Zhou Yu, whose courtesy name was Gongjin, had his anger fill his chest and fell from his horse. He was quickly rescued and brought back to the ship. Soldiers on his boat reported, “Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, whose courtesy name was Kongming, are up on the ridge top ahead, drinking and enjoying themselves.” Zhou Yu snapped through clenched teeth, “You think I cannot take Xichuan? I swear I will take it.” Just then, he was told that Sun Quan had sent his brother Sun Yu.

Zhou Yu took him in and heard the matter. Sun Yu said, “I came on my brother’s command to assist the commander-in-chief.” He then ordered the army onward. They reached Bāqiū, and news came that Liu Feng and Guan Ping were leading troops there and had blocked the waterway. Zhou Yu grew all the more furious. Soon after, he heard that Kongming had sent a letter.

Zhou Yu broke the seal and read:

To the camp of Master Gongjin, the Eastern Wu Great Commander: From Zhuge Liang, the Han Army Advisor and General of the Imperial Guards,

Since we parted at Chaisang, I have not forgotten you once. I have heard that you intend to march for Xichuan; in my judgment, this is not feasible. Yizhou has fierce people and rough terrain. Although Liu Zhang is obscure and weak, he is enough to defend on his own. Now you have marched far to exert your strength and moved ten thousand li from home. Even if you are hoping to secure a complete victory, I do not think Wu Qi could plan it and Sun Wu could manage what comes after.

Cao Cao lost at Red Cliffs; is his ambition to forget his blood-feud so soon?

You now raise the army and go on this distant expedition; if Cao Cao seizes the opening and comes south, Jiangnan will surely be reduced to dust. I cannot bear to stand idle and watch.

Please accept this report in grace.

When Zhou Yu had finished reading, he let out one long sigh, called for paper and brush, and drafted a letter to Sun Quan.

He then gathered his officers and said, “I do not say that I do not want to serve loyally and repay the state, but heaven’s mandate has already been cut. Serve your Lord Wu well and complete the great work together.” He spoke and collapsed.

After a while, he regained his senses. Looking toward heaven, he sighed once more, “If Zhaolong was born, why was Kongming born too?” he called three or four times and then died. He was thirty-six years old.

Later, someone composed this elegiac verse:

Heroic glory remained after Red Cliffs, a youth with noble fame. Your lute and song knew noble feeling; the cup was raised in parting to men of worth. You once summoned three thousand measures, and often drove out an army of one hundred thousand. Baqiu was your last place of death, and lamentation there still bruises the heart.

Zhou Yu’s mourning lay at Baqiu. The officers bundled the letters he had left, sealed them, and sent riders to report to Sun Quan. When Sun Quan heard that Zhou Yu had died, he wailed. He opened the letter and then wrote a brief recommendation:

Gongjin’s talent was plain, yet he had been singled out for exceptional favor. He was trusted as a close attendant and placed in command of men and horses. How could he not have strained every limb and thought to make his contribution? But life and death are unpredictable and length is decreed by heaven. My designs are unfulfilled, and my meager body has already fallen—how great is the grief of what I left undone?

At this moment Cao Cao is in the north and the front is not at peace. Liu Bei is housed here like a tiger fed and kept warm; the affairs of all under heaven are still uncertain. This is the season when scholars of the morning and evening think late into the night, and it is fitting for the Son of Heaven to be worried.

Lu Su is faithful and heroic; he does not act carelessly in danger. He can take up this post in Zhou Yu’s place. “One whose death is near speaks with good intent.”

If he grants his kindness, Zhou Yu’s name will not perish.

Sun Quan read to the end and wept: “Gongjin had the talent of a royal adviser. To die so early and so suddenly—how can I rely on that now? He has already named Zijing in his final letter. How can I not obey?” That very day he appointed Lu Su as Great Commander and ordered him to take charge of all troops. At once he instructed that Zhou Yu’s coffin be returned for burial.

Elsewhere, in Jingzhou, Kongming observed the stars through the night and saw a star of command falling to earth. He said with a laugh, “Zhou Yu is dead.” At dawn he reported this to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei sent men to verify it and it proved true. He asked Kongming, “Now that Zhou Yu has died, what are we to do?”

Kongming replied, “He who should now command in place of Zhou Yu will certainly be Lu Su. The stars are gathering in the east. Let us go to Jiangdong on the pretext of mourning and make one tour there, then look for worthy men to assist our lord.”

