Chapter 70: Fierce Zhang Fei Takes Wakou Pass by Strategy; Old Huang Zhong Seizes Tiandang Mountain by Planning

CHAPTER 70: FIERCE ZHANG FEI TAKES WAKOU PASS BY STRATAGEM; AGED HUANG ZHONG SEIZES TIAN DANG MOUNTAIN BY PLAN

Zhang He led thirty thousand troops, stationing them in three camps, each nestled against mountain fastnesses: one called Dangqu Camp, one called Mengtou Camp, and one called Dangshi Camp. That day Zhang He sent half his forces from each camp to attack Baxi, leaving the other half to guard the camps. Soon a scout reported to Baxi that Zhang He was advancing with his army. Zhang Fei hastily summoned Lei Tong to discuss the matter. Lei Tong said, "The terrain at Langzhong is dangerous and the mountain slopes steep; an ambush can be laid there. General, you lead the troops out to battle, and I will take a special force to support you. Zhang He can be captured."

Zhang Fei assigned five thousand elite troops to Lei Tong and sent him off. Zhang Fei himself led ten thousand troops, marched thirty li from Langzhong, and encountered Zhang He's army. The two forces drew up in battle array. Zhang Fei rode out and challenged Zhang He to single combat. Zhang He leveled his spear and charged out on his horse. They fought for over thirty rounds when suddenly a great shout arose from Zhang He's rear guard. It was because they had spotted the banners of Shu troops beyond the mountain, throwing their morale into confusion. Zhang He dared not continue the fight; he wheeled his horse and fled. Zhang Fei pursued from behind. Lei Tong also struck with his troops from the front. Attacked from both sides, Zhang He's army was utterly defeated. Zhang Fei and Lei Tong pursued through the night, all the way to Dangqu Mountain. Zhang He again divided his forces to hold the three camps, setting up many rolling logs and thunder-stones, and held his position without coming out to fight. Zhang Fei set up camp ten li from Dangqu Mountain. The next day he led his troops to challenge the enemy. Zhang He, on the mountain, feasted with loud music and drinking, and would not descend. Zhang Fei ordered his soldiers to hurl abuse, but Zhang He still refused to come out. Zhang Fei had no choice but to return to camp.

The next day, Lei Tong again went to the foot of the mountain to challenge. Zhang He still would not come out. Lei Tong drove his troops up the mountain, but rolling logs and thunder-stones came crashing down from above. Lei Tong hastily withdrew. Troops from Dangshi and Mengtou camps then sallied forth and defeated Lei Tong. The following day, Zhang Fei went to challenge again. Zhang He again refused to come out. Zhang Fei had his soldiers heap every kind of insult upon him, and Zhang He shouted back from the mountain. Zhang Fei pondered but could think of no plan. After more than fifty days of stalemate, Zhang Fei set up his main camp before the mountain and drank every day; after getting thoroughly drunk, he would sit before the mountain and revile the enemy.

Liu Bei sent a man to reward the army. Seeing Zhang Fei drinking all day, the messenger reported back to Liu Bei. Liu Bei was alarmed and hurried to ask Kongming about it. Kongming smiled and said, "So that's how it is. There is probably no good wine at the front; but Chengdu has an abundance of fine wine. Have fifty jars loaded in three carts and sent to the front for General Zhang to drink." Liu Bei said, "My brother has always ruined matters through drink. Why does the Military Advisor send him wine instead?" Kongming smiled and said, "My lord has been brother to Yide for so many years, yet you still do not fully understand his character? Yide has always been fierce, but earlier, during the conquest of Shu, he released Yan Yan out of righteousness—that is not something a mere brute could do. Now, after fifty days of stalemate with Zhang He, he gets drunk and sits before the mountain hurling abuse, as if no one else were there. This is not a craving for wine; it is a stratagem to defeat Zhang He." Liu Bei said, "Even so, we must not be overconfident. Let Wei Yan be sent to assist him." Kongming ordered Wei Yan to escort the wine to the front, with yellow flags on each cart bearing the large inscription: "Fine Wine for Public Use at the Front." Wei Yan received the order, escorted the wine to the camp, and upon meeting Zhang Fei, conveyed the lord's intent to bestow the wine. Zhang Fei bowed in acceptance, then instructed Wei Yan and Lei Tong each to lead a detachment as left and right wings; they were to advance only when the red flag was raised in camp. He also had the wine set out before the tent and ordered his soldiers to drink noisily and boisterously.

