Now it was said that the man who offered the plan was Chen Qun, whose courtesy name was Changwen, an official censor in charge of documents. Cao Cao asked, “What good strategy does Changwen have?”

Chen Qun replied, “Now that Liu Bei and Sun Quan have become close as the lips to the teeth, if Liu Bei wants to take Xi Province, the Chancellor can send a leading general to raise troops, unite with the forces at Fei, and march straight into Jiangnan. Then Sun Quan will certainly ask Liu Bei for help. Since Liu Bei’s intention is on Xichuan, he will have no heart to save Sun Quan. If Sun Quan is not saved, his strength will fade and his army will weaken, and the lands of Jiangdong will surely come under the Chancellor’s control. If we gain Jiangdong, Jing Province can be leveled at one drumbeat. Once Jing is pacified, we can then take up Xichuan in due time, and the realm will be secure.”

Cao Cao said, “Changwen speaks exactly according to my thoughts.” He immediately raised three hundred thousand soldiers and moved down to Jiangnan at once. He ordered Zhang Liao to join at Fei and prepare grain so the army would have enough provisions.

A secret informant had already informed Sun Quan. Sun Quan gathered his men and consulted with them. Zhang Zhao said, “Dispatch a man to Lu Su and command him to hurry a letter to Jing Province, calling on Xuande to join in resisting Cao Cao. Lu Su owes Xuande deep favor, so he will surely heed this request. And since Xuande is now the Sun Quan’s son-in-law, he also cannot refuse by right. If Xuande comes to aid us, Jiangnan can be made free of trouble.”

Sun Quan accepted the advice and sent someone to order Lu Su to seek help from Liu Bei. Lu Su accepted the order and at once had a letter carried to Liu Bei.

When Liu Bei read the intent in Lu Su’s letter, he kept the messenger in a guest house and sent men to the South Commandery to ask for Kongming.

When Kongming reached Jing Province, Liu Bei had Lu Su’s letter shown to him. Kongming said, “There is no need to move troops in Jiangnan, and no need to move troops from Jing either. Let Cao Cao know that he dare not properly watch the southeast.” Then he wrote back to Lu Su and told him to rest easy. If only northern troops cross over, Imperial Uncle has ways to withdraw the army. The messenger left.

Liu Bei asked, “Cao Cao has raised a great force of three hundred thousand, joined with the host at Fei, and is coming in a single wave. What excellent plan does Master have to turn them back?”

Kongming said, “What Cao Cao has feared throughout his life is the western force from Xiliang. He has now killed Ma Teng, and his son Ma Chao now commands the troops of Xiliang; they are sure to grind their teeth against this brigand Cao. My lord should send a letter and bind with Ma Chao. If Ma Chao raises troops and enters Guanzhong, Cao Cao will have no leisure to march into Jiangnan.”

Liu Bei was overjoyed. He immediately drafted a letter and dispatched a trusted adviser straight to Xiliang.

As for Ma Chao in Xiliang, he felt a troubling dream that night: he was lying on snow, and a pack of tigers came to bite him. He woke in alarm. He wondered at heart what it signified and gathered the officers around his command tent and recounted the dream. One of his attendants answered immediately, “Such a dream is a bad omen.”

When the men looked at him, it was the trusted attendant and adjutant at the tent’s front, named Pang De, whose courtesy name was Lingming. Ma Chao asked, “How does Lingming interpret it?”

Pang De said, “A dream of lying in snow while tigers come is an ominous sign. Could it be that the old general has cause in Xuchang?” He had barely finished speaking when a man staggered in and fell to his knees crying, “My uncle and my brother are both dead!”

Ma Chao looked up and saw it was Ma Dai. Ma Chao, startled, asked. Ma Dai said, “My uncle and the imperial clerk Huang Kui conspired with him to kill Cao Cao. Unhappily their plot was exposed, and both were executed in the market. My second brother too was killed. Only I dressed as a traveler and fled under the stars overnight.”

When Ma Chao heard this, he cried out and fell to the ground. The officers pulled him back. He gritted his teeth in anger, hating the bandit Cao. At that moment, news arrived that Liu Bei, the Imperial Uncle, had sent a man bearing a letter.

