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Ling　Bao；　Deng　Xiang's　colleague；　rode　up　quickly　to　his　rescue；　but　just　then　a　body　of　horse　came　dashing　down　the　hill；　and　their　leader　shouted；　〃General　Huang　Zhong　is　here！〃
With　uplifted　sword　Huang　Zhong　rode　toward　Ling　Bao；　who　turned　his　steed　and　galloped　off　to　the　rear。　Huang　Zhong　pursued；　and　the　army　of　Yizhou　were　thrown　into　confusion。　So　Huang　Zhong　was　able　to　rescue　his　colleague　Wei　Yan。　Huang　Zhong　had　thus　slain　Deng　Xiang　and　forced　his　way　up　to　the　gate　of　the　camp。　Once　again　Ling　Bao　came　and　engaged　Huang　Zhong。　The　two　had　fought　some　ten　bouts　when　appeared　another　body　of　soldiers。　Thereupon　Ling　Bao　fled　again；　and　this　time　he　made　for　the　other　camp；　abandoning　his　own　to　the　troops　of　Jingzhou。
But　when　he　drew　near　his　camp；　he　saw　no　longer　the　familiar　flags　of　his　own　side。　Instead；　alien　banners　fluttered　in　the　breeze。　He　checked　his　steed　and　stared　at　the　new　force。　The　leader　was　a　general　wearing　a　silver　breastplate　and　clad　in　a　silken　robe；　no　other　than　Liu　Bei　himself。　On　his　left　was　his　son　and　on　his　right　rode　his　nephew。
〃Whither　would　you　e？〃　cried　Liu　Bei。　〃The　camp　is　ours。　I　have　captured　it。〃
Now　Liu　Bei　had　led　his　troops　in　the　track　of　the　other　two　armies　ready　to　help　either　in　case　of　need。　He　had　e　across　the　empty　and　undefended　camp　and　taken　possession。
Left　with　no　place　of　refuge；　Ling　Bao　set　off　along　a　byway　to　try　to　get　back　to　Luocheng。　He　had　not　gone　far　when　he　fell　into　an　ambush　and　was　taken　prisoner。　Bound　with　cords　he　was　taken　to　the　camp　of　Liu　Bei。
The　ambush　had　been　prepared　by　Wei　Yan；　who；　knowing　he　had　mitted　a　fault　that　could　in　no　wise　be　explained　away；　had　collected　as　many　of　his　soldiers　as　he　could　find　and　made　some　of　the　captured　soldiers　of　Yizhou　guide　him　to　a　spot　suitable　for　laying　an　ambush。
Liu　Bei　had　hoisted　the　flag　of　amnesty　for　his　enemies；　and　whenever　any　soldier　of　the　West　River　Land　laid　down　his　weapons　and　stripped　off　his　armor　he　was　spared。　Also　all　the　wounded　were　granted　life。　Liu　Bei　told　his　enemies　that　they　had　liberty　of　choice。
He　said；　〃You　soldiers　have　parents　and　wives　and　little　ones　at　home；　and　those　who　wish　to　return　to　them　are　free　to　go。　If　any　wish　to　join　my　army；　they　also　will　be　received。〃
At　this　proof　of　generosity　the　sound　of　rejoicing　filled　the　land。
Having　made　his　camp；　Huang　Zhong　came　to　Liu　Bei　and　said；　〃Wei　Yan　should　be　put　to　death　for　disobedience！〃
The　culprit　was　summoned　and　came；　bringing　with　him　his　prisoner。　Liu　Bei　decided　that　the　merit　of　capturing　an　enemy　should　be　set　against　his　fault　and　bade　him　thank　his　rescuer；　enjoining　upon　them　both　to　quarrel　no　more。　Wei　Yan　bowed　his　head　and　confessed　his　fault；　and　Huang　Zhong　was　handsomely　rewarded。
The　prisoner　was　then　taken　before　Liu　Bei　to　decide　upon　his　fate。　Liu　Bei　loosened　Ling　Bao's　bonds　by　his　own　hands　and　gave　him　the　cup　of　consolation。　After　he　had　drunk；　Liu　Bei　asked　if　he　was　willing　to　surrender。
