In
the last chapter the two arch rebels, Li Jue and Guo Si, proposed to murder
Emperor Xian, but their followers Zhang Ji and Fan Chou opposed this.
"No.
The people will not approve of his death now. Restore him to power, and get the
leaguers inside Changan's control. Remove his supporters, and then we can
compass his death. And the empire shall be in our hands."
So
they ceased the attack.
The
Emperor again spoke from the tower, saying, "Why do you still remain? You
have slain Wang Yun: Now withdraw these soldiers."
Then
Li Jue and Guo Si replied, "Your servants desire rank rewards for their
good service to the dynasty."
"And
what ranks, Sirs?"
All
four wrote their wishes and handed them up to the Emperor who had no choice but
to accede to the request, and they were created:
Li
Jue was appointed General of the Flying Chariots, Lord of Chiyang, Commander of
Capital District, Court Administrator, and granted Military Insignia.
Guo
Si was appointed General of the Rear Army, Lord of Meiyang, Court
Administrator, and granted Military Insignia.
Fan
Chou was appointed General of the Right Army and Lord of Wanian.
Zhang
Ji was appointed General of the Flying Cavalry and Lord of Pingyan.
Li
Meng and Wang Fang, for opening the city gates, were appointed Imperial
Commanders.
After
receiving ranks of nobility, Li Jue and Guo Si thanked the Emperor, and went
away to camp at Xunung, the suburb of Changan. Other rebel leaders also were
gratified with ranks. And once more the capital was free of troops.
Dong
Zhuo's followers, having so far succeeded, did not forget their late leader.
They sought his corpse for burial, but only a few fragments were discoverable.
Then they had sculptors engrave a statue of fragrant wood in his likeness, laid
that out in proper form, and instituted a noble's sacrifices and prayers. The
remains were dressed in the robes of a prince, laid in a princely coffin for burial.
They selected Meiwo for his tomb and having found an auspicious day conveyed
the coffin thither.
But
a terrific thunder storm came on at the time of inhumation, and the ground was
flooded. The coffin was rived asunder, and the poor remains knocked out by
thunders. A second time they buried the coffin, but a similar thing happened in
the night. And yet a third time in another place but the earth rejected the
remains. Meanwhile the thunder-fire had entirely consumed them. So it may be
said justly that Heaven was exceedingly angry with Dong Zhuo.
So
now Li Jue and Guo Si wielded the real power of the scepter, and they were hard
upon the people. They also removed the attendants from the Palace and replaced
them by their own creatures, who maintained a most perfect watch over every
movement of the Emperor so that he was greatly hampered and embarrassed.All
appointments and demotions were made by the two rebels.
For
the sake of popularity they especially summoned the veteran general Zhu Jun to
court, made him Court Administrator and associated him with the government.
One
day came a report that the Governor of Xiliang, Ma Teng, and the Imperial
Protector of Bingzhou, Han Sui, with one hundred thousand troops, were rapidly
approaching the capital with the intention of attacking the rebels in the name
of the Emperor.
Now these leaders from the west had laid careful plans. Ma Teng and Han
Sui had sent trusty friends to the capital to find out who would support them.
They had conspired with three officials---Court Counselors Ma Yu and Chong
Shao, and Imperial Commander Liu Fan---to be their inside allies and plot
against the rebels. These three obtained from the Throne two secret edicts
conferring the ranks of Commander Who Conquers the West on Ma Teng and
Commander Who Guards the West on Han Sui. With these powers the two commanders
joined forces and began their march.
The
four leaders of the party in power---Li Jue, Guo Si, Fan Chou, and Zhang
Ji---held a consultation with their generals as to how to meet the attack.
Adviser
Jia Xu said, "Since the attackers are coming from a distance, our plan is
to fortify and wait till shortage of food shall work for us. In a hundred days
their supplies will be consumed, and they must retire. We can pursue, and we
shall capture them."
Li Meng and Wang Fang rose
and said, "This plan is bad. Give us ten thousand troops, and we will put
an end to both of them and offer their heads before your ensign!"
"To
fight forthwith means defeat," said Jia Xu.
Li
Meng and Wang Fang cried with one voice, "If we fail, we are willing to
lose our heads! But if we win, then your head is forfeit."
