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Thereupon　Liu　Feng　and　Guan　Ping　rushed　out　from　behind　the　tent。　The　two　generals　of　the　Pass　were　taken　aback；　but　began　to　struggle。　However；　Liu　Feng　and　Guan　Ping　each　seized　one　man　and　held　him。
〃Your　lord　and　I　are　of　the　same　house；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃Why　then　have　you　plotted　against　me　and　conspired　to　sow　enmity　between　us？〃
Pang　Tong　bade　them　search　the　captives；　and　the　hidden　daggers　were　found。　So　both　were　ordered　to　immediate　execution。　However；　Liu　Bei　hesitated　and　was　unwilling　to　confirm　the　sentence　and　put　them　to　death。　But　his　adviser　insisted　that　they　were　worthy　of　death　for　the　assassination　they　had　penned；　and　bade　the　executioners　fall　on。　So　the　two　men　were　beheaded。　Of　their　following　not　one　had　been　allowed　to　slip　away。
Liu　Bei　summoned　the　soldiers　of　the　escort　to　his　tent；　gave　them　wine　to　fort　them；　and　said；　〃Your　leaders　conspired　to　sow　dissension　between　brothers　and　were　found　with　daggers　hidden　beneath　their　clothing。　They　were　assassins　in　intent　and　have　met　the　fate　they　merited。　You　have　mitted　no　crime　and　need　feel　no　alarm。〃
The　soldiers　thanked　him　for　his　clemency　with　low　obeisance。
Then　said　Pang　Tong；　〃If　you　will　now　show　the　way　so　that　our　troops　may　capture　the　Pass；　you　shall　even　be　rewarded。〃
They　consented。　That　same　night　the　army　set　out；　with　the　soldiers　of　the　renegade　escort　leading　the　way。
When　they　reached　the　Pass　they　hailed　the　gate；　saying；　〃Open　the　gate　quickly！　The　generals　have　returned　earlier　than　they　expected　because　of　important　business。〃
Hearing　the　voices　of　their　rades；　the　gate　guards　had　no　suspicion　of　treachery　and　threw　open　the　gates。　In　rushed　the　enemy　soldiers　and　so　gained　possession　of　River　Fu　Pass　without　shedding　a　drop　of　blood。　The　defenders　came　over　to　the　side　of　Liu　Bei　and　were　liberally　rewarded。　This　done；　the　army　was　posted　so　as　to　guard　the　approaches　and　maintain　what　they　had　captured。
The　next　few　days　were　spent　in　banquets　and　feasts　in　celebration　of　success。
At　one　of　these　feasts；　Liu　Bei　turned　to　his　adviser；　saying；　〃This　is　what　one　might　call　a　joyful　occasion。〃
〃To　employ　warlike　weapons　in　making　an　attack　upon　the　possession　of　another　is　not　using　them　in　the　best　way；〃　replied　Pang　Tong。　〃Nor　is　such　attack　the　most　proper　occasion　for　rejoicing。〃

＇e＇　King　Wu；　aka　the　Martial　King；　founded　the　Zhou　Dynasty；　with　the　help　of　the　Duke　of　Zhou；　who　was　his　brother。　。。。。。
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃The　success　of　King　Wu　of　Zhou*　was　celebrated　with　music。　I　suppose　weapons　were　not　well　used　on　that　occasion　either。　Why　do　you　talk　so　wide　of　reason？　You　had　better　retire。〃
Pang　Tong　laughed　and　withdrew　from　the　table；　while　the　attendants　supported　Liu　Bei　to　his　own　chamber；　where　he　had　a　long　sleep。　About　midnight　he　awoke　from　his　wine；　and　then　the　servants　told　him　that　he　had　driven　sway　his　adviser　from　the　feast。　He　was　at　once　filled　with　remorse。　Next　day；　having　dressed　early　in　full　costume　of　ceremony；　he　took　his　seat　in　the　great　hall；　summoned　his　adviser　and　apologized　handsomely　for　his　rude　behavior　the　night　before。
