Zhang Fei boldly takes Wakou Pass.
Elder Huang Zhong plots to seize Tiandang Mountain.

Zhang He had 30,000 soldiers stationed in three camps, each camp posted by a mountain danger point: one was Dangqu Camp, one was Mengtou Camp, and one was Dangshi Camp. That day, in each camp he split half of the soldiers, took the other half to march for Bashu, and left half to guard the camps. Early that day, scouts reported Zhang He’s coming march reached Baxi. Zhang Fei urgently called for Lei Tong to confer. Lei Tong said, “The land around Langzhong is rough and full of ravines, good for ambushes. If the General leads out the main force to battle, I will strike with a surprise detachment, and we can capture Zhang He.”

Zhang Fei sent 5,000 of his best troops with Lei Tong and set out. He himself led 10,000 soldiers out of Langzhong for 30 li and met Zhang He’s force. The two armies drew up in line, and Zhang Fei dismounted from his horse, reaching out to seize Zhang He alone. Zhang He, in full stride, vaulted from the saddle and charged out. They fought for more than thirty bouts before a shout rose from the rear. It turned out that the soldiers could see Shu banners and pennons behind the mountain, which threw the formations into confusion. Zhang He dared not stay in close combat and wheeled his horse to retreat. Zhang Fei pressed after him from behind. At the front, Lei Tong drove another force out of camp. The two-sided attack shattered Zhang He’s line, and his army was badly beaten.

Zhang Fei and Lei Tong pursued through the night and drove all the way to Dangqu Mountain. Zhang He still had his men distributed among the three camps and set many log-batteries and rolling stones in place. He held fast and did not fight. Zhang Fei withdrew his men to a large encampment 10 li below Dangqu. The next day he drew up his force for battle. Zhang He stood atop the mountain, drumming and shouting, drinking as he looked down, and never came down. Zhang Fei ordered his soldiers to curse him loudly; Zhang He still did not come out. Zhang Fei therefore had no choice but to return to camp.

The next day, Lei Tong again pressed combat from beneath the mountain. Zhang He still would not come out. Lei Tong drove his troops uphill. From the mountain top, log-rams and stones crashed down on them. Lei Tong suddenly withdrew. Troops from Dangshi Camp and Mengtou Camp came out and won against Lei Tong. The next day Zhang Fei tried again. Zhang He still did not leave the heights. Zhang Fei had his soldiers curse him in every possible way; from the mountain, Zhang He cursed back. Zhang Fei later thought hard and found himself without a way through. For more than fifty days the two sides remained facing each other. Zhang Fei made a great camp at the mountain foot and drank daily. He drank himself nearly senseless, sat before the hill, and kept up his taunts.

Liu Bei sent men with provisions to Zhang Fei, and seeing him drunk all day, the envoy reported back. Liu Bei was greatly alarmed and hurried to ask Zhuge Liang. The strategist laughed and said, “That is why. There is likely no good wine near the front. In Chengdu there is excellent brew in abundance; take fifty wine jars in three carts and send them to the front for Commander Zhang to drink.”

Liu Bei said, “My brother has long taken to drinking and to ruin. Why does the Master send more wine to him?”
Zhuge Liang smiled. “Lord, you and Yide have been brothers in arms for many years. Do you not know his nature? Yide has always been direct and hard, yet during the Sichuan campaign he mercifully released Yan Yan. That was no act of a cowardly man. Now he has faced Zhang He for over fifty days. Only after wine-drunk does he sit at the mountain’s edge and taunt everyone as though no one is present; this is no craving for the cup, but the tactic to break Zhang He.”

Liu Bei replied, “Even so, we should not place all reliance on one plan. Let Wei Yan help him.”
Zhuge Liang then ordered Wei Yan to bring the wine forward to the army. On the wagons he had yellow banners raised, each bearing large characters that read: “Good wine for the army before us.” Wei Yan obeyed and brought liquor to the camps. He met Zhang Fei and told him the lord had bestowed wine. Zhang Fei bowed and accepted. He ordered Wei Yan and Lei Tong each to lead a detachment as left and right wings, and to advance their troops as soon as they saw red flags rise among the army. He ordered the wines laid under the tents and the soldiers to let their drums and gongs thunder while they drank.

