"Who
is it?" was the question on the lips of the conspirators.
Ma
Teng's reply was, "The Imperial Protector of Yuzhou, Liu Bei. He is here
and we will ask him to help."
"Though
he is an uncle of the Emperor, he is at present a partisan of our enemy, and he
will not join," said Dong Cheng.
"But
I saw something at the hunt," said Ma Teng. "When Cao Cao advanced to
acknowledge the congratulations due to the Emperor, Liu Bei's sworn brother
Guan Yu was behind him, and grasped his sword as if to cut down Cao Cao.
However, Liu Bei signed to him to hold his hand and Guan Yu did. Liu Bei would willingly
destroy Cao Cao, only he thinks Cao Cao's teeth and claws are too many. You
must ask Liu Bei, and he will surely consent."
Here
Wu Shi urged caution, saying, "Do not go too fast. Let us consider the
thing most carefully."
They
dispersed. Next day after dark Dong Cheng went to Liu Bei's lodging taking with
him the decree. As soon as Dong Cheng was announced, Liu Bei came to greet him
and led him into a private room where they could talk freely. The two younger
brothers were there as well.
"It
must be something unusually important that has brought Uncle Dong Cheng here
tonight," said Liu Bei.
"If
I had ridden forth by daylight, Cao Cao might have suspected something, so I
came by night."
Wine was brought in, and while they were drinking, Dong Cheng said,
"Why did you check your brother the other day at the hunt, when he was
going to attack Cao Cao?"
Liu
Bei was startled and said, "How did you know?"
"Nobody
noticed but I saw."
Liu
Bei could not prevaricate and said, "It was the presumption of the man
that made my brother so angry. Guan Yu could not help it."
The
visitor covered his face and wept.
"Ah," said he, "if all the court ministers were like Guan
Yu, there would be no sighs for lack of tranquillity."
Now
Liu Bei felt that possibly Cao Cao had sent his visitor to try him, so he
cautiously replied, "Where are the sighs for lack of tranquillity while
Cao Cao is at the head of affairs?"
Dong
Cheng changed color and rose from his seat.
"You,
Sir, are a relative of His Majesty, and so I showed you my inmost feelings. Why
did you mislead me?"
But
Liu Bei said, "Because I feared you might be misleading me, and I wanted
to find out."
At this Dong Cheng drew out the decree he had received and showed it.
His host was deeply moved. Then Dong Cheng produced the pledge. There were only
six names to it, and these were Dong Cheng, Wang Zifu, Chong Ji, Wu Shi, Wu
Zilan, and Ma Teng.
"Since you have a
decree like this, I cannot but do my share," said Liu Bei, and at Dong
Cheng's request he added his name and signature to the others and handed it
back.
"Now
let us but get three more, which will make ten, and we shall be ready to
act."
"But
you must move with great caution and not let this get abroad," said Liu
Bei.
The two remained talking till an early hour in the morning when the
visitor left.
Now
in order to put Cao Cao quite off the scent that any plot against him was in
progress, Liu Bei began to devote himself to gardening, planting vegetables,
and watering them with his own hands. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei ventured to
remonstrate with him for taking to such an occupation when great matters needed
attention.
"The reason for this you may not know," replied he.
And
they said no more.
One day when the two brothers were absent, and Liu Bei was busy in his
garden, two generals of Cao Cao, Xu Chu and Zhang Liao, with an escort came
from Cao Cao, saying, "The command of the Prime Minister is that you come
at once."
"What
important affair is afoot?" asked Liu Bei nervously.
"We know nothing.
We were ordered to come and request your
presence."
All
he could do was to follow.
When Liu Bei arrived, Cao Cao met him and laughingly said,
"That is a big business you have in hand at home."
This remark made Liu Bei
turn the color of clay. Cao Cao took him by the hand and led him straight to
the private garden, saying, "The growth of vegetables that you are trying
to learn is very difficult."
