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〃How　dare　he　throw　dust　in　my　eyes　like　this？〃　said　Cao　Cao。
Yang　Xiu　very　nearly　lost　his　life　for　his　share　in　that　business。　Now　sending　him　to　execution　on　the　charge　of　destroying　the　morale　of　the　soldiers　was　only　a　subterfuge。　Yang　Xiu　was　but　thirty…four　when　he　met　his　end。

Talented　was　Yang　Xiu；
Born　of　an　illustrious　stock；
His　pen　traced　wonderful　characters；
In　his　breast　were　beautiful　words。
When　he　talked；　his　hearers　were　astonished；
His　alert　responses　overpast　everyone。
He　died　because　of　misdirected　genius
And　not　because　he　foretold　retreat。

Cao　Cao　thus　put　to　death　the　prime　mover　and　simulated　anger　against　Xiahou　Dun。　He　threatened　to　execute　Xiahou　Dun；　but　listened　to　those　who　begged　him　to　show　mercy。
〃Get　out　of　this！〃　said　he。
Next　he　issued　an　order　to　advance　on　the　morrow。　The　army　moved　out　of　the　valley　and　came　face　to　face　with　the　troops　of　Shu　led　by　Wei　Yan。　He　summoned　Wei　Yan　to　surrender；　but　received　abuse　and　contumely　in　return。
Pang　De　went　out　to　fight　Wei　Yan。　But　while　the　bat　was　in　progress；　fires　broke　out　in　Cao　Cao's　camp；　and　a　soldier　came　flying　to　say　that　the　rear　and　center　camps　had　been　seized　by　Ma　Chao。
Fearing　lest　this　should　lead　to　a　rout；　he　drew　his　sword　and　stood　before　the　army；　crying　out；　〃Death　for　any　officer　who　flinches！〃
Wherefore　the　men　of　Wei　pressed　forward　valiantly；　and　Wei　Yan；　pretending　defeat；　retreated。　Having　driven　back　this　army；　Cao　Cao　gave　the　signal　to　turn　toward　camp　and　fight　with　Ma　Chao。　He　took　up　his　station　on　the　top　of　a　hill　whence　he　could　survey　the　field。
Suddenly　a　cohort　appeared　just　below　him；　and　the　leader　cried；　〃Wei　Yan　is　here！〃
Wei　Yan　fitted　an　arrow　to　his　bow；　shot；　and　wounded　Cao　Cao　right　in　his　lip。　Cao　Cao　turned　and　fell。　Wei　Yan　threw　aside　his　bow；　seized　his　sword；　and　came　charging　up　the　hill　to　finish　his　enemy。　But　with　a　shouting　Pang　De　flashed　in。
〃Spare　my　lord！〃　cried　Pang　De。
He　rushed　up　and　drove　Wei　Yan　backward。　Then　they　took　Cao　Cao　away。　Ma　Chao　also　retired；　and　the　wounded　prince　slowly　returned　to　his　own　camp。
Cao　Cao　was　wounded　full　in　the　face；　and　the　arrow　knocked　out　two　of　his　front　teeth。　When　in　the　hands　of　the　physicians；　he　lay　thinking　over　Yang　Xiu's　words。　In　a　repentant　mood　he　had　Yang　Xiu's　remains　decently　interred。
Then　he　gave　the　order　to　retreat。　Pang　De　was　the　rear　guard。　Cao　Cao　set　out　homeward　in　a　padded　carriage；　escorted　by　his　Tiger　Guards。
Before　they　had　gone　far；　there　was　an　alarm　of　fire　and　ambush　in　the　Xie　Valley。　The　soldiers　of　Wei　were　all　fear…stricken。

That　was　something　like　the　danger　once　at　Tong　Pass　met；
Or　like　the　fight　at　the　Red　Cliffs　which　no　one　could　never　forget。

How　Cao　Cao　fared　will　next　be　told。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　73　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　73
　Chapter　73
Liu　Bei　Bees　Prince　Of　Hanzhong；
Guan　Yu　Attacks　Xiangyang。
