Guan Yu, by righteousness, pardons and releases Huang with the courtesy name Hansheng.
Sun Zhongmou wages a great battle with Zhang Wenyuan.

Earlier, Zhuge Liang, whose courtesy name was Kongming, told Zhang Fei, whose courtesy name was Yide, “When Zilong went to take Guiyang Commandery, he issued a military order first. Today Yide is going to take Wuling; he must also issue a military order if he is to lead soldiers away.”

So Zhang Fei drafted the order at once, and with pleasure he led three thousand soldiers, riding overnight into the Wuling border.

When Jin Xuan heard Zhang Fei had brought men, he gathered the officers and checked the fine weapons and armor before leading his troops out to meet him.

Gong Zhi, one of his attendants, advised, “Liu Bei, whose courtesy name was Xuande, is the Han imperial uncle; benevolence and righteousness are spread through the world because of him. Besides, Zhang Yide is extraordinarily fierce and brave. Do not meet him in battle. Better to accept his surrender from the start.”

Jin Xuan grew angry. “Do you mean to make hidden correspondence with a bandit and bring treason from within?” he shouted, and ordered guards to be thrown out and beheaded.

All the officers pleaded at once, “If we execute our own man first, it will be harmful to the army.”

Jin Xuan dismissed Gong Zhi and brought out his soldiers himself. At twenty li beyond the city, they were just meeting Zhang Fei. Zhang Fei stood in his saddle with his spear raised and bellowed loud enough to shake the air.

Jin Xuan asked his officers, “Who dares to ride out first?” None of them dared approach.

Jin Xuan himself spurred forward, his horse prancing, and flourished his sword to fight.

Zhang Fei gave one mighty cry like thunder. Jin Xuan paled and would not dare to force a close clash. He turned his horse to flee. Zhang Fei pressed forward with his full army and struck him in pursuit.

When Jin Xuan reached the city gate, a confusion of arrows poured down from above. He looked around in alarm and saw Gong Zhi standing upon the wall.

“Because you did not follow Heaven’s timing, you have walked into ruin with your own head. I and the common people already surrendered to Liu yesterday,” Gong Zhi said.

Before the sentence was finished, an arrow struck Jin Xuan in the face and he fell from his horse. The soldiers cut off his head and offered it to Zhang Fei. Gong Zhi came out, surrendered, and was taken in.

Zhang Fei ordered Gong Zhi to carry the seal and tallies and go to Guiyang to meet Liu Bei. Liu Bei rejoiced greatly and immediately appointed him to Jin Xuan’s post.

Liu Bei then rode to Wuling to settle the people, and sent a rider to report to Guan Yu, saying, “You have each taken one commandery—Wing and Yide and Zilong. If this elder brother does not consider me unworthy, then let Guan this brother render that meritorious service well.”

Liu Bei ordered Zhang Fei to leave by night, to hold Jingzhou in place for Guan Yu, and told Guan to go and take Changsha.

When Guan Yu arrived, he appeared before Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang said, “Zilong took Guiyang; Yide took Wuling. Each moved with three thousand men. Changsha’s Administrator Han Xuan is not hard to defeat by force alone. But he has one formidable general, a man from Nanyang named Huang, courtesy name Hansheng, given name Zhong. He had once been a Zhonglang Jiang under Liu Biao and then guarded Changsha together with Liu Biao’s nephew Liu Pan. He now serves Han Xuan. Though he is near sixty years old, he has courage of ten thousand men. Do not lightly underestimate him. If Guan goes, he must bring many horsemen.”

Guan Yu replied, “Why does the Military Adviser dampen another’s sharpness and weaken his own authority? Can this old man really matter so much?”

“Guan does not need three thousand men. Five hundred of my own blade-men will do. I will definitely cut down Huang Zhong and Han Xuan’s head and bring them in as trophies for our banners.”

Liu Bei tried to block him. Guan Yu ignored him and departed with just five hundred blade-men.

Zhuge Liang said to Liu Bei, “Guan is underestimating Huang Zhong. I fear something might go wrong. My lord should go and support him.”

Liu Bei followed, then brought up the troops and set out toward Changsha.

Now Han Xuan, the Administrator of Changsha, was a man of quick temper and light hand in killing. His people all hated him.

When he heard Guan Yu’s army had arrived, he summoned his old general Huang Zhong at once.

Huang Zhong said, “Your lord need not worry. With my own blade and this one bow, one thousand men will come, one thousand men will die.”

Huang Zhong was in fact able to draw the two-shi bow and strike true a hundred times.

Before he finished speaking, a man from below the stair called out, “There is no need for the old general to ride out. Leave it to my hands to capture Guan alive.”

