The Three Kingdoms: The Sacred Oath

by Luo Guanzhong

  Cao Cao recognized the truth of his words and conferred upon him another post. He then pacified the tribesmen, collected a large number of horses from them, and at once set out on the homeward march.

  The season was winter, cold and dry. For two hundred li there was no water and grain was also scanty. The troops could only feed on horse flesh. They had to dig very deep to find water.

  When Cao Cao reached Yizhou he rewarded those who had tried to dissuade him from undertaking the expedition. He said, “I took some risk in going so far and by good fortune I have succeeded. But I owe the victory to the help of Heaven and it should not be viewed as the right course of action. Your counsels were for safety and therefore I reward you to show my appreciation of your advice so that you will not fear to speak your mind in future.”

  The advisor Guo Jia did not live to see the return of his lord. His coffin was placed on the bier in a hall of the government offices and Cao Cao went there to mourn over his loyal advisor. He wept.

  “Alas! Heaven has smitten me! Feng-xiao* is no more.”

  Turning to his men, he said, “You gentlemen are of the same age as myself but he was the youngest. I intended to entrust my future plans to him. What a misfortune it is that he should be snatched from me in the prime of his life. How my heart is torn with grief!”

  The servant of the late advisor presented his last letter written on his deathbed and delivered his last words, “If the prime minister follows the advice given in it then Liaodong will be secure.”

  Cao Cao opened the envelop and read the letter, nodding in agreement and uttering deep sighs. But the others did not know what was written.

  Shortly after, Xiahou Dun came up to speak for a group of officers. “For a long time Gongsun Kang, Prefect of Liaodong, has been disobedient and now the Yuan brothers have fled to his protection. Would it not be well to attack before they move against you?”

  “I need not trouble you, gentlemen,” said Cao Cao smiling. “Wait a few days and you will see the heads of our two enemies sent to me.”

  They did not believe him.

  As has been related, the two Yuan brothers had escaped to the east with a few thousand followers. When the prefect of Liaodong heard that the Yuans were on their way to his territory he called a council to decide what to do. At the council one of his advisors said, “When Yuan Shao was alive he often harbored the plan to annex our district. Now his sons, homeless, with a broken army and no officers, are coming here. It seems to me like the trick of the turtledove stealing the magpie’s nest. If we offer them shelter they will assuredly intrigue against us. I advise you to lure them into the city and then put them to death. Then send their heads to Cao Cao, who will be most grateful to us.”

  “But I fear Cao Cao will come down to attack us,” said the prefect. “If so, it would be better to have the help of the Yuans against him.”

  “Then you can send spies out to ascertain whether his army is preparing to attack us,” said the advisor. “If it is, then spare their lives; if not, then follow my advice.”

  It was decided to wait till the spies came back. In the meantime, the two Yuan brothers had also been discussing their next move as they approached Liaodong. They said to each other, “Liaodong has a large army strong enough to oppose Cao Cao. We will go there and submit ourselves temporarily. Later, we will slay the prefect and take possession. Then when we have mustered enough strength, we will attack and recover our own land.”

  With these intentions they went into the city. They were received and accommodated in the guesthouse, but when they wished to see the prefect he put them off with an excuse of indisposition. However, before many days the spies returned with the news that Cao Cao’s army was camped in Yizhou and there was no hint of any attack against Liaodong.

  Then the prefect called the Yuans into his presence—but before they came, he hid swordsmen and axmen behind the arras in the hall. When the visitors had arrived and made their salutations, he told them to be seated.

  Now it was bitterly cold and on the couch where Yuan Shang was sitting there were no coverings. So he asked for a cushion. The host said sullenly, “When your heads take that long, long journey, will there be any cushion?”

  Before Yuan Shang could recover from the shock, the prefect shouted to the hidden assassins, “Why don’t you begin?”

  At this, out rushed the assassins and the heads of the two brothers were cut off, even as they sat. Then they were placed in wooden boxes and sent to Cao Cao at Yizhou.

