Chapter 58

Ma Chao Raises an Army to Avenge His Wrongs; Cao Cao Cuts His Beard and Casts Away His Robe

Now the man who offered this plan was Chen Qun, styled Changwen, the Imperial Censor in Charge of Records. Cao Cao asked, “What sound strategy has Chen Changwen to propose?” Chen Qun replied, “Liu Bei and Sun Quan are now bound together as closely as lips and teeth. If Liu Bei intends to seize the Western Riverlands, Your Excellency may order a senior general to lead an army, join forces with the troops at Hefei, and strike directly into the Southland. Sun Quan will then be certain to seek aid from Liu Bei. But Liu Bei’s heart is set upon the Western Riverlands, and he will surely have no mind to rescue Sun Quan. Without aid, Sun Quan’s strength will fail and his army decline, and the lands east of the Yangtze must fall to Your Excellency. Once the Southland is won, Jingzhou may be pacified at a single beat of the drum. After Jingzhou has been subdued, you may proceed at leisure against the Western Riverlands, and the empire will be settled.” Cao Cao said, “Changwen’s words accord perfectly with my own intentions.” He immediately raised a great army of three hundred thousand and marched directly toward the Southland, while ordering Zhang Liao at Hefei to prepare provisions and fodder for the army’s supply.

Sun Quan’s spies soon brought him word of this. He assembled his generals to deliberate. Zhang Zhao said, “We may send a man to Lu Zijing and have him dispatch an urgent letter to Jingzhou, asking Xuande to join us in resisting Cao Cao. Zijing has shown Xuande favor, so Xuande will surely heed his words. Moreover, since Xuande is now the son-in-law of the Southland, honor will not permit him to refuse. If Xuande comes to our aid, the Southland will have nothing to fear.” Sun Quan followed this counsel and at once sent a messenger to Lu Su, instructing him to seek aid from Xuande. Lu Su accepted the command, immediately wrote a letter, and sent a man to deliver it to Xuande. After Xuande had read its contents, he lodged the messenger in the guesthouse and sent someone to Nan Commandery to invite Kongming. When Kongming arrived in Jingzhou, Xuande gave him Lu Su’s letter to read. Having finished it, Kongming said, “There is no need to mobilize the troops of the Southland, nor any need to move the troops of Jingzhou. I shall make Cao Cao himself afraid even to look toward the southeast.” He then wrote a reply to Lu Su, telling him to sleep soundly without anxiety: if the northern army should invade, the Imperial Uncle had a plan of his own to make it withdraw. The messenger departed. Xuande asked, “Cao Cao has now raised an army of three hundred thousand, joined it with the forces at Hefei, and is sweeping down upon us. What marvelous plan have you, Master, to make him retreat?” Kongming replied, “The force Cao Cao has feared throughout his life is the army of Xiliang. Now that Cao Cao has killed Ma Teng, Ma Teng’s son Ma Chao commands the troops of Xiliang and must hate the traitor Cao to the very marrow of his bones. My lord may write him a letter and form an alliance with him. If Ma Chao raises troops and enters the passes, Cao Cao will have no leisure to descend upon the Southland.” Xuande was overjoyed. He wrote a letter at once and dispatched a trusted man straight to Xiliang to deliver it.

Meanwhile, in Xiliang, Ma Chao had a dream one night. He dreamed that he lay upon snowy ground while a pack of tigers came to tear at him. He awoke in terror, his heart full of doubt, and assembled the officers and aides under his command to tell them what he had dreamed. One man in the assembly immediately said, “This dream is an omen of ill fortune.” All looked toward the speaker. He was a trusted commandant of Ma Chao’s headquarters, surnamed Pang, named De, and styled Lingming. Ma Chao asked, “What is your interpretation, Lingming?” Pang De replied, “To encounter tigers upon snowy ground is a most evil portent. Can some misfortune have befallen the old general in Xuchang?” Before he had finished speaking, a man staggered in, fell weeping to the ground, and bowed, saying, “My uncle and my brothers are all dead!” Ma Chao looked and saw that it was Ma Dai. Startled, he questioned him. Ma Dai said, “My uncle plotted with Palace Attendant Huang Kui to kill Cao Cao, but unhappily the affair was exposed, and they were all beheaded in the marketplace. My two younger brothers were also put to death. I alone disguised myself as a traveling merchant and escaped by riding through the night.”

When Ma Chao heard this, he collapsed to the ground in tears. His generals hastened to raise him. Grinding his teeth, Ma Chao bitterly cursed the traitor Cao. Suddenly it was reported that Liu Bei, the Imperial Uncle of Jingzhou, had sent a man bearing a letter. Ma Chao opened and read it. In substance, it said: “I humbly reflect that the House of Han has fallen upon misfortune. The traitor Cao has usurped authority, deceived his sovereign, defied his superiors, and brought misery and ruin upon the common people. In former days, Bei and your honored late father received the secret edict together and swore to destroy this traitor. Now that your honored late father has been murdered by Cao Cao, the general’s enmity with him cannot share the same heaven and earth, nor endure beneath the same sun and moon. If you can lead the troops of Xiliang to attack Cao Cao’s right, Bei will raise the forces of Jingzhou and Xiangyang to bar his front. Then the rebel Cao may be captured, his treacherous faction destroyed, your wrongs and humiliation avenged, and the House of Han restored. A letter cannot express all that I would say. I stand awaiting your reply.”

When Ma Chao had finished reading, he wiped away his tears and wrote an immediate reply. He sent the messenger back ahead of him, then prepared to mobilize the troops of Xiliang. Just as he was about to set out, Han Sui, Governor of Xiliang, sent a man inviting Ma Chao to come and see him. When Ma Chao arrived at Han Sui’s residence, Han Sui brought out a letter from Cao Cao and showed it to him. It read: “If you seize Ma Chao and send him to the capital at Xu, I shall immediately enfeoff you as Marquis of Xiliang.” Ma Chao bowed to the ground and said, “I beg you, Uncle, to bind the two of us brothers and send us under guard to Xuchang, thus sparing yourself the toil of spear and halberd.” Han Sui helped him to his feet and said, “Your father and I swore brotherhood together. How could I bear to harm you? If you raise an army, I shall aid you.”

Ma Chao bowed in gratitude. Han Sui then had Cao Cao’s envoy dragged out and beheaded, after which he mustered the troops of the eight divisions under his command and set forth with Ma Chao. Who commanded those eight divisions? Hou Xuan, Cheng Yin, Li Kan, Zhang Heng, Liang Xing, Cheng Yi, Ma Wan, and Yang Qiu. These eight generals followed Han Sui and joined Ma Chao’s officers Pang De and Ma Dai, together raising a great army of two hundred thousand and driving straight toward Chang’an. Zhong Yao, Governor of Chang’an, sent an urgent report to Cao Cao while leading out his own troops to oppose the enemy and drawing up his battle lines in the open country. Ma Dai, commander of Xiliang’s vanguard, came on with fifteen thousand troops in a vast and mighty host that covered the hills and filled the plains. Zhong Yao rode out to parley. Ma Dai wielded a precious saber and engaged Zhong Yao in combat. Before one bout was completed, Zhong Yao was soundly defeated and fled, with Ma Dai pursuing, saber in hand. Ma Chao and Han Sui then arrived with the main army, surrounded Chang’an, and forced Zhong Yao to mount the walls and defend the city.

