The man who proposed the strategy was Chen Qun, whose style name was Changwen, holding the office of Palace Secretary. Cao Cao asked, "Changwen, what is your excellent plan?" Chen Qun replied, "Now Liu Bei and Sun Quan are bound together like lips and teeth. If Liu Bei seeks to take Western Sichuan, Your Excellency the Chancellor can order a high-ranking general to lead an army, join forces with the troops at Hefei, and strike directly at Jiangdong. Sun Quan will then be forced to beg Liu Bei for aid. But Liu Bei's heart is set on Western Sichuan; he will have no mind to rescue Sun Quan. Without rescue, Sun Quan's forces will weaken and his army falter. The lands of Jiangdong will surely fall into Your Excellency's hands. Once Jiangdong is taken, Jing Province can be pacified in a single stroke. With Jing Province secured, we can then gradually plan for Western Sichuan. The realm will be settled." Cao Cao said, "Changwen's words align perfectly with my own intentions." He immediately raised a vast army of 300,000 and marched directly toward Jiangdong, ordering Zhang Liao at Hefei to prepare provisions and supplies.
Spies soon reported this to Sun Quan. Sun Quan gathered his generals for counsel. Zhang Zhao said, "We should send word to Lu Su, instructing him to urgently dispatch a letter to Jing Province, asking Liu Bei to join forces with us against Cao Cao. Lu Su has earned Liu Bei's gratitude; his words will surely be heeded. Moreover, since Liu Bei has married into the Sun family, he cannot refuse out of honor. If Liu Bei comes to our aid, Jiangdong will be safe from harm." Sun Quan followed this advice and immediately sent a messenger to inform Lu Su to seek help from Liu Bei. Lu Su accepted the order, wrote a letter, and dispatched a messenger to Liu Bei. Liu Bei read the letter and housed the messenger in a guest lodge, then sent someone to Nan Commandery to summon Zhuge Liang. When Zhuge Liang arrived in Jing Province, Liu Bei showed him Lu Su's letter. After reading it, Zhuge Liang said, "There is no need to mobilize Jiangdong's troops, nor to stir Jing Province's forces. I will ensure Cao Cao dares not even glance toward the southeast." He then wrote a reply to Lu Su, telling him to rest easy, and that if any northern forces invaded, the Imperial Uncle had a strategy to drive them back. The messenger departed. Liu Bei asked, "Now Cao Cao raises 300,000 troops, joining with the forces at Hefei, and comes at us with overwhelming numbers. Master, what brilliant plan do you have to repel them?" Zhuge Liang replied, "The one thing Cao Cao has always feared is the army of Western Liang. Now that Cao Cao has killed Ma Teng, Ma Teng's son, Ma Chao, commands the forces of Western Liang. He must gnash his teeth in hatred against the traitor Cao Cao. My Lord, you should write a letter to ally with Ma Chao, urging him to raise his army and enter the Pass. Then how will Cao Cao have any leisure to march on Jiangdong?" Liu Bei was overjoyed. He immediately composed a letter and sent a trusted confidant directly to Western Liang Province to deliver it.
Now Ma Chao, in Western Liang Province, had a dream one night. He dreamt he was lying in a snowy field, and a pack of tigers came to bite him. He awoke in terror, his heart filled with doubt. He gathered his officers and told them of the dream. One among them responded, "This dream is an omen of misfortune." Everyone looked at the speaker. It was Pang De, whose style name was Lingming, a trusted Commandant in Ma Chao's camp. Ma Chao asked, "Lingming, what do you make of this?" Pang De said, "To encounter tigers in a snowy field—the dream's portent is extremely evil. Could it be that something has happened to the old general in Xuchang?" Before he finished speaking, a man stumbled in, weeping and kowtowing. "My uncle and my brother are both dead!" he cried. Ma Chao looked and saw it was Ma Dai. Startled, Ma Chao asked what had happened. Ma Dai said, "My uncle plotted with Vice Minister Huang Kui to assassinate Cao Cao. Unfortunately, the plot was exposed. Both were executed in the marketplace, and my two brothers were also killed. I alone escaped by disguising myself as a merchant and fleeing through the night." Upon hearing this, Ma Chao collapsed to the ground, wailing. His officers helped him up. Ma Chao ground his teeth, burning with hatred for the traitor Cao Cao. Suddenly, a report came that Liu Bei, the Imperial Uncle of Jing Province, had sent a messenger with a letter. Ma Chao tore it open and read. The letter said roughly: "I humbly reflect on the misfortune of the Han dynasty. The traitor Cao Cao has usurped power, deceiving the sovereign and oppressing the people. I once received a secret edict together with your late father, swearing to destroy this villain. Now your late father has been murdered by Cao Cao. This is a blood feud that cannot be shared under the same heaven or beneath the same sun. If you can lead the armies of Western Liang to attack Cao Cao's right flank, I will raise the forces of Jing and Xiang to block his front. Then the rebel Cao Cao can be captured, his treacherous faction annihilated, our vengeance achieved, and the Han dynasty restored. Words cannot express all I wish to say. I await your reply."