  All this time Cao Cao had been calmly waiting and when his impatient officers petitioned again that he should return to the capital if he intended no attack on the east, he told them what he was waiting for. He would go as soon as the heads arrived.

  In their hearts they doubted and secretly laughed at him. But then, surely enough, a messenger came from Liaodong bringing the heads. Then they were greatly surprised and when the messenger presented the prefect’s letter, Cao Cao cried, “Just as Feng-xiao had predicted!”

  He amply rewarded the messenger and the prefect of Liaodong was created a nobleman and general. The officers asked him what his remark about Guo Jia meant and he told them what the late advisor had predicted. He read to them the last letter of the deceased advisor:

  “Yuan Shang and his brother are going to Liaodong. You are on no account to attack Gongsun Kang, for he has long lived in fear lest the Yuans should annex his region. When the brothers arrive he will hesitate. If you attack, he will keep them to help him—if you wait, they will work against each other. This is evident.”

  The officers all jumped with admiration when they saw how perfectly events had been foreseen.

  Then Cao Cao at the head of all his men performed a grand sacrifice before the coffin of the wise Guo Jia. He had died at the age of thirty-eight, after eleven years of meritorious and wonderful service in the wars.

  When Heaven permitted Guo Jia’s birth,

  It made him ablest man on earth.

  He knew by rote all histories,

  From him war kept no mysteries.

  Like Fan Li, his plans were quite decisive,

  As Chen Ping, his strokes were most incisive.

  Too soon he ran his earthly race,

  Too soon the great beam fell from place.

  When Cao Cao returned to Jizhou, he sent people to escort the coffin of his late advisor to the capital, where it was interred.

  Then several of his officers said that as the north had been overcome it was time to settle the area south of the Yangtze. Cao Cao was pleased and said that it had long occupied his thoughts.

  That night he went to stay in the east corner tower, where he leaned over the railing and studied the sky. His only companion was Xun You. Cao Cao said, “That is a very brilliant glow there in the south. It seems too strong for me to do anything there.”

  “Who can oppose your heaven-sent prestige?” said Xun You.

  Suddenly a beam of golden light shot up out of the earth. “Surely a treasure is buried there,” remarked Xun You.

  They went down from the tower and ordered some men to dig at the point where the light had dazzled.

  The southern skies with portents glow,

  The northern lands their treasures show.

  What treasure would be found will be told in the next chapter.

  Footnotes

  * In modern Liaoning Province in northeast China.

  † An ancient nomadic tribe in northeast China.

  * Familiar name of Guo Jia, used here by Cao Cao to show his affection for the dead advisor.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Lady Cai Overhears a Secret

  Liu Bei Leaps Over a Stream

  As it happens the diggers unearthed a bronze bird at the point where the golden light had shot up. Turning to his companion, Cao Cao asked, “What is the portent?”

  “You must remember that Emperor Shun’s mother dreamed of a jade bird before his birth, so certainly it is a felicitous omen,” replied Xun You. />
  Cao Cao was very pleased and he at once ordered the building of a lofty tower to celebrate the find. So they began to dig foundations and cut timber, to burn tiles and smooth bricks for the Bronze Bird Tower on the banks of the Zhang River. Cao Cao set a year for the building.

  His youngest son, Cao Zhi, said to him, “If you build a terraced tower, father, you should add two others, one on each side. The center tower will be the tallest and should be named The Bronze Bird Tower—the side ones can be named Jade Dragon and Golden Phoenix. Then connect these by flying bridges and the effect will be superb.”

  “You’re quite right, my boy. By and by when the towers are complete I can solace my old age there.”

  Cao Cao had five sons but this one was the most clever and his essays were particularly elegant. His father was very fond of him and seeing that the young man took an interest in the building, Cao Cao left him with his eldest brother, Cao Pi, at Jizhou to superintend the work. Meanwhile, Cao Cao led the army, which was greatly strengthened by the addition of Yuan Shao’s men and amounted to about half a million men, back to the capital. When he arrived there he distributed rewards liberally and presented a memorial to the Emperor, obtaining the title of “Lord of Purity” for the late advisor Guo Jia. And he took his son to be brought up in his own house.

