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〃I felt that Cao Cao would try to do this；〃 said Zhuge Liang； 〃and most of the advisers in the South Land will persuade Cao Cao to order Cao Ren to begin the campaign。〃
〃But what am I to do？〃 asked the Prince。
〃First send a special messenger to Guan Yu with his new title； telling him to capture Fancheng； which will so damp the ardor of the enemy that they will break off themselves。〃
Therefore Liu Bei sent Fei Shi； a minister from his Board of War； to take the patent of the new title to Guan Yu； who received the delegate with great deference and conducted him into the city。 After they had arrived at the official residence； Guan Yu inquired what new title had been conferred upon him。
〃The first of the Five Tiger Generals；〃 replied Fei Shi。
〃And who are the five？〃
〃Their names are Guan Yu； Zhang Fei； Zhao Yun； Ma Chao； and Huang Zhong。〃
〃The second is my brother；〃 said Guan Yu； 〃Ma Chao es of a famous family； and Zhao Yun has been with my elder brother so long that he is as a brother。 It is right for them to be put on a level with me。 But what sort of a man is this Huang Zhong that he is ranked with us？ The really great man does not stand shoulder to shoulder with any soldier that es along。〃
And Guan Yu refused both title and seal。
＇e＇ Xiao He （BC ？…193） a close adviser of Liu Bang。 He and Liu Bang had been friends in their native Pei； where Liu Bang later held a minor office。 Remended Han Xin to Liu Bang。 Became Han's prime minister。 Enobled as the Lord of Cuo。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Cao Shen a general of Liu Bang。 He and Liu Bang had been close friends in their native Pei； where Liu Bang later held a minor office。 Served as Han's prime minister。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Han Xin was a general of Liu Bang。 Before serving Han； Han Xin had been an officer under Xiang Yu。 Disappointed because his plans were rejected； Han Xin left Xiang Yu and joined Liu Bang's camp； where he was made mander…in…Chief by remendations of Xiao He and Zhang Liang。 Enobled as King of Qi； then King of Chu。 。。。。。
〃You do wrong to refuse；〃 said Fei Shi。 〃Of old； Xiao He* and Cao Shen* helped Liu Bang； the Founder of the Han Dynasty； in his great enterprise and were very dear friends； while Han Xin* was but a runaway leader from Chu。 Yet Liu Bang made Han Xin a prince； and so placed over the heads of the other two。 I have never heard that these two resented it。 The Prince of Hanzhong has his Five Tiger Generals； but he is still your brother and all that that means。 As his brother； you are he and he is you。 Is there any parison with any other？ The Prince has always treated you with the greatest kindness。 You two are one in sorrow and joy； sharers of disaster and good fortune。 No such question as that of a mere title ought to reckon at all。 I pray you； Sir； reflect。〃
Guan Yu understood； and thanked Fei Shi； saying； 〃You have prevented me from making a great mistake due to my ignorance。〃
Guan Yu then received the seal with all humility。
Next Fei Shi produced the edict ordering the capture of Fancheng。 Guan Yu lost no time in obeying its mand。 He appointed Fu Shiren and Mi Fang Leaders of the Van to take the first army out of the city into camp。
This done； a banquet was prepared for Fei Shi； and they sat late at their wine。 While still at table there was an alarm of fire in the new camp； and Guan Yu hastened out of the city to see。 He found that the two generals had also been feasting； and the fire had started behind their tent； a spark having fallen into some explosives； whence it spread and destroyed the whole camp and all that was in it。 Guan Yu and his soldiers did what they could to put out the fire and then reentered the city。 There Guan Yu summoned the two generals before him； abused them for their lack of care； and sentenced them to death。
However； Fei Shi interceded for them； saying； 〃It is not well to put two leaders to death at the beginning of a campaign； before even the army has marched。 You might reprieve them at least。〃
Guan Yu's anger had by no means subsided； but he recalled the two generals and said； 〃Were it not that I have the greatest regard for Chairman Fei Shi here； I had let the sentence take its course。 Now I will only flog you。〃
So the two officers received forty blows each and were degraded from leading the van。 Their seals were taken away； and Mi Fang was sent to Nanjun； Fu Shiren to Gongan。
〃Now be warned；〃 said Guan Yu。 〃If； when I return from my victories； there is the least sign of disorder on your part； you will suffer for both faults。〃
The two men flushed crimson and went out。
Then two new officers were appointed； Liao Hua and Guan Ping。 Next Guan Yu took mand of the main army； and he had two advisers………Ma Liang and Yi Ji。 Then it was that Hu Hua's son； Hu Ban； came to Jingzhou and joined Guan Yu； who loved him for the sake of his father and the good service Hu Ban had rendered when he saved Guan Yu。 Guan Yu sent Hu Ban to the Prince of Hanzhong in the train of Fei Shi。
The day that Guan Yu sacrificed to his standard before starting； he was lying in his tent resting when suddenly there dashed into his tent a huge boar； very large； as big as a bullock and quite black。 It bit his foot。 He jumped up to kill the creature； when it squealed with the sound of tearing cloth………and he awoke。 It was a dream； but he had a pain in his foot。 The dream perplexed him； and he could not explain it。
He related it to his son； who interpreted it happily； saying； 〃The boar is a royal beast； like the dragon； and ing to your feet means a rise of your dignity。〃
When the dream got noised abroad； for he told his officers； some interpreted it as auspicious and some the reverse。
〃When a person nears sixty； he ought not to be greatly disturbed by the thought of death；〃 said Guan Yu。 〃After all； I am a warrior。〃
Just about that time came an edict from the Prince of Hanzhong making him manding General； with honorable insignia of rank and control over the nine territories of forty…one counties in Jingzhou。 When the officers congratulated him on his new honors； they did not forget the dream。
〃This shows what a dream of boars means。〃
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。 Suppo