Cao　thus　put　to　death　the　prime　mover　and　simulated　anger　against　Xiahou　Dun。　He　threatened　to　execute　Xiahou　Dun；　but　listened　to　those　who　begged　him　to　show　mercy。

〃Get　out　of　this！〃　said　he。

Next　he　issued　an　order　to　advance　on　the　morrow。　The　army　moved　out　of　the　valley　and　came　face　to　face　with　the　troops　of　Shu　led　by　Wei　Yan。　He　summoned　Wei　Yan　to　surrender；　but　received　abuse　and　contumely　in　return。

Pang　De　went　out　to　fight　Wei　Yan。　But　while　the　bat　was　in　progress；　fires　broke　out　in　Cao　Cao's　camp；　and　a　soldier　came　flying　to　say　that　the　rear　and　center　camps　had　been　seized　by　Ma　Chao。

Fearing　lest　this　should　lead　to　a　rout；　he　drew　his　sword　and　stood　before　the　army；　crying　out；　〃Death　for　any　officer　who　flinches！〃

Wherefore　the　men　of　Wei　pressed　forward　valiantly；　and　Wei　Yan；　pretending　defeat；　retreated。　Having　driven　back　this　army；　Cao　Cao　gave　the　signal　to　turn　toward　camp　and　fight　with　Ma　Chao。　He　took　up　his　station　on　the　top　of　a　hill　whence　he　could　survey　the　field。

Suddenly　a　cohort　appeared　just　below　him；　and　the　leader　cried；　〃Wei　Yan　is　here！〃

Wei　Yan　fitted　an　arrow　to　his　bow；　shot；　and　wounded　Cao　Cao　right　in　his　lip。　Cao　Cao　turned　and　fell。　Wei　Yan　threw　aside　his　bow；　seized　his　sword；　and　came　charging　up　the　hill　to　finish　his　enemy。　But　with　a　shouting　Pang　De　flashed　in。

〃Spare　my　lord！〃　cried　Pang　De。

He　rushed　up　and　drove　Wei　Yan　backward。　Then　they　took　Cao　Cao　away。　Ma　Chao　also　retired；　and　the　wounded　prince　slowly　returned　to　his　own　camp。

Cao　Cao　was　wounded　full　in　the　face；　and　the　arrow　knocked　out　two　of　his　front　teeth。　When　in　the　hands　of　the　physicians；　he　lay　thinking　over　Yang　Xiu's　words。　In　a　repentant　mood　he　had　Yang　Xiu's