Liu
Bei breathed again. He said, "That is hardly a business. It is only a
solace."
Cao Cao said, "I happened to notice the green plums on the trees
today, and suddenly my thoughts went back to a year ago when we were thrashing
Zhang Xiu. We were marching through a parched county, and everyone was
suffering from thirst. Suddenly I lifted my whip, and pointing at something in
the distance I said, 'Look at those fruitful plum trees in the forest ahead.'
The soldiers heard it, and it made their mouths water. Seeing the plums kindles
my appreciation. I owe something to the plums, and we will repay it today. I
ordered the servants to heat some wine very hot and sent to invite you to share
it."
Liu Bei was quite composed
by this time and no longer suspected any sinister design. He went with his host
to a small spring pavilion in a plum garden, where the wine cups were already
laid out and green plums filled the dishes. They sat down to a confidential
talk and free enjoyment of their wine.
As
they drank, the weather gradually changed, clouds gathering and threatening
rain. The servants pointed out a mass of cloud that looked like a dragon hung
in the sky. Both host and guest leaned over the balcony looking at it.
"Do
you understand the evolution of dragons?" asked Cao Cao of the guest.
"Not
in detail."
"A dragon can assume any size, can rise in glory or hide from
sight. Bulky, it generates clouds and evolves mist; attenuated, it can scarcely
hide a mustard stalk or conceal a shadow. Mounting, it can soar to the
empyrean; subsiding, it lurks in the uttermost depths of the ocean. This is the
midspring season, and the dragon chooses this moment for its transformations
like a person realizing his own desires and overrunning the world. The dragon
among animals compares with the hero among people. You, General, have traveled
all lakes and rivers. You must know who are the heroes of the present day, and
I wish you would say who they are."
"I
am just a common dullard. How can I know such things?"
"Do
not be so modest," said Cao Cao.
"Thanks
to your kindly protection I have a post at court. But as to heroes I really do
not know who they are."
"You
may not have looked upon their faces, but you must have heard their
names."
"Yuan
Shu of the South of River Huai, with his strong army and abundant resources: Is
he one?" asked Liu Bei.
His host laughed, "A rotting skeleton in a graveyard. I shall put
him out of the way shortly."
"Well,
Yuan Shao then. The highest offices of state have been held in his family for
four generations, and his clients are many in the empire. He is firmly posted
in Jizhou, and he commands the services of many able people. Surely he is
one."
"A bully, but a coward. He is fond of grandiose schemes, but is
devoid of decision. He makes for great things but grudges the necessary
sacrifice. He loses sight of everything else in view of a little present
advantage. He is not one."
"There
is Liu Biao of Jingzhou. He is renowned as a man of perfection, whose fame has
spread on all sides. Surely he is a hero."
"He is a mere semblance, a man of vain reputation. No, not
he."
"Sun
Ce is a sturdy sort, the chief of all in the South Land. Is he a hero?"
"He
has profited by the reputation of his father Sun Jian. Sun Ce is not a real
hero."
"What
of Liu Zhang of Yizhou?"
"Though
he is of the reigning family, he is nothing more than a watch dog. How could
you make a hero of him?"
"What
about Zhang Xiu, Zhang Lu, Han Sui, and all those leaders?"
Cao
Cao clapped his hands and laughed very loudly, saying, "Paltry people like
them are not worth mentioning."
"With
these exceptions I really know none."
"Now heroes are the ones who cherish lofty designs in their bosoms
and have plans to achieve them. They have all-embracing schemes, and the whole
world is at their mercy."
"Who
is such a person?" said Liu Bei.
Cao Cao pointed his finger first at his guest and then at himself,
saying, "The only heroes in the world are you and I."
Liu Bei gasped, and the
spoon and chopsticks rattled to the floor.
Now
just at that moment the storm burst with a tremendous peal of thunder and rush
of rain.
Liu
Bei stooped down to recover the fallen articles, saying, "What a shock!
