me lead the van； I pray。〃
Zhuge Liang used all his skill to dissuade the veteran； but in vain。
Zhao Yun was set on it； saying； 〃If you； O Prime Minister； do not let me lead the van； I will smash my head on the floor and die at your feet。〃
At last Zhuge Liang yielded； saying； 〃General； you can have the post of Van Leader； but you must choose a colleague to support you。〃
〃I will go to help the Veteran Leader！〃 cried Deng Zhi； without a moment's hesitation。 〃I am not worth much； but I will help lead the attack on the enemy。〃
Accordingly five thousand of veterans were chosen for the advanced guard； and with them； to assist Zhao Yun； went Deng Zhi and ten other generals。
After the vanguard had set out； the main body marched by the north gate； the Latter Ruler himself going to see his minister start。 The farewell was taken three miles from the gate； in the face of the grand army with its banners and pennons flaunting in the wind； and spears and swords gleaming in the sun。
Then they took the road leading to Hanzhong。
Naturally； this movement was duly reported in Luoyang at a court held by Cao Rui； when a minister said； 〃A report from the border stations says that Zhuge Liang has marched three hundred thousand troops into Hanzhong。 Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi are leading the advanced guard。〃
The report alarmed Cao Rui； and he asked； 〃Who can lead an army to repel the advance？〃
At once out spoke one； saying； 〃My father died in Hanzhong； and to my bitter resentment his death is unavenged。 Now I desire to lead the army against Shu； and I pray that the armies west of the Pass may be given me for this purpose。 I shall render a service to the state； as well as taking vengeance for my father。 I care not what fate may befall me。〃
The speaker was Xiahou Yuan's son； Xiahou Mao。 He was by nature very impulsive and also very miserly。 When young he had been adopted by Xiahou Dun。 When Xiahou Yuan was killed by Huang Zhong； Cao Cao was moved and married Xiahou Mao to one of his daughters； Princess Qinghe； so that he was an Imperial Son…in…Law。 As such he enjoyed great deference at court。 But although he held a military mission； he had never been with the army。 However； as he requested the mand； he was made mander…in…Chief of the western armies and was ready to march。
But Minister of the Interior Wang Lang spoke against the appointment； saying； 〃The appointment is wrong。 Xiahou Mao； the Son…in…Law； has never seen a battle and is unsuitable for this post； especially when his opponent is the clever and crafty Zhuge Liang； a man thoroughly versed in strategy。〃
〃I suppose you have arranged with Zhuge Liang to be his ally；〃 sneered Xiahou Mao。 〃Ever since I was a boy； I have studied strategy； and I am well acquainted with army matters。 Why do you despise my youth？ Unless I capture this Zhuge Liang； I pledge myself never again to see the Emperor's face。〃
Wang Lang and his supporters were silenced。 Xiahou Mao took leave of the Ruler of Wei and hastened to Changan to get his army in order。 He had two hundred thousand troops from the western areas。
He would go to battle； take the signal flags in grip；
But could he play the leader； he a lad with callow lip？
The next chapter will deal with this campaign。
Main Next to Chapter 92 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 92
Chapter 92
Zhao Yun Slays Five Generals；
Zhuge Liang Takes Three Cities。
Zhuge Liang's army marched northward； passing through Mianyang； where stood Ma Chao's tomb。 In honor of the dead Tiger General； Zhuge Liang sacrificed there in person； Ma Chao's cousin………Ma Dai………being chief mourner for the occasion。
After this ceremony； when the mander…in…Chief was discussing his plans； the spies came in to report： 〃The Ruler of Wei； Cao Rui； has put in motion all western forces under Xiahou Mao。〃
Then Wei Yan went in to offer a plan； saying； 〃Xiahou Mao is a child of a wealthy family； soft and stupid。 Give me five thousand troops； and I will go out by Baozhong； follow the line of the Qinling Mountains east to the Ziwu Valley and then turn north。 In ten days I can be at Changan。 Hearing of my rush； Xiahou Mao will hasten to vacate the city。 Then he must flee by way of Royal Gate。 I will e in by the east； and you； Sir； can advance by the Xie Valley with the main army。 In this way all west of Changan will be ours in just one move。〃
Zhuge Liang smiled at the suggestion。
〃I do not think the plan quite perfect；〃 said he。 〃You are gambling by thinking there is no northerner worth considering guarding Changan。 If anyone suggests sending a force across to block the exit of the mountains； I am afraid we should lose five thousand troops； to say nothing of the check to our elan。 The plan will not work。〃
〃If you； O Prime Minister； march by the high road； they will bring against you the whole host Within the Passes and will thus hold you indefinitely。 You will never get to the Middle Land。〃
〃But I shall go along the level road on the right of Longyou。 I cannot fail if I keep to the fixed rules of war。〃
Wei Yan withdrew； gloomy and dissatisfied。
Then Zhuge Liang sent Zhao Yun orders for the advanced guard to move。
