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nt； an army came in from the northwest and rescued him。 Pang De and Ma Dai had e up in the very nick of time。
Thus Ma Chao was rescued； and they set him on one of the soldiers' horses； and he again took up the battle。 Leaving a trail of blood in his rear； he got away northwest。
Hearing that his enemy had got away； Cao Cao gave order to his generals； 〃Pursue him day and night； and rich rewards are for him dead or alive。 For his head the rewards are a thousand ounces of gold and the lordship of a fief of ten thousand families。 If anyone captures Ma Chao； the reward is the rank of general。〃
Consequently the pursuit was hot as everyone was anxious to win renown and reward。 Meanwhile careless of all but flight； Ma Chao galloped on； and one by one his followers dropped by the way。 The footmen who were unable to keep up were captured till very few remained； and only some scores of riders were left。 They traveled toward Lintao； a city in West Valley Land。
Cao Cao in person joined the pursuit and got to Anding； but there Ma Chao was still far in advance； so he gave up and returned。 Gradually the generals did the same； all ing back to Changan。 Poor Han Sui； with the loss of his left hand； was an invalid； but he was rewarded with the Lordship of Xiliang。 Yang Qiu and Hou Xuan were given noble ranks and offices in Weikou。
Then orders were given to lead the whole army back to the capital。 Yang Fu； a military adviser from Liangzhou； came to Changan to point out the danger of withdrawal。
〃Ma Chao has the boldness of Lu Bu and the heart of a barbarian。 Unless you destroy him this time； he will e again and he will be both bolder and stronger； and the whole west will be lost。 Wherefore you should not withdraw your army。〃
Cao Cao said； 〃I would be quite willing to finish the subjugation。 But there is much to do in the capital； and the south is still to conquer。 So I cannot remain。 But you； Sir； might secure this region for me。 Do you consent？〃
Yang Fu did consent。 And he brought to Cao Cao's notice Wei Kang； who was made Imperial Protector of Liangzhou； with joint military powers。
Just before Yang Fu left； he said to Cao Cao； 〃A strong force ought to be left in Changan； as a reserve in case they be required。〃
〃That has been already dealt with；〃 replied Cao Cao。
Contentedly enough Yang Fu took leave and went away。
Cao Cao's generals asked him to explain his recent policy； saying； 〃Since the first outbreak at Tong Pass； O Prime Minister； the north bank of River Wei was undefended。 Why did you not cross to the north bank from the east of the Yellow River？ But instead you engaged in the attack of the Pass for many days before crossing to the north bank。〃
And he replied； 〃The rebels first held the Pass。 Had I forthwith taken the east side of the Yellow River； the rebels would have defended the camps one by one and mustered at all the ferries； and I should never have got across to the west side （which was also the north bank of River Wei）。 So I massed troops against Tong Pass and made the rebels guard the south bank of River Wei； so that the north bank was left open。 Thus Xu Huang and Zhu Ling could move there； and I was able later to cross over to join them。 Then I made the raised road and the mud rampart to deceive the enemy and cause them to think I was weak and thus embolden them up to the point of attacking without proper preparation。 Then I used the clever device of causing dissension in their ranks and was able in one day to destroy the stored up energy of all their forces。 'It was a thunder clap before you could cover your ears。' Yes； indeed； the mutations of the art of war can be called infinite。〃
〃But one thing more puzzled us；〃 said the officers； 〃and we ask you to explain it。 When you heard the enemy was reinforced； you seemed to grow happier。 Why was that？〃
〃Because Tong Pass is distant from Xuchang。 If the rebels had taken advantage of all defensible points and held them； they could not have been quelled in less than a couple of years。 When they came on altogether； they made a multitude but they were not unanimous。 They easily quarreled and； disunited； were easily overe。 So I had reason to rejoice that they came on altogether。〃
〃Indeed no one can equal you in strategy；〃 said his officers； bowing low before him。
〃Still； remember that I rely on you；〃 said Cao Cao。
Then he issued substantial rewards to the army and appointed Xiahou Yuan to the mand at Changan。 The soldiers who had surrendered were distributed among the various troops。 Xiahou Yuan remended Zhang Jia of Gaoling； as his aids。
