When the drums were beating most furiously； suddenly Guan Yu wheeled round his horse and fled。 Of course Huang Zhong followed。 Just as the moment for the feint arrived； Guan Yu heard behind him a tremendous crash and turned to see his pursuer lying prone upon the ground。 Huang Zhong's steed had stumbled and thrown him。
Guan Yu turned； raised his sword in both hands； and cried in a fierce tone； 〃I spare your life； but quick！ Get another horse and e again to battle。〃
Huang Zhong pulled his horse to its feet hastily； leapt upon its back； and went into the city at full speed。 The Governor was astonished and asked for an account of the accident。
〃The horse is too old；〃 replied Huang Zhong。
〃Why did you not shoot since your aim is so perfect？〃 asked the Governor。
〃I will try again tomorrow；〃 said Huang Zhong。 〃I will run away as if overe； and so tempt him to the drawbridge and then shoot him。〃
Han Xuan gave the veteran a gray horse that he usually rode himself。 Huang Zhong thanked him and retired。
But Huang Zhong could not forget Guan Yu's generous conduct； nor could he understand it。 He could not make up his mind to shoot the man who had spared his life。 Yet if he did not shoot； he betrayed his duty as a soldier。 It was very perplexing； and the whole night spent in thinking it over found him still undecided。
At daybreak a man came in saying that Guan Yu was near the wall and challenging them again。 So Huang Zhong gave order to go out。
Now Guan Yu； having fought for two days and not having overe Huang Zhong； was very ill at ease。 So he called up all his dignity when he went forth to fight that day。 When they had got to the thirtieth bout； Huang Zhong fled as if he was overe。 Guan Yu pursued。
As he rode away； Huang Zhong thought in his heart； 〃He spared me only yesterday； and I cannot bear to shoot him today。〃
Putting up his sword； Huang Zhong took his bow and twanged the string only。 No arrow flew。 Guan Yu dodged； but seeing no arrow in the air； he retook the pursuit。 Again Huang Zhong twanged an arrowless bowstring； and again Guan Yu dodged； but no arrow came。
Then Guan Yu said to himself； 〃He cannot shoot；〃 and pressed on in pursuit。
As they neared the city wall； the veteran stopped on the drawbridge； fitted an arrow； pulled the bow； and sent an arrow flying that just hit the base of the plume on Guan Yu's helmet。
The soldiers shouted at the display of marksmanship。 Guan Yu was taken aback and set off for camp with the arrow still sticking。 Then he heard that Huang Zhong's skill was said to be equal to piercing a willow leaf at a hundred paces； and Guan Yu understood that he owed this warning in the shape of an arrow in his plume to gratitude for sparing the veteran the preceding day。
Both withdrew。 But when the veteran leader went up on the wall to see the Governor； he was at once seized。
〃What have I done？〃 cried Huang Zhong。
〃I have seen these last three days that you were fooling me。 You were slack the day before yesterday； which proved you had some sinister intention。 Yesterday； when your horse stumbled and he spared you； it showed that you were in league with him。 And today you twice twanged a vain bowstring； while at the third shot you only hit your opponent's helmet。 Dare you say there is no secret understanding in all this？ If I do not put you to death； it will assuredly redound to my own hurt。〃
Han Xuan ordered Huang Zhong to be executed outside the city gate。 Han Xuan also met the intercession of the officers by saying； 〃Anyone who pleads for the condemned shall be regarded as in the plot。〃
The executioners had hustled the old man out of the city and the sword was in the air and on the point of descending； when a man suddenly dashed in； cut down the lictor； and rescued Huang Zhong。
〃Huang Zhong is our bulwark！〃 shouted he。 〃To destroy him is to destroy the Changsha people。 This Governor is too fierce and cruel； too lightly values good people； and is too arrogant toward his officers。 We ought rather to kill him； and those who will； let them follow me。〃
All eyes turned toward this bold speaker； who was bronzed and had eyes like the Cowherd's star。 Some of them knew him as Wei Yan； a native of Yiyang。 He would have followed Liu Bei from Xiangyang but； unable to e up with him； had gone into the service of Han Xuan。 Han Xuan took exception to his arrogant carriage and lack of polish and neglected him。 And so Wei Yan had remained in the city without office。
After the rescue of Huang Zhong； Wei Yan called upon the people to make an end of the Governor。 He waved his arm and shouted to the people。 Soon he had a following of several hundreds。 Huang Zhong could not stop them。 In a very short time； Wei Yan had dashed up on the wall； and Han Xuan lay dead。 Taking his head； Wei Yan rode off out of the city to lay the bloodstained trophy at the feet of Guan Yu； who forthwith went into the city to restore confidence。
When the people were all quiet； Guan Yu sent to request Huang Zhong to e to see him； but the old general pleaded illness。
Next Guan Yu sent the good news to his brother and to Zhuge Liang and asked them to e。
Soon after Guan Yu had left to capture Changsha； Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang had followed him up with supports in case of need。 While on the march； a black flag was furled backwards and a crow flew over from north to south croaking thrice as it passed。
〃What good or evil things do these omens presage？〃 asked Liu Bei。
With hands hidden within his long sleeves； Zhuge Liang performed a rapid calculation on his fingers of the auspices and replied； 〃Changsha is taken and a great leader mastered。 We shall know soon after noon。〃
