The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation (16 page)

At this point an official named Zhao Zi suggested asking Cao Pi to attack Hanzhong, which would force their enemy to return home and the danger to Wu would be lifted. He also volunteered to be the emissary to Wei.

Sun Quan, who liked his plan very much, said to Zhao Zi, “This is a very good plan, but if you go you must not lose the dignity of our country.”

“If I should bring any shame to our country I will simply drown myself in the river—I could never stand before our people again.”

Satisfied with his answer, Sun Quan prepared a memorial, styling himself “minister” to the Emperor of Wei and appointed Zhao Zi his messenger. Taking the document Zhao Zi soon reached the capital, where he first sought out Jia Xu and some other officials.

At court on the following day Jia Xu stood forth and said, “Wu has sent a high official, Zhao Zi, with a memorial.”

“That is because they want the Shu army driven off,” said Cao Pi, smiling. He summoned the messenger, who knelt down in the outer court to pay his obeisance and handed in the memorial. After reading it, Cao Pi asked, “What sort of a master is the Marquis of Wu?”

“Intelligent, clear-sighted, kindly, brave, and perspicacious,” was the reply.

Cao Pi laughed. “Are you not exaggerating?”

“No, I am not,” replied Zhao Zi. “My master deserves the highest praise. He employed Lu Su at the time of crisis, which shows he is intelligent. He promoted Lu Meng to be commander of the army, which showed his clear-sightedness. He captured Yu Jin but did not hurt him, which shows his kindliness. He seized Jingzhou without causing any bloodshed, which shows his wisdom. He maintains the three rivers to challenge the world, which shows his boldness. Lastly, he bows before Your Majesty, which shows his perspicacity. Do you agree that I am not overstating in the least?”

“What about learning? Is he much of a scholar?”

“Sire, remember he commands a large fleet and a huge army. He employs men of wisdom and talents in his service, and his mind is full of great plans and projects. When he has a little leisure he reads the histories and the annals, but his aim is to grasp their main issues rather than identifying remarkable passages and selecting model sentences, like a pedantic scholar.”

“I want to overcome Wu—do you think it feasible?”

“If a large state has the military force to attack, a small one knows also how to defend itself.”

“Is Wu afraid of Wei?”

“What is there to be afraid of, with our million-man army and the great Yangtze as our moat?”

“How many such persons as yourself does Wu possess?”

“Intelligent and specially qualified ministers number about a hundred. As to people like myself—there are cartloads of them, too many to count.”

Cao Pi sighed, saying, “You are certainly one of those envoys who do credit to their lords’ missions wherever they are sent.”

Then he issued the mandate, conferring on Sun Quan the title of Prince of Wu and rewarding him with the Nine Gifts. An envoy was chosen to bear this edict to Sun Quan. This pleased the messenger from Wu, who thanked Cao Pi and took his leave.

After his departure, however, Liu Ye voiced an objection. “Sun Quan has come to us out of fear for the army of Shu. In my humble opinion, his war with Shu is a Heaven-sent chance to wipe him out. If you send an able general with an army across the river to attack him from within while he is being attacked by Shu from without, Wu as a state will disappear in less than ten days. If Wu goes, Shu will be isolated and can easily be dealt with at your leisure.”

“But I cannot attack him now that he has submitted to me. It will discourage others from doing so. It is better to accept his surrender.”

Liu Ye continued: “Although talented, he is but a general of an inferior rank and a marquis of the decaying days of Han. As his rank is low his influence is but small, and he still fears the central government. If you promote him to the status of a prince he is only one rank below yourself. While knowing the insincerity of his submission, you give him an exalted position and so increase his influence. This is no less than giving wings to a tiger.”

Cao Pi said, “No, I will help neither Wu nor Shu. I will wait and see how they deal with each other. When one of the two perishes only one will remain. I will destroy the remaining one without difficulty. Say no more now, sir, for I have decided.”

The envoy, named Xing Zhen, soon accompanied Zhao Zi to Wu.

