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age； he put on his armor； mounted his steed； and went up close to the walls with a few mounted followers； and challenged those on the ramparts to fight him。 But the defenders on the walls only replied with shameful abuse； and none accepted the challenge。 Zhang Fei galloped again and again to the drawbridge； only to be driven off each time with flights of arrows。 But not a man came outside the walls。 As the day closed in； the warrior； still fuming with wrath； returned to his own camp。
Next day Zhang Fei again led his troops to the foot of the wall and challenged。 Again the challenge was refused。 But Yan Yan shot an arrow from the tower that struck Zhang Fei's helmet。 This angered him still more。
Pointing the finger of disdain at his enemy； Zhang Fei cried； 〃I will capture you yet； you old fool； and then I will devour your flesh！〃
So again at eventide the troops of Jingzhou returned to camp bucking their desire。 On the third day Zhang Fei and his troops made the circuit of the city along the edge of the moat； hurling insults at their enemies。
It so happened that the city was set on a hill with rugged heights all round； so that going around it the assailants were sometimes on hill tops and sometimes on the level。 While standing on one of the hills； Zhang Fei noticed that he could see clear down into the city。 There stood the defenders in their ranks； all ready for battle although none of them came out。 And the mon people went to and fro carrying bricks and bringing stones to strengthen the defenses。 Then Zhang Fei ordered his horsemen to dismount and his footmen to sit down so that they could not be seen from the city。 He hoped thus to cheat the defenders into thinking that there were none to attack and so induce them to e out。 But this also was vain； for still the defenders declined battle； and another day was lost。 The army once more returned to camp。
That night Zhang Fei sat in his tent trying to think out some means to overe an enemy that steadily refused to e out from behind the walls。 Presently； however； the brain behind the knitted brows conceived a plan。 So next day； instead of sending all the troops to offer a challenge from the foot of the wall； Zhang Fei kept most of them in camp and sent only a few to howl insults and hurl abuse。 He hoped by this means to inveigle Yan Yan out to attack the small number of troops。 But this also failed； and he was left all day rubbing hid hands with impatience。 Never a man appeared without the wall。
Foiled again； another ruse grew up behind his bushy eyebrows。 He set his troops to cut firewood and seek out and explore the tracks that lay about the city。 No longer did they challenge the wall。 After some days of this； Yan Yan began to wonder what mischief was brewing； and he sent out spies； dressed as were the firewood cutters； to mingle with them and try to discover what was afoot。
That day； when the troops returned to camp； Zhang Fei sat in his tent stamping his foot with rage and execrating his enemy。
〃The old fool！ Assuredly I shall die of disappointed wrath；〃 cried he。
Just then he noticed three or four soldiers lurking about his tent door as if they wished to speak with him。
And one of them said； 〃General； do not let your heart be hot within you。 These last few days we have discovered a narrow road by which we can sneak past this city。〃
〃Why did you not e and tell me before？〃 cried he。
〃Because we have only lately discovered it；〃 said they。
〃I will lose no time then；〃 said he。 〃This very night let food be ready at the second watch； and we will break camp and steal away as silently as possible。 I will lead the way； and you shall go with me as guides。〃
The requisite orders were given。
Having made sure that the preparations for the march were really being made； the spies of the Governor returned into the city。
〃I guessed right then；〃 said Yan Yan gleefully when the spies reported their success。 〃I cannot bear the fool。 He will now try to sneak past with his missariat following； and I will cut off his rear。 How can he get through？ He is very stupid to fall thus into my trap。 All are to prepare for battle。 The food is to be ready at the second watch； and the army is to move out at the third。 We will hide in the woods and thickets； till the greater part of the enemy's army has passed and Zhang Fei has arrived in the very throat of the road。 Then the blow will be struck。〃
