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aid　Zhuge　Liang。
〃If　it　had　not　been　for　what　my　brother　said；　I　should　have　lost　a　great　scholar；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
Then　he　lost　no　time；　but　sent　Zhang　Fei　off　to　the　northeast　to　request　Pang　Tong　to　e　to　Jingzhou　City。　When　he　arrived；　Liu　Bei　went　out　to　meet　him　and　at　the　foot　of　the　steps　asked　pardon　for　his　mistake。　Then　Pang　Tong　produced　the　letter　that　Zhuge　Liang　had　given　him。　What　Liu　Bei　read　therein　was　this：
〃As　soon　as　the　Young　Phoenix　shall　arrive；　he　should　be　given　an　important　post。〃
Liu　Bei　rejoiced　indeed　as　he　read　it；　and　he　said；　〃Water　Mirror　said　of　the　two　men；　Sleeping　Dragon　and　Young　Phoenix；　that　any　man　who　obtained　the　help　of　either　of　them　could　restore　the　empire　when　he　would。　As　I　now　have　them　both；　surely　the　Hans　will　rise　again。〃
Then　he　appointed　Pang　Tong　as　Vice　Directing　Instructor　and　General；　and　the　two　strategists　began　training　the　army　for　its　work　of　subjugation。
News　of　these　doings　came　to　the　capital；　Xuchang；　and　Cao　Cao　was　told　of　Liu　Bei's　two　strategists　and　of　the　army　in　training　and　the　stores　accumulating　and　the　league　between　his　two　chief　enemies。　And　he　knew　that　he　had　to　expect　an　attack　sooner　or　later。　So　he　summoned　his　strategists　to　a　council　for　a　new　campaign。
Said　Xun　Yu；　〃Sun　Quan　should　be　first　attacked；　because　of　the　recent　death　of　their　ablest　general　Zhou　Yu。　Liu　Bei　will　follow。〃
Cao　Cao　replied；　〃If　I　go　on　such　a　distant　expedition；　Ma　Teng　will　fall　upon　the　capital。　While　I　was　at　the　Red　Cliffs；　there　were　sinister　rumors　of　this；　and　I　must　guard　against　it。〃
Xun　Yu　said；　〃The　best　thing　that　occurs　to　me　is　to　obtain　for　Ma　Teng　the　title　of　General　Who　Subdues　the　South　and　send　him　against　the　South　Land。　Thus　he　can　be　enticed　to　the　capital　and　got　rid　of。　Then　you　can　have　no　fear　of　marching　southward。〃
Cao　Cao　approved；　and　soon　Ma　Teng　was　summoned　from　Xiliang；　a　frontier　territory　in　the　west。

