Now, Zhang Fei had asked Yan Yan for counsel. Yan Yan replied, "From this point to Luocheng, every pass and fortress along the way was once under my command, and the officers and men there are all men I have trained. Moved by your grace in sparing my life, I have nothing to repay you with. Allow me to serve as your vanguard. Wherever we go, I will call out to them and they will surrender." Zhang Fei thanked him profusely. Thus, Yan Yan led the way, and Zhang Fei followed with the main army. At every place they reached, since all were under Yan Yan's former authority, he summoned the defenders to lay down their arms. When any hesitated, Yan Yan would say, "Even I have surrendered—why should you not?" From then on, they submitted as soon as they saw the army approaching, and not a single battle was fought.
Meanwhile, Zhuge Liang had already sent word to Liu Bei of his departure date, instructing that all forces should converge on Luocheng. Liu Bei gathered his officers and said, "Now Kongming and Yide are advancing into Sichuan by two separate routes, to meet at Luocheng and then march together on Chengdu. They set out by water and land on the twentieth day of the seventh month, so they should be arriving soon. It is time for us to advance as well." Huang Zhong said, "Zhang Ren challenges us to battle every day. Seeing that we do not sally forth, his men have grown lax and are not on guard. Tonight, let us divide our forces and raid his camp—that would be far more effective than fighting in broad daylight." Liu Bei agreed and ordered Huang Zhong to attack from the left, Wei Yan from the right, while he himself would strike the center. At the second watch that night, all three columns set out. Zhang Ren was indeed unprepared. Liu Bei's soldiers poured into the enemy camp and set it ablaze; flames leaped into the sky. The soldiers of Shu fled, pursued all the way back to Luocheng, where the garrison opened the gates to receive them. Liu Bei returned to his central camp and made camp. The next day, he led his army directly to Luocheng and laid siege to it. Zhang Ren refused to come out. On the fourth day of the siege, Liu Bei personally led a force to attack the west gate, ordering Huang Zhong and Wei Yan to assault the east gate. He left the south and north gates unguarded to allow the enemy an escape route. The south gate led into mountainous terrain, while the north gate opened onto the Fu River, so these were not encircled. Zhang Ren saw Liu Bei riding back and forth before the west gate, directing the assault. From morning until mid-afternoon, Liu Bei's men grew weary. Zhang Ren then ordered his generals Wu Lan and Lei Tong to take a force out of the north gate, swing around to the east gate, and engage Huang Zhong and Wei Yan. He himself led troops out of the south gate, circled to the west gate, and attacked Liu Bei directly. Within the city, all able-bodied civilians were pressed into service to man the walls, beating drums and raising war cries.
Liu Bei, seeing the sun sinking low in the west, ordered his rear guard to withdraw first. As his men turned to retreat, a great shout arose from the city walls, and a force burst out from the south gate. Zhang Ren charged straight into Liu Bei's ranks, aiming to capture him. Liu Bei's army fell into chaos. Huang Zhong and Wei Yan, meanwhile, were pinned down by Wu Lan and Lei Tong. Neither could come to the other's aid. Liu Bei could not withstand Zhang Ren's assault and spurred his horse toward a narrow mountain path to flee. Zhang Ren gave chase, drawing closer and closer. Liu Bei was alone on his horse. Zhang Ren, with a few riders, pursued him. Liu Bei whipped his horse forward with all his strength, crying out in despair, "Ambush ahead, pursuers behind—Heaven has abandoned me!" Suddenly, a force emerged from the mountain road ahead. At its head was a great general—Zhang Fei! It turned out that Zhang Fei and Yan Yan were marching along that very road. Seeing the dust rising, Zhang Fei knew a battle was underway. He charged forward and met Zhang Ren head-on. They exchanged over ten blows, and then Yan Yan led his troops up from behind. Zhang Ren wheeled about and fled. Zhang Fei pursued him all the way to the city walls. Zhang Ren retreated into Luocheng and raised the drawbridge.
