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 veterans were sent over first and lay out a camp。 Cao Cao and his guard took up station on the east bank to watch the crossing。
Very soon the sentinels reported； 〃A general dressed all in white is approaching。〃
Everyone knew it must be Ma Chao。 This terrified them and they made a rush to get into the boats。 The river bank became a scene of shouting men struggling who could first embark。 Cao Cao sat watching and never stirred。 He only issued orders to stop the confusion。 Meanwhile； the yelling of the troops and the neighing of the horses of the approaching army came nearer and nearer。
Suddenly a general jumped out of one of the boats and shouted to Cao Cao： 〃The rebels are close！ Get into a boat； O Prime Minister！〃
〃The rebels are near。 What matter？〃 replied Cao Cao simply to the speaker； who was Xu Chu。 And he turned round to look at them。
As a fact Ma Chao was very close； not a hundred paces away； and Xu Chu laid hold of Cao Cao and dragged him down the bank。 The boat had already pushed off and was ten spans from the bank； but Xu Chu took Cao Cao on his back and leaped on board。 The boat was small and in danger of being overturned； wherefore Xu Chu drew his sword and chopped away at the hands clinging to the side so that the soldiers fell back into the water。
The boat went down stream； Xu Chu standing in the prow poling as hard as he could。 His master crouched out of sight at his feet。
When Ma Chao saw the boat in midstream drifting down with the current； he took his bow and arrows and began to shoot。 He also ordered his brave generals to go along the river and shoot so that a shower of arrows fell about the boat。 Xu Chu fearing Cao Cao would be wounded； protected him with a saddle which he held over him with his left hand； for Ma Chao's shooting was not in vain。 Many of the soldiers working the boat were wounded。 Some had fallen overboard； while more lay in the bottom of the boat。 The boat itself got out of control and was whirled hither and thither by the current。 Xu Chu straddled over the tiller and tried thus to guide the boat； while he poled with one hand and with the other held the protecting saddle over Cao Cao's head。
Then the Magistrate of Weinan； Ding Fei； who from a hill top saw that Cao Cao was very closely pressed； even in danger of his life； drove out from his camp all the cattle and horses there； so that they scattered over the hillside。 This was too much for the born Qiang herdsmen of the plains。 At sight of the beasts； they left the river and ran off to secure the cattle。 Nor had they any inclination to pursue their enemy。
And so Cao Cao escaped。 As soon as they reached the west bank of Yellow River （which was also the north bank of River Wei）； the boat was scuttled。 The rumor had spread that Cao Cao was on the river and in danger； so all his officers came to his aid。 But he was now safe on shore。 Xu Chu's double armor was stuck full of arrows。 The officers escorted Cao Cao to the camp where they made their obeisance and expressed the hope that he had not suffered seriously。
〃The rebels very nearly caught me today；〃 said he smiling。
〃They would have got across the river had they not been enticed away by the freeing of the cattle and horses；〃 said Xu Chu。
〃Who was it that drew them off？〃 said Cao Cao。
Someone who knew told him。 Before long Magistrate Ding Fei came in to pay his respects； and Cao Cao thanked him。
〃I should have been a prisoner but for your happy thought；〃 said Cao Cao。
And the Magistrate received a rank of mander in the army。
〃Though they have gone； yet they will assuredly return tomorrow；〃 said Ding Fei。 〃You must prepare to repel them。〃
〃My preparations are all made；〃 was the reply。
Cao Cao ordered his generals to spread themselves along the river bank and throw up mounds as shelters for camps。 If they saw the enemy approaching； the soldiers were to be withdrawn from behind the mounds； leaving the ensigns all flying； so as to give the impression that each camp contained a garrison。 Along the river they were to dig ditches and put up sheds； thus to entice the enemy there and their army would stumble into the pits and fall easy victims。
Ma Chao returned to Han Sui and told him； saying； 〃I would have captured Cao Cao； but a certain bold general had taken him on his back and leaped with him into a boat。〃
Han Sui replied； 〃I have heard that Cao Cao had a body guard of the bravest and strongest soldiers under the mand of Dian Wei and Xu Chu。 They are called the Tiger Guard。 Now as Dian Wei is dead； the man you saw must have been Xu Chu。 He is both brave and powerful and goes by the name of Tiger Lust。 You will do well to avoid him。〃
