The Three Kingdoms Volume 1 (15 page)

“Later, Ziying presented this seal to the founder of the Han Dynasty. During Wang Mang’s usurpation
^†
the Empress Dowager struck two of the rebels with the seal and broke off a corner, which was repaired with gold. Emperor Guangwu got possession of it at Yiyang and it has been regularly bequeathed to later emperors. I heard that during the trouble in the palace when The Ten hurried off the Emperor to Beimong it was found missing on His Majesty’s return. Now Heaven has sent it to you, my lord. You will certainly come to the imperial dignity. But you must not remain here. Return to the east at once where you can make plans for the accomplishment of the great design.”

“That’s just what I think,” said Sun Jian. “Tomorrow I will make an excuse that I’m unwell and get away.”

The soldiers were told to keep the discovery a secret. But who could have guessed that one among them was from the same village as Yuan Shao? He thought this might be a chance for him to get promoted, so he stole out of the camp and betrayed his master. He received a handsome reward and Yuan Shao kept him in his own camp. The next day Sun Jian came to take leave, saying that he was rather unwell and had to return to Changsha.

Yuan Shao laughed and said, “I know what you are suffering from; it is called the Hereditary Seal illness.”

This was a shock to Sun Jian. He turned pale and asked, “What do you mean?”

Yuan Shao said, “We’ve raised the armies to destroy evils for the empire. The seal is imperial property. Since you have got hold of it you should openly hand it over to me as leader of the armed forces. After Dong Zhuo is slain it’ll be handed over to the Emperor. What do you mean by concealing it and going away?”

“How could the seal get into my hands?” asked Sun Jian.

“Where is the thing you got out of the well in Jianzhang Hall?”

“I do not have it; why harass me like this?”

“Give it to me quickly or it will be worse for you.”

Sun Jian, pointing to the sky, vowed: “If I have this seal and am hiding it, may my end be unhappy and my death violent.”

The other lords all said, “After a vow like this, he cannot have it.”

Then Yuan Shao called out his informant. “When you pulled that thing out of the well, was this man there?” he asked.

Sun Jian burst into anger and sprang forward to kill the man. Yuan Shao also drew his sword and said, “You touch that soldier and it is an insult to me.”

In a moment, on both sides swords flew from their scabbards. But the confusion was checked by the efforts of the others and Sun Jian left the assembly. Soon, he broke up his camp and left the city of Luoyang. Yuan Shao was furious. He wrote a letter to Liu Biao, Governor of Jingzhou, and sent a reliable servant to deliver it to him at once. In the letter he told the governor to stop Sun Jian and force him to surrender the seal.

The following day news came of Cao Cao’s return after his disastrous defeat at Yingyang. Yuan Shao sent people to welcome him to his camp. All the lords gathered together and wine was prepared to console him. At the assembly, Cao Cao said, sadly: “It was for the sake of ridding the country of the evil Dong Zhuo that I called upon you to support me. Since you had come for a noble cause I had hoped that Benchu
^*
could lead his Henei force to approach Menjin while the others from Suanzao could hold Chenggao, take possession of Ao Granary, and seize Huanyuan and Taigu, so that the crucial vantage points would be in our hands. In the meantime, Gonglu
^†
could lead his Nanyang force to enter the Wu Pass, in order that the three cities near Chang’an would be under our military threat. It would be better for all of us to fortify our positions and not fight. In this way, the enemy would be kept in apprehension of our military strength. And we could take full advantage of this to show the world that justice would prevail over rebellion. Then victory would be ours at once. But now you hesitate in taking any immediate action, thus failing to meet the expectations of the people. I cannot but feel ashamed.”

Yuan Shao and the others could find no words to reply and presently the guests dispersed. Cao Cao saw that the others all had their own schemes. He realized that nothing could be accomplished, so he led his men off to Yangzhou.

Gongsun Zan said to the three brothers: “This Yuan Shao is incapable of action. If things continue in this way, disaster will come. We’d better go our way, too.” So they broke camp and went north. At Pingyuan the general parted with the three brothers and placed Liu Bei in command of the town while he himself went to his own position to refresh his men.

Among the remaining lords one of them was the Prefect of Yanzhou, who wished to borrow grain from the Prefect of Dongjun. Being refused, he attacked the other’s camp, killed the prefect, and took over all his men. Yuan Shao saw that the confederacy had collapsed, and he, too, struck camp and left Luoyang for Guandong.

Now the Governor of Jingzhou, named Liu Biao, was a scion of the imperial house. As a young man, he had made friends with many famous persons and he and his companions were known as The Fine Eight. He also had three trusty subordinates who helped him in the administration of his district. They were Kuai Liang, Kuai Yue, and Cai Mao.

After he received Yuan Shao’s letter detailing the fault of Sun Jian, he sent Kuai Yue and Cai Mao with 10,000 soldiers to stop Sun Jian on the way. When Sun Jian drew near, the waiting Kuai Yue arranged his troops in fighting order and rode to the front.

“Why are you barring my way with armed men?” asked Sun Jian.

“Why do you, a minister of Han, try to hide the Emperor’s seal? Leave it with me at once and I will let you go,” said Kuai Yue.