Ma Chao opened it. The letter read, in brief: “Lend your ear to the misfortune of the Han house; this brigand Cao Cao monopolizes power, deceives the Son of Heaven, cheats above, and causes the masses to wither and waste away. Liu Bei once took the secret edict with your father and swore to execute this traitor. Now your father was killed by Cao Cao. He is no longer under one sky and one sun with you as a sworn enemy. If you can lead the Xiliang host to attack Cao Cao’s right flank, Liu Bei will raise the troops of Jing and Xiang to stop Cao’s advance. Then this rebel can be captured, the treacherous partisans destroyed, our grievance and shame avenged, and the Han house can rise again. The letter says no more and now waits for your reply.”

When Ma Chao finished reading it, he wept and immediately prepared a reply, sending the messenger back. Right after that, he raised the cavalry and soldiers of Xiliang. As he was about to depart, Han Sui, the administrator of Xiliang, sent someone to ask Ma Chao to come to see him.

When Ma Chao reached Han Sui’s residence, Han Sui brought out a letter from Cao Cao and showed it to him. The letter said, “If you seize Ma Chao and bring him to Xu, I will confer on you the title of Marquis of Xiliang.”

Ma Chao knelt to the ground and said, “Please, my uncle, arrest my two brothers and bring them to Xuchang, so you need not tire yourself with spear and halberd.”

Han Sui helped him up and said, “I made brothers with your father; how could I bear to harm you? If you raise troops, I will assist you.”

Ma Chao thanked him. Han Sui then had Cao Cao’s envoy brought out and beheaded.

He then summoned hand-picked cavalry units from eight commands. The eight were Hou Xuan, Cheng Yin, Li Kan, Zhang Heng, Liang Xing, Cheng Yi, Ma Wan, and Yang Qiu. The eight commanders joined with Han Sui and Ma Chao’s men, including Pang De and Ma Dai, and the two-hundred-thousand-strong force marched in full force toward Chang’an.

The Governor of Chang’an Commandery, Zhong Yao, flew a report to Cao Cao. He simultaneously led troops to oppose them and formed a battle array in the open field.

The vanguard of Xiliang, under Ma Dai, advanced with fifteen thousand men and came on in great waves, filling the hills and fields. Zhong Yao rode out and exchanged terms. Ma Dai clashed with him in a single stroke from a treasured saber. There was little to say by the time they met; Zhong Yao was routed in a great retreat. Ma Dai drew his saber and pursued.

Ma Chao and Han Sui brought up the main host and surrounded Chang’an, while Zhong Yao withdrew inside the city to defend it.

Chang’an, the old Han capital, had city walls made sturdy and deep moat ditches, impossible to be forced by hurried assault. They besieged for ten days in a row and could not break through. Pang De offered a plan: “The city has hard soil and brackish water, very hard to sustain; with no firewood at all, after ten days of siege the soldiers and civilians will be starving and desperate. Better to withdraw for now. Only in this way can Chang’an be taken by hand.”

Ma Chao said, “This is an excellent plan!” He immediately sent a “ming” command-banner through each division to order withdrawal. The commanders each pulled back, Ma Chao personally covering the rear, and the whole host gradually retreated.

The next day Zhong Yao climbed the walls and looked out. The army had all withdrawn, and he feared there might be a trick. He sent scouts and found they had in fact gone far, then only then did he relax. He let civilians and soldiers come out of the city for firewood and water and set the gates wide open for movement in and out.

On the fifth day, reports came that Ma Chao’s army had returned. Civilians and soldiers rushed into the city; Zhong Yao closed the gates again and kept a tight hold.

The account then turns to Zhong Jin, Zhong Yao’s brother, who guarded the West Gate. Near the deep of the night, a fire suddenly rose within the gate. Zhong Jin rushed to extinguish it. Around the city wall turned a man. He drew his saber, rode hard, and shouted, “Pang De is here!”

Zhong Jin was at a loss and could not react; Pang De cut him down in one stroke from horseback. He scattered the officers, cut locks of the gate chains, and let the troops of Ma Chao and Han Sui into the city. Zhong Yao abandoned the city through the East Gate and fled.

Ma Chao and Han Sui captured the city. They rewarded the armies.

Zhong Yao withdrew to Tongguan and informed Cao Cao. Cao Cao, having lost Chang’an, no longer dared to discuss the southern campaign. He called Cao Hong and Xu Huang and gave instructions: “Take ten thousand men and horses and ride out first and hold Tongguan in close guard. If this pass falls within ten days, both of you are to be beheaded. If beyond ten days, it is not your business. I will march the main army after you.”