Liu Bei said, “I fear only that officers in Wu might seize you.”

Kongming said, “While Zhou Yu was alive, I did not still hesitate. Now that he is gone, what need to fear?” He took Zhao Yun and five hundred soldiers, prepared mourning rites, stepped onto the riverboat, and sailed to Baqiu to attend the funeral.

On the way he had already heard that Sun Quan had named Lu Su as Great Commander and already sent Zhou Yu’s coffin back to Chaisang. Kongming went straight to Chaisang. Lu Su welcomed him with formality. The officers of Zhou Yu all wanted to kill Kongming, but seeing that Zhao Yun followed armed with sword in hand, they dared not strike.

Kongming ordered offerings placed before the spirit, poured wine himself, knelt on the ground, and read the mourning prose:

Alas, Master Gongjin! To die so young is not fortunate; life and death are heaven’s ordinance, and yet who could remain unhurt? My heart truly aches; I pour out this cup of libation. May you have spirit to receive it and share my heartfelt offering.

I mourn you, who as a youth won the friendship of Bofu for right conduct; you gave away wealth in righteousness, and gave up shelter with gracious ease. I mourn you, who at that tender age, like a roc spanning ten thousand li, set down a great enterprise and took possession of Jiangnan. I mourn you, with strength in full bloom, guarding Baqiu from afar; as Jing Sheng bore concern, he feared no trouble in quelling rebels. I mourn you, whose deportment was refined, and whose match with Little Qiao was worthy. As son-in-law to a Han officer, you did not fail your age. I mourn you, for your force of spirit and sense: in counsel you restrained what should be resisted and admitted what was right. Though in your beginning your wings were folded, in the end you could still spread them. I mourn you for Poyang, where Jiang Gan spoke; every movement was natural, and your breadth of mind and lofty aspiration were obvious.

I mourn you for your vast ability, in both civilian and martial planning. Through fire attack you shattered the enemy, turning strength into weakness. I remember you in former days, majestic and heroic; I grieve at your early death, and lie in the earth as if blood would run from me.

The heart of loyalty and righteousness, the breath of a heroic spirit; through three cycles of life your name will stretch across a hundred generations. I mourn you, my grief is keen, my entrails tied in a thousand knots. My loyal heart and true intentions have no end in their sorrow. The sky dimmed darkly, and three armies grew heavy-hearted. The lord wept in mourning, and friends cried tear upon tear.

Kǒngmíng is not talented, only begging for plans and counsel. I sought to help Wu resist Cao Cao, to aid Han and steady Liu. As mutually supporting wings, they answer each other from head to tail. Whether life or death comes to me, what fear is left then?

Alas, Master Gongjin—life and death part us forever! Preserve your chastity and uprightness in the dark and unseen. If your soul still has spirit, let it witness my heart. From this day onward there is no one in all the world who truly hears me. Alas! I beg your posthumous favor at this table!

After finishing, Kongming lay on the ground and wept bitterly, tears gushing like springs. His grief and crying did not end. All the officers and generals there said, “Everyone says Gongjin and Kongming were never in harmony; now seeing how he mourns him, all such talk is empty.” Lu Su, seeing how deeply Kongming wept, was himself moved and thought, “Kongming is naturally full of feeling, while Gongjin had narrow judgment. He brought his own death upon himself.”

There was also a later elegiac verse:

The Sleeping Dragon of Nanyang has not yet awakened, and the constellations gather again in Shuocheng. Since Heaven has already given us Gongjin, why does Kongming still need to appear in this world?

Lu Su hosted him in a banquet. After the banquet, Kongming took his leave and prepared to return. As he was about to step down to the boat, one man on the riverbank—robe, bamboo hat, black stringed belt, white shoes—gripped Kongming by the arm and laughed hard. “You rejoiced at Zhaolong’s death and now come to offer mourning. Do you think Eastern Wu has no people and that I am fooled?”

Kongming looked at him sharply and recognized him as Master Fengchou, Pang Tong. Kongming also laughed heartily. The two clasped hands and climbed into the boat, where they exchanged what weighed on their hearts.

Kongming gave him a letter and said, “I believe Sun Zhongmou can never fully employ you. If things become even slightly unfavorable, you can come to Jingzhou and help Liu Bei. This man is broad, humane, and generous, and he will not fail what he learned in all his life in fairness.” Pang Tong agreed and they parted. Kongming returned to Jingzhou.

