The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation (4 page)

After Guan Yu read the letter, which was couched in most abject language, he threw back his head and laughed loud. He told his attendants to collect the gifts and sent the messenger away. On his return to Lukou the messenger told his new commander that Guan Yu was very much pleased and would cease to worry about threats from them. Lu Xun, delighted with the result, at once sent out spies to gather more information on Guan Yu’s moves, and they returned to say that most of the troops in Jingzhou had been removed to assist in the siege of Fancheng, which was to be seriously assaulted as soon as Guan Yu recovered from his wound.

This news was promptly sent on to Sun Quan, who at once called in Lu Meng to decide upon the next move.

“Now is the favorable moment to get possession of Jingzhou,” said Sun Quan. “I propose to send you and my brother, Sun Jiao, to lead the army.”

This Sun Jiao was really a cousin, as he was the second son of Sun Quan’s uncle. His familiar name was Shuming.

But Lu Meng objected. “My lord, if you trust me than employ me alone; if you trust Shuming, then employ him only. You cannot have forgotten the conflict between Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu when they were associate commanders. Although the final decision lay with Zhou Yu, yet the other presumed upon his seniority. All ended well because Cheng Pu recognized the ability of his colleague and so supported him. Now I am not as capable as Zhou Yu, but Shuming is closer to you than Cheng Pu. I fear it will be an obstacle to have both Shuming and myself as commanders.”

Sun Quan saw the strength of his argument, and appointed Lu Meng alone as commander, while his cousin Sun Jiao was to help him with the supplies. Lu Meng thanked his lord for the commission, mustered his force of 30,000 men, and assembled fourscore ships for the expedition.

A number of good swimmers were chosen to be disguised as merchants, dressed in white robes. These were put on board to row the vessels while the veterans were hidden in the holds of the big ships. Lu Meng selected seven officers to advance with him in a column and the remainder of the forces were left with Sun Quan in reserve. Letters were also sent to Lu Xun, informing him of the operation, and to Cao Cao, urging him to order his army to attack Guan Yu in the rear.

The sailors in white robes navigated the fast ships toward Xunyang River day and night and soon reached its north bank. When the beacon-keepers came down to question them, the men of Wu said they were traders forced into the place by contrary winds. And they offered gifts to the beacon-keepers, who accepted them and let the ships anchor close to the shore.

At about the second watch the soldiers, coming out of hiding in the holds of the ships, suddenly fell upon the beacon-keepers and made them prisoners, officers and men. Then the signal for a general landing was given, and all the soldiers from the eighty ships went ashore. Every key position was attacked, and Guan Yu’s men were captured and carried off to the ships, not a single one being allowed to escape. Then the whole force hurried off toward Jingzhou, whose defenders were entirely unaware of their impending danger.

Nearing Jingzhou, Lu Meng spoke kindly to his captives and gave them rich gifts in order to induce them to have the gates opened for him to enter the city. He won them over to his side, and they agreed to aid him. They were then told to light a torch as a signal for the army to enter. So they went in advance and arrived at the city about midnight. The wardens, recognizing their voices, opened the gates for them. Once within, they shouted and lit a fire. Immediately the men of Wu came in with a rush and were soon in possession of the city.

The first order issued by Lu Meng was to spare the people. Instant death was to be the punishment for any murder or robbery. The various officials in the city were allowed to retain their offices and continue their work. Guan Yu’s family was put in safe accommodation without any danger of being assaulted by outsiders. A report was sent immediately to Sun Quan.

One very wet day Lu Meng, with a few horsemen as escort, was going round the four gates of the city when he saw a soldier taking a local resident’s broad-brimmed hat and putting it over his armor to keep it dry. The offender was seized. He turned out to be a fellow villager of Lu Meng’s, but that did not save him.

“You are an old acquaintance, but you knew my order—why did you disobey it?”

The man pleaded in tears. “I was afraid the rain would spoil my armor, and I took the hat to protect it. I did not take it for my own advantage, but to protect government property. Spare me, General, for I am your fellow villager.”

“I know you were protecting your armor, but still it was disobedience of my order against taking anything from the people.”

The soldier was beheaded, and his head exposed as a warning. But afterwards Lu Meng had the body buried decently and wept at the grave for the loss of his fellow villager. Never after this was there the least laxity of discipline.

When Sun Quan visited the city, Lu Meng met him at the boundary and led him to the official residence, where he issued rewards and commendations. Then he ordered the former prefect, Pan Chin, to continue his charge of the city. Yu Jin, who was in prison, was freed and sent back to Cao Cao. When the people had been comforted and the soldiers rewarded, there was a great banquet in celebration of the success of the expedition.

Sun Quan said to Lu Meng, “Jingzhou is now in our hands, but there are still the two cities of Gongan and Nanjun. How can we get these?”

At this Yu Fan rose and said, “There is no need to send an army, not even to use a single bow or arrow. I can persuade Fu Shi-ren to surrender.”

“How will you do it?” asked Sun Quan.

“He and I have been good friends since we were young, and if I explain the grave situation to him I am sure he will come over to our side.”

Consequently Yu Fan, with five hundred soldiers, left quickly for Gong-an, where his friend was in command.

