But having listened to the memorial, the First Ruler threw it to the floor, saying, “I have decided, and no remonstrance should be raised!”
Then he appointed the Prime Minister to take care of his son and the two Lands of Rivers. Then the Generals of the Flying Cavalry — Ma Chao and Ma Dai—, together with the General Who Defends the North, Wei Yan, were ordered to guard Hanzhong against Wei. The Tiger General Zhao Yun was to be in reserve and to control the supplies; Huang Quan and Cheng Ji were made Counselors; Ma Liang and Chen Zhen, Recorders; Huang Zhong, the van leader, assisted by the Marching Generals Feng Xi and Zhang Nan; Fu Tong and Zhang Yi, Marching Commanders of the Center Army; Zhao Rong and Liao Chun, the rear guards. The whole army, including the borrowed foreign troops, numbered seven hundred fifty thousand, and high-rank officials amounted several hundred. And the “tiger” day of the seventh month of the first year of Manifest Might was selected as the most propitious day for the start.
As soon as Zhang Fei had got back to his post, he issued orders that his soldiers should be ready to march in three days and the whole body was to be in mourning, white uniforms and whitened arms.
Just after the order appeared, two generals named Fan Jiang and Zhang Da came to their chief, saying, “The time allowed is insufficient to make white flags and armors. Pray give us more time, General.”
“I am hot to avenge my brother,” said Zhang Fei. “My only regret is that I cannot reach the miserable wretch's country tomorrow. Do you dare to disobey my order?”
Zhang Fei called in the lictors, had the two officers bound to trees, and ordered each to receive fifty lashes.
At the close of the flogging, he said, “Now you will be ready tomorrow; if you are not, I will put you to death as an example!”
The two generals returned to their place, spitting blood and hot with anger, and they said one to another, “We have been beaten today; what about tomorrow? This man's temper is unbearable; and if things are not ready, we shall suffer death.”
“Suppose we slay him,” suddenly said Zhang Da, “since if we do not, he will kill us.”
“But how can we get near him?”
“If we are to have a chance to live, he will get drunk and go to bed; if we are to die, he will remain sober.”
They made all their arrangements for the crime. That day Zhang Fei was greatly disturbed in his mind and restless. He told some of his subordinates, saying, “I feel nervous and creepy and shivery and cannot not rest. What does it mean?”
“This is due to too much brooding over the loss of your brother,” said they.
Then Zhang Fei bade them bring in wine, and he drank with his officers. Presently he became quite intoxicated and lay down on a couch in his tent.
Meanwhile the two assassins had followed all his doings, and when they knew he was lying on his couch intoxicated and incapable, they went into the tent, each armed with a water-sharp dagger. They got rid of the attendants by saying they had confidential matters to talk about and so got into the inner rooms.
But even then they dared do nothing, for Zhang Fei slept always with open eyelids, and he lay on his couch as if still awake. However, huge snores soon convinced them that their victim really slept, and they crept to the side of the couch. Then both stabbed simultaneously deep into the body. Zhang Fei uttered one cry and lay still. So he died at the hand of assassins at the age of fifty-five years.
He who whipped the inspector in Anxi,
Who swept vile rebels from the land of Han,
And thereby won great glory for the Lius,
Whose valor shone at Tiger Trap Pass,
Who turned the tide of victory at Long Slope Bridge,
Who freed Yan Yan and thus won a friend
That helped him and his brothers conquer Shu,
Whose wisdom defeated Zhang He to get Hanzhong,
Is dead, the victim of assassins' blows.
Not his avenge his brother's death on Wu,
Langzhong will grieve him all the ages through.
Having done their victim to death, the two murderers hacked off his head and made off for the country of Wu without loss of time; and when the deed was known, they had got too far for capture.
