a　spear　thrust　in　the　shoulder；　turned　round　in　his　saddle；　and　fell　from　his　horse。　His　men　rushed　to　his　help；　and　they　carried　him　away　as　they　retreated；　while　Zhang　Fei　took　the　whole　transport　train　of　fodder　and　forage　away　to　his　own　camp。

The　defeated　escort　carried　their　wounded　leader　back　to　Cao　Cao's　camp；　where　he　was　placed　in　the　care　of　physicians。　Then　Cao　Cao　himself　led　out　his　army　to　fight　a　decisive　battle　with　the　army　of　Shu。　Liu　Bei　went　out　to　meet　him；　and；　when　both　sides　were　arrayed；　Liu　Feng　went　out　to　challenge。　Cao　Cao　at　once　let　loose　a　torrent　of　taunts　and　reproaches。

〃Seller　of　shoes；　you　are　always　sending　out　this　pretended　son　of　yours　to　fight　for　you。　If　I　only　call　my　golden…bearded　son　Cao　Zhang；　your　so…called　son　will　be　chopped　to　mincemeat！〃

These　words　enraged　Liu　Feng；　who　raised　his　spear　and　galloped　toward　Cao　Cao。　Cao　Cao　bade　Xu　Huang　do　battle　with　the　young　man；　and　Liu　Feng　at　once　ran　away。　Cao　Cao　led　on　his　legions；　but　he　was　harassed　by　the　explosion　of　bombs；　the　beating　of　drums；　and　the　blare　of　trumpets　that　came　from　every　side。　He　concluded　that　he　was　being　led　into　an　ambush；　and　he　hastened　to　retire。　The　retreat　was　unfortunate；　for　the　soldiers　trampled　upon　each　other　and　many　were　killed。　Anon　they　all　ran　off　to　Yangping　Pass　as　quickly　as　they　could。

But　the　soldiers　of　Shu　came　right　up　to　the　walls　of　the　Pass；　and　some　burned　the　east　gate　while　others　shouted　at　the　west。　Others；　again；　burned　the　north　gate　while　drums　rolled　at　the　south。　Leaders　and　led　were　alike　harassed　and　frightened；　and　presently　they　left　the　Pass　and　ran　away。　They　were　pursued　and　sore　smitten。

The　road　to　safety　was　not　easy。　In　one　direction　Zhang　Fei　barred　the　way；　whil