The
last chapter said that Cao Cao was checked in his angry attack upon Zhang Liao.
They were Liu Bei who held his arm and Guan Yu who knelt before him.
"A
man as generous-hearted as he is should be saved," said Liu Bei.
Guan
Yu said, "I know him well as loyal and righteous. I will vouch for him
with my own life!"
Cao
Cao threw aside his sword and smiled.
"I
also know Zhang Liao to be loyal and good. I was just testing him," said
he.
Cao Cao loosed the prisoner's bonds with his own hands, had a change of
dress brought in, and clothed him therewith. Then he was led to a seat of
honor. This kindly treatment sank deep into Zhang Liao's heart, and he hastened
to declare formally that he yielded. And then he was given the rank of Imperial
Commander and the title of Lordship.
Zhang Liao was sent on a
mission to win over the bandit leader Zang Ba, who hearing what had happened, came
forthwith and gave in his submission. He was graciously received, and his
former colleagues---Sun Guan, Wu Dun, and Yin Li---also yielded, with the
exception of Chang Xi, who remained obdurate. All these former enemies who came
over were kindly treated and given posts of responsibility wherein they might
prove the reality of their conversion. Lu Bu's family were sent to the capital.
After the soldiers had been
rewarded with feasting, the camp was broken up and the army moved away to
Xuchang. Passing through Xuzhou the people lined the roads and burned incense
in honor of the victors. They also petitioned that Liu Bei should be their
protector.
Cao
Cao replied, "Liu Bei has rendered great services. You must wait till he
has been received in audience and obtained his reward. After that he shall be
sent here."
The
people bowed low to the ground to express their thanks. Che Zhou, General of
the Flying Cavalry, was given command of Xuzhou for the moment.
After
the army had arrived at the capital, rewards were granted to all the officers
who had been in the expedition.
Liu
Bei was retained in the capital, lodging in an annex to the Prime Minister's
palace.
Next
day a court was held, and Cao Cao memorialized the services of Liu Bei who was
presented to Emperor Xian. Dressed in court robes, Liu Bei bowed at the lower
end of the audience arena. The Emperor called him to the Hall and asked his
ancestry.
Liu Bei replied, "Thy servant is the son of Liu Hong,
grandson of Liu Xiong, who was a direct descendant of Prince Sheng of Zhongshan,
who was the son of His Majesty the Emperor Jing (reigned BC 157-141)."
The
Emperor bade them bring forth the Books of the Genealogies, and therefrom a
secretary read:
"Liu
Jing the Filial Emperor begot fourteen sons of whom the seventh was Liu Sheng,
Prince of Zhongshan. Sheng begot Liu Zhen, Lord of Luchang. Zhen begot Liu Ang,
Lord of Pei. Ang begot Liu Lu, Lord of Zhang. Lu begot Liu Lian, Lord of
Yishui. Lian begot Liu Ying, Lord of Qinyang. Ying begot Liu Jian, Lord of
Anguo. Jian begot Liu Ai, Lord of Guangling. Ai begot Liu Xia, Lord of
Jiaoshui. Xia begot Liu Shu, Lord of Zuyi. Shu begot Liu Yi, Lord of Qiyang. Yi
begot Liu Bi, Lord of Yuanze. Bi begot Liu Da, Lord of Yingchuan. Da begot Liu
Buyi, Lord of Fengling. Buyi begot Liu Hui, Lord of Jichuan. Hui begot Liu
Xiong, Governor of Zhuo. Xiong begot Liu Hong, who held no office or rank; and
Liu Bei is his son."
The Emperor compared this with the registers of the Imperial House and
found by them that Liu Bei was his uncle by descent. The Emperor seemed greatly
pleased and requested Liu Bei to go into one of the side chambers where he
might perform the ceremonial obeisance prescribed for a nephew to his uncle. In
his heart he rejoiced to have this heroic warrior uncle as a powerful supporter
against Cao Cao who really held all the power in his own hands. The Emperor
knew himself to be a mere puppet. He conferred upon his uncle the rank of
General of the Left Army and the title of Lord of Yicheng.
When
the banquet was concluded, Liu Bei thanked the Emperor and went out of the
Palace. And from this time he was very generally styled the "Imperial
Uncle."