Jia
Xu then suggested to Li Jue and Guo Si, saying, "Seventy miles west of the
capital stand the Zhouzhi Hills. The passes are narrow and difficult. Send
Generals Zhang Ji and Fan Chou to occupy this point of vantage and fortify
themselves so that they may support Li Meng and Wang Fang."
Li
Jue and Guo Si accepted this advice. They told off fifteen thousand horse and
foot, and Li Meng and Wang Fang left in high spirit. They made a camp ninety
miles from Changan.
The
force from the west arrived. Ma Teng and Han Sui led out their troops to the
attack. They found their opponents Li Meng and Wang Fang in battle array.
Ma
Teng and Han Sui rode to the front side by side. Pointing to the rebel leaders,
the commanders abused them, crying, "Those are traitors! Who will capture
them?"
Hardly were the words spoken when there came out a youth general with a
clear, white complexion as jade, eyes like shooting stars, lithe of body and
strong of limb. He was armed with a long spear and bestrode an excellent steed.
This young leader was Ma Chao, son of Ma Teng, then seventeen years of age.
Though
young he was a supreme valiance. Wang Fang, despising him on account of his
youth, galloped forth to fight him.
Before
they had exchanged many passes Wang Fang was disabled and fell to a thrust of
Ma Chao's spear.
The victor turned to retire
into the formation, but Li Meng rode after Ma Chao to avenge his fallen
colleague. Ma Chao did not see Li Meng, but his father called out: "You
are followed!"
Hardly
had Ma Teng spoken when he saw that the pursuer was a prisoner seated on his
son's steed. Now Ma Chao had known he was followed, but pretended not to see,
waiting till his enemy should have come close and lifted his spear to strike.
Then Ma Chao suddenly wheeled about. The spear thrust met only empty air; and
as the horses passed, Ma Chao's powerful arm shot out and pulled Li Meng from
the saddle.
Thus
Li Meng and Wang Fang's soldiers were left leaderless and fled in all
directions. The army of Ma Teng and Han Sui dashed in pursuit, and a complete
victory was scored. They pressed into one of the passes and made a camp. Then
they decapitated Li Meng and exposed his head.
When
Li Jue and Guo Si heard that both the boastful generals had fallen under the
hand of one young leader, they knew that Jia Xu had given good advice and was
gifted with clear prescience. So they valued his plans the more highly and
decided to act on the defensive. They refused all challenges to combat.
Surely
enough after a couple of months the supplies of the Xiliang force were all
exhausted and the leaders began to consider retreat.
Just
at this juncture a household servant of Ma Yu's family betrayed his master and
told of the conspiracy of the three court officials to assist the attackers.
The two chiefs Li Jue and Guo Si in revenge seized the three conspirators---Ma
Yu, Chong Shao, and Liu Fan---, with every member of their households, and
beheaded them in the market place. The heads of the three were exposed at the
front gate of the capital.
Being
short of food and hearing of the destruction of their three adherents in the
city, the only course for Ma Teng and Han Sui was to retreat.
At once Zhang Ji went in
pursuit of Ma Teng, and Fan Chou followed Han Sui. The retreating army under Ma
Teng was beaten, and only by Ma Chao's desperate efforts were the pursuers
driven off.
Fan
Chou pursued the other army. When he had come close, Han Sui rode boldly up and
addressed him, saying, "You and I, Sir, are fellow villagers. Why then
behave so unfriendly?"
Fan
Chou replied, "I must obey the commands of my chief."
"I
am here for the service of the state. Why do you press me so hard?" said
Han Sui.
At
this Fan Chou turned his horse, called in his troops, and left Han Sui in
peace.
Unwittingly
a nephew of Li Jue had been a witness of this scene; and when he saw the enemy
allowed to go free, he returned and told his uncle. Angry that his enemy had
escaped, Li Jue would have sent an army to wreak vengeance on his general.
But his adviser Jia Xu
again came in, saying, "The people are yet unsettled: It is dangerous to
provoke another war. Instead, invite Fan Chou to a banquet and, while the feast
was in progress, executing him for dereliction of duty."
This seemed good to Li Jue,
so the banquet was prepared. Zhang Ji and Fan Chou accepted their invitations
and went cheerfully.
Toward
the latter part of the entertainment a sudden change came over their host Li
Jue, and he suddenly asked Fan Chou, "Why have you been intriguing with
Han Sui? You are turning traitor, eh?"
