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is pleted the disfiture of the Xiliang army； and they ran away。 Han De； seeing the danger of being captured； threw off his armor and went on foot。 The soldiers of Shu drew off and returned to their camp。
In camp Deng Zhi felicitated his veteran colleague。
〃For a man of seventy years； you are unique and wonderful；〃 said he。 〃You are as much the hero as you ever were。 It is almost an inparable feat to have slain four generals in one day。〃
〃Yet the Prime Minister thought me too old and did not wish to employ me。 I had to give him a proof。〃
The captive Han Yao was sent to the main body with the messenger who bore an account of the victory。
In the meantime； Han De led his defeated army back to his chief； to whom he related his sad story with many tears。 Then Xiahou Mao got angry and decided to lead his own army out against Zhao Yun。
When the scouts reported his ing； Zhao Yun took his spear and mounted his steed。 He led one thousand troops out to Phoenix Song Mountain； at the foot of which he made his array。 Xiahou Mao was wearing a golden casque； riding a white horse； and carrying a huge sword。 From his place beneath the great standard； he saw Zhao Yun galloping to and fro。 He was going out to give battle； when Han De checked him。
〃Is it not mine to avenge my four sons？〃 said Han De。
Han De seized his mountain…splitter ax； and rode directly at the warrior； who advanced with fury。 The contest was but short； for in the third encounter Zhao Yun's spear thrust brought Han De to the earth。 Without waiting a moment he made for Xiahou Mao； who hastily dashed in behind his ranks and so escaped。 Then Deng Zhi led on the main body and pleted the victory。 The force of Wei retired three miles and made a camp。
This first battle having gone against him； Xiahou Mao called his officers to consult。
He said； 〃I have heard Zhao Yun long ago； but have never met face…to…face。 Now though that warrior is old； he still has incredible prowess。 The story of Dangyang where he alone fought against a whole host and came out victor is really not fabricated。 But what to be done against such a champion？〃
Then Cheng Wu； son of Cheng Yu； said； 〃My opinion is that this Zhao Yun； though brave in the field； is lacking in the council chamber。 Really he is not greatly to be feared。 Give battle again soon； but first prepare a two…pronged ambush。 You can retreat and so draw him into it。 Then go up on the hill top and direct the attack from that point of vantage so that he may be hemmed in on all sides and be captured。〃
The necessary plans for this were made； and two parties of thirty thousand each； led by Dong Xin and Xue Ze； went into ambush right and left。 The ambush laid； Xiahou Mao advanced once more to attack； drums rolling and flags flying。 As soon as he appeared； Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi went to meet him。
Deng Zhi said； 〃The army of Wei were beaten only yesterday。 This renewed attempt must mean that they are trying some trick。 You should be cautious； General。〃
〃I do not think this youth； with the smell of mother's milk still on his lips； worth talking about。 We shall surely capture him today。〃
Zhao Yun pranced out； and Pan Sui came to meet him from the side of Wei。 But Pan Sui made no stand and quickly ran away。 Zhao Yun plunged in to try to capture Xiahou Mao。 Then there came out to stop him no less than eight generals of Wei； all of whom passed in front of Xiahou Mao。 But one by one they too fled。 Zhao Yun pressed forward at full speed； Deng Zhi ing up behind。
When Zhao Yun had got deeply involved； with the battle raging all around him； Deng Zhi decided to retire。 This was the signal for the ambush to e out； Dong Xin from the right and Xue Ze from the left。 Deng Zhi was so hampered that he could not attempt to rescue his colleague。 Zhao Yun was thus entirely surrounded。 However； he struggled on； losing men at every dash； till he had but one thousand troops left。 He was then at the foot of the hill whence Xiahou Mao was directing operations； and observing his enemy from this point of vantage； Xiahou Mao sent troops to check Zhao Yun whithersoever he went。 Zhao Yun decided to charge up the hill； but was stopped by rolling bulks of timber and tumbling rocks。
The battle had lasted long； and Zhao Yun was fatigued。 So he halted to rest a time； intending to renew the struggle when the moon should be up。 But just as he had taken off his armor the moon rose and； with it； his enemies began to attack with fire as well； and the thunder of the drums was acpanied by showers of stones and arrows。
The oning host shouted； 〃Zhao Yun！ Why don't dismount and be bound？〃