Ma Chao finished reading the letter, immediately wiped away his tears, and wrote a reply. He sent the messenger back first, then prepared to raise the armies of Western Liang. Just as he was about to set out, the Grand Administrator of Western Liang, Han Sui, sent a man to invite Ma Chao to visit him. Ma Chao went to Han Sui's residence. Han Sui showed him a letter from Cao Cao. It said, "If you capture Ma Chao and deliver him to Xuchang, I will enfeoff you as Marquis of Western Liang." Ma Chao knelt and prostrated himself before Han Sui. "Uncle," he said, "please bind my brother and me and send us to Xuchang to spare you the trouble of raising arms." Han Sui helped him up and said, "I swore brotherhood with your father. How could I bear to harm you? If you raise an army, I will assist you." Ma Chao thanked him profusely.
Han Sui then ordered Cao Cao's messenger brought out and executed. He mustered the eight divisions under his command and marched forth together. The eight divisions were led by Hou Xuan, Cheng Yin, Li Kan, Zhang Heng, Liang Xing, Cheng Yi, Ma Wan, and Yang Qiu. These eight generals, following Han Sui, combined their forces with Ma Chao's commanders Pang De and Ma Dai, raising a total of 200,000 troops. They charged toward Chang'an.
The Grand Administrator of Chang'an, Zhong Yao, sent a flying report to Cao Cao, while personally leading troops to resist the enemy, deploying his forces in the open field. The vanguard of the Western Liang army, led by Ma Dai with 15,000 men, advanced in a vast, sprawling tide that covered the mountains and plains. Zhong Yao rode out to parley. Ma Dai wielded a precious blade and engaged Zhong Yao in combat. Before the first bout was over, Zhong Yao was routed and fled. Ma Dai pursued him, blade in hand. Ma Chao and Han Sui arrived with the main army and surrounded Chang'an. Zhong Yao ascended the walls to defend the city. Chang'an was the ancient capital of the Western Han dynasty, its walls sturdy and strong, its moats deep and perilous. It could not be taken by storm. After ten days of siege, they still could not breach it. Pang De proposed a plan: "The soil in Chang'an is hard and the water brackish, barely drinkable, and there is no firewood. After ten days of siege, the soldiers and civilians are starving. Let us temporarily withdraw our forces. If we do as I suggest, Chang'an will fall into our hands like picking something up from the ground." Ma Chao said, "This plan is excellent!" He immediately ordered the signal flags to be passed to all units, commanding a full retreat. Ma Chao himself covered the rear. The various units gradually withdrew. The next day, Zhong Yao climbed the wall to observe. Seeing the army had retreated, he feared a ruse and sent scouts to investigate. When they confirmed the enemy had gone far away, he finally relaxed. He allowed the soldiers and civilians to go out to gather firewood and draw water, opening the city gates wide to let people come and go. On the fifth day, a report came that Ma Chao's army had returned. The soldiers and civilians rushed back into the city. Zhong Yao again closed the gates and held fast.
Now Zhong Yao's younger brother, Zhong Jin, was guarding the western gate. Near the third watch of the night, a fire broke out inside the gate. Zhong Jin hurried to extinguish it, when a man emerged from beside the wall, raised his blade, and spurred his horse forward, bellowing, "Pang De is here!" Before Zhong Jin could react, Pang De cut him down with a single stroke of his blade. He scattered the soldiers, broke the locks on the gate, and opened it to let Ma Chao and Han Sui's forces pour into the city. Zhong Yao abandoned the city through the eastern gate and fled. Ma Chao and Han Sui took the city and rewarded their three armies.