Han Xuan saw it was the commandant’s officer Yang Ling and was pleased. He ordered Yang Ling out with one thousand men to rush out from the city.

After about fifty li, they saw where the dust rose. Guan’s cavalry was already there.

Yang Ling lifted his spear in the saddle and stepped before the line, cursing and shouting for battle.

Guan Yu became furious and did not answer a word. He wheeled, spun his blade, and struck straight at Yang Ling. Yang Ling came forward with his spear.

Within three bouts, Guan’s blade came down and Yang Ling lay cut down at the horse’s feet.

He pursued the survivors and routed them all the way to the city’s foot.

Han Xuan was greatly startled, so he ordered Huang Zhong out to fight.

He watched from the top of the wall. Huang Zhong raised his blade, spurred his horse, and rode five hundred riders across the hanging bridge.

Seeing the old general ride out, Guan Yu recognized him. He spread the five hundred blade-men in one line, set his sword and raised his horse, and said, “Are you perhaps Huang Zhong, old general?”

Huang Zhong replied, “Since you already know my name, how dare you step on my ground?”

Guan answered, “I came specifically to take your head.”

With that, their two horses clashed in close combat and they fought for more than a hundred exchanges without any clear result.

Han Xuan feared Huang Zhong might lose, and sounded the drum to pull him back. Huang Zhong withdrew his men into the city.

Guan Yu also withdrew, setting camp ten li outside the gates. In his heart, he thought: “Old General Huang Zhong’s fame is no empty boast. We fought for a hundred rounds and found no flaw in him. On another day I will use the dragging-blade stratagem and cut him from the flank.”

The next morning, after breakfast, he returned to the city and resumed engagement.

Han Xuan sat on the wall and ordered Huang Zhong out again.

Huang Zhong rode across the hanging bridge with a few hundred riders and met Guan again.

They fought another fifty or sixty rounds, with no one winning. The two armies shouted themselves hoarse.

When the drumbeats surged, Guan feinted and turned away with his horse.

Huang Zhong chased after him. Just as Guan Yu raised his sword to strike, he heard a sharp sound behind his head. He turned and saw Huang Zhong unseated as the horse’s foreleg had slipped and he was thrown onto the ground.

Guan rode back and shouted with both hands raised, “I will spare your life! Change horses at once and meet me again to continue!”

Huang Zhong quickly lifted his horse by the stirrup, sprang into the saddle, and fled back into the city.

Han Xuan asked why.

Huang Zhong said, “This horse had not seen two battlefield rides for a long time, so it failed.”

Han said, “Your arrows are true in a hundred shots. Why did you not shoot?”

Huang Zhong replied, “Tomorrow there will be another battle. I must use deception. I will feign defeat and lure him to the hanging bridge, then shoot there.”

Liu Bei gave his own blue horse to Huang Zhong, who bowed and withdrew.

He thought to himself, “It is rare that Guan Yu has such righteous feeling. He could not bring himself to kill me; how can I then shoot him? If I do not shoot, I may be disobeying orders.”

That night he hesitated and could not settle his mind.

At dawn the next day, reports came that Guan was challenging another engagement.

Huang Zhong led out his men. Guan Yu, frustrated at two days’ stalemate, gathered himself and clashed with Huang again.

Not even thirty rounds had passed when Huang feigned defeat and pulled back. Guan charged in.

Huang, remembering yesterday’s mercy, did not dare to shoot. He checked his blade and only drew and released the bowstring. Guan dodged quickly, and no arrow came.

Guan charged again. Again Huang only pretended and drew the string with force but no arrow.

Guan dodged again. Thinking Huang could not shoot, he pressed forward, secure in himself.

Near the hanging bridge, Huang Zhong took position upon it, drew and released. The bowstring snapped like a thunderclap, and the arrow flew to strike exactly at the base of Guan’s helmet tassel.

The front rank of soldiers cried out in one voice.

Startled, Guan Yu took back the line of battle and returned to camp. Only then did he realize that Huang Zhong truly could shoot through one hundred paces; and today he had aimed only at his helmet tassel as repayment for yesterday’s mercy.

Guan withdrew with his army.

Huang Zhong rode into the city to report to Han Xuan.

Han Xuan shouted for him to be arrested. Huang Zhong cried out, “No guilt!”

Han Xuan grew angry: “I have watched these three days. You dare deceive me! The first day you did not fight hard, so your heart was not sincere. Yesterday your horse slipped, and he did not kill you. He certainly has secret ties with Guan. Today you gave two false draws of the bowstring, and the third arrow struck the center of his helmet exactly. If he is not beheaded, he will be a danger later!”

