But Lu Xun led out five hundred troops to pursue; and as Zhong Hui crossed the bridge at a gallop, the roadway gave, and his horse's hoof went through so that he was nearly thrown. The horse could not free its hoof, and Zhong Hui slipped from his back and fled on foot. As he ran down the slope of the bridge, Lu Xun came at him with a spear, but one of Zhong Hui's followers, Xun Kai by name, shot an arrow at Lu Xun and brought him to the earth.
Seeing this lucky hit, Zhong Hui turned back and signaled to his force to make an attack. They came on with a dash, the defenders were afraid to shoot, as their own troops were mingled with the enemy, and soon Zhong Hui crushed the defense and possessed the pass. The defenders scattered.
The pass being captured, Xun Kai was well rewarded for the shot that had saved his general's life. He was promoted to the guards and received presents of a horse and a suit of armor.
Xu Yi was called to the tent, and Zhong Hui blamed him for the lack of care in his task, saying, “You were appointed Leader of the Van to see that the roads were put in repair, and your special duty was to see that the bridges were in good condition. Yet on the bridge just now my horse's hoof was caught, and I nearly fell. Happily Xun Kai was by, or I had been slain. You have been disobedient and must bear the penalty.”
The delinquent was sentenced to death. The other generals tried to beg him off, pleading, “His father is Xu Chu who had rendered good services to the state.”
“How can discipline be maintained if the laws are not enforced?” said Zhong Hui.
The sentence was carried out, and the unhappy Xu Yi's head was exposed as a warning. This severity put fear into the hearts of the officers.
On the side of Shu, Wang Han commanded at Yuecheng, and Jiang Bin was in Hancheng. As the enemy came in great force, they dared not go out to meet them, but stood on the defensive with the gates of the cities closed.
Zhong Hui issued an order, “Speed is the soul of war; no halts.”
Li Fu was ordered to lay siege to Yuecheng, and Xun Kai was to surround Hancheng. The main army under Zhong Hui would capture the Yangping Pass.
The Shu General Fu Qian commanded at the pass. He discussed plans with Jiang Shu, his second in command, and Jiang Shu was wholly in favor of defense, saying, “The enemy is too strong to think of any other course.”
“I do not agree,” replied Fu Qian. “They are now fatigued with marching, and we need not fear them. Unless we go out and attack, the two cities will fall.”
Jiang Shu made no reply. Soon the enemy arrived, and both officers went up to the wall and looked out.
As soon as Zhong Hui saw them, he shouted, “We have here a host of one hundred thousand. If you yield, you shall have higher rank than you hold now; but if you persist in holding out then, when we take the pass, you shall all perish. Jewels and pebbles will share the same destruction.”
This threat angered Fu Qian. He bade Jiang Shu guard the walls, and he went down to give battle, taking three thousand troops. He attacked, and Zhong Hui retreated. Fu Qian pursued. But soon the army of Wei closed up their ranks and counterattacked. Fu Qian turned to retire; but when he reached his own defenses, he saw they flew the flags of Wei; the banners of Shu had gone.
“I have yielded,” cried Jiang Shu from the ramparts.
Fu Qian shouted angrily, “Ungrateful and treacherous rogue! How can you ever face the world again?”
But that did no good. Fu Qian turned to go once more into the battle. He was soon surrounded. He fought desperately, but could not win clear. His troops fell one by one, and when they were reduced to one out of ten, he cried, “Alive I have been a servant of Shu; dead I will be one of their spirits!”
Fu Qian forced his way into the thickest of the fight. Then his steed fell, and as he was grievously wounded, he put an end to his own life.
With the Yangping Pass falling into the hands of Zhong Hui were great booty of grain and weapons. He feasted the army, and that night they rested in the city of Yangan. However, the night was disturbed by sounds as of people shouting, so that Zhong Hui got up and went out thinking there must be an attack. But the sounds
ceased, and he returned to his couch. However, he and his army could not sleep.
Next night the same thing happened, shoutings in the southwest. As soon as day dawned scouts went out to search, but they came back to say they had gone three miles and found no sign of any Shu soldier. Zhong Hui did not feel satisfied, so he took a hundred cavalrymen and rode in the same direction to explore.
