gdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　71

Chapter　71

At　Opposite　Hill；　Huang　Zhong　Scores　A　Success；

On　The　River　Han；　Zhao　Yun　Conquers　A　Host。

〃If　you　are　really　determined　to　undertake　this　expedition；　I　shall　send　Fa　Zheng　with　you；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang　to　the　veteran　leader。　〃You　will　have　to　discuss　everything　with　him。　I　shall　also　dispatch　supports　and　reinforcements。〃

Huang　Zhong　agreed；　and　the　expedition　set　out。

Then　Zhuge　Liang　explained　to　Liu　Bei；　〃I　purposely　tried　to　spur　on　the　old　general　that　he　will　really　exert　himself；　else　he　fears　he　will　not　do　much。　But　he　will　need　reinforcement。〃

After　this；　Zhuge　Liang　ordered　Zhao　Yun　to　march　after　the　first　army　and　help；　if　help　was　needed。　So　long　as　the　old　man　was　victorious；　Zhao　Yun　was　to　do　nothing；　if　he　was　in　difficulties；　then　Zhao　Yun　was　to　rescue。

Also；　three　thousand　troops　under　Liu　Feng　and　Meng　Da　were　sent　out　among　the　hills　to　take　position　at　strategic　points　and　set　up　many　banners　and　make　a　brave　show　in　order　to　spread　the　impression　of　huge　forces；　and　so　frighten　and　perplex　the　enemy。　In　addition；　Zhuge　Liang　sent　to　Xiabian　Pass　to　tell　Ma　Chao　what　part　to　play　in　the　campaign。　Yan　Yan　was　to　hold　Langzhong　and　Baxi　in　place　of　Zhang　Fei　and　Wei　Yan；　who　also　went　in　expedition　in　Hanzhong。

The　refugees；　Zhang　He　and　Xiahou　Shang；　reached　Xiahou　Yuan's　camp　and　told　their　doleful　tale；　〃Tiandang　Mountain　has　been　captured；　and　Xiahou　De　and　Han　Hao　have　died　with　the　loss。　Liu　Bei　is　about　to　invade　Hanzhong。　Send　a　swift　messenger　to　inform　the　Prince　of　Wei　and　ask　for　help。〃

The　news　was　sent　to　Cao　Hong；　who　bore　it　quickly　to　Capital　Xuchang。

Cao　Cao　lost　no　time　in　calling　a　council。

Then　Hi