按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
At this time Xu Huang was higher up the road taking in cartloads of grain and forage。 But when he heard what his impulsive colleague had done； he hastily got a force together and went to his rescue。 He shouted to Cao Hong to return。
Suddenly a great shouting arose near Xu Huang； and out dashed Ma Dai to attack。 Both Cao Hong and Xu Huang turned to flee； but the drums rolled and two bodies of troops led by Ma Chao and Pang De came out from behind the hills。 Then a battle began which went against Cao Cao's troops from the first。 They fell fast； but some of them cut an alley through the press and made for the Pass。 Their enemies flooded into the Pass in close pursuit； and they had to abandon their post and flee whither they could find a way。
Pang De pursued after Cao Hong； but Cao Ren came to his rescue and they both fled。 Ma Chao and Pang De took the Pass。
Cao Hong made all haste to his master to give him the evil tidings。
〃When I gave you the limit of ten days； why did you leave the Pass on the ninth？〃
〃Those soldiers from Xiliang hurled every sort of insult at us；〃 replied Cao Hong。 〃And when I thought I had them unprepared； I took the opportunity。 But I fell victim to their cunning。〃
〃You are young and impetuous。 But； Xu Huang； you ought to have known。〃
Xu Huang said； 〃He would not listen； though I told him many times。 And that day I was taking in stores in another part of the Pass。 As soon as they told me； I felt sure there would be some misfortune； and so I hastened after him； but it was too late。〃
Cao Cao was annoyed and ordered Cao Hong to be put to death。 But his colleague officers begged that he might be pardoned； and as he had confessed his fault； he was allowed to go free and unpunished。
Cao Cao advanced to Tong Pass。
Cao Ren said； 〃We should establish a strong stockade before attacking。〃
So trees were felled and a strong stockade built。 They made three camps： Cao Ren was in the left； Xiahou Yuan； the right； and Cao Cao himself was in the center one。
Soon after； Cao Cao and all his officers in a body rushed to attack the Pass。 They ran against the Xiliang troops posted on two sides； halted and formed their array。 This done； Cao Cao rode to the center standard whence he looked at his opponents。
He saw before him a body of fine troops； everyone with the bearing of a hero。 And the leader； Ma Chao； was worthy of them； with his vivid face as if powdered and red lips as if colored； his supple hips and broad shoulders； his deep voice and fierce strength。 He was wearing silver helmet and armor and gripping a long spear as he sat there on his charger。 Pang De and Ma Dai supported him； and Cao Cao admired Ma Chao in his secret heart。
However； Cao Cao urged forward his steed and shouted to Ma Chao； 〃Why are you arrayed against the Hans； whom your father and grandfather served faithfully？〃
Ma Chao ground his teeth and cursed Cao Cao； 〃Rebel！ Betrayer of both prince and people！ Murderer of my father and brothers！ My hate for you is to the death： The same sky shall not continue to cover us； for I will take you captive and satiate my appetite on your living flesh。〃
With this he set his spear and rode over toward Cao Cao as if to slay him。 But Yu Jin came out from behind and engaged Ma Chao in battle。 These two fought some half score bouts； and then Yu Jin had to flee。 Zhang He； however； took his place and the two warriors exchanged twenty passes。 Then Zhang He； too； ran away。
Next to e forth was Li Tong。 Ma Chao's martial prowess was now at its height； and he made short work of Li Tong； who went out of the saddle at the first blow。 Then Ma Chao flourished his spear at the troops behind him as a signal for them to e on； which they did like a flood。 They overwhelmed Cao Cao's forces； and Ma Chao； Pang De； and Ma Dai rode forward to try to capture Cao Cao。
They came close。 Cao Cao heard one of his pursuers shout to another； 〃Cao Cao is he in the red dress！〃
So he hastily tore off his red robe and threw it away。 He also heard one say 〃Cao Cao is he with the long beard！〃
At once Cao Cao took the sword that he wore at his side and sawed off some of the beard。 Yet again a soldier recognized him and told Ma Chao that Cao Cao had now cut his beard； whereupon the order went forth to capture short beards。 And then Cao Cao wrapped the corner of a flag about neck and jowl and fled。
Panic seized upon the soldiers at Tong Pass；
Frightened； Cao Cao flung off his brocade robe
And； terror…stricken； sawed his beard off with a sword。
The fame of Ma Chao rose even to the sky。
