三国演义英文版-第153部分

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　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　e　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　e　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　e　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　ing　nearer。
The　whip　dropped　from　Cao　Cao's　nerveless　hand　as　he　saw　his　enemy　ing　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　bee　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　bat　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　mand　of　the　camps。　Cao　Cao　himself　marched　to　the　east　bank　of　Yellow　River　first；　and　from　there　attempted　to　cross　to　the　west　bank。
When　Ma　Chao　heard　of　the　new　military　movements；　he　said；　〃I　understand。　The　Pass　is　left；　rafts　are　being　prepared：　That　means　that　he　is　going　to　cross　to　the　west　side　and　cut　off　my　retreat。　I　must　coast　along　the　river　and　keep　him　off。　If　I　can　do　that；　his　food　will　run　short　within　twenty　days　in　the　east　bank；　and　that　will　cause　a　mutiny。　Then　I　will　travel　south　along　the　river　and　attack。〃
Han　Sui　did　not　approve　this　plan。　He　quoted　the　military　maxim　to　strike　when　troops　were　half　over　the　river。
〃Attack　from　the　south　when　his　army　is　in　the　act　of　crossing；　and　his　army　will　be　drowned　in　the　river；〃　said　he。
〃Uncle；　your　words　are　good；〃　replied　Ma　Chao。　And　the　spies　went　forth　to　find　out　the　time　of　crossing　the　river。
When　Cao　Cao's　preparations　were　plete　and　all　was　ready；　he　sent　three　parties　of　soldiers　over　the　river　first。　They　reached　the　ferry　at　the　first　sign　of　dawn；　and　the　veterans　were　sent　over　first　an