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s built。 Cao Cao felt helpless。
It was the ninth month of the sixteenth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity （AD 211）； and the fierce cold of winter was just ing on。 Ominous clouds covered the sky day after day with never a break。 One day as Cao Cao sat in his tent； very disheartened； a stranger was announced and was led in。 He was an old man who said he had a suggestion to offer。 He was tall； as delicate as a crane and as refined as a pine tree。 He gave his name as Lou Zibo and said he came from Jingzhao。 He was a recluse and a Taoist； his religious name being Plum…Blossom Dreamer。
Cao Cao received him with great courtesy； and presently the venerable one began； saying； 〃O Prime Minister； you have long been striving to make a camp on the river。 Now is your opportunity。 Why not begin？〃
〃The soil is too sandy to stand；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃But if you have some other plan to propose； pray tell me what it is； O Hermit。〃
〃You are more than human； O Prime Minister； in the art of war； and you surely know the times and seasons。 It has been overcast for many days； and these clouds foretell a north wind and intense cold。 When the wind begins to blow； you should hurry your army to carry up the earth and sprinkle it with water。 By dawn your wall will be plete。〃
Cao Cao seized upon the suggestion。 He offered his aged visitor a reward； but the venerable one would receive nothing。
That night the wind came down in full force。 Every man possible was set to earth…carrying and wetting。 As they had no other means of carrying water； they made stuff bags which they filled with water and let out the water over the earth。 And so as they piled the earth； they froze it solid with water； and by dawn the wall was finished and stood firm。
When his scouts told Ma Chao that the enemy had built a wall； he rode out and saw it。 Ma Chao was greatly perplexed and began to suspect help from the gods。
However； very soon after； he got his whole army together and sounded an attack。 Cao Cao himself rode out of the camp； with only the redoubtable Xu Chu in attendance； and advanced toward the enemy。
Flourishing his whip he called out； 〃I； Cao Cao； am here alone； and I beg Ma Chao to e out to parley with me。〃
Thereupon Ma Chao rode out； his spear set ready to thrust。
〃You despised me because I had no wall to my camp； but lo！ in one single night； God has made me a wall。 Do you not think it time to give in？〃
Ma Chao was so enraged that he almost rushed at Cao Cao； but he was not too angry to notice the henchman behind him； glaring in angry fashion； who held a gleaming sword in his grip。 Ma Chao thought this man could be no other than Xu Chu； so he determined to find out。
With a flourish of his whip； he said； 〃Where is the noble 'Marquis Tiger' that I hear you have in your camp？〃
At this Xu Chu lifted his sword and roared； 〃I am Xu Chu of Qiao！〃
From Xu Chu's eyes shot gleams of supernatural light and his attitude was so terror…striking that Ma Chao dared not move。 He turned his steed and retired。
Cao Cao and his doughty follower returned to their camp。 As they two passed between the armies； not a man there but felt a quiver of fear。
〃They know our friend Xu Chu over there as Marquis Tiger；〃 said Cao Cao when he returned。
And thereafter the soldiers all called Xu Chu by that name。
〃I will capture that fellow Ma Chao tomorrow；〃 said Xu Chu。
〃Ma Chao is very bold；〃 said his master。 〃Be careful！〃
〃I swear to fight him to the death；〃 said Xu Chu。
Then Xu Chu sent a written challenge to his enemy saying that the Marquis Tiger challenged Ma Chao to a decisive duel on the morrow。
Ma Chao was very angry when he received the letter。
〃Dare he insult me so？〃 cried he。 Then he wrote his pledge to slay Tiger Lust on the morrow。
Next day both armies moved out and arrayed in order of battle。 Ma Chao gave Pang De and Ma Dai mand of the two wings； while Han Sui took the center。
Ma Chao took up his station in front of the center and shouted； 〃Where is the Tiger Lust？〃
Cao Cao； who was on horseback by the standard； turned and said； 〃Ma Chao is no less bold than Lu Bu！〃
As he spoke； Xu Chu rode forth whirling his sword and the duel began。 They fought over a hundred bouts； and neither had the advantage。 But then； their steeds being spent with galloping to and fro； each retired within his own lines and obtained a fresh mount。 The contest was renewed； and a hundred more encounters took place； still without victory to either。
Suddenly Xu Chu galloped back to his own side； stripped off his armor； showing his magnificent muscles and； naked as he was； leaped again into the saddle and rode out to continue the battle。
