Yuan Shao laughed； saying； 〃I know what you are suffering from： It is called the Imperial Hereditary Seal！〃
This was a shock to Sun Jian； and he paled but said； 〃Whence these words？〃
Yuan Shao said； 〃The armies were raised for the good of the state and to relieve it from oppression。 The seal is state property； and since you have got hold of it； you should publicly hand it over to me as chief。 When Dong Zhuo has been slain； it must go back to the government。 What do you mean by concealing it and going away？〃
〃How could the seal get into my hands？〃 said Sun Jian。
〃Where is the article out of the well near the Hall of Paragons？〃
〃I have it not： Why harass me thus？〃
〃Quickly produce it； or it will be the worst for you！〃
Sun Jian pointing toward the heavens as an oath said； 〃If I have this jewel and am hiding it myself； may my end be unhappy and my death violent！〃
The lords all said； 〃After an oath like this； we think he cannot have it。〃
Then Yuan Shao called out his informant。
〃When you pulled that thing out of the well； was this man there？〃 asked he of Sun Jian。
Sun Jian's anger burst forth； and he sprang forward to kill the man。
Yuan Shao also drew his sword； saying； 〃You touch that soldier and it is an insult to me！〃
Behind Sun Jian； Generals Cheng Pu； Huang Gai； and Han Dang stepped forth； behind Yuan Shao； Generals Yan Liang and Wen Chou were ready to act。 In a moment on all sides swords flew from their scabbards。 But the confusion was stayed by the efforts of the others； and Sun Jian left the assembly。 Soon he broke up his camp and marched to his own place。
Yuan Shao was not satisfied。 He wrote to Jingzhou Region and sent the letter by a trusty hand to tell Imperial Protector Liu Biao to stop Sun Jian and take away the seal。
Just after this came the news of the defeat and misfortune of Cao Cao； and when he was ing home； Yuan Shao sent out to wele him and conduct him into camp。 They also prepared a feast to console him。
During the feast Cao Cao said sadly； 〃My object was for the public good； and all you gentlemen nobly supported me。 My plan was to get Yuan Shao with his Henei troops to approach Mengching； and my force at Qiao to keep Chenggao； while the others of you to hold Suanzao； to close the passes of Huanyuan and Daigu； and to take possession of the granaries； to control the points of vantage； and thus to secure the Capital District。 I planned for Yuan Shu with his Nanyang army to occupy the counties of Danshi and Xilin and go into Wu Pass to help the three supports。 All were to fortify their positions and not to fight。 Advantage lay in a diverse military coalition that could show the empire a possibility of dealing with the rebellion。 We could have convinced the people to side with us against Dong Zhuo。 Victory would have been ours at once。 But then came delays and doubts and inaction； and the confidence of the people was lost； and I am ashamed。〃
＇e＇ Liu Dai was the Imperial Protector of Yanzhou at that time。
No reply was possible and the guests dispersed。 Cao Cao saw that the others mistrusted him； and in his heart knew that nothing could be acplished。 So he led off his force to Yanzhou Region*。
Then Gongsun Zan said to Liu Bei； 〃This Yuan Shao is an incapable； and things will turns chaotic。 We had better go too。〃
So he broke camp and went north。 At Pingyuan he left Liu Bei in mand and went to strengthen his own position and refresh his troops。
The Imperial Protector of Yanzhou； Liu Dai； wished to borrow grain of the Governor of Dongjun； Qiao Mao。 Being denied； Liu Dai attacked the camp； killed Qiao Mao and took over all his army。 Yuan Shao seeing the confederacy breaking up also marched away and went east。
On the way home； Sun Jian was passing through Jingzhou Region。 The Imperial Protector of Jingzhou； Liu Biao； was a scion of the imperial house and a native of Shanyang。 As a young man he had made friends with many famous people； and he and his panions were called the Eight Wise Ones。 The other seven were：
。1。 Chen Xiang from Runan
。2。 Fan Pang from Runan
。3。 Kong Yu from Luting
。4。 Fan Kang from Bohai
。5。 Tan Fu from Shanyang
。6。 Zhang Jian from Shanyang
。7。 Cen Zhi from Nanyang
Liu Biao was friends with all these。 He had three famous persons who helped him in the government of his region。 They were Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue from Yanping； and Cai Mao from Xiangyang。
When Yuan Shao's letter detailing the fault of Sun Jian arrived； Liu Biao ordered Kuai Yue and Cai Mao with ten thousand soldiers to bar the way。 When Sun Jian drew near； the force was arranged in fighting order and the leaders were in the front。
