Guan
Yu would have died there but for his elder brother, who said to Zhuge Liang,
"We three pledged ourselves to live and die together. Although my brother
Guan Yu has offended, I cannot bear to break our oath. I hope you will only
record this against him and let him atone later for the fault by some specially
meritorious service."
So
the sentence was remitted.
In
the meantime, Zhou Yu mustered his officers and called over his soldiers, noted
the special services of each, and sent full reports to his master. The soldiers
who had surrendered were all transported across the river. All this done they
spread the feast of victory.
The
next step was to attack and capture Nanjun.
The van of the army camped
on the river bank. There were five camps and the Commander-in-Chief's tent was
in the center. He summoned his officers to a council.
At
this moment Sun Qian arrived with congratulations from Liu Bei.
Zhou
Yu received him and, having saluted in proper form, Sun Qian said, "My
lord sent me on this special mission to felicitate the General on his great
virtue and offer some unworthy gifts."
"Where
is Liu Bei?" asked Zhou Yu.
"He
is now encamped at Youkou, the mouth of River You."
"Is Zhuge Liang there?" asked Zhou Yu, taken aback.
"Both
are there," said Sun Qian.
"Then return quickly, and I will come in person to thank
them."
The
presents handed over, Sun Qian was sent back forthwith to his own camp. Then Lu
Su asked Zhou Yu why he had started when he heard where Liu Bei was camped.
"Because," replied Zhou Yu, "camping at the mouth of
River You means that he has the intention of taking Nanjun. Having spent much
military energy and spared no expenditure, we thought the territory should fall
to us easily. Those others are opposed to us, and they wish to get the
advantage of what we have already accomplished. However, they must remember
that I am not dead yet."
"How
can you prevent them?" asked Lu Su.
"I
will go myself and speak with them. If all goes well, then, let it be so. In
case it does not, then I shall immediately settle up with Liu Bei without
waiting for Nanjun to be taken."
"I
should like to accompany you," said Lu Su.
The commander and his adviser started, taking with them a guard of three
thousand light horse. Having arrived at Youkou, they sought out Sun Qian, who,
in turn, went in to see Liu Bei and told him Zhou Yu had come to render thanks.
"Why
has he come?" asked Liu Bei of his Directing Instructor.
"He is not likely to come out of simple politeness. Surely he has
come in connection with Nanjun."
"But
if he brings an army, can we stand against it?" asked Liu Bei.
"When
he comes, you may reply thus and thus."
Then
they drew up the warships in the river and ranged the soldiers upon the bank.
When the arrival of Zhou Yu was formally announced, Zhao Zilong, with some
horsemen, went to welcome him. When Zhou Yu saw what bold soldiers they looked,
he began to feel uncomfortable, but he went on his way.
Being
met at the camp gates by Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, he was taken in to the chief
tent, where the ceremonies were performed and preparations for a banquet had
been made.
Presently
Liu Bei raised his cup in felicitation on the recent victory gained by his
guest. The banquet proceeded.
After a few more courses Zhou Yu said, "Of course you are camped
here with no other idea than to take Nanjun?"
Liu
Bei said, "We heard you were going to take the place and came to assist.
Should you not take it, then we will occupy it."
Zhou Yu laughed, saying, "We of the South Land have long wished for
this territory. Now that it is within our grasp, we naturally shall take
it."
Liu
Bei said, "There is always some uncertainty. Cao Cao left Cao Ren to guard
the region, and you may be certain that there is good strategy behind Cao Ren,
to say nothing of his boldness as a warrior. I fear you may not get it."
"Well, if we do not take it then, Sir, you may have
it," said Zhou Yu.
"Here
are witnesses to your words," said Liu Bei, naming Lu Su, Zhuge Liang, and
those at table. "I hope you will never repent what you have just
said."
Lu Su stammered and seemed unwilling to be cited as one of the
witnesses, but Zhou Yu said, "When the word of a noble person has gone
forth, it is ended. He never regrets."
"This speech of yours,
Sir, is very generous," interjected Zhuge Liang. "The South Land
shall try first. But if the place does not fall, there is no reason why my lord
should not capture it."
The
two visitors then took their leave and rode away.
As soon as they had left, Liu Bei turned to Zhuge Liang and said,
"O Master, you bade me thus reply to Zhou Yu. But though I did so, I have
turned it over and over in my mind without finding any reason in what I said. I
am alone and weak, without a single foot of land to call my own. I desired to
get possession of Nanjun that I might have, at least, a temporary shelter, yet
I have said that Zhou Yu may attack it first. If it falls to the South Land,
how can I get possession?"
