When the expedition reached the north of Daichun； Cao Zhang led the array and smote as far as Sanggan in the Gobi Desert； and peace was restored。 He had lately heard that his father was at Yangping Pass； and had e to help him to fight。
His ing greatly pleased his father； who said； 〃Now that my golden…bearded son has arrived； we can destroy Liu Bei for certain。〃
Then the army was marched back again and pitched camp at the Xie Valley。
Someone told Liu Bei of the arrival of Cao Zhang； and he asked for a volunteer to go out against the newer。 Liu Feng offered。 Meng Da also desired to go； and Liu Bei decided to let both go。
〃Vie with each other；〃 said he。
Each general had five thousand troops； and Liu Feng led the way。 Cao Zhang rode out and engaged him； and in the third bout Liu Feng was overe and ran off。 Then Meng Da advanced； and a battle was just beginning when he saw that Cao Cao's troops were in confusion。 The cause was the sudden ing of Ma Chao and Wu Lan。 Before the enemy had recovered from the panic； Meng Da attacked on another side。 Ma Chao's force； who had been nursing their courage for a long time； fought brilliantly； so that none could withstand their onslaught； and they won the day。 But in his flight； Cao Zhang met Wu Lan； and he thrust and slew Wu Lan with his spear。
After a great fight； Cao Cao ordered his army to retire into camp at the Xie Valley。 Here he remained many days； prevented from advancing by Ma Chao and fearing the ridicule of Shu if he should retreat。 One day； while he was anxiously trying to decide what to do； his cook sent in some chicken broth。 He noticed in the broth some chicken tendons； and this simple fact led him into a train of reflection。 He was still deep in thought when Xiahou Dun entered his tent to ask the watchword for that night。
Cao Cao at once involuntarily replied； 〃Chicken tendon。〃
The word was passed on in orders。 When First Secretary Yang Xiu saw the order that the watchword was 〃chicken tendon；〃 he told all his people to pack up their belongings ready for the march。 One who saw this went and told Xiahou Dun； who sent for Yang Xiu and asked why he had packed up。
Yang Xiu replied； 〃By tonight's orders I see that the Prince of Wei is soon going to retire。 'Chicken tendons' are tasteless things to eat； and yet it is a pity to waste them。 Now if we advance； we cannot conquer； and if we retire； we fear we shall look ridiculous。 There being no advantage here； the best course is to retire。 You will certainly see the Prince of Wei retreat before long。 I have made my preparations so as not to be hurried and confused at the last moment。〃
〃You seem to know the Prince's inmost heart；〃 said Xiahou Dun； and he bade his servants pack。 The other generals seeing this； also made preparations for departure。
Cao Cao's mind was too perturbed for sleep。 In the night he got up； took a steel battle…ax in his hand； and wandered privily through the camp。 When he got to Xiahou Dun's tents； he saw everything packed and ready for a move。 Much surprised； he made his way back to his own tent and sent for that officer。
〃Why is everything in your camp packed as if ready for the march？〃
〃First Secretary Yang Xiu seems to have private knowledge of the Prince's design to retire；〃 said Xiahou Dun。
Cao Cao summoned Yang Xiu and questioned him； and Yang Xiu replied with the chicken tendon incident。
〃How dare you invent such a story and disturb the hearts of my army？〃
Cao Cao called in his lictors and told them to take Yang Xiu away and behead him and hang his head at the camp gate。
Yang Xiu was a man of acute and ingenious mind； but inclined to show off。 His lack of restraint over his tongue had often wounded Cao Cao's susceptibilities。 Once Cao Cao was having a pleasance laid out； and when it was pleted； he went to inspect the work。 He uttered no word of praise or blame； he just wrote the word 〃Alive〃 on the gate and left。 Nobody could guess what he meant till Yang Xiu heard of it。
〃'Gate' with 'Alive' inside it makes the word for 'wide'；〃 said he。 〃The Prime Minister thinks the gates are too wide。〃