Sun Jian angrily ordered Huang Gai out, while on the other side came Cai Mao to oppose him. The two of them had exchanged only a few bouts before Huang Gai dealt his opponent a blow right on the breastplate with his iron whip. Cai Mao turned his steed and fled. Following this victory, Sun Jian pushed on with his army and managed to get through. However, from behind the hills came the sound of gongs and drums and there was Liu Biao in person with a large army. Sun Jian bowed to him while still mounted and asked: “Why do you resort to force against your neighboring prefecture based on a mere letter from Yuan Shao?”

“You have concealed the Hereditary Seal of the empire. Do you want to rebel?” replied Liu Biao.

“If I have it, may I die under swords and arrows.”

“If you want me to believe you, let me search your luggage.”

“Do you think you are so powerful that you can humiliate me like this?” said Sun Jian angrily.

They were about to engage in battle when Liu Biao retreated. Sun Jian urged his steed to press on, but all at once the men waiting in ambush emerged from behind the hills on both sides and worse still, Kuai Yue and Cai Mao also came up from the rear, leaving Sun Jian trapped on all sides.

What does it advantage a man to hold the imperial seal
If its possession leads to nothing but strife?

How Sun Jian broke through the encirclement will be told in the next chapter.

*
Modern Xian.

*
In ancient China people believed that the conditions and movements of the stars were related to important men and events on earth.

*
Another name for the first Emperor of Qin.

†
A.D.
8–23

*
Yuan Shao’s familiar name.

†
Yuan Shu’s familiar name.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Yuan Shao Fights with Gongsun Zan at River Pan

Sun Jian Crosses the River to Attack Liu Biao

A
t
the close of the last chapter Sun Jian was surrounded by Liu Biao’s army. Fortunately, his three best officers battled desperately to rescue him so he eventually fought his way through and returned to the east, although more than half of his men were lost. From then on he and Liu Biao became sworn enemies.

At that time Yuan Shao was stationed in Henei but there were not enough provisions for his army. When Han Fu, Prefect of Jizhou, learned about this, he sent grain to help him.

Feng Ji, one of Yuan Shao’s advisors, said to him: “A powerful man like you is capable of ruling the world. Why do you have to depend on another for food? Jizhou is rich and well-supplied. Why not seize it, General?”

“I don’t have an effective plan,” replied Yuan Shao.

“You can send a letter to Gongsun Zan in secret, asking him to attack Jizhou and promising him your support. He’ll surely do as you suggest. Han Fu, lacking resourcefulness, is certain to invite you to take over the administration of his prefecture and you can get it without having to lift a finger.”

Yuan Shao was very pleased to hear this. So the letter was sent at once. When Gongsun Zan learned about Yuan Shao’s proposal of a joint attack and division of the territory of Jizhou, he, too, was pleased. Very soon he led his army on a march to attack Jizhou. In the meantime, Yuan Shao sent a secret message of warning to Han Fu, who sought advice from two of his advisors.

One of them said: “Gongsun Zan has under his command the veteran soldiers of Yan and Dai regions as well as the help of the three brothers, Liu, Guan, and Zhang. It won’t be possible for us to stand against him. But Yuan Shao is superior to others in wisdom and valor, and has many able and famous warriors under him. If you invite him to assist you in administering the prefecture, he will certainly treat you well. Then you don’t have to fear Gongsun Zan.”

The prefect agreed and immediately sent a message to Yuan Shao. But Geng Wu, a faithful subordinate of his, remonstrated with him and said: “Yuan Shao is a needy man with a hungry army and as dependent on us for life as an infant is on its mother. Stop the flow of milk and the baby dies. Why should you hand the administration of the district over to him? It’s nothing less than letting a tiger into the sheepfold.”

Han Fu replied, “I used to be a subordinate under the Yuan family and I know I’m not as capable as Yuan Shao. The ancients practiced yielding to the sage. Why are you all so jealous?”

Geng Wu sighed, “Jizhou is lost!”

When the news got out, a large number of his men left their posts and the city. However, Geng Wu and another man hid themselves outside the city to await the arrival of Yuan Shao.

They did not have to wait for long. Several days later, Yuan Shao appeared with his army. The two men rushed forward in an attempt to assassinate him but were both instantly killed by Yan Liang and Wen Chou, Yuan Shao’s two best fighters.

After he entered the prefecture, Yuan Shao’s first act was to confer on Han Fu a high-sounding title, but the administration was entrusted to four of his own close advisors, thus depriving Han Fu of all power. Full of chagrin Han Fu abandoned all, even his family, and took refuge with the Prefect of Chenliu.

Hearing of Yuan Shao’s possession of Jizhou, Gongsun Zan sent his younger brother Yue to see his ally and demand his share of the district. The brother was sent back to request Gongsun Zan himself to come but on his way home he was killed by assassins, who loudly proclaimed that they worked for Prime Minister Dong. Those of his followers who escaped carried the news to their late master’s brother.

Gongsun Zan was very angry and said, “He prevailed on me to attack Han Fu while he took advantage and occupied the city. Now he even sent his men to murder my brother and lied about who they belonged to. How could I not avenge this wrong?”