Zhuge
Liang laughed and replied, "First I advised you to attack Jingzhou, but
you would not listen. Do you remember?"
"But
it belonged to Liu Biao, and I could not bear to attack it then. Now it belongs
to Cao Cao, I might do so."
"Do
not be anxious," replied the adviser. "Let Zhou Yu go and attack it.
Some day, my lord, I shall make you sit in the high place thereof."
"But
what design have you?"
"So and so," said Zhuge Liang, whispering.
Liu
Bei was satisfied with the reply, and only strengthened his position at Youkou.
In
the meantime Zhou Yu and Lu Su returned to their own camp, and the latter said,
"Why did you tell Liu Bei that he might attack Nanjun?"
"I can take it with a flick of my finger," replied Zhou Yu,
"but I just manifested a little pretended kindliness."
Then he inquired among his
officers for a volunteer to attack the city. Jiang Qin offered himself, and was
put in command of the vanguard, with Xu Sheng and Ding Feng as helpers. He was
given five thousand of veterans, and they moved across the river. Zhou Yu
promised to follow with supports.
On
the other side Cao Ren ordered Cao Hong to guard Yiling, and so hold one corner
of an ox-horn defense.
When the news came that the South Land's force had crossed the River
Han, Cao Ren said, "We will defend and not offer battle."
But General Niu Jin said impetuously, "To let the enemy
approach the walls and not offer battle is timidity. Our troops, lately
worsted, need heartening and must show their mettle. Let me have five hundred
of veterans, and I will fight to a finish."
Cao
Ren could not withstand this offer, and so the five hundred went out of the
city. At once Ding Feng came to challenge the leader, and they fought a few
bouts. Then Ding Feng pretended to be defeated, gave up the fight, and
retreated into his own lines. Niu Jin followed him hard.
When he had got within the
South Land's formation, at a signal from Ding Feng, the army closed round and
Niu Jin was surrounded. He pushed right and left, but could find no way out.
Seeing Niu Jin in the
toils, Cao Ren, who had watched the fight from the wall, donned his armor and
came out of the city at the head of his own bold company of horsemen and burst
in among the forces of the South Land to try to rescue his colleague.
Beating
back Xu Sheng, Cao Ren fought his way in and presently rescued Niu Jin.
However,
having got out, Cao Ren saw several score of horsemen still in the middle
unable to make their way out, whereupon he turned again to the battle and
dashed in to their rescue.
This
time he met Jiang Qin on whom Cao Ren and Niu Jin made a violent attack.
Then his brother Cao Chun
came up with supports, and the great battle ended in a defeat for the troops of
the South Land.
So Cao Ren went back
victor, while the unhappy Jiang Qin returned to report his failure. Zhou Yu was
very angry and would have put to death his hapless subordinate but for the intervention
of the other officers.
Then
Zhou Yu prepared for another attack where he himself would lead.
But Gan Ning said, "General, do not be in too great hurry. Let me
go first and attack Yiling, the supporting angle of the ox-horn formation.
After that the conquest of Nanjun will be easy."
Zhou Yu accepted the plan
and Gan Ning, with three thousand troops, went to attack Yiling.
When news of the
approaching army reached him, Cao Ren called to his side Chen Jiao, who said,
"If Yiling be lost, then Nanjun is lost too. So help must be sent
quickly."
Thereupon
Cao Chun and Niu Jin were sent by secret ways to the aid of Cao Hong.
Cao Chun sent a messenger to the city to ask that they should
cause a diversion by a sortie at the time the reinforcements should arrive.
So
when Gan Ning drew near, Cao Hong went out to meet and engage him.
So when Gan Ning drew near, Cao Hong went out to meet and engage him.
They
fought a score of rounds, but Cao Hong was overcome at last, and Gan Ning took
the city.
However,
as evening fell the reinforcements under Cao Chun and Niu Jin came up, and the
captor was surrounded in the city he had taken.
The
scouts went off immediately to tell Zhou Yu of this sudden change of affairs which
greatly alarmed him.
"Let
us hasten to his rescue," said Cheng Pu.
"Our place is of the greatest importance," said Zhou Yu,
"and I am afraid to leave it undefended lest Cao Ren should attack."
"But
Gan Ning is one of our first leaders and must be rescued," said Lu Meng.
"I
should like to go myself to his aid, but whom can I leave here in my
place?" said Zhou Yu.