When
Cao Cao returned to his palace, Xun Yu and his fellow advisers went in to see
him.
Xun
Yu said, "It is no advantage to you, Illustrious Sir, that the Emperor
recognizes Liu Bei as an uncle."
"Liu Bei may be recognized as uncle, but he is under my orders
since I control the decrees of the Throne. He will be all the more ready to
obey. Beside I will keep him here under the pretense of having him near his
sovereign, and he will be entirely in my hands. I have nothing to fear. The man
I fear is Yang Biao, who is a relative of the two Yuan brothers. Should Yang
Biao conspire with them, he is an enemy within and might do much harm. He will
have to be removed."
Hence
Cao Cao sent a secret emissary to say that Imperial Guardian Yang Biao was
intriguing with Yuan Shu, and on this charge Yang Biao was arrested and
imprisoned. And his death would have been compassed had his enemy dared.
But
just then the Governor of Beihai, Kong Rong, was at the capital, and he
remonstrated with Cao Cao, saying, "Yang Biao comes from a family famed
for virtue for at least four generations. You cannot trump up so foolish a
charge as that against him."
"It
is the wish of His Majesty!" retorted Cao Cao.
"If
the child Emperor Cheng of Zhou Dynasty had put Duke Chao to death, could the
people have believed Duke Zhou, the Regent Marshal, had nothing to do with
it?"
So Cao Cao had to relinquish the attempt, but he took away Yang Biao's
offices and banished him to his family estate in the country.
Court
Counselor Zhao Yan, an opponent of the Prime Minister, sent up a memorial
impeaching Cao Cao for having removed a minister of state from office without a
decree. Cao Cao's reply to this was the arrest of Zhao Yan and his execution, a
bold stroke which terrified the bulk of officers and reduced them to silence.
Cheng
Yu advised Cao Cao to assume a more definite position. He said,
"Illustrious Sir, your prestige grows daily. Why not seize the opportunity
to take the position of Chief of the Feudatory Princes?"
"There are still too many supporters of the court," was the
reply. "I must be careful. I am going to propose a royal hunt to try to
find out the best line to follow."
This
expedition being decided upon they got together fleet horses, famous falcons,
and pedigree hounds, and prepared bows and arrows in readiness. They mustered a
strong force of guards outside the city.
When
the Prime Minister proposed the hunting expedition, the Emperor said he feared
it was an improper thing to do.
Cao Cao replied, "In ancient times rulers made four expeditions
yearly at each of the four seasons in order to show their strength. They were
called Sou, Miao, Xien, and Shou, in the order of spring, summer, autumn, and
winter. Now that the whole country is in confusion, it would be wise to
inaugurate a hunt in order to train the army. I am sure Your Majesty will
approve."
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So
the Emperor with the full paraphernalia for an imperial hunt joined the
expedition. He rode a saddled horse, carried an inlaid bow, and his quiver was
filled with gold-tipped arrows. His chariot followed behind. Liu Bei and his
brothers were in the imperial train, each with his bow and quiver. Each party
member wore a breastplate under the outer robe and held his especial weapon,
while their escort followed them. Cao Cao rode a dun horse called
"Flying-Lightning," and the army was one hundred thousand strong.
The hunt took place in Xutian, and the legions spread out as guards
round the hunting arena which extended over some one hundred square miles. Cao
Cao rode even with the Emperor, the horses' heads alternating in the lead. The
imperial attendants immediately following were all in Cao Cao's confidence. The
other officers, civil and military, lagged behind, for they dared not press
forward into the midst of Cao Cao's partisans.
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One
day the Emperor was riding toward the hunting grounds and noticed his newly
found uncle respectfully standing by the roadside.
"I should like to see my uncle display his hunting
skill," said the Emperor.
Liu
Bei mounted his steed at once. Just then a hare started from its form. Liu Bei
shot and hit it with the first arrow.
The
Emperor, much struck by this display, rode away over a slope. Suddenly a deer
broke out of the thicket. He shot three arrows at it but all missed.
"You try," said the Emperor turning to Cao Cao.
