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　The　veteran　held　them　both　at　bay　for　some　half　score　bouts　and　then　fled。　They　pursued　him　for　seven　miles；　when　they　reached　and　seized　his　camp。　Huang　Zhong；　however；　quickly　made　another　defense　of　brushwood。　Next　day　Xiahou　Shang　and　Han　Hao　renewed　the　pursuit；　which　ended　with　the　capture　of　the　temporary　camp　of　the　day　before。　And　they　had　advanced　seven　miles　further。　Then　they　called　upon　Zhang　He　to　protect　the　rear　camp。　When　Zhang　He　came　up；　he　dissuaded　them　from　continuing。
〃Huang　Zhong　has　retreated　before　you　for　two　days。　There　is　some　deep　stratagem　behind　this；〃　said　Zhang　He。
Xiahou　Shang　scoffed　at　him；　saying；　〃You　are　such　a　coward　that　you　have　been　defeated　many　times。　Now　say　no　more；　but　let　us　acplish　something。〃
Zhang　He　retired　much　mortified　and　shamed。　Next　day　the　two　generals　again　went　out　to　battle；　and　again　Huang　Zhong　fled　from　them　for　seven　miles。　The　two　generals　pursued　as　quickly　as　they　could。　The　day　after；　Huang　Zhong　fled　without　any　pretense　of　showing　fight；　except　at　short　intervals。　He　got　to　Jiameng　Pass　and　went　on　the　defensive。　The　pursuers　knocked　at　the　very　gate　of　the　Pass　and　made　a　camp　close　by。
Then　Meng　Da　secretly　wrote　to　Liu　Bei　that　Huang　Zhong　had　been　repeatedly　defeated　and　now　was　in　the　Pass　and　unable　to　go　out。
Liu　Bei　became　alarmed　and　consulted　Zhuge　Liang；　who　said；　〃The　old　general　is　making　the　enemy　over…confident………to　their　ultimate　destruction。〃
But　Zhao　Yun　did　not　share　this　opinion；　nor　did　many　others；　and　Liu　Bei　decided　to　send　Liu　Feng　to　reinforce　his　aged　general。
The　young　man　came　to　the　Pass　and　saw　Huang　Zhong；　who　asked　him；　〃General；　what　makes　you　e　here？〃
〃My　father　heard　that　you　have　sustained　several　defeats；　and　he　has　sent　me；〃　said　Liu　Feng。
〃But　I　am　only　employing　the　ruse　of　leading　on　the　enemy；〃　said　Huang　Zhong；　smiling。　〃You　will　see　tonight　that　in　one　battle　I　shall　regain　all　the　camps　and　capture　their　supplies　and　many　horses。　I　have　only　lent　the　camps　to　them　to　store　their　supplies。　Tonight　I　shall　leave　Huo　Jun　to　guard　the　Pass；　while　General　Meng　Da　will　gather　up　the　spoils　for　us。　Now；　young　Sir；　you　shall　see　the　destruction　of　the　enemy。〃
That　same　night；　at　the　second　watch；　Huang　Zhong　left　the　Pass　with　five　thousand　troops。　But　now　Xiahou　Shang　and　Han　Hao；　seeing　no　move　from　the　Pass　for　many　days；　had　bee　careless　and　so　their　camps　were　unable　to　resist。　Their　troops　had　no　time　to　don　their　armors　or　to　saddle　their　horses。　All　the　leaders　did　was　to　flee　for　their　lives；　while　their　troops　trampled　each　other　down　and　were　killed　in　great　numbers。　All　three　camps　were　recovered　by　dawn；　and　in　them　were　found　all　sorts　of　military　equipment。　Horses　and　their　caparisons　also　fell　to　the　victors；　and　all　the　booty　was　carried　off　by　Meng　Da　and　stored　in　the　Pass。
Huang　Zhong　pressed　on　his　victory。　Liu　Feng　ventured　to　say；　〃Our　soldiers　need　repose。〃
〃Can　you　seize　the　tiger's　whelps　without　going　into　the　tiger's　den？〃　cried　Huang　Zhong。　And　he　urged　on　his　steed。　The　soldiers　also　were　eager。