"Leave
Ling Tong here," said Lu Meng. "I will push on ahead, and you can
protect my advance. In less than ten days we shall be singing the paean of victory."
"Are
you willing?" said Zhou Yu to the man who was to act for him.
Ling
Tong said, "If the ten-day period is not exceeded, I may be able to carry
on for that time. I am unequal to more than that."
Ling Tong's consent pleased Zhou Yu who started at once, leaving ten
thousand troops for the defense of the camp.
Lu Meng said to his chief,
"South of Yiling is a little-used road that may prove very useful in an
attack on Nanjun. Let us send a party to fell trees and barricade this road so
that horses cannot pass. In case of defeat, the defeated will take this road
and will be compelled to abandon their horses, which we shall capture."
Zhou
Yu approved, and the men set out.
When the main army drew
near Yiling, Zhou Yu asked who would try to break through the besiegers, and
Zhou Tai offered himself. He girded on his sword, mounted his steed, and burst
straight into the Cao Hong's army. He got through to the city wall. From
the city wall Gan Ning saw the approach of his friend Zhou Tai and went out to
welcome him.
Zhou
Tai told him the Commander-in-Chief was on the way to his relief, and Gan Ning
at once bade the defenders prepare from within to support the attack of the
rescuers.
When
the news of the approach of Zhou Yu had reached Yiling, Cao Hong, Cao Chun, and
Niu Jin had sent to tell Cao Ren, who was at Nanjun, and at the same time they
prepared to repel the assailants.
As
the army of the South Land came near, they at once attacked. Simultaneously Gan
Ning and Zhou Tai went out to attack on two sides, and the troops of Cao Hong
were thrown into confusion.
The
soldiers of the South Land fell on lustily, and the three leaders all fled by a
bye road, but, finding the way barred with felled trees and other obstacles,
they had to abandon their horses and go afoot.
In this way the troops of
the South Land gained some five hundred steeds.
Zhou
Yu, pressing on as quickly as possible toward Nanjun, came upon Cao Ren and his
army marching to save Yiling. The two armies engaged and fought a battle which
lasted till late in the evening. Then both drew off, and Cao Ren withdrew into
the city.
During
the night he called his officers to a council.
Then
said Cao Hong, "The loss of Yiling has brought us to a dangerous pass. Now
it seems the time to open the guide-letter of the Prime Minister, and see what
plans he arranged for our salvation in this peril."
"You
but say what I think," replied Cao Ren.
Whereupon
he tore open the guide-letter and read it.
His face lighted up with
joy, and he at once issued orders to have the morning meal prepared at the
fifth watch. At daylight the whole army moved out of the city through three
gates, but they left a semblance of occupation in the shape of banners on the
walls.
Zhou
Yu went up to the tower of observation and looked over the city. He saw that
the flags along the battlements had no guards behind them, and he noticed that
all troops carried bundles at their waists behind so that they were ready for a
long march.
Thought
Zhou Yu to himself, "Cao Ren must be prepared for a long march."
So
Zhou Yu went down from the tower of observation and sent out an order for two
wings of the army to be ready. One of these was to attack and, in case of its
success, the other was to pursue at full speed till the clanging of the gongs
should call them to return. He took command of the leading force in person, and
Cheng Pu commanded the other. Thus they advanced to attack the city.
The
armies being arrayed facing each other, the drums rolled out across the plain.
Cao Hong rode forth and challenged, and Zhou Yu, from his place by the
standard, bade Han Dang respond. The two champions fought near two score bouts,
and then Cao Hong fled. Thereupon Cao Ren came out to help him, and Zhou Tai
rode out at full speed to meet him. These two exchanged a half score passes and
then Cao Ren tied.
Cao
Ren's army fell into confusion. Thereupon Zhou Yu gave the signal for the
advance of both his wings, and the forces of Cao Ren were sore smitten and
defeated.
Zhou Yu pursued to the city
wall, but Cao Ren's troops did not enter the city. Instead, they went away
northwest. Han Dang and Zhou Tai pressed them hard.
Zhou
Yu, seeing the city gates standing wide open and no guards upon the walls,
ordered the raiding of the city. A few score horsemen rode in first, Zhou Yu
followed and whipping his steed. As he galloped into the enclosure around the
gate, Chen Jiao stood on the defense tower. When he saw Zhou Yu enter, in his
heart he applauded the god-like perspicacity of the Prime Minister Cao Cao.
