officers by saying； 〃Anyone who pleads for the condemned shall be regarded as in the plot。〃
The executioners had hustled the old man out of the city and the sword was in the air and on the point of descending； when a man suddenly dashed in； cut down the lictor； and rescued Huang Zhong。
〃Huang Zhong is our bulwark！〃 shouted he。 〃To destroy him is to destroy the Changsha people。 This Governor is too fierce and cruel； too lightly values good people； and is too arrogant toward his officers。 We ought rather to kill him； and those who will； let them follow me。〃
All eyes turned toward this bold speaker； who was bronzed and had eyes like the Cowherd's star。 Some of them knew him as Wei Yan； a native of Yiyang。 He would have followed Liu Bei from Xiangyang but； unable to e up with him； had gone into the service of Han Xuan。 Han Xuan took exception to his arrogant carriage and lack of polish and neglected him。 And so Wei Yan had remained in the city without office。
After the rescue of Huang Zhong； Wei Yan called upon the people to make an end of the Governor。 He waved his arm and shouted to the people。 Soon he had a following of several hundreds。 Huang Zhong could not stop them。 In a very short time； Wei Yan had dashed up on the wall； and Han Xuan lay dead。 Taking his head； Wei Yan rode off out of the city to lay the bloodstained trophy at the feet of Guan Yu； who forthwith went into the city to restore confidence。
When the people were all quiet； Guan Yu sent to request Huang Zhong to e to see him； but the old general pleaded illness。
Next Guan Yu sent the good news to his brother and to Zhuge Liang and asked them to e。
Soon after Guan Yu had left to capture Changsha； Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang had followed him up with supports in ca