The sailors in white robes navigated the fast ships toward Xunyang River day and night and soon reached its north bank. When the beacon-keepers came down to question them, the men of Wu said they were traders forced into the place by contrary winds. And they offered gifts to the beacon-keepers, who accepted them and let the ships anchor close to the shore.
At about the second watch the soldiers, coming out of hiding in the holds of the ships, suddenly fell upon the beacon-keepers and made them prisoners, officers and men. Then the signal for a general landing was given, and all the soldiers from the eighty ships went ashore. Every key position was attacked, and Guan Yu’s men were captured and carried off to the ships, not a single one being allowed to escape. Then the whole force hurried off toward Jingzhou, whose defenders were entirely unaware of their impending danger.
Nearing Jingzhou, Lu Meng spoke kindly to his captives and gave them rich gifts in order to induce them to have the gates opened for him to enter the city. He won them over to his side, and they agreed to aid him. They were then told to light a torch as a signal for the army to enter. So they went in advance and arrived at the city about midnight. The wardens, recognizing their voices, opened the gates for them. Once within, they shouted and lit a fire. Immediately the men of Wu came in with a rush and were soon in possession of the city.
The first order issued by Lu Meng was to spare the people. Instant death was to be the punishment for any murder or robbery. The various officials in the city were allowed to retain their offices and continue their work. Guan Yu’s family was put in safe accommodation without any danger of being assaulted by outsiders. A report was sent immediately to Sun Quan.
One very wet day Lu Meng, with a few horsemen as escort, was going round the four gates of the city when he saw a soldier taking a local resident’s broad-brimmed hat and putting it over his armor to keep it dry. The offender was seized. He turned out to be a fellow villager of Lu Meng’s, but that did not save him.
“You are an old acquaintance, but you knew my order—why did you disobey it?”
The man pleaded in tears. “I was afraid the rain would spoil my armor, and I took the hat to protect it. I did not take it for my own advantage, but to protect government property. Spare me, General, for I am your fellow villager.”
“I know you were protecting your armor, but still it was disobedience of my order against taking anything from the people.”
The soldier was beheaded, and his head exposed as a warning. But afterwards Lu Meng had the body buried decently and wept at the grave for the loss of his fellow villager. Never after this was there the least laxity of discipline.
When Sun Quan visited the city, Lu Meng met him at the boundary and led him to the official residence, where he issued rewards and commendations. Then he ordered the former prefect, Pan Chin, to continue his charge of the city. Yu Jin, who was in prison, was freed and sent back to Cao Cao. When the people had been comforted and the soldiers rewarded, there was a great banquet in celebration of the success of the expedition.
Sun Quan said to Lu Meng, “Jingzhou is now in our hands, but there are still the two cities of Gongan and Nanjun. How can we get these?”
At this Yu Fan rose and said, “There is no need to send an army, not even to use a single bow or arrow. I can persuade Fu Shi-ren to surrender.”
“How will you do it?” asked Sun Quan.
“He and I have been good friends since we were young, and if I explain the grave situation to him I am sure he will come over to our side.”
Consequently Yu Fan, with five hundred soldiers, left quickly for Gong-an, where his friend was in command.
Now the fall of Jingzhou had reached Fu Shi-ren, who at once ordered his men to close the city gates and maintain a firm defense. At this time Yu Fan arrived, but was refused entrance. So he wrote a letter, fixed it to an arrow, and shot it into the city. A soldier picked it up and took it to Fu Shiren, who found it to be a convincing letter from his old friend, urging him to surrender. Recalling how Guan Yu hated him before he left for his expedition to Fancheng, Fu Shi-ren thought it would be well if he submitted to Wu.
Without further ado he ordered the wardens to open the gate to allow his friend in. After greetings they talked of old times, and Yu Fan praised Sun Quan’s magnanimity and his respect for the wise and scholarly. These words greatly pleased Fu Shi-ren, who at once went with his friend to Jingzhou, taking with him his seal of office. He was introduced to Sun Quan, who reappointed him commander of Gongan. However, Lu Meng thought the appointment imprudent while Guan Yu was yet unconquered. He said to his master in private that it would be better to send Fu Shi-ren to Nanjun to induce Mi Fang to join him in deserting. His advice was followed, and Fu Shi-ren was recalled.
