Three Kingdoms Romance

by Guanzhong Luo

  When he was taken to Cao Cao, he was received with the greatest kindness. Cao Cao himself dismounted, loosed the captive's bonds, and asked him, “Do you surrender?”

  Pang De thought of the ill-treatment he had just received at the hands of his master and of his injustice, and gave in. At once Pang De was helped to mount a horse by Cao Cao himself and led to the great camp.

  Soldiers placed for the purpose on the city wall saw what happened and reported to Zhang Lu: “Pang De has ridden off on friendly terms with Cao Cao.” Whereby Zhang Lu was persuaded that Yang Song had spoken truly.

  Soon after, scaling ladders were set against the city walls, and catapults threw in great stones. The danger being imminent, Zhang Wei counseled, saying, “Set all supplies on fire and flight to the Southern Mountains, where we might be able to defend Bazhong.”

  On the other hand, Yang Song said, “The best course is to throw open the gates and surrender.”

  Zhang Lu could not decide which to do. His brother, Zhang Wei, maintained that burning everything and flight was the only course.

  Zhang Lu said, “I have been always loyal at heart and desired to return to allegiance when circumstances would permit. I have been unable to attain my desire, but now fight seems the only course open to me. However, the granaries and treasures, the public offices and the government property of all kinds must be kept safe.”

  So the public buildings were all carefully barred and sealed. The same night, in the late evening, Zhang Lu and his family went out through the south gate and found their way through. Cao Cao let them go unpursued. When Cao Cao entered the city and saw the proofs of Zhang Lu's care of the government property, he compassionated the Governor's misfortunes. He then sent a messenger into Bazhong to induce Zhang Lu to surrender. Zhang Lu was disposed to do so, but his brother would not hear of it. Yang Song wrote a secret letter to Cao Cao urging him to attack and promising treacherous aid.

  Cao Cao presently attacked, and Zhang Wei came out to meet him. But his opponent was the mighty Xu Chu, who made short work of him. The beaten soldiers fled back into the city, which Zhang Lu then decided to defend.

  As this would not give Yang Song the chance to carry out his treacherous scheme, he persuaded his master, saying, “If we stay passive, death will surely come. My lord should go out and fight the enemy to the conclusion, leaving me to defend the city.”

  Zhang Lu took this advice, although it was opposed by Yan Pu, and went out. But before his van got near the enemy, his rear ranks began to desert, and Zhang Lu retreated. Cao Cao pursued him to the city walls, where Zhang Lu found the gates shut against him.

  “Surrender, O Zhang Lu!” cried Cao Cao.

  There being now no way open, Zhang Lu dismounted, prostrated himself, and gave in. Because of this and his care of the public property, Cao Cao treated him with great kindness and consoled him with the title of General Who Guards the South. Yan Pu and many others also were enrolled among the nobles. To each county was appointed a Military Commander, in addition to the Governor. All the soldiers were feasted and rewarded.

  Then Yang Song, who had sold his master, came and sued for honors. He was condemned to public execution and exposure.

  Selling one's lord may make great service,

  But the gains thereof are vanity;

  No glory clings to his house but a shameful death;

  Wherefore Yang Song is an object of contempt forever.

  When the Eastern Land of Rivers was quite subdued, First Secretary Sima Yi said, “The people of Shu are not loyal to Liu Bei because of his uprooting the late ruler, Liu Zhang; and if on the strength of your present success you press forward, Liu Bei will become as a shattered tile. The wise person takes the occasion when it serves, and this should not be missed.”

  Cao Cao sighed, “There is no end — as human want has no limit; now that I have Hanzhong, I am forced into taking Yiazhou.”

  Liu Ye supported his colleague, saying, “Sima Yi spoke well. If you delay, Zhuge Liang will have become top minister, while Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and the other bold warriors will be at the head of the army. If the people of Shu once settle down, and the points of vantage are held, you will not be able to overcome them.”

  Cao Cao replied, “My soldiers have marched far and suffered much; beside we must show pity.”

  Wherefore he rested his army for a time.

  Meanwhile the populace of Yiazhou, having heard of Cao Cao's success in the Eastern Land of Rivers, concluded that the Western Land of Rivers would suffer next, and fear spread among them. Whereupon Liu Bei called in the Directing Instructor and asked his advice.

