〃Where is the Magistrate？〃 asked Zhang Fei。
〃Ever since his arrival； a hundred days ago and more； he has attended to no business； but spends his days from morn to night in wine…bobbing and is always intoxicated。 Just now he is sleeping off a debauch and is not yet risen。〃
This raised Zhang Fei's choler； and he would have dismissed the offender forthwith had not his colleague said； 〃Pang Tong is a man of great ability； and it would be wrong to deal with him thus summarily。 Let us inquire into it。 If he is really so guilty； we will punish his offense。〃
So they went to the magistracy； took their seats in the Hall of Justice； and summoned the Magistrate before them。 He came with dress all disordered and still under the influence of wine。
〃My brother took you for a decent person；〃 said Zhang Fei； angrily； 〃and sent you here as magistrate。 How dare you throw the affairs of the county into disorder？〃
〃Do you think I have done as you say； General？〃 said Pang Tong。 〃What affairs have I disordered？〃
〃You have been here over a hundred days and spent the whole time in dissipation。 Is not that disorderly？〃
〃Where would be the difficulty in dealing with the business of a trifling county like this？ I pray you； General； sit down for a while till I have settled the cases。〃
Thereupon Pang Tong bade the clerks bring in all the arrears and he would settle them at once。 So they brought in the piles of papers and ordered the suitors to appear。 They came and knelt in the hall while the magistrate； brush in hand； noted this and minuted that； all the while listening to the pleadings。 Soon all the difficulties and disputes were adjusted； and never a mistake was made； as the satisfied bows of the people proved。 By midday the whole of the cases were disposed of； and the arrears of the hundred days settled and decided。
This done； the Magistrate threw aside his pen and turned to the inquisitors； saying； 〃Where is the disorder？ When I can take on Cao Cao and Sun Quan as easily as I can read this paper； what attention from me is needed for the business of this paltry place？〃
Zhang Fei was astonished at the man's ability； rose from his seat； and crossed over； saying； 〃You are indeed a marvel； Master。 I have not treated you respectfully enough； but now I shall mend you to my brother with all my might。〃
Then Pang Tong drew forth Lu Su's letter and showed it to Zhang Fei。
〃Why did you not show this to my brother when you first saw him？〃 asked Zhang Fei。
〃If I had had a chance； I would have done so。 But is it likely that one would just take advantage of a letter of mendation to make a visit？〃
Zhang Fei turned to his colleague and said； 〃You just saved a wise man for us。〃
Sun Qian and Zhang Fei left the magistracy and returned to Liu Bei to whom they related what had happened。
Liu Bei then seemed to be conscious of his error and said； 〃I have been wrong。 I have behaved unjustly to a learned person。〃
Zhang Fei then gave his brother the letter in which Lu Su had remended Pang Tong。 Opening it he read：
〃Pang Tong is not the sort of person to be met with in any day's march。 Employ him in some capacity where extra ordinary talent is required； and his powers will declare themselves。 Beware of judging him by his looks； or you may lose the advantage of his abilities； and some other will gain him。 This would be a misfortune。〃
While Liu Bei was feeling cast down at the mistake he had made； as shown by the letter； they announced the return of Zhuge Liang。
Soon Zhuge Liang entered the hall； and the first question he put after the formal salutations was： 〃Is Directing…Instructor Pang Tong quite well？〃
〃He is in charge of Leiyang；〃 replied Liu Bei； 〃where he is given to wine and neglects his business。〃
Zhuge Liang laughed； saying； 〃My friend Pang Tong has extraordinary abilities and ten times my knowledge。 I gave him a letter for you； my lord。 Did he present it？〃
〃This very day I have received a letter； but from Lu Su。 I have had no letter written by you。〃
〃When a person of transcendent abilities is sent to a paltry post； he always turns to wine out of simple ennui；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
〃If it had not been for what my brother said； I should have lost a great scholar；〃 said Liu Bei。
Then he lost no time； but sent Zhang Fei off to the northeast to request Pang Tong to e to Jingzhou City。 When he arrived； Liu Bei went out to meet him and at the foot of the steps asked pardon for his mistake。 Then Pang Tong produced the letter that Zhuge Liang had given him。 What Liu Bei read therein was this：
〃As soon as the Young Phoenix shall arrive； he should be given an important post。〃
Liu Bei rejoiced indeed as he read it； and he said； 〃Water Mirror said of the two men； Sleeping Dragon and Young Phoenix； that any man who obtained the help of either of them could restore the empire when he would。 As I now have them both； surely the Hans will rise again。〃
Then he appointed Pang Tong as Vice Directing Instructor and General； and the two strategists began training the army for its work of subjugation。
News of these doings came to the capital； Xuchang； and Cao Cao was told of Liu Bei's two strategists and of the army in training and the stores accumulating and the league between his two chief enemies。 And he knew that he had to expect an attack sooner or later。 So he summoned his strategists to a council for a new campaign。
Said Xun Yu； 〃Sun Quan should be first attacked； because of the recent death of their ablest general Zhou Yu。 Liu Bei will follow。〃
Cao Cao replied； 〃If I go on such a distant expedition； Ma Teng will fall upon the capital。 While I was at the Red Cliffs； there were sinister rumors of this； and I must guard against it。〃
