“Those soldiers are only to confuse you,” said Cao Ren. “Advance, there is no ambush. I will hasten up with the supporting forces.”
So Xu Chu rode to the slope again and advanced. When he reached the wood where he had seen the flags, he found it deserted. By then the sun had already set in the west, but he decided to move on. At that moment he heard from the hills the sound of drums and trumpets and, looking up, saw on the hilltop two umbrellas surrounded by many banners. There sat Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, quietly drinking. Enraged, he sought for a way up, but logs of wood and great stones were thrown down and he was driven back. At the same time there came a confused roar from the rear of the hills. He tried to find a way to attack but darkness had descended.
Then Cao Ren arrived and ordered an attack on Xinye, so that his army might have a place to rest later. When they got to the walls they found the gates wide open. They met with no resistance as they entered and they discovered that it was a completely deserted city. No one was visible.
“This shows they are panic-stricken,” said Cao Ren. “They have all run away, people and all. We may as well occupy the city and rest for the night. Tomorrow we will advance again.”
The soldiers were fatigued after the long march and hungry as well, so they lost no time in scattering among the houses and setting about preparing food. The two leaders took up quarters in the official residence.
After the first watch a strong wind began to blow. Soon after, guards at the gates reported that a fire had started.
“Some careless men must have let sparks fly about. There is nothing to worry about,” said Cao Ren.
Hardly had he finished speaking when along came urgent reports of similar fires from the south, west, and north gates. Cao Ren realized that the fires were not due to accidents. So he immediately gave orders to evacuate the city. Soon, the whole city was on fire and a red glow hung in the sky. The army was beset with fire fiercer than it had been at Bowang.
Thrice wicked was Cao, but he was bold;
Though all in the capital he controlled,
Yet with this he was not content,
So southward his ravaging army went.
But, the fall wind aiding, the Spirit of Fire
Wrought to his army destruction dire.
Officers and men dashing through the smoke and fire in utter confusion sought some way of escape, and hearing that the east gate was free, they made for that quarter. Out they rushed pell-mell, many being trodden down and trampled to death. Those who got through took the road to the east.
But presently there was shouting behind them and Zhao Yun came up with his men and attacked. Cao Ren’s men scattered, each fleeing for his life. None would turn back and fight. A little later they were further smitten by Mi Zhu and Liu Feng. At about the fourth watch the fleeing men, most of them badly burned and very wearied, reached the shore of the White River.
To their joy, the river was shallow and fordable. And both men and horses went down into the stream and drank their fill, men shouting and horses neighing.
In the meantime Guan Yu had dammed the river with sandbags at its upper part, so that its waters were collected in a lake. Toward dusk he saw the red glow of the burning city and began to listen for his signal. At about the fourth watch he heard the sounds of men and horses downstream and at once ordered the breaking of the dam. The water rushed down in a torrent and overwhelmed the horses and men in the bed of the river. Many were swept away and drowned.
Cao Ren led the remainder to escape from where the current was not so swift. But to their dismay, as they reached the ferry at Bowang they were again faced with loud shouting, and they found their road barred by a troop led by Zhang Fei.
“You Cao brigands!” shouted Zhang Fei. “Come and meet your fate!”
Within the city the red flame leaps out:
On the riverbank black anger is met.
Whether Cao Ren could escape death will be told in the next chapter.
Footnote
* Also called Yan Yuan (521 B.C.–490 B.C.), the best-known disciple of Confucius.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Liu Bei Leads His People Across the River
Zhao Yun Rescues the Child of His Lord
The last chapter closed with Zhang Fei blocking the enemy’s escape route. He met with Xu Chu and combat began, but Xu Chu had no heart to engage in a prolonged fight and ran away. Zhang Fei pursued till he came upon Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, and the three went upstream where boats had already been prepared. They all crossed the river and went toward Fancheng. As soon as they disembarked Zhuge Liang ordered the boats and rafts to be burned.
