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　face　to　face；　and　so　were　between　two　forces。　A　desperate　battle　was　fought；　and　both　Zhang　Nan　and　Feng　Xi　perished　therein。

Feng　Xi　was　loyal　without　peer；
Zhang　Nan　was　righteous；　few　have　equaled　him。
In　battle　on　the　flaming　shore　they　died；
And　the　histories　record　their　deeds。

Hu　Ban　broke　through。　He　was　pursued；　but　he　luckily　fell　in　with　Zhao　Yun　and　got　safely　to　Baidicheng。
The　Mang　tribesmen　King　Shamo　Ke　was　flying　from　the　battle　field　when　he　met　Zhou　Tai；　who　slew　him　after　a　short　fight。
The　two　Shu　generals　Du　Lu　and　Liu　Ning　surrendered　to　Wu；　as　did　many　soldiers。　Of　the　stores　and　weapons　in　the　camps　of　Shu　nothing　was　saved。
When　the　story　of　the　disaster　to　Shu　reached　the　South　Land；　and　with　it　the　report　that　the　First　Ruler　had　been　killed　in　battle；　Lady　Sun　gave　way　to　wild　grief。　She　rode　down　to　the　river　bank　and；　gazing　westward；　wept　and　lamented。　Then　she　threw　herself　into　the　stream　and　was　drowned。　Posterity　erected　a　temple　on　the　shore　called　〃The　Shrine　of　the　Bold　Beauty〃；　and　one　who　described　it　wrote　a　poem：

The　Ruler；　defeated；　fled　to　Baidicheng；
Through　thunderous　tiding；　Lady　Sun　mitted　suicide。
Today　the　water　still　flows　by　the　carved　stone
To　show　where　and　why　this　heroine　died。

