Chapter 58: Ma Mengqi Raises an Army to Avenge His Father; Cao Aman Cuts His Beard and Abandons His Robe
Chapter 58: Ma Mengqi Raises Troops to Avenge a Grudge; Cao Aman Cuts His Beard and Abandons His Robe
The one who proposed the plan was the Palace Attendant Imperial Secretary Chen Qun, styled Changwen. Cao Cao asked, "Chen Changwen, what good strategy do you have?" Chen Qun said, "Now Liu Bei and Sun Quan are bound together like lips and teeth. If Liu Bei wants to seize Western Sichuan, the Chancellor can order a senior general to lead troops, join forces with the army at Hefei, and directly attack Jiangnan. Then Sun Quan will surely beg Liu Bei for help. Liu Bei’s mind is set on Western Sichuan, so he will certainly have no heart to rescue Sun Quan. Without reinforcements, Sun Quan’s forces will become exhausted and weak, and the lands of Jiangdong will inevitably fall into the Chancellor’s hands. If Jiangdong is taken, then Jingzhou can be pacified in one stroke. After Jingzhou is pacified, we can slowly plan for Western Sichuan, and the realm will be settled." Cao Cao said, "Changwen’s words match my intent exactly." He immediately raised three hundred thousand troops and marched straight down to Jiangnan, ordering Zhang Liao at Hefei to prepare grain and fodder for supplies.
Soon a scout reported this to Sun Quan. Sun Quan gathered all his generals to discuss. Zhang Zhao said, "We can send someone to Lu Zijing, telling him to urgently deliver a letter to Jingzhou, asking Liu Bei to join forces and resist Cao Cao. Lu Zijing has done Liu Bei favors, so Liu Bei will surely heed his words. Moreover, since Liu Bei is the son-in-law of Eastern Wu, he cannot refuse out of duty. If Liu Bei comes to our aid, Jiangnan will have no worries." Sun Quan followed his advice and immediately sent someone to inform Lu Su, asking him to seek help from Liu Bei. Lu Su accepted the order and promptly wrote a letter, sending someone to deliver it to Liu Bei. Liu Bei read the letter’s contents, kept the messenger in the guesthouse, and sent someone to Nanjun to invite Zhuge Liang. When Zhuge Liang arrived at Jingzhou, Liu Bei showed him Lu Su’s letter after reading it. Zhuge Liang said, "There is no need to mobilize troops from Jiangnan, nor to move troops from Jingzhou. Naturally, we can make Cao Cao dare not even glance southeast." He then wrote a reply to Lu Su, telling him to rest easy without worry; if the northern army came to invade, the Imperial Uncle had his own plan to repel them. The messenger departed. Liu Bei asked, "Now Cao Cao has raised three hundred thousand troops, joined by the forces at Hefei, advancing in a mass. Master, what brilliant plan do you have to repel the enemy?" Zhuge Liang said, "What Cao Cao has always worried about is the army of Xiliang. Now that Cao Cao has killed Ma Teng, his son Ma Chao, who commands the Xiliang forces, must harbor deep hatred for Cao Cao. My lord can write a letter to forge an alliance with Ma Chao, urging him to raise troops and enter Tong Pass. Then Cao Cao will have no leisure to attack Jiangnan." Liu Bei was overjoyed and immediately wrote a letter, sending a trusted confidant directly to Xiliang Prefecture to deliver it.
Now Ma Chao, in Xiliang Prefecture, had a dream one night: he dreamed he was lying on a snow-covered ground, with a pack of tigers coming to bite him. He woke up startled, with fear and doubt in his heart. He summoned his staff officers and told them about the dream. One of them responded, "This dream is an inauspicious omen." The others looked at the man—it was his trusted adjutant colonel, surnamed Pang, named De, styled Lingming. Ma Chao asked, "Lingming, what do you think?" Pang De said, "Encountering tigers on snow—the dream’s portent is very ominous. Could it be that the old general has met with some trouble in Xuchang?" Before he finished speaking, a man stumbled in, weeping as he knelt on the ground, saying, "Uncle and younger brother are both dead!" Ma Chao looked and saw it was Ma Dai. Startled, Ma Chao asked what had happened. Ma Dai said, "Uncle and the Gentleman Attendant Huang Kui conspired to kill Cao Cao. Unfortunately, the plot was exposed, and both were beheaded in the marketplace. The two younger brothers were also killed. Only I, disguised as a merchant, escaped through the night."
