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 for a time； then； leaving his helmet； he wound a turban about his head； mounted； and rode out to renew the fight。 Ma Chao also came out； and the duel continued。
Presently Liu Bei thought his brother in danger。 So he girded on his armor and went down into the plain。 He watched till they had fought another hundred bouts； and then as both seemed to wax fiercer than ever； he gave the signal again to cease the battle。 Both drew off and returned each to his own side。
It was then getting late； and Liu Bei said to his brother； 〃You had better retire for today。 He is a terrible opponent。 Try him again tomorrow。〃
But Zhang Fei's spirit was roused； and it was unlikely that such advice would be palatable。
〃No；〃 shouted he； 〃I will die and not e back！〃
〃But it is late。 You cannot go on fighting；〃 said Liu Bei。
〃Let them bring torches； and we will have a night battle；〃 said Zhang Fei。
Ma Chao having mounted a fresh steed； now rode out and shouted； 〃Dare you try a night battle； Zhang Fei？〃
Zhang Fei's excitement rose higher。 He hastily changed horses with his brother and rode forth。
〃If I do not capture you； I will not go back to the Pass；〃 said Zhang Fei。
〃And if I do not overe you； I will not return to the camp；〃 said Ma Chao。
Both sides cheered。 They lit many thousand torches till it seemed as light as day； and the two great generals went to the front to fight。 At the twentieth bout Ma Chao turned his steed and tied。
〃Whither are you going？〃 called out Zhang Fei。
The fact was that Ma Chao had begun to see he could not win in direct and simple bat； so he thought to try a ruse。 By a false flight； as though he knew he had lost； he would inveigle Zhang Fei into pursuit。 He picked up a copper mace secretly and kept a careful watch on his opponent for the most favorable moment to strike。 But Ma Chao's flight only put Zhang Fei upon his guard； and when the moment came for the blow with the mace he dodged； so that the weapon flew harmlessly past his ear。 Then Zhang Fei turned his horse。 Whereupon Ma Chao began to pursue。 Then Zhang Fei pulled up； took his bow； fitted an arrow to the string； and let fly at Ma Chao。 But Ma Chao also dodged； and the arrow flew by。 Then each returned to his own side。
Then Liu Bei came out to the front of his battle line and called out； 〃Note well； O Ma Chao； that I； who have never treated people other than with kindness and justice and truth and sincerity； swear that I will not take advantage of your period of repose to pursue or attack。 Wherefore you may rest awhile in peace。〃
Ma Chao； hearing these words； withdrew guarding the rear； and the other generals one by one returned； while Liu Bei drew off his army toward the Pass。
Early next day Zhang Fei was once more going down out of the Pass to fight； when they told him that the Directing Instructor had arrived。 Liu Bei went to receive him； and Zhuge Liang at once began to speak of Ma Chao。
〃He is the most terrible leader of the age。 If he fights a desperate battle with Zhang Fei； loss of a general will ensue。 So I have e as quickly as I could。 I left Mianzhu in the safe hands of Zhao Yun and Huang Zhong。 I think I have a little ruse left that will bring Ma Chao over to our side。〃
〃Now I have seen the man。 I greatly admire him；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃If we could only win him over！〃
〃Then listen； my lord；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃Zhang Lu greatly desires the title of 'Prince of Hanzhong。' Among his most intimate subordinates； I know Yang Song open to bribery。 So we will send a person secretly to see him and give him gold and silver and so win his support。 This done； we will write to Zhang Lu and tell him that you are set upon taking Yizhou from its present ruler； which will give an opportunity to wipe out the enmity he has so long nourished against Liu Zhang； and that the reward of his remaining firmly on our side to the end will be that you will memorialize the Throne for the coveted title for him。 This will make him order Ma Chao to return； and； when that is done； I shall find a means of winning him over。〃
Liu Bei wrote a letter and sent it by the hand of Sun Qian together with gold and pearls。 Sun Qian went by secret roads to give these to Yang Song。 And when he found Yang Song and explained his mission in private； he was quickly led into the presence of Zhang Lu。
〃How can Liu Bei memorialize the Throne to confer on me the rank of a prince when he is but a simple General himself？〃 asked Zhang Lu； when he understood the offer and its conditions。
〃He is an Imperial Uncle；〃 said Yang Song。 〃With such a rank he could present such a memorial。〃
Zhang Lu assented。 He sent orders to Ma Chao to cease fighting； and Sun Qian remained as the guest of Yang Song till he should see whether Ma Chao would obey the mand。 Before long the messenger returned with a word from Ma Chao that he could not cease fighting till he had been successful。 A second and third messenger returned with a similar response。
〃This Ma Chao is untrustworthy；〃 said Yang Song。 〃He will not withdraw his soldiers because he contemplates rebellion。 That is the real reason。〃
Yang Song set stories afloat rumoring： 〃Ma Chao desires to make himself the ruler of the west and has said that he will no longer be content with subordinate rank。 And he means to avenge the death of his father。〃
The rumors came to the ear of Zhang Lu； and he asked Yang Song what should be done。
Yang Song proposed； saying； 〃Give Ma Chao a limit of a month in order to acplish his task； provided he consents to three conditions。 And if he does not agree； he will have to be put to death。 The three conditions are the capture of West River Land； the head of Liu Zhang； and the repulse of the Jingzhou troops。 If he fails in anyone of these； just bring his head。 Meanwhile； Zhang Wei should be sent as guard at one of the strategic points which will control Ma Chao's army in case of rebellion。〃
When Ma Chao heard the three demands made on him； he was greatly troubled； saying； 〃What can such a charge mean？〃
After taking counsel with Ma Dai； it seemed best to suspend fighting； and the army returned。
But Yang Song had not yet attained his end； so he said to Zhang Lu； 〃Ma Chao's return with an army will be a danger； and hence all the points of vantage on the homeward road must be guarded so that to stop him。〃
Thus Ma Chao was helpless and could see no way out of the difficulty。
Then Zhuge Liang said to his lord； 〃Now is my chance to use my little three inches of unworn tongue。 Ma Chao is in a fix。 I am going to his camp to persuade him to e over to your side。〃
〃But I do not like you to run such a risk； Instructor。 You are my most necessary support； and if anything happened to you； what should I do？〃
Zhuge Liang was set upon going and persisted in his request。 Liu Bei again and again refused。 At this juncture a messenger came with letters from Zhao Yun。 Liu Bei called him in and questioned him。 He was Li Hui of Jianning； the man who had formerly remonstrated so earnestly with Liu Zhang。
〃You once pleaded with your master to keep me out。 Why are you here now？〃
〃Because the prudent bird chooses its perch； and the wise person his master。 I did attempt to dissuade Liu Zhang of Yizhou from a course which I felt to be disastrous； and thereby fulfilled my duty as his servant。 He rejected my counsel； and I knew he would fail。 Your liberality； O General； has won over all the region； and success must be yours。 I wish to serve under your banner。〃
〃Your services will surely be of great advantage to me； Sir；〃 said Liu Bei。
Then Li Hui began to talk of Ma Chao； 〃I knew him when we were in West Valley Land together。 He is now in great straits； and I may be able to talk him over。 What say you？〃
〃Just the man to go instead of me；〃 interjected Zhuge Liang。 〃But what arguments will you use？〃
Li Hui leaned over and whispered in his ear thus and thus。 What he said seemed to please Zhuge Liang mightily； and he was bidden to go forthwith。
Arrived at the camp； Li Hui sent in his name； at which Ma Chao remarked； 〃Yes； I know him………a glib and specious persuader。 I know what he has e for； too。〃
So Ma Chao placed a score of armed ruffians in hiding about his tent and told