were exhausted by a long march。〃
Cao Cao even desired to put them to death as a warning； but their fellow officers interceded； and he spared them。 Soon Cao Cao himself marched in the van。 Then he saw the dangerous and evil nature of the place； with its thick growth of trees。 As he knew nothing of the roads and was fearful of an ambush； he returned to his camp。
Calling up his two leaders； Xu Chu and Xu Huang； he said； 〃Had I known the dangerous nature of the place； I would never have e。〃
Xu Chu replied； 〃The soldiers are here now； my lord； and you cannot recoil before the hardships。〃
Next day Cao Cao with only Xu Chu and Xu Huang rode out to reconnoiter the enemy's camp。
As they rode over the hills； Cao Cao pointed out the position with his whip and said； 〃It will be very difficult to reduce a place as strong as this。〃
Just then there arose a shout in their rear； and a shower of arrows fell about them。 Yang Ang and Yan Ren were attacking； and the danger became great。
〃Friend Xu Huang； you look after our lord！〃 cried Xu Chu。 〃I can hold the enemy。〃
Xu Chu galloped out； and the two leaders could not stand Xu Chu and took to flight； while their troops scattered。 In the meantime Xu Huang led his master over the hills。 Soon he met an army of soldiers led by Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He； who had heard the sound of fighting and had e to the rescue； and Cao Cao got back safely to camp。 The four generals were rewarded。
For fifty days the two armies held each other at bay without ing to a fight。 At the end of this time； orders were given to retire in the camp of Cao Cao。
〃We have not tried the strength of the enemy；〃 said Jia Xu。 〃You should not retire； my lord。〃
〃I see that they are always on the alert；〃