Hearing this, Ma Chao wailed and fell to the ground. The officers helped him up. Ma Chao gnashed his teeth, burning with hatred for Cao Cao. Suddenly, a report came that Liu Bei, the Imperial Uncle of Jingzhou, had sent someone with a letter. Ma Chao tore open the letter and read it. The letter’s gist said: "Thinking of the Han dynasty’s misfortune, Cao Cao has usurped power, deceived the emperor, and oppressed the people, causing ruin and desolation. I previously received a secret edict together with your late father, vowing to slay this villain. Now your father has been murdered by Cao Cao—this is a deep vengeance that cannot share the same heaven or earth, nor the same sun or moon. If you can lead the Xiliang troops to attack Cao Cao’s right flank, I will lead the forces of Jingzhou and Xiangyang to block Cao Cao’s front. Then the traitor Cao Cao can be captured, the wicked party eliminated, your hatred and shame avenged, and the Han dynasty restored. This letter cannot express all that needs to be said; I await your reply."
After reading it, Ma Chao immediately wiped away his tears and wrote a reply. He sent the messenger back first, then subsequently mustered the Xiliang troops and horses. Just as he was about to set out, the Grand Administrator of Xiliang, Han Sui, sent someone to invite Ma Chao for a meeting. When Ma Chao arrived at Han Sui’s residence, Han Sui showed him a letter from Cao Cao. The letter said: "If you capture Ma Chao and deliver him under guard to Xuchang, I will enfeoff you as the Marquis of Xiliang." Ma Chao knelt and bowed to the ground, saying, "Uncle, please tie up my brother and me and send us to Xuchang, to spare you the trouble of wielding weapons." Han Sui helped him up and said, "I formed a sworn brotherhood with your father; how could I bear to harm you? If you raise troops, I will certainly assist you."
Ma Chao thanked him with a bow. Han Sui then had Cao Cao’s messenger dragged out and beheaded. Subsequently, he mustered the eight divisions under his command and advanced together. What were the eight divisions? They were Hou Xuan, Cheng Yin, Li Kan, Zhang Heng, Liang Xing, Cheng Yi, Ma Wan, and Yang Qiu. These eight generals followed Han Sui, joining forces with Pang De and Ma Dai under Ma Chao’s command, raising a total of two hundred thousand troops, and charged toward Chang’an. The Grand Administrator of Chang’an, Zhong Yao, swiftly reported to Cao Cao, while simultaneously leading troops to resist, deploying for battle in the open fields. The vanguard of the Xiliang forces, Ma Dai, led fifteen thousand troops, vast and mighty, covering the hills and plains as they advanced. Zhong Yao rode out to parley. Ma Dai, wielding a precious sword, engaged Zhong Yao in combat. After less than one exchange, Zhong Yao was utterly defeated and fled, with Ma Dai raising his sword in pursuit. Ma Chao and Han Sui led the main army as they all arrived, surrounding Chang’an. Zhong Yao went up on the city wall to defend it.
Chang’an was the capital established in the Western Han; its walls were strong and sturdy, its moat deep and dangerous, making it difficult to attack quickly. They besieged it for ten consecutive days without being able to breach it. Pang De proposed a plan: "The soil in Chang’an city is hard, and the water is salty and alkaline, making it very unpalatable. Moreover, there is no firewood. Now that we have besieged it for ten days, the troops and civilians are suffering from famine. It would be better to temporarily withdraw the troops. We need only do thus and thus, and Chang’an can be taken as easily as picking something up." Ma Chao said, "This plan is excellent!" He immediately sent someone with a "command" flag to relay orders to all units: completely retreat the army. Ma Chao himself covered the rear, and the various units gradually withdrew.
