The Three Kingdoms, Volume 2: The Sleeping Dragon: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation

by Luo Guanzhong

  Zhou Yu went to receive his friend in full ceremonial garb, escorted by a crowd of followers in rich silken robes. The guest appeared, his sole attendant being a lad dressed in a plain blue gown. He bore himself proudly as he advanced and Zhou Yu bowed his welcome.

  “You’ve been well, I hope, since we last met,” said Jiang Gan.

  “You must have suffered much, my friend, crossing rivers and lakes from afar to be Cao Cao’s emissary,” said Zhou Yu.

  “I haven’t seen you for a very long time,” said the envoy, much taken aback, “and I came to visit you for old times’ sake. Why do you call me an emissary of Cao Cao?”

  “Though I’m not so clever a musician as Shi Kuang,* yet I can comprehend the thought behind the music,” replied Zhou Yu.

  “As you choose to treat your old friend like this I think I will take my leave,” said Jiang Gan.

  Zhou Yu laughed and, taking his guest by the arm, said, “Well, I feared you might have come on his behalf to try to persuade me. But if this is not your intention, you needn’t go away in such a hurry.”

  So the two entered the tent, where they exchanged salutes and took their seats. Then the civil and military officials were called in to be introduced to the guest. They soon appeared, all dressed in their best finery—even the minor officers were clad in glittering silver armor. The staff looked very imposing as they stood ranged in two lines. The visitor was introduced to them all. Presently a banquet was spread out, and while they feasted the musicians played songs of victory and wine was passed around. Under its mellowing influence Zhou Yu’s reserve seemed to thaw as he said, “He is a fellow student of mine and we are close friends. Though he is from the north he has not come to speak for Cao Cao, so you need not be suspicious of him.”

  Then he took off the sword which he wore at his side and handed it to Taishi Ci, saying, “You take this and wear it for the day as master of the feast. Today we talk only about friendship, and if anyone dares to mention the war between Cao Cao and our country, just slay him.”

  Taishi Ci took the sword and seated himself at the table. Jiang Gan was frightened and dared not utter a word about his mission.

  Then Zhou Yu said, “Since I assumed command I haven’t tasted a single drop of wine, but today as my old friend is present and there is no distrust between us, I’m going to drink freely.” So saying, he drank a huge goblet and laughed loudly.

  The rhinoceros cups went swiftly round from one to another till all were half drunk. Then Zhou Yu, laying hold of the guest’s hand, led him outside the tent. The guards who stood around all stood to attention, holding spears or halberds.

  “Don’t you think my soldiers are a fine lot of fellows?” asked Zhou Yu.

  “Strong as bears and bold as tigers, they are,” replied Jiang Gan.

  Then Zhou Yu led him to the rear of the tent to show him the grain and forage piled up in mountainous heaps. “Don’t you think I have a fairly good store of grain and forage?”

  “Just as I have heard, your men are brave and your supplies ample.”

  Zhou Yu pretended to be quite intoxicated and went on: “When you and I were students together, we never anticipated a day like this, did we?”

  “For a genius like you it’s nothing extraordinary,” said the guest.

  Zhou Yu again seized his hand and said, “When a true warrior has found his rightful lord to serve, he is tied to him by the same bond as between an official and his prince, or like that between close relatives. His words are followed, his plans adopted, and he shares all good or evil fortunes with his master. Even if such persuasive speakers as Su Qin and Zhang Yi should come back to life, with an eloquence like rushing torrents and a tongue as sharp as a sword, it is not possible to sway me in my loyalty to my lord.” He burst into a loud laugh as he finished and Jiang Gan’s face turned the color of clay.

  Zhou Yu then led his guest back into the tent and again they fell to drinking. Presently he pointed to the others at the table and said, “These are all the best and bravest of the land of Wu. You might call this gathering a meeting of heroes.”

  They drank till evening, when candles were lit. Zhou Yu rose, offered some sword play, then sang this song:

  When a man lives in the world, O,

  He ought to make his name.

  And when he’s made his name, O,

  He’ll have released his dream.

  And when I have realized my dream,

  O, I’ll quaff my wine with zest.

  And when I’m drunk as drunk can be,

  I’ll sing the madman’s chant.