〃Why are you thus barring the road with armed troops？〃 asked Sun Jian。
〃Why do you； a servant of Han； secrete the Emperor's special seal？ Leave it with me at once and you go free；〃 said Kuai Yue。
Sun Jian angrily ordered out General Huang Gai。 On the other side Cai Mao rode forth with his sword set to strike。 But after a few bouts Huang Gai dealt Cai Mao a blow with the iron whip on the armor just over the heart。 Cai Mao turned his steed and fled； and Sun Jian got through with a sudden rush。
However； there arose the sound of gongs and drums on the hills behind； and there was Liu Biao in person with a large army。
Sun Jian rode straight up to him and bowing low spoke； 〃Why did you； on the faith of a letter from Yuan Shao； try to coerce the chief of a neighboring region？〃
〃You have concealed the state jewel； and I want you to restore it；〃 was Liu Biao's reply。
〃If I have this thing； may I die a violent death！〃
〃If you want me to believe you； let me search your baggage。〃
〃What force have you that you dare e to flout me thus？〃
And only Liu Biao's prompt retirement prevented a battle。 Sun Jian proceeded on his way。 But from the rear of the second hill an ambush suddenly discovered itself； and Kuai Yue and Cai Mao were still pursuing。 Sun Jian seemed entirely hemmed in。
What does a man to hold the state jewel for；
If its possession lead to strife？
How Sun Jian got clear of the difficulty will presently be told。
Main Next to Chapter 7 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Yuan Shao Fights Gongsun Zan At The River Pan；
Sun Jian Attacks Liu Biao Across The Great River。
＇e＇ The Yangtze or Yangzi river； which flows from west to east to the Pacific at Shanghai。
At the close of the last chapter Sun Jian was surrounded。 However； aided by Cheng Pu； Huang Gai； and Han Dang； he eventually fought his way through； though with the loss of more than half his troops。 Sun Jian he returned to the South Land； southeast of the Great River*。 Henceforward Sun Jian and Liu Biao were open enemies。
Yuan Shao was in Henei。 Being short of supplies； he sent to borrow from the Imperial Protector of Jizhou； Han Fu； whence he obtained the wherewithal to support his army。
Then one of Yuan Shao's advisers； Peng Ji； said to him； 〃You are really the strongest power here about。 Why then depend upon another for food？ Jizhou Region is rich and wide。 Why not seize it？〃
〃I have no good plan；〃 replied Yuan Shao。
〃You could secretly send a letter to Gongsun Zan； asking him to attack； promising him your support。 Imperial Protector Han Fu of Jizhou； being incapable； must ask you to take over his region； and you will get it without lifting a finger。〃
So the letter was sent。 When Gongsun Zan saw therein the proposal to make a joint attack and divide the territory； he agreed to give his help。 In the meantime Yuan Shao had sent to warn Han Fu of Gongsun Zan's threat。 Han Fu sought advice from Advisers Xun Chang and Xin Ping。
Xun Chang said； 〃Governor Gongsun Zan of Beiping is manding a huge and strong army。 If he came to attack us； we could not stand against him； especially if he had the help of Liu Bei and his brothers。 At present； Yuan Shao is bolder than most； and he has many able and famous leaders under him。 You cannot do better than ask him to assist in administering this region。 Yuan Shao will certainly treat you with generosity； and you need have no fear from Gongsun Zan。〃
Han Fu agreed and sent a message to Yuan Shao by the hand of Guan Chun。
But mander Geng Wu remonstrated with his master； saying； 〃Yuan Shao is a needy man with a hungry army and as dependent on us for existence as an infant in arms on its mother。 Stop the flow of milk and the infant dies。 Why should you hand the region over to him？ It is nothing less than letting a tiger into the sheepfold。〃
Han Fu replied； 〃I am one of the clients of the Yuan family； and I know the abilities of Yuan Shao； which is far better than mine。 Why are you all so jealous？ The ancients counseled yielding to the sage。〃
Geng Wu sighed； 〃Jizhou is lost！〃
When the news got abroad； more than thirty officers of Jizhou left their employment and the city。 However； Geng Wu and Guan Chun hid in the suburbs to await the arrival of Yuan Shao。
＇e＇ Each region had a capital； which was often of the same name with the region。
They had not long to wait。 Some days later； Yuan Shao with his soldiers came； and Geng Wu and Guan Chun tried to assassinate him with knives。 This attempt failed。 Yuan Shao's generals； Yan Liang and Wen Chou； beheaded Geng Wu and Guan Chun instantly。 Thus both of them died； and the object of their hatred en