“I am but a poor priest of Langye Temple. More than half a century ago, when gathering herbs in the woods, I found near the Yangqu Spring a book called The Way of Tranquility. It contains a hundred and more chapters describing various ways to cure the diseases of men. Since it came into my possession I have devoted myself to spreading its teachings and saving mankind. I have never taken anything from the people. Can you say I incite men to evil deeds?”
“You say you take nothing—where do you get your clothes and your food? You are exactly like Zhang Jue, the Yellow Turban chief, and you will work mischief if you are left alive.”
“Take him away and put him to death,” he said to his attendants.
Zhang Zhao interceded, “This priest has been here these many years. He has never done any harm and does not deserve death or punishment.”
“I tell you I will kill these wizard fellows just as I would cattle.”
All the officials interceded, even the guest of honor Chen Zhen, but Sun Ce still refused to be placated. He ordered the priest to be imprisoned.
The banquet came to an end and Yuan Shao’s messenger retired to his lodging. Sun Ce also returned to his place.
His treatment of the Taoist holy man soon reached the ears of his mother. She sent for her son and said to him, “They tell me you’ve put the holy man Yu Ji in prison. He’s cured many sick people and helped soldiers and the common folk hold him in great reverence. Don’t harm him.”
“He’s simply a wizard who upsets the multitude with his spells and craft. He must be put to death,” replied Sun Ce.
She tried her best to bring him to reason but he was obstinate. “Don’t heed the gossip of the street, mother,” he said. “I know how to deal with this.”
However, he sent his men to bring the priest over for interrogation. Now the jailers had a great respect for Yu Ji and faith in his powers so they were very kind to him and had taken off his chains and collar. But when Sun Ce sent for him, he went in fetters.
When Sun Ce learned about this he punished the jailers severely. Yu Ji was sent back to prison in fetters. Zhang Zhao and many others signed a petition that they humbly presented to their chief, offering themselves to stand surety for the prisoner.
Sun Ce said to them, “Gentlemen, you are great scholars, but why don’t you understand reason? Formerly the Governor of Jiaozhou was deluded by these heretical doctrines into doing all sorts of absurd things, like beating drums, twanging lyres, and burning incense. He constantly wore a red turban and declared that it would ensure victory to an army. But he was slain by the enemy. There is nothing in all this, only none of you will see it. I am going to put this fellow to death in order to stop the spread of this pernicious doctrine.”
Lu Fan interposed: “I know very well this Yu Ji is able to summon the wind and command the rain. It is very dry just now, why not make him pray for rain as a punishment?”
“We will see what sort of witchcraft he is equal to,” said Sun Ce.
So he had the prisoner brought in, loosened his fetters, and sent him up to an altar to pray for rain.
The docile Taoist priest prepared to do as he was bidden. He first bathed himself, then dressed himself in clean garments. After that he bound his limbs with a cord and sat down in the fierce heat of the sun. People came in crowds to look on.
He said, “I will pray for three feet of refreshing rain for the benefit of the people. Nevertheless I will not escape death.”
“But if your prayer is efficacious our lord must believe in your powers,” said the people.
“The day of doom has come for me and there is no escape.”
Presently, Sun Ce came near the altar and announced that if rain had not fallen by noon he would burn the priest. And to confirm this he ordered his men to prepare the pyre.
As noon drew near a strong wind sprang up and clouds gathered from all directions. But there was no rain.
“It is near noon,” said Sun Ce. “Clouds are of no account without rain. He is only an impostor.”
He told his attendants to put the priest on the pile of wood and light the fire on all sides. Fanned by the wind the flames rose rapidly. Suddenly from the ground emerged a wreath of black vapor that flew up to the sky, followed by roaring thunder and vivid lightning, peal after peal and flash after flash. And then came the pouring rain. In a short time the streets became rivers and it was, indeed, three feet tall.
Yu Ji, who was still lying upon the pile of firewood, uttered a loud cry and instantly the clouds dispersed, the rain stopped, and the glorious sun reappeared.
Then officials and people helped the priest down, loosened the cord that bound him, and bowed before him in gratitude for the rain.
