But having listened to the memorial； the First Ruler threw it to the floor； saying； 〃I have decided； and no remonstrance should be raised！〃
Then he appointed the Prime Minister to take care of his son and the two River Lands。 Then the Generals of the Flying Cavalry………Ma Chao and Ma Dai………； together with the General Who Defends the North； Wei Yan； were ordered to guard Hanzhong against Wei。 The Tiger General Zhao Yun was to be in reserve and to control the supplies； Huang Quan and Cheng Jin were made Counselors； Ma Liang and Chen Zhen； Secretaries； Huang Zhong； the Van Leader； assisted by the Marching Generals Feng Xi and Zhang Nan； Fu Tong and Zhang Yi； Marching manders of the Center Army； Zhao Rong and Liao Chun； the rear guards。 The whole army； including the borrowed foreign troops； numbered seven hundred fifty thousand； and high…rank officials amounted several hundred。 And the 〃tiger〃 day of the seventh month of the first year of Manifest Might was selected as the most propitious day for the start。
As soon as Zhang Fei had got back to his post； he issued orders that his soldiers should be ready to march in three days and the whole body was to be in mourning； white uniforms and whitened arms。
Just after the order appeared； two generals named Fan Jiang and Zhang Da came to their chief； saying； 〃The time allowed is insufficient to make white flags and armors。 Pray give us more time； General。〃
〃I am hot to avenge my brother！〃 roared Zhang Fei。 〃My only regret is that I cannot reach the miserable wretch's country tomorrow。 Do you dare to disobey my order？〃
Zhang Fei called in the lictors； had the two officers bound to trees； and ordered each to receive fifty lashes。
At the close of the flogging； he said； 〃Now you will be ready tomorrow。 If you are not； I will put you to death as an example！〃
The two generals returned to their place； spitting blood and hot with anger。
They said one to another； 〃We have been beaten today。 What about tomorrow？ This man's temper is unbearable； and if things are not ready； we shall suffer death。〃
〃Suppose we slay him；〃 suddenly said Zhang Da； 〃since if we do not； he will kill us。〃
〃But how can we get near him？〃
〃If we are to have a chance to live； he will get drunk and go to bed tonight； if we are to die； he will remain sober。〃
They made all their arrangements for the crime。
That day Zhang Fei was greatly disturbed in his mind and restless。
He told some of his subordinates； saying； 〃I feel nervous and creepy and shivery and cannot not rest。 What does it mean？〃
〃This is due to too much brooding over the loss of your brother；〃 said they。
Then Zhang Fei bade them bring in wine； and he drank with his officers。 Presently he became quite intoxicated and lay down on a couch in his tent。
Meanwhile the two assassins had followed all his doings； and when they knew he was lying on his couch intoxicated and incapable； they went into the tent； each armed with a water…sharp dagger。 They got rid of the attendants by saying they had confidential matters to talk about and so got into the inner rooms。
But even then they dared do nothing； for Zhang Fei slept always with open eyelids； and he lay on his couch as if still awake。 However； huge snores soon convinced them that their victim really slept； and they crept to the side of the couch。 Then both stabbed simultaneously deep into the body。 Zhang Fei uttered one cry and lay still。 So he died at the hand of assassins at the age of fifty…five years。
He who whipped the inspector in Anxi；
Who swept vile rebels from the land of Han；
And thereby won great glory for the Lius；
Whose valor shone at Tiger Trap Pass；
Who turned the tide of victory at Long Slope Bridge；
Who freed Yan Yan and thus won a friend
That helped him and his brothers conquer Shu；
Whose wisdom defeated Zhang He to get Hanzhong；
Is dead； the victim of assassins' blows。
Not his avenge his brother's death on Wu；
Langzhong will grieve him all the ages through。
Having done their victim to death； Fan Jiang and Zhang Da hacked off his head； and made off for Wu without loss of time。 Fleeing with them were a few dozen close subordinates。 When the deed was known； they had got too far for capture。
The assassination was reported in a memorial by a mander of Zhang Fei named Hu Ban； who had left Jingzhou to see the First Ruler and then had been sent to serve under Zhang Fei。 He wrote a memorial to the First Ruler and bade the eldest son； Zhang Bao； prepare a coffin for the remains。 After the ceremony； leaving his younger brother； Zhang Shao； to hold Langzhong； Zhang Bao went to see the Emperor。
The day of departure had already e； and the First Ruler had left the capital。 Zhuge Liang and many officers had escorted him out of the city for three miles and taken leave。
Returning to Chengdu； Zhuge Liang felt ill at ease； and he remarked to his colleagues； 〃If Fa Zheng had been alive； he would have been able to interdict this expedition。〃
One night the First Ruler felt nervous and shuddered from time to time。 He could not sleep； so he went out of his tent and looked up at the stars。 Suddenly he saw a bright meteor fall in the northwest； and began to wonder what the portent meant。 He sent at once to ask Zhuge Liang to tell him。
Zhuge Liang sent back the reply： 〃This means the loss of a great leader； and there will be bad news in a few days。〃
So the army was halted and did not march。 Then the arrival of a message from Hu Ban of Langzhong was announced。
The First Ruler's foreboding increased； and he stamped his foot； saying； 〃Alas！ My other brother is gone！〃
