Is “At the Battle of Tong Pass, he forced Cao Cao to flee, cutting his beard and abandoning his robe.” true?
novel invention
The Records of the Three Kingdoms contains no account of 'cutting beard and abandoning robe.' The Unofficial Biography of Cao Cao only records that Cao Cao narrowly escaped death at the hands of Ma Chao while crossing the Yellow River at Tong Pass, saved by Xu Chu's protection.
Ma Chao
In official history, he was a formidable warlord who dominated the Guanzhong region and surpassed all other tribal leaders in valor; in the novel, he is a loyal and filial general of Shu Han, driven by a deep blood feud.