〃Since　you　give　me　my　life；　I　can　do　no　other；〃　said　he。　〃Moreover；　my　two　panions；　Liu　Gui　and　Zhang　Ren；　and　I　are　sworn　to　live　or　die　together。　If　you　will　release　me；　I　will　return　and　bring　them　also　to　you　and　therewith　you　will　get　possession　of　Luocheng。〃
Liu　Bei　gladly　accepted　the　offer。　He　gave　Ling　Bao　clothing　and　a　horse　and　bade　him　go　to　the　city　to　carry　out　his　plan。
〃Do　not　let　him　go；〃　said　Wei　Yan。　〃If　you　do；　you　will　never　see　him　again。〃
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃If　I　treat　humans　with　kindness　and　justice；　they　will　not　betray　my　trust。〃
So　the　prisoner　was　set　free。
When　Ling　Bao　reached　the　city　and　saw　his　two　friends；　he　told　them；　saying；　〃I　slew　many　of　the　enemy　and　escaped　by　mounting　the　steed　of　one　of　them。〃
Ling　Bao　said　no　word　of　having　been　captured。　Messengers　were　sent　in　haste　to　Chengdu　for　help。
The　loss　of　his　general；　Deng　Xiang；　disturbed　the　Imperial　Protector　greatly。　He　called　his　advisers　together　to　consult。
Then　his　eldest　son；　Liu　Xun；　said；　〃Father；　let　me　go　to　defend　Luocheng。〃
〃You　may　go；　my　son；　but　who　is　there　to　go　with　you？〃
One　Wu　Yi　at　once　offered　himself。　He　was　brother…in…law　to　Liu　Zhang。
Liu　Zhang　said；　〃It　is　well　that　you　go；　brother…in…law；　but　who　will　second　you？〃
Wu　Yi　at　once　remended　two　men；　Wu　Lan　and　Lei　Tong；　who　were　appointed　to　assist　in　the　mand。　Twenty　thousand　troops　were　given　them；　and　they　set　out　for　Luocheng。　Liu　Gui　and　Zhang　Ren　came　out　to　wele　them　and　told　them　what　had　happened。
Wu　Yi　said；　〃If　the　enemy　draw　near　to　the　walls；　it　will　be　hard　to　drive　them　off　again。　What　do　you　two　think　should　be　done？〃
Ling　Bao　replied；　〃The　city　lies　along　River　Fu　and　the　current　is　strong。　The　enemy　camp　lies　low　at　the　foot　of　the　hills。　With　five　thousand　people　I　can　cut　the　river　banks；　flood　their　camp；　and　drown　Liu　Bei　and　his　army　with　him。〃
The　plan　was　approved；　and　Ling　Bao　went　away　to　carry　it　out。　Wu　Lan　and　Lei　Tong　were　told　off　to　supervise　the　workers。　They　began　to　prepare　the　tools　for　cutting　the　bank。
Leaving　Huang　Zhong　and　Wei　Yan　in　mand　of　the　two　camps；　Liu　Bei　went　away　to　Fucheng　to　consult　with　Pang　Tong；　the　army's　instructor。　Intelligence　had　been　received　that　Sun　Quan　had　sent　a　messenger　to　seek　to　make　a　league　with　Zhang　Lu　to　make　a　joint　attack　upon　the　Jiameng　Pass；　and　Liu　Bei　was　alarmed　lest　it　should　e　to　pass。
〃If　they　do　that；　I　am　taken　in　the　rear　and　helpless　in　both　advance　and　retreat；〃　said　he。　〃What　do　you　counsel；　O　Instructor？〃
Pang　Tong　turned　to　Meng　Da；　saying；　〃You　are　a　native　of　Shu　and　well　skilled　in　its　topography。　What　can　be　done　to　make　the　Pass　secure？〃
〃Let　me　take　a　certain　man　with　me；　and　I　will　defend　it　myself　and　answer　for　its　safety。〃
〃Who　is　he？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。
〃He　was　formerly　an　officer　under　Liu　Biao。　His　name　is　Huo　Jun；　and　he　is　a　native　of　Nanjun　in　the　south。〃
This　offer　was　accepted；　and　the　two　generals　departed。
After　the　council；　when　Pang　Tong　returned　to　his　lodging；　the　doorkeeper　told　him　that　a　visitor　had　arrived。　When　Pang　Tong　went　out　to　receive　him；　he　saw　a　huge　tall　fellow　eight　cubits　in　stature　and　of　noble　countenance。　His　hair　had　been　cut　short　and　hung　upon　his　neck。　He　was　poorly　dressed。
