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But　even　then　they　dared　do　nothing；　for　Zhang　Fei　slept　always　with　open　eyelids；　and　he　lay　on　his　couch　as　if　still　awake。　However；　huge　snores　soon　convinced　them　that　their　victim　really　slept；　and　they　crept　to　the　side　of　the　couch。　Then　both　stabbed　simultaneously　deep　into　the　body。　Zhang　Fei　uttered　one　cry　and　lay　still。　So　he　died　at　the　hand　of　assassins　at　the　age　of　fifty…five　years。

He　who　whipped　the　inspector　in　Anxi；
Who　swept　vile　rebels　from　the　land　of　Han；
And　thereby　won　great　glory　for　the　Lius；
Whose　valor　shone　at　Tiger　Trap　Pass；
Who　turned　the　tide　of　victory　at　Long　Slope　Bridge；
Who　freed　Yan　Yan　and　thus　won　a　friend
That　helped　him　and　his　brothers　conquer　Shu；
Whose　wisdom　defeated　Zhang　He　to　get　Hanzhong；
Is　dead；　the　victim　of　assassins'　blows。
Not　his　avenge　his　brother's　death　on　Wu；
Langzhong　will　grieve　him　all　the　ages　through。

Having　done　their　victim　to　death；　Fan　Jiang　and　Zhang　Da　hacked　off　his　head；　and　made　off　for　Wu　without　loss　of　time。　Fleeing　with　them　were　a　few　dozen　close　subordinates。　When　the　deed　was　known；　they　had　got　too　far　for　capture。
The　assassination　was　reported　in　a　memorial　by　a　mander　of　Zhang　Fei　named　Hu　Ban；　who　had　left　Jingzhou　to　see　the　First　Ruler　and　then　had　been　sent　to　serve　under　Zhang　Fei。　He　wrote　a　memorial　to　the　First　Ruler　and　bade　the　eldest　son；　Zhang　Bao；　prepare　a　coffin　for　the　remains。　After　the　ceremony；　leaving　his　younger　brother；　Zhang　Shao；　to　hold　Langzhong；　Zhang　Bao　went　to　see　the　Emperor。
The　day　of　departure　had　already　e；　and　the　First　Ruler　had　left　the　capital。　Zhuge　Liang　and　many　officers　had　escorted　him　out　of　the　city　for　three　miles　and　taken　leave。
Returning　to　Chengdu；　Zhuge　Liang　felt　ill　at　ease；　and　he　remarked　to　his　colleagues；　〃If　Fa　Zheng　had　been　alive；　he　would　have　been　able　to　interdict　this　expedition。〃
One　night　the　First　Ruler　felt　nervous　and　shuddered　from　time　to　time。　He　could　not　sleep；　so　he　went　out　of　his　tent　and　looked　up　at　the　stars。　Suddenly　he　saw　a　bright　meteor　fall　in　the　northwest；　and　began　to　wonder　what　the　portent　meant。　He　sent　at　once　to　ask　Zhuge　Liang　to　tell　him。
Zhuge　Liang　sent　back　the　reply：　〃This　means　the　loss　of　a　great　leader；　and　there　will　be　bad　news　in　a　few　days。〃
So　the　army　was　halted　and　did　not　march。　Then　the　arrival　of　a　message　from　Hu　Ban　of　Langzhong　was　announced。
The　First　Ruler's　foreboding　increased；　and　he　stamped　his　foot；　saying；　〃Alas！　My　other　brother　is　gone！〃
Opening　the　letter　he　found　it　was　indeed　so。　As　he　read　the　news　of　the　assassination；　he　uttered　a　loud　cry　and　fell　in　a　swoon。　He　was　raised；　and　presently　they　brought　him　back　to　life。
Next　day　they　reported　a　body　of　horsemen　ing。　The　First　Ruler　went　out　of　the　camp　to　look　at　them　and　presently　saw　a　young　general；　dressed　all　in　white　armor；　sweeping　forth　in　quite　a　terror。　The　First　Ruler　recognized　that　was　Zhang　Bao。
