Zhou Shan ordered his men to shoot at Zhao Yun with arrows which were, however, parried into the river by the latter’s spear. As he approached, the men of Wu threatened him with their spears. Throwing his spear into the bottom of the fishing boat, Zhao Yun drew the sharp sword that he wore at his side, pushed aside the opposing spears and leaped upon the larger vessel. The men of Wu fell back in surprise and fear as Zhao Yun advanced into the body of the ship. There sat Lady Sun with little A-dou in her arms.
“Why this rude intrusion?” she said angrily.
The warrior sheathed his sword and asked humbly, “Where are you going, madam? And why not let our advisor know about it?”
“My mother is dying—there is no time to inform any person of my departure,” said Lady Sun.
“But why are you taking the young master with you if you are going to visit a sick person?”
“A-dou is my son and I cannot leave him behind, neglected.”
“You are wrong, madam. My lord has but this one son and I rescued the child from among a million men in the great battle at the Long Slope. There is no reason for you to take him away.”
Lady Sun flared up in anger. “You are but a common soldier in our service. How dare you interfere in our family affairs?”
“My lady, if you want to go, then go, but leave the young master behind.”
“Are you insubordinate, jumping on board the ship like that?” cried Lady Sun.
“If you will not leave the young master behind I cannot let you go, even if I have to die ten thousand deaths,” said Zhao Yun stubbornly.
Lady Sun ordered her maids to seize him, but he just pushed them off. Then he snatched the boy from her arms and ran out to the prow of the ship. He wished to get the vessel over to the bank, but no one would aid him; and as Lady Sun was his mistress, he thought it would be wrong to begin to slay indiscriminately. So he was stuck, alone on the ship, not knowing what to do. Lady Sun shouted to her maids to get the boy back from Zhao Yun. But, holding the child in one hand and his sword in the other, he kept everyone at bay. All this time Zhou Shan was at the helm, steering the ship into midstream. Zhao Yun, without anyone to assist him, could only keep the boy from harm. It was quite impossible for him to get the vessel in toward the shore.
At this desperate moment, Zhao Yun saw a string of ships filing out from a creek lower down the stream, flags fluttering and drums beating. He was just thinking in dismay that he had fallen for a trick of Wu when he noticed a mighty warrior standing in the prow of the leading craft. He was armed with a long spear, and it was Zhang Fei. He also shouted to his sister-in-law to leave the child.
Zhang Fei had been out scouting when he heard the news of his sister-in-law’s abrupt departure. He at once made for the river with the intention of intercepting her.
He had arrived in the nick of time to stop the ships of Wu. Sword in hand, he jumped aboard Lady Sun’s vessel. As he came on board Zhou Shan drew his sword and advanced toward him, but one sweep of Zhang Fei’s spear laid him dead on the deck. And the grim warrior flung his head at the feet of his sister-in-law.
“Why are you so very rude, brother?” cried Lady Sun, now quite frightened.
“Sister,” said Zhang Fei, “you thought very little of my brother when you tried to leave without his permission. That was improper.”
“My mother is very ill—it is a matter of life and death,” she cried. “If I had waited for your brother’s permission to go it would have been too late. If you do not let me go now I will throw myself into the river.”
The two soldiers took counsel together. It was hardly right, they thought, for officers to force their lord’s wife into committing suicide. They decided to keep the child and let the lady go.
Then Zhang Fei said, “Sister, my brother is an uncle of the Emperor and a good match for you. We will take our leave now. Return soon if you remember our brother.”
Taking the child with him, he left the vessel with Zhao Yun, and the five ships of Wu continued their voyage downstream. One poet has praised Zhao Yun of his conduct:
Some years before, he saved the child,
That time his mother died;
Again like service he performs,
Upon the Yangtze’s tide.
The men of Wu all in the ship,
Were stricken down with fear,
Search all the world, you’ll never find
Of bold Zhao Yun the peer.
Another has eulogized Zhang Fei:
At Long Slope Bridge,
With rage he boiled,
Like wild beast roared,
And men recoiled.