Zhang Fei returned to Liu Bei and said, "The military strategist came up the river and still hasn't arrived, yet I have stolen the first victory!" Liu Bei asked, "The mountain roads are treacherous—how did you manage to push through so quickly without being stopped?" Zhang Fei replied, "All forty-five passes along the route were overcome thanks to the old general Yan Yan. We did not expend a single ounce of effort." He then recounted the entire story of how he had spared Yan Yan's life, and presented Yan Yan to Liu Bei. Liu Bei thanked him, saying, "Without you, old general, how could my brother have reached this place?" He immediately took off his own golden-linked armor and presented it to Yan Yan. Yan Yan bowed in gratitude. As they were about to prepare a feast, a scout returned with news: "Huang Zhong and Wei Yan are locked in battle with the Shu generals Wu Lan and Lei Tong. Wu Yi and Liu Gui have also come out from the city to reinforce them. Attacked from both sides, our men cannot hold. Generals Wei and Huang have been defeated and have fled eastward." Hearing this, Zhang Fei asked Liu Bei to divide the army into two columns to go to their rescue. Zhang Fei took the left, Liu Bei the right, and they charged forward. Wu Yi and Liu Gui, hearing the shouts from behind, hastily withdrew into the city. Wu Lan and Lei Tong, having pursued Huang Zhong and Wei Yan, found their retreat cut off by Liu Bei and Zhang Fei. Huang Zhong and Wei Yan turned back to attack. Wu Lan and Lei Tong, seeing they could not resist, surrendered with their entire force. Liu Bei accepted their surrender and led his army to camp near the city walls.
Zhang Ren, having lost two generals, was deeply troubled. Wu Yi and Liu Gui said, "Our situation is dire. If we do not fight to the death, how can we drive them off? Let us send a man to Chengdu to inform our lord and beg for reinforcements, while we devise a plan to deal with the enemy." Zhang Ren said, "Tomorrow I will lead a force to challenge them, feign defeat, and lure them toward the north gate. Then another force from within the city will charge out and cut them off in the middle. That way, we can win." Wu Yi said, "General Liu will assist the young prince in defending the city; I will lead a force out to support you." The plan was set. The next day, Zhang Ren led several thousand men out of the city, waving banners and shouting, to challenge the enemy. Zhang Fei mounted his horse and rode out to meet him. Without a word, they clashed. After fewer than ten exchanges, Zhang Ren feigned defeat and fled around the city walls. Zhang Fei pursued with all his might. Then Wu Yi's force sprang the trap, cutting off Zhang Fei's retreat, and Zhang Ren turned back to attack. Zhang Fei was surrounded, unable to advance or retreat. Just as he was at his wit's end, a column of troops emerged from the riverbank. At their head was a great general who, leveling his spear and urging his horse forward, engaged Wu Yi. In a single exchange, he captured Wu Yi alive, scattered the enemy, and rescued Zhang Fei. It was Zhao Yun. Zhang Fei asked, "Where is the military strategist?" Zhao Yun replied, "The strategist has arrived. I imagine he is already meeting with our lord." The two of them took Wu Yi back to camp. Zhang Ren retreated into the east gate.
When Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun returned to camp, they found Zhuge Liang, Jian Yong, and Jiang Wan already in the tent. Zhang Fei dismounted and paid his respects to the strategist. Zhuge Liang asked in surprise, "How did you get here first?" Liu Bei then recounted the story of how Yan Yan had been spared. Zhuge Liang congratulated him, saying, "General Zhang's ability to use strategy is all due to our lord's great fortune." Zhao Yun then brought Wu Yi before Liu Bei. Liu Bei asked, "Will you surrender?" Wu Yi replied, "Since I have been captured, how could I not?" Liu Bei was delighted and personally untied his bonds. Zhuge Liang asked, "How many men are defending the city?" Wu Yi said, "Liu Zhang's son Liu Xun is there, along with the generals Liu Gui and Zhang Ren. Liu Gui is of little consequence, but Zhang Ren is a man of Shu Commandery, extremely bold and resourceful—do not take him lightly." Zhuge Liang said, "We must capture Zhang Ren first, then take Luocheng." He then asked, "What is the name of the bridge east of the city?" Wu Yi replied, "The Golden Wild Goose Bridge." Zhuge Liang mounted his horse and rode to the bridge, surveying the riverbank on both sides. Returning to camp, he summoned Huang Zhong and Wei Yan and gave them their orders: "Five or six li south of the Golden Wild Goose Bridge, the banks are thick with reeds and rushes—perfect for an ambush. Wei Yan, take a thousand spearmen and lie in ambush on the left, with orders to stab the enemy riders. Huang Zhong, take a thousand swordsmen and lie in ambush on the right, with orders to slash at the horses' legs. Once we scatter their forces, Zhang Ren will surely flee along the eastern mountain path. Zhang Fei, take a thousand men and lay an ambush there to capture him." He then ordered Zhao Yun to lie in ambush north of the Golden Wild Goose Bridge: "When I lure Zhang Ren across the bridge, you will break the bridge. Then deploy your troops on the north bank, making a show of force, so that Zhang Ren will not dare to flee north. He will be forced to turn south, right into our trap." Having made all the arrangements, the strategist himself went to lure the enemy.
