He has many skillful strategists like Guo Tu； Xu You； Peng Ji； and Shen Pei； loyal leaders like Tian Feng and Ju Shou； and formidable generals like Yan Liang and Wen Chou； able manders like Gao Lan； Zhang He； Han Meng； and Chunyu Qiong。 You cannot say he is despicable。〃
Xun Yu laughed； saying； 〃His army is a rabble。 One general； Tian Feng； is bold but treacherous； another； Xu You； is greedy and ignorant； Shen Pei is devoted but stupid； Peng Ji is steady but useless。 And these four of such different temperaments； mutually inpatible； will make for confusion rather than efficiency。 The brave Yan Liang and Wen Chou are worthless and can be disposed of in the first battle； and the others such as Gao Lan； Zhang He； Han Meng； and Chunyu Qiong are poor； rough stuff。 What is the use even of their hundred thousands？〃
Kong Rong was silent； and Cao Cao smiled。
〃They are even as Xun Yu describes；〃 said Cao Cao。
Then Cao Cao issued orders。 Generals Liu Dai and Wang Zhong were to lead an army of fifty thousand troops； displaying the Prime Minister's banners； and march against Xuzhou to attack Liu Bei。
This Liu Dai had been Imperial Protector of Yanzhou but had surrendered to Cao Cao and entered Cao Cao's service after the fall of his region。 Cao Cao had given him a rank as Supernumerary Leader and now was disposed to make use of him。
Cao Cao himself took mand of a large army of two hundred thousand troops for a simultaneous attack on Yuan Shao at Liyang。
Adviser Cheng Yu said； 〃The two Liu Dai and Wang Zhong sent against Liu Bei are unequal to their task。〃
〃I know；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃They are not meant to fight Liu Bei。 It is merely a feint。 They have orders not to make any real attack till I have overe Yuan Shao。 Then Liu Bei will