The two accepted the orders and moved with all speed through the night.

Cao Ren offered remonstrance: “Cao Hong is hot-blooded and impetuous; I truly fear he will err.” Cao Cao said, “You and I must keep moving grain. Then follow with reinforcements.”

When Cao Hong and Xu Huang reached Tongguan and held it tightly with Zhong Yao, they did not go out to battle. Ma Chao’s army came to the gate day after day and abused Cao Cao in loud insults. Cao Hong became angry and wanted to lead his troops down to fight in close quarters.

Xu Huang remonstrated: “This is Ma Chao’s attempt to provoke the generals into killing. We must not fight. When the Chancellor’s main army arrives, he will have a settled plan.”

Ma Chao’s soldiers came in shifts each day and night to shout insults. Every time Cao Hong sought close battle, Xu Huang held him back.

On the ninth day, when they looked at the pass, the Xiliang army had left their horses on the field grass in front of the gate and sat. Many were exhausted and lay sleeping on the ground. Cao Hong then ordered the horses prepared and sent three thousand soldiers charging down the pass.

The Xiliang troops threw away their horses and spears and fled in confusion. Cao Hong pursued in loose, winding chases.

At that moment, Xu Huang was still checking grain at the pass and heard Cao Hong had plunged into a melee. He hurriedly led men after him in alarm and shouted at Cao Hong to turn his horse. Suddenly a great cry rose behind them and shook the ground: Ma Dai had come with his force to strike.

Cao Hong and Xu Huang wheeled back to retreat. At that instant a war drum sounded. From behind the hills, two armies emerged: on the left was Ma Chao, on the right Pang De. They mixed and wrought a murderous clash.

Cao Hong could not stand against it; he broke half his troops, crashed out of the encirclement, and ran to the gate. Xiliang troops followed on. Pang De pursued through Tongguan and collided with Cao Ren’s forces, rescuing Cao Hong’s army. Ma Chao then supported Pang De in entering the pass.

When Cao Hong had lost Tongguan, he came running to see Cao Cao. Cao Cao said, “I set you the ten-day limit. How is Tongguan lost in nine days?”

Cao Hong replied, “The Xiliang soldiers were endlessly abusive, and because we saw their forces slacken they took advantage to chase. I did not think to be trapped by the brigand’s trick.”

Cao Cao said, “Cao Hong is young and ferocious. Xu Huang, you must know these matters.”

Xu Huang said, “My repeated remonstrance was not heeded. When I was checking supplies at the pass, I learned only then that the young general had already gone down from the gate. I feared disaster, hurried after him, and then was caught in the same villain’s stratagem.”

Cao Cao, furious, ordered Cao Hong executed. The officials petitioned for clemency. Cao Hong served his sentence and withdrew.

Cao Cao moved the army straight to Tongguan. Cao Ren said, “You may first set up fixed stockades, and then the time to break the pass has not yet passed.”

Cao Cao ordered trees cut down and stockades built in line. He divided them into three camps: left camp for Cao Ren, right camp for Xiahou Yuan, and Cao Cao in the middle camp.

The next day, Cao Cao led commanders from all three camps and rode down to the pass. They came upon the Xiliang cavalry and arrayed both sides for battle.

Cao Cao looked from beneath his command banner. As he watched the Xiliang force, every man was strong and brave, and every man, heroic. He saw Ma Chao, whose face was as pale as ground rice, lips red as vermilion, whose waist was narrow and shoulders broad, who spoke with a loud voice and had giant strength. He wore a white robe and silver armor, holding a long spear, standing tall at the front of the formation, with Pang De in the front rank and Ma Dai in the rear.

Cao Cao marveled in secret and spoke to himself: “You are the grandson of a Han general of renown. Why have you turned to rebellion?”

Ma Chao gritted his teeth and cursed: “Cao the brigand deceives the Son of Heaven and cheats above; his crimes cannot be pardoned. He killed my father and my brothers; we are sworn enemies under no sky or sun! I will keep him alive and eat him with my own teeth!”

When he had spoken, he lifted his spear and charged straight to kill.