However； Zhao Yun did not think of that； but got upon his steed to strive once more to extricate himself。 And his enemies pressed closer and closer； pouring in flights and flights of arrows。 No advance was possible； and the end seemed very near。
〃I refused the repose of age；〃 sighed he； 〃and now my end will e to me here！〃
Just then he heard new shouting from the northeast； and the array of Wei became disordered。 To his joy； Zhao Yun saw Zhang Bao ing toward him； the serpent halberd in his hand； and a man's head hanging at his bridle。
Soon Zhang Bao reached the veteran general's side and cried； 〃The Prime Minister feared some misfortune had befallen you； so he sent me to your help！ I have five thousand troops here。 We heard that you were surrounded。 On the way I met Xue Ze and slew him。〃
Zhao Yun's courage revived； and he and the young general went on toward the southwest； driving the soldiers of Wei before them in disorder。 Soon another cohort came in from the side； the leader wielding the green…dragon saber。
This was Guan Xing； and he cried； 〃The Prime Minister sent me with five thousand troops to your aid。 On the way I encountered Dong Xin and slain him。 Here is his head。 The Prime Minister is ing up too！〃
〃But why not press on to capture Xiahou Mao since you have had such wonderful success？〃 cried Zhao Yun。
Zhang Bao took the hint and went forward。 Guan Xing followed。
〃They are as my own children；〃 said Zhao Yun to those who stood near。 〃And they press on wherever there is merit to be won。 I am an old leader and high in rank； but I am not worth so much as these two youths。 Yet will I risk my life once more for the sake of my old lord the First Ruler。〃
So he led the remnant of his troops to try to capture Xiahou Mao。
During that night the army of Wei was smitten till corpses covered the earth and gore ran in rivers。 Xiahou Mao was unskillful； and young； and inexperienced in battle。 His army was in utter rout； and he could not think but only flee。 At the head of a hundred cavalries； he made for Nanan。 His army； leaderless； scattered like rats。
Zhang Bao and Guan Xing set out for Nanan。 At the news of their ing； Xiahou Mao closed the city gates and urged his soldiers to defend。 Zhao Yun soon joined the generals； and they attacked on three sides。 Deng Zhi arrived also； and the city was quite surrounded。
After vain efforts for ten days； they heard the news： 〃The Prime Minister has stationed the rear army in Mianyang； the left army in Yangping Pass； the right army in Shicheng。 He himself is leading the center army toward Nanan。〃
The four generals went to visit Zhuge Liang and told him their failure at the city。 He got into his light chariot and rode out to view the city； after which he returned and summoned the officers to his tent。
Zhuge Liang said； 〃The moat is deep； the walls are steep。 Wherefore the city is well defended and difficult to take。 My present plan omits this place。 If you persist in the attack and the Wei armies march to try for Hanzhong； our army will be in danger。〃
〃Consider what the capture of Xiahou Mao would mean；〃 said Deng Zhi。 〃He is an Imperial Son…in…Law； and worth more than slaying a hundred ordinary leaders。 We have begun the siege； and we should not raise it。〃
Zhuge Liang said； 〃I have other plans。 West of this lies Tianshui and north Anding。 Does anyone know the governors of these two places？〃
〃Ma Zun is the Governor of Tianshui； Cui Liang that of Anding；〃 replied a scout。
Zhuge Liang then called to him one by one………Wei Yan； Zhang Bao； Guan Xing； and two trusted subordinates………and gave each certain instructions。 They left to carry out their orders。
Next Zhuge Liang ordered the soldiers to pile up beneath the walls heaps of firewood and straw； saying he was going to burn the city。 The defenders on the wall derided him。
Cui Liang； the Governor of Anding； was much frightened when he heard that Xiahou Mao was besieged； and began to see to his own defenses。 He mustered his four thousand soldiers； resolved to defend his city as long as possible。 Then there came a man from the south direction； who said he had secret letters。
Cui Liang had him brought into the city； and； when questioned； the man said； 〃I am one of Xiahou Mao's trusted soldiers and named Pei Xu。 I was sent to beg for help from Tianshui and Anding。 The city of Nanan is hard pressed。 Every day we have raised fires to call the attention of your cities to our plight； but our signals have all failed。 No one has e。 I was ordered to fight my way through the besiegers and e to tell you。 You are to give assistance immediately； and our General will open the gates to help you。〃
〃Have you a letter from the General？〃 ask