A scout came up the mountain. Zhang He had long watched from the summit. He saw Zhang Fei sit by the camp-fire in his pavilion, drinking; and ordered two young soldiers to wrestle in front of him for sport. “Zhang Fei mocks us to excess!” Zhang He said. He ordered that he would descend tonight and sack Zhang Fei’s camp. He told Mengtou and Dangshi camps to come out and serve as left and right reinforcements.

That night, with the moon only faintly bright, Zhang He rode down from the mountain side and straight into the camp front. He saw Zhang Fei’s bright lamps and the flicker of candles and banners as he sat in the pavilion drinking. Zhang He shouted first, and drums rolled from the heights to aid him as he drove straight into the center. Yet Zhang Fei sat fixed, unmoving. Zhang He spurred his horse straight to him and drove his spear, but it struck a stuffed straw man. He checked his horse to turn away, but then a chain-shot burst from behind the pavilion. A general came first, blocking the path. His eyes were round and glaring, his voice like thunder; it was Zhang Fei himself. He rose with spear in hand, vaulted on horseback, and went straight for Zhang He. The two generals fought in the firelight for thirty to fifty rounds. Zhang He watched anxiously for help from either camp, but those camp-rescue troops had already been killed and driven off by Wei Yan and Lei Tong, with those two camps lost in the same motion.

Zhang He could not see any rescue. Then he saw fire on the mountain: Zhang Fei’s rear troops had already seized the stockade posts. All three camps had fallen, and he could only run for Wakou Pass.

Zhang Fei gained a grand victory and reported it in Chengdu. Liu Bei rejoiced and came to understand that Yide’s drinking had been a stratagem—only a lure to drag Zhang He down from the ridge.

Zhang He had withdrawn behind Wakou Pass, and of his 30,000 men nearly 20,000 had fallen. He sent a request to Cao Hong for rescue. Cao Hong was furious. “You did not heed me,” he said. “You forced an advance, lost this crucial checkpoint, and now you come asking for aid!” He would not send reinforcements and instead had him hurried onward to the front again.

Zhang He, anxious and unsettled, decided at once to entrench in two groups near a secluded spot ahead of the pass. He ordered: “I will feign defeat. Zhang Fei will surely pursue, and you should cut off his way back.”

That day Zhang He led out in force and met Lei Tong at once. They fought only a few rounds before Zhang He broke and fled. Lei Tong pursued. The two armies came out again, and Zhang He, forcing his way, speared Lei Tong from beneath the horse. The beaten troops carried back the report to Zhang Fei. Zhang Fei rode forward to challenge, and Zhang He again faked defeat; Zhang Fei did not give chase. Zhang He resumed battle and again, after only a few exchanges, broke and fled. Zhang Fei recognized the tactic and withdrew with his troops. He conferred with Wei Yan. “Zhang He is using a concealed-rout plan, and he has already killed Lei Tong. He wants to snare me. Why not set a plan inside a plan?” he said.

Wei Yan asked, “How, then?”

Zhang Fei said, “Tomorrow I will first lead one army forward. You must bring elite troops behind. When the ambush comes out, split your force and strike it. Take ten or more carts loaded with brushwood and straw, block the small paths, and burn them. I will seize Zhang He, and then I can take revenge for Lei Tong.”

Wei Yan took the design. The next day Zhang Fei advanced. Zhang He’s army arrived and fought again. By the tenth exchange, Zhang He again faked a retreat. Zhang Fei drove both horse and foot to give chase. Zhang He fought and withdrew while running. He drew Zhang Fei across the valley mouth, then put his rear troops up front and made camp again to fight Zhang Fei once more.

He hoped the two ambush formations would strike, surrounding Zhang Fei. But Wei Yan’s elite troopers had already gone in first and rushed into the valley mouth, parking their carts across the mountain path and setting them alight. Wood and brush caught, and flame and smoke darkened the route. The Shu soldiers could no longer pass out.

