The Three Kingdoms: The Sacred Oath

by Luo Guanzhong

  At the end of the last chapter the two rebel leaders proposed to murder the Emperor, but the other two objected.

  “No, the people won’t approve of his death now,” they said. “It’s better to let him stay in power and we can use him as a bait to induce the lords to come. Remove his supporters first, then plan his destruction. Then the land will be ours.”

  Li Jue and Guo Si agreed, so they ceased the attack.

  The Emperor again spoke from the tower: “You have slain Wang Yun. Why do you still remain here?”

  The rebel leaders replied, “Your servants desire promotions in rank as a reward for their good service to the imperial house.”

  “And what ranks do you want?” asked the Emperor.

  All four wrote down their wishes and passed them to the Emperor, who had no choice but to accede to their requests. So they were created generals and lords, and were given enormous power in court administration. Even the two traitors that opened the city gate for the rebels were gratified with promotions. Only then did they withdraw their troops outside the capital.

  Next, they spent time finding their late master’s corpse for burial, but all they could find were a few fragments of skin and bones. So they had his image engraved in fragrant wood. Somehow they managed to lay this out in state and put in place a huge memorial service, with sacrifices and prayers. The body was dressed in robes fit for a prince and laid in a royal coffin. They selected an auspicious day to convey the coffin to Meiwu, where his tomb would stand.

  But on the day when Dong Zhuo was to be entombed, a terrific thunderstorm broke out and the ground was heavily flooded. The coffin was riven asunder by thunder and his remains thrown out. They waited for the weather to change for the better so they could bury him a second time, but another thunderstorm disrupted their plan again. Altogether they tried three times to bury him, but three times their plan was thwarted and what was left of his remains was consumed by lightning. Heaven showed its full wrath with the arch villain.

  Back in the capital, the real power fell to Li Jue and Guo Si, who cruelly oppressed the common folk. They also placed their own trusted followers in the company of the Emperor to keep a close watch over his every movement, so that he was hampered in whatever he did. The court officials, too, were controlled by these two rebels, who decided who was promoted or demoted. To gain popularity among the people, they especially summoned Zhu Jun to court, making him an important official in the administration of the government.

  One day came a report that Ma Teng, Prefect of Xiliang, and Han Sui, Prefect of Bingzhou, with a large armed force, were rapidly approaching the capital with the intention of attacking the rebels.

  Now these two generals from the west had laid careful plans. They had sent agents to the capital earlier and had found support in three officials who were to be their local allies in their scheme to destroy the rebels. These three had obtained from the Emperor two secret edicts conferring the rank of general to both of them. Ma Teng was given the title of Conqueror of the West and Han Sui, Warden of the West. With these powers the two joined forces and marched toward the capital.

  Hearing of their imminent arrival the four rebel leaders called a general council to discuss how to deal with the situation. The advisor Jia Xu said: “Since the attackers are coming from a long distance, our best tactics is to fortify ourselves and wait till shortage of food works in our favor. In a hundred days their supplies will be consumed and they will have to withdraw. Then we can pursue and capture them.”

  But this scheme was rejected by two officers called Li Meng and Wang Fang. They said, “This plan is no good. Give us 10,000 men and we will put an end to both of them and offer their heads to you.”

  “If you fight today you will surely be defeated,” said the advisor.

  The two officers cried with one voice: “If we fail we are willing to be executed, but if we win you will pay by forfeiting your life.”

  The advisor then said to his two masters: “Two hundred li west of the capital stands a high hill where the passes are narrow and difficult. Send Generals Zhang Ji and Fan Chou to occupy this vantage point and fortify themselves so that they may support Li Meng and Wang Fang when they go out to fight.”

  This advice was adopted and Li Meng and Wang Fang left happily with 1,500 horse and foot soldiers. They set up their camp some two hundred and eighty li from the capital. When the army from the west arrived they led out their men to the attack. Their opponents spread out in battle array and the two leaders, Ma Teng and Han Sui, rode to the front side by side. Pointing to Li Meng and Wang Fang, they abused them, calling them traitors. Then, turning to their own men, they asked, “Who will capture them?”

