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〃How dare he throw dust in my eyes like this？〃 said Cao Cao。
Yang Xiu very nearly lost his life for his share in that business。 Now sending him to execution on the charge of destroying the morale of the soldiers was only a subterfuge。 Yang Xiu was but thirty…four when he met his end。
Talented was Yang Xiu；
Born of an illustrious stock；
His pen traced wonderful characters；
In his breast were beautiful words。
When he talked； his hearers were astonished；
His alert responses overpast everyone。
He died because of misdirected genius
And not because he foretold retreat。
Cao Cao thus put to death the prime mover and simulated anger against Xiahou Dun。 He threatened to execute Xiahou Dun； but listened to those who begged him to show mercy。
〃Get out of this！〃 said he。
Next he issued an order to advance on the morrow。 The army moved out of the valley and came face to face with the troops of Shu led by Wei Yan。 He summoned Wei Yan to surrender； but received abuse and contumely in return。
Pang De went out to fight Wei Yan。 But while the bat was in progress； fires broke out in Cao Cao's camp； and a soldier came flying to say that the rear and center camps had been seized by Ma Chao。
Fearing lest this should lead to a rout； he drew his sword and stood before the army； crying out； 〃Death for any officer who flinches！〃
Wherefore the men of Wei pressed forward valiantly； and Wei Yan； pretending defeat； retreated。 Having driven back this army； Cao Cao gave the signal to turn toward camp and fight with Ma Chao。 He took up his station on the top of a hill whence he could survey the field。
Suddenly a cohort appeared just below him； and the leader cried； 〃Wei Yan is here！〃
Wei Yan fitted an arrow to his bow； shot； and wounded Cao Cao right in his lip。 Cao Cao turned and fell。 Wei Yan threw aside his bow； seized his sword； and came charging up the hill to finish his enemy。 But with a shouting Pang De flashed in。
〃Spare my lord！〃 cried Pang De。
He rushed up and drove Wei Yan backward。 Then they took Cao Cao away。 Ma Chao also retired； and the wounded prince slowly returned to his own camp。
Cao Cao was wounded full in the face； and the arrow knocked out two of his front teeth。 When in the hands of the physicians； he lay thinking over Yang Xiu's words。 In a repentant mood he had Yang Xiu's remains decently interred。
Then he gave the order to retreat。 Pang De was the rear guard。 Cao Cao set out homeward in a padded carriage； escorted by his Tiger Guards。
Before they had gone far； there was an alarm of fire and ambush in the Xie Valley。 The soldiers of Wei were all fear…stricken。
That was something like the danger once at Tong Pass met；
Or like the fight at the Red Cliffs which no one could never forget。
How Cao Cao fared will next be told。
Main Next to Chapter 73 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 73
Chapter 73
Liu Bei Bees Prince Of Hanzhong；
Guan Yu Attacks Xiangyang。
When Cao Cao retired to the Xie Valley； Zhuge Liang considered it to mean the abandonment of his attempt to acquire possession of Hanzhong。 So Zhuge Liang sent out Ma Chao and a dozen parties to harass and hasten Cao Cao's retreat。 For this reason the retreating army had to keep on the move。 Beside； Cao Cao was suffering from his wound； and he marched as hurriedly as possible。 But it was a dejected army； when the leading legions encountered fire on both flanks； which had been raised by troops placed in ambush while Ma Chao's main force kept driving the army before it。 Everyone in the Cao Cao army was dispirited； and there was no more courage in them。 They pressed forward day and night alike without halting to rest。 It was only after reaching Jingzhao that they had some repose。
Having conquered Hanzhong； Liu Bei sent Liu Feng； Meng Da； and Wang Ping to take Shangyong。 The mander of the city； Shen Dan； and his colleagues； knowing that Cao Cao had retreated； offered their submission。 After confidence had been restored among the people； Liu Bei rewarded his army generously； and they were all joyful。
It was after this that the general body of the officers decided to urge Liu Bei to assume the title of 〃Emperor〃； but they dared not tell him so。 However； they sent up a petition to Zhuge Liang。
He replied； 〃I have already decided on this course。〃
So Zhuge Liang and Fa Zheng headed a deputation that went in to see their lord。
They said； 〃Now that Cao Cao really holds the reins of authority； the people are without a true sovereign。 Our lord； your kindness and sense of justice have spread throughout the empire。 You have restored peace over the two River Lands； and your being an emperor would be according to God's will and the desire of the people。 Then by right and title you could destroy rebels。 This matter should not be delayed； and we pray you choose the auspicious day。〃