“You and Mi Fang are good friends. I want you to go to Nanjun and win him over for me. I will reward you richly,” said Sun Quan.
Fu Shi-ren accepted the mission and duly left for Nanjun.
Gongan’s defender failed when tried,
So Wang Fu’s words were justified.
The result of his journey will be told in the next chapter.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX
Xu Huang Fights a Great Battle on the Mian River
Guan Yu Retreats to Maicheng in Defeat
The fall of Jingzhou put Mi Fang in a quandary, and before he could decide upon any course his colleague Fu Shi-ren came to see him. Mi Fang at once welcomed him in and asked him for the reason of his visit.
Fu Shi-ren went directly to the purpose of his visit. “I’m not disloyal,” he said, “but I was in a tight spot and couldn’t hold on, so I’ve surrendered to Wu. And I advise you to do the same.”
“You and I have both received great kindness from the Prince of Hanzhong, and I can’t bear to turn against him.”
“Don’t you remember how intensely Guan Yu hated both of us when he went away? If he comes back victorious I don’t think he will forgive us. You must think it over carefully.”
“My brother and I have followed the prince these many years. How can I betray him like this?”
Just as he was hesitating, there came a messenger from Guan Yu, who said that the army at Fancheng was short of grain and he had been sent to demand 10,000 shi of rice from the two cities of Nanjun and Gongan. “General Guan ordered you to transport the grain to the army at once,” added the messenger. “Any delay will be punished by death.”
This sudden demand was a shock to Mi Fang. “How can I transport the rice now that Jingzhou is occupied?” he said to his colleague in despair.
“No more hesitations!” said Fu Shi-ren sternly. Drawing his sword he slew the messenger there and then.
“What have you done?” cried Mi Fang in fright.
“Guan Yu’s real intention in demanding the grain was to slay us both. Are we to fold our hands and await death? Either you surrender to Wu at once, or you’ll be put to death by Guan Yu.”
At that moment sentinels rushed in to report that Lu Meng and his army had reached the city wall. Seized by panic, Mi Fang at last agreed to defect, and went out with Fu Shi-ren to offer his submission to Lu Meng. He was duly conducted to Sun Quan, who gave him and his comrade handsome rewards. So the two cities of Nanjun and Gongan fell into the hands of Sun Quan without a fight. Following this, he proceeded to restore order and to reward his army for their services.
Away in the capital Cao Cao was discussing the situation in Jingzhou with his advisors when a messenger arrived with a letter from Sun Quan. It said that Wu was going to seize Jingzhou and asked Cao Cao to send an army to attack Guan Yu in the rear. The letter also cautioned Cao Cao to maintain the utmost secrecy lest Guan Yu should hear of the plan.
Cao Cao consulted his advisors on this matter. Dong Zhao said, “Fancheng is besieged and the army there is waiting anxiously for relief forces. We can get someone to shoot that letter into Fancheng so as to bolster the morale of the besieged. Moreover, we should let Guan Yu know of Sun Quan’s plan. When he hears that Jingzhou is in d
anger he will hurry back. Then tell Xu Huang to take the chance to attack him, and we can win a complete victory.”
Cao Cao thought the plan was good and acted accordingly. He sent a messenger to Xu Huang, ordering him to attack without delay. At the same time he himself led a large force to Yanglin Slope, south of Luoyang, to rescue Cao Ren.
Xu Huang was sitting in his tent when he was told that a messenger from the Prince of Wei had arrived. He called in the messenger, who said, “The prince’s army has crossed Luoyang, and he wishes you to hasten your attack on Guan Yu in order to lift the siege of Fancheng.”
Just then scouts came to report that Guan Ping had encamped at Yancheng and Liao Hua at Sizhong, setting up a line of twelve stockades. Xu Huang ordered two of his subordinate officers to march to Yancheng with his ensigns to masquerade as if he himself was in command, while he actually took five hundred veterans along the Mian River to attack Yancheng from the rear.
