The Three Kingdoms, Volume 1: The Sacred Oath: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation

by Luo Guanzhong

  Presently they approached a pass known as East Peak Pass, guarded by Kong Xiu and five hundred soldiers. When he was informed of Guan Yu’s arrival Kong Xiu came out to greet him. Guan Yu dismounted and returned the officer’s salute.

  Kong Xiu asked, “Where are you going, General?’

  “I have taken leave of the prime minister and am going to Hebei to find my brother.”

  “But Yuan Shao is the prime minister’s rival. You have authority from him to go there?”

  “I left in a hurry and did not get it,” said Guan Yu.

  “If you have no authority you must wait while I send someone to confirm it with the prime minister.”

  “That will delay my journey greatly,” said Guan Yu.

  “I must stand by my orders: that is the only thing to do,” said Kong Xiu.

  “Then you refuse to let me pass?”

  “If you want to go through leave the family as a pledge.”

  At this Guan Yu got very angry and made to strike at the officer on the spot, but he withdrew into the pass. Then he put on his mail, mounted his horse, and led his men to attack, accompanied by the beating of the drums. “You dare to go through, eh?”

  The carriage retreated to a safe distance and then Guan Yu rode directly at Kong Xiu, who set his spear and came to meet him. The two steeds met and the men engaged, but at the first stroke of Guan Yu’s mighty sword the commander of the pass fell dead. His men fled.

  “Don’t flee!” cried Guan Yu. “I killed him because I had no choice but I have nothing against you. I want you to tell the prime minister that I slew him in self-defense, for he wished to kill me.”

  The men bowed before him and Guan Yu, with the carriage, passed through the gates and then continued the journey to Luoyang. The guards there went quickly in to tell their master about his approach. Han Fu, prefect of the city, assembled his officers for counsel. One of them, whose name was Meng Tan, said, “This Guan Yu must be a fugitive or he would have a safe conduct. Our only course is to stop him or we will be blamed for neglecting our duty.”

  “The man is fierce and brave. Remember the fate of Yan Liang and Wen Chou. It is futile to oppose him by force and so we must think up some trap for him,” said the prefect.

  “I have a plan,” said the same officer. “First, we should guard the gate with a rampart of felled trees. When he comes I will go to fight with him. I will feign defeat and flee to induce him to follow me, and you can shoot him from an ambush along the road. If we can capture him and his party, and send them as prisoners to the capital, we should be well rewarded.”

  This plan was adopted. Soon they heard that Guan Yu had arrived. Han Fu got ready his bow and arrows and rode out with a thousand men to take up positions in front of the pass. Then as the party approached Han Fu asked, “Who is that?”

  Guan Yu bowed low and said, “I am Guan Yu and I wish to go through the pass.”

  “Do you have a written permission from the prime minister?”

  “In my hurry to depart I failed to get this.”

  “My special orders from him are to hold this pass and guard against all spies that may come by. Any person without a written permission must be a fugitive.”

  Then Guan Yu began to be angry, and he told them what had happened to Kong Xiu. “Do you also seek death?” he asked.

  “Who will capture him for me?” cried Han Fu, and Meng Tan offered himself. He rode out, whirling his double swords and made straight for Guan Yu.

  Guan Yu sent the carriage out of danger and then rode toward Meng Tan. They engaged, but very soon Meng Tan turned his steed and fled. Guan Yu pursued. Meng Tan, intent only on leading his enemy toward where the prefect was waiting in ambush, knew little about the speed of the Red Hare. Very soon he was caught and a stroke of the mighty sword cut him into two pieces. Then Guan Yu turned back. The prefect hid himself behind the gate and mustered all his strength to shoot an arrow which lodged in the left arm of Guan Yu. He pulled it out with his teeth but the blood streamed down as he rode at the prefect, Han Fu, scattering the soldiers in front of him. Before he could escape Guan Yu raised his sword and made an oblique cut which sliced off the head and shoulder of his opponent.

  Then he drove off the soldiers and returned to escort the carriage. He bound up his wound, and, fearing lest anyone might take advantage of his weakness, dared not make long halts on the road, but hurried toward Sishui Pass.

