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Sun　Quan　speedily　heard　of　the　move　and　called　in　his　advisers。
At　the　council　Zhang　Zhao　said；　〃Let　us　send　to　Lu　Su　to　tell　him　to　write　at　once　to　Liu　Bei　that　he　may　help　us。　They　are　good　friends；　and　Liu　Bei　will　certainly　respond　favorably。　Beside；　since　Liu　Bei　and　our　lord　are　now　connected　by　marriage；　there　is　no　risk　of　refusal。　With　the　support　of　Liu　Bei；　there　is　no　danger　to　our　country。〃
Sun　Quan　listened　to　this　advice　and　sent　to　Lu　Su　bidding　him　to　ask　help　from　Liu　Bei。　Accordingly；　on　receipt　of　this　mand；　a　letter　was　written　to　Liu　Bei；　who　after　reading　it；　retained　the　messenger　at　the　guest…house　till　Zhuge　Liang　could　arrive　from　Nanjun。　As　soon　as　he　arrived；　Liu　Bei　showed　him　the　letter。
The　adviser　said；　〃It　is　not　necessary　for　the　South　Land's　troops　to　move；　nor　need　we　send　ours。　I　can　prevent　Cao　Cao　from　even　daring　to　look　in　the　southeast　direction。〃
So　Zhuge　Liang　wrote　a　reply　telling　Lu　Su：
〃You　can　lay　aside　all　anxiety　and　rest　content；　for　if　the　northern　army　approach；　they　will　be　forced　backward　at　once。〃
The　letter　was　given　to　the　messenger；　and　then　Liu　Bei　asked　his　adviser；　〃How　could　the　Instructor　hope　to　roll　back　the　huge　army　of　three　hundred　thousand　troops　that　Cao　Cao　is　preparing　to　bring　south？〃
Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃Cao　Cao's　chief　fear　is　Xiliang。　Now　just　lately　he　has　slain　Ma　Teng　and　his　sons　as　well；　and　the　people　of　Xiliang　are　grinding　their　teeth　with　rage。　Now　you　must　write　and　ask　Ma　Chao　to　march　through　the　pass；　and　Cao　Cao　will　have　no　leisure　to　think　of　any　expedition　to　the　south。〃
The　letter　was　written；　sent　by　a　trusty　hand；　and　duly　delivered。
Now　Ma　Chao　was　in　Xiliang。　One　night　he　had　a　vision。　In　his　dream　he　saw　himself　lying　out　on　a　snowy　plain　and　many　tigers　were　ing　up　and　biting　him。　He　awoke　in　a　fright　and　began　to　wonder　what　the　dream　portended。　Failing　to　explain　it；　he　told　the　dream　to　his　officers。　One　of　them　ventured　to　say　the　portent　was　evil。　This　was　General　Pang　De。
〃What　is　your　interpretation？〃　asked　Ma　Chao。
〃Meeting　with　tigers　on　a　snowy　plain　is　a　very　inauspicious　subject　to　dream　about。　Assuredly　our　old　General　is　in　trouble　at　the　capital。〃
And　at　that　moment　one　entered　in　hot　haste　and　cast　himself　on　the　earth；　weeping　and　crying；　〃The　Uncle　and　his　sons　are　dead！〃
It　was　Ma　Dai；　the　nephew　of　Ma　Teng。　And　he　told　the　story　of　the　evil：　〃Uncle　Ma　Teng　and　Huang　Kui　had　planned　to　assassinate　Cao　Cao；　but　the　plot　had　miscarried　and　bee　known。　Ma　Tie　fell　in　the　battlefield；　Uncle　Ma　Teng　and　Ma　Xiu　were　put　to　death　in　the　market　place；　and　I　escaped　in　disguise。〃
Ma　Chao　fell　to　the　ground　and　wept　bitterly；　grinding　his　teeth　with　rage　at　his　enemy　Cao　Cao。　They　lifted　him　to　his　feet　and　led　him　away　to　repose。