Now the fall of Jingzhou had reached Fu Shi-ren, who at once ordered his men to close the city gates and maintain a firm defense. At this time Yu Fan arrived, but was refused entrance. So he wrote a letter, fixed it to an arrow, and shot it into the city. A soldier picked it up and took it to Fu Shiren, who found it to be a convincing letter from his old friend, urging him to surrender. Recalling how Guan Yu hated him before he left for his expedition to Fancheng, Fu Shi-ren thought it would be well if he submitted to Wu.

Without further ado he ordered the wardens to open the gate to allow his friend in. After greetings they talked of old times, and Yu Fan praised Sun Quan’s magnanimity and his respect for the wise and scholarly. These words greatly pleased Fu Shi-ren, who at once went with his friend to Jingzhou, taking with him his seal of office. He was introduced to Sun Quan, who reappointed him commander of Gongan. However, Lu Meng thought the appointment imprudent while Guan Yu was yet unconquered. He said to his master in private that it would be better to send Fu Shi-ren to Nanjun to induce Mi Fang to join him in deserting. His advice was followed, and Fu Shi-ren was recalled.

“You and Mi Fang are good friends. I want you to go to Nanjun and win him over for me. I will reward you richly,” said Sun Quan.

Fu Shi-ren accepted the mission and duly left for Nanjun.

Gongan’s defender failed when tried,
So Wang Fu’s words were justified.

The result of his journey will be told in the next chapter.

CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX

Xu Huang Fights a Great Battle on the Mian River

Guan Yu Retreats to Maicheng in Defeat

T
he
fall of Jingzhou put Mi Fang in a quandary, and before he could decide upon any course his colleague Fu Shi-ren came to see him. Mi Fang at once welcomed him in and asked him for the reason of his visit.

Fu Shi-ren went directly to the purpose of his visit. “I’m not disloyal,” he said, “but I was in a tight spot and couldn’t hold on, so I’ve surrendered to Wu. And I advise you to do the same.”

“You and I have both received great kindness from the Prince of Hanzhong, and I can’t bear to turn against him.”

“Don’t you remember how intensely Guan Yu hated both of us when he went away? If he comes back victorious I don’t think he will forgive us. You must think it over carefully.”

“My brother and I have followed the prince these many years. How can I betray him like this?”

Just as he was hesitating, there came a messenger from Guan Yu, who said that the army at Fancheng was short of grain and he had been sent to demand 10,000
shi
of rice from the two cities of Nanjun and Gongan. “General Guan ordered you to transport the grain to the army at once,” added the messenger. “Any delay will be punished by death.”

This sudden demand was a shock to Mi Fang. “How can I transport the rice now that Jingzhou is occupied?” he said to his colleague in despair.

“No more hesitations!” said Fu Shi-ren sternly. Drawing his sword he slew the messenger there and then.

“What have you done?” cried Mi Fang in fright.

“Guan Yu’s real intention in demanding the grain was to slay us both. Are we to fold our hands and await death? Either you surrender to Wu at once, or you’ll be put to death by Guan Yu.”

At that moment sentinels rushed in to report that Lu Meng and his army had reached the city wall. Seized by panic, Mi Fang at last agreed to defect, and went out with Fu Shi-ren to offer his submission to Lu Meng. He was duly conducted to Sun Quan, who gave him and his comrade handsome rewards. So the two cities of Nanjun and Gongan fell into the hands of Sun Quan without a fight. Following this, he proceeded to restore order and to reward his army for their services.

Away in the capital Cao Cao was discussing the situation in Jingzhou with his advisors when a messenger arrived with a letter from Sun Quan. It said that Wu was going to seize Jingzhou and asked Cao Cao to send an army to attack Guan Yu in the rear. The letter also cautioned Cao Cao to maintain the utmost secrecy lest Guan Yu should hear of the plan.

Cao Cao consulted his advisors on this matter. Dong Zhao said, “Fancheng is besieged and the army there is waiting anxiously for relief forces. We can get someone to shoot that letter into Fancheng so as to bolster the morale of the besieged. Moreover, we should let Guan Yu know of Sun Quan’s plan. When he hears that Jingzhou is in danger he will hurry back. Then tell Xu Huang to take the chance to attack him, and we can win a complete victory.”

Cao Cao thought the plan was good and acted accordingly. He sent a messenger to Xu Huang, ordering him to attack without delay. At the same time he himself led a large force to Yanglin Slope, south of Luoyang, to rescue Cao Ren.

Xu Huang was sitting in his tent when he was told that a messenger from the Prince of Wei had arrived. He called in the messenger, who said, “The prince’s army has crossed Luoyang, and he wishes you to hasten your attack on Guan Yu in order to lift the siege of Fancheng.”

Just then scouts came to report that Guan Ping had encamped at Yancheng and Liao Hua at Sizhong, setting up a line of twelve stockades. Xu Huang ordered two of his subordinate officers to march to Yancheng with his ensigns to masquerade as if he himself was in command, while he actually took five hundred veterans along the Mian River to attack Yancheng from the rear.

When Guan Ping heard of the approach of Xu Huang he led his own division to meet him. When both sides were arrayed, Guan Ping rode out and engaged his enemy, who turned out to be someone called Xu Shang. After three encounters the man was worsted and fled. Then his colleague came forth but after half a dozen bouts he also ran away. Guan Ping went in pursuit and harrassed the fleeing enemy for twenty
li
. But then there came the news that the city was on fire, and Guan Ping realized that he had fallen for the enemy’s ruse. So he hastened to turn back to rescue the city. On his way he met a body of troops—standing under the great standard was the real Xu Huang.