f this rain； River Xiang will swell； and I shall send people to dam up all the outlets and so let the water rise very high。 When at its highest； I shall open the dams and let the water out over Fancheng。 That valley will be flooded too； and all the soldiers will bee aquatic animals。〃
The Wei armies had camped in the gully； and after several days of heavy rain； Army Inspector Cheng He ventured to speak to his mander。
He said； 〃The army is camped near the mouth of a stream in a depression。 There are hills around us； but they are too far off to keep the water away。 Our soldiers are already suffering from these heavy rains； and； moreover； they say the Jingzhou troops have moved to higher ground。 More than that； at River Han they are preparing boats and rafts so that they can take advantage of the floods if there are any。 Our army will be in great danger； and something should be done。〃
But Yu Jin scoffed at his words； saying； 〃You fool！ Do you want to injure the spirit of our soldiers？ Talk no more； or your head will be fallen。〃
Cheng He went away greatly ashamed。
Then Cheng He went to Pang De； who saw the force of his words and said； 〃What you said is excellent。 If Yu Jin will not move camp tomorrow； I myself will do so。〃
So Cheng He left it at that。
That night there came a great storm。 As Pang De sat in his tent； he heard the sound as of ten thousand horses in stampede and a roar as of the drums of war seeming to shake the earth。 He was alarmed； left his tent； and mounted his charger to go and see what it meant。 Then he saw the rolling waters ing in from every side and the seven armies flying from the flood； which speedily rose to the height of ten spans。 Yu Jin； Pang De； and several other officers sought safety by rushing up the hills。
As day dawned； Guan Yu and his marines came along in large boats with flags flying and drums beating。 Yu Jin saw no way of escape； and his following was reduced to about fifty or sixty soldiers。 They all said they surrendered。 Guan Yu made them strip and then took them on board。
After that he went to capture Pang De； who was standing on a hillock with Dong Heng； Dong Chao； Cheng He； and his five hundred troops； all without armors。 Pang De saw his archenemy approach without a sign of fear； and even went boldly to meet him。 Guan Yu surrounded the party with his boats； and the archers began to shoot。 When more than half the troops had been struck down； the survivors became desperate。
Dong Heng and Dong Chao pressed their chief to give in； saying； 〃We have lost more than half of our men。 Surrender is the only course！〃
But Pang De only raged； saying； 〃I have received great kindness from the Prince。 Think you that I will bow the head to any other？〃
Pang De cut down Dong Heng and Dong Chao right in the battlefield and then shouted； 〃Anyone who says surrender shall be as these two！〃
So the survivors made a desperate effort to beat off their enemies； and they held their own up to midday。 Then Guan Yu's marines redoubled their efforts； and the arrows and stones rained down upon the defenders； who fought desperately hand to hand with their assailants。
〃The valorous leader fears death less than desertion； the brave warrior does not break faith to save his life！〃 cried Pang De。 〃This is the day of my death； but I will fight on to the last。 And you； General； should fight to your end； too。〃
So Cheng He pressed on till he fell into the water by an arrow of Guan Yu； and then the soldiers yielded。
Pang De fought on。 Then one of the boats happened to close in to the bank。 With a tremendous leap Pang De lighted on it and slashed at the marines； killing ten of them。 The others jumped overboard and swam away。 Then Pang De one hand still holding his sword； tried to maneuver the boat across the river to Fancheng。 But there came drifting down a raft； which collided with and upset his boat so that he was struggling in the water。 Next a general on the raft jumped into the water； gripped him； put him on the boat again。
The captor was Zhou Cang； a skillful waterman who； having lived in Jingzhou for many years； was thoroughly expert in boat navigation。 Beside； he was very powerful and so was able to make Pang De a prisoner。
In this flood perished the whole of the seven armies； except the few that saved themselves by swimming。 These latter； having no way of escape； surrendered to the victors。
In the depth of night rolled the war drums；
Summoning the warriors as to battle；
But the enemy was no man；
For the waters had risen and the flood came。
This was the plan of Guan Yu； the crafty；
To drown his enemies。 More than human