  The warden of this pass was Bian Xi, a warrior whose weapon was a flying hammer. He had been a member of the Yellow Turbans but had gone over to Cao Cao, who had given him this post. As soon as he heard of the coming of the redoubtable Guan Yu he cudgeled his brains for a scheme to use against him. Finally, he decided upon an ambush. In a temple in front of the pass he placed two hundred men armed with axes and swords. He planned to entice Guan Yu to enter the temple for refreshments and when he let fall a wine cup as signal the hidden men would rush out.

  All being thus arranged and ready, he went out to welcome Guan Yu, who dismounted at his coming. Bian Xi began very amiably.

  “Your name, General, makes the very earth tremble and everyone looks up to you. Your return to the emperor’s uncle, Liu Bei, proves you to be noble and true.”

  Guan Yu in reply told him about why he had slain the three men. Bian Xi replied, “You were right to slay them. When I see the prime minister I will explain to him that you had done so against your will.”

  Guan Yu thought he had found a friend and so rode with him through the pass to the temple, where they were met by a number of monks and the chiming of the bell.

  This temple, named Guardian of the State, had been in the private use of Emperor Ming (A.D. 57–75). In the temple were some thirty monks and among these there happened to be one who came from the same village as Guan Yu. His religious name was Pujing. Hearing who the visitor was, he came forward to speak with him.

  “General,” he said, “How long is it since you left your home village?”

  “Nearly twenty years,” replied Guan Yu.

  “Do you recognize me?”

  “I am afraid not. I have been away from the village too long.”

  “My house and yours were only separated by a stream,” said the monk.

  Now Bian Xi, seeing the monk holding forth about village matters, feared lest he should blab about the ambush, so he told him to be silent.

  “I want to invite General Guan to a feast. You priest fellows seem to have a lot to say,” said Bian Xi.

  Guan Yu said, “Well, when fellow villagers meet they naturally want to talk of old times.”

  Pujing invited the visitor to the guest room to take tea, but Guan Yu said, “The two ladies are out there in the carriage—they ought to have some refreshments first.”

  So the monk asked the attendants to take some tea to the ladies. Then he led Guan Yu inside, at the same time lifting the monk’s knife which he wore at his side and looking meaningfully at him. Guan Yu understood and brought along his weapon to keep close at his side.

  When Bian Xi invited Guan Yu to go into the main hall for some refreshments, Guan Yu turned to him and said, “Is this invitation good or evil?”

  Before his host could make any reply Guan Yu saw that many armed men were concealed behind the partition. He shouted loudly at Bian Xi: “I thought you were an honorable man. How dare you plot this?”

  The man saw that his plot had been exposed so he called the assassins to come out and attack, but Guan Yu had a short sword in his hand and slashed at anyone who came near. The rest of them scattered. Their commander ran down the hall and tried to escape through the corridor, but Guan Yu threw aside the short sword, took up his weighty Blue Dragon, and went after Bian Xi. Taking out his flying hammer, Bian Xi swung it at Guan Yu, who, knocking it aside with his sword, soon caught up with him. Then with one blow he cut him in halves.

  The fight over, he went out to see the two ladies, who were surrounded by soldiers—but at the sight of the terrible warrior all of them fled. Seekin
g out the monk, his fellow villager, he thanked him for the timely warning that had saved him from death.

  “I cannot remain here after this,” said Pujing. “I will pack up my few belongings and my alms bowl and take to the road, uncertain in my wanderings as the clouds in the sky. But we will meet again—till then take care of yourself.”

  Then Guan Yu continued his journey on the road to Yingyang. The prefect of this city was named Wang Zhi, and he was related by marriage to Han Fu, who had already been killed by Guan Yu. Hearing of the death of his relative, he schemed to kill Guan Yu. He sent men to guard the city gates and, when Guan Yu approached, he himself went out to greet him, smiling agreeably. Guan Yu related to him the purpose of his journey.

  “General, you must be quite exhausted riding such a long way, and the ladies in their carriage must be cramped and fatigued. Please come into the city and rest yourselves for the night in the guesthouse. You can set forth again tomorrow.”