The assassination was reported in a memorial by a commander of Zhang Fei named Wu Ban, who had left Jingzhou to see the First Ruler and then had been sent to serve under Zhang Fei. He wrote a memorial to the First Ruler and bade the eldest son, Zhang Bao, prepare a coffin for the remains. After the ceremony, leaving his younger brother, Zhang Shao, to hold Langzhong, Zhang Bao went to see the Emperor.
The day of departure had already come, and the First Ruler had left the capital. Zhuge Liang and many officers had escorted him out of the city for three miles and taken leave.
Returning to Chengdu, Zhuge Liang felt ill at ease, and he remarked to his colleagues, “If Fa Zheng had been alive, he would have been able to interdict this expedition.”
One night the First Ruler felt nervous and shuddered from time to time. He could not sleep, so he went out of his tent and looked up at the stars. Suddenly he saw a bright meteor fall in the northwest, and began to wonder what the portent meant. He sent at once to ask Zhuge Liang to tell him.
Zhuge Liang sent back the reply: “This means the loss of a great leader, and there will be bad news in a few days.”
So the army was halted and did not march. Then the arrival of a message from Wu Ban of Langzhong was announced. The First Ruler's foreboding increased, and he stamped his foot, saying, “Alas! My other brother is gone!”
Opening the letter he found it was indeed so. As he read the news of the assassination, he uttered a loud cry and fell in a swoon. He was raised, and presently they brought him back to life.
Next day they reported a body of horsemen coming. The First Ruler went out of the camp to look at them and presently saw a young general, dressed all in white armor, sweeping forth in quite a terror. The First Ruler recognized that was Zhang Bao.
As soon as he reached the First Ruler's presence, he dismounted and bowed to the earth, weeping, “My father has been killed by Fan Jiang and Zhang Da. They have gone over to Wu, taking my father's head with them.”
The news was very grievous, and the First Ruler burst into tears and even refused food.
His officers remonstrated, saying, “Now Your Majesty has the loss of two brothers to avenge, and you must not destroy yourself.”
So after a time he began to eat and drink, and he then offered the leadership of the van to Zhang Bao, saying, “Are you and Wu Ban willing to lead your troops to attack Wu and to avenge your father?”
“For my country or for my father, I would shrink from no sacrifice,” said the young man.
Just as the force for the young man's leadership was being organized, another party of horsemen approached, also dressed in white armors. This was a small force under Guan Xing, son of Guan Yu. The youth also threw himself to the ground and wept.
At sight of him, thoughts stirred in the First Ruler's breast, and he burst into tears. Neither reason nor persuasion could stop them.
“I think of the plain and simple days of long ago when we pledged ourselves one to the other. Now I am Emperor. How I should rejoice to share my good fortune with them! But they have met violent deaths, and the sight of these two youths wrings my heart to the very core.”
“Young gentlemen, please retire,” said the officers to the two youthful generals, “and let our Sacred One repose his dragon body.”
They went. Said the attendants, “Your Majesty is no longer young; you are over sixty, remember, and it is not fitting that you give way to such extreme sorrow.”
“But my brothers — dead,” wailed the First Ruler. “How can I live without them?” He broke into a fresh paroxysm and beat his head on the ground.
“What can be done?” asked the officers one to another. “He is in such trouble! How can we comfort him?”
Ma Liang said, “Sire, it is bad for the army to spend whole days in wailing
and tears when leading against the enemy.”
And then Chen Zhen said, “There is a certain hermit living among the Blue Mountains, near Chengdu, who is said to be three hundred years old. He is called Li Yi, and people say he is a seer. Let us tell His Majesty and let him send for this old man that he may know what the future may have in store. It will have more weight than anything we can say.”
They went to the First Ruler and told him; he agreed to summon the seer and sent Chen Zhen with the command. Soon the messenger reached the town near the hills and asked the people where the prophet dwelt. They led him far into a secluded valley like a fairy village, very unlike any ordinary spot. Soon a lad came to receive the visitor.
“You are surely Chen Zhen.”
