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s 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 my opinion。 The plan that broke Guan Yu was his。 If anyone can destroy Shu； it is he。 If he fails； then I will stand the same punishment as may be his。〃
〃If you had not spoken thus； my whole scheme might have gone amiss；〃 said Sun Quan。
〃Lu Xun is a student；〃 said Zhang Zhao。 〃He is no match for Liu Bei。 You may not use him。〃
Gu Yong also said； 〃Lu Xun is too young and too inexperienced。 I fear he will not be obeyed； and that will be mischievous。〃
Bu Zhi added； 〃Lu Xun is well enough to control a region； but he is not fit for a big matter。〃
Kan Ze got desperate； shouting； 〃It is the only hope。 I will guarantee him with the lives of all my house！〃
〃I know he is able；〃 said Sun Quan； 〃and I have now made up my mind he is the man。 Gentlemen； that is enough。〃
Lu Xun was called home。 Lu Xun was originally named Lu Yi。 He was a native of Wujun in Wu； grandson of Lu Jun； who was mander of the City Gates of the Han； and son of Lu Yu； mander of Jiujiang。 He was eight spans in height； with a beautiful face； like the finest jade。
When Lu Xun arrived at court and made his bow； Sun Quan said to him； 〃I wish to send you in supreme mand of all the forces against Shu。〃
〃Sir； you have numerous old and tried officers under your mand。 I am very young and not at all clever；〃 replied Lu Xun。
〃Kan Ze goes bail for you and pledges his whole house。 Moreover； I know your abilities。 You must be mander…in…Chief and may not refuse the appointment。〃
〃But what will happen if the officers do not support me？〃
〃Here is authority！〃 said Sun Quan； taking his own sword from his side and giving it to Lu Xun。 〃Slay the disobedient and report afterwards。〃
〃I am grateful for this proof of confidence； but I dare not accept forthwith。 I pray you assemble all the officers and confer the office upon me in their presence。〃
Said Kan Ze； 〃The ancient fashion was to set up a platform and thereon present to the leader…elect a white yak's tail and a golden ax with the seal of office and mission。 Thereafter his dignity and the reverence due from others were beyond all question。 It would be well； O Prince； to follow the old rule。 Choose a good day and appoint Lu Xun before all the world； and no one will refuse support。〃
An altar was begun at once。 They worked at it day and night； and as soon as it was finished a great assembly was called。 Then Lu Xun was requested to ascend and make his bow on receiving his appointment as mander…in…Chief； General of the Right Army； General Who Guards the West； and Lord of Fenglou。 The sword of authority and the seal of office were presented。 His powers extended over the six territories and the eighty…one counties of the South Land； over the forces in Jingzhou and Wu。
And in charging him Sun Quan said； 〃Domestic affairs belong to me； outer affairs are under your direction。〃
Lu Xun then descended。 He chose Xu Sheng and Ding Feng as manders of his guards； and the army lost no time in taking the field。 The various dispositions of horse and foot and navy were made； and dispatches were sent to the outlying manders。
When the dispatch reached Han Dang and Zhou Tai； who were camping near Xiaoting； they were alarmed； saying； 〃Why did the Prince appoint a mere bookish student to the mandership of all armed forces？〃
So when the new mander…in…Chief came； they showed their discontent by a lack of hearty support。 Lu Xun went to his tent to receive the reports； and there the majority of the officers manifested only sullen respect and unwilling deference。
Then Lu Xun addressed them； saying； 〃By order of my superior I am mander…in…Chief； and my mission is to destroy Shu。 You； gentlemen； all know the ordinary military rules； and you would do well to obey them。 The law is no respecter of persons； as those who disobey will find out。 Do not have to regret when it is too late。〃
They nodded in sullen acquiescence。
Then Zhou Tai said； 〃There is Sun Huan； nephew of our Prince。 He is surrounded at Yiling and is short of food。 I venture to request you to send relief to him and get him out； so that the Prince's heart may be forted。〃
〃I know all about him。 His soldiers are faithful； and he can easily maintain his position。 There is no need to go to his aid。 When Shu is broken； he will be free to e out。〃
They all sniggered as they left the tent； and Han Dang did not fail to express his contempt for the newly appointed mander…in…Chief。
〃This will be the end of Wu；〃 said he to his colleague。 〃Did you note what he said？〃
〃I tried him just to see what he would do；〃 said Zhou Tai。 〃You see he had no plan ready。 He destroys Shu indeed！〃
Next day general orders were issued for defense and prohibitions against giving battle； which provoked more laughter at the incapable pedant； as they thought him in mand； and secret resolves to disobey。 Moreover； the officers showed their contempt by a general disregard of orders。
So once more Lu Xun assembled them and said； 〃You know I am in mand。 Yet the recent orders for defense have been disregarded。 Why？〃
Then Han Dang spoke up； 〃Some of us followed General Sun Ce when he first subdued the South Land。 Others won fame in destroying rebels； or in following the present Prince in his campaigns。 All of us have don