the grasses。
〃That is the way to take Wakou Pass；〃 cried Zhang Fei； pointing with his whip to the wayfarers。
He ordered his soldiers not to scare the people； but to call a few gently and bring them to him。 They soon had several standing before their leader； who spoke to them kindly and put them at ease。
〃Whence e you？〃 asked Zhang Fei。
〃We belong to Hanzhong and are going home。 We heard that you were out fighting and the high road to Langzhong was blockaded； and so we have e across the Mist Torrent and Zitong Mountains and down River Guijin。 We are going to our homes in Hanzhong。〃
〃Can one reach Wakou Pass by this road？ And how far is it？〃
The country people replied； 〃A small road leads past to the rear of the Pass from Zitong Mountains。〃
For this piece of information Zhang Fei rewarded them by taking them into his camp and giving them a good meal。 Then he sent off Wei Yan to make a frontal attack on the Pass； while he himself with five hundred light horse attacked it from the rear by way of Mount Zitong。
Zhang He was grieved and disappointed that Cao Hong sent no help； and the news of Wei Yan's attack only added to his sorrow。 But he girded on his armor and was about to ride out when they told him that fires had started at half a dozen places behind the Pass。 They most likely indicated soldiers。 However； he went out to meet them； and； to his horror； when the flags opened out； his eyes fell on the figure of Zhang Fei。 Away he ran along a by…road。
But his steed was not fast； and as Zhang Fei pressed him close； Zhang He dismounted and ran up the mountain side。 So Zhang He escaped。 He had； however； some ten followers； and it was a small and dejected party that presently found its way into Nanzheng。 He saw Cao Hong； and Cao Hong was very angry at his plight。
〃I told you not to go； but you were willful。 And you gave in your written pledge。 You have lost all your soldiers； yet you do not mit suicide。 What will you do next？〃
Cao Hong ordered the lictors to put Zhang He to death。 But Marching General Guo Huai； interceded。
〃An army is easily raised； a leader is hard to find。 Though Zhang He is guilty； he is a great favorite with our prince。 I think you should spare him。 Rather give him mand of another army and send him to take Jiameng Pass and so hold up the soldiers at all the stations。 Hanzhong will be tranquil of its own accord。 If he fails a second time； you can punish him for both faults。〃
Cao Hong was satisfied to do this； and instead of dealing with his fault； he gave Zhang He five thousand troops and told him to take Jiameng Pass。
The manders of the Pass were Meng Da and Huo Jun。 They were at variance………Meng Da desiring to go out to meet Zhang He； but Huo Jun being in favor of defense。 Meng Da being set on having his way went out； gave battle； and was defeated。 Huo Jun reported this to the capital； where Liu Bei at once called in the Directing Instructor to ask advice。 Zhuge Liang assembled all the chief generals into the hall。
〃Jiameng Pass is in danger。 We must get Zhang Fei from Langzhong to drive off Zhang He；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
Fa Zheng replied； 〃Zhang Fei is encamped at Wakou Pass； and Langzhong is no less important than Jiameng Pass。 I do not think he should be recalled。 Choose one among the generals to go and defeat Zhang He。〃
Zhuge Liang laughed； 〃Zhang He is renowned in Wei。 No ordinary leader will avail。 Zhang Fei is the only man to send； the only one equal to the task。〃
Then among the generals one started up crying angrily； 〃Instructor； why do you thus despise us？ I will use what little skill I have in slaying our enemy and will lay his head at the foot of our standard。〃
The speaker was Veteran General Huang Zhong； and all eyes centered on him。
〃Friend Huang Zhong； you are bold enough； but what about your age？ I fear you are no match for Zhang He。〃
Huang Zhong's white beard bristled； and he said； 〃I know I am old。 But these two arms can still pull the four…hundred…fifty…pound bow； and the vigor of my body is not yet departed。 Am I not strong enough to meet such a poor thing as Zhang He？〃
〃General； you are nearly seventy。 Can you still hold you are not aged？〃
Huang Zhong tore down the hall。 Seizing one of the great swords off the rack； he whirled it as if it flew。 And the stiffest bow that hung on the wall； he pulled till it snapped。
〃Well； if you will go； who will second you？〃 said Zhuge Liang。
〃I would prefer Veteran General Yan Yan。 And if there is the least anxiety； well； here is this hoary head。〃
Liu Bei was pleased to let these two go to fight Zhang He。 However； Zhao Yun put in a protest。
〃Zhang He has already got through Jiameng Pass； so that the fighting will be no child's play； and the loss of that Pass endangers the whole of Yizhou。 It is no task to set to a couple of old men。〃
Replied Zhuge Liang； 〃You regard the two as too old to succeed； but I think the attainment of Hanzhong depends upon these two。〃
Zhao Yun and many others sniggered as they went from the hall。 They did not agree with Zhuge Liang。
In due course the two Veteran Generals arrived at the Pass。
At sight of them； Meng Da and Huo Jun； the defenders of the Pass； laughed in their hearts； thinking： 〃Zhuge Liang has slipped up in his calculations in sending such a pair of dotards on such an important mission。〃
Huang Zhong said to Yan Yan； 〃You see the behavior of these people？ They are laughing at us because we are old。 Now we will do something that will win admiration from all the world。〃
〃I should be glad to hear your orders；〃 replied Yan Yan。
The two generals came to a decision how to act。 Huang Zhong led his army down below to meet Zhang He in the open plain。 Both drew up their array。 When Zhang He rode out and saw his venerable opponent； he laughed in his face。
〃You must be very old； and yet you are unashamed to go into the battle； eh？〃 said Zhang He。
〃You menial！〃 replied the veteran。 〃Do you despise me for my age？ You will find my good sword； however； keen enough。〃
So he urged forward his steed and rode at Zhang He。 The two chargers met and a score of bouts were fought。 Then suddenly a great shouting came from the rear。 Yan Yan had e up and fallen upon the rear portion of Zhang He's army。 Thus attacked on two sides； Zhang He was defeated。 The pursuit did not cease with nightfall； and Zhang He was driven back near thirty miles。 Contented with this success； Huang Zhong and Yan Yan went into their camp； where they rested their soldiers for a time。
When Cao Hong heard of Zhang He's new defeat； he was going to exact the penalty。 But Guo Huai persuaded him to forbear。
〃If he is pressed too hard； he may take refuge in Shu；〃 said Guo Huai。 〃Rather send him help。 You will thus keep a hold over him and prevent his desertion。〃
Wherefore Xiahou Shang and Han Hao were sent with reinforcements。 Xiahou Shang was a nephew of Xiahou Dun； and Han Hao was the brother of Han Xuan； the late Governor of Changsha。 They had five thousand troops。
The two generals soon reached Zhang He； and asked how now the situation was going。
〃That old man Huang Zhong is really a hero；〃 said Zhang He； 〃and with Yan Yan's help he is very formidable。〃
〃When I was at Changsha； I heard the old man was very fierce。 He and Wei Yan yielded the cit