cealed his veterans in the partments。 He selected seven generals………Han Dang； Jiang Qin； Zhu Ran； Pan Zhang； Zhou Tai； Xu Sheng； and Ding Feng………to serve under him and settled the order of their successive movements。 The remainder of the forces was left with Sun Quan as supports and reserves。 Letters were also written to Cao Cao that he might cooperate by sending his army to attack Guan Yu in the rear； and to Lu Xun that he would act in concert。
Then the sailors in plain white dress navigated the ships to River Xunyang as quickly as possible； and then crossed to the north bank。
When the beacon…keepers came down to question them； the men of Wu said； 〃We are traders forced into the bank by contrary winds。〃
And they offered gifts to the beacon…keepers； who accepted them and let the ships e to an anchor close to the shore。
At about the second watch the soldiers came out of hiding in the holds of the transports； suddenly fell upon the beacon…keepers and made them prisoners； officers and soldiers。 Next the signal for a general landing was given； and all the soldiers from the eighty ships went ashore。 The guard stations were attacked； and all the troops captured and carried off to the ships； not one being allowed to escape。 Then the force of Wu hurried off to the city of Jingzhou； having so far carried out their plans that no one knew of their ing。
Nearing Jingzhou； Lu Meng spoke kindly to his captives； and gave them gifts and forted them in order to induce them to get the gates opened for him to enter the city。 He won them over to his side； and they promised to aid him。 They would show a flare as a signal that the gates were free。 So they went in advance and arrived at the gates about midnight。 They called the watch。 The wardens of the gate； recognizing their voices； opened for them。 Once within； they shouted and lit the flares。 Immediately the soldiers of Wu came in with a rush and were soon in possession。
The first order issued by Lu Meng was to spare the people。 Instant death should be the punishment for any murder or robbery。 The various officials in the city were retained in their offices and continued their functions。 Special guards were set over Guan Yu's family dwelling； and none dared break open any other house。 A messenger was sent with tidings to Sun Quan。
One very wet day Lu Meng； with a few horsemen as escort； was going round the walls and visiting the gates。 One of the soldiers took from a passer…by a broad…brimmed hat and put it on over his helmet to keep his armor dry。 Lu Meng saw it； and the offender was seized。 He was a fellow…villager of Lu Meng； but that did not save him。
〃You are an old acquaintance； but you knew my order。 Why did you disobey it？〃
〃I thought the rain would spoil my uniform； and I took the hat to protect it。 I did not take it for my own advantage； but to protect state property。 Spare me； O General； for the sake of our mon dwelling…place。〃
〃I know you were protecting your armor； but still it was disobedience to the order against taking anything from the people。〃
The soldier was beheaded； and his head exposed as a warning。 But when all was over； Lu Meng had the body buried decently and wept at the grave for the loss of his friend。 Never after this was there the least laxity of discipline。
When Sun Quan visited the city； Lu Meng met him at the boundary and led him to the official residence； where Sun Quan issued rewards and mendations。 This done； Sun Quan ordered Pan Jun to take charge of the new possession。 Yu Jin； who was in prison； was freed and sent back to Cao Cao。 When the people had been forted and the soldiers rewarded； there was a great banquet in honor of the success of the expedition。
Then said Sun Quan to Lu Meng； 〃We have got the city of Jingzhou； but now Fu Shiren is holding Gongan and Mi Fang Nanjun。 How can we get these two territories？〃
Suddenly Yu Fan started up and offered his services。
〃You will need neither bows nor arrows；〃 said Yu Fan； 〃unless my little tongue is worn out。 I can persuade Fu Shiren to surrender。〃
〃Friend Yu Fan； how will you do it？〃 asked Sun Quan。
〃Fu Shiren and I are very old friends； ever since we were boys。 If I explain the matter to him； I am sure he will e over to this side。〃
So Yu Fan； with an escort； left quickly for Gongan； where his friend was in mand。
Now when Fu Shiren heard of the capture of Jingzhou； he closed his gates。 Yu Fan arrived； but was refused entrance。 So Yu Fan wrote a letter； attached it to an arrow； and shot it over the city wall。 A soldier picked it up and took it to his mander； who found therein much persuasion to surrender。
Having read all this； he thought within himself； 〃I think I should do well in surrender； for at his departure Guan Yu was very bitter against me。〃
Without further ado； he bade the wardens open the gate； and his friend came in。 After their greetings they talked of old times； and Yu Fan praised Sun Quan's magnanimity and liberality and greatness generally。 So finally Fu Shiren decided to exchange masters and went away； taking with him his seal of office。 He was presented to Sun Quan； who reappointed him to the mand of Gongan under its new lord。
Lu Meng thought the appointment imprudent and said to Sun Quan； 〃Guan Yu is yet unconquered。 We should not put Fu Shiren in Gongan。 Instead； send him to Nanjun to induce his former colleague and fellow Mi Fang to join him in desertion to the enemy。〃
Lu Meng's advice was followed； and Fu Shiren was recalled。
〃Go to Nanjun and win over Mi Fang； and I will reward you richly；〃 said Sun Quan。
Fu Shiren accepted the mission and duly left for Nanjun。
Jingzhou's defenders failed when tried；
