The Three Kingdoms Volume 1 (24 page)

“Who are you?” asked Liu Bei.

“My name is Taishi Ci, a simple man from the east. I am not related to Prefect Kong by ties of kinship, nor even by ties of neighborhood, but I am bound to him by bonds of sentiment and I share his sorrows and misfortunes. The rebels have invested his city and destruction is imminent. He is distressed beyond measure, for there is no one to turn to for help. He knows that you are humane and righteous, able to aid people in difficulties. Therefore at his command I have braved all dangers and fought my way through his enemies to appeal to you for help.”

As he listened, Liu Bei’s face grew grave and he said, “So he knows of my existence?”

Then Liu Bei assembled 3,000 soldiers and set out to help raise the siege in Beihai. When the rebel leader saw their arrival he led out his army to fight them, thinking he could easily dispose of so small a force.

The three brothers and Taishi Ci were in the forefront of their troops. The rebel leader hastened forward to challenge. Taishi Ci was about to open the combat when Guan Yu rushed forth and engaged the enemy. As their two steeds met, the soldiers set up a great shout. But how could there be any doubt of the result? After a few bouts Guan Yu’s great sword rose and fell, and with it fell, too, his opponent.

At this Zhang Fei and Taishi Ci rode out side by side. With their spears ready they dashed in among the rebels, while Liu Bei urged his men to advance. Like tigers among a flock of sheep, they slew the rebels wherever they went and none could withstand them. When the prefect saw how his brave rescuers had defeated the enemy he also sent out his men to join in the battle so that the rebels were trapped between two armies. Soon, the enemy force was completely broken and many men surrendered, while the remainder scattered in all directions.

The victors were welcomed into the city and a banquet was prepared in their honor. Mi Zhu was introduced to Liu Bei to whom he told the story of the murder of Cao Song by Zhang Kai and Cao Cao’s vengeful attack on Xuzhou and his coming to beg for assistance.

Liu Bei said, “Prefect Tao is a kindly man of high character, and it is a pity that he should suffer this wrong through no fault of his own.”

“You are a scion of the imperial family,” said Kong Rong. “And this Cao Cao is hurting the people, a strong man abusing his strength. Why not go with me to rescue the sufferers?”

“Well, it is not that I dare to refuse but my force is weak and I must act cautiously,” replied Liu Bei.

“Though my desire to help Prefect Tao arises from an old friendship, yet it is a righteous act as well. Could it be that your heart is not inclined toward the right?” said Kong Rong.

Liu Bei said, “All right. You go first and give me time to see Gongsun Zan from whom I may borrow more men and horses. I will come later.”

“You surely will not break your promise?” said Kong Rong.

“What kind of man do you think I am?” said Liu Bei. “A saint once said, ‘All men must die but he who is without faith cannot maintain himself.’ Whether I get the men or not, I will certainly come.”

So Kong Rong agreed to this arrangement. He told Mi Zhu to return immediately to report the news and he himself began to prepare for the expedition.

Taishi Ci, his mission completed, was ready to leave, too. He said to Prefect Kong: “My mother bade me come to your aid and luckily you are safe. My townsman Liu Yao, Governor of Yangzhou, has sent me a letter, asking me to go there and I must leave you now. I will see you again.”

Kong Rong wanted to give him money and silk as rewards but he would not accept anything. When his mother saw him return she was very pleased at his success. She said, “I’m very glad you can prove our gratitude to Prefect Kong.” Soon he departed for Yangzhou.

While Kong Rong was marching toward Xuzhou, Liu Bei went away to his friend Gongsun Zan and told him about his plan to help Tao Qian.

“Cao Cao is not your enemy. Why do you exert yourself for the sake of another?” said Gongsun Zan.

“I have promised,” answered Liu Bei, “and dare not go back on my words.”

“I will lend you 2,000 horse and foot soldiers.”

“May I also ask you to let Zhao Yun come with us?”

Gongsun Zan agreed to this as well.

So the two forces marched toward the besieged city of Xuzhou, with Liu Bei and his own men in the front and Zhao Yun with the borrowed soldiers to the rear.