  The offer was tempting and his host seemed sincere enough, so Guan Yu asked the two ladies to go into the city, where they found everything very comfortably prepared for them. And, though Guan Yu declined the prefect’s invitation to a banquet, refreshments for the travelers were sent to their lodging. As all of them were fatigued from the trials of the journey, Guan Yu asked the ladies to rest in the main room and told the attendants to feed the horses and get some sleep when they could as soon as the evening meal was over. He, too, took off his armor and enjoyed some relaxation.

  While the travelers were resting in their residence the prefect secretly called in one of his subordinates, named Hu Ban, with whom he shared the plot for the destruction of his guest. He said, “This Guan Yu is a fugitive, running away without the prime minister’s permission. What is more, he has slain prefects of cities and commanders of passes on the road, and is guilty of serious crimes. But he is too strong and valiant for us to overcome. I want you to take a thousand soldiers this evening to surround his lodging, each one armed with a torch, and we will burn him. Start the fire about midnight and burn everyone in there to death, no matter who. I will come with a force to assist you.”

  After receiving the order, Hu Ban got ready the men and told them to prepare in secret a lot of firewood and other combustibles and pile them up at the gate of the guesthouse. Hu Ban thought to himself, “I have long heard the name of this Guan Yu but I don’t know what manner of man he is. Let me go and have a peep at him.” So he went into the guesthouse and inquired where General Guan was.

  “The general is the man reading in the main hall,” was the reply.

  Hu Ban noiselessly made his way to the outside of the hall and peeped in. There he saw the famous warrior holding his long beard in his left hand while he read by the light of a lamp placed on a low table. An involuntary exclamation of admiration escaped him at the sight of the majesty of the figure.

  “A real god indeed!” he ejaculated.

  “Who is there?” asked Guan Yu.

  Hu Ban entered and told him who he was.

  “Are you the son of Hu Hua, who lives outside the capital?” asked Guan Yu.

  “Yes, I am,” replied Hu Ban.

  Then Guan Yu called up his followers and told them to take out the letter from the old man. Guan Yu handed it to Hu Ban, who read it and then sighed deeply. “I very nearly caused the death of a good man,” he said.

  Then he betrayed the whole plot. “Wang Zhi wants to kill you. At this moment you are surrounded on all sides. At the third watch they will set fire to this place. Now I will go and open the city gates while you hasten in your preparation for flight.”

  Guan Yu was greatly startled, but he quickly buckled up his armor, got his steed ready, roused the two ladies and put them into their carriage. Then they left the guesthouse. As they came out they saw the soldiers all about them, each with a torch. They hastened to the outskirts of the city and found the gate already open and they lost no time in getting clear of the city. Hu Ban returned to give orders to burn down the guesthouse.

  The fugitives pressed on but before long they saw lights coming up behind them and Wang Zhi called out to them to stop. Guan Yu reined in his horse and began to abuse him.

  “Wicked fellow! What had you against me that you wished to burn me to death?”

  Wang Zhi whipped up his steed and set his spear, but Guan Yu felled him with one mighty blow of his sword and scattered his followers.

  Then the carriage pushed on. On the way Guan Yu thought of the kindness of Hu Ban and his heart was filled with gratitude to him. Then they drew near Huazhou and the prefect, Liu Yan, rode out to welcome him with a few score of riders. Seated on horseback, Guan Yu bowed to him and greeted him politely.

  “Where are you going, sir?” asked Liu Yan.

  “I have bidden farewell to the prime minister and am on my way to find my brother.”

  “Liu Bei is with Yuan Shao, who is at enmity with the prime minister. How can you be allowed to go to him?” asked Liu Yan.

  “That matter was settled long ago.”

  “The Yellow River ferry is an important position and is guarded by an officer under Xiahou Dun. I don’t think he will let you cross.”

  “Could you provide boats for me, then?”

  “Though there are boats I dare not give them to you.”

  “Well, formerly I slew Yan Liang and Wen Chou and saved you from a grave danger. Now you refuse me a ferry boat!”

  “I am afraid Xiahou Dun will know of it and hold it against me.”