"Lend
me Your Majesty's bow," Cao Cao replied.
Taking
the inlaid bow and the golden-tipped arrows, Cao Cao pulled the bow and hit the
deer in the shoulder at the first shot. It fell in the grass and could not run.
Now
the crowd of officers seeing the golden-barbed arrow sticking in the wound
concluded at once that the shot was the Emperor's, so they rushed up and
shouted "Wan shui! O Son of Heaven! Live forever!"
Cao Cao rode out pushing past the Emperor and acknowledged the
congratulations.
They
all turned pale. Guan Yu, who was behind Liu Bei, was especially angry. The
silkworm eyebrows stood up fiercely, and the red phoenix eyes glared as, sword
in hand, he rode hastily forth to cut down the audacious Prime Minister for his
impertinence.
However,
Liu Bei hastily waved him back and shot at him a meaning glance so that Guan Yu
stopped and made no further move.
Liu
Bei bowing toward Cao Cao said, "Most sincere felicitations! A truly
supernatural shot, such as few have achieved!"
"It
is only the enormous good fortune of the Son of Heaven!" said Cao Cao with
a smile.
Then he turned his steed and felicitated the Emperor. But he did not
return the bow; he hung it over his own shoulder instead.
The
hunt finished with banqueting; and when the entertainments were over, they
returned to the capital, all glad of some repose after the expedition.
Guan
Yu was still angry of the Prime Minister's breach of decorum.
One
day Guan Yu said to Liu Bei, "Brother, why did you prevent me from killing
that rebel and so ridding the world of a scoundrel? He insults the Emperor and
ignores everybody else."
"When you throw stones at a rat, beware of the
vase," quoted Liu Bei. "Cao Cao was only a horse's head away from Our
Lord, and in the midst of a crowd of his partisans. In that momentary burst of
anger, if you had struck and failed, and harm had come to the Emperor, what an
awful crime would have been laid to us!"
"If
we do not rid the world of him today, a worse evil will come of it," said
Guan Yu.
"But be discreet, my brother. Such matters cannot be lightly
discussed."
The
Emperor sadly returned to his palace. With tears in his eyes, he related what
had occurred in the hunt to his consort, Empress Fu.
"Alas
for me!" said he. "From the first days of my accession, one vicious
minister has succeeded another. I was the victim of Dong Zhuo's evil
machinations. Then followed the rebellion of Li Jue and Guo Si. You and I had
to bear sorrows such as no others have borne. Then came this Cao Cao as one who
would maintain the imperial dignity, but he has seized upon all real authority
and does as he wishes. He works continually for his own glorification, and I
never see him but my back pricks. These last few days in the hunting field, he
went in front of me and acknowledged the cheers of the crowd. He is so
extremely rude that I feel sure he has sinister designs against me. Alas, my wife,
we know not when our end may come!"
"In a whole court full of nobles, who have eaten the bread of Han,
is there not one who will save his country?" said she.
Thus spoke the Empress, and
at the same moment there stepped in a man who said, "Grieve not, O
Imperial Pair! I can find a savior for the country."
It
was none other than the father of the Empress, Fu Wan.
"Have
you heard of Cao Cao's wanton and perverse behavior?" said the Emperor,
drying his eyes.
"You
mean the deer shooting? Who did not see that, indeed? But the whole court is
full of his clan or his creatures. With the exception of the relatives of your
Consort, there is not one loyal enough to deal with a rebel. I have no
authority and can do nothing, but there is General Dong Cheng, the State Uncle,
who could do it."
"Could
Uncle Dong Cheng come in to consult about this? I know he has had much
experience of state troubles."
Fu
Wan replied, "Everyone of your attendants is a partisan of Cao Cao, and
this sort of thing must be kept most profoundly secret or the consequence will
be most serious."
"Then
what can be done?" said the Emperor.
"The
only plan I can think of is to send gifts of a robe and a jade girdle to Dong
Cheng, and in the lining of the girdle hide a secret edict authorizing him to
take certain steps. When he gets home and has read the edict, he can elaborate
plans as quickly as possible, and neither the spirits above nor the demons
below will know anything about them."
