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The　soldier　was　beheaded；　and　his　head　exposed　as　a　warning。　But　when　all　was　over；　Lu　Meng　had　the　body　buried　decently　and　wept　at　the　grave　for　the　loss　of　his　friend。　Never　after　this　was　there　the　least　laxity　of　discipline。
When　Sun　Quan　visited　the　city；　Lu　Meng　met　him　at　the　boundary　and　led　him　to　the　official　residence；　where　Sun　Quan　issued　rewards　and　mendations。　This　done；　Sun　Quan　ordered　Pan　Jun　to　take　charge　of　the　new　possession。　Yu　Jin；　who　was　in　prison；　was　freed　and　sent　back　to　Cao　Cao。　When　the　people　had　been　forted　and　the　soldiers　rewarded；　there　was　a　great　banquet　in　honor　of　the　success　of　the　expedition。
Then　said　Sun　Quan　to　Lu　Meng；　〃We　have　got　the　city　of　Jingzhou；　but　now　Fu　Shiren　is　holding　Gongan　and　Mi　Fang　Nanjun。　How　can　we　get　these　two　territories？〃
Suddenly　Yu　Fan　started　up　and　offered　his　services。
〃You　will　need　neither　bows　nor　arrows；〃　said　Yu　Fan；　〃unless　my　little　tongue　is　worn　out。　I　can　persuade　Fu　Shiren　to　surrender。〃
〃Friend　Yu　Fan；　how　will　you　do　it？〃　asked　Sun　Quan。
〃Fu　Shiren　and　I　are　very　old　friends；　ever　since　we　were　boys。　If　I　explain　the　matter　to　him；　I　am　sure　he　will　e　over　to　this　side。〃
So　Yu　Fan；　with　an　escort；　left　quickly　for　Gongan；　where　his　friend　was　in　mand。
Now　when　Fu　Shiren　heard　of　the　capture　of　Jingzhou；　he　closed　his　gates。　Yu　Fan　arrived；　but　was　refused　entrance。　So　Yu　Fan　wrote　a　letter；　attached　it　to　an　arrow；　and　shot　it　over　the　city　wall。　A　soldier　picked　it　up　and　took　it　to　his　mander；　who　found　therein　much　persuasion　to　surrender。
Having　read　all　this；　he　thought　within　himself；　〃I　think　I　should　do　well　in　surrender；　for　at　his　departure　Guan　Yu　was　very　bitter　against　me。〃
Without　further　ado；　he　bade　the　wardens　open　the　gate；　and　his　friend　came　in。　After　their　greetings　they　talked　of　old　times；　and　Yu　Fan　praised　Sun　Quan's　magnanimity　and　liberality　and　greatness　generally。　So　finally　Fu　Shiren　decided　to　exchange　masters　and　went　away；　taking　with　him　his　seal　of　office。　He　was　presented　to　Sun　Quan；　who　reappointed　him　to　the　mand　of　Gongan　under　its　new　lord。
Lu　Meng　thought　the　appointment　imprudent　and　said　to　Sun　Quan；　〃Guan　Yu　is　yet　unconquered。　We　should　not　put　Fu　Shiren　in　Gongan。　Instead；　send　him　to　Nanjun　to　induce　his　former　colleague　and　fellow　Mi　Fang　to　join　him　in　desertion　to　the　enemy。〃
Lu　Meng's　advice　was　followed；　and　Fu　Shiren　was　recalled。
〃Go　to　Nanjun　and　win　over　Mi　Fang；　and　I　will　reward　you　richly；〃　said　Sun　Quan。
Fu　Shiren　accepted　the　mission　and　duly　left　for　Nanjun。

Jingzhou's　defenders　failed　when　tried；
So　Wang　Fu's　words　were　justified。

For　the　events　of　the　journey　see　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　76　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　76
　Chapter　76
Xu　Huang　Fights　At　The　River　Mian；
Guan　Yu　Retreats　To　Maicheng。
The　fall　of　Jingzhou　put　Mi　Fang　in　a　quandary。　Before　he　could　decide　upon　any　course；　his　old　colleague　Fu　Shiren　came　to　see　him。　Fu　Shiren　was　admitted；　and　when　asked　why　he　had　e；　he　blurted　out　his　business　without　beating　about　the　bush。
