He who whipped the inspector in Anxi；
Who swept vile rebels from the land of Han；
And thereby won great glory for the Lius；
Whose valor shone at Tiger Trap Pass；
Who turned the tide of victory at Long Slope Bridge；
Who freed Yan Yan and thus won a friend
That helped him and his brothers conquer Shu；
Whose wisdom defeated Zhang He to get Hanzhong；
Is dead； the victim of assassins' blows。
Not his avenge his brother's death on Wu；
Langzhong will grieve him all the ages through。
Having done their victim to death； Fan Jiang and Zhang Da hacked off his head； and made off for Wu without loss of time。 Fleeing with them were a few dozen close subordinates。 When the deed was known； they had got too far for capture。
The assassination was reported in a memorial by a mander of Zhang Fei named Hu Ban； who had left Jingzhou to see the First Ruler and then had been sent to serve under Zhang Fei。 He wrote a memorial to the First Ruler and bade the eldest son； Zhang Bao； prepare a coffin for the remains。 After the ceremony； leaving his younger brother； Zhang Shao； to hold Langzhong； Zhang Bao went to see the Emperor。
The day of departure had already e； and the First Ruler had left the capital。 Zhuge Liang and many officers had escorted him out of the city for three miles and taken leave。
Returning to Chengdu； Zhuge Liang felt ill at ease； and he remarked to his colleagues； 〃If Fa Zheng had been alive； he would have been able to interdict this expedition。〃
One night the First Ruler felt nervous and shuddered from time to time。 He could not sleep； so he went out of his tent and looked up at the stars。 Suddenly he saw a bright meteor fall in the northwest； and began to wonder what t