Yu Jin, from behind, rode out to receive him. The two horses clashed. They fought nine exchanges, and Yu Jin was beaten into retreat. Zhang He came out to meet him; after twenty rounds, he too was beaten away.

Li Tong came out, and Ma Chao, fierce and charging, fought in a series of rounds. In one of them, he thrust his spear into Li Tong while Li Tong was still on his horse.

Ma Chao pulled his spear back and made a feint, and the Xiliang troops surged together to strike. Cao Cao’s army was broken. When Ma Chao’s host arrived in such momentum, all officers in the wings could not stand against it.

Ma Chao, Pang De, and Ma Dai led more than a hundred riders straight into the middle camp to seize Cao Cao.

In the chaos, Cao Cao heard shouts from the Xiliang side: “The one in the red robe is Cao Cao!” Cao Cao quickly dismounted from his horse and stripped off that red robe. He then heard another shout: “The one with the long beard is Cao Cao!” Frightened, he drew his sword and cut off the beard at once.

A man from Cao Cao’s own army told Ma Chao of the beard-cutting. Ma Chao then ordered: “The one with the short beard is Cao Cao!”

When Cao Cao heard this, he pulled at the flag corner and fled. A poet later wrote:

At Tong Pass the army broke and fled with no wind to the back, while Mengde in panic cast off his brocade robe. A cut through the beard was meant to send his courage fleeing, yet Ma Chao’s renown rose and filled the sky.

While Cao Cao was in flight, a rider hurried up from behind. He turned and looked: it was Ma Chao himself. Cao Cao was greatly startled. Officers seeing Ma Chao in pursuit each fled for their own lives, leaving Cao Cao.

Ma Chao shouted at the top of his voice, “Cao Cao, do not run!” Cao Cao, alarmed, dropped his reins and his horsewhip.

He looked up, but Ma Chao had already caught up, and from behind thrust his spear. Cao Cao circled around a tree and fled. Ma Chao set his spear against the tree; when he pulled it free, Cao Cao had gone far.

Ma Chao spurred hard and rode on. On the mountain slope another commander appeared, cried out, “Do not hurt my lord! Cao Hong is here!” and with his broad saber at speed blocked Ma Chao’s horse.

With that, Cao Cao’s life was saved.

Cao Hong fought Ma Chao for forty to fifty exchanges. His movements grew disorderly and his strength declined. Xiahou Yuan came up with several dozen riders. Ma Chao, seeing himself alone, feared he had been reckoned; he turned his horse to withdraw. Xiahou Yuan did not pursue.

Cao Cao returned to camp. He found that Cao Ren had already stabilized the stockades, so he had lost little of his men. Back in his tent, he sighed, “If I had executed Cao Hong, I would surely have died by Ma Chao’s hand today!”

So he called Cao Hong back and showered him with rewards.

He gathered up the beaten force and held the camp firmly. Deep ditches and high walls went up, and no one was allowed to engage in open battle.

Ma Chao brought soldiers daily to taunt and strike at the camp. Cao Cao issued orders that the men must hold fast, and if anyone stirred recklessly they would be beheaded.

The officers said, “The Xiliang force uses long spears. If we let them come, we can meet them with crossbows and arrows.”

Cao Cao replied, “To fight or not to fight is in my hands, not in the brigand’s. Even if the thieves carry long spears, can they easily stab? All of you, stand the fortress and wait. The brigands will withdraw on their own.”

The generals muttered privately among themselves: “The Chancellor has always led campaigns in person and taken the lead, but now, after being defeated by Ma Chao, how weak he is.”

A few days later, a spy reported, “Ma Chao has brought in twenty thousand fresh Qiang warriors to aid him; they are Qiang clans.”

Cao Cao, hearing this, rejoiced. The officers said, “When Ma Chao gains troops, the Chancellor is pleased. How is that?”

Cao Cao said, “Wait until I defeat him, then I shall tell you.”

Three days later, another report came that fresh troops had again arrived on the pass. Cao Cao rejoiced again and held a victory banquet in his tent.

The officers all smiled darkly within.

Cao Cao said, “You all laugh that I have no scheme to break Ma Chao. What good strategy have you?”

Xu Huang spoke: “Now that Your Excellence’s army is fully stacked here, and the brigand’s men are all encamped at the pass, when they turn toward the northwestern side there will be no preparation. If we can send one force secretly across Pusan Ford to cut off their route home, Your Excellence can in turn cross the north bank and strike him. The brigand forces could not support each other and will surely be in danger.”

