This is a story from Three Kingdoms. Zhang Lu ordered Ma Chao to attack Jiameng Pass. Learning this, Liu Bei immediately went to his military advisor¹ Zhuge Liang for ideas. Zhuge Liang said, "Mao Chao is so brave that only Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun can match him. But Zhao Yun is not available, only Zhang Fei is around at the moment."

Knowing that Ma Chao was attacking the pass, Zhang Fei came to ask for a fight against him. Pretending not to hear, Zhuge Liang said to Liu Bei, "Ma Chao is attacking, and only Zhao Yun can defeat him." Feeling snubbed(冷落) , Zhang Fei noted² his past merits³ and shouted, "If I can not defeat Ma Chao, I am willing to be punished according the rule." Only then did Zhuge Liang nod his agreement. Liu Bei himself acted as the chief commander and ordered Zhang Fei to fight in the vanguard(先锋) .

Liu Bei led the army to the pass. Time and again Ma Chao challenged them to fight. At every challenge, Zhang Fei wanted to engage him, but was stopped by Liu Bei. When Liu Bei saw Ma Chao and his army became fatigued⁴, he ordered Zhang Fei to take on the challenge. Zhang Fei and Ma Chao fought one hundred rounds with an even hand. When Liu Bei saw that it was turning dark, he asked Zhang Fei to come back for a fight tomorrow. But Zhang Fei became infuriated(激怒的) and shouted, "Light more torches and get ready for a night fight. I will not return to the pass without defeating Ma Chao!" Ma Chao also pledged⁵ that he would not return to his camp without winning over Zhang Fei. Each of them mounted⁶ fresh horses to start the night fight. After another twenty rounds, Ma Chao saw that he could not win by force, so he had an idea. He pretended to flee. At the moment, Zhuge Liang arrived. He analyzed⁷ Ma Chao's situation and laid a trap for him. With Ma Chao in a fight spot, Zhuge Liang sent someone who succeeded in persuading him to fight for Liu Bei.