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sides。
Cao Cao and Zhang Liao； with a small party of horsemen； fled through the burning forest。 They could see no road in front； all seemed on fire。 Presently Mao Jie and Wen Ping； with a few more horsemen； joined them。 Cao Cao bade the soldiers seek a way through。
Zhang Liao pointed out； saying； 〃The only suitable road is through the Black Forest。〃
And they took it。
They had gone but a short distance when they were overtaken by a small party of the enemy； and a voice cried； 〃Cao Cao； stop！〃
It was Lu Meng； whose ensign soon appeared against the fiery background。 Cao Cao urged his small party of fugitives forward； bidding Zhang Liao defend him from Lu Meng。
Soon after Cao Cao saw the light of torches in front； and from a gorge there rushed out another force。 And the leader cried； 〃Ling Tong is here！〃
Cao Cao was scared。 His liver and gall both seemed torn from within。
But just then on his half right； he saw another pany approach and heard a cry； 〃Fear not； O Prime Minister； I am here to rescue you！〃
The speaker was Xu Huang； and he attacked the pursuers and held them off。
A move to the north seemed to promise escape； but soon they saw a camp on a hill top。 Xu Huang went ahead to reconnoiter and found the officers in mand were Cao Cao's Generals Ma Yan and Zhang Zi； who had once been in the service of Yuan Shao。 They had three thousand of northern soldiers in camp。 They had seen the sky redden with the flames； but knew not what was afoot so dared make no move。
This turned out lucky for Cao Cao who now found himself with a fresh force。 He sent Ma Yan and Zhang Zi； with a thousand troops； to clear the road ahead while the others remained as guard。 And he felt much more secure。
The two went forward； but before they had gone very far； they heard a shouting and a party of soldiers came out； the leader of them shouting； 〃I am Gan Ning of Wu！〃
Nothing daunted the two leaders； but the redoubtable Gan Ning cut down Ma Yan。 And when his brother warrior Zhang Zi set his spear and dashed forward； he too fell beneath a stroke from the fearsome sword of Gan Ning。 Both leaders dead； the soldiers fled to give Cao Cao the bad news。
At this time Cao Cao expected aid from Hefei； for he knew not that Sun Quan was barring the road。 But when Sun Quan saw the fires and so knew that his soldiers had won the day； he ordered Lu Xun to give the answering signal。 Taishi Ci seeing this came down and his force joined up with that of Lu Xun； and they went against Cao Cao。
As for Cao Cao； he could only get away toward Yiling。 On the road Cao Cao fell in with Zhang He and ordered him to protect the retreat。 Cao Cao pressed on as quickly as possible。
At the fifth watch he was a long way from the glare and he felt safer。 He asked； 〃What is this place？〃
They told him； 〃It is west of the Black Forest and north of Yidu。〃
Seeing the thickly crowded trees all about him； and the steep hills and narrow passes； Cao Cao threw up his head and laughed。
Those about him asked； 〃Why are you； Sir； so merry？〃
And he said； 〃I am only laughing at the stupidity of Zhou Yu and the ignorance of Zhuge Liang。 If they have only set an ambush there； as I would have done； why； there is no escape。〃
Cao Cao had scarcely finished his explanation when from both sides came a deafening roll of drums and flames sprang up to heaven。 Cao Cao nearly fell off his horse………he was so startled。
And from the side dashed in a troop； with Zhao Yun leading； who cried； 〃I am Zhao Yun； and long have I been waiting here！〃
Cao Cao ordered Xu Huang and Zhang He to engage this new opponent； and he himself rode off into the smoke and fire。 Zhao Yun did not pursue； he only captured the banners； and Cao Cao escaped。
The faint light of dawn showed a great black cloud all around； for the southeast wind had not ceased。 Suddenly began a heavy downpour of rain； wetting everyone to the skin； but still Cao Cao maintained his headlong flight till the starved faces of the soldiers made a halt imperative。 He told the men to forage in the villages about for grain and the means of making a fire。 But when these had been found and they began to cook a meal； another pursuing party came along； and Cao Cao again was terrified。 However； these proved to be Li Dian and Xu Chu escorting some of his advisers whom he saw with joy。
When giving the order to advance again； Cao Cao asked； 〃What places lay ahead？〃
They told him； 〃There are two roads。 One was the highway to South Yiling； and the other a mountain road to North Yiling。〃
〃Which is the shorter way to Jiangling？〃 asked Cao Cao。
〃The best way is to take the south road through Hulu Valley；〃 was the reply。