But Sun Ce boiled with rage at seeing his officers and the people kneeling in the water regardless of the damage to their clothing.
“Rain or shine is the work of nature and the wizard has happened to hit upon the right moment. What are you making all this fuss about?” he cried.
Then he drew his sword and told the attendants to kill the priest with it. They all entreated him to spare his life.
“You want to follow Yu Ji in rebellion, I suppose,” cried Sun Ce.
The officers, now thoroughly cowed by the rage of their lord, fell silent and dared not show opposition when the executioners seized the unfortunate man and beheaded him.
They saw a wreath of black smoke rise and drift away to the northeast.
The corpse was exposed in the market place as a warning to enchanters and wizards and similar people. That night there came a very violent storm and when it cleared up at daylight there was no trace of the body. The guards reported this to Sun Ce and in his wrath he wanted to sentence them to death. But at that moment he saw Yu Ji calmly walking toward him as if he were still alive. He was so furious that he drew his sword to strike at the wraith, but he fainted and fell to the ground.
They carried him to his chamber and after quite some time he recovered consciousness.
His mother, Lady Wu, came to visit him and said, “My son, you’ve done wrong to slay the holy man and this is your retribution.”
“Mother, when I was a boy I went with my father to the wars, where men were cut down as one cuts hemp stalks. There has never been any retribution. I’ve put this fellow to death and so eliminated a great evil. Where does retribution come in?”
“Your illness comes from want of faith,” she replied. “Now you must avert the evil by meritorious deeds.”
“My fate rests with Heaven—wizards can do me no harm, so why avert anything?’
His mother saw that it was useless to try persuasion with him, but she told his attendants to do some good deeds secretly so that the evil could be turned aside.
That night, about the second watch, as Sun Ce lay in his chamber, he suddenly felt a chill breeze, which extinguished the light for a moment (although it soon brightened again), and he saw in the light the form of Yu Ji standing near his bed.
Sun Ce said, “I am the sworn foe of witchcraft and I will purge the world of all those that deal in magic. You are a ghost—how dare you approach me?”
Reaching down for a sword that hung at the head of his bed he hurled it at the phantom, which then disappeared. When his mother heard this story her grief redoubled. Sun Ce, ill as he was, did his utmost to reassure his mother.
She said, “An ancient saint once said, ‘How abundantly do spiritual beings display the powers that belong to them!’ Also, ‘Prayers be made to the spirits of the upper and lower worlds.’ Even saints believed in spirits and gods. You must have faith. You sinned in putting the Taoist priest to death and retribution is sure. I’ve already arranged to have sacrifices performed at the monastery and you should go in person to pray. May it all come right!”
Sun Ce dared not withstand such a mandate from his mother so, against his wish, he got into a sedan chair and went to the monastery, where the Taoist priests received him respectfully and asked him to light the incense. He did so, but he did n
ot pray. To the surprise of all, the smoke from the burner, instead of floating upwards and dissipating, collected in a mass that gradually shaped itself into an umbrella—and there on the top sat Yu Ji.
Sun Ce simply spat abuse and started to leave the hall. But as he was going out he saw standing right at the door Yu Ji gazing at him with angry eyes.
“Do you see that wizard fellow?” he asked those about him.
They all said they saw nothing. Growing more angry than ever he flung his sword at the figure by the door but the sword struck one of his soldiers, who fell. When they turned him over they found it was the executioner who had actually slain the Taoist priest. The sword had penetrated his brain and his life drained out through the seven channels of perception. Sun Ce told them to bury the man. But as he went out of the monastery he saw Yu Ji walking in.
“This temple is nothing more than a lurking place for sorcerers and wizards and such people,” he said.
Therefore he took a seat in front of the building and sent for five hundred soldiers to pull the place down. When they climbed up the roof to strip off the tiles he saw Yu Ji standing above the building and tossing tiles to the ground. In a rage he told them to drive the priests out of the monastery and burn the place. They did so and when the flames rose high he saw the dead Taoist, Yu Ji, standing in the midst of the fire.