As　soon　as　Zhang　Bao　reached　the　First　Ruler's　presence；　he　dismounted　and　bowed　to　the　earth；　weeping；　〃My　father　has　been　killed　by　Fan　Jiang　and　Zhang　Da。　They　have　gone　over　to　Wu；　taking　my　father's　head　with　them！〃
The　news　was　very　grievous；　and　the　First　Ruler　burst　into　tears　and　even　refused　food。
His　officers　remonstrated；　saying；　〃Now　Your　Majesty　has　the　loss　of　two　brothers　to　avenge；　and　you　must　not　destroy　yourself。〃
So　after　a　time　he　began　to　eat　and　drink；　and　he　then　offered　the　leadership　of　the　van　to　Zhang　Bao；　saying；　〃Are　you　and　Hu　Ban　willing　to　lead　your　troops　to　attack　Wu　and　to　avenge　your　father？〃
〃For　my　country　or　for　my　father；　I　would　shrink　from　no　sacrifice；〃　said　the　young　man。
Just　as　the　force　for　the　young　man's　leadership　was　being　organized；　another　party　of　horsemen　approached；　also　dressed　in　white　armors。　This　was　a　small　force　under　Guan　Xing；　son　of　Guan　Yu。　The　youth　also　threw　himself　to　the　ground　and　wept。
At　sight　of　Guan　Xing；　thoughts　stirred　in　the　First　Ruler's　breast；　and　he　burst　into　tears。　Neither　reason　nor　persuasion　could　stop　them。
〃I　think　of　the　plain　and　simple　days　of　long　ago　when　we　pledged　ourselves　one　to　the　other。　Now　I　am　Emperor。　How　I　should　rejoice　to　share　my　good　fortune　with　them！　But　they　have　met　violent　deaths；　and　the　sight　of　these　two　youths　wrings　my　heart　to　the　very　core。〃
〃Young　gentlemen；　please　retire；〃　said　the　officers　to　the　two　youthful　generals；　〃and　let　our　Sacred　One　repose　his　dragon　body。〃
They　went。
Said　the　attendants；　〃Your　Majesty　is　no　longer　young。　You　are　over　sixty；　remember；　and　it　is　not　fitting　that　you　give　way　to　such　extreme　sorrow。〃
〃But　my　brothers………dead；〃　wailed　the　First　Ruler。　〃How　can　I　live　without　them？〃
He　broke　into　a　fresh　paroxysm　and　beat　his　head　on　the　ground。
〃What　can　be　done？〃　asked　the　officers　one　to　another。　〃He　is　in　such　trouble！　How　can　we　fort　him？〃
Ma　Liang　said；　〃Sire；　it　is　bad　for　the　army　to　spend　whole　days　in　wailing　and　tears　when　leading　against　the　enemy。〃
And　then　Chen　Zhen　said；　〃There　is　a　certain　hermit　living　among　the　Blue　Mountains；　near　Chengdu；　who　is　said　to　be　three　hundred　years　old。　He　is　called　Li　Yin；　and　people　say　he　is　a　seer。　Let　us　tell　His　Majesty　and　let　him　send　for　this　old　man　that　he　may　know　what　the　future　may　have　in　store。　It　will　have　more　weight　than　anything　we　can　say。〃
They　went　to　the　First　Ruler　and　told　him。　He　agreed　to　summon　the　seer　and　sent　Chen　Zhen　with　the　mand。　Soon　the　messenger　reached　the　town　near　the　hills　and　asked　the　people　where　the　prophet　dwelt。　They　led　him　far　into　a　secluded　valley　like　a　fairy　village；　very　unlike　any　ordinary　spot。　Soon　a　lad　came　to　receive　the　visitor。
〃You　are　surely　Chen　Zhen。〃
Chen　Zhen　was　startled　that　the　lad　knew　him；　and　still　more　so　at　the　familiar　address；　and　said；　〃O　superhuman　boy；　how　do　you　know　my　name　so　well？〃
〃Last　evening　my　master　told　me　that　a　messenger　with　an　imperial　mand　would　e　today　and　mentioned　your　name。〃
〃Truly　he　is　more　than　wise；〃　said　Chen　Zhen。　〃His　reputation　is　not　unfounded。〃
So　the　two　proceeded　to　the　old　man's　abode；　and　Chen　Zhen　declared　his　errand。　The　old　man　said　he　was　too　aged　to　travel。