Soon　after　arrived　a　messenger　with　a　letter　from　Liu　Bei；　which　read　like　this：
〃In　these　latter　days　of　the　hapless　Hans；　when　the　rebellious　and　tyrannical　Cao　Cao　monopolizes　all　power；　to　the　injury　of　the　Emperor　and　the　wretchedness　of　the　people；　I；　Liu　Bei；　recall　that　your　father　and　I　were　recipients　of　an　edict　and　we　swore　to　exterminate　the　recreant。　Now　your　father　has　suffered　death　at　the　hands　of　the　tyrant；　and　you　must　avenge　him。　As　the　holy　books　say；　you　cannot　let　the　same　sky　cover　you　nor　the　same　sunshine　upon　you　and　your　father's　murderer。　If　you　can　lead　your　army　to　attack　Cao　Cao　on　one　side；　I　will　march　my　armies　to　prevent　his　retreat；　and　he　will　be　taken；　and　all　his　evil　crew　can　be　exterminated。　Then　and　thus　will　your　father　be　avenged；　and　the　Hans　can　be　restored。　I　might　add　more；　but　I　will　await　your　reply。〃
Wiping　his　tears；　Ma　Chao　wrote　a　reply　which　was　returned　by　the　bearer。
The　Xiliang　army　was　then　mustered；　horse　and　foot　were　assembled。　Just　before　the　day　that　had　been　fixed　for　the　start；　the　Imperial　Protector　of　Xizhou；　Han　Sui；　sent　for　Ma　Chao；　to　whom　he　showed　a　letter　from　Cao　Cao　promising　the　Lordship　of　Xiliang　as　a　reward　for　sending　Ma　Chao　a　prisoner　to　the　capital。
〃Bind　us　both；　Uncle；　and　send　us　thither！　You　need　not　move　a　single　spear；〃　said　the　younger　man　prostrating　himself。
But　Han　Sui　raised　him；　saying；　〃Your　father　and　I　were　sworn　brothers。　Think　you　I　would　harm　you？　Rather　will　I　help　if　you　are　going　to　fight。〃
Ma　Chao　expressed　his　gratitude。　The　unhappy　bearer　of　Cao　Cao's　letter　was　dragged　forth　and　beheaded。　This　done；　the　two　took　count　of　their　armies。　Han　Sui　had　eight　divisions　under　eight　manders………Yang　Qiu；　Cheng　Yin；　Hou　Xuan；　Liang　Xing；　Cheng　Yi；　Li　Kan；　Ma　Wan；　and　Zhang　Han………all　to　be　relied　upon　to　follow　Han　Sui。　Ma　Chao　had　two　leaders；　Pang　De　and　Ma　Dai。　The　total　force　was　two　hundred　thousand　troops　with　which　the　manders　march　to　Changan。
The　Governor　of　that　city　was　Zhong　Yao。　As　soon　as　he　heard　what　was　afoot；　he　sent　a　fleet　messenger　to　Cao　Cao　and　prepared　for　defense。　He　led　his　force　out　into　the　open　plain　and　arrayed　it　for　battle。
Ma　Dai；　with　fifteen　thousand；　came　on　first；　pouring　over　the　countryside　like　a　flood。　Zhong　Yao　would　parley　with　him；　but　Ma　Dai　came　forward；　sword　in　hand；　to　attack。　However；　the　defender　did　not　take　the　challenge　but　turned　and　fled。　Ma　Dai　followed　in　pursuit。　Soon　the　main　body　of　the　invaders　arrived；　and　they　surrounded　the　city；　which　Zhong　Yao　set　about　defending。
Changan　had　been　the　capital　of　the　Western　Han　and　so　was　well　fortified　with　a　solid　wall　and　a　deep　moat；　safe　against　the　most　terrific　attacks。　The　new　armies　besieged　the　city　for　ten　days　without　success。　Then　Pang　De　proposed　a　plan。
