The Slope of the Fallen Phoenix

Also called: Death of Pang Tong, Luofengpo

A scene invented by a historical novel. It differs from the recorded history.

A scene from chapter 63 of the Romance: riding Liu Bei’s white horse, Pang Tong is mistaken for Liu Bei and shot down at Luofengpo, the "Slope of the Fallen Phoenix". In the history he was hit by an arrow while besieging Luocheng.

A scene invented by the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. On the way to Luocheng, when his horse rears, Pang Tong switches to the white horse Liu Bei lends him. Entering a narrow pass, he learns it is called Luofengpo, the "Slope of the Fallen Phoenix", and recalls his own name, the Young Phoenix — at that moment the ambushers of Zhang Ren, taking the rider of the white horse for Liu Bei, loose a storm of arrows, and Pang Tong dies at thirty-six.

His biography in the official Records says only that he was struck by a stray arrow while leading troops in the siege of Luocheng. There is no horse swap and no Luofengpo. Liu Bei mourned him deeply and wept whenever he spoke of him.