Chang’an was the site of the Western Han capital. Its walls and outer defenses were solid, and its moats deep and perilous; it could not be taken by sudden assault. Though the city was besieged for ten days without respite, it could not be breached. Pang De offered a plan: “The soil within Chang’an is hard and its water brackish, scarcely fit to drink. Moreover, there is no firewood. After ten days of siege, soldiers and civilians alike must be suffering hunger. We should withdraw our army for the moment. We need only do thus and thus, and Chang’an will be ours for the taking.” Ma Chao said, “An excellent plan!” He immediately sent the “command” banner throughout every division, ordering the whole army to withdraw. Ma Chao himself covered the rear while the troops of the several divisions gradually retired.

When Zhong Yao climbed the walls the next day to look, he saw that the enemy army had completely withdrawn, but he feared some stratagem. He sent scouts to investigate, and only after they reported that the enemy had indeed gone far away did he set his mind at ease. He then permitted soldiers and civilians to leave the city to cut firewood and draw water, flinging the gates wide open and allowing people to pass freely in and out. On the fifth day, however, a man reported that Ma Chao’s army had returned. Soldiers and civilians raced back into the city, and Zhong Yao once again shut the gates and held firm.

Now Zhong Yao’s younger brother, Zhong Jin, was guarding the western gate. Near the third watch, a fire suddenly broke out inside the gate. Zhong Jin hurried over to fight it, but a man swept around from beside the wall, raised his saber, spurred his horse, and shouted, “Pang De is here!” Zhong Jin was caught unprepared, and Pang De cut him from his horse with a single blow. Pang De scattered the officers and soldiers, hewed through the gate bar, broke the locks, and let the troops of Ma Chao and Han Sui into the city. Zhong Yao abandoned Chang’an and fled through the eastern gate. Ma Chao and Han Sui took possession of the city and rewarded the whole army for its service.

Zhong Yao retreated to defend Tong Pass and sent an urgent report to Cao Cao. When Cao Cao learned that Chang’an had been lost, he no longer dared discuss the southern campaign. He summoned Cao Hong and Xu Huang and instructed them: “Take ten thousand men ahead of me and relieve Zhong Yao in the close defense of Tong Pass. If the pass is lost within ten days, you shall both be beheaded. If it is lost after ten days, the fault will not be yours. I shall follow shortly with the main army.” The two accepted their orders and departed that very night. Cao Ren remonstrated, “Cao Hong is hot-tempered. I truly fear he may spoil the undertaking.” Cao Cao replied, “You will escort the provisions and fodder, then follow behind to support them.”

Cao Hong and Xu Huang arrived at Tong Pass, relieved Zhong Yao, and held the pass firmly, refusing to offer battle. Ma Chao led his army beneath the pass and reviled three generations of Cao Cao’s family. Cao Hong flew into a rage and wanted to lead his troops down from the pass to fight. Xu Huang remonstrated, “Ma Chao is trying to provoke you into battle, General. You must on no account engage him. When the prime minister’s main army arrives, he will surely have a settled plan.” Ma Chao’s troops came in turns, day and night, to shout insults. Cao Hong repeatedly wished to fight, but Xu Huang restrained him with the greatest difficulty. On the ninth day, Cao Hong looked down from the pass and saw that the Xiliang soldiers had all dismounted and were sitting on the grass before the walls. Most were exhausted, and some had even lain down to sleep on the ground. Cao Hong immediately ordered his horse saddled, mustered three thousand troops, and charged down from the pass. The Xiliang soldiers abandoned their horses, threw down their weapons, and fled, while Cao Hong pursued them farther and farther.

At the time, Xu Huang was inspecting the provisions atop the pass. When he heard that Cao Hong had gone down to fight, he was greatly alarmed. He hastily led troops after him, shouting for Cao Hong to turn back. Suddenly, tremendous cries arose behind them as Ma Dai came charging up with his army. Cao Hong and Xu Huang hurriedly turned to retreat, but at one beat of the drum, two armies swept out from behind the hills to cut them off: Ma Chao on the left and Pang De on the right. A confused battle followed. Unable to withstand them, Cao Hong lost more than half his troops before breaking through the encirclement and fleeing back toward the pass. The Xiliang army pursued close behind, and Cao Hong and the others abandoned the pass and fled. Pang De pursued them straight beyond Tong Pass, where he encountered Cao Ren’s army, which rescued Cao Hong and the survivors. Ma Chao came up in support of Pang De and occupied the pass.

Having lost Tong Pass, Cao Hong fled to report to Cao Cao. Cao Cao said, “I gave you a limit of ten days. Why did you lose Tong Pass on the ninth?” Cao Hong replied, “The Xiliang soldiers heaped every kind of insult upon us. Then, seeing their army off guard, I seized the opportunity to pursue them. I never imagined I would fall into the rebels’ treacherous stratagem.” Cao Cao said, “Cao Hong is young, rash, and violent—but you, Xu Huang, ought to have known better!” Xu Huang replied, “I repeatedly remonstrated, but he would not listen. That day I was inspecting the provisions atop the pass. By the time I learned what had happened, the young general had already gone down. Fearing disaster, I hastened after him, but he had already fallen into the rebels’ treacherous stratagem.”

Cao Cao flew into a rage and ordered Cao Hong beheaded. The assembled officers pleaded for his life, so Cao Hong confessed his fault and withdrew. Cao Cao advanced directly to Tong Pass. Cao Ren said, “We should first establish our stockades, and then it will not be too late to attack the pass.” Cao Cao ordered trees felled and rows of palisades erected, dividing his army into three encampments: Cao Ren held the left camp, Xiahou Yuan the right, and Cao Cao himself occupied the center. The next day, Cao Cao led the officers and commanders of all three camps toward the pass and encountered the Xiliang army. Both sides drew up their formations. Cao Cao rode out beneath the standard at his gate and surveyed the troops of Xiliang. Every man was stout and valiant, every one a hero. Then he saw Ma Chao, whose face was as fair as powder and whose lips seemed daubed with vermilion. He had a slender waist and broad shoulders, a mighty voice, and tremendous strength. Clad in a white robe and silver armor, he held a long spear and sat his horse before the ranks, with Pang De above him and Ma Dai below. Cao Cao secretly marveled. Riding forward, he said to Ma Chao, “You are the descendant of a renowned general of the Han. Why have you rebelled?” Grinding his teeth, Ma Chao cursed him furiously: “Traitor Cao! You deceive your sovereign and defy your superiors. Death itself cannot expiate your crimes! You murdered my father and brothers, and our enmity cannot exist beneath the same heaven! I shall take you alive and devour your flesh raw!”

