Three Kingdoms Romance

by Guanzhong Luo

  “Why wear swords at all at a meeting of two brothers?” cried Liu Zhang, at the same time telling his servants to surround his officers and take away their weapons.

  Disarmed, they sulkily withdrew, and then Liu Bei called all the generals of Liu Zhang to the upper end of the banquet hall, gave them wine, and said, “You need have no doubts; we two brothers, of the same bone and blood, have talked over the great design, and we are one in purpose.”

  The officers bowed and retired.

  Liu Zhang took his guest by the hand, saying, “Brother, I shall never forget your kindness.” They sat drinking till late, both feeling very happy. When at length Liu Bei reached his camp, he blamed his strategist for having caused the confusion.

  “Why did you endeavor to force me into committing a great wrong?” said Liu Bei. “There must be no repetition of this.”

  Pang Tong retired, sighing.

  When Liu Zhang reached his own camp, his leaders waited on him and said, “Sir, you saw the real meaning of that occurrence at the banquet, we suppose. We think it prudent for you to retire at once into the city.”

  “My brother is different from ordinary humans,” replied Liu Zhang.

  “He may not incline toward murder himself, but those about him have but one desire — that is to exploit this land of ours to their own advantage.”

  “Do not try to sow dissension between us and make us quarrel,” said their chief.

  And Liu Zhang took no heed of their remonstrance. One day, when he and Liu Bei were enjoying together relaxation from cares of state, the news came that Zhang Lu was about to invade the Western Land of Rivers at the Jiameng Pass. Thereupon the Imperial Protector begged Liu Bei to go and defend it. Liu Bei consented and left immediately with his own especial band.

  At once Liu Zhang's officers took advantage of the guest's departure to urge the Imperial Protector to place his own trusty generals in command at various strategic points, so as to guard against any attempts of the visitors to seize the land. At first Liu Zhang was unwilling and refused, but as they prayed him most earnestly to do this he yielded and consented to take some steps to safeguard himself. He sent Yang Huai, Commander of Baishui, and Gao Pei to garrison River Fu Pass.

  So Liu Zhang returned to Chengdu and his guest, Liu Bei, went away to the point where invasion threatened. Arrived there, Liu Bei soon won the hearts of the people by the strict discipline he maintained over his army and by his gracious manner.

  News of these doings in the west duly reached the south, and Sun Quan summoned his counselors as to his countermove.

  Then Gu Yong spoke, saying, “I have an infallible plan to propose. Liu Bei and his army are now far away and separated from us by difficult country. Therefore he cannot return quickly, and my advice is to occupy the passes so that he cannot get through. Then send all your force against Jingzhou and Xiangyang, and they will surely fall to you.”

  “The plan seems excellent,” said Sun Quan.

  But just then a voice was heard from behind the screen, crying, “You may just put to death the man who proposed that scheme for trying to compass the death of my daughter.”

  Every one started with surprise. It was the Dowager Marchioness' voice. Further, Lady Wu looked very angry as she entered, saying, “What is to become of my only daughter, who is the wife of Liu Bei?”

  She turned her wrathful eyes to Sun Quan and said, “You were heir to your father and brother and obtained possession of all these lands without the least effort. Yet you are dissatisfied and would forget the claims of your own flesh and blood and sacrifice your sister for the sake of adding a little to your lands.”

  “No, no!” murmured Sun Quan, ashamed. “I would never think of going contrary to my mother's wishes and orders.”

  He abruptly dismissed the assembly, and when they had gone the old lady, still nursing her wrath, retired to her own apartments.

  Left alone beneath the portico, Sun Quan sighed sadly.

  “This chance missed! When will Jingzhou be mine?” thought he.

  While still deep in reverie, Zhang Zhao came up, saying, “What grieves my lord?”

  “No great matter; only this last failure to gain my ends.”

  “The difficulty may be easily removed,” said Zhang Zhao. “Choose some trusty man and charge him with a secret letter to Princess Sun Ren saying that her mother is dangerously ill. Give him five hundred men as escort and tell him to make his way privily into Jingzhou City and deliver the letter. Hearing her mother wants her, she will rush home at once, and she might bring with her the only son of Liu Bei. Liu Bei will be glad enough to exchange Jingzhou for his son. If he will not, you can still send the army.”

