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

by Luo Guanzhong

  Messengers were at once sent to report the sad news to Sun Quan while physicians did their best for the invalid. Lu Su was particularly worried at the illness of his friend and went to see Zhuge Liang to tell him about it.

  “What do you make of it?” asked Zhuge Liang.

  “Good fortune for Cao Cao—bad for us,” answered Lu Su.

  “I can cure him,” said Zhuge Liang with a smile.

  “If you can, it will be very fortunate for the state,” said Lu Su.

  He asked Zhuge Liang to go and see the sick man with him. So they went and Lu Su entered first. Zhou Yu lay in bed, his head covered by a quilt.

  “How are you feeling?” asked Lu Su.

  “There is a pain in my heart and every now and again I feel faint and dizzy.”

  “Have you taken any medicine?”

  “I feel sick every time I try to swallow it.”

  “I saw Zhuge Liang just now and he said he could heal you. He is outside. Shall I call him in to treat you?”

  Zhou Yu asked him to invite Zhuge Liang inside and then he told his servants to help him to a sitting position.

  Presently, Zhuge Liang entered. “I have not seen you for several days,” he said. “How come you are unwell?”

  “Man is subject to unexpected fortune or misfortune,” replied Zhou Yu. “Can anyone be secure?”

  “And Heaven may produce sudden winds or clouds, too,” said Zhuge Liang, smiling. “Can anyone predict?”

  Zhou Yu turned pale and a low groan escaped him, while his visitor went on, “Do you feel vexed, as though troubles were piling up in your heart?”

  “Yes,” said Zhou Yu.

  “You need cooling medicine to ease this sense of vexation.”

  “I have taken a cooling draught, but it has done me no good.”

  “You must get your qi* into good order to regulate your breathing before the draught will have any effect.”

  Zhou Yu thought that Zhuge Liang knew what was really the matter with him so he asked meaningfully, “What medicine should I take for that?”

  “I know one means of regulating your qi,” replied Zhuge Liang, smiling.

  “I hope you will tell me.”

  Zhuge Liang called for paper and pen, sent away the servants and then wrote down the following words: “To overcome Cao Cao, fire is the best plan. Now all is ready, but there is no east wind.”

  He gave this to the sick man, saying, “This is the cause of your illness.”

  Zhou Yu was astonished to read the words and he thought, “This Zhuge Liang is really more than human. He has long been aware of what is on my mind and my best course is to tell him the truth.”

  So he said with a smile, “Since you know the cause of my illness, what do you recommend as treatment? The need of a remedy is very urgent.”

  “Although I have no great talent,” said Zhuge Liang, “I have had the fortune of meeting an unusual man from whom I have received certain books of magic. I can call the winds and summon the rains. Since you need a southeasterly wind, you must build an altar, the Altar of Seven Stars, on the Nanping Mountains. It must be nine feet high, with three tiers, surrounded by 120 men bearing flags. On this altar I will work the magic to procure a strong southeasterly wind for three days and three nights. Do you think that is enough?”

  “One night of strong wind will serve my purpose,” said Zhou Yu, “not to say three whole days and nights. But the matter is pressing and there must be no delay.”

  “I will get the wind to blow from the twentieth day to the twenty-second day of this month. Will that suit you?”

  Zhou Yu was delighted and he rose from his couch, fully cured of his illness. He gave orders for 500 men to be sent to the Nanping Mountains to build the altar and 120 others to stand on guard at the altar, bearing flags, and await further commands from Zhuge Liang.

  Zhuge Liang took his leave and rode off with Lu Su to the mountains, where he chose a proper site for the altar. He told the soldiers to build the altar with red earth from the southeast of the mountains. It was 240 feet in circumference and nine feet in height, with three tiers, each being three feet high. On the lowest tier he placed the flags symbolizing the twenty-eight constellations of stars in the sky; on the east were seven green flags arranged in the shape of a green dragon; on the north, seven black flags in the shape of a black turtle; on the west, seven white flags in the shape of a white tiger; and on the south, seven red flags in the shape of a red sparrow. Around the second tier he placed sixty-four yellow flags in groups of eight, corresponding to the sixty-four trigrams.

