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 on