Gao Ding sent E Huan to lead the van. This E Huan was nine spans tall in stature, but savage of countenance. His weapon was a two-bladed halberd. He was very valiant and could face many warriors. He led his own cohort out in advance of the main body and fell in with the leading bodies of the Shu army immediately after they had got into Yiazhou.
The two sides drew up for battle; and, the arrays being complete, Wei Yan rode out and vilified the rebels, shouting, “O Malcontent! Be quick to surrender!”
Instead, E Huan galloped out and fought with Wei Yan. After a few bouts Wei Yan seemed to be bested and fled. But this was only a ruse. As E Huan followed, the gongs clanged and from left and right poured out Zhang Yi and Wang Ping. Wei Yan turned around, and three generals besieged and captured E Huan.
He was taken to the tent of Zhuge Liang, who bade his attendants loose his bonds, gave him wine and comforted him.
Then Zhuge Liang asked, “Whom do you belong to?”
E Huan replied, “I am one of the generals under Gao Ding.”
“I know Gao Ding as a loyal and good sort, but he has been led away by this Yong Kai. Now I shall release you, but you are to bring Gao Ding to his senses and see to it that he comes to surrender and avoids grave disaster.”
E Huan thanked him and withdrew. He went to his own side and soon saw Gao Ding. He told Gao Ding what Zhuge Liang had said, and Zhuge Liang's kindly feeling deeply affected Gao Ding.
Next day, Yong Kai came over to Gao Ding's camp to visit him. After the exchange of salutations, Yong Kai asked, “How did E Huan manage to return?”
“Zhuge Liang released him out of pure kindness,” replied Gao Ding.
“This is a ruse of his to separate you from me: he wishes to make us enemies.”
Gao Ding almost believed this too, and he was much perplexed.
Just then the watchers reported that the leaders of Shu had come up and were offering battle. So Yong Kai led out thirty thousand troops to take up the challenge. But after the third encounter he fled. Wei Yan pursued him and smote for a distance of seven miles.
Next day Yong Kai challenged, but the soldiers of Shu refused to fight, and remained within their lines for three days. On the fourth day Yong Kai and Gao Ding divided their troops into two parts and came to attack the camp. Now Zhuge Liang had told Wei Yan to wait for this double attack, and so when it came to pass, both divisions fell into an ambush and suffered great loss, many being killed and more captured.
The prisoners were taken to the camp, and the soldiers belonging to the two leaders — Yong Kai and Gao Ding — were confined separately. Then Zhuge Liang told the soldiers to let it be known that only those belonging to Gao Ding would be spared, the others would be put to death. When time had been given for this story to spread among the prisoners, Yong Kai's troops were brought up to the commander's tent.
“Whose soldiers were you?” asked Zhuge Liang.
“Gao Ding's,” cried they all, falsely.
Then they were all pardoned, and, after being given wine and food, they were taken to the frontier and set free.
Next the real Gao Ding's soldiers were brought forward, and the same question was put to them.
“We all really belong to Gao Ding's command,” said they.
In like manner they were pardoned and refreshed with wine and food.
Then Zhuge Liang addressed them, saying, “Yong Kai has just sent a messenger to ask that he may surrender, and he offers to bring with him the heads of Gao Ding and Zhu Bao as a proof of merit. But I will not receive him, and you, since you are Gao Ding's soldiers, shall be released and allowed to return to him. But let there be no ingratitude and fighting again, for if there is, I certainly will not pardon you next time.”
So they thanked their liberator and went away. As soon as they reached their own camp, they told the whole story. Then Gao Ding sent a spy to the camp of Yong Kai to find out what was doing. There the spy met those who had been released, and they were all talking about Zhuge Liang's kindness, and many of them were inclined to desert their own camp for the other.
Although this seemed very satisfactory, yet Gao Ding did not feel convinced, and he sent another man to Zhuge Liang's camp to try to verify the rumor. But this man was captured and taken before the Commander-in-Chief, who pretended that he thought the spy belonged to Yong Kai, and said to him, “Why has your leader failed to send me the heads of Gao Ding and Zhu Bao as he promised? You lot are not very clever, and what are you come to spy out?”
The soldier muttered and mumbled in confusion. But Zhuge Liang gave the man wine and food, and then wrote a letter which he handed to the spy, saying, “You give this letter to your commander, Yong Kai, and tell him to get the job done quickly.”
The spy took the letter and got away. As soon as he reached camp, he gave the letter to Gao Ding and also the message.
Gao Ding read the missive and became very angry.
