uchsafe a word more； and the four generals took leave and descended the hill。
〃One must have faith in such as he says；〃 said Liu Gui。
〃What is to be gained by listening to the sayings of a daft old man？〃 replied Zhang Ren。
So they continued their road to Luocheng。
When they arrived； Liu Gui said； 〃Luocheng is the throat of the road to Chengdu。 We must create a pincers defense for the city。 Two of us are to guard the ramparts while the other two are to station themselves in front of the city； where is a point of vantage sheltered by some hills。〃
Thus Deng Xiang and Ling Bao wanted to build the ramparts outside the city。 Twenty thousand troops were told off。 The two generals went to establish two camps in two stockades twenty miles away； hoping to be able to keep the foe away from the city。
The River Fu Pass being captured； Liu Bei took counsel with his adviser as to the next point to be attempted。 This was Luocheng。
The scouts reported： 〃Liu Zhang has sent four generals to the defense of that city； and two camps has been established twenty miles away to form an ox horn。〃
Then Liu Bei assembled his officers and asked who would go to attack the camps。 The veteran Huang Zhong offered himself。
〃Veteran General； take your own troops and go；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃A goodly reward shall be yours if you capture the two camps。〃
Huang Zhong thanked his lord and was just leading away his troops when suddenly up spoke a youthful leader； saying； 〃The General is too old to go on such an expedition。 I am of poor ability； but I wish to take his place。〃
The speaker was Wei Yan。
Huang Zhong replied； 〃I already have my mission。 Why should you wish to supplant me？〃
〃Because the task is beyond an old man's strength；〃 said Wei Yan。 〃The two generals in those camps we know are the best and boldest in the country。 They are strong； and； veteran as you are； I fear you will be unable to overe them。 If you fail； our lord's great design will be hindered。 Therefore I ask that I may replace you； and my intent is kindly。〃
This reminder of his age angered the old man。
〃Old； am I？ Dare you pete with me in the use of warlike weapons？〃 said Huang Zhong。
〃Yes； I dare。 And our lord shall be the judge。 The winner shall undertake this expedition。 Do you agree？〃
Huang Zhong ran down the steps and called to his soldiers to bring his sword。
But Liu Bei would stop this contest and said； 〃I have need of both of you in the task that lies before me。 When two tigers fight； one is sure to lose； and the loss of either of you is more than I could bear。 Be reconciled and quarrel no more。〃
〃You two must not quarrel；〃 said Pang Tong。 〃But as there are two camps to be taken and two generals to fight； take one each and let each lead his own troops。 The first to capture his camp shall be held to have rendered the greater service and to have acquired the greater merit。〃
This decision pacified them； and it was settled that Huang Zhong； the veteran； should go against Ling Bao； and Wei Yan； the younger leader； should attack Deng Xiang。
But after they had marched away； Pang Tong remended； 〃You； my lord； should follow them lest they should quarrel on the way。〃
So leaving the city of Fucheng in care of his adviser； Liu Bei also marched； taking with him Liu Feng； his adopted son； and Guan Ping； his nephew by adoption。 They took five thousand troops。
After having received the mand to take one of the camps； Huang Zhong went to his own camp and issued orders for the morning meal to be ready very early； and for everyone to be in marching order by daybreak。 When the time arrived； his army set out； taking the road through a gully to the left of the hills。
But early as Huang Zhong started； his rival had stolen a march on him。 Wei Yan had sent over the night before to find out the hour fixed for Huang Zhong's start and had arranged his own departure a watch earlier； by which he would be able to reach his objective at dawn。 After Wei Yan's troops had taken their early meal； they removed the bells from the horses end put gags in their own mouths to prevent talking； and all…silently the army stole out of the camp just as the other party were eating their breakfast。 The ensigns were furled and weapons covered lest the glint of steel should betray their movement。
Thus far successful in getting the start of his rival； Wei Yan thought as he rode along what a fine score he would make if he anticipated Huang Zhong also in his attack and captured the camp of Ling Bao before Huang Zhong could get there。 Wei Yan at once deviated from his own line and marched toward the camp defended by Ling Bao； of which the capture had been assigned to Huang Zhong。
Just before arrival； Wei Yan halted his troops and bade them prepare the drums and ensigns and their weapons。
Early as it was； yet the camp mander was on the alert； for the advancing force had been observed by his scouts。 At the first sign of attack； the defenders poured out in full force。 Wei Yan galloped up and made straight for Ling Bao。 These two fought twenty or so of bouts； and then the troops of West River Land came up and joined in the battle。 The troops of Jingzhou under Wei Yan having marched a long distance； were fatigued and could not withstand this onslaught； so they fell back。 Wei Yan heard the confused sound of hoofs behind him and； giving up all thought of finishing his encounter with Ling Bao； turned his horse and fled。 The troops of West River Land kept up the pursuit； and the attackers were defeated and retired。
