Next Zhang Fei and Wei Yan were sent along two different roads to cut off Cao Cao's supplies。 Two other cohorts led by Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun were bidden to go and fire the hills and forests。 All these four armies had natives of the place to act as guides and show the way。
Cao Cao's scouts sent out from Yangping Pass returned to report： 〃The roads far and near are blocked by the troops of Shu； and every place seems to be burning。 No soldier is seen。〃
Cao Cao knew not what to do。 Then other scouts told him； 〃Our stores are being plundered by Zhang Fei and Wei Yan。〃
At this； Cao Cao called for a volunteer to drive off the plunderers； and Xu Chu offered。 He was given a thousand veterans； and went down the Pass to act as escort of the grain wagons。
The officers in charge of the transport were very glad to receive a general of such renown。
〃Except for you； O General； the grain could never reach Yangping Pass。〃
They entertained Xu Chu with the wine and food on the carts； and he ate and drank copiously； so that he became very intoxicated。 And in that state he insisted on marching； urging the convoy to start at once。
〃The sun has nearly set；〃 said the transport officers； 〃and the road near Baozhou is bad and dangerous； so that we cannot pass there at night。〃
〃I can face any danger；〃 boasted the drunken general。 〃I am brave as a myriad men put together。 What do you think I fear？ Beside； there is a good moon tonight； just the sort of thing to take grain carts along by。〃
Xu Chu took the lead； sword in hand。 By the second watch they were passing Baozhou。 About half the train had passed when the rolling drums and the blare of horns came down to them through a rift in the hills。 It was soon followed by the appearance of a cohort led by Zhang Fei。 With spear ready； he came racing down straight for Xu Chu； who； whirling his sword； dashed to the front to meet the enemy。
But Xu Chu was too drunk to stand against such a warrior。 After a few bouts he received a spear thrust in the shoulder； turned round in his saddle； and fell from his horse。 His men rushed to his help； and they carried him away as they retreated； while Zhang Fei took the whole transport train of fodder and forage away to his own camp。
The defeated escort carried their wounded leader back to Cao Cao's camp； where he was placed in the care of physicians。 Then Cao Cao himself led out his army to fight a decisive battle with the army of Shu。 Liu Bei went out to meet him； and； when both sides were arrayed； Liu Feng went out to challenge。 Cao Cao at once let loose a torrent of taunts and reproaches。
〃Seller of shoes； you are always sending out this pretended son of yours to fight for you。 If I only call my golden…bearded son Cao Zhang； your so…called son will be chopped to mincemeat！〃
These words enraged Liu Feng； who raised his spear and galloped toward Cao Cao。 Cao Cao bade Xu Huang do battle with the young man； and Liu Feng at once ran away。 Cao Cao led on his legions； but he was harassed by the explosion of bombs； the beating of drums； and the blare of trumpets that came from every side。 He concluded that he was being led into an ambush； and he hastened to retire。 The retreat was unfortunate； for the soldiers trampled upon each other and many were killed。 Anon they all ran off to Yangping Pass as quickly as they could。
But the soldiers of Shu came right up to the walls of the Pass； and some burned the east gate while others shouted at the west。 Others； again； burned the north gate while drums rolled at the south。 Leaders and led were alike harassed and frightened； and presently they left the Pass and ran away。 They were pursued and sore smitten。
The road to safety was not easy。 In one direction Zhang Fei barred the way； while Zhao Yun attacked the rear。 Then Huang Zhong came from Baozhou and pressed a slaughter on the flank。 Cao Cao's army lost many troops； and he was severely defeated in this triple attack。 His manders gathered about him and took him off toward the Xie Valley。 Here a great cloud of dust was seen in the distance。
〃If that is an ambush； it is the last of me；〃 sighed Cao Cao。
The soldiers came nearer； and then Cao Cao recognized not a enemy but his second son； Cao Zhang。 As a lad Cao Zhang was a good horseman and an expert archer。 He was more powerful than most men and could overe a wild beast with his bare hands。 Cao Cao did not approve of the young man's bent； and often warned him to study instead。
〃You do not study； but only love your bow and your horse； this is the courage of a mere person。 Think you that this makes for an honorable career？〃
＇e＇ Wei Qing a grand general during Han Emperor Wu。 Wei Qing had made several large…scale campaigns against the Xiongnu countries。 Though those campaigns were successful； he also suffered great casualties。 Further； he was accused of being extravagant。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Huo Qubing （BC 177…140） a brave general of Han Emperor Wu。 Huo Qubing was a relative of Wei Qing； and he also led expeditions against the Xiongnu countries。 But he died young； and the emperor built him a large tomb in his memory。 。。。。。
