d　he　urged　his　men　to　go　faster。　The　snow　had　filled　in　the　roads　among　the　hills；　making　every　part　look　like　a　level　plain。

As　they　marched；　one　reported　that　some　of　the　enemy　were　appearing　from　the　rear　of　the　hills。　Some　thought　this　meant　an　ambush；　but　Ya　Dan　said　it　did　not　matter；　and　they　need　not　fear。　He　urged　them　to　hasten。

Shortly　after　this　they　heard　a　roaring　as　if　the　hills　were　rending　asunder　and　the　earth　falling　in；　and　the　pursuers　on　foot　fell　one　atop　of　the　other　into　great　pits　that　were　invisible　in　the　snow。　The　iron　chariots；　being　close　behind　and　hurrying　along；　could　not　stop；　and　they　went　into　the　pits　also。　Those　still　farther　in　the　rear　halted；　but　just　as　they　were　facing　about；　Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao　came　up；　one　on　either　side；　and　attacked。　Myriads　of　bolts　flew　through　the　air。　Then　three　other　divisions　under　Jiang　Wei；　Ma　Dai；　and　Zhang　Yi　arrived　and　confusion　was　worse　than　ever。

The　Qiang　leader；　Yue　Ji；　fled　to　the　rear　and　was　making　for　the　mountains　when　he　met　Guan　Xing；　who　slew　him　in　the　first　encounter。　Prime　Minister　Ya　Dan　was　captured　by　Ma　Dai　and　taken　to　the　main　camp。　The　soldiers　scattered。

Hearing　of　the　capture　of　one　leader；　Zhuge　Liang　took　his　seat　in　his　tent　and　bade　them　bring　the　prisoner。　He　told　the　guards　to　loose　his　bonds；　and　he　had　wine　brought　to　refresh　him　and　soothed　him　with　kindly　words。

Ya　Dan　was　grateful　for　this　kindness；　and　felt　more　so　when　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃My　master；　the　Emperor　of　the　Great　Han；　sent　me　to　destroy　those　who　are　in　revolt。　Why　are　you　helping　them？　But　I　will　release　you；　and　you　will　return　to　your　master　and　say　that　we　are　neighbors　and　we　will　swear　an　oath　of　everlasting　friendship；　and　tell　him　to　listen　no　more　to