  “That sounds like a good plan,” said Sun Quan. “Further, I have the man to carry it out successfully. He is that Zhou Shan, who was a bold one. He used to accompany my brother in his youth. He is the man to go.”

  “Keep it a secret, then,” said Zhang Zhao, “and let Zhou Shan start quickly.”

  It was decided that Zhou Shan should take with him about five hundred soldiers disguised as ordinary traders. He had five vessels and distributed his men among them, while weapons were hidden in the holds. Papers were was forged to look like veritable authority in case they were asked.

  Zhou Shan set out along the river route for the city of Jingzhou and was not long on the way. He anchored his ships under the bank, landed, and went into the city to the residence, where he bade the doorkeepers announce him. He was admitted and led into the presence of Lady Sun and presently gave her the secret letter. When she read that her mother was in danger of death, she began to weep bitterly and questioned the messenger closely.

  Zhou Shan invented a story, saying, “The Dowager Marchioness is really fretting for a sight of yours; and if you do not go quickly, it will be too late. The Dowager Marchioness also wants to see little Liu Shan once before she dies.”

  Lady Sun replied, “You know that the Imperial Uncle is far away on military service, and I ought to inform the chief of the army before returning home.”

  “But what will you do if the chief says he must inform your husband and await his consent?” said Zhou Shan.

  “If I went without asking permission — but I fear that is impossible.” “My ships are all ready in the river, and you have only to drive through the city,” said Zhou Shan.

  Naturally the news of her mother's illness greatly disturbed the young wife. In a short time her carriage was ready, and she mounted, taking Liu Shan with her. She took an escort of thirty guards, all armed, and was soon at the river side and had embarked before the palace people could report what she was doing.

  But just as the ships were starting, a voice was heard, shouting, “Do not start yet; let me bid my lady farewell.”

  The voice was Zhao Yun's; he had just returned from an inspection trip, and they had at once told him of Lady Sun's sudden departure. As soon as he had recovered from his surprise, he dashed down to the river bank like a whirlwind, with only half a dozen followers. He arrived only just in time; the boat was starting, and Zhou Shan stood in the prow, a long spear in his hand.

  “Who are you that you dare hinder the movements of your mistress?” cried Zhou Shan.

  Zhou Shan bade his soldiers cast off and get under way, and also to prepare their weapons to fight. The ship moved off with a fair wind and a strong current beneath her keel.

  But Zhao Yun followed along the bank.

  “My lady may go or not as she pleases,” cried he, “but I have one word to say to her.”

  Zhou Shan turned a deaf ear and only urged his soldiers to get greater speed on the ship. Zhao Yun followed down the bank for some three or more miles. Then he saw a fishing boat made fast to the bank. He at once dismounted, cast off the rope, took his spear, and leaped into the boat. Then he made the two men row him toward the vessel in which sat Lady Sun.

  As he approached, the soldiers of the South Land threatened him with their spears. Thereupon he threw his spear into the
bottom of the boat, drew the glittering steel blade he wore, dashed aside the opposing spears, and leaped upon the larger vessel. The guards of the South Land fell back in surprise and fear, and Zhao Yun went down into the body of the ship. There sat Lady Sun with little Liu Shan in her arms.

  “Why this rude intrusion?” said she angrily.

  The warrior sheathed his sword and said humbly, “Whither may my mistress be going, and why goes she privily?”

  “My mother is ill and on the point of death; I had no time to inform any person of my departure,” said Lady Sun.

  “But why take the young master if you are going merely to see a sick person?” said Zhao Yun.

  “Liu Shan is my son, and I would not leave him behind to be neglected.”

  “Mistress, you have acted wrongly. My lord has but this one son of his body, and I rescued the child lord from among many thousand troops of Cao Cao in the great battle at Long Slope Bridge in Dangyang. There is no reason for you to take him away.”