A spy reported this up the mountain. Zhang He himself went to the summit to observe. He saw Zhang Fei sitting in his tent drinking, while two soldiers wrestled before him as entertainment. Zhang He said, "Zhang Fei insults me too much!" He gave orders to descend that night and raid Zhang Fei's camp. He ordered Mengtou and Dangshi camps both to send troops as left and right support. That night, under the faint light of the moon, Zhang He led his troops down the mountainside and straight to the camp. From a distance, he saw Zhang Fei's tent brightly lit, with Zhang Fei inside drinking. Zhang He let out a great shout, drums thundered at the mountain's base to boost morale, and he charged straight into the central command. There sat Zhang Fei, motionless. Zhang He rode up and thrust his spear—only to find it was a straw dummy. As he hastily reined his horse back, a volley of signal bombs sounded behind the tent. A general blocked his path, his round eyes blazing, his voice like rolling thunder—it was Zhang Fei himself. Leveling his spear and spurring his horse, he charged straight at Zhang He. The two generals fought under the firelight for thirty to fifty rounds. Zhang He hoped for rescue from his two camps, but their relief troops had already been driven back by Wei Yan and Lei Tong, who then seized both camps. Zhang He, seeing no rescue coming, was at his wit's end when fire broke out on the mountain—Zhang Fei's rear guard had captured the stockade. All three of Zhang He's camps were lost, and he could only flee to Wakou Pass. Zhang Fei won a great victory, and the report of triumph reached Chengdu. Liu Bei was overjoyed, and only then did he realize that Yide's drinking had been a stratagem, meant solely to lure Zhang He down the mountain.

Zhang He retreated to hold Wakou Pass, having lost twenty thousand of his thirty thousand troops. He sent a man to Cao Hong for reinforcements. Cao Hong was furious and said, "You disobeyed my orders, insisted on advancing, lost a crucial pass, and now you come begging for help!" He therefore refused to send troops, and instead sent a man to urge Zhang He to give battle. Zhang He, now panicked, devised a plan: he split his forces and had them lie in ambush in the remote mountain paths before the pass. He instructed them, "I will feign defeat; Zhang Fei is sure to pursue. You then cut off his retreat."

That day, Zhang He advanced with his troops and encountered Lei Tong. After only a few rounds, Zhang He feigned defeat and fled, with Lei Tong in pursuit. The two ambush forces sprang out and cut off the path back. Zhang He turned back and ran Lei Tong through with his spear, killing him. The defeated troops reported this to Zhang Fei. Zhang Fei himself came to challenge Zhang He. Zhang He again feigned defeat, but Zhang Fei did not pursue. Zhang He turned and fought again, and after a few rounds, again fled. Zhang Fei recognized the stratagem, withdrew his troops to camp, and discussed the matter with Wei Yan: "Zhang He used an ambush to kill Lei Tong, and now he tries to trick me. Why not turn his own stratagem against him?" Wei Yan asked, "How?" Zhang Fei said, "Tomorrow I will lead a force forward first, while you follow with elite troops behind. When the ambush emerges, you can split your troops to attack them. Use a dozen or so carts, each loaded with brushwood, to block the narrow paths and set them on fire. I will take advantage of the confusion to capture Zhang He and avenge Lei Tong." Wei Yan received the order. The next day, Zhang Fei advanced with his troops. Zhang He's troops arrived again and engaged Zhang Fei. After ten rounds, Zhang He again feigned defeat. Zhang Fei led his cavalry and infantry in pursuit, and Zhang He fought as he retreated. He lured Zhang Fei past the mouth of a valley, then turned his rear guard into the vanguard, halted, and fought Zhang Fei again. He expected his two ambush forces to emerge and surround Zhang Fei. But the ambushers were intercepted by Wei Yan's elite troops, who drove them into the valley mouth, blocked the mountain path with carts, and set the carts on fire. The grass and trees in the valley caught fire, smoke and flames filled the path, and the ambushers could not get out. Zhang Fei pressed his attack relentlessly. Zhang He was utterly defeated, fought desperately to cut a path through, and fled up to Wakou Pass, where he gathered his remaining troops and held his position without coming out.

