e would punish any breach of the law whatever the rank of the offender。 Now an uncle of Eunuch Jian Shuo* was found one night in the streets with a sword and was arrested。 In due course he was beaten。 Thereafter no one dared to offend again； and Cao Cao's name became heard。 Soon he became a magistrate of Dunqiu。
At the outbreak of the Yellow Scarves； Cao Cao held the rank of General and was given mand of five thousand horse and foot to help fight at Yingchuan。 He just happened to fall in with the newly defeated rebels whom he cut to pieces。 Thousands were slain and endless banners and drums and horses were captured； together with huge sums of money。 However； Zhang Ba and Zhang Lian got away； and after an interview with Huangfu Song； Cao Cao went in pursuit of them。
Meanwhile Liu Bei and his brothers were hastening toward Yingchuan； when they heard the din of battle and saw flames rising high toward the sky。 But they arrived too late for the fighting。 They saw Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun to whom they told the intentions of Lu Zhi。
〃The rebel power is quite broken here；〃 said the manders； 〃but they will surely make for Guangzong to join Zhang Jue。 You can do nothing better than hasten back。〃
The three brothers thus retraced their steps。 Half way along the road they met a party of soldiers escorting a prisoner in a cage…cart。 When they drew near； they saw the prisoner was no other than Lu Zhi； the man they were going to help。 Hastily dismounting； Liu Bei asked what had happened。
Lu Zhi explained； 〃I had surrounded the rebels and was on the point of smashing them； when Zhang Jue employed some of his supernatural powers and prevented my victory。 The court sent down Eunuch Zhuo Feng to inquire into my failure； and that official demanded a bribe