The Three Kingdoms Volume 1 (53 page)

“Do you know this man?”

“Yes,” cried Dong Cheng. “So the runaway slave is here—he ought to be put to death.”

“He reported your plot to me and is my witness,” said Cao Cao. “Who dares to kill him?”

“Why do you, sir, heed the unsupported tale of a runaway slave?”

“I have Wang Zi-fu and the others in prison,” said Cao Cao. “How can you refute the evidence?”

He then ordered his men to arrest Dong Cheng and to search his bedroom. Soon, they found the decree and the pledge signed by the officials loyal to the Emperor.

Cao Cao read it and laughed. “Those lowly rats! I will not let them get away with this!”

He gave orders to arrest the whole household, without exception. Then he returned to his house with the incriminating documents and called all his advisors together to discuss the dethronement of the Emperor and the setting up of a successor.

Several lines written in blood accomplished nothing;
One inscribed pledge brought mountains of sorrow.

The fate of the Emperor will be told in the next chapter.

*
A poet and political theorist during the West Han Dynasty.

†
An official in the West Han Dynasty, who volunteered to negotiate peace between Han and South Yue.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Cao Cao Kills Lady Dong, the Emperor’s Concubine

Liu Bei Seeks Refuge with Yuan Shao after His Defeat by Cao Cao

T
he
last chapter closed with the discovery of the decree and the assembly of Cao Cao’s advisors to consider the deposition of Emperor Xian. Cheng Yu spoke strongly against this: “Sir, the reason why you impress the world and rule the government is because you act in the name of the House of Han. In these times of turmoil and rivalry among the nobles, such a step as the deposition of the ruler will certainly bring about war against you and should be minimized.”

After reflection Cao Cao abandoned the design. But Dong Cheng and his four friends, with every member of their households totaling seven hundred or more, were taken and put to death at the four gates of the city. Both officials and the people all wept at such brutal slaughter.

A poet composed the following to praise the loyal Dong Cheng:

A secret decree in a girdle sewn,
In red blood written, the Emperor’s own,
To the staunch and faithful Dong addressed,
Who had saved him once when enemies pressed,
And who, sore grieved at his sovereign’s fate,
Expressed in dreams his ceaseless hate.
Speak not that he had failed
For his glory remained.

Another poet wrote of the sad fate of Wang Zi-fu and his friends:

Undaunted they signed the silken roll,
And pledged themselves to save their King from shame.
Alas! black death of them took heavy toll,
To write their names upon the roll of fame.

But the slaughter of the five officials and their entire households did not appease the wrath of the cruel minister. As the Emperor’s concubine was the sister of Dong Cheng, Cao Cao, sword in hand, went into the palace to slay her. The Emperor loved her tenderly, the more so as she was then in the fifth month of pregnancy. That day the Emperor and the Empress were sitting in their room, secretly wondering why nothing seemed to have been done about the decree. The sudden appearance of the angry minister, armed as he was, frightened them greatly.

“Does Your Majesty know that Dong Cheng conspired against me?” asked Cao Cao.

“Dong Zhuo died long ago,” replied the Emperor.

“Not Dong Zhuo—Dong Cheng,” roared Cao Cao.

The Emperor trembled with terror but he gasped out, “Really, I did not know.”

“So the cut finger and the decree written in blood are all forgotten, eh?”

The Emperor could not answer. Cao Cao commanded his guards to go and take Lady Dong.

“This girl is five-months pregnant. Please have pity for her!” pleaded the Emperor.

“If Heaven had not interposed I would be a dead man. How could I leave this woman to work evil on me by and by?”

The Empress also begged: “Imprison her in one of the palaces till her confinement. Do not harm her now.”

“Do you wish me to spare her offspring so that he will grow up to avenge his mother?” retorted Cao Cao.

“I pray that my body may be spared mutilation and not put to shame,” said Lady Dong.

Cao Cao bade his men bring her the white silk cord. The Emperor wept bitterly.

“Please do not hate me in the nether world,” said the Emperor to her. And his tears fell like rain.

The Empress also wept bitterly.

Cao Cao said furiously, “Stop this affectation.” So saying he told the guards to take her away and strangle her in the courtyard.

In vain had the fair girl found favor in the sight of her lord,
She died, and the fruit of her womb perished.
Heartbroken her lord sat, powerless to save,
Hiding his face while tears gushed forth.

When leaving the palace, Cao Cao gave strict orders to the guards to bar entrance to any imperial relatives by marriage. He told them sternly, “If anyone enters without my permission, put him to death; and the guards will share the same punishment for failing to perform their duty.”

To make sure that nothing would go amiss he appointed 3,000 of his own trusted men as imperial guards, with Cao Hong in command.

Then Cao Cao said to his councilor, Cheng Yu: “The conspirators in the capital have been removed but there are yet two others, Ma Teng and Liu Bei. These must not be left at large.”