  Lady Sun took refuge in anger. “You leave my family affairs alone, you common soldier!” cried she. “My lady, if you will go, then go, but leave the young master behind.”

  “You are a rebel, jumping on board the ship like that!” cried Lady Sun.

  “If you will not leave the young lord behind, I refuse to let you go, come what may,” said Zhao Yun.

  Lady Sun called in her maids to seize him, but he just pushed them off. Then he took the boy from her arms and ran out to the prow of the ship. He tried to get the vessel in to the bank, but no one would aid him, and he thought it would be wrong to begin to slay indiscriminately. He knew not what to do in such a quandary. And Lady Sun was screaming to her maids to take the boy away from him. But he kept too firm a grip on the child, and the good sword in his other hand kept every one at bay.

  Zhou Shan was at the helm, giving all his attention to getting the ship out into the current and away down the river. He steered for the middle of the stream, where the wind was strong. Zhao Yun, one hand taken up with holding the boy, was quite unable to get the vessel in toward the shore.

  Just as things looked most desperate, Zhao Yun saw a string of ships filing out from a creek lower down the stream, flags fluttering and drums beating. He thought that certainly all was over and he was about to fall a victim to a stratagem of the South Land, when he noticed a mighty warrior standing in the prow of the leading craft. He was armed with a long spear, and it was Zhang Fei.

  Zhang Fei also shouted, “Sister-in-Law! Leave the child lord.”

  Zhang Fei had been out scouting when he heard the news of his sister-in-law's sudden departure, and he at once made for the River Yu with the intention of intercepting her flight. He had arrived just in the nick of time to cut off the ships of the South Land. Very soon, sword in hand, he had boarded the vessel. As Zhang Fei came on board, Zhou Shan drew his sword and advanced toward him, but one sweep of Zhang Fei's blade laid him on the deck dead. And the grim warrior hung his head at the feet of Lady Sun.

  “Why this very unseemly behavior?” cried Lady Sun, now quite frightened.

  “Sister,” said Zhang Fei, “you thought very little of my brother when you set out on this mad journey. That was behaving rudely.”

  “My mother is very ill; it is a matter of life and death,” cried she. “If I had waited for your brother's permission to go, I should have been too late. If you do not let me go now, I will throw myself into the river.”

  Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei took counsel together. They said to each other, “It is hardly the correct thing for servants to force their lord's wife into committing suicide. Suppose we keep the child and let the vessel go.”

  Then they said, “O Lady, we cannot allow the wife of our exalted brother to die a death of shame, and so we will take our leave. We trust you will not forget our brother and that you will return quickly.”

  Taking the child with them, they left the vessel, and the five ships of the South Land continued their voyage down stream. One poet has praised the conduct of Zhao Yun:

  Before, Zhao Yun saved Liu Shan,

  What time his mother died;

  Again like service he performs,

  Upon the Great River's tide.

  The soldiers of Wu all in the ship,

  Were stricken down with fear

  Search all the world, you never find

  Of bold Zhao Yun the peer.

  Another has eulogized Zhang Fei:

  At Long Slope Bridge,

  With rage Zhang Fei boiled,

  Like wild beast roared,

  And warriors recoiled.

  From danger now

  His prince is saved.

  On history's page

  His name is graved.

  Quite satisfied with their success, the two warriors sailed homeward. Before they had gone far, they met Zhuge Liang with a squadron of ships. He was very pleased to find they had recovered the child, and they three joyfully returned to Jingzhou, whence an account of the whole adventure was written to Liu Bei.

  When Lady Sun reached her home, she related the story of the death of Zhou Shan and the carrying off of the child. Naturally Sun Quan was very wrath at the miscarriage of his scheme, and he resolved to attack Jingzhou in revenge for his messenger's murder.

  “Now that my sister has returned home, there is no longer any family tie to prevent the attack, and I will take full measure of revenge for the death of my general,” said Sun Quan.

  So he called the council to consider the expedition.