The next day, when Zhong Yao climbed the wall to look, the troops had all retreated. Fearful of a trick, he sent scouts to investigate. When he found they had indeed gone far, he felt relieved and allowed the troops and civilians to go out of the city to gather firewood and fetch water, opening the city gates wide for people to come and go. On the fifth day, someone reported that Ma Chao’s troops had returned. The troops and civilians rushed to enter the city, and Zhong Yao again closed the gates and held fast.
Now Zhong Yao’s younger brother, Zhong Jin, was guarding the West Gate. Near the third watch of the night, a fire broke out inside the city gate. Zhong Jin hurried to extinguish it, when a man turned from beside the city wall, raised his sword, spurred his horse, and shouted, "Pang De is here!" Before Zhong Jin could react, Pang De cut him down with one stroke of his sword, scattered the soldiers, broke the lock on the gate, and let Ma Chao and Han Sui’s troops into the city. Zhong Yao abandoned the city and fled through the East Gate. Ma Chao and Han Sui took the city and rewarded the three armies.
Zhong Yao retreated to hold Tong Pass and swiftly reported to Cao Cao. When Cao Cao learned that Chang’an had been lost, he dared not discuss the southern campaign any further. He called for Cao Hong and Xu Huang and instructed them: "First, take ten thousand troops to relieve Zhong Yao and tightly hold Tong Pass. If you lose the pass within ten days, you will both be beheaded. After ten days, the matter will no longer concern you two. I will lead the main army and arrive shortly." The two accepted the order and marched day and night. Cao Ren admonished, "Cao Hong is hot-tempered; he might bungle the matter." Cao Cao said, "You take charge of transporting grain and fodder, and follow up as support."
Now Cao Hong and Xu Huang arrived at Tong Pass, relieving Zhong Yao to hold the pass, and did not venture out to fight. Ma Chao led his troops to the foot of the pass, cursing Cao Cao’s three generations. Cao Hong flew into a rage and wanted to lead troops down from the pass to fight. Xu Huang admonished him, saying, "This is Ma Chao trying to provoke you into battle. Do not engage him under any circumstances. Once the Chancellor’s main army arrives, he will surely have a plan." Ma Chao’s troops took turns day and night to come and curse, and Cao Hong only wanted to fight, but Xu Huang repeatedly and earnestly dissuaded him. On the ninth day, when Cao Hong looked down from the pass, he saw that the Xiliang troops had all dismounted and were sitting on the grass in front of the pass; many were weary and lying asleep on the ground. Cao Hong then ordered the horses saddled, mustered three thousand troops, and charged down the pass. The Xiliang troops abandoned their horses and weapons and fled, with Cao Hong in hot pursuit.
At that moment, Xu Huang was on the pass inspecting grain and fodder. When he heard that Cao Hong had descended to fight, he was greatly alarmed and immediately led troops to follow, shouting for Cao Hong to turn back. Suddenly, a great clamor arose behind them, and Ma Dai led his forces in attack. Cao Hong and Xu Huang hastily turned to retreat when, at a single drumbeat, two units emerged from behind the mountain: on the left was Ma Chao, on the right was Pang De, and they engaged in a chaotic battle. Cao Hong could not withstand the assault, lost the greater part of his army, broke through the encirclement, and fled back to the pass. The Western Liang troops pursued closely; Cao Hong and his men abandoned the pass and fled. Pang De chased them straight through Tong Pass until he encountered Cao Ren’s forces, rescuing Cao Hong’s unit. Ma Chao then supported Pang De and took control of the pass.
