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 track。
As they drew near the slope of some hills； a bold general suddenly appeared； who cried； 〃Do not hurt my lord！〃
This was Cao Hong； and he went toward Ma Chao； whirling his sword。 Ma Chao was stopped； and this saved Cao Cao's life。 Cao Hong and Ma Chao fought half a hundred bouts till Cao Hong began to grow weary and bee uncertain of his strokes。 And when； shortly after； Xiahou Yuan appeared with some thirty horsemen； Ma Chao found it prudent to retire。
Then Cao Cao was escorted to his camp defended by Cao Ren。 He found the camps were still unharmed and the losses had not been great。
As he sat in his tent； Cao Cao said； 〃Had I not spared Cao Hong； I should have fallen at the hands of Ma Chao today。〃
So he called in his rescuer and rewarded him well。
And they got together the scattered troops and strengthened the camp； deepening the moat and raising the rampart。 Ma Chao came daily and challenged anyone to bat and abused them all shamefully； but； by the order of the Prime Minister； these insults were treated with silent contempt。
〃Our enemies use long spears；〃 said the officers。 〃We will meet them with bows and crossbows。〃
〃They may have long spears；〃 replied Cao Cao； 〃but whether I give battle or not depends on my decision。 How can they thrust at us if we do not go out？ All you have to do is to take no notice of them； and they will speedily retire。〃
The officers wondered。 They said one to another； 〃The Prime Minister came out on this expedition of his own will and was foremost in the fight。 Why does he accept defeat so easily？〃
After some days the spies reported： 〃Ma Chao has been reinforced by twenty thousand Qiangs； the tribespeople beyond the frontier。〃
Cao Cao took the news gleefully。 His officers asked him why the news pleased him。
He replied； 〃Wait till I have defeated them； and I will explain。〃
Three days later there was a report of further reinforcements； and Cao Cao not only smiled but gave a banquet。 His officers ridiculed him in secret。
Then said Cao Cao； 〃You gentlemen laugh because I cannot destroy Ma Chao。 Well then； can anyone of you propose a plan？〃
Then rose Xu Huang and said； 〃O Prime Minister； you have a large force here； and the enemy also accumulate their strength on the Pass。 This means that on the west side of Yellow River； behind their back； they are unprepared。 If you can get an army secretly across the river and cross the Cattail Ferry； you will cut off their retreat。 Then if you can march down and smite them on the banks of River Wei； they can get no reinforcements and must fail。〃
〃What you propose is just what I think；〃 said Cao Cao。
So Xu Huang was placed over four thousand troops； and with Zhu Ling； marched to the west of Yellow River and hid in the gullies。 They were to wait till Cao Cao crossed the Yellow River so that both could strike together。
Then Cao Cao ordered Cao Hong to prepare boats and rafts。 Cao Ren was left in mand of the camps。 Cao Cao himself marched to the east bank of Yellow River first； and from there attempted to cross to the west bank。
When Ma Chao heard of the new military movements； he said； 〃I understand。 The Pass is left； rafts are being prepared： That means that he is going to cross to the west side and cut off my retreat。 I must coast along the river and keep him off。 If I can do that； his food will run short within twenty days in the east bank； and that will cause a mutiny。 Then I will travel south along the river and attack。〃
Han Sui did not approve this plan。 He quoted the military maxim to strike when troops were half over the river。
〃Attack from the south when his army is in the act of crossing； and his army will be drowned in the river；〃 said he。
〃Uncle； your words are good；〃 replied Ma Chao。 And the spies went forth to find out the time of crossing the river。
When Cao Cao's preparations were plete and all was ready； he sent three parties of soldiers over the river first。 They reached the ferry at the first sign of dawn； and the veterans were sent over first and lay out a camp。 Cao Cao and his guard took up station on the east bank to watch the crossing。
Very soon the sentinels reported； 〃A general dressed all in white is approaching。〃
Everyone knew it must be Ma Chao。 This terrified them and they made a rush to get into the boats。 The river bank became a scene of shouting men struggling who could first embark。 Cao Cao sat watching and never stirred。 He only issued orders to stop the confusion。 Meanwhile； the yelling of the troops and the neighing of the horses of the approaching army came nearer and nearer。
Suddenly a general jumped out of one of the boats and shouted to Cao Cao： 〃The rebels are close！ Get into a boat； O Prime Minister！〃
〃The rebels are near。 What matter？〃 replied Cao Cao simply to the speaker； who was Xu Chu。 And he turned round to look at them。
As a fact Ma Chao was very close； not a hundred paces away； and Xu Chu laid hold of Cao Cao and dragged him down the bank。 The boat had already pushed off and was ten spans from the bank； but Xu Chu took Cao Cao on his back and leaped on board。 The boat was small and in danger of being overturned； wherefore Xu Chu drew his sword and chopped away at the hands clinging to the side so that the soldiers fell back into the water。
The boat went down stream； Xu Chu standing in the prow poling as hard as he could。 His master crouched out of sight at his feet。
When Ma Chao saw the boat in midstream drifting down with the current； he took his bow and arrows and began to shoot。 He also ordered his brave generals to go along the river and shoot so that a shower of arrows fell about the boat。 Xu Chu fearing Cao Cao would be wounded； protected him with a saddle which he held over him with his left hand； for Ma Chao's shooting was not in vain。 Many of the soldiers working the boat were wounded。 Some had fallen overboard； while more lay in the bottom of the boat。 The boat itself got out of control and was whirled hither and thither by the current。 Xu Chu straddled over the tiller and tried thus to guide the boat； while he poled with one hand and with the other held the protecting saddle over Cao Cao's head。
Then the Magistrate of Weinan； Ding Fei； who from a hill top saw that Cao Cao was very closely pressed； even in danger of his life； drove out from his camp all the cattle and horses there； so that they scattered over the hillside。 This was too much for the born Qiang herdsmen of the plains。 At sight of the beasts； they left the river and ran off to secure the cattle。 Nor had they any inclination to pursue their enemy。
And so Cao Cao escaped。 As soon as they reached the west bank of Yellow River （which was also the north bank of River Wei）； the boat was scuttled。 The rumor had spread that Cao Cao was on the river and in danger； so all his officers came to his aid。 But he was now safe on shore。 Xu Chu's double armor was stuck full of arrows。 The officers escorted Cao Cao to the camp where they made their obeisance and expressed the hope that he had not suffered seriously。
〃The rebels very nearly caught me today；〃 said