The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation (5 page)

Xu Huang shouted, “Guan Ping, my worthy nephew, how strange that you do not recognize death when it stares you in the face. Your Jingzhou has fallen into the hands of Wu and yet you are still behaving so recklessly here.”

Guan Ping indignantly swung high his sword to strike Xu Huang, and they clashed. But after the third bout there was a tremendous shouting among his soldiers, for the flames within the city burst up higher than before. Guan Ping dared not follow up his desire to continue the fight, but cut his way out and made a dash for his camp at Sizhong. There he was met by Liao Hua, who also told him about the fall of Jingzhou.

“They say that Jingzhou has fallen to Lu Meng, and the news has frightened the army—what is to be done?”

“It must be a malicious rumor. If anyone repeats it, put him to death.”

Just then a mounted scout came galloping up to say that Xu Huang was attacking the first stockade to the north.

“If that falls,” said Guan Ping, “the other stockades will crumble. This place has the river at its back, so the enemy won’t dare attack here. Let’s go to the rescue.”

So Liao Hua summoned his subordinate officers, to whom he said, “You must hold the place very firmly. If the enemy comes, raise a signal.”

“There is no danger here,” they said. “The camp is defended by a tenfold line of ‘deer-horns’ (abatis). Even a bird can’t fly in, let alone enemy soldiers.”

So Guan Ping and Liao Hua mustered all the veterans in the camp and went away to the rescue of the first stockade. Seeing the Wei soldiers camped on a low hill, Guan Ping said to his colleague, “Those men are positioned at an unfavorable site—let’s raid their camp tonight.”

“You take half the force, General, and I’ll hold the camp,” said Liao Hua.

When night fell, the attacking force went out. But on reaching the enemy camp Guan Ping found it to be empty. Knowing that he had again been tricked, Guan Ping turned to retreat, but it was too late. He was at once ambushed on two sides. Unable to stand, he fled back to the camp. The men of Wei followed, and presently the camp was surrounded. Guan Ping and Liao Hua were compelled to abandon the stockade and to return to their camp at Sizhong. From a distance they could see the camp on fire. As they drew near in a hurry they found enemy ensigns all around and they knew that it had also fallen into the hands of their foe. Retreating again, they hastened along the high road toward Fancheng, but presently their way was barred by a force under Xu Huang himself. By dint of desperate fighting they got away and returned to their main camp to see Guan Yu.

“Xu Huang has got possession of Yancheng and Cao Cao’s main army is on the way here in three divisions. We also hear people say that Jingzhou has been seized by Lu Meng.”

Guan Yu cried angrily, “This is a fabrication of the enemy to dishearten our soldiers. We know Lu Meng is ill, and they have appointed that young fellow Lu Xun to succeed him at Lukou. There is nothing to fear.”

Soon news came that Xu Huang had arrived with an army. At once Guan Yu told his men to saddle his charger.

“Father, you are not strong enough to go into the battle,” said Guan Ping.

“Xu Huang and I were once friends, and I know him well. I will give him the chance to retreat, and if he doesn’t then I will slay him as a warning to the others.”

Mounting his charger, Guan Yu rode out as impetuously as of old, and at the sight of the old warrior the men of Wei trembled with fear. When he came close enough to his enemy, Guan Yu checked his steed and asked, “Where is Xu Gong-ming (Xu Huang)?”

As a reply, the banners parted and Xu Huang appeared under the standard. With a bow he said, “Several years have passed since I last met you, General, but I had not expected to see you already going gray. I have not forgotten those brave days of old, when we were together and you taught me so much, for which I am very grateful. Now your fame has spread throughout the country, and as an old friend of yours, I do admire you. I consider myself very fortunate to see you again.”

Guan Yu replied, “We have been quite intimate friends, not casual acquaintances. But why have you pressed my son so hard recently?”

Xu Huang suddenly turned to the officers around him and cried fiercely, “I will give a thousand
taels
of gold as a reward for Guan Yu’s head!”

Guan Yu, greatly shocked, asked, “Why do you speak like that?”

