nly succeed。〃
〃Well； then； you must look out for an attack here while the camp is undefended。〃
〃That is already well provided for；〃 said Cao Cao gleefully。
The arrangements for the raid on the grain depot were made with extreme care to ensure success。 Cao Cao assigned Xun You； Jia Xu； and Cao Hong to guard the main camp； together with Xu You； Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan to guard the left camp； Cao Ren and Li Dian to guard the right camp。 When all was ready they set out； Cao Cao himself in the center； with Zhang Liao and Xu Chu as van leaders and Xu Huang and Yu Jin as rear guard。 The army showed the ensigns of their opponents。 The troops carried bundles of grass and faggots to make a blaze。 The soldiers were gagged and the horses tied round the muzzles so as to prevent any noise。 They set out at dusk。
The night was fine and the stars shone brightly。
Ju Shou； still a prisoner in Yuan Shao's camp； saw the stars were very brilliant and told his gaolers to conduct him out to the central pavilion whence he could study them。 While watching he saw the planet Venus invade the quarter of the Bear and Lyra； which startled him very greatly。
〃Some misfortune is near！〃 said Ju Shou。
So although it was still night； he went to see his master。 But Yuan Shao was sleeping after indulgence in too much wine and was in bad humor。 However； when they had roused him saying that the prisoner had a secret message to deliver； he got up。
〃While I happened to be studying the aspect of the heavens；〃 said the night visitor； 〃I saw Venus； then between Hydra and Cancer； suddenly shoot into the neighborhood of the Bear and Lyra。 There is danger of a robber raid； and special precautions must be taken at the grain depot。 Lose no time in sending good s