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〃When Dong Cheng got the Girdle Edict from the Emperor； we formed a society； of which Liu Bei was one； pledged to put down rebellion。 However； we acplished nothing； for Dong Cheng was put to death and Liu Bei was unfortunate； while I escaped to the west。 However； I hear that Liu Bei now holds Jingzhou； and I am inclined to carry out the plan we made so long ago。 But here I am summoned by Cao Cao and what is to be done？〃
Ma Chao replied； 〃Cao Cao has the mand of the Emperor to call you。 If you do not go； that will mean disobeying an imperial mand and you will be punished。 Obey the summons in so far as to go to the capital； where you may be able to arrange to carry out your original intention。〃
But Ma Teng's nephew； Ma Dai； held other opinions and opposed this。
Said he； 〃Cao Cao's designs are unfathomable。 If you go； Uncle； I fear you will suffer。〃
〃Let me lead the army against the capital；〃 said Ma Chao。 〃Can we not purge the empire of evil？〃
But his father said； 〃You must take mand of the Qiang troops for the defense of our territory here。 I will take with me your two brothers and your cousin。 When Cao Cao knows that you have the Qiangs at your call and that Han Sui is prepared to assist； he will hardly dare to work any harm to me。〃
〃Father； if you must go； be careful not to enter the city till you know exactly what plots and machinations are afoot。〃
〃I will certainly take great care； so do not be too anxious；〃 said the father。
The order of march was prepared。 The governor took five thousand troops； with his two sons………Ma Xiu and Ma Tie………as Leaders of the Van and his nephew Ma Dai bringing up the rear。 These set out along the tortuous road to the capital。 At seven miles distance from Xuchang they camped。
When Cao Cao heard of Ma Teng's arrival； he called to him Minister Huang Kui and said to him； 〃Ma Teng is to be sent against the south； and I shall send you as Adviser。 You are first to go to his camp and express my congratulations on his arrival and say that as Xiliang is so distant and transport very difficult； he is not to take too large an army of his own。 I will send a large force。 Also tell him to e in soon for audience of the Emperor。 I will send him supplies。〃
With these instructions Huang Kui went to Ma Teng； who brought out wine and entertained him well。
In his cups the messenger grew confidential and said； 〃My father perished at the hands of Li Jue and Guo Si； and I have always nourished resentment。 Now there is another rebel in power wronging our Prince。〃
〃Who is that？〃 asked Ma Teng。
〃The wrong doer is that rebel Cao Cao； of course。 Do you mean to say you do not know？〃
However； Ma Teng was careful。 He thought it very likely that these words were but a trap for him； so he pretended to be greatly shocked and begged his guest to be careful lest he be overheard。
But Huang Kui cared not； shouting； 〃Then you have quite forgotten the Girdle Edict； eh？〃
Ma Teng began to see Huang Kui was sincere and presently became confidential in turn and told his guest all his schemes。
〃Cao Cao wants you to go in to audience。 There is no good intention there。 Do not go；〃 said Huang Kui。 〃You lead your army up close to the city and get Cao Cao to e and review them。 When he es； assassinate him。〃
They two settled how this plan could be worked out and the messenger； still hot with anger and excitement； returned to his home。
Seeing Huang Kui so disturbed in mind； his wife； Lady Zhi； asked him what was wrong。 But he would tell her nothing。 However； he had a concubine； Li Chunxiang。 And it happened that she had an intrigue with the wife's younger brother； Miao Ze； who much desired to marry her。 The concubine who also saw her lord's displeasure； spoke of it to her paramour； and he told her she could probably draw from him what was wrong by a leading question。
〃Ask him what is the truth about two men； Liu Bei and Cao Cao？ Who is the wicked one；〃 suggested Miao Ze。
That evening Huang Kui went to the apartments of his concubine； and she presently put the question proposed by her lover。
Her lord； still rather intoxicated； said； 〃You are not an official； still you know right from wrong as well as I。 My enemy； and the man I would slay if I could； is Cao Cao。〃
〃But why？ And if you wish to slay him； why do you not do something？〃 said she。
〃I have done something。 I have settled with General Ma Teng to assassinate Cao Cao at the review。〃
Li Chunxiang of course told her paramour； who told Cao Cao； and Cao Cao made his arrangements to defeat the scheme。 He called up his trusty generals and gave them orders for the morrow and； this done； he arrested Huang Kui and all his household。
