nee to Cao Cao； which was ignoring the enmity between him and your father； rejecting the duties of brotherhood； and leaving behind you the shame of an alliance with the enemy。 If your brother； the successor to Jizhou； has acted unfraternally； your duty was to bend your inclination to follow him and wait till the state of affairs had settled。 Would it not have been very noble to bring about the redress of wrongs？〃
And to Yuan Shang； Liu Biao wrote：
〃Your brother； the ruler of Qingzhou； is of an impulsive temperament and confuses right with wrong。 You ought first to have destroyed Cao Cao in order to put an end to the hatred which your father bore him and； when the situation had bee settled； to have endeavored to redress the wrongs。 Would not that have been well？ If you persist in following this mistaken course； remember the hound and the hare； both so wearied that the peasant got them all。〃
From this letter Yuan Tan saw that Liu Biao had no intention of helping him； and feeling he alone could not withstand Cao Cao。 He abandoned Pingyuan and fled to Nanpi； whither Cao Cao pursued him。
The weather was very cold and the river was frozen； so that the grain boats could not move。 Wherefore Cao Cao ordered the inhabitants to break the ice and tow the boats。 When the peasants heard the order they ran away。 Cao Cao angrily wished to arrest and behead them。 When they heard this； they went to his camp in a body and offered their heads to the sword。
〃If I do not kill you； my order will not be obeyed；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃Yet supposing I cut off your heads； but I cannot bear to do that severity。 Quickly flee to the hills and hide so that my soldiers do not capture you。〃
The peasants left weeping。
Then Yuan Tan led out his army against Cao C