The Three Kingdoms, Volume 2: The Sleeping Dragon: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation

by Luo Guanzhong

  Panic seized upon the soldiers at Tong Pass;

  Frightened, Cao Cao flung off his brocade dress,

  And sawed his beard short with a sword.

  The fame of Ma Chao rose high to the sky.

  As he was fleeing for safety Cao Cao again heard the sound of hoofs and on looking round he found, to his terror, none other than Ma Chao himself coming quite close. His followers were panic-stricken and all fled for their own lives, leaving Cao Cao alone to face his enemy.

  “Halt, Cao Cao!” shouted Ma Chao sternly as he drew even nearer.

  The whip dropped from Cao Cao’s nerveless hand as he heard his enemy coming closer and closer. But just as Ma Chao leveled his spear for a thrust, Cao Cao slipped behind a tree and Ma Chao’s spear struck the trunk. 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 trail. At this moment an officer suddenly emerged from behind a slope, who cried, “Do not hurt my lord!”

  This was Cao Hong and he whirled his sword at Ma Chao, thus making it possible for Cao Cao to escape. Cao Hong fought Ma Chao for about fifty bouts, when he began to grow weary and his strokes faltered. Luckily for him, Xiahou Yuan appeared with several score others to his rescue and Ma Chao found it prudent to retire as he was greatly outnumbered by his opponents. Xiahou Yuan, too, retreated.

  At last Cao Cao returned to his camp. Thanks to Cao Ren, who maintained a firm defense in the camps, the loss of his men had not been too great.

  As he sat in his tent Cao Cao said with a sigh, “Had I not spared Cao Hong the other day I would have died at the hands of Ma Chao today.” So he called in his rescuer and rewarded him well. Then he gathered his worsted men and strengthened the camp, deepening the moat and raising the ramparts. Ma Chao came daily to challenge his opponents to combat and to abuse them, but, by the order of Cao Cao, none of his men was to venture out on pain of execution.

  “Our enemies use long spears,” said the officers. “We should meet them with bows and crossbows.”

  “They may have long spears,” replied Cao Cao, “but battle or no battle depends on my decision. How can they thrust at us if we do not go out? All you have to do is ignore them and they will speedily withdraw.”

  The officers wondered. They said to one another, “Our lord used to go foremost in the fight—why has he become so weak after this defeat by Ma Chao?”

  Several days later spies reported that Ma Chao had been reinforced by 20,000 Qiang tribesmen. To the surprise of his officers, Cao Cao accepted the news gleefully and they asked him why he was so pleased.

  Cao Cao replied, “Wait till I have defeated them and I will explain it to you.”

  Three days later there was another report of further reinforcements for Ma Chao, and Cao Cao not only rejoiced but even gave a banquet to celebrate. His officers laughed at him in secret.

  Cao Cao said, “You gentlemen laugh because I cannot destroy Ma Chao. Well then, can any one of you propose a plan?”

  Xu Huang rose and said, “Sir, you have your entire army here and the enemy forces, too, are all posted on Tong Pass. This means that no soldiers are guarding the west side of the river. If you can get a troop to secretly cross the river and hold the ferry you will be ready to cut off their retreat. When this is done, you can attack them from the north side of the river so that they cannot get reinforcements and must fail.”

  “Your proposal is just what I think,” said Cao Cao.

  So Xu Huang and another officer were placed at the head of 4,000 men to march to the west of the river and hide in the valleys. They were to wait till Cao Cao crossed the river to the north, so that they could strike simultaneously.

  Then he ordered Cao Hong to prepare boats and rafts at the ferry, while Cao Ren was left to defend the camps. He himself led the force to cross the Wei River.

  When Ma Chao heard of this new move by his enemy he at once understood its purpose. “Instead of attacking this pass, Cao Cao is now preparing rafts to cross to the north side of the river, which means he is attempting to cut off my line of retreat. I must lead a troop to hold the north bank, to prevent him from crossing the river there. If he is held back, his food supply will run short within twenty days and that will result in a mutiny. Then I will attack him from the southern bank.”