〃Who　may　you　be；　Master？〃　asked　Pang　Tong。
The　visitor　made　no　reply；　but　went　at　once　straight　up　the　room　and　lay　upon　the　couch。　Pang　Tong　felt　very　suspicious　of　the　man　and　repeated　his　question。
Pressed　again；　the　visitor　said；　〃Do　let　me　rest　a　little。　Then　I　will　talk　with　you　about　everything　in　the　world。〃
This　answer　only　added　to　the　mystery　and　increased　the　host's　suspicion；　but　he　had　wine　and　food　brought　in；　of　which　the　guest　partook　ravenously。　Having　eaten；　he　lay　down　and　fell　asleep。
Pang　Tong　wag　greatly　puzzled　and　thought　the　man　must　be　a　spy。　He　sent　for　Fa　Zheng；　met　him　in　the　courtyard；　and　told　him　about　the　strange　visitor。
〃Surely　it　can　be　no　other　than　Peng　Yang；〃　said　Fa　Zheng。
Fa　Zheng　went　inside　and　looked。
Immediately　the　visitor　jumped　up；　saying；　〃I　hope　you　have　been　well　since　we　parted　last！〃

Because　two　old　friends　meet　again；
A　river's　fatal　flood　is　checked。

The　next　chapter　will　explain　who　the　stranger　was。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　63　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　63
　Chapter　63
Zhuge　Liang　Mourns　For　Pang　Tong；
Zhang　Fei　Releases　Yan　Yan。
Fa　Zheng　and　the　new　er　met　with　every　sign　of　joy；　clapping　their　hands　and　laughing　with　pleasure。
〃This　is　Peng　Yang　of　Guanghan；　one　of　our　heroes。　His　blunt　speech；　however；　offended　Imperial　Protector　Liu　Zhang；　who　put　him　to　shame　by　shaving　his　head；　loading　him　with　fetters；　and　forcing　him　into　a　monastery。　That　is　why　his　hair　is　short。〃
The　introduction　made；　Pang　Tong　treated　the　stranger　with　all　the　courtesy　due　to　a　guest　and　asked　why　he　had　e。
〃To　save　a　myriad　of　your　soldiers'　lives。　I　will　explain　fully　when　I　see　General　Liu　Bei。〃
A　message　was　sent　to　Liu　Bei；　who　came　over　to　see　the　visitor。
〃How　many　troops　have　you；　General？〃　asked　Peng　Yang；　when　Liu　Bei　arrived。
Liu　Bei　told　him。
〃As　a　leader　you　cannot　be　ignorant　of　the　lie　of　the　land。　Your　camps　over　there　are　on　River　Fu。　If　the　river　be　diverted　and　the　enemy　hold　your　army　in　front　and　rear；　not　a　soul　can　escape。〃
Liu　Bei　realized　that　this　was　true。
Peng　Yang　continued；　〃In　the　heaven；　the　bowl　of　the　Dipper　lies　toward　the　west；　and　Venus　stands　over　against　us。　The　aspect　is　ominous　of　evil；　and　some　misfortune　threatens。　It　must　be　warded　off。〃
Liu　Bei　offered　Peng　Yang　an　appointment　as　an　adviser。　Then　he　sent　messages　to　the　generals　at　the　camps　telling　them　to　keep　most　vigilant　look…out　to　guard　against　the　cutting　of　the　river　bank。　When　this　message　came；　Huang　Zhong　and　Wei　Yan　agreed　together　to　take　duty　day　and　night　about　and　maintain　the　strict　watch　necessary　in　the　presence　of　an　enemy　near　at　hand。　They　arranged　means　of　munication　in　case　either　met　with　a　body　of　the　enemy。
