Then Wei Yan took half the force and went west to the second camp, while Zhao Yun marched east to the third one. By the time they reached the camps, day had dawned. The Mangs also had news of Wei Yan's coming, and drew up the camp to oppose. But when they had got clear, there was a great uproar behind them at the stockade gates, and confusion followed. The reason was the arrival of Wang Ping. Between the two bodies, the Mangs were beaten. Their Chief, Dongtu Na, forced his way out and got away. Wei Yan's soldiers followed, but they could not catch him.
When Zhao Yun led his troops east to attack the third camp in the rear, Ma Zhong made an attack on the front. They scored a success, but the Chief Ahui Nan escaped.
They returned to headquarters, and Zhuge Liang said, “The three parties of Mangs have fled, and Dongtu Na and Ahui Nan escaped; where is the head of Jinhua Sanjie?” Zhao Yun produced it. At the same time he reported: “Dongtu Na and Ahui Nan escaped by abandoning their horses and going over the hills. Therefore, we could not be followed.”
“They are already prisoners,” said Zhuge Liang with a laugh.
The fighting men could not credit it. But soon after Zhang Ni brought out Dongtu Na, and Zhang Yi Ahui Nan.
When the Shu leaders expressed surprise and admiration, Zhuge Liang said, “I had studied the map and knew the positions of the camps. I taunted Zhao Yun and Wei Yan into making a supreme effort into the camp of Jinhua Sanjie; at the same time that I sent other forces under Wang Ping and Ma Zhong, with the purpose to support Zhao Yun and Wei Yan and to force Dongtu Na and Ahui Nan to flee. I felt certain the two chiefs would run away along those small roads, and I set soldiers under Zhang Ni and Zhang Yi on those roads to wait for them. They also were supported.”
They all bowed, saying, “The Prime Minister's calculations are divine and incomprehensible.”
The two captive chiefs were then called. As soon as they appeared, Zhuge Liang loosed their bonds, gave them refreshments and released them, bidding them offend no more. They thanked him for their liberty, and disappeared along a by-road.
Then Zhuge Liang said to his generals, “Tomorrow Meng Huo will come in person to make an attack. We shall probably capture him again.”
Then he summoned Zhao Yun and Wei Yan and gave them orders. They left, each with five thousand troops. Next he sent Wang Ping. And then he sat in his tent to wait for the result.
The King of the Mangs was sitting in his tent when the scouts told him that his three chiefs had been captured and their armies scattered. It made him very angry, and he quickly got his army ready to march. Soon he met Wang Ping, and, when the armies were arrayed, Wang Ping rode out to the front, saber in his hand. The flaunting banners of the array formation of his foes then opened out, and he saw their ranks. Many generals were on horseback on both sides. In the middle was the King, who advanced to the front. He wore a golden, inlaid head-dress; his belt bore a lion's face as clasp; his boots had pointed toes and were green; he rode a frizzy-haired horse the color of a red hare; he carried at his waist a pair of swords chased with the pine amber.
He looked haughtily at his foes, and then, turning to his generals, said, “It has always been said that Zhuge Liang is a wonderful soldier, but I see that is false. Look at this array with its banners all in confusion and the ranks in disorder. There is not a weapon among all the swords and spears better than ours. If I had only realized this before, I would have fought them long ago. Who dares go out and capture a Shu general to show them what sort of warriors we are?”
At once a general rode toward the leader Wang Ping. His name was Mangya Chang; his weapon was a huge headsman's sword, and he rode a dun pony. Riding up to Wang Ping, the two engaged.
Wang Ping only fought a short time, and then fled. Meng Huo at once ordered his troops on in quick pursuit, and the troops of Shu retreated seven miles or so before the Mangs were near enough to fight. Just as the Mangs thought their enemies were in their power, a great shouting arose and two cohorts appeared, Zhang Ni from the left and Zhang Yi from the right, and attacked. The Mangs could not retreat, and as the force under Wang Ping and Guan Suo also turned upon them, the Mangs were surrounded and lost the day. Meng Huo and some of his generals fought their way out and made for the Brocade Mountains. The troops of Shu followed and forced them forward, and presently there appeared, in front, Zhao Yun.
