The Three Kingdoms Volume 1

by Luo Guanzhong

  Han Fu replied, “I used to be a subordinate under the Yuan family and I know I’m not as capable as Yuan Shao. The ancients practiced yielding to the sage. Why are you all so jealous?”

  Geng Wu sighed, “Jizhou is lost!”

  When the news got out, a large number of his men left their posts and the city. However, Geng Wu and another man hid themselves outside the city to await the arrival of Yuan Shao.

  They did not have to wait for long. Several days later, Yuan Shao appeared with his army. The two men rushed forward in an attempt to assassinate him but were both instantly killed by Yan Liang and Wen Chou, Yuan Shao’s two best fighters.

  After he entered the prefecture, Yuan Shao’s first act was to confer on Han Fu a high-sounding title, but the administration was entrusted to four of his own close advisors, thus depriving Han Fu of all power. Full of chagrin Han Fu abandoned all, even his family, and took refuge with the Prefect of Chenliu.

  Hearing of Yuan Shao’s possession of Jizhou, Gongsun Zan sent his younger brother Yue to see his ally and demand his share of the district. The brother was sent back to request Gongsun Zan himself to come but on his way home he was killed by assassins, who loudly proclaimed that they worked for Prime Minister Dong. Those of his followers who escaped carried the news to their late master’s brother.

  Gongsun Zan was very angry and said, “He prevailed on me to attack Han Fu while he took advantage and occupied the city. Now he even sent his men to murder my brother and lied about who they belonged to. How could I not avenge this wrong?”

  Then he assembled all his force for the attack. Yuan Shao, too, sent out his men. The two armies met on opposite sides of a bridge on the Pan River, Yuan Shao’s men to the east and Gongsun Zan’s to the west. Taking his position on the bridge, Gongsun Zan cried to his enemy: “You faithless scoundrel, how dare you betray me?”

  Yuan Shao rode to his end of the bridge and, pointing at his foe, replied: “Han Fu yielded the place to me because he was unequal to the task of ruling. What concern is it of yours?”

  Gongsun Zan said, “Formerly we thought you were loyal and public-spirited and we elected you chief of the confederacy. But what you have done proves that you are cruel and base, wolf-hearted and currish in behavior. How can you look the world in the face?”

  “Who will capture him?” cried the outraged Yuan Shao.

  At once Wen Chou rode up the bridge with his spear set and the two engaged. After half a score or so bouts Gongsun Zan was unable to resist and drew off. His opponent came on. Gongsun Zan took refuge within his own army but Wen Chou cut into the central line and rode this way and that, slaying right and left. Four valiant warriors under Gongsun Zan came forward to offer joint battle but one of them fell at the first exchange with Wen Chou and the other three fled. Then he chased the general all the way till he was out of the protection of his own army and was running toward a valley. Wen Chou spurred his horse on, crying hoarsely, “Down! Dismount and surrender!”

  Gongsun Zan was then in a pitiful condition, his bow and arrows all lost, his helmet fallen off and his hair disheveled as he rode desperately in and out between the sloping hills. Then his steed stumbled and he was thrown rolling over and over to the foot of a slope.

  Wen Chou at once raised his spear for the deadly thrust but all of a sudden there flew out from the grassy mound on the left a young warrior. With his spear poised to attack he rode directly at Wen Chou and Gong-sun Zan crawled up the slope to look on.

  The new warrior was a youth of commanding presence, tall in height, with bushy eyebrows and big eyes, a broad face and a heavy jowl. The two of them exchanged some three score of bouts and yet neither had the advantage over the other. Then Gongsun Zan’s rescue force came up and Wen Chou turned and rode away. The youth did not pursue.

  Gongsun Zan hurried down the slope and asked the young man who he was.

  He bowed low and replied, “I am from Zhending in Changshan. My name is Zhao Yun or Zhao Zi-long. I first served Yuan Shao, but when I saw that he was disloyal to the throne and indifferent to the welfare of the people I left him and I was on my way to offer my service to you. I did not expect to meet you here in this place, though.”

  The general was very pleased and the two went together to the camp, where they at once busied themselves with preparations for a new battle.

  The next day Gongsun Zan divided his army into two portions, like the wings of a bird. He had more than 5,000 cavalrymen, nearly all mounted on white horses. During his earlier battles against Qiang tribesmen he had always placed white horses in the van of his army and had won the nickname of “General of the White Horse.” The tribesmen held him so much in fear that they fled as soon as the white horses appeared. That was why he had so many horses of this color.

