“In this way you will win their hearts,” he added. “It would be wrong to reward your own men at the expense of the people.”
Liu Bei listened and gave in with good grace.
To Zhuge Liang he assigned the task of revising the laws. As the punishments for offenses were rather severe, Fa Zheng said, “The founder of Han drew up only three laws, and the people were all profoundly grateful for his benevolence. I would rather that the laws be few and liberal so as to live up to the people’s expectations.”
Zhuge Liang replied, “You only look at one part of this. The laws of the Qin Dynasty were cruel and were therefore resented by the people. So it was fitting that the founder of Han should temper them with kindness. But the situation here is different. Liu Zhang, being weak and inefficient, could neither rule with benevolence nor with severity. Hence the proper relationship between the ruler and his subordinates was gradually obscured. Those who had received his favor by being awarded office became cruel once they acquired the highest ranks; those who had benefited from his kindness turned ungrateful once the kindness was no longer bestowed. That eventually led to all the problems in his administration. Now I mean to inculcate fear through the law, so that when law is performed people will know gratitude; and to constrain behavior by ranks, so that when one is promoted in rank he will value its honor. In the mutual cooperation between gratitude and honor, and in a proper distinction between superiors and inferiors, lie the efficiency of a government.”
Fa Zheng was completely convinced. In due time, law and order was observed by both the military and civilians. All the forty-one districts, guarded by their garrisons, were finally peaceful and contented.
As prefect of the metropolitan district, Fa Zheng took advantage of his position to reward whomever had formerly given him as trivial a favor as a meal and to revenge on whomever had once offended him by so much as flashing an angry glance at him. Someone told this to Zhuge Liang, urging him to admonish Fa Zheng.
But Zhuge Liang replied, “When our lord was in Jingzhou, fearful of Cao Cao in the north and Sun Quan in the east, Fa Zheng gave him full support. In these prosperous days one can hardly begin to discipline him. Could we reasonably forbid him following his own way?”
So no investigation was made, but Fa Zheng, hearing of these words, began to restrain himself in his vengeance.
One day, when Liu Bei was chatting with Zhuge Liang at leisure, it was announced that Guan Yu had sent his adopted son, Guan Ping, to thank him for the handsome gifts. He called the young man in. Guan Ping paid his respects and handed over his father’s letter. Then he said that his father, hearing of Ma Chao’s excellent skill in martial arts, was anxious to come into Chengdu to compete with him.
Liu Bei was startled, “If he were to come and fight with Ma Chao I fear they would become enemies.”
“There is nothing to fear,” said Zhuge Liang. “I will write to him.”
Liu Bei, knowing his brother’s impulsive temperament, asked Zhuge Liang to compose the letter at once and send it back by Guan Ping.
When Guan Ping returned to Jingzhou, his father’s first question was about the contest with Ma Chao. The young man produced the letter:
“I hear you are anxious to compete with Ma Chao to determine which of you is the more valiant. Now Ma Chao may be unusually brave, but he is only of the class of Ying Bu and Peng Yue.* He might be a worthy rival of your younger brother Yi-de, but he is far from the standard set by you, General of the Beautiful Beard. Besides, you have been entrusted with the defense of Jingzhou, which is a very important task. If you come to Chengdu, and Jingzhou should be lost, would you not be guilty of a terrible neglect of your duty? Pray consider this.”
Guan Yu stroked his long beard and smiled as he read the letter. He knows me perfectly well, he said to himself. He showed the letter to his subordinates and friends. There was no more talk of going westward.
The success of Liu Bei in the west had been duly reported to Sun Quan, who again thought of obtaining the much-coveted Jingzhou. So he called in Zhang Zhao and Gu Yong to ask them for advice.
Zhang Zhao said that he had a scheme which would make Liu Bei return the place with outstretched hands without a fight.
In Shu there shines new sun and moon,
Wu dreams Jingzhou will be its own soon.
What this scheme was will be disclosed in the next chapter.
Footnotes
* A famous beauty in the period of Spring and Autumn.
