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rescued　a　great　number；　and　they　continued　fighting　till　evening　when　they　withdrew　and　mustered　their　troops。　Two　manders；　Cheng　Yin　and　Zhang　Han；　were　missing；　and　a　couple　of　hundred　soldiers　had　been　killed　when　they　fell　into　the　pits。
Ma　Chao　and　Han　Sui　discussed　what　should　next　be　done。
〃If　we　give　the　enemy　time；　he　will　make　himself　strong　on　the　north　bank。　I　think　we　can　do　no　better　than　to　raid　his　camp　tonight；〃　said　Ma　Chao。
〃We　must　have　a　force　and　supports　for　it；〃　said　Han　Sui。
So　it　was　decided　that　Ma　Chao　should　lead　the　striking　force　with　Pang　De　and　Ma　Dai　as　supports。　They　would　start　at　nightfall。
Now　Cao　Cao's　troops　were　on　the　north　bank　of　River　Wei；　and　he　gave　his　generals　orders；　saying；　〃The　rebels　will　try　to　surprise　us　as　they　are　deceived　by　my　not　having　set　up　stockades。　You　will　place　your　soldiers　in　ambush。　At　the　bomb　signal；　you　will　rush　out　from　four　directions　to　capture　them。〃
At　nightfall　Ma　Chao　sent　out　a　small　scouting　party　headed　by　Cheng　Yi。　Seeing　nothing；　Cheng　Yi　penetrated　deep　into　the　enemy's　lines。　Presently；　a　bomb　was　exploded。　Out　leapt　the　hidden　troops；　and　in　a　few　moments　the　whole　scouting　party　were　killed。　Cheng　Yi　was　cut　down　by　the　blade　of　Xiahou　Yuan。
But　close　at　hand　came　the　main　army　led　by　Ma　Chao；　Ma　Dai；　and　Pang　De　that　rushed　into　the　ambush　forces。

Wait　for　the　foe　all　undismayed。
Place　your　men　in　ambuscade。
Generals　striving　to　outvie
Are　not　beaten　easily。

Who　got　the　advantage　will　presently　be　told。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　59　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　59
　Chapter　59
Xu　Chu　Strips　For　A　Fight　With　Ma　Chao；
Cao　Cao　Writes　A　Letter　To　Sow　Dissension。
The　fight　narrated　in　the　last　chapter　lasted　till　morn　when　each　side　drew　off；　Ma　Chao　camping　on　the　River　Wei；　whence　he　kept　up　harassing　attacks　both　day　and　night。　Cao　Cao；　also　camped　in　the　bed　of　the　same　river；　began　to　construct　three　floating　bridges　out　of　his　rafts　and　boats　so　as　to　facilitate　munication　with　the　south　bank。　Cao　Ren　established　a　stockade　near　the　camp；　which　he　barricaded　with　his　carts　and　wagons。
Ma　Chao　determined　to　destroy　this　stockade；　so　his　troops　collected　straw　and　each　man　marched　with　a　bundle　and　took　fire　with　him。　Han　Sui's　forces　were　to　fight。　While　one　party　attacked；　the　other　party　piled　up　the　straw；　which　they　lit；　and　soon　there　was　a　fierce　fire　all　around。　The　defenders　could　do　nothing　against　it；　so　they　abandoned　the　stockade　and　ran　away。　All　the　transport　and　bridges　were　destroyed。　It　was　a　great　victory　for　the　Xiliang　army　and　gave　them　the　mand　of　the　River　Wei。
Cao　Cao　was　sad　at　the　failure　to　make　good　his　strong　camp　and　fearful　of　his　defenselessness。　Then　Xun　You　proposed　a　mud　wall。　So　three　thousand　soldiers　were　set　to　build　a　mud　rampart。　The　enemy　seeing　this　harassed　the　workmen　with　perpetual　attacks　at　different　points　so　that　the　work　went　slowly。　Beside；　the　soil　was　very　sandy；　and　the　wall　would　not　stand　but　collapsed　as　fast　as　it　was　built。　Cao　Cao　felt　helpless。
