As Pan Zhang came in； Guan Xing recognized him and drew his sword； crying； 〃Stay； you ruffian！ Do not flee！〃
Pan Zhang turned to flee。 But before he could turn； Guan Xing raised his sword： It fell； and Pan Zhang lay dead。 Taking the heart…blood of his dead enemy； Guan Xing poured it in libation before the picture of his father。 After that he took possession of his father's green…dragon saber； curved as the young moon。 Having hacked off the head of his fallen enemy； he fastened it to his bridle。 Then he took leave of his aged host； saddled his enemy's horse； and rode away toward his own camp。
The old man dragged the corpse of the dead mander outside and burned it。
Guan Xing had not gone very far when he heard the neighing of horses and soon met a troop led by Ma Zhong； one of Pan Zhang's generals； who was looking for his chief。 Ma Zhong fell into a great rage when he saw the head of Pan Zhang swinging at the neck of Guan Xing's horse and beheld the famous sword in his hand。 Ma Zhong galloped up furiously； and Guan Xing； who recognized an enemy of his late father； rushed to meet him。 Just as he would strike； however； Ma Zhong's three hundred troops galloped up to support their general； and Guan Xing was surrounded。 He was in dire danger； but just opportunely came up a troop of horse led by his cousin Zhang Bao。 At this； Ma Zhong； thinking discretion the better part； drew off his army and rode away。
The two cousins pursued him。 Before they had gone far； they met another force under Mi Fang and Fu Shiren； who had e out to seek Ma Zhong。 The two bodies of soldiers met and fought； but the troops of Shu were too few for victory and drew off。 Thence they made their way to headquarters in Xiaoting； where they told their adventures and presented the head of Pan Zhang。 The First Ruler was very pleased and rewarded all armed forces。
Ma Zhong went back and rejoined Han Dang and Zhou Tai。 Then they collected their troops； many wounded； and stationed them in various points。
Ma Zhong； together with Mi Fang and Fu Shiren； marched to the river bank and encamped。 The night they arrived； many soldiers were groaning with the pain of their wounds。
Mi Fang； who was listening unknown to them； heard one of them say； 〃We are Jingzhou soldiers and victims of Lu Meng's vile machinations。 If we had only remained under Liu Bei！ Now he is Emperor and has set out to destroy Wu； and he will do it one day。 But he has a special grudge against Mi Fang and Fu Shiren。 Why should we not kill these two and go over to Shu？ They will think we have done well。〃
Another said； 〃Do not be hasty。 We will do it presently when there is a chance。〃
Mi Fang started as he heard this。 He told Fu Shiren； saying； 〃The troops are mutinous； and we ourselves are in danger。 Ma Zhong is an object of especial hatred to the Ruler of Shu。 Suppose we kill him and surrender。 We can say we were pelled to give in to Wu； but as soon as the news of the Emperor came near； we wanted to get back。〃
〃It will not do；〃 said Fu Shiren。 〃If we go； they will kill us。〃
〃No； the Ruler of Shu is liberal and kind。 And the heir； Liu Shan； is my nephew。 They will surely not do any harm to a connection。〃
In the end they decided to go。 And in the third watch they made their way into their chief's tent and stabbed him to death。 Then they cut off his head； and with their grisly trophy and a few dozen followers they set off for the camp of the Ruler of Shu。
They arrived at the outposts and were taken to see Zhang Nan and Feng Xi； to whom they told their tale。 Next day they went into the main camp and were admitted to the presence of the First Ruler； to whom they offered their trophy。
And they threw themselves on the ground and wept； saying 〃We are not traitors。 We were the victims of Lu Meng's wickedness。 He said that Guan Yu was dead and tricked us into giving up the cities。 We could not help surrendering。 When we heard the Sacred Chariot had e； we slew Ma Zhong to satisfy your vengeance； and we implore forgiveness。〃
