Zhang　Lu　could　not　decide　which　to　do。　His　brother；　Zhang　Wei；　maintained　that　burning　everything　and　flight　was　the　only　course。

Zhang　Lu　said；　〃I　have　been　always　loyal　at　heart　and　desired　to　return　to　allegiance　when　circumstances　would　permit。　I　have　been　unable　to　attain　my　desire；　but　now　fight　seems　the　only　course　open　to　me。　However；　the　granaries　and　treasures；　the　public　offices；　and　the　government　property　of　all　kinds　must　be　kept　safe。〃

So　the　public　buildings　were　all　carefully　barred　and　sealed。　The　same　night；　in　the　late　evening；　Zhang　Lu　and　his　family　went　out　through　the　south　gate　and　found　their　way　through。　Cao　Cao　let　them　go　unpursued。　When　Cao　Cao　entered　the　city　and　saw　the　proofs　of　Zhang　Lu's　care　of　the　government　property；　he　passionated　the　Governor's　misfortunes。　He　then　sent　a　messenger　into　Bazhong　to　induce　Zhang　Lu　to　surrender。　Zhang　Lu　was　disposed　to　do　so；　but　his　brother　would　not　hear　of　it。　Yang　Song　wrote　a　secret　letter　to　Cao　Cao　urging　him　to　attack　and　promising　treacherous　aid。

Cao　Cao　presently　attacked；　and　Zhang　Wei　came　out　to　meet　him。　But　his　opponent　was　the　mighty　Xu　Chu；　who　made　short　work　of　him。　The　beaten　soldiers　fled　back　into　the　city；　which　Zhang　Lu　then　decided　to　defend。

As　this　would　not　give　Yang　Song　the　chance　to　carry　out　his　treacherous　scheme；　he　persuaded　his　master；　saying；　〃If　we　stay　passive；　death　will　surely　e。　My　lord　should　go　out　and　fight　the　enemy　to　the　conclusion；　leaving　me　to　defend　the　city。〃

Zhang　Lu　took　this　advice；　although　it　was　opposed　by　Yan　Pu；　and　went　out。　But　before　his　van　got　near　the　enemy；　his　rear　ranks　began　to　desert；　and　Zhang　Lu　retreated。　Cao　Cao　pursued　him　to　the　city　walls；　where　Zhang　Lu　found　the　gates　shut　agai