Zhang　He's　own　army　was　thrown　into　confusion　by　the　flying　men　from　the　defeated　armies；　and　he　could　not　maintain　his　station；　but　was　forced　to　retreat。　They　abandoned　all　their　stockades　and　rushed　to　the　bank　of　River　Han。
Then　Zhang　He　sought　the　two　generals　who　had　brought　about　the　misfortune　and　said　to　them；　〃This　is　Tiandang　Mountain；　where　our　stores　are。　Close　by　is　Micang　Mountain。　The　two　mountains　are　the　very　source　of　life　of　the　Hanzhong　army。　Lose　them；　and　Hanzhong　is　gone　too。　We　must　see　to　their　security。〃
Xiahou　Shang　said；　〃My　uncle；　Xiahou　Yuan；　will　look　out　for　the　defense　of　Micang　Mountain；　which　is　next　to　his　station　at　Dingjun　Mountain；　there　need　be　no　anxiety　about　that。　And　my　brother；　Xiahou　De；　guards　Tiandang　Mountain。　Let　us　go　to　him　and　help　to　protect　that。〃
Zhang　He　and　the　two　generals　set　out　at　once。　They　reached　the　mountain　and　told　Xiahou　De　all　that　had　happened。
〃I　have　one　hundred　thousand　troops　in　camp　here；〃　replied　he。　〃You　may　take　some　of　them　and　recover　your　lost　camps。〃
〃No；〃　replied　Zhang　He。　〃The　only　proper　course　is　to　defend。〃
Almost　as　they　spoke　the　rolling　of　drums　and　the　clang　of　gongs　were　heard；　and　the　look…outs　came　to　say　that　Huang　Zhong　was　near。
〃The　old　ruffian　does　not　know　much　of　the　art　of　war；〃　said　Xiahou　De　with　a　laugh。　〃After　all；　he　is　only　a　brave。〃
〃Be　not　mistaken：　He　is　crafty　and　not　only　bold；〃　said　Zhang　He。
〃This　move　is　against　the　rules　and　not　at　all　crafty。　He　is　worn　from　a　long　march　and　his　soldiers　are　fatigued；　and　they　are　deep　in　an　enemy's　country。〃
〃Nevertheless；　be　careful　how　you　attack；〃　said　Zhang　He。　〃You　would　still　do　well　to　depend　upon　defense　only。〃
〃Give　me　three　thousand　good　soldiers；　and　I　will　cut　him　to　pieces；〃　cried　Han　Hao。
They　told　off　the　three　panies　for　him；　and　down　he　went　into　the　plain。　As　he　approached；　Huang　Zhong　arrayed　his　army。
Liu　Feng　put　in　a　note　of　warning；　saying；　〃The　sun　is　setting；　and　our　men　are　weary。　Let　us　retire　for　the　fight　tomorrow。〃
But　Huang　Zhong　paid　little　attention；　saying；　〃I　do　not　hold　with　your　objections。　This　is　the　one　God…given　opportunity　to　make　good；　and　it　would　be　a　sin　not　to　take　it。〃
So　saying；　the　drums　rolled　for　a　great　attack。　Han　Hao　came　forward　with　his　troops；　and　the　aged　general　went　toward　him　whirling　his　sword。　In　the　first　encounter　Han　Hao　fell。　At　this　the　soldiers　of　Shu　gave　a　yell　and　went　away　up　the　hill；　whereupon　Zhang　He　and　Xiahou　Shang　hastily　moved　out　to　withstand　them。　But　a　great　red　glare　sprang　into　the　sky　from　behind　the　hill；　and　a　shouting　arose。　Hastily　Xiahou　De　led　off　his　troops　to　meet　the　danger　there　and　went　straight　into　the　arms　of　Yan　Yan。　The　Veteran　General's　arm　rose；　the　sword　fell；　and　Xiahou　De　dropped　from　his　steed　to　rise　no　more。
This　ambush；　into　which　the　dead　general　had　rushed；　had　been　carefully　prepared　by　Huang　Zhong；　who　had　sent　Yan　Yan　away　before　he　marched　himself　and　given　Yan　Yan　orders　what　to　do。　It　was　the　brushwood　that　Yan　Yan's　men　had　spent　the　time　in　collecting　that　now　sent　forth　the　flames　reaching　up　to　the　heavens　and　filling　the　valleys。
