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with gold was over his head； right and left were white banners； golden axes； and other insignia of an emperor。
Then Han Dang spoke； 〃Your Majesty is now the Ruler of Shu。 Why do you risk your life in the battlefield？ It would be most regrettable if any untoward event happened。〃
The First Ruler pointed the finger of scorn at the speaker and said； 〃You rats of Wu bereft me of my brother； and I have sworn that you shall not live with me under the same sky！〃
〃Who dares plunge in among the enemy？〃 asked Han Dang； turning to those in his train。
Marching General Xia Xun set his spear and rode to the front； and so did Zhang Bao with a roar gallop out to meet him。 But this thunderous voice affrighted Xia Xun； and he sought to flee。 Then Zhou Tai's brother； Zhou Ping； seeing that his colleague was panic…stricken； flourished his sword and rode out too。 At once Guan Xing dashed to the front。 Zhang Bao roared again and thrusting at Xia Xun and unhorsing him。 This disconcerted Zhou Ping and enfeebled his defense； so that Guan Xing speedily slew him with a slash。 Then the two youths rode furiously at Han Dang and Zhou Tai。 They sought refuge in their battle array。
〃The tiger fathers have not begotten curs of sons；〃 said the First Ruler with a sigh of satisfaction。
Then he waved his whip as a signal to fall on； and the Wu army suffered a great defeat。 The Shu force of the eight divisions was irresistible as a river in flood； and the slaughter was immense。
Gan Ning was in his ship ill； but he roused himself when he heard the armies of Shu had e； and mounted to go into the battle。 Soon he met a cohort of the Mang soldiers。 These warriors wore their hair loose and went barefoot。 Their weapons were bows and crossbows and long spears and swords and axes。 And they had shields to ward off blows。 They were led by their own King Shamo Ke。 His face was spotted with red as if splashed with blood； and his eyes were green and big。 He rushed among Gan Ning's troops wielding a spiked iron mace with bone pendants； and he had two bows slung at his belt。 He was terrible to look upon。
Gan Ning recognized that he had no chance of victory against such a man and did not engage Shamo Ke； but turned his steed to flee。 But as Gan Ning fled； Shamo Ke shot an arrow that pierced Gan Ning's skull。 Wounded as he was； Gan Ning rode on to Fuchikou； but there he dismounted and sat under a big tree； where he died。 On the tree were many hundreds of crows； and they gathered round the corpse as if to protect it。
＇e＇ Gan Ning's temple on the mouth of Fuchi River is still here today。 When visitors e to pay respect； they often see crows bidding farewell to them when they leave。
The Prince of Wu was sore grieved at the news of Gan Ning's death； and had the remains buried honorably。 Moreover； he raised a temple in Fuchikou to Gan Ning's memory*。
Gan Ning was first of warriors in Wu；
With silken sails he stemmed the Great River's tide；
Right loyally he served his prince； and true；
He made two ill friends put their hate aside。
Light horse led he by night a camp to raid；
And first he warmed his soldiers with generous wine。
In his resting place the holy crows wele guests；
And fragrant incense smolders at his shrine。
This victory gave the First Ruler possession of Xiaoting。 But at the muster after the battle； Guan Xing did not appear。 Search parties were sent to find him； and they went far and wide beating the country around。
However； the dashing young soldier was only following in his father's foe。 When Guan Xing had got in among the army of Wu； he had caught sight of Pan Zhang； his especial enemy； and galloped in pursuit。 In terror； Pan Zhang took to the hills and disappeared in one of the valleys。
In seeking him； Guan Xing lost his way and went to and fro till it grew dark without finding a way out。 It was clear moonlight。 Near midnight he came to a farm； where he dismounted and knocked at the door。 A venerable old man appeared and asked who he was。
〃I am a leader of the army； and I have lost my way。 I beg a meal； for I am starving；〃 said Guan Xing。
The old man led him into a hall lit by many candles； and there he saw in the family altar a picture of Guan Yu。 At once he began to wail and bowed before it。
〃Why do you wail thus？〃 asked the old man。
〃This is my father；〃 said Guan Xing。
At this； the old man prostrated himself before his guest。
〃Why should you treat my father with such respect？〃 asked Guan Xing。
〃This place is sacred to his honored spirit。 While he lived the people served him； and now that he is a spirit should they not revere him the more？ I have been waiting for the armies of Shu to avenge his death； and it is indeed the great good fortune of the people that you have e。〃
Then the host brought forth wine and food and served his guest。 Moreover； he unsaddled and fed his horse。
In the third watch a knocking came at the door； and when the old man opened it； the visitor was no other than Pan Zhang； the General of Wu。 He also asked shelter。
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