With that, Ma Chao leveled his spear and charged straight forward. Yu Jin rode out from behind Cao Cao to meet him. The two horses crossed, and after eight or nine bouts, Yu Jin was defeated and fled. Zhang He came forward and fought for twenty bouts, but he too was defeated and fled. Li Tong then rode out. Ma Chao engaged him with ferocious might, and within a few bouts thrust Li Tong from his horse with a single spear stroke. Ma Chao swept his spear backward in signal, and the Xiliang troops charged forward as one. Cao Cao’s army suffered a crushing defeat. The Xiliang soldiers came on with such fierce momentum that none of the officers to the left or right could withstand them. Ma Chao, Pang De, and Ma Dai led more than a hundred horsemen straight into the central army to capture Cao Cao. Amid the confusion, Cao Cao heard the Xiliang soldiers shouting, “The man in the red robe is Cao Cao!” Cao Cao hastily stripped off his red robe while still on horseback. Then he heard them shouting, “The man with the long beard is Cao Cao!” In panic, Cao Cao drew his sword and cut off his beard. Someone in the army informed Ma Chao that Cao Cao had cut off his beard, so Ma Chao ordered his men to cry, “The man with the short beard is Cao Cao!” Hearing this, Cao Cao tore off the corner of a banner, wrapped it around his neck, and fled. A later poet wrote:

Defeated at Tong Pass, he fled before the gale;In wild dismay, Mengde cast off his brocade robe.His sword sheared beard and whiskers—his heart must have failed;Ma Chao’s resounding fame towered to heaven’s height.

As Cao Cao fled, a lone horseman came racing after him. He turned his head and saw that it was Ma Chao. Cao Cao was greatly alarmed. When the officers around him saw Ma Chao coming, each fled to save his own life, leaving Cao Cao alone. Ma Chao shouted sternly, “Cao Cao, do not flee!” Cao Cao was so frightened that he dropped his horsewhip. Ma Chao was nearly upon him and thrust his spear at him from behind. Cao Cao wheeled around a tree. Ma Chao’s spear struck deep into the trunk, and by the time he had wrenched it free, Cao Cao was already some distance away. Ma Chao spurred after him, but from the side of a hill a general suddenly appeared and cried, “Do not harm my lord! Cao Hong is here!” Whirling his saber and urging on his horse, Cao Hong barred Ma Chao’s path. Cao Cao thus escaped with his life. Cao Hong fought Ma Chao for forty or fifty bouts, but gradually his saber strokes grew disordered and his strength began to fail. Then Xiahou Yuan arrived with several dozen horsemen. Ma Chao was alone and feared being caught in a trap, so he reined about and withdrew. Xiahou Yuan made no attempt to pursue him.

When Cao Cao returned to camp, he found that Cao Ren had held the palisades to the death, and therefore the army had not suffered much further loss. Entering his tent, Cao Cao sighed and said, “Had I put Cao Hong to death, I would surely have died today at Ma Chao’s hands!” He summoned Cao Hong and rewarded him richly. Cao Cao then rallied his defeated army and held firmly within the stockades. He dug deep moats, raised high ramparts, and forbade anyone to offer battle. Every day Ma Chao led troops before the camp to shout insults and challenge them, but Cao Cao issued orders that the soldiers were to stand fast and that anyone who moved without command would be beheaded. The generals said, “The Xiliang troops all wield long spears. We should select bowmen and crossbowmen to oppose them.” Cao Cao replied, “Whether we fight or do not fight depends upon me, not upon the rebels. Though they have long spears, how can they simply thrust them into us? Gentlemen, remain behind the walls and watch. The rebels will withdraw of their own accord.” The generals said privately among themselves, “Whenever the prime minister has gone to war, he has always led from the front. Now that Ma Chao has defeated him, why has he become so feeble?”

Several days later, a spy reported, “Ma Chao has received another twenty thousand fresh troops to aid him. They are men of the Qiang tribes.” Cao Cao was overjoyed when he heard this. His generals said, “Ma Chao has gained reinforcements, yet Your Excellency rejoices. Why?” Cao Cao replied, “After I have defeated him, I shall explain it to you.” Three days later, another report came that still more troops had arrived at the pass. Cao Cao was again delighted and held a banquet in his tent to celebrate. The generals all laughed secretly. Cao Cao said, “You gentlemen laugh because you think I have no plan to defeat Ma Chao. What sound strategy have any of you to offer?” Xu Huang stepped forward and said, “Your Excellency’s great army is now concentrated here, and the rebels’ entire force is likewise encamped at the pass. The territory west of the Yellow River must be wholly unprepared. If one army were secretly to cross at Puban Ford and cut off the rebels’ line of retreat, while Your Excellency crossed directly north of the river and attacked them, they would be unable to support one another, and their position would surely become desperate.” Cao Cao said, “Gongming’s words accord perfectly with my own intentions.” He ordered Xu Huang to lead four thousand picked troops with Zhu Ling in a direct surprise attack west of the Yellow River and lie hidden in a mountain valley. “When I have crossed north of the river, attack them at the same time.” Xu Huang and Zhu Ling accepted the command and secretly departed first with their four thousand men. Cao Cao then ordered Cao Hong to prepare boats and rafts at Puban Ford. Leaving Cao Ren to defend the camp, Cao Cao himself led troops to cross the Wei River. A spy promptly reported this to Ma Chao. Ma Chao said, “Cao Cao is not attacking Tong Pass, but has ordered men to prepare boats and rafts. He means to cross north of the river and cut off our rear. I shall lead an army across and hold the northern bank. If Cao Cao’s troops cannot cross, the provisions east of the river will be exhausted in less than twenty days and his army will surely fall into disorder. Then we shall follow the southern bank and attack him, and Cao Cao may be captured.” Han Sui said, “There is no need for that. Have you not heard the rule of war: ‘Strike an army when half has crossed’? Wait until half of Cao Cao’s troops have crossed, then attack them from the southern bank. His army will perish in the river.” Ma Chao said, “Your words are excellent, Uncle.” He immediately sent men to discover when Cao Cao intended to cross.