  Next he began to consider an expedition southward to destroy Liu Biao. His advisor Xun Yu objected: “The army has only just returned from the north and needs a good rest. Wait six months so that the men may recover from the fatigue of their last campaign and then both Liu Biao and Sun Quan will fall at one battle.” Cao Cao approved of this and he distributed pieces of land to his various troops so that they could work the land while they rested.

  Away in Jingzhou, Liu Biao had been very generous to Liu Bei ever since he had arrived, a fugitive seeking shelter. One day while they were drinking together, there came the news that two officers who had recently surrendered to him had suddenly begun plundering the people in Jiangxia and fomenting rebellion.

  Liu Biao was greatly alarmed. “This rebellion will cause a lot of trouble,” he said.

  “Don’t let that upset you. Let me go and deal with them,” said Liu Bei.

  Pleased with this offer, Liu Biao gave him 30,000 men to command and the army marched as soon as the orders were issued. In a short time it reached the scene and the two malcontents came out to fight. Liu Bei, his two brothers, and Zhao Yun took their stand beneath the great banner and looked over at the enemy. They saw that one of the rebels was riding a handsome prancing steed and Liu Bei said, “That must be a one thousand li a day horse.”

  As he spoke Zhao Yun galloped out with his spear set and dashed toward the enemy. Zhang Wu, rider of the fine horse, came out to meet him but the combat was very brief, for he was soon killed. Then Zhao Yun laid his hand upon the bridle of the fallen man’s horse to lead it back. The other rebel leader at once rode out to retrieve the horse, but Zhang Fei uttered a loud shout and dashed out with his spear ready to strike. With one thrust he slew the rebel. Their followers now scattered and Liu Bei speedily restored order and returned.

  Liu Biao, grateful for this service, went out of the city to welcome the victors back. A grand banquet was held at which they emptied great goblets of wine in celebration of the victory. In the middle of the banquet, Liu Biao said to Liu Bei, “Brother, with such heroism as you have shown, Jingzhou has someone to rely upon. But I’m still worried by the constant assaults from South Yue. Zhang Lu and Sun Quan also pose threats.”

  “I have three officers,” said Liu Bei, “equal to any task you may set them. You can send Zhang Fei to patrol the country of South Yue, Guan Yu to guard the city of Guzi against Zhang Lu, and Zhao Yun to hold the three rivers against Sun Quan. That will relieve you of any worries.”

  The plan appealed strongly to the prefect but his brother-in-law, Cai Mao, did not approve. He went to see his sister and told her that it would be dangerous for Liu Bei to stay in Jingzhou while his three officers were to be sent to hold different positions.

  Influenced by her brother, Lady Cai said to her husband that night, “They say that many Jingzhou men are on very good terms with Liu Bei. You ought to take precautions. I don’t think you should let him stay in the city. Why not send him to some other place?”

  “Xuan-de is a good man,” replied Liu Biao.

  “I’m afraid other people may not be as open-minded as you are,” said the lady.

  Liu Biao fell into thinking but said nothing.

  The next day he went out of the city with Liu Bei and noticed that he was riding an exceptionally fine horse. When he learned that it was a prize taken from the recently suppressed rebels, and as he praised it very warmly, Liu Bei gave the horse to him as a gift. The prefect was delighted and rode it back to the city. His advisor Kuai Yue saw it and asked his master where he had got it. The prefect told him.

  “My brother knows horses very well and I am not a bad judge,” said Kuai Yue. “This horse has tear tracks under its eyes and a white blaze on its forehead. It belongs to the breed of Dilu and is a danger to its master. The rebel leader rode the horse and for that he was killed. I advise you not to ride it.”

  The prefect was persuaded and he invited Liu Bei to a banquet the following day. In the course of it he said, “You kindly presented me the horse yesterday and I’m most grateful but then I remembered you probably would need it more with your frequent expeditions. So I think I should return it to you.”