Zhang Fei and Wei Yan attacked the pass for days without success. Seeing that this was getting nowhere, Zhang Fei pulled his army back twenty li, then, with Wei Yan and a few dozen cavalry, personally reconnoitered the side paths. Suddenly they spotted several men and women, each carrying a small bundle, scrambling along a remote mountain path by clinging to vines and creepers. Zhang Fei pointed his whip at them and said to Wei Yan, "Taking Wakou Pass depends on these few commoners." He then summoned a soldier and ordered, "Do not frighten them. Bring them here courteously." The soldier hurriedly brought them before Zhang Fei's horse. Zhang Fei spoke kindly to reassure them and asked where they had come from. The commoners replied, "We are all residents of Hanzhong. We wish to return home now, but we heard that the great armies are fighting and have blocked the main road from Langzhong. So we have come through Cangxi, entered Hanzhong via the Guiyuan Stream of Zitong Mountain, and are going home." Zhang Fei asked, "How far is this road to Wakou Pass?" The commoners replied, "The small road through Zitong Mountain leads directly to the rear of Wakou Pass." Zhang Fei was overjoyed. He took the commoners into camp, gave them food and drink, and instructed Wei Yan to lead the main force in attacking the pass from the front, saying, "I will personally lead a light cavalry force through Zitong Mountain to attack the rear of the pass." He then had the commoners act as guides, selected five hundred light cavalry, and advanced along the small road.

Now Zhang He, because the relief troops had not arrived, was feeling deeply vexed. Someone reported: "Wei Yan is attacking at the pass below." Zhang He put on his armor, mounted his horse, and was about to go down the mountain when suddenly another report came: "Four or five columns of fire have broken out behind the pass; we don't know where the troops have come from." Zhang He personally led his men to meet them. As the banners parted, he saw Zhang Fei directly ahead. Zhang He was greatly startled and frantically fled by a side path, but his horse could not go forward. With Zhang Fei pressing the pursuit hotly from behind, Zhang He abandoned his horse, climbed the mountain, and escaped by a small trail, barely managing to get away. Only a dozen or so men accompanied him on foot into Nan Zheng to see Cao Hong. When Cao Hong saw that Zhang He had only a dozen men left, he was furious and said: "I told you not to go, but you insisted on signing a military pledge to do so. Now you have lost a great army and still haven't killed yourself—what are you coming here for?" He ordered the attendants to drag him out and behead him. The march-master Sima Guo Huai remonstrated, saying: "An army of three units is easy to get, but a single general is hard to find. Though Zhang He is guilty, he is a man deeply beloved by the King of Wei and should not be killed. You may give him another five thousand troops and order him to take the Jiameng Pass directly, thus drawing off the various forces, and then Hanzhong will naturally be secure. If he fails, both crimes can be punished together." Cao Hong heeded this advice, gave him another five thousand troops, and ordered Zhang He to attack and take Jiameng Pass. Zhang He accepted the command and departed.

Now the defenders of Jiameng Pass, Meng Da and Huo Jun, learned that Zhang He was coming with troops. Huo Jun advocated holding the pass firmly, but Meng Da insisted on going out to meet the enemy. He led his men down from the pass to do battle with Zhang He and was thoroughly defeated, returning in defeat. Huo Jun urgently dispatched a dispatch to Chengdu reporting the crisis. When Liu Bei learned of this, he invited the military advisor to come and discuss the matter. Zhuge Liang summoned all the generals into the hall and asked: "Now the situation at Jiameng Pass is critical, and we must recall Zhang Fei from Langzhong to drive back Zhang He." Fa Zheng said: "At present, Zhang Fei is stationed at Wakou, guarding Langzhong, which is also a crucial location; he cannot be recalled. It would be better to choose someone from among the generals in this tent to go and defeat Zhang He." Zhuge Liang smiled and said: "Zhang He is a famous general of Wei; he is not someone ordinary men can handle. Unless it is Zhang Fei, no one can match him." Suddenly one man stepped forward with a stern voice and said: "Why does the military advisor so belittle everyone? Though I am of no great ability, I am willing to cut off Zhang He's head and present it before your tent."