Chen Zhen was startled that the lad knew him, and still more so at the familiar address, and said, “O superhuman boy, how do you know my name so well?”
“Last evening my master told me that a messenger with an imperial command would come today and mentioned your name.”
“Truly he is more than wise;” said Chen Zhen, “and people have not believed him.”
So the two proceeded to the old man's abode, and Chen Zhen declared his errand. The old man said he was too aged to travel.
“But the Emperor anxiously desires to see you face to face, if haply you would not mind making the effort.”
In the end, and after much persuasion, the old fellow consented and went. The First Ruler received him affably, surprised at the contrast between his hoary head and fresh boyish complexion. The venerable one had blue eyes, with square and sparkling pupils. His carriage was erect, and he stood straight as a pine tree.
“This is no common man,” thought the First Ruler, and he treated him with distinguished courtesy.
The seer said, “I am but an old man of the barren hill country, without learning or wisdom; you shame me, O Emperor, by calling me, and I know not why.”
“I and my two brothers, both now deceased, swore a mutual oath some thirty years ago. Both have gone, both by violent deaths. I would lead a great army to avenge them and wish to know how the expedition will end. Hearing that you, Venerable Sir, are learned in the deeper mysteries, I sent for you and beg you to tell me.”
“But this is fate; it is not for an old man like me to know.”
But the First Ruler pressed him to say. However, the aged one got paper and a brush and wrote: “Soldiers, horses, weapons”—again and again on many sheets of paper. Having done this, he suddenly tore them into fragments. Further, he drew a picture of a tall man lying supine and another above him digging a grave. And over all he wrote: “White.”
After this he bowed and departed, leaving the First Ruler annoyed.
“This is only a demented man; what he says is not worthy of confidence,” said the First Ruler. And he burned the paper.
Then he ordered an advance at full speed. Zhang Fei's son, Zhang Bao, came in, saying, “Wu Ban and his army have come; I pray that I may be appointed to lead the van.”
The First Ruler admired his noble intent and gave him a van-leader's seal. But just as he was attaching the seal to his girdle, another youth boldly stepped forth and said, “Leave that seal to me!”
It was Guan Xing, son of Guan Yu.
“I have already received my commission,” said Zhang Bao.
“What abilities have you for such a task?” cried Guan Xing.
“That I have been training as a soldier since my boyhood. I can shoot and never miss.”
“I should like to see your prowess,” said the First Ruler, “that I may decide who is the better.”
Zhang Bao ordered some of his people to set up a flag at a hundred paces, and on the flag he drew a heart in red. Then he took his bow and shot three arrows, each of which went through the heart. Those present commended the performance.
Then Guan Xing seized his bow, saying, “What is it to hit such a mark?”
Just as he said this a flock of wild geese flew over his head.
“I will hit the third of the flying geese,” said he.
He shot; and the third fell.
“Fine!” cried all the assembly as one voice.
But Zhang Bao was enraged. Leaping on his steed, he seized the long octane-serpent halberd left him by his father, crying, “Dare you try a real combat?”
Guan Xing took up the challenge at once. He sprang into the saddle, took his great saber, and galloped out.
“You can use the spear, think you that I cannot wield a sword?” cried he.
The two impetuous youths were on the point of a battle when the First Ruler bade them hold.
“Do not behave so badly!” cried he.
Both dropped out of the saddle, threw aside their weapons, ran to his feet, and begged pardon. “Young men, from the time I left my native place Zhuo and swore brotherhood with your fathers, they were as my own flesh and blood. You two are also brothers, and you should help each other in vengeance rather than quarrel and dispute. You have lost the sense of rectitude while your fathers' deaths are still recent, and what will happen in future?”
Both fell at his feet and implored forgiveness.
“Which of you two is the elder?” asked the First Ruler.
“I am the elder by a year,” said Zhang Bao.