  But before they could decide upon any plan, their deliberations were suddenly cut short by the news that Cao Cao was coming down upon the South Land with four hundred thousand troops, burning to avenge his defeat at the Red Cliffs. All thoughts now turned toward repelling his attack.

  Adviser Zhang Hong, who had retired to his home ill, had just died, and his testament was sent to his lord to read. Therein he advised Sun Quan:

  “My lord, the seat of government should be removed to the old land of Moling, where the scenery seems to bear the

  impress of kingly dignity, befitting a person who cherishes the ambition of founding an enduring dynasty.”

  Sun Quan read this document out to his councilors at this meeting, not without many tears in memory of the writer.

  He told them, saying, “Zhang Hong was sincere till his death. I cannot withstand his last advice!”

  And Sun Quan at once gave orders to build a walled city named Shidou in Moling, and changed the name of the land to Jianye. Henceforth he intended to make his capital there.

  As a protection against Cao Cao, Admiral Lu Meng proposed building a rampart at River Ruxu.

  Some other officers opposed this, saying, “When the enemy appears, you will have to land in order to attack him, and after that you will return to your ships. What is the use of a rampart?”

  Lu Meng replied, “One must prepare against possibilities. Soldiers vary in keenness and sometimes lose battles. If an urgent occasion arises, the soldiers may be unable to reach the water's edge, and how then are they to embark? They will then need shelter.” Sun Quan said, “Provision against eventualities, such as he proposes, is good. Against a distant risk provide, and sorrow walks not by your side.”

  So they sent soldiers to build ramparts at River Ruxu, and as the work ceased not day or night the wall was soon completed.

  In the capital Cao Cao's influence and glory waxed daily greater. High Counselor Dong Zhao proposed that the title of duke should be conferred upon him.

  Dong Zhao said, “In all history, no one has rendered such services as you have, O Prime Minister, not even Duke Zhou or Lu Wang. These thirty years you have exposed yourself to all risks, been combed by the wind and bathed by the rain, and you have swept evil from the empire, succored the distressed, and restored the Hans. Who of all statesmen can rank with you? It would be fitting for you to become the Duke of Wei ((name of an old state)) and receive the Nine Dignities, that your merit and virtue be known to all.”
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  Now the Nine Dignities, or signs of honor, were:

  .1. Chariots: Gilded chariots drawn by eight horses;

  .2. Court dresses: Dragon-embroidered robes, headdresses, and shoes;

  .3. Music at banquets: By royal bands;

  .4. Red doors: Symbols of wealth;

  .5. Inner staircase: Protection for every step;

  .6. Imperial Tiger Guard: Three hundred at the gates;

  .7. Imperial axes: Commanding and ceremonial symbols;

  .8. Bow and arrows: Red-lacquered bow with a hundred arrows;

  .9. Libation vessels: Jade tablets and libation cups.

  However, all the courtiers were not of one mind.

  Said High Adviser Xun Yu, “This should not be done, O Prime Minister. You raised a force by an appeal to the innate sense of righteousness of the people, and with that force you restored the Han authority. Now you should remain loyal and humble. The virtuous person loves people with a virtuous love and would not act in this way.”

  Cao Cao did not take this opposition kindly.

  Dong Zhao said, “How can we disappoint the hopes of many because of the words of one?”

  So a memorial went to the Throne, and Cao Cao's ambitions and desires were gratified with the title of Duke of Wei. The Nine Dignities were added.

  “I did not think to see this day!” said Xun Yu, sighing.

  This remark was repeated to the newly created Duke and angered him. He took it to mean that Xun Yu would no longer aid him or favor his designs.

  In the winter of the seventeenth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity (AD 212), Cao Cao decided to send an army to conquer the South Land, and he ordered Xun Yu to go with it. Xun Yu understood from this that Cao Cao wished his death, so he declined the appointment on the plea of illness. While Xun Yu was at home, he received one day a box such as one sent with presents of dainties. It was addressed in Cao Cao's own handwriting. Opening it, Xun Yu found therein nothing. He understood; he took poison and died. He was fifty-two years of age.

  Xun Yu's talents were to all men known,

  That was sad that at the door of power he tripped.