on to plundering the surrounding country。 They wanted him to go against it without loss of time。
〃With our soldiers fresh from victory； the city will fall at a tap of the drum；〃 said they。
So Cao Cao marched the army straight to the city。 An attack was quite unexpected but the two leaders； Xue Lan and Li Fang； hurried out their few soldiers to fight。 Xu Chu； the latest recruit； said he wished to capture these two and he would make of them an introductory gift。
The task was given him and he rode forth。 Li Fang with his halberd advanced to meet Xu Chu。 The bat was brief as Li Fang fell in the second bout。 His colleague Xue Lan retired with his troops。 But he found the drawbridge had been seized by Li Dian； so that he could not get shelter within the city。 Xue Lan led his men toward Juye。 But Lu Qian pursued and killed him with an arrow。 His soldiers scattered to the four winds。 And thus Yanzhou was recaptured。
Next Cheng Yu proposed an expedition to take Puyang。 Cao Cao marched his army out in perfect order。 The van leaders were Dian Wei and Xu Chu； Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan led the left wing； Li Dian and Yue Jing led the right wing； Yu Jin and Lu Qian guarded the rear。 Cao Cao himself manded the center。
When they approached Puyang； Lu Bu wished to go out in person and alone to attack； but his adviser Chen Gong protested； saying； 〃General； you should not go out until the arrival of the other officers。〃
〃Whom do I fear？〃 said Lu Bu。
So he threw caution to the winds and went out of the city。 He met his foes and he began to revile them。 The redoubtable Xu Chu went to fight with him； but after twenty bouts neither batant was any the worse。
〃He is not the sort that one man can overe；〃 said Cao Cao。
And he sent