When the others looked, it was the veteran general Huang Zhong. Zhuge Liang said: "Though Huang Hansheng is brave, unfortunately he is advanced in years; I fear he is no match for Zhang He." When Huang Zhong heard this, his white beard bristled upright and he said: "Though I am old, my two arms can still draw a three-stone bow, and my whole body still has a thousand jin of strength. How can I not defeat that fellow Zhang He?" Zhuge Liang said: "General, you are nearly seventy—how are you not old?" Huang Zhong strode quickly down from the hall, took down the great sword from the rack, and whirled it about as if in flight; then he took the strong bow from the wall and snapped two of them in succession. Zhuge Liang said: "If the general goes, who will be his deputy?" Huang Zhong said: "The veteran general Yan Yan can go with me. If there is any mistake, let them first cut off this white head of mine." Liu Bei was very pleased and immediately ordered Yan Yan and Huang Zhong to go and engage Zhang He in battle. Zhao Yun remonstrated, saying: "Now Zhang He is personally invading Jiameng Pass. The military advisor should not treat this as a game. If Jiameng Pass is lost, Yizhou will be in danger. Why send two old generals to resist such a great enemy?" Zhuge Liang said: "You think that because they are old they cannot accomplish anything, but I foresee that Hanzhong will certainly be obtained through these two men." Zhao Yun and the others each laughed mockingly and withdrew.

Now Huang Zhong and Yan Yan arrived at the pass. When Meng Da and Huo Jun saw them, they also laughed inwardly at Zhuge Liang's faulty dispositions: "With such a critical place, how could he send only two old men?" Huang Zhong said to Yan Yan: "Have you seen the behavior of these people? They are laughing at us for being old. Now we must establish a remarkable feat to make everyone submit." Yan Yan said: "I am willing to follow the general's orders." The two conferred and settled their plan. Huang Zhong led his troops down from the pass and arrayed them against Zhang He. Zhang He rode out, and when he saw Huang Zhong, he laughed and said: "At such an advanced age, you still have no sense of shame—do you still want to fight?" Huang Zhong angrily said: "You young whelp, you bully me because I am old! But the precious sword in my hand is not old!" So he spurred his horse forward and engaged Zhang He in decisive battle. The two horses met, and after about twenty or more exchanges, suddenly a great shout arose from behind. It was Yan Yan, who had taken a side path and come around to the rear of Zhang He's army. Attacked from both sides, Zhang He suffered a great defeat. They pursued all night, and Zhang He's army retreated eighty or ninety li. Huang Zhong and Yan Yan withdrew their troops to their camp and remained inactive.

When Cao Hong heard that Zhang He had lost a battle, he again wanted to punish him. Guo Huai said: "If Zhang He is pressed too hard, he will surely defect to Western Shu. Now you should send a general to assist him, and at the same time keep a watch over him so that he does not develop any other intentions." Cao Hong heeded this and sent Xiahou Shang, nephew of Xiahou Dun, as well as Han Hao, younger brother of the surrendered general Han Xuan, with five thousand troops to aid in the fight. The two set out immediately and arrived at Zhang He's camp to inquire about the military situation. Zhang He said: "The veteran general Huang Zhong is extremely fierce; and with Yan Yan assisting him, he cannot be taken lightly." Han Hao said: "When I was in Changsha, I knew the power of that old scoundrel. He and Wei Yan surrendered the city and caused the death of my elder brother. Now that I have encountered him, I must take revenge." So he and Xiahou Shang led the new troops away from the camp and advanced.

Now Huang Zhong, after several days of reconnaissance, had already learned the routes. Yan Yan said: "There is a mountain here called Tiandang Mountain. It is the place where Cao Cao stores grain and grass. If we can take that place and cut off his supplies, Hanzhong can be obtained." Huang Zhong said: "General, your words match my own thoughts. You can follow me and do thus and thus." Yan Yan followed the plan and took a detachment of troops away.

Now when Huang Zhong heard that Xiahou Shang and Han Hao had arrived, he led his troops out of camp. Han Hao, in front of the battle line, cursed Huang Zhong: "Faithless old scoundrel!" He spurred his horse, leveled his spear, and came to take Huang Zhong's life. Xiahou Shang also came out to attack from the flank. Huang Zhong fought fiercely against the two generals. After about ten or more exchanges each, Huang Zhong feigned defeat and fled. The two generals pursued for over twenty li and captured Huang Zhong's camp. Huang Zhong hastily built another camp. The next day, Xiahou Shang and Han Hao came again, and Huang Zhong went out to array his forces. After a few exchanges, he again fled, and the two generals pursued another twenty li and captured Huang Zhong's camp. They ordered Zhang He to guard the rear camp. Zhang He came to the forward camp and remonstrated, saying: "Huang Zhong has retreated for two days in a row—there must be a trick in this." Xiahou Shang rebuked Zhang He, saying: "You are so timid, no wonder you have been defeated repeatedly! Now stop your meddling and watch us two achieve merit!" Zhang He withdrew in shame.