  On Yuan Shao’s side Yan Liang and Wen Chou were leaders of the van. Each had a thousand archers and crossbowmen who were also divided into two groups, those on the left to shoot at Gongsun Zan’s right flank, and those on the right to shoot at his left flank. In the center was Qu Yi with 800 archers and 15,000 foot soldiers, while Yuan Shao took command of the reserve force in the rear.

  For this battle Zhao Yun was put in command of a company in the rear, as his new master had acquired him only recently and did not feel assured of his faithfulness; a senior officer called Yan Gang was placed in the front to lead the van. Gongsun Zan himself commanded the center as he took his position on the bridge beside a standard on which was displayed the word “Commander” in red embroidery and gold outline.

  For two hours the drums rolled but Yuan Shao’s army made no move. Qu Yi ordered his bowmen to hide under their shields and wait until the roar of explosions to shoot. Amid loud beating of drums and shouts, Yan Gang made straight for Qu Yi, but seeing the approach of the enemy, Qu Yi and his men seemed to be rooted to the ground and did not stir at all. They waited until Yan Gang had got very close and then, as the sound of a bomb rent the air, the whole company, eight hundred bowmen in all, let fly their arrows in a cloud.

  Yan Gang hastened to turn back but Qu Yi rode furiously toward him, whirled his sword and cut him down. This put Gongsun Zan’s army in utter confusion. The two wings that should have come to the rescue were kept back by the bowmen under Yan Liang and Wen Chou and Yuan Shao’s army advanced right up to the bridge. At the head was Qu Yi, who rode forward, killed the standard bearer, and hacked down the embroidered banner. Seeing this, Gongsun Zan turned his steed and galloped away.

  Qu Yi led his men to press forward. However, when he reached the rear he was stopped by Zhao Yun, who rode directly at him with his spear, ready to strike. After a few passes, Qu Yi was laid in the dust. Then Zhao Yun dashed into Yuan Shao’s army all by himself, plunging this way and that, as if there were no antagonists around. At this, Gongsun Zan turned and came again into the fight and this time it was Yuan Shao’s army that suffered heavy losses.

  From the scouts sent to find out the battle’s progress, Yuan Shao had heard the good news of Qu Yi’s success in slaying the van leader, felling the standard, and his pursuit of the defeated enemy. So he took no further precautions but rode out with Tian Feng to enjoy his victory.

  “Ha ha!” he laughed. “The poor fool, what an imbecile he is!”

  But even as he spoke he saw in front of him the redoubtable Zhao Yun. The archers hastened to prepare their bows, but before they could shoot, Zhao Yun had pierced several of them to death, and the rest fled. Gong-sun Zan’s army then gathered around and closed in Yuan Shao.

  “Take refuge in this empty building here, sir,” said Tian Feng to his master.

  But Yuan Shao threw his helmet to the ground and cried, “I would rather face death in battle than seek safety behind a wall!”

  This bold speech gave new courage to his men, who fought desperately together, thus preventing Zhao Yun from cutting in. Soon, Yuan Shao was reinforced by the arrival of two of his forces, the main body and Yan Liang’s men, so that Zhao Yun could only just get his master safe out of th
e encirclement and back to the bridge. But Yuan Shao urged his men to press on and again they fought their way across the bridge, causing multitudes of their adversaries to drown in the Pan River.

  Riding at the head of his advancing army was Yuan Shao himself, who relentlessly pursued his opponents. But soon a great shouting was heard behind some hills, from where suddenly emerged an armed force led by Liu Bei and his two brothers. They had been informed about the struggle between their protector and Yuan Shao and had come specially to help.

  Now the three riders, each with his own powerful weapon, flew straight at Yuan Shao, who was so terrified that his sword fell from his hand and he fled for his life. His followers put up a desperate fight and eventually rescued him from across the bridge. And Gongsun Zan also called back his men and returned to camp.

  When the details of the battle were explained, Gongsun Zan said to Liu Bei: “If you had not come to our aid, we would have been in very bad shape indeed.”

  Then he introduced Zhao Yun to Liu Bei and a warm affection immediately sprang up between the two, so that from the very first, Liu Bei wanted to have Zhao Yun in his service.

  After losing that battle, Yuan Shao strengthened his defense and would not come out to fight, so the two armies lay inactive for over a month. In the meantime, news of the fighting was reported to Dong Zhuo in Chang’an.

