〃The enemy will not dare to follow up their victory by a march on Chengdu。 So this capital is secure。〃
〃Why will they not？〃
〃Wei is behind their back： That is why。 Our lord will be pelled to shelter in Baidicheng。 I have already placed ten thousand troops in hiding at Fishbelly Creek。〃
〃Have you？ I have been up and down that creek three or four times without seeing a soldier。 I do not see the reason of telling lies to me；〃 said Ma Liang。
〃You will see。 Do not ask so many questions。〃
With the precious instructions which he had persuaded Zhuge Liang to draw up； Ma Liang hastened back to the imperial camp； while Zhuge Liang went to the capital to prepare a relief expedition。
The soldiers of Shu had bee slack and idle and no longer maintained adequate defense； wherefore Lu Xun perceived that his moment had arrived； and called his generals to his tent to receive orders。
〃There has been no fighting since I received our lord's mand。 I have spent the time in acquiring a knowledge of the enemy。 As a preliminary operation I want to capture a camp on the south bank。 Who volunteers？〃
Out stepped Han Dang and Zhou Tai and Ling Tong； all three at once； each crying that he wanted to be sent。 But they were sent back。 The mander…in…Chief did not want any of them。
Then he called up the junior general； Chunyu Dan； and said； 〃You will take the fourth camp on the south side。 The mander of that post is Fu Tong。 You may have five thousand troops。 I shall support you。〃
Chunyu Dan took the order and was gone。
Then Lu Xun summoned Xu Sheng and Ding Feng and said； 〃Each of you will take three thousand troops and bivouac two miles from the camp； so that if Chunyu Dan is repulsed and pursued； you can rescue him。〃
Chunyu Dan marched between the lights and reached the camp he was to capture just after the third watch。 His drums rolled； and he attacked at once。 The defenders came out led by Fu Tong； who； spear ready to thrust； rode straight toward the leader of the attack and forced him back。 Suddenly there arose the roll of other drums； and a cohort under Zhao Rong barred the way。 Chunyu Dan turned off along another road； escaping with loss of many troops。
But he was not yet safe。 Some distance farther he ran against the Mang tribesmen leader Shamo Ke。 However； Chunyu Dan avoided him also and went on his way； pursued now by three parties。 Soon he reached the spot two miles from the camp； and here the two leaders of Shu………Xu Sheng and Ding Feng………； who had been placed ready to afford succor； came out and stopped the pursuit。 When the enemy had retired； Chunyu Dan was escorted back to camp。
He was wounded； and with the arrow still undrawn he appeared before Lu Xun and apologized for his failure。
〃It was no fault of yours；〃 said the mander…in…Chief。 〃I wanted to test the force of our enemy。 My plan of attack is quite ready。〃
〃The enemy is very strong and will not be easily overe；〃 said Xu Sheng and Ding Feng。 〃We have now suffered great loss to no purpose。〃
〃This plan of mine would not hoodwink Zhuge Liang； but happily he is not here。 His absence will allow me to score a great success。〃
Then he summoned his generals to receive orders： 〃Zhu Ran is to lead the marine force。 He is to advance next day afternoon； when the southeast wind will serve。 His ships are laden with reeds and straw； which are to be used as ordered。 Han Dang is to attack the north bank； Zhou Tai the south。 Each soldier； in addition to his weapons； is to carry a bundle of straw or reeds； with sulfur and saltpeter hidden therein； and each has a piece of tinder。 They are to advance； and； when they reach the Shu camps； they are to start a conflagration。 But they are to burn only alternate camps； twenty in all； leaving the others untouched。 They are to advance and pursue the enemy until they capture Liu Bei。〃
The leaders received the orders and so set out。
The First Ruler was in his own camp； pondering over a plan to destroy the armies of Wu； when suddenly the staff that bore the great standard in front of his own tent fell over and lay on the ground。 There was no wind to account for this； so he turned to Cheng Jin and asked what it might portend。
〃It means only one thing： The troops of Wu will raid the camp tonight；〃 said Cheng Jin。
〃They will not dare after the slaughter of yesterday。〃
〃But suppose that was only a reconnaissance。 What then？〃
Just then a report came in that some troops of Wu could be seen； very far off； going along the hills eastward。
〃They are soldiers meant to put us in confusion；〃 said the First Ruler。 〃Tell the generals not to move； but let Guan Xing and Zhang Bao； with a small mounted force； go out to reconnoiter。〃
It was dusk when these two returned； and they then reported： 〃Fire is seen among the camps on the north bank。〃
The Emperor hastily bade Guan Xing go to rescue the north camps and Zhang Bao to the south to find out what was really happening。 And they started。