† A virtuous but rather ugly woman in ancient China.
* Both were valiant officers of the founder of the Han Dynasty.
CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX
Armed with His Sword, Guan Yu Goes to a Feast Alone
Empress Fu Devotes Her Life to the State
As Sun Quan wanted Jingzhou back, his advisor Zhang Zhao proposed the following scheme: “The one man whom Liu Bei relies on most is Zhuge Liang. Now his brother is in your service. All you have to do is to seize his family and then send him west to see his brother and make him persuade Liu Bei to return Jingzhou. Tell him to say to Zhuge Liang that if he refuses, the family will perish—Zhuge Liang will not ignore the pleading of a brother.”
“But Zhuge Jin is a loyal and true man. I cannot lay hands upon his family,” said Sun Quan.
“Explain the ruse to him—that will set his mind at rest,” said Zhang Zhao.
Sun Quan consented and issued a command to pretend to confine Zhuge Jin’s family under house arrest. Then he wrote a letter for Zhuge Jin to take with him on his mission. Before long he reached the border of Chengdu and sent someone to inform Liu Bei of his arrival, who at once sought the advice of his able counselor.
“Why do you think your brother has come?”
“To ask for the return of Jingzhou.”
“How am I to answer him?”
Zhuge Liang told him what he should say.
Having decided on what to say, Zhuge Liang went out of the city to welcome his brother, but instead of taking him to his own residence, he took him to the guesthouse. When the greetings were over, the visitor suddenly lifted up his voice and wept.
“If you have any trouble, brother, tell me—why do you weep like this?” asked Zhuge Liang.
“Alas! my family are imprisoned and will die,” cried his elder brother.
“Is it because Jingzhou has not been returned? If your family have been seized on my account, how can my heart be at rest? But don’t be anxious, brother. I’ll certainly find some way to return the place to Wu.”
This reply pleased Zhuge Jin, and the two brothers went to see Liu Bei. The letter was presented, but when Liu Bei read it he said angrily, “Sun Quan has given his sister to me as a wife but he has secretly stolen her away during my absence from Jingzhou. That is utterly intolerable! I am just thinking of leading my army to seek vengeance upon him and yet he is brazen enough to ask me to give him Jingzhou.”
At this point Zhuge Liang prostrated himself, weeping at his lord’s feet and said, “The Lord of Wu has seized my brother’s family, and he will put them all to death if the land is not given back. Can I remain alive if such a fate should befall my brother? I pray you, my lord, return the district for my sake and prevent any breach between my brother and me.”
But Liu Bei refused. He seemed obdurate, but Zhuge Liang persisted in his entreaty. Finally Liu Bei reluctantly conceded.
“All right. For your sake I will return half of the Jingzhou region to him,” he said. “I will give up Changsha, Lingling, and Guiyang.”
“Since you have consented, please write a letter to Yun-chang and order him to yield these three districts,” said Zhuge Liang.
Liu Bei said to his visitor, “When you see my brother you must use most gracious words to plead with him, for he is fiery-tempered, and I myself am afraid of him. So be very careful.”
Zhuge Jin, having got the letter, took his leave and went straight away to Jingzhou to see Guan Yu. He was welcomed into the reception hall. When both were se
ated in their respective places as host and guest, the emissary produced Liu Bei’s letter, saying, “Your lord has promised to return three districts to Wu, and I hope, General, you will hand them over at once so that I can go back to see my master.”
Guan Yu’s countenance changed, and he said, “My brother and I swore an oath in the Peach Garden to support the House of Han. Jingzhou is a portion of the Han domain, and how can any part be given to another? As is known to all, ‘When a general is out in the field, he receives no orders, not even those of his prince.’ Although you have brought a letter from my brother, yet I will not yield the territory.”
“But my lord has laid hands upon my family, and they will be slain if the land is not returned. Have pity on me, General!”
“This is only a ruse on his part, but it does not deceive me.”
“Why are you so pitiless?”
Guan Yu drew his sword, saying, “Say no more. This sword is pitiless.”