Cao Ren gathered together the remnants of his army and camped at Xinye, while his brother, Cao Hong, went to tell their lord the bad tidings of the defeat.
“This rustic fool, Zhuge Liang!” exclaimed Cao Cao angrily. “How dare he do this to me!”
He then set out with his overwhelming army to camp at the deserted city of Xinye and gave orders for the soldiers to search the hills and fill up the White River in order to launch a violent assault on Fancheng from every side.
His advisor Liu Ye came in to see him and said, “Sir, you are new to this district and you should win over the people’s hearts first. Liu Bei has evacuated all the people from Xinye to Fancheng. If we move straight in, the two places will be ground to powder. It would be better to call upon Liu Bei to surrender first, which will prove to the people that you care for them. If he yields then we can capture Jingzhou without fighting.”
Cao Cao agreed and asked him who could be sent as a suitable messenger.
“Xu Shu is a close friend of Liu Bei’s and he is here with the army,” suggested Liu Ye. “Why not send him?”
“But he may not come back,” objected Cao Cao.
“If he does not return he will be a laughingstock to all—he will come back.”
So Xu Shu was sent for, and Cao Cao said: “My first intention was to raze Fancheng to the ground, but out of pity for its people I want you to go and make an offer to Liu Bei. If he is willing to surrender he will not be punished but will be rewarded with a high rank. If he holds on to his present misguided course all his people and army will be destroyed. Now you are an honest man so I confide this mission to you, and I trust you will not disappoint me.”
Xu Shu accepted the order and went to Fancheng, where he was received by both Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang. They enjoyed talking over old times before Shu mentioned the object of his mission. Then he said, “Cao Cao has sent me to ask you to surrender, which is only a pretense to win over the people. In fact, he is damming up the White River and his army, now divided into eight troops, will be sent against you. I fear you will not be able to hold the city. You must prepare to leave at once.”
Liu Bei asked Xu Shu to remain with them, but he said that it was not possible, for all the world would ridicule him if he stayed.
“My old mother is dead and I will regret it to the end of my life. My body may be over there, but I swear I will never form a plan for him. You have Sleeping Dragon to help you and need have no anxiety about the fulfillment of your great designs. But I must go.”
Liu Bei felt he could not press his friend to stay and so Xu Shu took his leave. He returned to Cao Cao’s camp and reported that Liu Bei had no intention to surrender. This angered Cao Cao who gave orders to begin the advance.
Liu Bei asked Zhuge Liang what could be done to avert the crisis.
Zhuge Liang said, “We must abandon this place at once and seek a temporary stay in Xiangyang.”
“But what of the people who have followed us all along? They cannot be abandoned.”
“You can tell them to do as they wish. They may go with us if they like, or remain here.”
They sent Guan Yu to prepare boats and told Sun Qian to proclaim to the people that Cao Cao was coming and that the city could not be defended, and those who wished to follow their lord would have to cross the river with the army. All the people cried, “We will follow o
ur lord, even if we must die.”
They started that very day, weeping and crying, the young helping the aged, parents carrying their children, and men leading their women. As the crowds crossed the rolling waves from both banks arose the incessant sounds of lamentation.
Liu Bei was much affected as he saw all this from his boat. “Why was I ever born,” he said, “to be the cause of all this misery to the people?”
He made to leap overboard, but was held back by those around him. All were deeply moved when they heard of this. When his boat reached the southern shore he looked back at the weeping crowds still waiting on the other bank. He bade Guan Yu hasten the boats before he mounted and rode away.
When Xiangyang came in sight they saw many flags flying on the walls and that the moat was protected by abatis defenses. Liu Bei checked his horse and called out, “Liu Zong, my good nephew, I only wish to save the people and nothing more. Open the gates quickly, I pray you.”
But Liu Zong was too frightened to appear. Cai Mao and Zhang Yun went up to the gate tower and ordered soldiers to shoot arrows down on those outside the city. The people gazed up at the tower and cried aloud.