So the army returned to Capital Xuchang where it was weled by the Emperor in state chariot。 As a reward for his service； Cao Cao was given the court privileges of omitting his distinctive name when he was received in audience and of proceeding toward the court without assuming the appearance of frantic haste。 Further he might go to court armed and booted； as did the Han Founding Minister Xiao He of old。 Whence his prestige and importance waxed mightily。
＇e＇ Pei was a small ancient state； homeland of Liu Bang。
＇e＇ East River Land corresponded to the mountainous region of Hanzhong； which means 〃Within Han〃； or the land of the ancient state of Han。
The fame of these doings penetrated west into Hanzhong； and one of the first to be moved to indignation was Zhang Lu； Governor of Hanning。 This Zhang Lu was a native of Pei*。 He was a grandson of Zhang Ling who retired to Mount Humming； in the East River Land*； where he had posed a work on Taoism for the purpose of deluding the multitude。
Yet all the people respected Zhang Ling； and when he died his son； Zhang Heng； carried on his work； and taught the same doctrines。 Disciples had to pay a fee in rice； five carts。 The people of his day called him the Rice Thief。
After Zhang Heng passed away； his son Zhang Lu followed his step。 Zhang Lu styled himself Master Superior； and his disciples were called monly Devil Soldiers。 A headman was called Libationer； and those who made many converts were called Chief Libationers。 Perfect sincerity was the ruling tenet of the cult； and no deceit was permitted。 When anyone fell ill； an altar was set up and the invalid was taken into the Room of Silence where he could reflect upon his sins and confess openly。 Then he was prayed for。 The director of prayers was called Superintending Libationer。
When praying for a person； they wrote his name and his confession on a slip and made three copies thereof； called 〃The Writing of the Three Gods〃。 One copy was burned on the mountain top as a means of informing Heaven； another was burned to inform Earth； and the third was sunk in water to tell the Controller of the Waters。 If the sick person recovered； he paid as fee five carts of rice。
They had Public Houses of Charity wherein the poor found rice and flesh and means of cooking。 Any wayfarer was allowed to take of these according to the measure of his appetite。 Those who took in excess would invite punishment from on high。 Offenses were pardoned thrice； afterwards offenders were punished。 They had no officials but all were subject to the control of the Libationers。
This sort of cult had been spreading in Hanzhong for some thirty years and had escaped repression so far because of the remoteness of the region。 All the Government did was to give Zhang Lu the title of General Who Guards the South and the post of Governor of Hanning and take means to secure from him a full quota of local tribute。
When the reports of Cao Cao's success against the west； and his prestige and influence； reached the Hanzhong people； Zhang Lu met with his counselors to discuss the matter。
Said Zhang Lu； 〃Ma Teng has died； and Ma Chao defeated； thus the northwest has fallen。 Cao Cao's next ambition will be the southwest； and Hanzhong will be his first attack。 I should act first by assuming the title of Prince of Hanzhong and superintending the defense。〃
In reply one Yan Pu said； 〃The army of this region counts one hundred thousand； and there are ample supplies of everything。 East River Land is a natural stronghold with its mountains and rivers。 Now Ma Chao's soldiers are newly defeated； and the fugitives from the Ziwu Valley are very numerous。 We can add them to our army by several ten…thousands more。 My advice is that as Liu Zhang of Yizhou is weak； we should take possession of the forty…one counties of West River Land； and then you may set up your sovereign as soon as you like。〃
This speech greatly pleased Zhang Lu； who then began to concert measures with his brother； Zhang Wei； to raise an army。
＇e＇ Liu Yan had been the Imperial Protector of Youzhou； where Liu Bei and his brother first fought the Yellow Scarves。
Stories of the movement reached Yizhou； whose Imperial Protector was Liu Zhang。 A son of Liu Yan*； a descendant from Prince Gong of the Imperial House。 Prince Gong had been moved out to Jingling several generations ago； and the family had settled there。 Later； Liu Yan became Imperial Protector of Yizhou； and when he died in due course in the first year of Prosperous Stability （AD 194）； his son was remended for the vacant Protectorship。
There was enmity between Liu Zhang and Zhang Lu； for Liu Zhang had put to death Zhang Lu's mother and brother。 After that Liu Zhang dispatched Pang Xi as