The
unhappy guest was taken aback. Before he could frame his words to reply, he saw
the assassins rush out with swords and axes. In a moment all was over, and Fan
Chou's head lay beneath the table.
Scared
beyond measure, his fellow-guest Zhang Ji groveled on the floor.
"Fan
Chou was a traitor," said the host, raising Zhang Ji by the arm, "and
he has his deserts. You are my friend and need not fear."
Li
Jue gave Zhang Ji command of Fan Chou's army with which Zhang Ji returned to
his headquarters garrison in Hongnong.
No
one of the leaders among the leaguers dared attempt an attack on the party
newly risen from Dong Zhuo's disaffection, while on the other hand Jia Xu never
ceased to urge his masters to exert themselves for the welfare of the people
and thus to tempt wise people to join them. And by these means the government
began to prosper, and the court to reassert its authority.
However,
a new trouble arose in the shape of a resurgence of Yellow Scarves in Qingzhou.
They came, under numerous chieftains, in the number of hundreds of thousand and
plundered any place they reached.
Court Administrator Zhu Jun said he knew of one who could destroy this
sedition, and when asked who was the man he proposed, Zhu Jun said, "You
want to destroy this horde of rebels: You will fail unless you get the service
of Cao Cao."
"And
where is he?" asked Li Jue.
"He
is Governor of Dongjun. He has a large army, and you have only to order him to
act. The rising will be broken."
A
messenger went post haste with a command for Cao Cao and Bao Xin, Lord of
Jibei, to act together in quelling the rebellion. As soon as Cao Cao received
the court command, he arranged with his colleagues first to attack the rebels
at Shouyang.
Bao
Xin made a dash right into their midst and inflicting damage wherever he could,
but he was killed in battlefield. Cao Cao pursued the rebels as they fled to
Jibei. Ten thousand surrendered. Then Cao Cao put his former enemies in the
van. When his army reached any place, many more surrendered and joined him.
After one hundred days, he had won over three hundred thousand troops and more
than one million ordinary folks.
Of these new adherents the strongest and boldest were made
the Qingzhou Army, and the others were sent home to their fields. In
consequence of these successes Cao Cao's prestige and fame became very great
and increased daily. He reported his success to Capital Changan and was
rewarded with the title of General Who Guards the East.
Liu
Dai then submitted; he and his officials sent to Dongjun and invited Cao Cao to
take over Yanzhou.
At
his new headquarters, Cao Cao welcomed wise counselors and bold warriors, and
many gathered around him. Two clever persons, uncle and nephew, came at the
same time, both from Yingchuan, named Xun Yu and Xun You. The uncle had once
been in the service of Yuan Shao
Cao Cao rejoiced when he had won the elder Xun to his side, saying,
"Xun Yu is my Zhang Liang!"
He
made Xun Yu a Field Commander. The nephew Xun You was famed for his ability and
had been in the court service when it was in Luoyang, but he had abandoned that
career in the Inner Bureau and retired to his village. Cao Cao made him a
Military Instructor.
Xun
Yu said to Cao Cao, "There is a certain wise person of Yanzhou somewhere,
but I do not know in whose service he is."
"Who
is he?"
"Cheng
Yu. He belongs to the eastern part of Yanzhou."
"Yes,
I have heard of him," said Cao Cao.
So
a messenger was sent to his native place to inquire. Cheng Yu was away in the
hills engaged in study. Cao Cao sent the messenger to the hills, and Cheng Yu
came at the invitation.
"I
shall prove unworthy of your recommendation," said Cheng Yu to his friend
Xun Yu, "for I am rough and ignorant. But have you forgotten a fellow
villager of yours, Guo Jia? He is really able. Why not spread the net to catch
him?"
"I
had nearly forgotten!" said Xun Yu suddenly.
So
he told Cao Cao of this man, who was at once invited.
Guo
Jia, discussing the world at large with Cao Cao, recommended Liu Ye from Henan,
who was a descendant of Liu Xiu the Founder of Latter Han. When Liu Ye had
arrived, he was the means of inviting two more: Man Chong from Shanyang and Lu
Qian from Wucheng, who were already known to Cao Cao by reputation.