Now, Liu Zhang had sent the generals Zhuo Ying and Zhang Yi to reinforce Luocheng. Zhang Ren ordered Zhang Yi to guard the city with Liu Gui, while he and Zhuo Ying formed two lines: Zhang Ren in front, Zhuo Ying in the rear. They sallied forth to drive off the enemy. Zhuge Liang led a ragtag, disorderly force across the Golden Wild Goose Bridge to confront Zhang Ren. Riding in a four-wheeled carriage, wearing a silk headband and holding a feather fan, flanked by a hundred cavalrymen, Zhuge Liang pointed at Zhang Ren from afar and said, "Cao Cao, with a million men, fled at the mere sound of my name. Who are you, that you dare not surrender?" Seeing Zhuge Liang's ragged troops, Zhang Ren sneered from his horse, "They say Zhuge Liang uses troops like a god, but it seems he is all fame and no substance!" He raised his spear, and his entire force charged forward. Zhuge Liang abandoned his carriage, mounted a horse, and fled back across the bridge. Zhang Ren pursued him. Once across the Golden Wild Goose Bridge, Zhang Ren saw Liu Bei's troops on his left and Yan Yan's troops on his right, closing in for the kill.
Zhang Ren realized it was a trap and tried to turn back, but the bridge had already been broken. He attempted to flee north, but saw Zhao Yun's force deployed on the far bank, so he dared not go that way. He turned south and fled along the river. After less than five or seven li, he reached a dense thicket of reeds. Wei Yan's spearmen suddenly rose from the reeds and thrust at the riders. Huang Zhong's swordsmen, hidden in the rushes, hacked at the horses' legs. The cavalry mounts fell, and their riders were captured. The infantry dared not approach. Zhang Ren, with a few dozen riders, fled toward the mountain path, only to run straight into Zhang Fei. As Zhang Ren tried to retreat, Zhang Fei let out a thunderous roar, and his men swarmed forward, capturing Zhang Ren alive. Meanwhile, Zhuo Ying, seeing that Zhang Ren had fallen into the trap, had already surrendered to Zhao Yun. All the captives were brought to the main camp. Liu Bei rewarded Zhuo Ying. Zhang Fei presented Zhang Ren in chains. Zhuge Liang sat in the tent. Liu Bei said to Zhang Ren, "All the generals of Shu have surrendered at the sight of our banners. Why do you not yield quickly?" Zhang Ren glared and shouted angrily, "A loyal minister does not serve two masters!" Liu Bei said, "You do not recognize the times. Surrender, and you will be spared." Zhang Ren replied, "Even if I surrendered today, I would not remain loyal! Kill me now!" Liu Bei could not bear to have him executed. But Zhang Ren continued to curse loudly. Zhuge Liang ordered him put to death, to preserve his honor.
A poet of the time lamented: "The loyal martyr would not bow to a second lord; Zhang Ren's courage made him live on even in death. His righteousness shone like the moon in the heavens, casting its light upon Luocheng night after night."
Liu Bei sighed deeply and ordered that Zhang Ren's body be collected and buried beside the Golden Wild Goose Bridge, as a mark of respect for his loyalty.
The next day, Liu Bei ordered Yan Yan, Wu Yi, and the other surrendered Shu generals to lead the vanguard. They marched straight to Luocheng and shouted, "Open the gates and surrender, to spare the people of this city further suffering!" Liu Gui, on the city wall, cursed them loudly. Yan Yan was about to shoot an arrow at him, when suddenly a general on the wall drew his sword, cut down Liu Gui, and opened the gates to surrender. Liu Bei's army entered Luocheng. Liu Xun escaped through the west gate and fled to Chengdu. Liu Bei issued proclamations to reassure the people. The man who had killed Liu Gui was Zhang Yi, a native of Wuyang.