When news of the arrival of Cao Pi’s envoy reached him, Sun Quan was discussing with his officials how to drive off the invaders. By the rules of courtesy the messenger bearing the edict should be met at a great distance from the capital, but Gu Yong was opposed to accepting the rank.

“My lord, you should style yourself ‘Superior General’ and ‘Earl of Nine Regions’; you should not accept any rank from Wei.”

“What is wrong with that? Even the founder of Han on one occasion accepted a princely rank from his adversary Xiang Yu.”

So he went out at the head of a large gathering of officials to welcome the messenger. The bearer of the mandate from Wei conducted himself haughtily as the representative of a superior country and an imperial ambassador. When he entered the city he did not even descend from his carriage. His arrogance infuriated Zhang Zhao, who started to rebuke him.

“Everyone must obey the rules of courtesy as everyone must respect the laws. Yet you behave so disrespectfully. Do you think there is no such thing as a sword in the country?”

Hurriedly the messenger got down from his chariot to meet Sun Quan. And they went into the city side by side.

As the cavalcade proceeded, a loud voice was heard in the rear of the two carriages, crying, “We cannot risk our lives to help our lord smash Wei and swallow Shu but let him receive a title from another. What a shame it is to us!”

The man was Xu Sheng. And the messenger said with a sigh, “With such generals and ministers Wu will not long be content to obey the command of another.”

However, the title was accepted. Sun Quan then gave orders to collect beautiful jade and precious pearls to be sent to Cao Pi as return gifts.

Not long after came tidings of the invading forces—Liu Bei was leading his own army and he was also assisted by the barbarian king Shamoke, with several hundred thousand of his men, and by two Han generals, Du Lu and Liu Ning, with their two cohorts. The mighty armies were advancing by land and water, exhibiting such enormous strength that seemed to shake the very heavens. The naval force had already sailed out of the Wu Gorge and the land force had reached Zigui.

Although Sun Quan had been created a prince, yet the Emperor of Wei would not offer any military aid. At the terrible news he asked for advice from his advisors and officers, but there was no response. All of them were silent.

“Alas!” he sighed. “When Zhou Yu was gone I had Lu Su, and when he died Lu Meng succeeded him. But now he, too, is gone and there is no one to share my troubles!”

But he had hardly finished speaking when a young officer stepped out and bowed before him, saying, “Though I am young I am well versed in the books of war, and with several legions I will go and destroy the men of Shu.”

The young man was Sun Huan, whose father was Yu He. Sun Ce, brother of Sun Quan, loved the youth and gave him his own family name of Sun, and so made him a member of the clan. He was the eldest of Yu He’s four sons. He was an expert archer and horseman and had accompanied his protector in various campaigns, during which he had distinguished himself as a brave officer. At this time he was twenty-five years old.

“How do you think you can overcome them?”

“There are two able officers under my command, Li Yi and Xie Jing, both who are equal to the strength of 10,000 men. With several legions I will capture Liu Bei.”

“Though you are very brave you are too young. You must have an assistant.”

At this another general, Zhu Ran by name, stepped forward and offered himself. Giving his consent, Sun Quan appointed the two volunteers joint commanders of 50,000 soldiers and marines. They were to start out as soon as possible.

Scouts soon reported that the army of Shu was camped at Yidu, so Sun Huan led half his men to its border and set up three camps there.

Now Wu Ban, as van leader of the army, had met with uninterrupted success since he left the country of Shu. His opponents surrendered at the mere news of his approach and his men were able to advance as far as Yidu with unstained swords. There, however, he learned that Sun Huan had encamped to oppose his progress. He at once sent a message to the First Ruler, who was then at Zigui.

The First Ruler was angry when he learned this. “How dare this youth try to withstand me?”

“Since Sun Quan has made this youth commander of his army, it is unnecessary to send a general of high rank,” said Guan Xing. “Let me go and capture him.”

“I would like to see how brave you are,” said the First Ruler, and he gave him orders to go.

Just as he was leaving, Zhang Bao stepped forth and asked for permission to go with him.

