The Three Kingdoms Volume 1 (51 page)

“I hear great waters flow across the land and the Emperor seeks out men of talent from all directions. In olden times, when Emperor Wu of West Han desired to enlarge his borders, crowds of scholars responded to his call.

“Being intelligent and holy, Your Majesty ascended the throne. You have fallen upon evil days, but have been diligent, modest, and untiring in your efforts. Now from on high have descended gods and on all sides appear men of genius.

“I, your humble servant, know of a certain scholar, Mi Heng by name, of Pingyuan, a young man of twenty-four. His moral character is excellent, his talents eminent. As a youth he took a high place in study and penetrated into the very secret of learning. What he saw he could repeat, what he heard once he never forgot. His character conforms with high principles and his thoughts are divine. His mental calculations and mnemonic feats can be compared with the best in history. Loyal and honest, he cherishes the noblest of aspirations. He regards the good with deferential respect, he detests the evil with uncompromising hatred. Even the most renowned officials in ancient days could not surpass him in unflinching candor and severe rectitude.

“Hundreds of hawks are not worth one osprey. If Mi Heng be given a court appointment, notable results must follow. Ready in debate, quick of speech, his overwhelming intelligence wells up in profusion—in solving problems and unraveling difficulties he has no peer.

“In former days Jia Yi
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asked to be sent to a vassal state to tame its king and Zhong Jun
^†
offered to bring the ruler of a southern kingdom with a long rope. The brave conducts of these youths have been much admired. Examples of extraordinary talents also occur in our time. And Mi Heng is no less capable. Should he be got, then all possibilities may be realized; the dragon may leap into the celestial paths and fly along the Milky Way; fame will extend to the poles of the universe and hang in the firmament with rainbow glory. He will add to the glory of all the officials in court and enhance the majesty of the palace. The music from Heaven must possess fantastic beauty and the palace of the Emperor should contain rare treasures.

“Men like Mi Heng are rare. As with the singing of the most beautiful songs of old, the best performers are sought, and the fastest horses are looked for by the most skillful judges of horses, so I, ever humble, dare not conceal this man. Your Majesty is careful in the selection of servants and should try him. Let him be summoned as he is, simply clad in his plain robe, and should he not appear worthy then may I be punished for the fault of deception.”

The Emperor read the memorial and passed it on to Cao Cao, who duly summoned Mi Heng. The young man came, but after his formal salutations were over he was left standing and not invited to sit down. Looking up to heaven he sighed deeply and said, “Wide as the universe is, it cannot produce a single man.”

“Under my orders are scores of men who are all recognized heroes. What do you mean by saying there is not a single man?” said Cao Cao.

“I should be glad to hear who they are,” said Mi Heng.

“Xun Yu, Xun You, Guo Jia, and Cheng Yu are all men of profound wisdom and prophetic vision, superior to Xiao He and Cheng Ping, who served the founder of West Han; Zhang Liao, Xu Chu, Li Dian, and Yue Jin are bravest warriors, better than the two generals, Cen Peng and Ma Wu, who fought for the first emperor of East Han. Lu Qian and Man Chong are my secretaries; Yue Jin and Xu Huang are my van leaders; Xiahou Dun is one of the country’s marvels, and Cao Ren the most successful officer of the age. Now how can you say there are no men?”

“Sir, you are quite mistaken,” said Mi Heng with a smile. “I know all these men you have just named. None of them is equal to what I mean by ‘man.’ Xun Yu is qualified only to pose at a funeral or ask after a sick man; Xun You, to be a tomb warden; Cheng Yu, to shut doors and bolt windows; Guo Jia, to recite poems; Zhang Liao, to beat drums and clang gongs; Xu Chu, to lead cattle to pasture; Yue Jin, to be a clerk at a criminal court, and Li Dian, to deliver dispatches and notices; Lu Qian, to make armor; Man Chong, to drink wine and eat brewers’ grains; Yue Jin, to carry planks and build walls; and Xu Huang, to kill pigs and slay dogs. Xiahou Dun should be styled ‘Whole Body’ General and Cao Ren should be called ‘Money-grubbing Prefect.’ As for the remainder, they are mere clothes horses, rice sacks, wine butts, and flesh bags.”