Having taken Luocheng, Liu Bei richly rewarded his officers. Zhuge Liang said, "Luocheng has fallen; Chengdu is now within reach. But I fear that the outlying commanderies may not be pacified. Let Zhang Yi and Wu Yi lead Zhao Yun to pacify the regions of Jiangyang and Jianwei along the outer rivers. Let Yan Yan and Zhuo Ying lead Zhang Fei to pacify the regions of Baxi and Deyang. Appoint officials to govern them and ensure order, then march back to Chengdu to rendezvous." Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun accepted their orders and departed with their troops. Zhuge Liang asked, "What fortresses lie ahead?" The surrendered Shu generals replied, "Only Mianzhu is heavily defended. If we take Mianzhu, Chengdu will fall like a ripe fruit." Zhuge Liang began to discuss the next move. Fa Zheng said, "Now that Luocheng has fallen, Shu is in grave danger. My lord, if you wish to win the people's hearts through benevolence, do not advance just yet. Let me write a letter to Liu Zhang, laying out the advantages and disadvantages. He will surely surrender." Zhuge Liang said, "Xiaozhi's words are wise." He ordered Fa Zheng to write the letter and send a messenger to Chengdu.
Liu Xun, having escaped, returned to his father and reported that Luocheng had fallen. Liu Zhang, in a panic, gathered his officers to discuss the situation. The staff officer Zheng Du proposed a plan: "Though Liu Bei has taken cities and territory, his army is not large, and the local people have not yet fully submitted to him. He relies on wild grain for provisions and has no supply train. Our best course is to drive all the people of Baxi and Zitong west of the Fu River. Burn all the granaries and wild grain. Deepen our moats and fortify our walls, and wait patiently. When Liu Bei challenges us, refuse to engage. With no supplies, within a hundred days his army will be forced to retreat. Then we can strike at his weakened force and capture him." Liu Zhang said, "No. I have heard of resisting the enemy to protect the people, but never of moving the people to prepare for the enemy. This is not a plan to preserve the realm." As they debated, a messenger arrived bearing a letter from Fa Zheng. Liu Zhang had him brought in. He opened the letter and read its contents, which said: "Previously, you sent me to form an alliance with Jing Province. Unfortunately, your advisors were not up to the task, leading to this situation. Now the lord of Jing Province remembers old ties and does not forget the bonds of kinship. If you will see reason and submit, I am certain you will be treated generously. I beg you to consider this carefully and give me your answer."
Liu Zhang flew into a rage, tore the letter to shreds, and cursed, "Fa Zheng, you traitor who sells his lord for glory, you ingrate who betrays kindness!" He drove the messenger out of the city. Immediately, he sent his brother-in-law Fei Guan to lead troops to defend Mianzhu. Fei Guan recommended a man from Nanyang named Li Yan, styled Zhengfang, to command with him. Fei Guan and Li Yan mustered thirty thousand men to garrison Mianzhu. The Grand Administrator of Yi Province, Dong He, styled Youzai, a native of Zhijiang in Nan Commandery, sent a letter to Liu Zhang, suggesting he borrow troops from Hanzhong. Liu Zhang said, "Zhang Lu and I are sworn enemies. Why would he help us?" Dong He replied, "Though he is our enemy, Liu Bei's army is at Luocheng, and our situation is desperate. When the lips are gone, the teeth feel the cold. If you explain this to him, he will surely agree." Liu Zhang then wrote a letter and sent a messenger to Hanzhong.
