The Three Kingdoms Volume 2 (43 page)

Cao Cao was seized with such a quaking fear at the news that he threw the brush on the floor. Cheng Yu was surprised and said to him, “You have been among fighting men for myriads, sir, and you have been in danger from stones and arrows many a time, but never have you betrayed any sign of agitation. Why are you then so affected at the news of Liu Bei’s possession of Jingzhou?”

Cao Cao replied, “Liu Bei is a dragon among men. All his life so far he has never found his opportunities, but now that he has obtained Jingzhou it is as though the dragon, once a captive, has escaped to the mighty deep. There is good reason for me to tremble with fear.”

“Do you know the reason of the coming of Hua Xin?” asked Cheng Yu.

Cao Cao replied that he did not.

“Sun Quan is apprehensive of Liu Bei and he would have attacked him were it not for you, sir. He fears that you might fall upon him while he is wrestling with Liu Bei. Therefore he has taken this measure to relieve Liu Bei of his suspicions and at the same time to keep you from invading him.”

Cao Cao nodded his agreement.

Cheng Yu continued, “Now I have a plan to set Sun and Liu at one another and give you the opportunity to destroy them both.”

“What is it?” asked Cao Cao.

“The mainstay of Wu is Zhou Yu. You can get Zhou Yu appointed prefect of Nanjun, Cheng Pu as prefect of Jiangxia, and retain the envoy Hua Xin in the capital for some important post. As both these cities have fallen into Liu Bei’s hands, Zhou Yu will assuredly attack Liu Bei and that will be our chance. Isn’t this a good scheme?”

“You are really a man after my own heart.”

So he summoned the emissary from Wu and overwhelmed him with gifts. That day was the last of the feasting and merry-making and Cao Cao, with all the company, returned to the capital, where he at once presented a memorial to the Emperor assigning Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu to the posts mentioned above, while retaining Hua Xin at the capital.

A messenger bearing the commissions for their new offices was sent down to Wu and both Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu accepted the appointments. This move of Cao Cao’s made Zhou Yu all the more anxious to have his revenge on Liu Bei. He wrote to Sun Quan, asking him to send Lu Su to Liu Bei to renew the demand for returning Jingzhou.

So Lu Su was summoned and his master said to him, “You are the guarantor in the loan of Jingzhou to Liu Bei, but he still delays in returning it. How long am I to wait?”

“The writing said plainly that it would be handed over to us after his occupation of West Chuan.”

“What is the use of such an empty promise?” Sun Quan retorted. “So far, they have not moved a single soldier to capture it. Am I supposed to wait until I grow old?”

“I will go and inquire,” said Lu Su. So he took a boat and sailed to Jingzhou.

Meanwhile, Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang were at Jingzhou gathering in supplies in large quantities, and drilling their men. From all quarters men of learning flocked to their side. In the midst of this they heard of Lu Su’s coming and Liu Bei asked Zhuge Liang what he thought of it.

Zhuge Liang replied, “Only lately has Sun Quan concerned himself with getting you appointed governor of Jingzhou, which was intended to implant fear in Cao Cao. In his turn, Cao Cao obtained for Zhou Yu the prefectship of Nanjun, which was designed to stir up strife between our two sides and set us fighting so that he might accomplish his own ends. This visit of Lu Su means that Zhou Yu, having been assigned this new office, wishes to force us out of this place.”

“Then how are we to reply?”

“If he mentions the subject, you should just start wailing loudly. When your lamentation is at its saddest I will appear to deal with him.”

Having decided on their plan Liu Bei received Lu Su at his residence. When greetings were exchanged the guest was asked to take a seat.

“Sir, as the husband of a daughter of Wu you have become my master,” said Lu Su. “And I dare not sit in your presence.”

Liu Bei laughed. “You are an old friend,” he said. “Why this excessive politeness?”

So Lu Su took his seat. And when tea had been served the guest said, “I have come at the order of my master to discuss the subject of Jingzhou. You have had the use of the place for a long time. Now that our two houses are allied by marriage, I hope you will hand it back to my master for family’s sake.”

