The Three Kingdoms Volume 1 (62 page)

Then Guan Yu summoned Zhou Cang and asked him, “How many men are there with Pei Yuan-shao at the Sleeping Bull Mountain?”

“Four or five hundred, I should think.”

“Now, I’m going to take the short cut to find my brother,” said Guan Yu. “You go and summon your men and lead them here along the main road.”

Zhou Cang obeyed the order and left for the mountain, while Guan Yu and Sun Qian started toward the north with a score or so followers. When they drew near the boundary Sun Qian said, “You mustn’t enter the city right now. Let me go in first to see our lord and we’ll decide what to do. You can take a rest here.”

Seeing the wisdom of this Guan Yu remained outside the city but sent his companion alone to continue the journey. He and his followers went up to a nearby farm to seek lodging.

When they got to the farm a venerable man leaning on a stick came out to greet them. After exchanging greetings with the old man Guan Yu told him about himself.

“My surname is also Guan and my given name is Ding,” said the old man. “I know you by your reputation and I am very pleased to meet you.”

He then sent for his two sons, who came and bowed to Guan Yu. He put up Guan Yu in his house and entertained him. All his followers were also provided shelter on the farm.

In the meantime, Sun Qian had made his way to the city and met Liu Bei who said, “Jian Yong is also here. We can send for him secretly to talk over this matter.”

Soon, his former advisor Jian Yong came and after saluting Sun Qian the three began to consider the means of getting away.

Jian Yong said to Liu Bei, “You must go and see Yuan Shao tomorrow, sir, and say that you wish to go to Jingzhou to see Liu Biao. Tell him that you will persuade Liu Biao to join him in the destruction of Cao Cao. That will give you an excuse to leave here.”

“Excellent!” said Liu Bei. “But can you come with me?”

“I have another plan to free myself,” said Jian Yong.

Having designed their plan, Liu Bei soon went to see his protector Yuan Shao, and suggested that as Liu Biao was strong and well posted in the nine cities around Jingzhou and Xiangyang, his help should be sought against their enemy.

“I have sent messengers repeatedly to ask him for an alliance,” replied Yuan Shao, “but he is unwilling.”

“As he and I are of the same Liu family he will not refuse me if I go and ask him,” said Liu Bei.

“He is certainly worth much more than Liu Pi in Runan.” And he agreed to let Liu Bei go. Then he continued, “I hear Guan Yu has just left Cao Cao and wants to come here. If he does I will put him to death to avenge my two best officers.”

“Sir, you wished to employ him and so I sent for him. Why do you now want to destroy him? The two men he slew were but deer compared with such a tiger as he is. When you exchange two deer for a tiger, what do you lose in the bargain?”

“I do like him,” said Yuan Shao. “I was only joking. You can send another messenger to call him and tell him to come soon.”

“I will send Sun Qian to bring him here at once,” said Liu Bei to please his protector.

After Liu Bei had gone, Jian Yong also went in to see Yuan Shao to whom he said, “If Liu Bei goes he will not come back. I will go with him to speak to Liu Biao and at the same time I can keep a watch on Liu Bei.”

Yuan Shao agreed and gave orders for Jian Yong to accompany Liu Bei on the mission. One of his advisors objected to this mission and argued, “Last time Liu Bei went to speak to Liu Pi but accomplished nothing. Now you are sending Jian Yong to go with him and I am sure neither will ever return.”

“Do not be so suspicious,” said Yuan Shao. “Jian Yong knows how to deal with him.”

That was the end of the interview and the advisor left in distress.

Meanwhile, Liu Bei sent Sun Qian back to inform Guan Yu about this arrangement. Then, along with Jian Yong, he took leave of Yuan Shao and rode out of the city. As soon as they reached the boundary they were met by Sun Qian and all three rode forth to the old man’s farm to see Guan Yu, who came out to welcome them. It was an emotional meeting. Guan Yu bowed to his brother at the gate and the two held each other’s hands, while tears streamed down their faces.

Presently the two sons of their host came to pay their respects to the visitors. Liu Bei asked them their names.

“These are of the same surname as myself,” said Guan Yu. “The elder one is Guan Ning, who is a student and the younger one is Guan Ping, who is to be a soldier.”

“I have been thinking of leaving my second son in your care, General Guan,” said the father. “Would you take him?”

“How old is he?” asked Liu Bei.

“Eighteen,” answered the host.

Liu Bei continued, “Since you are so kind, sir, I venture to suggest that your son be adopted by my brother, who has no son of his own. What do you think of this?”

Their host was perfectly willing so he called the lad to make a son’s obeisance to Guan Yu and to call Liu Bei “Uncle.”

Afraid that Yuan Shao might change his mind and pursue them, they hastened to get on their way and with them went Guan Ping, who was placed in the train of his adopted father. The lad’s real father accompanied them for some time and then returned.

The group took the road toward the Sleeping Bull Mountain, but before they had gone very far they met Zhou Cang with a small band. He was wounded. Guan Yu introduced him to Liu Bei and asked him how he got his wounds.

Zhou Cang replied, “Before I reached the hill a certain warrior, all alone, had fought with my friend Pei Yuan-shao and killed him. All our men surrendered to him and he occupied our camp. When I got there I tried to entice my men back to my side but only succeeded with a few. The others were too afraid to leave him. I got angry and went to fight with him but he defeated me time after time and I suffered three wounds.”

