Pang Rou 龐柔

In Chapter 74 of the Romance, wishing to send Yu Jin to relieve Fancheng, Cao Cao asks who will be the vanguard, and when Pang De readily steps forward, he is greatly pleased, raises Yu Jin to General Who Conquers the South and Pang De to Chief Vanguard of the Western Campaign, and raises the seven armies. Dong Heng and Dong Chao, the officers commanding the seven armies, lead their captains to call on Yu Jin. Dong Heng says that Pang De was originally a lieutenant general under Ma Chao who surrendered to Wei only because he had no choice, that his former lord holds the rank of one of the Five Tiger Generals in Shu, and that, what is more, his own elder brother Pang Rou also holds office in Xichuan, so making him the vanguard is like pouring oil on a fire to put it out. He then urges Yu Jin to report to the King of Wei and have him replaced with someone else. Romance, Ch. 74 §1–2

Yu Jin goes into the residence that very night and reports to Cao Cao, and Cao Cao, seeing the point, calls Pang De to the foot of the steps and has him hand back the vanguard's seal. When Pang De, greatly startled, asks why, Cao Cao says that he himself has no suspicion at all, but Ma Chao is now in Xichuan and Pang De's elder brother Pang Rou is also in Xichuan, both assisting Liu Bei, so even if he does not suspect him, what can he do about the mouths of the many? Romance, Ch. 74 §3

Pang De removes his cap and knocks his head on the ground until blood covers his face, and explains: in the past, when he was in his home district, he lived with his brother; his sister-in-law was utterly lacking in virtue and he killed her while drunk; and his brother, hating him to the marrow, swore never to see him again, so their bond is already severed. He adds that his former lord Ma Chao, too, had courage but no strategy and went alone into Xichuan, and that now each serves a different lord, so their old loyalty is already severed. Romance, Ch. 74 §4

Cao Cao raises Pang De up and comforts him, saying that he has always known his loyalty and righteousness and that what he said before was only to set the minds of the many at ease. Pang De bows in thanks, returns home and has a craftsman make a wooden coffin. In the Romance, Pang Rou's name appears only in two passages, the words of Dong Heng and of Cao Cao, and Pang Rou himself does not appear. Romance, Ch. 74 §2–3 · 5