〃I　drank　too　much　last　night　and　spoke　rudely。　Pray　forgive　me。〃
Pang　Tong；　who　had　taken　the　whole　episode　in　very　good　part　from　the　first；　laughed　and　talked　as　usual。
But　Liu　Bei　went　on；　〃Really　I　was　the　only　one　to　blame　yesterday。〃
〃We　both　slipped　up。　It　was　not　only　you；　my　lord；〃　said　Pang　Tong。
Then　Liu　Bei　laughed　too；　and　the　two　were　as　good　friends　again　as　ever。
When　Imperial　Protector　Liu　Zhang　heard　of　the　doings　of　his　relative　and　guest；　he　said；　〃I　did　not　think　that　such　things　would　e　to　pass。〃
The　officers　of　Yizhou　met　to　consider　how　to　oppose　the　further　advance　of　Liu　Bei。
Huang　Quan　said；　〃Let　us　send　without　delay　a　force　to　hold　Luocheng；　which　is　the　very　throat　of　the　road　he　must　take。　He　may　have　veteran　soldiers　and　fiery　generals；　but　he　will　not　be　able　to　pass。〃
So　the　four　ablest　generals………Deng　Xiang；　Ling　Bao；　Liu　Gui；　and　Zhang　Ren………were　told　off　for　this　duty；　and　they　led　fifty　thousand　troops。
As　they　marched；　Liu　Gui　said；　〃In　the　Silky　Hills　there　is　a　wonderful　Taoist　who　calls　himself　'The　Super　Human　of　the　Dark　Void。'　He　has　the　gift　of　second　sight；　so　let　us　visit　him　as　we　pass　and　inquire　what　our　fortunes　are　to　be。〃
〃What　should　one　seek　of　a　hermit　when　one　is　out　to　repulse　an　enemy？〃　said　his　colleague；　Zhang　Ren；　contemptuously。
〃Your　view　is　wrong；〃　said　Liu　Gui。　〃The　Holy　One　（Confucius）　has　said　that　it　is　characteristic　of　the　most　entire　sincerity　to　be　able　to　foreknow。　So　let　us　inquire　of　this　man　of　high　intelligence　that　we　may　know　what　to　do　and　what　to　avoid。〃
Whereupon　they　went　up　into　the　hills　and　sought　the　hermit's　retreat。　They　were　a　small　party；　on　horseback。　Meeting　a　wood…cutter；　they　inquired　the　whereabouts　of　the　dwelling　of　the　wise　man；　and　he　pointed　to　one　of　the　highest　hills；　saying　that　the　Sage　lived　on　the　very　summit。　They　climbed　up　to　the　spot　he　had　told　them　of　and　found　a　small　hut。　At　their　summons；　a　lad　in　Taoist　garb　came　out　to　speak　with　them。　He　asked　their　names　and　led　them　into　the　presence　of　the　Super　Human；　who　received　them　seated　on　a　rush　cushion。　They　made　a　low　obeisance；　told　him　the　reason　of　their　ing；　and　asked　of　the　future。
〃How　can　a　poor　Taoist　recluse　know　ought　of　fortunes；　good　or　evil？〃　said　he。
However；　after　a　time；　as　Liu　Gui　repeated　his　request　again　and　again　and　ported　himself　most　humbly；　the　hermit　bade　the　lad　bring　paper　and　ink　and　he　wrote　eight　lines；　which　he　handed　to　his　questioner。

〃Supported　by　dragon　and　phoenix；
So　flies　he　westward。
But　the　phoenix　shall　fall　to　the　earth。
And　the　dragon　shall　soar　to　the　sky；
There　shall　be　successes　and　failures；
For　such　is　the　eternal　law。
See　that　ye　act　when　occasion　offers；
Lest　ye　descend　to　the　Nine　Golden　Springs。〃

Having　read　the　oracle；　they　pressed　the　seer　to　reveal　them　their　individual　fortunes；　but　he　replied；　〃Why　ask　these　things？　None　can　escape　his　fate。〃
