Zhang
He's army, with which he felt so sure of victory, consisted of thirty thousand
troops, and they were in three camps---Camp Dangqu, Camp Mengtou, and Camp
Dangshi---which were protected by the hills. When Zhang He marched, he left
half the soldiers in each camp as defenders.
The news soon reached Baxi, and Zhang Fei called in his
colleague Lei Tong to give his opinion.
The
news soon reached Baxi, and Zhang Fei called in his colleague Lei Tong to give
his opinion.
Lei
Tong said, "The country is bad and the hills full of danger in the area of
Langzhong. Let us lay an ambush. You, General, go out to give battle, and I
will help you by a sudden, unexpected attack. We ought to get Zhang He."
Whereupon
Zhang Fei gave five thousand troops to Lei Tong, and himself led out ten
thousand troops to a point ten miles from Langzhong. Having set them in order,
he rode out and challenge Zhang He to single combat. Zhang He galloped out to
meet him.
After
the thirtieth or so bout, Zhang He's ranks suddenly began to shout and soon
showed signs of confusion. The reason was the appearance of the banners of Shu
from the cover of some hills. Zhang He dared not continue to fight, and he fled.
Zhang Fei pursued him.
Lei
Tong also appeared in his road and attacked, and so, with enemies on both
sides, Zhang He forced his way out and lost the day. Both Zhang Fei and Lei
Tong continued to smite him, even into the night, till he got back to his camp
at Dangqu.
Zhang He reverted to his old plan of defending the three camps, rolling down
logs and hurling stones. But he remained behind his defenses.
Zhang
Fei made a camp three miles off.
Next
day Zhang Fei went forth and offered battle, but Zhang He took no notice. Zhang
He ascended to the summit of the hill and drank wine to the accompaniment of
trumpets and drums, but he would not fight. Zhang Fei bade his soldiers shout
insults, but these had no effect. Lei Tong was sent up the hill, but the
rolling logs and hurtling stones forced him to retire. Then the defenders of
the other two camps came out to the attack, and Lei Tong was discomfited.
Next
day Zhang Fei again offered battle, but there was no response. Again the
soldiers yelled every form of insult, but Zhang He from the hill top only
replied by similar abuse. Zhang Fei was at his wits' ends; and this game was
played for more than fifty days.
Then Zhang Fei made a strong stockade just in front of the hill, and
therein he sat day after day drinking till he became half drunk. And when he
was so, he reviled his opponent.
About
this time Liu Bei sent gifts to the army, and when the messenger went back, he
told Liu Bei that his brother was giving himself over to wine. This made Liu
Bei anxious, so he lost no time in asking advice from Zhuge Liang.
Zhuge Liang was jocular, saying, "Since that is so, let us send him
fifty vessels of the best brew of Chengdu. He probably has but poor stuff in
the camp."
"But
he has always had a weakness for wine, and he has failed because of it. Yet you
would encourage him to drink by sending him more wine?"
"My
lord, is it that you do not understand your brother even after all these years?
He is brave and steady, yet when we first invaded West River Land, he released
Yan Yan, which was not what a mere brave would have done. He is face to face
with Zhang He, and has been for nearly two months, and day after day he drinks
and rages and insults his enemy openly. He treats Zhang He with most perfect
contempt. But this is not only the wine cup; it is a deep plan to get the
better of Zhang He."
"This
may be so," replied Liu Bei, "but let us not rely upon it too much.
Let Wei Yan go to help him."
Zhuge
Liang sent Wei Yan with the wine, and the carts set out, each flying a yellow
flag with a writing in large characters: Fine Wine for the Frontier Army.
When
Wei Yan reached the army, he handed over the wine, which he said was a gift
from the Lord of Shu. And Zhang Fei received it with due respect.
Zhang Fei told Wei Yan and Lei Tong each to take a thousand troops and
move out on the two wings, ready to act when they saw a red flag displayed. And
then he had the wine laid out and called up some soldiers to drink with a great
display of flags and a rolling of drums.
The spies reported all
these doings on the hill-top, and Zhang He came out to look for himself. There
he saw his opponent drinking, and two of the soldiers were boxing before Zhang
Fei for his amusement.
"He
despises me too much," said Zhang He.
And
Zhang He gave orders to prepare for a night attack on the enemy camp. His own
troops in Camp Dangqu should do the raiding, and those from Camp Mengtou and
Camp Dangshi were to support them.
There
was little moon that night, and Zhang He took advantage of the obscurity to
steal down the side of the hill. He got quite close to the enemy camp and stood
for a time looking at Zhang Fei sitting amid a blaze of lamps and drinking.