Cao Cao had got clear of the battle and was getting calmer。 Then again the sound of hoofs fell upon his ears。 And on looking round； he perceived Ma Chao quite close。 He and those near were panic…stricken； and all scattered for their lives； careless of the fate of their leader。
〃Cao Cao； do not flee！〃 cried Ma Chao ing nearer。
The whip dropped from Cao Cao's nerveless hand as he saw his enemy ing closer and closer。 But just as Ma Chao had leveled his spear for a thrust； Cao Cao slipped behind a tree； changed the direction of his flight and so escaped； while Ma Chao struck the tree。 He quickly pulled out his spear； but the delay gave the fugitive an advantage； although it did not quite free him from pursuit； for Ma Chao was soon again galloping on his track。
As they drew near the slope of some hills； a bold general suddenly appeared； who cried； 〃Do not hurt my lord！〃
This was Cao Hong； and he went toward Ma Chao； whirling his sword。 Ma Chao was stopped； and this saved Cao Cao's life。 Cao Hong and Ma Chao fought half a hundred bouts till Cao Hong began to grow weary and bee uncertain of his strokes。 And when； shortly after； Xiahou Yuan appeared with some thirty horsemen； Ma Chao found it prudent to retire。
Then Cao Cao was escorted to his camp defended by Cao Ren。 He found the camps were still unharmed and the losses had not been great。
As he sat in his tent； Cao Cao said； 〃Had I not spared Cao Hong； I should have fallen at the hands of Ma Chao today。〃
So he called in his rescuer and rewarded him well。
And they got together the scattered troops and strengthened the camp； deepening the moat and raising the rampart。 Ma Chao came daily and challenged anyone to bat and abused them all shamefully； but； by the order of the Prime Minister； these insults were treated with silent contempt。
〃Our enemies use long spears；〃 said the officers。 〃We will meet them with bows and crossbows。〃
〃They may have long spears；〃 replied Cao Cao； 〃but whether I give battle or not depends on my decision。 How can they thrust at us if we do not go out？ All you have to do is to take no notice of them； and they will speedily retire。〃
The officers wondered。 They said one to another； 〃The Prime Minister came out on this expedition of his own will and was foremost in the fight。 Why does he accept defeat so easily？〃
After some days the spies reported： 〃Ma Chao has been reinforced by twenty thousand Qiangs； the tribespeople beyond the frontier。〃
Cao Cao took the news gleefully。 His officers asked him why the news pleased him。
He replied； 〃Wait till I have defeated them； and I will explain。〃
Three days later there was a report of further reinforcements； and Cao Cao not only smiled but gave a banquet。 His officers ridiculed him in secret。
Then said Cao Cao； 〃You gentlemen laugh because I cannot destroy Ma Chao。 Well then； can anyone of you propose a plan？〃
Then rose Xu Huang and said； 〃O Prime Minister； you have a large force here； and the enemy also accumulate their strength on the Pass。 This means that on the west side of Yellow River； behind their back； they are unprepared。 If you can get an army secretly across the river and cross the Cattail Ferry； you will cut off their retreat。 Then if you can march down and smite them on the banks of River Wei； they can get no reinforcements and must fail。〃
〃What you propose is just what I think；〃 said Cao Cao。
So Xu Huang was placed over four thousand troops； and with Zhu Ling； marched to the west of Yellow River and hid in the gullies。 They were to wait till Cao Cao crossed the Yellow River so that both could strike together。
Then Cao Cao ordered Cao Hong to prepare boats and rafts。 Cao Ren was left in mand of the camps。 Cao Cao himself marched to the east bank of Yellow River first； and from there attempted to cross to the west bank。
When Ma Chao heard of the new military movements； he said； 〃I understand。 The Pass is left； rafts are being prepared： That means that he is going to cross to the west side and cut off my retreat。 I must coast along the river and keep him off。 If I can do that； his food will run short within twenty days in the east bank； and that will cause a mutiny。 Then I will travel south along the river and attack。〃
Han Sui did not approve this plan。 He quoted the military maxim to strike when troops were half over the river。
〃Attack from the south when his army is in the act of crossing； and his army will be drowned in the river；〃 said he。
〃Uncle； your words are good；〃 replied Ma Chao。 And the spies went forth to find out the time of crossing the river。
When Cao Cao's preparations were plete and all was ready； he sent three parties of soldiers over the river first。 They reached the ferry at the first sign of dawn； and the