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 he may help us。 They are good friends； and Liu Bei will certainly respond favorably。 Beside； since Liu Bei and our lord are now connected by marriage； there is no risk of refusal。 With the support of Liu Bei； there is no danger to our country。〃
Sun Quan listened to this advice and sent to Lu Su bidding him to ask help from Liu Bei。 Accordingly； on receipt of this mand； a letter was written to Liu Bei； who after reading it； retained the messenger at the guest…house till Zhuge Liang could arrive from Nanjun。 As soon as he arrived； Liu Bei showed him the letter。
The adviser said； 〃It is not necessary for the South Land's troops to move； nor need we send ours。 I can prevent Cao Cao from even daring to look in the southeast direction。〃
So Zhuge Liang wrote a reply telling Lu Su：
〃You can lay aside all anxiety and rest content； for if the northern army approach； they will be forced backward at once。〃
The letter was given to the messenger； and then Liu Bei asked his adviser； 〃How could the Instructor hope to roll back the huge army of three hundred thousand troops that Cao Cao is preparing to bring south？〃
Zhuge Liang replied； 〃Cao Cao's chief fear is Xiliang。 Now just lately he has slain Ma Teng and his sons as well； and the people of Xiliang are grinding their teeth with rage。 Now you must write and ask Ma Chao to march through the pass； and Cao Cao will have no leisure to think of any expedition to the south。〃
The letter was written； sent by a trusty hand； and duly delivered。
Now Ma Chao was in Xiliang。 One night he had a vision。 In his dream he saw himself lying out on a snowy plain and many tigers were ing up and biting him。 He awoke in a fright and began to wonder what the dream portended。 Failing to explain it； he told the dream to his officers。 One of them ventured to say the portent was evil。 This was General Pang De。
〃What is your interpretation？〃 asked Ma Chao。
〃Meeting with tigers on a snowy plain is a very inauspicious subject to dream about。 Assuredly our old General is in trouble at the capital。〃
And at that moment one entered in hot haste and cast himself on the earth； weeping and crying； 〃The Uncle and his sons are dead！〃
It was Ma Dai； the nephew of Ma Teng。 And he told the story of the evil： 〃Uncle Ma Teng and Huang Kui had planned to assassinate Cao Cao； but the plot had miscarried and bee known。 Ma Tie fell in the battlefield； Uncle Ma Teng and Ma Xiu were put to death in the market place； and I escaped in disguise。〃
Ma Chao fell to the ground and wept bitterly； grinding his teeth with rage at his enemy Cao Cao。 They lifted him to his feet and led him away to repose。
Soon after arrived a messenger with a letter from Liu Bei； which read like this：
〃In these latter days of the hapless Hans； when the rebellious and tyrannical Cao Cao monopolizes all power； to the injury of the Emperor and the wretchedness of the people； I； Liu Bei； recall that your father and I were recipients of an edict and we swore to exterminate the recreant。 Now your father has suffered death at the hands of the tyrant； and you must avenge him。 As the holy books say； you cannot let the same sky cover you nor the same sunshine upon you and your father's murderer。 If you can lead your army to attack Cao Cao on one side； I will march my armies to prevent his retreat； and he will be taken； and all his evil crew can be exterminated。 Then and thus will your father be avenged； and the Hans can be restored。 I might add more； but I will await your reply。〃
Wiping his tears； Ma Chao wrote a reply which was returned by the bearer。
The Xiliang army was then mustered； horse and foot were assembled。 Just before the day that had been fixed for the start； the Imperial Protector of Xizhou； Han Sui； sent for Ma Chao； to whom he showed a letter from Cao Cao promising the Lordship of Xiliang as a reward for sending Ma Chao a prisoner to the capital。
〃Bind us both； Uncle； and send us thither！ You need not move a single spear；〃 said the younger man prostrating himself。
But Han Sui raised him； saying； 〃Your father and I were sworn brothers。 Think you I would harm you？ Rather will I help if you are going to fight。〃
Ma Chao expressed his gratitude。 The unhappy bearer of Cao Cao's letter was dragged forth and beheaded。 This done； the two took count of their armies。 Han Sui had eight divisions under eight manders………Yang Qiu； Cheng Yin； Hou Xuan； Liang Xing； Cheng Yi； Li Kan； Ma Wan； and Zhang Han………all to be relied upon to follow Han Sui。 Ma Chao had two leaders； Pang De and Ma Dai。 The total force was two hundred thousand troops with which the manders march to Changan。
The Governor of that city was Zhong Yao。 As soon as he heard what was afoot； he sent a fleet messenger to Cao Cao and prepared for defense。 He led his force out into the open plain and arrayed it for battle。
Ma Dai； with fifteen thousand； came on first； pouring over the countryside like a flood。 Zhong Yao would parley with him； but Ma Dai came forward； sword in hand； to attack。 However； the defender did not take the challenge but turned and fled。 Ma Dai followed in pursuit。 Soon the main body of the invaders arrived； and they surrounded the city； which Zhong Yao set about defending。
Changan had been the capital of the Western Han and so was well fortified with a solid wall and a deep moat； safe against the most terrific attacks。 The new armies besieged the city for ten days without success。 Then Pang De proposed a plan。
Said he； 〃Since the land about the city is barren and the water bitter； the people must have munication with the country around in order to live。 Further they have no fuel。 Ten days of siege must have exhausted the supplies in the city； wherefore if we relax for a time………well； you will see。 We shall capture the city without moving a finger。〃
〃Your plan seems excellent；〃 said Ma Chao； when he heard what it was。
Thereupon they sent orders to each division to retire； and Ma Chao covered the retreat。 Next day Zhong Yao went up on the walls to look around and saw that the besiegers had gone。 However； suspecting a ruse； he sent out spies； who