Then Zhuge Liang asked； 〃Whom do you belong to？〃
E Huan replied； 〃I am one of the generals under Gao Ding。〃
〃I know Gao Ding as a loyal and good sort； but he has been led away by this Yong Kai。 Now I shall release you； but you are to bring Gao Ding to his senses and see to it that he es to surrender and avoids grave disaster。〃
E Huan thanked him and withdrew。 He went to his own side and soon saw Gao Ding。 He told Gao Ding what Zhuge Liang had said； and Zhuge Liang's kindly feeling deeply affected Gao Ding。
Next day； Yong Kai came over to Gao Ding's camp to visit him。
After the exchange of salutations； Yong Kai asked； 〃How did E Huan manage to return？〃
〃Zhuge Liang released him out of pure kindness；〃 replied Gao Ding。
〃This is a ruse of his to separate you from me： He wishes to make us enemies。〃
Gao Ding almost believed this too； and he was much perplexed。
Just then the watchers reported that the leaders of Shu had e up and were offering battle。 So Yong Kai led out thirty thousand troops to take up the challenge。 But after the third encounter he fled。 Wei Yan pursued him and smote for a distance of seven miles。
Next day Yong Kai challenged； but the soldiers of Shu refused to fight； and remained within their lines for three days。 On the fourth day Yong Kai and Gao Ding divided their troops into two parts and came to attack the camp。 Now Zhuge Liang had told Wei Yan to wait for this double attack； and so when it came to pass； both divisions fell into an ambush and suffered great loss； many being killed and more captured。
The prisoners were taken to the camp； and the soldiers belonging to the two leaders………Yong Kai and Gao Ding………were confined separately。 Then Zhuge Liang told the soldiers to let it be known that only those belonging to Gao Ding would be spared； the others would be put to death。 When time had been given for this story to spread among the prisoners； Yong Kai's troops were brought up to the mander's tent。
〃Whose soldiers were you？〃 asked Zhuge Liang。
〃Gao Ding's；〃 cried they all； falsely。
Then they were all pardoned； and； after being given wine and food； they were taken to the frontier and set free。
Next the real Gao Ding's soldiers were brought forward； and the same question was put to them。
〃We all really belong to Gao Ding's mand；〃 said they。
In like manner they were pardoned and refreshed with wine and food。
Then Zhuge Liang addressed them； saying； 〃Yong Kai has just sent a messenger to ask that he may surrender； and he offers to bring with him the heads of Gao Ding and Zhu Bao as a proof of merit。 But I will not receive him； and you； since you are Gao Ding's soldiers； shall be released and allowed to return to him。 But let there be no ingratitude and fighting again； for if there is； I certainly will not pardon you next time。〃
So they thanked their liberator and went away。 As soon as they reached their own camp； they told the whole story。 Then Gao Ding sent a spy to the camp of Yong Kai to find out what was doing。 There the spy met those who had been released； and they were all talking about Zhuge Liang's kindness； and many of them were inclined to desert their own camp for the other。
Although this seemed very satisfactory； yet Gao Ding did not feel convinced； and he sent another man to Zhuge Liang's camp to try to verify the rumor。 But this man was captured and taken before the mander…in…Chief； who pretended that he thought the spy belonged to Yong Kai。
Zhuge Liang said to him； 〃Why has your leader failed to send me the heads of Gao Ding and Zhu Bao as he promised？ You lot are not very clever； and what are you e to spy out？〃
The soldier muttered and mumbled in confusion。
But Zhuge Liang gave the man wine and food； and then wrote a letter which he handed to the spy； saying； 〃You give this letter to your mander； Yong Kai； and tell him to get the job done quickly。〃
The spy took the letter and got away。 As soon as he reached camp； he gave the letter to Gao Ding and also the message。
Gao Ding read the missive and became very angry。
〃I have ever been true to him； and yet he wants to kill me。 It is hard to be either friendly or reasonable。〃
Then he decided to take E Huan into his confidence； and called him。
E Huan was much prejudiced in favor of Zhuge Liang； and said； 〃Zhuge Liang is a most benevolent man； and it would be ill to turn our backs upon him。 It is Yong Kai's fault that we are now rebels； and our best course would be to slay him and betake ourselves to Zhuge Liang。〃
〃How could it be done？〃 asked Gao Ding。
〃Invite him to a banquet。 If he refuses； it means he is a traitor； and then you can attack him in front while I will lie in wait behind his camp to capture him as he runs away。〃
They agreed to try this plan。 The banquet was prepared； and Yong Kai invited。 But as Yong Kai's mind was full of suspicion from what his returned soldiers had said； he would not e。 That night； as soon as darkness fell； Gao Ding attacked his camp。
Now the soldiers who had been released were imbued with the goodness of Gao Ding all quite ready to help him fight。 On the other hand； Yong Kai's troops mutinied against him； and so Yong Kai mounted his steed and fled。 Before he had gone far； he found his road blocked by the cohort under E Huan； who galloped out with his halberd and confronted the fugitive。 Yong Kai could not defend himself； and was struck down。 E Huan decapitated him。 As soon as they knew he was dead； his troops joined themselves to Gao Ding； who then went and surrendered to Zhuge Liang。
Zhuge Liang received Gao Ding sitting in state in his tent； but at once ordered the lictors to decapitate Gao Ding。
But Gao Ding said； 〃Influenced by your kindness； Sir； I have brought the head of my colleague as a proof of the sincerity of my surrender。 Why should I die？〃
〃You e with false intent。 Do you think you can hoodwink me？〃 said Zhuge Liang； laughing。
〃What proof have you that I am false？〃
Zhuge Liang drew a letter from his box； and said； 〃Zhu Bao sent this secretly to say he wished to surrender； and he said you and Yong Kai were sworn friends to death。 How could you suddenly change your feelings and slay him？ That is how I know your treachery。〃
〃Zhu Bao only tried to make trouble；〃 cried Gao Ding； kneeling。
Zhuge Liang still refused to believe him； and said； 〃I cannot believe you without more solid proof。 If you would slay Zhu Bao； I could take that as proving you were sincere in your surrender。〃
〃Do not doubt me。 What if I go and capture this man？〃
〃If you did that； my doubts would be set at rest。〃
Thereupon Gao Ding and his subordinate； E Huan； led away their troops to the camp of Zhu Bao。 When they were about three miles from his camp； Zhu Bao appeared with a cohort。 As soon as they recognized each other； Zhu Bao hastily came forward to parley。
But Gao Ding cried out to him； 〃Why did you write a letter to the Prime Minister and so intrigue with him to get me killed？〃
Zhu Bao stared open mouthed and could not reply。 Then E Huan rode out from behind his chief and struck Zhu Bao with his halberd so that he fell to the ground。
Thereupon Gao Ding shouted； 〃The soldiers should either yield or be slain！〃
And they yielded in a body。
Gao Ding then went back to Zhuge Liang and offered the head