Having lost Tong Pass, Cao Hong fled to see Cao Cao. Cao Cao said, “I gave you a ten-day deadline; how did you lose Tong Pass in nine days?” Cao Hong replied, “The Western Liang soldiers heaped all kinds of insults upon us. Because I saw them slacking off, I took the opportunity to pursue them, not realizing I had fallen into the enemy’s treacherous scheme.” Cao Cao said, “Cao Hong is young and hot-tempered; Xu Huang, you should have known better!” Xu Huang said, “I repeatedly advised him but he would not listen. That day, I was on the pass inspecting grain, and by the time I learned of it, the young general had already descended from the pass. Fearing something might go wrong, I hurried after him, but we had already fallen into the enemy’s trap.”
Cao Cao was enraged and ordered Cao Hong to be beheaded. The various officials pleaded for leniency, and Cao Hong admitted his fault and withdrew. Cao Cao advanced his army directly to Tong Pass. Cao Ren said, “We should first set up camp and fortify, then attack the pass; it is not too late.” Cao Cao ordered trees to be cut down and palisades erected, dividing the camp into three: the left camp under Cao Ren, the right camp under Xiahou Yuan, while Cao Cao himself commanded the central camp. The next day, Cao Cao led the officers and soldiers of all three camps to charge toward the pass, where they encountered the Western Liang forces. Both sides arrayed their battle formations. Cao Cao rode out in front of his formation, and from beneath the command banner, he observed the Western Liang troops, seeing that every man was robust and every soldier heroic. He also saw Ma Chao, whose face was like applied powder and lips like smeared vermilion; he had a slender waist and broad shoulders, a resonant voice, and fierce strength; clad in white robes and silver armor, holding a long spear, he stood on his horse before the formation; on his left was Pang De, on his right was Ma Dai. Cao Cao secretly marveled, then rode forward himself and said to Ma Chao, “You are a descendant of a famous general of the Han dynasty; why do you rebel?” Ma Chao gnashed his teeth and cursed loudly, “Cao Cao, you treacherous villain, you deceive the sovereign and flout authority, your crimes are heinous and beyond pardon! You murdered my father and younger brother—this is an irreconcilable, deep-seated hatred! I will capture you alive and devour your flesh!”
Having spoken, he raised his spear and charged straight forward. From behind Cao Cao, Yu Jin rode out to meet him. The two horses crossed, and after eight or nine exchanges, Yu Jin was defeated and fled. Zhang He went out to engage him, and after twenty exchanges, he too was defeated and fled. Li Tong went to meet him; Ma Chao fought with all his might, and within a few exchanges, he thrust his spear and struck Li Tong from his horse, killing him. Ma Chao waved his spear backward as a signal, and the Western Liang troops charged forward in unison. Cao Cao suffered a great defeat. The Western Liang forces came with such ferocity that none of the officers on left or right could withstand them. Ma Chao, Pang De, and Ma Dai led over a hundred cavalrymen straight into the central camp to capture Cao Cao. Amidst the chaos, Cao Cao heard the Western Liang soldiers shouting, “The one in the red robe is Cao Cao!” Cao Cao hastily removed his red robe while on horseback. Then he heard shouts, “The one with the long beard is Cao Cao!” In panic, Cao Cao drew his sword and cut off his beard. Someone in the army reported the cutting of the beard to Ma Chao. Ma Chao then ordered the cry, “Capture the short-bearded Cao Cao!” Hearing this, Cao Cao immediately tore off a corner of his banner to wrap around his neck and fled. Later, a poem said:
At Tong Pass defeated, he fled with the wind,
Meng De in haste shed his brocade robe.
Sword-cut beard and whiskers, his courage lost,
Ma Chao’s fame towered to the heavens.
At Tong Pass defeated, he fled with the wind,
Meng De in haste shed his brocade robe.
Sword-cut beard and whiskers, his courage lost,
Ma Chao’s fame towered to the heavens.