One　very　stormy　night；　Ling　Bao　ventured　out　with　a　strong　party　of　five　thousand　and　went　along　the　river　bank　to　seek　a　suitable　place　for　the　breach。　But　a　sudden　shouting　in　his　rear　told　him　that　the　army　of　Jingzhou　were　on　the　alert；　and　he　at　once　retired。　Wei　Yan　came　in　pursuit　and；　as　he　pressed　nearer；　Ling　Bao's　troops　hurried　forward；　trampling　each　other　down　in　their　haste。　Suddenly　Ling　Bao　and　Wei　Yan　ran　against　each　other；　and　they　engaged。　The　fight　was　very　short；　for　Wei　Yan　soon　took　his　opponent　prisoner。　Wu　Lan　and　Lei　Tong　who　came　to　Ling　Bao's　rescue　were　easily　beaten　off；　and　Ling　Bao　was　carried　away。　When　Wei　Yan　reached　the　Pass；　Liu　Bei　saw　Ling　Bao　and　greatly　blamed　him　for　his　base　ingratitude。
〃I　treated　you　generously　and　set　you　free；　yet　you　repaid　me　with　ingratitude。　I　cannot　forgive　again。〃
So　the　prisoner　was　beheaded；　and　his　captor　was　rewarded。　A　banquet　was　given　in　honor　of　Peng　Yang。
Soon　after　this　came　a　letter　from　Zhuge　Liang；　by　the　hand　of　Ma　Liang；　who　reported　all　calm　in　Jingzhou　and　told　Liu　Bei　that　he　need　feel　no　anxiety。　Opening　the　letter；　Liu　Bei　read：
〃I　have　been　making　some　astrological　calculations。　This　is　the　last　year　of　the　cycle；　the　bowl　of　the　Dipper　is　in　the　western　quarter；　and　the　planet　Venus　approaches　Luocheng。　The　configuration　is　inimical　to　leaders；　and　the　utmost　caution　is　necessary。〃
Having　read　this　and　sent　Ma　Liang　away；　Liu　Bei　said；　〃I　will　return　myself　to　Jingzhou　and　discuss　the　matter。〃
But　Pang　Tong　opposed　this；　for　he　thought　in　his　heart　that　Zhuge　Liang's　warning　was　due　to　a　jealous　desire　to　prevent　him　from　winning　the　glory　of　conducting　a　victorious　campaign　in　West　River　Land。
Therefore　Pang　Tong　said；　〃I　also　have　made　calculations；　and　I　read　the　signs　to　mean　that　the　time　is　favorable　for　you　to　get　possession　of　this　land；　and　no　evil　is　foreshown。　Therefore　be　not　of　doubtful　heart；　my　lord；　but　advance　boldly。〃
Liu　Bei　was　won　over　and　decided　to　follow　Pang　Tong's　advice。　He　ordered　Huang　Zhong　and　Wei　Yan　to　lead。
Pang　Tong　asked　of　Fa　Zheng　what　roads　there　were　to　follow；　and　the　latter　drew　a　map；　which　was　found　to　agree　exactly　with　that　left　by　Zhang　Song。
Fa　Zheng　said；　〃North　of　the　mountains　is　a　high　road　leading　to　the　east　gate。　South　of　the　mountains　is　another　path　leading　to　the　west　gate。　Both　these　roads　are　suitable　for　the　advance　of　an　army。〃
So　Pang　Tong　said　to　Liu　Bei；　〃With　Wei　Yan　to　lead　the　way；　I　will　go　along　the　southern　road；　while　you；　my　lord；　will　advance　along　the　high　road；　with　Huang　Zhong　in　the　van。　We　will　attack　Luocheng　at　the　same　time。〃
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃I　was　trained　as　a　mounted　archer　and　am　accustomed　to　by…roads；　wherefore；　O　Instructor；　I　think　you　should　take　the　high　road　and　let　me　take　the　other。〃
〃There　will　be　opposition　on　the　high　road；　and　you　are　the　best　to　deal　with　it。　Let　me　take　the　by…road。〃
〃No；　this　does　not　suit　me；〃　replied　Liu　Bei。　〃A　spirit　bearing　a　massive　iron　club　appeared　to　me　in　a　dream　and　struck　my　right　arm；　so　that　I　suffered　great　pain。　I　feel　sure　this　expedition　will　turn　out　badly。〃
Pang　Tong　replied；　〃When　a　soldier　goes　into　battle；　he　may　be　killed；　or　he　may　be　wounded。　He　accepts　whichever　is　his　fate。　But　should　one　hesitate　because　of　a　dream？〃