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w a white flag。 But you will remain quiet till the enemy bee tired and remiss； when I will hoist a red flag。 That will be the signal for attack。〃
Huang Zhong cheerfully prepared to act on this plan。 In the meantime Du Xi； who had been driven from the hill…top； had run back and reported the loss of the hill to Xiahou Yuan。
〃With Huang Zhong in occupation of that hill； I simply must give battle；〃 said Xiahou Yuan。
Zhang He strongly dissuaded him； saying； 〃The whole thing is but a ruse of Fa Zheng。 General； you had better defend our position。〃
But Xiahou Yuan was obstinate。
〃From the top of that hill the whole of our position is visible； our strength and our weakness。 I must fight。〃
In vain were the remonstrances repeated。 Xiahou Yuan set out his troops to surround the opposite hill and then began to vent his rage at his enemy so as to incite Huang Zhong to give battle。
Then the white flag was hoisted。 However； Xiahou Yuan was allowed to fume and rage in vain。 He tried every form of insult； but no one appeared。 In the afternoon the soldiers became weary and dispirited。 Plainly their eagerness had gone； and Fa Zheng unfurled the red flag。
Then the drums rolled out； and the men of Shu shouted till the earth seemed to shake as the hoary old leader rode out and led his force down the slope with a roar as of an earthquake。 Xiahou Yuan was too surprised to defend himself。 His chief enemy rushed straight to his standard。 With a thundering shout； Huang Zhong raised his sword and cleft Xiahou Yuan through between the head and shoulders so that he fell in two pieces。
Hoary headed is he； but he goes up to battle；
Gray haired； yet recklessly mighty；
With his strong arms he bends the bow；
The arrows fly。
With the swiftness of the wind he rides；
The white sword gleams。
The sound of his voice is as the roar of a tiger；
His steed is fleet as a dragon in flight。
Victory is his and its rich rewards；
For he extends the domain of his lord。
At the death of their general； the soldiers of Wei fled for their lives； and Huang Zhong attacked Dingjun Mountain。 Zhang He came out to oppose the army of Shu； but； attacked at two points by Huang Zhong and Chen Shi； he could not stand。 He lost the day and fled。 However； before he had gone far； another cohort flashed out from the hills and barred his way。
And the leader cried out； 〃Zhao Yun of Changshan is here！〃
Confused and uncertain what to do； Zhang He led his troops toward Dingjun Mountain。 But a body of soldiers came out to stop him。
The leader was Du Xi； who said； 〃The mountain is in the hands of Liu Feng and Meng Da！〃
So Zhang He and Du Xi joined their forces and went to River Han； where they camped。 Thence they sent to tell Cao Cao of their defeat。
At the news of the death of Xiahou Yuan； Cao Cao uttered a great cry and then he understood the prediction of the soothsayer； Guan Lu； that the cast showed opposition： It was the twenty…fourth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity （three and eight cross）； the yellow boar （the month Xiahou Yuan died） had met the tiger； the expedition had suffered a loss indeed by the death of a general； and the death had taken place at the mount known as 〃Army Halt〃 （Dingjun）。 The affection between Cao Cao and his general had been very close； for he considered Xiahou Yuan as his limb。
Cao Cao sent to inquire the whereabouts of Guan Lu； but no one knew。
Cao Cao nourished feelings of resentment against the slayer of his friend； and he led his army out against Dingjun Mountain to avenge Xiahou Yuan's death。 Xu Huang led the van。 When the army reached River Han； Zhang He and Du Xi joined them。
They said to Cao Cao； 〃Dingjun Mountain is lost。 Before marching farther； the stores in Micang Mountain should be moved to the Northern Mountain。〃
And Cao Cao agreed。
Huang Zhong cut off the head of Xiahou Yuan and took it to Liu Bei when he reported his victory。 For these services； Liu Bei conferred upon him the title General Who Conquers the West； and great banquets were given in his honor。
While these were going on； General Zhang Zhu brought the news： 〃Cao Cao's army of two hundred thousand troops is on the way to avenge Xiahou Yuan's loss； and the supplies on Micang Mountain are being moved to the Northern Mountain。〃
Then said Zhuge Liang； 〃Cao Cao is certainly short of supplies。 If we can burn what he has and destroy his baggage train； he will have but little spirit left to fight。〃
〃I am willing to undertake the task；〃 said Huang Zhong。
〃Remember Cao Cao is a different sort of man from Xiahou Yuan。〃
Liu Bei said； 〃Zhang He is the Escort Leader of the train。 Though Xiahou Yuan was the Mountain mander； after all he was but a bold warrior。 It would have been ten times better to have killed Zhang He。〃