These two brought to their
new master's notice the name of Mao Jie from Chenliu, who also came and was
given office. Then a famous leader, with his troop of some hundreds, arrived to
offer service. This was Yu Jin of Taishan, an expert horseman and archer, and
skilled beyond his fellows in every form of military exercise. He was made an
Army Inspector.
Then
another day Xiahou Dun brought a fellow to present to Cao Cao.
"Who
is he?" asked Cao Cao.
"He is from Chenliu and is named Dian Wei. He is the
boldest of the bold, the strongest of the strong. He was one of Zhang Miao's
people, but quarreled with his tent companions and killed some dozens of them
with his fists. Then he fled to the mountains where I found him. I was out
shooting and saw him follow a tiger across a stream. I persuaded him to join my
troop, and I recommend him."
"I
see he is no ordinary man," said Cao Cao. "He is fine and straight
and looks very powerful and bold."
"He
is! He killed a man once to avenge a friend and carried his head through the
whole market place. Hundreds saw him, but dared not come near. The weapon he
uses now is a couple of spears, each weighs a hundred and twenty pounds, and he
vaults into the saddle with these under his arm."
Cao
Cao bade the man give proof of his skill. So Dian Wei galloped to and fro
carrying the spears.
Then
he saw away among the tents a huge banner swaying dangerously with the force of
the wind and on the point of falling. A crowd of soldiers were vainly
struggling to keep it steady.
Down he leaped, shouted to
the men to clear out and held the staff quite steady with one hand, keeping it
perfectly upright in spite of the strong wind.
"This
is old E Lai again!" said Cao Cao.
He
gave Dian Wei a post of Commander of the Headquarters Guards and besides made
Dian Wei presents of an embroidered robe he was wearing and a swift steed with
a handsome saddle.
Cao
Cao encouraged able people to assist him, and he had advisers on the civil side
and valiant generals in the army. He became famous throughout the East of the
Passes.
Now Cao Cao's father, Cao
Song, was living at Langye, whither he had gone as a hidden place free from the
turmoil of the partisan struggles. Cao Cao wished to be united with him. As a
dutiful son, Cao Cao sent the Governor of Taishan, Ying Shao, to escort his
father to Yanzhou.
Old
Cao Song read the letter with joy, and the family prepared to move.
They
were some forty in all, with a train of a hundred servants and many carts.
Their
road led through Xuzhou Region where the Imperial Protector, Tao Qian, was a
sincere and upright man who had long wished to get on good terms with Cao Cao
but, hitherto, had found no means of effecting a bond of union.
Hearing
that Cao Cao's family was passing through his region, Tao Qian went to welcome
them, treated them with great cordiality, feasting and entertaining them for
two days; and when they left, he escorted them to his boundary.
Further he sent with them
General Zhang Kai with a special escort of five hundred.
The
whole party reached the county of Huafei. It was the end of summer, just
turning into autumn, and at this place they were stopped by a tremendous storm
of rain. The only shelter was an old temple and thither they went. The family
occupied the main rooms and the escort the two side wings.
The
men of the escort were drenched, angry, and discontented.
Then
Zhang Kai called some of his petty officers to a secret spot and said, "We
are old Yellow Scarves and only submitted to Tao Qian because there was no
other choice. We have never got much out of it. Now here is the Cao family with
no end of gear, and we can be rich very easily. We will make a sudden onslaught
tonight at the third watch and slay the whole lot. Then we shall have plenty of
treasure, and we will get away to the mountains."
They
all agreed. The storm continued into the night; and as Cao Song sat waiting anxiously
for signs of clearing, he suddenly heard a hubbub at the west end of the
temple. His brother, Cao De, drawing his sword, went out to see what it was
about, and Cao De was at once cut down.
Cao Song seized one of the
concubines by the hand, rushed with her through the passage toward the back of
the temple so that they might escape. But the lady was stout and could not get
through the narrow doors, so the two hid in one of the small outhouses at the
side. However, they were seen and slain.
The
unhappy Governor Ying Shao fled for his life to Yuan Shao. The murderers fled
into the South of River Huai with their plunder after having set fire to the
old temple.
Cao Cao, whom the ages praise,
Slew his hosts on his former flight;
Nemesis never turns aside,
Murdered too his family died.
Some of the escort escaped and took the evil tidings to Cao Cao. When he
heard it he fell to the earth with a great cry. They raised him.