From danger now
His prince is saved.
On history’s page
His name is engraved.
Quite satisfied with their success the two warriors sailed homeward. Before they had gone far they met Zhuge Liang with a squadron of ships. The advisor was very pleased to find they had recovered the child and they three joyfully returned to Jingzhou, where a written account of the whole incident was sent to Liu Bei.
When Lady Sun reached her home she related to her brother how Zhou Shan was slain and the child snatched from her. Naturally Sun Quan was infuriated at the miscarriage of his scheme and he resolved to attack Jingzhou in revenge of his slain messenger.
“Now that my sister has returned home there is no longer any family tie to prevent the attack, and I will take a full measure of revenge for the death of Zhou Shan,” said Sun Quan. So he called the counselors together to consider the expedition.
But before they could decide upon any plan their deliberations were suddenly cut short by the news that Cao Cao was coming down upon the south with a very large army, burning to avenge his defeat at the Red Cliff. All thoughts now turned toward repelling his attack.
At this time sad news also came that the senior official Zhang Hong, who had retired to his home because of illness, had died and his testament was sent to his lord to read. In it he advised Sun Quan to remove the seat of government to Moling, where the landscape had the impress of regal dignity, befitting a man who cherished the ambition of founding an enduring dynasty. Sun Quan wept in sorrow when he read these last words of his loyal official. “He advised me to move to Moling,” he told his counselors present. “How could I disobey him?” And he at once gave orders to prepare for the move and to build a stone wall around the city, intending henceforth to make it his capital.
As a protection against Cao Cao, Lu Meng proposed building a rampart at Port Ruxu. Some other officers opposed this, saying, “When the enemy comes we will go ashore to attack, and after that we will return to our ships. What is the use of a rampart?”
Lu Meng replied, “One must prepare for emergencies. Soldiers have their ups and downs and sometimes lose battles. On an urgent occasion the men will not be able to reach the river, and how then are they to embark?”
Sun Quan agreed with him entirely. Quoting an old saying, he said, “Against a distant risk provide, and sorrow does not walk by your side.”
So he sent a great many men to build ramparts at Ruxu day and night, so as to finish the project before the enemy came.
Away in the capital, Cao Cao’s power and glory increased daily. Dong Zhao proposed that a special title, Wei Gong, or Duke of Wei, should be conferred upon him.
He said, “In all history no one has rendered such services as you have, not even the ancient Duke of Zhou or Lu Shang. These thirty years you have exposed yourself to all sorts of risks, been combed by the wind and washed in the rain; and you have swept evil from the land, succored the people, and restored the Hans. Who of all government officials can rank with you? It will be fitting for you to become the Duke of Wei and receive the Nine Honors to match your merit and virtue.”
Now the Nine Honors were:
– Chariots and horses (one gilt chariot and one war chariot; eight dark mares and eight yellow horses)
– Court dresses and shoes
– Court music band
; – Red gates
– Steps to the dais
– Tiger Guards (300 at the gates)
– Axes
– Bows and arrows (one red-lacquered bow with 100 red arrows; ten black-lacquered bows with one thousand black arrows)
– Libation Vessels
However, all the courtiers were not of one mind. Xun Yu objected, “No, sir, this should not be done. As your original purpose in raising a just force was to restore the authority of the Han House, you should remain loyal and humble. The virtuous man respects righteousness and will not act in this way.”
Cao Cao suddenly changed color at this rebuke.
Dong Zhao said, “How can we disappoint the hopes of many because of the words of one?”
So a memorial was presented to the Emperor and Cao Cao’s ambition and desires were gratified with the title of Duke of Wei and the acquisition of the Nine Honors.
“I did not expect to see this day,” said Xun Yu, sighing.
This remark was repeated to the newly created Duke, who took it that Xun Yu would no longer aid him or favor his designs. In his heart rose a strong hatred of his advisor.
