After Cao Cao finished subjugating the north, he returned and moved the capital from Xu Chang to Ye City.

Then he planned and ready for the next move to conquer the south. Liu Bei and Liu Biao in Jing Zou were at the top of his list. Cao Cao ordered Cao Ren be the captin and Li Dian be his assistant to attack Liu Bei from the Fan Castle.

When Liu Bei left Master Shui Jing’s resident area, on his way back to Xin Ye, he met a scholar called Shan Fu. From the communication between Shan Fu and Liu Bei, Liu Bei aware that Shan Fu has extraordinary military knowledge. Therefore, Liu Bei recruited him as his military advisor. Then, both of them back to Xin Ye quickly and started training their troops.

After patrolling the Xin Ye city, Cao Cao ordered Cao Ren and Li Dian with 25,000 men to Fan Castle to attack the city. The captain of Fan Castle, the Lu brothers, Lu Kuang and Lu Xiang, welcomed Cao Ren and Li Dian and reported the present situation. Since Lu Brothers joined Cao Cao from Yuan Shao, they haven’t got chance to serve Cao Cao. Thus, this time they voluntary went to the battle with their 5,000 men approached Xin Ye through the river Yu.

The news of their coming arrived to Liu Bei’s ears. Lu Kuang and Lu Xiang are veteran generals with 5,000 men and Liu Bei only has 2,000 men. They were all worried about this. “Number does not ensure victory in a war”, Shan Fu came out and told Liu Bei. He continued, “Isn’t this perfect to test out our recently trained troops”? However, everyone seems lacked of confident to Shan Fu. Because that was the first time Shan Fu commanding the troops. Liu Bei did not think so, he let Shan Fu led the troops and fully supported him.

Shan Fu’s strategy was successful that all of Cao Ren’s army was utterly destroyed. By luring the enemies to a trap and eliminated them one by one that Shan Fu’s strategy. Guan Yu attack from the left side at the front, Zhang Fei attack from the right side, at the rear, Zhao Yun and Liu Bei lead the main army to fight the vanguard. Lu brothers was killed in this battled.

Liu Bei wondered whether Shan Fu is the man called “The Sleeping Dragon”. However, Shan Fu explained that the man he mentioned was much greater than him. He can’t compare with The Sleeping Dragon. And he didn’t know where The Sleeping Dragon was, at that time. This man won’t let anyone knew his name. Though he may hide his name, he’s just waiting for the right moment to show up.

The Lu brothers were completely defeated, nearly half were captured. Cao Ren was very angry and preparing the second attacked to seek for revenge. However, Li Dian advised Cao Ren report it Cao Cao before he make any decision and don’t underestimate the enemy. Cao Ren then, insisted not to report to Cao Cao because it’s not possible that 25,000 men can not defeat 2,000 men power.

Thus, Cao Ren led 25,000 men arrived to a land near Xin Ye. Since they departed from Fan Castle, it must be vulnerable. So, Shan Fu asked Liu Bei to take it. Sun Tzu once said: Ordinary men conduct war only taken by surprise and then try to win it. That’s what Shan Fu said.

Li Dian was the vanguard in the battle field. However, he was defeated by Zhao Yun. When Li Dian back to the camp, Cao Ren was mad and almost beheads Li Dian. This time, Cao Ren personally led the troops to the war. This time, Cao Ren used an unusual formation called the “Eight Gates to Impregnable Position”. The eight gates are: Desist, Survive, Injure, Confound, Exhibit, Perish, Surprise and Liberate. If someone goes through the Confound or the Perish gate, he will surely doom.

This formation only has one weakness. That is, if they break through the Survive gate and move west to the Exhibit gate, the formation will be broken. Therefore, Shan Fu asked Zhao Yun started attacked from southeast and start moving toward the west and stick to the direction. When the enemy is crumbling, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei immediately attacked from the other side.

The tactic was a huge success. Cao Ren’s “Eight Gates to Impregnable Positions” were broken by Zhao Yun’s army. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei finished the rest of the army. However, Cao Ren never gave up. He insisted to plan for a night raid although Li Dian advised him that Fan Castle was in danger and Liu Bei might anticipate Cao Ren’s night raid.

That night, no body in Liu Bei’s camp. The camp was very quiet.

Cao Ren thought the enemies wasn’t realized the night raid. When Cao Ren’s troops reached the camp, Liu Bei’s troops suddenly attacked from the back.

This time Cao Ren defeated again by Liu Bei’s troops. Cao Ren finally no choice but forced to go back to Fan Castle. On their way back to castle, Cao Ren met Zhang Fei’s troops and Zhang Fei managed to kill half of Cao Ren’s men.

Cao Ren therefore forced to flee by crossing a river.

When Cao Ren back to Fan Castle, he realized that the Castle was already taken over by Guan Yu. They ended up fled to the capital. Cao Ren and Li Dian were thoroughly defeated. Thanks to the ingenious tactic of a divine advisor, Shan Fu. Moreover, Cao Cao’s outpost, the Fan Castle, fell into Liu Bei’s hands.

After Cao Ren and Li Dian back to the capital, Cao Cao did not punish them as victories and defeats are normal in battles. However, Cao Cao started to do investigation about this man called Shan Fu. Cao Cao found out Shan Fu was only a fake name. His real name was Xu Shu, styled Shiyuan. He was an expert swordsman. Once he killed a man to avenge his friend. Thus, he adopted Shan Fu as his fake name to avoid being arrested. Then he studied under Master Shui Jing and became a scholar. And now, he has accomplished master.