nd　now　he　sends　to　me　for　help！〃

While　refusing　aid；　Cao　Hong　sent　to　urge　his　colleague　to　go　out　and　fight。　But　Zhang　He　too　greatly　feared。

At　length　Zhang　He　decided　upon　a　plan　of　action。　He　sent　out　two　parties　into　ambush　and　said　to　them；　〃I　will　pretend　defeat　and　fly。　They　will　follow；　and　you　can　cut　off　their　retreat。〃

When　he　did　march　out；　he　met　Lei　Tong。　The　two　engaged　in　battle；　and　Zhang　He　presently　ran　away。　Lei　Tong　pursued　and　fell　into　the　ambush。　Then　Zhang　He　returned　and　slew　Lei　Tong。　His　troops　went　back　and　told　Zhang　Fei；　who　came　up　to　provoke　another　fight。　Zhang　He　again　tried　his　stratagem；　but　Zhang　Fei　did　not　pursue。　Again　and　again　the　ruse　was　tried；　but　Zhang　Fei　knew　it　was　only　a　ruse　and　simply　retired　to　his　own　camp。

He　said　to　Wei　Yan；　〃Zhang　He　has　passed　the　death　of　Lei　Tong　by　leading　him　into　an　ambush；　and　he　wants　to　inveigle　me　into　another。　What　say　you　to　meeting　trick　with　trick？〃

〃But　how？〃　said　Wei　Yan。

〃Tomorrow　I　will　lead　the　army　forward；　you　following　me　with　some　reliable　soldiers。　When　his　army　e　out　from　their　ambush；　you　can　smite　them；　sending　half　your　men　against　each　party。　We　will　secretly　fill　the　by…roads　with　loads　of　bustibles；　entice　the　enemy　among　them　and　start　a　fire。　In　the　confusion；　I　shall　try　to　capture　Zhang　He。　So　will　we　avenge　our　rade's　death。〃

So　Zhang　Fei　went　out；　and　Zhang　He's　troops　came　and　began　to　fight。　After　a　half　score　bouts；　Zhang　He　ran　away；　and　this　time　Zhang　Fei　pursued。　Zhang　He；　now　fleeing；　now　stopping　to　exchange　a　blow　or　two；　led　Zhang　Fei　through　the　hills　to　a　valley。　Here；　suddenly　changing　front　to　rear　and　rear　to　front；　Zhang　He　halted；　made　a　camp；　and　offered　battle。

It　was　now　the　time　whe