Three Kingdoms Romance

by Guanzhong Luo

  So the letter was written and sent to Jingzhou. Meanwhile, by Lu Meng's special command, the most complete protection was given to the families of all the officers who were serving under Guan Yu, and they were kept supplied with all they required. Even the ailing members of their households were treated by physicians free of charge. The result was that they were quite won over to the new order of things, and there was no attempt to disturb it. When Guan Yu's letter came, the messenger was led into the city and well treated.

  When Lu Meng read the letter, he said to the bearer thereof, “You must understand the different circumstances. When your general and I were leagued together, it was a personal matter between us two. Now things have changed. I am sent here with certain orders and am not my own master. I would trouble you, O Messenger, to return and explain thus to your master and in good words.”

  The bearer of the letter was entertained at a banquet and sent to repose himself in the guest-house, where the families of the absent officers sought him to have news of their husbands and fathers. Moreover, they brought him letters and gave him messages for the officers, and the whole tenor of these letters and messages was that they were all in good health, all their needs were supplied, and they lacked nothing. When he left the city, Lu Meng himself escorted him to the outskirts and set him on his way.

  On his return to the army, he gave to Guan Yu the message of Lu Meng and told him that the families were all well and safe and well cared for. This, however, did not greatly please Guan Yu, for he saw in this merely a plan to gain favor and popularity.

  “The brigand! If I cannot slay him while I live, I will after I am dead. My hate shall not go unappeased.” He roughly dismissed the messenger, who went out and was at once surrounded by those whose families were in the city and who desired to have news of them. And when he gave them the letters and messages and told them all were well, there was great rejoicing among the men in the camp, and kindly feelings for Lu Meng prevailed. And therewith died down the spirit of fighting.

  Guan Yu led the army to attack Jingzhou, but day by day the men deserted and ran away to the very city they were moving to attack. So day by day Guan Yu's bitterness and anger increased, and he advanced in angry haste. One day there was a great shouting and the noise of drums, and he found his way blocked.

  “Why do you not surrender, friend Guan Yu?” said the leader of this body, Jiang Qin.

  “Could I give in to a rebel; I, a servant of the Hans and a leader of their army?” roared Guan Yu in a passion.

  Thereupon he whipped his horse forward and swung up his sword to strike. However, Jiang Qin would not fight. The two exchanged a few blows, and Jiang Qin fled. Guan Yu followed. When he had gone a long way, there suddenly appeared from a gully near him Han Dang, while Zhou Tai came out from the other side. Thereupon Jiang Qin wheeled round and once more came to do battle, so that three forces were opposed to Guan Yu. Unable to withstand these, he retreated.

  Before he had gone very far, he saw signs of many people bivouacking among the hills, and presently made out, on a huge white banner that flapped in the breeze, the words “Natives of Jingzhou”, and the people about were calling out, “All the inhabitants of this place have surrendered.”

  Guan Yu felt like rushing up and cutting these people to pieces, but just then two other cohorts appeared led by Ding Feng and Xu Sheng, who supported Jiang Qin. The three bodies of troops then set on with shouting and loud beating of drums that seemed to make the very earth tremble. And Guan Yu was like the kernel in a nut, quite surrounded.

  This was not all. He saw the number of his followers diminishing every moment. He fought on till dusk, and looking about him he saw all the hills crowded with Jingzhou folks and heard them calling brother for brother and son for father, till his soldiers' hearts had melted within them. One by one they ran to their relatives, heedless of their leader and his voice. Presently he had but three hundred left, but with them he kept up the battle till the third watch. Then there was another shouting in another note, for his leaders, Guan Ping, his son, and Liao Hua, came to his help. And they rescued him.

  “The soldiers' hearts are all melted,” said Guan Ping. “We must find some place wherein to camp till help can arrive. There is Maicheng, small, but sufficient; let us camp there.”

  Guan Yu consented, and the exhausted army hurried thither as quickly as they could.

  The small force was divided among the four gates to guard.

  Zhao Lei said, “This place is near Shangyong where Meng Da and Liu Feng station. We should send for their help. If their army marches to our relief until the grand army of Shu comes, the morale of our army will improve.”

