The Three Kingdoms Volume 1 (31 page)

That night Man Chong, in disguise, got over to the other side and made his way to the tent of Xu Huang, who sat there by the light of a candle. He was still wearing his coat of mail. Suddenly, Man Chong appeared in front of him and saluted to him. “You have been well since we parted, old friend?” he asked.

Xu Huang stood up in surprise, gazed into the face of the speaker a long time, and then said: “Are you Man Chong of Shanyang? How come you are here?”

“I am an officer in General Cao’s army. I saw you in front of the army today and I wanted to have a word with you. So I risked my life to come here.”

Xu Huang invited him to sit down. Then Man Chong said, “There are few warriors as bold as you on the earth. Why then do you commit yourself to such people as Yang Feng and Han Xian? My master is the most prominent man in the world, a man who respects the wise and appreciates the valiant, as everyone knows. Your valor today won his entire admiration and so he took care that the attack was not too fierce for you. Now he has sent me to invite you to join him. Why don’t you leave darkness for light and help him in his magnificent cause?”

Xu Huang sat for a long time, pondering over the offer. Then he said with a sigh, “I know my masters are doomed to failure, but I have all along followed their fortunes and do not like to leave them.”

“But you know the fine bird selects its tree and the wise servant chooses his master. He who meets a worthy master and lets him go is a fool.”

“I am willing to do what you say,” said Xu Huang, rising to thank him.

“Why not put these two to death as a gift for an audience with General Cao?” suggested Man Chong.

“It is very wrong for a subordinate to slay his master. I will never do that.”

“You are really a true man.”

Then Xu Huang, taking only a score or so horsemen with him, left that very night to desert to Cao Cao. Soon the news was reported to Yang Feng, who, at the head of a strong company of horsemen, set out to capture the deserter. He called out to him to come back.

But when Yang Feng was getting near he was ambushed. Suddenly the whole mountainside was lit up with torches and out sprang Cao Cao’s men, he himself being in command. “I have been waiting here a long time. Do not try to run away,” he cried.

Yang Feng was terrified and attempted to draw off but was quickly surrounded. Han Xian came to his rescue and a confused battle began. Yang Feng succeeded in breaking through but Cao Cao kept up the attack on the disordered army. A great number of their men gave in and the two leaders found they had too few men left to continue the battle, so they escaped to seek shelter at Yuan Shu’s place.

When Cao Cao returned to camp the newly surrendered man was presented and well received. Again, the cavalcade set out for the new capital. In due time they reached it. Soon after that great construction work began. They built palaces and halls as well as an ancestral temple, an altar, and public offices. The city walls were repaired, storehouses were built, and all put in order.

Then came the rewards. Here Cao Cao exercised full power. Every reward or punishment, if any, was based upon his sole decision. Thirteen were raised to the rank of nobility. He himself was made the Grand Commander and Lord of Wuping. His important advisors filled high offices and his warriors became generals and high-ranking officers. All good service received full recognition.

Cao Cao became the leader of the court. All memorials went first to him and were then submitted to the Emperor.

When state matters were in order a great banquet was given in his private quarters to all his advisors and officers, and affairs outside the capital were the subject of discussion. Cao Cao said, “Liu Bei has his army at Xuzhou and he carries on the administration of the prefecture. Lu Bu fled to him when defeated and Liu Bei gave him Xiaopei to live in. If these two agreed to join forces and attack us, my position would be most serious. What good plan do you have to destroy them?”

Xu Chu rose and said: “Give me 50,000 men and I will present their heads to you.”

Xun Yu said, “You are brave, but you are no strategist. The new capital has just been established and we cannot start another war. However, there is a certain tactic known as “the Rival Tigers.” Liu Bei has no decree authorizing him to govern Xuzhou. You, sir, can procure one for him and so confer upon him the right to administer the district. When you send the decree you can enclose a secret note telling him to get rid of Lu Bu. If he does, he will have lost a vigorous warrior from his side and he could be dealt with as the occasion arises. If he fails then Lu Bu will slay him. Either way, they will wrangle and destroy each other. This is the Rival Tigers tactic.”