Now, Ma Chao, after his defeat, had spent more than two years among the Qiang tribes. He had forged alliances with them and captured many commanderies in Longxi. Wherever he went, the people submitted, except for the city of Ji, which he could not take. The Grand Administrator of Ji, Wei Kang, had repeatedly sent messengers to Xiahou Yuan for help, but Xiahou Yuan dared not move without orders from Cao Cao. Seeing no relief coming, Wei Kang gathered his officers and said, "It would be better to surrender to Ma Chao." The staff officer Yang Fu wept and remonstrated, "Ma Chao is a rebel against his lord—how can we surrender to him?" Wei Kang said, "Our situation is desperate. What else can we do?" Despite Yang Fu's bitter protests, Wei Kang opened the city gates and submitted to Ma Chao. Ma Chao was enraged and said, "You only surrender now that you are in dire straits—this is not sincere!" He executed Wei Kang and all forty members of his household, sparing no one. Someone suggested that Yang Fu, who had advised Wei Kang not to surrender, should be killed. Ma Chao said, "This man is loyal. He must not be killed." He instead reappointed Yang Fu as his staff officer. Yang Fu then recommended Liang Kuan and Zhao Qu, and Ma Chao appointed them both as military officers.
Yang Fu then said to Ma Chao, "My wife has died in Lintao. I beg leave for two months to bury her, after which I will return." Ma Chao granted his request. On his way, Yang Fu passed through Li City and visited the General Who Pacifies the Qiang, Jiang Xu. Jiang Xu was Yang Fu's cousin; Jiang Xu's mother was Yang Fu's aunt, now eighty-two years old. Yang Fu went into Jiang Xu's private quarters, paid his respects to his aunt, and wept as he said, "I could not hold the city, and I could not die with my lord. I am too ashamed to face you, Aunt. Ma Chao has rebelled against his lord and murdered the Grand Administrator. Every man in the province hates him. Now my cousin sits idle in Li City, with no thought of punishing the traitor. Is this the way of a loyal subject?" As he spoke, tears of blood streamed from his eyes. Jiang Xu's mother summoned her son and scolded him, "The death of Governor Wei is your fault as well." She then said to Yang Fu, "You have surrendered to Ma Chao and eat his bread. Why do you now plot against him?" Yang Fu replied, "I served the bandit only to preserve my life long enough to avenge my lord." Jiang Xu said, "Ma Chao is fierce and brave. It will be difficult to deal with him." Yang Fu said, "He has courage but no strategy. He will be easy to trap. I have already secretly arranged with Liang Kuan and Zhao Qu to serve as our agents inside the city. If you will raise an army, they will surely cooperate." Jiang Xu's mother said, "If you do not act now, when will you? Everyone must die. To die for loyalty and righteousness is to die well. Do not worry about me. If you do not follow Yishan's advice, I will kill myself first, so that you will have no one to hold you back."
Jiang Xu then discussed the matter with the Colonel of the Household Troops Yin Feng and Zhao Ang. Zhao Ang's son, Zhao Yue, was serving as a lieutenant under Ma Chao. Zhao Ang agreed to the plan, but when he returned home, he said to his wife, Lady Wang, "Today I met with Jiang Xu, Yang Fu, and Yin Feng to plan revenge for Wei Kang. But our son Zhao Yue is with Ma Chao. If we rise up, Ma Chao will surely kill him first. What shall we do?" His wife replied sternly, "To avenge the great shame of our lord and father, even death itself is a small price—let alone a single son! If you hesitate for the sake of our child, I will kill myself first!" Zhao Ang then made his decision. The next day, they raised their forces. Jiang Xu and Yang Fu garrisoned Li City, while Yin Feng and Zhao Ang garrisoned Mount Qi. Lady Wang took all her jewelry and money and personally went to the camp at Mount Qi to reward the soldiers and encourage them.
When Ma Chao heard that Jiang Xu, Yang Fu, Yin Feng, and Zhao Ang had risen against him, he flew into a rage. He immediately executed Zhao Yue. He then ordered Pang De and Ma Dai to muster all their troops and march on Li City. Jiang Xu and Yang Fu led their forces out to meet them. When the two armies were drawn up, Yang Fu and Jiang Xu, dressed in white mourning robes, rode out and shouted, "Rebel! Traitor to your lord!" Ma Chao, enraged, charged forward, and the two armies clashed. How could Jiang Xu and Yang Fu withstand Ma Chao? They were utterly defeated and fled. Ma Chao pursued them. Then shouts arose from behind as Yin Feng and Zhao Ang attacked. Ma Chao wheeled around to face them, but now he was caught between two forces, unable to defend both front and rear. As he fought, a large army appeared from the flank. It was Xiahou Yuan, who had finally received Cao Cao's orders and had come to destroy Ma Chao. How could Ma Chao withstand three armies at once? He suffered a great defeat and fled.
