Liu Pei thanked him and went his way. The party took the road by Liangchʻêng and as they were going out they saw not far off a thick cloud of dust. When the troop came nearer they found they were men of Tsʻao Tsʻao’s army, and with them they travelled to the main camp where they found Tsʻao Tsʻao himself. He wept at the sad story of Liu’s distress, the loss of the city, his brothers and wife and children. When he told him of the hunter who had sacrificed his wife to feed them Tsʻao sent the hunter a present of a hundred ounces of silver as a reward. [11] The march then was continued to Chipei, where Hsiahou Yüan welcomed them. They heard that his brother was still ill from the wound he had received in the eye. Tsʻao Tsʻao went to the sick man’s bedside to see him and had him removed to Hsütu for skilled treatment. Presently scouts, sent out particularly for tidings of Lü Pu, returned saying that he had allied himself with the bandits in the east and they were attacking Yenchou. At this Tsʻao Tsʻao despatched Tsʻao Jên with three companies to take Pʻeichʻêng, while he, in conjunction with Liu Pei, moved against Lü Pu. They went east. As they neared Artemisia Pass (Hsiao Kuan) they met the Tʻaishan brigands with three legions barring their road. However, they were easily beaten back and were chased right up to the pass. The scouts told Lü Pu, who was then in Hsüchou, whither he had gone to start an expedition to save Hsiaopʻei. He left the protection of his city to Chʻên Kuei and set out with Chʻên Têng. As this latter was starting Chʻên Kuei said to him, “Remember the words of Tsʻao Tsʻao, that the business of the east is in our hands. Now is our moment for Lü Pu is about to suffer defeat.” “Father, your son can look after the outside. But when he returns beaten you must arrange with Mi Chu to keep him out of the city. I shall find a means of escape,” said Têng. “His family is here and he has many friends. How about them?” “I also have a scheme to settle them.” Then he went to see Lü Pu, to whom he said, “Hsüchou is surrounded and this city will be fiercely attacked. We ought to provide for possible retreat and I advise storing grain and money in Hsiaopʻei. We could retreat there if the day went adversely. Why not see about this in good time?” “Your words are indeed wise. I will also send my wife and little ones thither,” said Lü. The family left under escort and with them was sent much grain and silver. And then the soldiers marched to the relief of the pass. About half way there Chʻên Têng said, “Let me go first to reconnoitre so that you, my lord, may advance with confidence.” Thus Chʻên Têng parted company with his chief and preceded him to the pass where he was received by Chʻên Kung. He said, “The Marquis greatly wonders why you do not advance. He is going to enquire into it.”