Cao Cao agreed that this was a good plan, so he petitioned for a formal appointment, creating Liu Bei a general and a lord, fully authorized to govern Xuzhou. He then sent the decree to Liu Bei together with a secret note.

By that time Liu Bei had heard of the change of capital and he was about to offer his congratulations when an imperial messenger was announced. He at once went outside the city gate to welcome him. The decree was reverently received and a banquet was prepared for the messenger.

The messenger said, “This decree was obtained for you entirely through the effort of General Cao.”

Liu Bei expressed his gratitude to Cao Cao. Then the messenger offered his secret letter. After he had read this Liu Bei said, “This matter has to be further considered.”

The banquet over and the messenger conducted to his lodging, Liu Bei at once called in his men to discuss the letter.

“Lu Bu is a bad man,” said Zhang Fei. “What does it matter if we kill him?”

“But he came to me for protection in difficulty. How can I put him to death? That would be bad, too.”

“It’s not easy to be a good man,” replied Zhang Fei.

Liu Bei would not consent. The following day when Lu Bu came to offer congratulations, he was received as usual.

“I have come specially to felicitate you on your receipt of the imperial bounty,” said Lu Bu.

Liu Bei thanked him in due politeness. Just then he saw Zhang Fei rush into the hall, drawing his sword to slay Lu Bu. He hastily interfered and stopped him.

Lu Bu was surprised and asked, “Why do you want to kill me?”

“Cao Cao says you are treacherous and tells my brother to kill you,” shouted Zhang Fei.

Liu Bei shouted again and again to him to go away. After he left, Liu Bei led Lu Bu into the inner hall, where he told him the whole story and even showed him the secret letter. Lu Bu wept as he finished reading.

“This is Cao Cao’s scheme to sow discord between us,” he said.

“Don’t be anxious,” said Liu Bei. “I pledge never to commit such an infamous crime.”

Lu Bu repeatedly expressed his gratitude and Liu Bei treated him with wine. They remained talking and drinking till late.

After Lu Bu left, his two brothers asked, “Why didn’t you kill him?”

Liu Bei said, “This is Cao Cao’s plot. He fears that Lu Bu and I may attack him so he’s trying to separate us and make us ‘swallow’ each other, while he steps in and takes the advantage. Do you think I should fall into his trap?”

Guan Yu nodded assent, but Zhang Fei added, “I still want to get him out of the way lest he should trouble us later.”

“This is not what a noble man should do,” said his eldest brother.

Soon, the messenger returned to the capital with a letter of reply from Liu Bei. The letter only said that it would take some time to carry out the plan. But the messenger told Cao Cao how Liu Bei would not kill Lu Bu.

“The plan has failed—what next?” asked Cao Cao.

Xun Yu replied, “I have another tactic, called ‘the Tiger and the Wolf,’ in which the tiger is made to gobble up the wolf.”

“Let us hear it,” demanded his master.

“Send someone to Yuan Shu to spread the rumor that Liu Bei expresses his wish to subdue the southern districts in a secret petition to the Emperor. Yuan Shu will be very angry and attack him. Then you will order Liu Bei to dispose of Yuan Shu and so set them destroying each other. Lu Bu will certainly think that is his chance and turn traitor. This is the Tiger and the Wolf tactic.”

Cao Cao found this a good scheme and did as he was advised. When Liu Bei received the false edict from Cao Cao that ordered him to capture Yuan Shu, he related it to Mi Zhu, who pronounced it a trick.

“It may be,” said Liu Bei, “but the royal command is not to be disobeyed.”

So the army was prepared and the day of the departure fixed. Sun Qian reminded him that a trusty person should be left behind to guard the city and Liu Bei asked which of his brothers would undertake this task.

“I’ll guard the city,” volunteered Guan Yu.

“I’m constantly in need of your advice. How can you stay behind?”

“Let me guard the city,” said Zhang Fei.