Suddenly a warrior, with several hundred followers, rushed up the tower and cried out, “You two traitors! The princely Liu is a most upright man. He has come here for the sake of saving his people. Why do you repulse him?”
All looked at this man, who was of tall stature, with a face as dark as a ripe date. His name was Wei Yan, a native of Yiyang. Whirling his sword he slew several guards, threw open the gates, and dropped down the drawbridge.
“Come in with your army, General,” cried Wei Yan, “and let us together slay these traitors!”
Zhang Fei plunged forward to go in but was checked by his brother, who said, “Don’t frighten the people!”
Wei Yan, on the other hand, kept urging Liu Bei to enter the city. At that moment an officer galloped out of the city with his men. The newcomer shouted to Wei Yan, “How dare you, a mere nobody, create trouble? Don’t you know me, General Wen Ping?”
Wei Yan became very angry. Setting his spear, he galloped forward to attack his opponent. The soldiers joined in the battle and the noise rose to the skies.
“I wanted to protect the people and I am only causing them injury,” cried Liu Bei, distressed. “I do not wish to enter the city.”
“Jiangling is a strategically important point in this region—we can take that first as a place to dwell in,” said Zhuge Liang.
“Good idea,” agreed Liu Bei.
So they left Xiangyang and went toward Jiangling with the people. Many of the inhabitants of that city took advantage of the confusion to escape and they also joined Liu Bei’s column.
Meanwhile, within the inhospitable city, Wei Yan and Wen Ping fought. The battle continued for about four hours during the middle of the day, and as all his followers were killed Wei Yan got away by himself. As he could not find Liu Bei he rode off to Changsha to seek asylum with Prefect Han Xuan.
Liu Bei moved away from the city that had refused him shelter. Both soldiers and people, his following numbered more than 100,000. There were several thousand carts, and the carriers were innumerable. On the way they went past the tomb of Liu Biao and Liu Bei led all his officers to bow at the grave. He prayed in tears: “Imbecile is your brother, lacking both in virtue and in talents. I have been unworthy of your trust. The fault is all mine and the people have committed no sin. May your glorious spirit descend and rescue them!”
His prayer was fraught with sorrow and all those about him wept.
Just then a scout rode up with the news that Fancheng was already occupied and that Cao Cao’s men were preparing boats and rafts to cross the river. Seeing that the situation was extremely dangerous, Liu Bei’s officers tried to persuade their lord to abandon the people and move swiftly into Jiangling. They said, “Jiangling is a defensible place, but with this crowd we can only advance very slowly—when can we reach the city? If Cao Cao arrives, we will be in a parlous state. We had better leave the people for the time being and press on with our journey to the city.”
But Liu Bei replied with tears in his eyes: “The success of every great enterprise lies in people. Now that the people have come to me, how can I abandon them?”
When the people heard his words they were greatly affected.
In times of stress his heart was tender toward his people,
He wept as he stepped into the boat, warming the hearts of all.
Even today, on a visit to the river,
Elders recall the kindness of the princely Liu.
The progress of Liu Bei, with the crowd of people in his train, was very slow.
“The pursuers will be upon us quickly,” said Zhuge Liang. “Let us send Yun-chang to Jiangxia to get help from Liu Qi and tell him to assemble his men and sail at once to Jiangling to join us.”
Liu Bei agreed to this. Guan Yu and Sun Qian were dispatched with an urgent letter from him to ask for assistance from Liu Qi, accompanied by five hundred soldiers. Zhang Fei was put in command of the rear force and Zhao Yun was entrusted with the safety of the families of the officials, while the others were to take care of the people on the journey. They only traveled a short distance daily and the halts were frequent.
