The Three Kingdoms Volume 2 (32 page)

Cao Cao, his army lost, fled to Huarong,

There in the narrow path he met Guan Yu.
Unable to forget his great kindness,
Guan Yu freed the dragon in plight.

Having escaped this danger Cao Cao hastened to get out of the valley. He glanced back and saw only twenty-seven horsemen still following him. Toward dusk they reached Nanjun, where again they came upon what they took to be more enemies. Cao Cao thought the end had surely come, but to his delight they were his own men and his fear died down. Cao Ren, who was the leader, said that he had heard of the defeat, but was afraid to venture far from his charge, so he only tried to meet him at a short distance from his camp.

“I was nearly unable to see you again,” said Cao Cao.

The fugitives at last found repose in the city. Soon they were joined by Zhang Liao, who told them of the magnanimity of Guan Yu.

When Cao Cao mustered the miserable remnant of his men together he found most of them were wounded and he told them to rest. Cao Ren prepared wine to console his master. All the advisors were also present. And as he drank, Cao Cao suddenly looked up to the sky and broke into violent weeping.

His advisors were perplexed. “When you were trying to escape from the tiger’s cave you showed no sign of fear,” they said. “Now that you are safe in the city, where men have food and the horses have forage, where all you have to do is to prepare for revenge, suddenly you lose heart and grieve. Why is this?”

Cao Cao replied, “I am thinking of my friend Guo Jia. Had he been alive he would not have let me suffer this loss.”

He beat his breast and, calling his deceased advisor by name, wept passionately. The implicit reproach shamed the advisors into silence. The next day, Cao Cao called his cousin Cao Ren to him and said, “I’m going to the capital to prepare another army for revenge. You are to guard this district and I leave with you a sealed plan. You are only to open it in case of emergency, and then you are to act as directed. Then Zhou Yu will not dare to undermine you.”

“Who is to guard Hefei and Xiangyang?”

“I have already assigned Xiahou Dun to hold Xiangyang and you are to take care of Jingzhou as well. As for Hefei, it is strategically most important and I am sending Zhang Liao there as commander and Li Dian and Yue Jin as his aides. If you run into difficulties, send news to me at once.”

Having arranged these dispositions, Cao Cao mounted and set off with the rest of his men. He also took with him the officers who had come over to his side when Jingzhou fell into his hands.

After they left, Cao Ren placed his brother Cao Hong in charge of the south of Yiling, as well as Nanjun, to guard against possible attacks from Zhou Yu.

Guan Yu, having allowed Cao Cao to flee, found his way back to the headquarters. By this time the others had also returned, bringing spoils of horses, weapons, equipment, money, and grain. Only Guan Yu came back empty-handed. When he arrived Zhuge Liang was congratulating Liu Bei on his success. As soon as Guan Yu was announced Zhuge Liang rose from his seat and went out to welcome him, bearing a cup of wine.

“Congratulations, General!” he said. “It’s a great joy to know that you have done a really splendid service and have removed the country’s worst evil. I ought to have come out a long way to congratulate you.”

Guan Yu could say nothing.

Zhuge Liang continued, “Are you annoyed because we haven’t come out to welcome you on the road?” Turning to those about him he said reproachfully, “Why didn’t you report earlier?”

“I’m here to ask for death,” said Guan Yu.

“Could it be that Cao Cao didn’t come that way?”

“Yes, he did. But I was incompetent enough to let him escape.”

“Then which officers and men have you captured?”

“None.”

“In that case you must have intentionally allowed him to escape for his past kindness to you,” said Zhuge Liang. “But since you have signed a written pledge you will have to suffer the penalty.”

Then he called in the guards to take Guan Yu out and put him to death.

He risked his very life for friendship’s sake,

And for ages to come gained a fine name.

What would actually befall Guan Yu will be told in the next chapter.

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

A Great Battle Is Fought Between North and South

Zhuge Liang Provokes Zhou Yu to Anger for the First Time

A
t
the end of the last chapter Guan Yu was about to be put to death for allowing Cao Cao to escape. Then Liu Bei said to Zhuge Liang, “We three pledged ourselves to live and die together. Although my brother has done wrong I cannot bear to break our oath. I hope you will only record this misdeed and let him atone for his fault later by some meritorious service.”

So the sentence was remitted.

In the meantime, Zhou Yu assembled his officers and men, noted the special services of each, and submitted full reports to his master. The surrendered soldiers were all sent across the river. Then a feast was given to celebrate the victory.

The next step was to attack and capture Nanjun. The army set up five camps on the riverbank, with Zhou Yu’s tent in the center, where he summoned his officers and advisors to a council. At this moment Sun Qian arrived with congratulations from Liu Bei. He was admitted and, having saluted Zhou Yu politely, Sun Qian said: “My lord sent me to thank you for your great kindness and to bring you some trifling gifts.”

“Where is Liu Bei?” asked Zhou Yu.

“He is now encamped by the You River.”

“Is Zhuge Liang there, too?” asked Zhou Yu, taken aback.

“Yes, both are there,” answered Sun Qian.

“Please return first, and I will come in person to thank them.”

Zhou Yu accepted the presents and sent Sun Qian back to his master.

Then Lu Su asked him, “Why were you surprised just now?”

Zhou Yu said, “In camping by the You River, Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang must have the intention of taking Nanjun. We have spent so much military resources and money that the district is now ours for the taking. But they wish to use what we have already accomplished to their advantage. However, they must remember that I’m not dead yet.”