〃I know his name； too；〃 said Ma Chao。
〃Cao Cao now means to attack our rear；〃 continued Han Sui。 〃Let us attack first； before he can establish camps and stockades。 If once he can do that； it will be difficult to dislodge him。〃
〃My idea is that we should hold the north bank of River Wei； and prevent him from crossing south。〃
〃Worthy nephew； keep guard here while I go along the bank of the river and fight Cao Cao。〃
〃If you will take Pang De as your Van Leader； I am content；〃 said Ma Chao。
So Han Sui and Pang De； with fifty thousand troops； went away down to the River Wei； while Cao Cao again warned his generals to entice the enemy。 Pang De was in advance with a goodly squadron of iron…clad horsemen； and they burst along at full speed。 Then there arose a confused shouting as they all went plunging into the ditches prepared for them。 Pang De soon leaped out； gained the level ground； and laid about him with all his might。 He slew many Cao Cao's soldiers and presently got out of the thick of the fight。
But Han Sui had also been involved； and Pang De went afoot to try to aid him。 On the way he met Cao Yong； a general of Cao Ren。 Pang De cut Cao Yong down。 Then mounting the dead man's steed； he rode forward fiercely； slaying as he passed。 He reached his leader whom he led away southeast。 The troops of Cao Cao pursued him； but Ma Chao came with reinforcements and drove them off。 Ma Chao rescued a great number； and they continued fighting till evening when they withdrew and mustered their troops。 Two manders； Cheng Yin and Zhang Han； were missing； and a couple of hundred soldiers had been killed when they fell into the pits。
Ma Chao and Han Sui discussed what should next be done。
〃If we give the enemy time； he will make himself strong on the north bank。 I think we can do no better than to raid his camp tonight；〃 said Ma Chao。
〃We must have a force and supports for it；〃 said Han Sui。
So it was decided that Ma Chao should lead the striking force with Pang De and Ma Dai as supports。 They would start at nightfall。
Now Cao Cao's troops were on the north bank of River Wei； and he gave his generals orders； saying； 〃The rebels will try to surprise us as they are deceived by my not having set up stockades。 You will place your soldiers in ambush。 At the bomb signal； you will rush out from four directions to capture them。〃
At nightfall Ma Chao sent out a small scouting party headed by Cheng Yi。 Seeing nothing； Cheng Yi penetrated deep into the enemy's lines。 Presently； a bomb was exploded。 Out leapt the hidden troops； and in a few moments the whole scouting party were killed。 Cheng Yi was cut down by the blade of Xiahou Yuan。
But close at hand came the main army led by Ma Chao； Ma Dai； and Pang De that rushed into the ambush forces。
Wait for the foe all undismayed。
Place your men in ambuscade。
Generals striving to outvie
Are not beaten easily。
Who got the advantage will presently be told。
Main Next to Chapter 59 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 59
Chapter 59
Xu Chu Strips For A Fight With Ma Chao；
Cao Cao Writes A Letter To Sow Dissension。
The fight narrated in the last chapter lasted till morn when each side drew off； Ma Chao camping on the River Wei； whence he kept up harassing attacks both day and night。 Cao Cao； also camped in the bed of the same river； began to construct three floating bridges out of his rafts and boats so as to facilitate munication with the south bank。 Cao Ren established a stockade near the camp； which he barricaded with his carts and wagons。
Ma Chao determined to destroy this stockade； so his troops collected straw and each man marched with a bundle and took fire with him。 Han Sui's forces were to fight。 While one party attacked； the other party piled up the straw； which they lit； and soon there was a fierce fire all around。 The defenders could do nothing against it； so they abandoned the stockade and ran away。 All the transport and bridges were destroyed。 It was a great victory for the Xiliang army and gave them the mand of the River Wei。
Cao Cao was sad at the failure to make good his strong camp and fearful of his defenselessness。 Then Xun You proposed a mud wall。 So three thousand soldiers were set to build a mud rampart。 The enemy seeing this harassed the workmen with perpetual attacks at different points so that the work went slowly。 Beside； the soil was very sandy； and the wall would not stand but collapsed as fast as it was 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 cl