  Hardly were the words spoken when there flew out a youth with a clear, white complexion, shining bright eyes, a lithe body, and strong limbs. He was armed with a long spear and riding an excellent steed. This young warrior was called Ma Chao (or Ma Meng-qi), son of Ma Teng, then only seventeen years of age but already renowned for his valor and skill in fighting.

  Wang Fang, despising him on account of his youth, galloped forth to fight him. Before they had exchanged many passes Wang Fang fell to a thrust of the young man’s spear. The victor turned to join his own army but Li Meng rode after him to avenge his fallen friend. The young man pretended not to notice his pursuit but his father called out from his position under the banner, “You are followed!” No sooner had he spoken than he saw that his son had taken the pursuer prisoner.

  Now Ma Chao had known he was being followed and he had deliberately slowed down, waiting for his enemy to come near. When the pursuer raised his spear to strike, Ma Chao suddenly dodged to one side and the spear was thrust into empty air. As the two horses were very close against each other at that moment, Ma Chao shot out his powerful, long arm and pulled his enemy down from his saddle. Thus the rebels were left without a leader and they fled in all directions. Then the army loyal to the Emperor dashed in pursuit to win a complete victory. They pressed on as far as the pass, where they encamped. Li Meng was decapitated and his head displayed.

  When Li Jue and Guo Si learned that both the boastful officers had fallen under the hand of one young man, they realized that Jia Xu was gifted with foresight and that his advice was good. So they followed his scheme and acted on the defensive, refusing all challenges to combat.

  Just as Jia Xu had predicted, after a few months the supplies of the loyalists were all exhausted and the two generals began to consider retreat.

  At this juncture a household servant of one of their allies in the capital betrayed his master and disclosed the secret alliance between the three officials and the generals. In a rage, the two rebel leaders seized them, together with every member of their household, and beheaded them in the market place. The heads of the three were exposed by the city gate.

  Pressed with the shortage of food and the loss of their allies, Ma Teng and Han Sui had no way out but to break camp and withdraw. Then at once the two rebels waiting on the high hill were ordered to give chase. One of them, Zhang Ji, went in pursuit of Ma Teng and the other, 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.

  By that time Fan Chou had come close to his opponents. Seeing this, Han Sui halted and addressed his pursuer: “You and I, sir, are from the same place. Why then 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?”

  At this Fan Chou turned his horse, called in his men, and let Han Sui pass. But little did he know that a nephew of Li Jue’s had been a witness of this scene and when he saw the enemy allowed to go free he went back to tell his uncle about it. Li Jue was furious and he would have wreaked vengeance on his former ally if Jia Xu had not checked him. The advisor said that it was dangerous to provoke another war at such an unstable time. He proposed inviting the defaulting officer to a b
anquet and, while the feast was in progress, executing him for his neglect of duty. Li Jue was very pleased with the idea and so the banquet was prepared and the two unwitting officers came cheerfully.

  In the middle of the feast, however, Li Jue suddenly changed his countenance and asked Fan Chou angrily, “Why have you been collaborating with Han Sui? You are turning traitor, eh?”

  The poor guest was greatly taken aback and before he could begin to reply assassins rushed out with swords and axes. In a moment it was all over and his head lay beneath the table.

  Scared beyond measure, his fellow guest threw himself to the ground.

  “I killed him because he was a traitor,” said Li Jue, helping him to his feet. “But you are my most trusted friend and there is no need to fear.”

  Zhang Ji was then given command of the murdered man’s troops and returned to his own position in Hongnong.

  After the loyalist army from the west was defeated, none of the lords dared attempt a further attack on the newly-established dictators. On the other hand, the advisor Jia Xu never ceased urging his masters to pacify the people and associate with the wise and the valiant. So the government began to show signs of prosperity.

