t　as　guides　and　show　the　way。

Cao　Cao's　scouts　sent　out　from　Yangping　Pass　returned　to　report：　〃The　roads　far　and　near　are　blocked　by　the　troops　of　Shu；　and　every　place　seems　to　be　burning。　No　soldier　is　seen。〃

Cao　Cao　knew　not　what　to　do。　Then　other　scouts　told　him；　〃Our　stores　are　being　plundered　by　Zhang　Fei　and　Wei　Yan。〃

At　this；　Cao　Cao　called　for　a　volunteer　to　drive　off　the　plunderers；　and　Xu　Chu　offered。　He　was　given　a　thousand　veterans；　and　went　down　the　Pass　to　act　as　escort　of　the　grain　wagons。

The　officers　in　charge　of　the　transport　were　very　glad　to　receive　a　general　of　such　renown。

〃Except　for　you；　O　General；　the　grain　could　never　reach　Yangping　Pass。〃

They　entertained　Xu　Chu　with　the　wine　and　food　on　the　carts；　and　he　ate　and　drank　copiously；　so　that　he　became　very　intoxicated。　And　in　that　state　he　insisted　on　marching；　urging　the　convoy　to　start　at　once。

〃The　sun　has　nearly　set；〃　said　the　transport　officers；　〃and　the　road　near　Baozhou　is　bad　and　dangerous；　so　that　we　cannot　pass　there　at　night。〃

〃I　can　face　any　danger；〃　boasted　the　drunken　general。　〃I　am　brave　as　a　myriad　men　put　together。　What　do　you　think　I　fear？　Beside；　there　is　a　good　moon　tonight；　just　the　sort　of　thing　to　take　grain　carts　along　by。〃

Xu　Chu　took　the　lead；　sword　in　hand。　By　the　second　watch　they　were　passing　Baozhou。　About　half　the　train　had　passed　when　the　rolling　drums　and　the　blare　of　horns　came　down　to　them　through　a　rift　in　the　hills。　It　was　soon　followed　by　the　appearance　of　a　cohort　led　by　Zhang　Fei。　With　spear　ready；　he　came　racing　down　straight　for　Xu　Chu；　who；　whirling　his　sword；　dashed　to　the　front　to　meet　the　enemy。

But　Xu　Chu　was　too　drunk　to　stand　against　such　a　warrior。　After　a　few　bouts　he　received