Cao　Cao？〃

Cao　Cao　turned　and；　pointing　to　a　dun　horse　well　ahead；　cried；　〃There；　on　that　dun！　That's　he。〃

Hearing　this　Lu　Bu　left　pursuing　Cao　Cao　to　gallop　after　the　rider　of　the　dun。

Thus　relieved　Cao　Cao　set　off　for　the　east　gate。　Then　he　fell　in　with　Dian　Wei；　who　took　him　under　his　protection　and　fought　through　the　press；　leaving　a　trail　of　death　behind　till　they　reached　the　gate。　Here　the　fire　was　raging　fiercely；　and　burning　beams　were　falling　on　all　sides。　The　earth　element　seemed　to　have　interchanged　with　the　fire　element。　Dian　Wei　warded　off　the　burning　pieces　of　wood　with　his　lance　and　rode　into　the　smoke　making　a　way　for　his　lord。　Just　as　they　were　passing　through　the　gate　a　flaming　beam　fell　from　the　gate　tower。　Cao　Cao　just　warded　it　off　with　his　arm；　but　it　struck　his　steed　on　the　quarters　and　knocked　the　steed　down。　Cao　Cao's　hand　and　arm　were　badly　burned　and　his　hair　and　beard　singed。　Dian　Wei　turned　back　to　his　rescue。　Luckily　Xiahou　Yuan　came　along　just　then；　and　the　two　raised　Cao　Cao　and　set　him　on　Xiahou　Yuan's　horse。　And　thus　they　got　him　out　of　the　burning　city。　But　they　had　to　go　through　heavy　fighting　till　daybreak。

Cao　Cao　returned　to　his　camp。　His　officers　crowded　about　his　tent；　anxious　for　news　of　his　health。　He　soon　recovered　and　laughed　when　he　thought　of　his　escape。

〃I　blundered　into　that　fool's　trap；　but　I　will　have　my　revenge；〃　said　he。

〃Let　us　have　a　new　plan　soon；〃　said　Guo　Jia。

〃I　will　turn　his　trick　to　my　own　use。　I　will　spread　the　false　report　that　I　was　burned　in　the　fire；　and　that　I　died　at　the　fifth　watch。　He　will　e　to　attack　as　soon　as　the　news　gets　abroad；　and　I　will　have　an　ambush　ready　for　him　in　Maling　Hills。　I　will　get　him　this　time。〃

〃Really　a　fine　stratagem！〃　sai