tell off his troops to meet this new turn of affairs； and while he is making these new dispositions； we can have him at great disadvantage。〃
Cao Cao adopted the suggestion； and care was taken that the report spread far around。 It came to the ears of Yuan Shao's soldiers； and they repeated it in camp。 Yuan Shao believed it and ordered his son Yuan Tan with fifty thousand troops to rescue Yejun； and General Xin Ming with another fifty thousand to go to Liyang； and they marched away at once。 Cao Cao heard that these armies had started； and at once dispatched troops in eight divisions to make a simultaneous attack on the nearly empty camp。 Yuan Shao's troops were too dispirited to fight and gave way on all sides。
Yuan Shao without waiting to don his armor went forth in simple dress with an ordinary cap upon his head and mounted his steed。 His youngest son； Yuan Shang； followed him。 Four of the enemy generals………Zhang Liao； Xu Chu； Xu Huang； and Yu Jin………with their forces pressed in his rear； and Yuan Shao hastened across the river； abandoning all his documents and papers； baggage； treasure； and stores。 Only eight hundred horsemen followed him over the stream。 Cao Cao's troops followed hard but could not e up with him。 However； they captured all his impedimenta； and they slew some eighty thousands of his army so that the watercourses ran blood and the drowned corpses could not be counted。 It was a most plete victory for Cao Cao； and he made over all the spoil to the army。
Among the papers of Yuan Shao was found a bundle of letters showing secret correspondence between him and many persons in the capital and army。
Cao Cao's personal staff suggested that the names of those concerned should be abstracted and the persons arrested； but their lord said；