About the middle of the first watch the wind got up and blew strong from the east。 Then fire arose from the camp on the left of the First Ruler's own。 He was starting to extinguish this flame when another fire began in the camp on his right。 With the aid of the strong breeze both fires became fierce； and soon the trees caught。 A confused roar showed the gathering strength of the fire。 The soldiers of the burning camps were rushing into the First Ruler's own camp to escape the fire； and in their confusion they trampled on each other； so that many died。
Behind them came the troops of Wu bent on slaughter。 Ignorant of how many they might be； the First Ruler mounted and dashed for Feng Xi's camp； but that also was in flames； which seemed to rise to the very sky。 By this time flames were rising from both sides of the river； so that everything was as visible as by day。
Feng Xi leaped to his horse and fled； followed by a band of his mounted troops。 This small force ran against the soldiers of Wu under Xu Sheng。 A melee ensued； thereupon the First Ruler turned and galloped west。 Xu Sheng then left Feng Xi and went in pursuit。 Presently the Emperor saw a party of soldiers in the way and became greatly alarmed。
This was Ding Feng's army； and the First Ruler was between two foes。 In his terror he saw no possibility of safety； no road was open。 Just at this moment another cohort broke through to his side and rescued him。 The leader was Zhang Bao； and he led the Imperial Guards； who fled； taking the First Ruler with them。 As they marched along； they fell in with another force of Shu； the leader was Fu Tong； and he joined up with them。 The Wu army was still following when the fugitives reached Saddle Hill。 The two leaders； Zhang Bao and Fu Tong； were urging their lord to go to the top of this and out of immediate danger。 Soon Lu Xun arrived with his army and began to surround the hill。 Zhang Bao and Fu Tong held the road up the hill and kept the enemy from ascending。 From the summit could be seen flames all around； and the First Ruler witnessed the corpses of his soldiers lay about in heaps or floated in the streams。
Next day； the soldiers of Wu set themselves to firing the hill。 The First Ruler's remaining escort fled for their lives like rats； and their lord was in despair。 Suddenly he saw a general followed by a dozen horsemen cutting an alley through and ing up the hill。 As he drew nearer the Emperor recognized Guan Xing。
Guan Xing quickly leapt down； prostrated himself and said； 〃Your Majesty； the fire is gaining all round； and this place is not safe。 I request you to try to reach Baidicheng； and as many as possible will gather there。〃
〃Who will dare stay behind to keep off the enemy？〃 said the First Ruler。
Fu Tong volunteered； saying； 〃I will fight to death to guard the rear！〃
It was dusk when they started。 Guan Xing led the way； Zhang Bao protected the First Ruler； and Fu Tong guarded the rear。 They got their lord safely down the hill and away。 As soon as the troops of Wu noticed the flight； they pressed forward； each anxious to gain kudos by the capture of the Emperor's person。 Great armies of Wu； blotting out the sky and hiding the earth； went westward in pursuit。
The First Ruler ordered his soldiers to make fires of their clothing and other things in the road so as to hinder pursuit。
Zhu Ran marched up from the river to try to intercept the flight； and the noise of his drums was terrifying。
The First Ruler thought there was no possibility of escape from this force； and cried； 〃This is the end！〃
His two nephews dashed to the front to try to cut a way through； but returned wounded and bleeding。 And the noise of the pursuers came constantly nearer as they found their way along the valleys。 About the first glimpse of dawn the case seemed quite desperate。 But just at the worst they saw Zhu Ran's soldiers suddenly begin to break up and scatter； tumbling into streams and rolling down precipices。 Soon the reason was evident： A fearsome general leading a cohort came to their relief。
Once again the First Ruler was rescued from pressing danger； and this time the rescuer was Zhao Yun。 He had been in Jiangzhou； and news of the straits of his lord had reached him there。 He had set out forthwith。 Then he had seen the glow of the burnings and had marched toward it。 And thus he had arrived just at the moment to save his master when danger was most imminent。
As soon as Lu Xun heard that Zhao Yun had appeared； he ordered his troops to stop pursuit and retire。 Zhao Yun happening upon Zhu Ran； engaged him forthwith and in the first encounter slew Zhu Ran with a spear thrust。 And so the army of Wu were dispersed and retired； and the First Ruler got safely to the wall of Baidicheng。
But on the way thither his thoughts went back to his panions in misfortune； and he inquired after them anxiously。
〃Though I am safe； how about the other generals and soldiers？〃 asked the First Ruler。
〃The pursuers are close upon us； and we cannot wait for anything；〃 said Zhao Yun。 〃I wish Your Majesty to get into the city as quickly as possible。 While you are reposing yourself； we may try to rescue some of the leaders。〃
When the First Ruler entered Baidicheng； he was in sore straits； only having about a hundred men left。
A poet wrote concerning this victory of Lu Xun：
He grips the spear； he kindles fire； the camps are swept