Is “What is the detail that King Cheng of Chu requested to eat bear paw before death and was refused?” true?
The Records of the Grand Historian, 'Hereditary House of Chu', records: 'In the winter of the tenth month, Shangchen surrounded King Cheng with palace guards. King Cheng requested to eat bear paw before dying, but was not allowed. On the day of Dingwei, King Cheng hanged himself.' However, the Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, chapter 46, adds the specific detail of Pan Chong's coercion: 'King Cheng said, "I have just ordered the cook to prepare bear paw, and I will eat it when it is cooked; even if I die, I will have no regret!" Pan Chong said in a stern voice, "Bear paw is hard to cook; do you wish to delay time to wait for outside rescue? Please act on your own, and do not wait for me to take action!"'
Regarding the request of King Cheng of Chu before his death, both books record that he wanted to eat bear paw (bear's paw), but the novel adds specific dialogue in which Pan Chong sees through his intention to delay time and refuses.
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