  Here Han Sui had an even better plan. Quoting the military maxim “Striking when troops were half over the river,” he suggested that they should attack from the south bank when Cao Cao’s army was in the middle of crossing, and his men would perish in the river.

  “You are perfectly right, uncle,” replied Ma Chao. And he sent spies to find out exactly when Cao Cao’s men were going to ford the river.

  Meanwhile, Cao Cao’s preparations were complete and he divided his army into three parties to move ahead to cross the Wei River. They reached the ferry at the first sign of dawn and the veterans were sent over first to establish a camp. Cao Cao, with his hand on his sword and surrounded by a hundred trusted officers and men, took up position on the south bank to watch the crossing.

  Very soon sentinels shouted, “There comes the white-robed general!” All recognized him to be Ma Chao. Terrified, they made a rush to get into the boats and the riverbank became a scene of shouting men struggling to embark. Cao Cao still sat watching and did not stir. Pointing with his sword, he ordered his men to cease their confusion. Meanwhile, noise of the men and horses of the approaching army grew louder and louder. Suddenly an officer jumped ashore from one of the boats and shouted to Cao Cao: “The rebels are close! Get into a boat, sir.”

  “What does it matter?” replied Cao Cao to the speaker, who was Xu Chu. Glancing back, he saw, however, that Ma Chao was only about a hundred paces from him. Xu Chu laid hold of Cao Cao and dragged him into a boat that had already pushed off and was ten feet from the bank, but Xu Chu took Cao Cao on his back and leaped onboard. The boat was small and in danger of being overturned, so Xu Chu drew his sword to chop away at the hands clinging to the side and the victims fell back into the water.

  The boat went downstream, with Xu Chu standing in the prow, poling as hard as he could. His master crouched out of sight at his feet.

  Seeing that the boat was already in midstream drifting down with the current, Ma Chao took his bow and began to shoot. He also ordered his brave officers to go along the river and shoot. A shower of arrows soon fell about the boat. Xu Chu, fearing Cao Cao would be wounded, shielded him with a saddle which he held in his left hand. Ma Chao was an excellent archer and with every arrow a victim fell in the boat. In a short while scores of them were hit and tumbled overboard, leaving the boat out of control and whirling in the swift current. Xu Chu straddled over the tiller and tried to guide the boat while he poled with one hand and held the protecting saddle over Cao Cao’s head with the other.

  At that moment the magistrate of Weinan, named Ding Fei, who from a hilltop saw how dangerous the situation was for Cao Cao, drove out from his camp all the cattle and horses. In no time the hillside became a scene of loose animals. This was too much for the Xiliang soldiers, who were born herdsmen. At sight of the beasts, they left the river and ran off to secure them, forgetting all about the pursuit of their enemy.

  And so Cao Cao escaped. As soon as he reached the northern shore the boat was scuttled. When the other officers learned that their master had been in peril on the river they hastened to his aid, but by the time they came he was already safe onshore. Xu Chu’s heavy armor was stuck full of arrows. The officers escorted Cao Cao back to the camp where, kneeling on the ground, they hoped that he had not suffered seriously.

  “The rebels very nearly caught me today,” he said smiling.

  “They would have got across the river if someone had not turned out the cattle and horses to distract them,” said Xu Chu.

  “Who was that person?” asked Cao Cao.

  Someone who knew told him. Before long the magistrate came in to pay his respects and Cao C
ao thanked him.

  “I should have been a prisoner but for your clever plan,” he said. And the magistrate was given a post in the army.

  “Though they have gone, they will assuredly return tomorrow,” said the magistrate. “You must prepare to repel them.”

  “My preparations are all made.”

  Cao Cao ordered his officers to spread themselves along the riverbank and dig tunnels as temporary shelters. If they saw the enemy approaching they were to lead their men outside the tunnel but create an impression of occupation by placing ensigns around. Along the river they were to dig ditches, which were to be hidden from sight by putting some boards and loose soil over them. After that, they were to entice the enemy there, who would stumble into the pits and fall easy victims.