＇e＇　Ma　Yuan　（BC　14…AD　49）　a　general　who　first　served　Wang　Mang；　then　join　Liu　Xiu　in　restoring　Han　Dynasty。　In　his　life　of　career；　Ma　Yuan　contributed　much　to　Liu　Xiu's　success　by　putting　down　rebellions　throughout　the　empire　and　abroad。　。。。。。
Ma　Teng　was　a　descendant　of　the　famous　leader　Ma　Yuan*；　General　Who　Quells　the　Waves。　His　father's　name　was　Ma　Sui。　Ma　Sui　had　held　a　minor　magistracy　in　Tianshui　in　the　reign　of　Emperor　Huan；　but　had　lost　it　and　drifted　west　into　the　West　Valley　Land　where　he　got　amongst　the　Qiang　Peoples；　one　of　whose　women　he　took　to　wife。　She　bore　him　a　son；　Ma　Teng。　Ma　Teng　was　rather　over　the　mon　height；　and　bold…looking。　He　was　of　a　mild　disposition　and　very　popular。　But　in　the　reign　of　Emperor　Ling；　these　Qiangs　made　trouble；　and　then　Ma　Teng　raised　a　force　and　put　it　down。　For　his　services　he　received　the　tile　of　General　Who　Corrects　the　West。　He　and　Han　Sui；　who　was　known　as　mander　Who　Guards　the　West；　were　pledged　brothers。
On　receipt　of　the　summons　to　the　capital；　Ma　Teng　took　his　eldest　son；　Ma　Chao；　into　his　confidence　and　told　him　some　of　his　former　life。
〃When　Dong　Cheng　got　the　Girdle　Edict　from　the　Emperor；　we　formed　a　society；　of　which　Liu　Bei　was　one；　pledged　to　put　down　rebellion。　However；　we　acplished　nothing；　for　Dong　Cheng　was　put　to　death　and　Liu　Bei　was　unfortunate；　while　I　escaped　to　the　west。　However；　I　hear　that　Liu　Bei　now　holds　Jingzhou；　and　I　am　inclined　to　carry　out　the　plan　we　made　so　long　ago。　But　here　I　am　summoned　by　Cao　Cao　and　what　is　to　be　done？〃
Ma　Chao　replied；　〃Cao　Cao　has　the　mand　of　the　Emperor　to　call　you。　If　you　do　not　go；　that　will　mean　disobeying　an　imperial　mand　and　you　will　be　punished。　Obey　the　summons　in　so　far　as　to　go　to　the　capital；　where　you　may　be　able　to　arrange　to　carry　out　your　original　intention。〃
But　Ma　Teng's　nephew；　Ma　Dai；　held　other　opinions　and　opposed　this。
Said　he；　〃Cao　Cao's　designs　are　unfathomable。　If　you　go；　Uncle；　I　fear　you　will　suffer。〃
〃Let　me　lead　the　army　against　the　capital；〃　said　Ma　Chao。　〃Can　we　not　purge　the　empire　of　evil？〃
But　his　father　said；　〃You　must　take　mand　of　the　Qiang　troops　for　the　defense　of　our　territory　here。　I　will　take　with　me　your　two　brothers　and　your　cousin。　When　Cao　Cao　knows　that　you　have　the　Qiangs　at　your　call　and　that　Han　Sui　is　prepared　to　assist；　he　will　hardly　dare　to　work　any　harm　to　me。〃
〃Father；　if　you　must　go；　be　careful　not　to　enter　the　city　till　you　know　exactly　what　plots　and　machinations　are　afoot。〃
〃I　will　certainly　take　great　care；　so　do　not　be　too　anxious；〃　said　the　father。
The　order　of　march　was　prepared。　The　governor　took　five　thousand　troops；　with　his　two　sons………Ma　Xiu　and　Ma　Tie………as　Leaders　of　the　Van　and　his　nephew　Ma　Dai　bringing　up　the　rear。　These　set　out　along　the　tortuous　road　to　the　capital。　At　seven　miles　distance　from　Xuchang　they　camped。
When　Cao　Cao　heard　of　Ma　Teng's　arrival；　he　called　to　him　Minister　Huang　Kui　and　said　to　him；　〃Ma　Teng　is　to　be　sent　against　the　south；　and　I　shall　send　you　as　Adviser。　You　are　first　to　go　to　his　camp　and　express　my　congratulations　on　his　arrival　and　say　that　as　Xiliang　is　so　distant　and　transport　very　difficult；　he　is　not　to　take　too　large　an　army　of　his　own。　I　will　send　a　large　force。　Also　tell　him　to　e　in　soon　for　audience　of　the　Emperor。　I　will　send　him　supplies。〃
With　these　instructions　Huang　Kui　went　to　Ma　Teng；　who　brought　out　wine　and　entertained　him　well。
In　his　cups　the　messenger　grew　confidential　and　said；　〃My　father　perished　at　the　hands　of　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si；　and　I　have　always　nourished　resentment。　Now　there　is　another　rebel　in　power　wronging　our　Prince。〃