He ordered that a slayer with an axe be pushed outside the city gate and strike him down.

Some captains tried to speak in plea.

Han Xuan said, “If anyone asks that Huang be spared, that person is guilty of the same crime.”

Just as they had pushed him outside the gate, with the axe already raised, a general suddenly cut his way in and hacked down the executioner's swordsman. He pulled Huang Zhong up and shouted, “Huang Zhong, whose courtesy name was Hansheng, is the very pillar of Changsha. To kill him is to kill the people of Changsha. Han Xuan is cruel and lacking in humanity, he despises men of virtue. Let us execute him before all! Whoever wishes to follow me, come!”

Everyone saw him. His face was dark-red and his eyes shone like bright stars. He was Wei Yan of Yiyang.

He had chased after Liu Bei from Xiangyang and reached Han Xuan too late, then submitted. Liu Bei had found him arrogant and rude and refused to elevate him, and so he had been left constrained there.

On that day he rescued Huang Zhong. He called the citizens and, raising his bare arms with a shout, several hundred followed him.

Huang could not withstand them.

Wei Yan cut his way straight up to the city tower and in a single stroke split Han Xuan in two.

He took the head up on horseback, led the citizens out of the city, and bowed toward Guan Yu.

Guan Yu rejoiced and entered the city, finishing pacification, then invited Huang Zhong to meet him. Huang offered pretense of illness and did not come out.

Guan sent immediately for Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang.

Now Liu Bei, while Guan was coming to take Changsha, was pressing on behind with Zhuge Liang to dispatch men and support in time.

As he rode, a blue banner curled backward in the wind. A single crow flew from north to south, called three times, and passed on.

Liu Bei said, “What blessing or curse does this omen mean?”

Zhuge Liang checked the stars in the sleeve and said, “Changsha has already been secured, and you will win another great general. After the Hour of the Horse it will be clear by daylight.”

Soon after, a small troop rider flew in and reported, “General Guan has already taken Changsha. He has accepted the surrender of Huang Zhong and Wei Yan. I request Your Majesty go to him at once.”

Liu Bei rejoiced and entered Changsha.

Guan Yu welcomed him into the main hall and relayed all about Huang Zhong. Liu Bei then visited Huang Zhong personally and invited him. Huang came out and surrendered. He asked that Han Xuan’s head be buried to the east of Changsha.

Later people composed this poem in praise of Huang Zhong:

The general’s spirit and bearing rose with Heaven and stars; his white hair still held him fast in the Han’s southern lands.
To die, he was content with no blame or reproach; even kneeling low before death, he still carried shame at the heart.
The treasured sword shone like bright snow and showed his divine courage; iron cavalry in the wind recalled the intoxication of war.
Across all ages his lofty name should never fade, forever following the lone moonlight over Xiangtan.

Liu Bei honored Huang Zhong greatly.

When Guan Yu brought Wei Yan before him, Zhuge Liang ordered the men with axes and blades to bring him out.

Liu Bei asked in alarm, “Wei Yan is a man with merit and without guilt. Why does the Military Adviser want him dead?”

Zhuge Liang replied, “To eat his salary and kill the ruler is disloyal. To live on one land and surrender that land is unrighteous. I see rebellion in Wei Yan’s mind. He will turn long afterward if left alive, so I cut him down now to cut off the root of future disaster.”

Liu Bei said, “If we kill him, all those who have surrendered will all feel their safety threatened. I ask the Military Adviser for clemency.”

Zhuge pointed at Wei Yan. “I spare your life now. Show that you can be loyal to the end and bear no strange thoughts. If such thoughts arise, I will in any case take your head.”

Wei Yan nodded repeatedly and withdrew.

Huang Zhong recommended Liu Biao’s nephew Liu Pan, who now sat in You County in idling seclusion.

Liu Bei brought him back and made him Administrator of Changsha Commandery.

With four commanderies already pacified, Liu Bei ended his campaign and returned to Jingzhou. He changed Youjiangkou into Gong’an.

From then on, money and grain flourished, worthy men came to join him, and commanders’ horses were distributed in dispersed camps across the mountain passes.

Now Zhou Yu returned to Chaisang to recuperate, and appointed Gan Ning to guard Baling Commandery and Ling Tong to hold Hanyang Commandery. At both places he positioned war junks, waiting for redeployment.

Cheng Pu brought his remaining officers and soldiers back to Hefei County.

Since the great battle after Red Cliffs, Sun Quan had long been at Hefei, clashing with Cao troops in more than ten engagements with no final victory. He had not dared to press hard against the city, keeping his army fifty li away.

