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

by Luo Guanzhong

  “How can my resentment be assuaged save by the death of this man?” responded Guan Yu. “I have made up my mind, so say no more.”

  The next day Guan Yu took the field first, but Pang De quickly came out. Both arrayed their men and then went to the front at the same moment. This time neither spoke, and the combat began immediately. It went on for fifty bouts and then Pang De turned his horse and fled, dragging along his sword. Guan Yu went in pursuit, and Guan Ping, afraid of any mishap, followed as well.

  As he followed, Guan Yu, anticipating his opponent to employ a foul stroke of his sword, berated his foe: “You rascal! I know what trick you are up to. Do you think I will be afraid of you?”

  But Pang De had only pretended that he would resort to a sudden blow of his sword in order to cover up his intention to use his bow. He furtively hung the sword onto the saddle, fitted an arrow to his bow, and was just on the point of shooting when Guan Ping, who was sharp-eyed, shouted out a warning to his father.

  “Do not shoot, you scoundrel!”

  Guan Yu hastened to look, but the bowstring sang and the arrow came flying toward him. It was too late to avoid it and the arrow wounded his left arm. Guan Ping at once rushed to his father’s side and rescued him back to camp. Pang De had turned back to follow, whirling his sword, but ‘ere he had a chance to strike, the gongs of his own side rang out so loudly that he thought there was something amiss in the rear and he returned to camp.

  In fact the signal for retreat had been sounded by Yu Jin out of jealousy, for he had seen Guan Yu wounded by the arrow and he feared his colleague might win the glory of success, which would eclipse his own.

  “Why did the gongs clang?” asked Pang De when he returned.

  “Well, our prince has warned us of Guan Yu’s craftiness and valor. Though he was wounded I feared there might be some trick on his part. So I ordered the gongs to be sounded.”

  “I would have killed him if you had not done that,” said Pang De.

  “Haste makes slow progress—it’s better to be cautious,” said Yu Jin.

  Pang De, ignorant of his chief’s real intention, regretted greatly having missed such a good chance.

  Guan Yu went back to camp, and the arrowhead was puled out of the wound. Fortunately it had not penetrated deeply, and the usual remedies against injuries by metal were applied. Guan Yu now hated his enemy so intensely that he swore to have his revenge for this wound.

  His officers tried to calm him down. “Rest a few days first and fight him when you get well.”

  The following day Pang De renewed his challenge, and Guan Yu wished to go out to fight. However, he yielded to the entreaties of his officers. And when Pang De set his men to abuse the great warrior, Guan Ping saw to it that his father never heard of it. After ten days of futile challenges, Pang De proposed a plan to Yu Jin.

  “Evidently Guan Yu is unable to stir due to his arrow wound,” said Pang De. “We can take advantage and attack his camp with all our seven divisions. Thus we will relieve the siege of Fancheng.”

  But out of the same fear that his colleague might succeed Yu Jin again urged caution and obedience to the warning of the Prince of Wei. He refused to move his men in spite of Pang De’s repeated requests; furthermore, he moved the seven forces to a new camp behind some hills, about ten li north of Fancheng. He himself led his men to hold the main road, but sent Pang De to deploy behind a valley so that he could do nothing.

  To the son’s great joy Guan Yu’s wound quickly healed. Soon after, Guan Ping heard of Yu Jin’s movement and suspecting some ruse, he told his father, who went up to a high point to reconnoiter. Looking round, he noted the general slackness inside Fancheng, the new enemy camp in a valley to the north of the city, and the swift current of the Xiang River. After memorizing the topography, he called the guide and asked him about the name of the valley.

  “Fishnet Stream,” was the reply.

  Guan Yu chuckled. “I will capture Yu Jin,” he said.

  His men asked him how he knew that. He replied, “Why, how can the ‘fish’ last long once it is caught in a ‘net’?”

  Those in his train gave but little weight to what he said, and presently he went back to his own tent. It was just then the time for fall rains, and a heavy downpour came on lasting several days. Guan Yu gave orders to get ready boats and rafts and other equipment for a water crossing.

  Bewildered, Guan Ping asked his father, “What’s the use of such equipment in a dry land campaign?”