Zhong Yao retreated to hold Tong Pass and sent a flying report to Cao Cao. Learning that Chang'an had fallen, Cao Cao no longer dared to discuss the southern campaign. He summoned Cao Hong and Xu Huang and commanded them: "Take ten thousand men first to relieve Zhong Yao and hold Tong Pass tightly. If you lose the pass within ten days, you will both be executed. After ten days, the fault will not be yours. I will lead the main army and arrive shortly." The two generals accepted the order and marched through the night. Cao Ren advised, "Cao Hong is hot-tempered. I fear he may cause trouble." Cao Cao said, "You will escort the grain supplies and follow as reinforcements."
Now Cao Hong and Xu Huang arrived at Tong Pass. They relieved Zhong Yao and held the pass, refusing to give battle. Ma Chao led his troops to the foot of the pass and cursed Cao Cao's ancestors for three generations. Cao Hong was enraged and wanted to lead his men down to fight. Xu Huang advised, "Ma Chao is trying to provoke you into battle. Do not engage him. When the Chancellor's main army arrives, there will be a plan." Ma Chao's troops took turns cursing day and night. Cao Hong burned to fight, but Xu Huang held him back. On the ninth day, looking down from the pass, they saw the Western Liang troops dismount and sit on the grass before the pass. Many seemed exhausted and lay sleeping on the ground. Cao Hong ordered his horse saddled and led 3,000 men down from the pass. The Western Liang troops abandoned their horses and weapons and fled. Cao Hong pursued them relentlessly. Xu Huang was on the pass inspecting the grain wagons when he heard that Cao Hong had gone down to fight. Greatly alarmed, he quickly led his troops in pursuit, shouting for Cao Hong to turn back. Suddenly, war cries erupted from behind. Ma Dai led his troops in an attack. As Cao Hong and Xu Huang desperately turned back, a drumroll sounded, and two forces emerged from behind the hills: Ma Chao on the left and Pang De on the right. A chaotic melee ensued. Cao Hong could not withstand the assault. He lost more than half his men and barely broke through the encirclement, fleeing back to the pass. The Western Liang troops pursued them. Cao Hong and Xu Huang abandoned the pass and fled. Pang De chased them all the way through Tong Pass until he encountered Cao Ren's forces, who rescued Cao Hong and his men. Ma Chao then led Pang De back to secure the pass.
Cao Hong had lost Tong Pass. He fled to see Cao Cao. Cao Cao said, "I gave you ten days. How did you lose the pass in nine?" Cao Hong replied, "The Western Liang troops hurled every insult imaginable at us. Seeing their men slack, I seized the opportunity to pursue, but I fell into their treacherous trap." Cao Cao said, "Cao Hong, you are young and reckless. Xu Huang, you should have known better!" Xu Huang said, "I repeatedly advised him not to go, but he would not listen. That day I was inspecting the grain wagons on the pass. By the time I learned of it, the young general had already descended. Fearing disaster, I rushed to catch up, but the enemy's trap had already been sprung." Cao Cao was furious and ordered Cao Hong beheaded. All the officers pleaded for his life. Cao Hong accepted his guilt and withdrew.
