〃We will pretend to be deserters；〃 said Bao Long； 〃and so get among his soldiers。 When you challenge him； we will suddenly catch him。〃
〃We shall have to take some others with us；〃 said Chen Ying。
〃Five hundred troops will be ample；〃 said Bao Long。
So in the night the two men and their followers ran over to Zhao Yun's camp to desert。
Zhao Yun understood the trick they would play； but he called them in； and they said； 〃When Zhao Fan tempted you with that fair lady； he wanted to make you drunk and get you into the private apartments so that he might murder you and send your head to Cao Cao。 Yes； he was as wicked as that even。 We saw you go away in anger； and we thought that would mean grave trouble for us； and so we have deserted。〃
Zhao Yun listened with simulated joy； and he had wine served to the two men； and pressed them to drink so that they were quite overe。 When this was done； he had both bound with cords； called up their followers； and asked them whether this was real or pretended desertion； and they told him the truth。
Then he gave the soldiers wine and said； 〃Those who wanted to harm me are your leaders and not you。 If you do as I tell you； you shall be well rewarded。〃
The soldiers threw themselves to the ground and promised obedience。 Thereupon the two leaders………Chen Ying and Bao Long………were beheaded。 Their five hundred troops were made to lead the way and act as screen for a whole thousand of horsemen； and the party set out at full speed for Guiyang。 When they got there； they summoned the gate and said that they had slain Zhao Yun and had got back。 And they wished to speak with the Governor。
Those on the wall lighted flares and inspected those at the gate。 Surely enough they wore the uniforms of their own people； and Zhao Fan went out to them。 He was immediately seized and made prisoner。 Then Zhao Yun entered the city； restored order； and sent off swift messengers to Liu Bei who at once； with his adviser； came to Guiyang。
When they had taken their seats； the late Governor was brought in and placed at the foot of the steps。 In response to Zhuge Liang's questions； Zhao Fan related the story of the proposed marriage。
Said Zhuge Liang to Zhao Yun； 〃But this seems a fine project。 Why did you receive the proposal so roughly？〃
Zhao Yun said； 〃Zhao Fan and I had just sworn brotherhood； and so marriage with his sister…in…law would have called down on my head universal blame。 That is one reason。 Another is that I should have made his sister fail to keep her dutiful chastity。 And thirdly； I did not know whether I might trust such a proposal from one who had just yielded to force。 My lord； your position as a recent victor was one of danger； and could I risk the failure of your plans for my sake？〃
Liu Bei said； 〃But now that the plan has been carried out； and we are victors； would you care to marry her？〃
〃All my fear is for the building of a reputation。 Family can e later。〃
〃You are indeed right honorable；〃 said Liu Bei。
Zhao Fan was released and restored to the governorship。 Zhao Yun was conspicuously rewarded。
But Zhang Fei was angry and disappointed。
〃So Zhao Yun gets all the praise； and I am worth nothing；〃 cried he。 〃Just give me three thousand soldiers； and I will take Wuling and bring you the Governor。〃
This pleased Zhuge Liang； who said； 〃There is no reason why you should not go； but I will only require one condition of you。〃
Wondrous； the plans of the general； so doth he conquer in battle；
Soldiers keenly peting gain renown in the fighting。
The condition that Zhuge Liang made will appear in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 53 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 53
Chapter 53
Guan Yu Releases Huang Zhong；
Sun Quan Fights With Zhang Liao。
What Zhuge Liang required from Zhang Fei was a formal recognition of responsibility for success。
Said Zhuge Liang； 〃When Zhao Yun went on his expedition； he gave written guarantee of being responsible for success。 You ought to do the same now that you are starting for Wuling。 In that case you may have men and start。〃
So Zhang Fei gave the required document and received joyfully the three thousand of soldiers he had demanded。 He set out at once and traveled without rest till he reached Wuling。
When the Governor of Wuling； Jin Xuan by name； heard that an expedition against him was afoot； he mustered his officers and recruited brave soldiers and put his weapons in order ready for the struggle。 And his army moved out of the city。
A certain secretary； Gong Zhi； remonstrated with his chief for opposing a scion of the imperial house； saying； 〃Liu Bei is of the Hans； and recognized as an uncle of the Emperor。 All the world knows he is kindly and righteous。 Added to that his brother Zhang Fei is extraordinarily bold。 We cannot face them in battle with hope of success。 Our best course is to give in。〃
But his master angrily replied； 〃Do you want to play the traitor and take the side of the rebels and help them？〃
Jin Xuan called in the lictors and told them to put Gong Zhi to death。
The other officers interceded for Gong Zhi； saying； 〃It augers ill to start an expedition by slaying your own officer。〃
So the Governor merely sent Gong Zhi sway。 He himself led the army out of the city。 After marching seven miles； he met with Zhang Fei's army。
Zhang Fei at once rode to the front； spear ready to thrust； and opened with a shout。 Jin Xuan turned to his officers and asked who would go out to fight him； but no one replied。 They were too afraid。
So the Governor himself galloped out； flourishing his sword。 Seeing him advance； Zhang Fei shouted in a voice of thunder。 Poor Jin Xuan was seized with panic； turned pale and could not go on。 He turned his steed and fled。 Then Zhang Fei and his army went in pursuit and smote the fugitives； chasing them to the city wall。