Opening the letter he found it was indeed so。 As he read the news of the assassination； he uttered a loud cry and fell in a swoon。 He was raised； and presently they brought him back to life。
Next day they reported a body of horsemen ing。 The First Ruler went out of the camp to look at them and presently saw a young general； dressed all in white armor； sweeping forth in quite a terror。 The First Ruler recognized that was Zhang Bao。
As soon as Zhang Bao reached the First Ruler's presence； he dismounted and bowed to the earth； weeping； 〃My father has been killed by Fan Jiang and Zhang Da。 They have gone over to Wu； taking my father's head with them！〃
The news was very grievous； and the First Ruler burst into tears and even refused food。
His officers remonstrated； saying； 〃Now Your Majesty has the loss of two brothers to avenge； and you must not destroy yourself。〃
So after a time he began to eat and drink； and he then offered the leadership of the van to Zhang Bao； saying； 〃Are you and Hu Ban willing to lead your troops to attack Wu and to avenge your father？〃
〃For my country or for my father； I would shrink from no sacrifice；〃 said the young man。
Just as the force for the young man's leadership was being organized； another party of horsemen approached； also dressed in white armors。 This was a small force under Guan Xing； son of Guan Yu。 The youth also threw himself to the ground and wept。
At sight of Guan Xing； thoughts stirred in the First Ruler's breast； and he burst into tears。 Neither reason nor persuasion could stop them。
〃I think of the plain and simple days of long ago when we pledged ourselves one to the other。 Now I am Emperor。 How I should rejoice to share my good fortune with them！ But they have met violent deaths； and the sight of these two youths wrings my heart to the very core。〃
〃Young gentlemen； please retire；〃 said the officers to the two youthful generals； 〃and let our Sacred One repose his dragon body。〃
They went。
Said the attendants； 〃Your Majesty is no longer young。 You are over sixty； remember； and it is not fitting that you give way to such extreme sorrow。〃
〃But my brothers………dead；〃 wailed the First Ruler。 〃How can I live without them？〃
He broke into a fresh paroxysm and beat his head on the ground。
〃What can be done？〃 asked the officers one to another。 〃He is in such trouble！ How can we fort him？〃
Ma Liang said； 〃Sire； it is bad for the army to spend whole days in wailing and tears when leading against the enemy。〃
And then Chen Zhen said； 〃There is a certain hermit living among the Blue Mountains； near Chengdu； who is said to be three hundred years old。 He is called Li Yin； and people say he is a seer。 Let us tell His Majesty and let him send for this old man that he may know what the future may have in store。 It will have more weight than anything we can say。〃
They went to the First Ruler and told him。 He agreed to summon the seer and sent Chen Zhen with the mand。 Soon the messenger reached the town near the hills and asked the people where the prophet dwelt。 They led him far into a secluded valley like a fairy village； very unlike any ordinary spot。 Soon a lad came to receive the visitor。
〃You are surely Chen Zhen。〃
Chen Zhen was startled that the lad knew him； and still more so at the familiar address； and said； 〃O superhuman boy； how do you know my name so well？〃
〃Last evening my master told me that a messenger with an imperial mand would e today and mentioned your name。〃
〃Truly he is more than wise；〃 said Chen Zhen。 〃His reputation is not unfounded。〃
So the two proceeded to the old man's abode； and Chen Zhen declared his errand。 The old man said he was too aged to travel。
〃But the Emperor anxiously desires to see you face to face； if haply you would not mind making the effort。〃
In the end； and after much persuasion； Li Yin consented and went。 The First Ruler received him affably； surprised at the contrast between his hoary head and fresh boyish plexion。 The venerable one had green eyes； with square and sparkling pupils。 His carriage was erect； and he stood straight as a pine tree。
〃This is no mon man；〃 thought the First Ruler； and he treated him with distinguished courtesy。
The seer said； 〃I am but an old man of the barren hill country； without learning or wisdom。 You shame me； O Emperor； by calling me； and I know not why。〃
〃My two brothers and I swore a mutual oath some thirty years ago。 But now my both brothers have gone； both by violent deaths。 I would lead a great army to avenge them and wish to know how the expedition will end。 Hearing that you； Venerable Sir； are learned in the deeper mysteries； I sent for you and beg you to tell me。〃
〃But this is fate。 It is not for an old man like me to know。〃
But the First Ruler pressed him to say。 However； the aged one got paper and a brush and wrote 〃soldiers； horses； weapons〃 again and again on many sheets of paper。 Having done this； he suddenly tore them into fragments。 Further； he drew a picture of a tall man lying supine and another above him digging a grave。 And over all he wrote 〃white〃。
After this he bowed and departed； leaving the First Ruler annoyed。
〃This is only a demented man。 What he says is not worthy of confidence；〃 said the First Ruler。
And he burned the paper。 Then he ordered an advance at full speed。
Zhang Fei's son； Zhang Bao； came in； saying； 〃Hu Ban and his army have e。 I pray that I may be appointed to lead the van。〃
The First Ruler admired his noble intent and gave him a Van Leader's seal。
But just as Zhang Bao was attaching the seal to his girdle； another youth boldly stepped forth and said； 〃Leave that seal to me！〃
It was Guan Xing； son of Guan Yu。
〃I have already received my mission；〃 said Zhang Bao。
〃What abilities have