Zhang Fei kept charging into the melee, and Zhang He was routed completely. He tore open a way through at all cost and climbed for Wakou Pass, gathering what was left of his troops and holding fast there without coming down.

Zhang Fei and Wei Yan attacked the pass for days without breaking it. Seeing no gain, Zhang Fei withdrew 20 li and, with Wei Yan, came with scores of riders to probe the side paths on both flanks. They saw several men—both men and women—with small bundles on their backs slipping along a hidden mountain track by clinging to vines and roots. Zhang Fei pointed from horseback with his whip and said to Wei Yan, “Wakou Pass is on the backs of these villagers.”

He called to his men and ordered, “Do not frighten them. Bring those villagers to us gently.” The soldiers hurried and brought them before the horse line. Zhang Fei spoke soothingly and asked why they had come.

The villagers answered, “We are all from Hanzhong. We wish to return home. When we heard the great armies fighting and saw the mountain roads sealed at Langzhong’s official way, we took another route: through Cangxi, past Zitong Mountain’s Guijian River, and into Hanzhong to go home.”

Zhang Fei asked, “How far is Wakou Pass by this road?”
The villagers said, “From Zitong Mountain’s hidden path, this is the way behind Wakou Pass.”
Zhang Fei rejoiced, brought the civilians into camp, gave them wine and food, and told Wei Yan to bring men and strike the pass. “I will personally lead light cavalry out through Zitong Mountain to attack from behind the gate.” He then had the villagers lead the way and selected 500 light riders to enter by the narrow path.

At this time, Zhang He, with no relief arriving, sat in frustration. Word came that Wei Yan was attacking at the foot of the gate. Zhang He donned his armor and mounted to go down the mountain, but an alarm rose: “Four or five fires are burning behind the pass. We know not where the soldiers come from.” Zhang He himself rode out to meet them. At the first view, he saw Zhang Fei’s banner. Zhang He was startled and hurried toward the side path to run, but his horse could not keep up. Zhang Fei chased hard behind him. Zhang He abandoned his horse and fled up the mountain by a bypath; only then did he break free.

Only ten or so men remained with him, and they walked into Nanzheng, where they appeared before Cao Hong. Cao Hong saw him with only ten or so men and shouted in rage, “Did I not tell you to hold and return a report? After spending your whole army, you should have died rather than return alive! For what purpose are you back?”

The marching adjutant, Guo Huai, interceded. “Three armies can be raised, but a good general is hard to find. Though Zhang He is guilty, he is loved deeply by the King of Wei. He should not be executed at once. Send him with five thousand troops straight to Jiameng Pass and pull in the forces from elsewhere. Hanzhong will stabilize itself. If he fails, punish him for both crimes.”

Cao Hong obeyed and sent another 5,000 with him, ordering Zhang He to recover Jiameng Pass. Zhang He accepted and set out.

At Jiameng Pass, the guardians Meng Da and Huo Jun learned that Zhang He was coming. Huo Jun wanted only to hold firm. Meng Da insisted on meeting him. He led his army down into the pass and did battle with Zhang He, but was badly beaten and had to return. Huo Jun quickly sent an urgent report to Chengdu. Liu Bei heard the news and asked Zhuge Liang to confer.

Zhuge Liang gathered the officers in the hall and asked, “Now Jiameng is critical. Liu Bei must first bring back Yide from Langzhong so that Zhang He can be driven off.”

Fa Zheng said, “Yide now has his army stationed at Wakou and is garrisoning Langzhong, another crucial point. He cannot be brought back now. Among the generals in camp, pick one man to break through Zhang He.”

Zhuge Liang smiled. “Zhang He is a famous general of Wei, not a man for casual challenge. Except Yide, there is no one fit for him.”
A man then stepped forward with a loud voice: “Why does the strategist look so lightly upon everyone? Though I am no able man, I volunteer to take Zhang He’s head and lay it at your foot.”