They had gone about two miles when another army of Yizhou appeared from behind some hills。 They advanced with heating drums。 Their leader； Deng Xiang； shouted to Wei Yan to surrender； but Wei Yan heeded him not； whipping up his steed he fled the faster。 However； the tired horse tripped and fell on its knees； throwing its rider to the ground。 Deng Xiang's forces came galloping up； and he himself set his spear to thrust and slay Wei Yan。 Before the spear could get where it was supposed to be； twang！ went a bowstring； and Deng Xiang lay prone upon the earth。
Ling Bao； Deng Xiang's colleague； rode up quickly to his rescue； but just then a body of horse came dashing down the hill； and their leader shouted； 〃General Huang Zhong is here！〃
With uplifted sword Huang Zhong rode toward Ling Bao； who turned his steed and galloped off to the rear。 Huang Zhong pursued； and the army of Yizhou were thrown into confusion。 So Huang Zhong was able to rescue his colleague Wei Yan。 Huang Zhong had thus slain Deng Xiang and forced his way up to the gate of the camp。 Once again Ling Bao came and engaged Huang Zhong。 The two had fought some ten bouts when appeared another body of soldiers。 Thereupon Ling Bao fled again； and this time he made for the other camp； abandoning his own to the troops of Jingzhou。
But when he drew near his camp； he saw no longer the familiar flags of his own side。 Instead； alien banners fluttered in the breeze。 He checked his steed and stared at the new force。 The leader was a general wearing a silver breastplate and clad in a silken robe； no other than Liu Bei himself。 On his left was his son and on his right rode his nephew。
〃Whither would you e？〃 cried Liu Bei。 〃The camp is ours。 I have captured it。〃
Now Liu Bei had led his troops in the track of the other two armies ready to help either in case of need。 He had e across the empty and undefended camp and taken possession。
Left with no place of refuge； Ling Bao set off along a byway to try to get back to Luocheng。 He had not gone far when he fell into an ambush and was taken prisoner。 Bound with cords he was taken to the camp of Liu Bei。
The ambush had been prepared by Wei Yan； who； knowing he had mitted a fault that could in no wise be explained away； had collected as many of his soldiers as he could find and made some of the captured soldiers of Yizhou guide him to a spot suitable for laying an ambush。
Liu Bei had hoisted the flag of amnesty for his enemies； and whenever any soldier of the West River Land laid down his weapons and stripped off his armor he was spared。 Also all the wounded were granted life。 Liu Bei told his enemies that they had liberty of choice。
He said； 〃You soldiers have parents and wives and little ones at home； and those who wish to return to them are free to go。 If any wish to join my army； they also will be received。〃
At this proof of generosity the sound of rejoicing filled the land。
Having made his camp； Huang Zhong came to Liu Bei and said； 〃Wei Yan should be put to death for disobedience！〃
The culprit was summoned and came； bringing with him his prisoner。 Liu Bei decided that the merit of capturing an enemy should be set against his fault and bade him thank his rescuer； enjoining upon them both to quarrel no more。 Wei Yan bowed his head and confessed his fault； and Huang Zhong was handsomely rewarded。
The prisoner was then taken before Liu Bei to decide upon his fate。 Liu Bei loosened Ling Bao's bonds by his own hands and gave him the cup of consolation。 After he had drunk； Liu Bei asked if he was willing to surrender。
〃Since you give me my life； I can do no other；〃 said he。 〃Moreover； my two panions； Liu Gui and Zhang Ren； and I are sworn to live or die together。 If you will release me； I will return and bring them also to you and therewith you will get possession of Luocheng。〃
Liu Bei gladly accepted the offer。 He gave Ling Bao clothing and a horse and bade him go to the city to carry out his plan。
〃Do not let him go；〃 said Wei Yan。 〃If you do； you will never see him again。〃
Liu Bei replied； 〃If I treat humans with kindness and justice； they will not betray my trust。〃
So the prisoner was set free。
When Ling Bao reached the city and saw his two friends； he told them； saying； 〃I slew many of the enemy and escaped by mounting the steed of one of them。〃
Ling Bao said no word of having been captured。 Messengers were sent in haste to Chengdu for help。
The loss of his general； Deng Xiang； disturbed the Imperial Protector greatly。 He called his advisers together to consult。
Then his eldest son； Liu Xun； said； 〃Father； let me go to defend Luocheng。〃
〃You may go； my son； but who is there to go with you？〃
One Wu Yi at once offered himself。 He was brother…in…law to Liu Zhang。
Liu Zhang said； 〃It is well that you go； brother…in…law； but