Cao Cao advanced his army directly to Tong Pass. Cao Ren said, "We should first set up a stockade before attacking the pass." Cao Cao ordered trees felled and palisades erected, dividing the camp into three: the left camp under Cao Ren, the right camp under Xiahou Yuan, and Cao Cao himself commanding the central camp. The next day, Cao Cao led all the officers and men from the three camps to charge toward the pass. They encountered the Western Liang army. Both sides deployed their formations. Cao Cao rode out beneath his banner and observed the Western Liang troops. Every man was robust and heroic. He saw Ma Chao, whose face was like powdered jade, lips like cinnabar, a slender waist and broad shoulders, a powerful voice and immense strength. He wore a white robe and silver armor, grasped a long spear, and stood before his formation. Above him was Pang De, below him Ma Dai. Cao Cao marveled inwardly. He rode forward and said to Ma Chao, "You are the descendant of a famous general of Han. Why do you rebel?" Ma Chao ground his teeth and roared, "Traitor Cao Cao! You deceive the sovereign and oppress the people, your crimes too great for punishment! You murdered my father and brother—this is a blood feud beyond the same sky! I will capture you alive and devour your flesh!" With that, he leveled his spear and charged straight at Cao Cao. Yu Jin rode out from behind Cao Cao to meet him. The two horses clashed. After eight or nine exchanges, Yu Jin was defeated and fled. Zhang He rode out and fought twenty exchanges, but he too was defeated and fled. Li Tong then rode out. Ma Chao fought with full fury. In a few exchanges, he ran Li Tong through with his spear, sending him tumbling from his horse. Ma Chao waved his spear backward as a signal, and the entire Western Liang army charged forward. Cao Cao's army was utterly routed. The Western Liang troops came with overwhelming force. None of Cao Cao's officers could withstand them. Ma Chao, Pang De, and Ma Dai, leading over a hundred cavalry, drove straight into the central camp to capture Cao Cao. In the chaos, Cao Cao heard the Western Liang soldiers shouting, "The one in the red robe is Cao Cao!" Cao Cao quickly tore off his red robe. Then he heard, "The one with the long beard is Cao Cao!" In panic, Cao Cao drew his sword and cut off his beard. Someone in the army reported this to Ma Chao, who then ordered his men to shout, "The one with the short beard is Cao Cao!" Hearing this, Cao Cao tore a corner from a banner and wrapped it around his neck to flee.
A poet of the time recorded this scene: At Tong Pass, defeated and fleeing before the wind, Cao Cao in his haste shed his embroidered robe. With his sword he cut his beard and whiskers, his courage all but spent, while Ma Chao's fame soared to the heavens.
As Cao Cao fled, a single rider came galloping up from behind. He turned his head and saw it was Ma Chao. Cao Cao was terrified. His officers, seeing Ma Chao in pursuit, scattered to save themselves, leaving Cao Cao alone. Ma Chao shouted fiercely, "Cao Cao, do not flee!" Cao Cao was so frightened that his horsewhip fell to the ground. Ma Chao was closing in. He thrust his spear at Cao Cao from behind. Cao Cao dodged around a tree. Ma Chao's spear struck the tree. As he struggled to pull it out, Cao Cao had already escaped far away. Ma Chao spurred his horse in pursuit. Just then, a general emerged from the side of a slope and shouted, "Do not harm my lord! Cao Hong is here!" He whirled his blade and spurred his horse to block Ma Chao. Cao Cao escaped with his life. Cao Hong fought Ma Chao for forty or fifty exchanges. Gradually, his blade technique faltered, and his strength waned. Xiahou Yuan arrived with several dozen cavalry. Ma Chao, alone, feared he might be ambushed, so he turned his horse and rode back. Xiahou Yuan did not pursue.
Cao Cao returned to his camp, only to find that Cao Ren had held the stockade with desperate determination, so not many of his troops had been lost. Entering his tent, Cao Cao sighed and said, "If I had killed Cao Hong, I would surely have died at Ma Chao's hands today!" He then summoned Cao Hong and rewarded him generously. He gathered his defeated forces, held the stockade firmly, deepened the moats and raised the ramparts, and forbade any from giving battle. Ma Chao led his troops daily to the front of the camp to hurl insults and provoke a fight. Cao Cao ordered his men to hold fast, declaring that anyone who moved without orders would be executed. The generals said, "The Western Liang troops all use long spears. We should use crossbows and arrows to counter them." Cao Cao replied, "Whether to fight or not is my decision, not the enemy's. Though they have long spears, how can they reach us? You all just hold the fortifications and watch. The enemy will retreat on their own." The generals muttered among themselves, "The Chancellor has always led from the front in battle. Now that he has been defeated by Ma Chao, why has he become so timid?"
After a few days, spies reported, "Ma Chao has received 20,000 fresh troops to aid him. They are from the Qiang tribes." Upon hearing this, Cao Cao was overjoyed. The generals asked, "Ma Chao has been reinforced, yet Your Excellency is pleased. Why is that?" Cao Cao said, "When I have won, I will tell you." Three days later, a report came that more troops had arrived at the pass. Cao Cao was even more delighted and held a celebratory feast in his tent. The generals secretly laughed at him. Cao Cao said, "You all laugh at me for lacking a plan to defeat Ma Chao. What excellent strategies do you have?" Xu Yang stepped forward and said, "Now Your Excellency has amassed a great army here, and the enemy has concentrated all their forces at the pass. The area west of the river must be undefended. If we can secretly send a force to cross at Puban Ford, cut off the enemy's line of retreat, and then Your Excellency attacks from the north side of the river, the enemy will be unable to support each other, and their position will be precarious." Cao Cao said, "Gongming's words align perfectly with my own thoughts." He ordered Xu Yang to lead 4,000 elite troops, along with Zhu Ling, to secretly attack the west side of the river and hide in the valleys. "When I cross the river to the north, you will attack simultaneously." Xu Yang and Zhu Ling accepted the order and secretly led 4,000 men away. Cao Cao then ordered Cao Hong to prepare boats and rafts at Puban Ford. Cao Ren was left to guard the camp, while Cao Cao personally led the army to cross the Wei River.
