第139部分(第1/7 页)

one。　However；　suspecting　a　ruse；　he　sent　out　spies；　who　returned　to　say　the　soldiers　had　really　moved　away　to　a　distance。　Wherefore　he　felt　much　relieved　and　allowed　both　soldiers　and　people　to　go　out　into　the　country　to　cut　the　much　needed　firewood　and　bring　in　water。　The　city　gates；　thrown　wide　open；　were　thronged　with　those　passing　in　and　out。

This　continued　for　five　days；　and　then　they　heard　that　Ma　Chao's　army　was　returning。　A　panic　ensued。　The　people　rushed　into　the　city；　and　the　gates　were　once　more　barred。

The　General　of　the　west　gate　was　Zhong　Jing；　brother　of　Zhong　Yao。　About　the　third　watch　of　the　night；　a　torch　was　seen　moving　just　inside　the　gate；　and　when　Zhong　Jing　went　to　see　what　was　wrong；　and　was　passing　the　gateway；　a　man　suddenly　galloped　up　and　slashed　at　him　with　a　sword。

At　the　same　time　the　attacker　shouted；　〃Here　is　Pang　De！〃

Zhong　Jing　was　taken　aback；　could　not　defend　himself　and　was　cut　down。　The　gate　guard　was　soon　disposed　of；　the　gates　were　shattered；　and　the　soldiers　of　Ma　Chao　and　Han　Sui　came　pouring　in。　Zhong　Yao　escaped　by　the　opposite　gate　and　left　the　city　in　the　hands　of　his　enemies。　He　reached　Tong　Pass；　where　he　fortified　himself　and　sent　news　of　the　misfortune　to　Cao　Cao。

Cao　Cao　threw　aside　all　plans　for　his　expedition　to　the　south　when　Changan　was　lost。

He　at　once　gave　orders；　〃Cao　Hong　and　Xu　Huang　are　to　march　your　ten　thousand　troops　to　Tong　Pass　to　support　Zhong　Yao。　You　are　to　hold　the　Pass　at　all　costs　for　ten　days；　or　you　will　pay　for　its　loss　with　your　heads。　After　ten　days　the　Pass　will　be　no　concern　of　yours；　for　I　will　be　there　with　the　main　army。〃

Cao　Ren　said；　〃Cao　Hong　short　of　temper　is　unfitted　to　hold　the　Pass。　Everything　could　happen。〃

Cao　Cao　repli