Cao Cao completed his preparations and divided the army into three parts to cross the Wei River in succession. By the time the men and horses reached the river, the sun was just rising. Cao Cao first sent picked troops across to the northern bank to establish a camp. He himself, with a personal guard of one hundred officers and soldiers, sat on the southern bank with his hand upon his sword and watched the army cross. Suddenly a man reported, “The white-robed general is coming from behind!” Everyone recognized that this was Ma Chao, and the soldiers surged toward the boats. Along the riverbank, those fighting to board raised an unceasing clamor. Cao Cao remained seated and unmoving, pointing with his sword and ordering them to cease their disorder. Then came the cries of men and neighing of horses as the enemy swarmed forward. A general aboard one of the boats leaped ashore and cried, “The rebels are here! I beg Your Excellency to board!” Cao Cao looked and saw that it was Xu Chu. Yet Cao Cao still said, “What does it matter if the rebels have come?” When he turned to look back, Ma Chao was less than a hundred paces away. Xu Chu dragged Cao Cao toward the boat, but it had already pulled more than ten feet from shore. Hoisting Cao Cao onto his back, Xu Chu leaped aboard. All the accompanying officers and soldiers threw themselves into the water, clung to the sides, and struggled to climb aboard and escape with their lives. The small boat was about to capsize, so Xu Chu drew his sword and hacked wildly at them. Every hand gripping the gunwales was severed, and the men fell back into the water. The boat was hastily propelled downstream. Xu Chu stood in the stern, desperately pushing with a wooden pole, while Cao Cao crouched at his feet. Ma Chao reached the riverbank and, seeing that the boat had already drifted to midstream, took up his bow, set an arrow to the string, and ordered his fierce riders to race along the bank and shoot. The arrows fell as thickly as rain. Fearing that Cao Cao would be struck, Xu Chu raised a horse saddle in his left hand to shield him. Ma Chao’s arrows never flew in vain. The boatmen fell into the water as each shaft found its mark, and several dozen men aboard were shot down. No one remained able to steer, and the boat spun helplessly in the swift current. Xu Chu alone displayed divine valor: gripping the rudder between his legs to control it, he pushed the boat with the pole in one hand and held the saddle over Cao Cao with the other.

At that time, Ding Fei, Magistrate of Weinan County, was on the southern hills. Seeing Ma Chao pressing Cao Cao so closely, he feared for Cao Cao’s life and drove all the cattle and horses out of his camp until the hills and plains were covered with them. When the Xiliang soldiers saw the livestock, they all turned back and fought among themselves to seize the cattle and horses, abandoning the pursuit. Cao Cao thus escaped. The moment he reached the northern bank, he ordered all the boats and rafts scuttled. When the generals heard that Cao Cao was in peril on the river, they hurried to rescue him, but he had already come ashore. Xu Chu wore heavy armor, and arrows were embedded all over it. The generals escorted Cao Cao to the field camp, where they all bowed to the ground and inquired after his safety. Cao Cao laughed loudly and said, “Today I was nearly brought to grief by that young rebel!” Xu Chu said, “Had someone not loosed horses and cattle to lure the rebels away, they would surely have pressed hard to cross the river.” Cao Cao asked, “Who was it that lured them away?” Someone who knew replied, “Ding Fei, Magistrate of Weinan County.” A short while later, Ding Fei entered to see him. Cao Cao thanked him, saying, “But for your excellent stratagem, sir, I would have been captured by the rebels.” He then appointed him Commandant of Military Administration. Ding Fei said, “Though the rebels have withdrawn for the moment, they will surely return tomorrow. We must devise a sound plan to resist them.” Cao Cao replied, “I have already made preparations.” He then summoned his generals and said, “Divide your men and build covered passageways along the river to serve for the moment as the base of our camp. When the rebels come, array troops outside the passageways, while within them you set up empty standards and banners as a feigned force. Dig pits and trenches along the river, cover them loosely with earth and hurdles, and use troops near the water to lure the enemy forward. If the rebels charge in haste, they must fall into the pits; once they have fallen, they may be captured.”

Ma Chao returned to Han Sui and said, “I nearly captured Cao Cao, but one general displayed extraordinary courage, carried him onto his back, and leaped aboard a boat. I do not know who the man was.” Han Sui said, “I have heard that Cao Cao selects men of exceptional strength as guards before his tent, calling them the ‘Tiger Guard.’ They were commanded by the fierce generals Dian Wei and Xu Chu. Dian Wei is already dead, so the man who rescued Cao Cao must have been Xu Chu. His courage and strength surpass those of ordinary men, and everyone calls him the ‘Tiger Fool.’ If you encounter him, you must not underestimate him.” Ma Chao said, “I too have long heard his name.” Han Sui said, “Now that Cao Cao has crossed the river, he intends to strike our rear. We must attack him swiftly and not allow him to establish a camp. Once his camp is built, it will be very difficult to destroy.” Ma Chao said, “In my foolish opinion, the best plan remains to hold the northern bank and prevent him from crossing.” Han Sui said, “What if you defend the camp while I lead an army along the river to fight Cao Cao?” Ma Chao replied, “Let Pang De serve as vanguard and accompany you, Uncle.”

Han Sui and Pang De accordingly led fifty thousand troops straight toward Weinan. Cao Cao ordered his generals to lure them between the covered passageways. Pang De first led more than a thousand armored horsemen in a headlong charge. At the outbreak of shouts, men and horses alike plunged into the concealed pits. Pang De sprang upward and leaped out of the pit onto level ground. He immediately killed several men, then fought his way on foot through the encirclement. Han Sui had meanwhile been trapped in the heart of the enemy formation. Pang De went on foot to rescue him and encountered Cao Yong, an officer under Cao Ren. Pang De struck him from his horse with a single saber blow, seized his mount, carved open a blood-soaked road, rescued Han Sui, and fled toward the southeast. Cao Cao’s troops came in pursuit, but Ma Chao led an army to their support and defeated them. They also rescued more than half the troops. The fighting continued until dusk, when they finally returned. Upon counting their men, they found that the commanders Cheng Yin and Zhang Heng had been lost, while more than two hundred men had died in the pits. Ma Chao and Han Sui conferred. “If we delay much longer,” they said, “Cao Cao will establish his camp north of the river, and it will be difficult to drive him back. Better to take advantage of the night and lead light cavalry in a raid upon his field camp.” Han Sui said, “The force must be divided so the front and rear may support one another.” Ma Chao therefore took command of the vanguard and ordered Pang De and Ma Dai to provide support from the rear. That very night they set out.

Cao Cao, having withdrawn his troops to camp north of the Wei, summoned his generals and said, “The rebels think we have not yet established our palisades and will surely come to raid our field camp. Scatter troops in ambush on every side and leave the central camp empty. When the signal cannon sounds, let every ambush rise at once, and we shall capture them at a single beat of the drum.” The generals obeyed, and all the ambushes were laid. That night, however, Ma Chao first sent Cheng Yi forward with thirty horsemen to scout. Seeing no men or horses, Cheng Yi rode directly into the central camp. When Cao Cao’s army saw the Xiliang riders arrive, they fired the signal cannon. Ambushed troops sprang out from every side, but they surrounded only thirty horsemen. Cheng Yi was slain by Xiahou Yuan. Ma Chao, meanwhile, came from the rear with Pang De and Ma Dai, their troops divided into three columns, and swept forward in a massed assault. Thus it was:

Though hidden troops may wait and watch the foe,How can they withstand fierce generals vying to lead the charge?

