When the joint army reached Lu Bu's Xuzhou borders； he came to meet it。 Cao Cao spoke graciously to him and conferred upon him the title of General of the Left Army； promising him an official seal as soon as he returned to the capital。 Lu Bu was very pleased。
Then the three armies were made into one force； Cao Cao being in the center； Lu Bu to the left wing； and Liu Bei to the right wing。 Xiahou Dun and Yu Jin were Leaders of the Van。
On Yuan Shu's side； General Qiao Rui with fifty thousand troops was appointed Van Leader。 The armies met on the confines of the city of Shouchun。 Qiao Rui and Xiahou Dun rode out and opened battle。 But Qiao Rui fell in the third bout； and his troops fled into the city。
Then came news that Sun Ce's fleet was near and would attack on the west。 The other three land corps took each one face………Cao Cao on the north； Lu Bu on the east； and Liu Bei on the south。 The city of Shouchun was in a parlous state。
At this juncture Yuan Shu summoned his officers。
Yang Dajiang explained the case； 〃Shouchun has suffered from drought for several years； and the people are on the verge of famine。 Sending an army would add to the distress and anger the people； and victory would be uncertain。 I advise not to send any more soldiers there； but to hold on till the besiegers are conquered by lack of supplies。 Meanwhile； Your Highness； with regiment of guards； will move over to the other side of River Huai； which is quite ready； and we shall also escape the enemy's ferocity。〃
So due arrangements was made。 One hundred thousand troops under Li Deng； Yue Jiu； Liang Gang； and Chen Ji were appointed to guard Shouchun。 Then a general move was made to the other side of the River Huai。 Not only the remained army went over； but all the accumulated wealth of the Yuan family； gold and silver； jewels and precious stones； were moved also。
Cao Cao's army of one hundred seventy thousand needed daily a considerable quantity of food； and as the country around had been famine…stricken for several years； nothing could be got there。 So he tried to hasten the military operations and capture the city。 On the other hand； the defenders knew the value of delay and simply held on。 After a month's vigorous siege； the fall of Shouchun seemed as far off as it was at first； and supplies were very short。 Letters were sent to Sun Ce who sent a hundred thousand carts of grain。 When the usual distribution became impossible； the Chief of the missariat； Ren Jun； and the Controller of the Granaries； Wang Hou； presented a statement asking what was to be done。
〃Serve out with a smaller measure；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃That will save us for a time。〃
〃But if the soldiers murmur； what then？〃
〃I shall have another device。〃
As ordered the controller issued grain in a short measure。 Cao Cao sent secretly to find out how the army took this； and when he found that plaints were general and the soldiers were saying that the Prime Minister was fooling them； he sent a secret summons to the controller。
When Wang Hou came； Cao Cao said； 〃I want to ask you to lend me something to pacify the soldiers with。 You must not refuse。〃
〃What does the Prime Minister wish？〃
〃I want the loan of your head to expose to the soldiery。〃
〃But I have done nothing wrong！〃 exclaimed the unhappy man。
〃I know that； but if I do not put you to death； there will be a mutiny。 After you are gone； your wife and children shall be my care。 So you need not grieve on their account。〃
Wang Hou was about to remonstrate further； but Cao Cao gave a signal。 The executioners hustled Wang Hou out； and he was beheaded。 His head was exposed on a tall pole； and a notice said； 〃In accordance with military law； Wang Hou had been put to death for peculation and the use of a short measure in issuing grain。〃
This appeased the discontent。 Next followed a general order threatening death to all manders if the city was not taken within three days。 Cao Cao in person went up to the very walls to superintend the work of filling up the moat。 The defenders kept up constant showers of stones and arrows。 Two inferior officers； who left their stations in fear； were slain by Cao Cao himself。 Thereafter he went on foot to work with his soldiers and to see that work went on continuously and no one dared be a laggard。 Thus encouraged； the army became invincible； and no defense could withstand their onslaught。 In a very short time the walls were scaled； the gates battered in； and the besiegers were in possession。 The officers of the garrison………Li Deng； Yue Jiu； Liang Gang； and Chen Ji………were captured alive and were executed in the market place。 All the paraphernalia of imperial state were burned； and the whole city wrecked。
When the question of crossing the river in pursuit of Yuan Shu came up； Xun Yu opposed it； saying； 〃The country has suffered from short crops for years； and we should be unable to get grain。 An advance would weary the army； harm the people； and possibly end in disaster。 I advise a return to the capital to wait there till the spring wheat shall have been harvested and we have plenty of food。〃
Cao Cao hesitated。
Before he had made up his mind； there came an urgent message： 〃Zhang Xiu； with the support of Liu Biao； was ravaging the country all round。 There were rebellions in Nanyang and Jiangling； and Cao Hong could not cope with it。 Cao Hong had been worsted already in several engagements and was in sore straits。〃
Cao Cao at once wrote to Sun Ce to mand the Great River so as to prevent any move on the part of Liu Biao； while he prepared his army to go to deal with Zhang Xiu。 Before marching Cao Cao directed Liu Bei to station at Xiaopei； as he and Lu Bu being as brothers might help each other。
When Lu Bu had left for Xuzhou； Cao Cao said secretly to Liu Bei； 〃I am leaving you at Xiaopei to dig a 'pitfall for the tiger。' You will only take advice from Chen Deng and Chen Gui； and there can be no mishap。 You will find so…and…so your ally when needed。〃
So Cao Cao marched to Xuchang where he heard that Duan Wei had slain Li Jue and Wu Xi killed Guo Si； and they presented the heads of these two。 Beside the whole clan of Li Jue； more than two hundred； had been arrested and brought to the capital。 They were all put to death at various gates and their heads exposed as warning。 The people cheered the end of those two rebels。
In the Emperor's palace a large number of officials were assembled at a peace banquet。 The Emperor rewarded the two successful leaders； Duan Wei with the title of General Who Destroys Rebellion and Wu Xi General Who Wrecks Villainy； and sent to guard Changan。 They came to audience to express their gratitude and marched away。
Then Cao Cao sent in a memorial that Zhang Xiu was in rebellion； and an army must be sent against him。 The Emperor in person arranged the chariot and escorted Cao Cao out of the city when he went to take mand of the expedition。 It was the summer； the fourth month of the third year of Rebuilt Tranquillity （AD 198）。 Xun Yu was in chief military mand in Xuchang。
The army marched away。 In the course of the march they passed through a wheat region； and the grain was ready for harvesting but the peasants had fled for fear； and the corn was uncut。 Cao Cao sent proclamations to all vill