Turning to his captains he said, “Not long ago when Pên-ch‘u and I worked together in military matters he asked me, saying, ‘If this disturbance continue what districts should be held?’ and I replied asking him what he thought. He said, ‘To the south I would hold the river, on the north, guard against Yen and Tai and the hordes from the Shamo. Thence southward I would try for the Empire and do you not think I might succeed?’ I replied saying, I depended upon the wisdom and force of the world directed by Tao; then every thing would be possible. These words seem as if spoken only yesterday, and now he is gone. Thinking over it I cannot refrain from tears.”
His officers were deeply affected. Ts‘ao treated the widow generously, giving her gold and silks and food to her content.
He also issued a further order that the taxes in Hopei would be remitted in consideration of the sufferings of the people during the warlike operations. He sent up a memorial and formally became Governor of Ch‘ichou.
One day Hsü Ch‘u, riding in at the east gate, met Hsü Yu, who called out to him “Would you fellows be riding through here if it had not been for me?”
Hsü Ch‘u replied, “We fellows, those who survive and those who perished, risked our lives in bloody battle to get this city, so do not brag of your deeds.”
“You are a lot of blockheads, not worth talking about,” said Yu.
Ch‘u in his anger drew his sword and ran him through. Then he took his head and went to tell Ts‘ao the reason.
Said Ts‘ao, “He and I were old friends and we could joke together. Why did you kill him?”
He blamed Hsü Ch‘u very severely and gave orders that the corpse should be buried honourably.
He enquired for any wise and reputable men who were known to be living in the district and was told of a certain cavalry officer named Tsʻui Yen, of Tungwu City, who had on many occasions given valuable advice to Yüan Shao. As the advice was not followed Yen had pleaded indisposition and remained at home.
Ts‘ao sent for this man, gave him an office and said to him, “According to the former registers there are three hundred thousand households in the district so that one may well call it a major district.”
Yen replied, “The Empire is rent and the country is torn; the brothers Yüan are at war and the people have been stripped naked. Yet, Sir, you do not hasten to enquire after local conditions and how to rescue the people from misery, but first compute the possibilities of taxation. Can you expect to gain the support of our people by such means?”
