aid Zhuge Liang。
〃If it had not been for what my brother said； I should have lost a great scholar；〃 said Liu Bei。
Then he lost no time； but sent Zhang Fei off to the northeast to request Pang Tong to e to Jingzhou City。 When he arrived； Liu Bei went out to meet him and at the foot of the steps asked pardon for his mistake。 Then Pang Tong produced the letter that Zhuge Liang had given him。 What Liu Bei read therein was this：
〃As soon as the Young Phoenix shall arrive； he should be given an important post。〃
Liu Bei rejoiced indeed as he read it； and he said； 〃Water Mirror said of the two men； Sleeping Dragon and Young Phoenix； that any man who obtained the help of either of them could restore the empire when he would。 As I now have them both； surely the Hans will rise again。〃
Then he appointed Pang Tong as Vice Directing Instructor and General； and the two strategists began training the army for its work of subjugation。
News of these doings came to the capital； Xuchang； and Cao Cao was told of Liu Bei's two strategists and of the army in training and the stores accumulating and the league between his two chief enemies。 And he knew that he had to expect an attack sooner or later。 So he summoned his strategists to a council for a new campaign。
Said Xun Yu； 〃Sun Quan should be first attacked； because of the recent death of their ablest general Zhou Yu。 Liu Bei will follow。〃
Cao Cao replied； 〃If I go on such a distant expedition； Ma Teng will fall upon the capital。 While I was at the Red Cliffs； there were sinister rumors of this； and I must guard against it。〃
Xun Yu said； 〃The best thing that occurs to me is to obtain for Ma Teng the title of General Who Subdues the South and send him against the South Land。 Thus he can be enticed to the capital and got rid of。 Then you can have no fear of marching southward。〃
Cao Cao approved； and soon Ma Teng was summoned from Xiliang； a frontier territory in the west。
＇e＇ Ma Yuan （BC 14…AD 49） a general who first served Wang Mang； then join Liu Xiu in restoring Han Dynasty。 In his life of career； Ma Yuan contributed much to Liu Xiu's success by putting down rebellions throughout the empire and abroad。 。。。。。
Ma Teng was a descendant of the famous leader Ma Yuan*； General Who Quells the Waves。 His father's name was Ma Sui。 Ma Sui had held a minor magistracy in Tianshui in the reign of Emperor Huan； but had lost it and drifted west into the West Valley Land where he got amongst the Qiang Peoples； one of whose women he took to wife。 She bore him a son； Ma Teng。 Ma Teng was rather over the mon height； and bold…looking。 He was of a mild disposition and very popular。 But in the reign of Emperor Ling； these Qiangs made trouble； and then Ma Teng raised a force and put it down。 For his services he received the tile of General Who Corrects the West。 He and Han Sui； who was known as mander Who Guards the West； were pledged brothers。
On receipt of the summons to the capital； Ma Teng took his eldest son； Ma Chao； into his confidence and told him some of his former life。
〃When Dong Cheng got the Girdle Edict from the Emperor； we formed a society； of which Liu Bei was one； pledged to put down rebellion。 However； we acplished nothing； for Dong Cheng was put to death and Liu Bei was unfortunate； while I escaped to the west。 However； I hear that Liu Bei now holds Jingzhou； and I am inclined to carry out the plan we made so long ago。 But here I am summoned by Cao Cao and what is to be done？〃
Ma Chao replied； 〃Cao Cao has the mand of the Emperor to call you。 If you do not go； that will mean disobeying an imperial mand and you will be punished。 Obey the summons in so far as to go to the capital； where you may be able to arrange to carry out your original intention。〃
But Ma Teng's nephew； Ma Dai； held other opinions and opposed this。
Said he； 〃Cao Cao's designs are unfathomable。 If you go； Uncle； I fear you will suffer。〃
〃Let me lead the army against the capital；〃 said Ma Chao。 〃Can we not purge the empire of evil？〃
But his father said； 〃You must take mand of the Qiang troops for the defense of our territory here。 I will take with me your two brothers and your cousin。 When Cao Cao knows that you have the Qiangs at your call and that Han Sui is prepared to assist； he will hardly dare to work any harm to me。〃
〃Father； if you must go； be careful not to enter the city till you know exactly what plots and machinations are afoot。〃
〃I will certainly take great care； so do not be too anxious；〃 said the father。
The order of march was prepared。 The governor took five thousand troops； with his two sons………Ma Xiu and Ma Tie………as Leaders of the Van and his nephew Ma Dai bringing up the rear。 These set out along the tortuous road to the capital。 At seven miles distance from Xuchang they camped。
When Cao Cao heard of Ma Teng's arrival； he called to him Minister Huang Kui and said to him； 〃Ma Teng is to be sent against the south； and I shall send you as Adviser。 You are first to go to his camp and express my congratulations on his arrival and say that as Xiliang is so distant and transport very difficult； he is not to take too large an army of his own。 I will send a large force。 Also tell him to e in soon for audience of the Emperor。 I will send him supplies。〃