“Who is the warrior? What does he look like?” asked Liu Bei.

“He is powerfully built but I do not know who he is,” answered Zhou Cang.

Then they advanced toward the hill, with Guan Yu in front and Liu Bei in the rear. When they drew near Zhou Cang began to abuse his enemy who soon appeared, fully mailed and armed, galloping down the hill with his followers.

Suddenly Liu Bei rode out waving his whip and shouting, “Is that Zi-long?”

The rider, for it was Zhao Zi-long (Zhao Yun), instantly slipped out of the saddle and knelt by the roadside. The two brothers dismounted to meet him and to inquire how he came to be there.

Zhao Yun said, “Not long after we separated, Gongsun Zan was defeated and perished tragically in flames because he would not listen to good advice. Yuan Shao invited me to go to him several times but I thought too little of him to go. Then I wanted to go to you in Xuzhou but news came that you had lost that place and Yun-chang had gone over to Cao Cao and you had joined Yuan Shao. Several times I thought of coming to you, but I feared Yuan Shao might take offense. So I drifted from one place to another with nowhere to rest till I happened to come this way and that man, Pei Yuan-shao, tried to seize my horse. I slew him and took possession of his camp. I recently heard Yi-de was in the Old City and I wanted to join him but thought it might be only a rumor. How fortunate it is that I should see you today!”

Liu Bei was overjoyed and told him all that had happened to him since they parted. Guan Yu also related his story.

Liu Bei said, “The first time I saw you I felt drawn to you and did not want to part with you. I am very happy to see you again.”

“In all my wanderings trying to find a lord worth serving I have seen no one quite like you. Now that I can enter your service all my life’s wish is fulfilled. No matter what may happen to me I will have no regrets.”

Next they burned the camp and the whole group went with Liu Bei to the Old City, where they were welcomed by Zhang Fei and the Mi brothers. They exchanged the stories of their respective adventures and the two ladies related the heroic deeds of Guan Yu, which moved Liu Bei to deep sighs.

Then they administered a great sacrifice to Heaven and Earth with the slaughter of an ox and a horse. All the soldiers were also rewarded for their toils. Liu Bei thought on their situation and found much to rejoice at. His two brothers were restored to his side and none of his advisors or officers were missing. Moreover, he had gained Zhao Yun and his brother Guan Yu had acquired Guan Ping and Zhou Cang. There was every reason for feasting and celebration.

Scattered apart were the brothers, none knew another’s retreat,
Joyfully now they reunite, dragon and tigers meet.

At this time the force under the command of the three brothers and their adherents numbered four to five hundred men. Liu Bei was in favor of leaving the Old City for Runan and just then Liu Pi sent a messenger to invite him to go there. So they went and settled in Runan, where they devoted themselves to strengthening their army, recruiting soldiers, and buying horses.

However, Yuan Shao was much annoyed when Liu Bei did not return and at first he wanted to send an army to destroy him. But the advisor Guo Tu dissuaded him.

“Liu Bei is nothing to worry about but Cao Cao is your major enemy and must be destroyed. Even Liu Biao, though strongly deployed in Jingzhou, poses no threat to you. There is, however, Sun Ce in the east, who is very strong and much feared, with a wide territory, a large army, and many able advisors and officers. You should make an alliance with him against Cao Cao.”

This advice appealed to Yuan Shao, who then sent Chen Zhen to deliver his letter to Sun Ce.

The journey by a warrior from the north
Brought forth heroes in the east.

The outcome of this journey will be told in the next chapter.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

The Formidable Little Lord Sun Ce Slays Yu Jie in Wrath

The Blue-eyed Sun Quan Takes Control of the East

W
hile
Cao Cao and Yuan Shao were opposing each other in the north, Sun Ce had become the confirmed leader in the vast region east of the Yangtze with a strong army and ample supplies. In the fourth year of the period Jian An (
A.D.
199) he defeated Prefect Liu Xun and so seized the city of Lujiang. This was followed by the seizure of the city of Yuzhang, when its prefect surrendered after receiving Sun Ce’s letter of challenge. Then his renown increased even further and he boldly sent Zhang Hong as his messenger to present a tribute to the Emperor to report his military successes.

Cao Cao saw in him a powerful rival and said that he was a lion, difficult to contend with. So he proposed marriage between his niece and Sun Ce’s younger brother and the two families became thus connected. Sun Ce’s messenger, Zhang Hong, was retained in the capital in the service of Cao Cao.

Then Sun Ce sought the title of Da Si Ma, or Minister of War—one of the highest offices of state—but Cao Cao prevented his attainment of this ambition and Sun Ce keenly resented it. Henceforward his thoughts often turned toward an attack on Cao Cao.

About this time Xu Gong, Prefect of Wujun, sent a secret letter to Cao Cao in which he wrote that Sun Ce was a fierce fellow and the government ought, under the appearance of bestowing favor to him, to recall him to the capital rather than let him grow stronger in the provinces. But the bearer of the letter was captured on the Yangtze River and sent to Sun Ce, who immediately put him to death. Then he sent someone to ask the writer of the letter to come, pretending that he had to consult with him over some affair. The unsuspecting man came.