Spies soon reported this to Ma Chao. Ma Chao said, "Now Cao Cao is not attacking Tong Pass but is preparing boats and rafts to cross the river to the north. He intends to cut off our rear. I will lead a force to hold the northern bank along the river. If Cao Cao cannot cross, within twenty days his provisions east of the river will be exhausted, his army will be thrown into chaos, and we can attack him from the south bank. Cao Cao can be captured." Han Sui said, "There is no need for that. Have you not heard the military axiom: 'Strike the enemy when they are half-crossing the river'? When Cao Cao's troops are halfway across, you attack them from the south bank. His entire army will drown in the river." Ma Chao said, "Uncle's words are excellent." He sent scouts to find out when Cao Cao would cross the river.
Cao Cao had completed his preparations. He divided his army into three groups to cross the Wei River. By the time the men and horses reached the riverbank, the sun was just rising. Cao Cao first sent his elite troops across to the northern bank to establish a camp. He himself, with a hundred personal guards, sat on the southern bank, sword in hand, watching the crossing. Suddenly, a report came: "The general in white robes has arrived from the rear!" Everyone recognized Ma Chao. They all rushed to board the boats. The soldiers on the riverbank fought to get on the boats, their shouts deafening. Cao Cao remained seated, unmoving, his sword pointing to order calm. Then came the roar of men and horses, surging like a flood. A general leaped from a boat onto the shore and shouted, "The enemy is here! Please, Your Excellency, board the boat!" Cao Cao looked and saw it was Xu Chu. Cao Cao still said, "What harm is there if the enemy comes?" But when he turned his head, Ma Chao was less than a hundred paces away. Xu Chu dragged Cao Cao toward the boat. The boat was already more than ten feet from the shore. Xu Chu lifted Cao Cao onto his back and leaped aboard. The accompanying soldiers all jumped into the water, clinging to the sides of the boat, fighting to climb on and save themselves. The small boat was about to capsize. Xu Chu drew his sword and slashed wildly. The hands clinging to the boat were severed, and the soldiers fell back into the water. He quickly poled the boat downstream. Xu Chu stood at the stern, using his pole to push them along. Cao Cao crouched at Xu Chu's feet. Ma Chao reached the riverbank and saw the boat already in midstream. He drew his bow, nocked an arrow, and ordered his elite archers to shoot at the boat. Arrows rained down like a storm. Fearing Cao Cao would be hit, Xu Chu raised a saddle with his left hand to shield him. Ma Chao's arrows never missed. The boatmen were struck and fell into the water one after another. Dozens of men on the boat were shot down. The boat lost its course and spun in the swift current. Xu Chu, with superhuman strength, clamped his legs around the rudder to steady it, using one hand to pole the boat and the other to hold the saddle over Cao Cao.