Suddenly Zhang He dashed
forward with a yell, and at the same moment his drums on the hill-top rolled
out their defiance. Zhang Fei never stirred. Zhang He rushed at him and
delivered a mighty thrust with his spear. Zhang Fei toppled over---it was a
Zhang Fei of straw.
Zhang He checked and turned
his steed. At that moment he heard a string of detonations, and a warrior
appeared before him barring his way. It was the real Zhang Fei, as the round
head and thundering voice speedily made manifest.
With
the serpent halberd set, Zhang Fei rode toward Zhang He. The two warriors
fought many bouts under the gleaming lights. No help came to Zhang He. In vain
he yearned for the assistance, which the two camps were to bring him. He did
not know that his reinforcements had been driven back by Wei Yan and Lei Tong,
and that the two camps, Mengtou and Dangshi, were now in possession of his enemies.
As the help did not come, Zhang He was powerless; and, to add to his
discomfiture, the glare of fire out in the moutains of Dangqu told him of the
seizure of his third camp by Zhang Fei's rear force. Nothing could be done, and
Zhang He cut an alley, forced out of the press, and fled to Wakou Pass.
The
victory was all to Zhang Fei.
The
news of the success delighted Liu Bei, and he knew then that Zhang Fei's
drinking had been part of a stratagem to entice his enemy into the open and
defeat them.
Zhang
He reached Wakou Pass, but with the loss of two-thirds of his army of thirty
thousand troops. He stood on defense and sent urgent messages to Cao Hong to
come to his rescue.
Cao
Hong angrily replied, "He disobeyed my orders and marched. He has lost an
important point and 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 compassed 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 come 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
combustibles, entice the enemy among them and start a fire. In the confusion, I
shall try to capture Zhang He. So will we avenge our comrade'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 when 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 combustibles, and that the valley even then was all
aflame.
Then
Zhang Fei came to the attack, and the rout was complete. 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
come 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 come 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 good meal. Then he sent off Wei Yan to make a
frontal attack on the Pass, while he himself with five hundred light horse
attacked it from the rear by way of Mount Zitong.
Zhang He was grieved and
disappointed that Cao Hong sent no help, and the news of Wei Yan's attack only
added to his sorrow. But he girded on his armor and was about to ride out when
they told him that fires had started at half a dozen places behind the Pass.
They most likely indicated soldiers. However, he went out to meet them, and, to
his horror, when the flags opened out, his eyes fell on the figure of Zhang
Fei.
Away he ran along a
by-road.
But
his steed was not fast, and as Zhang Fei pressed him close, Zhang He dismounted
and ran up the mountain side.
So
Zhang He escaped. He had, however, some ten followers, and it was a small and
dejected party that presently found its way into Nanzheng. He saw Cao Hong, and
Cao Hong was very angry at his plight.
"I
told you not to go, but you were willful. And you gave in your written pledge.
You have lost all your soldiers, yet you do not commit suicide. What will you
do next?"
Cao
Hong ordered the lictors to put Zhang He to death.
But
Marching General Guo Huai, interceded.
"An
army is easily raised; a leader is hard to find. Though Zhang He is guilty, he
is a great favorite with our prince. I think you should spare him. Rather give
him command of another army and send him to take Jiameng Pass and so hold up
the soldiers at all the stations. Hanzhong will be tranquil of its own accord.
If he fails a second time, you can punish him for both faults."
Cao
Hong was satisfied to do this, and instead of dealing with his fault, he gave
Zhang He five thousand troops and told him to take Jiameng Pass.
The Commanders of the Pass were Meng Da and Huo Jun. They were at
variance---Meng Da desiring to go out to meet Zhang He, but Huo Jun being in
favor of defense. Meng Da being set on having his way went out, gave battle,
and was defeated.
Huo
Jun reported this to the capital, where Liu Bei at once called in the Directing
Instructor to ask advice.
Zhuge
Liang assembled all the chief generals into the hall.
"Jiameng
Pass is in danger. We must get Zhang Fei from Langzhong to drive off Zhang
He," said Zhuge Liang.
Fa
Zheng replied, "Zhang Fei is encamped at Wakou Pass, and Langzhong is no
less important than Jiameng Pass. I do not think he should be recalled. Choose
one among the generals to go and defeat Zhang He."
Zhuge Liang laughed, "Zhang He is renowned in Wei. No ordinary
leader will avail. Zhang Fei is the only man to send, the only one equal to the
task."
