Sun Quan speedily heard of the move and called in his advisers。
At the council Zhang Zhao said； 〃Let us send to Lu Su to tell him to write at once to Liu Bei that he may help us。 They are good friends； and Liu Bei will certainly respond favorably。 Beside； since Liu Bei and our lord are now connected by marriage； there is no risk of refusal。 With the support of Liu Bei； there is no danger to our country。〃
Sun Quan listened to this advice and sent to Lu Su bidding him to ask help from Liu Bei。 Accordingly； on receipt of this mand； a letter was written to Liu Bei； who after reading it； retained the messenger at the guest…house till Zhuge Liang could arrive from Nanjun。 As soon as he arrived； Liu Bei showed him the letter。
The adviser said； 〃It is not necessary for the South Land's troops to move； nor need we send ours。 I can prevent Cao Cao from even daring to look in the southeast direction。〃
So Zhuge Liang wrote a reply telling Lu Su：
〃You can lay aside all anxiety and rest content； for if the northern army approach； they will be forced backward at once。〃
The letter was given to the messenger； and then Liu Bei asked his adviser； 〃How could the Instructor hope to roll back the huge army of three hundred thousand troops that Cao Cao is preparing to bring south？〃
Zhuge Liang replied； 〃Cao Cao's chief fear is Xiliang。 Now just lately he has slain Ma Teng and his sons as well； and the people of Xiliang are grinding their teeth with rage。 Now you must write and ask Ma Chao to march through the pass； and Cao Cao will have no leisure to think of any expedition to the south。〃
The letter was written； sent by a trusty hand； and duly delivered。
Now Ma Chao was in Xiliang。 One night he had a vision。 In his dream he saw himself lying out on a snowy plain and many tigers were ing up and biting him。 He awoke in a fright and began to wonder what the dream portended。 Failing to explain it； he told the dream to his officers。 One of them ventured to say the portent was evil。 This was General Pang De。
〃What is your interpretation？〃 asked Ma Chao。
〃Meeting with tigers on a snowy plain is a very inauspicious subject to dream about。 Assuredly our old General is in trouble at the capital。〃
And at that moment one entered in hot haste and cast himself on the earth； weeping and crying； 〃The Uncle and his sons are dead！〃
It was Ma Dai； the nephew of Ma Teng。 And he told the story of the evil： 〃Uncle Ma Teng and Huang Kui had planned to assassinate Cao Cao； but the plot had miscarried and bee known。 Ma Tie fell in the battlefield； Uncle Ma Teng and Ma Xiu were put to death in the market place； and I escaped in disguise。〃
Ma Chao fell to the ground and wept bitterly； grinding his teeth with rage at his enemy Cao Cao。 They lifted him to his feet and led him away to repose。
Soon after arrived a messenger with a letter from Liu Bei； which read like this：
〃In these latter days of the hapless Hans； when the rebellious and tyrannical Cao Cao monopolizes all power； to the injury of the Emperor and the wretchedness of the people； I； Liu Bei； recall that your father and I were recipients of an edict and we swore to exterminate the recreant。 Now your father has suffered death at the hands of the tyrant； and you must avenge him。 As the holy books say； you cannot let the same sky cover you nor the same sunshine upon you and your father's murderer。 If you can lead your army to attack Cao Cao on one side； I will march my armies to prevent his retreat； and he will be taken； and all his evil crew can be exterminated。 Then and thus will your father be avenged； and the Hans can be restored。 I might add more； but I will await your reply。〃
Wiping his tears； Ma Chao wrote a reply which was returned by the bearer。
The Xiliang army was then mustered； horse and foot were assembled。 Just before the day that had been fixed for the start； the Imperial Protector of Xizhou； Han Sui； sent for Ma Chao； to whom he showed a letter from Cao Cao promising the Lordship of Xiliang as a reward for sending Ma Chao a prisoner to the capital。
〃Bind us both； Uncle； and send us thither！ You need not move a single spear；〃 said the younger man prostrating himself。
But Han Sui raised him； saying； 〃Your father and I were sworn brothers。 Think you I would harm you？ Rather will I help if you are going to fight。〃
Ma Chao expressed his gratitude。 The unhappy bearer of Cao Cao's letter was dragged forth and beheaded。 This done； the two took count of their armies。 Han Sui had eight divisions under eight manders………Yang Qiu； Cheng Yin； Hou Xuan； Liang Xing； Cheng Yi； Li Kan； Ma Wan； and Zhang Han………all to be relied upon to follow Han Sui。 Ma Chao had two leaders； Pang De and Ma Dai。 The total force was two hundred thousand troops with which the manders march to Changan。
The Governor of that city was Zhong Yao。 As soon as he heard what was afoot； he sent a fleet messenger to Cao Cao and prepared for defense。 He led his force out into the open plain and arrayed it for battle。
Ma Dai； with fifteen thousand； came on first； pouring over the countryside like a flood。 Zhong Yao would parley with him； but Ma Dai came forward； sword in hand； to attack。 However； the defender did not take the challenge but turned and fled。 Ma Dai followed in pursuit。 Soon the main body of the invaders arrived； and they surrounded the city； which Zhong Yao set about defending。
Changan had been the capital of the Western Han and so was well fortified with a solid wall and a deep moat； safe against the most terrific attacks。 The new armies besieged the city for ten days without success。 Then Pang De proposed a plan。
Said he； 〃Since the land about the city is barren and the water bitter； the people must have munication with the country around in order to live。 Further they have no fuel。 Ten days of siege must have exhausted the supplies in the city； wherefore if we relax for a time………well； you will see。 We shall capture the city without moving a finger。〃
〃Your plan seems excellent；〃 said Ma Chao； when he heard what it was。
Thereupon they sent orders to each division to retire； and Ma Chao covered the retreat。 Next day Zhong Yao went up on the walls to look around and saw that the besiegers had gone。 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 replied； 〃You will go to reinforce him。〃
Cao Hong and Xu Huang made all haste to Tong Pass and took over the mand from Zhong Yao。 They confined themselves to defense； and though Ma Chao appeared every day and reviled and shouted shameful things of the three generations of Cao Cao's family； the guardians of the Pass remained