r；　Xiahou　Yuan　appeared　with　some　thirty　horsemen；　Ma　Chao　found　it　prudent　to　retire。

Then　Cao　Cao　was　escorted　to　his　camp　defended　by　Cao　Ren。　He　found　the　camps　were　still　unharmed　and　the　losses　had　not　been　great。

As　he　sat　in　his　tent；　Cao　Cao　said；　〃Had　I　not　spared　Cao　Hong；　I　should　have　fallen　at　the　hands　of　Ma　Chao　today。〃

So　he　called　in　his　rescuer　and　rewarded　him　well。

And　they　got　together　the　scattered　troops　and　strengthened　the　camp；　deepening　the　moat　and　raising　the　rampart。　Ma　Chao　came　daily　and　challenged　anyone　to　bat　and　abused　them　all　shamefully；　but；　by　the　order　of　the　Prime　Minister；　these　insults　were　treated　with　silent　contempt。

〃Our　enemies　use　long　spears；〃　said　the　officers。　〃We　will　meet　them　with　bows　and　crossbows。〃

〃They　may　have　long　spears；〃　replied　Cao　Cao；　〃but　whether　I　give　battle　or　not　depends　on　my　decision。　How　can　they　thrust　at　us　if　we　do　not　go　out？　All　you　have　to　do　is　to　take　no　notice　of　them；　and　they　will　speedily　retire。〃

The　officers　wondered。　They　said　one　to　another；　〃The　Prime　Minister　came　out　on　this　expedition　of　his　own　will　and　was　foremost　in　the　fight。　Why　does　he　accept　defeat　so　easily？〃

After　some　days　the　spies　reported：　〃Ma　Chao　has　been　reinforced　by　twenty　thousand　Qiangs；　the　tribespeople　beyond　the　frontier。〃

Cao　Cao　took　the　news　gleefully。　His　officers　asked　him　why　the　news　pleased　him。

He　replied；　〃Wait　till　I　have　defeated　them；　and　I　will　explain。〃

Three　days　later　there　was　a　report　of　further　reinforcements；　and　Cao　Cao　not　only　smiled　but　gave　a　banquet。　His　officers　ridiculed　him　in　secret。

Then　said　Cao　Cao；　〃You　gentlemen　laugh　because　I　cannot　destroy　Ma　Chao。　Well　then；　can　anyone　of　you　pro