Thereupon they rebuilt the outer walls on an altered plan。 When plete； Cao Cao was asked to go and see it。 And he was then delighted。
〃But who guessed what I meant？〃 said he。
〃Yang Xiu；〃 replied his people。
Cao Cao thereafter lauded Yang Xiu's ingenuity； but in his heart he feared。
Another time Cao Cao received a box of cream cheese from Mongolia。 Cao Cao just scribbled three words 〃One Cream Box〃 on the top and left it on the table。 The words seemed to have no meaning。 But Yang Xiu happened to e in； saw the box； and at once handed a spoonful of the contents to each guest in the room。 When Cao Cao asked why he did this； he explained that that was the interpretation of the words on the box； which； resolved into primary symbols； read； 〃Each person a mouthful。〃
〃Could I possibly disobey your orders？〃 said he。
Cao Cao laughed with the others； but hatred was in his heart。
Cao Cao lived in constant fear of assassination； and said to his attendants； 〃Let none of you e near me when I am sleeping； for I am likely to slay people in my dreams。〃
One day he was enjoying a siesta； and his quilt fell off。 One of the attendants saw it and hastened to cover him again。 Cao Cao suddenly leaped from the couch； cut down the intruder with his sword； and lay down again to sleep。 Some time after he awoke； simulated surprise and asked who had killed his attendant。 When they told him； Cao Cao wept aloud for the dead man and had him buried in a fine grave。 Most people thought that Cao Cao had slain the man while asleep； but Yang Xiu knew better。
At the funeral of the victim Yang Xiu remarked； 〃The Prime Minister was in no dream； but only you were asleep。〃
This only increased the hatred。
Cao Cao's third son； Cao Zhi； took great delight in Yang Xiu's cleverness and often invited him； when they would talk the whole night。
When Cao Cao was considering the nomination of his heir and desired to name Cao Zhi； Cao Pi got to hear of the proposal to set him aside in favor of his younger brother； so he secretly requested the Master of the Court Singers； Wu Zhi； to e and discuss this matter。 Then fearing that someone might see his visitor； Cao Pi got a large basket made； in which his friend was smuggled into the Palace。 Cao Pi gave out that the basket contained rolls of silk。 Yang Xiu heard the truth and informed Cao Cao； who sent guards to watch at the gates。
Cao Pi； in alarm； told Wu Zhi； who said； 〃Be not afraid； but to fill a basket actually with rolls of silk on the morrow and have it carried in as before。〃
The searchers peeped into the basket and found the rolls of silk。 They told Cao Cao the result of their search； and Cao Cao began to think Yang Xiu was plotting against his son。 This also added to his hatred。
Another time Cao Cao； wishing to pare the abilities of his two sons Cao Pi and Cao Zhi； told them both to go out of the city； at the same time ordering the gate wardens to forbid their exit。 Cao Pi first came to the gate； was stopped by the wardens； and returned to his palace。
But his brother Cao Zhi consulted Yang Xiu； who said； 〃You have received orders from the Prince to go out。 Simply cut down any who may try to prevent you。〃
When Cao Zhi went to the gate and was stopped； he shouted out to the wardens； 〃I have the Prince's order to go out。 Dare you stop me？〃
He slew the man who would have prevented him。 Wherefore Cao Cao considered his younger son the more able。 But when some other person told him that the device came from Yang Xiu； he was angry and took a dislike to his son Cao Zhi。
Yang Xiu also used to coach Cao Zhi in preparing replies to likely questions； which were learned by heart and quoted when necessary。 Cao Cao was always asking this son his opinion on military matters； and Cao Zhi always had a fluent reply ready。 His father was not without suspicions； which were turned into certainties when Cao Pi gave his father the written replies which Cao Pi had bribed a servant to filch from his brother's apartments。 Cao Cao was quite angry。
〃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