But Liu Bei evinced great surprise； and replied； 〃Your words； O Instructor； are wrong。 Although I am of the imperial house； yet I am but a minister。 And to do this thing would be rebellion against Han。〃
Zhuge Liang replied； 〃Not so。 Today the empire is riven； and many of the bolder spirits have seized upon and claim the rule of various portions。 The talented of the empire and the virtuous among officers； who have risked death and lost their lives in serving those above them； all desire to have the opportunity of serving a true emperor and doing service for a true throne。 Now； if you insist on modestly maintaining your righteous way； I fear that you will lose popular support。 My lord； I wish that you should reflect upon this。〃
〃But you desire me to usurp a place of great honor in the state； and I dare not。 Let there be more delay and discussion。〃
But with one voice they said； 〃Our lord； if you reject this； the hearts of the people will turn from you！〃
〃My lord；〃 said Zhuge Liang； 〃you have made rectitude your motto all your life。 If you really object to the most honored title； then； since you have Jingzhou； Yizhou； and Hanzhong； take temporarily the title of 'Prince of Hanzhong'。〃
〃Gentlemen； though you may desire to honor me by the title of Prince； yet； without an edict from the Emperor； such action would be usurpation。〃
Said Zhuge Liang； 〃The time demands recognition of the actual state of authority； and not a rigid adherence to all the rules of propriety。〃
And Zhang Fei roared out； 〃All sorts of people with all sorts of names are making themselves rulers： How much more ought you； brother； who are of the dynastic stock？ It ought not to be Prince of Hanzhong but Emperor。 What prevents it？〃
〃Brother； say no more；〃 said Liu Bei； roughly。
〃My lord；〃 said Zhuge Liang； 〃it is fitting to follow political changes and suit one's conduct to circumstances。 Wherefore first take the princedom； and then memorialize the Throne。〃
Liu Bei declined two or three times； but as there seemed no other option； he listened and plied。 In the twenty…fourth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity （AD 219）； in the seventh month； an altar was set up at Mianyang； half a square mile； which was set around with the proper flags and banners and symbols。 In the presence of all his civil and military officers assembled according to their rank； and at the request of the two Ministers Xu Jing and Fa Zheng； Liu Bei received the headdress and seat of a prince。 Then he took his seat； facing the south as a ruler should； and received the salutes and felicitations of all his officers as the Prince of Hanzhong。 And his son Liu Shan was nominated his heir…apparent。
Xu Jing was given the title of Imperial Guardian； Fa Zheng that of Chair of the Secretariat。 Zhuge Liang was reappointed Directing Instructor of the Forces； with the additional powers of control over the whole state policy。 Guan Yu； Zhang Fei； Zhao Yun； Huang Zhong； and Ma Chao were the Five Tiger Generals。 Wei Yan was made Governor of Hanzhong； and all the others who had assisted were given ranks and offices。
As soon as the investiture was pleted； Liu Bei posed a memorial and sent it to Capital Xuchang。 This is the document：
〃I； Liu Bei； have but ordinary talents； yet was I made a general of high rank and led a great army。 Though I received a mission to purge the empire of rebels； I was unable to cleanse it and so renew the tranquillity to Your Majesty's house and restore the dynasty。 Too long have I delayed to spread Your Majesty's sacred governance。 The world is evil and not in good case； and as I sorrowfully think it over and over； I am distressed as one in severe pain。
〃Rebellion began with Dong Zhuo； and all kinds of evils have spread abroad； cruelty and ferocity have bee rife。 Strong in faith in Your Majesty's sacred virtue and inspiring presence； many banded together to help。 The loyal exerted themselves to destroy the rebels； but others of them were smitten of heaven。 The fierce and the contumacious have been exterminated； and gradually rebellion has melted away。
〃Only Cao Cao now remains； too long unpunished。 He has arrogated to himself the authority of the state。 His wicked heart is very rebellious。 Once I； with General Dong Cheng； the State Uncle； conspired against him； but the plot was discovered and my fellow conspirator suffered。 Thenceforward I was a wanderer and my loyalty availed nothing。 It only allowed Cao Cao further license an