  “Well, it’s not for you to know,” replied his father. “Our enemies, instead of camping on the open ground, have chosen to crowd themselves into the precipitous valley of the Fishnet Stream. These are the days of the fall rain and in no time the Xiang River will swell. I have already sent men to dam up all the outlets. When the river rises to its highest I will open the dams and let the water pour into the valley and the city of Fancheng. All the soldiers there will be drowned.”

  Guan Ping bowed in full admiration of his father’s foresight.

  It is time to return to the men of Wei. They had camped in the gully, and after several days of heavy rain an officer named Cheng He ventured to speak to his general.

  He said, “The army is camped here in a depression and the ground is very low. There are hills but they are too far off and our men are suffering from these incessant fall rains. Lately I hear the Jingzhou men have moved to higher ground and moreover, they are preparing fighting boats and rafts at the mouth of the Han River. If the river floods our men will be in real danger. Something should be done as soon as possible.”

  But Yu Jin only scoffed at his words, saying, “Are you trying to upset my men? I will kill you if you dare to bring that up again.”

  Cheng He left feeling greatly mortified. But he went to relate this to Pang De, who saw the wisdom of his words and promised him that if Yu Jin would not move his camp the next day, he himself would do so.

  That night there came a great storm. As Pang De sat in his tent he heard a thundering noise as of 10,000 horses in a stampede, like the rolling of war drums shaking the earth. Extremely alarmed, he hastily mounted his charger to go out and see what it meant. Then he saw the water rushing in from the four sides and eight directions and the men of the seven forces flying from the flood, which speedily rose to a height of ten feet. He and Yu Jin and the other officers sought safety by hurrying up the hills.

  At dawn, Guan Yu and his men came up in large boats with flags flying and drums beating. Yu Jin, whose following had been reduced to about three score, saw no way of escape and so he surrendered. Guan Yu made them strip and then took them on board.

  After that he went to capture Pang De, who was standing on a hillock with the two Dongs, Cheng He and the faithful five hundred, all without armor. At the approach of Guan Yu, Pang De betrayed no sign of fear, but went boldly to meet him. Guan Yu surrounded the party with his boats, and ordered his archers to shoot. When more than half the men had been struck down, the survivors became exasperated. The two Dongs entreated their chief to give in. But Pang De only raged.

  “I have received great kindness from the prince—do you think I will bow my head to another?”

  He slew the two Dongs and then shouted, “Anyone who says surrender will be as these two.”

  So the others put up a desperate struggle to beat off their enemy, and they held their ground till midday. Then Guan Yu’s men redoubled their efforts, and the arrows and stones rained down upon the men of Wei, who were ordered to fight hand-to-hand with their assailants.

  “The valorous leader does not defect to avoid death—the brave warrior does not break faith to save his life,” cried Pang De to Cheng He. “This is the day of my death. You must fight on to the last.”

  So Chang He pressed on but was soon shot by Guan Yu and fell into the water. Then the remaining soldiers yielded.

  Pang De alone fought on. Then a boat happened to come close to him. With a tremendous leap Pang De bounded on to it and slashed at the occupants, killing
a dozen instantly. The others jumped overboard and swam away. Then Pang De, one hand still holding his sword, tried to maneuver the boat across the river to the city. At that moment there came rushing downstream a big raft, which dashed against his boat, overturning it and throwing him into the water. The officer on the raft jumped into the water and captured him alive.

  It was Zhou Cang, who was a good swimmer, and after living in Jingzhou for many years, was thoroughly expert in amphibious warfare. Besides, he was very powerful and so was able to capture Pang De.

  In this flood perished the whole of the seven forces, except the few that saved themselves by swimming—these latter, having no way of escape, surrendered to the victors.

  In the depth of night rolled the drums of war.

  Flooded was the flat land around the city of Fan.

  Guan Yu’s plan to drown his foes had no match

  And his prowess was told down the ages.

  Guan Yu then returned to the higher ground, where his tent was pitched, and took his seat to receive his prisoners. The soldiers brought in Yu Jin, who prostrated himself humbly and begged for his life.

  “How dared you oppose me?”

  “I was bound by an order from my superior,” pleaded Yu Jin. “Have pity on me, sir, and I swear I will repay you with my life.”

  “To execute you would be like killing a dog or a hog. It would be soiling weapons for nothing,” laughed Guan Yu, stroking his beard.

  Yu Jin was bound and sent to the prison in Jingzhou. “I will decide your fate when I return,” said Guan Yu.