  A burst of applause greeted the song. By this time it was getting late and the guest begged to be excused. “The wine is too much for me,” he said. Zhou Yu told his men to clear the table and as all the others left he said to his guest, “It’s many a day since I shared a couch with you, but we’ll do so tonight.”

  Putting on an appearance of utter intoxication, he led Jiang Gan into the tent to rest. Once inside, he simply fell into bed fully dressed, emitting uncouth grunts and groans. It was impossible for Jiang Gan to get any sleep. He lay there and listened—outside the gong sounded for the second watch. He rose and, by the dim light of the small lamp, he looked at his friend and found him fast asleep, snoring thunderously. He also saw on the table a heap of papers and, looking at them furtively, found they were letters. Among them he saw one marked as coming from Cai Mao and Zhang Yun. Greatly startled, he read it stealthily and this is what it said:

  ... It was not for rank or for money that we surrendered to Cao Cao but we were driven by circumstances to do so. Now we have fooled these northern men and entrapped them in the center of the naval camp. As soon as occasion offers, we will slay Cao Cao and present his head to you. We will be sending you another report soon. Please trust us. This is our humble reply to your letter.

  “So those two are spies of Wu!” thought Jiang Gan. He secretly put the letter in his robe and was about to examine the other papers when Zhou Yu turned over in his bed. He hastily blew out the light and went to the couch. Zhou Yu was muttering as he lay there and his guest, carefully listening, made out: “Zi-ye (Jiang Gan), I’m going to let you see Cao Cao’s head in a day or two.”

  Jiang Gan mumbled something in reply and Zhou Yu said again: “Wait a few days … you will see … Cao Cao’s head. The old wretch!”

  Jiang Gan tried to question him as to what he meant, but Zhou Yu was fast asleep and seemed to hear nothing. Jiang Gan lay on the couch, wide awake until about the fourth watch. Then someone came in, calling softly, “General, are you awake?”

  At that moment, as if suddenly awakened from the deepest slumber, Zhou Yu started up and said, “Who is this on the couch?”

  The voice replied, “Don’t you remember, General? You asked your old friend Jiang Gan to stay the night with you.”

  “I drank too much last night,” said Zhou Yu in a remorseful tone, “and I forgot. I hope I did not say anything that I should not say.”

  The voice went on, “Someone has arrived from the north.”

  “Hush,” cautioned Zhou Yu, and turning toward Jiang Gan, he called him by name. But Jiang Gan affected to be sound asleep and did not answer. Zhou Yu crept out of the tent, while Jiang Gan listened with all ears. He heard the man say, “Commanders Cai and Zhang said they had not had any chances to kill him.” Then they spoke very softly, and however hard he strained his ears, he could not make out what followed.

  Soon after Zhou Yu re-entered and again called him by name. But Jiang Gan gave no reply, pretending to be in the deepest slumber. Then Zhou Yu undressed and went to bed. As Jiang Gan lay awake he thought that Zhou Yu was a shrewd man, and if in the morning he found the letter had disappeared he would certainly harm him. So he waited until the fifth watch and then he called his host. Getting no reply he rose, dressed, and stole out of the tent. Then he called his servant and made for the camp gate.

  “Where are you going, sir?” asked the guards at the gate.

  “I
fear I am in the way here,” replied Jiang Gan, “so I think I had better be leaving now.”

  The guards did not stop him. He found his way to the riverbank and reembarked. Then, with flying oars, he hastened back to his master’s camp.

  When he arrived Cao Cao asked him, “How did it go?”

  “Zhou Yu is very clever and perfectly high-minded,” he said. “Nothing that I could say moved him in the least.”

  “Another failure!” said Cao Cao crossly. “He will only laugh at me.”

  “Well, even if I did not win over Zhou Yu, I found out something for you. Send away your attendants and I will tell you,” said Jiang Gan.

  The servants were dismissed and then Jiang Gan produced the letter he had stolen from Zhou Yu’s tent. He gave it to Cao Cao, who became very angry and sent for Cai Mao and Zhang Yun at once. As soon as they appeared he said, “I want you two to start the attack.”

