"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 become 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 command 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 command, 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 coming 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 become 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
commanders---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 commanders 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 communication 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 returned to say the soldiers had
really moved away to a distance. Wherefore he felt much relieved and allowed
both soldiers and people to go out into the country to cut the much needed
firewood and bring in water. The city gates, thrown wide open, were thronged
with those passing in and out.
This continued for five days, and then they heard that Ma
Chao's army was returning. A panic ensued. The people rushed into the city, and
the gates were once more barred.
The
commander of the west gate was Zhong Jing, brother of Zhong Yao.
About
the third watch of the night, a torch was seen moving just inside the gate; and
when Zhong Jing went to see what was wrong, and was passing the gateway, a man
suddenly galloped up and slashed at him with a sword.
At
the same time the attacker shouted, "Here is Pang De!"
Zhong
Jing was taken aback, could not defend himself and was cut down.
The
gate guard was soon disposed of, the gates were shattered, and the soldiers of
Ma Chao and Han Sui came pouring in.
Zhong Yao escaped by the
opposite gate and left the city in the hands of his enemies. He reached Tong
Pass, where he fortified himself and sent news of the misfortune to Cao Cao.
Cao
Cao threw aside all plans for his expedition to the south when Changan was
lost.
He at once gave orders, "Cao Hong and Xu Huang are to march your
ten thousand troops to Tong Pass to support Zhong Yao. You are to hold the Pass
at all costs for ten days, or you will pay for its loss with your heads. After
ten days the Pass will be no concern of yours, for I will be there with the
main army."
Cao
Ren said, "Cao Hong short of temper is unfitted to hold the Pass.
Everything could happen."
Cao Cao replied, "You will go to reinforce him."
Cao
Hong and Xu Huang made all haste to Tong Pass and took over the command from
Zhong Yao. They confined themselves to defense; and though Ma Chao appeared
every day and reviled and shouted shameful things of the three generations of
Cao Cao's family, the guardians of the Pass remained quiet. But Cao Hong
fretted at the daily insults and would have led the defenders out to fight had
not his colleague restrained him.
"Ma Chao only wishes to provoke you to come out, but remember our
orders and go not. The Prime Minister has some master plan."
So
spoke Xu Huang. But the advice was hard to follow, for Ma Chao's soldiers took
turns in reviling the defenders of the Pass, resting neither day nor night. And
Xu Huang found it hard to curb his colleague's impatience.
Thus it continued till the ninth day. Then the defenders saw
that their enemies had turned all their horses loose and were lolling about on
the grass and sleeping as if quite fatigued.
Thereupon
Cao Hong bade them saddle his horse, told off three thousand troops, and soon
this small force was dashing down to catch the besiegers unprepared.
The soldiers of Ma Chao at
once fled, leaving their steeds and throwing aside their weapons. Cao Hong
could not resist pursuit and chased them.
At this time Xu Huang was
higher up the road taking in cartloads of grain and forage. But when he heard
what his impulsive colleague had done, he hastily got a force together and went
to his rescue. He shouted to Cao Hong to return.
Suddenly
a great shouting arose near Xu Huang, and out dashed Ma Dai to attack.
Both
Cao Hong and Xu Huang turned to flee, but the drums rolled and two bodies of
troops led by Ma Chao and Pang De came out from behind the hills. Then a battle
began which went against Cao Cao's troops from the first. They fell fast, but
some of them cut an alley through the press and made for the Pass.
Their enemies flooded into
the Pass in close pursuit, and they had to abandon their post and flee whither
they could find a way.
Pang
De pursued after Cao Hong, but Cao Ren came to his rescue and they both fled.
Ma
Chao and Pang De took the Pass.
Cao
Hong made all haste to his master to give him the evil tidings.
"When
I gave you the limit of ten days, why did you leave the Pass on the
ninth?"
"Those soldiers from Xiliang hurled every sort of insult at
us," replied Cao Hong. "And when I thought I had them unprepared, I
took the opportunity. But I fell victim to their cunning."
"You
are young and impetuous. But, Xu Huang, you ought to have known."
Xu Huang said, "He would not listen, though I told him many times.
And that day I was taking in stores in another part of the Pass. As soon as
they told me, I felt sure there would be some misfortune, and so I hastened after
him, but it was too late."
Cao Cao was annoyed and
ordered Cao Hong to be put to death. But his colleague officers begged that he
might be pardoned, and as he had confessed his fault, he was allowed to go free
and unpunished.
Cao
Cao advanced to Tong Pass.
Cao
Ren said, "We should establish a strong stockade before attacking."
So trees were felled and a strong stockade built. They made three camps:
Cao Ren was in the left; Xiahou Yuan, the right; and Cao Cao himself was in the
center one.
Soon after, Cao Cao and all
his officers in a body rushed to attack the Pass. They ran against the Xiliang
troops posted on two sides, halted and formed their array. This done, Cao Cao
rode to the center standard whence he looked at his opponents.
He saw before him a body of
fine troops, everyone with the bearing of a hero. And the leader, Ma Chao, was
worthy of them, with his vivid face as if powdered and red lips as if colored,
his supple hips and broad shoulders, his deep voice and fierce strength. He was
wearing silver helmet and armor and gripping a long spear as he sat there on
his charger. Pang De and Ma Dai supported him, and Cao Cao admired Ma Chao in
his secret heart.
