In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, after Ling Bao was released, he tried to breach the banks of the Fu River and flood Liu Bei's vanguard—the troops under Huang Zhong and Wei Yan.
But the season was different now. It was only early spring, and the Fu River was not as swift as it had been in the novel. Flooding the vanguard was out of the question.
A blessing can hide within misfortune. Ling Bao lost his chance to distinguish himself, but that also saved his life. In the novel, he volunteered to breach the Fu River, only to find Liu Bei's Army prepared. Huang Zhong and Wei Yan took turns patrolling, captured him again, and had him beheaded.
Two roads led from Ling Bao and Deng Xian's camp to Luo Castle: a main road and a narrow path.
Liu Bei led his army straight up the main road, with Huang Zhong as his vanguard, toward Luo Castle's east gate. His strategist Pang Tong took the narrow path, with Wei Yan as his vanguard, toward the west gate.
Liu Bei said to Pang Tong, "I've been uneasy lately. Last night, I dreamed a divine figure struck my arm with an iron staff. Why don't we switch? I'll take the narrow path, and you can take the main road."
Pang Tong laughed. "The enemy is bound to block the main road. Huang Zhong can lead the vanguard, while you command from behind with the two generals Guan and Zhao ready to support him. The narrow path is far more discreet." His laughter gave way to a violent fit of coughing.
Liu Bei sighed. "You've served me for barely half a year, yet your hair is already turning gray and you cannot stop coughing. Does heaven envy the gifted?"
When his coughing