The Emperor approved, and
Fu Wan went out. The Emperor then with his own hand drew up a decree, writing
it with blood drawn by biting his finger. He gave the document to Empress Fu to
sew into the purple lining of the girdle.
When
all was done, he put on the robe and girded it with the girdle.
Next
he bade one of the attendants summon State Uncle Dong Cheng to the Palace.
Dong
Cheng came; and after the ceremonies were finished, the Emperor said, "A
few nights ago I was talking with the Empress of the terrible days of the
rebellion, and we thought of your good services then, therefore we have called
you in to reward you."
The minister bowed his head in thanks. Then the Emperor led Dong Cheng
out of the Reception Hall to the Temple of Ancestors, and they went to the
gallery of Worthy Ministers, where the Emperor burned incense and performed the
usual ceremonies. After this they went to see the portraits, and among them was
one of the founder of the dynasty, Liu Bang the Supreme Ancestor.
"Whence
sprang our great ancestor, and how did he begin his great achievement?"
said the Emperor.
"Your
Majesty is pleased to joke with thy servant," said Dong Cheng, rather
startled at the question. "Who does not know the deeds of the Sacred
Ancestor? He began life as a minor official in Sishang. There gripping his
sword, he slew a white serpent, the beginning of his struggle for the right.
Speedily he mastered the empire: In three years had destroyed Qin and, in five,
also Chu. Thus he set up a dynasty that shall endure forever!"
"Such
heroic forefathers! Such weakling descendants! How sad it is!" said the
Emperor.
Pointing
to the portraits right and left, he continued, "Are not these two Zhang
Liang, Lord of Liu, and Xiao He, Lord of Cuo?"
"Certainly.
The Supreme Ancestor was greatly assisted by these two."
The Emperor glanced right and left. His attendants were rather far away.
Then he whispered to Dong Cheng, "You, like these two, must stand by
me."
"My
poor services are of no worth. I do not compare with those men," said the
Uncle.
"I
remember that you saved me at the western capital, Changan. I have never
forgotten, and I could never reward you properly."
Then
pointing to his own robe, the Emperor continued, "You must wear this robe
of mine, girded with my own girdle, and it will be as though you are always
near your Emperor."
Dong Cheng bowed his gratitude
while the Emperor, taking off the robe, presented it to his faithful minister.
At the same time he whispered, "Examine it closely when you get home, and
help your Emperor carry out his intention."
Dong
Cheng understood. He put on the robe and the girdle, took leave and left the
chamber.
The
news of the audience for Dong Cheng had been taken to the Prime Minister, who
at once went to the Palace and arrived as Dong Cheng was passing out at the
Donghua Gate. They met face to face, and Dong Cheng could in nowise avoid him.
Dong Cheng went to the side of the road and made his obeisance.
"Where
are you from, State Uncle?" asked Cao Cao.
"His Majesty summoned me into the Palace and has given me this robe
and beautiful girdle."
"Why
did he give you these?"
"He
had not forgotten that I saved his life in the old days."
"Take it off and let me see it."
Dong
Cheng who knew that a secret decree was hidden away somewhere in the garments
was afraid Cao Cao would notice a breach somewhere in the material, so he
hesitated and did not obey. But Cao Cao called his guards, and they took off
the girdle. Then Cao Cao looked it over carefully.
"It certainly is a very handsome girdle," said he. "Now
take off the robe and let me look at that."
Dong
Cheng's heart was melting with fear, but he dared not disobey. So he handed
over the robe. Cao Cao took it and held it up against the sun with his own hand
and minutely examined every part of it.
When
he had done this, he put it on, girded it with the girdle and turning to his
attendants said, "How is it for length?"
"Beautiful!"
they chorused.
Turning
to Dong Cheng, he said, "Will you give these to me?"
"My
Prince's presents to me I dare not give to another. Let me give you another
robe in its stead," said Dong Cheng.
"Is there not some intrigue connected with these presents? I am
sure there is," said Cao Cao.
"How
could I dare?" said Dong Cheng, trembling. "If you are so set upon
it, then I must give it up."
"How
could I take away what our Prince has given you? It was all a joke," said
the Prime Minister.
Cao
Cao returned both robe and girdle, and their owner made the best of his way
home.
