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fenders；　who　fought　desperately　hand　to　hand　with　their　assailants。
〃The　valorous　leader　fears　death　less　than　desertion；　the　brave　warrior　does　not　break　faith　to　save　his　life！〃　cried　Pang　De。　〃This　is　the　day　of　my　death；　but　I　will　fight　on　to　the　last。　And　you；　General；　should　fight　to　your　end；　too。〃
So　Cheng　He　pressed　on　till　he　fell　into　the　water　by　an　arrow　of　Guan　Yu；　and　then　the　soldiers　yielded。
Pang　De　fought　on。　Then　one　of　the　boats　happened　to　close　in　to　the　bank。　With　a　tremendous　leap　Pang　De　lighted　on　it　and　slashed　at　the　marines；　killing　ten　of　them。　The　others　jumped　overboard　and　swam　away。　Then　Pang　De　one　hand　still　holding　his　sword；　tried　to　maneuver　the　boat　across　the　river　to　Fancheng。　But　there　came　drifting　down　a　raft；　which　collided　with　and　upset　his　boat　so　that　he　was　struggling　in　the　water。　Next　a　general　on　the　raft　jumped　into　the　water；　gripped　him；　put　him　on　the　boat　again。
The　captor　was　Zhou　Cang；　a　skillful　waterman　who；　having　lived　in　Jingzhou　for　many　years；　was　thoroughly　expert　in　boat　navigation。　Beside；　he　was　very　powerful　and　so　was　able　to　make　Pang　De　a　prisoner。
In　this　flood　perished　the　whole　of　the　seven　armies；　except　the　few　that　saved　themselves　by　swimming。　These　latter；　having　no　way　of　escape；　surrendered　to　the　victors。

In　the　depth　of　night　rolled　the　war　drums；
Summoning　the　warriors　as　to　battle；
But　the　enemy　was　no　man；
For　the　waters　had　risen　and　the　flood　came。
This　was　the　plan　of　Guan　Yu；　the　crafty；
To　drown　his　enemies。　More　than　human
was　he　in　cunning。　The　ages　hand　on　his　fame
As　his　glory　was　told　in　his　own　day。

Guan　Yu　then　returned　to　the　higher　ground；　where　his　tent　was　pitched　and　therein　took　his　seat　to　receive　his　prisoners。　The　lictors　brought　up　Yu　Jin；　who　prostrated　himself　humbly。
〃How　dared　you　think　to　oppose　me？　To　execute　you　would　be　like　killing　a　hog。　It　would　be　soiling　weapons　for　nothing；〃　said　Guan　Yu；　stroking　his　beard。
Yu　Jin　was　hound　and　sent　to　the　prison　in　Jingzhou。
〃I　will　decide　your　fate　when　I　return；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
The　general　having　thus　dealt　with　the　chief；　Pang　De　was　sent　for。　He　came；　pride　and　anger　flashing　from　his　eyes。　He　did　not　kneel　but　stood　boldly　erect。
〃You　have　a　brother　in　Hanzhong；　and　your　old　chief　was　Ma　Chao；　also　in　high　honor　in　Shu。　Would　you　not　better　join　them？〃
〃Rather　than　surrender　to　you；　I　would　perish　beneath　the　sword；〃　cried　Pang　De。
He　reviled　his　captors　without　ceasing　till；　losing　patience　at　last；　Guan　Yu　sent　him　to　his　death。　Pang　De　was　beheaded。　He　stretched　out　his　neck　for　the　headsman's　sword。　Out　of　pity　he　was　honorably　buried。
The　floods　were　still　out；　and　taking　advantage　of　them；　the　troops　of　Jingzhou　boarded　the　boats　to　move　toward　Fancheng；　which　now　stood　out　as　a　mere　island　with　waves　breaking　against　the　walls。
The　force　of　the　waters　being　great；　the　city　wall　was　beginning　to　give　way；　and　the　whole　population；　male　and　female；　aged　and　young；　were　carrying　mud　and　bricks　to　strengthen　it。　Their　efforts　seemed　vain；　and　the　leaders　of　Cao　Cao's　army　were　very　desperate。