However,
Cao Cao urged forward his steed and shouted to Ma Chao, "Why are you
arrayed against the Hans, whom your father and grandfather served
faithfully?"
Ma
Chao ground his teeth and cursed Cao Cao, "Rebel! Betrayer of both prince
and people! Murderer of my father and brothers! My hate for you is to the
death: The same sky shall not continue to cover us, for I will take you captive
and satiate my appetite on your living flesh."
With this he set his spear and rode over toward Cao Cao as if to slay
him.
But Yu Jin came out from
behind and engaged Ma Chao in battle. These two fought some half score bouts,
and then Yu Jin had to flee. Zhang He, however, took his place and the two
warriors exchanged twenty passes. Then Zhang He, too, ran away.
Next
to come forth was Li Tong. Ma Chao's martial prowess was now at its height, and
he made short work of Li Tong, who went out of the saddle at the first blow.
Then
Ma Chao flourished his spear at the troops behind him as a signal for them to
come on, which they did like a flood.
They
overwhelmed Cao Cao's forces, and Ma Chao, Pang De, and Ma Dai rode forward to
try to capture Cao Cao.
They came close. Cao Cao heard one of his pursuers shout to another,
"Cao Cao is he in the red dress!"
So he hastily tore off his
red robe and threw it away. He also heard one say "Cao Cao is he with the
long beard!"
At once Cao Cao took the
sword that he wore at his side and sawed off some of the beard. Yet again a
soldier recognized him and told Ma Chao that Cao Cao had now cut his beard,
whereupon the order went forth to capture short beards.
And then Cao Cao wrapped
the corner of a flag about neck and jowl and fled.
Panic seized upon the soldiers at Tong Pass;
Frightened, Cao Cao flung off his brocade robe
And, terror-stricken, sawed his beard off with a sword.
The fame of Ma Chao rose even to the sky.
Cao
Cao had got clear of the battle and was getting calmer. Then again the sound of
hoofs fell upon his ears. And on looking round, he perceived Ma Chao quite
close.
He
and those near were panic-stricken, and all scattered for their lives, careless
of the fate of their leader.
"Cao Cao, do not flee!" cried Ma Chao coming
nearer.
The
whip dropped from Cao Cao's nerveless hand as he saw his enemy coming closer
and closer. But just as Ma Chao had leveled his spear for a thrust, Cao Cao
slipped behind a tree, changed the direction of his flight and so escaped,
while Ma Chao struck the tree.
He
quickly pulled out his spear, but the delay gave the fugitive an advantage,
although it did not quite free him from pursuit, for Ma Chao was soon again
galloping on his track.
As
they drew near the slope of some hills, a bold general suddenly appeared, who
cried, "Do not hurt my lord!"
This was Cao Hong, and he went toward Ma Chao, whirling his sword.
Ma
Chao was stopped, and this saved Cao Cao's life. Cao Hong and Ma Chao fought
half a hundred bouts till Cao Hong began to grow weary and become uncertain of
his strokes. And when, shortly after, Xiahou Yuan appeared with some thirty
horsemen, Ma Chao found it prudent to retire.
Then
Cao Cao was escorted to his camp defended by Cao Ren. He found the camps were
still unharmed and the losses had not been great.
As
he sat in his tent, Cao Cao said, "Had I not spared Cao Hong, I should
have fallen at the hands of Ma Chao today."
So
he called in his rescuer and rewarded him well.
And they got together the scattered troops and strengthened the camp,
deepening the moat and raising the rampart.
Ma Chao came daily and
challenged anyone to combat and abused them all shamefully, but, by the order
of the Prime Minister, these insults were treated with silent contempt.
"Our
enemies use long spears," said the officers. "We will meet them with
bows and crossbows."
"They
may have long spears," replied Cao Cao, "but whether I give battle or
not depends on my decision. How can they thrust at us if we do not go out? All
you have to do is to take no notice of them, and they will speedily
retire."
The officers wondered. They said one to another, "The Prime
Minister came out on this expedition of his own will and was foremost in the
fight. Why does he accept defeat so easily?"
After
some days the spies reported: "Ma Chao has been reinforced by twenty
thousand Qiangs, the tribespeople beyond the frontier."
Cao
Cao took the news gleefully. His officers asked him why the news pleased him.
He
replied, "Wait till I have defeated them, and I will explain."
Three days later there was a report of further reinforcements, and Cao
Cao not only smiled but gave a banquet. His officers ridiculed him in secret.
Then
said Cao Cao, "You gentlemen laugh because I cannot destroy Ma Chao. Well
then, can anyone of you propose a plan?"
Then
rose Xu Huang and said, "O Prime Minister, you have a large force here,
and the enemy also accumulate their strength on the Pass. This means that on
the west side of Yellow River, behind their back, they are unprepared. If you
can get an army secretly across the river and cross the Cattail Ferry, you will
cut off their retreat. Then if you can march down and smite them on the banks
of River Wei, they can get no reinforcements and must fail."
"What you propose is just what I think," said Cao Cao.
So Xu Huang was placed over
four thousand troops, and with Zhu Ling, marched to the west of Yellow River
and hid in the gullies. They were to wait till Cao Cao crossed the Yellow River
so that both could strike together.
Then Cao Cao ordered Cao
Hong to prepare boats and rafts. Cao Ren was left in command 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 complete 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 Commander 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 command 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 commanders, 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.
|
Cheng
yi & Cheng Yin |
|
Li Tong & Ma Wan |