Next day； as arranged； Ma Teng and his western troops came close up to the wall； and among the flags and banners he discerned that of the Prime Minister himself； whereby he knew that Cao Cao would hold the review in person。
So Ma Teng rode forward。 Suddenly a bomb exploded； and at this signal there appeared bodies of armed troops in four directions： Right and left； front and rear； led by Xu Chu； Xiahou Yuan； Cao Hong； and Xu Huang。 The western forces were quite hemmed in。 Ma Teng then saw the mistake he had made； and he and his two sons fought valiantly to free themselves from the trap。 The youngest son………Ma Tie………soon fell in the volleys of arrows。 Father and son rode this way and that； seeking a way out； but failed on every side。 Both were sorely wounded； and when their steeds fell from their many arrow wounds； both were captured。
Ma Teng； Ma Xiu； and the miserable Huang Kui who could not keep his counsel； were brought before Cao Cao。 Huang Kui loudly protested his innocence。 Cao Cao then called in the witness Miao Ze。
〃That worthless scoundrel has spoiled all my plans！〃 cried Ma Teng against Huang Kui。 〃Now I cannot slay the rebel and purge my country。 But it is the will of God！〃
Father and son were dragged forth； the father uttering volleys of abuse all the time。 And so three men were executed in this adventure。
The sons and father share one niche of fame；
For purest loyalty their praise the same。
To their own hurt the rebels they withstood；
Content to die to make their pledges good。
In blood the solemn oath they did indite
To slay the wicked and preserve the right。
A worthy father's worthy sons by western bride；
Old Waves Queller's name his grandson glorified。
〃I desire no other reward than Li Chunxiang as wife；〃 said the betrayer； Miao Ze。
Cao Cao smiled and said； 〃For her sake then you have brought a whole household to death。 What advantage would there be in preserving such a miscreant？〃
So Cao Cao bade the executioners put both the traitor and the woman to death； with Huang Kui's household。 Those who saw the fearful vengeance sighed at its cruelty。
Through passion base a loyal man was slain；
And she who shared his passion shared his fate；
The man they served was pitiless in hate；
And thus a mean man's treachery was vain。
Cao Cao did not desire to rouse the rancor of the army of Xiliang； wherefore he proclaimed to them； 〃The intended treachery of your leaders was theirs alone。〃
However； he sent to secure the passes so that Ma Dai should not escape。
As has been said； Ma Dai led the rearguard。 Before long the fugitives from the main army came and told him what had occurred at the capital。 This frightened him so much that he abandoned his army and escaped disguised as a trader。
Having slain Ma Teng； Cao Cao decided to set out on his expedition to the south。 But then came the disquieting news of the military preparations of Liu Bei； whose objective was said to be the west。
This caused Cao Cao alarm； for he said； 〃The bird's wings will be fully grown if he obtains possession of the West River Land。〃
As Cao Cao recognized the difficulty； from among his counselors there arose one who said； 〃I know how to prevent Liu Bei and Sun Quan from helping each other； and both the south and the west will be yours。〃
Chill death struck down the heroes of the west；
Calamity approached the bold leaders of the south。
The next chapter will unfold the scheme。
Main Next to Chapter 58 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 58
Chapter 58
Ma Chao Launches An Expedition For Revenge；
Cao Cao Flees The Field In Disguise。
〃What is this good plan of yours； friend Chen Qun？〃 asked Cao Cao of the speaker； who was a civilian in his service。
Chen Qun replied； 〃Your two principal enemies………Liu Bei and Sun Quan………are now firm allies； close as lips and teeth。 But Liu Bei wants the West River Land and if you； O Prime Minister； send a mighty host against Sun Quan； Sun Quan must ask help from his friend Liu Bei； who； having his heart set on the west； will refuse it。 Sun Quan without this aid cannot stand and will bee so weak that the South Land will be yours for the taking； and Jingzhou will follow in a tap of the drum。 The west will follow and the whole empire is yours。〃
〃Those are my thoughts put into words；〃 replied Cao Cao。
The expeditionary force of three hundred thousand troops set out for the south。 Zhang Liao of Hefei was in mand of the supply department。
Sun Quan speedily heard of the move and called in his advisers。
At the council Zhang Zhao said； 〃Let us send to Lu Su to tell him to write at once to Liu Bei that h