Jin　and　Li　Dian　to　deploy　troops　along　the　Yellow　River；　Cao　Ren　to　quarter　the　main　force　at　Guandu。　Then　Cao　Cao　with　an　army　marched　back　to　Capital　Xuchang。

The　five　legions　sent　against　Liu　Bei　went　into　camp　thirty…five　miles　from　Xuzhou。　The　camp　made　an　imposing　display　of　the　banners　of　the　Prime　Minister；　but　no　attacks　followed。　Their　spies　were　very　busy　north　of　the　river　to　get　news　of　Cao　Cao's　movement。　On　the　defensive　side；　Liu　Bei；　as　he　was　uncertain　of　the　strength　of　the　force　against　him；　dared　not　move。

Suddenly　orders　came　for　the　Cao　Cao's　army　to　attack；　and　then　discord　showed　itself。

Liu　Dai　said；　〃The　Prime　Minister　orders　an　attack：　You　advance。〃

Wang　Zhong　replied；　〃You　were　named　first。〃

〃I　am　the　mander…in…Chief。　It　is　not　my　place　to　go　first。〃

〃I　will　go　with　you　in　joint　mand；〃　said　Wang　Zhong。

〃Let　us　cast　lots；　and　he　upon　whom　the　lot　falls　must　go；〃　said　Liu　Dai。

They　drew　lots；　and　it　fell　to　Wang　Zhong；　who　advanced　toward　Xuzhou　with　half　the　force。

When　Liu　Bei　heard　of　the　threatened　attack；　he　called　Chen　Deng　to　consult。

Liu　Bei　said；　〃There　is　dissension　in　Yuan　Shao's　camp　at　Liyang；　so　they　do　not　advance。　We　do　not　know　where　Cao　Cao　is；　but　his　own　banner　is　not　displayed　in　his　Liyang's　camp。　Why　then　is　it　shown　here？〃

Chen　Deng　replied；　〃His　tricks　take　a　hundred　forms。　It　must　be　that　he　regards　the　north　as　more　important　and　has　gone　there　to　look　after　its　defense。　He　dares　not　show　his　flag　there；　and　I　feel　sure　it　is　only　meant　to　mislead　us。　He　is　not　here。〃

Liu　Bei　then　asked　whether　one　of　his　brothers　would　find　out　the　truth；　and　Zhang　Fei　volunteered　to　go。

〃I　fear　you　are　unsuited　for　this；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃Y