  Liu Bei rose and thanked him. The prefect continued, “You’ve been here for a long time and I fear I’m spoiling your career as a warrior. Now the town of Xinye in Xiangyang is quite a prosperous place. How do you feel about going there with your own troops?”

  Liu Bei naturally accepted the offer as a command. After taking leave of the prefect, he set out the next day for his new post. Outside the gate of Jingzhou, however, a man came up to salute to him and said, “You should not ride that horse.”

  The speaker turned to be one of the prefect’s secretaries named Yi Ji. Liu Bei hastily dismounted and asked him why. Yi Ji replied, “Yesterday I heard Kuai Yue telling the prefect that this horse was a Dilu and that it would bring disaster to its master. That was why it was returned to you. How can you ride it again?”

  “Thank you very much for your kindness,” replied Liu Bei, “but I think a man’s life is governed by fate. How can any horse interfere with that?”

  Yi Ji was quite impressed by this superior view, so from then on he kept contact with Liu Bei.

  The arrival of Liu Bei in Xinye was a matter of rejoicing to all its inhabitants and the whole administration was reformed.

  In the spring of the twelfth year of the reign Jian An (A.D. 207), Lady Gan gave birth to a son, who was named Liu Shan. The night he was born a white crane settled on the roof of the house, screeched some forty times, and then flew away westward.* At the time of his birth a miraculous fragrance filled the chamber. As Lady Gan had conceived of the child soon after she had dreamed of looking up at the sky and feeling the constellation of the Great Bear falling down her throat, the child was also given the milk name A Dou.†

  At the time Cao Cao was away from the capital on his northern expedition. Liu Bei went to see the prefect and said to him, “The capital is unguarded at the moment. Why don’t you take this opportunity to attack it? You will be able to accomplish the greatest design.”

  “I’m well contented with my nine districts of Jingzhou,” replied Liu Biao. “How can I hope for other things?”

  Liu Bei said no more. Then the prefect invited him inside for a drink. While they were so engaged he suddenly began to sigh despondently.

  “Why do you sigh like this, brother?” asked Liu Bei.

  “I have something on my mind that is difficult to tell you about,” said the prefect.

  Liu Bei was on the point of asking him what it was when Lady Cai came and stood behind the screen. The prefect hung his head and fell silent. Before long they took leave of each
other and Liu Bei went back to his own place. That winter they heard that Cao Cao had returned from the Willow City and Liu Bei sighed when he reflected how the prefect would not heed his advice.

  One day the prefect sent a messenger to ask Liu Bei to see him in Jingzhou. So he started out at once with the messenger. He was given a cordial welcome and when the salutations were over the two men went into the private quarters at the rear to dine.

  Presently the prefect said, “Cao Cao has returned and he is stronger than ever. I’m afraid he means to absorb this district as well. I’m sorry I didn’t follow your advice and have therefore missed a good opportunity.”

  Liu Bei said, “In this period of disruption, with strife on every side, there are bound to be other opportunities. If you will only seize them you will have nothing to regret.”

  “You’re right, brother,” replied the prefect.

  They drank on for some time. Suddenly the prefect began to weep. When asked why, he said, “There is something on my mind. I wanted to tell you last time but there was no opportunity that day.”

  “What’s troubling you, brother? If I can be of any assistance to you I will not hesitate, even though I have to face a thousand deaths.”

  “I have two sons,” said the prefect. “The elder one, Qi, was born to me by my first wife from the Chen family. He grew up virtuous but weakly and unfitted to succeed me in my office. The younger one Zong, from my second wife of the Cai family, was fairly intelligent. If I pass over the elder in favor of the younger I will be violating conventional law; and if I follow the law and set up the elder as my heir then there are the intrigues of the Cai family to be reckoned with. As members of that family are all in the army, there will be trouble in the future. That’s why I can’t decide what to do.”

  Liu Bei said, “History has proven that to set aside the elder for the younger is to stir up trouble. If you fear the power of the Cai clan, you can gradually reduce it, but don’t let doting affection lead you into making the younger son your heir.”