perations　were　suspended　for　a　time。

Meanwhile　Cao　Cao　was　distributing　rewards　to　his　army　for　the　late　victory；　and　his　spies　were　scouting　all　about　Jizhou。　He　soon　learned　that　Yuan　Shao　was　ill；　and　that　the　youngest　son　Yuan　Shang　and　Shen　Pei　were　in　mand　of　the　city；　while　his　brothers　and　cousin　had　returned　each　to　his　own。　Cao　Cao's　advisers　were　in　favor　of　a　speedy　attack。

But　he　objected；　saying；　〃Jizhou　is　large　and　well　supplied。　Shen　Pei　is　an　able　strategist。　And　it　behooves　me　to　be　careful。　I　would　rather　wait　till　the　autumn　when　the　crops　have　been　gathered　in　so　that　the　people　will　not　suffer。〃

While　the　attack　was　being　talked　over　there　came　letters　from　Xun　Yu：

〃Liu　Bei　was　strengthening　himself　at　Runan　with　the　force　of　Liu　Pi　and　Gong　Du　and；　when　he　heard　that　you　was　attacking　Jizhou；　he　said　he　would　take　the　opportunity　to　march　on　the　capital。　Wherefore　you；　Sir；　should　hasten　homeward　to　defend　Xuchang。〃

This　news　disconcerted　Cao　Cao。　He　left　Cao　Hong　in　mand　on　the　river　bank；　with　orders　to　maintain　the　appearance　of　strength　there；　while　he　led　the　main　part　of　his　army　to　meet　the　threatened　attack　from　Runan。

Meanwhile　Liu　Bei；　his　brothers；　and　the　leaders；　having　gone　forth　with　the　intention　of　attacking　the　capital；　had　reached　a　point　near　the　Rang　Mountains　when　Cao　Cao　came　upon　them。　So　Liu　Bei　camped　by　the　hills　and　divided　his　army　into　three；　sending　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　with　ten　thousand　troops　each　to　entrench　themselves　southeast　and　southwest　respectively　of　the　main　body；　which　he　and　Zhao　Yun　manded。

When　Cao　Cao　came　near；　Liu　Bei　beat　his　drums　and　went　out　to　where　Cao　Cao　had　already　arrayed　his　army。

Cao　Cao　called　Liu　Bei　to　a　parley；　and　when　t