〃I　am　faithful　enough；　but　I　got　into　difficulties　and　danger　and　could　not　hold　on；　so　I　have　surrendered　to　Wu。　And　I　advise　you　to　do　the　same。〃
〃You　and　I　have　both　fed　on　the　bounty　of　the　Prince　of　Hanzhong；　and　I　cannot　understand　how　you　can　turn　against　him。〃
〃Guan　Yu　went　away　hating　both　of　us　intensely。　Even　if　he　es　back　victorious；　I　do　not　think　he　will　forgive　us。　Just　think　it　over。〃
〃My　brother　and　I　have　followed　the　Prince　these　many　years；　and　I　do　not　like　leaving　him　like　this。〃
Mi　Fang　hesitated。
Before　he　could　make　up　his　mind；　there　came　a　messenger；　saying；　〃The　army　in　Fancheng　is　short　of　grain；　and　I　was　sent　to　demand　white　rice　for　the　soldiers。　Nanjun　and　Gongan　are　to　send　ten　thousand　carts　at　once。　Delay　will　be　most　severely　punished。〃
This　sudden　demand　was　a　shock　to　Mi　Fang。
〃Where　am　I　to　get　the　rice？〃　said　he　despairingly　to　his　friend　and　tempter。　〃Jingzhou　is　now　in　the　hands　of　Wu。〃
〃Do　not　dilly…dally；〃　said　Fu　Shiren。　Thereupon　he　drew　his　sword　and　slew　the　messenger　as　he　stood　in　the　hall。
〃What　have　you　done？〃　cried　Mi　Fang。
〃Guan　Yu　wanted　to　slay　us　two　and　has　forced　me　to　this。　Are　we　to　fold　our　hands　and　await　death？　Either　you　give　in　at　once　and　go　over　to　Wu；　or　you　will　be　put　to　death　by　Guan　Yu。〃
Just　then　they　heard　that　Lu　Meng's　troops　had　actually　reached　the　city　wall。　Mi　Fang　saw　that　nothing　could　save　his　life　but　desertion；　so　he　went　out　with　Fu　Shiren　and　gave　in　his　allegiance　to　Lu　Meng；　by　whom　he　was　led　to　Sun　Quan。　Sun　Quan　gave　both　of　them　presents；　after　which　he　proceeded　to　restore　order　and　to　reward　his　army　for　their　services。
At　the　time　that　great　discussion　about　Jingzhou　was　going　on　in　Xuchang；　a　messenger　arrived　with　a　letter　from　Sun　Quan。　It　told　the　plan　of　attacking　Jingzhou　and　begged　Cao　Cao　to　send　an　army　to　attack　Guan　Yu　in　the　rear；　enjoining　the　utmost　secrecy。
Cao　Cao　summoned　his　advisers　to　a　meeting　for　consultation。
First　Secretary　Dong　Zhao　said；　〃Now　that　Fancheng　is　surrounded；　it　would　be　well　to　shoot　letter　into　the　city　to　let　the　besieged　know；　so　that　they　may　not　yield　to　depression。　Then　we　will　inform　Guan　Yu　of　the　danger　from　the　south。　If　Guan　Yu　hears　that　Jingzhou　is　threatened　by　Wu；　he　will　e　back　to　try　to　defend　it。　Then　let　Xu　Huang　take　the　chance　to　attack；　and　our　victory　will　be　plete。〃
Cao　Cao　agreed　that　the　plan　was　good；　and　so　he　sent　a　messenger　to　urge　Xu　Huang　to　attack。　Cao　Cao　himself　led　a　large　force　to　Yangling　Slope；　south　of　Luoyang；　to　rescue　Cao　Ren。
Xu　Huang　was　sitting　in　his　tent　when　they　told　him　that　a　messenger　from　the　Prince　of　Wei　had　arrived。
The　messenger　was　called　in　and　said；　〃The　Prince　has　led　an　army　to　Luoyang；　and　he　wishes　you　to　hasten　to　attack　Guan　Yu　in　order　to　relieve　Fancheng。〃
Just　then　the　scouts　came　to　report：　〃Guan　Ping　has　encamped　at　Yencheng　and　Liao　Hua　at　Sizhong。　The　enemy　have　built　a　line　of　twelve　stockades。〃
