〃Who keeps the look…out on the north bank tomorrow？〃 asked Cao Cao。
〃Han Sui；〃 replied someone。
Next day Cao Cao at the head of a large party of his generals rode out of the camp； and the officers presently spread out right and left； he himself remaining a solitary rider visible in the center。 Han Sui did not know that Cao Cao had e out。
Presently Cao Cao called out； 〃Do any of you soldiers want to see Cao Cao？ Here I am quite alone。 I have not four eyes nor a couple of mouths； but I am very knowing。〃
The soldiers turned pale with fright。 Then Cao Cao called up a man and told him to go and see Han Sui and say； 〃Sir； the Prime Minister humbly asks you to e and confer with him。〃
Thereupon Han Sui went out； and seeing Cao Cao wore no armor； Han Sui also threw off his and rode out clad in a light robe。 Each rode up to the other till their horse's heads nearly touched； and there they stood talking。
Said Cao Cao； 〃Your father and I were granted filial degrees at the same time； and I used to treat him as an uncle。 Moreover； you and I set out to serve the court at the same time； too； and yet we have not met for years。 How old may you be now； General？〃
〃I am forty；〃 replied Han Sui。
〃In those old days in the capital； we were both very young and never thought about middle age。 If we could only restore tranquillity to the state； that would be a matter of rejoicing。〃
After that they chatted long about old times； but neither said a word on military matters。 They gossiped for a couple of hours before they took leave of each other。
It was not long before someone told Ma Chao of this meeting； and he went over to his ally to ask about it。
〃What was it Cao Cao came out to discuss today ？〃 said Ma Chao。
〃He just recalled the old days when we were together in the capital。〃
〃Did he say nothing about military matters？〃
〃Not a word； and I could not talk about them alone。〃
Ma Chao went out without a word； but he felt suspicious。
When Cao Cao returned to his camp； he said to Jia Xu； 〃Do you know why I talked with him thus publicly？〃
〃It may be an excellent idea；〃 said Jia Xu； 〃but it is not sufficient simply to estrange two people。 I can improve on it； and we will make them quarrel and even kill each other。〃
〃What is your scheme？〃
〃Ma Chao is brave but not very astute。 You write a letter with your own hand to Han Sui himself and put in it some rambling statements about some harm that is going to happen。 Then blot it out and write something else。 Afterwards you will send it to Han Sui； taking care that Ma Chao shall know all about it。 Ma Chao will demand to read the letter； and when he sees that the important part of the letter has been changed； he will think that Han Sui has made the changes lest his secrets should leak out。 This will fit into the private talk you had with Han Sui the other day； and the suspicion will grow until it has brought about trouble。 I can also secretly corrupt some of Han Sui's subordinates； and get them to widen the breach。 Then we can settle Ma Chao。〃
〃The scheme looks excellent；〃 said Cao Cao。
And he wrote the letter as suggested； and then erased and changed it； after which he sealed it securely and sent it across to Han Sui。
Surely enough someone told Ma Chao about the letter； which increased his doubts； and he came to Han Sui's quarters to ask to see it。 Han Sui gave it to him； and the erasures and alterations struck Ma Chao at once。
〃Why are all these alterations here？〃 asked he。
〃It came like that。 I do not know。〃
〃Does anyone send a rough draft like this？ It seems to me； Uncle； that you are afraid I shall know something or other too well； and so you have changed the wording。〃
〃It must be that Cao Cao has sealed up the rough draft by mistake。〃
〃I do not think so。 He is a careful man and would not make such a mistake。 You and I； Uncle； have been allies in trying to slay the rebel。 Why are you turning against me now ？〃
〃If you doubt my word； I will tell you what you can do。 Tomorrow； in full view of the army； I will get Cao Cao to e out and talk。 You can hide in behind the ranks ready to kill me if I am false。〃
〃That being so； I shall know that you are true； Uncle。〃
This arrangement made； next day Han Sui with five generals in his train………Li Kan； Ma Wan； Yang Qiu； Hou Xuan； and Liang Xing………rode to the front； while Ma Chao concealed himself behind the great standard。 Han Sui sent over to say that he wished to speak to the Prime Minister。
Thereupon at his mand； Cao Hong； with a train of ten horsemen rode out； advanced straight to Han Sui； leaned over to him and said； loudly enough to be heard plainly； 〃Last night the Prime Minister quite understood。 Let there be no mistake。〃