  But disappointments dogged them. Very soon the army of Wu came up and laid siege to the city.

  “Who will try to break through and go away to Shangyong for assistance?” asked Guan Yu. “I will go,” said Liao Hua.

  “And I will escort you past the danger zone,” said Guan Ping.

  Guan Yu wrote his letter, which Liao Hua concealed next his skin, and having eaten a full meal, he rode out at the gate. The leader of the enemy, Ding Feng, tried to check him, but Guan Ping fought vigorously and drove him away. So Liao Hua escaped the siege and reached Shangyong, while Guan Ping returned. Then they barred the gates and hold their defense.

  Now, having captured Shangyong, Liu Feng and Meng Da had remained to guard it. Liu Feng had been created Governor General, and together with Meng Da, to defend that city. When they heard of the defeat of Guan Yu, they took counsel what to do. When Liao Hua came, he was admitted into the city. He told the tale of Guan Yu's straits, and asked for help.

  “Guan Yu is closely besieged in Maicheng. Help from the west will be a long time in coming, so I have been sent to beg your assistance. I hope you will march the Shangyong troops thither as quickly as possible, for any delay will be fatal.”

  Liu Feng replied, “Sir, go to the rest-house for a time till we can decide.”

  So Liao Hua went, and the two leaders talked over the matter.

  Liu Feng said, “This is bad news; what is to be done?”

  “Wu is very powerful,” replied his colleague. “Now they have control over the whole region of Jingzhou, save this small clod of earth called Maicheng. Cao Cao is at hand with five hundred thousand troops, and we cannot stand against the two mighty forces. I say we must not move.”

  “I know all this. But Guan Yu is my uncle, and I cannot bear to sit still and not try to save him.”

  “So you hold him as an uncle!” said Meng Da with a smile. “Yet I do not think he holds you much as a nephew. When the Prince of Hanzhong adopted you, Guan Yu was greatly annoyed. And after the Prince had accepted his new dignity and was nominating his heir, I heard he consulted Zhuge Liang, who said the affair was one to be decided within the family and declined to advise. Then the Prince sent to ask Guan Yu's advice. Did Guan Yu name you? Not at all. You were only a son by adoption and could have no place in the succession. Further, Guan Yu advised that you be sent to a distance lest you might cause trouble. This is common knowledge, and I am surprised that you are ignorant of it. Yet today you make capital out of the relationship and are willing to run a great risk to support it.”

  “Granted that what you say is true, still what reply can we give?”

  “Simply say that this city is still unsettled, and you dare not move lest it be lost.”

  Liu Feng took his colleague's view, sent for the messenger and told him. Liao Hua was greatly disappointed. He threw himself on the ground and knocked his head, imploring assistance.

  “If you act thus, there is an end of Guan Yu!” cried Liao Hua.

  “Will a cup of water extinguish a wagon load of blazing wood?” said Meng Da. “Hasten back and await patiently for the coming of help from the west.” Liao Hua renewed his entreaties. The two commanders simply rose, shook out their sleeves, and left him. Liao Hua saw that things had gone against him and thought his best course would be to go at once to Chengdu. He rode ou
t of the city cursing its defenders and went away west.

  Guan Yu from his fortress looked anxiously, but vainly, for the coming of the expected aid. He was in a sorry plight. His army numbered but a few hundred, many wounded; there was no food.

  Then someone came to the foot of the wall and, calling out to the defenders on the wall not to shoot, said he had a message for the commander. He was allowed to enter; it was Zhuge Jin. When he had made his salutations and taken tea, he began his harangue.

  “I come at the command of my master, the Marquis of Wu, to persuade you to a wise course. From of old it has always been recognized that the hero must bow to circumstances. The region with its nine territories and forty-one counties that you ruled have come under another, with the exception of this single city. Within, there is no food, without, no help, so that it must fall quickly. Wherefore, O General, why not hear me and join your fortunes to those of Wu? You shall be restored to your governorship, and you will preserve your family. If haply, Sir, you would reflect thereon.”