In the winter of the seventeenth year of Jian An, Cao Cao decided to send an army to conquer Wu, and he ordered Xun Yu to go with the army. Xun Yu understood from this that Cao Cao wished his death, so in the middle of the expedition he sent in his resignation on the plea of illness. While he was at home he received one day a food box. It was addressed in Cao Cao’s own handwriting. Opening it, he found there was nothing inside. He understood. He took some poison and died. He was fifty years of age.
Xun Yu’s talents were to all men known,
‘Twas sad that at the door of power he tripped.
Posterity is wrong to class him with Lord Liu,*
For, nearing death, he dared not face his prince of Han.
Xun Yu’s son sent the sad news of his death to Cao Cao, who began to regret what he had done and gave orders for a grandiose funeral. He also obtained for the dead man the posthumous title of a marquis.
The northern army reached Ruxu, where he first sent Cao Hong with a force of 30,000 mailed cavalrymen down to the riverside to find out how things stood. Cao Hong soon sent back a report to the effect that numerous banners and flags could be seen streaming along the riverside, but there was no sign of the army. Worried by this report, Cao Cao himself led the main army to proceed to Ruxu, where he deployed his troops in battle array. Then, escorted by a hundred or so followers, he climbed up a hill to look down far into the river and saw a fleet of ships all arranged in admirable order, the divisions being marked by distinctive flags. Their equipment glittered in the sunlight. In the center was a large ship on which was a huge umbrella, and beneath the shade sat Sun Quan in the midst of his staff.
“That is the sort of son to have,” said Cao Cao in admiration. “Not such piglets and puppies as Liu Biao’s.”
Suddenly, at a signal the ships got under way and came flying toward him, while a land force moved out of the rampart to attack Cao Cao’s men, who at once retreated in great haste. Then a company of horsemen led by the blue-eyed, red-bearded Sun Quan rushed to the hillside and charged straight at Cao Cao, who hastily fled. But at this moment two redoubtable officers of Wu also dashed forth to attack and Cao Cao was hard pressed. Xu Chu came to his rescue and fought with the men of Wu till his master could escape. Xu Chu fought some thirty bouts before he disentangled himself and returned to his own side.
When Cao Cao returned to camp he bestowed rich rewards on Xu Chu, who had saved him and reprimanded his other officers for their too hasty retreat. “You blunt the keen spirits of the men, and if you do such a thing again I will put you all to death,” he said.
At about midnight, there arose a great commotion at the gates of the camp, and when Cao Cao went outside he found that the enemy had crept up secretly and started a conflagration. The men of Wu forced their way into the stockade and dashed hither and thither, slaying till dawn. Cao Cao and his army had to withdraw fifty li to set up camp again.
Cao Cao was greatly distressed by this setback. One day he was sitting in his tent poring over the Art of War when his advisor Cheng Yu came in to see him.
“Sir, you know well the art of war,” said Cheng Yu. “Why have you forgotten the maxim ‘Speed is the key to the success of a military action’? You have delayed your operation this time, which allowed your enemy time to build ramparts at Ruxu, making it difficult to capture the place. It would be better now to retreat to the capital and await a more propitious moment.”
Cao Cao said nothing and Cheng Yu went away. Cao Cao remained seated in his tent, leaning on a small table by his side, where he fell asleep. Suddenly he heard the sound of turbulent waves, as if made by hundreds and thousands of galloping horses. He hastened to look and saw rising out of the river in front of him a huge red sun, its rays so bright that it dazzled his eyes. Looking up at the sky, he saw two more suns shining down on this one. And as he wondered, the first sun suddenly flew up and then dropped among the hills in front of his camp, with a roar like thunder.
This woke him. He was in his tent and had been dreaming. The sentry at his tent door was just reporting noon.
Cao Cao had his horse saddled and rode out with some fifty men toward the spot he had seen in his dream. As he stood gazing around him, a troop of horsemen came along with Sun Quan at their head. He wore a glittering helmet and was clad in silver armor.
Seeing his chief enemy, he showed no sign of haste or dismay, but reined in his steed on the hill and, pointing with his whip at Cao Cao, said: “Sir, you hold the capital in the hollow of your hand. You have reached the acme of wealth and power. Why are you still insatiable in your greed, and must come to encroach upon our southern country?”
