The Three Kingdoms Volume 2

by Luo Guanzhong

  It was after this victory that the general body of Liu Bei’s officers began to think that their lord should assume the title of “Emperor,” but they dared not tell him so. However, they sent up a petition to Zhuge Liang, who replied that he had already decided on this course. Then with Fa Zheng and others he went in to see Liu Bei.

  Zhuge Liang said, “Now that Cao Cao really holds the reins of authority the people are without a true ruler. My lord, your kindness and sense of justice have spread throughout the empire. You have restored peace over this vast region of the west. It is now imperative that you become Emperor so as to satisfy both Heaven’s will and the desire of the people. Then by right and title you could destroy the arch rebel. This matter should not be delayed and we pray you to choose the auspicious day.”

  But Liu Bei evinced great surprise and replied, “You are wrong, sir. Although I am of the imperial house, yet I am but a servant of the throne—and to do this would be rebellion against the Han house.”

  “No, my lord,” Zhuge Liang replied. “Today, the empire is torn apart and many of the bolder spirits have risen and claimed the rule of various parts. The talented and the valiant, who have risked their lives in serving their lords, all desire to have the opportunity of serving an Emperor, and by doing so making their own names. Now, if you insist on modestly maintaining your righteous way I fear that you will lose popular support. My lord, I beg you to reflect upon this.”

  “But you desire me to assume a place of the greatest honor, and I dare not. Let us give this matter more careful discussion.”

  But with one voice his officers said, “If you reject this the hearts of your men will turn from you.”

  At this Zhuge Liang interceded: “My lord, you have always made rectitude your motto. If you really object to the title of Emperor, I think you can temporarily take the title of Prince of Hanzhong, since you have already obtained Jingzhou and the west regions.”

  “Gentlemen, though you may desire to honor me by the title of a prince, yet, without an edict from the Emperor, such an act would be usurpation.”

  Zhuge Liang said, “The time demands recognition of the actual state of affairs, and not a rigid adherence to all the rules of propriety.”

  Here Zhang Fei interrupted, roaring, “People with all sorts of family names want to call themselves rulers—how much more ought you, brother, who are of the imperial house? There’s nothing wrong for you to be Emperor, let alone Prince of Hanzhong!”

  “Say no more,” scolded Liu Bei, roughly.

  “My lord,” said Zhuge Liang, “it is fitting to adapt one’s conduct to circumstances. First take the princedom and then there is still time to petition for the throne.”

  As there seemed to be no alternative, Liu Bei complied. In the seventh month of the twenty-fourth year of the period Jian An (A.D. 219), an enormous altar was set up at Mianyang, with appropriate flags and symbols set along five sides. All the officials assembled there in order of their ranks. And at the request of the two ministers, Xu Jing and Fa Zheng, Liu Bei ascended the altar and received the headdress and seal of a prince. Then he took his seat, facing the south as a ruler should, and received the salutes and felicitations of all his subordinates as Prince of Hanzhong.

  And his son Liu Chan (A Dou) was nominated as heir-apparent. Xu Jing and Fa Zheng were given very high positions. Zhuge Liang was reappointed Chief Counselor of the Forces, with the additional power of control over important issues of the state and the army. Liu Bei’s two brothers, along with Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, and Huang Zhong, were named the Five Tiger Generals. Wei Yan was made Governor of Hanzhong, and all the others were given ranks according to the services they had rendered.

  As soon as the investiture was completed, Liu Bei composed a memorial and sent it to the capital. This is the document:

  I, Lui Bei, have but ordinary talents, yet I was created a general of high rank and commanded a great army. Though I received a commission to purge the empire of rebels and so bring tranquillity to Your Majesty’s house and restore the dynasty, I was unable to cleanse it. Too long have I delayed to spread Your Majesty’s sacred governance. The world is evil and troubled. As I sorrowfully ponder over it again and again in my mind I am distressed as one in severe pain.

  Rebellion began with Dong Zhuo, since when all kinds of evils have sprung up; cruelty and ferocity have become rife. Thanks to Your Majesty’s sacred virtue and inspiring presence, some of these evil doers have been eliminated by Your Majesty’s loyal servants, who allied each other in a just cause to destroy the rebels, while others were smitten by heavenly power. As the fierce and the unruly have been exterminated, rebellion has gradually died down.