Cao Cao said, “Gongming speaks exactly as I thought.” He told Xu Huang to lead four thousand picked troops and, with Zhu Ling, go straight to Hexi and lie in ambush in the mountain valley. He ordered, “Wait until I cross northward over the He River, then strike together.”

Xu Huang and Zhu Ling followed orders, first leading the four thousand silently away.

Cao Cao then ordered Cao Hong to prepare boats and rafts at Pusan Ford, while Cao Ren was left to guard the camp. Cao Cao himself would lead the army across the Weihe River.

Earlier, a spy had already informed Ma Chao. Ma Chao said, “Now Cao Cao is not attacking Tongguan but is preparing boats and rafts to cross north of the river. He will surely cut off my rear. I will take one detachment across the river and block the northern bank. If Cao Cao’s army cannot cross, in no more than twenty days the grain on the eastern bank will run out, his army will be in disorder, and if I then strike him along the southern river course, Cao Cao can be captured.”

Han Sui replied, “No need for that. Do you not hear in military law that says, ‘Attack when the enemy is halfway across?’ Wait until Cao Cao’s army is half over and then strike at the south bank. His troops will all die inside the river.”

Ma Chao said, “My uncle’s words are very good.” He then sent scouts to learn when exactly Cao Cao would begin crossing.

Now Cao Cao had finished forming his ranks and divided the army into three stopping camps. The front crossed first along the Wei River. When men and horses reached within the riverbank and the first light of day came, Cao Cao first sent elite troops across to the north bank and set up a stockade there.

Cao Cao himself then took his personal guard of a hundred and rode to sit on the south bank with his sword while the army crossed.

Just then someone reported: “The white-robed general has arrived at the rear!” All recognized it as Ma Chao and all crowded down into boats.

At the river bank soldiers surged to board, and the noise would not cease. Cao Cao still sat and did not move, setting his sword aside and signaling a brief pause.

Then came shouts and hoofbeats; in a tide they arrived. A mounted man leapt ashore and cried, “The brigand has arrived! Pray, my lord, get off the boat!” Cao Cao saw it was Xu Chu.

Cao Cao said through his mouth only, “What matter if the brigand is here?” Turning, he saw Ma Chao less than a hundred paces away. Xu Chu hauled Cao Cao off the bank as the boat had already drifted more than a full meter from shore. He carried Cao Cao in one bound onto the vessel.

The following soldiers all leaped into the water. Holding the boat’s side, they struggled to clamber aboard in a panic. The boat began to overturn. Xu Chu cut in all directions with his sword; the hands at the boat’s sides were all severed and fell into the water, and he quickly thrust the boat into the current.

Xu Chu stood on the stern and hurriedly used a pole to steady it. Cao Cao lay at his feet.

When Ma Chao came up to the riverbank, he saw the boat already halfway in the river. He set arrow to bow and ordered his fierce riders to circle and shoot it. Arrows fell like rain.

Xu Chu, fearful that Cao Cao would be hit, raised a horse saddle in his left hand to shield him. Ma Chao did not miss with his shots; boatmen and riders answering the strings fell into the water. A score of men on the boat were shot down. The overloaded craft could barely keep. In the rapids it spun.

Xu Chu alone summoned extraordinary vigor, set his legs against the rudder to rock it, held the pole with one hand, and raised the saddle with the other to protect Cao Cao.

At that time, Ding Fei, magistrate of Weinan County, saw Ma Chao chasing so quickly from the heights of Nanshan. Fearing for Cao Cao’s life, he drove all the county’s cattle and horses out beyond the camp, so that the entire hills and open country seemed full of cattle and horses. The Xiliang troops saw this and turned back, all of them scrambling for the animals, no longer mindful to keep chasing.

Thus Cao Cao escaped.

After reaching the north bank, he sank the boats and rafts. When generals heard Cao Cao had barely escaped in the river, they rushed to save him. By the time they arrived, he had already reached the open camp. The men in full armor carried with them wounds and arrows all lodged in their plates.

The generals protected Cao Cao to the field camp and all knelt on the ground to offer respect.

Cao Cao laughed aloud: “Today I might have been trapped by such small thieves!”

Xu Chu said, “If not for one who drove out the horses and cattle, the brigand would have fought hard to force the crossing.”