When news came that Cheng Pu had arrived, Sun Quan rejoiced and personally came out to the camp to reward his soldiers.

Then it was reported that Lu Su had arrived first. Sun Quan dismounted and waited on the ground for him to approach, hastily dismounting and performing proper courtly greeting.

All the generals were astonished at Sun’s respect.

Sun asked Lu Su to mount up and rode beside him while holding the rein. He confided in him, “I came down from the saddle to receive you; does that show I do not honor you?”

Lu Su said, “No, my lord.”

Sun asked, “Then how else could I honor you?”

Lu Su replied, “May Your Majesty’s might and virtue extend over the four seas, bringing all nine provinces under one command, so that, after the empire is made, I may inscribe your illustrious name on bamboo and silk. Only then can you be truly glorious.”

Sun clapped his hands and laughed broadly, and together they went into the command tent for a full banquet, rewarding the weary soldiers who had fought in close fighting and discussing strategy to break the Hefei blockade.

Suddenly a messenger arrived: Zhang Liao had sent a challenge to battle.

Sun opened the letter and grew angry. “Zhang Liao has insulted me too far. You hear that Cheng Pu’s army has come; he has deliberately sent men to start a skirmish. Tomorrow I will not send fresh troops to meet them. I will fight one grand battle myself.”

He ordered that at the fifth watch that night all three armies leave camp and advance toward Hefei.

Around the hour of chen, when horse and men had gone halfway, Cao’s troops were already there; both sides had formed ranks.

Sun Quan dressed in gold helmet and gold armor and rode out. To his left rode Song Qian and to his right Jia Hua, both generals wielding fanged-tine halberds as escorts.

After three drumbeats, Cao’s lines opened their gate flags, and three fully armed generals in full armor mounted the front of their formation: Zhang Liao at the center, Li Dian on the left, and Yue Jin on the right.

Zhang Liao urged his horse forward and sought a determined contest with Sun himself.

Sun raised his spear as if to fight himself. A general with a raised spear and sudden mounted thrust came out into the center of the formation: it was Taishi Ci.

Zhang Liao swung his saber to meet him. The two commanders fought for seventy to eighty rounds, with no clear winner.

From among Cao’s ranks, Li Dian said to Yue Jin, “The man in the golden helmet is Sun Quan. If we capture him, we can answer a grievance for all eight hundred thirty thousand men.”

He had not finished saying this when Yue Jin rode in with one horse and one saber. He came on a diagonal path like a flash of lightning and in front of us.

He rose to strike with his blade. Song Qian and Jia Hua quickly used their halberds to block; both halberd shafts were cut in one stroke, and only the hafts struck toward the horse’s head.

Yue Jin wheeled around. Li Dian shot an arrow that struck Song Qian in the heart and dropped him from his horse.

Taishi Ci saw someone falling behind him, abandoned Zhang Liao, and turned back to his own ranks.

Seizing the moment, Zhang Liao charged forward and killed men through the ranks. Wu soldiers were thrown into confusion and scattered in all directions.

Zhang Liao saw Sun Quan and accelerated hard.

As he closed in, an army burst forward in the direction of the line, with General Cheng Pu in its lead. He intercepted and cut a passage, saving Sun.

Zhang Liao drew back his men and returned to Hefei.

Cheng Pu kept Sun safely in the great camp while the broken troops drifted back by themselves.

Seeing Song Qian dead, Sun Quan wept openly.

Zhang Hong said, “My lord relies on his robust strength and has been haughty toward a mighty foe. The whole of the three armies feels chilled in spirit. Even if one who cuts down generals and seizes banners can make one’s name shake the battlefield, this is still the duty of a lesser commander, not of the lord himself. Keep Your Majesty’s ferocity in check, and hold fast to plans for kingship and conquest.”

Sun said, “The fault is mine. From now on I will amend it.”

Soon afterward, Taishi Ci entered the tent and said, “One of my men is surname Ge, name Ding. He and a fellow man named the stablehand were former horse-stable mates under Zhang Liao.

the stablehand bore a grudge after being held back in rank. Tonight I have sent men to report by signal fire. He has come to Hefei city to ask to avenge Song Qian by killing Zhang Liao. I ask leave to send troops for an external operation.”

Sun said, “Where is this Ge Ding?”

Taishi Ci replied, “He has already slipped into Hefei city.”

He asked, “Allow me five thousand men.”

Zhuge Jin said, “Zhang Liao is deeply crafty. He may have arranged this in advance; we cannot act rashly.”

Taishi Ci pressed for action. Because Sun was wounded in heart by Song Qian’s death and eager to take revenge, he approved and gave five thousand men to Taishi Ci for the sortie.

