The Three Kingdoms Volume 2 (34 page)

Cao Ren, with a few horsemen, strove to cut through the encirclement and presently met Cao Hong. The two leaders fled together and by the fifth watch they had got close to Nanjun. Then they heard a beating of drums and Ling Tong appeared before them, obstructing their way. A small skirmish followed but the fugitives managed to escape. Presently, however, they encountered Gan Ning, who attacked them vigorously. Cao Ren dared not go back to Nanjun, but headed for Xiangyang along the main road. The men of Wu pursued him for a time and then gave up the chase.

Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu then proceeded to Nanjun, where they were startled to see flags all over the walls and every sign of occupation. Before they had recovered from their surprise there appeared an officer who cried, “Pardon, General. I had orders from our advisor to take this city. I’m Zhao Zi-long of Changshan.”

Zhou Yu was violently angry and gave orders to assault the city, but from the wall shot out flights of arrows and his men could not stay near the rampart. So he had to withdraw. Then he decided to send Gan Ning to capture Jingzhou and Ling Tong to take Xiangyang. Nanjun could be taken later.

But even as these orders were being given a scout came in hurriedly to report that after taking Nanjun, Zhuge Liang had used Cao Ren’s military seal to induce the army in Jingzhou to leave the city and go to the rescue of their commander. Then he sent Zhang Fei to take Jingzhou.

Soon after, another scout came to say that Xiahou Dun, at Xiangyang, had been tricked by Zhuge Liang, who had sent his men to deliver a false dispatch, supported by a military seal, saying that Cao Ren was in danger and needed help. So Xiahou Dun had marched off and in his absence Guan Yu had seized Xiangyang.

Thus the two cities that Zhou Yu wanted had fallen, without the least effort, into the hands of his rival Liu Bei.

“How did Zhuge Liang get Cao Ren’s military seals?” asked Zhou Yu in disbelief.

Cheng Pu replied, “He has seized Chen Jiao and naturally has all the seals at his disposal.”

Zhou Yu uttered a great cry, for at that moment his wound had suddenly burst open.

Three cities fall, but not to us the gain;

Tremendous is the effort but all in vain.

Whether Zhou Yu would die or not will be told in the next chapter.

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

Zhuge Liang Defends Himself for Seizing Three Cities

Zhao Yun Uses a Clever Scheme to Capture Guiyang

Z
hou
Yu’s anger at learning that his rival, Zhuge Liang, had seized Nanjun and the other two cities was but natural. And this sudden fit of rage caused his wound to burst open again and he collapsed. After quite a long while he regained consciousness. All his officers entreated him to accept the situation, but he cried, “Nothing but the death of that bumpkin, Zhuge Liang, will assuage my anger!” Then he said to Cheng Pu, “I want you to help me in an attack on Nanjun. I must restore it to our country.”

At that moment Lu Su came in, to whom Zhou Yu said, “I simply must battle Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang till it is decided which shall have the upper hand. I must also recapture the city. Please assist me.”

“No, you mustn’t,” replied Lu Su. “We are now at grips with Cao Cao and victory or defeat is uncertain. Our lord has not been successful in overcoming Hefei. If you start fighting Liu Bei it will be like people of the same household destroying each other. Should Cao Cao take advantage of this to make a sudden descent upon us we would be in a perilous condition. Further, you must remember that Liu Bei used to be a good friend of Cao Cao’s and, if the pressure becomes too great, he may relinquish these cities, offer them to Cao Cao and join forces with him to attack our country. That would be a real misfortune.”

“I cannot help being angry to think that we used our resources for their benefit,” said Zhou Yu.

“Well, let me go and see Liu Bei and reason to him. If I cannot reach an understanding, then attack.”

“That’s a good idea,” cried all those present.

So Lu Su, with his attendants, went away to Nanjun to try to solve the dispute between their two sides. He reached the city wall and called the guards to open the gate for him. Zhao Yun came out to speak with him.

“I want to see your master,” said Lu Su. “I have something to say to him.”

“My lord is in Jingzhou with our chief advisor,” said Zhao Yun.

Lu Su turned away and hastened to Jingzhou. He found the walls adorned with flags and the army in excellent order. In his heart he admired Zhuge Liang and thought what an unusually capable man he was.

The guards reported his arrival and Zhuge Liang ordered them to throw wide the gate and he came out to welcome Lu Su into the official house. After an exchange of greetings, Zhuge Liang and his visitor took their respective seats. Presently tea was served.

Lu Su said, “My master, Lord of Wu, and the commander of his army, Zhou Yu, have sent me to lay their views before your lord Liu Bei. Not long ago, when Cao Cao led his huge army southward, his real intention was to destroy your lord. Fortunately, our army was able to repulse Cao Cao’s mighty force and so saved him. Therefore Jingzhou with its nine districts ought to belong to us. But by treacherous moves your lord has occupied Jingzhou and Xiangyang, so that we have spent much money and provisions in vain and our armies have fought to no purpose, while your lord has calmly reaped the benefits to the full. This does not seem reasonable.”

Zhuge Liang replied, “Zi-jing, you are a man of high intelligence. Why do you speak like that? You know the saying, that all things should return to their owner. These districts have never belonged to Wu, but were the land of Liu Biao, and my master is his brother. Though Liu Biao is dead, his son is here. Should not the uncle assist the nephew to recover his own land? What’s wrong with this?”

