The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation (8 page)

“But Liu Mao and I are of the same house. This marriage will be against propriety.”

“Well, there is a precedent in history. The case is similar to the marriage of Duke Wen of Jin and Huai Ying.”
^*

Upon this Liu Bei gave his consent and wedded the lady, who later bore him two sons, the elder of whom was named Yong and the younger Li.

Meanwhile, the whole land of Shu was prospering, the people enjoying peace and the state becoming affluent. The crops were doing well and the fields yielded bountiful harvests. Just as everything looked perfect there suddenly came someone from Jingzhou with the news of Guan Yu’s angry rejection of Sun Quan’s marriage proposal.

“Jingzhou will be in danger!” said Zhuge Liang. “We must send someone to replace Guan Yu.”

But this alarming news was followed by a series of happy tidings from Jingzhou of the victories Guan Yu had won in battle. Then Guan Xing came to see his uncle and reported his father’s great success in destroying Cao Cao’s seven forces by drowning. Some time later scouts brought yet another piece of good news, which said that Guan Yu had installed beacon towers along the riverbank and had taken every precaution against Wu. Thus Liu Bei’s anxiety ceased.

But evil tidings were on the way. One day Liu Bei was strangely disturbed. He was restless either in walking or sitting and he felt a creepiness of the skin that seemed to portend evil. By night, finding himself unable to sleep, he rose to read by candlelight when drowsiness overcame him and he fell asleep by the table. A cold gust of wind suddenly swept across the chamber, putting out the candle flame. When it brightened again he glanced up and saw a figure standing near the light.

“Who are you? Why do you come by night to my chamber?” he asked.

The figure made no reply, and Liu Bei got up to see who it was. Then he discovered it was his brother Guan Yu. But the figure avoided him, retreating as he advanced.

“How are you, brother? This must be something of great importance to bring you here in the dead of the night. But why do you avoid me? You’re like my own flesh and blood.”

Then the figure wept and said, “Brother, I hope you will send your army to avenge me.”

As Guan Yu said that, a chilly blast went through the room, and he disappeared. At that moment Liu Bei awoke and then he realized he had been dreaming. Outside he could hear the watchman beating the gong for midnight. Greatly disturbed, he went out to the front hall and sent for Zhuge Liang. Soon the advisor came, and Liu Bei told him of the vision.

“That is because you have been thinking too deeply of Yun-chang lately, my lord,” said Zhuge Liang. “There is no need to be distressed.”

But Liu Bei was still worried, and Zhuge Liang was long in calming him down and explaining away his anxiety.

As Zhuge Liang was leaving the palace he met Xu Jing, who said, “I just now went to your residence to report a secret piece of news but I was told you had been summoned by our lord. So I followed you here.”

“What is it?”

“There is a report that Lu Meng has seized Jingzhou and Guan Yu is dead.”

“I saw a large star fall over the land above Jingzhou, and I knew some evil had befallen Yun-chang. But I dared not mention it to our lord lest he would be worried.”

As the two were talking there suddenly emerged a man from inside the hall, who seized Zhuge Liang by the sleeve and cried, “Why did you conceal such terrible news from me?”

Zhuge Liang turned to see who the speaker was. It was Liu Bei.

The two of them tried their best to console him. “What we said just now is only a rumor and cannot be regarded as truth,” they said. “Pray do not be distressed.”

“Yun-chang and I pledge to live and die together—how can I go on living if he is no more?”

The two men soothed their lord as best they could, but even as they spoke one of the attendants came to say that Ma Liang and Yi Ji had arrived from Jingzhou. Liu Bei at once called them in and questioned them. They said Jingzhou was indeed lost, and Guan Yu begged for instant help. Then they presented Guan Yu’s letter, but before there was time to read it Liao Hua’s arrival was announced. He was immediately summoned. Liao Hua prostrated himself and, weeping, related in detail how Liu Feng and Meng Da refused to send help to Guan Yu.

“Then my brother is lost!” cried Liu Bei in anguish.

“How very impudent these two were! Even death is not enough to punish them for their crime!” said Zhuge Liang. “But do not worry, my lord. I myself will lead an army to the rescue.”

“If Yun-chang is gone, I cannot live,” moaned Liu Bei. “Tomorrow I will set out with an army to rescue him.”

Without a moment’s delay Liu Bei sent a messenger to inform Zhang Fei of all this and at the same time muster an army for instant departure.

Before dawn, one-by-one several messengers arrived, relating by degrees the heartrending tragedy of Guan Yu’s night journey to Lingju, his capture by men of Wu, his dauntless refusal to submit, and the heroic death of the father and son. When he heard the terrible news, Liu Bei uttered a great cry and fell unconscious to the ground.

His mind went back to the pledge of days gone by;
How could he live still while his brother died?

What happened to Liu Bei will be told in the next chapter.

*
   This happened during the days of the period of Spring and Autumn. Huai Ying, daughter of the ruler of Qin, first married the son of Duke Huai of Jin and later married Duke Wen of Jin, who was the granduncle of her first husband.

CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT

Treating Cao Cao, Hua Tuo Dies in Prison

On His Deathbed Cao Cao Leaves His Last Words

A
t
the end of the last chapter, the Prince of Hanzhong fainted on hearing the terrible news of the death of Guan Yu and his son. His officials ran to his aid. After quite a long time he came to and was helped to his chamber.