And it was quite close."
"What!
Are you afraid of thunder?" said Cao Cao.
Liu Bei replied, "The Sage One paled at a sudden peal of thunder or
fierce gust of wind. Why should one not fear?"
Thus
he glossed over the real fact, that it was the words he had heard that had so
startled him.
Constrained to lodge in a tiger's lair,
He played a waiting part,
But when Cao Cao talked of breaking humans,
Then terror gripped his heart.
But he cleverly used the thunder peal
As excuse for turning pale;
O quick to seize occasions thus!
He surely must prevail.
The shower had passed, and there appeared two men rushing through the
garden, both armed. In spite of the attendants, they forced their way to the
pavilion where sat the two friends. They were Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.
The
two brothers had been outside the city at archery practice when Cao Cao's
invitation had come so peremptorily. On their return they heard that two
officers had arrived and led away Liu Bei to the Prime Minister. They hastened
to his palace and were told their brother was with his host in the grounds, and
they feared something had happened. So they rushed in.
Now when they saw their brother quietly talking with Cao Cao
and enjoying a cup of wine, they took up their usual places and meekly stood
waiting.
"Why
did you come?" said Cao Cao.
"We
heard that you, Sir, had invited our brother to a wine party, and we came to
amuse you with a little sword play," said they.
"This is not a Hongmen Banquet," replied Cao Cao. "What
use have we for Xiang Chang and Xiang Ba of old?"
Liu
Bei smiled. The host ordered wine to be served to the two "Fan Kuais"
to allay their anxiety and, soon after, the three took their leave and returned
homeward.
"We
were nearly frightened to death," said Guan Yu.
The
story of the dropped chopsticks was told. The two asked what their brother
intended by his actions.
"My
learning gardening was to convince Cao Cao of my perfect simplicity and the
absence of any ambition. But when he suddenly pointed to me as one of the
heroes, I was startled, for I thought he had some suspicions. Happily the
thunder at that moment supplied the excuse I wanted."
"Really you are very clever," said they.
Next
day Cao Cao again invited Liu Bei and while the two were drinking, Man Chong,
who had been dispatched to find out what Yuan Shao was doing, came to present
his report.
Man Chong said, "Gongsun Zan has been completely defeated by Yuan
Shao."
"Do
you know the details? I should like to know how," interrupted Liu Bei.
"They
were at war, and Gongsun Zan got the worst of it, so he acted on the defensive,
building a high wall about his army and on that erecting a high tower, which he
called the Yijing Tower. Therein he placed all his grain, one hundred thousand
carts total, and took up his own quarters. His fighting troops passed in and
out without ceasing, some going out to give battle, others returning to rest.
One of them was surrounded and sent to ask Gongsun Zan to rescue him. Gongsun
Zan said, 'If I rescue him, hereafter everyone will want to be helped and will
not exert himself.' So Gongsun Zan did not go. This disgusted his soldiers, and
many deserted to the enemy so that his army diminished. He sent letters to the
capital to crave help, but the messenger was captured. He sent to Zhang Yan to
arrange with him for a two-pronged joint attack, and those letters with the
plans also fell into Yuan Shao's hands. The plans were adopted by Yuan Shao,
who gave the signals agreed upon. Thus Gongsun Zan fell into an ambush, lost
heavily, and retreated into the city. There he was besieged, and a subterranean
passage was pierced into the tower where he lodged. The tower was set on fire,
and Gongsun Zan could not escape. So he slew his wife and little ones and
hanged himself. The flames destroyed the bodies of the whole family.
"Yuan
Shao has added the remnants of the vanquished army to his own and so become yet
stronger. His brother Yuan Shu in the South of River Huai, however, has become
so arrogant and cruel that the people have turned against him. Then Yuan Shu
had sent to say he would yield the title of Emperor, which he had assumed, in
favor of Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao demanded the Imperial Hereditary Seal also, and
Yuan Shu promised to bring it in person. Now Yuan Shu has abandoned River Huai
and is about to move to the North of Yellow River. If he succeeded, the two
brothers will control adjoining regions and be dangerous."