Thereupon they rebuilt the outer walls on an altered plan。 When plete； Cao Cao was asked to go and see it。 And he was then delighted。
〃But who guessed what I meant？〃 said he。
〃Yang Xiu；〃 replied his people。
Cao Cao thereafter lauded Yang Xiu's ingenuity； but in his heart he feared。
Another time Cao Cao received a box of cream cheese from Mongolia。 Cao Cao just scribbled three words 〃One Cream Box〃 on the top and left it on the table。 The words seemed to have no meaning。 But Yang Xiu happened to e in； saw the box； and at once handed a spoonful of the contents to each guest in the room。 When Cao Cao asked why he did this； he explained that that was the interpretation of the words on the box； which； resolved into primary symbols； read； 〃Each person a mouthful。〃
〃Could I possibly disobey your orders？〃 said he。
Cao Cao laughed with the others； but hatred was in his heart。
Cao Cao lived in constant fear of assassination； and said to his attendants； 〃Let none of you e near me when I am sleeping； for I am likely to slay people in my dreams。〃
One day he was enjoying a siesta； and his quilt fell off。 One of the attendants saw it and hastened to cover him again。 Cao Cao suddenly leaped from the couch； cut down the intruder with his sword； and lay down again to sleep。 Some time after he awoke； simulated surprise and asked who had killed his attendant。 When they told him； Cao Cao wept aloud for the dead man and had him buried in a fine grave。 Most people thought that Cao Cao had slain the man while asleep； but Yang Xiu knew better。
At the funeral of the victim Yang Xiu remarked； 〃The Prime Minister was in no dream； but only you were asleep。〃
This only increased the hatred。
Cao Cao's third son； Cao Zhi； took great delight in Yang Xiu's cleverness and often invited him； when they would talk the whole night。
When Cao Cao was considering the nomination of his heir and desired to name Cao Zhi； Cao Pi got to hear of the proposal to set him aside in favor of his younger brother； so he secretly requested the Master of the Court Singers； Wu Zhi； to e and discuss this matter。 Then fearing that someone might see his visitor； Cao Pi got a large basket made； in which his friend was smuggled into the Palace。 Cao Pi gave out that the basket contained rolls of silk。 Yang Xiu heard the truth and informed Cao Cao； who sent guards to watch at the gates。
Cao Pi； in alarm； told Wu Zhi； who said； 〃Be not afraid； but to fill a basket actually with rolls of silk on the morrow and have it carried in as before。〃
The searchers peeped into the basket and found the rolls of silk。 They told Cao Cao the result of their search； and Cao Cao began to think Yang Xiu was plotting against his son。 This also added to his hatred。
Another time Cao Cao； wishing to pare the abilities of his two sons Cao Pi and Cao Zhi； told them both to go out of the city； at the same time ordering the gate wardens to forbid their exit。 Cao Pi first came to the gate； was stopped by the wardens； and returned to his palace。
But his brother Cao Zhi consulted Yang Xiu； who said； 〃You have received orders from the Prince to go out。 Simply cut down any who may try to prevent you。〃
When Cao Zhi went to the gate and was stopped； he shouted out to the wardens； 〃I have the Prince's order to go out。 Dare you stop me？〃
He slew the man who would have prevented him。 Wherefore Cao Cao considered his younger son the more able。 But when some other person told him that the device came from Yang Xiu； he was angry and took a dislike to his son Cao Zhi。
Yang Xiu also used to coach Cao Zhi in preparing replies to likely questions； which were learned by heart and quoted when necessary。 Cao Cao was always asking this son his opinion on military matters； and Cao Zhi always had a fluent reply ready。 His father was not without suspicions； which were turned into certainties when Cao Pi gave his father the written replies which Cao Pi had bribed a servant to filch from his brother's apartments。 Cao Cao was quite angry。
〃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