g　and　wait　for　reinforcements。〃

Cao　Ren　angrily　replied；　〃You　damped　the　army's　spirit　before　we　started；　and　now　you　betray　us。　You　have　been　bought；　and　you　deserve　death。〃

Cao　Ren　called　in　the　executioners；　and　they　led　away　their　victim。　But　the　other　officers　came　to　intercede；　and　Li　Dian　was　spared。　However；　he　was　transferred　to　the　mand　of　the　rear；　while　Cao　Ren　himself　led　the　attack。

Next　day　the　drums　beat　an　advance　and　Cao　Ren；　having　drawn　up　his　soldiers；　sent　a　messenger　over　to　ask　if　Liu　Bei　recognized　his　plan　of　battle　array。

So　San　Fu　went　on　a　hill　and　looked　over　it。

Then　he　said　to　Liu　Bei；　〃The　arrangement　is　called　'The　Eight　Docked　Gates；'　and　the　names　of　the　gates　are　Birth；　Exit；　Expanse；　Wound；　Fear；　Annihilation；　Obstacle；　and　Death。　If　you　enter　by　one　of　the　three　Birth；　Exit；　or　Expanse　you　succeed。　If　by　one　of　the　gates　Wound；　Fear；　or　Annihilation；　you　sustain　injuries。　The　other　two　gates　Obstacles　and　Death　will　bring　the　end。　Now；　though　the　eight　gates　are　all　there　quite　correct；　the　central　key…post　is　lacking；　and　the　whole　formation　can　be　thrown　into　confusion　by　entry　from　the　southeast　and　exit　due　west。〃

Wherefore　certain　orders　were　issued　and　Zhao　Yun；　leading　five　hundred　troops；　rode　out　on　his　prancing　steed　to　break　the　array。　He　burst　in；　as　directed；　at　the　southeast　and；　with　great　clamor　and　fighting；　reached　the　center。　Cao　Ren　made　for　the　north；　but　Zhao　Yun；　instead　of　following　him；　made　a　dash　westward　and　got　through。　Thence　he　turned　round　to　the　southeast　again　and　smote　till　Cao　Ren's　army　was　in　disarray。　Liu　Bei　gave　a　general　advance　signal；　and　the　victory　was　plete。　The　beaten　enemy　retired。

San　Fu　forbade　pursuit；　and　they　returned。　The　loss　of