There　could　be　no　question　that　this　exploit　brought　tremendous　glory　to　Lu　Xun。　Anxious　to　push　his　advantage　as　far　as　possible；　Lu　Xun　led　his　exultant　army　westward。　But　as　he　drew　near　to　Kui　Pass；　he　suddenly　pulled　up　his　horse；　remarking　that　he　saw　an　aura　of　death　about　the　mountain　side　in　front。
〃We　may　not　yet　advance　farther。　I　suspect　an　ambush。〃
So　they　retreated　three　miles　and　camped　in　a　wide　open　space。　And　the　army　was　arrayed　ready　against　any　sudden　attack。　Meanwhile；　scouts　were　sent　out。　They　returned　reporting　no　soldiers。　Lu　Xun　doubted　and　went　up　to　the　summit　of　a　hill　whence　he　could　see　over　the　country。　The　aura　was　still　visible　to　him；　and　so　he　dispatched　other　people　to　spy。　But　he　received　the　same　report：　Not　a　soldier；　not　a　horse。
Still；　as　the　sun　got　lower　and　lower　in　the　west；　he　saw　the　same　appearance　accentuated；　and　he　began　to　feel　grave　doubts。　He　sent　a　confidant　to　look　once　more。
This　man　came　back；　saying；　〃There　is　not　a　single　soldier；　but　I　have　noticed　on　the　river　bank　nearly　a　hundred　heaps　of　boulders。〃
The　mander…in…Chief；　still　doubting；　called　in　several　of　the　natives　and　questioned　them　about　the　stones。
〃Who　put　them　there？　Why　did　they　look　so　ghastly？〃　asked　Lu　Xun。
〃We　do　not　know。　This　place　is　called　Fishbelly　Creek。　When　Zhuge　Liang　was　going　west　into　the　River　Lands；　he　came　along　here　with　a　lot　of　soldiers　and　heaped　up　the　boulders　like　that　on　the　sandy　beach。　We　have　seen　vapors　rising　from　the　boulders；　they　seemed　to　e　from　inside　them。〃
Lu　Xun　decided　to　go　and　look　at　these　boulders　himself。　So　he　rode　off；　with　a　small　escort。　Looked　down　from　a　declivity；　the　stones　were　evidently　arranged　with　a　design　related　to　the　eight　points　of　the　pass。　There　were　doors　and　door…sills　and　lintels。
〃This　looks　likely　to　drive　a　person　out　of　his　senses；〃　he　said。　〃I　wonder　whether　it　is　any　good。〃
They　rode　down　with　intent　to　examine　the　mysterious　arrangement　more　closely　and　went　in　among　the　stones。
Presently　one　of　the　escort　called　attention　to　the　increasing　darkness　and　said；　〃The　sun　is　setting。　We　ought　to　be　returning　to　camp。〃
But　as　Lu　Xun　glanced　round　to　look　for　an　exit；　a　sudden　squall　came　on　and　the　dust　whirled　up；　obscuring　both　sky　and　earth。　And　in　the　swirl　the　stones　reared　themselves　up　like　steep　mountains；　pointed　like　swords；　and　the　dust　and　sand　shaped　themselves　into　waves　and　hillocks　one　behind　the　other。　The　roar　of　the　boiling　river　was　as　the　drums　before　a　battle。
〃This　is　some　trick　of　Zhuge　Liang；〃　said　Lu　Xun　in　a　scared　voice；　〃and　I　have　been　caught。〃
He　would　go　out；　but　he　had　quite　lost　his　way　and　could　find　no　exit。　As　he　stopped　to　consider　what　he　should　do；　an　old　man　suddenly　appeared。
The　old　man　said；　〃Does　the　General　wish　to　go　out？〃
〃I　greatly　desire　that　you　would　pilot　me　out；　O　Elder！〃　replied　he。
Leaning　on　his　staff；　the　old　man　led　the　way　and　with　quiet　dignity　conducted　Lu　Xun　outside。　He　had　no　difficulty　in　finding　his　way　and　paused　not　a　single　instant。　When　they　were　once　again　on　the　slope；　Lu　Xun　asked　his　aged　guide　who　he　was。
〃I　am　Zhuge　Liang's　father…in…law。　My　name　is　Huang　Chenyan。　My　son…in…law　placed　these　boulders　here　as　you　see　them；　and　he　said　they　represented　the　Eight…Array　Maze。　They　are　like　eight　doors；　and　according　to　the　scheme　are　named：　Gate　of　Rest；　Gate　of　Life；　Gate　of　Injury；　Gate　of　Obstruction；　Gate　of　Prospect；　Gate　of　Death；　Gate　of　Surprise；　and　Gate　of　Openings。
〃They　are　capable　of　infinite　mutations　and　would　be　equal　to　a　hundred　thousand　soldiers。　As　he　was　leaving；　he　told　me　that　if　any　leader　of　Wu　became　mazed　in　them；　I　was　not　to　conduct　him　outside。　From　a　precipice　near　by　I　saw　you；　General；　enter　in　at　the　Gate　of　Death。　As　I　guessed　you　were　ignorant　of　the　scheme；　I　knew　you　would　be　entangled。　But　I　am　of　a　good　disposition　and　could　not　bear　that　you　should　be　entrapped　without　possibility　of　escape；　so　I　came　to　guide　you　to　the　Gate　of　Life。〃
〃Have　you　studied　this　matter；　Sir？〃　asked　Lu　Xun。
〃The　variations　are　inexhaustible；　and　I　could　not　learn　them　all。〃
Lu　Xun　dismounted；　bowed　low　before　the　old　man　and　then　rode　away。
The　famous　poet　Du　Fu　wrote　some　verses　which　run　something　like　this：

Planner　of　three　kingdoms；　no　small　praise
Is　his………Inventor　of　the　Eight　Arrays。
And　for　that　famous　boulders；　on　the　river's　brim；
Firm　was　set　the　denouncement　of　Wu's　whim。