  Zhuge Liang replied, “I can make Cao Cao retreat of his own accord.”

  “What is that plan?”

  “A part of Cao Cao's army is camped at Hefei because of the fear of Sun Quan. If now we restore three territories of Jingzhou — Changsha, Jiangxia, and Guiyang—, and send a specious person to talk, we can make Sun Quan attack Hefei, which will lead to Cao Cao going southward and not looking to the west.”

  “Who is a fit person for the messenger?” said Liu Bei.

  And Yi Ji replied, “I will go.”

  Liu Bei, well-satisfied, wrote letters and prepared gifts, with which Yi Ji went, calling in at Jingzhou City on the way to tell Guan Yu. Then he went on to the capital city of Moling and saw Sun Quan.

  After the greetings, Sun Quan asked, “On what business do you come?”

  Yi Ji replied, “On a former occasion Zhuge Jin would have had the three territories of Changsha, Lingling, and Guiyang, but for the absence of the Directing Instructor, which prevented the actual transfer. Now I am the bearer of letters giving Changsha, Guiyang, and Jiangxia back to you. Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang wanted to restore all the territories of Jingzhou, including those of Nanjun and Lingling, but now that Cao Cao has got possession of Eastern Land of Rivers, there is no place for General Guan Yu. Hefei is weak, and we hope you will attack it so as to make Cao Cao withdraw to the south and let my master take the Eastern Land of Rivers, when he will restore the whole of the Jingzhou Region.”

  “Go back to the guest-house and let me take counsel in this matter,” said Sun Quan.

  As soon as Yi Ji had gone, the Marquis of Wu turned to his officers and asked what should be done.

  Zhang Zhao said, “All this is because Liu Bei fears that Cao Cao will attack him. However, since Cao Cao is absent in Hanzhong, it would be well to seize the opportunity and attack Hefei.” Sun Quan accepted the advice. After he had sent the messenger away, he began to prepare for the expedition. He left Lu Su in command over the three territories of Changsha, Jiangxia, and Guiyang. Then Sun Quan encamped at Lukou, withdrew Generals Lu Meng and Gan Ning, and sent to Yuhang for General Ling Tong.

  Very soon, Lu Meng and Gan Ning returned, and the former suggested a plan, saying, “Cao Cao has sent Zhu Guang, Governor of Lujiang, to camp at the city of Huancheng and plant grain for the supply of Hefei. Let us first take Huancheng and then attack Hefei.”

  “This scheme is just after my own heart,” said Sun Quan.

  So Sun Quan appointed Lu Meng and Gan Ning as Van Leaders; Jiang Qin and Pan Zhang as Rear Guards; he himself with Zhou Tai, Xu Sheng, Dong Xi, commanded the center. But the Commanders Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and Han Dang were not called to take part in this expedition as they were guarding certain especial places.

  The army crossed the river and captured Hezhou on the way. Governor Zhu Guang sent an urgent message to Hefei for help and set himself to strengthen his fortifications for a siege. Sun Quan went very near the city walls of Huancheng to observe its defense, and a flight of arrows greeted him, some striking his great official parasol. He went back to camp and asked his officers to offer plans of attack.

  Then Dong Xi said, “Pile up great hills of earth and attack from the summits.”

  Said Xu Sheng, “Set up long ladders and construct platforms whence you can look over the city walls and thus attack.”

  But Lu Meng said, “All such p
lans need a long time to prepare, and in the meantime the soldiers of Cao Cao will arrive from Hefei. Do not try such long-drawn-out schemes, but take advantage of the fine, fresh spirit of our newly arrived troops and attack impetuously. Their elan will carry the wall. If you attack tomorrow at dawn, the city will fall before noon.”

  So the early meal was taken at the fifth watch, and the army went to the attack. The defenders sent down showers of arrows and stones. Gan Ning took an iron chain in his hand and climbed up the wall. They shot at him with bows and crossbows, but he turned aside the arrows and bolts, and he threw the chain round Governor Zhu Guang to pull him down. Lu Meng beat the drum for the attack. The soldiers made a rush forward to climb the wall, and they slew Zhu Guang. His officers and soldiers gave in, and so Huancheng fell to Sun Quan. It was still a long time to noon.

  In the meantime Zhang Liao was marching to the aid of the city. Half-way he heard that the city had fallen, and so he returned to Hefei.