Then without another word on either side Cao Hong rode away。
Ma Chao had heard。 He gripped his spear and started galloping out to slay his panion in arms。 But the five generals checked him and begged him to go back to camp。
When Han Sui saw him； he said； 〃Nephew； trust me； really I have no evil intentions。〃
But Ma Chao； burning with rage； went away。 Then Han Sui talked over the matter with his five generals。
〃How can this be cleared up？〃
〃Ma Chao trusts too much to his strength；〃 said Yang Qiu。 〃He is always inclined to despise you； Sir。 If we overe Cao Cao； do you think he will give way to you？ I think you should rather take care of your own interests； go over to the Prime Minister's side； and you will surely get rank one day。〃
〃I was his father's pledged brother and could not bear to desert him；〃 said Han Sui。
〃It seems to me that as things have e to this pass： You simply have to now。〃
〃Who would act as go…between？〃 asked Han Sui。
〃I will；〃 said Yang Qiu。
Then Han Sui wrote a private letter which he confided to Yang Qiu； who soon found his way over to the other camp。 Cao Cao was only too pleased； and he promised that Han Sui should be made Lord of Xiliang and Yang Qiu its Governor。 The other confederates should be rewarded in other ways。 Then a plot was planned： When the preparations for the act of treachery were plete； a bonfire was to be lighted in Han Sui's camp； and all would try to do away with Ma Chao。
Yang Qiu went back and related all this to his chief； and Han Sui felt elated at the success of his overtures。 A lot of wood was collected in camp at the back of his tent ready for the signal blaze； and the five generals got ready for the foul deed。 It was decided that Ma Chao should be persuaded into ing to a banquet； and there they would slay him then。
All this was done； but not without some hesitation and delay； and some news of the plot reached Ma Chao。 He found out the careful preparations that had been made and resolved to act first。 Leaving Ma Dai and Pang De in reserve； he chose a few trusted leaders and with stealthy steps made his way into Han Sui's tent。 There he found Han Sui and his five confederates deep in conversation。 He just caught a word or two that Yang Qiu said； 〃We must not delay； now is the time。〃
In burst Ma Chao raging and yelling； 〃You herd of rebels！ Would you dare to plot against me？〃
They were taken aback。 Ma Chao sprang at Han Sui and slashed at his face。 Han Sui put up his hand to ward off the blow； and his hand was cut off。 The five drew their swords and set on Ma Chao and his men； who rushed outside。 Soon Ma Chao was hemmed in by the five； but he kept them at bay by wonderful swordsmanship。 And as the swords flashed； the red blood flowed。 Soon Ma Wan was down and Liang Xing disabled； then the other three fled。
Ma Chao ran back into the tent to finish Han Sui； but the servants had removed him。 Then a torch was lit； and soon there was motion all through the camp。 Ma Chao mounted his horse； for Pang De and Ma Dai had now arrived； and the real fight began。 Cao Cao's troops poured in from all sides： Xu Chu and Xu Huang were in front and behind； Xiahou Yuan and Cao Hong to the left and right。 Meanwhile； the Xiliang soldiers fought with each other。
Losing sight of his generals； Ma Chao and one hundred riders got to the head of the floating bridge over the River Wei just about dawn。 There he fell across Li Kan ing over the bridge with an army。 Ma Chao set his spear and rode at him full tilt。 Li Kan turned down his spear and fled。 From behind Ma Chao； Yu Jin came up in pursuit。 But unable to get near enough to seize Ma Chao； Yu Jin sent an arrow flying after him。 Ma Chao's ear caught the twang of the bowstring； and he dodged the arrow； which flew on and killed Li Kan。 Ma Chao turned to attack his pursuer； who galloped away； and then he returned and took possession of the bridge。
Quickly Cao Cao's troops gathered about him； and the fiercest among them； the Tiger Guard； shot arrows at Ma Chao； which he warded off with his spear shaft so that they fell harmless to the earth。 Ma Chao and his troops rode to and fro striking a blow wherever there was a chance； but the enemy were very thick about him； and he could not force his way out。 In desperation he cut an alley northwards and got through； but quite alone。 Of his followers everyone fell。
Still he kept on dashing this way and that； till he was brought down by a crossbow bolt。 He lay upon the ground and his enemies were pressing in。 But at the critical moment； an army came in from the northwest and rescued him。 Pang De and Ma Dai had e up