The Three Kingdoms: The Sacred Oath

by Luo Guanzhong

  “Now, who again dares to face him?” asked Cao Cao to his officers.

  Xu Huang took up the challenge and went out. The combat endured a score of bouts and then he had to flee, defeated. This frightened all the other officers and Cao Cao was forced to draw off his men. Yan Liang also withdrew to return to his camp.

  Cao Cao was very upset at the loss of two officers in such quick succession. His advisor Cheng Yu said to him: “I can recommend a person equal to Yan Liang.”

  “Who?” asked Cao Cao.

  “Guan Yu. Only he can defeat him.”

  “I am afraid he will leave if he is given this opportunity to render me a service.”

  “If Liu Bei is still alive he must be with Yuan Shao. Now you get Guan Yu to defeat Yuan Shao’s army. He will surely suspect Liu Bei and will put him to death. With Liu Bei gone, where can Guan Yu go?”

  This argument appealed to Cao Cao very much and he at once sent for Guan Yu.

  Before departure, Guan Yu went to take leave of his two sisters-in-law, who urged him to try to get news of Liu Bei. Guan Yu obeyed and left.

  Armed with his famous sword, the Blue Dragon, and riding on the swift steed, the Red Hare, he started toward the battlefield with a few followers. When he got there he went to see Cao Cao, who told him what had happened and said that Yan Liang was too valiant for anyone to face.

  “Let me look at him,” said Guan Yu.

  Then wine was served in his honor. While they were drinking, it was reported that Yan Liang was once again challenging for battle. So Cao Cao and his guest went up the hill from where the enemy could be seen, followed by his other officers. The two of them sat on the hilltop while the others stood about them. Cao Cao pointed at Yan Liang’s men arrayed on the plain below. The ensigns and banners waving fresh and bright amid the forest of spears and swords made a grand and imposing spectacle.

  “See what fine fellows these northerners are!” said Cao Cao.

  “I regard them as nothing but clay fowls and mud dogs,” sneered Guan Yu.

  Cao Cao then pointed out Yan Liang to him and said, “There he is, under that big banner.”

  Clad in an embroidered robe and a gold breastplate Yan Liang was sitting on horseback with his sword in his hand.

  “He seems to me like one who has stuck his head on a pole for sale,” said Guan Yu, glancing at his opponent below.

  “You must not despise him,” warned Cao Cao.

  Guan Yu rose and said, “Unworthy as I am, I will go down and bring you his head amid his 10,000 soldiers.”

  “No joking is allowed in the army,” interposed his friend Zhang Liao. “Be careful what you say.”

  Guan Yu quickly mounted, held his mighty sword downward, and galloped down the hill, his phoenix eyes rounded and his bushy eyebrows fiercely bristling. He dashed straight into the enemy’s line and the northern soldiers opened before him, like waves receding to the right and left. Guan Yu made directly for the commander.

  Now Yan Liang, sitting in state under the banner, saw a horseman rushing toward him and before he could ask who the rider of the red horse was, lo! Guan Yu was right there in front of him. Taken utterly by surprise, Yan Liang could make no defense. Guan Yu’s arm rose and the mighty weapon fell. And with it fell Yan Liang.

  Leaping down from the saddle he cut off his victim’s head and hung it to his horse’s neck. Then he mounted again and rode back as if there was no army around him.

  The northern men, panic-stricken, made no fight. Cao Cao’s army attacked with vigor and scored a great victory. A great number of their enemy were slain and many horses and weapons captured. Guan Yu rode quickly up the hill and laid the proof of his prowess at the feet of the prime minister.

  “You are really a superman, General!” cried Cao Cao in admiration.

  “I am nothing compared with my brother Zhang Yi-de,” said Guan Yu. “He can easily cut the head of a general amid an army of a million men as if it were but taking something out of a bag.”

  Cao Cao was so alarmed to hear this that he turned to those about him and said, “Be very careful if you meet his brother later.” And he bade them make a note of the name on the cuff of their robes so that they would remember.

  The beaten army, while fleeing back homeward, met Yuan Shao on the road and told him why they had suffered defeat. “A red-faced warrior with a long beard, wielding a huge sword, broke into the army and cut off the general’s head and bore it off,” they said.

