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This　new　distinction　pleased　Guan　Yu　greatly；　and　he　had　no　more　perplexing　doubts。　Soon　he　marched　away　along　the　great　road　to　the　point　of　danger。
Cao　Ren　was　in　Xiangyang　when　he　heard　that　Guan　Yu　was　ing　against　him。　He　was　much　put　about；　and　inclined　to　trust　solely　to　defense。　But　his　next　mand；　Zhai　Yuan；　did　not　support　this　course　and　argued　against　it。
〃The　Prince　of　Wei　has　ordered　you　to　act　in　concert　with　Wu　and　take　Jingzhou。　For　the　other　side　to　e　against　such　a　bination　is　to　walk　in　the　way　of　death。　Certainly　we　have　no　occasion　to　avoid　a　conflict。〃
On　the　other　hand　the　newly　sent　Adviser　Man　Chong　inculcated　caution。
Said　he；　〃Guan　Yu　is　brave　and　cunning　and　one　not　to　be　met　lightly。　I　think　defense　is　best。〃
Then　General　Xiahou　Cun　said　contemptuously；　〃This　is　all　the　talk　of　a　lot　of　book…folks。　When　the　flood　approaches；　bank　up　to　keep　it　out。　Let　the　enemy　e　with　their　tired　soldiers；　and　we　shall　go　out；　defeat　them；　and　receive　our　reward；　for　we　are　sure　of　victory。〃
Cao　Ren　was　won　over　to　the　side　of　those　of　action。　He　placed　Man　Chong　in　mand　of　the　defenses　of　Fancheng；　while　he　went　outside　to　beat　off　Guan　Yu。　When　the　two　forces　met；　Guan　Yu　called　to　his　side　Guan　Ping　and　Liao　Hua；　to　whom　he　gave　certain　orders。　These　two　advanced；　settled　their　array；　and　Liao　Hua　then　rode　out　and　offered　a　challenge。　Zhai　Yuan　accepted　it。　But　soon　after　the　bat　began；　Liao　Hua　made　as　if　he　was　defeated　and　turned　to　leave　the　field。　Zhai　Yuan　went　after　him。　The　Jingzhou　troops　retired　seven　miles　or　so。
Soon　the　Jingzhou　soldiers　came　again　and　offered　battle；　when　Xiahou　Cun　and　Zhai　Yuan　both　went　out。　The　maneuver　of　the　preceding　day　was　repeated；　and　the　Jingzhou　army　retreated　another　seven　miles。　But　suddenly　there　was　a　detonation　behind　the　army　of　Cao　Cao；　and　the　rolling　of　drums　as　for　attack。　Cao　Ren　hastily　called　upon　his　troops　to　return。　They　did　so；　but　Guan　Ping　and　Liao　Hua　then　turned　and　followed　on　their　heels　so　that　the　troops　of　Cao　Cao　were　thrown　into　confusion。
Cao　Ren　by　this　time　had　seen　that　a　trap　had　been　laid　and　he　had　fallen　therein；　so　he　hastily　marched　with　one　army　to　Xiangyang。　He　got　to　within　a　short　distance　of　the　city　when　he　saw　before　him　a　handsome　banner　waving　in　the　wind；　and　out　came　Guan　Yu　with　his　green…dragon　saber　ready　to　slay。　Cao　Ren　was　powerless　from　fear；　and；　fighting　being　impossible；　he　turned　off　into　a　bye…road　for　Xiangyang。
Then　Xiahou　Cun　came。　He　fell　into　a　rage　at　the　sight　of　the　old　warrior　and　went　to　fight　him。　But　Xiahou　Cun　was　slain　in　the　first　encounter。　Zhai　Yuan　fled；　but　Guan　Ping　pursued　and　slew　him。　Then　the　pursuit　was　continued；　and　the　loss　of　Cao　Cao's　side　was　very　heavy。　More　than　half　were　drowned　in　River　Xiang。　Seeing　the　situation　was　desperate；　Cao　Ren　fled　to　Fancheng。　Guan　Yu　got　possession　of　Xiangyang。
