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spear。 Zhang Fei toppled over………it was a Zhang Fei of straw。 Zhang He checked and turned his steed。 At that moment he heard a string of detonations； and a warrior appeared before him barring his way。 It was the real Zhang Fei； as the round head and thundering voice speedily made manifest。
With the serpent halberd set； Zhang Fei rode toward Zhang He。 The two warriors fought many bouts under the gleaming lights。 No help came to Zhang He。 In vain he yearned for the assistance； which the two camps were to bring him。 He did not know that his reinforcements had been driven back by Wei Yan and Lei Tong； and that the two camps； Mengtou and Dangshi； were now in possession of his enemies。 As the help did not e； Zhang He was powerless； and； to add to his disfiture； the glare of fire out in the moutains of Dangqu told him of the seizure of his third camp by Zhang Fei's rear force。 Nothing could be done； and Zhang He cut an alley； forced out of the press； and fled to Wakou Pass。 The victory was all to Zhang Fei。
The news of the success delighted Liu Bei； and he knew then that Zhang Fei's drinking had been part of a stratagem to entice his enemy into the open and defeat them。
Zhang He reached Wakou Pass； but with the loss of two…thirds of his army of thirty thousand troops。 He stood on defense and sent urgent messages to Cao Hong to e to his rescue。
Cao Hong angrily replied； 〃He disobeyed my orders and marched。 He has lost an important point and now he sends to me for help！〃
While refusing aid； Cao Hong sent to urge his colleague to go out and fight。 But Zhang He too greatly feared。
At length Zhang He decided upon a plan of action。 He sent out two parties into ambush and said to them； 〃I will pretend defeat and fly。 They will follow； and you can cut off their retreat。〃
When he did march out； he met Lei Tong。 The two engaged in battle； and Zhang He presently ran away。 Lei Tong pursued and fell into the ambush。 Then Zhang He returned and slew Lei Tong。 His troops went back and told Zhang Fei； who came up to provoke another fight。 Zhang He again tried his stratagem； but Zhang Fei did not pursue。 Again and again the ruse was tried； but Zhang Fei knew it was only a ruse and simply retired to his own camp。
He said to Wei Yan； 〃Zhang He has passed the death of Lei Tong by leading him into an ambush； and he wants to inveigle me into another。 What say you to meeting trick with trick？〃
〃But how？〃 said Wei Yan。
〃Tomorrow I will lead the army forward； you following me with some reliable soldiers。 When his army e out from their ambush； you can smite them； sending half your men against each party。 We will secretly fill the by…roads with loads of bustibles； entice the enemy among them and start a fire。 In the confusion； I shall try to capture Zhang He。 So will we avenge our rade's death。〃
So Zhang Fei went out； and Zhang He's troops came and began to fight。 After a half score bouts； Zhang He ran away； and this time Zhang Fei pursued。 Zhang He； now fleeing； now stopping to exchange a blow or two； led Zhang Fei through the hills to a valley。 Here； suddenly changing front to rear and rear to front； Zhang He halted； made a camp； and offered battle。
It was now the time when Zhang He expected his hidden troops to appear and surround Zhang Fei。 But none appeared。 He knew not that his ambush had been broken up by Wei Yan's army and driven into the valley where the road was filled with cartloads of bustibles； and that the valley even then was all aflame。
Then Zhang Fei came to the attack； and the rout was plete。 Zhang He； fighting desperately； got through to the Wakou Pass and there mustered the remnant of his force。 He strengthened the position and remained behind his ramparts。
Zhang Fei and Wei Yan then tried to take the Pass； but day after day they failed。 Zhang Fei； seeing no hope of success； retired seven miles and bivouacked。 From this point he sent out scouts under Wei Yan to explore the country。 While going along； they observed some burden…bearers； men and women； going up a very retired path； pulling down the creepers； and pushing aside the grasses。
〃That is the way to take Wakou Pass；〃 cried Zhang Fei； pointing with his whip to the wayfarers。
He ordered his soldiers not to scare the people； but to call a few gently and bring them to him。 They soon had several standing before their leader； who spoke to them kindly and put them at ease。
〃Whence e you？〃 asked Zhang Fei。
〃We belong to Hanzhong and are going home。 We heard that you were out fighting and the high road to Langzhong was blockaded； and so we have e across the Mist Torrent and Zitong Mountains and down River Guijin。 We are going to our homes in Hanzhong。〃
