《资治通鉴·汉纪·汉纪五十五》
先派遣使者将消灭公孙瓒的捷报呈献天子，如果捷报不能上达天子，就可以上表指出曹操断绝我们与朝廷的联系，然后出兵进驻黎阳，逐渐向黄河以南发展。同时多造船只，整修武器，分派精锐的骑兵去骚扰曹操的边境，使他不得安定，而我们以逸待劳，这样，坐着就可以统一全国。 
若不得通，乃表曹操隔我王路，然后进屯黎阳，渐营河南，益作舟舡，缮修器械，分遣精骑抄其边鄙，令彼不得安，我取其逸。如此，可坐定也。 
First, send an envoy to submit the good news of eliminating Gongsun Zan to the emperor. If the good news cannot reach the emperor, it will be possible to submit a memorial to point out that Cao Cao has cut off our connection with the court, then send troops to enter into Liyang and gradually develop to the south of the Yellow River. At the same time, build more ships, repair weapons,  dispatch elite cavalry to harass Cao Cao's border, making him restless, while we wait for an opportunity to deal a fatal blow. In this way, we can unify the whole country while sitting still.