When　Cao　Cao　retired　to　the　Xie　Valley；　Zhuge　Liang　considered　it　to　mean　the　abandonment　of　his　attempt　to　acquire　possession　of　Hanzhong。　So　Zhuge　Liang　sent　out　Ma　Chao　and　a　dozen　parties　to　harass　and　hasten　Cao　Cao's　retreat。　For　this　reason　the　retreating　army　had　to　keep　on　the　move。　Beside；　Cao　Cao　was　suffering　from　his　wound；　and　he　marched　as　hurriedly　as　possible。　But　it　was　a　dejected　army；　when　the　leading　legions　encountered　fire　on　both　flanks；　which　had　been　raised　by　troops　placed　in　ambush　while　Ma　Chao's　main　force　kept　driving　the　army　before　it。　Everyone　in　the　Cao　Cao　army　was　dispirited；　and　there　was　no　more　courage　in　them。　They　pressed　forward　day　and　night　alike　without　halting　to　rest。　It　was　only　after　reaching　Jingzhao　that　they　had　some　repose。
Having　conquered　Hanzhong；　Liu　Bei　sent　Liu　Feng；　Meng　Da；　and　Wang　Ping　to　take　Shangyong。　The　mander　of　the　city；　Shen　Dan；　and　his　colleagues；　knowing　that　Cao　Cao　had　retreated；　offered　their　submission。　After　confidence　had　been　restored　among　the　people；　Liu　Bei　rewarded　his　army　generously；　and　they　were　all　joyful。
It　was　after　this　that　the　general　body　of　the　officers　decided　to　urge　Liu　Bei　to　assume　the　title　of　〃Emperor〃；　but　they　dared　not　tell　him　so。　However；　they　sent　up　a　petition　to　Zhuge　Liang。
He　replied；　〃I　have　already　decided　on　this　course。〃
So　Zhuge　Liang　and　Fa　Zheng　headed　a　deputation　that　went　in　to　see　their　lord。
They　said；　〃Now　that　Cao　Cao　really　holds　the　reins　of　authority；　the　people　are　without　a　true　sovereign。　Our　lord；　your　kindness　and　sense　of　justice　have　spread　throughout　the　empire。　You　have　restored　peace　over　the　two　River　Lands；　and　your　being　an　emperor　would　be　according　to　God's　will　and　the　desire　of　the　people。　Then　by　right　and　title　you　could　destroy　rebels。　This　matter　should　not　be　delayed；　and　we　pray　you　choose　the　auspicious　day。〃
But　Liu　Bei　evinced　great　surprise；　and　replied；　〃Your　words；　O　Instructor；　are　wrong。　Although　I　am　of　the　imperial　house；　yet　I　am　but　a　minister。　And　to　do　this　thing　would　be　rebellion　against　Han。〃
Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃Not　so。　Today　the　empire　is　riven；　and　many　of　the　bolder　spirits　have　seized　upon　and　claim　the　rule　of　various　portions。　The　talented　of　the　empire　and　the　virtuous　among　officers；　who　have　risked　death　and　lost　their　lives　in　serving　those　above　them；　all　desire　to　have　the　opportunity　of　serving　a　true　emperor　and　doing　service　for　a　true　throne。　Now；　if　you　insist　on　modestly　maintaining　your　righteous　way；　I　fear　that　you　will　lose　popular　support。　My　lord；　I　wish　that　you　should　reflect　upon　this。〃
〃But　you　desire　me　to　usurp　a　place　of　great　honor　in　the　state；　and　I　dare　not。　Let　there　be　more　delay　and　discussion。〃
But　with　one　voice　they　said；　〃Our　lord；　if　you　reject　this；　the　hearts　of　the　people　will　turn　from　you！〃
〃My　lord；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃you　have　made　rectitude　your　motto　all　your　life。　If　you　really　object　to　the　most　honored　title；　then；　since　you　have　Jingzhou；　Yizhou；　and　Hanzhong；　take　temporarily　the　title　of　'Prince　of　Hanzhong'。〃
〃Gentlemen；　though　you　may　desire　to　honor　me　by　the　title　of　Prince；　yet；　without　an　edict　from　the　Emperor；　such　action　would　be　usurpation。〃
