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eyes and gritting teeth； at last burst through and got out； with the enemy close after him。
But when Dian Wei reached the drawbridge； he glanced behind him and missed his master。 Immediately Dian Wei turned back and cut an alley inside。 Just within he met Li Dian。
〃Where is our lord？〃 cried Dian Wei。
〃I am looking for him；〃 said Li Dian。
〃Quick！ Get help from outside；〃 shouted Dian Wei。 〃I will seek him。〃
So Li Dian hastened for aid； and Dian Wei slashed his way in； looking on every side for Cao Cao。 He was not to be found。 Dashing out of the city； Dian Wei ran up against Yue Jing； who asked where their lord was。
〃I have entered the city twice in search of him； but cannot find him；〃 said Dian Wei。
〃Let us go in together；〃 said Yue Jing。
They rode up to the gate。 But the noise of bombs from the gate tower frightened Yue Jing's horse so that it refused to pass。 Wherefore Dian Wei alone went in； butting through the smoke and dashing through the flames。 But he got in and searched on every side。
When Cao Cao saw his sturdy protector Dian Wei cut his way out and disappear leaving him surrounded； he again made an attempt to reach the north gate。 On the way； sharply outlined against the glow； he saw the figure of Lu Bu ing toward him with his trident halberd ready to kill。 Cao Cao covered his face with his hand； whipped up his steed and galloped past。
But Lu Bu came galloping up behind him and tapping him on the helmet with the halberd cried； 〃Where is Cao Cao？〃
Cao Cao turned and； pointing to a dun horse well ahead； cried； 〃There； on that dun！ That's he。〃
Hearing this Lu Bu left pursuing Cao Cao to gallop after the rider of the dun。
Thus relieved Cao Cao set off for the east gate。 Then he fell in with Dian Wei； who took him under his protection and fought through the press； leaving a trail of death behind till they reached the gate。 Here the fire was raging fiercely； and burning beams were falling on all sides。 The earth element seemed to have interchanged with the fire element。 Dian Wei warded off the burning pieces of wood with his lance and rode into the smoke making a way for his lord。 Just as they were passing through the gate a flaming beam fell from the gate tower。 Cao Cao just warded it off with his arm； but it struck his steed on the quarters and knocked the steed down。 Cao Cao's hand and arm were badly burned and his hair and beard singed。 Dian Wei turned back to his rescue。 Luckily Xiahou Yuan came along just then； and the two raised Cao Cao and set him on Xiahou Yuan's horse。 And thus they got him out of the burning city。 But they had to go through heavy fighting till daybreak。
Cao Cao returned to his camp。 His officers crowded about his tent； anxious for news of his health。 He soon recovered and laughed when he thought of his escape。
〃I blundered into that fool's trap； but I will have my revenge；〃 said he。
〃Let us have a new plan soon；〃 said Guo Jia。
〃I will turn his trick to my own use。 I will spread the false report that I was burned in the fire； and that I died at the fifth watch。 He will e to attack as soon as the news gets abroad； and I will have an ambush ready for him in Maling Hills。 I will get him this time。〃
〃Really a fine stratagem！〃 said Guo Jia。
So the soldiers were put into mourning； and the report went everywhere that Cao Cao was dead。 And soon Lu Bu heard it； and he assembled his army at once to make a surprise attack； taking the road by the Maling Hills to his enemy's camp。
As he was passing the hills； he heard the drums beating for an advance； and the ambushing soldiers leapt out all round him。 Only by desperate fighting did he get out of the melee and with a sadly diminished force returned to his camp at Puyang。 There he strengthened the fortifications and could not be tempted forth to battle。
This year locusts suddenly appeared； and they consumed every green blade。 There was a famine； and in the northeast grain rose to fifty 〃strings〃 of cash a cart。 People even took to cannibalism。 Cao Cao's army suffered from want； and he marched them to Juancheng。 Lu Bu took his troops to Shanyang。 Perforce therefore the fighting ceased。
In Xuzhou。 Imperial Protector Tao Qian； over sixty years of age； suddenly fell seriously ill； and he summoned his confident； Mi Zhu； to his chamber to make arrangements for the future。
As to the situation the adviser said； 〃Cao Cao abandoned his attack on this place because of his enemy's seizure of Yanzhou； and now they are both keeping the peace solely because of the famine。 But Cao Cao will surely renew the attack in the spring。 When Liu Bei refused to allow you to vacate office in his favor； you were in full vigor。 Now you are ill and weak； and you can make this a reason for retirement。 He will not refuse again。〃
So a message was sent to the little garrison town Xiaopei calling Liu Bei to a counsel on military affairs。 This brought him with his brothers and a slender escort。 He was at once called in to the sick man's chamber。 Quickly disposing of the inquiries about his health； Tao Qian soon came to the real object of his call for Liu Bei。
〃Sir； I asked you to e for the sole reason that I am dangerously ill and likely to die at any time。 I look to you； Illustrious Sir； to consider the Hans and their empire as more important than anything else； and so to take over the symbols of office of this region； the mission and the seal； that I may close my eyes in peace。〃
〃You have two sons； why not depute them to relieve you？〃 said Liu Bei。
〃Both lack the requisite talents。 I trust you will instruct them after I have gone； but do not let them have the guidance of affairs。〃
〃But I am unequal to so great a charge。〃
〃I will remend to you one who could assist you。 He is Sun Qian from Beihai who could be appointed to some post。〃
Turning to Mi Zhu； Tao Qian said； 〃The noble Liu Bei here is the most prominent man of the time； and you should serve him well。〃
Still would Liu Bei have put from him such a post； but just then the Imperial Protector； pointing to his heart to indicate his sincerity； passed away。
When the ceremonial wailing of the officials was over； the insignia of office were brought to Liu Bei。 But he would have none of them。 The following days the inhabitants of the town and country around crowded into the state residence； bowing and with tears； calling upon Liu Bei to receive the charge。
〃If you do not； we cannot live in pence；〃 said they。
To these requests his brothers added their persuasion； till at length he consented to assume the administrative duties。 He forthwith appointed Sun Qian and Mi Zhu as his Advisers； and Chen Deng his Secretary。 He moved his army from Xiaopei to Xuzhou City； and he put forth proclamations to reassure the people。
He also attended to the burial ceremonies； he and all his army dressing in mourning。 After the fullest sacrifices and ceremonies； a burial place for the late Imperial Protector was found close to the source of the Yellow River。 The dead man's testament was forwarded to court。
The news of the events in Xuzhou duly reached the ears of Cao Cao； then in Juancheng。
Said he； angrily； 〃I have missed my revenge。 This Liu Bei has simply stepped into mand of the region without expending half an arrow： He sat still and attained his desire。 But I will put him to death and then dig up Tao Qian's corpse in revenge for the death of my noble father！〃
Orders were issued for the army to prepare for a new campaign against Xuzhou。
＇e＇ The Land Within the Passes； or Guanzhong； was the area around Changan。
But Adviser Xun Yu remonstrated with Cao Cao； saying； 〃The Supreme Ancestor secured the Land Within the Passes* and his illustrious successor on the throne； Liu Xiu； took Henei。 They both first consolidated their position whereby they could mand the whole empire。 Their whole progress was from success to success。 Hence they acplished their great designs in spite of difficulties。
〃Illustrious Sir； your Land Within the Passes and your Henei are Yanzhou and the Yellow River； which you had first； and which is of the utmost strategic point of the empire。 If you undertake this expedition against Xuzhou leaving many troops here for defense； you will not acplish your design； if you leave too few； Lu Bu will fall upon us。 And finally