Cao Cao replied, “You are disobedient, and I have the Emperor’s decree to execute you.”
“What nonsense!” cried Sun Quan with a laugh. “Are you not ashamed? Everyone knows that you control every act of the Emperor and you tyrannize over the nobles. I am no rebel against the Han, but I do desire to capture you and reform the government.”
Enraged at this speech, Cao Cao commanded his officers to go up the hill and take Sun Quan prisoner. But before they could obey, two troops of archers and crossbowmen led by four officers rushed out from behind the hill to the sound of beating drums, and instantly arrows and crossbow bolts began to fall like raindrops around Cao Cao, who at once fled back, pursued hotly by the archers and bowmen. However, Xu Chu soon appeared with the Tiger Guard, who rescued Cao Cao and escorted him back to his camp. The men of Wu scored a victory and they triumphantly marched back to Ruxu.
Alone in his camp, Cao Cao thought, “This Sun Quan is certainly no ordinary man, and by the presage of the sun in my dream he will become an emperor in the future.”
He began to think about withdrawal, but he hesitated for fear that it would incur ridicule from the men of Wu. So the two armies remained facing each other a whole month, with occasional skirmishes or battles in which victory fell sometimes to the one and sometimes to the other.
And so it went on till the new year when the spring rains filled the watercourses to overflowing and the soldiers were wading in deep mud. Their sufferings were extreme and Cao Cao became vexed at heart. At a council he consulted his officers and advisors, whose views were divided, some being for retreat and others anxious to hold on, arguing that the warm weather was exactly the time to fight. Their chief could not make up his mind.
Then there came a messenger from Wu bearing a letter, which read: “You and I, sir, are both servants of Han. But instead of devoting yourself to your country and soothing the people you think only of launching wars, thus causing great suffering. Is this conduct worthy of a kindly man? Now spring with its heavy rains is at hand, and you will be wise to retire while you can. If not, you may expect a repetition of the misfortune at the Red Cliff. I hope you will consider this.”
And on the back of the letter was a note in two line
s: “There is no peace for me while you live.”
Cao Cao read the letter and laughed. “Sun Quan is honest with me!”
He rewarded the messenger and issued orders to retreat. Placing the Prefect of Lujiang to guard Wancheng, Cao Cao led the army back to the capital.
Sun Quan returned to Moling. At a council with his advisors he said, “Cao Cao has marched north but Liu Bei is still in the west country. Should I lead the army that has just repulsed the northern men to take Jingzhou?”
“No, you should not,” said Zhang Zhao. “I know how to keep Liu Bei from returning to Jingzhou.”
Cao Cao’s army had just marched away,
Sun Quan’s thoughts then southward stray.
The scheme proposed by Zhang Zhao will be told in the next chapter.
Footnotes
* See note in Chapter Twenty-One.
* Referring to Zhang Liang, chief advisor of Liu Bang, founder of the Han Dynasty.
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
Yang and Gao are Slain at the Fall of Fu Pass
Huang Zhong and Wei Yan Rival with Each Other to take Luocheng
Zhang Zhao proceeded to outline his plan. “If you undertake any expedition farther west, Cao Cao will undoubtedly return and attack. I think it will be better for you to write two letters, one to Liu Zhang, saying that Liu Bei has allied himself with you to seize his territory, which will raise suspicions in his mind and cause him to attack his kinsman; and another letter to Zhang Lu, urging him to come and take Jingzhou, which will put Liu Bei at a complete impasse. That will be the moment for you to act and Jingzhou will be yours.”
Approving of his advice, Sun Quan wrote the two letters and sent them by two messengers.
In the meantime, Liu Bei had been winning the hearts of the people about Jiameng Pass, where his army stood. When he received the news of his wife’s flight and of Cao Cao’s attack on Ruxu, he called in Pang Tong and laid the matter before him. “The victor, whichever it is, will assuredly take the city of Jingzhou. What is to be done?”
The Three Kingdoms, Volume 2: The Sleeping Dragon: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation Page 38