Lu Su then sent Zhou Yu’s coffin to Wūhú, where Sun Quan met and mourned him and then ordered a full burial in his native place. Zhou Yu had two sons and one daughter—his eldest was Xun, and his second Yin. Sun Quan gave them generous aid.

Lu Su said, “I, Lu Su, am a tiresome and mediocre man. I have been overly praised by Gongjin and truly unfit for this office. I wish to recommend one man to aid our lord. He can master astronomy and understand terrain. His strategizing is not inferior to Guan or Yue; he can match Sun and Wu in matters of state at the pivot. Zhou Gong often used his words, and Kongming deeply respects his mind. Why in Jiangnan should we not make use of him?”

When Sun Quan heard this, he was glad and asked who the man was. Lu Su said, “This man is from Xiangyang, surname Pang, name Tong, courtesy name Shiyuan. His courtesy title is Master Fengchou.” Sun Quan said, “I have heard of him for a long time. Since he has already come, have him presented at once.”

So Lu Su invited Pang Tong to come before Sun Quan. After due ceremony, they presented themselves. Sun Quan saw him, with thick eyebrows, hooked nose, dark face, short black beard, and an odd countenance, and felt displeasure. He asked, “What is Master Zijing’s learning based upon?”

Pang replied, “Need not cling to one rule; one should respond according to changing circumstance.”

Sun Quan said, “How does your talent compare with Gongjin?”

Pang answered with a smile, “My own learning is very different from Gongjin’s.” Sun Quan, who had always loved Zhou Yu above all, looked down on Pang even more and said, “Then stand down for now. If ever your usefulness is needed, I will summon you.”

Pang took a long sigh and left.

Lu Su asked, “Lord, why do you not employ Shiyuan?”

Sun Quan said, “He is a wild man. What use is there in using him?”

Lu Su answered, “At Red Cliffs in that pitched battle, this man once offered the linked-wheel strategy, winning the first merit. Your lordship surely knows this.”

Sun Quan said, “At that moment it was Cao Cao who sought to burn his own ships, not this man’s merit. I swear I will not use him.”

After Lu Su had come out, he told Pang Tong, “Do not think it is that I do not recommend you; the ruler of Wu simply refuses you. You can only endure this for now.”

Pang bowed his head and sighed deeply.

Lu Su asked, “Does Master not mean to stay in Wu at all?”

Pang did not answer. Lu Su said, “You bear talent that could support the world and turn any direction to profit. Tell me plainly: where do you intend to go?”

Pang replied, “I intend to go to Cao Cao.”

Lu Su answered, “That is like throwing a bright pearl into the dark. Go instead to Jingzhou to assist Liu Bei. He will surely use you.”

Pang said, “It is truly my intention. Earlier I was jesting.”

Lu Su said, “I will send a letter recommending you. If you assist Xuande, then let both Wu and Liu never fight one another, and let both houses break Wei together.”

Pang said, “That is my lifelong ambition.” He asked for Lu Su’s letter and went straight to Jingzhou to meet Liu Bei.

Now Kongming had not yet returned from inspecting the four districts. A gate officer announced that Pang Tong, a famous scholar of Jiangdong, had come specially to offer himself. Liu Bei had long heard of him and asked him in.

When Pang Tong came to Liu Bei, he made a long bow and did not fully kneel. Liu Bei saw Pang’s coarse appearance and felt little pleasure, but asked, “For one who has come such a distance, it is no small matter.”

Pang did not produce Lu Su’s letter or Kongming’s recommendation from before; he only answered, “I heard Lord Liu invited worthy scholars and welcomed the learned. I came to offer myself.”

Liu Bei said, “Jingzhou and Chu are somewhat stabilized, but this is a time of scarcity of post and office. There is a county named Leiyang a few hundred li to the southeast, but the post is vacant. I appoint you there.”

“If there should later be a vacancy, you will be employed in greater place.”

Pang thought, Liu Bei had treated me too lightly; I should stir him with my learning. Seeing that Kongming was not there, he had no choice but to part after polite refusal and leave.

Pang reached Leiyang County, ignored office matters, and passed every day in drunken happiness. Every bill, grain issue, and petition case he did not attend.

One day someone reported this to Liu Bei and said that Pang Tong had entirely neglected Leiyang affairs. Liu Bei grew angry and said, “How dare such a shallow scholar disorder my laws?” He then called Zhang Fei and instructed: “Go. Take men to survey the counties to the south of Jing as far as you can. If anything unjust or unlawful is found, investigate on the spot. If anything remains unclear, take Sun Qian with you.”