At this Liu Bei covered his face and began to cry.

“What is the matter?” asked the guest.

Liu Bei only wept the more bitterly.

Then Zhuge Liang came in from behind a screen and said, “I have been listening. Do you know why my lord weeps so bitterly?”

“No, I don’t.”

“But it’s easy to see. When my lord sought temporary occupation of Jingzhou, he promised to return it when he had obtained the western region. But when he comes to consider it there are grave difficulties. Now Liu Zhang of Yizhou is a brother of my lord, both being blood relations of the ruling family. If my lord were to move an army to attack Liu Zhang’s cities, he fears he would be blamed by the world. And if he doesn’t, after he has yielded Jingzhou to your master, where can he stay? Yet, if he retained this place he would offend the brother of his bride. This is indeed a complicated matter and that is why he weeps so bitterly.”

Zhuge Liang’s words touched Liu Bei to the heart and he beat his breast and stamped his feet, weeping even more bitterly.

Lu Su attempted to console him by saying, “Do not be distressed, sir. Let us hear what Zhuge Liang proposes.”

“I would beg you to return to your master and tell him all. Tell him of this great dilemma and entreat him to let us stay here a little longer.”

“But suppose he refuses—what then?” asked Lu Su.

“How can he refuse now that he is related by marriage to my master?” asked Zhuge Liang. “I hope you will use your eloquence to persuade him.”

Lu Su was by nature a kindly man and, seeing Liu Bei in such distress, he could not but consent. Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang both thanked him most cordially, and after a banquet the emissary took his boat to return. However, he went straight to Caisang to see Zhou Yu and tell him what had happened.

Zhou Yu stamped his feet and cried, “My friend, you’ve been fooled again. In the days when Liu Bei was still dependent on Liu Biao, he had often cherished the intention to supplant the latter. Do you think he’ll pity Liu Zhang in the least? As I see it, this will mean much trouble for you. However, I have a scheme which I think can beat Zhuge Liang. Only you’ll have to make another journey.”

“I should be pleased to hear your fine scheme,” said Lu Su.

“Don’t go to see our master now. Return to Jingzhou and say to Liu Bei that since his family and the Suns are related by marriage, they really form but one house, and since he has apprehensions about attacking the west we will do it for him. Once we acquire the region we will exchange it for Jingzhou.”

“But West Chuan is far away and not easy to reach. Can your scheme work?”

“You really are the most honest man!” Zhou Yu laughed. “We’ll move our army out under this pretext, but actually we will go to Jingzhou, and we’ll catch him unprepared. The road to the west runs through his city and we’ll call upon him for supplies. He’ll certainly come out to thank the army and we’ll take the opportunity to slay him and seize Jingzhou. In this way we can have our revenge and at the same time resolve your predicament.”

This seemed an excellent plan to Lu Su and he returned once more to Jingzhou. Before receiving him, Liu Bei against sought advice from Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang said, “I do not think he has been to see his master—instead, he has called on Zhou Yu at Caisang. They must have decided upon some scheme, which he is to talk you into accepting. However, let him talk— only watch me and when you see me nod, agree to whatever he may propose.”

Lu Su was then admitted. “My master admires your noble virtue, sir,” he said to Liu Bei. “And after consultations with his officers he has decided to take West Chuan on your behalf and, when that place is subdued, it will be given to you as a dowry for his sister, while Jingzhou can be exchanged for it without further delay. However, when the army passes here he expects you to contribute some necessary supplies.”

Here Zhuge Liang at once nodded, at the same time saying, “We could hardly have hoped for such kindness.”

At this signal Liu Bei thanked Lu Su with joined hands and said, “This is due to your efforts on our behalf.”

“When your mighty army arrives we’ll certainly come out to meet it and entertain the soldiers,” said Zhuge Liang.

Lu Su rejoiced in secret and soon took his leave and went homeward.

But Liu Bei as yet could not figure out what all this was about and he asked his advisor of Lu Su’s real intention.

Zhuge Liang laughed. “Zhou Yu’s days are numbered. That ruse of his cannot even deceive a child.”