Again the champions engaged； while both armies stood aghast。 Thirty bouts more； and Xu Chu； summoning up all his force； plunged toward Ma Chao with his sword held high to strike。 But Ma Chao avoided the stroke and rode in with his spear pointing directly at his opponent's heart。 Throwing down his sword； Xu Chu dashed aside the spear； which passed underneath his arm。
Then ensued a struggle for the spear； and Xu Chu by a mighty effort snapped the shaft so that each held one half。 Then the duel was continued； each be laboring the other with the pieces of the broken spear。
At this point Cao Cao began to fear for his champion and so ordered two of his generals； Xiahou Yuan and Cao Hong； to go out and take a hand。 At this Pang De and Ma Dai gave the signal to their armored horsemen to attack。 They rode in； and a melee began in which Cao Cao's troops were worsted； and the great champion Xu Chu received two arrow wounds in the shoulder。 So the troops of Cao Cao retreated to their stockade； Ma Chao following them to the river。 Cao Cao's army lost more than half their number。
Cao Cao barred his gates and allowed none to go out。
Ma Chao went down to the river。 When he saw Han Sui； he said； 〃I have seen some wicked fighters； but none to match that Xu Chu。 He is aptly nicknamed Tiger Lust〃
Thinking that by strategy he might get the better of Ma Chao； Cao Cao secretly sent two bodies of troops across the river to the south bank to take up position so that he might attack in front and rear。
One day from his ramparts； Cao Cao saw Ma Chao and a few horsemen ride close up to the walls and then gallop to and fro like the wind。
After gazing at them for a long time； Cao Cao tore off his helmet and dashed it on the ground； saying； 〃If that Ma Chao is not killed； may I never know my place of burial！〃
Xiahou Yuan heard his master； and his heart burned within him。 He cried； 〃May I die here at once if I do not destroy that rebel！〃
Without more ado； Xiahou Yuan flung open the gates and rode out with his pany。 Cao Cao tried to stop this mad rush； but it was no good。 So； fearing Xiahou Yuan might e to grief； Cao Cao rode out after him。 At sight of the soldiers of Cao Cao； Ma Chao faced his troops about； extended them in line and； as the enemy approached； dashed forward to the attack。 Then noticing Cao Cao himself among them； Ma Chao left Xiahou Yuan and rode straight for Cao Cao。 Panic seized Cao Cao and he rode for his life； while his troops were thrown into confusion。
It was during the pursuit of this portion of the Cao Cao's army that Ma Chao was told of a force of the enemy on the south of River Wei。 Realizing the danger； he abandoned the pursuit； called in his forces； and went to his own camp； there to consult with Han Sui。
〃What now？ Cao Cao has crossed to the south of the river； and we can be attacked in the rear；〃 said Ma Chao。
mander Li Kan said； 〃Then you had better e to an agreement； sacrifice some territory； and make peace。 Then both can repose through the winter and await the changes and chances that may e with the spring warmth。〃
〃He is wise；〃 said Han Sui； 〃and I advise the same。〃
But Ma Chao hesitated。 Others exhorted him to make peace； and at length he agreed。 So Yang Qiu and Hou Xuan were sent as messengers of peace to the camp of Cao Cao。
〃You may return。 I will send my reply；〃 said Cao Cao when they had declared the purport of their mission。 And they left。
Then Jia Xu said to Cao Cao； 〃What is your opinion； O Prime Minister？〃
〃What is yours？〃 asked Cao Cao。
〃War allows deceit； therefore pretend to agree。 Then we can try some means of sowing suspicions between Han Sui and Ma Chao so that we may thereby destroy both。〃
Cao Cao clapped his hands for very joy； saying； 〃That is the best idea of all！ Most suitable！ You and I agree in our ideas。 I was just thinking of that。〃
So an answer was returned：
〃Let me gradually withdraw my soldiers； and I will give back the land belonging to you on the west of Yellow River。〃
And at the same time Cao Cao ordered the construction of a floating bridge to help in the withdrawal to the east side。
When the reply arrived； Ma Chao said to Han Sui； 〃Although he agrees to peace； yet he is evil and crafty。 We must remain prepared against his machinations。 Uncle； you and I will take turns in watching Cao Cao and Xu Huang on alternate days。 So shall we be safe against his treachery。〃
They agreed and began the regular alternate watch。 Soon Cao Cao got to know what they were doing； and he turned to Jia Xu； saying； 〃I am succeeding。〃
〃Who keeps the look…out on the north bank tomorrow？〃 asked Cao Cao。
〃Han Sui；〃 replied someone。
Next day Cao Cao at