Xiahou Mao was at Changan preparing his force。 There came to him a general from Xiliang； named Han De； a man of great valor； whose weapon was a mighty battle…ax called 〃Mountain Splitter〃。 He brought with him eighty thousand of the Qiang tribesmen and offered his services。 They were gladly accepted； and his army was made the van of the attack。
This Han De had four sons； all very expert in archery and horsemanship。 They were named Han Ying； Han Yao； Han Qiong； and Han Qi； and they came to serve under their father。 Han De led his sons and the eighty thousand troops by the road to Phoenix Song Mountain； where they were near the army of Shu； and here they drew up the array。
When the battle line was in order； the father； with his four sons； rode to the front and began to revile their enemy； shouting； 〃Rebels and raiders！ How dare you invade our territory？〃
Zhao Yun quickly lost his temper； rode forward and challenged。 The eldest son； Han Ying； accepted and galloped out； but he was slain in the third bout。 Immediately his brother Han Yao went out； whirling his sword。 But now Zhao Yun's blood was up； and the old dash and vigor came upon him so that the young man had no chance to win the battle。 Then the third son； Han Qiong； took his great halberd and dashed out to his brother's aid。 Zhao Yun had now two opponents； nevertheless he held his own； nor blenched nor failed a stroke。 Seeing that his two brothers were nearing defeat； the fourth son Han Qi went to join in the fray with his pair of swords that he had named 〃Sun and Moon〃。 And there was the veteran warrior with three against him； and he still kept them at bay。
Presently a spear thrust got home on Han Qi； who fell。 Another general then ing out to take his place。 Zhao Yun lowered his spear and fled。 Han Qiong then took his bow and shot three arrows at the fugitive； who turned them aside so that they fell harmless。 Angry at this； Han Qiong again seized his halberd and went in pursuit。 But Zhao Yun took his bow and shot an arrow that wounded his pursuer in the face。 So Han Qiong fell and died。 Han Yao then galloped up and raised his sword to strike； but Zhao Yun slipped past； got within his guard and made Han Yao a prisoner。 Zhao Yun quickly galloped into his own array with his captive； dropped him and then； dashing out； recovered his spear； which had fallen when he seized his man。
Han De was overwhelmed with the loss of all his sons and went behind the battle array。 His Qiang tribesmen were too frightened at the prowess of Zhao Yun to be of any use in battle； and no one dared to meet the old warrior。 So they retired； while Zhao Yun rode to and fro among them slaying at his will。
I thought of brave old people； of Zhao Yun；
Who； in spite of numbered years three scores and ten；
Was marvelous strong in battle； who one day
Slew four opposing generals； as great as
When at Dangyang he had saved his lord。
Seeing the successful battle that Zhao Yun was waging； Deng Zhi led on his troops to join in the fight。 This pleted the disfiture of the Xiliang army； and they ran away。 Han De； seeing the danger of being captured； threw off his armor and went on foot。 The soldiers of Shu drew off and returned to their camp。
In camp Deng Zhi felicitated his veteran colleague。
〃For a man of seventy years； you are unique and wonderful；〃 said he。 〃You are as much the hero as you ever were。 It is almost an inparable feat to have slain four generals in one day。〃
〃Yet the Prime Minister thought me too old and did not wish to employ me。 I had to give him a proof。〃
The captive Han Yao was sent to the main body with the messenger who bore an account of the victory。
In the meantime； Han De led his defeated army back to his chief； to whom he related his sad story with many tears。 Then Xiahou Mao got angry and decided to lead his own army out against Zhao Yun。
When the scouts reported his ing； Zhao Yun took his spear and mounted his steed。 He led one thousand troops out to Phoenix Song Mountain； at the foot of which he made his array。 Xiahou Mao was wearing a golden casque； riding a white horse； and carrying a huge sword。 From his place beneath the great standard； he saw Zhao Yun galloping to and fro。 He was going out to give battle； when Han De checked him。
〃Is it not mine to avenge my four sons？〃 said Han De。
Han De seized his mountain…splitter ax； and rode directly at the warrior； who advanced with fury。 The contest was but short； for in the third encounter Zhao Yun's spear thrust brought Han De to the earth。 Without waiting a moment he made for Xiahou Mao； who hastily dashed in behind his ranks and so escaped。 Then Deng Zhi led on the main body and pleted the victory。 The force of Wei retired three miles and made a camp。
This first battle having gone against him； Xiahou Mao called his officers to consult。
He said； 〃I have heard Zhao Yun long ago； but have never met face…to…face。 Now though that warrior is old； he still has incredible prowess。 The story of Dangyang where he alone fought against a whole host and came out victor is really not fabricated。 But what to be done against such a champion？〃
Then Cheng Wu； son of Cheng Yu；