〃You　have　obtained　this　city　very　easily；〃　said　the　Marching　General；　Wang　Fu；　〃but　the　task　is　not　ended。　Cao　Cao's　army　have　been　beaten　and　their　courage　broken；　but　there　is　danger　from　the　side　of　Wu。　Lu　Meng　is　at　Lukou；　and　he　has　long　cherished　the　desire　to　lay　hands　on　Jingzhou。　Suppose　he　now　attacks：　What　will　happen？〃
〃I　was　even　thinking　of　that　myself。　You　may　go　and　attend　to　this　matter。　You　will　certainly　be　able　to　find　certain　elevated　spots　on　the　river　bank；　about　seven　miles　apart；　suitable　for　alarm　beacons；　whence　could　be　signaled　any　attempt　of　the　marines　of　Wu　to　cross　the　river。　Fifty　soldiers　could　guard　each　station。　Let　there　be　a　flame　by　night　and　a　smoke　by　day。　If　they　cross　the　river；　I　must　go　and　smite　them。〃
Wang　Fu　replied；　〃Fu　Shiren　and　Mi　Fang　are　defending　important　places；　but　they　may　not　be　able　to　defend　the　Passes　well。　There　ought　to　be　a　mander…in…chief　over　Jingzhou　City。〃
〃There　is　no　need　for　anxiety。　Army　Inspector　Pan　Jun　is　guarding　the　city。〃
〃The　objection　is　the　character　of　Pan　Jun。　He　is　jealous　and　selfish　and　not　a　fit　person　for　the　task。　I　think　you　would　do　well　to　replace　him　by　Zhao　Lei；　now　of　the　Chief　of　the　missariat。　Zhao　Lei　is　loyal；　trusty；　clean…handed；　and　straight；　a　much　more　desirable　man　for　the　post。〃
〃I　know　Pan　Jun　very　well；　but　I　have　delegated　him　for　that　duty　and　cannot　change　now。　The　work　Zhao　Lei　has　to　do　in　the　supplies　is　also　most　important。　I　do　not　think　you　need　be　anxious。　Just　get　along　with　those　beacons　for　me。〃
Wang　Fu；　disappointed；　took　his　leave。
Then　Guan　Ping　was　bidden　to　prepare　ships　ready　to　cross　the　river　and　attack　Fancheng；　whither　Cao　Ren　had　retired　after　his　defeat。
Now　Cao　Ren　said　to　Man　Chong；　〃Neglecting　your　advice；　I　lost　soldiers；　two　generals；　and　the　city　of　Xiangyang。　What　am　I　to　do　now？〃
〃Guan　Yu　is　very　dangerous；　too　brave　and　skillful　for　us　to　try　to　defeat。　We　had　better　remain　on　the　defensive；〃　replied　Man　Chong。
Just　about　this　time　came　the　tidings　that　Guan　Yu　was　crossing　the　river　on　the　way　to　attack。　Man　Chong　maintained　his　policy　of　defense。　But　one　of　Cao　Ren's　generals；　Lu　Chang；　was　for　going　out　to　meet　the　enemy。
〃I　ask　for　a　few　thousand　troops；〃　said　Lu　Chang；　〃and　I　will　meet　the　enemy　on　the　way。〃
〃You　cannot　do　any　good；〃　said　Man　Chong。
〃According　to　the　advice　of　you　and　the　other　bookish　officials；　there　is　only　one　thing　to　do。　But　will　defense　drive　off　the　enemy？　The　proper　way　is　to　attack　your　enemy　while　he　is　crossing　a　river；　and　as　Guan　Yu　is　doing　that　now；　why　not　attack？　It　will　be　quite　another　matter　if　you　let　him　reach　the　walls　and　get　possession　of　the　moat。〃
As　a　result　of　his　arguments　and　protest；　Lu　Chang　got　mand　of　two　thousand　troops；　whom　he　led　to　the　river。　And　there　he　found　Guan　Yu　already　arrayed　for　battle。　Guan　Yu　at　once　rode　out；　and　the　bold　Lu　Chang　was　going　to　attack　him。　But　his　soldiers　were　panic…stricken　at　the　sight　of　Guan　Yu's　fierce　countenance　and　ran　away。　Lu　Chang　called　them　to　e　back；　but　they　would　not　stop；　and　as　Guan　Yu　came　on　with　a　rush；　the　army　of　Wei　again　lost　the　day。　Many　were　slain；　and　the　remainder　ran　into　Fancheng。　Cao　Ren　sent　off　a　hasty　messenger　for　help　and　a　letter　to　Xuchang　to　tell　what　Guan　Yu　had　done　and　how　Fancheng　was　in　imminent　danger　of　falling。