  However, a new trouble arose in Qingzhou in the shape of a resurgence of Yellow Turbans. They came in large numbers and plundered wherever they went. Zhu Jun recommended Cao Cao to destroy them, saying that he was the only person who could be entrusted with the task.

  “Where is he?” asked Li Jue.

  “He is Prefect of Dongjun. He has a large army under his command. If you employ him in this service, the uprising will be put down.”

  So a decree was prepared in haste and dispatched to Dongjun, commanding Cao Cao to act together with Bao Xin of Jibei in quelling the Yellow Turbans. As soon as he received the court order Cao Cao arranged with Bao Xin to attack the rebels at Shouyang. But Bao Xin made a dash right into their midst and fell victim to his opponents.

  Cao Cao was more successful and he chased his enemy as far as Jibei. Many of them surrendered. Then he placed these in the van to induce more of his opponents to yield. This tactic worked very well for him—wherever his army went, the rebels surrendered and joined his force. Within three months or so he had won over more than 300,000 rebel soldiers as well as a million ordinary folk. Of these, the strongest and boldest were organized into a special force called “Soldiers of Qingzhou,” while the rest were sent home to their fields. Consequently, Cao Cao’s prestige rose from day to day. He reported this success to the capital and as a reward, he was conferred the title of General–Warden of the East.

  At his headquarters in Yanzhou, Cao Cao welcomed wise counselors and bold warriors, and many gathered around him. Two Yingzhou men, uncle and nephew, named Xun Yu and Xun You, came to offer their service. After talking with the elder Xun, Cao Cao was so pleased that he called the latter his chief advisor. The nephew was famed throughout the country for his intelligence and ability. He used to be a court official but had abandoned that career and retired to his village.

  The elder Xun said to his new master, “There is a certain wise man in this region but I don’t know where he is now.”

  “Who is he?” asked Cao Cao.

  “Cheng Yu. He is a native of Dongjun.”

  “Yes, I have also heard of him,” said Cao Cao. After some inquiries it was found that Cheng Yu was away in the hills, engaged in study. However, he came at Cao Cao’s invitation.

  “I am unworthy of your recommendation for I am ignorant and ill-informed,” he said to Xun Yu. “But I know of a native of yours, named Guo Jia. He is a real scholar. Why not ask him to come here?”

  “How careless of me!” Xun Yu suddenly remembered. So he told his master of this man, who was at once invited to offer his views about state affairs. In his turn, Guo Jia spoke highly of one Liu Ye, and when he arrived he introduced two further scholars, Man Chong and Lu Qian, who were already known to Cao Cao by their good reputation. These two brought to their new master’s notice the name of Mao Jie, who also came at Cao Cao’s call. All of them were duly given office.

  Then a famous warrior with several hundred soldiers under his command arrived to offer his service. This man was called Yue Jin, an expert horseman and archer, and skilled in every form of military arts. He was made an army inspector.

  On another day Xiahou Dun brought a big fellow to present to Cao Cao.

  “Who is this man?”

  “He is Dian Wei from Chenliu, an extremely brave and strong warrior. He was one of Zhang Miao’s men, but quarreled with his tent companions and killed a lot 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 now I recommend him to you.”

  “I see he is no ordinary man,” said Cao Cao. “He is so big and tall. He must be 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 none dared to come near. The weapon he uses now is a pair of iron spears weighing over a hundred pounds, and he vaults into his saddle with these under his arm.”

  Cao Cao told Dian Wei to give proof of his skill, so he galloped to and fro, whirling his heavy spears. Then he saw away among the tents a huge banner swaying dangerously in the strong wind and on the point of falling. A crowd of soldiers were vainly struggling to keep it steady. Down he leaped from his horse, shouted to the men to clear out and, with one hand, he held the staff perfectly upright in spite of the ferocious wind.

  Cao Cao was much impressed and gave the warrior a post in his army. Besides, he also gave him his own fine robe and a swift steed with a handsome saddle as presents.

  Thus Cao Cao encouraged able men to assist him. With wise advisors on the civil side and valiant officers in the army, his powerful reputation began to spread throughout Shandong.