〃I will go and kill him；〃 said the aged general； firing up。
〃Then go with Zhao Yun；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃Act in concert and see who can do best。〃
Huang Zhong agreed to this condition； and Zhang Zhu was sent with him as Marching General。
Soon after the army had marched out； Zhao Yun asked of his colleague； 〃What plan have you prepared against Cao Cao's army of two hundred thousand in their ten camps； and how are the stores of grain and forage to be destroyed？〃
〃I am going to lead；〃 said Huang Zhong。
〃No wait。 I am going first；〃 said Zhao Yun。
〃But I am the senior leader。 You are only my second；〃 said Huang Zhong。
〃No； you and I are equal in responsibility and both anxious to render good service。 We are no rivals。 Let us cast lots for who is to lead the way。〃
They did so； and the Veteran General gained precedence。
〃Since you have won the right to make the first attempt； you must let me help you；〃 said Zhao Yun。 〃Now let us decide upon a fixed time； and if you have returned by that time； I shall not need to stir。 But if at that time you have not e back； then I shall e to reinforce you。〃
〃That suits me admirably；〃 said Huang Zhong。
So they decided upon noon as the time。
Zhao Yun went back to his own camp； where he called in his Deputy General； Zhang Yi； and said； 〃My friend Huang Zhong is going to try to burn the stores tomorrow。 If he has not returned at noon； I am to go to aid him。 You are to guard our camp； which is in a dangerous place by the river； but you are not to move out unless pelled。〃
Huang Zhong went back to his camp and said to his general； Zhang Zhu； 〃I have slain Xiahou Yuan and cowed Zhang He。 I am going to destroy the enemy's store of grain tomorrow； taking with me most of the troops。 You are to e and assist me。 A meal for the men is to be ready about midnight tonight； and we shall move at the fourth watch。 We shall march to the foot of their hill； capture Zhang He； and then start the fire。〃
All being ready； they set out………Huang Zhong leading………and stole across River Han to the foot of the hills。 As the sun got up out of the east； they saw before them mountains of grain and only a few guards on watch。 These fled at first sight of the army of Shu。 The horsemen dismounted and began to collect brushwood and pile it round the grain heaps。 Just as they were starting the fire； there appeared a cohort led by Zhang He； who at once began a fight with Huang Zhong。 Then Cao Cao heard of the fight and sent Xu Huang to help。 Xu Huang came up in the rear； and Huang Zhong was surrounded。 Zhang Zhu with three thousand troops tried to get away to their camp； but they were intercepted by Wen Ping； and more troops of Wei ing up by the rear； Zhang Zhu also was surrounded。 Both were in difficulties。
Meanwhile； time passed and noon came with no news of Huang Zhong。 Wherefore Zhao Yun girded on his armor； took three thousand troops with him and went to his aid。 Just as he was leaving； he again warned Zhang Yi to keep good watch。
〃Guard the camp most carefully。 See that you have archers and crossbowmen on both sides。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 said Zhang Yi。
Zhao Yun rode off； spear in hand； and went out to give battle where he could find the enemy。 Soon he fell in with one of Wen Ping's panies led by General Murong Lie。 Zhao Yun plunged in； cut Murong Lie down； and disposed of the troops of Wei。 Then he came to the real press。 A cohort barred his way； led by General Jiao Bing。
〃Where are the soldiers of Shu？〃 cried Zhao Yun。
〃All killed！〃 cried Jiao Bing。
Zhao Yun angrily dashed forward and thrust Jiao Bing through so that he died。 The cohort scattered； and Zhao Yun went on to the foot of Northern Mountain； where he found Huang Zhong surrounded。 With a yell Zhao Yun dashed at the encircling ring； thrusting this way and shoving that； so that everyone shrank and recoiled before him。 The mighty spear laid low his opponents like the whirlwind scatters the petals of the wild pear tree till they lie on the bosom of the earth like snowflakes。 Panic seized Zhang He and Xu Huang so that they dared not stand in his way； and thus Zhao Yun fought his way through and rescued his fellow warrior。 Then they fought their way out and none could withstand them。
Cao Cao had been watching the course of the fighting from a high place； and when he saw a doughty warrior forcing his way into the press and all going down before him； he asked of his officers if they knew who the leader was。
〃That is Zhao Yun of Changshan；〃 replied one who knew。
〃So the hero of Dangyang is still alive；〃 said Cao Cao； mar