Cao Ren was won over to the side of those of action。 He placed Man Chong in mand of the defenses of Fancheng； while he went outside to beat off Guan Yu。 When the two forces met； Guan Yu called to his side Guan Ping and Liao Hua； to whom he gave certain orders。 These two advanced； settled their array； and Liao Hua then rode out and offered a challenge。 Zhai Yuan accepted it。 But soon after the bat began； Liao Hua made as if he was defeated and turned to leave the field。 Zhai Yuan went after him。 The Jingzhou troops retired seven miles or so。
Soon the Jingzhou soldiers came again and offered battle； when Xiahou Cun and Zhai Yuan both went out。 The maneuver of the preceding day was repeated； and the Jingzhou army retreated another seven miles。 But suddenly there was a detonation behind the army of Cao Cao； and the rolling of drums as for attack。 Cao Ren hastily called upon his troops to return。 They did so； but Guan Ping and Liao Hua then turned and followed on their heels so that the troops of Cao Cao were thrown into confusion。
Cao Ren by this time had seen that a trap had been laid and he had fallen therein； so he hastily marched with one army to Xiangyang。 He got to within a short distance of the city when he saw before him a handsome banner waving in the wind； and out came Guan Yu with his green…dragon saber ready to slay。 Cao Ren was powerless from fear； and； fighting being impossible； he turned off into a bye…road for Xiangyang。
Then Xiahou Cun came。 He fell into a rage at the sight of the old warrior and went to fight him。 But Xiahou Cun was slain in the first encounter。 Zhai Yuan fled； but Guan Ping pursued and slew him。 Then the pursuit was continued； and the loss of Cao Cao's side was very heavy。 More than half were drowned in River Xiang。 Seeing the situation was desperate； Cao Ren fled to Fancheng。 Guan Yu got possession of Xiangyang。
〃You have obtained this city very easily；〃 said the Marching General； Wang Fu； 〃but the task is not ended。 Cao Cao's army have been beaten and their courage broken； but there is danger from the side of Wu。 Lu Meng is at Lukou； and he has long cherished the desire to lay hands on Jingzhou。 Suppose he now attacks： What will happen？〃
〃I was even thinking of that myself。 You may go and attend to this matter。 You will certainly be able to find certain elevated spots on the river bank； about seven miles apart； suitable for alarm beacons； whence could be signaled any attempt of the marines of Wu to cross the river。 Fifty soldiers could guard each station。 Let there be a flame by night and a smoke by day。 If they cross the river； I must go and smite them。〃
Wang Fu replied； 〃Fu Shiren and Mi Fang are defending important places； but they may not be able to defend the Passes well。 There ought to be a mander…in…chief over Jingzhou City。〃
〃There is no need for anxiety。 Army Inspector Pan Jun is guarding the city。〃
〃The objection is the character of Pan Jun。 He is jealous and selfish and not a fit person for the task。 I think you would do well to replace him by Zhao Lei； now of the Chief of the missariat。 Zhao Lei is loyal； trusty； clean…handed； and straight； a much more desirable man for the post。〃
〃I know Pan Jun very well； but I have delegated him for that duty and cannot change now。 The work Zhao Lei has to do in the supplies is also most important。 I do not think you need be anxious。 Just get along with those beacons for me。〃
Wang Fu； disappointed； took his leave。
Then Guan Ping was bidden to prepare ships ready to cross the river and attack Fancheng； whither Cao Ren had retired after his defeat。
Now Cao Ren said to Man Chong； 〃Neglecting your advice； I lost soldiers； two generals； and the city of Xiangyang。 What am I to do now？〃
〃Guan Yu is very dangerous； too brave and skillful for us to try to defeat。 We had better remain on the defensive；〃 replied Man Chong。
Just about this time came the tidings that Guan Yu was crossing the river on the way to attack。 Man Chong maintained his policy of defense。 But one of Cao Ren's generals； Lu Chang； was for going out to meet the enemy。
〃I ask for a few thousand troops；〃 said Lu Chang； 〃and I will meet the enemy on the way。〃
〃You cannot do any good；〃 said Man Chong。
〃According to the advice of you and the other bookish officials； there is only one thing to do。 But will defense drive off the enemy？ The proper way is to attack your enemy while he is crossing a river； and as Guan Yu is doing that now； why not attack？ It will be quite another matter if you let him reach the walls and get possession of the moat。〃
As a result of his arguments and protest； Lu Chang got mand of two thousand troops； whom he led to the river。 And there he found Guan Yu already arrayed for battle。 Guan Yu at once rode out； and the bold Lu Chang was going to attack him。 But his soldiers were panic…stricken at the sight of Guan Yu's fierce countenance and ran away。 Lu Chang called them to e back； but they would not stop； and as Guan Yu came on with a rush； the army of Wei again lost the day。 Many were slain； and the remainder ran into Fancheng。 Cao Ren sent off a hasty messenger for help and a letter to Xuchang to tell what Guan Yu had done and how Fancheng was in imminent danger of falling。
The letter reached Cao Cao； who chose a certain general among his leaders and assigned the task； 〃You go and defend Fancheng！〃
The man at once stepped out and accepted the assignment。 He was Yu Jin。
〃Let me have another general to lead the van；〃 said Yu Jin。
〃Who volunteers？〃 asked Cao Cao； looking around。
〃I do！〃 cried a man； 〃I will give my poor services for what they are worth。 And I will capture this fellow Guan Yu and bring him as an offering before your standard。〃