  Only Cao Cao now remains, too long unpunished. He has claimed for himself the authority of the state, thus revealing his true intention of wicked rebellion. Once I, with General Dong Cheng, planned to destroy him, but the secret was discovered and the general suffered death. Without my allies I was a wanderer and my loyalty availed nothing. As virtuous efforts failed, Cao Cao became all the more vicious in his evil doing, ultimately committing the heinous crime of slaying Her Majesty the Empress and poisoning her two sons. Although I rallied together people who shared my faith, hoping to destroy him with all our energy, yet we were too weak to overcome him. Therefore the years passed and little was accomplished. Amid perpetual risk of being destroyed by my enemy I often feared that I might fail to repay Your Majesty’s kindness to me. Waking and sleeping I sighed, and my nights were times of anguish.

  Now my subordinates, quoting the ancient writing of the Book of Yu,* have pointed out to me our ancestors’ emphasis on elevating the nine branches of their own clan members. They think that hereditary succession of rulers is a fundamental principle. The House of Ji, who ruled the two dynasties of the empire of Zhou (West Zhou and East Zhou) and extensively set up their own clan, relied heavily on the support of the two lords, Jing and Zheng. When the great Founder of Han came to power, he ennobled his own family. Later, to wipe out the widespread influence of Empress Lu’s family, the Hans mobilized all their members to re-establish the authority of the ruling house.

  Now Cao Cao, an enemy of all rectitude, is assisted by many followers, and his treachery is manifest. Since the members of the imperial clan are few and weak, my subordinates, after reflecting upon the ancient models, suggested an expedient policy of elevating me, your humble servant, to Grand Minister of War and Prince of Hanzhong.

  I have given this matter very serious consideration: I have received great kindness from Your Majesty and accepted the responsibility for a portion of the state, but I have not rendered any substantial service. My rewards have already exceeded my merits and I am in no position to receive even higher ranks to increase the burden of reproach on myself. But, I have been compelled by my subordinates, who have appealed to me in the name of justice. Should I refuse, the wicked will not be destroyed and the danger to the state will not be removed. The temple of Your Majesty’s ancestors is in danger and the imperial prerogatives are failing. And my heart is eaten up with worry. If by this temporary expedient, peace for the dynasty could be maintained, I should not refuse at any cost. Therefore I have ventured to succumb to the request of my subordinates and accepted the seal of office for the glory of the state.

  Humbly I think of the exalted position and favor such a title granted me, and I would endeavor to show true gratitude. Like one on the brink of a cliff my anxiety is deep, for the responsibility is heavy. I must surely exert myself to the utmost, encouraging my armies and leading all committed to integrity, in accordance with the will of Heaven and the demand of the times, to smite rebellion so as to restore the dynasty. I hereby bow to present this memorial to Your Majesty.

  When this memorial reached the capital, Cao Cao was in his palace at Yejun and it annoyed him immensely. “How dare this mean weaver of straw sandals behave like this? I swear I will destroy him.”

  So he issued an order to muster the entire army of the state to wage a fierce war aga
inst Liu Bei.

  But Sima Yi voiced his objection. “Your Highness, please do not take such great trouble to go on a distant expedition because of a moment’s anger. I have a plan to make Liu Bei bring disaster upon his own head without troubling us to bend a single bow. When his army is exhausted, we will only have to send one officer to fight with him and the victory will be ours.”

  “What is your lofty plan, my friend?” asked Cao Cao.

  “Sun Quan in the east has married his sister to Liu Bei, but he has stolen away the bride while he was away. On the other hand Liu Bei is still holding Jingzhou, unwilling to return the city to Sun Quan. So these two are bitter enemies. We can send an able speaker to deliver your letter to Wu and persuade Sun Quan to recover Jingzhou by force. That will put Liu Bei on his way to rescue Jingzhou with his army from the west, and at the same time you can send your army to take Hanzhong. Liu Bei will be rendered helpless and his situation will be perilous.”

