So he refused. The letter refusing help added to Yüan’s anger. “What next from this callow youth?” cried he. “I will smite him before I deal with the other.” But Yang Ta-chiang dissuaded him from this course. Having refused help to his powerful rival Sun Tsʻê thought it wise to take measures for his own safety. So he stationed an army at Chiangkʻou. Soon after came a messenger from Tsʻao Tsʻao bearing his appointment as Prefect of Kueichi with orders to raise an army and reduce Yüan Shu. Sun Tsʻê was inclined to carry out these orders but he called a council at which Chang Chao opposed this course. Said he, “Although recently defeated Yüan Shu has many men and ample supplies. He is not to be attacked lightly. You had better write to Tsʻao Tsʻao persuading him to attack the south and we will be auxiliaries. Between the two armies Shu must certainly be defeated. If by the remotest chance we lose, we have Tsʻao Tsʻao to come to our rescue.” This plan was adopted and a messenger was sent to lay it before Tsʻao. In the meantime Tsʻao had reached Hsütu where his first thought was to institute sacrifices to his beloved lost leader Tien Wei. He conferred rank upon his son Tien Man and took him into his own palace to be cared for. Presently arrived Sun Tsʻê’s messenger with letters and next came a report that Yüan Shu, being short of food, had made a raid on Chʻên-liu. Tsʻao thought the moment opportune, so he issued orders for the expedition south, leaving Tsʻao Jên to hold the city. The army marched, horse and foot, seventeen legions, with commissariat waggons of food to the number of over a thousand. Messages were sent to summon Sun Tsʻê, Liu Pei and Lü Pu to assemble on the Yüchang borders. Liu Pei was the first to arrive and he was called in to the Minister’s tent. After the usual salutations two human heads were produced. “Whose are these?” asked Tsʻao in surprise. “The heads of Han Hsien and Yang Fêng.” “Why did this happen?” “They were sent to control Itu and Langya and allowed their soldiers to plunder the people. Bitter complaints arose so I invited them to a banquet and my brothers despatched them when I gave the signal by dropping a cup. Their men gave in at once and now I have to apologise for my fault.” “You have removed an evil, which is a grand service: why talk of a fault?” And he praised Yüan-tê’s action. When the joint army reached Lü Pu’s borders he came to meet it. Tsʻao Tsʻao spoke graciously to him and conferred upon him the title of Generalissimo of the Left, promising him a suitable seal as soon as he returned to the capital. Lü Pu was very pleased. Then the three armies were made into one force, Tsʻao Tsʻao being in the centre and the other two on the wings. Hsiahou Tun and Yü Chin were leaders of the van.