In due course, Mi Zhu returned to Xuzhou with the news that not only would Kong Rong come but he had persuaded Liu Bei to offer help as well. The other envoy, Chen Deng, came back and reported that Tian Kai would also bring help. The good tidings set Tao Qian’s heart at ease.

But both Kong Rong and Tian Kai, greatly in dread of Cao Cao’s strength, camped among the hills far away from the city, afraid to take any immediate action. However, their arrival forced Cao Cao to divide his army into several units, so postponing his attack on the city itself. Soon Liu Bei also reached the place and went to see Kong Rong.

The prefect said, “The enemy is very powerful and Cao Cao handles his army skillfully. We must be cautious. Let us tread carefully before we strike a blow.”

“What I fear is famine in the city,” said Liu Bei. “They cannot hold out very long. I will put Guan Yu and Zhao Yun with 4,000 soldiers under your command while Zhang Fei and I try to break through Cao Cao’s camp and get into the city to consult the prefect.”

Kong Rong was very pleased with this plan, so he and Tian Kai took up positions on both sides of the hills, with Guan Yu and Zhao Yun on either side to support them. Elsewhere, Liu Bei and Zhang Fei with a thousand cavalry tried to get through Cao Cao’s camp. However, when they got to the flank of his camp there arose a great beating of drums, and their enemy, both horsemen and foot soldiers, rolled out like billows on the ocean. Their leader was Yue Jin. He checked his horse and called out, “Halt, you maniacs! Where do you come from?”

Without deigning to give a reply, Zhang Fei rode straight to attack the speaker. After they had fought a few bouts Liu Bei waved his double swords as a signal for his men to come on. Yue Jin was routed and fled for his life. Zhang Fei led the pursuit and in this way they reached the city wall.

From the gate tower the prefect saw a red banner embroidered in white with the name of Liu Bei, so he at once ordered his men to open the gate. Liu Bei was then cordially welcomed into the official residence and a banquet was prepared in his honor. His men were also rewarded with feasts.

Tao Qian was delighted with Liu Bei, admiring his noble appearance and clear speech. He told Mi Zhu to present to Liu Bei the seal and insignia of the city.

“What does this mean?” asked Liu Bei, greatly startled.

Tao Qian said, “There is trouble everywhere in the country and the Emperor’s rule is no longer maintained. You, sir, are a member of the imperial family and eminently suited to help restore the line of Han. I am but an old man without any ability and I want you to take over the city so that I can retire. Please do not refuse. I will report my action to the court.”

Liu Bei rose from his seat and bowed to his host. “Scion of the Han House though I am, my merit is small and my virtue meager. I doubt if I am fitted for my present post, let alone the office of your city. I have come to your assistance out of a sense of righteousness. Do you suspect me of coming with greed in my heart to speak like that? May God bless me no more if I cherished such a thought!”

“It is a poor old man’s real sentiment, sir,” said Tao Qian.

Over and over Tao Qian repeated his offer, but how could Liu Bei accept it?

At last Mi Zhu said, “Now the enemy is right at the gate. We need to find a way to drive them off first. This matter can wait until the siege is raised.”

Liu Bei said, “I will write to Cao Cao to seek peace first. If he refuses, then we will fight.”

Orders were therefore given to the men in the camps to remain in their positions. Meanwhile, the letter was written and sent to Cao Cao.

When the arrival of the messenger with the letter was announced Cao Cao was holding a council with his officers. He opened it and found that it was from Liu Bei. The following is the letter in brief:

Since our last meeting fate has assigned us to different quarters of the world and I have not been able to pay my respects to you.

It was owing to the vicious nature of Zhang Kai but not to any fault of Prefect Tao that your noble father was murdered some time ago. Now the remnants of the Yellow Turbans are disturbing the provinces and Dong Zhuo’s partisans have the upper hand in the capital. I hope that you, Illustrious Sir, will place the critical condition of the country before your personal grievances and so divert your forces from the attack on Xuzhou to the rescue of the state. Such would be for the happiness of the city and the whole country.

