un　Yu　wrote　to　tell　Cao　Cao　that　Liu　Biao　had　gone　to　help　Zhang　Xiu　and　was　camped　at　Anzhong；　thereby　cutting　his　road　of　retreat。

Cao　Cao　replied　to　the　letter；　saying；　〃I　have　been　marching　only　a　short　distance　each　day　and　of　course　knew　of　the　pursuit。　But　my　plans　are　laid　and；　as　I　am　near　Anzhong；　my　enemy　will　be　broken。　You　need　not　have　any　fears。〃

Then　Cao　Cao　hastened　his　march　till　he　came　near　where　Liu　Biao　had　taken　position。　Zhang　Xiu　still　shortened　the　distance。　Cao　Cao　ordered　his　men　during　the　night　to　open　a　secret　way　through　a　pass；　where　he　laid　an　ambush。

With　the　first　light　of　dawn　Liu　Biao　and　Zhang　Xiu　met。　As　Cao　Cao's　force　looked　small；　they　thought　he　had　retired　so　they　boldly　advanced　into　the　pass　to　smite　him。　Then　the　ambush　was　opened；　and　both　the　attackers'　forces　were　cut　up。　The　fighting　ended；　Cao　Cao's　soldiers　went　outside　the　pass　and　encamped。

The　two　leaders　on　the　other　side　restored　order　among　their　beaten　troops　and　then　held　a　conference。

〃How　could　we　have　foreseen　such　a　wicked　ruse？〃　said　Liu　Biao。

〃Let　us　try　again；〃　said　Zhang　Xiu。

Wherefore　they　joined　forces　at　Anzhong。

But　Xun　Yu　discovered　through　his　spies　that　Yuan　Shao　was　preparing　an　attack　on　Capital　Xuchang；　so　he　at　once　wrote　to　Cao　Cao　who；　much　disturbed　by　this　news；　set　out　homeward　right　away。　When　Zhang　Xiu　heard　this　through　his　scouts；　he　wished　to　follow　the　retreating　army。

Jia　Xu　opposed　it　and　said；　〃It　will　lead　to　a　defeat。〃

However；　Liu　Biao　said；　〃It　is　wrong　to　lose　such　a　chance。〃

And　so　finally　pursuit　was　decided　upon。　They　had　not　marched　more　than　four　miles　before　they　came　upon　Cao　Cao's　rearguard；　who　fought　with　great　vigor　and　bravery　so　that