It　was　the　ninth　month　of　the　sixteenth　year　of　Rebuilt　Tranquillity　（AD　211）；　and　the　fierce　cold　of　winter　was　just　ing　on。　Ominous　clouds　covered　the　sky　day　after　day　with　never　a　break。　One　day　as　Cao　Cao　sat　in　his　tent；　very　disheartened；　a　stranger　was　announced　and　was　led　in。　He　was　an　old　man　who　said　he　had　a　suggestion　to　offer。　He　was　tall；　as　delicate　as　a　crane　and　as　refined　as　a　pine　tree。　He　gave　his　name　as　Lou　Zibo　and　said　he　came　from　Jingzhao。　He　was　a　recluse　and　a　Taoist；　his　religious　name　being　Plum…Blossom　Dreamer。
Cao　Cao　received　him　with　great　courtesy；　and　presently　the　venerable　one　began；　saying；　〃O　Prime　Minister；　you　have　long　been　striving　to　make　a　camp　on　the　river。　Now　is　your　opportunity。　Why　not　begin？〃
〃The　soil　is　too　sandy　to　stand；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃But　if　you　have　some　other　plan　to　propose；　pray　tell　me　what　it　is；　O　Hermit。〃
〃You　are　more　than　human；　O　Prime　Minister；　in　the　art　of　war；　and　you　surely　know　the　times　and　seasons。　It　has　been　overcast　for　many　days；　and　these　clouds　foretell　a　north　wind　and　intense　cold。　When　the　wind　begins　to　blow；　you　should　hurry　your　army　to　carry　up　the　earth　and　sprinkle　it　with　water。　By　dawn　your　wall　will　be　plete。〃
Cao　Cao　seized　upon　the　suggestion。　He　offered　his　aged　visitor　a　reward；　but　the　venerable　one　would　receive　nothing。
That　night　the　wind　came　down　in　full　force。　Every　man　possible　was　set　to　earth…carrying　and　wetting。　As　they　had　no　other　means　of　carrying　water；　they　made　stuff　bags　which　they　filled　with　water　and　let　out　the　water　over　the　earth。　And　so　as　they　piled　the　earth；　they　froze　it　solid　with　water；　and　by　dawn　the　wall　was　finished　and　stood　firm。
When　his　scouts　told　Ma　Chao　that　the　enemy　had　built　a　wall；　he　rode　out　and　saw　it。　Ma　Chao　was　greatly　perplexed　and　began　to　suspect　help　from　the　gods。
However；　very　soon　after；　he　got　his　whole　army　together　and　sounded　an　attack。　Cao　Cao　himself　rode　out　of　the　camp；　with　only　the　redoubtable　Xu　Chu　in　attendance；　and　advanced　toward　the　enemy。
Flourishing　his　whip　he　called　out；　〃I；　Cao　Cao；　am　here　alone；　and　I　beg　Ma　Chao　to　e　out　to　parley　with　me。〃
Thereupon　Ma　Chao　rode　out；　his　spear　set　ready　to　thrust。
〃You　despised　me　because　I　had　no　wall　to　my　camp；　but　lo！　in　one　single　night；　God　has　made　me　a　wall。　Do　you　not　think　it　time　to　give　in？〃
Ma　Chao　was　so　enraged　that　he　almost　rushed　at　Cao　Cao；　but　he　was　not　too　angry　to　notice　the　henchman　behind　him；　glaring　in　angry　fashion；　who　held　a　gleaming　sword　in　his　grip。　Ma　Chao　thought　this　man　could　be　no　other　than　Xu　Chu；　so　he　determined　to　find　out。
With　a　flourish　of　his　whip；　he　said；　〃Where　is　the　noble　'Marquis　Tiger'　that　I　hear　you　have　in　your　camp？〃
At　this　Xu　Chu　lifted　his　sword　and　roared；　〃I　am　Xu　Chu　of　Qiao！〃
From　Xu　Chu's　eyes　shot　gleams　of　supernatural　light　and　his　attitude　was　so　terror…striking　that　Ma　Chao　dared　not　move。　He　turned　his　steed　and　retired。