“This is government business, and I dare not let personal friendship override my public duty.”

So saying, he whirled his battle-ax and rode at Guan Yu, who, much enraged, threw up his sword to strike. They fought some eighty bouts, but although he lacked nothing of his former prowess and his skill excelled all others, his right arm was still weak from the wound. Guan Ping, afraid that his father might suffer, hastily beat the gong for retreat. Guan Yu rode back to camp.

Suddenly the noise of a deafening shouting was heard. It was raised by Cao Ren and his men. Having heard of the arrival of troops from his own side, Cao Ren made a sortie and emerged from the besieged city of Fancheng to help Xu Huang attack Guan Yu. Confronted by two forces, the army of Jingzhou was thrown into chaos. Guan Yu, with all his officers, fled toward the upper reaches of the Xiang River, hotly pursued by the army of Wei. Crossing the river, he made for Xiangyang. But on the way he heard the shocking report that Jingzhou had been seized by Lu Meng and his family, trapped inside the city. Greatly alarmed, Guan Yu dared not proceed to Xiangyang but turned toward Gongan.

Soon, scouts came with the sad news that Fu Shi-ren had defected and the city was also in the hands of Wu. Guan Yu was brimming with fury at this betrayal when there came yet another blow. Some of the men sent to collect grain returned from Nanjun and reported the murder of their leader by Fu Shi-ren and the further betrayal of Mi Fang. At this last blow Guan Yu was overcome with rage. It was really too much. His wound reopened, and he collapsed to the ground.

When he regained consciousness, he said to Wang Fu, “How I regret I did not heed your words! And now all this happened just as you had forewarned me.”

“But why weren’t the beacon fires lighted?” he asked incredulously.

“Lu Meng ordered the sailors of his ships to disguise themselves as traders in white robes, but hid the soldiers in the holds of the vessels. They crossed the river and seized the beacon guards, so preventing them from kindling the fire.”

Sighing deeply, Guan Yu stamped his foot and lamented, “I have fallen for their sinister ruse. How can I look my brother in the face?”

Then Zhao Lei, the loyal officer in charge of supplies, spoke up: “Things are perilous now. We must send someone to Chengdu to ask for help, while also going by land to Jingzhou to try to recover it.”

Guan Yu accepted this advice and so two messengers left at once for Chengdu to seek help, while the army set out for Jingzhou, Guan Yu leading and Liao Hua with Guan Ping bringing up the rear.

The siege of Fancheng being thus lifted, Cao Ren went to see his master. With tears he acknowledged his fault.

“It was the will of Heaven, and no fault of yours,” said Cao Cao.

Then he rewarded his army and went to view the stockade at Sizhong. After inspecting the surrounding ground, he remarked, “The Jingzhou soldiers had surrounded their stockade with abatis ten layers deep, yet Xu Huang was brave enough to break through. With my thirty years of campaigning I should not have dared to penetrate into such a strong defense. He is truly valiant and wise, and both to a high degree.”

All agreed in admiration for their comrade.

Cao Cao’s army marched back to its camps. When Xu Huang returned, Cao Cao went out of the stockade to welcome him, and noted with joy the excellent order and discipline of his army. Every man was in his place, the ranks perfectly kept, all without a trace of disorder.

“You are exactly the General Zhou Ya-fu
^*
of today!” said Cao Cao, and on the spot conferred on him the title of “General–Pacifier of the South.” Xu Huang was sent soon after to strengthen the defense of Xiangyang against Guan Yu’s army.

The fate of the Jingzhou region being still undecided, Cao Cao remained in his position, waiting for further news.

Guan Yu found himself at a standstill on the road to Jingzhou with the army of Wu in front and the men of Wei coming up behind. What was to be done? He discussed the situation with Zhao Lei, who proposed sending someone to accuse Lu Meng of betraying the former alliance.

Zhao Lei said, “When Lu Meng was at Lukou he had written to you, promising to join hands with you in the destruction of Cao Cao. Now he has fought for the enemy. This is a betrayal of our alliance. Let us halt here for the time being and send someone with your letter to reproach him. Let us await his response.”