All eyes turned to him; it was old General Huang Zhong. Zhuge Liang said, “Though brave, Commander Hansheng is advanced in years; I fear he may not match Zhang He.” Huang Zhong bristled and spoke through his white beard:

“Though old, I can still draw a three-stone bow with both arms. My body still holds a thousand jins of strength. How could that be enough to face Zhang He, this common soldier of Wei?”

Zhuge Liang said, “Your generalship is near seventy; how can you not be old?”

Huang Zhong strode down from the hall, took a great sword from the rack, and twirled it like flight. He drew two hard bows from the wall and snapped both at once.

Zhuge Liang asked, “If you go, who will be your second?”
Huang Zhong answered, “Elder Yan Yan can go with me. But should there be any emergency, take this white head first.”

Liu Bei was pleased and immediately sent Yan Yan and Huang Zhong to fight Zhang He. Zhao Yun protested, “Now that Zhang He has entered Jiameng itself, Master Strategist, do not treat this as a game. If Jiameng falls, Yizhou is in grave danger. Why send two old men against so great an enemy?”

Zhuge Liang replied, “You think they are old and cannot accomplish this. I am certain Hanzhong can be won from the hands of these two.”

He and the others withdrew, smiling dryly.

Huang Zhong and Yan Yan reached the pass. Meng Da and Huo Jun saw them and laughed in their hearts, muttering that Zhuge Liang had no command: “At such a crucial place, how could he send two old men?”

Huang Zhong said to Yan Yan, “Did you see how those people move? They laugh at us for being old. Let us now accomplish an unusual feat to silence their hearts.”

Yan Yan said, “I will obey the General’s orders.”
The two settled their plan. Huang Zhong led his force down toward the pass and stood against Zhang He.

Zhang He mounted out to the field and seeing Huang Zhong said with contempt, “At your age, you have no shame; you still want to fight?”

Huang Zhong snapped back, “Whelp, you mock my age! The treasure saber in my hand is not old!” He struck his horse and charged. The two horses met. They fought for over twenty rounds. Then a cry rose behind them. Yan Yan had slipped through by a side path and struck Zhang He’s army from the rear. With both sides pressed from two sides, Zhang He was heavily defeated and ran through the night. He withdrew 80 to 90 li.

Huang Zhong and Yan Yan pulled back into camp and each held their ranks.

Cao Hong learned that Zhang He had been routed again and again and again again wished to punish him. Guo Huai said, “Zhang He has been pressed hard and likely to flee west into Shu. We can send commanders to assist him and place nearby supervision so he does not drift astray.”

Cao Hong assented and sent Xiahou Shang, nephew of Xiahou Dun, and Han Hao, the brother of the surrendered commander Han Xuan, each with 5,000 soldiers to reinforce him. The two commanders set out at once and arrived at Zhang He’s camp, asking of the tactical situation.

Zhang He said, “Elder Huang Zhong is truly heroic, and with Yan Yan assisting him, we must not underestimate him.”

Han Hao said, “I once knew this old brigand at Changsha and know his ferocity. He and Wei Yan surrendered a city and harmed my elder brother. Now that we meet, I must have revenge.”

So he and Xiahou Shang marched out with the new troops.

For several days Huang Zhong had patrolled and learned the roads. Yan Yan said, “The road ahead leads to Tiandang Mountain. There Cao Cao has stockpiled grain and straw there. If we seize that place, cut off their supplies, and Hanzhong will be ours.”

Huang Zhong replied, “That exactly matches my mind. Do it so.”

Yan Yan gave command and led a branch of troops as planned.

Huang Zhong later learned that Xiahou Shang and Han Hao had arrived and at once brought his cavalry and horsemen out of the camp. Han Hao, at the front of the formation, shouted at Huang Zhong: “Treacherous old bandit!” He reined and drove hard, bringing spear and horse to take Huang Zhong. Xiahou Shang then attacked from a flank.

Huang Zhong fought both commanders with force. The two fought more than ten rounds. Huang Zhong was routed and withdrew.