  On the top tier were placed four men, each wearing a Taoist headdress and a black silk robe embroidered with a phoenix and held by a wide sash. They wore red boots and square-cut skirts. One of them stood to the front left, holding a long pole bearing at its tip a plume of rooster feathers, to show from their least movements signs of a wind blowing. Another stood on the front right, also holding a long pole, bearing a belt with the symbol of the seven stars, to show the direction of the wind. On the rear left stood the third man with a sword, and on the rear right the fourth man with an incense-burner. Surrounding the altar at its base were twenty-four men holding flags, umbrellas, halberds, lances, yellow hatchets, white banners with yak tails, red bannerols, and black ensigns.

  On the appointed day Zhuge Liang, having chosen a propitious moment, bathed and fasted to purify himself. Then he approached the altar in a Taoist robe, barefoot and with loosened hair.

  He said to Lu Su, “Please return to the camp and assist your commander in deploying his forces. If my efforts fail, don’t blame me.”

  So Lu Su left him. Then he said to the guards, “You are not to leave your posts without permission, or to whisper to each other, or to call out, or to show any sign of alarm. Death will be the penalty for disobedience.” All promised to obey.

  Then he slowly ascended the altar and, after choosing the most suitable position, lighted the incense and sprinkled water in a basin. This done, he gazed into the heavens and prayed silently. After some time he descended and returned to his tent for a brief rest.

  Thrice that day he ascended the altar and thrice descended, but there was no sign of the wind.

  At the same time, Zhou Yu with Cheng Pu and Lu Su and a certain number of military officers were waiting in the tent for the wished-for wind to blow so that the attack could be launched. News of this was also sent to Sun Quan to request reinforcements.

  Huang Gai, too, had his score of fire ships ready. Thickly studded with large nails in their prows, these ships were loaded on the bottom with dry reeds and firewood soaked in fish oil and on the top with sulfur, saltpeter, and other inflammables, all of which were covered by oil cloth. In the prow of each was a green dragon flag and at the stern was fastened a light boat. All awaited orders to move into action.

  Meanwhile, Gan Ning and Kan Ze were keeping Cao Cao’s two spies, the Cai brothers, in their camp, entertaining them with wine all day. They issued strict orders not to allow a single man to get on shore. The whole camp was so closely guarded by the men of Wu that not a drop of water could have trickled through. They were also waiting for the order to start the campaign.

  While Zhou Yu was anxiously awaiting the desired wind, a messenger came to report that Sun Quan and his fleet had anchored at a place eighty-five li from the camp, where he was waiting for further news. Zhou Yu sent Lu Su to inform all the officers and men to ready their ships, weapons, sails, and oars for immediate use, and to impress upon them the severe penalties of being caught unprepared. All observed the order with alacrity and were waiting eagerly for the fight.

  But the sky remained obstinately clear and as night drew near not a single breath of air stirred.

  “We have been cheated,” said Zhou Yu. “Indeed, what possibility is there of a southeast wind in mid-winter?”

  “I don’t think Zhuge Liang will deceive us,” said Lu Su.

  Around the third watch the sound of movement arose in the air. Soon th
e flags fluttered. Zhou Yu went out of his tent to look and saw the tassels of the flags were actually turning toward the northwest. Instantly, a southeast wind was in full force.

  Zhou Yu was, however, greatly frightened at the power of Zhuge Liang, whose help he had invoked. “Why, that man really knows how to alter the course of nature!” he thought to himself. “His power is incalculable, beyond the ken of gods or spirits. He can’t be allowed to live to be a danger to the land of Wu. I must slay him as soon as possible to avoid later troubles.”

  Without delay he called two officers in the guards unit, Ding Feng and Xu Sheng, and ordered each of them to take a hundred men and rush to the Altar of Seven Stars at the Nanping Mountains, one by boat, the other by land. As soon as they got there, without asking questions or giving reasons, they were to seize and behead Zhuge Liang and return to claim their reward with his head.

  The two went off on their murderous errand against a southeast wind, one leading a hundred swordsmen going as fast as oars could propel the boat on the river, the other at the head of a hundred archers and bowmen, riding as quickly as their horses could gallop by road.

