Three Kingdoms

Chapter 24 Zhang Fei's Death
When Liu Bei became emperor, he wanted to lead an army to conquer Soochow in person and avenge Guan Yu.Zhao Yun dissuaded Liu Bei: "Cao Pi is the public enemy of the world. If you lead an army to conquer Cao Pi, the heroes of the world will help along the way; but if you conquer Sun Quan, there will be no heroes to help you. Please think twice before acting, Your Majesty!" Liu Bei said: "Dong Wu Sunquan sent people to kill my second brother, and Fu Shiren, Mi Fang, Pan Zhang, and Ma Zhong also had great enemies with me, so I must wipe out Soochow and kill Sun Quan to relieve the hatred and avenge my second brother Guan Yu." Zhao Yun also persuaded Liu Bei. : "The enemy of the country is Cao Pi. You conquered Cao Pi for the country; at this moment, you avenge your brother regardless of public or private interests." Liu Bei wanted to avenge Guan Yu wholeheartedly, and he said: "I don't want to avenge my second brother, I want this What is the use of thousands of miles of rivers and mountains?"

Liu Bei didn't listen to Zhao Yun's dissuasion, and wanted to raise troops to conquer Soochow.He ordered the army to prepare for battle.He also sent people to Langzhong to deliver the imperial decree and named Zhang Fei a general of chariots and riders, preparing for the Eastern Expedition.

When Zhang Fei heard the news of Guan Yu's murder in Langzhong, he cried for Guan Yu every day.The generals under his command persuaded him not to be too sad, Zhang Fei not only refused to accept their affection, but picked up his military whip and beat the generals under him.Several of his generals were beaten to death by Zhang Fei with the whip.

The imperial envoy who conveyed the imperial edict read out the imperial edict for Zhang Fei.Zhang Fei asked the imperial envoy: "I must report to Sun Quan of Soochow for the revenge of my second brother.

Why did His Majesty not send troops to conquer Sun Quan of Soochow? "The imperial envoy said: "Most of the Chinese and military ministers in the DPRK are in favor of destroying Wei first and then attacking Soochow. Zhang Fei was furious and said, "What are you talking about?"When the three of us were sworn brothers in Taoyuan, we swore to live and die together. Now my second brother was killed by Soochow Sun Quan. I don’t want to avenge my second brother, and I don’t want to live anymore!I must ask Your Majesty to send troops to attack Soochow, capture the traitors, wipe out Jiangdong, and sue my dead second brother! "

Liu Bei personally drills the army and horses every day, waiting for Sun Quan to conquer the east.Zhuge Liang and others tried hard to persuade Liu Bei to repent a little.

At this time, Zhang Fei rushed from Langzhong to Chengdu to meet Liu Bei.As soon as Zhang Fei met, he hugged Liu Bei's legs and cried bitterly.Liu Bei also burst into tears.

Zhang Fei said: "Your Majesty has become the emperor today, and he has long forgotten the oath he made when he was married in Taoyuan! Why didn't the second brother Guan Yu take revenge?"

Liu Bei said: "Most of the ministers in the court persuaded me not to send troops to march eastward." Zhang Fei said: "How do they know the oath we made when we became sworn brothers in Taoyuan? If Your Majesty does not go, I am willing to lead troops to conquer Wu. If not To avenge my second brother, I will not come back to see you!" Liu Bei said: "Let's go to conquer Sun Quan of Dongwu together. You first lead your army to send troops from Langzhong, and I will lead the army to meet you in Jiangzhou and conquer Dongwu together. Take revenge for Guan Yu!" Zhang Fei took orders and went back to Langzhong.Before leaving, Liu Bei told Zhang Fei: "I know you like to drink, and after drinking, you like to whip your soldiers. Don't do this again, and unite from top to bottom!"

Zhuge Liang also tried to persuade Liu Bei not to mobilize troops to conquer Soochow, but Liu Bei refused to listen to the advice, and angrily led an army of 70, including hundreds of generals, and marched from Shuzhou to Soochow.

As soon as Zhang Fei returned to Langzhong, he immediately ordered his generals to build a white flag and white armor within three days.The generals Fan Jiang and Zhang Da said to Zhang Fei: "It is difficult to collect the white flag and white armor for a while, please allow a few days." Zhang Fei was furious when he heard this, "I wish I could send troops to attack Wu immediately, but you want me A few days' grace, isn't this disobedience to my order?" The soldiers were ordered to arrest Fan Jiang and Zhang Da.Two will be hung from a tree.Zhang Fei ordered the soldiers to beat each of them with fifty military whips.After the fight, Zhang Fei said: "If you don't finish it within three days, I will kill you to show the public!"

Fan Jiang and Zhang Da went back to their tents to discuss the murder of Zhang Fei.Fan Jiang said: "We were punished today, and we couldn't be blamed entirely. All the soldiers knew it well. Zhang Fei is cruel and vicious. If we really can't handle it, he will definitely kill us!" Zhang Da said: "What you said is absolutely right. We risked our lives for him. Not only did he not appreciate us, but he even wanted to kill us. If he wants to kill us, we might as well strike first!" Fan Jiang said: "Zhang Fei We are not his opponents." Zhang Da said: "If the two of us don't die, then he will definitely get drunk on the bed; if we die, then he won't get drunk on the bed."

Zhang Fei was in the military tent, his mind was dazed and his movements were slow, so he asked the subordinates around him: "I am terrified and restless, I don't know what will happen?" The general said to him: "This is because the general misses Guan Gong so much. , General, please take care of your health." Zhang Fei was upset, and ordered his subordinates to bring out the wine, and he drank with his generals, and did not go back to bed until he was drunk.

When Fan Jiang and Zhang Da found out that Zhang Fei was drunk on the bed, they couldn't help being secretly happy.In the middle of the night, each of them had hidden short knives on their bodies, quietly walked into Zhang Fei's military tent, and came to Zhang Fei's bed.At this time they saw Zhang Fei looking at them with his eyes open.They couldn't help but knelt on the ground in fright and pretended to report confidential military information, but they only heard Zhang Fei's nose sounded louder than thunder. Entering Zhang Fei's lower abdomen, Zhang Fei screamed and died.

Fan Jiang and Zhang Da cut off Zhang Fei's head and took dozens of subordinates to flee to Soochow at night.

The next day, Wu Ban, a general of Zhang Fei's department, discovered that Zhang Fei had been killed by Fan Jiang and Zhang Da, and quickly told Liu Bei.Liu Bei cried out and passed out on the ground.Zhuge Liang and others hurriedly rescued Liu Bei.

Zhang Fei's son Zhang Bao and Guan Yu's son Guan Xing rushed to Chengdu to meet Liu Bei, and they all asked to avenge their father.

Liu Bei approved the two of them to accompany the army to conquer Soochow.

Chen Zhen was ordered by Liu Bei to visit the hermit Li Yi in Mount Qingcheng.Li Yi was invited by Chen Zhen to Liu Bei's military camp.Liu Bei repeatedly asked Li Yi to divination for him. Li Yi had no choice but to draw more than 40 pictures in a row, but they were all torn up.Finally, I drew a picture with the word "white" written in it.Liu Bei was very upset, and said to the ministers: "Li Yi is an arrogant old man, don't believe his words!" He burned the paintings and immediately ordered the army to set off.

(End of this chapter)