Then was heard the clap-clap of a watchman's rattle. At this signal the
archers and crossbowmen let fly, and the arrows and bolts flew forth in a
sudden fierce shower, while those who had won their way to the van of the inrush
went headlong into a deep trench.
Zhou
Yu managed to pull up in time, but turning to escape, he was wounded in the left
side and fell to the ground.
Niu Jin rushed out from the
city to capture the chief, but Xu Sheng and Ding Feng at the risk of their
lives got him away safe.
Then
the troops of Cao Ren dashed out of the city and wrought confusion among the
troops of the South Land, who trampled each other down and many more fell into
the trenches.
Cheng
Pu tried to draw off, but Cao Ren and Cao Hong came toward him from different
directions, and the battle went hardly against the soldiers of Zhou Yu, till
help came from Ling Tong, who bore back their assailants. Satisfied with their
success, Cao Ren led his forces into the city, while the losers marched back to
their own camp.
Zhou Yu, sorely wounded, was taken to his own tent and the army
physician called in. With iron forceps, he extracted the sharp bolt and dressed
the wound with a lotion designed to counteract the poison of the metal. But the
pain was intense, and the patient rejected all nourishment.
The physician said,
"The missile had been poisoned, and the wound will require a long time to
heal. You, General, must be kept quiet and especially free from any irritation,
which will cause the wound to reopen."
Thereupon
Cheng Pu gave orders that each division was to remain in camp. Three days
later, Niu Jin came within sight and challenged the men of the South Land to
battle, but they did not stir. The enemy hurled at them taunts and insults till
the sun had fallen low in the sky, but it was of no avail and Niu Jin withdrew.
Next
day Niu Jin returned and repeated his insulting abuse. Cheng Pu dared not tell
the wounded general. The third day, waxing bolder, the enemy came to the very
gates of the stockade, the leader shouting that he had come for the purpose of
capturing Zhou Yu.
Then Cheng Pu called together
his officers, and they discussed the feasibility of retirement into the South
Land that they might seek the opinion of Sun Quan.
Ill as he was, Zhou Yu
still retained control of the expedition. He knew that the enemy came daily to
the gates of his camp and reviled him, although none of his officers told him.
One day Cao Ren came in
person, and there was much rolling of drums and shouting. Cheng Pu, however,
steadily refused to accept the challenge and would not let anyone go out.
Then
Zhou Yu summoned the officers to his bedside and said, "What mean the
drums and the shouting?"
"The
soldiers are drilling," was the reply.
"Why
do you deceive me?" said Zhou Yu angrily. "Do I not know that our
enemies come day by day to our gates and insult us? Yet Cheng Pu suffers this
in silence and makes no use of his powers and authority."
He sent for Cheng Pu and, when he arrived, asked him why he acted thus.
"Because
you are ill, and the physician said you were on no account to be provoked to
anger. Wherefore, although the enemy challenged us to battle, I kept it from
you."
"And
if you do not fight, what think you should be done?" said Zhou Yu.
And they all said they desired to return to the South Land till he had
recovered from his wound, when they would make another expedition.
Zhou Yu lay and listened.
Suddenly he sprang up, crying, "The noble person who has eaten of his
lord's bounty should die in his lord's battles. To return home dead and wrapped
in a horse's hide is a happy fate. Am I the sort of people to bring to nought
the grand designs of my lord?"
So
speaking he proceeded to gird on his armor, and he mounted his horse. The
wonder of the officers only redoubled when their General placed himself at the
head of some hundreds of horsemen and went out of the camp gates toward the
enemy, then fully arrayed.
Cao
Ren, their general, stood beneath the great standard.
At
sight of the opponents, Cao Ren flourished his whip and began to hurl abuse at
them, "Zhou Yu, you babe! I think your fate has met you. You dare not face
my army!"
The
stream of insult never ceased.
Presently Zhou Yu could stand it no longer. Riding out to the front he
cried, "Here I am, base churl. Look at me!"
The whole Cao Ren's army
were taken aback. But Cao Ren turned to those about him and said, "Let us
all revile him!"
And
the whole army yelled insults.
Zhou Yu grew angry and sent Pan Zhang out to fight. But before he had
delivered his first blow, Zhou Yu suddenly uttered a loud cry, and he fell to
the ground with blood gushing from his mouth.
At this Cao Ren's army
rushed to the battle, and the army of the South Land pressed forward to meet them.
A fierce struggle waged around Zhou Yu's body, but he was borne off safely and
taken to his tent.
"Do
you feel better?" asked Cheng Pu anxiously.
