The western troops began to plunder。 But suddenly a gong clanged and along came a pany of soldiers Yan Yan had not seen。
At the same time a voice was heard shouting； 〃Old rebel； do not flee！ I have been waiting for this chance a long time！〃
Yan Yan turned his head。 The leader of this band was a tall man with a leopard…like bullet head； round eyes； a sharp chin； and bristling tiger mustache。 He was armed with a long serpent halberd and rode a black steed。 In a word； it was Zhang Fei。
All around the gongs were clanging； and many troops of Jingzhou were rushing toward Yan Yan； already too frightened to be able to defend himself。 However； the two leaders engaged。 Very soon Zhang Fei purposely gave his opponent an opening； and Yan Yan rushed in to cut down his enemy with his sword。 But Zhang Fei evaded the blow； made a sudden rush； seized Yan Yan by the lace of his armor； and flung him on the ground。 Yan Yan was a prisoner； and in a moment was fast bound with cords。
The handsome leader who had passed first had not been Zhang Fei at all； but someone dressed and made up to resemble him。 To add to the confusion； Zhang Fei had exchanged the signals； making the gong the signal for his troops to fall on instead of the usual drum。
As the gongs clanged； more and more of the troops of Jingzhou came into the fray。 The troops of Yizhou could make no fight； and most of them dropped their weapons and surrendered。 To reach the walls of the city was now easy。 After entering the gates； the leader ordered his soldiers not to hurt the people； and he put out proclamations to pacify the citizens。
By and by a party of executioners brought in the prisoner。
Zhang Fei took his seat in the great hall； and the late mander of the city was brought before him by a party of executioners。 Yan Yan refused to kneel before his captor。
〃Why did you not surrender at first？〃 cried Zhang Fei； angrily grinding his teeth。 〃How dared you try to oppose me？〃
〃Because you are a lot of unrighteous and lawless invaders！〃 replied Yan Yan without the least sign of fear。 〃You may behead me as you will； but I will not surrender to you。〃
Zhang Fei angrily gave the order for his execution。
〃Strike； if you want to； fool。 Why so angry？〃 said Yan Yan。
This bold defiance was not lost upon Zhang Fei。 Rising from his seat； he went down the steps； put aside the lictors； and began to loosen the prisoner's bonds。 Then he dressed Yan Yan in new garments and led him to the high place。
When Yan Yan was seated； Zhang Fei made a low bow； saying； 〃I have always known you were a hero。 Now I pray you not remember against me the roughness of my speech。〃
Yan Yan was overe with this kindness and forthwith surrendered。
A graybeard ruled in western Shu；
Clear fame is his the whole world through；
As radiant sun his loyalty。
Unmatched his soul's nobility。
When captive taken rather he
Would suffer death than crook his knee。
Bazhou he ruled for many a year；
The world cannot produce his peer。
A poet has also written concerning Zhang Fei：
Yan Yan made prisoner； then the matchless one
Exchanged the sword for reason； and so won
The place he holds among the sacred ones
Of the west； to whom they sacrifice today。
Then Zhang Fei asked Yan Yan to suggest the means of overing the West River Land。
Yan Yan replied； 〃I am but the defeated leader of a defeated force； indebted to the victor for my life。 I have nothing but my humble services to offer； but I can tell you how to get possession of Chengdu without drawing a bow or shooting an arrow。〃
Cities yield in quick succession
Because of one old man's secession。
The proposal will be unfolded in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 64 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 64
Chapter 64
Zhuge Liang Plans For The Capture Of Zhang Ren；
Yang Fu Borrows Soldiers To Destroy Ma Chao。
As stated in the last chapter； Zhang Fei asked Yan Yan to tell him how he might conquer the whole of the West River Land。
This was the reply： 〃All the fortified posts between this and Luocheng are under my control； and the manders of all the garrisons owe to me their missions。 The only way for me to prove my gratitude is to make them all yield； as I myself have done。 Let me lead the advance； and I will summon them one by one to surrender。〃
Zhang Fei thanked him again and again； and the march on this plan began。 Whenever the army arrived at a post； Yan Yan summoned the mander； and there it ended。 Occasionally； one would hesitate； when Yan Yan would say； 〃You see I have submitted。 How much more ought you to do so？〃
These bloodless victories followed each other day after day； supporters rallying to the invaders without question。 They simply came。
In the meantime； Zhuge Liang was preparing。 Having decided upon the date of departure； he wrote to inform Liu Bei and made Luocheng the rendezvous for the various armies。 On receipt of this letter； Liu Bei assembled his officers and explained to them its purport。 He bade them be ready to march on the twenty…second day of the seventh month。 Both river and land forces were to set out the same day。
But the fiery old man Huang Zhong was dissatisfied that there should be no local victory in the River Fu Pass。
He said； 〃Day after day the enemy has e to challenge us； and day after day we have refused。 They must have grown lax； and I propose a night raid on their camp。 We shall catch them unprepared and shall score a victory。〃
Liu Bei agreed to try。 He arranged for a night raid； Huang Zhong on the right； Wei Yan on the left； and the center force under his own mand。 They set out at the second watch and soon arrived。 They found Zhang Ren's troops unprepared； rushed the camp； and set it on fire。 The flames were very fierce； and the troops of Yizhou fled in confusion and sought shelter in Luocheng。 They were admitted。 After pursuing them for some distance； Liu Bei made a camp。
Next day Liu Bei marched right up to the city to besiege it。 Zhang Ren kept quiet within and made no attempt to beat off the besiegers。 On the fourth day Liu Bei led an attack on the west gate； sending Huang Zhong and Wei Yan to attack the east。 The north and south gates were left to give the besieged a chance to escape if they would。
Now； outside the south gate of Luocheng the country was rough and hilly； while the swift River Fu ran past the north。 For this reason the city could not be surrounded。 From the city wall； Zhang Ren watched the progress of the attack and saw Liu Bei the whole day indefatigably going to and fro directing the assault。 He also saw that as the sun dropped toward the west； the attacking force showed signs of weariness。 Wherefore he sent his two generals； Wu Lan and Lei Tong； out of the city by the north gate with orders to make their way around and attack Huang Zhong and Wei Yan。 Zhang Ren set himself to go out by the south gate and steal around to attack Liu Bei。 Lest the withdrawal of troops from the ramparts should discover his plans； he sent the populace up on the walls to make a show and bade them shout loudly to reinforce the rolling of the drums。
At sundown Liu Bei ordered the retirement of his army； and the rearmost pany turned about to march back to camp。 At this moment arose still louder shouting from the ramparts； and out at the south gate burst Zhang Ren and his force。 Zhang Ren made straight for Liu Bei； who was in the middle of his army。 Liu Bei's soldiers were thrown into confusion。 As his two generals on the east side were also attacked； they could render no help； and Liu Bei fled to the hills。 Zhang Ren followed and soon got very near。 They were a whole pany pursuing one solitary man； and as Liu Bei plied his whip he felt that the odds were much against him。 Just then he saw another pany of soldiers ahead； emerging from a hill path。
〃An ambush in front； pursuers in rear！ Surely Heaven wishes to destroy me！〃 cried Liu Bei。
But all was not lost。 As they drew nearer； he recognized his own troops； and the leader who dashed to meet him was his brother Zhang Fei。
Zhang Fei and Yan Yan had happened to take that road； and Zhang Fei had hastened forward when he saw the dust of conflict。
Zhang Fei and Zhang Ren soon came up with each other； and they fought ten bouts。 By this time Yan Y