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〃We shall hear the sad news in a very few days；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
The banquet ended sadly enough； and the guests went their ways。 A few days later； while Zhuge Liang was sitting with Guan Yu and a few others； they reported the arrival of Guan Ping with letters from the west。 When the letters were opened； they knew that Pang Tong had fallen the same evening that the meteor had appeared。
Zhuge Liang wailed； and the others wept with him。
Then Zhuge Liang said； 〃I must go to help our lord。 He is hemmed in at the Pass and cannot move。〃
〃If you go away； who will guard this region？〃 asked Guan Yu。 〃It is of very great importance。〃
〃Our lord has not written plainly； but I know what was in his mind。〃 Then he showed the letter to the others and said； 〃Provision for the defense of this region is laid upon me； and I am to find one equal to the task。 I read the letter to mean that he desires Guan Yu to undertake the defense； and I know that Guan Yu will do it for the sake of the pledge taken long ago in the Peach Garden。 The task is no light one。〃
Guan Yu accepted without hesitation or thought of excuse。 A special banquet was prepared at which the seal was to be handed over to him。
〃All the future rests with you； General；〃 said Zhuge Liang as he raised the symbol of office to place it in the hands of the mander。
〃When a person of honor accepts such a task； he is only released by death；〃 replied Guan Yu。
But that ill…omened word 〃death〃 displeased Zhuge Liang； and even then he would have retracted but that Guan Yu's word had gone forth。 Zhuge Liang went on。
〃Now if Cao Cao attack what is to be done？〃 said Zhuge Liang。
〃Repel him with all my strength。〃
〃But if Cao Cao and Sun Quan attack you together； what then？〃
〃Fight both； half my force against each。〃
Zhuge Liang said； 〃In that case； Jingzhou would be in danger。 I will give you my advice in a few words； and if you remember them the region is safe。〃
〃What are these few words？〃 asked Guan Yu。
〃North； fight Cao Cao； south； ally with Sun Quan。〃
〃These words； O mander； are engraved on my heart。〃
Thereupon the seal was placed in his hands。 Zhuge Liang also appointed tried and worthy people to assist the new mander。 Guan Yu's civil staff included Ma Liang； Mi Zhu； and Yi Ji； and on military side； he was assisted by Mi Fang； Liao Hua； Guan Ping； and Zhou Cang。
This done； Zhuge Liang began to prepare for his march to the River Lands。 Zhang Fei； with ten thousand troops； was sent to fight his way into the country west of Bazhou and Luocheng； and he was to go with all speed。 The earlier he got through； the greater merit would be his。 Zhao Yun was to lead a force up the Great River and make a junction at Luocheng。 Zhuge Liang； with his own body of fifteen thousand troops； would follow。
Among those who followed Zhuge Liang were Jian Yong and one Jiang Wan。 Jiang Wan was a noted scholar from Lingling； and he held the office of Secretary。
Zhuge Liang and Zhang Fei set out the same day。
Just before leaving； the Directing Instructor said to Zhang Fei； 〃Do not think lightly of the soldiers of Yizhou； for there are many mighty warriors among them。 On the march restrain your soldiers from plunder and license lest the ordinary people be against us。 Wherever you halt； be passionate and kindly and do not give way to anger and flog your soldiers。 I shall expect you to reach Luocheng very soon。〃
Zhang Fei joyously mounted and left。 He marched rapidly； and on the way all places that surrendered suffered nothing whatever。
When they drew near the county of Bazhou； the scouts of West River Land sent out by the Governor of that place informed their master； Yan Yan。 This Yan Yan was one of the famous generals of Yizhou； and even then； although he was rather old； he had lost none of his boldness and could still pull the stiffest bow and wield the heaviest sword。
Being so famous； Yan Yan was not the man to surrender at the first approach of an enemy。 So when Zhang Fei came near； he cautiously encamped about three miles from the city。 Thence he sent a messenger to summon the Governor to surrender。
Zhang Fei said； 〃Tell the old fool to give in； or I will trample down his walls and leave no soul alive。〃
Yan Yan had never favored inviting Liu Bei into Yizhou。
When he had first heard of the Imperial Protector's intention； he said； 〃This is like calling a tiger to protect a person when that person is alone on a bare hill side。〃