  The scheme pleased Cao Cao. He at once drew up a letter and sent it by the hand of Man Chong, who soon arrived in the east. As soon as Sun Quan knew of his arrival, he summoned his advisors to counsel.

  Zhang Zhao said, “Wei and Wu originally bore no grudge against each other. It was due to Zhuge Liang’s intervention that our two sides fought for several years, and many lives were lost. Now this envoy has surely come to discuss peace terms, and he should be welcomed.”

  Sun Quan took his advice and sent his advisors to conduct Man Chong into the city for a meeting. The envoy presented Cao Cao’s letter and said, “Wu and Wei have never had any quarrel, and our recent dissension has been incited by Liu Bei. My master sends me to make a covenant with you for a joint attack on Liu Bei. He hopes that you can seize Jingzhou, while he goes to capture the west. After Liu Bei is subdued, the conquered country will be divided between our two sides and we will forever respect each other’s territory.”

  Sun Quan, after reading the letter, gave a banquet in honor of Man Chong and then arranged for him to rest in the guesthouse, while he discussed the matter with his council of advisors.

  Gu Yong spoke first: “Although his intention is obviously to make us fight, Cao Cao’s words are not entirely unreasonable. I think we can, on the one hand, ask Man Chong to go back and make a covenant with Cao Cao for a joint attack while on the other, send some spies over the river to find out Guan Yu’s movements. Then we can decide how to act.”

  Zhuge Jin also put forward a plan: “I hear that Guan Yu has a son and a daughter. The daughter is too young to have been betrothed. Let me go and propose marriage of the girl to your son, my lord. If Guan Yu agrees, then we can arrange with him to attack Cao Cao together. If he refuses, then we will support Cao Cao, and try to seize Jingzhou.”

  Sun Quan agreed to this advice, and so after seeing Man Chong off he sent Zhuge Jin to Jingzhou to propose the marriage. Zhuge Jin was received in due politeness by his host, Guan Yu. After they had greeted each other Guan Yu asked him the reason of his visit.

  “I have come to make a marriage offer. My master has a son who is a clever young man. I hear that you have a daughter, General, so I have come specially to propose a marriage between your daughter and my master’s son. Thus, the ties between our two houses will be stronger for a combined attack on Cao Cao. This will be a perfect match and I hope you will consider my proposal.”

  But the warrior flared up. “My tiger daughter will never be married to a dog’s whelp! Were it not for your brother I would cut off your head at once. Say no more!”

  Guan Yu called his servants to throw him out and Zhuge Jin, very scared, ran away with his hands over his head. Reaching his own place, he dared not hide the manner of his reception, but told the whole truth to his lord.

  “What impudence!” roared Sun Quan in fury.

  So he summoned his counselors again to consider an attack on Jingzhou.

  Bu Zhi rose and said, “Cao Cao has long wished to usurp the throne, but he is afraid of Liu Bei. Now he wants us to attack Jingzhou. Clearly he is trying to shift misfortune onto us.”

  “But I have long wanted to seize that place,” said Sun Quan.

  “Cao Ren is already camped at Fancheng and Xiangyang,” continued Bu Zhi, “from where he can take Jingzhou by land without having to cross the Great River. Why doesn’t Cao Cao tell him to take it? Why does he want you, my lord, to send your army instead? This alone is enough to show his real intention. I think you can ask Cao Cao to make Cao Ren attack Jingzhou by land. Then Guan Yu will try to seize Fancheng with his army from Jingzhou. As soon as he leaves Jingzhou, you can send an army to seize it.”

  Sun Quan was impressed by the soundness of the scheme and therefore he sent a letter with this proposal to Cao Cao, who adopted it readily, and sent Man Chong to help Cao Ren at Fancheng as his assistant in the operation against Jingzhou. He also sent dispatches to Wu to ask for the assistance of Sun Quan’s marine force.

  Having delegated to Wei Yan the task of holding East Chuan, Liu Bei returned to Chengdu, where a palace was soon erected to befit his new status as Prince of Hanzhong. More than four hundred guesthouses and post stations were also built between Chengdu and Baishui. Grain and forage were accumulated in large quantities and weapons of all kinds filled his arsenal in preparation for the seizure of the capital and the whole of the country.

