When　the　expedition　reached　the　north　of　Daichun；　Cao　Zhang　led　the　array　and　smote　as　far　as　Sanggan　in　the　Gobi　Desert；　and　peace　was　restored。　He　had　lately　heard　that　his　father　was　at　Yangping　Pass；　and　had　e　to　help　him　to　fight。

His　ing　greatly　pleased　his　father；　who　said；　〃Now　that　my　golden…bearded　son　has　arrived；　we　can　destroy　Liu　Bei　for　certain。〃

Then　the　army　was　marched　back　again　and　pitched　camp　at　the　Xie　Valley。

Someone　told　Liu　Bei　of　the　arrival　of　Cao　Zhang；　and　he　asked　for　a　volunteer　to　go　out　against　the　newer。　Liu　Feng　offered。　Meng　Da　also　desired　to　go；　and　Liu　Bei　decided　to　let　both　go。

〃Vie　with　each　other；〃　said　he。

Each　general　had　five　thousand　troops；　and　Liu　Feng　led　the　way。　Cao　Zhang　rode　out　and　engaged　him；　and　in　the　third　bout　Liu　Feng　was　overe　and　ran　off。　Then　Meng　Da　advanced；　and　a　battle　was　just　beginning　when　he　saw　that　Cao　Cao's　troops　were　in　confusion。　The　cause　was　the　sudden　ing　of　Ma　Chao　and　Wu　Lan。　Before　the　enemy　had　recovered　from　the　panic；　Meng　Da　attacked　on　another　side。　Ma　Chao's　force；　who　had　been　nursing　their　courage　for　a　long　time；　fought　brilliantly；　so　that　none　could　withstand　their　onslaught；　and　they　won　the　day。　But　in　his　flight；　Cao　Zhang　met　Wu　Lan；　and　he　thrust　and　slew　Wu　Lan　with　his　spear。

After　a　great　fight；　Cao　Cao　ordered　his　army　to　retire　into　camp　at　the　Xie　Valley。　Here　he　remained　many　days；　prevented　from　advancing　by　Ma　Chao　and　fearing　the　ridicule　of　Shu　if　he　should　retreat。　One　day；　while　he　was　anxiously　trying　to　decide　what　to　do；　his　cook　sent　in　some　chicken　broth。　He　noticed　in　the　broth　some　chicken　tendons；　and　this　simple　fact　led　him　into　a　train　of　reflection。　He　was　still　deep　in　thought　when　Xiahou　Dun　entere