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sions。 The only way for me to prove my gratitude is to make them all yield； as I myself have done。 Let me lead the advance； and I will summon them one by one to surrender。〃
Zhang Fei thanked him again and again； and the march on this plan began。 Whenever the army arrived at a post； Yan Yan summoned the mander； and there it ended。 Occasionally； one would hesitate； when Yan Yan would say； 〃You see I have submitted。 How much more ought you to do so？〃
These bloodless victories followed each other day after day； supporters rallying to the invaders without question。 They simply came。
In the meantime； Zhuge Liang was preparing。 Having decided upon the date of departure； he wrote to inform Liu Bei and made Luocheng the rendezvous for the various armies。 On receipt of this letter； Liu Bei assembled his officers and explained to them its purport。 He bade them be ready to march on the twenty…second day of the seventh month。 Both river and land forces were to set out the same day。
But the fiery old man Huang Zhong was dissatisfied that there should be no local victory in the River Fu Pass。
He said； 〃Day after day the enemy has e to challenge us； and day after day we have refused。 They must have grown lax； and I propose a night raid on their camp。 We shall catch them unprepared and shall score a victory。〃
Liu Bei agreed to try。 He arranged for a night raid； Huang Zhong on the right； Wei Yan on the left； and the center force under his own mand。 They set out at the second watch and soon arrived。 They found Zhang Ren's troops unprepared； rushed the camp； and set it on fire。 The flames were very fierce； and the troops of Yizhou fled in confusion and sought shelter in Luocheng。 They were admitted。 After pursuing them for some distance； Liu Bei made a camp。
Next day Liu Bei marched right up to the city to besiege it。 Zhang Ren kept quiet within and made no attempt to beat off the besiegers。 On the fourth day Liu Bei led an attack on the west gate； sending Huang Zhong and Wei Yan to attack the east。 The north and south gates were left to give the besieged a chance to escape if they would。
Now； outside the south gate of Luocheng the country was rough and hilly； while the swift River Fu ran past the north。 For this reason the city could not be surrounded。 From the city wall； Zhang Ren watched the progress of the attack and saw Liu Bei the whole day indefatigably going to and fro directing the assault。 He also saw that as the sun dropped toward the west； the attacking force showed signs of weariness。 Wherefore he sent his two generals； Wu Lan and Lei Tong； out of the city by the north gate with orders to make their way around and attack Huang Zhong and Wei Yan。 Zhang Ren set himself to go out by the south gate and steal around to attack Liu Bei。 Lest the withdrawal of troops from the ramparts should discover his plans； he sent the populace up on the walls to make a show and bade them shout loudly to reinforce the rolling of the drums。
At sundown Liu Bei ordered the retirement of his army； and the rearmost pany turned about to march back to camp。 At this moment arose still louder shouting from the ramparts； and out at the south gate burst Zhang Ren and his force。 Zhang Ren made straight for Liu Bei； who was in the middle of his army。 Liu Bei's soldiers were thrown into confusion。 As his two generals on the east side were also attacked； they could render no help； and Liu Bei fled to the hills。 Zhang Ren followed and soon got very near。 They were a whole pany pursuing one solitary man； and as Liu Bei plied his whip he felt that the odds were much against him。 Just then he saw another pany of soldiers ahead； emerging from a hill path。
〃An ambush in front； pursuers in rear！ Surely Heaven wishes to destroy me！〃 cried Liu Bei。
But all was not lost。 As they drew nearer； he recognized his own troops； and the leader who dashed to meet him was his brother Zhang Fei。
Zhang Fei and Yan Yan had happened to take that road； and Zhang Fei had hastened forward when he saw the dust of conflict。
Zhang Fei and Zhang Ren soon came up with each other； and they fought ten bouts。 By this time Yan Yan with the main body had e up； and Zhang Ren turned and fled。 Zhang Fei followed and chased him as far as the city wall。 The gate was opened to allow Zhang Ren to enter and at once shut。 The drawbridge was raised。
Then Zhang Fei returned to his elder brother to report his arrival and the incidents of the way。
Hearing that Zhuge Liang had not yet arrived； Zhang Fei rejoiced； saying； 〃So I have the credit of first arrival； although he is traveling by river。〃