Said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃The　time　demands　recognition　of　the　actual　state　of　authority；　and　not　a　rigid　adherence　to　all　the　rules　of　propriety。〃
And　Zhang　Fei　roared　out；　〃All　sorts　of　people　with　all　sorts　of　names　are　making　themselves　rulers：　How　much　more　ought　you；　brother；　who　are　of　the　dynastic　stock？　It　ought　not　to　be　Prince　of　Hanzhong　but　Emperor。　What　prevents　it？〃
〃Brother；　say　no　more；〃　said　Liu　Bei；　roughly。
〃My　lord；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃it　is　fitting　to　follow　political　changes　and　suit　one's　conduct　to　circumstances。　Wherefore　first　take　the　princedom；　and　then　memorialize　the　Throne。〃
Liu　Bei　declined　two　or　three　times；　but　as　there　seemed　no　other　option；　he　listened　and　plied。　In　the　twenty…fourth　year　of　Rebuilt　Tranquillity　（AD　219）；　in　the　seventh　month；　an　altar　was　set　up　at　Mianyang；　half　a　square　mile；　which　was　set　around　with　the　proper　flags　and　banners　and　symbols。　In　the　presence　of　all　his　civil　and　military　officers　assembled　according　to　their　rank；　and　at　the　request　of　the　two　Ministers　Xu　Jing　and　Fa　Zheng；　Liu　Bei　received　the　headdress　and　seat　of　a　prince。　Then　he　took　his　seat；　facing　the　south　as　a　ruler　should；　and　received　the　salutes　and　felicitations　of　all　his　officers　as　the　Prince　of　Hanzhong。　And　his　son　Liu　Shan　was　nominated　his　heir…apparent。
Xu　Jing　was　given　the　title　of　Imperial　Guardian；　Fa　Zheng　that　of　Chair　of　the　Secretariat。　Zhuge　Liang　was　reappointed　Directing　Instructor　of　the　Forces；　with　the　additional　powers　of　control　over　the　whole　state　policy。　Guan　Yu；　Zhang　Fei；　Zhao　Yun；　Huang　Zhong；　and　Ma　Chao　were　the　Five　Tiger　Generals。　Wei　Yan　was　made　Governor　of　Hanzhong；　and　all　the　others　who　had　assisted　were　given　ranks　and　offices。
As　soon　as　the　investiture　was　pleted；　Liu　Bei　posed　a　memorial　and　sent　it　to　Capital　Xuchang。　This　is　the　document：
〃I；　Liu　Bei；　have　but　ordinary　talents；　yet　was　I　made　a　general　of　high　rank　and　led　a　great　army。　Though　I　received　a　mission　to　purge　the　empire　of　rebels；　I　was　unable　to　cleanse　it　and　so　renew　the　tranquillity　to　Your　Majesty's　house　and　restore　the　dynasty。　Too　long　have　I　delayed　to　spread　Your　Majesty's　sacred　governance。　The　world　is　evil　and　not　in　good　case；　and　as　I　sorrowfully　think　it　over　and　over；　I　am　distressed　as　one　in　severe　pain。
〃Rebellion　began　with　Dong　Zhuo；　and　all　kinds　of　evils　have　spread　abroad；　cruelty　and　ferocity　have　bee　rife。　Strong　in　faith　in　Your　Majesty's　sacred　virtue　and　inspiring　presence；　many　banded　together　to　help。　The　loyal　exerted　themselves　to　destroy　the　rebels；　but　others　of　them　were　smitten　of　heaven。　The　fierce　and　the　contumacious　have　been　exterminated；　and　gradually　rebellion　has　melted　away。