Sure enough a simple soldier presently came galloping along with the wele tidings of the capture of the city； and saying that the two city warriors who had aided them were near waiting the arrival of Liu Bei。 Soon after they arrived； Liu Bei entered the city； where he was escorted to the magistracy and heard the recital of Huang Zhong's deeds。
Liu Bei went in person to Huang Zhong's house and inquired for him； whereupon Huang Zhong came forth and yielded formally。 Huang Zhong requested to be permitted to bury the remains of the late Governor on the east of the city。
Lofty as is heaven above earth was the spirit of the general；
Who； even in his old age； suffered sorrows in the south；
Cheerfully had he approached death； with no thought of resentment；
But； bowing before the conqueror； he hung his head and was ashamed。
Praise the sword； gleaming snow…white； and the glory of super…human bravery；
Consider the mail…clad steed snuffing the wind and rejoicing in the battle；
That warrior's name shall stand high and its brightness be undiminished；
While the cold moon sheds her light on the waters of River Xiang。
Liu Bei was generous toward the veteran leader who had e under his banner。 But when Wei Yan was introduced； Zhuge Liang suddenly ordered him to be thrust forth and put to death。
〃He has merit； he has mitted no fault；〃 exclaimed Liu Bei。 〃Why slay him？〃
But Zhuge Liang replied； 〃Ingratitude。 To eat a man's bread and slay him is most disloyal； to live on his land and offer his territory to another is most wrong。 He will certainly turn against his new master。 Wherefore it is well to put him to death and prevent him from doing harm。〃
〃If we slay this man； others who may wish to surrender will be deterred by the danger。 I pray you forgive him。〃
Zhuge Liang pointed his finger at Wei Yan and said； 〃You are pardoned。 You would do well to be perfectly faithful to your lord as well as grateful。 Do not let a single thought stray elsewhere； or I will have your head by fair means or foul。〃
Wei Yan made a low obeisance。
Having given in with good grace； Huang Zhong introduced a nephew of Liu Biao； named Liu Pan； then living in Yuxian near by。 Liu Bei gave Liu Pan the governorship of Changsha。
All being tranquil at the four territories； Liu Bei and his army returned to Jingzhou City。 The name of Youkou was changed to Gongan； and soon all was prosperous。 Able people from all sides came to assist in the administration。 Guards were placed at strategic points。
When Zhou Yu went to Chaisang to recover from his wound； he left Gan Ning in mand at Baling and Ling Tong at Hanyang。 The fleet was shared between these two places to be ready to move when required。 The remainder of the force was under Cheng Pu； and he went to Hefei； where Sun Quan had been since the fight at the Red Cliffs。 Sun Quan was still fighting the northern army； and in half a score encounters； small and great； neither had gained a decided advantage。 Sun Quan could not approach the city but entrenched himself about fifteen miles away。
When Sun Quan heard of the ing of reinforcements of Cheng Pu； he was very pleased and went in person to meet and wele the leaders。 Lu Su was in advance of the main body； and Sun Quan dismounted and stood by the roadside to greet him。 As soon as he saw this； Lu Su slid out of the saddle and made his obeisance。
But the officers were amazed at the attitude of Sun Quan； and still more so when Sun Quan asked Lu Su to remount and ride by his side。
Presently Sun Quan said secretly to Lu Su； 〃I； the Lone One； dismounted to greet you as you saw。 Was that manifestation enough for you？〃
〃No；〃 replied Lu Su。
〃Then what further can I do？〃
＇e＇ In ancient time； the empire was divided into nine regions。 The emperor was called the Lord of Nine Regions。 More regions had been created over the time。 In Three Kingdoms period； there had been more than nine regions。
〃I want to see your authority and virtue spread over the four seas and enfold the nine regions*； and you yourself playing your part as emperor。 Then will my name be inscribed in the annals； and I shall indeed be known。〃
Sun Quan clapped his hands and laughed gleefully。
When they reached the camp； a banquet was prepared and the services of the new arrivals were praised and glorified。
The destruction of Hefei was one day under discussion； when one came in to say that Zhang Liao had sent a written challenge to battle。 Sun Quan tore open the cover； and what he read therein made him very wrath。
〃This Zhang Liao has insulted me grossly；〃 said he。 〃He hears that Cheng Pu has arrived and sends a challenge。 Tomorrow； O newly…e warriors； you shall see me fight with him。 You shall have no share in the battle。〃
Orders were given that next morning the army would move out of camp and advance on Hefei。 Early in the morning； when they had advanced about halfway； they met the army of Cao Cao and prepared for battle。 Sun Quan； with helmet of gold and breastplate of silver； rode to the front with Song Qian and Jia Hua； each armed with a halberd to support him and guard him one on each side。
When the third roll of the drum ceased； the center of Cao Cao's army opened to allow the exit of three warriors； all fully armed。 They were Zhang Liao； supported by Li Dian and Yue Jing。 Zhang Liao； the central figure； especially designated Sun Quan as the object of his challenge。 Sun Quan took his spear and was about to accept the challenge； from when the ranks behind him came out Taishi Ci； who galloped forth with his spear ready to thrust。 Zhang Liao whirled up his sword to strike the newer； and the two fought near a hundred bouts without a decisive blow。
Then said Li Dian to Y