Cao　Cao　and　his　doughty　follower　returned　to　their　camp。　As　they　two　passed　between　the　armies；　not　a　man　there　but　felt　a　quiver　of　fear。
〃They　know　our　friend　Xu　Chu　over　there　as　Marquis　Tiger；〃　said　Cao　Cao　when　he　returned。
And　thereafter　the　soldiers　all　called　Xu　Chu　by　that　name。
〃I　will　capture　that　fellow　Ma　Chao　tomorrow；〃　said　Xu　Chu。
〃Ma　Chao　is　very　bold；〃　said　his　master。　〃Be　careful！〃
〃I　swear　to　fight　him　to　the　death；〃　said　Xu　Chu。
Then　Xu　Chu　sent　a　written　challenge　to　his　enemy　saying　that　the　Marquis　Tiger　challenged　Ma　Chao　to　a　decisive　duel　on　the　morrow。
Ma　Chao　was　very　angry　when　he　received　the　letter。
〃Dare　he　insult　me　so？〃　cried　he。　Then　he　wrote　his　pledge　to　slay　Tiger　Lust　on　the　morrow。
Next　day　both　armies　moved　out　and　arrayed　in　order　of　battle。　Ma　Chao　gave　Pang　De　and　Ma　Dai　mand　of　the　two　wings；　while　Han　Sui　took　the　center。
Ma　Chao　took　up　his　station　in　front　of　the　center　and　shouted；　〃Where　is　the　Tiger　Lust？〃
Cao　Cao；　who　was　on　horseback　by　the　standard；　turned　and　said；　〃Ma　Chao　is　no　less　bold　than　Lu　Bu！〃
As　he　spoke；　Xu　Chu　rode　forth　whirling　his　sword　and　the　duel　began。　They　fought　over　a　hundred　bouts；　and　neither　had　the　advantage。　But　then；　their　steeds　being　spent　with　galloping　to　and　fro；　each　retired　within　his　own　lines　and　obtained　a　fresh　mount。　The　contest　was　renewed；　and　a　hundred　more　encounters　took　place；　still　without　victory　to　either。
Suddenly　Xu　Chu　galloped　back　to　his　own　side；　stripped　off　his　armor；　showing　his　magnificent　muscles　and；　naked　as　he　was；　leaped　again　into　the　saddle　and　rode　out　to　continue　the　battle。
Again　the　champions　engaged；　while　both　armies　stood　aghast。　Thirty　bouts　more；　and　Xu　Chu；　summoning　up　all　his　force；　plunged　toward　Ma　Chao　with　his　sword　held　high　to　strike。　But　Ma　Chao　avoided　the　stroke　and　rode　in　with　his　spear　pointing　directly　at　his　opponent's　heart。　Throwing　down　his　sword；　Xu　Chu　dashed　aside　the　spear；　which　passed　underneath　his　arm。
Then　ensued　a　struggle　for　the　spear；　and　Xu　Chu　by　a　mighty　effort　snapped　the　shaft　so　that　each　held　one　half。　Then　the　duel　was　continued；　each　be　laboring　the　other　with　the　pieces　of　the　broken　spear。
At　this　point　Cao　Cao　began　to　fear　for　his　champion　and　so　ordered　two　of　his　generals；　Xiahou　Yuan　and　Cao　Hong；　to　go　out　and　take　a　hand。　At　this　Pang　De　and　Ma　Dai　gave　the　signal　to　their　armored　horsemen　to　attack。　They　rode　in；　and　a　melee　began　in　which　Cao　Cao's　troops　were　worsted；　and　the　great　champion　Xu　Chu　received　two　arrow　wounds　in　the　shoulder。　So　the　troops　of　Cao　Cao　retreated　to　their　stockade；　Ma　Chao　following　them　to　the　river。　Cao　Cao's　army　lost　more　than　half　their　number。
Cao　Cao　barred　his　gates　and　allowed　none　to　go　out。
Ma　Chao　went　down　to　the　river。　When　he　saw　Han　Sui；　he　said；　〃I　have　seen　some　wicked　fighters；　but　none　to　match　that　Xu　Chu。　He　is　aptly　nicknamed　Tiger　Lust〃
Thinking　that　by　strategy　he　might　get　the　better　of　Ma　Chao；　Cao　Cao　secretly　sent　two　bodies　of　troops　across　the　river　to　the　south　bank　to　take　up　position　so　that　he　might　attack　in　front　and　rear。
