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〃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 city to Liu Bei and killed my own brother。 Now that I shall meet him； I can have my revenge；〃 said Han Hao。
So he and Xiahou Shang led out the new army。
Now； by means of spies Huang Zhong had got a thorough knowledge of the country。
Yan Yan said； 〃Hereabout there is a mountain named Tiandang Mountain wherein Cao Hong has stored his supplies。 If we can gain its possession； we shall reduce the enemy to want and we shall get Hanzhong。〃
Huang Zhong replied； 〃I think so； too； and so let us do so and so。〃
Yan Yan agreed with him and marched off with a body of troops to carry out his part in the stratagem。
At news of the ing of new armies； Huang Zhong marched out to meet them。 He found Han Hao in front of his array； and Han Hao began to abuse the veteran； shouting out； 〃Disgraceful old ruffian！〃
Then Han Hao whipped up his steed and set his spear at Huang Zhong。 Xiahou Shang also rode out and took part in the bat。 The veteran held them both at bay for some half score bouts and then fled。 They pursued him for seven miles； when they reached and seized his camp。 Huang Zhong； however； quickly made another defense of brushwood。 Next day Xiahou Shang and Han Hao renewed the pursuit； which ended with the capture of the temporary camp of the day before。 And they had advanced seven miles further。 Then they called upon Zhang He to protect the rear camp。 When Zhang He came up； he dissuaded them from continuing。
〃Huang Zhong has retreated before you for two days。 There is some deep stratagem behind this；〃 said Zhang He。
Xiahou Shang scoffed at him； saying； 〃You are such a coward that you have been defeated many times。 Now say no more； but let us acplish something。〃
Zhang He retired much mortified and shamed。 Next day the two generals again went out to battle； and again Huang Zhong fled from them for seven miles。 The two generals pursued as quickly as they could。 The day after； Huang Zhong fled without any pretense of showing fight； except at short intervals。 He got to Jiameng Pass and went on the defensive。 The pursuers knocked at the very gate of the Pass and made a camp close by。
Then Meng Da secretly wrote to Liu Bei that Huang Zhong had been repeatedly defeated and now was in the Pass and unable to go out。
Liu Bei became alarmed and consulted Zhuge Liang； who said； 〃The old general is making the enemy over…confident………to their ultimate destruction。〃
But Zhao Yun did not share this opinion； nor did many others； and Liu Bei decided to send Liu Feng to reinforce his aged general。
The young man came to the Pass and saw Huang Zhong； who asked him； 〃General； what makes you e here？〃
〃My father heard that you have sustained several defeats； and he has sent me；〃 said Liu Feng。
〃But I am only employing the ruse of leading on the enemy；〃 said Huang Zhong； smiling。 〃You will see tonight that in one battle I shall regain all the camps and capture their supplies and many horses。 I have only lent the camps to them to store their supplies。 Tonight I shall leave Huo Jun to guard the Pass； while General Meng Da will gather up the spoils for us。 Now； young Sir； you shall see the destruction of the enemy。〃
That same night； at the second watch； Huang Zhong left the Pass with five thousand troops。 But now Xiahou Shang and Han Hao； seeing no move from the Pass for many days； had bee careless and so their camps were unable to resist。 Their troops had no time to don their armors or to saddle their horses。 All the leaders did was to flee for their lives； while their troops trampled each other down and were killed in great numbers。 All three camps were recovered by dawn； and in them were found all sorts of military equipment。 Horses and their caparisons also fell to the victors； and all the booty was carried off by Meng Da and stored in the Pass。
Huang Zhong pressed on his victory。 Liu Feng ventured to say； 〃Our soldiers need repose。〃
〃Can you seize the tiger's whelps without going into the tiger's den？〃 cried Huang Zhong。 And he urged on his steed。 The soldiers also were eager。
Zhang He's own army was thrown into confusion by the flying men from the defeated armies； and he could not maintain his station； but was forced to retreat。 They abandoned all their stockades and rushed to the bank of River Han。
Then Zhang He sought the two generals who had brought about the misfortune and said to them； 〃This is Tiandang Mountain； where our stores are。 Close by is Micang Mountain。 The two mountains are the very source of life of the Hanzhong army。 Lose them； and Hanzhong is gone too。 We must see to their security。〃
Xiahou Shang said； 〃My uncle； Xiahou Yuan； will look out for the defense of Micang Mountain； which is next to his station at Dingjun Mountain； there need be no anxiety about that。 And my brother； Xiahou De； guards Tiandang Mountain。 Let us go to him and help to protect that。〃
Zhang He and the two generals set out at once。 They reached the mountain and told Xiahou De all that had happened。
〃I have one hundred thousand troops in camp here；〃 replied he。 〃You may take some of them and recover your lost camps。〃
〃No；〃 replied Zhang He。 〃The only pro