Then among the generals one
started up crying angrily, "Instructor, why do you thus despise us? I will
use what little skill I have in slaying our enemy and will lay his head at the
foot of our standard."
The
speaker was Veteran General Huang Zhong, and all eyes centered on him.
"Friend Huang Zhong, you are bold enough, but what about your age?
I fear you are no match for Zhang He."
Huang
Zhong's white beard bristled, and he said, "I know I am old. But these two
arms can still pull the four-hundred-fifty-pound bow, and the vigor of my body
is not yet departed. Am I not strong enough to meet such a poor thing as Zhang
He?"
"General, you are nearly seventy. Can you still hold you are not
aged?"
Huang Zhong tore down the
hall. Seizing one of the great swords off the rack, he whirled it as if it
flew. And the stiffest bow that hung on the wall, he pulled till it snapped.
"Well,
if you will go, who will second you?" said Zhuge Liang.
"I would prefer Veteran General Yan Yan. And if there is the least
anxiety, well, here is this hoary head."
Liu
Bei was pleased to let these two go to fight Zhang He. However, Zhao Zilong put
in a protest.
"Zhang
He has already got through Jiameng Pass, so that the fighting will be no
child's play, and the loss of that Pass endangers the whole of Yizhou. It is no
task to set to a couple of old men."
Replied Zhuge Liang, "You regard the two as too old to succeed, but
I think the attainment of Hanzhong depends upon these two."
Zhao
Zilong and many others sniggered as they went from the hall. They did not agree
with Zhuge Liang.
In
due course the two Veteran Generals arrived at the Pass.
At
sight of them, Meng Da and Huo Jun, the defenders of the Pass, laughed in their
hearts, thinking: "Zhuge Liang has slipped up in his calculations in
sending such a pair of dotards on such an important mission."
Huang
Zhong said to Yan Yan, "You see the behavior of these people? They are
laughing at us because we are old. Now we will do something that will win
admiration from all the world."
"I should be glad to hear your orders," replied Yan Yan.
The
two generals came to a decision how to act. Huang Zhong led his army down below
to meet Zhang He in the open plain. Both drew up their array. When Zhang He
rode out and saw his venerable opponent, he laughed in his face.
"You must be very old, and yet you are unashamed to go into the
battle, eh?" said Zhang He.
"You
menial!" replied the veteran. "Do you despise me for my age? You will
find my good sword, however, keen enough."
So he urged forward his steed and rode at Zhang He. The two chargers met
and a score of bouts were fought.
Then suddenly a great
shouting came from the rear. Yan Yan had come up and fallen upon the rear
portion of Zhang He's army. Thus attacked on two sides, Zhang He was defeated.
The pursuit did not cease with nightfall, and Zhang He was driven back near
thirty miles.
Contented with this
success, Huang Zhong and Yan Yan went into their camp, where they rested their
soldiers for a time.
When
Cao Hong heard of Zhang He's new defeat, he was going to exact the penalty. But
Guo Huai persuaded him to forbear.
"If
he is pressed too hard, he may take refuge in Shu," said Guo Huai.
"Rather send him help. You will thus keep a hold over him and prevent his
desertion."
Wherefore
Xiahou Shang and Han Hao were sent with reinforcements. Xiahou Shang was a
nephew of Xiahou Dun, and Han Hao was the brother of Han Xuan, the late
Governor of Changsha. They had five thousand troops.
The
two generals soon reached Zhang He, and asked how now the situation was going.
"That
old man Huang Zhong is really a hero," said Zhang He, "and with Yan
Yan's help he is very formidable."
"When
I was at Changsha, I heard the old man was very fierce. He and Wei Yan yielded
the city to Liu Bei and killed my own brother. Now that I shall meet him, I can
have my revenge," said Han Hao.
So
he and Xiahou Shang led out the new army.
Now,
by means of spies Huang Zhong had got a thorough knowledge of the country.
Yan
Yan said, "Hereabout there is a mountain named Tiandang Mountain wherein
Cao Hong has stored his supplies. If we can gain its possession, we shall
reduce the enemy to want and we shall get Hanzhong."
Huang Zhong replied, "I think so, too, and so let us do so and
so."
Yan
Yan agreed with him and marched off with a body of troops to carry out his part
in the stratagem.
At
news of the coming of new armies, Huang Zhong marched out to meet them. He
found Han Hao in front of his array, and Han Hao began to abuse the veteran,
shouting out, "Disgraceful old ruffian!"
Then
Han Hao whipped up his steed and set his spear at Huang Zhong. Xiahou Shang
also rode out and took part in the combat.
