way through such parties of the enemy as they might meet。 Their sole object was escape； so when they fell upon Yang Fu and Jiang Xu； they only fought to get through； and in the same way they cut an alley through the army under Yin Feng and Zhao Ang。 However； they lost most of their few followers； and at the end had only some sixty horsemen left。
About the fourth watch they came to Licheng。 In the darkness； the gate guards； thinking only of the return of their own troops； opened the gates and unwittingly let in the enemy。 Once in the city Ma Chao and his followers began the slaughter； and everyone； soldier or mon person； was slain； till the city was swept clear from the south gate to the very center。
Presently they came to the residence of Jiang Xu and dragged forth his aged mother。 She showed no sign of fear； but reviled Ma Chao till in his anger he slew her with his own sword。 Thence they went to the house of Yin Feng and Zhao Ang and slew all they found therein。 The only person who escaped the massacre was Lady Wang； wife of Zhao Ang； who had acpanied her husband。
But the city proved no place of safety。 Xiahou Yuan with his army appeared the following day； and Ma Chao fled before him to the west。 But ere he had gone seven miles； he came face to face with another army drawn up in battle array。 Yang Fu was the leader。
Grinding his teeth with rage； Ma Chao set his spear and rode at Yang Fu； while his two generals； Ma Dai and Pang De； attacked the rear。 Yang Fu was overe； and his seven brothers who had gone with him into the battle were slain。 Yang Fu himself was wounded in five places； but still fought on till he was wounded down。
However； Xiahou Yuan had not left pursuing Ma Chao。 He came up to the city； and Ma Chao fled。 His army was now reduced to the two generals and about five or six of horsemen； and these few were left to go their way。
Cao Cao's general； Xiahou Yuan； set himself to restore order and tranquillity in the region of Xizhou； after which he apportioned its defense among Jiang Xu and other trustworthy manders。 The wounded leader Yang Fu was sent to the capital in a carriage。 When he arrived Xuchang； he saw Cao Cao who offered him the title of Lordship。
But Yang Fu declined the honor； saying； 〃I have neither the credit of a successful defense nor the merit of death with my master。 Death should be my portion rather than honors。 How could I accept the offer？〃
Cao Cao praised him and insisted on granting the lordship。
Having escaped from their pursuers； Ma Chao and his few followers decided to make for Hanzhong and offer their services to Governor Zhang Lu。 Zhang Lu received them gladly； for he thought with such help he could certainly get possession of Yizhou on the west as well as repel Cao Cao on the east。 More than this； he thought to cement the friendship by giving Ma Chao a daughter to wife。 But this displeased one of Zhang Lu's generals； Yang Bo。
〃The misfortune that befell Ma Chao's wife and family was entirely the fault of his own misconduct。 Would you give your daughter to such as he to wife？〃 said Yang Bo。
Zhang Lu again considered the matter and abandoned his intention。 But a certain busybody told Ma Chao what had been proposed and that Yang Bo had defeated the scheme。 Whereupon Ma Chao was very annoyed and sought to pass the death of Yang Bo。 Yang Bo and his brother； Yang Song； on the other side conspired to destroy Ma Chao。
At this time a messenger from Liu Zhang of Yizhou arrived in Hanzhong begging for assistance against the invader Liu Bei。 Zhang Lu refused help。 But then Huang Quan came on the same errand。 He first saw Yang Song and talked to him and brought him to favor the scheme。
Huang Quan said； 〃The East and West River Lands； which stand next each other as the lips are close to the teeth； are interdependent。 If Yizhou is lost； Hanzhong has little chance to survive。 On the other hand； once relieved by your help； Imperial Protector Liu Zhang will reward twenty counties to Hanzhong as pensation。〃
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 n