The two pursuers chased him 20 li and took Huang Zhong’s camp. He made a new camp and on the next day Xiahou Shang and Han Hao came again. Huang Zhong rode out once more. They exchanged a few rounds, and he was again forced to withdraw. The two chased him 20 li and seized his camp again, then called Zhang He to hold the rear camp.

Zhang He came to the forward camp and warned, “Huang Zhong has fallen back twice in two days; there must be trickery in the center.”

Xiahou Shang shouted at Zhang He, “You are so timid! You lose again and again now. Do not speak anymore; we will build merit tonight.”

Zhang He, ashamed, withdrew.

The next day the two commanders fought again. Huang Zhong withdrew another twenty li. They pursued in turn for another day until they pushed up near the pass and came under it. The two commanders settled below the gate; Huang Zhong held and did not go out.

Meng Da quietly sent word to Liu Bei: “Huang Zhong has been defeated many times and now rests at the pass.” Liu Bei anxiously asked Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang said, “This is the old general’s strategy of feigned retreat.”

Zhao Yun and the others did not believe him. Liu Bei sent Liu Feng to the pass to support Huang Zhong.

Huang Zhong met Liu Feng and asked, “Young general, why did you come to help in battle?”
Liu Feng said, “My father heard that the General has suffered repeated defeats, and he sent me.”
Huang Zhong laughed. “This is the old general’s proud retreat plan. In tonight’s assault we can recover all camps and take their grain and horses. This is only a borrowed camp to seize their stored supplies. Tonight leave Huo Jun to hold the pass; General Meng can help me with moving the forage; young general, look and see me break the enemy.”

At second watch that night, Huang Zhong led 5,000 troops and went straight through the gate downward.

In truth, Xiahou Shang and Han Hao had been complacent after seeing no battle from the pass for many days. Huang Zhong broke through the camp like lightning. Men and horses had no room for armor or saddle. The two commanders each fled for their lives; the mounts and troops stampeded one another, and dead bodies lay everywhere.

By dawn, Huang Zhong had taken three camps. What they left behind in the camps—arms, harness, and horse tack in countless numbers—he had Meng Da carry into the pass. Huang Zhong hurried the cavalry to follow closely.

Liu Feng said, “The soldiers are exhausted. We may rest a bit.”
Huang Zhong answered, “‘How is a tiger cub gained without entering the tiger’s lair?’” he said, and spurred ahead. The men all pressed forward hard. Zhang He’s troops, driven by their own routing men, could not keep formation and turned to flee; they abandoned many stockade posts and ran straight to the banks of the Han River.

Zhang He recognized where Xiahou Shang and Han Hao had gone. He spoke with counsel: “This Tiandang Mountain is the place for grain and hay. Near it lies Rice Granary Mountain; both are storehouses of supply. If they are neglected, Hanzhong falls. We must think how to protect them.”

Xiahou Shang said, “Rice Granary Mountain is guarded by my uncle Xiahou Yuan with troops and joins on to Dingjun Mountain; we need not worry for that. Tiandang is defended by my brother Xiahou De. We should ride to him and secure this mountain.”

So Zhang He and the two commanders rode through the night to Tiandang. There they met Xiahou De and told him all that had happened. Xiahou De said, “I have 100,000 soldiers stationed here; you may take them and take back the former posts.”
Zhang He replied, “We should only hold firm and not act rashly.”

Suddenly, drums and gongs shook the mountain front. Men reported, “Huang Zhong is arriving.”

Xiahou De laughed. “The old brigand knows no strategy; he only relies on courage.”
Zhang He said, “Huang Zhong has planning and is not just bold.”
De said, “The Shu soldiers have crossed far, and they are exhausted by long travel. Added to that, they have gone deep in enemy territory; this is not strategy.”
Zhang He said, “It still should not be despised. We must hold firm.”

Han Hao said, “Permit me to borrow 3,000 elite men and break him.”

Xiahou De then detached troops with Han Hao down the mountain. Huang Zhong drew up and marched to meet them. Liu Feng advised, “The sun has gone low; your soldiers have marched far and are spent. It is better to rest a little.”

