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Liu Bei replied； 〃You do not know his worth。 I have him as if the fish has got into the water again。 Pray do not discuss this matter further； my brothers。〃
They withdrew； silent but dissatisfied。
One day a man presented Liu Bei with a yak's tail； and he at once put it in his cap as an ornament。 Zhuge Liang came in and noticed it at once。
〃Then you have renounced all ambitions； my lord。 You are just going to attend to this sort of thing；〃 Zhuge Liang quietly remarked。
Liu Bei snatched off his cap and flung it away； saying； 〃I was only amusing myself with the thing。〃
〃How do you think you stand pared with Cao Cao？〃 asked Zhuge Liang。
〃Inferior。〃
〃Yes； your army is less than ten thousand； and the chances are ten thousand to one that he will attack。 How can we meet him？〃
〃I am greatly distressed about it； but I see no way。〃
〃You might recruit； and I will train them。 Then we might be able to oppose him。〃
So recruiting began and three thousand were enlisted。 Zhuge Liang set about drilling them diligently。
Soon they heard that Xiahou Dun was leading an army of one hundred thousand troops against them。
When he heard it； Zhang Fei said to his brother； Guan Yu； 〃We will get this Zhuge Liang to go and fight them。〃
Just at that moment they were summoned to their brother； who asked their advice。
〃Why not send the 'Water；' brother？〃 said Zhang Fei。
〃For method I rely on Zhuge Liang； but for action I put my faith in you； my brothers。 Are you going to fail me？〃
They went out； and Zhuge Liang was called。
〃I fear your brothers will not obey me；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃Wherefore； if I am to direct the campaign； you must give me a seal of office and a sword of authority。〃
So Liu Bei gave him both。 Armed with these ensigns of power； Zhuge Liang assembled the officers to receive their orders。
〃We will go just to see what he will do；〃 said Zhang Fei to Guan Yu。
In the assembly Zhuge Liang spoke； saying； 〃On the left of Bowang are Yushan Hills。 On the right is Anlin Forest。 There we will prepare an ambush。 Guan Yu will go to Yushan Hills with one thousand soldiers。 He is to remain there quiescent till the enemy has passed； but when he sees a flame in the south； that will be the signal to attack。 He will first burn their baggage train。 Zhang Fei will go to a valley behind Anlin Forest。 When he sees the signal； he is to go to the old stores depot at Bowang and burn that。 Liu Feng and Guan Ping will take five hundred soldiers each to the south； prepare bustibles and be ready with them beyond Bowang Slope。 The enemy will arrive about dusk； and then the two generals can start the blare。 Zhao Yun； now recalled from Fancheng； is to lead the attack； but he is to lose and not win。 And our lord is to mand the reserve。 See that each one obeys these orders and let there be no mistakes。〃
Then said Guan Yu； 〃All of us are to go out to meet the enemy； but I have not yet heard what you are going to do。〃
〃I am going to guard the city。〃
Zhang Fei burst into a laugh； 〃We are to go out to bloody battle； and you are to stay quietly at home quite fortable。〃
〃Here is the sword and here the seal！〃 replied the strategist； displaying the emblems of authority。 〃Disobedience of orders will be death。〃
Liu Bei said； 〃Do you not understand that the plans elaborated in a little chamber decide success over thousands of miles？ Do not disobey the mand； my brothers。〃
Zhang Fei went out smiling cynically。
Guan Yu remarked； 〃Let us await the result。 If he fails； then we can look to it。〃
The brothers left。 None of the officers understood anything of the general line of strategy and； though they obeyed orders； they were not without doubts and misgivings。
Zhuge Liang said to Liu Bei； 〃You may now lead your soldiers to the hills and camp till the enemy shall arrive tomorrow evening。 Then you are to abandon the camp and move away retreating till the signal is seen。 Then you will advance and attack with all force。 Mi Zhu； Mi Fang； and I will guard the city。〃
In the city Zhuge Liang prepared banquets to celebrate the victory and also prepared the books to record exceptional services。
Liu Bei noted all these things； but his heart was also troubled not a little。
Cao Cao's army of one hundred thousand troops in due course reached Bowang。 Then half of them； the veterans； were told off for the first attack； and the remainder were to guard the baggage train and supplies。 Thus they marched in two divisions。 The season was autumn and a chilly wind began to blow。
They pressed forward。 Presently they saw a cloud of dust ahead of them； and Xiahou Dun ordered the ranks to be reformed。 He questioned the guides as to the name of the place。