Xu　Huang　ordered　two　of　his　generals………Lu　Qian　and　Xu　Shang………to　Yencheng　to　masquerade　as　if　he　himself　was　in　mand；　by　showing　his　ensigns。　Xu　Huang　himself；　at　the　head　of　five　hundred　veterans；　went　along　River　Mian　to　attack　Yencheng　in　the　rear。
When　Guan　Ping　heard　of　the　approach　of　Xu　Huang；　he　prepared　his　own　division　to　meet　him。　When　both　sides　were　arrayed；　Guan　Ping　rode　out　and　engaged　Xu　Shang。　After　three　encounters　Xu　Shang　had　the　worst　of　it　and　fled。　Then　the　other　general；　Lu　Qian；　went　out。　He　fought　half　a　dozen　bouts　and　also　ran　away。　Thereupon　Guan　Ping　went　in　pursuit　and　smote　the　flying　enemy　for　seven　miles。　But　then　there　was　an　alarm　of　fire　within　Yencheng；　and　Guan　Ping　knew　that　he　had　been　inveigled　into　the　pursuit　and　was　a　victim。　So　he　turned　and　set　out　for　the　city　again。　On　his　way　he　met　a　body　of　troops；　and　standing　under　the　great　standard　was　Xu　Huang。
Xu　Huang　shouted　out；　〃Guan　Ping；　my　worthy　nephew；　it　is　strange　that　you　do　not　recognize　death　when　it　stares　you　in　the　face。　Your　Jingzhou　has　fallen　into　the　hands　of　Wu；　and　yet　you　act　so　madly。〃
Guan　Ping；　whirling　his　sword；　just　rode　hard　at　Xu　Huang；　and　they　engaged。　But　after　the　third　bout　there　was　a　tremendous　shouting　among　the　soldiers；　for　the　flames　within　the　city　burst　up　higher　than　before。　Guan　Ping　could　not　follow　up　his　desire　to　continue　the　fight；　but　cut　his　way　out　and　made　a　dash　for　Sizhong；　where　Liao　Hua　received　him　with　the　news　of　the　disaster　to　Jingzhou。
〃People　say　that　Jingzhou　has　fallen　to　Lu　Meng；　and　the　news　has　frightened　the　whole　army。　What　is　to　be　done？〃　said　Liao　Hua。
〃It　is　only　a　malicious　rumor。　Do　not　let　it　spread。　If　anyone　repeats　it；　put　him　to　death。〃
Just　then　a　man　came　running　in　to　say　that　Xu　Huang　was　attacking　the　first　stockade　on　the　north。
〃If　that　goes；〃　said　Guan　Ping；　〃the　remainder　will　follow。　But　as　we　have　River　Mian　at　our　back；　they　will　not　dare　attack　this。　Let　us　go　to　the　rescue。〃
So　Liao　Hua　summoned　his　subordinate　leaders　and　gave　them　orders　to　hold　the　camp　and　make　a　signal　if　the　enemy　came。
〃There　is　no　danger　here；〃　said　they。　〃The　camp　is　defended　by　a　tenfold　line　of　thorny　barriers。　Even　a　bird　could　not　get　in。〃
Guan　Ping　and　Liao　Hua　mustered　all　the　veterans　they　had　and　went　away　to　the　first　stockade。
Seeing　the　Wei　soldiers　camped　on　a　low　hill；　Guan　Ping　said　to　his　colleague；　〃Those　soldiers　are　stationed　in　an　unsafe　place。　Let　us　raid　their　camp　tonight。〃
〃You　take　half　the　force；　General；　and　I　will　remain　to　keep　the　camp；〃　said　Liao　Hua。
When　night　fell；　the　attacking　force　went　out。　But　on　reaching　the　camp　not　a　man　opposed　them。　The　camp　was　empty。　Then　Guan　Ping　knew　he　had　been　deceived；　and　turned　to　retreat。　He　was　at　once　attacked　on　two　sides　by　Xu　Shang　and　Lu　Qian　from　left　and　right。　Unable　to　stand；　his　troops　ran　for　the　camp。　The　soldiers　of　Wei　followed；　and　presently　the　camp　was　surrounded。　They　were　pelled　to　abandon　the　position　and　set　off　for　Sizhong。　As　they　drew　near　they　saw　torches；　and　presently　knew　by　the　ensigns　displayed　that　the　camp　had　also　fallen　to　the　enemy。　Retiring；　they　hastened　along　the　high　road　toward　Fancheng；　but　presently　their　way　was　barred　by　a　force　under　Xu　Huang　himself。　By　dint　of　hard　fighting　they　got　away　and　returned　to　their　main　camp；　and　Guan　Ping　went　to　his　father。
