第一小说网

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第139部分（第1页）

one。　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　Chaos　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　Caos　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　Chaos　soldiers　took　turns　in　reviling　the　defenders　of　the　Pass；　resting　neither　day　nor　night。　And　Xu　Huang　found　it　hard　to　curb　his　colleagues　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　Caos　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　flesh。〃