〃Only　Cao　Cao　now　remains；　too　long　unpunished。　He　has　arrogated　to　himself　the　authority　of　the　state。　His　wicked　heart　is　very　rebellious。　Once　I；　with　General　Dong　Cheng；　the　State　Uncle；　conspired　against　him；　but　the　plot　was　discovered　and　my　fellow　conspirator　suffered。　Thenceforward　I　was　a　wanderer　and　my　loyalty　availed　nothing。　It　only　allowed　Cao　Cao　further　license　and　liberty　to　do　evil；　till　he　dared　even　to　acplish　the　death　of　the　Empress　and　the　destruction　of　her　sons。　Although　we　might　band　together　and　form　associations；　yet；　with　all　our　energy；　we　had　to　recognize　that　we　were　too　weak　for　war。　Wherefore　the　years　passed　and　nothing　was　acplished。　In　constant　fear　of　destruction；　we　even　fear　more　lest　our　duty　to　the　state　be　forgotten。　Waking　and　sleeping　we　sighed；　and　our　nights　were　times　of　anxiety。

＇e＇　After　Liu　Bang's　death；　Empress　Lu；　Liu　Bang's　wife；　held　imperial　authority。　She　appointed　members　of　her　own　family　to　highly　important　positions　of　state　and　clearly　hoped　to　substitute　her　own　family　for　the　reigning　Liu　family。　But　these　plans　were　frustrated　on　her　death　（BC　180）。
〃Now　my　fellows　consider　that　history　has　repeated　itself。　They　attach　the　utmost　importance　to　the　family　and　would　manifest　it　with　all　their　might。　Hereditary　succession　of　rulers　is　still　a　principle。　The　rulers　of　Zhou；　taking　the　two　preceding　dynasties　as　models；　strengthened　its　clan's　position　through　all　the　states；　and　it　reinforced　itself　with　the　support　of　the　states　of　Jing　and　Zheng。　When　the　great　Founder　of　Han　came　into　his　own；　he　ennobled　his　whole　family　with　kingships　and　lordships。　Later；　the　dynasty　had　to　issue　a　general　mand　throughout　the　whole　of　the　nine　regions　in　order　to　destroy　the　widespread　Lu　Family　and　to　enhance　the　Liu　Family*。
〃Now　Cao　Cao　is　an　enemy　of　all　rectitude；　and　his　followers　are　all　evil。　His　treachery　is　manifest。　Since　the　members　of　the　imperial　clan　are　few　and　weak；　the　clan　is　not　honored。　Having　reflected　upon　the　ancient　models　and　being　desirous　of　temporary　alleviation；　my　fellows　have　made　me　assume　the　title　of　Prince　of　Hanzhong　with　the　addition　of　Regent　Marshal。
〃I　have　deeply　considered　these　things。　If　one　receives　kindness　from　the　Throne　and　accepts　the　responsibility　for　a　portion　of　the　state　and　fail；　then　such　a　fault　would　only　be　made　the　more　serious　by　holding　high　rank　and　thereby　increasing　the　burden　of　reproach。　But　my　fellows　have　urged　me；　and　they　have　convinced　me　that　it　would　be　right；　and；　should　I　refuse；　the　wicked　will　not　be　destroyed　and　the　danger　to　the　state　will　not　be　removed。　The　temple　of　our　ancestors　is　in　danger；　and　the　imperial　prerogatives　are　failing。　A　faithful　servant；　who　in　the　day　of　tribulation　can　undertake　a　suitable　policy　whereby　to　preserve　the　dynasty；　should　not　refuse　his　help　at　any　cost。　Wherefore　I　have　yielded　and　accepted　the　position　for　the　glory　of　the　state。
〃Humbly　I　think　of　such　a　title　and　its　exalted　position　and　the　favor　vouchsafed　me；　and　I　would　endeavor　to　show　true　gratitude。　My　anxiety　is　deep；　for　the　responsibility　is　heavy。　I　am　as　one　on　the　brink　of　a　great　gulf。　I　must　surely　exert　myself　to　the　utmost　and　encourage　my　armies　and　lead　all　disciples　of　rectitude；　in　accordance　with　the　will　of　Heaven　and　as　occasion　serves；　to　smite　rebellion　so　as　to　restore　the　dynasty。〃
When　this　memorial　reached　Capital　Xuchang；　Cao　Cao　wa