They waited till night had fallen。 In due time the late meal was taken； the soldiers donned their armor； stole silently out of the city； and hid as they had been told。 The Governor himself。 with a few of his generals； went out also； dismounted and hid in a wood。 They waited till after the third watch。 Then Zhang Fei came along； urging his troops to the top of their speed。 His spear lay ready to thrust。 He looked very handsome as he rode at the head of his army。 The carts were one or two miles in the rear。
When the soldiers had got well past； Yan Yan gave the signal。 The drums rolled out； up sprang the hidden troops and fell on the baggage train。
The western troops began to plunder。 But suddenly a gong clanged and along came a pany of soldiers Yan Yan had not seen。
At the same time a voice was heard shouting； 〃Old rebel； do not flee！ I have been waiting for this chance a long time！〃
Yan Yan turned his head。 The leader of this band was a tall man with a leopard…like bullet head； round eyes； a sharp chin； and bristling tiger mustache。 He was armed with a long serpent halberd and rode a black steed。 In a word； it was Zhang Fei。
All around the gongs were clanging； and many troops of Jingzhou were rushing toward Yan Yan； already too frightened to be able to defend himself。 However； the two leaders engaged。 Very soon Zhang Fei purposely gave his opponent an opening； and Yan Yan rushed in to cut down his enemy with his sword。 But Zhang Fei evaded the blow； made a sudden rush； seized Yan Yan by the lace of his armor； and flung him on the ground。 Yan Yan was a prisoner； and in a moment was fast bound with cords。
The handsome leader who had passed first had not been Zhang Fei at all； but someone dressed and made up to resemble him。 To add to the confusion； Zhang Fei had exchanged the signals； making the gong the signal for his troops to fall on instead of the usual drum。
As the gongs clanged； more and more of the troops of Jingzhou came into the fray。 The troops of Yizhou could make no fight； and most of them dropped their weapons and surrendered。 To reach the walls of the city was now easy。 After entering the gates； the leader ordered his soldiers not to hurt the people； and he put out proclamations to pacify the citizens。
By and by a party of executioners brought in the prisoner。
Zhang Fei took his seat in the great hall； and the late mander of the city was brought before him by a party of executioners。 Yan Yan refused to kneel before his captor。
〃Why did you not surrender at first？〃 cried Zhang Fei； angrily grinding his teeth。 〃How dared you try to oppose me？〃
〃Because you are a lot of unrighteous and lawless invaders！〃 replied Yan Yan without the least sign of fear。 〃You may behead me as you will； but I will not surrender to you。〃
Zhang Fei angrily gave the order for his execution。
〃Strike； if you want to； fool。 Why so angry？〃 said Yan Yan。
This bold defiance was not lost upon Zhang Fei。 Rising from his seat； he went down the steps； put aside the lictors； and began to loosen the prisoner's bonds。 Then he dressed Yan Yan in new garments and led him to the high place。
When Yan Yan was seated； Zhang Fei made a low bow； saying； 〃I have always known you were a hero。 Now I pray you not remember against me the roughness of my speech。〃
Yan Yan was overe with this kindness and forthwith surrendered。
A graybeard ruled in western Shu；
Clear fame is his the whole world through；
As radiant sun his loyalty。
Unmatched his soul's nobility。
When captive taken rather he
Would suffer death than crook his knee。
Bazhou he ruled for many a year；
The world cannot produce his peer。
A poet has also written concerning Zhang Fei：
Yan Yan made prisoner； then the matchless one
Exchanged the sword for reason； and so won
The place he holds among the sacred ones
Of the west； to whom they sacrifice today。
Then Zhang Fei asked Yan Yan to suggest the means of overing the West River Land。
Yan Yan replied； 〃I am but the defeated leader of a defeated force； indebted to the victor for my life。 I have nothing but my humble services to offer； but I can tell you how to get possession of Chengdu without drawing a bow or shooting an arrow。〃
Cities yield in quick succession
Because of one old man's secession。
The proposal will be unfolded in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 64 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 64
Chapter 64
Zhuge Liang Plans For The Capture Of Zhang Ren；
Yang Fu Borrows Soldiers To Destroy Ma Chao。
As stated in the last chapter； Zhang Fei asked Yan Yan to tell him how he might conquer the whole of the West River Land。
This was the reply： 〃All the fortified posts between this and Luocheng are under my control； and the manders of all the garrisons owe to me their missions。 The only way for me to prove my gratitude is to make them all yield； as I myself have done。 L