Liu　Gui　ventured　to　question　the　Sage　further；　but　his　eyelids　dropped　as　if　he　slumbered。　Nor　would　he　vouchsafe　a　word　more；　and　the　four　generals　took　leave　and　descended　the　hill。
〃One　must　have　faith　in　such　as　he　says；〃　said　Liu　Gui。
〃What　is　to　be　gained　by　listening　to　the　sayings　of　a　daft　old　man？〃　replied　Zhang　Ren。
So　they　continued　their　road　to　Luocheng。
When　they　arrived；　Liu　Gui　said；　〃Luocheng　is　the　throat　of　the　road　to　Chengdu。　We　must　create　a　pincers　defense　for　the　city。　Two　of　us　are　to　guard　the　ramparts　while　the　other　two　are　to　station　themselves　in　front　of　the　city；　where　is　a　point　of　vantage　sheltered　by　some　hills。〃
Thus　Deng　Xiang　and　Ling　Bao　wanted　to　build　the　ramparts　outside　the　city。　Twenty　thousand　troops　were　told　off。　The　two　generals　went　to　establish　two　camps　in　two　stockades　twenty　miles　away；　hoping　to　be　able　to　keep　the　foe　away　from　the　city。
The　River　Fu　Pass　being　captured；　Liu　Bei　took　counsel　with　his　adviser　as　to　the　next　point　to　be　attempted。　This　was　Luocheng。
The　scouts　reported：　〃Liu　Zhang　has　sent　four　generals　to　the　defense　of　that　city；　and　two　camps　has　been　established　twenty　miles　away　to　form　an　ox　horn。〃
Then　Liu　Bei　assembled　his　officers　and　asked　who　would　go　to　attack　the　camps。　The　veteran　Huang　Zhong　offered　himself。
〃Veteran　General；　take　your　own　troops　and　go；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃A　goodly　reward　shall　be　yours　if　you　capture　the　two　camps。〃
Huang　Zhong　thanked　his　lord　and　was　just　leading　away　his　troops　when　suddenly　up　spoke　a　youthful　leader；　saying；　〃The　General　is　too　old　to　go　on　such　an　expedition。　I　am　of　poor　ability；　but　I　wish　to　take　his　place。〃
The　speaker　was　Wei　Yan。
Huang　Zhong　replied；　〃I　already　have　my　mission。　Why　should　you　wish　to　supplant　me？〃
〃Because　the　task　is　beyond　an　old　man's　strength；〃　said　Wei　Yan。　〃The　two　generals　in　those　camps　we　know　are　the　best　and　boldest　in　the　country。　They　are　strong；　and；　veteran　as　you　are；　I　fear　you　will　be　unable　to　overe　them。　If　you　fail；　our　lord's　great　design　will　be　hindered。　Therefore　I　ask　that　I　may　replace　you；　and　my　intent　is　kindly。〃
This　reminder　of　his　age　angered　the　old　man。
〃Old；　am　I？　Dare　you　pete　with　me　in　the　use　of　warlike　weapons？〃　said　Huang　Zhong。
〃Yes；　I　dare。　And　our　lord　shall　be　the　judge。　The　winner　shall　undertake　this　expedition。　Do　you　agree？〃
Huang　Zhong　ran　down　the　steps　and　called　to　his　soldiers　to　bring　his　sword。
But　Liu　Bei　would　stop　this　contest　and　said；　〃I　have　need　of　both　of　you　in　the　task　that　lies　before　me。　When　two　tigers　fight；　one　is　sure　to　lose；　and　the　loss　of　either　of　you　is　more　than　I　could　bear。　Be　reconciled　and　quarrel　no　more。〃
〃You　two　must　not　quarrel；〃　said　Pang　Tong。　〃But　as　there　are　two　camps　to　be　taken　and　two　generals　to　fight；　take　one　each　and　let　each　lead　his　own　troops。　The　first　to　capture　his　camp　shall　be　held　to　have　rendered　the　greater　service　and　to　have　acquired　the　greater　merit。〃
This　decision　pacified　them；　and　it　was　settled　that　Huang　Zhong；　the　veteran；　should　go　against　Ling　Bao；　and　Wei　Yan；　the　younger　leader；　should　attack　Deng　Xiang。