Some　of　the　generals　went　to　see　Cao　Ren；　who　said；　〃No　ordinary　person's　strength　can　fend　off　today's　danger。　If　we　can　hold　out　till　nightfall；　we　may　escape　by　boat。　We　shall　lose　the　city；　but　we　shall　save　our　skins。〃
But　Man　Chong　interposed　before　the　boats　could　be　got　ready。
He　said；　〃No！　No！　Though　the　force　of　these　mountainous　waters　is　great；　we　only　have　to　wait　ten　days　or　so；　and　the　flood　will　have　passed。　Though　Guan　Yu　has　not　assaulted　this　city；　yet　he　has　sent　another　army　to　Jiaxia；　which　indicates　he　dares　not　advance　lest　we　should　fall　upon　his　rear。　Remember；　too；　that　to　retire　from　this　city　means　the　abandonment　of　everything　south　of　the　Yellow　River。　Therefore　I　decide　that　you　defend　this　place。〃
Cao　Ren　saluted　Man　Chong　as　he　concluded　his　harangue；　saying；　〃What　a　tremendous　error　I　should　have　mitted　had　it　not　been　for　you；　Sir！〃
Then　riding　his　white　charger　he　went　up　on　the　city　walls；　gathered　his　officers　around　him；　and　pledged　himself　not　to　surrender。
〃The　Prince's　mand　being　to　defend　this　city；　I　shall　defend　it　to　the　last。　And　I　shall　put　to　death　anyone　who　even　mentions　abandonment；〃　said　he。
〃And　we　desire　to　defend　it　to　out　last　gasp；〃　chimed　in　his　officers。
Then　they　saw　to　it　that　the　means　of　offense　were　good。　Many　hundreds　of　archers　and　crossbowmen　were　stationed　on　the　wall　and　kept　watch　night　and　day。　The　old　and　the　young　of　ordinary　people　were　made　to　carry　earth　and　stones　to　strengthen　the　wall。
After　some　ten　days　the　flood　was　at　an　end。　Then　the　news　of　Guan　Yu's　success　against　the　Wei　campaign　got　abroad；　and　the　terror　of　his　name　spread　wider　and　wider。　About　the　same　time；　too；　his　second　son；　Guan　Xing；　came　to　visit　his　father　in　camp。　Guan　Yu　thought　this　a　good　opportunity　to　send　his　report　of　success　to　Capital　Chengdu　and　entrusted　to　Guan　Xing　a　dispatch　mentioning　each　officer's　services　and　requesting　promotion　for　them。　Guan　Xing　accordingly　took　leave　of　his　father　and　left。
After　Guan　Xing's　departure；　the　army　was　divided　into　two　halves；　one　under　Guan　Yu　to　attack　Fancheng；　and　the　other　to　go　to　Jiaxia。
One　day　Guan　Yu　rode　over　to　the　north　gate。　Halting　his　steed；　he　pointed　with　his　whip　toward　the　defenders　on　the　wall；　and　called　out；　〃You　lot　of　rats　will　not　give　in　then！　What　are　you　waiting　for？〃
Cao　Ren；　who　was　among　his　soldiers　on　the　wall；　saw　that　Guan　Yu　had　no　armor　on；　so　he　ordered　his　men　to　shoot。　The　archers　and　bowmen　at　once　sent　a　great　flight　of　arrows　and　bolts　that　way。　Guan　Yu　hastily　pulled　the　reins　to　retire；　but　an　arrow　struck　him　in　the　arm。　The　shock　of　the　blow　made　him　turn　in　the　saddle；　and　he　fell　from　his　horse。

Just　now　a　mighty　army　perished
By　the　river's　overflow；
A　crossbow　bolt　from　the　city　wall
Lays　a　valiant　warrior　low。

What　further　befell　Guan　Yu　will　be　told　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　75　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　75
　Chapter　75
