dge； where all the passers…by would be reminded of his loyalty。
Next day the army moved on to Luocheng； Yan Yan and the other generals who had submitted leading the way。
At the gate they hailed the defenders； 〃Open the gates and surrender； whereby the city should be saved from utter destruction！〃
From the wall； Liu Gui abused the treacherous Yan Yan and took his bow to shoot。 But just as Liu Gui was fitting the arrow to the string； another man cut him down。 Soon the gates were thrown open and the city had yielded。
As Liu Bei entered the city by one gate； Liu Xun； who had shared the mand of the city； escaped by another gate and set off for Chengdu。
Liu Bei put forth proclamations to allay the fears of the inhabitants of the city。 He inquired who had been on his side in cutting down Liu Gui and was told it was Zhang Yi of Wuyang。 Zhang Yi and all who had helped in the capture were amply rewarded。
〃Our next city is Chengdu；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃However； in the meantime there may be some trouble in pacifying the outlying counties； and hence it will be well for you to send Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun with Wu Yi； Zhang Yi； Yan Yan； and Zhuo Ying leading the way； into the country along the river and Changyang； Deyang； and Baxi to reassure the people and to repress any rising that may take place。 There will be no need for any especial precautions in the neighborhood of Chengdu。〃
The warriors went their ways； and then Zhuge Liang began to make careful inquiries concerning the road to Chengdu。
Those who had given in their allegiance to the invaders said； 〃The only place where you can expect any serious defense is Mianzhu。 Once you have passed this； the capital lies at your mercy。〃
Then Fa Zheng was consulted。
Said he； 〃With the fall of Luocheng； the West River Land passed to you。 Let our lord only deal with the people kindly and justly； and there will be no need of weapons。 I can write such a letter to Imperial Protector Liu Zhang as shall make him surrender at call。〃
〃That would be most excellent；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
The letter was written and sent by the hand of a messenger。
Liu Xun； son of the Imperial Protector； presently reached Chengdu and told his father of the loss of Luocheng。 The Imperial Protector at once called his counselors together。
Adviser Zheng Du said； 〃Although Liu Bei has been successful and captured cities and towns； yet his army is but small； his hosts are not near him； and he depends upon chance for his grain and has no proper supplies。 Therefore our best plan is to remove the people of Baxi and Zitong to the farther side of River Fu； burn all the granaries； fortify the city； and let starvation defeat him。 Let us reject all challenges to battle； and in a hundred days his troops will go off of their own accord。 Then we can do with him as we will。〃
〃I like not the plan；〃 said Liu Zhang。 〃Oppose invaders in order that tranquillity may prevail is a well…worn maxim； but till now I have never heard of disturbing the people in order to oppose the march of an enemy。 Your words are not such as safety。〃
Just at the moment the letter from Fa Zheng arrived。 It was opened and the Imperial Protector read：
〃I was sent to Jingzhou to negotiate an alliance； but the opposition of those about you to their lord has resulted in the present situation。 However； the ruler of Jingzhou still remembers old friendship and is mindful of the ties of relationship。 If you； my master； could reverse your policy and lend your support to your relative； I think you would be generously treated。 I hope you will consider this carefully。〃
Liu Zhang flew into a passion。 He tore the letter to fragments and began to abuse its writer； crying； 〃That traitor； ingrate； and renegade！ How dares he talk thus to me？〃
And Liu Zhang drove the bearer of the letter from his presence。 He then sent an army under the leadership of Fei Guan； his wife's brother； to reinforce Mianzhu。
Fei Guan at once remended as his assistant one Li Yan of Nanyang； and the two mustered their troops； thirty thousand； and set out for the city。
At this juncture Dong He； the Governor of Yizhou City； wrote advising to borrow aid from Hanzhong。
But Liu Zhang rejected this plan； saying； 〃It will be useless to try to obtain help from a region under the influence of our relentless enemy Zhang Lu。〃
Dong He replied； 〃He may be an enemy； but Liu Bei is in possession of Luocheng； and the situation is extremely dangerous。 When the lips are gone； the teeth are cold。 If you clearly indicate the dangers to him； he must e to our help。〃
So a letter was written and sent to Hanzhong。
Two years had elapsed since Ma Chao had been defeated and gone over to the Qiang tribes in the northwest。 He had made friends with them and with their aid had conquered portions of the West Valley Land。 His expeditions had been very successful； the people opening their gates at the first summons。 Only Jicheng had stood out； but ever this was on the point of yielding。 The Governor of Jicheng； Wei Kang； had sent many urgent appeals for help to Xiahou Yuan in Changan； who； however； would do nothing without his master's order。 Wei Kang was in despair； and at a council his officers advised him to yield。
However； one of them； Yang Fu； earnestly opposed yielding； saying； 〃We cannot surrender to a lot of rebels such as Ma Chao and his colleagues。〃
〃What is there to hope for？〃 asked Wei Kang despairingly。
Although Yang Fu besought Wei Kang with bitterness to hold out； it was useless。 Wei Kang rejected his advice； opened the city gates； and bowed his head in submission。