〃Can one reach Wakou Pass by this road？ And how far is it？〃
The country people replied； 〃A small road leads past to the rear of the Pass from Zitong Mountains。〃
For this piece of information Zhang Fei rewarded them by taking them into his camp and giving them a good meal。 Then he sent off Wei Yan to make a frontal attack on the Pass； while he himself with five hundred light horse attacked it from the rear by way of Mount Zitong。
Zhang He was grieved and disappointed that Cao Hong sent no help； and the news of Wei Yan's attack only added to his sorrow。 But he girded on his armor and was about to ride out when they told him that fires had started at half a dozen places behind the Pass。 They most likely indicated soldiers。 However； he went out to meet them； and； to his horror； when the flags opened out； his eyes fell on the figure of Zhang Fei。 Away he ran along a by…road。
But his steed was not fast； and as Zhang Fei pressed him close； Zhang He dismounted and ran up the mountain side。 So Zhang He escaped。 He had； however； some ten followers； and it was a small and dejected party that presently found its way into Nanzheng。 He saw Cao Hong； and Cao Hong was very angry at his plight。
〃I told you not to go； but you were willful。 And you gave in your written pledge。 You have lost all your soldiers； yet you do not mit suicide。 What will you do next？〃
Cao Hong ordered the lictors to put Zhang He to death。 But Marching General Guo Huai； interceded。
〃An army is easily raised； a leader is hard to find。 Though Zhang He is guilty； he is a great favorite with our prince。 I think you should spare him。 Rather give him mand of another army and send him to take Jiameng Pass and so hold up the soldiers at all the stations。 Hanzhong will be tranquil of its own accord。 If he fails a second time； you can punish him for both faults。〃
Cao Hong was satisfied to do this； and instead of dealing with his fault； he gave Zhang He five thousand troops and told him to take Jiameng Pass。
The manders of the Pass were Meng Da and Huo Jun。 They were at variance………Meng Da desiring to go out to meet Zhang He； but Huo Jun being in favor of defense。 Meng Da being set on having his way went out； gave battle； and was defeated。 Huo Jun reported this to the capital； where Liu Bei at once called in the Directing Instructor to ask advice。 Zhuge Liang assembled all the chief generals into the hall。
〃Jiameng Pass is in danger。 We must get Zhang Fei from Langzhong to drive off Zhang He；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
Fa Zheng replied； 〃Zhang Fei is encamped at Wakou Pass； and Langzhong is no less important than Jiameng Pass。 I do not think he should be recalled。 Choose one among the generals to go and defeat Zhang He。〃
Zhuge Liang laughed； 〃Zhang He is renowned in Wei。 No ordinary leader will avail。 Zhang Fei is the only man to send； the only one equal to the task。〃
Then among the generals one started up crying angrily； 〃Instructor； why do you thus despise us？ I will use what little skill I have in slaying our enemy and will lay his head at the foot of our standard。〃
The speaker was Veteran General Huang Zhong； and all eyes centered on him。
〃Friend Huang Zhong； you are bold enough； but what about your age？ I fear you are no match for Zhang He。〃
Huang Zhong's white beard bristled； and he said； 〃I know I am old。 But these two arms can still pull the four…hundred…fifty…pound bow； and the vigor of my body is not yet departed。 Am I not strong enough to meet such a poor thing as Zhang He？〃
〃General； you are nearly seventy。 Can you still hold you are not aged？〃
Huang Zhong tore down the hall。 Seizing one of the great swords off the rack； he whirled it as if it flew。 And the stiffest bow that hung on the wall； he pulled till it snapped。
〃Well； if you will go； who will second you？〃 said Zhuge Liang。
〃I would prefer Veteran General Yan Yan。 And if there is the least anxiety； well； here is this hoary head。〃
Liu Bei was pleased to let these two go to fight Zhang He。 However； Zhao Yun put in a protest。
〃Zhang He has already got through Jiameng Pass； so that the fighting will be no child's play； and the loss of that Pass endangers the whole of Yizhou。 It is no task to set to a couple of old men。〃
Replied Zhuge Liang； 〃You regard the two as too old to succeed； but I think the attainment of Hanzhong depends upon these two。〃
Zhao Yun and many others sniggered as they went from the hall。 They did not agree with Zhuge Liang。
In due course the two Veteran Generals arrived at the Pass。
At sight of them； Meng Da and Huo Jun； the defenders of the Pass； laughed in their hearts； thinking： 〃Zhuge Liang