Sun Ce returned home in a very bad humor, which turned into fury when he saw the form of Yu Ji standing at his gate. He would not enter but mustered his army and went to camp outside the city. And there he summoned his officers to talk over joining Yuan Shao in an attack on Cao Cao.
They assembled, but they remonstrated with him and begged him to consider his precious health. That night he slept in the camp and again saw Yu Ji, this time with his hair hanging loose. He raged at the vision without cessation.
The next day his mother called him into the city and he went. She was shocked at the change in his appearance—he looked so utterly miserable. Her tears fell.
“My son,” she said, “how changed you are!”
He had a mirror brought forth and looked at himself—he was indeed so gaunt and thin that he was frightened and exclaimed, “How did I come to look so haggard?”
While he spoke, Yu Ji appeared again in the mirror. He struck it and shrieked. Then his half healed wounds reopened and he fainted.
He was carried into his bed. When he recovered consciousness he said, “This is the end—I’m going to die.”
He sent for Zhang Zhao and his other chief officials as well as his brother, Sun Quan, who all gathered in his chamber. He exhorted: “With our vast population and the strong defense of the three rivers we have a brilliant future in this chaotic time.” Then, turning to Zhang Zhao and the others, he said, “You must all assist my brother.”
So saying he handed his seal to Sun Quan and said, “We both have our own merits. In leading the people to fight opposing forces and so contend with the world, you’re not so suited as I am. But in encouraging the wise and confiding in the able and getting the best out of every one for the preservation of his district, I can’t succeed as you will. Remember with what toil and labor your father and I have won what we possess and take good care of it.”
Sun Quan wept as he knelt to receive the seal and the dying chief turned to his mother, “Mother, the days allotted by Heaven have run out and I can no longer wait upon you. I’ve given over the seal to my brother and trust that you’ll advise him day and night, and see that he lives in a way worthy of his predecessors.”
“But I fear your brother is too young for such a task,” said his mother weeping. “If anything should happen, what then?”
“He’s far more capable than me and fully equal to the task of ruling. Should he have doubts upon internal affairs, he can seek advice from Zhang Zhao; for external affairs he can consult Zhou Yu. It’s a pity Zhou Yu is absent so that I can’t tell him in person.”
To his other brothers he said, “When I’m gone you must all help Zhong-mou (Sun Quan). Should anyone in the clan dare to betray, let the others punish the wrong-doer; should a brother dare to rebel, do not let him be buried among his ancestors in the family vaults.”
The young men wept as they took these orders. Then he called for his wife, the famous beauty of the Qiao family, and said, “Unhappily we have to part in the middle of our married life. You must care for my mother. When your sister comes to see you, ask her to tell her husband Zhou Yu to help my brother in all things so as not to fail my friendship and trust in him.”
Then he closed his eyes and soon after passed away. He was only twenty-six.
Men called him Formidable Little Lord,
The east had felt his might,
He schemed like a tiger in wait,
Struck as a hawk in flight.
There was peace in the land he ruled,
His fame ran with the wind,
But he died and left to his brother,
The great scheme in his mind.
As he breathed his last his brother, Sun Quan, sank by his bed and wept.
“This is no time for weeping,” said Zhang Zhao. “You must see to the funeral and at the same time attend to the military and civil affairs.”
So the new ruler dried his tears. The supervision of the funeral was entrusted to Sun Jing and then the young master was escorted to the main hall to receive the felicitations of his subordinates.
Sun Quan was endowed with a square jaw and a large mouth and had blue eyes and a dark brown beard. Formerly, an envoy from the Han court had gone to Wu district to visit the Suns. He said of the family of brothers: “I have looked well at them all and they are all clever and perspicacious but none of them will excel in fortune and longevity. Only the second one is different. His face is remarkable, and his build unusual, and he has the look of one who will come to great honor. But none of the others will attain to the blessing of a great age.”
Sun Quan succeeded his brother as ruler of the east and began to attend to daily affairs. Soon it was reported that Zhou Yu had arrived. The young ruler was very pleased and said, “I need have no anxiety now that he has come back.”