With these instructions Huang Kui went to Ma Teng； who brought out wine and entertained him well。
In his cups the messenger grew confidential and said； 〃My father perished at the hands of Li Jue and Guo Si； and I have always nourished resentment。 Now there is another rebel in power wronging our Prince。〃
〃Who is that？〃 asked Ma Teng。
〃The wrong doer is that rebel Cao Cao； of course。 Do you mean to say you do not know？〃
However； Ma Teng was careful。 He thought it very likely that these words were but a trap for him； so he pretended to be greatly shocked and begged his guest to be careful lest he be overheard。
But Huang Kui cared not； shouting； 〃Then you have quite forgotten the Girdle Edict； eh？〃
Ma Teng began to see Huang Kui was sincere and presently became confidential in turn and told his guest all his schemes。
〃Cao Cao wants you to go in to audience。 There is no good intention there。 Do not go；〃 said Huang Kui。 〃You lead your army up close to the city and get Cao Cao to e and review them。 When he es； assassinate him。〃
They two settled how this plan could be worked out and the messenger； still hot with anger and excitement； returned to his home。
Seeing Huang Kui so disturbed in mind； his wife； Lady Zhi； asked him what was wrong。 But he would tell her nothing。 However； he had a concubine； Li Chunxiang。 And it happened that she had an intrigue with the wife's younger brother； Miao Ze； who much desired to marry her。 The concubine who also saw her lord's displeasure； spoke of it to her paramour； and he told her she could probably draw from him what was wrong by a leading question。
〃Ask him what is the truth about two men； Liu Bei and Cao Cao？ Who is the wicked one；〃 suggested Miao Ze。
That evening Huang Kui went to the apartments of his concubine； and she presently put the question proposed by her lover。
Her lord； still rather intoxicated； said； 〃You are not an official； still you know right from wrong as well as I。 My enemy； and the man I would slay if I could； is Cao Cao。〃
〃But why？ And if you wish to slay him； why do you not do something？〃 said she。
〃I have done something。 I have settled with General Ma Teng to assassinate Cao Cao at the review。〃
Li Chunxiang of course told her paramour； who told Cao Cao； and Cao Cao made his arrangements to defeat the scheme。 He called up his trusty generals and gave them orders for the morrow and； this done； he arrested Huang Kui and all his household。
Next day； as arranged； Ma Teng and his western troops came close up to the wall； and among the flags and banners he discerned that of the Prime Minister himself； whereby he knew that Cao Cao would hold the review in person。
So Ma Teng rode forward。 Suddenly a bomb exploded； and at this signal there appeared bodies of armed troops in four directions： Right and left； front and rear； led by Xu Chu； Xiahou Yuan； Cao Hong； and Xu Huang。 The western forces were quite hemmed in。 Ma Teng then saw the mistake he had made； and he and his two sons fought valiantly to free themselves from the trap。 The youngest son………Ma Tie………soon fell in the volleys of arrows。 Father and son rode this way and that； seeking a way out； but failed on every side。 Both were sorely wounded； and when their steeds fell from their many arrow wounds； both were captured。
Ma Teng； Ma Xiu； and the miserable Huang Kui who could not keep his counsel； were brought before Cao Cao。 Huang Kui loudly protested his innocence。 Cao Cao then called in the witness Miao Ze。
〃That worthless scoundrel has spoiled all my plans！〃 cried Ma Teng against Huang Kui。 〃Now I cannot slay the rebel and purge my country。 But it is the will of God！〃
Father and son were dragged forth； the father uttering volleys of abuse all the time。 And so three men were executed in this adventure。
The sons and father share one niche of fame；
For purest loyalty their praise the same。
To their own hurt the rebels they withstood；
Content to die to make their pledges good。
In blood the solemn oath they did indite
To slay the wicked and preserve the right。
A worthy father's worthy sons by western bride；
Old Waves Queller's name his grandson glorified。
〃I desire no other reward than Li Chunxiang as wife；〃 said the betrayer； Miao Ze。
Cao Cao smiled and said； 〃For her sake then you have brought a whole household to death。 What advantage would there be in preserving such a miscreant？〃
So Cao Cao bade the executioners put both the traitor and the woman to death； with Huang Kui's household。 Those who saw the fearful vengeance sighed at its cruelty。
Through passion base a loyal man was slain；
And she who shared his passion shared his fate；
The man they served was pitiless in hate；
And thus a mean man's treachery was vain。
Cao Cao did not desire to rouse the rancor of the army of Xiliang； wherefore he proclaimed to them； 〃The intended treachery of your leaders was theirs alone。〃
However； he sent to secure the passes so that Ma Dai should not escape。
As has been said； Ma Dai led the rearguard。 Before long the fugitives from the main a