He marched all night. At dawn, when he reached the city of Ji and called for the gates to be opened, a hail of arrows rained down from the walls. Liang Kuan and Zhao Qu stood on the wall, cursing Ma Chao. They cut down Ma Chao's wife, Lady Yang, with a single sword stroke and threw her body down. Then they killed his three young sons and more than ten of his close relatives, hacking them down one by one. Ma Chao choked with rage and nearly fell from his horse. Behind him, Xiahou Yuan's army was in pursuit. Seeing the overwhelming force, Ma Chao dared not linger. He, Pang De, and Ma Dai cut a path through and fled. Ahead, they ran into Jiang Xu and Yang Fu, and fought another battle. They broke through, only to encounter Yin Feng and Zhao Ang, and fought yet again. Scattered and reduced to fewer than sixty riders, they fled through the night. Around the fourth watch, they reached Li City. The gatekeepers, thinking it was Jiang Xu's army returning, opened the gates wide and let them in. Ma Chao then began a massacre, starting from the south gate, slaughtering all the inhabitants. He went to Jiang Xu's house and seized his old mother. The old woman showed no fear. She pointed at Ma Chao and cursed him. Ma Chao, enraged, drew his sword and killed her. He also slaughtered the entire families of Yin Feng and Zhao Ang. Zhao Ang's wife, Lady Wang, escaped only because she was with the army at Mount Qi.
The next day, Xiahou Yuan's main army arrived. Ma Chao abandoned the city, fought his way out, and fled westward. After less than twenty li, he found his path blocked by a force led by Yang Fu. Gnashing his teeth in hatred, Ma Chao spurred his horse forward and thrust his spear at Yang Fu. Seven of Yang Fu's younger brothers came to his aid. Ma Dai and Pang De held off the rear guard. All seven brothers were killed by Ma Chao. Yang Fu himself, though wounded by five spear thrusts, continued to fight with desperate courage. Then Xiahou Yuan's main force arrived, and Ma Chao fled, with only Pang De and Ma Dai and a few riders following behind. Xiahou Yuan then pacified the people of the Longxi commanderies, ordered Jiang Xu and the others to take up their posts, and sent Yang Fu in a carriage to Xuchang to see Cao Cao. Cao Cao enfeoffed Yang Fu as a Marquis of the Inner Court. Yang Fu declined, saying, "I did nothing to save the city from destruction, nor did I have the integrity to die with my lord. By law, I deserve death. How can I accept any rank?" Cao Cao praised him, but granted him the title nonetheless.
Now, Ma Chao discussed with Pang De and Ma Dai and decided to go to Hanzhong and seek refuge with Zhang Lu. Zhang Lu was overjoyed, believing that with Ma Chao on his side, he could swallow Yi Province to the west and resist Cao Cao to the east. He considered marrying his daughter to Ma Chao. But his general Yang Bo advised against it, saying, "Ma Chao's wife and children were slaughtered because of his own actions. How can you give him your daughter?" Zhang Lu heeded this advice and abandoned the marriage plan. Someone informed Ma Chao of Yang Bo's words. Ma Chao was furious and began to contemplate killing Yang Bo. Yang Bo, learning of this, discussed the matter with his brother Yang Song, and they too plotted against Ma Chao. Just then, a messenger arrived from Liu Zhang, begging Zhang Lu for aid. Zhang Lu refused. Then word came that Liu Zhang had sent another envoy, Huang Quan. Huang Quan first went to see Yang Song and said, "The two lands of Shu are like lips and teeth. If Western Shu is destroyed, Eastern Shu cannot survive. If you will help us now, we will reward you with twenty districts." Yang Song was delighted and immediately brought Huang Quan before Zhang Lu, explaining the danger of the situation and the promised reward of twenty districts. Tempted by the offer, Zhang Lu agreed. Yan Pu, a man from Baxi, remonstrated, saying, "Liu Zhang is your sworn enemy. Now that he is desperate, he falsely promises to cede territory. This cannot be trusted." Just then, a man stepped forward from the ranks and said, "Though I am unworthy, I beg for a single army to capture Liu Bei alive and force him to yield the promised lands." And so it was that just as the true lord was appearing in Western Shu, a fresh army emerged from Hanzhong. Who was this man? Let us see in the next chapter.