〃Who　is　that？〃　asked　Ma　Teng。
〃The　wrong　doer　is　that　rebel　Cao　Cao；　of　course。　Do　you　mean　to　say　you　do　not　know？〃
However；　Ma　Teng　was　careful。　He　thought　it　very　likely　that　these　words　were　but　a　trap　for　him；　so　he　pretended　to　be　greatly　shocked　and　begged　his　guest　to　be　careful　lest　he　be　overheard。
But　Huang　Kui　cared　not；　shouting；　〃Then　you　have　quite　forgotten　the　Girdle　Edict；　eh？〃
Ma　Teng　began　to　see　Huang　Kui　was　sincere　and　presently　became　confidential　in　turn　and　told　his　guest　all　his　schemes。
〃Cao　Cao　wants　you　to　go　in　to　audience。　There　is　no　good　intention　there。　Do　not　go；〃　said　Huang　Kui。　〃You　lead　your　army　up　close　to　the　city　and　get　Cao　Cao　to　e　and　review　them。　When　he　es；　assassinate　him。〃
They　two　settled　how　this　plan　could　be　worked　out　and　the　messenger；　still　hot　with　anger　and　excitement；　returned　to　his　home。
Seeing　Huang　Kui　so　disturbed　in　mind；　his　wife；　Lady　Zhi；　asked　him　what　was　wrong。　But　he　would　tell　her　nothing。　However；　he　had　a　concubine；　Li　Chunxiang。　And　it　happened　that　she　had　an　intrigue　with　the　wife's　younger　brother；　Miao　Ze；　who　much　desired　to　marry　her。　The　concubine　who　also　saw　her　lord's　displeasure；　spoke　of　it　to　her　paramour；　and　he　told　her　she　could　probably　draw　from　him　what　was　wrong　by　a　leading　question。
〃Ask　him　what　is　the　truth　about　two　men；　Liu　Bei　and　Cao　Cao？　Who　is　the　wicked　one；〃　suggested　Miao　Ze。
That　evening　Huang　Kui　went　to　the　apartments　of　his　concubine；　and　she　presently　put　the　question　proposed　by　her　lover。
Her　lord；　still　rather　intoxicated；　said；　〃You　are　not　an　official；　still　you　know　right　from　wrong　as　well　as　I。　My　enemy；　and　the　man　I　would　slay　if　I　could；　is　Cao　Cao。〃
〃But　why？　And　if　you　wish　to　slay　him；　why　do　you　not　do　something？〃　said　she。
〃I　have　done　something。　I　have　settled　with　General　Ma　Teng　to　assassinate　Cao　Cao　at　the　review。〃
Li　Chunxiang　of　course　told　her　paramour；　who　told　Cao　Cao；　and　Cao　Cao　made　his　arrangements　to　defeat　the　scheme。　He　called　up　his　trusty　generals　and　gave　them　orders　for　the　morrow　and；　this　done；　he　arrested　Huang　Kui　and　all　his　household。
Next　day；　as　arranged；　Ma　Teng　and　his　western　troops　came　close　up　to　the　wall；　and　among　the　flags　and　banners　he　discerned　that　of　the　Prime　Minister　himself；　whereby　he　knew　that　Cao　Cao　would　hold　the　review　in　person。
So　Ma　Teng　rode　forward。　Suddenly　a　bomb　exploded；　and　at　this　signal　there　appeared　bodies　of　armed　troops　in　four　directions：　Right　and　left；　front　and　rear；　led　by　Xu　Chu；　Xiahou　Yuan；　Cao　Hong；　and　Xu　Huang。　The　western　forces　were　quite　hemmed　in。　Ma　Teng　then　saw　the　mistake　he　had　made；　and　he　and　his　two　sons　fought　valiantly　to　free　themselves　from　the　trap。　The　youngest　son………Ma　Tie………soon　fell　in　the　volleys　of　arrows。　Father　and　son　rode　this　way　and　that；　seeking　a　way　out；　but　failed　on　every　side。　Both　were　sorely　wounded；　and　when　their　steeds　fell　from　their　many　arrow　wounds；　both　were　captured。
Ma　Teng；　Ma　Xiu；　and　the　miserable　Huang　Kui　who　could　not　keep　his　counsel；　were　brought　before　Cao　Cao。　Huang　Kui　loudly　protested　his　innocence。　Cao　Cao　then　called　in　the　witness　Miao　Ze。
〃That　worthless　scoundrel　has　spoiled　all　my　plans！〃　cried　Ma　Teng　against　Huang　Kui。　〃Now　I　cannot　slay　the　rebel　and　purge　my　country。　But　it　is　the　will　of　God！〃
Father　and　son　were　dragged　forth；　the　father　uttering　volleys　of　abuse　all　the　time。　And　so　three　men　were　executed　in　this　adventure。