How victory and defeat were decided will be told in the next chapter.

Ma Chao Raises an Army to Avenge His Wrongs; Cao Cao Cuts His Beard and Casts Away His Robe

The man who had offered the plan was Chen Qun, courtesy name Changwen, the Attendant Censor in the Bureau of State Records. Cao Cao asked, “What excellent plan does Chen Changwen have?” Chen Qun said, “Liu Bei and Sun Quan now depend upon each other like lips and teeth. If Liu Bei intends to seize the Western Riverlands, Your Excellency can order a senior general to lead an army, join forces with the troops at Hefei, and advance directly against the lands south of the Yangtze. Sun Quan will then be sure to ask Liu Bei for help. But Liu Bei’s mind is set on the Western Riverlands, so he will surely have no desire to rescue Sun Quan. Without aid, Sun Quan will lack strength and his army will weaken, and the lands of the Southland will inevitably fall to Your Excellency. Once the Southland is taken, Jingzhou can be pacified with a single beat of the drum. After Jingzhou has been pacified, you can then gradually plan the conquest of the Western Riverlands, and the realm will be settled.” Cao Cao said, “Changwen’s words accord exactly with my own thoughts.” He immediately raised a great army of three hundred thousand and marched straight toward the lands south of the Yangtze. He ordered Zhang Liao at Hefei to prepare provisions and fodder for the army’s supply.

Spies soon reported this to Sun Quan. Sun Quan gathered his generals to discuss the matter. Zhang Zhao said, “You should send someone to Lu Zijing and have him write an urgent letter to Jingzhou, asking Xuande to join forces with us against Cao Cao. Zijing has rendered Xuande a great favor, so Xuande will certainly heed his words. Moreover, Xuande is now the son-in-law of the Southland, so honor will not permit him to refuse. If Xuande comes to our aid, the lands south of the Yangtze will have nothing to fear.” Sun Quan followed his advice and immediately sent a man with instructions for Lu Su to seek help from Xuande. Lu Su received the order and at once wrote a letter and sent someone to deliver it to Xuande. After Xuande read the letter, he lodged the messenger in the guest quarters and sent someone to Nan Commandery to summon Kongming. When Kongming arrived in Jingzhou, Xuande gave him Lu Su’s letter to read. After reading it, Kongming said, “There is no need to mobilize the troops south of the Yangtze, nor any need to mobilize the troops of Jingzhou. I can make Cao Cao afraid even to look directly toward the southeast.” He then wrote a reply to Lu Su, telling him to rest easy without worry. If northern troops invaded, the Imperial Uncle had his own plan for making them withdraw. The messenger departed. Xuande asked, “Cao Cao has now raised a great army of three hundred thousand, joined forces with the troops at Hefei, and is coming down upon us in a single mass. What brilliant plan do you have to make him withdraw?” Kongming said, “The soldiers Cao Cao has feared throughout his life are those of Western Liang. Cao Cao has now killed Ma Teng, and Ma Teng’s son Ma Chao currently commands the forces of Western Liang. He must hate the traitor Cao to the very teeth. My lord, you can write a letter to form an alliance with Ma Chao and have him raise an army and enter the passes. Cao Cao will then have no time to march south of the Yangtze.” Xuande was delighted. He immediately wrote a letter and dispatched a trusted man to travel directly to Western Liang Province and deliver it.

Meanwhile, in Western Liang Province, Ma Chao had a dream one night. He dreamed that he lay in the snow while a pack of tigers came to bite him. He awoke in terror, deeply troubled, and gathered the officers and aides under his command to tell them what he had dreamed. One man in the tent immediately said, “This dream is an ominous sign.” Everyone looked at the speaker. He was a trusted commandant of Ma Chao’s personal staff, surnamed Pang, given name De, and courtesy name Lingming. Ma Chao asked, “Lingming, what do you make of it?” Pang De said, “To encounter tigers in the snow is an especially evil omen. Could something have happened to the old general in Xuchang?” Before he had finished speaking, a man staggered in, fell to the ground weeping, and bowed, saying, “My uncle and my brothers are all dead!” Ma Chao looked and saw that it was Ma Dai. Startled, Ma Chao questioned him. Ma Dai said, “My uncle and the palace attendant Huang Kui plotted together to kill Cao Cao. Unfortunately, the plot was exposed, and they were both beheaded in the marketplace. My two younger brothers were also killed. I alone escaped by disguising myself as a traveling merchant and fleeing through the night.”

When Ma Chao heard this, he collapsed to the ground in tears. His generals helped him up. Grinding his teeth, he bitterly hated the traitor Cao. Suddenly it was reported that Liu, the Imperial Uncle of Jingzhou, had sent a man bearing a letter. Ma Chao opened and read it. In substance, it said: “I humbly reflect upon the misfortune of the imperial house of Han. The traitor Cao has monopolized power, deceived his sovereign and defied his superiors, while the common people wither and perish. In former days, I and your honored father both received the secret imperial edict and swore to destroy this traitor. Now that your honored father has been murdered by Cao Cao, this is a hatred that cannot share the same heaven and earth, nor exist beneath the same sun and moon. If you can lead the troops of Western Liang to attack Cao Cao’s right flank, I shall mobilize the forces of Jingzhou and Xiangyang to block his front. Then the rebel Cao can be captured, his treacherous faction destroyed, your humiliation and hatred avenged, and the imperial house of Han restored. A letter cannot express all I would say. I stand awaiting your reply.”

After reading the letter, Ma Chao wiped away his tears and immediately wrote a reply. He sent the messenger back ahead of him, then prepared to mobilize the troops of Western Liang. Just as he was about to set out, Han Sui, the governor of Western Liang, sent someone to ask Ma Chao to come and see him. When Ma Chao arrived at Han Sui’s residence, Han Sui produced a letter from Cao Cao and showed it to him. It said, “If you seize Ma Chao and escort him to the capital at Xu, I shall immediately enfeoff you as Marquis of Western Liang.” Ma Chao bowed to the ground and said, “Uncle, please bind the two of us brothers and escort us to Xuchang, so that you may be spared the trouble of using spear and halberd.” Han Sui helped him to his feet and said, “Your father and I swore brotherhood. How could I bear to harm you? If you raise an army, I will help you.”

Ma Chao bowed in thanks. Han Sui then had Cao Cao’s messenger dragged out and beheaded, after which he mustered the troops of the eight divisions under his command and set out together with Ma Chao. Who were the eight division commanders? 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 and joined with Pang De and Ma Dai under Ma Chao, together raising a great army of two hundred thousand and driving straight toward Chang’an. Zhong Yao, the governor of Chang’an, sent an urgent report to Cao Cao while leading his own troops out to meet the enemy and forming a battle line in the open country. Ma Dai, vanguard commander of Western Liang’s front division, led fifteen thousand troops forward in a mighty flood, covering the hills and fields. Zhong Yao rode out to parley. Ma Dai wielded a treasured saber and engaged Zhong Yao in combat. Before a single bout was completed, Zhong Yao was badly defeated and fled, with Ma Dai pursuing him, saber raised. Ma Chao and Han Sui arrived with the main army, surrounded Chang’an, and forced Zhong Yao to mount the walls and defend the city.