  His advisor Li Ru said to him: “Both Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan can be regarded as the true warriors of today. They are now struggling against each other at the Pan River. I think it feasible for you, sir, to send an envoy to make peace between them in the name of the Emperor—they will support you out of gratitude for your intervention.”

  “Good idea,” said Dong Zhuo. So the next day he forged an edict and sent two high-ranking officials on the mission.

  When the two arrived in Hebei, Yuan Shao went a hundred li from his camp to welcome them and received the edict with the greatest respect. Then they went to see Gongsun Zan and made known their errand. Consequently Gongsun Zan wrote to his adversary proposing a reconciliation. The two emissaries returned to the capital to report their task complete. Soon, Gongsun Zan withdrew his army and went back to Beiping. He also presented a memorial recommending Liu Bei to be governor of Pingyuan.

  The farewell between Liu Bei and Zhao Yun was affecting. With tears in their eyes they held each other’s hand and could not bear to take leave of one another.

  Zhao Yun said with a sigh, “I used to think Gongsun Zan a noble soul but I was quite mistaken. From what he has done I can see that he is no different from Yuan Shao.”

  “You just submit to him for the time being. We will certainly meet again,” replied Liu Bei. And both wept as they separated.

  Now Yuan Shu, hearing of his brother’s annexation of Jizhou, sent an envoy to beg a thousand horses. The request was refused and enmity developed between the two brothers. Later he tried to borrow grain from Liu Biao in Jingzhou, but once again his request was turned down. In resentment Yuan Shu wrote to Sun Jian in an attempt to get him to attack Liu Biao. The letter ran like this:

  “When Liu Biao stopped you on your way home it was at the instigation of my brother. Now these two are plotting to fall on your district. Therefore you should at once strike at Liu Biao and I will get my brother for you. Then both your resentments can be appeased. You will get Jingzhou and I will have Jizhou. Please do not miss this good opportunity!”

  “I cannot bear Liu Biao,” said Sun Jian as he finished reading the letter. “He certainly did bar my way home and I may have to wait many years for my revenge if I let slip this chance.”

  So he called in his three most trusted subordinates for a council.

  “You cannot trust Yuan Shu—he is very deceitful,” said Cheng Pu.

  “I want my own revenge,” said Sun Jian. “Do you think I care for help from Yuan Shu?”

  He first dispatched Huang Gai to prepare a fleet of warships to carry arms and provision. Some large ones were set aside for taking horses on board. And a date was chosen for the action.

  News of these maneuvers came to Liu Biao who, greatly alarmed, hastily summoned his advisors and officers for a council.

  “Do not worry, sir,” said Kuai Liang. “You can put Huang Zu at the head of the Jiangxia troops to confront the enemy in advance. And you will lead the men of Jingzhou and Xiangyang to support him. Sun Jian has to cross the Yangtze River to fight us. How can he expect to fight well after such a journey?”

  Liu Biao took the advice. So Huang Zu was commanded to make the necessary preparations. In the meantime, a great army was assembled as a reinforcement.

  Here it should be mentioned that Sun Jian had four sons from his wife Lady Wu. The two eldest sons were called Sun Ce and Sun Quan. Lady Wu’s younger sister was his second wife, who also bore him a son and a daughter. Besides, he had adopted a son from the Yu family. And he had a younger brother named Sun Jing.

  As Sun Jian was leaving on the expedition, his brother led all his sons to kneel before his steed and tried to dissuade him from going. He said, “At present the emperor is weak and Dong Zhuo has become the real ruler. The whole country is torn apart as every lord is scrambling for territory to establish his own kingdom. Our district has just enjoyed some peace and it is not proper to begin a war because of a minor grudge. Please consider this, brother.”

  “Say no more, brother,” replied Sun Jian. “I desire to make my strength felt everywhere in the country. How can I not revenge my injuries?”

  “If you must go, father, let me accompany you,” said the eldest son Sun Ce.

  Sun Jian agreed and the father and son embarked. Their first target for attack was Fancheng.