“If the rightful heir Liu Qi had claimed these cities it would have been understandable. But I presume he is at Jiangxia, and not here.”

“Would you like to see him?” said Zhuge Liang.

Then he told the servants to request Liu Qi to come. Presently the young man appeared behind the screen, supported by two attendants. Addressing Lu Su he said, “I am too weak to salute you properly. Please pardon me.”

Lu Su, taken aback, fell silent. After Liu Qi was helped in, he said, “But if the heir is no more, what then?”

“While he is alive we will support him to hold the districts. Should he be gone, then the matter can be further discussed.”

“Should he die, then you ought to return these cities to us,” said Lu Su.

“That’s reasonable,” agreed Zhuge Liang.

Then Zhuge Liang gave a banquet to entertain his guest and, that being over, Lu Su took his leave. He hastened back to his own camp and gave Zhou Yu an account of his mission.

“But what is there for us if Liu Qi dies?” said Zhou Yu. “He is in his very youth. When will these places be returned to us?”

“Rest assured, General,” said Lu Su. “I will guarantee the return of these places.”

“Have you some plans?” asked Zhou Yu.

“Well, I see Liu Qi has indulged too freely in wine and women. He looks miserably emaciated and he even gasps for breath. He is such a wreck beyond cure that I will not give him half a year’s life. Then I will go to Liu Bei and he will be unable to make any excuses.”

But Zhou Yu was still not appeased. Just then came a messenger from Sun Quan, who said, “Our lord is laying siege to Hefei but in several battles has had no victory. He now orders you to withdraw from here and go to Hefei to help him.”

So Zhou Yu was compelled to withdraw to Caisang, where he began to give attention to the recovery of his health. He sent Cheng Pu with the marine and land forces to Hefei, ready for Sun Quan’s use.

Liu Bei was exceedingly satisfied with the possession of his new territory and his thoughts turned to how he could secure his rule in the three cities. Yi Ji came to him to suggest a plan and, remembering how he had saved his life in the past, Liu Bei received him most graciously. He asked Yi Ji to take a seat and inquired about his proposal.

Yi Ji said, “If you need a plan to consolidate your occupation of the new districts, why not seek wise men and ask them for advice?”

“Where can I find these wise men?” asked Liu Bei.

Yi Ji replied, “In this district there is a certain Ma family whose five sons are all known to be men of ability. The youngest is called Ma Su and the ablest is Ma Liang, who has white hairs in his eyebrows. Villagers say that among the five sons, the one with the white eyebrows is the best. Why not get this man to draw up a plan for you, sir?”

So Liu Bei told his men to request Ma Liang’s presence. Ma Liang came and was received with great respect. When he was asked to suggest a plan for the security of the newly acquired district he said, “Besieged as it is on all sides Jingzhou will probably not be able to hold out for long. You should let Master Liu Qi remain here to nurse his illness and summon his father’s former officers to protect the place. Obtain an edict from the emperor to appoint him governor of Jingzhou and the people will be content. Then conquer the four neighboring towns of Wuling, Changsha, Guiyang, and Lingling and with the resources you will thus acquire, you will have the means for further plans. That should be your policy.”

“Which of the four districts should be taken first?” asked Liu Bei.

“The nearest, Lingling, which lies to the west of the Xiang River. Next, seize Wuling and after that, the other two.”

Ma Liang was given an appointment of office, with Yi Ji to assist him. Then Liu Bei consulted Zhuge Liang about sending Liu Qi to Xiangyang, so that Guan Yu could be free to return to Jingzhou. Then an army composed of 15,000 men began its march for an attack on Lingling, with Zhang Fei leading the van, Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang commanding the main body, and Zhao Yun guarding the rear. Guan Yu was left to hold Jingzhou while Mi Zhu and Liu Feng were left to guard Jiangling.

The Prefect of Lingling was Liu Du. When he heard of the approach of Liu Bei’s army he called in his son, Liu Xian, for counsel. The son, quite confident, said, “Have no anxiety, father. They may have such strong officers as Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun, but we have our warrior, Xing Dao-rong, who is match for any number of men. He can withstand them.”

So Liu Xian and this warrior were entrusted with the job of subduing the invaders. At the head of 10,000 soldiers they set out and made a camp about thirty
li
from the city, using the shelter of some hills and a river. Soon their scouts brought news that Zhuge Liang was drawing near with an army. Xing Dao-rong went forth to oppose him. When both sides were deployed, Xing Dao-rong rode to the front, holding a heavy battle-ax in his hand. In a mighty voice he cried, “Rebels, how dare you enter our territory?”

From the center of the opposing army appeared a cluster of yellow flags; when the flags parted, there rolled out a four-wheeled carriage in which sat, very erect, a man dressed in a white robe, with a turban on his head and a feather fan in his hand. Beckoning Xing Dao-rong to approach with his fan, he said, “I am Zhuge Liang of Nanyang. I had but employed some of my little schemes and Cao Cao, with his million men, was utterly routed. How, then, can you hope to oppose me? I now offer you peace—it will be well for you to surrender.”

Xing Dao-rong laughed derisively. “Cao Cao’s defeat at the Red Cliff was owing to the plan of Zhou Yu—you had nothing to do with it. How dare you try to deceive me?”