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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 sa