“My lord, control your grief,” said Zhuge Liang. “Life and death are fixed by fate. Yun-chang was too inflexible and proud, which brought him the misfortune of today. You must now take care of your health and gradually make your plans for vengeance.”

“When we swore brotherhood in the Peach Garden, we pledged to live and die together. How can I enjoy riches and honors alone now that my brother is gone?”

At that moment Guan Yu’s son, Guan Xing, came in, wailing loudly. At the sight of the youth, Liu Bei again uttered a great cry and again fainted. By and by he came to, but during the whole day he kept weeping and swooning at intervals. For three days he refused all nourishment, and he wept so bitterly that his garments became blood-stained. Zhuge Liang and the others tried every means to soothe him, but he was inconsolable.

“I swear I will not live under the same sun and moon as Sun Quan,” he cried.

“They say that Sun Quan has sent the head of your brother to Cao Cao, but Cao Cao has buried the remains with the rites of a prince,” said Zhuge Liang.

“What does this mean?” asked Liu Bei.

“Well, that was Wu’s plan to divert your anger toward Cao Cao; but he saw through the subterfuge and so buried your brother with great honor, so that your anger may burn against Wu.”

“I will send my army to punish Wu and appease my wrath at once,” said Liu Bei.

“No, you must not do that. At present Wu wishes you to smite Wei, and Wei wishes you to attack Wu, each harboring the malevolent design of taking advantage of the quarrel. It is imperative, My Lord, to keep your army at home now. First prepare the funeral for Guan Yu, and wait till Wei and Wu are at war. That will be your time.”

The others supported Zhuge Liang, and Liu Bei finally began to take food again. An edict was issued throughout Shu enjoining officers of all ranks and their men to wear mourning garb. The prince himself went outside the south gate to summon the spirit home and to offer sacrifices. For another whole day he wailed for the deceased warrior, his brother.

Although Cao Cao had given an honorable burial to the remains of Guan Yu, he was continually haunted by the dead man’s spirit. Every night when he closed his eyes he saw Guan Yu, just as he knew him in the flesh. These visions scared him, and he sought the advice of his officials, who said that the old buildings might be haunted and suggested erecting a new residence.

“I want to build one and name it Jianshi,” said Cao Cao. “But there are no good architects.”

They told him that there was an architect, Su Yue by name, who was noted for his highly creative art. He was sent for and asked to work on the plans of this building. When Sun Yue presented the sketch of a nine-hall palace with pavilions and chambers, corridors and verandahs, Cao Cao was very much pleased.

“That is exactly what I want. But can you find the right timber for such a building?”

“I know a certain tree that will serve the purpose,” said the architect. “About thirty
li
from the city there is a pool called the Leaping Dragon, in front of which is a shrine. Beside that grows a fine pear tree about a hundred feet high, which will serve very well.”

Cao Cao at once sent men to fell the tree. But after one whole day’s labor, the workmen came back to say they could make no impression on it either with saw or ax. Cao Cao, incredulous, went there to see for himself. When he had dismounted and stood by the tree he could not but admire its size and proportions, as it towered above him, straight and without branches, till the wide-spreading and symmetrical top reached into the clouds. But he commanded the men again to fell it.

Several aged villagers came to plead with him. “This tree has stood here for centuries and is the haunt of some divine spirits,” they said. “Perhaps you should not cut it down.”

Cao Cao flared up. “For over forty years there has been no one, from the emperor to the commoner, who does not fear me wherever I go. Which spirit is this that dares to oppose my wishes?”

Drawing the sword he was wearing, he went up to the tree and slashed at its trunk. The tree groaned as he struck, and blood spattered all over his robe. Terror-stricken, he threw down the sword, mounted his horse, and galloped back to his palace.

But that night when he retired to rest he could not sleep. He rose at the second watch, went into the outer room, and sat resting by a low table. Suddenly there appeared a man dressed in black and carrying a sword, his hair flying about his shoulders. The man stopped in front of him and, pointing at him, cried out: “Behold the spirit of the pear tree. You intend to usurp the throne so you desire to build the new palace, but how dare you try to cut my sacred tree! I know your days are numbered and I have come to slay you.”

“Where are the guards? Come quickly!” called Cao Cao in terror.

The figure struck him with his sword. Cao Cao cried out and then awoke. It was a dream but his head ached terribly.

The pain was so severe that he could not stand it. The best physicians were immediately called in to treat him but they failed to relieve the terrible pain. All his subordinates were worried for his health.

Hua Qin said to his master, “My lord, have you heard of Hua Tuo?”

“Do you mean the doctor who cured Zhou Tai?”

“Yes, the same,” replied Hua Qin.

“I have heard of his fame, but I do not know how capable he is in his art.”

“His art in medicine has no match. If one is ill and calls him in he knows immediately whether to use drugs, or the needle, or the cautery, and the patient finds relief at once. When one suffers from an internal complaint and drugs are ineffectual, with a dose of anesthesia he throws the patient into a state of perfect insensibility and then opens the abdomen and washes the affected organs with a medicament. The patient feels no pain. When the cleansing is complete, he sews up the wound with thread, dresses it, and in a month or less the wound is healed. It is just as wonderful as that!