  Soon after the conqueror's entry into Huancheng, Ling Tong came there with his army. The next few days were devoted to feasting the army. Special rewards were given to the two generals who had done such good work at the capture; and at the banquet to the officers, Gan Ning was seated in the seat of honor, which his colleague, Lu Meng, readily yielded to him for his late prowess.

  But as the cup of felicitation was passing round, Ling Tong's thoughts turned to the enmity he bore Gan Ning for having slain his father, and the praises which Lu Meng now heaped upon Gan Ning filled Ling Tong's heart with bitterness. For some time he glared savagely at Gan Ning, and then he determined on revenge. Drawing his sword, he suddenly rose to his feet and cried, “There is nothing to amuse the assembly. I will give them a display of swordsmanship.” Gan Ning quickly saw his real intention. He pushed back his table and laid hold of a halberd in each hand, crying, “And you may also watch an adept in the use of this weapon!”

  Lu Meng saw the evil meaning of both, and assuming his sword and shield, he hastily stepped between the two warriors, saying, “Neither of you gentlemen is so dexterous as I.”

  So he forced the two combatants asunder, while some one ran to tell Sun Quan. The Marquis hastily jumped into the saddle and rode to the banquet hall. At sight of their lord, they all three lowered their weapons.

  “I have bidden you two to forget this old enmity,” said Sun Quan. “Why do you revive it today?”

  Ling Tong prostrated himself in tears. Sun Quan exhorted him to forget his quarrel, and once again there was peace.

  The next day the army set out for Hefei.

  Because of the loss of Huancheng, Zhang Liao grieved greatly. Cao Cao had sent by the hands of Xue Ti a small casket sealed with his own seal and bearing outside the words, “If rebels come, open this.”

  So when he received the news of the coming of a powerful army, Zhang Liao opened the casket and read the letter therein, which said, “If Sun Quan comes to attack Hefei, the two Generals Li Dian and Zhang Liao are to go out to oppose him, and Yue Jin is to be left to guard the walls.”

  Zhang Liao sent the letter to the two men named therein.

  “What do you think to do?” said Yue Jin.

  Zhang Liao replied, “Our lord is away, and Wu is coming to attack for certain. We must go out to repel them and exert ourselves to the utmost to inflict defeat upon their advanced guard. Thus we shall appease the fears of the populace, and then we can hold as best we may.”

  But Li Dian was silent, for he was ever unfriendly to Zhang Liao.

  Then seeing his colleague inclined to hold off, Yue Jin said, “I am for remaining on the defensive since the enemy is so much more numerous than we.”

  “Gentlemen, it seems you are selfish and not devoted to the common weal,” said Zhang Liao. “You may have your private reasons for what you do, but I intend to go out and try to repel the enemy. I will fight them to the death.”

  Thereupon Zhang Liao bade his servants saddle his steed. At this, Li Dian's better feelings were aroused, and he rose, saying, “How can I be careless of the common weal and indulge my private feelings? I am ready to follow you and do as you command.”

  Zhang Liao was elated at this moral victory, and said, “Since I can depend upon your help, my friend, then I would ask you to lie in ambush on the north of the Flageolet Ford in order to destroy the bridge there as soon as the army of Wu has crossed. I, with my friend Yue Jin, will smite the enemy.”

  Li Dian went away to muster his troops and prepare the ambush. As has been recorded, the leaders of the advance guard of the southern army were the veterans Lu Meng and Gan Ning. Sun Quan and Ling Tong were in the center; the other generals followed them. The leaders of the van met Yue Jin first, and Gan Ning rode out and challenged him. After a few bouts, Yue Jin pretended to be defeated and fled. Gan Ning called to his colleague to join in the pursuit.

  When Sun Quan heard that this advance guard had been successful, he hastened his army to the Flageolet Ford. But then there came a series of explosions, and up came Zhang Liao and Li Dian, one on each flank. Sun Quan was unprepared for this and sent messengers to call off the pursuit and ask for help from Lu Meng and Gan Ning. Before it could arrived, Zhang Liao had come up.

  Manifestly, Ling Tong, who had with him only a small troop of three hundred horse, could not long withstand the army of Cao Cao, but he faced them and fought bravely and presently cried to his lord, “Cross the Flageolet Bridge and run back, my lord!”

