Ao Tu used a stratagem to bring the two kingdoms' war to a halt.
After accepting Ao Tu's money, the Fadi Kingdom's general beamed with delight and immediately ordered his men to prepare a banquet for Ao Tu and his companion.
A military inspector came rushing over at the news and angrily rebuked the general for daring to harbor enemy spies in broad daylight!
The general said, "Inspector, you don't understand. They aren't spies. They paid."
Only then did the inspector realize his mistake. He hastily offered fine wine to Ao Tu and his companion with his own hands to apologize.
They enjoyed themselves together. Though they belonged to different kingdoms, they were as close as brothers.
When battle came, the Fadi Kingdom's soldiers beat their drums and advanced to within two hundred paces of the Huoluo Kingdom's city walls. Holding halberds in their left hands and shields in their right, they clashed shield against halberd, their battle cries shaking the heavens, then drew their bows and loosed high volleys, their bowstrings humming and twanging.
The Huoluo Kingdom's soldiers atop the walls did the same.
The two sides fought for half a month without any casualties, each winning some and losing some. Only their powerful bows, repeatedly fired without arrows, suffered considerable damage.
Seeing that the powerful bows were damaged and the arrows of no use, the Fadi Kingdom's general consulted Ao Tu about selling the arrows to the Huoluo Kingdom, so that everyone throughout the army could profit.
After selling the arrows, the Fadi Kingdom's general submitted another report to the throne, stating that fighting at the front was fierce and the officers and men were fighting valiantly. Many bows and arrows had been expended or damaged, and he requested replacement bows, crossbows, and arrows.
After reading the report,