  Guan Yu perceived that no help was to be expected from this useless man, so he pushed on and presently reached the ferry. There the commander of the force, Qin Qi, came out with his army to question who he was, and Guan Yu told him.

  “Where are you bound?” asked Qin Qi.

  “I am going to Hebei to seek my brother, Liu Bei, and I entreat you to grant me a passage over the river.”

  “Where is the prime minister’s permission?”

  “I am not serving under him so why should I have his permission?”

  “I have orders from General Xiahou Dun to guard the ferry—even if you grew wings you could not fly over.”

  Guan Yu’s anger rose. “Do you know that I have been the death of all those who have hitherto tried to hinder me?” he said.

  “You have only been able to slay officers of no rank or reputation, but you dare not kill me.”

  “Where would you stand beside Yan Liang and Wen Chou?” asked Guan Yu.

  Qin Qi grew angry and, sword in hand, he came toward Guan Yu at a gallop. The two met, but in the first encounter Qin Qi’s head was swept off by his opponent’s terrible weapon.

  “He who opposed me is dead—you others need not be afraid,” cried Guan Yu. “Be quick and prepare me a boat.”

  The boat was soon ready and the two women stepped on board, followed by Guan Yu and the others. They crossed, and were then in the country of Yuan Shao. In the course of his journey up to this point Guan Yu had forced his way through five passes and slain six people.

  He hung up his seal, locked the gifts, his courtly mansion left,

  He journeyed to join his brother dear, too long from his side reft.

  The horse he rode was famed for speed as for endurance great,

  His mighty sword made a way for him and opened every gate.

  His loyalty and truth stand a model for all,

  His valor is known across rivers and hills.

  Alone he faced his opponents, t’was death to meet his blade,

  His glory has been praised by scholars and ne’er will fade.

  “I have killed all these people on my way against my will,” mused Guan Yu as he rode along.

  “When Cao Cao hears of it he will surely regard me as an ungrateful person.”

  Before long he saw a rider coming from the north, who called him by name and asked him to halt. He recognized him to be Sun Qian, whom he had not seen since they parted in Runan.

  “Have you heard any news of my brother since
we separated in Runan?” asked Guan Yu.

  “After your departure the city fell back into the hands of its former leaders, Liu Pi and Gong Du, who sent me to the north to seek peace with Yuan Shao and to invite your brother to go and help them in planning against Cao Cao. But to my disappointment Yuan Shao’s men are jealous of each other. Of the four chief advisors, one of them is in jail; another is disfavored; and the other two vie for power. Yuan Shao himself is suspicious by nature and hesitates in taking any action. So I advised your brother to seek an opportunity to get away from them all. Now he’s gone to Runan to join Liu Pi and I’ve come specially to inform you of this. It’s really fortunate for me to meet you here. Otherwise you’ d go to Yuan Shao and might be harmed by him. Now we must hasten to Runan to join your brother.”

  Then Sun Qian paid his respects to the two ladies, who asked him for news—he told them of the risks Liu Bei had suffered because of Yuan Shao’s sudden bursts of anger and that he was at present safe in Runan, where they would meet him.

  The two ladies covered their faces and wept as they listened to him. Now the party no longer traveled northward but took the road toward Runan. Not long after, however, a great cloud of dust rose behind them and presently an armed force appeared, led by Xiahou Dun, who shouted out to Guan Yu and demanded him to stop.

  One by one the pass commanders stopped his progress and were slain,

  Another army comes to block the way and he must fight again.

  How Guan Yu managed to escape will be told in the next chapter.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Guan Yu Kills Cai Yang to Clear Zhang Fei’s Doubt

  Liu Bei Is Reunited with His Followers at Old City

  The previous chapter ended with Sun Qian joining Guan Yu in escorting the two ladies on the road to Runan. Suddenly they were pursued by Xiahou Dun with three hundred followers. Sun Qian went ahead with the carriage while Guan Yu remained to deal with the pursuers. When his opponent drew near, Guan Yu said, “The prime minister is magnanimous enough to allow me to leave but your coming after me like this simply damages his name.”