Cao Cao asked, “Who is the one who drew the brigands?”

Someone knowing the matter replied, “It was Magistrate Ding Fei of Weinan County.”

Soon Ding Fei entered and made his report.

Cao Cao thanked him: “If not for your good design, I would have been captured by the brigands.” He awarded him the rank of Colonel in charge of the guards.

Ding Fei said, “Though the brigands are gone for now, they surely will return tomorrow. We must make a good plan to resist them.”

Cao Cao replied, “I have prepared for this.”

He called for commanders: “Each of you, separately along the river, build up causeways and prepare temporary camp-footings. If the brigands come, station the main army outside the causeways and leave only banners visible inside to appear like reserves. Then dig ditches along the river and lay light earth stockades over a hollow trench. Lure them inside the riverbank. If they come in haste, they will be trapped, and once trapped they can be captured.”

Ma Chao reported back to Han Sui: “I nearly caught Cao Cao. One general, with extraordinary courage, dismounted and carried him onto a boat, but I do not know who.”

Han Sui answered, “I have heard Cao Cao selects his strongest men as his camp guards, calls them the ‘Tiger Guards,’ and gives them to the valiant Dian Wei and Xu Chu. Dian Wei is dead. The one who saved Cao Cao now must indeed be Xu Chu. This man exceeds others in courage; everyone calls him the ‘Tiger Maniac.’ If you meet him, do not underestimate him.”

Ma Chao said, “I have heard that name long ago.”

Han Sui said, “Now Cao Cao is crossing the river and may threaten my rear. Attack him quickly; do not allow him to establish a camp. If he does, he will be hard to strike down.”

Ma Chao said, “As my nephew can judge, we should only hold the north bank and prevent him crossing; this is the highest strategy.”

Han Sui asked, “A worthy nephew keeps watch over the camp while I take men along the river to oppose Cao Cao; what do you think?”

Ma Chao said, “Put Pang De forward first and send him with Uncle before you.”

So Han Sui and Pang De took fifty thousand men and rode straight toward Weinan.

Cao Cao ordered all his generals to use the causeway flanks to lure them in. Pang De first brought forward more than a thousand men in heavy cavalry. They charged and clashed.

At the cry, man and horse together fell into a pit prepared for horses. Pang De leapt hard and sprang free of the pit into open ground, where he cut down several men and cut out a way on foot through the encircling force.

Han Sui had already been trapped in the center of a battlefield pit.

Pang De fought to free him on foot, and at that moment met Cao Ren’s subordinate commander, Cao Yong. He felled him with one saber stroke from horseback, took his horse, and opened a bloody path that freed Han Sui and let him ride southeast. Behind them, Cao troops came hard. Ma Chao led supporting troops and beat them back, routing the force and rescuing the bulk of the army. They fought until dusk and then withdrew.

After tallying men and mounts, they found they had lost commanders Cheng Yin and Zhang Heng and more than two hundred men who had died in the pits.

Ma Chao and Han Sui conferred: “If we linger too long, Cao Cao will set up a camp in Hebei and make it hard to push him off. Better, on this very night, ride light and capture the field camp.”

Han Sui said, “Then split the troops to support each other from front and rear.”

Thus Ma Chao made himself the vanguard, and ordered Pang De and Ma Dai to stand as rear support. They moved out at night.

Now Cao Cao collected his troops and bivouacked north of the Wei River. He told his officers: “The brigand’s men mocked me and found no camp built. They will surely come to sack our camp. Let everyone lay hidden traps in all directions and leave the center appearing weak. When the drums boom, the ambushes should rise at once. In one drum-beat they can all be captured.”

The officers followed the order, and the ambushes were complete.

That night Ma Chao first sent Cheng Yi with thirty riders ahead as scouts. Seeing no man or horse in sight, Cheng Yi rode straight into the main camp.

When Cao’s army saw Xiliang troops arrive, they sounded the drums and horns. Ambushes from all four sides emerged and surrounded all thirty riders. Cheng Yi was slain by Xiahou Yuan.

Yet Ma Chao himself came behind with Pang De and Ma Dai, dividing forces in three paths and rushing in with fierce speed.

And this was sung:

Even if ambushes can wait to catch an enemy, how can one valiant general race to seize first place? How this turned out will be told in the next chapter.