When night came and he was
alone in his library, he took out the robe and looked over every inch of it
most carefully. He found nothing.
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"He
gave me a robe and a girdle and bade me look at them carefully. That means
there is something to be looked for but I can find no trace of it. What does it
mean?" he soliloquized.
Then he lifted the girdle and examined that. The jade plates were carved
into the semblance of small dragons interlaced among flowers. The lining was of
purple silk. All was sewn together most carefully and neatly, and he could find
nothing out of the common. He was puzzled. He laid the belt on the table.
Presently he picked it up and looked at it again. He spent long hours over it
but in vain. He leaned over on the small table, his head resting on his hands
and was almost asleep, when a candle snuff fell down upon the girdle and burned
a hole in the lining. He hastily shook it off, but the mischief was done: A
small hole had been burned in the silken lining, and through this there
appeared something white with blood red marks.
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He
hastily ripped it open and drew out the decree written by the hand of the
Emperor himself in characters of blood. It read:
"Of human relationships, that between parents and
children stands first. Of the various social ties that between prince and
minister stands highest. Today Cao Cao, the wicked, is a real tyrant, treating
even his Prince with indignity. With the support of his faction and his army,
he has destroyed the principles of government. By conferring rewards and
inflicting punishments, he has reduced the Emperor to a nonentity. I have
grieved over this day and night. I have feared the empire would be ruined.
"You are a high minister of state and my own relative.
You must recall the difficulties of the Great Founder's early days and draw
together the loyal and right-minded to destroy this evil faction and restore
the prerogatives of the Throne. Such a deed would be indeed an extreme joy to
the spirits of my ancestors.
"This decree, written in blood drawn from my own veins,
is confided to a noble who is to be most careful not to fail in executing his
Emperor's design.
"Given in the era of Rebuilt Tranquillity, fourth year
and the third month of spring." (AD 199)
So
ran the decree, and Dong Cheng read it with streaming eyes. There was no sleep
for him that night.
Early
in the morning he returned to his library and reread it. No plan suggested
itself. He laid the decree down on the table and sought in the depths of his
mind for some scheme to destroy Cao Cao, but could not decide upon any. And he
fell asleep leaning over his table.
It happened that Minister
Wang Zifu, with whom Dong Cheng was on terms of great intimacy, came to visit
him and, as usual, walked into the house unannounced and went straight to the
library. His host did not wake, and Wang Zifu noticed, hardly hidden by his
sleeve, the Emperor's writing.
Wondering
what this might be, Wang Zifu drew it out, read it, and put it in his own
sleeve.
Then he called out loud, "Uncle Dong Cheng, are you not well? Why
are you asleep at this time of day?"
Dong
Cheng started up and at once missed the decree. He was aghast; he almost fell
to the ground.
"So you want to make away with Cao Cao? I shall have to tell
him," said Wang Zifu.
"Then,
brother, that is the end of the Hans," said his host, with tears.
"I
was joking," said Wang Zifu. "My forefathers also served the Hans and
ate of their bounty. Am I devoid of loyalty? I would help you, brother, as far
as lies in my power."
"It
is well for the country that you think like this," said Dong Cheng.
"But
we ought to have a more private place than this to talk over such plans and
pledge ourselves to sacrifice all in the cause of Han."
Dong Cheng began to feel very satisfied. He produced a roll of white
silk and wrote his own name at the top and signed it, and Wang Zifu followed
suit.
Then
the visitor said, "General Wu Zilan is one of my best friends. He ought to
be allowed to come in."
Dong
Cheng replied, "Of all the officials of the court, Commander Chong Ji and
Court Counselor Wu Shi are my best friends. Certainly they would back me
up."
So
the discussion proceeded. Presently a servant announced no other than these
very two men Dong Cheng just mentioned.
"This is providential," said Dong Cheng, and he told Wang Zifu
to hide behind a screen.
The
two guests were led into the library, and after the exchange of the ordinary
civilities and a cup of tea, Chong Ji referred to the incident at the hunt and
the shooting of the stag.
"Were
you not angry at that?" said Chong Ji.
Dong Cheng answered, "Though we be angry, what can we
do?"