Said　he；　〃Since　the　land　about　the　city　is　barren　and　the　water　bitter；　the　people　must　have　munication　with　the　country　around　in　order　to　live。　Further　they　have　no　fuel。　Ten　days　of　siege　must　have　exhausted　the　supplies　in　the　city；　wherefore　if　we　relax　for　a　time………well；　you　will　see。　We　shall　capture　the　city　without　moving　a　finger。〃
〃Your　plan　seems　excellent；〃　said　Ma　Chao；　when　he　heard　what　it　was。
Thereupon　they　sent　orders　to　each　division　to　retire；　and　Ma　Chao　covered　the　retreat。　Next　day　Zhong　Yao　went　up　on　the　walls　to　look　around　and　saw　that　the　besiegers　had　gone。　However；　suspecting　a　ruse；　he　sent　out　spies；　who　returned　to　say　the　soldiers　had　really　moved　away　to　a　distance。　Wherefore　he　felt　much　relieved　and　allowed　both　soldiers　and　people　to　go　out　into　the　country　to　cut　the　much　needed　firewood　and　bring　in　water。　The　city　gates；　thrown　wide　open；　were　thronged　with　those　passing　in　and　out。
This　continued　for　five　days；　and　then　they　heard　that　Ma　Chao's　army　was　returning。　A　panic　ensued。　The　people　rushed　into　the　city；　and　the　gates　were　once　more　barred。
The　General　of　the　west　gate　was　Zhong　Jing；　brother　of　Zhong　Yao。　About　the　third　watch　of　the　night；　a　torch　was　seen　moving　just　inside　the　gate；　and　when　Zhong　Jing　went　to　see　what　was　wrong；　and　was　passing　the　gateway；　a　man　suddenly　galloped　up　and　slashed　at　him　with　a　sword。
At　the　same　time　the　attacker　shouted；　〃Here　is　Pang　De！〃
Zhong　Jing　was　taken　aback；　could　not　defend　himself　and　was　cut　down。　The　gate　guard　was　soon　disposed　of；　the　gates　were　shattered；　and　the　soldiers　of　Ma　Chao　and　Han　Sui　came　pouring　in。　Zhong　Yao　escaped　by　the　opposite　gate　and　left　the　city　in　the　hands　of　his　enemies。　He　reached　Tong　Pass；　where　he　fortified　himself　and　sent　news　of　the　misfortune　to　Cao　Cao。
Cao　Cao　threw　aside　all　plans　for　his　expedition　to　the　south　when　Changan　was　lost。
He　at　once　gave　orders；　〃Cao　Hong　and　Xu　Huang　are　to　march　your　ten　thousand　troops　to　Tong　Pass　to　support　Zhong　Yao。　You　are　to　hold　the　Pass　at　all　costs　for　ten　days；　or　you　will　pay　for　its　loss　with　your　heads。　After　ten　days　the　Pass　will　be　no　concern　of　yours；　for　I　will　be　there　with　the　main　army。〃
Cao　Ren　said；　〃Cao　Hong　short　of　temper　is　unfitted　to　hold　the　Pass。　Everything　could　happen。〃
Cao　Cao　replied；　〃You　will　go　to　reinforce　him。〃
Cao　Hong　and　Xu　Huang　made　all　haste　to　Tong　Pass　and　took　over　the　mand　from　Zhong　Yao。　They　confined　themselves　to　defense；　and　though　Ma　Chao　appeared　every　day　and　reviled　and　shouted　shameful　things　of　the　three　generations　of　Cao　Cao's　family；　the　guardians　of　the　Pass　remained　quiet。　But　Cao　Hong　fretted　at　the　daily　insults　and　would　have　led　the　defenders　out　to　fight　had　not　his　colleague　restrained　him。
〃Ma　Chao　only　wishes　to　provoke　you　to　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　fles