At that moment, Ding Fei, the Magistrate of Weinan County, was watching from the Southern Mountain. Seeing Ma Chao in hot pursuit of Cao Cao, he feared Cao Cao would be killed. He drove all the cattle and horses from his camp out onto the hillsides, covering the mountains and fields with livestock. When the Western Liang troops saw this, they all turned back to seize the cattle and horses, forgetting the chase. Cao Cao was thus able to escape. As soon as he reached the northern bank, he ordered the boats and rafts to be scuttled. When Cao Cao's generals heard he was in danger on the river, they rushed to rescue him, but he had already made it ashore. Xu Chu's heavy armor was embedded with arrows. The generals escorted Cao Cao to a field camp. All knelt and asked after his well-being. Cao Cao laughed heartily and said, "Today I was nearly trapped by that little villain!" Xu Chu said, "If someone had not driven out the cattle and horses to lure the enemy, they would surely have pressed their attack across the river." Cao Cao asked, "Who was it that lured the enemy?" Someone who knew replied, "Ding Fei, the Magistrate of Weinan County." Shortly after, Ding Fei came to pay his respects. Cao Cao thanked him and said, "If not for your excellent plan, I would have been captured by the enemy." He immediately appointed Ding Fei as Colonel of the Palace Guard. Ding Fei said, "The enemy has withdrawn for now, but they will surely return tomorrow. We must have a good plan to resist them." Cao Cao said, "I have already prepared." He then summoned his generals and ordered them to build covered passageways along the river as a temporary defensive line. If the enemy came, they would deploy their troops outside the passageways. Inside, they would set up empty banners as decoys. They would also dig pits along the river, covering them with flimsy screens of earth, and lure the enemy with troops on the riverbank. "When the enemy charges in, they will fall into the pits. Once they are trapped, we can attack them."
Now Ma Chao returned to see Han Sui and said, "I almost captured Cao Cao! A general bravely carried him onto a boat and escaped. I do not know who it was." Han Sui said, "I have heard that Cao Cao selects the most robust men as his personal guards, called the Tiger Guard, led by the fierce generals Dian Wei and Xu Chu. Dian Wei is dead. The one who rescued Cao Cao today must be Xu Chu. This man is superhuman in strength. Everyone calls him the 'Tiger Fool.' If you encounter him, do not take him lightly." Ma Chao said, "I have long heard of his name." Han Sui said, "Now Cao Cao has crossed the river and will attack our rear. We must strike quickly. Do not let him establish his camp. If he sets up a stronghold, it will be difficult to root him out." Ma Chao said, "In my humble opinion, it would be best to hold the northern bank and prevent him from crossing at all. That is the superior strategy." Han Sui said, "You guard the camp, nephew. I will lead the troops along the river to fight Cao Cao. What do you think?" Ma Chao said, "Let Pang De be the vanguard and follow you, Uncle."
Thus, Han Sui and Pang De led 50,000 troops straight to the south bank of the Wei River. Cao Cao ordered his generals to lure the enemy from both sides of the covered passageways. Pang De first led over a thousand iron cavalry in a charge. As the war cries rose, both men and horses fell into the camouflaged pits. Pang De leaped up with a single bound, springing out of the pit onto solid ground. He killed several men on foot and fought his way out of the encirclement. Han Sui was trapped in the center of the melee. Pang De, on foot, went to rescue him. He encountered Cao Ren's officer, Cao Yong, and cut him down with a single stroke of his blade, seizing his horse. He then carved a bloody path, rescued Han Sui, and fled southeast. Cao Cao's troops pursued them from behind. Ma Chao arrived with reinforcements, drove back Cao Cao's men, and rescued most of the trapped forces. The battle lasted until dusk before they withdrew. When they counted their losses, they found that the officers Cheng Yin and Zhang Heng had been killed, and over two hundred men had died in the pits. Ma Chao discussed with Han Sui: "If we delay any longer, Cao Cao will establish his camp on the northern bank, and it will be difficult to drive him out. Let us take light cavalry tonight and raid his field camp." Han Sui said, "We must divide our forces so that the front and rear can support each other." Ma Chao took the vanguard himself, with Pang De and Ma Dai as the rearguard, and set out that very night.
Now Cao Cao had withdrawn his troops to the north bank of the Wei River. He summoned his generals and said, "The enemy, thinking I have not yet set up a stockade, will surely come to raid my camp tonight. Deploy ambushes in all directions, leaving the center of the camp empty. When the signal cannon sounds, all ambushes will rise, and we will capture them in one blow." The generals followed his orders and set the ambushes. That night, Ma Chao first sent Cheng Yi with thirty cavalry to scout ahead. Seeing no one in the camp, Cheng Yi rode straight into the center. When Cao Cao's troops saw the Western Liang soldiers arrive, they fired the signal cannon. Ambushes sprang up from all sides, surrounding only the thirty cavalry. Cheng Yi was killed by Xiahou Yuan. But Ma Chao himself, with Pang De and Ma Dai, then attacked from behind in three waves, surging forward like a swarm.
Truly, even with ambushes lying in wait for the foe, how could they match the fierce generals vying to be first? Whether victory or defeat would follow, let the next chapter reveal.