Liu Bei again asked him for an explanation.

“This ruse is known as ‘Borrowing a passageway to exterminate the kingdom of Guo.’
*
Under the pretense of going to attack the west they intend to capture this place, and when you go out to greet their army you will be seized; then they will dash into the city, which they hope to find unprepared.”

“And what are we to do?”

“Have no fear—all we have to do is ‘to prepare a hidden bow to get the fierce tiger; to spread the enticing bait to hook the big fish.’ When Zhou Yu comes this time, he will be nine-tenths a corpse, if not completely dead.”

Then he called in Zhao Yun and gave him secret instructions. Liu Bei was overjoyed.

Let Zhou Yu lay what plans he will,

His rival anticipated his skill;

Fair his bait did seem to look,
But he forgot the hidden hook.

Lu Su hastened back to Zhou Yu to tell him that all was going as he desired and Liu Bei would come out to welcome the army. Zhou Yu laughed gleefully, saying, “At last! This time they will fall into my trap!”

He asked Lu Su to submit a report to their master and ordered Cheng Pu to bring up reinforcements. By then, he had nearly recovered from the arrow wound and felt quite himself again. The army, totaling 50,000 men, was divided into three sections and Zhou Yu was with the second division. While voyaging in his ship he could not contain himself with joy to think how he was to trap Zhuge Liang at last.

At Xiakou he inquired if there was anyone to welcome him. His men told him that Liu Bei had sent Mi Zhu to meet him.

“What about the rewards for the army?” asked Zhou Yu as soon as Mi Zhu came.

“My master has seen to that—all is prepared,” said Mi Zhu.

“Where is Liu Bei?” asked Zhou Yu.

“He is at Jingzhou, waiting outside the city walls to offer you some wine before you set off.”

“This long expedition is for your benefit,” said Zhou Yu. “The rewards for our army must be very substantial.”

Having listened to what Zhou Yu had to say, Mi Zhu returned to his own city, while the battleships of Wu sailed in close order up the river and took their places along the bank. As they approached the town of Gongan, quietness seemed to reign on all sides. Not a ship was visible anywhere, nor was anyone waiting to greet them. Zhou Yu pressed forward till he came quite near Jingzhou, and still the wide river lay calm. Scouts came back to report that two white flags were flying on the city walls, but there was no one in sight.

Zhou Yu began to feel suspicious. He ordered his fleet to anchor along the bank and he went ashore, from where he rode toward Jingzhou, together with his officers and 3,000 veteran soldiers.

Presently he came to the city wall. There was no sign of life. Reining in his steed, he bade his soldiers call at the gate. Then a guard posted on the wall asked who they were. The men of Wu replied that it was their commander in person. Immediately, the clang of a clapper was heard and the wall became alive with armed men. And from the tower came out Zhao Yun who demanded, “Why are you here, General?”

“I am going to take the west for you,” replied Zhou Yu. “Have you not been told?”

“Our advisor knows that you want to try the ruse of ‘borrowing a passageway to destroy the kingdom of Guo’ and so he stationed me here. And my master said that as he and the ruler of the west country are both members of the reigning family, he could not think of such baseness as attacking West Chuan. If you people of Wu do so, he would be forced to go away into the mountains and become a recluse. He could not bear to betray the confidence of the people.”

At this Zhou Yu turned his horse to return but just then his scouts came up to say that an unknown number of armed troops had come up from all four sides, with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei leading two of them. Soon the sound of their tramping shook the very heavens. They all shouted they wanted to capture Zhou Yu.

At this Zhou Yu’s anger was so intense that his old wound burst open again and with a great cry, he collapsed to the ground.

Too deep for him his rival is; in vain he sought

Moves after moves; his efforts came to nought.

The fate of Zhou Yu will be related in the next chapter.

*
An allusion to an incident from the days of the Spring and Autumn period. The ruler of Jin borrowed a passageway from the state of Yu to attack the state of Guo, but returning from his victory in subduing Kuo he also wiped out Yu.