That　night　they　assembled　all　the　mon　people　of　the　place　and　forced　into　their　hands　swords　and　spears。　At　daylight　they　opened　the　four　gates；　and　a　huge　party　with　much　shouting　came　out　at　each；　peasantry　carrying　arms　in　front；　and　soldiers　behind　them。　They　pushed　on　toward　Cao　Cao's　camps；　and　a　melee　began　lasted　till　near　midday。　But　this　was　quite　indecisive；　although　heaps　of　dead　lay　everywhere。

Seeing　that　success　was　at　best　only　partial；　Cao　Cao　rode　out　to　the　hills　near　and　thence　had　the　drums　beaten　for　a　new　attack　under　his　own　eye。　His　officers　and　troops；　seeing　that　he　could　observe　them　in　person；　exerted　themselves　to　the　utmost；　and　Yuan　Tan's　army　was　severely　defeated。　Of　the　peasantry　driven　into　the　battlefield；　multitudes　were　slain。

Cao　Hong；　who　displayed　very　great　valor；　burst　into　the　press　of　battle　and　met　Yuan　Tan　face　to　face。　The　two　slashed　an