  Sun Quan galloped for the bridge, but the southern end had been already broken down and there was a wide breach between the end of the bridge and the shore. Not a single plank was there by which to cross. What could be done? Sun Quan was in a quandary, and helpless.

  “Go back and jump for it!” yelled one of the generals, Gu Li by name.

  Sun Quan did so. Backing his horse some thirty spans or so, he then gave it its head and lashed it with his whip.

  The good beast leaped, cleared the chasm and his master wee safe on the southern shore.

  Once Dilu leant across the Tan Torrent wide,

  And when defeat did Sun of Wu betide,

  And death came threateningly at Flageolet Ford,

  His steed too leapt, and saved him from the sword.

  Having reached the farther shore, Sun Quan embarked on one of the boats of Xu Sheng and Dong Xi and was rowed to a place of safety, while Ling Tong and Gu Li were still fighting with Zhang Liao's army. Gan Ning and Lu Meng, coming to their aid, were pursued by Yue Jin, and Li Dian also stayed their progress. But the soldiers of the South Land fought bravely; half of their force fell, and Ling Tong's troop of three hundred horse perished all, while Ling Tong himself was wounded, but found his way to the bridge. Finding it destroyed, he fled along the stream. Presently he was seen by Sun Quan from the boat and taken on board by Dong Xi. Gan Ning and Lu Meng also cut their ways back to the southern shore.

  The terrible slaughter at this battle put such fear into the minds of the people of the South Land that the name of Zhang Liao kept the very children quiet at night.

  When Sun Quan reached his camp, he richly rewarded Ling Tong and Gu Li. Then he led his army back to Ruxu and began to put his ships in order so that the army and navy might act in unison. He also sent home for reinforcements.

  Zhang Liao reflected that he had insufficient force to meet another attack if it should be supported by the navy of the South Land, so he sent Xue Ti through the night to carry an urgent message to his master in Hanzhong. When the messenger arrived, Cao Cao saw that his western expedition would have to yield to the urgency of home defense. However, he called in his counselors and put a direct question to them.

  “Can we take the Western Land of Rivers now, or not?” “Shu is too well prepared; we cannot,” replied Liu Ye. “It is better to go to the succor of Hefei and then go down the river to take the South Land.”

  Wherefore, leaving Xiahou Yuan to station at the Dingjun Mountains to guard Hanzhong, and Zhang He to keep Mount Mengtou Pass, Cao Cao broke up his c
amp and went toward Ruxu with all his commanders.

  The armored horsemen had conquered Hanzhong,

  The ensigns toward the south were turned again.

  The subsequent course of the war will be unfolded in later chapters.

  CHAPTER 68. Gan Ning's Hundred Horsemen Raid The Northern Camp; Zuo Ci's Flung-Down Cup Fools Cao Cao.

  Sun Quan was occupied in ordering his army at Ruxu when he heard of the coming of Cao Cao with four hundred thousand troops to the relief of Hefei. He told off a fleet of fifty large ships to lie in the port while Chen Wu went up and down the river banks on the look-out.

  “It would be well to inflict a defeat upon Cao Cao's army before they recover from the long march; it would dishearten them,” said Zhang Zhao.

  Looking around at the officers in his tent, Sun Quan said, “Who is bold enough to go forth and fight this Cao Cao and so take the keen edge off the spirit of his army?”

  And Ling Tong offered himself.

  “I will go!” said he.

  “How many soldiers do you require?”

  “Three thousand troops will suffice,” replied Ling Tong.

  But Gan Ning struck in, saying, “Only a hundred horse would be needed; why send three thousand?”

  Ling Tong was angry, and he and Gan Ning began to wrangle even in the presence of their chief.

  “Cao Cao's army is too strong to be attacked recklessly,” said Sun Quan.

  Finally he gave the commission to Ling Tong with his three thousand, bidding him reconnoiter just outside Ruxu, and fight the enemy if he met him.

  Marching out, Ling Tong very soon saw a great cloud of dust, which marked the approach of an army. As soon as they came near enough, Zhang Liao, who led the van, engaged with Ling Tong, and they fought half a hundred bouts without sign of victory for either. Then Sun Quan began to fear for his champion, so he sent Lu Meng to extricate Ling Tong from the battle and escort him home.