The next day, the two generals went out again, and Huang Zhong retreated another twenty-odd li; the two generals pursued all the way. The day after that, the two generals went out, and Huang Zhong fled at the mere sight of them. He lost several battles in a row and withdrew all the way to the pass. The two generals pressed forward and encamped before the pass, while Huang Zhong held fast and did not come out. Meng Da secretly wrote a letter reporting to Liu Bei, saying: "Huang Zhong has lost several battles in succession and has now retreated to defend the pass." Liu Bei hurriedly asked Zhuge Liang for advice. Zhuge Liang said: "This is the veteran general's strategy of lulling the enemy into complacency." Zhao Yun and the others did not believe it. Liu Bei sent Liu Feng to the pass to reinforce Huang Zhong. Huang Zhong met with Liu Feng and asked him: "Young general, why have you come to assist in the battle?" Liu Feng said: "My father learned that you had been repeatedly defeated, so he sent me." Huang Zhong laughed and said: "This is my strategy of making the enemy complacent. Watch tonight's battle—I will recover all the camps and seize their grain and horses. They have merely lent us their camps to store their supplies. Tonight, leave Huo Jun to guard the pass. General Meng, you can come with me to transport the grain and seize the horses. Young general, watch me break the enemy."

That night, at the second watch, Huang Zhong led five thousand troops and opened the pass to charge straight down. Now the two generals, Xiahou Shang and Han Hao, had seen no activity from the pass for several days and had grown completely lax. Huang Zhong broke into their camp and charged directly in. The men had no time to don armor, and the horses had no time to be saddled. The two generals each fled for their lives, and the troops trampled each other, with countless numbers dying. By dawn, they had retaken three camps in a row. The camps were littered with discarded weapons and saddles and horses without number, all of which Meng Da transported into the pass. Huang Zhong urged his troops forward in pursuit. Liu Feng said: "The soldiers are already exhausted; they should rest a while." Huang Zhong said: "If you do not enter the tiger's den, how can you catch its cub?" He spurred his horse and pressed ahead, and all the troops strove forward with all their might. Zhang He's army, on the contrary, was thrown into chaos by their own fleeing troops and could not hold their positions. They retreated rearward, abandoning many stockades, and fled all the way to the banks of the Han River.

Zhang He found Xiahou Shang and Han Hao. They conferred, saying: "This Mount Tiandang is where the grain and fodder are stored; connected to it is Mount Micang, also a place for stockpiling provisions—these are the very foundation of life for the troops in Hanzhong. If anything goes wrong, Hanzhong is lost. We must find a way to hold it." Xiahou Shang said: "Mount Micang is guarded by my uncle Xiahou Yuan with troops divided from his command, and it is directly linked to Mount Dingjun; there is no need for worry. Mount Tiandang is held by my elder brother Xiahou De; we should go and join him to secure this mountain."

Thus, Zhang He, together with the two generals, traveled through the night to reach Mount Tiandang. They met Xiahou De and recounted in detail what had happened earlier. Xiahou De said: "I have a hundred thousand troops stationed here. You can take some troops and recapture your original camp." Zhang He replied: "We should only hold firm in defense and not act rashly." Suddenly, they heard a great clamor of golden drums before the mountain, and someone reported: "Huang Zhong's troops have arrived." Xiahou De laughed loudly and said: "This old thief knows nothing of military strategy; he relies solely on his bravery!" Zhang He said: "Huang Zhong has strategy; he is not merely brave." Xiahou De said: "The Sichuan troops have come from afar and are exhausted from days of marching. Moreover, they have ventured deep into enemy territory—this shows a lack of strategy." Zhang He said: "Still, we must not underestimate the enemy. It is best to hold firm in defense." Han Hao said: "I request three thousand elite troops to attack him; I am certain of victory."