The
veteran held them both at bay for some half score bouts and then fled. They
pursued him for seven miles, when they reached and seized his camp.
Huang
Zhong, however, quickly made another defense of brushwood. Next day Xiahou
Shang and Han Hao renewed the pursuit, which ended with the capture of the
temporary camp of the day before. And they had advanced seven miles further.
Then they called upon Zhang He to protect the rear camp. When Zhang He came up,
he dissuaded them from continuing.
"Huang
Zhong has retreated before you for two days. There is some deep stratagem
behind this," said Zhang He.
Xiahou Shang scoffed at him, saying, "You are such a coward that
you have been defeated many times. Now say no more, but let us accomplish
something."
Zhang
He retired much mortified and shamed. Next day the two generals again went out
to battle, and again Huang Zhong fled from them for seven miles. The two
generals pursued as quickly as they could. The day after, Huang Zhong fled
without any pretense of showing fight, except at short intervals. He got to
Jiameng Pass and went on the defensive. The pursuers knocked at the very gate
of the Pass and made a camp close by.
Then
Meng Da secretly wrote to Liu Bei that Huang Zhong had been repeatedly defeated
and now was in the Pass and unable to go out.
Liu
Bei became alarmed and consulted Zhuge Liang, who said, "The old general
is making the enemy over-confident-to their ultimate destruction."
But
Zhao Zilong did not share this opinion, nor did many others, and Liu Bei
decided to send Liu Feng to reinforce his aged general.
The
young man came to the Pass and saw Huang Zhong, who asked him, "General,
what makes you come here?"
"My
father heard that you have sustained several defeats, and he has sent me,"
said Liu Feng.
"But I am only employing the ruse of leading on the enemy,"
said Huang Zhong, smiling. "You will see tonight that in one battle I
shall regain all the camps and capture their supplies and many horses. I have
only lent the camps to them to store their supplies. Tonight I shall leave Huo
Jun to guard the Pass, while General Meng Da will gather up the spoils for us.
Now, young Sir, you shall see the destruction of the enemy."
That same night, at the
second watch, Huang Zhong left the Pass with five thousand troops. But now
Xiahou Shang and Han Hao, seeing no move from the Pass for many days, had
become careless and so their camps were unable to resist. Their troops had no
time to don their armors or to saddle their horses. All the leaders did was to
flee for their lives, while their troops trampled each other down and were
killed in great numbers.
All
three camps were recovered by dawn, and in them were found all sorts of
military equipment. Horses and their caparisons also fell to the victors, and
all the booty was carried off by Meng Da and stored in the Pass.
Huang
Zhong pressed on his victory. Liu Feng ventured to say, "Our soldiers need
repose."
"Can
you seize the tiger's whelps without going into the tiger's den?" cried
Huang Zhong. And he urged on his steed. The soldiers also were eager.
Zhang He's own army was thrown into confusion by the flying men from the
defeated armies, and he could not maintain his station, but was forced to
retreat. They abandoned all their stockades and rushed to the bank of River
Han.
Then
Zhang He sought the two generals who had brought about the misfortune and said
to them, "This is Tiandang Mountain, where our stores are. Close by is
Micang Mountain. The two mountains are the very source of life of the Hanzhong
army. Lose them, and Hanzhong is gone too. We must see to their security."
Xiahou Shang said, "My uncle, Xiahou Yuan, will look out for the
defense of Micang Mountain, which is next to his station at Dingjun Mountain;
there need be no anxiety about that. And my brother, Xiahou De, guards Tiandang
Mountain. Let us go to him and help to protect that."
Zhang
He and the two generals set out at once. They reached the mountain and told
Xiahou De all that had happened.
"I
have one hundred thousand troops in camp here," replied he. "You may
take some of them and recover your lost camps."
"No,"
replied Zhang He. "The only proper course is to defend."
Almost
as they spoke the rolling of drums and the clang of gongs were heard, and the
look-outs came to say that Huang Zhong was near.
"The
old ruffian does not know much of the art of war," said Xiahou De with a
laugh. "After all, he is only a brave."
"Be
not mistaken: He is crafty and not only bold," said Zhang He.
"This
move is against the rules and not at all crafty. He is worn from a long march
and his soldiers are fatigued, and they are deep in an enemy's country."
"Nevertheless,
be careful how you attack," said Zhang He. "You would still do well
to depend upon defense only."
"Give
me three thousand good soldiers, and I will cut him to pieces," cried Han
Hao.
They told off the three companies for him, and down he went into the
plain.
As
he approached, Huang Zhong arrayed his army.