The　letter　reached　Cao　Cao；　who　chose　a　certain　general　among　his　leaders　and　assigned　the　task；　〃You　go　and　defend　Fancheng！〃
The　man　at　once　stepped　out　and　accepted　the　assignment。　He　was　Yu　Jin。
〃Let　me　have　another　general　to　lead　the　van；〃　said　Yu　Jin。
〃Who　volunteers？〃　asked　Cao　Cao；　looking　around。
〃I　do！〃　cried　a　man；　〃I　will　give　my　poor　services　for　what　they　are　worth。　And　I　will　capture　this　fellow　Guan　Yu　and　bring　him　as　an　offering　before　your　standard。〃

The　soldiers　of　Wei　began　the　war
Even　before　Wu　had　sent　out　armies。

But　who　was　the　man　bold　enough　to　say　he　would　capture　Guan　Yu？　For　his　name　see　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　74　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　74
　Chapter　74
Pang　De　Takes　His　Coffin　To　The　Field；
Guan　Yu　Drowns　The　Seven　Armies。
The　bold　and　self…confident　leader　of　Cao　Cao's　army　who　promised　to　make　an　end　of　Guan　Yu　was　Pang　De。　Cao　Cao　was　glad　to　find　such　a　man。
〃That　fellow　Guan　Yu　has　a　great　reputation；　and　in　the　whole　empire　he　has　no　rival。　He　has　not　met　his　match　yet；　but　now　you　are　going；　he　will　find　all　his　work　cut　out。〃
So　spoke　Cao　Cao。　He　conferred　on　Yu　Jin　the　title　of　General　Who　Corrects　the　South　and　on　Pang　De　that　of　General　Who　Corrects　the　West；　and　he　made　Pang　De　Leader　of　the　Van。　The　two　generals　marched　out　with　their　seven　armies　to　Fancheng。
These　seven　armies　were　posed　of　sturdy　fellows　from　the　north；　led　by　two　of　their　own　Marching　manders　named　Dong　Heng　and　Dong　Chao。　Hearing　who　was　to　mand　them；　these　two；　supported　by　their　generals；　went　to　see　Yu　Jin　and　represented　that　the　Leader　of　the　Van　was　unsuitable。
Dong　Heng　said；　〃Sir　General；　the　expedition　you　lead　is　for　the　relief　of　Fancheng；　and　it　can　confidently　expect　victory。　But　is　it　wise　to　place　such　as　Pang　De　in　mand　of　the　van？〃
〃Why？〃　said　Yu　Jin；　surprised。
〃Because　Pang　De　was　once　under　the　mand　of　Ma　Chao。　He　had　no　alternative　but　to　surrender　and　fight　for　Wei。　But　his　former　chief　is　now　in　high　honor　in　Shu；　one　of　the　Five　Tiger　Generals；　and　his　own　brother　Pang　Rou　is　there；　too；　as　an　officer。　To　send　Pang　De　as　Leader　of　the　Van　just　now　seems　like　trying　to　extinguish　a　fire　with　oil。　Would　it　not　be　well　to　inform　the　Prince　of　Wei　and　ask　him　to　exchange　this　man　for　another？〃
Without　further　argument　or　delay；　Yu　Jin　went　to　see　the　Prince　and　laid　before　him　the　objections　to　Pang　De's　appointment。　As　soon　as　Cao　Cao　understood；　he　summoned　Pang　De　to　the　steps　and　bade　him　yield　his　seal　as　Leader　of　the　Van。
〃O　Prince；　why　do　you　reject　my　services？　I　was　just　about　to　do　my　best　for　you。〃
〃I　do　not　doubt　you；　but　Ma　Chao　is　now　in　the　west；　and　your　brother　also………both　in　the　service　of　Liu　Bei。　I　myself　have　no　doubts；　but　it　is　what　all　the　crowd　are　saying。　What　can　I　do？〃
Pang　De　took　off　his　headdress　and　prostrated　himself；　bitter　tears　rolling　down　his　cheeks。