  Then Pang De was brought forth. He came out, anger flashing in his eyes, refusing to kneel but standing boldly erect.

  “You have a brother in Hanzhong and your former chief Ma Chao is also a general in Shu. Had you not better join them?”

  “I would rather perish under the sword than surrender,” cried Pang De.

  He reviled his captor without ceasing till, losing patience, Guan Yu ordered him to be put to death. He stretched out his neck for the executioner’s sword. Out of pity he was honorably buried.

  As the water had not receded, they again boarded their boats to seize Fancheng, which now stood as an island, with waves lashing against its walls. Under the pounding of the water the city wall began to crumble and the residents, male and female, tried in vain to strengthen it with mud and bricks. The officers, scared out of their wits, went to see Cao Ren and said, “It is beyond man’s power to fend off this danger. Since the enemy is not yet here we may have a chance to escape by boat at night. We will lose the city, but we will save our lives.”

  Cao Ren agreed. But Man Chong interposed before the boats could be got ready. He pointed out that the sudden flooding could not last for long and would certainly recede within ten days.

  He added, “Though Guan Yu has not assaulted the city, he has sent another force to Jiaxia. He has not advanced so far because he is afraid lest we might fall upon his rear. Remember, too, that the abandonment of this city means the whole area south of the Yellow River no longer belongs to us. I pray, General, you will do your best to hold this place to safeguard our country.”

  Cao Ren joined his hands together to thank Man Chong, saying, “What a serious error I would have committed had it not been for you, sir!”

  Then riding his white charger he went up to the city wall, gathered his officers around him and vowed: “The prince has commanded me to defend this city, and defend it I will. Whoever dares to mention abandoning the city will be put to death.”

  Inspired by this, his officers all promised to defend the city till their last gasp. Then they saw to it that the means of defense were good. Hundreds of archers and crossbowmen were stationed on the wall, which was closely watched night and day. Ordinary folks, old and young, were made to carry earth and rocks to strengthen the wall. After some ten days the flood gradually receded.

  Since his sweeping victory over the men of Wei, Guan Yu’s fame spread even wider and his name became a terror to all. About this time his second son, Xing, came to visit his father. Guan Yu thought this a good opportunity to send his report of success to Chengdu, and so he told Guan Xing to deliver to the Prince of Hanzhong a dispatch mentioning each officer’s services and requesting promotions for them. Guan Xing accordingly took leave of his father and left for Chengdu.

  After his son’s departure he divided his men into two divisions, one under himself to attack the city, and the other to go to Jiaxia. That day Guan Yu rode over to the north gate. Reining in his steed, he pointed with his whip toward the defenders on the wall, and called out: “Surrender, you bunch of rats! What are you waiting for?”

  Cao Ren, who was on the wall, saw that Guan Yu had worn only a breast-plate and one of his arms was left uncovered by his green robe. He hastened to order his five hundred men to shoot, who at once let out a tremendous volley of arrows toward the great warrior. Guan Yu hastily withdrew, but an arrow struck his right arm and he fell from his horse.

  Seven forces had just perished by the river’s overflow;

  An arrow from the city wall laid a valiant warrior low.

  What would befall Guan Yu will be told in the next chapter.

  Continued in Volume 3 of The Three Kingdoms.

  Ron Iverson first visited China in 1984 as the personal representative of the Mayor of Chicago as part of a Sister Cities program. For the past 30 years he has continued to regularly visit China and has founded joint business ventures with Chinese partners and taught Business Strategy at Tongji University in Shanghai. He also personally arranged the first ever exhibition of Forbidden City artifacts from the palace Museum in Beijing to tour the US.

  Early in his visits to China, Iverson discovered The Three Kingdoms and came to realize the enormous cultural significance the Chinese people place in the book. Believing that one needed to be familiar with the principles revealed in the book in order to find business or political success in China, and being dissatisfied with existing translations, Iverson decided to fund and edit a new translation aimed towards delivering the thrill of a contemporary novel while imparting understanding of a key aspect of Chinese culture.

  Yu Sumei is a professor of English at East China Normal University. She has translated several English language books into Chinese and is the first native Chinese speaker to translate The Three Kingdoms into English. She invested a total of two years into working on this new translation of The Three Kingdoms, spending the time on sabbatical in New York with her daughter, who typed the translation out as she completed it.