Ma Teng, who had plotted to kill Cao Cao in Xuchang, is found out and killed along with two of his sons. His eldest son Ma Chao, in Xiliang, hears the news from his cousin Ma Dai and collapses weeping. Just then a letter comes from Liu Bei in Jing Province, urging him to avenge his father, who once received the secret edict along with Liu Bei. Ma Chao writes back in tears and prepares to raise troops.
Han Sui, Governor of Xiliang, summons Ma Chao and shows him a letter from Cao Cao. It says that if Han Sui captures Ma Chao and sends him to Xuchang, he will be made Marquis of Xiliang. Ma Chao bows to the ground and tells his uncle to tie up him and his brothers and send them, to spare him the trouble of fighting. Han Sui raises him up. I swore brotherhood with your father. How could I harm you? Han Sui beheads Cao Cao’s envoy and raises two hundred thousand troops with Ma Chao.
The Xiliang army takes Chang’an and then seizes Tong Pass. When Cao Cao comes in person with a great army, Ma Chao charges, swearing to take alive and eat the enemy who killed his father and brothers. When the Xiliang men shout that the one in the red robe is Cao Cao, Cao Cao throws off his robe, and when they shout that the one with the long beard is Cao Cao, he cuts his beard with his sword. When he hears them shout that the one with the short beard is Cao Cao, he wraps his neck in the corner of a banner and flees, dodging Ma Chao’s spear by circling a tree.