Wu
Shi struck in, saying, "I would slay this fellow, I swear, but I cannot
get anyone to back me up."
"One should perish for one's country; one should not mind,"
said Chong Ji.
At
this moment Wang Zifu appeared from behind the screen, saying, "You two
want to kill Cao Cao! I shall have to let him know this. And Uncle Dong Cheng
is my witness."
"A loyal minister does not mind death. If we are killed, we will be
Han ghosts, which is better than being sycophants of a traitor," said
Chong Ji, angrily.
Dong
Cheng said, "We were just saying we wanted to see you two on this matter.
Wang Zifu is only joking."
Then
he drew forth the decree and showed it to the two newcomers, who also wept as
they read it. They were asked to add their names to the silk roll.
Wang Zifu said, "Wait here a few moments till I get Wu Zilan to
come."
He left the room and very
soon returned with his friend, who also wrote his name in the presence of all
the others.
After
this they went into one of the inner chambers to drink success to the new plot.
While there, a new visitor, Ma Teng, Governor of Xiliang, was announced.
"Say I am indisposed," said the host, "and cannot receive
visitors."
The
doorkeeper took the message, whereat Ma Teng angrily said, "Last night at
the Donghua Gate, I saw him come out in robe and girdle. How can he pretend
illness today? I am not come from mere idleness, why does he refuse to see
me?"
The doorkeeper went in again and told his master what the
visitor had said and that he was very angry. Then Dong Cheng rose, excused
himself saying he would soon return, and went to receive Ma Teng.
After
the visitor had saluted and they were both seated, Ma Teng said, "I have
just come from a farewell audience and wished to bid you good bye. Why did you
want to put me off?"
"My
poor body was taken suddenly ill. That is why I was not waiting to welcome
you," said Dong Cheng.
"You do not look as if you were ill. Your face wears the very bloom
of health," said Ma Teng bluntly.
His
host could say no more and was silent. The visitor shook out his sleeves and
rose to depart.
He
sighed deeply as he walked down the steps, saying to himself, "Not one of
them is any good. There is no one to save the country."
This speech sank deeply into Dong Cheng's heart. He stopped his guest,
saying, "Who is no good to save the country? Whom do you mean?"
"That
incident at the hunt the other day, the shooting of the stag, filled my breast
with anger. But if you, a near relative of the Emperor, can pass your time in
wine and idle dalliance without a thought of doing away with rebellion, where
can anyone be found who will save the dynasty?"
However,
Dong Cheng doubts were not set at rest. Pretending great surprise, he replied,
"The Prime Minister is of high rank and has the confidence of the court.
Why then do you utter such things?"
"So you find that wretch Cao Cao a good man, eh?"
"Pray
speak lower: There are eyes and ears very near us."
"The
sort of people who covet life and fear death are not those to discuss any great
undertaking."
So
saying, Ma Teng rose to go sway. By this time his host's doubts were set at
rest. He felt that Ma Teng was loyal.
So Dong Cheng said, "Do not be angry any more. I will
show you something."
Whereupon
he invited Ma Teng to go into the room where the others were seated and then
showed him the decree. As Ma Teng read it, his hair stood on end; he ground his
teeth and bit his lips till the blood came.
"When you move, remember the whole force of my army is
ready to help," said Ma Teng.
Dong
Cheng introduced him to the other conspirators, and then the pledge was
produced, and Ma Teng was told to sign his name. He did so, at the same time
smearing the blood as a sign of the oath and saying, "I swear to die
rather than betray this pledge!"
Pointing
to the five he said, "We require ten for this business, and we can
accomplish our design."
"We cannot get many true and loyal people. One of the wrong sort
will spoil all," said Dong Cheng.
Ma
Teng told them to bring in the list of officials. He read on till he came to
the name Liu, of the imperial clan, when clapping his hands he cried, "Why
not consult him?"
"Whom?"
cried they altogether.
Ma
Teng very slowly and deliberately spoke his name.
To a very trusty servant comes an Emperor's decree,
And a scion of the ruling house can prove his loyalty.
If the readers turns to the next chapter, they will see whom Ma Teng
talked about.
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Liu Bei
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Zhang Liao
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