nstrated with Cao Cao； saying； 〃The Supreme Ancestor secured the Land Within the Passes* and his illustrious successor on the throne； Liu Xiu； took Henei。 They both first consolidated their position whereby they could mand the whole empire。 Their whole progress was from success to success。 Hence they acplished their great designs in spite of difficulties。
〃Illustrious Sir； your Land Within the Passes and your Henei are Yanzhou and the Yellow River； which you had first； and which is of the utmost strategic point of the empire。 If you undertake this expedition against Xuzhou leaving many troops here for defense； you will not acplish your design； if you leave too few； Lu Bu will fall upon us。 And finally if you lose this and fail to gain Xuzhou； whither will you retire？ That region is not vacant。 Although Tao Qian has gone； Liu Bei holds it； and since the people support him； they will fight to the death for him。 To abandon this place for that is to exchange the great for the small； to barter the trunk for the branches； to leave safety and run into danger。 I would implore you to reflect well。〃
Cao Cao replied； 〃It is not a good plan to keep soldiers idle here during such scarcity。〃
〃If that is so； it would be more advantageous to attack the eastern counties of Chencheng； Yingchuan； and Runan； and feed your army on their supplies。 The remnants of the Yellow Scarves； He Yi and Huang Shao； are there with stores and treasures of all kinds that they have amassed by plundering wherever they could。 Rebels of their stamp are easily broken。 Break them； and you can feed your army with their grain。 Moreover； both the court and the mon people will join in blessing you。〃
This new design appealed strongly to Cao Cao； and he quickly began his preparations to ca