  Guan Yu replied, quite calmly, “I am a simple soldier from the village of Jieliang. I am the 'hands and feet' of my lord. How can I betray him? The city may fall, and then I can but die. Jade may be shattered, but its whiteness remains; bamboo may be burned, but its joints stand straight. My body may be broken, but my fame shall live in history. Say no more, but leave the city, I beg. I will fight Sun Quan to the death.”

  “My master desires to enter into such a league with you as did Jin and Qin in former days, that you may mutually assist to destroy Cao Cao and restore the Hans. That is his idea, and why do you persist in this wrong course?”

  As Zhuge Jin finished this speech, Guan Ping, who was by, drew his sword to slay him. But his father checked him.

  “Remember his brother is in Shu, helping your uncle. If you hurt him, you will injure the principle of fraternity.”

  Guan Yu then bade his servants lead Zhuge Jin away. Zhuge Jin went, his face covered with shame, and left the city. When he reached his master, he told of Guan Yu's obduracy and rejection of all argument.

  “He is indeed a loyal servant!” said Sun Quan. “Still, what is to be done next?”

  “Take some casts in the Book of Changes,” said Lu Fan.

  So the lots were taken and explained to mean that the Marquis' enemies should flee to a distance.

  Then Sun Quan asked Lu Meng, saying, “If he flies to a distance, how can he be captured?”

  “The divination exactly fits in with my schemes;” replied Lu Meng, “and though Guan Yu had wings to soar to the skies, he would not escape my net.”

  The dragon in a puddle is the sport of shrimps,

  The phoenix in a cage is mocked of small birds.

  The scheme of Lu Meng will be unfolded in the next chapter.

  CHAPTER 77. Guan Yu Manifests His Sacredness At Mount of The Jade Spring; Cao Cao Is Possessed At Luoyang.

  Sun Quan having asked Lu Meng for a plan, Lu Meng replied, “This Guan Yu has very few soldiers left, and he will not venture along the high road. North of Maicheng is a risky path, and he will try to escape along that. Therefore you must lay an ambush for him seven miles away from the city, but do not stop him. Let him go by, and then harass his rear. Thus he will be forced into Linju. Set another small ambush near there, and you will capture your enemy. For the present, attack the city vigorously on all sides but one, leaving the north gate for escape.”

  Before carrying out this plan, Sun Quan bade Lu Fan consult the auspices. He did so, announcing, “The enemy will flee toward the northwest, but will be caught that night before midnight.”

  So Zhu Ran was sent in command of the first ambush, and Pan Zhang was the second. The troops sent were all veterans.

  When Guan Yu mustered his fighting men in the city of Maicheng, he had but three hundred. The food was done. That night many soldiers of Wu came to the city walls and called to their friends by name, and many of these slipped over the wall and deserted, reducing the small force still further. No rescue force appeared, and Guan Yu was at the end of his resources.

  Again he bewailed to Wang Fu, saying, “I regret that I have neglected your wise warning; in this danger what is to be done?”

  “I think even if Lu Wang could come to life again, he would be helpless in this case,” replied Wang Fu, weeping.

  Said Zhao Lei, “Liu Feng and Meng Da have surely decided not to send help from Shangyong. Let us abandon this miserable place, try to get to Yiazhou, and recover the army. We may then tempt our fortune once more.”

  “I agree with you that that is the best plan,” said Guan Yu.

  Then he ascended the walls and surveyed the country. Noting that the weakest side was the north, he called in some of the inhabitants and inquired the nature of the country on that side.

  They replied, “There are only paths there, but by them one may get into the Western Land of Rivers.”

  “We will go that way tonight,” said Guan Yu.

  Wang Fu opposed it, saying, “General, you will surely fall into an ambush. The main road will be safer.”

  “There may be an ambush, but do I fear that?” said the old warrior.

  Orders were given to be ready to march.

  “At least be very cautious,” said Wang Fu. “I will defend this city to the very last; I only need a hundred troops. Never will we surrender. Only I hope, most noble General, that you will send me speedy help.”