  “Who could this one be?” asked Yuan Shao in astonishment.

  Ju Shou said, “This must have been Liu Bei’s brother, Guan Yu.”

  Yuan Shao was very angry and, pointing to Liu Bei, he said, “Your brother has slain my most cherished general. You must be in the plot, too. Why should I keep you here?”

  He ordered the guards to take him away and execute him.

  Morning saw him guest on high,

  Evening, prisoner, doomed to die.

  Would he really be killed? This will be told in the next chapter.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Yuan Shao Is Defeated and Loses His Best Officers

  Guan Yu Hangs up the Seal and Abandons Cao Cao’s Gifts

  As the last chapter closed Liu Bei had been condemned to die. However, he spoke up quite calmly to defend himself. “Sir, how can you listen to only one side of the story and forget our past friendship?

  Since my defeat in Xuzhou I have lost all news about my brother. I did not even know if he was alive or dead. Many people resemble each other. Can you say that a red-faced man with a long beard must be my brother, Guan Yu? Do you not think you should consider more carefully?”

  Now Yuan Shao was a man who lacked opinions of his own. When he heard Liu Bei’s words, he turned to blame his advisor Ju Shou. “I nearly killed an innocent man by listening to your false accusation.”

  Then he asked Liu Bei to resume his seat in the tent and consulted him on how to avenge Yan Liang.

  Soon from the lower end stepped out a man who said: “Yan Liang was like a brother of mine. He has been killed by Cao Cao’s man. How can I not avenge his death?”

  The speaker was a tall man with a face like a unicorn. He was a famous warrior from the north, named Wen Chou.

  Yuan Shao was very pleased and said, “You are the only man who can do it. I will give you 100,000 men and you can cross the Yellow River at once to smite Cao Cao.”

  Again the advisor objected. “No, you should not cross the Yellow River so rashly now,” said Ju Shou. “If anything goes wrong none will be able to return. The proper course is to hold Yanjin and post a force at Guandu.”

  Yuan Shao turned a deaf ear to his wise advice. Instead he became angry and said, “You fellows always try to delay action and take the momentum from my soldiers. You want to put offtoday and postpone for tomorrow to upset my great plan. Have you forgotten that soldiers respect decisiveness?”

  The advisor withdrew sadly and said to himself, “Superiors do not curb their ambitions—inferiors must strive to render service. Eternal is the Yellow River, how shall I cross it?”

  From then on he feigned illness and would not attend his master’s councils.

  Liu Bei said, “I have received much kindness from you but have been unable to show my gratitude. I will accompany General Wen so as to repay you with my service and also to try to get news of my brother.”

  Yuan Shao gladly consented and ordered Wen Chou to share his command of the army with Liu Bei. However, Wen Chou objected that Liu Bei, who had often been defeated, would bring ill fortune to his army. He proposed giving Liu Bei command of the rear division, and this being approved, Liu Bei took charge of 30,000 men to follow the main body.

  Meanwhile, Cao Cao’s respect for Guan Yu redoubled after he displayed his prowess with his bold attack on Yan Liang. He presented a petition to the Emperor, who conferred the title of Lord of Hanshou to Guan Yu, and a seal bearing that title was cast for him.

  Just then came the news that Yuan Shao’s army was m
oving toward the Yellow River and had already occupied Yanjin. Cao Cao at once arranged to transfer the inhabitants to the west of the river and then led out his army to oppose Yuan Shao. He gave orders for the front and rear divisions to change places, thus putting the supply wagons in front and the army behind.

  “What is this reversal for?” asked one of his officers.

  Cao Cao replied, “When the supply carts are in the rear they are liable to be plundered. So I have put them in the front.”

  “What if they are taken by the enemy?”

  “Wait till the enemy appears. I will know what to do.”

  The officer was much perplexed at this new move by his master. In the meantime the supply wagons were being driven along the river toward Yanjin. Presently Cao Cao, who was in the rear, heard the foremost troops raise a great shout, and he immediately sent someone to find out what it meant. The messenger came back to report that Wen Chou’s army had arrived and the soldiers, who had abandoned the wagons, were scattering in all directions. The rear army was still some distance away and could not go to their rescue. But Cao Cao did not seem to be worried in the least. He pointed to the two mounds in the south and said, “We will take refuge here for the present.”

