es the wise； and is courteous to his subordinates。 I wish him to succeed； but I wish that you tell me your opinions。〃
Guo Tu said； 〃Yuan Tan is your first born； and he is in a position of authority beyond your control。 If you pass over the eldest in favor of the youngest； you sow the seeds of turbulence。 The prestige of the army has been somewhat lowered and enemies are on our border。 Should you add to our weakness by making strife between father and son； elder and younger brothers？ Rather consider how the enemy may be repulsed and turn to the question of the heirship later。〃
Then the natural hesitation of Yuan Shao asserted itself； and he could not make up his mind。 Soon came news that his sons Yuan Tan was ing from Qingzhou with sixty thousand troops； Yuan Xi ing from Youzhou with fifty thousand troops； and his nephew Gao Gan ing from Bingzhou with fifty thousand troops to help him； and he turned his attention to preparations for fighting Cao Cao。
When Cao Cao drew up his victorious army on the banks of Yellow River； the aged natives brought an offering of food and sauce to bid him wele。 Their venerable and hoary appearances led Cao Cao to treat them with the highest respect。
He invited them to be seated and said to them； 〃Venerable Sirs； what may be your age？〃
〃We are nearly a hundred；〃 replied the old villagers。
〃I should be very sorry if my army had disturbed your village；〃 said Cao Cao。
One of them said； 〃In the days of the Emperor Huan a yellow star was seen over by way of the ancient states of Chu and Song in the southwest。 Yin Kui of Liaodong； who was learned in astrology； happened to be passing the night here； and he told us that the star foretold the arrival in these parts； fifty years hence； of a true and hone