Xun Yu said； 〃The best thing that occurs to me is to obtain for Ma Teng the title of General Who Subdues the South and send him against the South Land。 Thus he can be enticed to the capital and got rid of。 Then you can have no fear of marching southward。〃
Cao Cao approved； and soon Ma Teng was summoned from Xiliang； a frontier territory in the west。
＇e＇ Ma Yuan （BC 14…AD 49） a general who first served Wang Mang； then join Liu Xiu in restoring Han Dynasty。 In his life of career； Ma Yuan contributed much to Liu Xiu's success by putting down rebellions throughout the empire and abroad。 。。。。。
Ma Teng was a descendant of the famous leader Ma Yuan*； General Who Quells the Waves。 His father's name was Ma Sui。 Ma Sui had held a minor magistracy in Tianshui in the reign of Emperor Huan； but had lost it and drifted west into the West Valley Land where he got amongst the Qiang Peoples； one of whose women he took to wife。 She bore him a son； Ma Teng。 Ma Teng was rather over the mon height； and bold…looking。 He was of a mild disposition and very popular。 But in the reign of Emperor Ling； these Qiangs made trouble； and then Ma Teng raised a force and put it down。 For his services he received the tile of General Who Corrects the West。 He and Han Sui； who was known as mander Who Guards the West； were pledged brothers。
On receipt of the summons to the capital； Ma Teng took his eldest son； Ma Chao； into his confidence and told him some of his former life。
〃When Dong Cheng got the Girdle Edict from the Emperor； we formed a society； of which Liu Bei was one； pledged to put down rebellion。 However； we acplished nothing； for Dong Cheng was put to death and Liu Bei was unfortunate； while I escaped to the west。 However； I hear that Liu Bei now holds Jingzhou； and I am inclined to carry out the plan we made so long ago。 But here I am summoned by Cao Cao and what is to be done？〃
Ma Chao replied； 〃Cao Cao has the mand of the Emperor to call you。 If you do not go； that will mean disobeying an imperial mand and you will be punished。 Obey the summons in so far as to go to the capital； where you may be able to arrange to carry out your original intention。〃
But Ma Teng's nephew； Ma Dai； held other opinions and opposed this。
Said he； 〃Cao Cao's designs are unfathomable。 If you go； Uncle； I fear you will suffer。〃
〃Let me lead the army against the capital；〃 said Ma Chao。 〃Can we not purge the empire of evil？〃
But his father said； 〃You must take mand of the Qiang troops for the defense of our territory here。 I will take with me your two brothers and your cousin。 When Cao Cao knows that you have the Qiangs at your call and that Han Sui is prepared to assist； he will hardly dare to work any harm to me。〃
〃Father； if you must go； be careful not to enter the city till you know exactly what plots and machinations are afoot。〃
〃I will certainly take great care； so do not be too anxious；〃 said the father。
The order of march was prepared。 The governor took five thousand troops； with his two sons………Ma Xiu and Ma Tie………as Leaders of the Van and his nephew Ma Dai bringing up the rear。 These set out along the tortuous road to the capital。 At seven miles distance from Xuchang they camped。
When Cao Cao heard of Ma Teng's arrival； he called to him Minister Huang Kui and said to him； 〃Ma Teng is to be sent against the south； and I shall send you as Adviser。 You are first to go to his camp and express my congratulations on his arrival and say that as Xiliang is so distant and transport very difficult； he is not to take too large an army of his own。 I will send a large force。 Also tell him to e in soon for audience of the Emperor。 I will send him supplies。〃
With these instructions Huang Kui went to Ma Teng； who brought out wine and entertained him well。
In his cups the messenger grew confidential and said； 〃My father perished at the hands of Li Jue and Guo Si； and I have always nourished resentment。 Now there is another rebel in power wronging our Prince。〃
〃Who is that？〃 asked Ma Teng。
〃The wrong doer is that rebel Cao Cao； of course。 Do you mean to say you do not know？〃
However； Ma Teng was careful。 He thought it very likely that these words were but a trap for him； so he pretended to be greatly shocked and begged his guest to be careful lest he be overheard。
But Huang Kui cared not； shouting； 〃Then you have quite forgotten the Girdle Edict； eh？〃
Ma Teng began to see Huang Kui was sincere and presently became confidential in turn and told his guest all his schemes。
〃Cao Cao wants you to go in to audience。 There is no good intention there。 Do not go；〃 said Huang Kui。 〃You lead your army up close to the city and get Cao Cao to e and review them。 When he es； assassinate him。〃
They two settled how this plan could be worked out and the messenger； still hot with anger and excitement； returned to his home。
Seeing Huang Kui so disturbed in mind； his wife； Lady Zhi； asked him what was wrong。 But he would tell her nothing。 However； he had a concubine； Li Chunxiang。 And it happened that she had an intrigue with the wife's younger brother； Miao Ze； who much desired to marry her。 The concubine who also saw her lord's displeasure； spoke of it to her paramour； and he told her she could probably draw from him what was wrong by a leading question。
〃Ask him what is the truth about two men； Liu Bei and Cao Cao？ Who is the wicked one；〃 suggested Miao Ze。
That evening Huang Kui went to the apartments of his concubine； and she presently put the question proposed by her lover。
Her lord； still rather intoxicated； said； 〃You are not an official； still you know right from wrong as well as I。 My enemy；