Huang Zhong laughed. “No. This is heaven-bestowed singular fortune; to leave it undone would be to oppose Heaven.” He beat his drums and charged.

Han Hao brought his soldiers into battle. Huang Zhong swung his sword directly at Han Hao, and in one exchange he cut him down from his horse. Shu soldiers shouted loudly and surged up the mountain.

Zhang He and Xiahou Shang hurriedly brought their armies out to meet them. Then a shout rose from the mountain rear, and firelight burst into the sky, turning both upper and lower slopes red. Xiahou De, bringing troops to save the flames, came upon Yan Yan at that moment. Yan Yan raised his hand and with one sword stroke cut Xiahou De from his horse.

It was Huang Zhong’s old plan: he had previously had Yan Yan bring troops into hidden places in the mountain so that when Huang Zhong’s army arrived, they would ignite the stacked brushwood and set it all at once. Great flames shot up and lit the valley.

After Yan Yan took Xiahou De, he came down from the rear and slashed toward the enemy line. Zhang He and Xiahou Shang could neither aid nor look to each other, so they had to abandon Tiandang Mountain and run toward Dingjun Mountain, then to Xiahou Yuan.

Huang Zhong and Yan Yan held Tiandang, and word of success flew to Chengdu. Liu Bei heard it and, with all the commanders, celebrated.

Fa Zheng said, “In earlier days when Cao Cao marched against Zhang Lu and pacified the Han territory, he did not use that position to seize Ba-Shu; instead he left Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He to hold watch and himself pulled north again. That was a failed stratagem. Now Zhang He has just been defeated and Tiandang has fallen. If the lord seizes this moment and leads a full army in person, Hanzhong can be secured. Once Hanzhong is secured, we can drill troops and store grain, observing opportunities and seizing gaps, advancing to punish bandits and retreating to defend ourselves. Heaven has opened this hour. It must not be lost.”

Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang both agreed deeply and so sent orders for Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei to act as advanced guards. Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang personally led 100,000 troops and chose a lucky day to campaign on Hanzhong, sending proclamations everywhere and raising strict readiness.

It was the auspicious day in the seventh month of Jian’an Twenty-Three. Liu Bei’s main army set out and camped below Jiameng Pass. He summoned Huang Zhong and Yan Yan into camp and granted rich rewards.

Liu Bei said, “All call the General old, but only the strategist truly knows his strength. You have now done wondrous work. Yet Dingjun Mountain in Hanzhong is the seat of Nanzheng’s defense, where grain and grass are stored in number. If we take Dingjun, the route through Yangping is beyond worry.”

“Dare the general to take Dingjun Mountain now?” he asked.

Huang Zhong answered with readiness, “I will.”

Zhuge Liang moved him quickly. “Though the old general is brave, he should not go against Xiahou Yuan as Zhang He. Yuan is no lesser man and is not like any ordinary enemy. He reads deep stratagems and is keen to war’s shifts. Cao Cao relied on him as shield in Xiliang; once he garrisoned Chang’an to oppose Ma Chao; now he has also put him in Hanzhong. Cao Cao trusts him alone in this work because Yuan has command talent.”

“Huang Zhong may have won over Zhang He,” said Zhuge Liang, “but we cannot know if he can also win over Xiahou Yuan. I think we should select one person and send him to Jingzhou to bring the pass commander back; only then can we meet him.”

Huang Zhong answered heartily, “In his day, Lian Po at eighty still ate three-dou of grain and ten jin of meat and kept all feudal lords from crossing Zhao’s borders. How could Huang Zhong, not yet seventy, be less capable? The strategist says I am old, but I will not take an assistant. I will go with three thousand of my own troops and bring back Xiahou Yuan’s head under my banner.”

Zhuge Liang refused him repeatedly.

Huang Zhong only insisted on marching. Zhuge Liang said, “If you insist on going, I will send one man as supervising commander to go with you.”

This was it:

Please use the goad to spur the general on;
no young man can stand against a seasoned elder.
How this turned out will be told in the next chapter.