When Guan Ping heard of the approach of Xu Huang he led his own division to meet him. When both sides were arrayed, Guan Ping rode out and engaged his enemy, who turned out to be someone called Xu Shang. After three encounters the man was worsted and fled. Then his colleague came forth but after half a dozen bouts he also ran away. Guan Ping went in pursuit and harrassed the fleeing enemy for twenty li. But then there came the news that the city was on fire, and Guan Ping realized that he had fallen for the enemy’s ruse. So he hastened to turn back to rescue the city. On his way he met a body of troops—standing under the great standard was the real Xu Huang.
Xu Huang shouted, “Guan Ping, my worthy nephew, how strange that you do not recognize death when it stares you in the face. Your Jingzhou has fallen into the hands of Wu and yet you are still behaving so recklessly here.”
Guan Ping indignantly swung high his sword to strike Xu Huang, and they clashed. But after the third bout there was a tremendous shouting among his soldiers, for the flames within the city burst up higher than before. Guan Ping dared not follow up his desire to continue the fight, but cut his way out and made a dash for his camp at Sizhong. There he was met by Liao Hua, who also told him about the fall of Jingzhou.
“They say that Jingzhou has fallen to Lu Meng, and the news has frightened the army—what is to be done?”
“It must be a malicious rumor. If anyone repeats it, put him to death.”
Just then a mounted scout came galloping up to say that Xu Huang was attacking the first stockade to the north.
“If that falls,” said Guan Ping, “the other stockades will crumble. This place has the river at its back, so the enemy won’t dare attack here. Let’s go to the rescue.”
So Liao Hua summoned his subordinate officers, to whom he said, “You must hold the place very firmly. If the enemy comes, raise a signal.”
“There is no danger here,” they said. “The camp is defended by a tenfold line of ‘deer-horns’ (abatis). Even a bird can’t fly in, let alone enemy soldiers.”
So Guan Ping and Liao Hua mustered all the veterans in the camp and went away to the rescue of the first stockade. Seeing the Wei soldiers camped on a low hill, Guan Ping said to his colleague, “Those men are positioned at an unfavorable site—let’s raid their camp tonight.”
“You take half the force, General, and I’ll hold the camp,” said Liao Hua.
When night fell, the attacking force went out. But on reaching the enemy camp Guan Ping found it to be empty. Knowing that he had again been tricked, Guan Ping turned to retreat, but it was too late. He was at once ambushed on two sides. Unable to stand, he fled back to the camp. The men of Wei followed, and presently the camp was surrounded. Guan Ping and Liao Hua were compelled to abandon the stockade and to return to their camp at Sizhong. From a distance they could see the camp on fire. As they drew near in a hurry they found enemy ensigns all around and they knew that it had also fallen into the hands of their foe. Retreating again, they hastened along the high road toward Fancheng, but presently their way was barred by a force under Xu Huang himself. By dint of desperate fighting they got away and returned to their main camp to see Guan Yu.
“Xu Huang has got possession of Yancheng and Cao Cao’s main army is on the way here in three divisions. We also hear people say that Jingzhou has been seized by Lu Meng.”
Guan Yu cried angrily, “This is a fabrication of the enemy to dishearten our soldiers. We know Lu Meng is ill, and they have appointed that young fellow Lu Xun to succeed him at Lukou. There is nothing to fear.”
Soon news came that Xu Huang had arrived with an army. At once Guan Yu told his men to saddle his charger.
“Father, you are not strong enough to go into the battle,” said Guan Ping.
“Xu Huang and I were once friends, and I know him well. I will give him the chance to retreat, and if he doesn’t then I will slay him as a warning to the others.”
Mounting his charger, Guan Yu rode out as impetuously as of old, and at the sight of the old warrior the men of Wei trembled with fear. When he came close enough to his enemy, Guan Yu checked his steed and asked, “Where is Xu Gong-ming (Xu Huang)?”
As a reply, the banners parted and Xu Huang appeared under the standard. With a bow he said, “Several years have passed since I last met you, General, but I had not expected to see you already going gray. I have not forgotten those brave days of old, when we were together and you taught me so much, for which I am very grateful. Now your fame has spread throughout the country, and as an old friend of yours, I do admire you. I consider myself very fortunate to see you again.”
