ive。〃

〃How　highly　does　our　Prince　regard　this　fellow　Guan　Yu！〃　said　Pang　De　to　his　officers　when　he　heard　this　new　mand。　〃But　I　think　I　shall　be　able　to　take　the　keen　edge　off　his　thirty…year　reputation。〃

〃The　mand　of　the　Prince　is　to　be　obeyed；〃　said　Yu　Jin。

Pang　De　hastened　to　Fancheng　in　all　the　pomp　and　panoply　of　war；　his　gongs　clanging；　his　drums　rolling　as　he　marched。

Guan　Yu　was　sitting　in　his　tent　when　his　spies　came　to　report：　〃Seven　armies　of　the　north　under　Yu　Jin　are　approaching。　They　are　ten　miles　away。　The　Van　Leader　is　Pang　De；　who　brings　with　him　a　coffin。　As　he　marches；　he　slanders　you；　General；　and　vows　to　fight　a　decisive　battle　with　you。〃

Rage　took　possession　of　Guan　Yu。　His　face　changed　color；　his　beard　shook；　and　he　roared　out；　〃There　is　never　a　fighting　man　in　all　the　world　who　has　heard　my　name　without　trembling。　Does　this　fellow　dare　disdain　me？〃

Then　he　ordered　Guan　Ping　to　attack　Fancheng　while　he　went　out　to　stay　the　impudent　boaster　who　dared　him。

〃Father；〃　said　Guan　Ping；　〃Taishan　Mountain　in　its　majesty　does　not　quarrel　with　a　pebble。　Let　me　go　and　fight　this　Pang　De。〃

〃Well；　my　son；　go　and　try。　I　will　support　you。〃

So　Guan　Ping　took　his　sword；　mounted　his　steed；　and　went　out　with　his　troops。　Both　sides　being　drawn　up　for　battle。　On　the　side　of　Wei　there　flew　a　single　black　flag　on　which　was　inscribed　Pang　De；　Corrector　of　the　West　in　white。　The　leader　himself　wore　a　blue　robe　with　a　silver　helmet　and　rode　a　white　charger。　He　stood　out　in　front　backed　by　his　five　hundred　veterans；　and　a　few　foot　soldiers　were　there　too；　bearing　the　gruesome　coffin。

Guan　Ping　was　very　angry；　crying　out；　〃Turncoat！　Traitor！〃

〃Who　is　that？〃　asked　Pang　De　of　his　followers。