Yan　Yan；　after　slaying　Xiahou　De；　came　round　the　hill　to　aid　in　the　attack　so　that　the　defenders　were　taken　both　in　front　and　rear。　They　could　do　nothing　and　presently　left　the　battlefield　and　rushed　toward　Dingjun　Mountain　to　seek　refuge　with　Xiahou　Yuan。
Meanwhile　the　victors　took　steps　to　hold　the　position　they　had　won　and　sent　the　good　news　of　victory　to　Capital　Chengdu。　And　when　the　news　arrived；　Liu　Bei　called　together　all　his　officers　to　rejoice。
Then　said　Fa　Zheng；　〃Not　long　ago　Zhang　Lu　submitted　to　Cao　Cao；　and　thereby　Cao　Cao　got　possession　of　Hanzhong　quite　easily。　Instead　of　following　up　this　by　an　advance　westward；　he　left　two　generals　to　guard　it　and　went　south。　That　was　a　mistake。　Now；　my　lord；　do　not　make　a　mistake　yourself；　but　take　advantage　of　the　present　favorable　position；　with　Zhang　He　newly　defeated　and　Tiandang　Mountain　captured；　to　attack　Hanzhong　and　you　will　have　it　at　once。　Once　that　is　yours；　you　can　train　your　army　and　amass　supplies　ready　for　a　stroke　against　the　arch…rebel　himself。　This　God…given　advantage　will　be　confirmed　to　you；　and　you　should　not　miss　it。〃
Both　Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang　saw　the　wisdom　of　this　scheme　and　prepared　to　act。　Zhao　Yun　and　Zhang　Fei　were　to　lead　the　van；　while　Liu　Bei　with　Zhuge　Liang　manded　the　main　army　of　one　hundred　thousand　troops。　A　day　was　chosen　to　set　out；　and　orders　were　sent　to　everyone　to　keep　careful　guard　for　Yizhou。
It　was　a　certain　auspicious　day　in　the　seventh　month　of　the　twenty…third　year　that　the　army　marched　（AD　218）。　Reaching　Jiameng　Pass；　Huang　Zhong　and　Yan　Yan　were　summoned　and　well　rewarded　for　their　services。
Liu　Bei　said　to　Huang　Zhong；　〃People　said　you　were　old；　General；　but　the　Directing　Instructor　of　the　army　know　you　better　than　they；　and　you　have　rendered　amazing　service。　Still；　Dingjun　Mountain　is　yet　to　be　captured；　and　it　is　both　a　great　central　store　and　a　major　defense　of　Nanzheng。　If　we　could　get　Dingjun　Mountain；　we　could　be　quite　easy　about　the　whole　region　of　Hanzhong。　Think　you　that　you　are　equal　to　taking　Dingjun　Mountain？〃
To　this　harangue　of　Liu　Bei；　the　veteran　nobly　answered　that　he　was　willing　to　try　and　was　ready　to　start　when　they　would。
Said　Zhuge　Liang　hastily；　〃Do　not　be　hasty。　You　are　brave　enough；　General；　but　Xiahou　Yuan　is　a　man　of　different　stamp　from　Zhang　He。　Xiahou　Yuan　is　a　real　strategist　and　tactician；　so　much　so　that　Cao　Cao　relies　upon　him　as　his　defense　against　Xiliang。　It　was　he　who　was　set　to　defend　Changan　when　threatened　by　Ma　Chao。　Now　he　is　in　Hanzhong；　and　Cao　Cao　puts　his　whole　confidence　in　him　and　his　skill　as　a　leader。　You　have　overe　Zhang　He；　but　it　is　not　certain　you　will　conquer　this　man。　I　think　I　must　send　down　to　Jingzhou　for　Guan　Yu　for　this　task。〃

＇e＇　Lian　Po　was　the　mander…in…chief　of　Zhao；　who　made　Zhao　a　powerful　state。　Liu　Xiangru；　the　Prime　Minister；　was　his　good　friend。　。。。。。