“You’ll fail,” said Liu Bei. “After one of your drinking bouts you’ll lose your temper and flog the soldiers. Besides, you’re rash and will not listen to anyone’s advice. I’ll be worried all the time.”

“From now on I won’t drink any wine. I won’t beat the soldiers and I’ll always listen to advice,” promised Zhang Fei.

“I fear the mouth doesn’t correspond to the heart,” said Mi Zhu.

Zhang Fei became angry. “I’ve followed my brother these many years and never broken faith. Why should you be so contemptuous of me?” he bellowed.

Liu Bei said, “Though you say so, I don’t feel quite assured.” Then he ordered Chen Deng to help his youngest brother to guard the city and keep him sober so that he would not do anything foolish.

Chen Deng agreed to undertake this duty and the final orders for departure were given. The army, composed of 300,000 horse and infantry, left Xuzhou and marched toward Nanyang.

When Yuan Shu heard that a memorial had been presented by Liu Bei proposing to take possession of his district he broke out into a violent abuse of his enemy. “That weaver of mats! Maker of straw sandals! He has been audacious enough to get hold of a large district and elbow his way into the ranks of the lords. I was just going to attack him and now he dares to scheme against me! How I detest him!”

He at once gave orders to prepare an army of 100,000 men under Ji Ling to attack Xuzhou. The two armies met at Xuyi, where Liu Bei had encamped on a plain with hills behind and a stream on his flank as protection, for his army was small.

Ji Ling, his opponent, was a native of Shandong. He used a very heavy three-edged sword. After he had made camp he rode out and began abusing his enemy. “Liu Bei, you rustic bumpkin, how dare you invade this land?”

“I have a decree from the court ordering me to destroy your master, who behaves improperly. If you oppose me you will be assuredly punished,” replied Liu Bei.

Ji Ling angrily rode out, brandishing his weapon. But Guan Yu cried, “You wretch, do not attempt to show off your prowess!” and rode forth to meet him. The two fought and after thirty exchanges neither could prevail over the other. Then Ji Ling called for a rest. So Guan Yu rode back to his own army and waited for him.

When the moment to renew the combat came, Ji Ling sent out one of his officers to take his place. But Guan Yu said, “Tell Ji Ling to come: I must fight it out with him.”

“You are a nameless person and unworthy to fight with our general,” replied the officer.

This reply angered Guan Yu, who made just one attack on his opponent and laid him dead on the ground. At this success Liu Bei urged on the army and Ji Ling’s men were defeated. They retired to the mouth of the Huaiyin River and declined all open challenges. However, he would send his men to make sudden and stealthy attacks on Liu Bei’s camp to try to do what mischief they could, yet all these attempts were to no avail.

But the armies will be left facing each other while we relate what happened in Xuzhou.

After Liu Bei had gone on his expedition Zhang Fei placed his advisor Chen Deng in charge of the routine business of the city, keeping military affairs under his own supervision. After thinking over his promise to his brother for some time he gave a banquet to all his colleagues. When every guest had taken his seat he made a speech.

“Before my brother left he told me to keep clear of the wine cup for fear of accidents. Now, gentlemen, you may drink deep today but from tomorrow wine is forbidden, for we must keep the city safe. So drink your fill.” And with this he himself rose to fill the wine cups for his guests.

When he came to an officer called Cao Bao, the latter declined it, saying that he never drank as he was forbidden by heaven.

“What! a fighting man not drinking wine!” cried the host. “I want you to take just one cup.”

Cao Bao was afraid to offend so he drank.

After the wine had gone round once the host began to drink huge goblets, and so swallowed an enormous quantity of liquor. He became quite intoxicated. Yet he would drink more and insisted on a cup with every guest. Again it was Cao Bao’s turn, who again declined.

“Really, I cannot drink any more,” said Cao Bao.

“You drank just now—why refuse this time?”

Zhang Fei pressed him, but still Cao Bao resisted. Then Zhang Fei in his drunken madness lost control of his temper and said, “If you disobey the order of your general you will be flogged a hundred times.” And he called in his guards.