Chang’an had been the capital of the Western Han. Its city walls and outer defenses were strong, and its moat was deep and difficult to cross, so it could not be taken by a sudden assault. They surrounded it for ten consecutive days but were unable to break through. Pang De offered a plan: “Inside Chang’an, the soil is hard and the water is brackish and barely fit to drink. Moreover, they have no firewood. We have now surrounded the city for ten days, and soldiers and civilians alike are starving. We should withdraw our army for the time being. We need only do this and this, and Chang’an will fall into our hands as easily as spitting into our palms.” Ma Chao said, “An excellent plan!” He immediately sent the command flag bearing the character “Order” around to every division, instructing them all to withdraw. Ma Chao personally covered the rear as the troops of each division gradually retreated.

The next day, Zhong Yao climbed the city wall and saw that the enemy army had withdrawn. Fearing it might be a trick, he sent scouts to investigate. Only when they confirmed that the army had truly gone far away did he set his mind at ease. He allowed the soldiers and civilians to leave the city to gather firewood and fetch water, threw the gates wide open, and permitted people to come and go. On the fifth day, word came that Ma Chao’s troops had returned. Soldiers and civilians raced back into the city, and Zhong Yao once again shut the gates and held firm.

Now Zhong Yao’s younger brother, Zhong Jin, was guarding the western gate. Near the third watch, a fire suddenly broke out inside the city gate. Zhong Jin hurried over to deal with it, but a man rounded the city wall, raised his saber, spurred his horse, and shouted, “Pang De is here!” Caught unprepared, Zhong Jin was cut down from his horse by a single stroke of Pang De’s saber. Pang De scattered the soldiers and officers, hacked through the gate bars and severed the locks, and let the troops of Ma Chao and Han Sui into the city. Zhong Yao abandoned the city and fled through the eastern gate. Ma Chao and Han Sui took the city and rewarded the three armies for their service.

Zhong Yao withdrew to defend Tong Pass and sent an urgent report to Cao Cao. When Cao Cao learned that Chang’an had been lost, he no longer dared discuss a southern campaign. He summoned Cao Hong and Xu Huang and instructed them: “Take ten thousand troops ahead of me and relieve Zhong Yao in the defense of Tong Pass. If the pass is lost within ten days, you will both be beheaded. If it is lost after ten days, neither of you will be held responsible. I will follow with the main army.” The two men received their orders and set out that very night. Cao Ren warned Cao Cao, “Cao Hong is impetuous by nature. I am truly afraid he may ruin the undertaking.” Cao Cao said, “You will supervise the provisions and fodder and follow afterward to support them.”

When Cao Hong and Xu Huang reached Tong Pass, they relieved Zhong Yao and held the pass firmly, refusing to come out and fight. Ma Chao led his army to the foot of the pass and hurled abuse at three generations of Cao Cao’s family. Cao Hong was furious and wanted to lead the troops down from the pass to fight. Xu Huang cautioned him, “Ma Chao is trying to provoke you into battle. You must not fight him. When the prime minister’s main army arrives, he will surely have an overall plan.” Day and night, Ma Chao’s troops took turns coming forward to shout abuse. Cao Hong repeatedly wanted to fight, but Xu Huang held him back with great difficulty. On the ninth day, Cao Hong looked down from the pass and saw that the Western Liang troops had all dismounted and were sitting on the grassland before the pass. Most appeared weary, and some had even lain down on the ground to sleep. Cao Hong ordered the horses saddled, mustered three thousand troops, and charged down from the pass. The Western Liang soldiers abandoned their horses, threw away their weapons, and fled. Cao Hong pursued them farther and farther.

At the time, Xu Huang was on the pass inspecting the provisions. When he heard that Cao Hong had gone down to fight, he was greatly alarmed and hurried after him with his troops, shouting for Cao Hong to turn back. Suddenly, tremendous cries arose behind them as Ma Dai led an army into the attack. Cao Hong and Xu Huang hastily turned to retreat. At the beat of a drum, two forces emerged from behind the hills and cut them off: Ma Chao on the left and Pang De on the right. A chaotic battle followed. Unable to hold out, Cao Hong lost more than half his troops before breaking out of the encirclement and fleeing back to the pass. The Western Liang troops pursued close behind, and Cao Hong and the others abandoned the pass and fled. Pang De pursued them beyond Tong Pass, where he encountered Cao Ren’s troops, who rescued Cao Hong and the remnants of his army. Ma Chao came up to support Pang De and occupied the pass.

Having lost Tong Pass, Cao Hong fled to see Cao Cao. Cao Cao said, “I gave you a limit of ten days. How did you lose Tong Pass on the ninth?” Cao Hong said, “The Western Liang troops insulted and cursed us in every possible way. When I saw that their army had grown lax, I seized the opportunity to pursue them. I never expected to fall into the rebels’ treacherous scheme.” Cao Cao said, “Cao Hong is young, impetuous, and violent, but you, Xu Huang, should have known better!” Xu Huang said, “I repeatedly advised him, but he would not listen. That day I was on the pass inspecting the provisions. By the time I learned what had happened, the young general had already gone down from the pass. Fearing disaster, I hurried after him, but he had already fallen into the rebels’ treacherous scheme.”

Cao Cao was furious and ordered Cao Hong beheaded. The assembled officers pleaded for mercy, and Cao Hong admitted his guilt and withdrew. Cao Cao advanced directly to Tong Pass. Cao Ren said, “We should first establish our fortified camps. It will not be too late to attack the pass afterward.” Cao Cao ordered trees felled and palisades erected, dividing the army into three camps: Cao Ren commanded the left camp, Xiahou Yuan the right, while Cao Cao occupied the center. The next day, Cao Cao led all the officers and commanders from the three camps toward the pass and encountered the troops of Western Liang. Both sides formed their battle lines. Cao Cao rode out beneath the standard at his gate and looked over the Western Liang troops. Every man was strong and valiant, and each had the bearing of a hero. Then he saw Ma Chao, whose face looked as though powdered, whose lips seemed painted with vermilion, whose waist was slender and shoulders broad, and whose voice was commanding and strength formidable. Dressed in a white robe and silver armor, holding a long spear, he sat his horse before the battle line, with Pang De above him and Ma Dai below. Cao Cao secretly marveled at him. Riding forward, he said to Ma Chao, “You are the descendant of a famous general of the Han. Why have you rebelled?” Grinding his teeth, Ma Chao cursed him: “Traitor Cao, you deceive your sovereign and defy your superiors! Even death cannot atone for your crimes! You murdered my father and brothers, creating a hatred that cannot exist beneath the same heaven! I will capture you alive and devour your flesh raw!”