“It is even better if you both go,” said the First Ruler. “But you must be prudent and not hasty.”

So they took leave and soon advanced together with the van leader. Sun Huan, hearing of the coming of a large army, marched out all his men and deployed for battle. His two officers were placed on his two sides by the great standard. They watched the men of Shu filing out and noted two leaders in silver helmets and silver mail, riding on white horses. The flags were white, too. First came Zhang Bao with a long spear, and then Guan Xing carrying a great sword.

“Sun Huan, you idiot! Your time has come,” cried Zhang Bao abusively. “How dare you stand against the forces of the Emperor?”

“Your father is a headless ghost,” cried Sun Huan, no less abusive, “and you hurry along to join him. What a fool you are!”

Zhang Bao angrily rode at Sun Huan. From behind his chief, Xie Jing dashed out to meet him. After some two score bouts, Xie Jing ran away in defeat and Zhang Bao followed in pursuit.

When his comrade Li Yi saw him worsted he whipped up his steed and came to his rescue, whirling his gilded battle-ax. Zhang Bao fought a score of bouts with him but before the result of the battle could be decided a minor officer in the Wu army, noting that his colleague could not overcome Zhang Bao, shot a treacherous arrow that wounded Zhang Bao’s steed. Feeling the pang of the wound, the horse bolted back to his own side, but fell before he reached it, throwing his rider sprawling to the ground. Seeing this, Li Yi hastened forward to slay Zhang Bao with his battle-ax. But just as he raised the weapon to deliver the lethal blow, lo!—a red flash came between them, and his own head rolled down to the ground.

It was Guan Xing who had killed him. When he saw Zhang Bao’s horse falling and Li Yi hurrying up, he had rushed in and dealt that fatal blow, thus saving Zhang Bao’s life. They followed this victory by attacking even more vigorously and the battle ended with Sun Huan’s defeat.

The next day Sun Huan came out to offer battle again, and the two cousins went forth together. Guan Xing challenged Sun Huan to battle. Sun Huan rode out fiercely to engage him but after some thirty bouts he was too exhausted to fight on and had to turn back to his own side. The two cousins chased him to his camp. Wu Ban, with two other officers, led the men to join in the fight. Zhang Bao was the first to force his way into the ranks of Wu. He came across Xie Jing, whom he slew with a single spear thrust. The men of Wu scattered and fled, and the victory was on the side of Shu.

But Guan Xing was missing. Zhang Bao was greatly worried, saying he would not live if something happened to his cousin. So he gathered up his long spear and rode out to look for him. Presently he met Guan Xing, who bore his sword in his left hand and held a captive in his right.

“Who’s this?” asked Zhang Bao.

“In the melee I met an enemy,” cried Guan Xing, “and I took him prisoner.”

Zhang Bao recognized the man to be the one who had shot the treacherous arrow that had brought down his horse. The two returned to camp, where they slew their prisoner and poured a libation of his blood as sacrifice to the dead horse. After this they drew up a report to inform the First Ruler of the victory.

Sun Huan had lost his two major warriors as well as many other officers and men. His army was too weakened to continue the campaign, so he also sent back a report asking for reinforcements.

In the Shu camp two officers said to Wu Ban, “The army of Wu is broken. Let’s raid their camp tonight.”

But Wu Ban said, “Though Sun Huan has lost much of his land force, Zhu Ran’s marine force is positioned on the river, untouched. If the marines land in force and cut off our retreat we will be in danger.”

“That is easy to deal with,” said Zhang Nan. “Tell the two young officers to take 5,000 men each and set an ambush in the valleys. If Zhu Ran comes, they can smite him from two sides.”

Wu Ban thought of an even better plan. “I think it better to send some soldiers to pretend to be deserters. Let them tell Zhu Ran of our plan to raid Sun Huan’s camp, and Zhu Ran will come to the rescue as soon as he sees the camp on fire. Then the ambushing men can attack him and victory is certain.”

They thought this a very good plan and they made the necessary arrangements to carry it out.