“And what special gifts do you have?’ said Cao Cao angrily.

“I know everything in the sky above and the earth beneath. I am conversant with the Three Religions and the Nine Systems of Philosophy. I could make my Emperor the rival of the wise, ancient rulers Yao and Shun and compare in virtue with Confucius and his best disciple, Yan Yuan. Can I be discussed on equal terms with common people?”

At that moment only Zhang Liao was present at Cao Cao’s side and he raised his sword to slay the impudent speaker but Cao Cao said, “I need a drummer to play on festive occasions. I can use him for the job.”

Instead of indignantly refusing this role, Mi Heng accepted the position and went out.

“He was very insolent,” said Zhang Liao, “Why not put him to death?”

“He enjoys some sort of a reputation and is known to people far and near. If I put him to death, they will say I am intolerant. As he boasts of ability, I have made him a drummer to humble him.”

A few days later, Cao Cao instituted a banquet to which a great many guests were invited. He gave orders for the new drummer to play. The old drummer told Mi Heng that he should wear new clothes to beat the drum. But Mi Heng took his place with the other musicians clad in old and worn garments. The piece chosen was an old tune and from the very first taps on the drum the effect was exquisite, profound as the notes from metal and stone. The performance stirred so deeply the emotions of the guests that they even shed tears.

The attendants said sternly, “Why didn’t you put on your new robe?”

Mi Heng stripped off his frayed and torn robe and stood there facing them, naked as he was born. The assembled guests covered their faces. Then the drummer drew up his under garments.

“Why do you behave so rudely at this sacred place?” reproached Cao Cao.

“To flout one’s king and insult one’s superiors is real rudeness,” cried Mi Heng. “I bare the form bestowed to me by my parents to reveal my clean body.”

“So you are clean! And who is foul?”

“You do not distinguish between the wise and the foolish, which is to have foul vision; you do not read the Odes or the Histories, which is to have foul speech; you are deaf to honest words, which is to have foul ears; you are not conversant with past and present events, which is to be foul without; you cannot tolerate the nobles, which is to be foul within; you harbor thoughts of rebellion, which is to have a foul heart. I am the most famous scholar in the world and you make me a drummer boy—that is like Yang Huo belittling Confucius or Zang Chang vilifying Mencius. You aspire to be the greatest of nobles, yet you insult men of wisdom like this!”

Now Kong Rong, who had recommended Mi Heng to the Emperor, was among the guests and he feared for the life of his friend. So he tried to calm the storm.

“Mi Heng is as guilty as a common prisoner,” he said slowly. “He is not worth your notice, sir.”

Pointing to Mi Heng, Cao Cao said, “I will send you to Jingzhou as my messenger and if Liu Biao surrenders to me I will give you a post at court.”

But Mi Heng would not go. So Cao Cao ordered two of his men to go with him. They were to prepare three horses, set Mi Heng in the middle one and drag him along the road between them.

On the day they departed Cao Cao told his subordinates of various ranks to assemble at the east gate to see the messenger start. Xun Yu said, “When Mi Heng comes we will not rise to salute him.”

So when Mi Heng came, dismounted, and entered the waiting room, they all sat stiff and silent. Mi Heng wailed loudly.

“Why are you doing that?” asked Xun Yu.

“Should not one wail when one walks among corpses in coffins?” said Mi Heng.

“We may be corpses,” they cried together, “but you are a headless wild ghost.”

“I am an official of Han and I will not be a partisan of Cao Cao’s,” he said. “How can I have no head?”

They were so angry that they wanted to kill him, but Xun Yu checked them. “He is but a paltry thing, not worth soiling your blades with.”

“I may be paltry yet I still have the soul of a man and you are mere worms,” said Mi Heng.

They all went away very angry.

Mi Heng began his journey and presently reached Jingzhou, where he saw Liu Biao. But under the pretense of extolling his virtue, he held him in derision. Liu Biao was annoyed and sent him away to see Huang Zu.

