。 Guan Ning took no notice； but kept his eyes on his book； Hua Xin rose and went to the window。 For this； Guan Ning despised his panion and the two parted for good。
Sometime after； in the disturbance of the empire； Guan Ning fled into Liaodong； where he led the life of hermit。 He wore a white cap and lived in the upper part of a house； never touching the ground with his feet。 He would have nothing to do with Cao Cao and would not enter his service。
But Hua Xin led a totally different life。 For a time he was with Sun Quan； then he went over to Cao Cao and served him。 And here he is found actually laying hands upon the Empress。
His conduct in this particular is the subject of a poem：
That was a dastardly thing that Hua Xin did；
When he broke don the wall where the Empress hid
And dragged her forth by the hair。
He lent his aid to a foul； foul crime
And execrations throughout all time；
Have been； and shall be； his share。
A poet also wrote concerning Guan Ning：
East of Liaodong； so stories tell
Is Guan Ning's tower； where long he dwelt。
Ignoble wealth was Hua Xin's quest；
The hermit's simple life was best。
As Hua Xin hurried the unhappy woman out of the hall； the Emperor saw her。 He went over and clasped her to his bosom； weeping。
Hua Xin tried to force her onward； saying； 〃The Duke of Wei ordered no delay！〃
〃My doom is sealed；〃 wept the Empress。
〃And I know not when my turn will e；〃 sighed the Emperor。
The soldiers hustled the Empress onward； leaving His Majesty beating his breast in despair。
〃Can it be that such things happen in the world？〃 cried the Emperor to Chi Lu； who stood by。
And the Emperor swooned。 Chi Lu made the courtiers pick him up； and they bore him into the Palace。
Meanwhile； the unhappy Empress had been taken before Cao Cao。
〃I have dealt well with you；〃 said he angrily； 〃and you requited me by plotting my murder。 It is the death of one of us； I see。〃
He ordered the executioners to beat her till she died。 After this； he went into the Palace； seized her two sons and had them poisoned。 In the evening of the same day the whole households of Mu Shun and Fu Wan were put to death publicly。 Such terrible deeds spread terror everywhere。 They happened in the eleventh month of the nineteenth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity （AD 214）。
As Cao Cao stands first in cruelty；
So stands Fu Wan in loyalty。
A married pair of low estate；
Had not been torn apart by fate。
The Emperor grieved bitterly over the loss of his consort； and in his despair refused all food。 Cao Cao did not wish him to die of starvation and loneliness； so he proposed his own daughter as consort。
〃Be not sad；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃Thy servant is no rebel。 My daughter is already in your palace as a secondary lady。 She is wise and dutiful； fit to be your consort and occupy the first rank。〃
Emperor Xian dared not refuse； and therefore at the new year （AD 215）； in the time of the festivities； Lady Cao's name was inscribed on the dynastic rolls as Empress。 And no one of the courtiers dared protest。
Wherefore Cao Cao became even more powerful。 But it pleased him not to have rivals in the land； so he again thought of subduing Liu Bei and Sun Quan。
Jia Xu proposed； saying； 〃Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren； who are serving on the frontiers； should be called to give their advice。〃
They were sent for； and Cao Ren was the first to arrive。 As a relative； he felt he had the right to see the great minister without delay and went directly to the palace。
But it happened that Cao Cao had been drinking heavily； and his faithful henchman； Xu Chu； would not admit the new arrival。
〃I am of the family；〃 said Cao Ren； angry at the hindrance。 〃Dare you stop me？〃
〃General； you may be a relative； but here you are but an officer from the frontier。 I am of little account； but a duty lies on me here in the palace。 Our lord is overe with wine and asleep； and I dare not allow you to enter。〃
The refusal came to Cao Cao's knowledge； and he mended the loyalty of Xu Chu。
Soon after； Xiahou Dun came and was called to the council。
Xiahou Dun gave his opinion； saying； 〃The two rivals should be left until Zhang Lu of Hanzhong has been subdued。 The great army that can overe Zhang Lu will be in condition to attack the West River Land； and it will be conquered without difficulty。〃
The advice coincided with Cao Cao's own idea； and so he prepared an expedition for the west。
By a crime he showed his power over a feeble king；
This done； at once he hastened to destroy his neighbor。
What happened will be told in later chapters。
Main Next to Chapter 67 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 67
Chapter 67
Cao Cao Conquers Hanzhong；
Zhang Liao Terrorizes Xiaoyao。
The expedition against the East River Land went out in three divisions。 Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He were Leaders of the Van； Cao Cao with his manders marched in the center； and Cao Ren brought up the rear。 Xiahou Dun was in charge of the missariat。
The spies soon carried the news into Hanzhong； and Zhang Lu called in his brother Zhang Wei to consult how to meet the attack。
Said Zhang Wei； 〃The strategic point to hold is Yangping Pass； and there should be ten stockades there with the forest and hills to support them。 You； my brother； should make your depot of supplies at Hanning。〃
Thereupon two generals； Yang Ang and Yan Ren； were sent with Zhang Wei to the Pass； and they built ten stockades。
Soon Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He arrived and learned the Pass had prepared a defense。 They camped at a point five miles away。 The soldiers were fatigued after the long march； and all lay down to rest without placing proper guards。
Suddenly the camp was attacked in the rear by Yang Ang and Yan Ren from different points。 Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He mounted quickly and tried to beat off the attackers； but the enemy poured in all round； and their army suffered great loss。 They returned to the main body to tell of their defeat； and their chief abused them for their want of care。
〃Old soldiers like you should have known better and taken precautions against a raid of the camp when the enemy knew your troops were exhausted by a long march。〃
Cao Cao even desired to put them to death as a warning； but their fellow officers interceded； and he spared them。 Soon Cao Cao himself marched in the van。 Then he saw the dangerous and evil nature of the place； with its thick growth of trees。 As he knew nothing of the roads and was fearful of an ambush； he returned to his camp。
Calling up his two leaders； Xu Chu and Xu Huang； he said； 〃Had I known the dangerous nature of the place； I would never have e。〃
Xu Chu replied； 〃The soldiers are here now； my lord； and you cannot recoil before the hardships。〃
Next day Cao Cao with only Xu Chu and Xu Huang rode out to reconnoiter the enemy's camp。
As they rode over the hills； Cao Cao pointed out the position with his whip and said； 〃It will be very difficult to reduce a place as strong as this。〃
Just then there arose a shout in their rear； and a shower of arrows fell about them。 Yang Ang and Yan Ren were attacking； and the danger became great。
〃Friend Xu Huang； you look after our lord！〃 cried Xu Chu。 〃I can hold the enemy。〃
Xu Chu galloped out； and the two leaders could not stand Xu Chu and took to flight； while their troops scattered。 In the meantime Xu Huang led his master over the hills。 Soon he met an army of soldiers led by Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He； who had heard the sound of fighting and had e to the rescue； and Cao Cao got back safely to camp。 The four generals were rewarded。
For fifty days the two armies held each other at bay without ing to a fight。 At the end of this time； orders were given to retire in the camp of Cao Cao。
〃We have not tried the strength of the enemy；〃 said Jia Xu。 〃You should not retire； my lord。〃
〃I see that they are always on the alert；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃I am only retiring to put them off their guard。 By and by I will send some light horse to attack their rear。 I shall defeat them then。〃
〃Ah！ Your skill is unfathomable！〃 cried Jia Xu。
Three thousand horsemen led by Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He got round behind the Yangping Pass by unfrequented roads； while Cao Cao broke up his camp and led his main body backward。
When Yang Ang heard of the retreat； h