h。　But　then　came　the　disquieting　news　of　the　military　preparations　of　Liu　Bei；　whose　objective　was　said　to　be　the　west。

This　caused　Cao　Cao　alarm；　for　he　said；　〃The　bird's　wings　will　be　fully　grown　if　he　obtains　possession　of　the　West　River　Land。〃

As　Cao　Cao　recognized　the　difficulty；　from　among　his　counselors　there　arose　one　who　said；　〃I　know　how　to　prevent　Liu　Bei　and　Sun　Quan　from　helping　each　other；　and　both　the　south　and　the　west　will　be　yours。〃

Chill　death　struck　down　the　heroes　of　the　west；

Calamity　approached　the　bold　leaders　of　the　south。

The　next　chapter　will　unfold　the　scheme。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　58　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　58

Chapter　58

Ma　Chao　Launches　An　Expedition　For　Revenge；

Cao　Cao　Flees　The　Field　In　Disguise。

〃What　is　this　good　plan　of　yours；　friend　Chen　Qun？〃　asked　Cao　Cao　of　the　speaker；　who　was　a　civilian　in　his　service。

Chen　Qun　replied；　〃Your　two　principal　enemies………Liu　Bei　and　Sun　Quan………are　now　firm　allies；　close　as　lips　and　teeth。　But　Liu　Bei　wants　the　West　River　Land　and　if　you；　O　Prime　Minister；　send　a　mighty　host　against　Sun　Quan；　Sun　Quan　must　ask　help　from　his　friend　Liu　Bei；　who；　having　his　heart　set　on　the　west；　will　refuse　it。　Sun　Quan　without　this　aid　cannot　stand　and　will　bee　so　weak　that　the　South　Land　will　be　yours　for　the　taking；　and　Jingzhou　will　follow　in　a　tap　of　the　drum。　The　west　will　follow　and　the　whole　empire　is　yours。〃

〃Those　are　my　thoughts　put　into　words；〃　replied　Cao　Cao。

The　expeditionary　force　of　three　hundred　thousand　troops　set　out　for　the　south。　Zhang　Liao　of　Hefei　was　in　mand　of　the　supply　department。

Sun　Quan　speedily　heard　of　the　move　and　called　in　his　advisers。

At　th