〃The scheme looks excellent；〃 said Cao Cao。
And he wrote the letter as suggested； and then erased and changed it； after which he sealed it securely and sent it across to Han Sui。
Surely enough someone told Ma Chao about the letter； which increased his doubts； and he came to Han Sui's quarters to ask to see it。 Han Sui gave it to him； and the erasures and alterations struck Ma Chao at once。
〃Why are all these alterations here？〃 asked he。
〃It came like that。 I do not know。〃
〃Does anyone send a rough draft like this？ It seems to me； Uncle； that you are afraid I shall know something or other too well； and so you have changed the wording。〃
〃It must be that Cao Cao has sealed up the rough draft by mistake。〃
〃I do not think so。 He is a careful man and would not make such a mistake。 You and I； Uncle； have been allies in trying to slay the rebel。 Why are you turning against me now ？〃
〃If you doubt my word； I will tell you what you can do。 Tomorrow； in full view of the army； I will get Cao Cao to e out and talk。 You can hide in behind the ranks ready to kill me if I am false。〃
〃That being so； I shall know that you are true； Uncle。〃
This arrangement made； next day Han Sui with five generals in his train………Li Kan； Ma Wan； Yang Qiu； Hou Xuan； and Liang Xing………rode to the front； while Ma Chao concealed himself behind the great standard。 Han Sui sent over to say that he wished to speak to the Prime Minister。
Thereupon at his mand； Cao Hong； with a train of ten horsemen rode out； advanced straight to Han Sui； leaned over to him and said； loudly enough to be heard plainly； 〃Last night the Prime Minister quite understood。 Let there be no mistake。〃
Then without another word on either side Cao Hong rode