Soldiers　keenly　peting　gain　renown　in　the　fighting。

The　condition　that　Zhuge　Liang　made　will　appear　in　the　next　chapter。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　53　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　53

Chapter　53

Guan　Yu　Releases　Huang　Zhong；

Sun　Quan　Fights　With　Zhang　Liao。

What　Zhuge　Liang　required　from　Zhang　Fei　was　a　formal　recognition　of　responsibility　for　success。

Said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃When　Zhao　Yun　went　on　his　expedition；　he　gave　written　guarantee　of　being　responsible　for　success。　You　ought　to　do　the　same　now　that　you　are　starting　for　Wuling。　In　that　case　you　may　have　men　and　start。〃

So　Zhang　Fei　gave　the　required　document　and　received　joyfully　the　three　thousand　of　soldiers　he　had　demanded。　He　set　out　at　once　and　traveled　without　rest　till　he　reached　Wuling。

When　the　Governor　of　Wuling；　Jin　Xuan　by　name；　heard　that　an　expedition　against　him　was　afoot；　he　mustered　his　officers　and　recruited　brave　soldiers　and　put　his　weapons　in　order　ready　for　the　struggle。　And　his　army　moved　out　of　the　city。

A　certain　secretary；　Gong　Zhi；　remonstrated　with　his　chief　for　opposing　a　scion　of　the　imperial　house；　saying；　〃Liu　Bei　is　of　the　Hans；　and　recognized　as　an　uncle　of　the　Emperor。　All　the　world　knows　he　is　kindly　and　righteous。　Added　to　that　his　brother　Zhang　Fei　is　extraordinarily　bold。　We　cannot　face　them　in　battle　with　hope　of　success。　Our　best　course　is　to　give　in。〃

But　his　master　angrily　replied；　〃Do　you　want　to　play　the　traitor　and　take　the　side　of　the　rebels　and　help　them？〃

Jin　Xuan　called　in　the　lictors　and　told　them　to　put　Gong　Zhi　to　death。

The　other　officers　interceded　for　Gong　Zhi；　saying；　〃It　augers　ill　to　start　an　expedition　by　slaying　your　own　officer。〃

So