  The two parted in tears; Wang Fu and Zhou Cang remaining to guard Maicheng. Guan Yu, Guan Ping, and Zhao Lei marched with their weak force out of the north gate. Guan Yu, his green-dragon saber ready to hand, went first. About the third watch, seven miles lay between them and the city. There they saw a deep cleft in the hills wherefrom rolled the sound of beaten drums. And men were shouting.

  Soon appeared a large force with Zhu Ran at their head. He came dashing forward, and summoned the small party, saying, “Guan Yu, do not run! Surrender and live!”

  But Guan Yu whipped his steed to a gallop and bore down on the leader with anger in his eyes. Then Zhu Ran ran away. Guan Yu followed him till there came the loud boom of a large drum, and out sprang troops from all sides. Guan Yu dared not engage such a number, and fled in the direction of Linju. Zhu Ran came up behind and attacked the flying soldiers, so that Guan Yu's following gradually became smaller and smaller.

  Still he struggled on. A few miles farther the drums rolled again, and torches lit up all round. This was Pan Zhang's ambush, and he appeared flourishing his sword. Guan Yu whirled his blade and went to meet him, but Pan Zhang ran away after a couple of bouts. However, Guan Yu saw they were too many for him, and sought refuge among the mountains. His son followed, and when he got within speaking distance, Guan Ping gave him the mournful tidings: “Zhao Lei has fallen in the melee!”

  Guan Yu was very sad, and bade his son try to protect the rear while he should force his way forward.

  With about ten men he reached Zhuxi, a place with mountains on both sides. At their foot was a thick mass of reeds and dried grass. The trees grew very close. It was then the fifth watch. Presently the small party stumbled into another ambush, and the ambushing soldiers thrust forth hooks and threw ropes. Entangled in these, Guan Yu's horse fell, and Guan Yu reeled out of the saddle. In a moment Ma Zhong, the Marching General of Pan Zhang, made him a prisoner. Guan Ping dashed to his rescue, but before he could do anything, he also was surrounded and held. Father and son were both captives.

  With great joy Sun Quan heard of the success of his plans. In the morning, he assembled all his officers in his tent to await the arrival of the prisoners. Before long, Ma Zhong came hustling his prisoner before his lord.

  “I have long had a friendly feeling for you,” said Sun Quan to Guan Yu, “on account of your great virtues. Now I would have made a covenant and alliance with you, if you would. You and your son have long held yourselves to be invincible, but you see you are my prisoners today. Yet I hope to win you over to my side.”

  But G
uan Yu only answered roughly, “You green-eyed boy! You red-bearded rat! I made a covenant in the Peach Garden with my brothers to uphold the Hans. Think you that I will stand side by side with a rebel such as you are? I am a victim of your vile schemes, but I can only die once. And there is no need of many words.”

  “He is a real hero, and I love him,” said Sun Quan to those standing near. “I will treat him well and endeavor to win him over. Do you think it well?”

  Said the First Secretary Zuo Xian, “When Cao Cao had hold of this man, Cao Cao treated him lavishly well. Cao Cao created him a marquis; in three-day interval Cao Cao held a small banquet, in five days a great one; Cao Cao gave him gold and presented him with silver; all this, hoping to retain him at his side. But Cao Cao failed. The man broke through his gates, slew his six generals in five passes and went away. Today Cao Cao fears him, and almost moved the capital for dread of him. Now he is in your power, destroy him, or you will rue the day. Evil will come if you spare him.”

  Sun Quan reflected for some time.

  “You are right,” said he presently, and gave the order for execution.

  So father and son met their fate together in the winter of the twenty-fourth year (AD 219) in the tenth month. Guan Yu was fifty-eight.

  A poem says:

  Peerless indeed was our Lord Guan Yu, of the latter days,

  Head and shoulders stood he out among the best;

  Godlike and terrible in war, elegant and refined in peace,

  Resplendent as the noonday sun in the heavens,

  Haloed as are the noblest of those early days,

  He stands, the brightest model for all ages,

  And not only for the strenuous days he lived in.

  And another:

  Seek ye a noble one? Then take ye the way of Jieliang,

  Watch ye how all men revere Guan Yu,