Huang　Zhong　hotly　replied；　〃Old　Lian　Po*　was　eighty　years　old　and　yet　he　ate　a　bushel　of　rice　and　ten　pounds　of　flesh；　so　that　his　vigor　frightened　the　nobles　and　not　one　dared　encroach　upon　the　borders　of　the　state　of　Zhao。　I　am　not　yet　seventy。　You　call　me　old；　O　Instructor；　then　I　will　not　take　any　helper；　but　go　out　simply　with　my　own　three　thousand　troops；　and　we　will　lay　Xiahou　Yuan's　head　at　your　feet。〃
Zhuge　Liang　refused　to　allow　him　to　go；　Huang　Zhong　insisted。　At　last　Zhuge　Liang　consented；　but　said　he　would　send　an　overseer。

They　put　upon　his　mettle　the　man　who　was　to　go；
Youth's　vigor　may　be　lesser　worth　than　age's　powers；　we　know。

The　next　chapter　will　tell　who　the　overseer　was。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　71　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　71
　Chapter　71
At　Opposite　Hill；　Huang　Zhong　Scores　A　Success；
On　The　River　Han；　Zhao　Yun　Conquers　A　Host。
〃If　you　are　really　determined　to　undertake　this　expedition；　I　shall　send　Fa　Zheng　with　you；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang　to　the　veteran　leader。　〃You　will　have　to　discuss　everything　with　him。　I　shall　also　dispatch　supports　and　reinforcements。〃
Huang　Zhong　agreed；　and　the　expedition　set　out。
Then　Zhuge　Liang　explained　to　Liu　Bei；　〃I　purposely　tried　to　spur　on　the　old　general　that　he　will　really　exert　himself；　else　he　fears　he　will　not　do　much。　But　he　will　need　reinforcement。〃
After　this；　Zhuge　Liang　ordered　Zhao　Yun　to　march　after　the　first　army　and　help；　if　help　was　needed。　So　long　as　the　old　man　was　victorious；　Zhao　Yun　was　to　do　nothing；　if　he　was　in　difficulties；　then　Zhao　Yun　was　to　rescue。
Also；　three　thousand　troops　under　Liu　Feng　and　Meng　Da　were　sent　out　among　the　hills　to　take　position　at　strategic　points　and　set　up　many　banners　and　make　a　brave　show　in　order　to　spread　the　impression　of　huge　forces；　and　so　frighten　and　perplex　the　enemy。　In　addition；　Zhuge　Liang　sent　to　Xiabian　Pass　to　tell　Ma　Chao　what　part　to　play　in　the　campaign。　Yan　Yan　was　to　hold　Langzhong　and　Baxi　in　place　of　Zhang　Fei　and　Wei　Yan；　who　also　went　in　expedition　in　Hanzhong。
The　refugees；　Zhang　He　and　Xiahou　Shang；　reached　Xiahou　Yuan's　camp　and　told　their　doleful　tale；　〃Tiandang　Mountain　has　been　captured；　and　Xiahou　De　and　Han　Hao　have　died　with　the　loss。　Liu　Bei　is　about　to　invade　Hanzhong。　Send　a　swift　messenger　to　inform　the　Prince　of　Wei　and　ask　for　help。〃
The　news　was　sent　to　Cao　Hong；　who　bore　it　quickly　to　Capital　Xuchang。
Cao　Cao　lost　no　time　in　calling　a　council。
Then　High　Minister　Liu　Ye　said；　〃The　loss　of　Hanzhong　would　shake　the　whole　Middle　Land。　You；　O　Prince；　must　not　shrink　from　toil　and　hardship；　but　must　yourself　go　to　lead　the　army。〃
〃This　state　of　things　es　of　my　not　heeding　your　words　before；　gentle　Sir；〃　said　Cao　Cao；　then　repentant。
However；　Cao　Cao　hastily　prepared　and　issued　an　edict　to　raise　an　army　of　four　hundred　thousand　troops　which　he　would　lead。
The　army　was　ready　in　the　seventh　month；　the　early　autumn；　in　the　twenty…third　year　（AD　218）；　and　marched　in　three　divisions。　The　leading　division　was　under　Xiahou　Dun；　Cao　Cao　manded　the　center；　and　Cao　Xiu　was　the　rear　guard。
Cao　Cao　rode　a　white　horse；　beautifully　caparisoned。　His　guards　were　clad　in　emb