The First Ruler then bade Guan Xing bow to Zhang Bao as to an elder brother, and there, in front of all, they broke an arrow as a pledge that each would always succor the other.
Then the First Ruler issued a mandate appointing Wu Ban leader of the van, and the two young men were enrolled as his own escort.
The advance began on land and on water, and they made a brave show as they moved against the land of Wu.
In the meantime the two assassins, with the grim evidence of their deed, duly reached Wu and told their story to the Marquis who received them.
Then Sun Quan said to his assembled officers, “Liu Bei has declared himself Emperor and is leading against us in person a great host of more than seven hundred thousand. What shall we do, for the danger is imminent?”
They all turned pale and looked one at another. Then Zhuge Jin spoke out.
“I have been in your service these many years and have never justified the favor you have shown me. I will risk my life and go to this Liu Bei of Shu that I may talk to him plainly and prove to him the advantages of friendship and alliance against Cao Pi.”
This offer pleased Sun Quan, who then appointed Zhuge Jin as his messenger to try to induce the First Ruler to keep the peace.
Messengers pass when states are at wrangle;
May this one succeed and unravel this tangle!
What fortune attended this messenger will be related in the next chapter.
CHAPTER 82. Sun Quan Submits To Wei, Receiving The Nine Dignities; The First Ruler Attacks Wu, Rewarding Six Armies.
In the eighth month of the first year of Manifest Might (AD 221) the First Ruler marched at the head of his army and camped at Baidicheng (City of the White Emperor), through the Kui Pass. His advanced guard had gone beyond the Lands of Rivers when his attendants told him that Zhuge Jin had come as a messenger from Wu. He told them not to admit him.
But Huang Quan said, “His brother being your Prime Minister, Zhuge Jin is certainly come on some important mission. Your Majesty ought to see him and hear what he says. If his proposals are admissible, then agree; if not, he can be made use of to take knowledge of your intentions to Sun Quan and let Sun Quan know that you intend to punish his crime.”
Then the First Ruler gave way, and the messenger was brought in. He bowed down to the earth.
“Zhuge Jin, you have come a long journey; what is its object?” said the First Ruler.
“My brother has long served Your Majesty; I have come at the risk of my life to discuss Jingzhou affairs. When Guan Yu was at Jingzhou, my master repeatedly sought to ally the two families by marriage, but was refused. When Guan Yu attacked Xiangyang, Cao Cao wrote again and again urging my master to attack Jingzhou. But the
Marquis was unwilling, and it was the enmity between your brother and Lu Meng that led to the attack and the unfortunate success.
“My master is now very sorry for it, but it was Lu Meng's doing. However, Lu Meng is now dead and his enmity has died with him. Moreover, Lady Sun is always thinking over returning to you. My master now proposes to send back the lady, to bind and hand over to you those officers who surrendered, and to restore Jingzhou. If the two houses swear perpetual amity, then they may join forces against Cao Pi and punish his usurpation.”
To this harangue the First Ruler only replied, “You of Eastern Wu killed my brother; yet you dare to come with your artful talk!”
Zhuge Jin said, “I only wish to discuss the relative importance of the issues. Your Majesty is an Imperial Uncle, and Cao Pi has seized the throne of your House. Yet you do not think of destroying the usurper, but on the other hand you disregard the most honorable position in the world for the sake of a so-called brother, a connection of another name. Surely this is rejecting the chief for the subordinate, the main issue for a detail.
“The Middle Land is the biggest part of the empire, and the two capitals, Luoyang and Changan, are both famous as places whence the two, one the Founder, the other the Restorer, of the Hans, initiated their mighty task. Your Majesty takes no thought of these, but would dispute over Jingzhou; in other words, the important is abandoned for the worthless.
“All the world knows of your assumption of the dignity of Emperor and that you will assuredly restore the Hans and rescue their territory; only now you do not try to deal with Wei, you only desire to attack Wu. I venture to think you have made a bad choice.”
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