  Sleeping Dragon ascended the Seven Stars’ Altar,

  Overnight a southeasterly wind blew and waves lapped.

  Had he not exercised his mighty magic,

  Could Zhou Yu have demonstrated his skill?

  Ding Feng with his horsemen arrived first. He saw the guards standing in the wind with their flags. Dismounting, he went to the top of the altar, sword in hand, but to his surprise Zhuge Liang was not there. He hastened to question the guards and they told him the strategist had just gone down. Ding Feng ran down the hill to search. By that time Xu Sheng had also arrived by boat and the two met on the bank.

  Presently the soldiers told them, “Yesterday evening a small, fast boat anchored near here. Just now we saw Zhuge Liang, with his hair loose, get on board and then the boat sailed upstream.”

  So they went in pursuit, one by water and the other by land. Xu Sheng ordered his men to put out all sail and take every advantage of the wind. Before long he spotted Zhuge Liang’s boat ahead. When it was near enough, he stood in the prow of his own boat and shouted, “Don’t go away, master! Our commander wishes to see you.”

  Zhuge Liang, who was standing in the stern of his boat, just laughed aloud, “Go and tell your commander to make good use of his men. Tell him I am going back to Xiakou for the present and hope to see him again another day.”

  “Please wait a little while,” cried Xu Sheng. “He has something most important to tell you.”

  “I knew he would not let me live and would surely send someone to kill me. That is why I told Zhao Yun beforehand to come and meet me here. You had better not pursue.”

  Seeing that the other ship had no sail, Xu Sheng thought he could assuredly catch up with it, so he pressed on with the pursuit. But when he got very close Zhao Yun fitted an arrow to his bow and, standing in the stern of his boat, cried, “I am Zhao Zi-long of Changshan and I have come expressly to escort our chief advisor back. Why are you pursuing him? I would like to shoot you to death, only that would damage the friendly relations between our two sides. I will let you know my skill, though.”

  With that he fired, and the arrow whizzed through the air, cutting through the rope that held up the sail. Down came the sail, trailing in the water and the boat swung around. Then Zhao Yun’s boat hoisted its sail and the fair wind speedily carried it out of sight.

  From the bank Ding Feng called his comrade to come near the shore. “Zhuge Liang is too clever for any man and Zhao Yun is the bravest of the brave. You remember what he did at the Long Slope. All we can do is to return and report.”

  So they returned to camp and told Zhou Yu about what had happened. Zhou Yu was indeed startled at the depth of his rival’s resourcefulness. “I’ll have no peace day or night while he lives,” he said.

  “Let’s deal with him after Cao Cao is defeated,” said Lu Su.

  Zhou Yu consented.

  At last the moment for action came. All the officers were summoned to the commander’s tent to receive orders. Zhou Yu first said to Gan Ning: “Take Cai Zhong and his men with you and go along the south bank to Wulin, where Cao Cao stores his grain. Fly the flags of the northern army to avoid detection. Then penetrate deep into the enemy’s lines and light a torch as a signal. Leave Cai He here. I have other uses for him.”

  Next he said to Taishi Ci, “Take 3,000 men and leave as quickly as possible for Huangzhou to cut off Cao Cao from his forces in Hefei. When you get near the enemy, light a torch as a signal. Look out for a red flag, for that means the arrival of reinforcements from our lord Sun Quan.”

  These two had the farthest to go and started first. Then he ordered four more divisions, each of 3,000 men, to different tasks.

  The third division led by Lu Meng was to go to Wulin to support Gan Ning and to set fire to Cao Cao’s camps. A fourth division was to cross the borders of Yiling and support his fellow officers as soon as the signal of fire from Wulin was seen. A fifth division was to go and seize Hanyang and then fall on the enemy along the river. They were to be supported by the sixth division carrying white banners.

  When these six land forces had set out, Zhou Yu gave orders to his marine forces. Huang Gai was to get ready his fire ships and dispatch a letter to Cao Cao, telling him that he was going over to his side that evening. He was to be supported by four squadrons, each consisting of 300 boats. The four squadrons were placed under four commanders—Han Dang, Zhou Tai, Jiang Qin, and Chen Wu. Each squadron was preceded by twenty fire boats.

  Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu went on board a large ship to direct the battle, with Ding Feng and Xu Sheng as their guards. Lu Su, Kan Ze and the advisors were the only ones left to look after the camp. Cheng Pu was greatly impressed by Zhou Yu’s efficiency in the deployment of the troops.

  Just then Sun Quan’s messenger came bearing the news that he had made Lu Xun leader of the van, and ordered him to advance toward Qizhou and Huangzhou. He himself would lead the reserve force.

  Zhou Yu then sent his men to the Western Hills to explode fire bombs and to hoist flags on the Nanping Mountains.

  So all being ready they waited for dusk when the battle would begin.

  Here it is necessary to return to Liu Bei. At this moment he was at Xiakou, anxiously awaiting the return of his advisor. Then he saw a fleet of ships led by Liu Qi, who had come to find out how things were progressing. When the young man had joined him, Liu Bei said, “The southeast wind has been blowing for some time, yet Zi-long still has not returned with Kongming. I am really worried.”

  Soon, however, a soldier pointed toward the port of Fankou and said, “A single sail is coming up before the wind. It must be the advisor.” So Liu Bei and Liu Qi went down to meet the boat. Soon the vessel reached the shore and Zhuge Liang and Zhao Yun disembarked. Liu Bei was very happy to see them back.

  When they had inquired after each other’s wellbeing, Zhuge Liang said, “There is no time for other things now. Are the troops and ships ready?”

  “Yes, they have long been ready,” replied Liu Bei. “Only waiting for your orders.”

  The three then went to the tent and took their seats. Zhuge Liang at once began to issue orders. He called Zhao Yun and said to him, “Zi-long, I want you to take 3,000 men and cross the river to Wulin by the footpath. Choose a dense undergrowth and prepare an ambush. Tonight, after the fourth watch, Cao Cao will surely hurry along that way. Wait until half his men have passed, then raise a fire. Cao Cao may not be wholly destroyed but many of his men will perish.”

  “There are two roads in Wulin,” said Zhao Yun. “One leads to Nanjun and the other to Jingzhou. Which way is he coming from?”

  “The road to Nanjun is too dangerous and Cao Cao will not dare to take that road. He’s certainly coming along the Jingzhou road and from there escape to the capital.”

  Then Zhao Yun departed. Next Zhuge Liang said to Zhang Fei, “Yi-de, you also take
3,000 men and cross the river to cut the road to Yiling. Lay an ambush in the Gourd Valley. As he dares not go to South Yiling, Cao Cao will surely head for North Yiling. Tomorrow, after the rain, he will halt there to cook a meal. As soon as the smoke is seen to rise from their cooking fires you will set the hillside ablaze. You will not capture Cao Cao but you will render an excellent service.”

  So Zhang Fei left. Next he called forth Mi Zhu, Mi Fang, and Liu Feng. They were to take the command of three squadrons and deal a further blow to the defeated enemy on the river and to capture their weapons.

  The three left. Then Zhuge Liang said to Liu Qi, “Wuchang is a place of strategic importance. Please return to your own city and station your troops on the bank. Some of Cao Cao’s defeated men will flee there and you can capture them. But you are not to leave the city without the best of reasons.”

  And Liu Qi, too, took his leave.

  Then Zhuge Liang said to Liu Bei, “You, my lord, can station your troops in Fankou and sit calmly and watch how Zhou Yu wins this great battle tonight.”

  All this time Guan Yu had been silently waiting his turn but Zhuge Liang paid no notice of him. In the end he could bear this no longer and he cried, “Since I first followed my brother many years ago I have never been left behind. Now that a great battle is being fought, I’m completely left out. What does this mean?”

  “Don’t be angry,” laughed Zhuge Liang. “I meant to ask you to guard a most important point but I have some apprehensions about sending you there.”

  “What could they be?” asked Guan Yu. “I hope you will explain.”

  “You see, Cao Cao was once very kind to you and you cannot help feeling grateful. After his defeat, he will certainly flee via the road to Huarong. If I were to send you to guard it you would let him escape. So I can’t send you.”