two sworn-brothers and friends and they entered Chingchou, where Liu Pei finally was lodged in the Prefect’s own residence.
As soon as Ts‘ao Ts‘ao knew whither his enemy had gone he wished to attack Liu Piao, but Ch‘êng Yü advised against any attempt so long as Yüan Shao, the dangerous enemy, was left with power to inflict damage. He advised return to the capital to refresh the men so that they might be ready for a campaign in the mild spring weather.
Tsʻao accepted his advice and set out for the capital. In the first month of the eighth year of the period “Established Tranquillity,” Ts‘ao Ts‘ao once again began to think of war, and sent to garrison Junan as a precaution against Liu Piao. Then, after arranging for the safety of the capital, he marched a large army to Kuantu, the camp of the year before.
As to Yüan Shao, who had been suffering from blood-spitting but was now in better health, he began to think of measures against Hsütu, but Shên P‘ei dissuaded him saying, “You are not yet recovered from the fatigues of last year. It would be better to make your position impregnable and set to improving the army.”
When the news of Ts‘ao’s approach arrived, Yüan said, “If we allow the foe to get close to the city before we march to the river we shall have missed our opportunity. I must go out to repel this army.”
Here his son interposed, “Father, you are not sufficiently recovered for a campaign and should not go so far. Let me lead the army against this enemy.”
Yüan consented, and he sent to Ch‘ingchou and Yuchou and Pingchou to call upon his other two sons and his nephew to attack Ts‘ao Ts‘ao at the same time as his own army.
Against Junan they beat the drum,
And from Ch‘ichou the armies come.
To whom the victory will be seen in the next chapter.