When he heard of the seizure of River Fu Pass； he was very angry and offered again and again to lead an army and drive out the aggressors。 He had feared that his city would be attacked along this very road； so he had prepared his army； and when Zhang Fei's message came； he mustered them； five thousand or so； to oppose him。
Then a certain person said to Yan Yan； 〃You must be careful how you oppose a man who by the mere sound of his voice scared the many legions of Cao Cao at Long Slope Bridge。 Even Cao Cao himself was careful to keep out of his way。 Your safety is in defense； lying behind your ramparts and within your deep moats till hunger shall have vanquished your enemies。 This Zhang Fei has a very violent temper。 If he is provoked； he vents his anger in flogging his soldiers。 If you avoid battle； he will be irritated； and his cruelty to his soldiers will cause them to mutiny。 Then you can attack and will succeed。〃
Yan Yan thought the advice good。 He therefore resolved only to defend； and he set all his soldiers on the walls。 When one of Zhang Fei's soldiers came up to the gate and shouted for them to open； Yan Yan gave orders to open the gate and admit the man。 When the soldier had e within； he gave the submission demand as has been related before。
But the Governor was exceedingly angry and said； 〃Fool that you are！ How dare you speak thus to me？ Think you that I； General Yan Yan； will surrender to such as him。 By your mouth indeed will I send a message。〃
Then Yan Yan bade the executioner cut off the man's ears and nose。 And thus mutilated he returned to Zhang Fei。 When Zhang Fei heard of it； his wrath boiled up and he cursed the defender of the city。 Grinding his teeth and glaring with rage； he put on his armor； mounted his steed； and went up close to the walls with a few mounted followers； and challenged those on the ramparts to fight him。 But the defenders on the walls only replied with shameful abuse； and none accepted the challenge。 Zhang Fei galloped again and again to the drawbridge； only to be driven off each time with flights of arrows。 But not a man came outside the walls。 As the day closed in； the warrior； still fuming with wrath； returned to his own camp。
Next day Zhang Fei again led his troops to the foot of the wall and challenged。 Again the challenge was refused。 But Yan Yan shot an arrow from the tower that struck Zhang Fei's helmet。 This angered him still more。
Pointing the finger of disdain at his enemy； Zhang Fei cried； 〃I will capture you yet； you old fool； and then I will devour your flesh！〃
So again at eventide the troops of Jingzhou returned to camp bucking their desire。 On the third day Zhang Fei and his troops made the circuit of the city along the edge of the moat； hurling insults at their enemies。
It so happened that the city was set on a hill with rugged heights all round； so that going around it the assailants were sometimes on hill tops and sometimes on the level。 While standing on one of the hills； Zhang Fei noticed that he could see clear down into the city。 There stood the defenders in their ranks； all ready for battle although none of them came out。 And the mon people went to and fro carrying bricks and bringing stones to strengthen the defenses。 Then Zhang Fei ordered his horsemen to dismount and his footmen to sit down so that they could not be seen from the city。 He hoped thus to cheat the defenders into thinking that there were none to attack and so induce them to e out。 But this also was vain； for still the defenders declined battle； and another day was lost。 The army once more returned to camp。
That night Zhang Fei sat in his tent trying to think out some means to overe an enemy that steadily refused to e out from behind the walls。 Presently； however； the brain behind the knitted brows conceived a plan。 So next day； instead of sending all the troops to offer a challenge from the foot of the wall； Zhang Fei kept most of them in camp and sent only a few to howl insults and hurl abuse。 He hoped by this means to inveigle Yan Yan out to attack the small number of troops。 But this also failed； and he was left all day rubbing hid hands with impatience。 Never a man appeared without the wall。
Foiled again； another ruse grew up behind his bushy eyebrows。 He set his troops to cut firewood and seek out and explore the tracks that lay about the city。 No longer did they challenge the wall。 After some days of this； Yan Yan began to wonder what mischief was brewing； and he sent out spies； dressed as were the firewood cutters； to mingle with them and try to discover what was afoot。