  Then the alliance between Wei and Wu, along with their plot to attack Jing zhou, was reported to him and he hastily called in Zhuge Liang for counsel.

  “I already anticipated that Cao Cao would do this,” said Zhuge Liang. “But Sun Quan has many advisors who will propose persuading Cao Cao to order Cao Ren to start the campaign.”

  “But what am I to do?” asked the Prince of Hanzhong.

  “You can send a special messenger to Yun-chang to confer on him his new title and tell him to capture Fancheng, which will so dampen the morale of the enemy troops that they will collapse quickly.”

  Therefore the prince sent Fei Shi, a senior officer from his Board of War, to take the seal of his new title to Guan Yu, who received the delegate with great deference and conducted him into the city. After they had arrived at the official residence, Guan Yu inquired what new title had been conferred upon him.

  “Chief of the Five Tiger Generals,” replied the envoy.

  “And who are the five?”

  “They are yourself, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, and Huang Zhong.”

  “Yi-de is my brother,” cried Guan Yu angrily. “Meng-qi (Ma Chao) is of a distinguished family and Zi-long has been with my elder brother so long that he is like a brother. It is right for him to be of the same rank as I am. But what sort of a man is this Huang Zhong that he is given equal status as myself? A true hero does not stand shoulder to shoulder with an old soldier!”

  And he refused to accept the title and seal.

  “You are wrong, General,” said Fei Shi, smiling. “Of old, Xiao He* and Cao Shen† helped the Founder of the Han Dynasty in his great enterprise and were his closest friends, while Han Xin was but a defector from Chu. Yet Han Xin was later created a prince, and so was ranked higher than the other two. I have never heard that these two resented it. Now the Prince of Hanzhong has named his Five Tiger Generals, but he is still your brother. As brothers, you two are inseparable—you are the prince and the prince is you. How can any others compare with you? The prince has always treated you with the greatest kindness and in return, you should share his sorrow and joy, disaster and good fortune, but not fuss about a mere title. I beg you, General, to reflect upon this.”

  Guan Yu, realizing how wrong he was, bowed low to thank the messenger for having prevented him from making a grave mistake. He then received the seal with all humility.

  Next Fei Shi produced the prince’s edict, ordering Guan Yu to capture Fancheng. Guan Yu lost no time in obeying this command. He appointed Fu Shi-ren and Mi Fang leaders of the van and ordered them to camp outside Jingzhou with their force of a thousand men, while he himself entertained the envoy inside the cit
y. Before the dinner was over there came a report of fire in the new camp, and Guan Yu hastened out of the city to see what was amiss. He found that the two van leaders, who had also been feasting, had left a smoldering fire unextinguished behind their tent; a spark having fallen into some explosives, the fire spread to the whole camp, killing soldiers and destroying all the weapons and supplies. Guan Yu and his men did all they could to put out the fire and it was after the fourth watch that he re-entered the city. There he summoned the two officers before him, reproached them for their neglect of duty, and ordered them to be put to death.

  However, Fei Shi interceded for them, saying, “It is not auspicious to put your own officers to death before the army has even marched. You might reprieve them at least.”

  Guan Yu, his anger by no means subsided, said to the two guilty officers: “Were it not for my respect for General Fei I would certainly have you both beheaded.”

  Then he ordered them to be flogged forty times each, and removed them from their positions as van leaders. As further punishment, Fu Shi-ren was sent away to guard Nanjun and Mi Fang to guard Gongan.

  “Now be warned,” said Guan Yu. “If, when I return from my victory, there is the least sign of neglect of your responsibilities, you will suffer for both faults.”

  The two men flushed crimson with shame and, murmuring obedience, went away.

  Then Liao Hua was made van leader and Guan Ping his aide, while Guan Yu himself took command of the main army, with Ma Liang and Yi Ji as his advisors. Before the army set out the envoy took his leave and returned to Chengdu, taking with him a man called Hu Ban, son of Hu Hua, who had earlier come to Jingzhou to seek shelter with Guan Yu. Remembering how the man had saved his life (see Chapter Twenty-Seven), Guan Yu asked the envoy to present him to the Prince of Hanzhong in order to be awarded a position.