“Why so much fuss?” said Chang Fei. “We have not taken the place; it is he who wishes to give it you.” “You all persuade me to do what is wrong,” said Liu Pei. Thrice did Tʻao entreat Liu Pei and thrice was he refused. Then he said, “As he is set in his determination perhaps he will consent to encamp at Hsiaopʻei. It is only a little town, but thence he can keep watch and ward over this city.” They all with one voice prayed Liu Pei to consent so he gave in. The feast of victory being now ended the time came to say farewell. When Chao Yün took his leave Liu Pei held his hands alternately while dashing away the falling tears. Kʻung Jung and his leader went home to their own place. When Liu Pei and his brothers took up their abode in Hsiaopʻei, they first repaired the defences and then they put out proclamations in order to calm the inhabitants. In the meantime Tsʻao Tsʻao had marched toward his own district. His cousin, Tsʻao Jên, met him and told him Lü Pu was very strong and he had Chʻên Kung as adviser. Yenchou was as good as lost, with the exception of three small districts which had been desperately defended. Tsʻao Tsʻao said, “I own that Lü Pu is a bold fighter but nothing more; he has no craft. So we need not fear him seriously.” Then he gave orders to make a strong camp till they could think out some victorious plan. Lü Pu, knowing of Tsʻao Tsʻao’s return, called two of his subordinate captains, Hsüeh Lan and Li Fêng, to him and assigned to them the task of holding Yenchou, saying “I have long waited for opportunity to employ your skill: now I give you a legion and you are to hold the city while I go forth to attack Tsʻao Tsʻao.” They made no objection. But Chʻên Kung, the strategist, came in hastily saying, “You are going away; whither?” “I am going to camp my men at Puyang, that vantage point.” “You are making a mistake,” said Chʻên Kung. “The two you have chosen to defend this are unequal to the task. For this expedition remember that about one hundred and eighty li due south, on the road to Tʻaishan, is a very advantageous position where you should place your best men in ambush. Tsʻao Tsʻao will hasten homeward by double marches when he hears what has happened and if you strike when half his men have gone past this point you may seize him.” Said Lü Pu, “I am going to occupy Puyang and see what develops. How can you guess?” So he left the two captains in command at Yenchou and went away. Now when Tsʻao Tsʻao approached the dangerous part of the road near Tʻaishan, Kuo Chia warned him to take care as there was doubtless an ambush. But his master laughed, “We know all his dispositions. Do you think he has laid an ambush? I shall tell Tsʻao Jên to besiege Yenchou and I shall go to Puyang.” When Chʻên Kung heard of the enemy’s approach he spoke, saying “The enemy will be fatigued with long marches so attack quickly before they have time to recover.”