ll　dead。　Now　the　objects　of　his　hate　are　the　murderers　of　Zhang　Fei………Fan　Jiang　and　Zhang　Da。　Why　not　send　back　Zhang　Fei's　head；　and　these　two　assassins；　and　give　up　Jingzhou　and　restore　Lady　Sun　and　ask　for　peace　and　alliance　against　Wei？　This　will　make　the　army　of　Shu　retire；　and　we　shall　have　peace。〃

This　proposal　seemed　good。　So　the　head　of　Zhang　Fei　was　enclosed　in　a　sandalwood　box；　Fan　Jiang　and　Zhang　Da　were　bound　and　put　in　a　cage…cart。　All　these　were　sent；　with　letters；　by　the　hand　of　Cheng　Bing　to　the　camp　at　Xiaoting。

The　First　Ruler　was　about　to　march　farther　east　when　they　told　him　that　a　messenger　had　e　from　the　South　Land　and　what　he　had　brought。

The　Ruler　struck　his　forehead　with　both　hands；　saying；　〃This　is　the　direct　gift　of　Heaven　through　my　youngest　brother's　spirit。〃

He　bade　Zhang　Bao　prepare　an　altar　whereon　to　sacrifice　the　heads　of　his　father's　assassins。　When　he　opened　the　box　and　saw　the　fresh　features　of　Zhang　Fei；　he　broke　into　wailing　for　the　dead。　Then　the　son　hewed　Fan　Jiang　and　Zhang　Da　in　pieces　and　offered　them　upon　the　altar。

But　this　sacrifice　did　not　appease　the　First　Ruler's　anger；　and　he　still　desired　to　destroy　Wu。　Whereupon　Ma　Liang　remonstrated。

〃Your　enemies　are　now　all　dead：　You　are　avenged。　Wu　has　sent　a　high　officer　with　large　concessions　and　awaits　your　reply。〃

But　the　First　Ruler　angrily　replied；　〃The　one　I　would　grind　to　pieces　is　Sun　Quan。　To　act　as　he　proposes　and　enter　into　alliance　would　be　treachery　to　my　two　brothers　and　a　breach　of　our　oath。　Now　I　will　exterminate　Wu；　and　Wei　shall　follow。〃

He　wished　also　to　put　the　messenger　to　death　to　annihilate　all　emotions　with　Wu；　but　relented　when　his　officers　insistently　interceded。

Poor　Cheng　Bing　ran　off　terr