So Wang Fu's words were justified。
For the events of the journey see the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 76 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 76
Chapter 76
Xu Huang Fights At The River Mian；
Guan Yu Retreats To Maicheng。
The fall of Jingzhou put Mi Fang in a quandary。 Before he could decide upon any course； his old colleague Fu Shiren came to see him。 Fu Shiren was admitted； and when asked why he had e； he blurted out his business without beating about the bush。
〃I am faithful enough； but I got into difficulties and danger and could not hold on； so I have surrendered to Wu。 And I advise you to do the same。〃
〃You and I have both fed on the bounty of the Prince of Hanzhong； and I cannot understand how you can turn against him。〃
〃Guan Yu went away hating both of us intensely。 Even if he es back victorious； I do not think he will forgive us。 Just think it over。〃
〃My brother and I have followed the Prince these many years； and I do not like leaving him like this。〃
Mi Fang hesitated。
Before he could make up his mind； there came a messenger； saying； 〃The army in Fancheng is short of grain； and I was sent to demand white rice for the soldiers。 Nanjun and Gongan are to send ten thousand carts at once。 Delay will be most severely punished。〃
This sudden demand was a shock to Mi Fang。
〃Where am I to get the rice？〃 said he despairingly to his friend and tempter。 〃Jingzhou is now in the hands of Wu。〃
〃Do not dilly…dally；〃 said Fu Shiren。 Thereupon he drew his sword and slew the messenger as he stood in the hall。
〃What have you done？〃 cried Mi Fang。
〃Guan Yu wanted to slay us two and has forced me to this。 Are we to fold our hands and await death？ Either you give in at once and go over to Wu； or you will be put to death by Guan Yu。〃
Just then they heard that Lu Meng's troops had actually reached the city wall。 Mi Fang saw that nothing could save his life but desertion； so he went out with Fu Shiren and gave in his allegiance to Lu Meng； by whom he was led to Sun Quan。 Sun Quan gave both of them presents； after which he proceeded to restore order and to reward his army for their services。
At the time that great discussion about Jingzhou was going on in Xuchang； a messenger arrived with a letter from Sun Quan。 It told the plan of attacking Jingzhou and begged Cao Cao to send an army to attack Guan Yu in the rear； enjoining the utmost secrecy。
Cao Cao summoned his advisers to a meeting for consultation。
First Secretary Dong Zhao said； 〃Now that Fancheng is surrounded； it would be well to shoot letter into the city to let the besieged know； so that they may not yield to depression。 Then we will inform Guan Yu of the danger from the south。 If Guan Yu hears that Jingzhou is threatened by Wu； he will e back to try to defend it。 Then let Xu Huang take the chance to attack； and our victory will be plete。〃
Cao Cao agreed that the plan was good； and so he sent a messenger to urge Xu Huang to attack。 Cao Cao himself led a large force to Yangling Slope； south of Luoyang； to rescue Cao Ren。
Xu Huang was sitting in his tent when they told him that a messenger from the Prince of Wei had arrived。
The messenger was called in and said； 〃The Prince has led an army to Luoyang； and he wishes you to hasten to attack Guan Yu in order to relieve Fancheng。〃
Just then the scouts came to report： 〃Guan Ping has encamped at Yencheng and Liao Hua at Sizhong。 The enemy have built a line of twelve stockades。〃
Xu Huang ordered two of his generals………Lu Qian and Xu Shang………to Yencheng to masquerade as if he himself was in mand； by showing his ensigns。 Xu Huang himself； at the head of five hundred veterans； went along River Mian to attack Yencheng in the rear。
When Guan Ping heard of the approach of Xu Huang； he prepared his own division to meet him。 When both sides were arrayed； Guan Ping rode out and engaged Xu Shang。 After three encounters Xu Shang had the worst of it and fled。 Then the other general； Lu Qian； went out。 He fought half a dozen bouts and also ran away。 Thereupon Guan Ping went in pursuit and smote the flying enemy for seven miles。 But then there was an alarm of fire within Yencheng； and Guan Ping knew that he had been inveigled into the pursuit and was a victim。 So he turned and set out for the city again。 On his way he met a body of troops； and standing under the great standard was Xu Huang。
Xu Huang shouted out； 〃Guan Ping； my worthy nephew； it is strange that you do not recognize death when it stares you in the face。 Your Jingzhou has fallen into the hands of Wu； and yet you act so madly。〃
Guan Ping； whirling his sword； just rode hard at Xu Huang； and they engaged。 But after the third bout there was a tremendous shouting among the soldiers； for the flames within the city burst up higher than before。 Guan Ping could not follow up his desire to continue the fight； but cut his way out and made a dash for Sizhong； where Liao Hua received him with the news of the disaster to Jingzhou。
〃People say that Jingzhou has fallen to Lu Meng； and the news has frightened the whole army。 What is to be done？〃 said Liao Hua。
〃It is only a malicious rumor。 Do not let it spread。 If anyone repeats it； put him to death。〃
Just then a man came running in to say that Xu Huang was attacking the first stockade on the north。
〃If that goes；〃 said Guan Ping； 〃the remainder will follow。 But as we have River Mian at our back； they will not dare attack this。 Let us go to the rescue。〃
So Liao Hua summoned his subordinate leaders and gave them orders to hold the camp and make a signal if the enemy came。
〃There is no danger here；〃 said they。 〃The camp is defended by a tenfold line of