was he in cunning。 The ages hand on his fame
As his glory was told in his own day。
Guan Yu then returned to the higher ground； where his tent was pitched and therein took his seat to receive his prisoners。 The lictors brought up Yu Jin； who prostrated himself humbly。
〃How dared you think to oppose me？ To execute you would be like killing a hog。 It would be soiling weapons for nothing；〃 said Guan Yu； stroking his beard。
Yu Jin was hound and sent to the prison in Jingzhou。
〃I will decide your fate when I return；〃 said Guan Yu。
The general having thus dealt with the chief； Pang De was sent for。 He came； pride and anger flashing from his eyes。 He did not kneel but stood boldly erect。
〃You have a brother in Hanzhong； and your old chief was Ma Chao； also in high honor in Shu。 Would you not better join them？〃
〃Rather than surrender to you； I would perish beneath the sword；〃 cried Pang De。
He reviled his captors without ceasing till； losing patience at last； Guan Yu sent him to his death。 Pang De was beheaded。 He stretched out his neck for the headsman's sword。 Out of pity he was honorably buried。
The floods were still out； and taking advantage of them； the troops of Jingzhou boarded the boats to move toward Fancheng； which now stood out as a mere island with waves breaking against the walls。
The force of the waters being great； the city wall was beginning to give way； and the whole population； male and female； aged and young； were carrying mud and bricks to strengthen it。 Their efforts seemed vain； and the leaders of Cao Cao's army were very desperate。
Some of the generals went to see Cao Ren； who said； 〃No ordinary person's strength can fend off today's danger。 If we can hold out till nightfall； we may escape by boat。 We shall lose the city； but we shall save our skins。〃
But Man Chong interposed before the boats could be got ready。
He said； 〃No！ No！ Though the force of these mountainous waters is great； we only have to wait ten days or so； and the flood will have passed。 Though Guan Yu has not assaulted this city； yet he has sent another army to Jiaxia； which indicates he dares not advance lest we should fall upon his rear。 Remember； too； that to retire from this city means the abandonment of everything south of the Yellow River。 Therefore I decide that you defend this place。〃
Cao Ren saluted Man Chong as he concluded his harangue； saying； 〃What a tremendous error I should have mitted had it not been for you； Sir！〃
Then riding his white charger he went up on the city walls； gathered his officers around him； and pledged himself not to surrender。
〃The Prince's mand being to defend this city； I shall defend it to the last。 And I shall put to death anyone who even mentions abandonment；〃 said he。
〃And we desire to defend it to out last gasp；〃 chimed in his officers。
Then they saw to it that the means of offense were good。 Many hundreds of archers and crossbowmen were stationed on the wall and kept watch night and day。 The old and the young of ordinary people were made to carry earth and stones to strengthen the wall。
After some ten days the flood was at an end。 Then the news of Guan Yu's success against the Wei campaign got abroad； and the terror of his name spread wider and wider。 About the same time； too； his second son； Guan Xing； came to visit his father in camp。 Guan Yu thought this a good opportunity to send his report of success to Capital Chengdu and entrusted to Guan Xing a dispatch mentioning each officer's services and requesting promotion for them。 Guan Xing accordingly took leave of his father and left。
After Guan Xing's departure； the army was divided into two halves； one under Guan Yu to attack Fancheng； and the other to go to Jiaxia。
One day Guan Yu rode over to the north gate。 Halting his steed； he pointed with his whip toward the defenders on the wall； and called out； 〃You lot of rats will not give in then！ What are you waiting for？〃
Cao Ren； who was among his soldiers on the wall； saw that Guan Yu had no armor on； so he ordered his men to shoot。 The archers and bowmen at once sent a great flight of arrows and bolts that way。 Guan Yu hastily pulled the reins to retire； but an arrow struck him in the arm。 The shock of the blow made him turn in the saddle； and he fell from his horse。
Just now a mighty army perished
By the river's overflow；
A crossbow bolt from the city wall
Lays a valiant warrior low。
What further befell Guan Yu will be told in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 75 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 75
Chapter 75
Guan Yu Has A Scraped…Bone Surgery；
Lu Meng Crosses The River In White Robe。
At the sight o