Guan　Yu　Has　A　Scraped…Bone　Surgery；
Lu　Meng　Crosses　The　River　In　White　Robe。
At　the　sight　of　Guan　Yu　falling　from　his　charger；　Cao　Ren　led　his　army　out　of　the　city　to　follow　up　with　an　attack；　but　Guan　Ping　drove　him　off　and　escorted　his　father　back　to　camp。　There　the　arrow　was　extracted；　but　the　arrow　head　had　been　poisoned。　The　wound　was　deep；　and　the　poison　had　penetrated　to　the　bone。　The　right　arm　was　discolored　and　swollen　and　useless。
Guan　Ping　consulted　with　the　other　leaders　and　proposed；　saying；　〃As　fighting　is　impossible　for　the　moment；　we　should　withdraw　to　Jingzhou；　where　my　father's　wound　can　be　treated。〃
Having　decided　upon　this；　they　went　to　see　the　wounded　warrior。
〃What　have　you　e　for？〃　asked　Guan　Yu　when　they　entered。
〃Considering　that　you；　Sir；　have　been　wounded　in　the　right　arm；　we　fear　the　result　of　the　excitement　of　battle。　Moreover；　you　can　hardly　take　part　in　a　fight　just　now；　and　we　therefore　propose　that　the　army　retire　till　you　are　recovered。〃
Guan　Yu　replied　angrily；　〃I　am　on　the　point　of　taking　the　city；　and　if　I　succeed；　I　must　press　forward　to　Capital　Xuchang；　and　destroy　that　brigand　Cao　Cao；　so　that　the　Hans　may　be　restored　to　their　own。　Think　you　that　I　can　vitiate　the　whole　campaign　because　of　a　slight　wound？　Would　you　dishearten　the　army？〃
Guan　Ping　and　his　colleagues　said　no　more；　but　somewhat　unwillingly　withdrew。
Seeing　that　their　leader　would　not　retire　and　the　wound　showed　no　signs　of　healing；　the　various　generals　inquired　far　and　near　for　a　good　surgeon　to　attend　their　general。
One　day　a　person　arrived　in　a　small　ship　and；　having　landed　and　e　up　to　the　gate　of　the　camp；　was　led　in　to　see　Guan　Ping。　The　visitor　wore　a　square…cut　cap　and　a　loose　robe。　In　his　hand　he　carried　a　small　black　bag。
He　said；　〃My　name　is　Hua　Tuo；　and　I　belong　to　Qiao。　I　have　heard　of　the　wound　sustained　by　the　famous　general　and　have　e　to　heal　it。〃
〃Surely　you　must　be　the　physician　who　treated　Zhou　Tai　in　the　South　Land；〃　said　Guan　Ping。
〃I　am。〃
Taking　with　him　the　other　generals；　Guan　Ping　went　in　to　see　his　father。　Guan　Yu　was　engaging　in　a　game　of　chess　with　Ma　Liang；　although　his　arm　was　very　painful。　But　Guan　Yu　kept　up　appearances　so　as　not　to　discourage　the　troops。　When　they　told　him　that　a　physician　had　e；　he　consented　to　see　him。
Hua　Tuo　was　introduced；　asked　to　take　a　seat　and；　after　the　tea　of　ceremony；　was　shown　the　injured　arm。
〃This　was　caused　by　an　arrow；〃　said　the　doctor。　〃There　is　poison　in　the　wound；　and　it　has　penetrated　to　the　bone。　Unless　the　wound　is　soon　treated；　the　arm　will　bee　useless。〃
〃What　do　you　propose　to　do？〃　asked　Guan　Yu。
〃I　know　how　to　cure　the　wound；　but　I　think　you　will　be　afraid　of　the　remedy。〃
〃Am　I　likely　to　be　afraid　of　that　when　I　am　not　even　afraid　of　death？　Death　is　only　a　return　home　after　all。〃
Then　Hua　Tuo　said；　〃This　is　what　I　shall　do。　In　a　private　room　I　shall　erect　a　post　with　a　steel　ring　attached。　I　shall　ask　you；　Sir；　to　insert　your　arm　in　the　ring；　and　I　shall　bind　it　firmly　to　the　post。　Then　I　shall　cover　your　head　with　a　quilt　so　that　you　cannot　see；　and　with　a　scalpel　I　shall　open　up　the　flesh　right　down　to　the　bone。　Then　I　shall　scrape　away　the　poison。　This　done；　I　shall　dress　the　wound　with　a　certain　preparation；　sew　it　up　with　a　thread；　and　there　will　be　no　further　trouble。　But　I　think　you　may　quail　at　the　severity　of　the　treatment。〃