  Ma Chao returned to tell Han Sui how he had nearly captured Cao Cao, but a certain bold officer had carried Cao Cao on his back and leaped with him into a boat.

  Han Sui replied, “I have heard that Cao Cao’s personal guards were the bravest and strongest soldiers under the command of Dian Wei and Xu Chu. They are called the Tiger Guards. As Dian Wei is dead, the man you saw must have been Xu Chu. He is both brave and powerful and goes by the name of Mad Tiger. Do be careful when you meet him.”

  “I know his name, too,” said Ma Chao.

  “Cao Cao now means to attack our rear,” continued Han Sui. “Let us attack first, before he can establish camps and stockades. Once he is encamped it will be difficult to dislodge him.”

  “My idea is that we should hold the north bank and prevent him from crossing the river.”

  “What about you keeping guard here while I go and fight Cao Cao?”

  “If you go, take Pang De with you,” said Ma Chao.

  So Han Sui and Pang De, with 50,000 men, went down to the river. Cao Cao at once ordered his officers to take up positions by the sides of the tunnel to draw the enemy there. Pang De was ahead with a goodly squadron of ironclad horsemen and they charged along at full speed. Then there arose a confused shouting as they all went plunging into the pits prepared for them. Pang De mustered all his strength and soon leaped out onto the level ground, slew several men around and thus, even without his steed he struggled his way out of the thick of the fight.

  But Han Sui was surrounded by that time and Pang De went on foot to aid him. On the way he met an enemy officer, whom he slew with one thrust. Then, mounting the dead man’s steed, he rode forward fiercely and saved Han Sui, leaving a trail of blood as he passed. The men of Cao Cao pursued him, but were driven off by reinforcement forces led by Ma Zhao, who also rescued a great number of Han Sui’s men. The battle continued till evening, when they withdrew. Back at the pass, Ma Chao and Han Sui mustered their men together and found that they had lost two officers and more than two hundred men, who were killed when they fell into the pits.

  The two commanders discussed what their next move should be. “If we give the enemy time, he will set up strong fortifications on the north bank,” said Ma Chao. “I think it is better to raid his camp tonight with a light force.”

  “We must divide our force into two so that we can support each other,” said Han Sui.

  So it was decided that Ma Chao was to lead the striking force, with Pang De and Ma Dai as supports. They would set out at nightfall.

  At the same time Cao Cao was also maneuvering on the north bank of the river. He called forth his officers to whom he said, “Our enemy is sure to launch a raid on us tonight, for they think we have not yet set up stockades and are therefore more vulnerable. I want you to place your men in ambush all around, leaving the center unoccupied. At the signal of a loud explosion, fall upon the raiders, who can then be captured without difficulty.”

  However, at nightfall Ma Chao first sent out a small scouting party of thirty riders who presently arrived at Cao Cao’s position. Seeing no soldiers around, they penetrated into the center of the enemy’s lines. At once the signal was given. Out leapt the hidden men on all sides only to surround a meager force of thirty soldiers. The leader of the scouting party was soon slain. However, their main force in three divisions led by Ma Chao, Pang De, and Ma Dai came dashing up to meet their foe.

  Plan an ambush to meet your foe you may,

  Warriors who strive to win are not to be tamed.

  Which side would win the battle will be told in the next chapter.

  CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

  Xu Chu Strips for a Fight with Ma Chao

  Cao Cao Sows Dissension Between Ma Chao and Han Sui

  The fight between Ma Chao and Cao Cao lasted till morning, when each side drew off. Ma Chao camped by the river, from where he kept up harassing attacks on his enemy, day and night. Cao Cao, stationed on the north bank, began to construct three floating bridges with rafts and chains so as to facilitate communication with the south bank, while Cao Ren established a camp on the river, which he barricaded with his carts and wagons.