The　sons　and　father　share　one　niche　of　fame；
For　purest　loyalty　their　praise　the　same。
To　their　own　hurt　the　rebels　they　withstood；
Content　to　die　to　make　their　pledges　good。
In　blood　the　solemn　oath　they　did　indite
To　slay　the　wicked　and　preserve　the　right。
A　worthy　father's　worthy　sons　by　western　bride；
Old　Waves　Queller's　name　his　grandson　glorified。

〃I　desire　no　other　reward　than　Li　Chunxiang　as　wife；〃　said　the　betrayer；　Miao　Ze。
Cao　Cao　smiled　and　said；　〃For　her　sake　then　you　have　brought　a　whole　household　to　death。　What　advantage　would　there　be　in　preserving　such　a　miscreant？〃
So　Cao　Cao　bade　the　executioners　put　both　the　traitor　and　the　woman　to　death；　with　Huang　Kui's　household。　Those　who　saw　the　fearful　vengeance　sighed　at　its　cruelty。

Through　passion　base　a　loyal　man　was　slain；
And　she　who　shared　his　passion　shared　his　fate；
The　man　they　served　was　pitiless　in　hate；
And　thus　a　mean　man's　treachery　was　vain。

Cao　Cao　did　not　desire　to　rouse　the　rancor　of　the　army　of　Xiliang；　wherefore　he　proclaimed　to　them；　〃The　intended　treachery　of　your　leaders　was　theirs　alone。〃
However；　he　sent　to　secure　the　passes　so　that　Ma　Dai　should　not　escape。
As　has　been　said；　Ma　Dai　led　the　rearguard。　Before　long　the　fugitives　from　the　main　army　came　and　told　him　what　had　occurred　at　the　capital。　This　frightened　him　so　much　that　he　abandoned　his　army　and　escaped　disguised　as　a　trader。
Having　slain　Ma　Teng；　Cao　Cao　decided　to　set　out　on　his　expedition　to　the　south。　But　then　came　the　disquieting　news　of　the　military　preparations　of　Liu　Bei；　whose　objective　was　said　to　be　the　west。
This　caused　Cao　Cao　alarm；　for　he　said；　〃The　bird's　wings　will　be　fully　grown　if　he　obtains　possession　of　the　West　River　Land。〃
As　Cao　Cao　recognized　the　difficulty；　from　among　his　counselors　there　arose　one　who　said；　〃I　know　how　to　prevent　Liu　Bei　and　Sun　Quan　from　helping　each　other；　and　both　the　south　and　the　west　will　be　yours。〃

Chill　death　struck　down　the　heroes　of　the　west；
Calamity　approached　the　bold　leaders　of　the　south。

The　next　chapter　will　unfold　the　scheme。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　58　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　58
　Chapter　58
Ma　Chao　Launches　An　Expedition　For　Revenge；
Cao　Cao　Flees　The　Field　In　Disguise。
〃What　is　this　good　plan　of　yours；　friend　Chen　Qun？〃　asked　Cao　Cao　of　the　speaker；　who　was　a　civilian　in　his　service。
Chen　Qun　replied；　〃Your　two　principal　enemies………Liu　Bei　and　Sun　Quan………are　now　firm　allies；　close　as　lips　and　teeth。　But　Liu　Bei　wants　the　West　River　Land　and　if　you；　O　Prime　Minister；　send　a　mighty　host　against　Sun　Quan；　Sun　Quan　must　ask　help　from　his　friend　Liu　Bei；　who；　having　his　heart　set　on　the　west；　will　refuse　it。　Sun　Quan　without　this　aid　cannot　stand　and　will　bee　so　weak　that　the　South　Land　will　be　yours　for　the　taking；　and　Jingzhou　will　follow　in　a　tap　of　the　drum。　The　west　will　follow　and　the　whole　empire　is　yours。〃
〃Those　are　my　thoughts　put　into　words；〃　replied　Cao　Cao。
The　expeditionary　force　of　three　hundred　thousand　troops　set　out　for　the　south。　Zhang　Liao　of　Hefei　was　in　mand　of　the　supply　department。
Sun　Quan　speedily　heard　of　the　move　and　called　in　his　advisers。
At　the　council　Zhang　Zhao　said；　〃Let　us　send　to　Lu　Su　to　tell　him　to　write　at　once　to　Liu　Bei　that　he　may　help　us