Guan　Yu　smiled。
〃It　all　sounds　easy　enough；〃　said　he。　〃But　why　the　post　and　the　ring？〃
Refreshments　were　then　served；　and　after　a　few　cups　of　wine；　the　warrior　extended　his　arm　for　the　operation。　With　his　other　hand　he　went　on　with　his　game　of　chess。　Meanwhile　the　surgeon　prepared　his　knife　and　called　a　lad　to　hold　a　basin　beneath　the　limb。
〃I　am　just　going　to　cut。　Do　not　start；〃　said　Hua　Tuo。
〃When　I　consented　to　undergo　the　treatment；　did　you　think　I　was　afraid　of　pain？〃
The　surgeon　then　performed　the　operation　as　he　had　pre…described。　He　found　the　bone　much　discolored；　but　he　scraped　it　clean。　When　the　knife　went　over　the　surface　of　the　bone　and　made　horrible　sounds；　all　those　near　covered　their　eyes　and　turned　pale。　But　Guan　Yu　went　on　with　his　game；　only　drinking　a　cup　of　wine　now　and　again；　and　his　face　betrayed　no　sign　of　pain。
When　the　wound　had　been　cleansed；　sewn　up　and　dressed；　the　patient　stood　up　smiling　and　said；　〃This　arm　is　now　as　good　as　it　ever　was。　There　is　no　pain。　Indeed；　Master；　you　are　a　marvel。〃
〃I　have　spent　my　life　in　the　art；〃　said　Hua　Tuo；　〃but　I　have　never　seen　such　a　patient　as　you；　Sir。　You　are　as　if　not　from　the　earth　but　heaven。〃

Here　as　surgeons；　there　physicians；　all　boast　their　skill；
Bitter　few　are　those　that　cure　one　when　one's　really　ill。
As　for　superhuman　valor　rivals　Guan　Yu　had　none；
So　for　holy　touch　in　healing　Hua　Tuo　stood　alone。

When　the　cure　was　well　advanced；　Guan　Yu　gave　a　fine　banquet　in　honor　of　Hua　Tuo　and　offered　him　a　fee　of　a　hundred　ounces　of　gold。
But　Hua　Tuo　declined　it；　saying；　〃I　had　e　to　treat　you；　O　General；　from　admiration　of　your　great　virtue　and　not　for　money。　Although　your　wound　is　cured；　you　must　be　careful　of　your　health；　and　especially　avoid　all　excitement　for　a　hundred　days；　when　you　will　be　as　well　as　ever　you　were。〃
Then　Hua　Tuo；　having　prepared　dressings　for　the　wound；　took　his　leave；　refusing　fees　to　the　very　last。
Having　captured　Yu　Jin　and　acplished　the　death　of　Pang　De；　Guan　Yu　became　more　famous　and　more　fear…inspiring　through　the　empire　than　even　before。　Cao　Cao　called　together　his　advisers　to　help　him　decide　upon　what　he　should　do。
Said　Cao　Cao；　〃I　must　acknowledge　this　Guan　Yu　as　the　one　man　who；　in　skill　and　valor；　overtops　the　whole　world。　Lately　he　has　obtained　possession　of　Jingzhou　and　the　territory　near　it；　and　has　so　bee　very　terrible。　He　is　a　tiger　with　wings　added。　Pang　De　is　no　more；　Yu　Jin　is　his　prisoner；　the　armies　of　Wei　have　lost　their　morale；　and　if　he　led　his　armies　to　Xuchang；　we　should　be　helpless。　I　can　only　think　of　avoiding　the　peril　by　removal　of　the　capital。　What　think　you？〃
〃No；　do　not　take　that　step；〃　said　Sima　Yi；　rising　to　reply。　〃Yu　Jin　and　all　the　others　you　lost　were　victims　of　the　flood　and　slain　in　battle。　These　losses　do　no　harm　at　all　to　your　great　plan。　The　Su