Now Ge Ding was from Taishi Ci’s own home district.

That day he had mingled with the army and entered Hefei city with it. Soon he found the old stableman and they spoke together.

Ge Ding said, “I have already sent a message to General Taishi Ci. Tonight they must come to support me. How do you propose we proceed?”

The stableman replied, “This place is far from the main army at night. He cannot enter quickly. At most you should light a torch on the hay heap there, cry out revolt in front, and throw the city into disorder, then stab Zhang Liao from inside while the rest of the troops can break out as well.”

Ge Ding answered, “That plan is excellent.”

That night Zhang Liao returned from victory and rewarded the whole army. He ordered nobody to remove their armor and sleep in armor.

The officers said, “Today we won entirely. Wu troops have fled far. Why does the general not remove armor and rest?”

Zhang Liao said, “No. For a commander, let him not make joy of victory and despair of defeat. If Wu soldiers cross our line while unready and strike into emptiness, how could we meet it? Tonight’s guard must be even more vigilant than any previous night.”

Before his sentence ended, fire rose in the rear camp with a broad cry that looked and sounded like open revolt. Zhang Liao dismounted from his tent and called several dozen trusted officers and ministers to stand in front.

His men asked, “The calls are so urgent. Should we go look?”

Li Liao replied, “Can a whole city be in mutiny at once? This is a rebel man meant to panic the soldiers. When there is chaos first cut down the traitors.”

Not long after, Li Dian arrested Ge Ding and the stableman and brought them in.

After hearing the details, Zhang Liao had them executed at once before the horse.

Then from outside the city gate came gongs and war drums, and a great shout thundered.

Zhang Liao said, “That is likely the Wu force coming from outside. We can answer it. Bring a fire up inside the gate, let all shout mutiny, and open the gate wide. Lower the hanging bridge.”

Taishi Ci saw the gate gaping open and believed there was a revolt within, so he thrust his spear and rode in first.

From the wall, one cannon fired and arrows came down in a storm. Taishi Ci withdrew quickly and was hit by several arrows.

Behind him Li Dian and Yue Jin burst out. Wu soldiers lost more than half their force in that clash, and they pressed hard to the edge of the camp.

Lu Xun and Dong Xi broke out and saved Taishi Ci. Cao’s soldiers returned home.

Sun Quan saw Taishi Ci with grave wounds and grieved all the more.

Zhang Zhao asked him to end the campaign. Sun agreed and drew back, withdrawing the army onto ships and returning to Nanxu and Runzhou.

By the time the troops were quartered, Taishi Ci was in danger of death.

Sun sent Zhang Zhao and others to pay him visits.

Taishi Ci shouted, “A true man should be born in upheaval, carrying a three-foot sword, to achieve undying merit. What I meant to do has not yet been fulfilled. How then can I die?”

After he spoke, he died at forty-one years of age.

Later people praised him in verse:

Dedicated in loyalty and filial piety, Taishi Ci of the East.
His name would be known in distant lands, and his bow and horse rattled the roaring army.
The North Sea repaid his grace one day, and in Shen Pavilion he fought in battle intoxication.
At the end he spoke of noble resolve; all ages will sorrow with him.

When Sun Quan heard of Taishi Ci’s death, his sorrow did not cease. He ordered a rich burial at Nanxu, beneath Mount Beigu, and raised Taishi Xiang, his son, in the household.

Now Liu Bei was reorganizing soldiers and horses in Jingzhou. Hearing that Wu had been beaten at Hefei and returned to Nanxu, he discussed it with Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang said, “Kongming observed the stars at night. He saw a star fall in the northwest. It means a member of the royal house will surely be broken.”

As he spoke, a messenger arrived to report Prince Liu Qi’s death.

Liu Bei wept bitterly and without end.

Zhuge Liang advised, “Life and death are fixed in Heaven. My lord must not worry and harm his health. Urgently send men to guard the city and to arrange the funeral rites.”

Liu Bei said, “Who can go?”

Zhuge Liang replied, “No one except Guan Yu can go.”

At once he ordered Guan Yu to go ahead and secure Xiangyang.

Liu Bei said, “Today Liu Qi is dead. East Wu will certainly come to attack Jingzhou. How shall we answer?”

Zhuge Liang said, “Should anyone come, I shall have a reply.”

Half a month passed. Men reported that Lu Su and others from Eastern Wu had arrived to offer condolences for the dead.

It was then that:

The plans and stratagems have already been laid and arranged; only the mission from Eastern Wu remains to arrive.
Who can say how Kongming will answer?

How this turned out will be told in the next chapter.