  All moved swiftly to the mounds. There, Cao Cao ordered them to loosen their robes, lay aside their mail, and rest a while. The horses, too, were turned loose.

  Wen Chou’s army soon approached. As they drew near, the officers all said to Cao Cao, “The enemy is here. We must get the horses and go back to the city.”

  But the advisor Xun You checked them and said, “This is a bait for the enemy—why withdraw?”

  Cao Cao winked at the advisor and smiled. Xun You understood and said no more.

  Now having got possession of the supply carts, the enemy came to seize the horses. By this time their ranks were quite broken and they became a disorderly lot, each going his own way. Suddenly Cao Cao gave the order to go down the mounds and smite them.

  The surprise attack was very successful. Wen Chou’s army was in confusion, surrounded by Cao Cao’s men. Wen Chou endeavored to fight it out but his soldiers trampled each other down and he could not stop them. So he had to turn back and run.

  Standing on the top of the mound Cao Cao pointed to the fleeing man and called out, “Wen Chou is one of the most famous warriors of the north. Who can capture him?”

  At this call Zhang Liao and Xu Huang both rode out and dashed after the fugitive. “Wen Chou, do not attempt to run away!”

  Turning around, Wen Chou saw two pursuers after him so he set aside his spear, took his bow and adjusted his arrow, which he shot at Zhang Liao.

  “Do not shoot, you wretch!” shouted Xu Huang to warn his friend. Zhang Liao ducked and the arrow hit his helmet, slashing off its tassel. He pressed on in pursuit but the next arrow struck his horse in the head and the animal stumbled and fell, throwing its rider to the ground.

  Then Wen Chou turned back. Xu Huang, whirling his battle-ax, stood in his way to engage him in a fight. By then Wen Chou’s men had also turned back to assist him. Knowing that they would be too much for him, Xu Huang fled. This time Wen Chou pursued along the river. Suddenly, however, he saw coming toward him, with banners fluttering in the wind, a small party of horsemen led by a warrior with a powerful sword.

  It was none other than Guan Yu. “Stop!” he cried as he galloped up, raising high his sword. The two fought but at the third bout Wen Chou, seized by fright, wheeled round and fled, following the windings of the river. But Guan Yu’s steed was faster and soon caught up with him. One blow, and the unfortunate Wen Chou fell.

  When Cao Cao saw from the mound that the leader of the enemy had fallen, he gave the signal for a general assault and many of the northern men were driven into the river. The carts with supplies and all the horses were quickly recovered.

  Now Guan Yu, at the head of a few horsemen, was thrusting here and striking there when Liu Bei, with the rear force, arrived on the scene of the battle. At once he was told that the red-faced warrior with a long beard had slain Wen Chou. He hastily pressed forward to get a good look at the warrior. He saw across the river a group of horsemen dashing about like wind and a banner bearing the name of his brother.

  “Then it is my brother and he’s really with Cao Cao,” thought Liu Bei, secretly thanking Heaven that his brother was safe.

  He wanted to call out to Guan Yu, but a great mass of Cao Cao’s soldiers came rushing forward and he was forced to retreat.

  Yuan Shao, bringing the reinforcements, reached Guandu and built a stockade. Two advisors went in to see him and said, “It was Guan Yu again that killed Wen Chou. Liu Bei pretends he does not know.”

  In wrath, Yuan Shao railed at Lui Bei. “That long-eared wretch! How dare he do such a thing?”

  Again Liu Bei was brought before Yuan Shao, who ordered him to be taken out to instant execution.

  “What crime have I committed?” asked Liu Bei.

  “You sent your brother to slay another of my best officers. Is that no crime?”

  “Please let me explain before I die. Cao Cao has always been wary of me. Now he has found out where I am and, fearing that I may help you, has got my brother to destroy your two generals, feeling sure that when you hear of it you will be angry and put me to death. You cannot fail to see this.”

  “That does make sense,” said Yuan Shao. Turning to his two advisors he said, “And you two nearly caused me to injure a good man.”

  He ordered the others to leave and asked Liu Bei to come and sit by him. Liu Bei thanked him and said, “I am deeply grateful to you, sir, for your great kindness, for which I can never sufficiently repay you. Now I desire to send some confidential messenger with a secret letter to my brother to tell him where I am, and I am sure he will come without a moment’s delay. He will help you to destroy Cao Cao to make up for your loss of the two officers. Do you approve of this?”