Zhang Fei took the order and, with Sun Qian, went to Leiyang County. Military men and civilians, officials and clerks all came out of the walled city to receive him; only the county magistrate did not appear.

Zhang asked, “Where is the magistrate?”

A colleague replied, “Master Magistrate Pang has been on duty here for more than a hundred days, and there has been no attendance to county affairs. Every day he drinks from dawn to dark, living in drunken oblivion. He was still lying in bed this morning after not sobering off the previous night.”

Zhang Fei grew furious and wanted to seize him. Sun Qian said, “Shiyuan is a man of high brilliance, not to be treated lightly. Let us first go and ask him in the county hall. If he is truly unjust, punishment is still possible.”

So they entered the county hall and sat on the main dais. Zhang ordered the magistrate to present himself.

Pang came out in disordered clothes and with help rose in his drunkenness. Zhang said in anger, “I trusted you to be a county magistrate; how dare you completely neglect the government?”

Pang laughed and said, “General, what matters of the county have I neglected?”

Zhang replied, “You have been in post for over a hundred days. You stay in wine every day. How can not government be neglected?”

Pang answered, “For a county of a hundred li, its matters are small. Why should they be difficult to decide? Sit less, wait, and I will settle them.”

At once he summoned clerks and had all the business accumulated over one hundred days brought forth and spread out. The clerks, bustling, carried in stacks of case files to the hall, and all the litigants knelt around the steps in turn. With one hand he ruled by annotation, while his mouth issued decisions and his ears took testimony. Right and wrong were made clear, with no fault or ambiguity. The people all knelt and prostrated in thanks.

In less than half a day he settled all affairs from the previous hundred days. He dropped his brush to the ground and said to Zhang Fei, “Where are the things I neglected? Cao Cao and Sun Quan I can view as patterns traced on my palm. Can a county so small matter so much to me?”

Zhang was astonished and sat down to apologize. “Master, you are greatly talented. This youth has been disrespectful. I will do all I can to recommend you to my elder brother.”

Pang then produced Lu Su’s letter. Zhang said, “Why did you not show it at your first meeting with my brother?”

Pang said, “If I had presented it then, it would seem I came only by virtue of recommendation to make a show of courtesy.”

Zhang told Sun Qian, “Without this man, I should have lost a great talent.” He then returned to Jingzhou to meet Liu Bei and fully explained Pang Tong’s ability.

Liu Bei was greatly startled and said, “To treat the great man so poorly was my fault.” Zhang Fei presented Lu Su’s recommendation.

Liu Bei opened it and read:

Shiyuan is not merely a talent for a hundred-li domain. Put him first in the office of Internal Assistant to the Court, and he will then show his full strength. If one judges by appearance, one risks ruining what he has learned and letting him go to others’ service. This would be a grievous waste.

Liu Bei had nearly finished when he heard that Kongming had returned. He welcomed him and finished ceremony.

Kongming first asked, “How is Military Adviser Shiyuan lately?”

Liu Bei said, “Of late at Leiyang County he has indulged in wine and neglected his duty.”

Kongming smiled, “Shiyuan is no ordinary talent of a hundred li; his learning in the chest exceeds mine tenfold. Has his recommendation from Master Kongming reached your lordship?”

Liu Bei said, “Today I just received a letter from Zijing, and have not seen yours.”

Kongming said, “A great man in a small post is often clouded by wine and grows weary of state affairs.”

Liu Bei said, “Had it not been for my brother’s word, I might have nearly lost a great man.” He immediately ordered Zhang Fei to go to Leiyang and invite Pang Tong to Jingzhou and said to him from below the gate, asking pardon.

Pang had just brought out his letter from Kongming. When Liu Bei saw its intent, he remarked that it was now time to use Fengchou at once.

Liu Bei rejoiced, “Formerly Sima said: ‘Among the Fudragon and the Fengchou, if one of them is obtained, the world can be put in order.’ Now we have both. The Han dynasty may rise.”

He then appointed Pang Tong as Deputy Army Adviser and Colonel of the General Staff, to discuss plans with Kongming and to drill troops, waiting for campaign orders.

Soon someone reported to Xuchang: Liu Bei has Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong as his strategists, has been recruiting soldiers, buying horses, storing hay and grain, joining hands with Eastern Wu, and will likely mount a northern campaign soon. Cao Cao heard this and quickly gathered his advisors to discuss a southern expedition.