It must be stated here that Zhou Yu had been sent to hold Baqiu. When he heard that Sun Ce had been wounded by arrows he decided to return to see how he was. At Wujun he was told that Sun Ce had already died so he hurried back for the funeral.
When he went to wail over the coffin of his late chief and close friend, the dead man’s mother came out to deliver her son’s last demands of him. Zhou Yu bowed to the ground and said, “I will exert the puny powers I have in the service of Wu as long as I live.”
Shortly after, Sun Quan came in and, after receiving Zhou Yu’s obeisance, said: “I trust you will not forget my brother’s deathbed appeal to you.”
Zhou Yu said, “I will defy any form of death to show my gratitude for the trust your brother placed in me.”
“How best can I maintain this district which I have inherited from my father and brother?”
“He who wins men, prospers; he who loses them, fails. This is a truth we have learned from old days. At present you should seek men of high aims and foresight to support you and you can establish yourself firmly in the east.”
“My brother told me to consult Zhang Zhao for internal affairs, and yourself on external matters,” said Sun Quan.
“Zhang Zhao is a man of wisdom and understanding, equal to such a task, while I am devoid of talent and I fear I might fail to undertake such a responsibility. I would like to recommend to you a helper.”
Sun Quan asked him who that person was. Zhou Yu continued, “He is called Lu Su, or Lu Zi-jing, a man of Dongchuan. This man harbors strategies and tactics in his bosom. He lost his father in early life and has been a perfectly filial son to his mother. His family is very rich and renowned for giving charity to the needy. When I was stationed at Juchao I led some hundreds of men across Linhuai. We were short of grain. Hearing that the Lu family had two granaries there, each holding 3,000 m
easures, I went to ask for help. Lu Su pointed to one granary and said, ‘Take that as a gift.’ Such was his generosity!
“He is now living in Qua and has always been fond of fencing, racing, and shooting. His grandmother died recently and he went to bury her in Dongchuan and then a friend of his asked him to go to Chaohu Lake and join Zheng Bao. However, he hesitated and has not gone yet. You should invite him without loss of time.”
Sun Quan at once sent Zhou Yu to engage the service of this man and he set out. When the host and the visitor had exchanged polite greetings Zhou Yu mentioned the great respect his master had in him. Lu Su replied that he had been asked by his friend to go to Chaohu Lake and would set out soon.
Zhou Yu said, “Of old, Ma Yuan said to Emperor Guangwu, ‘This is an age when not only do princes select their ministers, but ministers choose their princes as well.’ Now our General Sun calls to him the wise and treats them well. He engages the help of the wonderful and gets the services of the extraordinary in a way that few others do. You do not have to seek elsewhere, just come with me to Wu. This is the best thing to do.”
Lu Su returned with him to see Sun Quan, who treated him with the greatest deference and consulted him on various affairs. The discussions proved so interesting that they went on all day and neither felt tired.
One day at the close of an assembly, Sun Quan asked Lu Su to dine with him. They sat up late and by and by slept on the same couch, like the closest of friends. In the dead of the night Sun Quan said to him: “The Hans are at the end of their rule and upheavals occur on all sides. I have inherited this district from my father and brother and I am thinking of imitating what Duke Huan and Duke Wen* did to recover the dignity of the Emperor. I hope you can enlighten me.”
Lu Su replied, “In the old days the founder of Han Dynasty wished to honor and serve Emperor Yi, but could not do so because of Xiang Yu’s evil doings. Now Cao Cao can be compared to Xiang Yu; how can you be Huan and Wen? My humble opinion is that the Hans have fallen beyond hope of recovery and Cao Cao cannot be destroyed very quickly, so that the best scheme for you is to secure your present position while keeping a close watch on the conflicts among the others. Now you can take advantage of the turmoil in the north to smite Huang Zu and attack Liu Biao, so that you will command the whole area of the Yangtze. Then you can establish your own kingdom and gradually aspire to rule the whole of the country. This is how you can achieve the great design like that of the founder of Han.”
The Three Kingdoms, Volume 1: The Sacred Oath: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation Page 44