As Cao Cao was fleeing, a single rider came up from behind. Turning his head to look, it was Ma Chao. Cao Cao was terrified. The officers and soldiers around him, seeing Ma Chao in pursuit, each fled for their lives, leaving only Cao Cao behind. Ma Chao shouted sternly, “Cao Cao, do not flee!” Cao Cao was so startled that his horse whip fell to the ground. Just as Ma Chao was about to catch up, he thrust his spear from behind. Cao Cao ran around a tree. Ma Chao’s spear stuck into the tree; while he hurriedly pulled it out, Cao Cao had already run far away. Ma Chao spurred his horse in pursuit, but from the side of the slope, a general emerged, shouting, “Do not harm my lord! Cao Hong is here!” Brandishing his blade and urging his horse, he blocked Ma Chao. Cao Cao was able to escape. Cao Hong fought with Ma Chao for forty or fifty exchanges, but gradually his sword technique grew disordered and his strength waned. Xiahou Yuan arrived with several dozen cavalrymen. Ma Chao, alone, feared he might be outmaneuvered, so he turned his horse and withdrew; Xiahou Yuan did not pursue.
Cao Cao returned to camp, but thanks to Cao Ren’s desperate defense of the palisades, he did not suffer too many losses. Cao Cao entered his tent and sighed, “If I had executed Cao Hong, I would surely have died at Ma Chao’s hands today!” He then summoned Cao Hong and richly rewarded him. He gathered his defeated troops, strengthened the camp defenses, deepened the moats, raised the walls, and forbade any sortie. Ma Chao came daily to the front of the camp to curse and challenge, but Cao Cao ordered his soldiers to hold fast, saying that anyone who acted rashly would be executed. The various generals said, “The Western Liang troops all use long spears; we should select crossbowmen to counter them.” Cao Cao said, “Whether to fight or not depends on me, not on the enemy. Though the enemy has long spears, how can they reach us? You all just hold your positions and watch; the enemy will retreat on their own.” The generals muttered among themselves, “The Chancellor, in all his campaigns, always led from the front; now that he has lost to Ma Chao, why has he become so weak?”
A few days later, a scout reported, “Ma Chao has added another twenty thousand fresh troops to aid him; they are from the Qiang tribes.” Upon hearing this, Cao Cao was overjoyed. The generals said, “Ma Chao has reinforced his army, yet the Chancellor is pleased—why?” Cao Cao said, “When I have won, I will tell you.” Three days later, another report came that more troops had arrived at the pass. Cao Cao was overjoyed again and held a feast in his tent to celebrate. The generals all secretly laughed. Cao Cao said, “You laugh because I have no plan to defeat Ma Chao; do any of you have a good strategy?” Xu Yang stepped forward and said, “Now that the Chancellor has massed his forces here, the enemy has also concentrated all their troops at the pass. In the area west of the river, there is certainly no preparation. If we can send a force to secretly cross at Puban Ford, cut off the enemy’s line of retreat first, and then the Chancellor directly attacks from the north bank of the river, the enemy will be unable to support head and tail, and their position will be perilous.” Cao Cao said, “Gongming’s words match my own thoughts exactly.” He then ordered Xu Yang to lead four thousand elite troops, together with Zhu Ling, to go and directly attack the west of the river, hiding in the mountain valleys, “and when I cross the river northward, we will attack together.” Xu Yang and Zhu Ling received the order and first led four thousand troops secretly away. Cao Cao then ordered Cao Hong to prepare boats and rafts at Puban Ford. He left Cao Ren to guard the camp, while Cao Cao himself led the army to cross the Wei River. Soon a scout reported this to Ma Chao. Ma Chao said, “Now Cao Cao is not attacking Tong Pass, but is having boats and rafts prepared, intending to cross the river northward, which will certainly cut off our retreat. I should lead a force to cross the river and hold the north bank. If Cao’s army cannot cross, within twenty days, the grain east of the river will be exhausted, and Cao’s army will be thrown into chaos. Then we can attack along the south bank of the river, and Cao Cao can be captured.” Han Sui said, “There is no need for that. Have you not heard the (art of war) saying: ‘Attack when the army is half-crossed.’ When Cao’s army is halfway across, you attack from the south bank, and Cao’s troops will all die in the river.” Ma Chao said, “Uncle’s words are very correct.” He immediately sent men to scout when Cao Cao would cross the river.