Meanwhile, Cao Cao was at Fancheng, from where he sent a messenger over the river to Xiangyang to summon Liu Zong. However, the young lord was too afraid to answer the call even though Cai Mao and Zhang Yun tried to persuade him to go. Wang Wei, one of his officials, said to him privately, “Now you can overcome Cao Cao if you are wise. Since you have surrendered and Liu Bei has gone away, Cao Cao will slacken off his vigilance and you can catch him unawares. Send a picked force to assail him in some commanding position and he can be destroyed. If you were to defeat Cao Cao, your fame would run throughout the empire and the land would be yours for the taking. This is a splendid opportunity that will not recur and you should not miss it.”
The young man confided in Cai Mao who abused Wang Wei, calling him an evil counselor who knew nothing about the design of Heaven.
Wang Wei angrily retorted, “You traitor! I wish I could eat you alive!”
Cai Mao was furious and he would have slain the bold speaker if his colleague Kuai Yue had not dissuaded him.
Then Cai Mao and Zhang Yun went to Fancheng to bow before Cao Cao. These two were extremely specious and flattering. To every question Cao Cao asked concerning the resources of the district, Cai Mao replied in detail. “There are 50,000 cavalry, 100,000 infantry, and 80,000 marines. Most of the money and grain are at Jiangling but all the other places also have ample supplies for a year.”
“How many war vessels are there? Who is in command?” asked Cao Cao.
“The ships and boats number 7,000 and we two are the commanders,” answered Cai Mao.
Hearing this, Cao Cao conferred upon both Cai Mao and his colleague the title of “marquis.” Cai Mao was also given command of the marine force, with Zhang Yun as his helper. They were exhilarated and thanked Cao Cao profusely for these honors.
Cao Cao told them that he would propose to the Emperor that Liu Biao’s son should be permanent Prefect of Jingzhou, following in succession after his late father. With this promise to their young master, they took their leave.
When they were gone, Xun You asked Cao Cao why he had treated these two evident self-seekers and flatterers so generously. Cao Cao replied with a smile, “Do I not know what sort of men they are? Unfortunately, our men from the north know nothing about warfare on the water and these two do. I need their help for the present. When my end is achieved I know what to do with them.”
Liu Zong was highly delighted when he learned of Cao Cao’s promise. The next day he crossed the river with his mother to welcome Cao Cao and to present his seal and military emblems. He was received graciously.
Cao Cao at once proceeded to camp outside Xiangyang. The populace, following the order of Cai Mao and Zhang Yun, welcomed him with burning incense, and
he for his part, offered comforting terms.
Presently he entered the city and took his seat in the official residence. Then he summoned Kuai Yue and said to him agreeably, “I do not rejoice so much in gaining Jingzhou as at meeting you.”
He made Kuai Yue Prefect of Jiangling and Marquis of Fancheng; his other supporters were all ennobled. However, in spite of his former promise, he gave Liu Zong only the rank of Governor of Qingzhou, a city in the far north, and ordered him to leave at once for his new post. Greatly frightened, Liu Zong pleaded that he had no wish to become an official but only wanted to remain in the place where his parents had lived.
Cao Cao said, “Your governorship is quite near the capital and I have sent you there so that you will not be harmed by intrigues in this place.”
In vain did Liu Zong decline the post thrust upon him, and was compelled to depart, taking his mother with him. Of his former subordinates, Wang Wei alone accompanied him. All the others only escorted him as far as the river and took their leave. Then Cao Cao called his trusted officer, Yu Jin, and told him to follow up Liu Zong and put him and his mother to death to avoid trouble in the future.
Yu Jin led his men to pursue the small party. When he drew near he shouted, “I have an order from the prime minister to put you both to death, mother and son—you may as well submit quietly.”
Lady Cai threw her arms about her son, lifted up her voice, and cried. Yu Jin ordered the soldiers to continue with their bloody work. Wang Wei made an attempt to save his young master and mistress but was soon killed. The mother and son were also slain and Yu Jin returned to report his success. He was richly rewarded.
The Three Kingdoms, Volume 2: The Sleeping Dragon: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation Page 9