That day； when the troops returned to camp； Zhang Fei sat in his tent stamping his foot with rage and execrating his enemy。
〃The old fool！ Assuredly I shall die of disappointed wrath；〃 cried he。
Just then he noticed three or four soldiers lurking about his tent door as if they wished to speak with him。
And one of them said； 〃General； do not let your heart be hot within you。 These last few days we have discovered a narrow road by which we can sneak past this city。〃
〃Why did you not e and tell me before？〃 cried he。
〃Because we have only lately discovered it；〃 said they。
〃I will lose no time then；〃 said he。 〃This very night let food be ready at the second watch； and we will break camp and steal away as silently as possible。 I will lead the way； and you shall go with me as guides。〃
The requisite orders were given。
Having made sure that the preparations for the march were really being made； the spies of the Governor returned into the city。
〃I guessed right then；〃 said Yan Yan gleefully when the spies reported their success。 〃I cannot bear the fool。 He will now try to sneak past with his missariat following； and I will cut off his rear。 How can he get through？ He is very stupid to fall thus into my trap。 All are to prepare for battle。 The food is to be ready at the second watch； and the army is to move out at the third。 We will hide in the woods and thickets； till the greater part of the enemy's army has passed and Zhang Fei has arrived in the very throat of the road。 Then the blow will be struck。〃
They waited till night had fallen。 In due time the late meal was taken； the soldiers donned their armor； stole silently out of the city； and hid as they had been told。 The Governor himself。 with a few of his generals； went out also； dismounted and hid in a wood。 They waited till after the third watch。 Then Zhang Fei came along； urging his troops to the top of their speed。 His spear lay ready to thrust。 He looked very handsome as he rode at the head of his army。 The carts were one or two miles in the rear。
When the soldiers had got well past； Yan Yan gave the signal。 The drums rolled out； up sprang the hidden troops and fell on the baggage train。
The western troops began to plunder。 But suddenly a gong clanged and along came a pany of soldiers Yan Yan had not seen。
At the same time a voice was heard shouting； 〃Old rebel； do not flee！ I have been waiting for this chance a long time！〃
Yan Yan turned his head。 The leader of this band was a tall man with a leopard…like bullet head； round eyes； a sharp chin； and bristling tiger mustache。 He was armed with a long serpent halberd and rode a black steed。 In a word； it was Zhang Fei。
All around the gongs were clanging； and many troops of Jingzhou were rushing toward Yan Yan； already too frightened to be able to defend himself。 However； the two leaders engaged。 Very soon Zhang Fei purposely gave his opponent an opening； and Yan Yan rushed in to cut down his enemy with his sword。 But Zhang Fei evaded the blow； made a sudden rush； seized Yan Yan by the lace of his armor； and flung him on the ground。 Yan Yan was a prisoner； and in a moment was fast bound with cords。
The handsome leader who had passed first had not been Zhang Fei at all； but someone dressed and made up to resemble him。 To add to the confusion； Zhang Fei had exchanged the signals； making the gong the signal for his troops to fall on instead of the usual drum。
As the gongs clanged； more and more of the troops of Jingzhou came into the fray。 The troops of Yizhou could make no fight； and most of them dropped their weapons and surrendered。 To reach the walls of the city was now easy。 After entering the gates； the leader ordered his soldiers not to hurt the people； and he put out proclamations to pacify the citizens。
By and by a party of executioners brought in the prisoner。
Zhang Fei took his seat in the great hall； and the late mander of the city was brought before him by a party of executioners。 Yan Yan refused to kneel before his captor。
〃Why did you not surrender at first？〃 cried Zhang Fei； angrily grinding his teeth。 〃How dared you try to oppose me？〃
〃Because you are a lot of unrighteous and lawless invaders！〃 replied Yan Yan without the least sign of fear。 〃You may behead me as you will； but I will not surrender to you。〃
Zhang Fei angrily gave the order for his execution。
〃