But the First Ruler was angry； and said； 〃I left Chengdu a long time ago。 Why did you not e to confess your fault before？ Now you find yourselves in danger； and so you e with this specious tale to try to save your lives。 If I pardon you； how shall I look my brother in the face when we meet beneath the Nine Golden Springs？〃
Then he bade Guan Xing set up an altar to his father in the camp； and thereon the First Ruler offered the head of Ma Zhong in sacrifice before the tablet of Guan Yu。 This done； he had Guan Xing strip the two deserters and make them kneel before the altar。 And presently with his own hand； Guan Xing hewed them in pieces as a sacrifice。
Presently Zhang Bao came in and wailed before the First Ruler； saying； 〃The two enemies of my uncle have been slain； but when will vengeance be taken upon those of my father？〃
〃Do not grieve； my nephew；〃 said the First Ruler； 〃I am going to lay waste the South Land and slay the whole of the curs that live there。 I will assuredly capture the two murderers of your father； and you shall hack them to pieces as a sacrifice。〃
Zhang Bao went away； still weeping。
About this time the fear of the First Ruler was very great among the people of the South Land； who stood in dread of him so that they grieved night and day。 Han Dang and Zhou Tai were rather frightened too； and they sent a report to their master of the assassination of Ma Zhong and what had befallen the assassins。
Then Sun Quan was distressed and called together his counselors。 At this meeting Bu Zhi proposed submission and self…humiliation for the sake of peace。
Said he； 〃There were five persons………Lu Meng； Pan Zhang； Ma Zhong； Mi Fang； and Fu Shiren………whom Liu Bei had a grudge against； and they are all dead。 Now the objects of his hate are the murderers of Zhang Fei………Fan Jiang and Zhang Da。 Why not send back Zhang Fei's head； and these two assassins； and give up Jingzhou and restore Lady Sun and ask for peace and alliance against Wei？ This will make the army of Shu retire； and we shall have peace。〃
This proposal seemed good。 So the head of Zhang Fei was enclosed in a sandalwood box； Fan Jiang and Zhang Da were bound and put in a cage…cart。 All these were sent； with letters； by the hand of Cheng Bing to the camp at Xiaoting。
The First Ruler was about to march farther east when they told him that a messenger had e from the South Land and what he had brought。
The Ruler struck his forehead with both hands； saying； 〃This is the direct gift of Heaven through my youngest brother's spirit。〃
He bade Zhang Bao prepare an altar whereon to sacrifice the heads of his father's assassins。 When he opened the box and saw the fresh features of Zhang Fei； he broke into wailing for the dead。 Then the son hewed Fan Jiang and Zhang Da in pieces and offered them upon the altar。
But this sacrifice did not appease the First Ruler's anger； and he still desired to destroy Wu。 Whereupon Ma Liang remonstrated。
〃Your enemies are now all dead： You are avenged。 Wu has sent a high officer with large concessions and awaits your reply。〃
But the First Ruler angrily replied； 〃The one I would grind to pieces is Sun Quan。 To act as he proposes and enter into alliance would be treachery to my two brothers and a breach of our oath。 Now I will exterminate Wu； and Wei shall follow。〃
He wished also to put the messenger to death to annihilate all emotions with Wu； but relented when his officers insistently interceded。
Poor Cheng Bing ran off terrified； glad to escape with life。 He went back and told the Prince of Wu how implacable his enemy seemed。
Said he； 〃The Ruler of Shu； not listening to words of peace； was determined to level Wu before attacking Wei。 Those under him protested in vain。 What is to be done？〃
Sun Quan was frightened and bewildered。
Seeing this； Kan Ze stepped forward and said； 〃Since there is a sky…supporting pillar； why not use it？〃
〃Whom do you refer to？〃 asked Sun Quan。
〃You once had perfect confidence in Zhou Yu； and he was followed by Lu Su； equally able。 Lu Meng succeeded and you pinned your faith upon him。 Though now Lu Meng is dead； yet there is Lu Xun。 And he is quite near； in Jingzhou。 He is well…known to be a scholar； but really he is a bold and capable man； no whit inferior to Zhou Yu； in