  Cao Cao’s father, Cao Song, was then living in seclusion with his family at Longye, where he had escaped after the earlier trouble caused by his son’s attempt to slay Dong Zhuo. As he became quite successful, Cao Cao sent the Prefect of Taishan to escort his father to Yanzhou. The old man read his son’s letter with joy and the family prepared to move. They were forty in all, with a train of about a hundred servants and numerous carts.

  On their way they passed through the city of Xuzhou, where the prefect, named Tao Qian, was a sincere and upright man who had long wished to get acquainted with Cao Cao but so far had found no means of effecting such a bond. When he heard that Cao Cao’s father and his family were passing through his district he went to welcome them, treated them with great cordiality, and entertained them with feasts for two days; when they finally left he accompanied them as far as the city gate. To make sure that they would arrive safely at their destination he even sent an officer of his, named Zhang Kai, and five hundred soldiers to escort them all the way to Yanzhou.

  It was the end of summer, just turning to fall, and rain was frequent. That day they reached a small place where they were stopped by a tremendous storm of rain. The only shelter was an old temple, to which they went. The family occupied the main hall and the escort the two side wings. The soldiers were drenched, angry, and discontented. Zhang Kai called his followers together and said, “We used to belong to the Yellow Turbans and only submitted to Tao Qian because there was no way out. But we have never got any benefit in his service. Now here is the Cao family with no end of gear and we can be rich very easily. Let us make a sudden onslaught at the third watch tonight and slay the whole lot. Then we will take the money and get away to the mountains. What do you say to this?” And they all agreed.

  That night the wind continued to roar and the rain pelted down furiously. Cao Song was sitting in his room when he suddenly heard a hubbub outside. His brother Cao De, drawing his sword, went out to find out what was the matter and was at once cut down. Cao Song took one of the concubines by the hand and rushed with her through the passage toward the back
of the temple so that they might escape through the wall. But the lady was stout and could not climb over it, so the two hid themselves in an outhouse. However, they were found and slain.

  The Prefect of Taishan managed to get away and he fled for his life to Yuan Shao’s place. The murderers, after slaying the whole Cao family and setting fire to the old temple, made away with their plunder into Huainan.

  Cao Cao, whom the ages praise,

  Slew the Lus in former days.

  Nemesis ne’er turns aside,

  Murdered, too, his family died.

  Some of the escort escaped and took the evil tidings to Cao Cao. When he heard the news he fell to the ground with a great cry. His attendants hurriedly helped him up. With set teeth he muttered, “Tao Qian has allowed his men to slay my father. Never can I share the same sky with him. I will sweep Xuzhou off the face of the earth. Only thus can I satisfy my vengeance.”

  Leaving one small army to guard three counties in the region, he set forth with the remainder on an expedition to destroy Xuzhou and avenge his father. The three most powerful warriors, Xiahou Dun, Yue Jin, and Dian Wei were placed in the van and orders were given to tell soldiers to kill every one of its inhabitant when the city was seized.

  Now the Prefect of Jiujiang was a close friend of Tao Qian’s. When he learned that Xuzhou was threatened he set out with 5,000 soldiers to his friend’s aid. Cao Cao immediately sent Xiahou Dun to destroy him before he got to the city. At this time Chen Gong, the former magistrate who had saved Cao Cao’s life, was in Dongjun, and he was also on friendly terms with Tao Qian. Hearing of Cao Cao’s design to wipe out the whole population, he came in haste to see his former companion. Knowing the purpose of his visit Cao Cao would have put him off but, as he could not forget the kindness he had once received from him, he had to invite him in.

  Chen Gong said, “I was told that you are going to avenge your worthy father’s death on the city of Xuzhou and its people. I have come specially to put in a word. Tao Qian is kind and honest, not a man who cares only for his own advantages and forgets morals before profits. Your worthy father died at the hands of Zhang Kai, not Tao Qian. The prefect is innocent. And still more innocent are the people of that city—to slay them would be an evil. Please think over this.”