ootmen　who　were　unable　to　keep　up　were　captured　till　very　few　remained；　and　only　some　scores　of　riders　were　left。　They　traveled　toward　Lintao；　a　city　in　West　Valley　Land。

Cao　Cao　in　person　joined　the　pursuit　and　got　to　Anding；　but　there　Ma　Chao　was　still　far　in　advance；　so　he　gave　up　and　returned。　Gradually　the　generals　did　the　same；　all　ing　back　to　Changan。　Poor　Han　Sui；　with　the　loss　of　his　left　hand；　was　an　invalid；　but　he　was　rewarded　with　the　Lordship　of　Xiliang。　Yang　Qiu　and　Hou　Xuan　were　given　noble　ranks　and　offices　in　Weikou。

Then　orders　were　given　to　lead　the　whole　army　back　to　the　capital。　Yang　Fu；　a　military　adviser　from　Liangzhou；　came　to　Changan　to　point　out　the　danger　of　withdrawal。

〃Ma　Chao　has　the　boldness　of　Lu　Bu　and　the　heart　of　a　barbarian。　Unless　you　destroy　him　this　time；　he　will　e　again　and　he　will　be　both　bolder　and　stronger；　and　the　whole　west　will　be　lost。　Wherefore　you　should　not　withdraw　your　army。〃

Cao　Cao　said；　〃I　would　be　quite　willing　to　finish　the　subjugation。　But　there　is　much　to　do　in　the　capital；　and　the　south　is　still　to　conquer。　So　I　cannot　remain。　But　you；　Sir；　might　secure　this　region　for　me。　Do　you　consent？〃

Yang　Fu　did　consent。　And　he　brought　to　Cao　Cao's　notice　Wei　Kang；　who　was　made　Imperial　Protector　of　Liangzhou；　with　joint　military　powers。

Just　before　Yang　Fu　left；　he　said　to　Cao　Cao；　〃A　strong　force　ought　to　be　left　in　Changan；　as　a　reserve　in　case　they　be　required。〃

〃That　has　been　already　dealt　with；〃　replied　Cao　Cao。

Contentedly　enough　Yang　Fu　took　leave　and　went　away。

Cao　Cao's　generals　asked　him　to　explain　his　recent　policy；　saying；　〃Since　the　first　outbreak　at　Tong　Pass；　O　Prime　Minister；　the　north　bank　of　River　Wei　was　undefended。　Why　did　you　not　cross　t