Liu
Feng put in a note of warning, saying, "The sun is setting, and our men
are weary. Let us retire for the fight tomorrow."
But Huang Zhong paid little attention, saying, "I do not hold with
your objections. This is the one God-given opportunity to make good, and it
would be a sin not to take it."
So
saying, the drums rolled for a great attack. Han Hao came forward with his
troops, and the aged general went toward him whirling his sword. In the first
encounter Han Hao fell. At this the soldiers of Shu gave a yell and went away
up the hill, whereupon Zhang He and Xiahou Shang hastily moved out to withstand
them. But a great red glare sprang into the sky from behind the hill, and a
shouting arose.
Hastily Xiahou De led off his troops to meet the danger there
and went straight into the arms of Yan Yan. The Veteran General's arm rose, the
sword fell, and Xiahou De dropped from his steed to rise no more.
This
ambush, into which the dead general had rushed, had been carefully prepared by
Huang Zhong, who had sent Yan Yan away before he marched himself and given Yan
Yan orders what to do. It was the brushwood that Yan Yan's men had spent the
time in collecting that now sent forth the flames reaching up to the heavens and
filling the valleys.
Yan Yan, after slaying Xiahou De, came round the hill to aid in the
attack so that the defenders were taken both in front and rear. They could do
nothing and presently left the battlefield and rushed toward Dingjun Mountain
to seek refuge with Xiahou Yuan.
Meanwhile the victors took
steps to hold the position they had won and sent the good news of victory to
Capital Chengdu.
And
when the news arrived, Liu Bei called together all his officers to rejoice.
Then said Fa Zheng, "Not long ago Zhang Lu submitted to Cao Cao,
and thereby Cao Cao got possession of Hanzhong quite easily. Instead of
following up this by an advance westward, he left two generals to guard it and
went south. That was a mistake. Now, my lord, do not make a mistake yourself,
but take advantage of the present favorable position, with Zhang He newly
defeated and Tiandang Mountain captured, to attack Hanzhong and you will have
it at once. Once that is yours, you can train your army and amass supplies
ready for a stroke against the arch-rebel himself. This God-given advantage
will be confirmed to you, and you should not miss it."
|
Both Liu Bei and Zhuge
Liang saw the wisdom of this scheme and prepared to act. Zhao Zilong and Zhang
Fei were to lead the van, while Liu Bei with Zhuge Liang commanded the main
army of one hundred thousand troops. A day was chosen to set out, and orders
were sent to everyone to keep careful guard for Yizhou.
It
was a certain auspicious day in the seventh month of the twenty-third year that
the army marched (AD 218). Reaching Jiameng Pass, Huang Zhong and Yan Yan were
summoned and well rewarded for their services.
Liu
Bei said to Huang Zhong, "People said you were old, General, but the
Directing Instructor of the army know you better than they, and you have
rendered amazing service. Still, Dingjun Mountain is yet to be captured, and it
is both a great central store and a major defense of Nanzheng. If we could get
Dingjun Mountain, we could be quite easy about the whole region of Hanzhong.
Think you that you are equal to taking Dingjun Mountain?"
To this harangue of Liu Bei, the veteran nobly answered that he was
willing to try and was ready to start when they would.
Said
Zhuge Liang hastily, "Do not be hasty. You are brave enough, General, but
Xiahou Yuan is a man of different stamp from Zhang He. Xiahou Yuan is a real
strategist and tactician; so much so that Cao Cao relies upon him as his
defense against Xiliang. It was he who was set to defend Changan when
threatened by Ma Chao. Now he is in Hanzhong, and Cao Cao puts his whole
confidence in him and his skill as a leader. You have overcome Zhang He, but it
is not certain you will conquer this man. I think I must send down to Jingzhou
for Guan Yu for this task."
Huang Zhong hotly replied, "Old Lian Po was eighty years old and
yet he ate a bushel of rice and ten pounds of flesh, so that his vigor
frightened the nobles and not one dared encroach upon the borders of the state
of Zhao. I am not yet seventy. You call me old, O Instructor; then I will not
take any helper, but go out simply with my own three thousand troops, and we
will lay Xiahou Yuan's head at your feet."
Zhuge Liang refused to
allow him to go; Huang Zhong insisted. At last Zhuge Liang consented, but said
he would send an overseer.
They put upon his mettle the man who was to go,
Youth's vigor may be lesser worth than age's powers, we know.
The next chapter will tell who the overseer was.
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Ma
Chao & Huang Zhong & Zhao Yun & Wei Yan
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Huang Zhong
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