It
was a sad story, and Liu Bei remembered with sorrow that, in the days of
success and prosperity, the dead chieftain, Gongsun Zan, had pushed his
interest and shown him much kindness. Moreover he was anxious to know the fate
of Zhao Zilong.
In
his heart he thought, "What better chance am I likely to get of setting
myself free?"
So
Liu Bei rose and said to Cao Cao, "If Yuan Shu goes over to join his
brother, he will surely pass through Xuzhou. I beg you to give me an army with
which to smite him on the way. That will finish Yuan Shu."
"Memorialize
the Emperor tomorrow, and I will give you an army," said Cao Cao.
So
next day Liu Bei went to an audience, and Cao Cao gave him command of fifty
thousand horse and foot, and sent Generals Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao with him.
At parting with Liu Bei, the Emperor shed tears.
As
soon as Liu Bei reached his lodging, he set about preparations for immediate
departure, taking his seal as General and preparing his weapons. Dong Cheng
went three miles away from the city to bid him farewell.
"You
must not mind my going. This journey will assuredly help on the scheme,"
said Liu Bei.
"Keep
your mind fixed on that," said Dong Cheng, "and never forget what His
Majesty requires of us."
They parted.
Presently
his brothers asked him why he was in such a hurry to get away.
Liu Bei replied, "I have been a bird in a cage, a fish
in a net. This is like the fish regaining the open sea and the bird soaring
into the blue sky. I suffered much from the confinement."
Then
he ordered Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao to march the troops faster.
Now
Guo Jia and Cheng Yu had been absent inspecting stores and supplies when Liu
Bei left. As soon as they heard of his expedition, they went in to see their
master, asking him why he had let Liu Bei go in command of an army.
"He
is going to cut off Yuan Shu," replied Cao Cao.
"Formerly,
when he was Imperial Protector of Yuzhou, we recommended that he should be put
to death, but you would not hear of it. Now you have given him an army. You
have allowed the dragon to reach the sea, the tiger to return to the mountains.
What control will you have in future?"
So
spoke Cheng Yu, and Guo Jia followed in the same strain, saying, "Even if
you would not put him to death, you need not have let him go. As the proverb
says, 'Relax opposition for one day and age-long harm ensues.' You must admit
the truth of this."
Cao Cao recognized that
these were prudent counsels, so he sent Xu Chu with five hundred horsemen and
imperative orders to bring Liu Bei back again.
Liu Bei was marching as
rapidly as possible when he noticed a cloud of dust in the rear and remarked to
his brothers, "Surely they are pursuing us."
He
halted and made a stockade, and ordered his brothers to be in readiness, one on
each flank. Presently the messenger arrived and found himself in the midst of
an army ready for battle. Xu Chu dismounted and entered the camp to speak with
Liu Bei.
"Sir,
on what business have you come?" asked Liu Bei.
"The
Prime Minister has sent me to request you to return as he has further matters
to discuss with you."
"When a general has once taken the field, even the royal command is
of no effect. I bade farewell to the Emperor, I received the Prime Minister's
commands, and there can be nothing further to talk about. You may return
forthwith and take that as my reply."
Xu Chu was undecided what
action to take. He thought, "The Prime Minister cherishes a friendship
with Liu Bei, and I have no orders to kill. I can only return with this reply
and ask further instructions."
So
Xu Chu left. When he related what had occurred, Cao Cao still hesitated to take
any action.
"This
refusal to return means enmity," said Cheng Yu and Guo Jia.
"Still, two of my people are with him," said Cao
Cao. "He will not dare do anything unfriendly, I think. Beside, I sent him
and I cannot go back on my own orders."
So
Liu Bei was not pursued.