Here the fugitives were greeted by a flight of arrows from their own wall。 Greatly frightened； Jin Xuan looked up to see what this meant； and there was Gong Zhi； who had opposed him； standing on the wall。
〃You brought defeat upon yourself because you opposed the will of God；〃 cried the traitor。 〃The people and I are determined to yield to Liu Bei。〃
Just as Gong Zhi finished speaking； an arrow wounded Jin Xuan in the face and he fell to the ground。 Thereupon his own troops cut off his head； which they forthwith presented to Zhang Fei。 Gong Zhi then went out and made formal submission； and Zhang Fei bade him take his letter and the seal to Guiyang to Liu Bei； who was pleased to hear of Zhang Fei's success and gave the governorship to Gong Zhi。 Soon after Liu Bei came to Wuling in person and soothed the people。
This done he wrote to Guan Yu telling him Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei had gained a territory each。
Guan Yu at once wrote back and said； 〃Changsha is yet to be taken。 If I am not thought too feeble； I would like to be sent to attack it。〃
Liu Bei agreed and sent Zhang Fei to relieved his brother； whom Liu Bei ordered to return and prepare for an expedition to Changsha。 Guan Yu came and went in to see his elder brother and Zhuge Liang。
At this interview Zhuge Liang said； 〃Zhao Yun has taken Guiyang； and Zhang Fei Wuling。 Both successful warriors have done their work with three thousand troops。 The Governor of Changsha； Han Xuan； was not worth mentioning； but there was a certain general with him； named Huang Zhong； who had to be reckoned with。
〃Huang Zhong is a native of Nanyang。 He used to be in the service of Liu Biao and was a colleague Liu Biao's nephew； Liu Pan； when he was in mand of Changsha。 After Liu Biao's death； he joined Han Xuan when he took mand of the city。 Now； although he is nearly sixty； he is a man to be feared and a warrior of a thousand。 You ought to take a larger number of troops。〃
Guan Yu replied； 〃Instructor； what makes you damp another man's ardor to fight and do away with your own dignity？ I do not think the old leader need be discussed； and I do not think I require three panies of soldiers。 Give me my own five hundred of swordsmen； and I will have the heads of both Han Xuan and Huang Zhong to sacrifice to our standard。〃
Liu Bei resisted this decision of Guan Yu； but Guan Yu would not give way。 He just took his five hundred and set out。
〃If he is not careful how he attacks Huang Zhong； there will be a mishap；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃You must go to support him。〃
Liu Bei accordingly； at the head of another and larger party； set out toward Changsha。
Governor Han Xuan of Changsha was of hasty temperament with small punction in matters of life and death and was universally hated。 When he heard of the army ing against him； he called his veteran leader； Huang Zhong； to ask advice。
The latter said； 〃Do not be distressed。 This sword of mine and my bow are equal to the slaughter of all who may e。〃
Huang Zhong had been very strong and could bend the three…hundred…pound bow and was a most perfect archer。
When Huang Zhong referred to his prowess； a certain man spoke up and said； 〃Let not the Veteran General go out to battle。 Trust to my right arm； and you shall have this Guan Yu a prisoner in your hands。〃
The speaker was General Yang Lin。 The Governor accepted his offer and told off a thousand troops to go with him； and they quickly rode out of the city。 About fifteen miles from the city； they observed a great cloud of dust approaching and soon distinguished the invaders。 Yang Lin set his spear and rode to the front to abuse and fight。 Guan Yu made no reply to the abuse； but rode forward flourishing his sword。 The warriors soon met； and in the third encounter Yang Lin was cut down。 Guan Yu's army dashed forward and pursued the defeated force to the city wall。
When the Governor heard of this reverse； he ordered the veteran Huang Zhong to go out while he went up on the city wall to watch the fight。
Huang Zhong took his sword and crossed the drawbridge of Changsha at the head of his force。 Guan Yu； seeing an old leader riding out； knew it must be Huang Zhong。 Guan Yu halted his troops and placed them in line with their swords at the point。
Then sitting there on horseback； he said； 〃He who es is surely Huang Zhong； eh？〃
〃Since you know me； how dare you e within my boundaries？〃 replied the veteran。
〃I have e expressly to get your head！〃
Then the bat began。 They fought a hundred and more bouts； and neither seemed nearer victory。 At this point the Governor； fearing some mishap to his veteran general； beat the gong to retreat and the battle ceased； one side going into the city of Changsha and the other camping three miles away to the rear。
Guan Yu thought in his heart that the fame of the veteran opposed to him was well merited。 He had fought a hundred bouts and discovered never a weak spot。 He determined that in the next encounter he would use a 〃swinging…horse stab〃 and so overe Huang Zhong。
Next day； the early meal eaten； Guan Yu came to the city wall and offered his challenge。 The Governor seated himself on the city wall and bade his veteran warrior go out to accept it。 At the head of a few horsemen； Huang Zhong dashed across the drawbridge。 The two champions engaged； and at the end of half a hundred bouts neither had the advantage。 On both sides the soldiers cheered lustily。
When the drums were beating most furiously； suddenly Guan Yu wheeled round his horse and fled。 Of co