"It
was a ruse of mine," whispered Zhou Yu in reply.
"But
what avails it?"
"I am not suffering, but I did that to make our enemies think I was
very ill and so oppose them by deceit. I will send a few trusty men to pretend
desertion and tell them I am dead. That will cause them to try a night raid on
the camp, and we shall have an ambush ready for them. We shall get Cao Ren
easily."
"The
plan seems excellent," said Cheng Pu.
Soon from the tent there arose the sound of wailing as for the dead. The
soldiers around took up the cry and said one to another, "The General is
dead of his wound!" and they all put on the symbols of mourning.
Meanwhile
Cao Ren was consulting with his officers.
Said
he, "Zhou Yu lost his temper, and that has caused his wound to reopen and
brought on that flow of blood. You saw him fall to the ground, and he will
assuredly die soon."
Just then there came in one who said that a few men had come over from
the enemy asking to be allowed to join the army of Cao Ren. Among them were two
of Cao Cao's men who had been made prisoners. Cao Ren sent for the deserters
and questioned them.
They
told him, saying, "Zhou Yu's wound reopened at his anger, and he died in
the camp that day. The leaders are all clothing in white and in mourning. We
desert because we have been put to shame by the second in command."
Pleased
at this news, Cao Ren at once began to arrange to make a night attack on the
camp and, if possible, get the head of the dead general to send to the capital.
"Success depends upon promptitude, so act without delay," said
Chen Jiao.
Niu Jin was told off as Van
Leader, Cao Ren himself led the center, while the rear was commanded by Cao
Hong and Cao Chun. Chen Jiao and a small force were left to guard Nanjun.
At
the first watch they left the city and took the way toward Zhou Yu's camp. When
they drew near, not a soldier was visible in the camp, but flags and banners
and spears were all there, evidently to keep up an appearance of preparation.
Feeling
at once that they had been tricked, they turned to retreat.
But a bomb exploded, and this was the signal for an attack on all four
sides. Han Dang and Jiang Qin pressed in from the east; Zhou Tai and Pan Zhang,
from the west; Chen Wu and Lu Meng, from the north; and Xu Sheng and Ding Feng,
from the south.
The
result was a severe defeat for the raiders, and the army of Cao Ren was
entirely broken and scattered abroad so that no one part of the beaten army
could aid the other.
Cao Ren, with a few horsemen got out of the press and presently met Cao
Hong. The two leaders ran away together, and by the fifth watch they had got
near Nanjun.
Then they heard a beating
of drums, and Ling Tong appeared barring the way. There was a small skirmish,
and Cao Ren went off at an angle.
But he fell in with Gan
Ning, who attacked him vigorously. Cao Ren dared not go back to Nanjun, but he
made for Xiangyang along the main road. The forces of the South Land pursued
him for a time and then desisted.
Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu then
made their way to Nanjun where they were startled to see flags on the walls and
every sign of occupation.
Before they had recovered
from their surprise, there appeared one who cried, "Pardon, General! I had
orders from the Directing Instructor to take this city. I am Zhao Zilong of
Changshan."
Zhou
Yu was fiercely angry and gave orders to assault the city, but the defenders
sent down flights and flights of arrows, and his troops could not stay near the
rampart.
So
he withdrew and took counsel. In the meantime he decided to send Gan Ning with
a force of several thousand to capture Jingzhou City, and Ling Tong with
another army to take Xiangyang. Nanjun could be taken later.
But even as these orders
were being given, the scouts came in hurriedly to report, saying, "After
Nanjun fell, Zhuge Liang, suddenly forging a military commission, induced the
guards of Jingzhou City to leave it and go to the rescue of Cao Ren. Whereupon
Zhang Fei occupied the capital."
Soon after another
messenger came, saying, "Xiahou Dun, at Xiangyang, received from Zhuge
Liang dispatches, supported by a commission in due form, saying that Cao Ren
was in danger and needed help, whereupon Xiahou Dun marched off, and Guan Yu seized
that city."
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 this military commission with which he has imposed on the
generals?" asked Zhou Yu.
Cheng
Pu replied, "He seized that of Chen Jiao and so has got all this region
into his power."
Zhou Yu uttered a great cry, for at that moment his wound had suddenly
burst open.
A city falls, but not to us the gain;
The guerdon is another's; ours the pain.
The
next chapter will say what befell Zhou Yu.
|
Jin
Xuan & Gong Zhi
|
|
Liu Bei & Cao Cao & Sun
Quan
|
|
Cao Ren & Chen Jiao |