He took his arms, he fed his steed,
And fared forth willingly,
Intent to accomplish his King's behest
Deep graven on his memory.
At least he had broken out of his cage,
He heard not the tiger's roar,
He had shaken the shackles from his feet,
As a dragon on high could soar.
As
soon as Ma Teng heard that Liu Bei had set forth, he reported that pressing
business called him and marched back to his own region, Xiliang.
When Liu Bei reached Xuzhou, the Deputy Imperial Protector, Che Zhou,
came to meet him. When the official banquet was over, Sun Qian and Mi Zhu paid
their visit to Che Zhou. Then Liu Bei proceeded to his residence to greet his
family.
Scouts were sent out to see
what Yuan Shu was doing. They came back with the intelligence: "Yuan Shu's
arrogance had driven away his generals, Lei Bo and Chen Lan, who had returned
to their mountain fastness in Mount Song. His forces thus reduced, he wrote
resigning the imperial style he had assumed in favor of his brother Yuan Shao,
who at once commanded his presence. Thereupon he packed up the Palace fittings
he had made, got the remnants of his army in order, and marched west."
When
Yuan Shu neared Xuzhou, Liu Bei led out his force of fifty thousand soldiers
and four generals---Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhu Ling, and Lu Zhao. Yuan Shu sent
out Ji Ling to force a way through.
But
Zhang Fei opposed him and attacked without a parley. In the tenth bout Zhang
Fei cut down Ji Ling.
The
defeated troops fled in all directions.
Then
Yuan Shu came up with his own army. Liu Bei placed Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao in
command of the left wing, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei the right wing, and himself in
the center, and so met Yuan Shu.
As
soon as the enemy came near, Liu Bei began to abuse him, crying, "O
rebellious one, and wicked, I have a command to destroy you! Yield, then, with
good grace and so escape your punishment!"
"Base weaver of mats and mean maker of straw sandals! How dare you
make light of me?" replied Yuan Shu, and he gave the signal for an attack.
Liu
Bei retired, and his generals from the flanks closed in. They smote the army of
Yuan Shu till corpses littered the plain and blood flowed in streams. At the
same time Yuan Shu's former generals, Lei Bo and Chen Lan from Mount Song,
attacked the baggage train and completed the destruction. Yuan Shu tried to
retreat to Shouchun, but Lei Bo and Chen Lan barred the road.
Yuan Shu sought refuge in
Jiangling, with one thousand troops left of all his army. And these were the
weakly ones, able neither to fight nor flee. It was then the height of summer,
and their food was nearly exhausted. The whole provision consisted of thirty
carts of wheat. This was made over to the soldiers, and the members of his
household went hungry. Many died of actual starvation.
Yuan
Shu could not swallow the coarse food that the soldiers lived on. One day he
bade his cook bring him some honeyed water to quench his thirst.
"There is no water, save that tainted with blood," replied the
cook.
"Where
can I get honeyed water?"
This
was the last straw. Yuan Shu sat up on his couch and rolled out on the floor
with a loud cry. Blood gushed from his mouth and thus he died.
It
was the sixth month of the fourth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity (AD 199).
The
last days of Han approached and weapons clashed in every quarter,
The misguided Yuan Shu, lost to all sense of honor,
Forgetful of his forefathers, who had filled the state's
highest offices,
Madly aspired to become himself Emperor,
Resting his outrageous claim on the possession of the Seal,
And arrogantly boasting that thus he fulfilled the design of
Heaven.
Alas! Sick unto death he vainly begged for a little honeyed
water;
He
died, alone.
Yuan
Shu being dead, his nephew, Yuan Yin, taking his coffin and his wife and
children, sought shelter in Lujiang. There the Magistrate, Xu Liu, slew all the
survivors. Among the possessions Xu Liu found the Imperial Hereditary Seal,
which he at once took to the capital and presented to Cao Cao, for which
service he was made Governor of Gaoling. Since then the Imperial Hereditary
Seal belonged to Cao Cao.