〃You only yield now as the last resource；〃 cried Ma Chao； angry at the delay he had suffered。 〃This is no real submission。〃
Whereupon he put to death Wei Kang and all his family to the number of two score。
But when they told Ma Chao that Yang Fu had been really responsible for the long delay； in that Yang Fu had urged his master to hold out； Ma Chao did not put him to death but praised him and said； 〃Yang Fu had but done his duty。〃
Ma Chao further showed his approval by employing Yang Fu and two of his friends in his own army。 These two friends were named Liang Kuan and Zhao Qu。
One day Yang Fu went to his new chief and said； 〃My wife has died in Lintao。 I wish to take leave for two months to bury her。〃
Wherefore Yang Fu was granted leave and went away from the army。 On the way； he went to his maternal cousin； General Jiang Xu； mander of Licheng。 The general's mother； then an old lady of eighty…two was Yang Fu's aunt。
When Yang Fu saw her； he wept before her； saying； 〃Behold an unfortunate man！ The city I had to defend is lost； my master is dead； and I have survived him。 I am ashamed to look you in the face。 Now this Ma Chao ravages the countryside； and everyone hates him。 Yet my cousin sits still and does nothing against Ma Chao。 Is this fitting conduct for a state servant？〃
Yang Fu wept bitterly。
The old lady was moved by his grief； called in her son and said to him reproachfully； 〃You are the cause of the evil that has e upon the noble Wei Kang。〃
Then turning once more toward Yang Fu； she said； 〃But what can now be done？ You have surrendered and； more than that； you have accepted service under your late enemy。〃
〃It is true；〃 replied Yang Fu。 〃I have surrendered and I have accepted service； but it is with the desire to preserve my miserable life till I can avenge my master。〃
〃Ma Chao is bold and difficult to destroy；〃 said Jiang Xu。
〃Not very difficult；〃 replied Yang Fu； 〃for though he is bold； yet he is unskillful。 Already I have two friends Liang Kuan and Zhao Qu by his side； and they would help against him if you； my brother； would only supply a force。〃
〃What is to be gained by delay？〃 then said the old lady。 〃Is there anyone who will not have to die？ To perish in the way of loyalty and righteousness is to die in the right path。 Do not think of me； for if you do； and heed not the call of your cousin； then will I die at once so that you may be free to make up your mind。〃
There was now no excuse for delay； and Jiang Xu had to act。 He summoned two of his officers； Yin Feng and Zhao Ang； and took counsel with them。
Now Zhao Ang had a son； Zhao Yue； who was an officer in the army of Ma Chao。 When Zhao Ang had to consent to take part against his son's chief； he became very unhappy and went home to talk over it with his wife； Lady Wang。
He said； 〃I have today been led into a scheme to destroy Ma Chao and avenge Wei Kang。 But there is our son there in Ma Chao's service； and Ma Chao will certainly put our son to death as soon as he hears that we are arming against him。 What is to be done？〃
But his wife replied angrily； 〃Should anyone grudge even his life to avenge his liege lord or his father？ How much less a son？ My lord； if you let the thought of your son stay your hand； then will I die forthwith。〃
This decided the matter； and without further parley Zhao Ang decided to share the expedition and set about preparations。 The army was soon on the way。 Jiang Xu and Yang Fu camped at the city of Licheng； Zhao Ang and Yin Feng camped at Qishan。 The wife of Zhao Ang sold her ornaments and went in person to her husband's camp to feast his soldiers。
The fears of Zhao Ang concerning the fate of his son were only too soon justified。 At the first news of the march of an army against him； Ma Chao beheaded the young Zhao Yue。 Then Ma Chao marched his force； together with Pang De and Ma Dai； to Licheng； and the troops under Jiang Xu and Yang Fu went out to oppose it。 The two leaders on the avenging side went to battle dressed in mourning white。
They railed at Ma Chao； crying； 〃Wicked traitor！ Rebel！〃
Ma Chao angrily dashed across toward them； and the fight began。 From the very first it was seen that the defenders of the city could not hope to beat off the attack； and they turned to flee。 Ma Chao pursued them。 But soon he heard the shouting of soldiers behind him and found the other army led by Zhao Ang and Yin Feng was attacking his rear。 Wherefore he was between two armies and had a double battle to fight。 As he turned toward that in his rear； Jiang Xu and Yang Fu returned again to the attack。 And while engaged with these two； there suddenly appeared a third force under Xiahou Yuan； who had just received orders from Cao Cao to e against Ma Chao。
Three attacks at once were too much for Ma Chao； and he fled； his force in utter confusion。 He retreated all that night and at dawn reached his own city of Jicheng。 He hailed the gate； but a flight of arrows was the response。 Soon after； Liang Kuan and Zhao Qu appeared and reviled him from the ramparts above。 More than this； they dragged his wife； Lady Yang； up upon the wall； hacked her before his face； and threw the bloody body at his feet。 They followed up this by the murder in like manner of his three sons and other members of his family to the number of ten and more。 And all their dead bodies were flung from the wall。
Rage and despair filled Ma Chao's bosom； he almost fell from his steed。 But little time was allowed to grieve； for Xiahou Yuan was nearly upon him。 Knowing that he could not oppose this force with any chance of victory； he made no battle line； but set off with two of his generals； Ma Dai and Pang De； to cut his way through such parties of the enemy as they might meet。 Their sole object was escape； so when they