So the letter was written and sent.

Meanwhile, by Lu Meng’s command, special protection was given to the families of all the officers who went on the expedition with Guan Yu, and they were supplied with all they needed. Even the ailing members of their households were treated by physicians, free of charge. Grateful for this kindness they made no attempt to disrupt the new rule. When Guan Yu’s envoy came, the messenger was welcomed into the city by Lu Meng himself and well treated.

When he had read the letter, Lu Meng said to the bearer, “You must understand the different circumstances. When I formed a league with General Guan it was my personal desire. Now I am acting on my master’s orders and cannot do as I wish. Please return and explain this well to your general.”

The bearer of the letter was entertained at a banquet and escorted to repose at the guesthouse, where the families of the officers all came for news of their dear ones. They also brought him letters or messages for the officers, assuring them of their safety and wellbeing. When he left the city, Lu Meng himself went to see him off.

On his return, the messenger told Guan Yu what Lu Meng had said and told him that his family, as well as those of the officers and men, were all safe and well cared for. This, however, did not please Guan Yu at all, for he saw in this merely a wicked scheme to gain favor and popularity.

“The villain! If I cannot slay him while I live, I will, after I am dead. My hate will not go unappeased.”

He roughly dismissed the messenger, who went out and was at once surrounded by those whose families were in the city, eager to hear news of them. And when he gave them the letters and messages and told them that Lu Meng had treated their families very well, there was great rejoicing among the men in the camp, and with it departed their desire to fight.

Guan Yu led the army to attack Jingzhou, but day after day many of the men deserted and ran away to the very city they were meant to be attacking. So Guan Yu’s bitterness and anger increased daily, and he advanced in angry haste. One day there was a great shouting ahead and he found his way blocked.

“Why not surrender, Yun-chang?” said the leader of this body, Jiang Qin by name.

“I am a general of the Hans. Do you think I will ever surrender to a rebel?” roared Guan Yu.

So saying he whipped his horse forward and raised his sword to strike. However, after only three bouts Jiang Qin fled as if in defeat. Guan Yu followed for about twenty
li
when amid loud shouting there suddenly appeared Han Dang from a gully on his left and Zhou Tai from another on his right. At this moment Jiang Qin also wheeled round to fight, so that Guan Yu was opposed by three forces all at once. Unable to withstand these, he retreated.

Before he had gone very far he saw standing on a slope to the south a thick crowd of people and flapping in the wind a white banner bearing the words, N
ATIVES OF
J
INGZHOU
. At the sight of Guan Yu and his army, the crowd began to call out, “Surrender quickly, natives of Jingzhou!” Guan Yu, seized with another fit of fury, wanted to rush in and slay these agitators, but just then two other cohorts appeared led by Ding Feng and Xu Sheng to support the original three forces. The five bodies of men raised a ruckus of shouting and drum beating that seemed to shake the very earth. Like the kernel of a nut, Guan Yu was entirely surrounded.

This was not all. As the battle drew on the number of his followers diminished each moment. He fought on till dusk, and looking about him he saw all the hills crowded with Jingzhou folk and heard them calling brother to brother, son to father, or father to son, till his soldiers’ hearts melted. One by one they ran to their relatives, heedless of their general’s prohibition. Presently he had but three hundred left, but with them he kept up the battle till midnight. Then there was another shouting from the east. Luckily it was his son Guan Ping and the faithful Liao Hua that had come to his rescue.

“The soldiers have no heart to fight,” said Guan Ping. “We must find some place to camp till help can arrive. There is Maicheng, small but sufficient to encamp our men.”

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

The small force was divided among the four gates for defense. Here Guan Yu discussed the situation with his men. Zhao Lei proposed seeking assistance from the nearby city of Shangyong, which was guarded by Liu Feng, Liu Bei’s adopted son, and Meng Da. There, they could recover from their present difficulty and wait until the army came from their homeland.

But even as they were discussing this the army of Wu came up and laid siege to the small city.