第140部分(第3/7 页)

attered　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　he　smiling。

〃They　would　have　got　across　the　river　had　they　not　been　enticed　away　by　the　freeing　of　the　cattle　and　horses；〃　said　Xu　Chu。

〃Who　was　it　that　drew　them　off？〃　said　Cao　Cao。

Someone　who　knew　told　him。　Before　long　Magistrate　Ding　Fei　came　in　to　pay　his　respects；　and　Cao　Cao　thanked　him。

〃I　should　have　been　a　prisoner　but　for　your　happy　thought；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

And　the　Magistrate　received　a　rank　of　mander　in　the　army。

〃Though　they　have　gone；　yet　they　will　assuredly　return　tomorrow；〃　said　Ding　Fei。　〃You　must　prepare　to　repel　them。〃

〃My　preparations　are　all　made；〃　was　the　reply。

Cao　Cao　ordered　his　generals　to　spread　themselves　along　the　river　bank　and　throw　up　mounds　as　shelters　for　camps。　If　they　saw　the　enemy　approaching；　the　soldiers　were　to　be　withdrawn　from　behind　the　mounds；　leaving　the　ensigns　all　flying；　so　as　to　give　the　impression　that　each　camp　contained　a　garrison。　Along　the　river　they　were　to　dig　ditches　and　put　up　sheds；　thus　to　entice　the　enemy　there　and　their　army　woul