第140部分(第1/7 页)

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　ge