But　after　they　had　marched　away；　Pang　Tong　remended；　〃You；　my　lord；　should　follow　them　lest　they　should　quarrel　on　the　way。〃
So　leaving　the　city　of　Fucheng　in　care　of　his　adviser；　Liu　Bei　also　marched；　taking　with　him　Liu　Feng；　his　adopted　son；　and　Guan　Ping；　his　nephew　by　adoption。　They　took　five　thousand　troops。
After　having　received　the　mand　to　take　one　of　the　camps；　Huang　Zhong　went　to　his　own　camp　and　issued　orders　for　the　morning　meal　to　be　ready　very　early；　and　for　everyone　to　be　in　marching　order　by　daybreak。　When　the　time　arrived；　his　army　set　out；　taking　the　road　through　a　gully　to　the　left　of　the　hills。
But　early　as　Huang　Zhong　started；　his　rival　had　stolen　a　march　on　him。　Wei　Yan　had　sent　over　the　night　before　to　find　out　the　hour　fixed　for　Huang　Zhong's　start　and　had　arranged　his　own　departure　a　watch　earlier；　by　which　he　would　be　able　to　reach　his　objective　at　dawn。　After　Wei　Yan's　troops　had　taken　their　early　meal；　they　removed　the　bells　from　the　horses　end　put　gags　in　their　own　mouths　to　prevent　talking；　and　all…silently　the　army　stole　out　of　the　camp　just　as　the　other　party　were　eating　their　breakfast。　The　ensigns　were　furled　and　weapons　covered　lest　the　glint　of　steel　should　betray　their　movement。
Thus　far　successful　in　getting　the　start　of　his　rival；　Wei　Yan　thought　as　he　rode　along　what　a　fine　score　he　would　make　if　he　anticipated　Huang　Zhong　also　in　his　attack　and　captured　the　camp　of　Ling　Bao　before　Huang　Zhong　could　get　there。　Wei　Yan　at　once　deviated　from　his　own　line　and　marched　toward　the　camp　defended　by　Ling　Bao；　of　which　the　capture　had　been　assigned　to　Huang　Zhong。
Just　before　arrival；　Wei　Yan　halted　his　troops　and　bade　them　prepare　the　drums　and　ensigns　and　their　weapons。
Early　as　it　was；　yet　the　camp　mander　was　on　the　alert；　for　the　advancing　force　had　been　observed　by　his　scouts。　At　the　first　sign　of　attack；　the　defenders　poured　out　in　full　force。　Wei　Yan　galloped　up　and　made　straight　for　Ling　Bao。　These　two　fought　twenty　or　so　of　bouts；　and　then　the　troops　of　West　River　Land　came　up　and　joined　in　the　battle。　The　troops　of　Jingzhou　under　Wei　Yan　having　marched　a　long　distance；　were　fatigued　and　could　not　withstand　this　onslaught；　so　they　fell　back。　Wei　Yan　heard　the　confused　sound　of　hoofs　behind　him　and；　giving　up　all　thought　of　finishing　his　encounter　with　Ling　Bao；　turned　his　horse　and　fled。　The　troops　of　West　River　Land　kept　up　the　pursuit；　and　the　attackers　were　defeated　and　retired。
They　had　gone　about　two　miles　when　another　army　of　Yizhou　appeared　from　behind　some　hills。　They　advanced　with　heating　drums。　Their　leader；　Deng　Xiang；　shouted　to　Wei　Yan　to　surrender；　but　Wei　Yan　heeded　him　not；　whipping　up　his　steed　he　fled　the　faster。　However；　the　tired　horse　tripped　and　fell　on　its　knees；　throwing　its　rider　to　the　ground。　Deng　Xiang's　forces　came　galloping　up；　and　he　himself　set　his　spear　to　thrust　and　slay　Wei　Yan。　Before　the　spear　could　get　where　it　was　supposed　to　be；　twang！　went　a　bowstring；　and　Deng　Xiang　lay　prone　upon　the　earth。
Ling　Bao；　Deng　Xiang's　colleague；　rode　up　quickly　to　his　rescue；　but　just　then　a　body　of　horse　came　dashing　down　the　hil