  Cai Mao replied, “But the men are not yet sufficiently trained.”

  “When they are ready you will have sent my head to Zhou Yu, eh?”

  Both of them were dumbfounded, having not the slightest idea what this meant. They remained silent, for they did not know what to say. Cao Cao ordered the guards to take them out for instant execution. In a short time their heads were produced. By this time Cao Cao had thought over the matter and it dawned upon him that he had been tricked.

  A poem says:

  No one could stand against Cao Cao,

  Of sin he had full share,

  But Zhou Yu was more resourceful,

  And caught him in a snare.

  Two officers to save their lives,

  Betrayed a former lord,

  Soon after, as fate had it,

  Both fell beneath the sword.

  The death of these two naval commanders surprised their colleagues, who asked their master about the reason for their sudden execution. Though he knew he had been a victim, Cao Cao would not admit to it. He told them that the two men had been remiss in their duties and so had been put to death. The others were aghast, but nothing could be done. Two other officers, Mao Jie and Yu Jin, were put in command of the naval camp.

  Spies took the news to Zhou Yu, who was delighted at the success of his ruse. “Those two were my only anxiety,” he said. “Now that they are gone, I have no more worries.”

  Lu Su said, “You are so skilled in warfare, General. Undoubtedly Cao Cao will be defeated.”

  “I don’t think any of you saw my game,” said Zhou Yu, “except Zhuge Liang. He is far cleverer than me, and I don’t think this trick could deceive him. You go and sound him out. See if he knew.”

  Zhou’s trick succeeded well,

  Discord sown, his foes fell.

  Drunk with success was he, but sought

  To know what the wise Kongming thought.

  What passed between Lu Su and Zhuge Liang will be related in the next chapter.

  Footnote

  * A blind musician, famous for his ability to distinguish various sounds.

  CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

  Zhuge Liang “Borrows” Arrows by Means of a Wonderful Scheme

  Huang Gai Accepts Punishment to Implement a Secret Plan

  Lu Su departed on his mission to see Zhuge Liang in his boat.

  “There has been so much to do lately that I haven’t been able to come to listen to your instruction,” said Lu Su.

  Zhuge Liang said, “And I haven’t yet come to congratulate your commander.”

  “For what do you wish to congratulate him?”

  “Why sir, just the matter he sent you to find out whether I knew about or not. Indeed, I must congratulate him on that.”

  Lu Su turned pale and gasped. “But how did you know, sir?” he asked.

  “That trick could only fool Jiang Gan. Cao Cao has been taken in this once, but he will soon realize his mistake. Only he will not admit it. Now that the two men are gone, your country is freed from a grave anxiety. Don’t you think that is a matter for congratulations? I hear Mao Jie and Yu Jin are the new admirals, and in their hands his fleet will be doomed.”

  Lu Su was quite dumbfounded. He stayed a little longer, muttering something incoherently, and then took his leave. As he was leaving Zhuge Liang said, “Please don’t tell Zhou Yu that I have guessed his scheme in case he should be jealous and seek some other chance to harm me.”

  Lu Su promised. Nevertheless, when he saw Zhou Yu he had to relate the whole thing just as it had happened.

  “He really must go,” said Zhou Yu. “I’m determined to put him out of the way.”

  “If you slay him, Cao Cao will laugh at you.”

  “I’ll find a legitimate way to remove him so that he shall go to his death without resentment.”

  “But what do you mean by that?” asked Lu Su.

  “Don’t ask too much—you’ll know soon enough,” replied Zhou Yu.

  The next day he summoned all the officers to his tent and then sent someone to invite Zhuge Liang, who came cheerfully. After he had taken his seat, Zhou Yu said to him: “Soon I am going to fight a battle with the enemy on water. What weapon is the best, sir?”

  “On the river arrows are the best,” replied Zhuge Liang.

  “I quite agree with you. But at the moment we are short of arrows. I would like to trouble you to supervise the making of 100,000 of them for the battle. As it is in the interest of our two sides, I presume you will not decline.”

  “Whatever task you set for me I will certainly try to perform,” replied Zhuge Liang. “But may I ask when you want these arrows?”

  “Could you deliver them in ten days?”