“Do not be so angry, father,” said Guan Ping. “Remember he is brother of our Chief Counselor.”
“Were it not for my respect for our Chief Counselor,” said Guan Yu, “you would never get back to Wu.”
Zhuge Jin, overwhelmed with shame, took his leave and hastily returned to Shu to see his brother again. But Zhuge Liang had gone away on a journey. So he could only go and see Liu Bei, to whom he reported that Guan Yu wanted to slay him.
“My brother is impetuous,” said Liu Bei. “It is difficult to argue with him. But go back home for the present. When I have finished my conquest of East Chuan and Hanzhong, I will transfer Guan Yu to another post, and then I will be able to return Jingzhou.”
As there was no other alternative, Zhuge Jin had to accept this and return home with the unsatisfactory news to his master, who was greatly annoyed, saying, “Your running to and fro was probably nothing more than one of your brother’s tricks.”
The poor messenger denied this and told Sun Quan how his brother had pleaded with tears and obtained the promise to return the three districts. “It was the obstinacy of Guan Yu that spoiled all,” he insisted.
“Since Liu Bei said he would return the three districts, we may send officials there to take over their administration,” said Sun Quan. “Do you think that might be done?”
“That seems most proper.”
The family of Zhuge Jin were freed from confinement and officers were sent to take charge of the three districts that had been named. But they quickly returned, saying that Guan Yu would have none of them, but had driven them away at once with threats to kill them if they did not hasten. Sun Quan then summoned Lu Su and laid the blame on him.
“You are Liu Bei’s guarantor in this matter—how can you sit quietly looking on while he fails to fulfill his contract?” said Sun Quan.
“I have thought out a plan and was just going to impart it to you, my lord,” said Lu Su.
“And what is your plan?”
Lu Su said, “I will station an army at Lukou and then invite Guan Yu to a banquet there. I will first try to reason with him. If he remains obstinate, I will have some assassins ready to slay him. Should he refuse to come to the banquet, then we will simply settle the issue in battle.”
“This sounds good to me,” said Sun Quan, “but it must be done quickly.”
“This will not do,” interrupted Kan Ze. “Guan Yu is a veritable tiger and not at all like common men. If the plan fails it will only result in more harm.”
“Then when will I expect to gain Jingzhou?” retorted Sun Quan angrily.
He ordered Lu Su to carry out his plan, and so Lu Su went to Lukou where, after consulting his close subordinates, he decided to give the banquet at a pavilion overlooking the river near his camp. Then he wrote a letter and found a persuasive person to deliver it. The messenger sailed across the river to the other shore, where he was received by Guan Ping, who conducted him to his father.
“Since Lu Su invites me, I will go tomorrow,” said Guan Yu to the man. “You may leave.”
After the messenger had gone, Guan Ping said to his father, “Why did you promise to go? I think Lu Su intends evil.”
“Do you think I don’t know? This is because of my refusal to yield those three districts. They are going to try coercion at this banquet. If I refuse to go they will think I fear them. I will go tomorrow in a small ship with just a dozen of my personal attendants. With my sword at my side, I don’t think Lu Su dares to come near me.”
“But, father, why risk your precious self to enter the very den of a tiger? I am afraid you are not giving due attention to my uncle’s deepest trust in you for the defense of this city.”
“I have been in the midst of imminent dangers all alone and have been careless of them; do you think I will worry about a few such rats as those?”
Nor was the son alone in trying to dissuade him from going. Ma Liang also warned his chief.
“Although Lu Su has a fine reputation, yet he is being pushed too hard and his banquet certainly means evil. You must be careful, General.”
Guan Yu replied, “I have given my word, and can I withdraw from it? In the days of the Warring States, Lin Xiangru of the kingdom of Zhao, who had not even the strength to bind a chicken, was bold enough to defy the ruler of Qin and his whole court in the assembly at Mianzhi,* let alone me, who has developed the skill to face any number of foes. I can’t break my promise.”
“If you must go,” said Ma Liang, “at least go prepared.”