Liu Bei said； 〃But how is it you have e so quickly seeing the precipitous road you had to travel？ Did you meet no opposition？〃
Zhang Fei replied； 〃The fact is I have taken the forty…five garrisons on the way by making use of General Yan Yan； whom I captured。 It was not my own merit at all。 I have e all the way without the least effort。〃
Zhang Fei told the story of Yan Yan's capture and services from beginning to end； and then presented the man himself。
Liu Bei said； 〃General； my brother's speedy arrival is certainly owing to your help。〃
Whereupon Liu Bei took off the golden chain mantle he was wearing and gave it to his new ally。
Orders were given for a banquet。
While it was being prepared； a messenger came to report； saying； 〃Huang Zhong and Wei Yan had been fighting with Wu Lan and Lei Tong and had held their own； till enemy reinforcements led by Wu Yi and Liu Gui arrived。 Huang Zhong and Wei Yan then fled eastward。〃
Zhang Fei at once asked his brother to go with him to rescue them。 Both went。 When Wu Yi and Liu Gui saw the army of Jingzhou ing； they retired into the city。
Wu Lan and Lei Tong continued the pursuit。 The ing of Liu Bei and Zhang Fei threatened their rear； and Huang Zhong and Wei Yan turned and remenced the battle。 Wu Lan and Lei Tong were thus between two fires and helpless。 They offered to surrender and were received。 Liu Bei returned to his own camp near the city。
The loss of his two generals grieved Zhang Ren sorely。 He called his remaining two and asked advice。
Wu Yi and Liu Gui proposed； saying； 〃This situation calls for one desperate battle； where we can hope to repel the enemy。 Meanwhile you should send to Chengdu to tell our master of our current plight。〃
Zhang Ren agreed。 Said he； 〃Tomorrow I will go and challenge them。 If they accept and e out to fight； I will feign retreat and inveigle them round to the north side of the city。 As they follow me； a sortie must be made when they pass the gate so as to cut their army in two。 We ought to overe them in this way。〃
〃Let me lead the sortie；〃 said Wu Yi。 〃General Liu Gui can stay to help our lord's son Liu Xun guard the city。〃
This also was agreed to。 Next morning Zhang Ren went out to offer the challenge； his troops waving flags and shouting lustily。 At once Zhang Fei took up the challenge and rode out。 He stayed not to parley； but galloped up to Zhang Ren and engaged him。 After about ten bouts Zhang Ren seemed to be getting worsted； so he turned and fled； taking the way around the north of the city。 Zhang Fei pursued him with all speed。 Then as he passed the gate； Wu Yi made a sortie so that Zhang Fei was between two forces and unable to get clear。 Zhang Ren turned back to attack。
Zhang Fei seemed in a parlous state。 But at this very moment a body of soldiers came up from the riverside and a fierce warrior rode straight for Wu Yi； and in the first bout made him prisoner； his troops were then forced back； and Zhang Fei was free。 It was Zhao Yun who had so opportunely appeared。
〃Where is the Directing Instructor？〃 asked Zhang Fei。
〃He has arrived。 I think he has already seen our lord；〃 replied Zhao Yun。
The prisoner was carried to the camp where Zhuge Liang was。 Zhang Fei dismounted and went in to greet him。
Zhuge Liang was surprised； and said； 〃How es it that you arrived before me？〃
Liu Bei told the story of Zhang Fei's prudence and sagacity in dealing with Yan Yan。
Zhuge Liang congratulated Zhang Fei and said； 〃When Zhang Fei behaves with such skill； my lord's good fortune is indeed ample。〃
When the prisoner was taken in； Liu Bei asked him if he would surrender。
Wu Yi replied； 〃Why not； seeing I am a prisoner？〃
Thereupon Liu Bei himself loosed his bonds。 Zhuge Liang began to question him upon the defense。
Wu Yi told him the names of the officers； saying； 〃The son of the Imperial Protector； Liu Xun； and his generals Liu Gui and Zhang Ren are the defenders。 Liu Gui does not count for much； but Zhang Ren is a man to be avoided。〃
〃Then before we can get the city； we must capture Zhang Ren；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃There is a bridge on the east。 What is it called？〃
〃It is known as 'Golden Goose Bridge'。〃
Zhuge Liang rode over to the bridge and scrutinized the neighborhood。
After his return to camp； he summoned Huang Zhong and Wei Yan for orders。
To them he said； 〃On the east of the city is a bridge called Golden Goose Bridge； and about two miles south of this I saw a dense growth of reed and sedge which would afford excellent shelter。 Wei Yan is to lead a thousand spearmen to the left and attack； but only attack horsemen。 Huang Zhong will lead a thousand swordsmen who are to cut the horses。 When Zhang Ren has lost most of his troops a