From Yuan Shaos camp; the flames of the burning depot were seen away in the north; and they knew what they meant。 Yuan Shao hastily summoned his officers to a council to send a rescue party。
'e' Sun Bin military strategist; a descendant of Sun Zi。 Sun Bin served as military counselor during the Warring States period in Qi。 He wrote a treatise named The Art of War of Sun Bin。 。。。。。
'e' In the Warring States period; Wei was attacking Zhao when Zhao sent to Qi to seek help。 Sun Bin; a strategist of Qi; devised a scheme to attack Weis important base。 Facing this new threat; Wei had to withdraw its force to defend the base; and thus Zhao was relieved。 Sun Bin then laid an ambush on Weis retreat and scored a victory for Qi。
Zhang He offered to go with Gao Lan; but Guo Tu said; 〃You may not go。 It is certain that Cao Cao is there in person; wherefore his camp is undefended。 Let loose our soldiers on the camp; and that will speedily bring Cao Cao back again。 This is how Sun Bin* besieged Wei and thereby rescued Zhao*。〃
But Zhang He said; 〃Not so; Cao Cao is too wily not to have fully prepared against a chance attack。 If we attack his camp and fail and Chunyu Qiong should be caught; we shall all be captured too。〃
Guo Tu said; 〃Cao Cao will be too intent on the destruction of the grain to think of leaving a guard。 I entreat you to attack his camp。〃
So Yuan Shao sent five thousand soldiers under Zhang He and Gao Lan to attack Cao Caos camp; and he sent ten thousand with Jiang Qi to go to recover the grain store。
Now after overing Chunyu Qiong; Cao Caos troops dressed themselves in the armor and clothing of the defeated soldiers and put out their emblems; thus posing as defeated force running back to their own headquarters。 And when they happened upon Jiang Qis rescue body; they said they had been beaten at Wuchao and were retreating。 So Cao Caos troops were suffered to pass without molestation while Jiang Qi hastened on。 But soon Jiang Qi came to Zhang Liao and Xu Chu who cried out; 〃Stop!〃
And before Jiang Qi could make any opposition; Zhang Liao had cut him down。 Soon his force were killed or dispersed; and the victors sent false messengers to Yuan Shaos camp to say that Jiang Qi had attacked and driven away the attackers of the granaries。 So no more relief were sent that way。 However; Yuan Shao sent reinforcements to Guandu。
In due course; the Yuan Shaos force came down upon Cao Caos camp at Guandu; and the defenders………Xiahou Dun; Cao Ren; and Cao Hong………at once came out and fought them on three sides so that they were worsted。 By the time reinforcements arrived; Cao Caos army; returning from the raid; had also e; and Yuan Shaos army were attacked in the rear。 So they were quite surrounded。 However; Zhang He and Gao Lan managed to force their way out and got away。
When the remains of the defenders of the grain stores reached their masters camp; they were mustered。 Seeing the mutilated state of their one time leader; Yuan Shao asked how Chunyu Qiong had e to betray his trust and to suffer thus。
The soldiers told their lord; 〃The General was intoxicated at the time of the attack。〃
So Yuan Shao ordered Chunyu Qiong to be forthwith executed。
Guo Tu; fearing lest Zhang He and Gao Lan would return and testify the whole truth; began to intrigue against them。
First Guo Tu went to his lord; saying; 〃Those two; Zhang He and Gao Lan; were certainly very glad when your armies were defeated。〃
〃Why do you say this?〃 asked Yuan Shao。
〃O they have long cherished a desire to go over to Cao Cao。 So when you sent them on the duty of destroying his camp; they did not do their best and so brought about this disaster。〃
Yuan Shao accordingly sent to recall these two to be interrogated as to their faults。 But Guo Tu sent a messenger in advance to warn them; as though in friendly guise; of the adverse fate that awaited them。
So when the orders reached them to return to answer for their faults; Gao Lan asked; 〃For what reason are we recalled?〃
〃Indeed I do not know;〃 said the messenger。
Gao Lan drew his sword and killed the messenger。
Zhang He was astonished at this demonstration; but Gao Lan said; 〃Our lord has allowed someone to malign us and say we have been bought by Cao Cao。 What is the sense in our sitting still and awaiting destruction? Rather let us surrender to Cao Cao in reality and save our lives。〃
〃I have been wanting to do this for some time;〃 replied Zhang He。
Wherefore both; with their panies; made their way to Cao Caos camp to surrender。
When they arrived; Xiahou Dun said to his master; 〃These two have e to surrender; but I have doubts about them。〃
Cao Cao replied; 〃I will meet them generously and win them over; even if they have treachery in their hearts。〃
'e' The last king of Shang Dynasty was King Zhou; who was cruel and corrupt。 King Zhou had three uncles………Bi Gan; Qi Zi; and Wei Zi………who served as ministers。 When these three officials repeatedly failed to persuade King Zhou to repent; Wei Zi resigned his post; while Qi Zi pretended to be insane。 Bi Gan stayed and continued persuading the king; who later executed Bi Gan。 Later the Duke of Zhou overthrew Shang Dynasty and enobled Wei Zi; Qi Zi; and the wife and the son of Bi Gan。 Wei Zi became known as the Duke of Song。 Qi Zi left for Korea where he became a ruler。 。。。。。
'e' Before serving Han; Han Xin had been an officer under Xiang Yu。 Disappointed because his plans were rejected; Han Xin left Xiang Yu and joined Liu Bangs camp; where he was made mander…in…Chief by remendations of Xiao He and Zhang Liang。 Enobled as King of Qi; then King of Chu。 。。。。。
The camp gates were opened to the two officers; and they were invited to enter。 They laid down their weapons; removed their armor; and bowed to the ground before Cao Cao; who said; 〃If Yuan Shao had listened to you; he would not have suffered defeat。 Now you two ing to surrender are like Wei Zi* leaving the falling House of Shang to go to Zhou and Han Xin* leaving Xiang Yu to go over to the rising House of Han。〃
Cao Cao made them Generals and conferred upon Zhang He the title of Lord of Duting and upon Gao Lan Lord of Donglai; which pleased them much。
And so as Yuan Shao had formerly driven sway his adviser; Xu You; so now he had alienated two leaders and had lost his stores at Wuchao; and his army was depressed and down…hearted。
When Xu You advised Cao Cao to attack Yuan Shao as promptly as he could; the two newly surrendered generals volunteered to lead the way。 So Cao Cao sent Zhang He and Gao Lan to make a first attack on the camp; and they left in the night with three thousand troops。 The fighting went on confusedly all night but stayed at dawn。 Yuan Shao had lost half of his army。