“Choose ten fast ships and five hundred good marines. Let these be in readiness to help me if necessary,” said Guan Yu to his son. “And when you see a red flag hoisted up, come over to my aid.”
Guan Ping went to get the ships ready.
The messenger returned to his master and told him that Guan Yu had boldly accepted the invitation. Lu Su took counsel with Lu Meng.
“What do you think of this?” asked Lu Su.
“If he comes with a force, Gan Ning and I will each take a troop and lie in wait for him by the riverside. And at a signal explosion we will begin our attack. If he has no force with him, then we need only place fifty guards behind the pavilion and slay him during the banquet.”
The next day a lookout was kept on the bank, and early in the day a single ship came along. It was manned by very few people, and a red flag fluttered in the wind showing one big character “Guan,” the surname of the great warrior. Presently they could see him, a magnificent figure in a green robe and black turban. Beside him stood Zhou Cang, his sword-bearer, and near him were eight or nine powerful-looking men, each with a sword at his side.
Guan Yu landed and was received by an apprehensive Lu Su, who conducted him to the hall, and after the greetings, led him to the banquet chamber. When he raised his cup to urge his guest to drink Lu Su dared not even meet his eyes, but Guan Yu was perfectly composed.
In the middle of the feast, Lu Su said, “I have a word to say to you, General, if I may have your attention. As you know, your illustrious brother pledged to my master through my mediation that Jingzhou would be returned after Yizhou had been taken. Well, now the west is in his possession, but Jingzhou is still not returned. Isn’t this a breach of good faith?”
“This is government business,” said Guan Yu. “Such matters should not be discussed at a banquet.”
“My master only has the meager possession of the east, and he allowed the temporary loan of Jingzhou purely out of the consideration that your brother, being newly defeated, had no place of his own. But now he has Yizhou, and Jingzhou should be handed over to us. Your brother has agreed to yield three districts first, but you, sir, refuse to do so. This seems hard to explain on reasonable grounds.”
Guan Yu replied, “My brother braved arrows and stones in the battle at Wuling and exerted himself to drive back the enemy. Should he be denied a single foot of land for all his efforts? How can you come to force this place from me?”
“No, this is not true,” said Lu Su. “At that time you and your brother suffere
d defeat at the Long Slope. You were in greatest straits, like fugitives who did not know where to turn. Then my master, moved with pity, did not grudge the land. So he gave your brother a foothold from where he might be able to accomplish other ends. But your brother has broken both faith and friendship. He has acquired Yizhou, yet he still occupies Jingzhou. Such greed and such treachery will put him to shame before the whole world, as you well know.”
“All that does not concern me. I cannot interfere in my brother’s affairs.”
“I know that by the oath in the Peach Garden you three are to live or die together. Your brother’s affairs are yours, too. How can you say it does not concern you?”
Before Guan Yu could make a reply, his sword-bearer Zhou Cang roared, “He who is virtuous should own the land. Why must the territory belong to you people of Wu only?”
Guan Yu changed color at this. Rising from his seat, he took his sword from his sword-bearer and said, feigning reproach: “How dare you interrupt during a discussion of state matters? Get out quickly!” And he gave him a meaningful look.
Zhou Cang took the hint. He left immediately for the riverbank and waved the red flag. At this signal Guan Ping’s ten ships darted across like arrows and were ready for action.
The mighty sword in his right hand, Guan Yu laid hold of his host with his left, and simulating intoxication, said: “You have kindly invited me today, sir, but do not say anything about Jingzhou, for I am so drunk that I may forget our old friendship. Some other day I hope to invite you to Jingzhou, and then we will talk about that matter.”
Poor Lu Su’s soul almost left his body with fright as he was led down to the riverbank in the grip of his guest. The two officers he had placed in ambush dared not stir lest Lu Su should be injured. It was only when they got to the bank that Guan Yu released his host, got on board, and then said farewell. Lu Su stood dazed, staring at the receding ship, while a fair breeze bore it quickly out of sight.
The Three Kingdoms, Volume 2: The Sleeping Dragon: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation Page 45