With that, Ma Chao leveled his spear and charged straight forward. Yu Jin rode out from behind Cao Cao to meet him. They fought for eight or nine bouts, after which Yu Jin fled in defeat. Zhang He rode out and fought for twenty bouts, but he too was defeated and fled. Li Tong came forward to meet him. Ma Chao fought with tremendous power and, within a few bouts, thrust his spear into Li Tong and knocked him dead from his horse. Ma Chao swung his spear backward in a signal, and the Western Liang troops charged forward together. Cao Cao’s army suffered a crushing defeat. The Western Liang troops attacked with such fierce momentum that none of the officers to Cao Cao’s left or right could hold them back. Ma Chao, Pang De, and Ma Dai led more than a hundred riders straight into the center army to capture Cao Cao. Amid the chaos, Cao Cao heard the Western Liang troops shouting, “The man in the red robe is Cao Cao!” Cao Cao hurriedly stripped off his red robe while still on horseback. Then he heard them shout, “The man with the long beard is Cao Cao!” In a panic, Cao Cao drew the saber at his waist and cut off his beard. Someone in the army informed Ma Chao that Cao Cao had cut off his beard, so Ma Chao had his men shout, “The man with the short beard is Cao Cao!” When Cao Cao heard this, he tore off the corner of a banner, wrapped it around his neck, and fled. A later poet wrote:

Defeated at Tong Pass, he fled at the first sign of pursuit;In terror, Mengde stripped off his brocade robe.His sword cut off his beard, revealing his panic and fear;Ma Chao’s towering fame rose higher than the sky.

As Cao Cao fled, a lone rider came pursuing from behind. He looked back and saw that it was Ma Chao. Cao Cao was terrified. When the officers around him saw Ma Chao coming, each fled for his own life, leaving Cao Cao alone. Ma Chao shouted fiercely, “Cao Cao, do not run!” Cao Cao was so frightened that he dropped his riding whip. Just as Ma Chao was about to catch him, he thrust his spear from behind. Cao Cao circled around a tree to escape. Ma Chao’s spear struck the tree, and by the time he hurriedly pulled it free, Cao Cao had already gotten some distance away. Ma Chao spurred his horse in pursuit, but a general emerged from beside a hillside and shouted, “Do not harm my lord! Cao Hong is here!” Brandishing his saber and spurring his horse, Cao Hong blocked Ma Chao’s way. Cao Cao escaped with his life. Cao Hong fought Ma Chao for forty or fifty bouts, but gradually his saber technique grew disordered and his strength began to fail. Xiahou Yuan arrived with several dozen riders. Ma Chao was alone and feared being trapped, so he turned his horse and withdrew. Xiahou Yuan did not pursue him.

When Cao Cao returned to camp, he found that Cao Ren had held the palisades to the death, and as a result the army had not suffered many further losses. Entering his tent, Cao Cao sighed and said, “If I had executed Cao Hong, I would surely have died by Ma Chao’s hand today!” He then summoned Cao Hong and rewarded him generously. Cao Cao reorganized the defeated troops, held firmly behind the camp palisades, dug deep trenches, and raised high ramparts, forbidding anyone to go out to battle. Every day Ma Chao led troops before the camp to shout insults and challenge them to fight, but Cao Cao issued orders that the soldiers were to hold firm, and that anyone who moved without authorization would be beheaded. The generals said, “The Western Liang troops all use long spears. We should select archers and crossbowmen to oppose them.” Cao Cao said, “Whether we fight or do not fight depends entirely upon me, not upon the rebels. Though the rebels have long spears, how can they simply stab us at will? Gentlemen, hold firm behind the walls and watch them. The rebels will withdraw on their own.” The generals privately said among themselves, “In every campaign until now, the prime minister has always led from the front in person. Now that he has been defeated by Ma Chao, why has he become so weak?”

Several days later, a spy reported, “Ma Chao has received another twenty thousand fresh troops to assist him. They are from the Qiang tribes.” Cao Cao was delighted when he heard this. The generals said, “Ma Chao has gained reinforcements, yet the prime minister is pleased. Why?” Cao Cao said, “After I have defeated him, I will explain it to you.” Three days later, another report came that still more troops had arrived at the pass. Cao Cao was again delighted and held a banquet in his tent to celebrate. The generals all laughed privately. Cao Cao said, “You gentlemen laugh because you think I have no plan for defeating Ma Chao. What excellent plans do you have?” Xu Huang stepped forward and said, “Your Excellency has concentrated a great army here, while the rebels have also gathered their entire force at the pass. The territory west of the river must therefore be undefended. If one force could secretly cross at Puban Ford and first cut off the rebels’ route of retreat, while Your Excellency went directly north of the river to attack them, the rebels would be unable to respond on both fronts and would inevitably be placed in danger.” Cao Cao said, “Gongming’s words accord exactly with my own thoughts.” He ordered Xu Huang to take four thousand elite troops and go with Zhu Ling to make a direct surprise attack west of the river, then lie in ambush in the mountain valleys. “When I cross to the north of the river, attack at the same time.” Xu Huang and Zhu Ling received their orders and quietly departed ahead of the army with four thousand troops. Cao Cao then ordered Cao Hong to prepare boats and rafts at Puban Ford. Leaving Cao Ren to defend the camp, Cao Cao personally led troops to cross the Wei River. Spies soon reported this to Ma Chao. Ma Chao said, “Cao Cao is not attacking Tong Pass but has men preparing boats and rafts. He intends to cross north of the river and block our rear. I should lead an army across the river and hold the northern bank. If Cao Cao’s troops cannot cross, it will take less than twenty days for his provisions east of the river to run out. His army will then fall into disorder, and we can follow the southern bank of the river to attack him. Cao Cao can then be captured.” Han Sui said, “There is no need to do that. Have you not heard the military maxim, ‘Strike an army when half of it has crossed’? Wait until half of Cao Cao’s army has crossed, then attack it from the southern bank. Cao Cao’s troops will all die in the river.” Ma Chao said, “Uncle’s advice is excellent.” He immediately sent men to discover when Cao Cao would cross the river.

