Cao Cao's personal staff suggested that the names of those concerned should be abstracted and the persons arrested, but their lord said, “Yuan Shao was so strong that even I could not be sure of safety; how much less other people?” So Cao Cao ordered the papers to be burned and nothing more was said.

Now when Yuan Shao's soldiers ran away, Ju Shou, being a prisoner, could not get away and was captured. Taken before Cao Cao, who knew him, Ju Shou cried aloud, “I will not surrender!”

Said Cao Cao, “Yuan 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.”

Ju Shou was well treated in the camp, but he stole a horse and tried to get away to Yuan Shao. This angered Cao Cao who recaptured him and put him to death, which he met with brave composure.

“I have slain a faithful and righteous man,” then said Cao Cao sadly.

And the victim was honorably buried at Guandu. His tomb bore the inscription “This is the tomb of Ju Shou the Loyal and Virtuous.”

Ju Shou was honest and virtuous,

The best in Yuan Shao'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.

Cao Cao now gave orders to attack Jizhou.

In feeling over confident, that's where one's weakness lay;

The other bettered him by plans which never went astray.

The following chapter will tell who won the next campaign.

CHAPTER 31. Cao Cao Overcomes Yuan Shao In Cangting; Liu Bei Seeks Shelter With Liu Biao In Jingzhou

Cao Cao lost no time in taking advantage of Yuan Shao's flight, but smote hard at the retreating army. Yuan Shao without helmet or proper dress, and with few followers, crossed hastily to the north bank at Liyang. He was met by one of his generals, Jiang Yiqu, who took him in and comforted him and listened to the tale of misfortunes. Next Jiang Yiqu called in the scattered remnants of the army, and when the soldiers heard that their old lord was alive they swarmed to him like ants so that Yuan Shao quickly became strong enough to attempt the march to Jizhou. Soon the army set out and at night halted at Huang Hills.

That evening, sitting in his tent, Yuan Shao seemed to hear a far off sound of lamentation. He crept out quietly to listen and found it was his own soldiers telling each other tales of woe. This one lamented an elder brother lost, that one grieved for his younger brother abandoned, a third mourned a companion missing, a fourth, a relative cut off. And each beat his breast and wept. And all said, “Had he but listened to Tian Feng, we had not met this disaster.”

And Yuan Shao, very remorseful, said, “I did not hearken unto Tian Feng, and now my soldiers have been beaten and I was nearly lost. How can I return and look him in the face?”

Next day the march was resumed, and Yuan Shao met Peng Ji with reinforcements, to whom he said, “I disregarded Tian Feng's advice and have brought myself to defeat. Now shall I be greatly ashamed to look him in the face.”

This tribute to Tian Feng's prescience roused the jealousy of Peng Ji, who replied, “Yes; when he heard the news of your defeat, though he was a prisoner, he clapped his hands for joy and said, 'Indeed, just as I foretold!'“

“How dare he laugh at me, the blockhead? Assuredly he shall die,” said Yuan Shao.

Whereupon Yuan Shao wrote a letter and sent therewith a sword to slay the prisoner.

Meanwhile Tian Feng's gaoler came to him one day, saying, “Above all humans I felicitate you.”

“What is the joyful occasion and why felicitate?” said Tian Feng.

The gaoler replied, “Imperial Protector Yuan Shao has been defeated and is on his way back; he will treat you with redoubled respect.”

“Now am I a dead man!” said Tian Feng.

“Why say you that, Sir, when all people give you joy?”

“The Imperial Protector appears liberal, but he is jealous and forgetful of honest advice. Had he been victorious, he might have pardoned me; now that he has been defeated and put to shame, I may not hope to live.”

But the gaoler did not believe Tian Feng. Before long came the letter and the sword with the fatal order. The gaoler was dismayed, but the victim said, “I knew all too well that I should have to die.”

The gaoler wept. Tian Feng said, “An able person born into this world who does not recognize and serve the right lord is ignorant. Today I die, but I am not deserving of pity.”

Whereupon he cut his throat in the prison.