“Why didn’t you put the fellow to death for his impudence?” asked his men.

Liu Biao explained, “Mi Heng ridiculed Cao Cao several times, but Cao Cao did not kill him for fear of losing popular favor. So he sent him to me in an attempt to use my hand to slay him so that I will suffer the loss of my good name. Now I have sent him on to Huang Zu to let Cao Cao see that I have seen through his scheme.” His clever caution met with general approval.

At that time a messenger from Yuan Shao also arrived with proposals for an alliance and it was necessary to decide which side to support. All the advisors were called together to consider the question.

Han Song said, “Now that the two powerful men Yuan Shao and Cao Cao are at war with each other, it is your chance, General, to destroy them and accomplish your own great plans. But if you have no schemes for the present, then I think you should choose to support the one that is more likely to win the war. Now Cao Cao is an able general and has many capable men in his service. It seems to me that he may destroy Yuan Shao and then move his armies across the river. I fear, General, that you would be unable to withstand him. So I think it would be wise to support Cao Cao. He will treat you with respect.”

Liu Biao said, “You go to the capital first and see how things stand. That will help me to decide.”

Han Song replied, “The positions of master and servant are clearly defined. Now I am your man and I am prepared to go all lengths for you and obey you to the last. If you are ready to serve the Emperor and follow Cao Cao, then you can send me as your envoy. But if you are still undecided, then I must warn you: Suppose the Emperor gives me an office when I get there then I will become his servant and will not be ready to face death for you.”

“You go and find out what you can. I have some plans.”

So Han Song took his leave and went to the capital to see Cao Cao, who gave him rank and made him Prefect of Lingling. The advisor Xun Yu was unhappy about this and said to his master, “This man has come to spy out how things are. He has done nothing to deserve reward and yet you give him an office like this. And there is no news from Mi Heng. You have sent him away but you do not ask his whereabouts. Why?”

“Mi Heng shamed me too deeply before all the world so I have borrowed Liu Biao’s hand to remove him. It is not necessary to ask about him,” said Cao Cao.

Then Han Song was sent back to Jingzhou to persuade his former master to surrender. When he saw Liu Biao he was full of praise for the virtues of the court and was keen on persuading him to send his son to serve under the Emperor. Liu Biao became very angry, charged him with treachery, and threatened him with death.

“You failed me, General, but I did not betray you!” cried Han Song.

Kuai Liang reminded Liu Biao that Han Song had foretold this possibility before he left and Liu Biao, who was just and reasonable, pardoned him.

The news arrived that Mi Heng had been put to death by Huang Zu. It so happened that the two of them were drinking together for some time. Both being the worse for liquor, they had begun to discuss the worth of people.

“You were in the capital,” said Huang Zu. “Who was there of worth?”

“The big boy was Kong Rong and the little one Yang Xiu. There was no one else of note.”

“What about me?” asked Huang Zu.

“You are like a god in a temple; you sit still and receive sacrifices but do not answer the prayers of your worshippers.”

“Do you regard me as an image of clay?” cried Huang Zu in a rage.

So he put the impudent speaker to death. Even at the very point of death Mi Heng never ceased his railing and abuse.

Liu Biao sighed deeply when he heard of his fate. He had the victim honorably interred by the side of Parrot Isle. And a later poet wrote the following to mourn over Mi Heng:

Huang Zu could brook no rival; at his word
Mi Heng met death beneath the cruel sword.
His grave on Parrot Isle may yet be seen,
The river flowing past it, coldly green.

Cao Cao heard of the young man’s death with pleasure. “The putrid bookworm has just cut himself up with his own sharp tongue,” he said.

As there was no sign of Liu Biao coming to join him, Cao Cao began to think of coercion by force. The advisor, Xun Yu, dissuaded him from this course of action.

He said, “Yuan Shao is not subjugated and Liu Bei is not destroyed. To attack Liu Biao would be to neglect the vital in favor of the immaterial. Destroy the two chief enemies first and the east is yours at one blow.”