〃Since　I　surrendered　to　you；　O　Prince；　I　have　experienced　much　kindness；　so　that　I　would　undergo　any　sufferings　to　show　my　gratitude。　I　hope　you　will　trust　me。　When　my　brother　and　I　were　at　home　together；　his　wife　was　a　wicked　woman；　and　I　slew　her　while　I　was　drunk。　My　brother　has　never　forgiven　me；　but　is　permeated　with　hate　for　me。　He　swears　never　to　see　me　again；　and　we　are　enemies。　For　my　old　master；　Ma　Chao；　I　have　profound　contempt。　He　is　bold；　but　only　that；　and　was　in　a　pitiable　and　dejected　state　when　he　found　his　way　to　the　west。　Now；　like　me；　he　serves　his　own　master；　but　our　friendship　is　at　an　end。　How　could　I　think　of　another　after　your　kindness　to　me？〃
Cao　Cao　raised　Pang　De　from　the　ground　and　soothed　him；　saying；　〃I　have　always　known　what　a　noble　man　you　are；　and　what　I　said　just　now　was　to　satisfy　the　feelings　of　other　people。　Now　you　can　strive　to　win　fame。　If　you　do　not　turn　your　back　on　me；　I　shall　not　on　you。〃
Then　Pang　De　took　his　leave　and　returned　to　his　house；　where　he　ordered　the　artificers　to　make　him　a　coffin。　Next　he　invited　all　his　friends　to　a　banquet；　and　the　coffin　was　set　out　in　the　reception　room　for　all　to　see。
And　they　asked　one　another；　〃What　can　that　inauspicious　thing　mean　putting　out　on　the　eve　of　a　campaign？〃
By　and　by；　drinking　to　them；　Pang　De　said；　〃The　Prince　of　Wei　has　been　generous　to　me；　and　I　am　pledged　to　show　my　gratitude　to　the　death。　I　am　about　to　go　out　against　this　Guan　Yu；　and　I　have　to　kill　him　or　he　must　kill　me。　If　he　does　not　kill　me；　I　must　mit　suicide；　and　so　I　have　prepared　what　is　necessary。　I　will　not　return　leaving　my　task　unachieved。〃
The　terrible　omen　saddened　the　guests；　and　they　fell　to　sighing。　Then　Pang　De　called　in　his　wife；　Lady　Li；　and　bade　her　bring　their　son　Pang　Hui；　whom　he　mended　to　her　care。
〃I　have　been　appointed　Leader　of　the　Van　of　this　new　expedition　against　Guan　Yu；　and　my　duty　bids　me　seek　death　or　glory　on　the　battlefield。　If　I　die；　our　son　is　in　your　special　care。　Alas；　the　child　has　been　born　ill…starred；　and　when　he　grows　up　he　will　have　to　avenge　a　father。〃
Both　mother　and　son　wept　as　they　bade　him　farewell。　When　the　army　marched；　the　coffin　was　carried　in　its　train。
Pang　De　bade　his　officers；　saying；　〃I　will　fight　to　the　end　with　Guan　Yu。　Place　my　body　therein　if　I　fall　in　bat。　And　if　I　slay　him；　then　will　I　bring　his　head　in　this　coffin　as　an　offering　to　our　Prince。〃
Then　out　spoke　his　five　hundred　veterans　and　said；　〃If　you　are　like　this；　O　General；　then　we　also　will　follow　you　to　the　end。〃
The　vanguard　then　marched　away。
A　certain　man　told　the　story　of　these　happenings　to　Cao　Cao；　who　was　very　pleased；　saying；　〃I　have　no　anxiety　with　such　a　general　to　lead　my　armies。〃
But　Jia　Xu　said；　〃I　am　anxious　for　Pang　De's　safety。　He　is　over…bold　and　imprudent　to　fight　with　Guan　Yu　to　the　death。〃
Cao　Cao　thought　such　an　act　would　be　unwise；　and　he　hastily　sent　a　messenger　with　an　edict　warning　Pang　De　against　his　antagonist。
〃This　Guan　Yu　lacks　neither　cunning　nor　valor。　You　are　to　be　most　cautious　in　engaging　him。　If　you　can　conquer；　then　conquer；　but　if　there　be　any　doubt；　remain　on　the　defensiv