〃The place in front is Bowang Slope； and behind us is the River Luo；〃 was the reply。
Then Xiahou Dun rode to the front to reconnoiter； leaving Yu Jin and Li Dian to finish setting out the battle array。
Presently Xiahou Dun began to laugh and； when they asked the cause of this merriment； he replied； 〃Xu Shu praised Zhuge Liang to the very skies as something more than human。 But now that I see how he has placed his soldiers and the stuff he has put into his vanguard； it seems to me that he is sending dogs or sheep against tigers and leopards。 I bragged a little when I said I would take him prisoner； but I am going to make good my boast。〃
Then he rode forward at full speed。
Zhao Yun rode to meet him； and Xiahou Dun opened a volley of abuse； 〃You lot； followers of Liu Bei； are only like wraiths following devils！〃
This angered Zhao Yun and a bat began。 In a little time Zhao Yun turned and retreated as if he was worsted。 Xiahou Dun pressed after him and kept up the chase for some three miles。 Then Zhao Yun suddenly turned again and offered fight； but only to retreat after a few passes。
Seeing these tactics Han Hao； one of Xiahou Dun's generals； rode up to his chief and urged him to use caution； saying； 〃I fear he is trying to lead us into an ambush。〃
〃With such antagonists as these； I should not fear even Ten Ambushes；〃 replied Xiahou Dun； pressing forward eagerly。
Just as he reached the slope； he heard the roar of a bomb and out came Liu Bei to attack。
〃Here is your ambush！〃 said Xiahou Dun； laughing。 〃I will get to Xinye this evening before I have done。〃
Xiahou Dun urged his soldiers forward； and his opponents retired in measure as he advanced。 As evening came on； thick clouds overcast the whole sky。 The wind increased but the leader still urged his troops after the retreating foe。
The two generals in the rear came to a narrow part of the road with reeds and rushes thick all round them。
〃Those who despise the enemy are beaten；〃 said Li Dian to Yu Jin。 〃Away south there the roads are narrow； and streams and mountains make the country difficult。 The forests are dense； and if the enemy used fire we should be lost。〃
〃You are right；〃 replied Yu Jin。 〃I will get on and warn the manding General。 Perhaps he will stop。 You can halt those who e up。〃
Yu Jin rode forward shouting at the top of his voice； 〃Halt the train！〃
Xiahou Dun saw him ing up and asked what was the matter。
Yu Jin said； 〃The roads here are narrow and difficult。 Around us are thick forests。 What if they use fire？〃
Xiahou Dun's ferocity had then somewhat abated and he turned his steed toward his main body。
Then there arose a shout behind him。 A rushing noise came from in the reeds and great tongues of flame shot up here and there。 These spread and soon the fire was in 〃the four quarters and the eight sides；〃 and fanned by a strong wind。
Xiahou Dun's troops were thrown into confusion and trampled each other down。 Many perished。 Zhao Yun turned on them again to make a slaughter。 Xiahou Dun dashed through the fire and smoke to escape。
Now Li Dian saw that things were going very badly； so he turned to get back to Bowang but fell upon a body of troops in the way； led by Guan Yu。 He desperately dashed into their midst and managed to get clear。 Yu Jin saw the supplies were being destroyed and there was nothing left to guard； so he escaped along a bye…path。 Two other generals； who came to try to save the baggage train； met Zhang Fei； and Xiahou Lan was slain forthwith； but Han Hao managed to flee。 Next morning the countryside was strewn with corpses and drenched with blood。
The armies met on Bowang Slope
And Zhuge Liang fought with fire；
A perfect strategist； he bent
All humans to his desire。
But poor Cao Cao； his enemy；
He trembled in his shoes
Before the man； who'd never fought
But yet could armies use。
Xiahou Dun drew up the battered remains of his army and led them back to Xuchang。
Zhuge Liang ordered his armies to collect。
As Guan Yu and Zhang Fei rode homeward； they confessed； saying； 〃Zhuge Liang is really a fine strategist！〃
Before long they saw Mi Zhu and Mi Fang leading out a small body of soldiers。 Among them was a light carriage in which the Directing Instructor Zhuge Liang was seating。 Guan Yu and Zhang Fei dismounted and bowed before him。 The remaining bodies came in。 The spoil was distributed among the soldiers and all returned to Xinye； where the populace lined the roads to bid them wele。
〃We owe our lives to the Prince！〃 they cried to Liu Bei。
Said Zhuge Liang； 〃Xiahou Dun has been driven off； but Cao Cao will e with a stronger force。〃
〃And what shall we