Zhuge Liang aimed to take the fortress directly ; he carried out an escalade tactic through the use of siege ladders .
Hao Zhao countered with fire arrows , burning the platforms and parching the men upon them .
Zhuge Liang aimed to take the fortress directly ; he carried out an escalade tactic through the use of siege ladders , but Hao Zhao countered with fire arrows , burning the platforms and parching the men upon them .