  “If I gained Guan Yu he would be ten times better than the two men I have lost,” replied Yuan Shao, greatly pleased.

  So Liu Bei wrote a letter but there was no one to take it to his brother. Yuan Shao ordered the army to withdraw to Wuyang, where they made a large camp. For some time no further move was undertaken.

  Cao Cao sent Xiahou Dun to guard the strategic point at Guandu while he led the bulk of the army back to the capital. There, he gave many banquets in honor of the remarkable services of Guan Yu. At one of these gatherings he said, “The other day I had intentionally put the supplies in the front of the army as a bait to divert the enemy’s attention. Only Xun You understood me.”

  Every one present praised him for his ingenuity. However, even while the banquet was proceeding there arrived news of new trouble in Runan, where two former Yellow Turban rebels, Liu Pi and Gong Du, were staging an uprising. They were very strong and Cao Hong, who had been defeated in several battles, begged for help.

  Guan Yu, hearing this, said, “I would like to offer my humble service by destroying these rebels.”

  “You have already rendered noble services for which you have not been properly rewarded. I could not trouble you again,” said Cao Cao.

  “If I were left idle for too long, I would get ill. I am willing to go,” said Guan Yu.

  Cao Cao consented and gave him 50,000 men and two of his own officers to serve under him. They were to leave the next day.

  Xun Yu warned his master in private, “Guan Yu is always thinking of returning to Liu Bei. He will leave you if he hears any news. You should not let him go on expeditions so often.”

  “I will not let him go into battle again after this,” said Cao Cao.

  In due time the force led by Guan Yu reached Runan and made camp. One night, just outside his camp, two spies were caught and taken in to Guan Yu, who was surprised that one of them was Sun Qian, Liu Bei’s former advisor. He dismissed the attendants and asked, “Since our city was lost I haven’t heard any news about you. How come you are here?”

  “After I escaped I d
rifted hither and thither and finally ended up in this place,” said Sun Qian. “Fortunately I was given shelter by Liu Pi. But why are you with Cao Cao, General? And where are your sisters-in-law? Are they well?”

  Guan Yu told him all that had happened.

  Then Sun Qian said, “I’ve heard lately that your brother is with Yuan Shao. I’d have liked to go and join him but I haven’t found a convenient opportunity. Now the two Yellow Turban leaders I’m with have submitted to Yuan Shao and will assist him in fighting against Cao Cao. When I heard you were being sent here I thought it really a good piece of luck, so I disguised myself as a scout to see you and tell you everything. Tomorrow the two leaders will feign defeat. You must accompany the two ladies to go to Yuan Shao’s place without delay. You’ll see your brother there.”

  “Since my brother is there I’ll certainly go at once to join him. But it’s a misfortune that I’ve slain two of Yuan Shao’s best officers. I fear things may have changed for the worse,” said Guan Yu.

  “Let me go first and find out—I’ll come back and tell you.”

  “I’ll risk myriad deaths to see my brother,” said Guan Yu. “When I return to the capital I’ll immediately take leave of Cao Cao.”

  Sun Qian was secretly sent away that night and the next day Guan Yu led out his men to offer battle. His opponent, Gong Du, put on his armor and came forth.

  Guan Yu said, “Why do you people rebel against the court?”

  “Why do you blame us when you yourself have turned your back on your own lord?”

  “How have I turned my back on my lord?” asked Guan Yu.

  “Liu Bei is now with Yuan Shao and you are with Cao Cao. Why is that?”

  Guan Yu said no more but whirled round his sword and rode forward. His opponent fled and Guan Yu followed. When they were out of the hearing of others, Gong Du turned and said to Guan Yu, “Do not forget how well your old master has treated you. Now attack quickly and we will yield the city to you.”

  Guan Yu understood and they returned to the scene of the battle, pretending to be still engaged in a flight and chase. Guan Yu urged his men on a wide offensive and his opponents feigned defeat, scattering in all directions. So the city was taken. Having pacified the people, Guan Yu at once led his army back toward the capital. Cao Cao came out of the city to welcome him back and the army was again rewarded with feasts.