  “The enemy will be here very soon. Ten days will be too late,” said Zhuge Liang.

  “How many days will it take for the arrows to be ready?”

  “Let me have three days—then you may send for your 100,000 arrows.”

  “Are you serious?” said Zhou Yu. “There is no joking in the army.”

  “Dare I joke with you, Commander? Give me a written military order and if I fail to complete the task in three days, I will accept my punishment.”

  Zhou Yu, secretly delighted, ordered the secretary to draw up a commission there and then. After that, wine was brought in and he drank to the success of the undertaking, saying, “I will reward you most handsomely when this is accomplished.”

  “It is too late to do anything today so it doesn’t count,” said Zhuge Liang. “On the third day from tomorrow send five hundred soldiers to the riverside to collect the arrows.”

  They drank a few more cups of wine together and then Zhuge Liang took his leave. After he had gone, Lu Su said, “Don’t you think there is some deceit in this?”

  “He has signed his own death warrant,” said Zhou Yu. “I haven’t pushed him into this in the least. Now that he has asked for the formal order in front of the whole assembly, he wouldn’t be able to escape even if he grew a pair of wings. All I have to do is to order the workmen to delay him as much as they can, and not to supply him with enough materials, so that he is sure to fail. And then, who can blame me for punishing him? Now, you go and find out what he is doing and keep me informed.”

  So off went Lu Su to seek Zhuge Liang, who at once reproached him for not having kept his promise. “I told you not to confess to Zhou Yu or he’d try to harm me,” he said. “But you wouldn’t keep my secret. And now this thing cropped up. How do you think I can get 100,000 arrows made in three days? You’ll simply have to save me.”

  “You brought the misfortune on yourself—how can I save you?” said Lu Su.

  “I want you to lend me twenty vessels, with thirty men in each. Every vessel is to have blue cotton screens and more than a thousand bundles of straw lashed to both sides. I’ll have good use for them. On the third day I’ll surely have the arrows ready. But on no account must you let Zhou Yu know, or my scheme will be wrecked.”

  Lu Su consented and this time he kept his word. He went to report to his chief as usual, but he said nothing about the
boats. He only said that Zhuge Liang was not using bamboo, feathers, glue, or varnish, but seemed to have some other way of getting the arrows.

  “Let’s await the three days’ limit,” said Zhou Yu, extremely puzzled.

  On his part, Lu Su quietly prepared a score of light swift boats, each with a crew and the blue screens and bundles of straw in place. When these were ready, he placed them at Zhuge Liang’s disposal. On the first day Zhuge Liang did nothing, nor on the second. On the third day in the middle of the fourth watch, Zhuge Liang secretly called Lu Su to his boat.

  “Why have you sent for me, sir?” asked Lu Su.

  “I want you to go with me to get those arrows.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “Don’t ask. You’ll see.”

  Then the twenty boats were fastened together by long ropes and sailed toward the north bank. The night proved very foggy and the mist was even more dense on the river so that one man could scarcely see another opposite him. In spite of the blinding fog Zhuge Liang urged the boats forward.

  The little fleet reached Cao Cao’s naval camp at about the fifth watch. Zhuge Liang ordered the soldiers to spread out the boats in a line with their prows toward the west, and then to beat the drums and shout.

  “But what shall we do if they attack us?” exclaimed Lu Su in alarm.

  Zhuge Liang replied with a smile, “I think Cao Cao won’t venture out in this fog—go on with your wine and let’s be merry. We’ll go back when the fog lifts.”

  As soon as the noise from the boats was heard in Cao Cao’s camp, his two naval commanders hurried to report to their master, who said, “Coming up in a fog like this means that there is an ambush for us. Do not go out, but get the archers of your fleet to shoot at them.”

  He also sent for Zhang Liao and Xu Huang and ordered them to take 3,000 archers each from their army to aid the marines at once.

  By then, the archers of the naval force had already been shooting in front of the camp to prevent the enemy’s entry. Presently, the land soldiers arrived and more than 10,000 men began shooting into the river. The arrows fell like rain. By and bye, Zhuge Liang ordered the boats to turn around so that their prows pointed east, and to go closer in so that the arrows might hit them. At the same time the drums were beaten.