Cao Cao let out a torrent of abuse after reading the letter. “Who does this Liu Bei think he is that he dares to write and exhort me. Besides, he even uses an ironic tone in the letter.”

He issued orders to put the bearer of the letter to death and to press on with the attack. But his advisor Guo Jia remonstrated: “Liu Bei has come from afar to help Tao Qian and he is observing the rule of politeness before resorting to force. I think you should reply with fair words, sir, so that his heart may be lulled into a false feeling of safety. Then attack with vigor and the city will fall.”

Cao Cao found this advice good so he entertained the messenger and asked him to wait for his reply. While this matter was being seen to, a horseman came riding up with bad news—Lu Bu had captured Yanzhou and was entering Puyang.

Now Lu Bu had fled to Yuan Shu’s place after Li Jue and Guo Si, the two partisans of Dong Zhuo, succeeded in their attack on the capital. However, Yuan Shu despised him for his infidelity, and refused to accept him. Then he had tried Yuan Shao, who had made use of him in defeating Zhang Yan at Changshan. But his success filled him with pride and his arrogant demeanor so annoyed the other commanders that Yuan Shao was on the point of putting him to death. To escape this he had sought refuge with Zhang Yang, who accepted his services.

About this time a friend of his named Pang Shu, who had been protecting his family in the capital since his disappearance, restored them to him. When Li Jue learned about this he put Pang Shu to death and wrote to Zhang Yang, asking him to kill Lu Bu. So once again Lu Bu had to flee and this time he offered himself to Zhang Miao.

He arrived just as Chen Gong was being introduced to Zhang Miao. Chen Gong said to Miao, “The disruption of the empire has begun and warriors are seizing what they can. It is a shame that you, sir, with all the strength you have, do not strike for independence. Cao Cao is now on an expedition against the east leaving his own district defenseless. Lu Bu is the best fighter of the day. If you employ him to capture Yanzhou you could then proceed to establish your own rule.”

Zhang Miao was very pleased with the scheme and resolved to implement it. Soon, Lu Bu was in possession of Yanzhou and Puyang. And the whole area was quickly conquered, except for the three counties that were desperately defended by the two new advisors of Cao Cao. Cao Ren had fought many battles but was defeated each time and the horseman had been sent by him to report the emergent situation at home.

Greatly disturbed, Cao Cao said, “If my own city is lost I have no home to return to. I must do my best to win it back.”

“You can make use of this to do Liu Bei a favor and withdraw to recover Yanzhou,” advised Guo Jia.

Cao Cao agreed. So he wrote to Liu Bei, gave the letter to the waiting messenger, and broke camp.

The news that the enemy had left was really gratifying to Tao Qian, who then invited his friends into the city and entertained all his rescuers with feasts as a token of his gratitude.

When the feasting was over, he asked Liu Bei to sit in the seat of the highest honor and addressed the assembly.

“I am old and feeble and my two sons lacked ability to hold so important an office as this. The noble Liu is a descendant of the imperial house. He is of lofty virtue and great talent, suitable to take over the rule of this district. I will be only too willing to retire so as to have some leisure to nurse my health.”

Liu Bei replied, “I came at the request of Prefect Kong because it was the right thing to do. If I take the city, the world will denounce me as a wicked man.”

Mi Zhu said, “You should not refuse. The House of the Hans is falling and their realm crumbling. Now is the time for doughty deeds and signal services. This is a fertile district, well-populated, and you are the man to rule over it.”

“But I will never dare to accept.”

“The prefect is a sick man,” said another official of the city, “and cannot see to matters. You must not decline, sir.”

Liu Bei said, “Yuan Shu belongs to a family of great ministers who held the highest offices of the state on four occasions in three generations. The whole country respects him. His prefecture is close by, too. Why not invite him to come?”

“Because he is a rotting bone in a dark tomb, not worth talking about,” replied Kong Rong. “This opportunity is a gift from Heaven and you will never cease to regret its loss.”

Liu Bei still obstinately refused. Tao Qian entreated him again with tears in his eyes. “I will die with my eyes open if you desert me.”