n　Zhang　He　expected　his　hidden　troops　to　appear　and　surround　Zhang　Fei。　But　none　appeared。　He　knew　not　that　his　ambush　had　been　broken　up　by　Wei　Yan's　army　and　driven　into　the　valley　where　the　road　was　filled　with　cartloads　of　bustibles；　and　that　the　valley　even　then　was　all　aflame。

Then　Zhang　Fei　came　to　the　attack；　and　the　rout　was　plete。　Zhang　He；　fighting　desperately；　got　through　to　the　Wakou　Pass　and　there　mustered　the　remnant　of　his　force。　He　strengthened　the　position　and　remained　behind　his　ramparts。

Zhang　Fei　and　Wei　Yan　then　tried　to　take　the　Pass；　but　day　after　day　they　failed。　Zhang　Fei；　seeing　no　hope　of　success；　retired　seven　miles　and　bivouacked。　From　this　point　he　sent　out　scouts　under　Wei　Yan　to　explore　the　country。　While　going　along；　they　observed　some　burden…bearers；　men　and　women；　going　up　a　very　retired　path；　pulling　down　the　creepers；　and　pushing　aside　the　grasses。

〃That　is　the　way　to　take　Wakou　Pass；〃　cried　Zhang　Fei；　pointing　with　his　whip　to　the　wayfarers。

He　ordered　his　soldiers　not　to　scare　the　people；　but　to　call　a　few　gently　and　bring　them　to　him。　They　soon　had　several　standing　before　their　leader；　who　spoke　to　them　kindly　and　put　them　at　ease。

〃Whence　e　you？〃　asked　Zhang　Fei。

〃We　belong　to　Hanzhong　and　are　going　home。　We　heard　that　you　were　out　fighting　and　the　high　road　to　Langzhong　was　blockaded；　and　so　we　have　e　across　the　Mist　Torrent　and　Zitong　Mountains　and　down　River　Guijin。　We　are　going　to　our　homes　in　Hanzhong。〃

〃Can　one　reach　Wakou　Pass　by　this　road？　And　how　far　is　it？〃

The　country　people　replied；　〃A　small　road　leads　past　to　the　rear　of　the　Pass　from　Zitong　Mountains。〃

For　this　piece　of　information　Zhang　Fei　rewarded　them　by　taking　them　into　his　camp　and　giving　them　a　g