Lu　Xun　took　his　way　to　his　camp　in　deep　thought。
〃This　Zhuge　Liang　is　well　named　Sleeping　Dragon；〃　said　he。　〃I　am　not　his　equal。〃
Then；　to　the　amazement　of　all；　Lu　Xun　gave　orders　to　retire。　The　officers　ventured　to　remonstrate；　seeing　that　they　had　been　so　successful。
〃General；　you　have　utterly　broken　the　enemy；　and　Liu　Bei　is　shut　up　in　one　small　city。　It　seems　the　time　to　smite；　and　yet　you　retire　because　you　have　e　across　a　mysterious　arrangement　of　stones。〃
〃I　am　not　afraid　of　the　stones；　and　it　is　not　on　their　account　that　I　retire。　But　I　fear　Cao　Pi。　He　is　no　less　resourceful　than　his　father；　and　when　he　hears　I　am　marching　into　Shu；　he　will　certainly　attack　us。　How　could　I　return　then？〃
The　homeward　march　began。
On　the　second　day　the　scouts　brought　a　report：　〃Three　Wei　generals　with　three　armies　are　debouching　at　three　different　points　and　moving　toward　the　borders　of　Wu………Cao　Ren　to　Ruxu；　Cao　Xiu　to　Dongkou；　and　Cao　Zhen　to　Nanjun。　Their　intentions　are　unclear。〃
〃Just　as　I　thought；〃　said　Lu　Xun。　〃But　I　am　ready　for　them。〃

〃And　now　the　west　is　mine；〃　the　victor　thought；
But　danger　from　the　north　discretion　taught。

The　story　of　the　retreat　will　be　told　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　85　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　85
　Chapter　85
The　First　Ruler　Confides　His　Son　To　The　Guardian's　Care；
Zhuge　Liang　Calmly　Settles　The　Five　Attacks。
In　summer；　the　sixth　month　of　the　second　year　of　Manifest　Might　（AD　221）　Lu　Xun　destroyed　the　army　of　Shu　at　Yiling。　The　First　Ruler　sought　refuge　in　Baidicheng；　of　which　Zhao　Yun　then　undertook　the　defense。　When　Ma　Liang　returned　only　to　find　his　lord　defeated；　he　was　more　distressed　than　he　could　say。　He　announced　what　Zhuge　Liang　had　said　concerning　the　plans。
The　First　Ruler　sighed；　saying；　〃If　I　had　listened　to　the　Prime　Minister's　advice；　the　defeat　would　not　have　happened。　Now　how　can　I　face　the　officials　if　I　return　to　my　capital？〃
So　he　promulgated　a　mand　to　change　the　guest…house　into　the　Palace　of　Eternal　Peace。　He　was　deeply　grieved　when　they　told　him　Feng　Xi；　Cheng　Jin；　Fu　Tong；　Zhang　Nan；　King　Shamo　Ke；　and　many　of　his　generals　had　died　loyally　in　his　cause。
Next　he　heard　people　say：　〃Huang　Quan；　who　had　been　given　mand　of　the　army　on　the　north　bank；　had　given　in　to　Wei。　Your　Majesty　should　deliver　his　whole　family　to　the　authority　and　hold　them　responsible　for　the　renegade。〃
But　the　First　Ruler　only　said；　〃The　army　was　quite　cut　off　by　Wu　from　the　south　bank；　and　he　had　no　alternative　but　to　surrender。　Really；　I　betrayed　him；　not　he　me。　Why　should　I　take　vengeance　on　his　family？〃
So　he　continued　the　issue　of　the　renegade's　pay　to　his　family。
When　Huang　Quan　surrendered；　he　was　led　into　the　presence　of　the　Ruler　of　Wei。

＇e＇　Chen　Ping　and　Han　Xin　had　served　under　Xiang　Yu　first；　before　they　defected　to　Liu　Bang's　camp。
Cao　Pi　said；　〃You　have　surrendered　to　me　because　you　desired　to　imitate　the　admirable　conduct　of　Chen　Ping　and　Han　Xin　of　old*。〃
But　Huang　Quan　replied；　weeping；　〃The　Ruler　of　Shu　has　been　very　kind　to　me；　and　he　gave　me　the　leadership　of　the　army　on　the　North　of　the　Great　River。　Lu　Xun　cut　me　off　so　that　I　could　not　return　to　Shu；　and　I　would　not　surrender　to　Wu；　wherefore　I　have　yielded　to　Your　Majesty。　Defeated　as　I　am；　I　should　be　only　too　happy　if　my　life　were　spared；　but　I　have　no　claim　to　the　credit　of　the　virtuous　ones　of　old。〃
The　reply　satisfied　the　Ruler　of　Wei；　and　he　conferred　on　him　the　title　General　Who　Guards　the　South。　But　Huang　Quan；　however；　declined　the　offer。
Then　one　of　the　courtiers　said；　〃A　spy　has　reported　that　all　of　your　family　have　been　put　to　death　by　the　Ruler　of　Shu。〃
But　the　leader　replied　that　he　could　not　believe　it。
〃The　Ruler　of　Shu　and　his　officials　trust　each　other。　He　knows　my　heart；　and　he　would　not　injure　my　family。〃
And　the　Ruler　of　Wei　agreed　with　his　opinion。
A　poem　has　been　written　upbraiding　Huang　Quan：