  When Ma Chao was informed of this new development, he had each of his men carry a bundle of grass and a torch. Then together with Han Sui he advanced to Cao Cao’s position, where the soldiers were told to pile up the grass and kindle it, and soon there was a raging fire all around. Unable to withstand the heat, Cao Cao’s men had to abandon their position and flee. All the wagons and the floating bridges were destroyed in the fire. It was a great victory for the Xiliang army and gave them the command of the Wei River.

  Cao Cao was worried at the failure to build a strong camp and fearful of his defenselessness. Then Xun You proposed building a mud wall, using the sandy soil by the river. So 30,000 soldiers were assigned to carry soil and set up a mud rampart. Seeing this, Ma Chao sent his two trusted officers with five hundred riders to perpetually harass the workmen, so that the job progressed very slowly. Besides, the sandy soil was not compact enough and the wall would not hold, but collapsed in the same breath as it was built. Cao Cao felt that he was at the end of his tether.

  The time was the end of the ninth month and the frigid cold weather was just coming on. The sky was overcast day after day. As Cao Cao sat in his tent, feeling much disheartened, an old man came to see him and to offer some advice. He was a very superior-looking man who gave his name as Lou Zibo, and said that he came from Jingzhao. He was a recluse and a Taoist, his religious name being Meng Mei, or “Dreaming of Plums.” Cao Cao received him with great courtesy and presently the venerable old man began: “Sir, 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 stick together,” said Cao Cao. “Have you some other plan to propose?”

  “You are a great commander, sir. 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 men to carry up the earth and sprinkle it with water. By dawn your wall will be complete.”

  Cao Cao seized upon this advice. He offered his aged visitor a reward, but the man would not accept anything.

  That night the north wind swept in at full force. Every one of his men was driven to carrying earth and wetting it. As they had no other means of carrying water they made bags that they filled with water and then poured on the earth. And so as they piled the earth they froze it solid with water, and by dawn the wall, standing firm, was completed.

  Spies told Ma Chao that the enemy had built a wall and he rode out to see it. He was greatly perplexed at the sight and began to suspect help from the gods.

  However, the next day amid loud beating of drums, he marched out his whole army for a major attack. Cao Cao himself rode out of the camp, with only the redoubtable Xu Chu in attendance, and advanced toward his young opponent. Flourishing his whip he called out: “I am here alone and I want Ma Chao to come out to speak with me.”

  So Ma Chao rode out, his spear set ready to thrust.

  “You thought that I would be unable to build a camp, but look! in one single night, I have my stockade readily constructed. Why
do you not surrender?”

  Ma Chao was so enraged that he almost rushed at Cao Cao, but he was not too angry to fail to notice the henchman behind his enemy, glowering at him with a gleaming sword in his grip. Suspecting this man to be Xu Chu, he flourished his whip and asked, “I hear you have a man called Lord Tiger in your army. Where is he?”

  At this Xu Chu lifted his sword and roared, “I am Xu Chu of Qiaojun!” His eyes gleamed fiercely and his whole being was so powerful that Ma Chao dared not move. He turned his steed and retired.

  Cao Cao and his doughty follower also returned to their camp. The two armies witnessed this confrontation, and there was not a man there but felt a quiver of fear.

  “They, too, know that Xu Chu is Lord Tiger,” said Cao Cao to his officers when he returned.

  And thereafter Xu Chu came to be known 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 death,” said Xu Chu.

  Then he sent a written challenge to his enemy with the words, “Lord Tiger dares Ma Chao to a decisive duel on the morrow.”

  Ma Chao was very angry when he received this. “How dare he insult me so?” he cried. Then he wrote underneath the challenge his reply: “I vow to slay Mad Tiger on the morrow.”

  The next day both armies moved out and arrayed in battle formations. Pang De and Ma Dai took command of the two wings, while Han Sui held the center. Ma Chao took up his position in front and called, “Come out, Mad Tiger!”

  Cao Cao, who was on horseback by the standard, turned and said: “He is as bold as Lu Bu.”