So Huang Quan won over Yang Song； who led him to see his master。 To Zhang Lu again Huang Quan spoke forcibly and laid the matter before him so cogently that Zhang Lu promised his help。
But Yan Pu； one of Zhang Lu's officers； tried to dissuade him； saying； 〃This plead for help and offering of twenty counties are only their temporary tactics。 Liu Zhang and you are old enemies。 His promise is not to be trusted。〃
And another suddenly interjected； saying； 〃Useless I may be； but if you will give me troops； I will capture this Liu Bei and you will retain all your land。〃
The land's true lord goes west and then
Hanzhong sends forth its bravest men。
Who made this bold offer？ The next chapter will tell。
Main Next to Chapter 65 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 65
Chapter 65
Ma Chao Battles At Jiameng Pass；
Liu Bei Takes The Protectorship Of Yiazhou。
It was Yan Pu who thus opposed sending help to Liu Zhang。
Then Ma Chao rose and said； 〃I have been the recipient of much kindness from my lord； which I feel I can never repay adequately。 Now let me lead an army to take Jiameng Pass and capture Liu Bei。 Then； my lord； Liu Zhang will surely lose his twenty counties； and they shall be yours。〃
This offer rejoiced Zhang Lu； who sent away Huang Quan with a promise to help。 Then Zhang Lu told off twenty thousand for Ma Chao to lead。 Pang De was too ill to take part in the expedition； so he remained in Hanzhong。 Zhang Lu ordered Yang Bo to be Army Supervisor。 Ma Chao and Ma Dai chose a day to march to Jiameng Pass。
Meanwhile； the messenger sent to Chengdu by Fa Zheng had returned to Luocheng to report： 〃Zheng Du advised Liu Zhang to set fire to all the plains and valleys between the capital and the invaders； as well as the granaries； to move sway the people； and to stand solely on the defensive。〃
This news caused Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang great anxiety； for it would be a grave danger to them。 However； Fa Zheng was more sanguine。
〃Do not be anxious；〃 said he； 〃the plan would be extremely harmful； but it will not be carried out。 Liu Zhang will not do that。〃
Surely enough； very soon they heard that Liu Zhang had not adopted the suggestion； he would not remove the people。 It was a great relief to Liu Bei
Then said Zhuge Liang； 〃Now let us capture Mianzhu quickly； for； that done； Chengdu is as good as ours。〃
Liu Bei therefore told off Huang Zhong and Wei Yan to advance first。 When mander of Mianzhu； Fei Guan； heard of their advance； he ordered Li Yan to go out to stop them； and Li Yan led out three thousand troops。 The two sides being arrayed； Huang Zhong rode out and fought some half hundred bouts with Li Yan。 Neither was able to claim a victory； and so Zhuge Liang from the midst of the host ordered them to beat the gongs to cease from battle。
When Huang Zhong had got back to his side again； he said； 〃O Instructor； why did you sound the retirement just as I was getting the better of my opponent？〃
〃Because I saw that Li Yan was not to be overe by mere force。 Tomorrow you shall fight again； and then you shall lead him into the hills by the ruse of pretended defeat。 There will be a surprise awaiting him。〃
Huang Zhong agreed to try this plan； and so on the morrow accepted Li Yan's challenge when it was offered。 After about the tenth bout； Huang Zhong and his troops pretended to be worsted and ran。 Li Yan pursued and was quickly lured into the mountains。 Suddenly his danger flashed into his mind； and he turned to go back。
But he found Wei Yan's troops drawn up across his path。
From a hill top near by； Zhuge Liang cried； 〃You had better yield！ If not； there are bows and crossbows on both sides of you………all ready to avenge the death of our Pang Tong。〃
Li Yan dropped off his horse； threw aside his armor； and offered submission。 Not a soldier of his had been hurt。 The prisoner was conducted to Liu Bei； who was very affable and so won Li Yan's heart that Li Yan offered to try to seduce Fei Guan from his allegiance。
〃Though he is related to Liu Zhang； yet Fei Guan and I are very close friends。 Let me go and persuade him。〃
Wherefore Li Yan was sent back to the city to induce his chief to e over to Liu Bei's side。 Li Yan talked to such effect of the kindness and virtues of Liu Bei that Fei Guan was won over； opened the city gates； and admitted the invaders。
As soon as Liu Bei had entered Mianzhu； he set out his forces to take the capital。
While thus engaged； a hasty messenger came to tell of the doings at Jiameng Pass： 〃There suddenly appeared an army from the east under Ma Chao； Ma Dai； and Yang Bo。 They are attacking； and the Pass will certainly be lost if help is not sent quickly。〃
〃We need both Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun for this；〃 remarked Zhuge Liang。 〃Then we could oppose successfully。〃
〃But Zhao Yun is away；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃However； Zhang Fei is here。 Let us send him quickly。〃
〃Do not say anything； my lord；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃Let me stir him to fight his noblest。〃
But as soon as Zhang Fei heard of the danger； he came rushing in； shouting； 〃I must say farewell； brother！ I am off to fight Ma Chao。〃