Xiahou De then allocated troops to Han Hao, who descended the mountain. Huang Zhong arrayed his forces to meet the battle. Liu Feng advised: "The sun is already setting, and the soldiers are weary from the long march; it would be best to rest for a while." Huang Zhong laughed and said: "No—this is a rare opportunity granted by Heaven. To not seize it would be to go against Heaven’s will." Having said this, he ordered the drums beaten and the soldiers to shout as they advanced in full force. Han Hao led his troops into battle. Huang Zhong brandished his sword and went straight for Han Hao. In a single clash, he cut Han Hao down from his horse. The Shu troops shouted and charged up the mountain. Zhang He and Xiahou Shang hurriedly led their troops to meet them. Suddenly, they heard a great uproar from behind the mountain, and flames shot up into the sky, turning everything above and below red. Xiahou De grabbed his troops to go and fight the fire, when he ran straight into the old general Yan Yan. With a sweep of his blade, Yan Yan cut Xiahou De down from his horse. It turned out that Huang Zhong had previously sent Yan Yan to ambush his troops in a secluded spot on the mountain. They were to wait until Huang Zhong’s army arrived, then set fires. The piles of firewood were all ignited at once, and the flames soared, illuminating the entire valley.

After Yan Yan had killed Xiahou De, he attacked from the rear of the mountain. Zhang He and Xiahou Shang, caught between two fronts and unable to cope, had to abandon Mount Tiandang and flee to Mount Dingjun to join Xiahou Yuan. Huang Zhong and Yan Yan secured Mount Tiandang, and a report of victory was swiftly sent to Chengdu. When Liu Bei heard the news, all his generals came to congratulate him. Fa Zheng said: "Previously, when Cao Cao subdued Zhang Lu and pacified Hanzhong, he did not take advantage of this momentum to seize Ba and Shu; instead, he left the two generals Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He to guard it and returned north with his army—this was a strategic error. Now Zhang He has just been defeated, and Mount Tiandang has fallen. If our lord, seizing this opportunity, leads the main army personally on a campaign, Hanzhong can be pacified. Once Hanzhong is pacified, we can train our troops, stockpile provisions, and watch for the right moment. Advancing, we can punish the rebels; retreating, we can hold our own territory. This is a time granted by Heaven and must not be missed." Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang both agreed wholeheartedly, and they issued orders appointing Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei as the vanguard. Liu Bei, together with Zhuge Liang, personally led a hundred thousand troops, chose an auspicious day, and set out to take Hanzhong; proclamations were sent to all regions, ordering strict preparations.

It was the autumn of the twenty-third year of the Jian’an era (AD 218), on an auspicious day in the seventh month. Liu Bei’s great army emerged from Jiameng Pass and set up camp. He summoned Huang Zhong and Yan Yan to the camp and richly rewarded them. Liu Bei said: "Everyone said that the general was old, but only the military adviser truly understood your ability. Now you have indeed achieved a remarkable feat. But at present, Mount Dingjun in Hanzhong is the shield of Nanzheng and the place where grain and fodder are accumulated. If we can take Mount Dingjun, the Yangping route will no longer be a concern. Does the general dare to go and take Mount Dingjun?" Huang Zhong eagerly agreed and was about to lead his troops forth. Zhuge Liang quickly stopped him and said: "Though the old general is valiant, Xiahou Yuan is not comparable to Zhang He. Xiahou Yuan is deeply versed in strategy and skilled in the use of troops. Cao Cao relies on him as the shield of Xiliang; previously, he garrisoned Chang’an to resist Ma Chao, and now he garrisons Hanzhong. Cao Cao does not entrust such responsibilities to others but solely to Xiahou Yuan, because Xiahou Yuan has the talent of a commander. Now, although you have defeated Zhang He, you may not necessarily defeat Xiahou Yuan. I am thinking of sending someone to Jingzhou to recall General Guan, for only he can match him."

Huang Zhong, stirred to action, replied: "In times past, Lian Po at eighty years of age could still eat a peck of rice and ten catties of meat, and the feudal lords all feared his valor, daring not to invade Zhao’s borders. And I, Huang Zhong, am not yet seventy! The military adviser calls me old, but I will take no deputy general with me now—only my own three thousand troops—and I will immediately cut off Xiahou Yuan’s head and present it before your tent." Zhuge Liang repeatedly refused to agree. Huang Zhong insisted on going. Zhuge Liang said: "Since you insist on going, I will send one person as a supervisor of the army to accompany you. How about that?" Indeed:

To command a general, one must use the method of provocation; the young are not equal to the old.

Who that person was, let the next chapter reveal.