Having finished mustering his troops, Cao Cao divided his army into three contingents, sending them forward across the Wei River. When the men and horses reached the middle of the river, the sun was just rising. Cao Cao first sent his elite troops across to the north bank to set up a camp. He himself, accompanied by about a hundred of his personal guards, sat on the south bank, sword in hand, watching the army cross. Suddenly, someone reported: “The general in the white robe has arrived from the rear!” Everyone recognized Ma Chao and rushed into the boats in a panic. The soldiers on the riverbank scrambled to board the boats, shouting and clamoring without cease. Cao Cao remained seated, unmoving, and commanded with his sword that they stop the noise. Just then, amid the shouts of men and neighing of horses, a surging crowd approached. A general leapt ashore from one of the boats, shouting: “The enemy has arrived! Please, Your Excellency, board the ship!” Cao Cao looked and saw it was Xu Chu. Still seated, Cao Cao said: “What harm if the enemy has arrived?” Turning his head, he saw that Ma Chao was less than a hundred paces away. Xu Chu dragged Cao Cao toward the boat, but the vessel had already left the shore by over ten feet. Xu Chu carried Cao Cao on his back and leapt onto the boat. The accompanying officers all jumped into the water, grabbing the sides of the boat, struggling to climb aboard to save their lives. The boat was small and about to capsize. Xu Chu drew his sword and slashed wildly, cutting off the hands clutching the gunwale, which fell into the water. He then hurriedly poled the boat downstream. Xu Chu stood at the stern, busy using a wooden pole to push the boat. Cao Cao lay crouched at Xu Chu’s feet. Ma Chao reached the riverbank and saw the boat already drifting midstream. He drew his bow, fitted an arrow, and ordered his fierce generals to shoot from both sides of the river. Arrows rained down like a driving storm. Xu Chu, fearing Cao Cao might be hit, raised a saddle with his left hand to shield him. Ma Chao’s arrows never missed their mark; the boatmen on board fell into the water as soon as the bowstring twanged. Dozens of men in the boat were shot down. The boat, now unstable, spun about in the swift current. Xu Chu, exerting his divine might alone, clamped his legs around the rudder to steady it, using one hand to pole the boat and the other to hold up the saddle to protect Cao Cao.
At that time, Ding Fei, the magistrate of Weinan County, was on the Southern Mountain. Seeing Ma Chao pressing the pursuit of Cao Cao with great urgency and fearing for Cao Cao’s life, he drove out all the cattle and horses from his camp. The hills and fields were soon covered with cattle and horses. When the Western Liang troops saw them, they all turned back to snatch the livestock, losing all heart for the chase. Thus Cao Cao managed to escape. As soon as he reached the north bank, he ordered the boats and rafts to be scuttled. When the generals heard that Cao Cao had been in danger on the river and had narrowly escaped, they rushed to rescue him, but Cao Cao had already come ashore. Xu Chu was clad in heavy armor, with arrows embedded all over it. The generals escorted Cao Cao to a field camp, where they all knelt and inquired after his safety. Cao Cao laughed heartily and said: “Today I was nearly trapped by that petty thief!” Xu Chu said: “If someone had not released horses and cattle to lure the enemy, they would surely have pressed the attack across the river.” Cao Cao asked: “Who was it that lured the enemy?” Someone who knew answered: “Ding Fei, the magistrate of Weinan County.” Shortly after, Ding Fei came in to pay his respects. Cao Cao thanked him and said: “But for your excellent plan, I would have been captured by the enemy.” He then appointed Ding Fei as a Colonel of the Palace Guard. Ding Fei said: “Though the enemy has withdrawn for now, they will surely return tomorrow. We must devise a good strategy to defend against them.” Cao Cao said: “I have already prepared.” He then summoned the generals and said: “Each of you, divide your forces and build covered passageways along the river to serve as the foundation of our camp. If the enemy comes, deploy the troops outside the passageways, and set up empty banners inside as a ruse. Then dig a moat along the river, covering it with loose earth. Lure the enemy with troops inside the river. When they rush forward, they will fall into the trap, and once trapped, they can be captured.”