  Now Huang Zu had placed along the riverbank archers and crossbowmen, who were commanded to shoot whenever they saw the ships approaching. On his side, Sun Jian ordered his men to remain under cover in the ships, which sailed to and fro to induce the enemy to shoot. For three days the ships sailed near the shore dozens of times, and each time they were met by a flight of arrows until at last their opponents had no more arrows left. Then Sun Jian told his men to pull out the arrows on the ships and collected them all. As a fair wind was blowing, they shot them back at their enemy. Unable to resist, those on the shore had to retreat. Sun Jian’s army then landed and two divisions under the command of Cheng Pu and Huang Gai set out directly for Huang Zu’s camp along two different routes. Behind them marched Han Dang with the main body. Attacked by the three forces, Huang Zu was completely routed. He gave up and escaped to the city of Dengcheng.

  Leaving the fleet under the care of Huang Gai, Sun Jian himself led the pursuing army. The two opposing forces drew up in the open country outside the city. Sun Jian rode out to the front under the standard. His son, clad in full armor and spear in hand, placed himself beside him.

  Huang Zu rode out with two of his officers, named Zhang Hu and Chen Sheng. Flourishing his whip, he abused his enemy: “You rebels from the east, how dare you invade the land of a scion of the ruling Han house!”

  He ordered Zhang Hu to challenge for battle. From Sun Jian’s side came Han Dang to accept. The two exchanged two score of bouts. Then, seeing his friend losing strength, Chen Sheng flew to his aid. When he saw this, Sun Ce laid aside his spear, reached for his bow and shot Chen Sheng in the face, who fell from his horse. Distracted by his fall, Zhang Hu could no longer defend himself and Han Dang, with a slash of his sword, clove his skull in two. Then Cheng Pu galloped up to take Huang Zu, who threw off his helmet, slipped from his steed, and ran for life amid common soldiers. Sun Jian led on the attack and drove his enemy to the Han River, where he ordered Huang Gai to advance.

  Huang Zu assembled his defeated men and went back to tell Liu Biao that they were no match for Sun Jian. The advisor Kuai Liang was again called in for counsel.

  “Our army has just suffered defeat and the soldiers will have no heart for fighting,” said Kuai Liang. “All we can do at the moment is to fortify our position and avoid direct confrontation wit
h them. At the same time we must send a message to Yuan Shao to seek his help. Then we can extricate ourselves from the predicament.”

  “An unwise move indeed!” said Cai Mao. “The enemy is right at the city gates—are we going to fold our hands and wait to be slain? Unworthy as I am, I would rather fight it out.”

  So he was placed in command of more than 10,000 men and went out of the city to draw up his battle line at a hill. The invading army advanced triumphantly. When Cai Mao approached, Sun Jian looked at him and said: “This is Liu Biao’s brother-in-law—who will capture him for me?”

  Cheng Pu set his iron spear and rode out to oppose him. After a few bouts, Cai Mao turned to flee. The Sun forces smote him until corpses filled the countryside and he took refuge inside the city of Xiangyang.

  Kuai Liang said, “Cai Mao should be put to death by military law. This defeat was due to his obstinacy.” But Liu Biao was unwilling to punish the brother of his newly-wedded wife.

  Meanwhile, Sun Jian had surrounded the city of Xiangyang and assaulted the four walls daily. One day a fierce wind blew up suddenly, breaking the pole of the banner bearing the word “Commander.”

  “This is not an auspicious sign,” said Han Dang. “Let us withdraw for the time being.”

  “I have won every battle and the city will be mine in no time. Should I return because the wind has broken a flagstaff?” replied Sun Jian.

  So he ignored the advice and attacked the city even more vigorously.

  Within the city, Kuai Liang told his master that while studying the night sky, he had noticed a great star on the point of falling. He calculated that it meant their enemy Sun Jian was about to perish. He advised Liu Biao to write to Yuan Shao to seek assistance.

  The letter was written. But who would undertake to fight his way through with the letter? One officer named Lu Gong, a warrior of great strength, offered himself for the dangerous task.

  Before he went, Kuai Liang said to him: “If you dare to undertake this task, do as I tell you. Take five hundred men with you—choose good bowmen. Dash through the enemy’s formation and make for the hills at once. You will be pursued, of course, but send one hundred men up the hill to prepare large stones and another hundred, all archers, to lie in ambush in the woods. When the pursuers come, do not just run away aimlessly but follow a devious way up the hill until you have deceived them to the place where the ambushed men are lying in wait. Then roll down the stones and let fly the arrows. If you succeed, fire off a series of bombs as a signal and we will come to help. If you are not pursued, send no signal but get away as fast as possible. The moon is dim tonight. You can start at dusk.”