Xun Yu said, “Now that Zhou Yu is dead, perhaps we should first strike Sun Quan and then attack Liu Bei.”

Cao Cao said, “If I march far, I fear Ma Teng may strike Xuchang. At Red Cliffs, rumors once spread that Western Liang would invade. We must not leave that unguarded.”

Xun Yu said, “In my poor judgment, issue an edict naming Ma Teng as General Who Conquers the South and order him to subdue Sun Quan. Lure him toward the capital; once this man is removed, the southern campaign will have no worry.”

Cao Cao was pleased and at once sent men with the edict to summon Ma Teng to Xuchang.

Now Ma Teng, whose courtesy name was Shoucheng, was a descendant of Ma Yuan, the Han Fubo General. His father was Su, courtesy name Zishuo; in the time of Emperor Huan he was Langan County Commandant in Tianshui, and later lost his post and came to Longxi where he lived among and eventually married among the Qiang.

Ma Teng was eight chi tall, with an imposing appearance and genial nature; many respected him. In the later years of Emperor Ling there were many Qiang rebellions, and Ma Teng recruited citizen soldiers to crush them. In the initial Chuping period, thanks to success in suppressing bandits, he became General Who Conquers the West and was made brother-in-arms with the General Who Guards the West, Han Sui.

On receiving the edict, he discussed with his eldest son, Ma Chao: “From the day Dong Cheng received the belt-commission to summon us together with Liu Bei to strike bandits, and though Dong has died, Liu Bei has failed again and again. I have been confined to Western Liang and could not assist him. Now I hear he has gained Jingzhou; I am about to carry out the old ambition, yet Cao Cao has instead summoned me. How are we to interpret this?”

Ma Chao replied, “Cao Cao has called your father by imperial order. If he does not go, Cao Cao will accuse us of disobeying the Son of Heaven. We should obey the summons and go to the capital; in the middle of affairs, old ambition can still be fulfilled.”

Ma Dai, Ma Teng’s brother’s son, warned, “Cao Cao is hard to read. If Uncle comes, he may die by his guile.”

Chao said, “I am willing to raise all soldiers of Western Liang and march behind my father to Xuchang, to kill the danger and clear the world. What is impossible?”

Ma Teng replied, “You stay in Western Liang and keep the Qiang forces for me. Only Ma Xiu, Ma Tie, and nephew Ma Dai should go with me. Cao Cao, seeing you in Western Liang and with Han Sui at your side, will not dare harm me.”

Chao answered, “If father goes, do not enter the capital lightly. See and meet events as they come and respond by the moment.”

Ma Teng said, “I can make room for myself. Do not worry too much.”

Thus Ma Teng brought five thousand Western Liang soldiers forward, first appointing Ma Xiu and Ma Tie as the vanguard, leaving Ma Dai behind for support, and marched toward Xuchang. He camped for the army twenty li outside the city.

When Cao Cao learned Ma Teng had arrived, he called his secretary-in-attendance, Huang Kui, and instructed him, “Right now Ma Teng is coming south. Go ahead as campaign adviser to him and cheer the army. Tell him that the road from Western Liang is far, transport is hard, and he cannot bring many men and horses at once. I will send a bigger force to advance with him. In days ahead, have him enter the city and face the lord; I will then settle the matter of supplies.”

Kui took the order and visited Ma Teng, who received him with wine.

Halfway drunk, Kui spoke, “My father Huang Wan died in the turmoil of Li Jue and Guo Si. I have long carried pain and hatred. I did not expect to meet again the betrayer of the Son of Heaven.”

Ma Teng asked, “Who is the betrayer of the Son of Heaven?”

Kui answered, “The betrayer is Cao Cao. You do not know this and ask me?”

Ma Teng feared he might have been sent by Cao to probe, and quickly said, “There are too many ears nearby; do not speak nonsense.”

Kui barked, “Have you forgotten the edict tied on the belt?”

Ma Teng, seeing him speak plainly from the heart, confided the truth in secret.

Kui said, “Cao Cao will not invite you into the city to treat with no bad intent. Do not enter casually. Tomorrow, gather your troops outside the city. When Cao Cao comes out to inspect and line up the army, strike the decisive blow there and behead him. Our great matter will be done.”

Their plan was settled. Kui returned home with his anger still burning.