Said　he；　〃Xu　Huang　has　got　possession　of　Yencheng。　Cao　Cao's　main　army　is　on　the　way　in　three　divisions。　And　many　say　that　Jingzhou　is　in　the　enemy's　hands。〃
Guan　Yu　bade　him　be　silent。
〃This　is　a　fabrication　of　the　enemy；〃　said　Guan　Yu；　〃but　it　may　dishearten　the　soldiers。　We　know　Lu　Meng　is　ill；　and　they　have　appointed　that　impractical　fellow　Lu　Xun　to　succeed　him　at　Lukou。　There　is　nothing　to　fear。〃
Then　news　came　that　Xu　Huang　had　arrived。　At　once　Guan　Yu　bade　them　saddle　his　charger。
〃Father；　you　are　not　strong　enough　to　go　into　the　battle；〃　said　Guan　Ping。
〃Xu　Huang　and　I　were　once　friends；　and　I　know　what　he　can　do　and　not　do。　I　will　give　him　the　chance　to　retire。　If　he　does　not　take　it；　then　I　shall　just　slay　him　as　a　warning　to　the　others。〃
Mounting　his　charger；　Guan　Yu　rode　out　as　impetuously　as　of　yore；　and　the　sight　of　the　old　warrior　made　to　quake　the　hearts　of　the　troops　of　Wei。
When　he　came　close　enough　to　his　enemy；　Guan　Yu　checked　his　steed　and　said；　〃Where　is　my　friend　Xu　Huang？〃
As　a　reply；　the　gate　of　the　battle　opened；　and　Xu　Huang　appeared　under　the　standard。
With　a　low　bow　Xu　Huang　said；　〃Some　years　have　passed　since　I　met　you；　Most　Excellent　Marquis；　but　I　had　not　expected　to　see　you　so　gray。　I　have　not　forgotten　the　old　brave　days；　when　we　were　together　and　you　taught　me　so　much；　and　I　am　very　grateful。　Your　new　fame　has　spread　throughout　the　whole　empire；　and　your　old　friends　cannot　but　praise　you。　I　am　indeed　glad　that　I　have　the　happiness　to　see　you。〃
Guan　Yu　replied；　〃We　have　been　excellent　friends；　Xu　Huang………better　than　most。　But　why　have　you　pressed　my　son　so　hardly　of　late？〃
Xu　Huang　suddenly　turned　to　the　officers　about　him　and　cried　fiercely；　〃I　would　give　a　thousand　ounces　of　gold　for　this　Guan　Yu's　head。〃
Guan　Yu；　greatly　shocked；　said；　〃What　did　you　say　that　for？〃
〃Because　today　I　am　on　state　business；　and　I　have　no　inclination　to　let　private　friendship　override　my　public　duty。〃
As　he　said　this；　he　whirled　his　battle…ax　and　rode　at　Guan　Yu；　who；　greatly　enraged；　threw　up　his　great　saber　to　strike。　They　fought　a　half　score　bouts；　but　although　his　skill　lacked　nothing　of　its　pristine　vigor　and　excelled　all　the　world；　the　old　warrior's　right　arm　was　still　weak　from　the　wound。　Guan　Ping　saw　that　his　father　failed　somewhat；　and　so　hastily　beat　the　gong　for　retreat。　Guan　Yu　rode　back。
Suddenly　the　noise　of　a　great　shouting　was　heard。　It　came　from　the　troops　in　Fancheng；　for　Cao　Ren；　having　heard　of　the　arrival　of　troops　of　his　own　side；　had　made　a　sortie　and　was　about　to　attack　to　help　Xu　Huang。　His　army　fell　on；　and　the　army　of　Jingzhou　were　routed。　Guan　Yu；　with　as　many　of　his　officers　as　could；　fled　away　along　the　banks　of　River　Xiang；　hotly　pursued　by　the　army　of　Wei。　Crossing　the　river；　he　made　for　Xiangyang。
Suddenly　the　scouts　reported：　〃Jingzhou　has　been　taken　by　Lu　Meng。