Guan Yu replied, “We have been quite intimate friends, not casual acquaintances. But why have you pressed my son so hard recently?”
Xu Huang suddenly turned to the officers around him and cried fiercely, “I will give a thousand taels of gold as a reward for Guan Yu’s head!”
Guan Yu, greatly shocked, asked, “Why do you speak like that?”
“This is government business, and I dare not let personal friendship override my public duty.”
So saying, he whirled his battle-ax and rode at Guan Yu, who, much enraged, threw up his sword to strike. They fought some eighty bouts, but although he lacked nothing of his former prowess and his skill excelled all others, his right arm was still weak from the wound. Guan Ping, afraid that his father might suffer, hastily beat the gong for retreat. Guan Yu rode back to camp.
Suddenly the noise of a deafening shouting was heard. It was raised by Cao Ren and his men. Having heard of the arrival of troops from his own side, Cao Ren made a sortie and emerged from the besieged city of Fancheng to help Xu Huang attack Guan Yu. Confronted by two forces, the army of Jingzhou was thrown into chaos. Guan Yu, with all his officers, fled toward the upper reaches of the Xiang River, hotly pursued by the army of Wei. Crossing the river, he made for Xiangyang. But on the way he heard the shocking report that Jingzhou had been seized by Lu Meng and his family, trapped inside the city. Greatly alarmed, Guan Yu dared not proceed to Xiangyang but turned toward Gongan.
Soon, scouts came with the sad news that Fu Shi-ren had defected and the city was also in the hands of Wu. Guan Yu was brimming with fury at this betrayal when there came yet another blow. Some of the men sent to collect grain returned from Nanjun and reported the murder of their leader by Fu Shi-ren and the further betrayal of Mi Fang. At this last blow Guan Yu was overcome with rage. It was really too much. His wound reopened, and he collapsed to the ground.
When he regained consciousness, he said to Wang Fu, “How I regret I did not heed your words! And now all this happened just as you had forewarned me.”
“But why weren’t the beacon fires lighted?” he asked incredulously.
“Lu Meng ordered the sailors of his ships to disguise themselves as traders in white robes, but hid the soldiers in the holds of the vessels. They crossed the river and seized the beacon guards, so preventing them from kindling the fire.”
Sighing deeply, Guan Yu stamped his foot and lamented, “I have fallen for their sinister ruse. How can I
look my brother in the face?”
Then Zhao Lei, the loyal officer in charge of supplies, spoke up: “Things are perilous now. We must send someone to Chengdu to ask for help, while also going by land to Jingzhou to try to recover it.”
Guan Yu accepted this advice and so two messengers left at once for Chengdu to seek help, while the army set out for Jingzhou, Guan Yu leading and Liao Hua with Guan Ping bringing up the rear.
The siege of Fancheng being thus lifted, Cao Ren went to see his master. With tears he acknowledged his fault.
“It was the will of Heaven, and no fault of yours,” said Cao Cao.
Then he rewarded his army and went to view the stockade at Sizhong. After inspecting the surrounding ground, he remarked, “The Jingzhou soldiers had surrounded their stockade with abatis ten layers deep, yet Xu Huang was brave enough to break through. With my thirty years of campaigning I should not have dared to penetrate into such a strong defense. He is truly valiant and wise, and both to a high degree.”
All agreed in admiration for their comrade.
Cao Cao’s army marched back to its camps. When Xu Huang returned, Cao Cao went out of the stockade to welcome him, and noted with joy the excellent order and discipline of his army. Every man was in his place, the ranks perfectly kept, all without a trace of disorder.
“You are exactly the General Zhou Ya-fu* of today!” said Cao Cao, and on the spot conferred on him the title of “General–Pacifier of the South.” Xu Huang was sent soon after to strengthen the defense of Xiangyang against Guan Yu’s army.
The fate of the Jingzhou region being still undecided, Cao Cao remained in his position, waiting for further news.
The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation Page 3