Cheng Yu replied, “Ma Teng is strong in the west and could not be easily captured. Send him a letter of kind words so that he will not suspect. Then entice him to come to the capital and he will be at your mercy. Liu Bei is now in Xuzhou, strongly positioned, and not to be lightly treated either. Furthermore, Yuan Shao is at Guandu and his one desire is to attack you. Any attempt on the east will send Liu Bei to him for help. If he comes here while you are away, what then?”

“You are wrong,” replied Cao Cao. “Liu Bei is an outstanding figure. If we wait till he is fully fledged and winged, he will be more difficult to deal with. Yuan Shao may be strong but he is not to be feared. He is too undecided to act.”

As they were discussing another advisor, Guo Jia, came in and Cao Cao referred the matter to him.

“I want to attack Liu Bei but I fear Yuan Shao might take advantage. What do you think of it?”

“Yuan Shao is slow and hesitant by nature and his advisors are jealous of each other. He is not to be feared. Liu Bei is getting together a new army and has not yet won their hearts. You could secure the east in one battle.”

Being in harmony with Cao Cao’s own opinion, this advice pleased him and he prepared an army of 200,000 men to move in five divisions against Xuzhou.

Scouts took the news of these preparations to Xuzhou. Sun Qian at once informed Guan Yu and Liu Bei in the two neighboring towns. Liu Bei discussed the matter with him and decided that help must be sought from Yuan Shao. So Sun Qian went north, taking with him a letter from Liu Bei. When he arrived there, he went to see the advisor Tian Feng first, and asked to be introduced to Yuan Shao. Tian Feng took him to his master, to whom Sun Qian presented the letter.

But Yuan Shao was of melancholy countenance and his dress was all awry.

Tian Feng asked, “You do not look well today, sir. What is the matter?”

“I am going to die,” replied Yuan Shao.

“How can you say so?”

“I have five sons, but only the youngest is clever enough to understand my ideas. Now he is suffering from a disease which places his life in jeopardy. Do you think I have any heart to talk about other matters?”

“But,” said Tian Feng, “the present combination of circumstances is unparalleled. Cao Cao is going to attack the east and the capital will be empty. You can enter it with your army of justice and so perform a good service to the Emperor and save the people from sorrow. You have only to make up your mind to act.”

“I know the chance is excellent but I am distressed and fear failure.”

“What are you distressed about?” said Tian Feng.

“Among my sons only this special one is remarkable and if anything happens to him I will die.”

Thus he was determined not to dispatch any army. He said to Sun Qian: “Go home and tell Liu Bei the reason why I cannot do anything and say that if anything should happen he can come over to me and I will find some means to help him.”

Tian Feng struck the ground with his staff. “What a pity!” he cried. “To miss such a unique opportunity just because of the illness of a child. All is lost now!”

He went out, sighing deeply. Seeing that no aid could be obtained Sun Qian returned in great haste. When he related what had happened, Liu Bei was extremely alarmed and did not know what to do.

“Don’t be troubled, brother,” said Zhang Fei. “Cao Cao’s army is coming from a long distance and will be exhausted. We can make a sudden attack before they have time to camp.”

“That agrees with the rules of war,” said Liu Bei. “I’ve always thought you were just a bold warrior, but that move against Liu Dai shows that you’re becoming a strategist, too.”

So he divided his forces between the two of them to carry out his plan that night.

Now while Cao Cao was in the midst of his march toward Xiaopei a strong gust of wind sprang up and broke the staff of one of the banners. Cao Cao called a halt to the march and asked his advisors what this portended.

Xun Yu asked, “From what direction did the wind blow and what was the color of the flag?”

“The wind was from the southeast and the flag was blue and red.”

“There is only one interpretation—there will be a raid on the camp tonight.”

Cao Cao nodded. At that moment, Mao Jie entered and reported a similar incident. Cao Cao asked him what it might mean.

“To my mind, it means a night raid,” he replied.

Pity this descendant of Hans,
Who placed his faith on a night raid.
But the broken staff of a banner warned his enemy.
Why should Heaven favor the wicked?

“This is evidently providence,” said Cao Cao and he began to make preparations. He divided his army into nine sections, placing eight of them in ambush all around and leaving only one to put up a show of making a camp.

There was but little moonlight as Liu Bei and Zhang Fei marched their respective armies toward Cao Cao’s camp. They had left only Sun Qian to guard Xiaopei. Zhang Fei, since he was the originator of the stratagem, led the way with his light cavalry. As they drew near they found the camp almost empty. Then suddenly lights flashed out all about them and Zhang Fei saw he had fallen into a trap. The ambushing troops came simultaneously from all the eight directions.

Zhang Fei, dashing this way and rushing that, tried desperately to fight his enemies in front and behind to clear a way. But his soldiers, being originally Cao Cao’s men, gave in and went over to their old master when the situation became critical.

Zhang Fei met Xu Huang and the two engaged in a fierce battle, but soon he was also attacked by another enemy from behind. At last Zhang Fei cut his way out, followed by only a score of his men. He wanted to return to Xiaopei but the road of retreat was cut off. He thought of making for Xuzhou, but felt certain that way would also be barred. No other way seemed open and so he made for the Mangdang Hills.