Cao Cao completed his preparations and divided his army into three contingents. The first crossed the Wei River. By the time the men and horses had entered the river, the sun was just rising. Cao Cao first sent elite troops to the northern bank to begin establishing a camp. He himself, accompanied by a hundred members of his personal guard, sat on the southern bank with his hand on his sword and watched the army cross. Suddenly someone reported, “The white-robed general has arrived from behind!” Everyone recognized him as Ma Chao and surged aboard the boats. At the riverbank, soldiers fought to get aboard, and the uproar did not cease. Cao Cao remained seated without moving, pointing with the hand that rested on his sword and ordering them to stop making a commotion. Amid the shouts of men and neighing of horses, the enemy came swarming forward. A general aboard one boat leaped ashore and cried, “The rebels are here! Prime Minister, please board the boat!” Cao Cao looked and saw that it was Xu Chu. Cao Cao still said, “What does it matter if the rebels are here?” But when he looked back, Ma Chao was already less than a hundred paces away. Xu Chu dragged Cao Cao toward the boat, but it had already moved more than ten feet from the bank. Carrying Cao Cao on his back, Xu Chu leaped aboard. All the accompanying officers and soldiers entered the water and grabbed the sides of the boat, struggling to climb aboard and save their lives. The small boat was about to capsize, so Xu Chu drew his saber and hacked wildly. All the hands clutching the sides of the boat were severed, and their owners fell into the water. Xu Chu hurriedly ordered the boat rowed downstream. Standing in the stern, he urgently pushed with a wooden pole, while Cao Cao crouched at his feet. When Ma Chao reached the riverbank and saw that the boat had already drifted into midstream, he took up his bow, set an arrow to the string, and ordered his valiant officers to spread out along the river and shoot. Arrows fell thick and fast like rain. Fearing Cao Cao would be hit, Xu Chu raised a saddle with his left hand to shield him. Ma Chao never shot in vain. The men handling the boat fell into the water with arrows in them, and dozens of people aboard were shot down. With no one able to hold it on course, the boat spun in the swift current. Xu Chu alone displayed his mighty courage. He gripped the rudder between his legs to control it, pushed the boat with a pole in one hand, and held up the saddle with the other to shield Cao Cao.

At the time, Ding Fei, magistrate of Weinan County, was on the Southern Hills. Seeing Ma Chao pursuing Cao Cao so fiercely, he feared for Cao Cao’s life and drove all the cattle and horses from his camp out into the open until the hills and fields were covered with them. When the Western Liang troops saw this, they all turned back and competed to seize the cattle and horses, losing all interest in the pursuit. Cao Cao escaped as a result. As soon as he reached the northern bank, he had the boats and rafts scuttled. When the generals heard that Cao Cao had been in danger on the river, they rushed to rescue him, but he had already come ashore. Xu Chu wore heavy armor, and arrows were embedded all over it. The generals escorted Cao Cao to the field camp, where they all bowed to the ground and asked after his well-being. Cao Cao laughed heartily and said, “Today I was nearly trapped by that young rebel!” Xu Chu said, “If someone had not released the horses and cattle to lure the rebels away, they would certainly have forced their way across the river.” Cao Cao asked, “Who lured the rebels away?” Someone who knew replied, “Ding Fei, magistrate of Weinan County.” A short while later, Ding Fei came in to see him. Cao Cao thanked him, saying, “If not for your excellent plan, I would have been captured by the rebels.” He then appointed Ding Fei Commandant of Army Administration. Ding Fei said, “Though the rebels have withdrawn for now, they will certainly return tomorrow. We must use a sound plan to resist them.” Cao Cao said, “I have already made preparations.” He summoned the generals and said, “Divide up and construct covered passageways along the river to serve for now as the base of our camp. When the rebels come, deploy soldiers outside the passageways but leave the interior empty, setting up banners there as a decoy force. Dig trenches along the river and cover them loosely with earth and wooden slats. Place troops by the river to lure the rebels in. When the rebels rush forward, they will fall into the pits, and once they have fallen, they can be captured.”

Ma Chao returned to Han Sui and said, “I nearly captured Cao Cao, but one general fought bravely, carried Cao Cao aboard a boat, and escaped. I do not know who he was.” Han Sui said, “I have heard that Cao Cao selected men of exceptional strength to serve as guards before his tent, calling them the ‘Tiger Guard,’ and placed the valiant generals Dian Wei and Xu Chu in command of them. Dian Wei is already dead, so the man who rescued Cao Cao must have been Xu Chu. His courage and strength surpass those of ordinary men, and everyone calls him the ‘Tiger Madman.’ If you encounter him, do not underestimate him.” Ma Chao said, “I too have heard his name for a long time.” Han Sui said, “Now that Cao Cao has crossed the river, he intends to strike our rear. We must attack him quickly and not allow him to establish a camp. Once he has established his camp, it will be difficult to destroy him quickly.” Ma Chao said, “In my foolish opinion, the best plan is still to hold the northern bank and prevent him from crossing the river.” Han Sui said, “Worthy nephew, you defend the camp while I lead troops along the river to fight Cao Cao. What do you think?” Ma Chao said, “Have Pang De serve as your vanguard and accompany you.”

Han Sui and Pang De then led fifty thousand troops directly toward Weinan. Cao Cao ordered his generals to lure them between the covered passageways. Pang De led more than a thousand armored cavalry forward in the first charge. At the sound of shouting, men and horses alike fell into the concealed pits. Pang De sprang upward, leaped out of the pit, and landed on level ground. He immediately killed several men and, fighting on foot, hacked his way out of the encirclement. Han Sui had already been trapped in the heart of the enemy formation. Pang De went on foot to rescue him and encountered Cao Yong, one of Cao Ren’s subordinate generals. Pang De cut Cao Yong from his horse with a single stroke, seized his mount, and carved open a bloody path. He rescued Han Sui, and together they fled toward the southeast. Cao Cao’s troops pursued them from behind, but Ma Chao led troops to their aid and defeated the pursuing force. He also rescued more than half their troops. The fighting continued until sunset, when they finally returned. On counting their men, they found they had lost the commanders Cheng Yin and Zhang Heng, while more than two hundred men had died in the pits. Ma Chao discussed the situation with Han Sui: “If we delay too long, Cao Cao will establish his camp north of the river, and it will be difficult to drive him back. We should take light cavalry tonight and raid his field camp.” Han Sui said, “The troops must be divided so that the front and rear can support each other.” Ma Chao therefore took command of the forward division and ordered Pang De and Ma Dai to follow in support. They set out that very night.

Cao Cao withdrew his troops and encamped north of the Wei River. He summoned his generals and said, “The rebels think we have not yet established our fortified camp, so they will certainly come to raid us. Spread ambushes in every direction and leave the center camp empty. When the signal cannon sounds, all the ambush forces are to rise at once, and we can capture them in a single assault.” The generals obeyed his orders and completed their ambushes. That night, however, Ma Chao first sent Cheng Yi ahead with thirty riders to scout. Seeing no men or horses, Cheng Yi went straight into the center camp. When Cao Cao’s troops saw the Western Liang riders arrive, they fired the signal cannon. The ambush forces emerged from all four sides, but they surrounded only thirty riders. Cheng Yi was killed by Xiahou Yuan. Ma Chao, meanwhile, came from behind with Pang De and Ma Dai, their forces divided into three columns, and swept forward in a massed attack. Just as the verse says:

Though hidden troops may lie in wait to meet the foe,How can they withstand fierce generals all charging first?

Who won and who lost remains unknown; read the next chapter for the explanation.