〃But　the　Emperor　anxiously　desires　to　see　you　face　to　face；　if　haply　you　would　not　mind　making　the　effort。〃
In　the　end；　and　after　much　persuasion；　Li　Yin　consented　and　went。　The　First　Ruler　received　him　affably；　surprised　at　the　contrast　between　his　hoary　head　and　fresh　boyish　plexion。　The　venerable　one　had　green　eyes；　with　square　and　sparkling　pupils。　His　carriage　was　erect；　and　he　stood　straight　as　a　pine　tree。
〃This　is　no　mon　man；〃　thought　the　First　Ruler；　and　he　treated　him　with　distinguished　courtesy。
The　seer　said；　〃I　am　but　an　old　man　of　the　barren　hill　country；　without　learning　or　wisdom。　You　shame　me；　O　Emperor；　by　calling　me；　and　I　know　not　why。〃
〃My　two　brothers　and　I　swore　a　mutual　oath　some　thirty　years　ago。　But　now　my　both　brothers　have　gone；　both　by　violent　deaths。　I　would　lead　a　great　army　to　avenge　them　and　wish　to　know　how　the　expedition　will　end。　Hearing　that　you；　Venerable　Sir；　are　learned　in　the　deeper　mysteries；　I　sent　for　you　and　beg　you　to　tell　me。〃
〃But　this　is　fate。　It　is　not　for　an　old　man　like　me　to　know。〃
But　the　First　Ruler　pressed　him　to　say。　However；　the　aged　one　got　paper　and　a　brush　and　wrote　〃soldiers；　horses；　weapons〃　again　and　again　on　many　sheets　of　paper。　Having　done　this；　he　suddenly　tore　them　into　fragments。　Further；　he　drew　a　picture　of　a　tall　man　lying　supine　and　another　above　him　digging　a　grave。　And　over　all　he　wrote　〃white〃。
After　this　he　bowed　and　departed；　leaving　the　First　Ruler　annoyed。
〃This　is　only　a　demented　man。　What　he　says　is　not　worthy　of　confidence；〃　said　the　First　Ruler。
And　he　burned　the　paper。　Then　he　ordered　an　advance　at　full　speed。
Zhang　Fei's　son；　Zhang　Bao；　came　in；　saying；　〃Hu　Ban　and　his　army　have　e。　I　pray　that　I　may　be　appointed　to　lead　the　van。〃
The　First　Ruler　admired　his　noble　intent　and　gave　him　a　Van　Leader's　seal。
But　just　as　Zhang　Bao　was　attaching　the　seal　to　his　girdle；　another　youth　boldly　stepped　forth　and　said；　〃Leave　that　seal　to　me！〃
It　was　Guan　Xing；　son　of　Guan　Yu。
〃I　have　already　received　my　mission；〃　said　Zhang　Bao。
〃What　abilities　have　you　for　such　a　task？〃　cried　Guan　Xing。
〃That　I　have　been　training　as　a　soldier　since　my　boyhood。　I　can　shoot　and　never　miss。〃
〃I　should　like　to　see　your　prowess；〃　said　the　First　Ruler；　〃that　I　may　decide　who　is　the　better。〃
Zhang　Bao　ordered　some　of　his　people　to　set　up　a　flag　at　a　hundred　paces；　and　on　the　flag　he　drew　a　heart　in　red。　Then　he　took　his　bow　and　shot　three　arrows；　each　of　which　went　through　the　heart。　Those　present　mended　the　performance。
Then　Guan　Xing　seized　his　bow；　saying；　〃What　is　it　to　hit　such　a　mark？〃
Just　as　he　said　this　a　flock　of　wild　geese　flew　over　his　head。
〃I　will　hit　the　third　of　the　flying　geese；〃　said　he。
He　shot；　and　the　third　fell。
〃Fine！〃　cried　all　the　assembly　as　one　voice。
But　Zhang　Bao　was　enraged。　Leaping　on　his　steed；　he　seized　the　long　serpent　halberd　left　him　by　his　father；　crying；　〃Dare　you　try　a　real　bat？〃
Guan　Xing　took　up　the　challenge　at　once。　He　sprang　into　the　saddle；　took　his　great　saber；　and　galloped　out。