Meanwhile, Ma Chao returned to see Han Sui and said: “I almost captured Cao Cao, but a general valiantly carried him on his back and escaped into a boat. I do not know who it was.” Han Sui said: “I have heard that Cao Cao selected the most robust men to serve as his personal guards, called the ‘Tiger Guard Army,’ commanded by the fierce generals Dian Wei and Xu Chu. Dian Wei is already dead. The one who rescued Cao Cao now must be Xu Chu. This man is exceptionally brave and strong; people call him ‘Tiger Fool.’ If you encounter him, you must not underestimate him.” Ma Chao said: “I have long heard of his reputation.” Han Sui said: “Now that Cao Cao has crossed the Yellow River, he intends to attack us from the rear. We should attack him quickly and not allow him to establish his camp. If he sets up his camp, it will be difficult to wipe him out swiftly.” Ma Chao said: “In my humble opinion, it is better to just hold the north bank and prevent him from crossing the Yellow River. That would be the best strategy.” Han Sui said: “You, my worthy nephew, guard the camp, and I will lead the troops to meet Cao Cao along the river. What do you think?” Ma Chao said: “Let Pang De be the vanguard and go with you, Uncle.”
Thus Han Sui and Pang De led fifty thousand troops straight to Weinan. Cao Cao ordered the generals to lure them from both sides of the covered passageways. Pang De first led over a thousand elite cavalry, charging forward with a shout. Where the shouting arose, men and horses all fell into the hidden pits. Pang De leaped up with a bound, sprang out of the pit, and landed on level ground. He immediately killed several men and fought his way out on foot. Han Sui was already trapped in the center of the encirclement. Pang De went on foot to rescue him and happened to meet Cao Yong, an officer under Cao Ren. Pang De cut Cao Yong down from his horse with a single stroke of his blade, seized his horse, and cut a bloody path, rescuing Han Sui as they fled southeast. The Cao army pursued from behind, but Ma Chao led his troops to intercept, defeating the Cao forces. They also rescued most of their remaining soldiers. The fighting continued until dusk, when they withdrew to camp. Counting their losses, they found that the generals Cheng Yin and Zhang Heng had been killed, and over two hundred men had died in the pits. Ma Chao and Han Sui discussed the situation: “If we delay too long and Cao Cao establishes his camp north of the river, it will be hard to drive him off. Better to take light cavalry tonight and raid his field camp.” Han Sui said: “We must divide our forces so that the front and rear can support each other.” So Ma Chao took the vanguard himself, ordering Pang De and Ma Dai to be the rearguard, and they set out that very night.
Meanwhile, Cao Cao withdrew his troops and camped north of the Wei River. He assembled his generals and said: “The enemy, thinking we have no camp fortifications, will surely come to raid the field camp tonight. We can lay an ambush on all sides and leave the central army empty. When the signal cannon sounds, the ambush troops will all attack, and with one concerted effort, we can capture them.” The generals followed his orders and set the ambush. That night, Ma Chao first sent Cheng Yi with thirty cavalry to reconnoiter. Seeing no troops, Cheng Yi rode straight into the central camp. When Cao Cao’s army saw the Western Liang troops arrive, they fired the signal cannon. Ambush troops sprang out from all sides, surrounding only those thirty cavalrymen. Cheng Yi was killed by Xiahou Yuan. But Ma Chao, coming from behind, divided his forces into three columns with Pang De and Ma Dai and charged forward in a swarm. Truly:
Though ambushed troops might lie in wait for the foe,
How could they match the bold generals’ eager advance?
Though ambushed troops might lie in wait for the foe,
How could they match the bold generals’ eager advance?
Who would win and who would lose? Let the next chapter reveal the outcome.