His wife asked repeatedly, but Kui would not tell. Unknown to him, his concubine Li Chunxiang was secretly in relations with Miao Ze, his wife’s brother. Miao Ze wanted Li Chunxiang and had no means to achieve it.

When she saw Kui’s anger, she told Miao Ze, “Sir Huang came back from military deliberations and is deeply angry. You do not know why, do you?”

Miao Ze said, “You can prod him by asking: ‘All men say Liu Xian Shu is benevolent and Cao Cao a villain. Why so?’ See what he says.”

That night Kui came to Chunxiang’s room. She raised that challenge. In drunkenness he answered, “You are a woman and still know right from wrong—what of me? What I hate, I want to kill Cao Cao.”

Chunxiang asked, “If you want to kill him, how will you do it?”

Kui said, “I have already arranged with General Ma that tomorrow, when he deploys troops outside the city, I will kill him there.”

She informed Miao Ze, who informed Cao Cao.

Cao Cao immediately summoned Huang Kui, while summoning Cao Hong and Xu Chu with instructions, and also Xiahou Yuan and Xu Huang with separate instructions. Each took their orders and left. At once Cao Cao had Kui’s household and children seized.

Next day Ma Teng led his Western Liang army and moved near the city. He saw in front of him a cluster of red flags flying the Chancellor’s standard. He only thought that Cao Cao had come himself to inspect troops and drove forward with urgency.

Then a loud blast rang out. Where the red flags had opened, bow and crossbow fire struck in unison. The first commander to charge was Cao Hong.

As Ma Teng wheeled his horse back in haste, cries rose again from both sides. On the left came Xu Chu to kill; on the right came Xiahou Yuan; from behind came Xu Huang with his force to close, cutting off the Western Liang cavalry and trapping father and son of Ma Teng in a killing ground.

Ma Teng saw there was no way out and fought with all his strength. Ma Tie had already been shot dead by wild arrows. Ma Xiu followed Ma Teng, charging left and right, unable to break through. Both father and son, heavily wounded, sat their horses and were shot down; both were captured.

Cao Cao ordered Huang Kui and the Ma father and son together to be bound and brought before him.

Huang Kui shouted, “No guilt!” Cao Cao ordered Miao Ze to verify by witness.

Ma Teng roared, “Wretch scholar ruined my great affair! Heaven itself forbade me from killing this traitor for the state!”

Cao Cao had them brought out. Ma Teng continued cursing and his son Ma Xiu too, and with Huang Kui all were executed.

Later, someone wrote a verse for Ma Teng:

Father and son burned together in great brilliance, loyalty and uprightness made known through one family. To cast away life and redeem the state, they swore themselves to die and repay lordly grace. With blood-chewed oaths they stood, and the record of punishing treachery remained. The famed son of Western Liang, in no way brought shame to Fubo’s grandson.

Miao Ze told Cao Cao, “I seek no reward. I only ask for Li Chunxiang as wife.”

Cao Cao laughed, “For one woman you ruined your own elder brother-in-law and household. What use is such an unjust man now?” He ordered Miao Ze, Li Chunxiang, and all of Huang Kui’s family to be executed in the market.

No one who saw it withheld a sigh.

Later someone penned a verse about Miao Ze:

Because of private evil, Miao Ze harmed his own servant-clan; Chunxiang did not prevail, and all was turned against him. Even a tyrant will not forgive this kind of treachery. He made himself small with a base design.

Cao Cao then issued instructions to the Western Liang troops: “Ma Teng and his sons plotted rebellion and touched no others’ matters.” At once he ordered guards to hold the passes so that Ma Dai would not escape.

Now Ma Dai, only taking one thousand men in rear, had scouts reporting outside Xuchang that soldiers had slipped back and returned. Ma Dai was startled and had to abandon the troops. He donned the guise of a merchant and fled through the night.

With Ma Teng and the others dead, Cao Cao resolved to march south. Then came word: “Liu Bei is drilling troops and tending horse, readying weapons and grain stores, and appears ready to seize Sichuan.” Cao Cao was alarmed: “If Liu Bei takes Sichuan, he will have wings. How shall I answer him?”

He had not finished when one man came forward and said, “I have one plan. Make Liu Bei and Sun Quan not wish to cooperate, and Jiangnan and Xichuan will both return to the Chancellor.”

The great heroes of Xichuan now face execution, and the heroes of the southern state again are struck by disaster. Who it is that brings this counsel, we shall see— How this turned out will be told in the next chapter.