found a person fit to undertake the task。 Since you； Cao Cao； have so noble a desire； I willingly devote all my property to the cause。〃
This was joyful news； and the call to arms was forthwith prepared and sent far and near。 So they established a corps of volunteers and set up a large white recruiting banner with the words Loyalty and Honor inscribed thereon。 The response was rapid； and volunteers came in like rain drops in number。
＇e＇ Xiahou Ying （？…173） a major general of Liu Bang。 Ennobled as the Marquis of Ruyin and monly called the Lord of Tang。 。。。。。
One day came a certain Yue Jing from Yangping and another Li Dian from Julu。 These two were appointed to Cao Cao's personal staff。 Another was one Xiahou Dun from Qiao。 He was descended from Xiahou Ying* of old。 Xiahou Dun had been trained from his early boyhood to use the spear and the club。 When only fourteen he had been attached to a certain master…in…arms。 One day one person spoke disrespectfully of his master； and Xiahou Dun killed that person。 For this deed； however； he had to flee and had been an exile for some time。 Now he came to offer his services； acpanied by his cousin Xiahou Yuan。 Each brought a thousand trained soldiers。 Really these two were brothers of Cao Cao by birth； since Cao Cao's father was originally of the Xiahou family； and had only been adopted into the Cao family。
A few days later came Cao Cao's two cousins； Cao Ren and Cao Hong； each with one thousand followers。 These two were acplished horsemen and trained in the use of arms。
Then drill began； and Wei Hong spent his treasure freely in buying clothing； armor； flags； and banners。 From all sides poured in gifts of grain。
When Yuan Shao received Cao Cao's call to arms； he collected all those under his