With
set teeth he muttered, "Tao Qian's people have slain my father: No longer
can the same sky cover us! I will sweep Xuzhou off the face of the earth. Only
thus can I satisfy my vengeance."
Cao
Cao left one small army of thirty thousand under Xun Yu and Cheng Yu to guard
the east headquarters and the three counties of Juancheng, Fanxia, and Dongjun.
Then he set forth with all the remainder to destroy Xuzhou and avenge his
father.
Xiahou Dun, Yu Jin, and Dian Wei were Van Leaders with Cao Cao's orders
to slaughter all the inhabitants of each captured city.
Now
the Governor of Jiujiang, Bian Rang, was a close friend of Tao Qian. Hearing
Xuzhou was threatened, Bian Rang set out with five thousand troops to his
friend's aid. Angered by this move, Cao Cao sent Xiahou Dun to stop and kill
Bian Rang while still on the march.
At this time Chen Gong was in office in Dongjun, and he was also on
friendly terms with Tao Qian. Hearing of Cao Cao's design to destroy the whole
population, Chen Gong came in haste to see his former companion. Cao Cao,
knowing Chen Gong's errand, put him off at first and would not see him. But
then Cao Cao could not forget the kindness he had formerly received from Chen
Gong, and presently the visitor was called to his tent.
Chen Gong said, "They
say you go to avenge your father's death on Xuzhou, to destroy its people. I
have come to say a word. Imperial Protector Tao Qian is humane and a good man.
He is not looking out for his own advantage, careless of the means and of
others. Your worthy father met his unhappy death at the hands of Zhang Kai. Tao
Qian is guiltless. Still more innocent are the people, and to slay them would
be an evil. I pray you think over it."
Cao
Cao retorted angrily, "You once abandoned me, and now you have the
impudence to come to see me! Tao Qian slew my whole family, and I will tear his
heart out in revenge. I swear it! You may speak for your friend and say what
you will. I shall be as if I heard not."
Intercession
had failed. Chen Gong sighed and took his leave.
He
said, "Alas! I cannot go to Tao Qian and look upon his face."
So Chen Gong rode off to the county of Chenliu to give service to
Governor Zhang Miao.
Cao
Cao's army of revenge laid waste whatever place it passed through, slaying the
people and desecrating their cemeteries (AD 193).
When
Tao Qian heard the terrible tidings, he looked up to heaven, saying, "I
must be guilty of some fault before Heaven to have brought this evil upon my
people!"
He called together his officials to consult.
One of them, Cao Bao, said, "Now the enemy is upon us: We cannot
sit and await death with folded hands. I for one will help you to make a
fight."
Tao
Qian reluctantly sent the army out. From a distance he saw Cao Cao's army
spread abroad like frost and rushed far and wide like snow. In their midst was
a large white flag and on both sides was written Vengeance.
When
he had ranged his troops, Cao Cao rode out dressed in mourning white and abused
Tao Qian.
But Tao Qian advanced, and from beneath his ensign he bowed low and
said, "I wished to make friends with you, Illustrious Sir, and so I sent
Zhang Kai to escort your family. I knew not that his rebel heart was still
unchanged. The fault does not lie at my door as you must see."
"You
old wretch! You killed my father, and now you dare mumble this nonsense!"
said Cao Cao.
And
he asked who would go out and seize Tao Qian.
Xiahou
Dun undertook this service and rode out.
Tao
Qian fled to the inner portion of his array; and as Xiahou Dun came on, Cao Bao
went to meet him.
But just as the two horses met, a hurricane burst over the spot, and the
flying dust and pebbles threw both sides into the utmost confusion. Both drew
off.
Tao
Qian retired into the city and called his officers to council.
"The force against us is too strong," said he. "I will
give myself up as a prisoner and let him wreak his vengeance on me. I may save
the people."
But
a voice was heard saying, "You have long ruled here, and the people love
you. Strong as the enemy are, they are not necessarily able to break down our
walls, especially when defended by you and your people. I have a scheme to
suggest that I think will make Cao Cao die in a place where he will not find
burial."
These
bold words startled the assembly, and they eagerly asked what the scheme was.
Making overtures for friendship, Tao Qian encountered deadly
hate.
But, where danger seemed most threatening, he discovered
safety's gate.
The
next chapter will disclose who the speaker was.
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Cao Cao
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Zhang Kai & Ma Chao
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