“How can you prevent them?” asked Lu Su.

“I’ll go myself and speak with them,” said Zhou Yu. “If all goes well, then, let it be so; in case it doesn’t, I’ll simply slay Liu Bei before he can make an attempt to capture Nanjun.”

“I’d like to accompany you,” said Lu Su.

So Zhou Yu and his friend started for Liu Bei’s camp by the river, taking with them 3,000 light cavalrymen.

Now San Qian, having returned from his trip, went in to see Liu Bei and told him of Zhou Yu’s intended visit to thank him for the gifts.

“What is the real purpose of his visit?” asked Liu Bei of his all-wise advisor.

“Is it likely he would come out of simple politeness for these trifling gifts? Of course he has come because of Nanjun.”

“But if he brings an army, can we stand against it?” asked Liu Bei.

Then Zhuge Liang told Liu Bei what he should say to Zhou Yu when he came.

To prepare for Zhou Yu’s visit, they drew up the warships in the river and ranged the soldiers on the bank. Soon, the arrival of Zhou Yu and Lu Su with an army was announced. Zhao Yun went to welcome them with a cavalry escort. The fine display of military strength was not lost on Zhou Yu and he felt rather uneasy. At the camp gates the guests were met by Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang and led into the tent, where a banquet was prepared in their honor.

Presently, Liu Bei raised his cup in felicitation on the recent victory gained by his guests. The banquet proceeded and after a few more rounds of wine Zhou Yu said, “You have moved your troops here. Are you thinking of taking Nanjun?”

“We hear you are going to occupy the place so we have come to assist,” replied Liu Bei. “Should you not take it, then we will.”

Zhou Yu laughed. “We of the east have long thought about conquering this district. Now that it is within our grasp we will surely take it.”

Liu Bei said, “There is always some uncertainty. Before he departed, Cao Cao ordered Cao Ren to guard the district, and it is quite certain that he must have left some effective strategy behind him. Besides, Cao Ren is a very brave warrior. I fear you may not get it, General.”

“Well, if we do not succeed, sir, then you may try to take it,” said Zhou Yu.

“Here are witnesses to your words,” said Liu Bei, naming Lu Su and Zhuge Liang at the table. “I hope you will never regret what you have just stated.”

Lu Su hesitated and seemed unwilling to bear witness to this, but Zhou Yu said, “Once I have spoken I never regret.”

“This speech of yours, sir, is very fair,” interjected Zhuge Liang. “You will try first, but if the place does not fall, there is no reason why my lord should not attempt to capture it.”

The two visitors then took their leave and rode away. As soon as they had left, Liu Bei turned to Zhuge Liang and said, “Just now I replied to Zhou Yu according to your instructions. However, although I did so, I have turned it over and over in my mind without finding any reason in what I said. Here I am, isolated and weak, without a single foot of land to call my own. I desire to get possession of Nanjun so that I might have, at least, a temporary shelter—but if we let Zhou Yu attack it first then the district will fall to Wu. How can I get the city?”

Zhuge Liang laughed and replied, “Do you remember I advised you to take Jingzhou in the past but you would not listen? So you want it now?”

“But the city belonged to Liu Biao at that time and I could not bear to attack it. Now that it belongs to Cao Cao I can certainly do so.”

“These things are nothing to worry about,” replied the advisor. “Let Zhou Yu go and fight. Sooner or later, my lord, I will make you sit comfortably in that city.”

“But what plan do you have in mind?”

Zhuge Liang told him.

Liu Bei was greatly satisfied with the reply and so he maintained his position at the riverbank and patiently awaited an opportunity.

In the meantime, Zhou Yu and Lu Su returned to their own camp and the latter asked, “Why did you promise Liu Bei that he might attack Nanjun?”

“I can take the city with a flick of my fingers,” replied Zhou Yu. “That promise was a mere gesture of generosity.”

Then he inquired among his officers for a volunteer to attack the city. Jiang Qin offered himself, and was put in command of the vanguard of 5,000 veterans, with Xu Sheng and Ding Feng to aid him. They were to move across the river at once, and Zhou Yu himself would follow with the supporting troops.

On the other side, Cao Ren ordered Cao Hong to guard Yiling and so hold one corner of a triangular defense. When the news came that the troops of Wu had crossed the Han River, Cao Ren decided to defend the city firmly and not to give battle.

But Niu Jin, one of his valiant officers, said impetuously, “It is cowardly to let the enemy approach the city walls and not offer battle. Our men, lately worsted, need heartening and must deomonstrate their mettle. Give me five hundred veterans and I will fight them.”

Cao Ren agreed to this brave offer and so the small force went out of the city. At once Ding Feng came to combat Niu Jin and they fought a few bouts. Then Ding Feng pretended to be defeated, gave up the fight, and retreated into his own lines. Niu Jin followed him hard. When he had got within the Wu formation, at a signal from Ding Feng, the army closed in all around and Niu Jin was surrounded. He pushed right and left, but could find no way out. Seeing this from the wall tower, Cao Ren donned his armor and came out of the city at the head of his own bold company of cavalrymen and burst into the men of Wu to try to rescue his colleague. Xu Sheng dashed forward to engage him but was overpowered and Cao Ren fought his way in and rescued Niu Jin.