Tsʻao Tsʻao was placed in a quandary. He would go to attack this combination but he feared lest Lü Pu would attack the capital if he left it. So he sought the advice of Hsün Yü. “Lü Pu has no notion of a policy. He is led astray by any little advantage that presents itself to his eyes. All you need do is to obtain promotion for him, giving him some additional title, and tell him to make peace with Yüan-tê and he will do it.” “Good,” said Tsʻao Tsʻao and he acted upon the hint and sent an officer with the official announcement and a letter urging peace, while he went on with preparations to meet the other danger. When ready he marched out in three divisions. Hsiahou Tun was the van-leader and they went to Yüshui River and camped there. Chia Hsü succeeded in persuading Chang Hsiu of the hopelessness of resistance. “You would do well to surrender since his army is too large for you to oppose,” said he. Seeing the truth of this Hsiu sent his adviser to propose submission. Tsʻao Tsʻao was greatly pleased with the messenger, admiring his ready and fluent repartee, and tried to win him to his service. “I was formerly with Li Tsʻui and was held guilty with him. Now I am with Chang who accepts my advice and I should not like to abandon him,” said Chia Hsü. He left and next day conducted his master into Tsʻao Tsʻao’s presence. Tsʻao was generous. Then he entered Wanchʻêng, the greater part of the army being put in camp outside where the lines extended some ten li. Great banquets were given every day and Tsʻao Tsʻao was always being entertained. One day, when Tsʻao Tsʻao returned to his quarters in a more than usual merry mood, he asked the attendants if there were any singing girls in the city. The son of his elder brother heard the question and said, “Peeping through one of the partitions last evening I saw a perfectly beautiful woman in one of the courts. They told me she was the wife of Chang Hsiu’s uncle. She is very lovely.” Tsʻao Tsʻao, inflamed by the description given him of the beauty, told his nephew to go and bring her to visit him. He did so supported by an armed escort and very soon the woman stood before him. She was a beauty indeed and Tsʻao Tsʻao asked her name. She replied, “Thy handmaid was wife to Chang Chi; I was born of the Tsou family.” “Do you know who I am?” “I have known the Minister by reputation a long time. I am happy to see him and be permitted to bow before him,” said she. “It was for your sake that I allowed Chang Hsiu to submit; otherwise I would have slain him and cut him off root and branch,” said Tsʻao. “Indeed, then, I owe my very life to you; I am very grateful,” said she. “To see you is a glimpse of paradise, but there is one thing I should like better. Stay here and go with me to the capital where I will see that you are properly cared for. What do you say to that?” She could but thank him. “But Chang Hsiu will greatly wonder at my prolonged absence and gossips will begin to talk,” said she.