But Cao Zhang replied； 〃The really noble person ought to imitate such grand men as Wei Qing* and Huo Qubing*。 They won their reputation in the Gobi Desert； where they led a mighty host of hundred thousand； able to overrun the whole world and go anywhere。 What have I to do with scholarship？〃
Cao Cao used to ask his sons what career they found admirable； and Cao Zhang always replied that he would be a leader of armies。
〃But what should a leader be like？〃 asked Cao Cao。
〃He should be endued with firmness and courage； never turn aside from a difficulty； but be in the van of his officers and troops。 Rewards should be certain； and so should punishments。〃
Cao Cao smiled with pleasure。
In the twenty…third year of Rebuilt Tranquillity （AD 218）； the Wuhuan Peoples revolted in Daichun； and Cao Cao sent this son with fifty thousand troops to suppress them。 Just as Cao Zhang was leaving； his father read him a homily on his duty。
〃At home we are father and son； but when a task is given you； you have to consider your duty as a servant of your ruler。 The law knows no kindness； and you must beware。〃
When the expedition reached the north of Daichun； Cao Zhang led the array and smote as far as Sanggan in the Gobi Desert； and peace was restored。 He had lately heard that his father was at Yangping Pass； and had e to help him to fight。
His ing greatly pleased his father； who said； 〃Now that my golden…bearded son has arrived； we can destroy Liu Bei for certain。〃
Then the army was marched back again and pitched camp at the Xie Valley。
Someone told Liu Bei of the arrival of Cao Zhang； and he asked for a volunteer to go out against the newer。 Liu Feng offered。 Meng Da also desired to go； and Liu Bei decided to let both go。
〃Vie with each other；〃 said he。
Each general had five thousand troops； and Liu Feng led the way。 Cao Zhang rode out and engaged him； and in the third bout Liu Feng was overe and ran off。 Then Meng Da advanced； and a battle was just beginning when he saw that Cao Cao's troops were in confusion。 The cause was the sudden ing of Ma Chao and Wu Lan。 Before the enemy had recovered from the panic； Meng Da attacked on another side。 Ma Chao's force； who had been nursing their courage for a long time； fought brilliantly； so that none could withstand their onslaught； and they won the day。 But in his flight； Cao Zhang met Wu Lan； and he thrust and slew Wu Lan with his spear。
After a great fight； Cao Cao ordered his army to retire into camp at the Xie Valley。 Here he remained many days； prevented from advancing by Ma Chao and fearing the ridicule of Shu if he should retreat。 One day； while he was anxiously trying to decide what to do； his cook sent in some chicken broth。 He noticed in the broth some chicken tendons； and this simple fact led him into a train of reflection。 He was still deep in thought when Xiahou Dun entered his tent to ask the watchword for that night。
Cao Cao at once involuntarily replied； 〃Chicken tendon。〃
The word was passed on in orders。 When First Secretary Yang Xiu saw the order that the watchword was 〃chicken tendon；〃 he told all his people to pack up their belongings ready for the march。 One who saw this went and told Xiahou Dun； who sent for Yang Xiu and asked why he had packed up。
Yang Xiu replied； 〃By tonight's orders I see that the Prince of Wei is soon going to retire。 'Chicken tendons' are tasteless things to eat； and yet it is a pity to waste them。 Now if we advance； we cannot conquer； and if we retire； we fear we shall look ridiculous。 There being no advantage here； the best course is to retire。 You will certainly see the Prince of Wei retreat before long。 I have made my preparations so as not to be hurried and confused at the last moment。〃
〃You seem to know the Prince's inmost heart；〃 said Xiahou Dun； and he bade his servants pack。 The other generals seeing this； also made preparations for departure。
Cao Cao's mind was too perturbed for sleep。 In the night he got up； took a steel battle…ax in his hand； and wandered privily through the camp。 When he got to Xiahou Dun's tents； he saw everything packed and ready for a move。 Much surprised； he made his way back to his own tent and sent for that officer。
〃Why is everything in your camp packed as if ready for the march？〃
〃First Secretary Yang Xiu seems to have private knowledge of the Prince's design to retire；〃 said Xiahou Dun。
Cao Cao summoned Yang Xiu and questioned him； and Yang Xiu replied with the chicken tendon incident。
〃How dare you invent such a story and disturb the hearts of my army？〃
Cao Cao called in his lictors and told them to take Yang Xiu away and behead him and hang his head at the camp gate。
Yang Xiu was a man of acute and ingenious mind； but inclined to show off。 His lack of restraint over his tongue had often wounded Cao Cao's susceptibilities。 Once Cao Cao was having a pleasance laid out； and when it was pleted； he went to inspect the work。 He uttered no word of praise or blame； he just wrote the word 〃Alive〃 on the gate and left。 Nobody could guess what he meant till Yang Xiu heard of it。
〃'Gate' with 'Alive' inside it makes the word for 'wide'；〃 said he。 〃The Prime Minister thinks the gates are too wide。〃
Thereupon they