One　day　from　his　ramparts；　Cao　Cao　saw　Ma　Chao　and　a　few　horsemen　ride　close　up　to　the　walls　and　then　gallop　to　and　fro　like　the　wind。
After　gazing　at　them　for　a　long　time；　Cao　Cao　tore　off　his　helmet　and　dashed　it　on　the　ground；　saying；　〃If　that　Ma　Chao　is　not　killed；　may　I　never　know　my　place　of　burial！〃
Xiahou　Yuan　heard　his　master；　and　his　heart　burned　within　him。　He　cried；　〃May　I　die　here　at　once　if　I　do　not　destroy　that　rebel！〃
Without　more　ado；　Xiahou　Yuan　flung　open　the　gates　and　rode　out　with　his　pany。　Cao　Cao　tried　to　stop　this　mad　rush；　but　it　was　no　good。　So；　fearing　Xiahou　Yuan　might　e　to　grief；　Cao　Cao　rode　out　after　him。　At　sight　of　the　soldiers　of　Cao　Cao；　Ma　Chao　faced　his　troops　about；　extended　them　in　line　and；　as　the　enemy　approached；　dashed　forward　to　the　attack。　Then　noticing　Cao　Cao　himself　among　them；　Ma　Chao　left　Xiahou　Yuan　and　rode　straight　for　Cao　Cao。　Panic　seized　Cao　Cao　and　he　rode　for　his　life；　while　his　troops　were　thrown　into　confusion。
It　was　during　the　pursuit　of　this　portion　of　the　Cao　Cao's　army　that　Ma　Chao　was　told　of　a　force　of　the　enemy　on　the　south　of　River　Wei。　Realizing　the　danger；　he　abandoned　the　pursuit；　called　in　his　forces；　and　went　to　his　own　camp；　there　to　consult　with　Han　Sui。
〃What　now？　Cao　Cao　has　crossed　to　the　south　of　the　river；　and　we　can　be　attacked　in　the　rear；〃　said　Ma　Chao。
mander　Li　Kan　said；　〃Then　you　had　better　e　to　an　agreement；　sacrifice　some　territory；　and　make　peace。　Then　both　can　repose　through　the　winter　and　await　the　changes　and　chances　that　may　e　with　the　spring　warmth。〃
〃He　is　wise；〃　said　Han　Sui；　〃and　I　advise　the　same。〃
But　Ma　Chao　hesitated。　Others　exhorted　him　to　make　peace；　and　at　length　he　agreed。　So　Yang　Qiu　and　Hou　Xuan　were　sent　as　messengers　of　peace　to　the　camp　of　Cao　Cao。
〃You　may　return。　I　will　send　my　reply；〃　said　Cao　Cao　when　they　had　declared　the　purport　of　their　mission。　And　they　left。
Then　Jia　Xu　said　to　Cao　Cao；　〃What　is　your　opinion；　O　Prime　Minister？〃
〃What　is　yours？〃　asked　Cao　Cao。
〃War　allows　deceit；　therefore　pretend　to　agree。　Then　we　can　try　some　means　of　sowing　suspicions　between　Han　Sui　and　Ma　Chao　so　that　we　may　thereby　destroy　both。〃
Cao　Cao　clapped　his　hands　for　very　joy；　saying；　〃That　is　the　best　idea　of　all！　Most　suitable！　You　and　I　agree　in　our　ideas。　I　was　just　thinking　of　that。〃
So　an　answer　was　returned：
〃Let　me　gradually　withdraw　my　soldiers；　and　I　will　give　back　the　land　belonging　to　you　on　the　west　of　Yellow　River。〃
And　at　the　same　time　Cao　Cao　ordered　the　construction　of　a　floating　bridge　to　help　in　the　withdrawal　to　the　east　side。
When　the　reply　arrived；　Ma　Chao　said　to　Han　Sui；　〃Although　he　agrees　to　peace；　yet　he　is　evil　and　crafty。　We　must　remain　prepared　against　his　machinations。　Uncle；　you　and　I　will　take　turns　in　watching　Cao　Cao　and　Xu　Huang　on　alternate　days。　So　shall　we　be　safe　against　his　treachery。〃
They　agreed　and　began　the　regular　alternate　watch。　Soon　Cao　Cao　got　to　know　what　they　were　doing；　and　he　turned　to　Jia　Xu；　saying；　〃I　am　succeeding。〃
〃Who　keeps　the　look…out　on　the　north　bank　tomorrow？〃　asked　Cao　Cao。
〃Han　Sui；〃　replied　someone。
Next　day　Cao　Cao　at