When Liu Bei heard that Yuan Shu was dead, he prepared a report to the
Throne, and sent it to Cao Cao. He sent the two generals deputed by Cao Cao,
Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao, back to the capital, keeping the army to defend Xuzhou.
He also personally went through the countryside commanding the people to resume
their ordinary avocations.
Cao
Cao was angry when his two officers returned without their man and was going to
put them to death. Xun Yu reasoned with him.
"The power was in Liu Bei's hands, and so these two had no
alternative," said Xun Yu.
So
they were pardoned.
"You should instruct Che Zhou, the Deputy Imperial Protector, to
try to destroy him," said Xun Yu.
Accordingly he sent secret
orders to Che Zhou, who took Chen Deng into his confidence and asked his
advice.
Chen
Deng said, "That is easy. Liu Bei is outside the city, and an ambush in
the city gate to attack him on his return from the country will be final. I
will attack the escort with arrows from the city walls."
Che
Zhou agreed to try this.
Then Chen Deng went to his
father to tell him. Chen Gui bade him go and warn the intended victim. Chen Deng
at once rode away to do so.
Before long he met Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, to whom he told his
story.
Now
Liu Bei was following some distance behind. As soon as Zhang Fei heard of the
plot, he wanted to attack the ambush, but Guan Yu proposed another plan.
Said he, "Attacking the ambush will be a failure, since we are
without the walls. And I think we can compass the death of Che Zhou. In the
night we will pretend to be some of Cao Cao's soldiers and entice him out to
meet us. We will slay him."
Zhang
Fei approved of the plan. Now the soldiers still had some of Cao Cao's army
banners and wore similar armor. About the third watch they came to the city
wall and hailed the gate. Those on guard asked who they were. The men replied
that they were Zhang Liao's troops sent from the capital.
This
was told Che Zhou who sent hastily for Chen Deng to ask his advice.
"If
I do not receive them, they will suspect my loyalty," said Che Zhou.
"Yet if I go out, I may be victim of a ruse."
So
he went up on the wall and said, "It is too dark to distinguish friends
from foes. You must wait till daylight."
"If
Liu Bei know our presence, he will attack," shouted back the soldiers.
And
they begged him to let them in. Still Che Zhou hesitated. They shouted louder
than ever to open the gate.
Presently Che Zhou girded on his armor, placed himself at the head of
one thousand cavalry and went out. He galloped over the bridge, shouting,
"Where is Zhang Liao?"
Then
lights blazed around, and he recognized Guan Yu with his sword drawn.
"Wretch!" cried Guan Yu. "You would plot to slay my
brother, would you?"
Che
Zhou was too frightened to make good defense, and he turned to reenter the
gate. But as he reached the drawbridge, Chen Deng shot out flights of arrows,
wherefore Che Zhou turned aside and galloped along under the wall.
But
Guan Yu came quickly in pursuit. His sword was raised aloft, and as it came
down, Che Zhou fell to the earth.
Guan Yu cut off his head and returned, shouting, "I have slain the
traitor. You others need not fear if you only surrender!"
They threw aside their
spears and gave in. As soon as the excitement had calmed, Guan Yu took the head
to show Liu Bei and told him the story of the plot.
"But
what will Cao Cao think of this?" said Liu Bei. "And he may
come."
"If he does, we can meet him," said Guan Yu.
But
Liu Bei was grieved beyond measure. When he entered the city, the elders of the
people knelt in the road to welcome him.
When
he reached his residence, he found that Zhang Fei had already exterminated the
family of Che Zhou.
Liu
Bei said, "We have slain one of Cao Cao's best officers, and how will he
stand that?"
"Never
mind!" cried Chen Deng. "I have a plan."
Just from grave danger extricated,
A looming war must be placated.
The plan proposed by Chen Deng will be disclosed next.
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Yuan Yin & Chen Lan
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Yuan Shu
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