〃You　can　use　the　spear；　think　you　that　I　cannot　wield　a　sword？〃　cried　he。
The　two　impetuous　youths　were　on　the　point　of　a　battle　when　the　First　Ruler　bade　them　hold。
〃Do　not　behave　so　badly！〃　cried　he。
Both　dropped　out　of　the　saddle；　threw　aside　their　weapons；　ran　to　his　feet；　and　begged　pardon。
〃Young　men；　from　the　time　I　left　my　native　place　Zhuo　and　swore　brotherhood　with　your　fathers；　they　were　as　my　own　flesh　and　blood。　You　two　are　also　brothers；　and　you　should　help　each　other　in　vengeance　rather　than　quarrel　and　dispute。　You　have　lost　the　sense　of　rectitude　while　your　fathers'　deaths　are　still　recent；　and　what　will　happen　in　future？〃
Both　fell　at　his　feet　and　implored　forgiveness。
〃Which　of　you　two　is　the　elder？〃　asked　the　First　Ruler。
〃I　am　the　elder　by　a　year；〃　said　Zhang　Bao。
The　First　Ruler　then　bade　Guan　Xing　bow　to　Zhang　Bao　as　to　an　elder　brother；　and　there；　in　front　of　all；　they　broke　an　arrow　as　a　pledge　that　each　would　always　succor　the　other。
Then　the　First　Ruler　issued　a　mandate　appointing　Hu　Ban　the　Van　Leader；　and　the　two　young　men　were　enrolled　as　his　own　escort。
The　advance　began　on　land　and　on　water；　and　they　made　a　brave　show　as　they　moved　against　the　land　of　Wu。
In　the　meantime　the　two　assassins；　Fan　Jiang　and　Zhang　Da；　with　the　grim　evidence　of　their　deed；　duly　reached　Wu　and　told　their　story　to　the　Marquis　who　received　them。
Then　Sun　Quan　said　to　his　assembled　officers；　〃Liu　Bei　has　declared　himself　Emperor　and　is　leading　against　us　in　person　a　great　host　of　more　than　seven　hundred　thousand。　What　shall　we　do；　for　the　danger　is　imminent？〃
They　all　turned　pale　and　looked　one　at　another。　Then　Zhuge　Jin　spoke　out。
〃I　have　been　in　your　service　these　many　years　and　have　never　justified　the　favor　you　have　shown　me。　I　will　risk　my　life　and　go　to　this　Liu　Bei　of　Shu　that　I　may　talk　to　him　plainly　and　prove　to　him　the　advantages　of　friendship　and　alliance　against　Cao　Pi。〃
This　offer　pleased　Sun　Quan；　who　then　appointed　Zhuge　Jin　as　his　messenger　to　try　to　induce　the　First　Ruler　to　keep　the　peace。

Messengers　pass　when　states　are　at　wrangle；
May　this　one　succeed　and　unravel　this　tangle！

What　fortune　attended　this　messenger　will　be　related　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　82　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　82
　Chapter　82
Sun　Quan　Submits　To　Wei；　Receiving　The　Nine　Dignities；
The　First　Ruler　Attacks　Wu；　Rewarding　Six　Armies。
In　the　eighth　month　of　the　first　year　of　Manifest　Might　（AD　221）　the　First　Ruler　marched　at　the　head　of　his　army　and　camped　at　Baidicheng　（City　of　the　White　Emperor）；　through　the　Kui　Pass。　His　advanced　guard　had　gone　beyond　the　River　Lands　when　his　attendants　told　him　that　Zhuge　Jin　had　e　as　a　messenger　from　Wu。　He　told　them　not　to　admit　Zhuge　Jin。
But　Huang　Quan　said；　〃His　brother　being　your　Prime　Minister；　Zhuge　Jin　is　certainly　e　on　some　important　mission。　Your　Majesty　ought　to　see　him　and　hear　what　he　says。　If　his　proposals　are　admissible；　then　agree；　if　not；　he　can　be　made　use　of　to　take　knowledge　of　your　intentions　to　Sun　Quan　and　let　Sun　Quan　know　that　you　inte