That　was　a　pity　that　Huang　Quan　grudged　to　die；
Though　he　yielded　to　Wei；　not　Wu；
Yet　he　crooked　the　knee　in　an　alien　court。
Which　the　loyal　cannot　do。

Cao　Pi　sought　advice　from　Jia　Xu　concerning　his　design　of　bringing　the　whole　country　under　his　own　rule。
〃I　wish　to　bring　the　whole　empire　under　my　rule。　Which　shall　I　first　reduce；　Shu　or　Wu？〃
〃Liu　Bei　is　an　able　warrior；　and　Zhuge　Liang　is　a　most　capable　administrator。　Sun　Quan　possesses　discrimination；　and　his　general；　Lu　Xun；　occupies　all　the　strategic　positions　of　importance；　the　natural　obstacles；　the　intervening　rivers　and　spreading　lakes；　would　be　hard　to　overe。　I　do　not　think　you　have　any　leader　to　match　either　of　these　two　men。　Even　with　the　prestige　of　Your　Majesty's　own　presence；　no　one　could　guarantee　the　result。　The　better　course　is　to　hold　on　and　await　the　oute　of　the　struggle　between　those　two。〃
〃I　have　already　dispatched　three　armies　against　Wu。　Can　it　be　that　they　will　fail？〃
The　Chair　of　the　Secretariat；　Liu　Ye；　held　the　same　opinion　as　his　colleague。
Said　he；　〃Lu　Xun　has　just　won　a　great　victory　over　the　Shu　force　of　seven　hundred　thousand；　and　all　his　army　is　full　of　confidence。　Further；　there　are　the　lakes　and　the　rivers；　which　are　natural　difficulties　hard　to　cope　with。　And　again；　Lu　Xun　is　resourceful　and　well　prepared。〃
The　Ruler　of　Wei　said；　〃Formerly；　Sir；　you　urged　me　to　attack　Wu。　Why　do　you　now　give　contrary　advice？〃
〃Because　times　have　changed。　When　Wu　was　suffering　defeat　after　defeat；　the　country　was　depressed　and　might　be　smitten。　Now　this　great　victory　has　changed　all　that；　and　their　morale　has　increased　a　hundred　times。　I　say　now　they　may　not　be　attacked。〃
〃Well；　but　I　have　decided　to　attack。　So　say　no　more；〃　said　the　Ruler　of　Wei。
He　then　led　the　Imperial　Guards　out　to　support　his　three　armies。
But　the　scouts　soon　brought　news　justifying　the　opinion　of　his　advisers：　〃A　force　of　Wu　has　been　sent　to　oppose　each　of　our　three　armies。　Lu　Fan　leads　an　army　against　Cao　Xiu　at　Dongkou；　Zhuge　Jin　against　Cao　Zhen　at　Nanjun；　and　Zhu　Huan　against　Cao　Ren　at　Ruxu。〃
Liu　Ye　pointed　this　out　and　again　said；　〃Wu　has　prepared；　and　no　success　can　be　expected。〃
Still　Cao　Pi　was　obstinate；　and　marched。
The　Wu　leader；　Zhu　Huan；　who　had　been　sent　against　Cao　Ren　at　Ruxu；　was　a　young　man　of　twenty…seven。　He　was　bold　and　resourceful；　and　Sun　Quan　held　him　in　great　regard。　Hearing　that　Cao　Ren　was　going　to　attack　Xianxi；　Zhu　Huan　led　the　bulk　of　his　troops　to　defend　it；　leaving　only　five　thousand　troops　in　Ruxu。　Then　he　heard　that　the　van　of　the　enemy；　fifty　thousand　under　General　Chang　Diao；　with　the　aid　of　Zhuge　Qian　and　Wang　Shuang；　ha