So Cao Cao gave orders to march that way。 By the time Hulu Valley was reached； the soldiers were almost starving and could march no more； horses too were worn out。 Many had fallen by the roadside。 A halt was then made； food was taken by force from the villagers； and as there were still some boilers left； they found a dry spot beside the hills where they could rest and cook。 And there they began to prepare a meal； boiling grain； and roasting strips of horse flesh。 Then they took off their wet clothes and spread them to dry。 The beasts； too； were unsaddled and turned out to graze。
Seated fortably in a somewhat open spot； Cao Cao suddenly looked up and began to laugh loud and long。
His panions； remembering the sequel of his last laugh； said； 〃Not long since； Sir； you laughed at Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang。 That resulted in the arrival of Zhao Yun and great loss of troops to us。 Why do you now laugh？〃
〃I am laughing again at the ignorance of the same two men。 If I were in their place； and conducting their campaign； I should have had an ambush here； just to meet us when we were tired out。 Then； even if we escaped with our lives； we should suffer very severely。 They did not see this； and therefore I am laughing at them。〃
Even at that moment behind them rose a great yell。 Thoroughly startled； Cao Cao threw aside his breastplate and leaped upon his horse。 Most of the soldiers failed to catch theirs； and then fires sprang up on every side and filled the mouth of the valley。 A force was arrayed before them and at the head was the man of ancient Yan； Zhang Fei； seated on his steed with his great spear leveled。
〃Whither would you flee； O rebel？〃 shouted he。
The soldiers grew cold within at the sight of the terrible warrior。 Xu Chu； mounted on a bare…backed horse； rode up to engage him； and Zhang Liao and Xu Huang galloped up to his aid。 The three gathered about Zhang Fei and a melee began； while Cao Cao made off at top speed。 The other leaders set off after him； and Zhang Fei pursued。 However； Cao Cao by dint of hard riding got away； and gradually the pursuers were out…distanced。 But many had received wounds。
As they were going。 the soldiers said； 〃There are two roads before us。 Which shall we take？〃
〃Which is the shorter？〃 asked Cao Cao。
〃The high road is the more level； but it is fifteen miles longer than the bye road which goes to Huarong Valley。 Only the latter road is narrow and dangerous； full of pits and difficult。〃
Cao Cao sent men up to the hill tops to look around。
They returned； saying： 〃There are several columns of smoke rising from the hills along the bye road。 The high road seems quiet。〃
Then Cao Cao bade them lead the way along the bye road。
〃Where smoke arises there are surely soldiers；〃 remarked the officers。 〃Why go this way？〃
〃Because the 'Book of War' says that the hollow is to be regarded as solid； and the solid as hollow。 That fellow Zhuge Liang is very subtle and has sent people to make those fires so that we should not go that way。 He has laid an ambush on the high road。 I have made up my mind； and I will not fall a victim to his wiles。〃
〃O Prime Minister； your conclusions are most admirable。 None other can equal you；〃 said the officers。
And the soldiers were sent along the bye road。 They were very hungry and many almost too weak to travel。 The horses too were spent。 Some had been scorched by the flames； and they rode forward resting their heads on their whips。 The wounded struggled on to the last of their strength。 All were soaking wet and all were feeble。 Their arms and accouterments were in a deplorable state； and more than half had been left upon the road they had traversed。 Few of the horses had saddles or bridles； for in the confusion of pursuit they had been left behind。 It was the time of greatest winter cold； and the suffering was indescribable。
Noticing that the leading party had stopped； Cao Cao sent to ask the reason。
The messenger returned； saying； 〃The rain water collected in the pits makes the ground a mire； and the horses cannot not move。〃
Cao Cao raged。 He said； 〃When soldiers e to hills； they cut a road； when they happen upon streams； they bridge them。 Such a thing as mud cannot stay an army。〃
So he ordered the weak and wounded to go to the rear and e on as they could； while the robust and able were to cut down trees； and gather herbage and reeds to fill up the holes。 And it was to be done without delay； or death would be the punishment of the disobedient or remiss。
So the soldiers dismounted and felled trees and cut bamboos； and they leveled the road。 And because of the imminence and fear of pursuit； a party of one hun