ckly　fled　toward　Nanzheng。

By　and　by；　when　Yang　Ang　returned；　he　found　his　camp　in　the　possession　of　Cao　Cao's　troops。　Soon　Cao　Cao's　main　army　came　up；　and　Yang　Ang　was　between　two　forces。　There　seemed　no　other　way　but　to　make　a　dash　for　it。　Falling　in　with　Zhang　He；　the　two　engaged；　and　Yang　Ang　fell。　Those　who　escaped　carried　the　news　of　the　disaster　to　Zhang　Wei；　who　abandoned　Yangping　Pass　and　fled。

So　the　invaders　took　possession　of　the　Pass；　and　its　late　defenders；　Zhang　Wei　and　Yan　Ren；　had　to　go　back　and　report　failure。

Zhang　Wei　laid　the　blame　on　his　generals；　saying；　〃The　Pass　could　not　be　held　after　its　supporting　positions　had　been　lost。〃

Zhang　Lu　threatened　to　behead　Yan　Ren　for　his　failure。

But　Yan　Ren　said；　〃Yang　Ang　did　not　listen　to　my　advice；　and　the　defeat　followed。　Now　I　volunteer　to　make　another　attack。　If　I　fail　to　take　Cao　Cao's　head；　I　will　abide　by　the　consequences　without　protest。〃

Zhang　Lu　took　his　formal　pledge　to　succeed；　gave　him　twenty　thousand　troops；　and　sent　him　away。　Yan　Ren　marched　to　Nanzheng　and　made　a　stockade。

Before　Cao　Cao　made　any　further　advance；　he　sent　Xiahou　Yuan；　with　five　thousand　troops；　to　reconnoiter　the　road；　and　they　fell　in　with　the　force　led　by　Yan　Ren。　Both　sides　drew　up　their　battle　array。　From　Yan　Ren's　side　went　out　one　general　named　Chang　Qi　to　engage　Xiahou　Yuan。　Before　the　fourth　bout　was　fought；　Xiahou　Yuan　disposed　of　Chang　Qi。　Then　Yan　Ren　set　his　spear　and　rode　to　the　front。　They　two　fought　near　forty　bouts　and　neither　could　claim　victory。　Then　Xiahou　Yuan　pretended　defeat　and　fled。　The　other　rushed　in　pursuit。　The　fugitive　suddenly　employed　the　〃swinging…horse　stab〃　and　killed　his　pursuer。　Yan　Ren's　troops　ran　away。

As　soon　as　Cao　Cao　knew　of　the