The soldiers of Wei began the war
Even before Wu had sent out armies。
But who was the man bold enough to say he would capture Guan Yu？ For his name see the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 74 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 74
Chapter 74
Pang De Takes His Coffin To The Field；
Guan Yu Drowns The Seven Armies。
The bold and self…confident leader of Cao Cao's army who promised to make an end of Guan Yu was Pang De。 Cao Cao was glad to find such a man。
〃That fellow Guan Yu has a great reputation； and in the whole empire he has no rival。 He has not met his match yet； but now you are going； he will find all his work cut out。〃
So spoke Cao Cao。 He conferred on Yu Jin the title of General Who Corrects the South and on Pang De that of General Who Corrects the West； and he made Pang De Leader of the Van。 The two generals marched out with their seven armies to Fancheng。
These seven armies were posed of sturdy fellows from the north； led by two of their own Marching manders named Dong Heng and Dong Chao。 Hearing who was to mand them； these two； supported by their generals； went to see Yu Jin and represented that the Leader of the Van was unsuitable。
Dong Heng said； 〃Sir General； the expedition you lead is for the relief of Fancheng； and it can confidently expect victory。 But is it wise to place such as Pang De in mand of the van？〃
〃Why？〃 said Yu Jin； surprised。
〃Because Pang De was once under the mand of Ma Chao。 He had no alternative but to surrender and fight for Wei。 But his former chief is now in high honor in Shu； one of the Five Tiger Generals； and his own brother Pang Rou is there； too； as an officer。 To send Pang De as Leader of the Van just now seems like trying to extinguish a fire with oil。 Would it not be well to inform the Prince of Wei and ask him to exchange this man for another？〃
Without further argument or delay； Yu Jin went to see the Prince and laid before him the objections to Pang De's appointment。 As soon as Cao Cao understood； he summoned Pang De to the steps and bade him yield his seal as Leader of the Van。
〃O Prince； why do you reject my services？ I was just about to do my best for you。〃
〃I do not doubt you； but Ma Chao is now in the west； and your brother also………both in the service of Liu Bei。 I myself have no doubts； but it is what all the crowd are saying。 What can I do？〃
Pang De took off his headdress and prostrated himself； bitter tears rolling down his cheeks。
〃Since I surrendered to you； O Prince； I have experienced much kindness； so that I would undergo any sufferings to show my gratitude。 I hope you will trust me。 When my brother and I were at home together； his wife was a wicked woman； and I slew her while I was drunk。 My brother has never forgiven me； but is permeated with hate for me。 He swears never to see me again； and we are enemies。 For my old master； Ma Chao； I have profound contempt。 He is bold； but only that； and was in a pitiable and dejected state when he found his way to the west。 Now； like me； he serves his own master； but our friendship is at an end。 How could I think of another after your kindness to me？〃
Cao Cao raised Pang De from the ground and soothed him； saying； 〃I have always known what a noble man you are； and what I said just now was to satisfy the feelings of other people。 Now you can strive to win fame。 If you do not turn your back on me； I shall not on you。〃
Then Pang De took his leave and returned to his house； where he ordered the artificers to make him a coffin。 Next he invited all his friends to a banquet； and the coffin was set out in the reception room for all to see。
And they asked one another； 〃What can that inauspicious thing mean putting out on the eve of a campaign？〃
By and by； drinking to them； Pang De said； 〃The Prince of Wei has been generous to me； and I am pledged to show my gratitude to the death。 I am about to go out against this Guan Yu； and I have to kill him or he must kill me。 If he does not kill me； I must mit suicide； and so I have prepared what is necessary。 I will not return leaving my task unachieved。〃
The terrible omen saddened the guests； and they fell to sighing。 Then Pang De called in his wife； Lady Li； and bade her bring their son Pang Hui； whom he mended to her care。
〃I have been appointed Leader of the Van of this new expedition against Guan Yu； and my duty bids me seek death or glory on the battlefield。 If I die； our son is in your special care。 Alas； the child has been born ill…starred； and when he grows up he will have to avenge a father。〃
Both mother and son wept as they bade him farewell。 When the army marched； the coffin was carried in its train。
Pang De bade his officers； saying； 〃I will fight to the end with Guan Yu。 Place my body therein if I fall in bat。 And if I slay him； then will I bring his head in this coffin as an offering to our Prince。〃
Then out spoke his five hundred veterans and said； 〃If you are like this； O General； then we also will follow you to the end。〃
The vanguard then marched away。
A certain man told the story of these happenings to Cao Cao； who was very pleased； saying； 〃I have no anxiety with such a general to lead my armies。〃
But Jia Xu said； 〃I am anxious for Pang De's safety。 He is over…bold and imprudent to fight with Guan Yu to the death。〃
Cao Cao thought such an act would be unwise； and he hastily sent a messenger with an edict warning Pang De against his antagonist。
〃This Guan Yu lacks neither cunning nor valor。 You are to be most cautious in engaging him。 If you can conquer； then conquer； but if there be any doubt； remain on the defensive