However； Zhuge Liang made as if he heard not and said to Liu Bei； 〃That Ma Chao has invaded Jiameng Pass； and we have no one to drive him back。 Nobody can stand up to him； unless we can get Guan Yu from Jingzhou。 Guan Yu could do it。〃
〃Why do you despise me； O Instructor？〃 cried Zhang Fei。 〃Did I not once drive back a whole army with my mere voice？ Think you that I mind a stupid fool like Ma Chao？〃
Zhuge Liang said； 〃Yes； General； but when you forced back the waters and broke the bridge in the Long Slope； you succeeded because your enemies were doubtful。 If they had known； you would not have e off so easily。 Now； all the world knows this Ma Chao and has heard about his six battles at River Wei； and how he made Cao Cao cut off his beard and throw away his robe。 Ma Chao very nearly slew Cao Cao too。 This is no lightsome task like that； and even Guan Yu might fail。〃
〃All I care for is to go； and if I do not overe this fellow； I will take the consequences。〃
〃Well； if you will put that in writing； you may lead the attack。 And I will ask our lord to lead another army to back you up this time。 He can leave the defense of this town to me till Zhao Yun returns。〃
〃I also want to go；〃 said Wei Yan。
Wei Yan was allowed to go with five hundred of light horse in advance of Zhang Fei。 Liu Bei marched third。 Wei Yan and his scouts soon arrived at Jiameng Pass and there fell in with Yang Bo。 They engaged； but after a few bouts Yang Bo fled。
At this success Wei Yan was seized with ambition to rival it and try to snatch the credit that would fall to Zhang Fei。 So he pursued。 But he presently came across a line of battle all drawn up； the mander being Ma Dai。 Wei Yan； thinking it was the redoubtable Ma Chao； rode toward him whirling his sword。 Soon Ma Dai turned and ran away； and Wei Yan followed him。 However； Ma Dai presently turned back and shot an arrow； which wounded Wei Yan in the left arm； so that he left the pursuit and turned his face the other way。 Then Ma Dai came after him and chased Wei Yan nearly up to the Pass。
Here Ma Dai was suddenly confronted by a fierce thunder…roaring leader who dashed down from the Pass as on a flying steed。
It was Zhang Fei； who had just arrived。 Hearing the noise of battle below the Pass； Zhang Fei had e to learn what it meant and saw the arrow wound of Wei Yan。 Soon Zhang Fei was in the saddle and off to the rescue。 But before he engaged； he would ascertain if the foe was worthy of his steel。
〃Who are you？ Tell your name；〃 cried Zhang Fei； 〃then I may fight with you。〃
〃I am Ma Dai of Xiliang。〃
〃As you are not Ma Chao； go away quickly； for you are no match for me。 You may bid Ma Chao himself e； and tell him that Zhang Fei of Yan is here。〃
〃How dare you treat me with contempt？〃 cried Ma Dai in hot anger； and he came galloping up with his spear set ready to thrust。 But after a half score bouts he fled。
Zhang Fei was about to pursue when a rider came up to him hastily； crying； 〃Do not pursue； my brother。〃
The rider was Liu Bei； and Zhang Fei stopped。 The two returned together to the Pass。
〃I knew your impulsive temper； and so I followed you。 Since you have got the better of him； you may well rest and recuperate for the fight tomorrow with Ma Chao。〃
The rolling of drums at dawn next day declared the arrival of Ma Chao。 Liu Bei looked at the array from a point of vantage and saw Ma Chao emerge from the shadow of his great standard。 Ma Chao wore a lion helmet； and his belt was clasped with the shaggy head of a wild beast。 His breastplate was silver and his robe of white。 As his dress and bearing were so extraordinary； so were his abilities superior。 And Liu Bei looked at him； sighing admiringly。
〃He justifies what people say；〃 said Liu Bei； 〃Handsome Ma Chao。〃
Zhang Fei was for going down at once； but his brother once more checked him； saying； 〃No； not yet。 Avoid the first keenness of his fighting ardor。〃
Thus below was Ma Chao challenging Zhang Fei； while； above； Zhang Fei was fretting at being unable to settle Ma Chao。 Time after time Zhang Fei was setting out； but each time his brother checked him。 And so it continued till past midday； when Liu Bei； noticing signs of fatigue and weariness among Ma Chao's army； decided that it was time to let Zhang Fei try his fortune。 Whereupon Liu Bei chose out five hundred horsemen to acpany his brother and let the party go。
Ma Chao seeing Zhang Fei ing with so small a force； signaled with his spear to his array to retire a bowshot； and Zhang Fei's troops halted。 When all his troops had taken their places； Zhang Fei set serpent halberd and rode out。
〃Do you know who I am？〃 shouted Zhang Fei。 〃I am Zhang Fei of Yan！〃
Ma Chao replied； 〃My family having been noble for many generations。 I am not likely to know any rustic dolts！〃
This reply upset Zhang Fei； and in a moment the two steeds were rushing toward each other； both men with poised spears。 The fight began and continued for a hundred bouts。 Neither had the advantage。
〃A veritable tiger of a leader；〃 sighed Liu Bei。
But Liu Bei felt that Zhang Fei was running a risk； wherefore he sounded the gong as a signal to cease the fight。 And each drew off to his own side。 Zhang Fei rested his steed fo