ts‘ao who put him to death, which he met with brave composure.
“I have slain a faithful and righteous man,” then said Ts‘ao sadly. And the victim was honourably buried at Kuantu.
His tomb bore the inscription “This is the tomb of Chü the loyal and virtuous.”
Chü honest was and virtuous,
The best in Yuan’s train,
From him the stars no secrets held,
In tactics all was plain.
For him no terrors had grim death,
Too lofty was his spirit,
His captor slew him, but his tomb
Bears witness to his merit.
Ts‘ao Ts‘ao now gave orders to attack Ch‘ichou.
In feeling over confident, that’s where one’s weakness lay;
The other bettered him by plans which never went agley.
The following chapter will tell who won the next campaign.
