Authors: Luo Guanzhong

The Three Kingdoms Volume 2 (55 page)

“Now that my sister has returned home there is no longer any family tie to prevent the attack, and I will take a full measure of revenge for the death of Zhou Shan,” said Sun Quan. So he called the counselors together to consider the expedition.

But before they could decide upon any plan their deliberations were suddenly cut short by the news that Cao Cao was coming down upon the south with a very large army, burning to avenge his defeat at the Red Cliff. All thoughts now turned toward repelling his attack.

At this time sad news also came that the senior official Zhang Hong, who had retired to his home because of illness, had died and his testament was sent to his lord to read. In it he advised Sun Quan to remove the seat of government to Moling, where the landscape had the impress of regal dignity, befitting a man who cherished the ambition of founding an enduring dynasty. Sun Quan wept in sorrow when he read these last words of his loyal official. “He advised me to move to Moling,” he told his counselors present. “How could I disobey him?” And he at once gave orders to prepare for the move and to build a stone wall around the city, intending henceforth to make it his capital.

As a protection against Cao Cao, Lu Meng proposed building a rampart at Port Ruxu. Some other officers opposed this, saying, “When the enemy comes we will go ashore to attack, and after that we will return to our ships. What is the use of a rampart?”

Lu Meng replied, “One must prepare for emergencies. Soldiers have their ups and downs and sometimes lose battles. On an urgent occasion the men will not be able to reach the river, and how then are they to embark?”

Sun Quan agreed with him entirely. Quoting an old saying, he said, “Against a distant risk provide, and sorrow does not walk by your side.”

So he sent a great many men to build ramparts at Ruxu day and night, so as to finish the project before the enemy came.

Away in the capital, Cao Cao’s power and glory increased daily. Dong Zhao proposed that a special title, Wei Gong, or Duke of Wei, should be conferred upon him.

He said, “In all history no one has rendered such services as you have, not even the ancient Duke of Zhou or Lu Shang. These thirty years you have exposed yourself to all sorts of risks, been combed by the wind and washed in the rain; and you have swept evil from the land, succored the people, and restored the Hans. Who of all government officials can rank with you? It will be fitting for you to become the Duke of Wei and receive the Nine Honors to match your merit and virtue.”

Now the Nine Honors were:

– Chariots and horses (one gilt chariot and one war chariot; eight dark mares and eight yellow horses)
– Court dresses and shoes
– Court music band
– Red gates
– Steps to the dais
– Tiger Guards (300 at the gates)
– Axes
– Bows and arrows (one red-lacquered bow with 100 red arrows; ten black-lacquered bows with one thousand black arrows)
– Libation Vessels

However, all the courtiers were not of one mind. Xun Yu objected, “No, sir, this should not be done. As your original purpose in raising a just force was to restore the authority of the Han House, you should remain loyal and humble. The virtuous man respects righteousness and will not act in this way.”

Cao Cao suddenly changed color at this rebuke.

Dong Zhao said, “How can we disappoint the hopes of many because of the words of one?”

So a memorial was presented to the Emperor and Cao Cao’s ambition and desires were gratified with the title of Duke of Wei and the acquisition of the Nine Honors.

“I did not expect to see this day,” said Xun Yu, sighing.

This remark was repeated to the newly created Duke, who took it that Xun Yu would no longer aid him or favor his designs. In his heart rose a strong hatred of his advisor.

In the winter of the seventeenth year of Jian An, Cao Cao decided to send an army to conquer Wu, and he ordered Xun Yu to go with the army. Xun Yu understood from this that Cao Cao wished his death, so in the middle of the expedition he sent in his resignation on the plea of illness. While he was at home he received one day a food box. It was addressed in Cao Cao’s own handwriting. Opening it, he found there was nothing inside. He understood. He took some poison and died. He was fifty years of age.

Xun Yu’s talents were to all men known,
‘Twas sad that at the door of power he tripped.
Posterity is wrong to class him with Lord Liu,
*
For, nearing death, he dared not face his prince of Han.

Xun Yu’s son sent the sad news of his death to Cao Cao, who began to regret what he had done and gave orders for a grandiose funeral. He also obtained for the dead man the posthumous title of a marquis.

The northern army reached Ruxu, where he first sent Cao Hong with a force of 30,000 mailed cavalrymen down to the riverside to find out how things stood. Cao Hong soon sent back a report to the effect that numerous banners and flags could be seen streaming along the riverside, but there was no sign of the army. Worried by this report, Cao Cao himself led the main army to proceed to Ruxu, where he deployed his troops in battle array. Then, escorted by a hundred or so followers, he climbed up a hill to look down far into the river and saw a fleet of ships all arranged in admirable order, the divisions being marked by distinctive flags. Their equipment glittered in the sunlight. In the center was a large ship on which was a huge umbrella, and beneath the shade sat Sun Quan in the midst of his staff.

“That is the sort of son to have,” said Cao Cao in admiration. “Not such piglets and puppies as Liu Biao’s.”

Suddenly, at a signal the ships got under way and came flying toward him, while a land force moved out of the rampart to attack Cao Cao’s men, who at once retreated in great haste. Then a company of horsemen led by the blue-eyed, red-bearded Sun Quan rushed to the hillside and charged straight at Cao Cao, who hastily fled. But at this moment two redoubtable officers of Wu also dashed forth to attack and Cao Cao was hard pressed. Xu Chu came to his rescue and fought with the men of Wu till his master could escape. Xu Chu fought some thirty bouts before he disentangled himself and returned to his own side.

When Cao Cao returned to camp he bestowed rich rewards on Xu Chu, who had saved him and reprimanded his other officers for their too hasty retreat. “You blunt the keen spirits of the men, and if you do such a thing again I will put you all to death,” he said.

At about midnight, there arose a great commotion at the gates of the camp, and when Cao Cao went outside he found that the enemy had crept up secretly and started a conflagration. The men of Wu forced their way into the stockade and dashed hither and thither, slaying till dawn. Cao Cao and his army had to withdraw fifty
li
to set up camp again.

Cao Cao was greatly distressed by this setback. One day he was sitting in his tent poring over the
Art of War
when his advisor Cheng Yu came in to see him.

“Sir, you know well the art of war,” said Cheng Yu. “Why have you forgotten the maxim ‘Speed is the key to the success of a military action’? You have delayed your operation this time, which allowed your enemy time to build ramparts at Ruxu, making it difficult to capture the place. It would be better now to retreat to the capital and await a more propitious moment.”

Cao Cao said nothing and Cheng Yu went away. Cao Cao remained seated in his tent, leaning on a small table by his side, where he fell asleep. Suddenly he heard the sound of turbulent waves, as if made by hundreds and thousands of galloping horses. He hastened to look and saw rising out of the river in front of him a huge red sun, its rays so bright that it dazzled his eyes. Looking up at the sky, he saw two more suns shining down on this one. And as he wondered, the first sun suddenly flew up and then dropped among the hills in front of his camp, with a roar like thunder.

This woke him. He was in his tent and had been dreaming. The sentry at his tent door was just reporting noon.

Cao Cao had his horse saddled and rode out with some fifty men toward the spot he had seen in his dream. As he stood gazing around him, a troop of horsemen came along with Sun Quan at their head. He wore a glittering helmet and was clad in silver armor.

Seeing his chief enemy, he showed no sign of haste or dismay, but reined in his steed on the hill and, pointing with his whip at Cao Cao, said: “Sir, you hold the capital in the hollow of your hand. You have reached the acme of wealth and power. Why are you still insatiable in your greed, and must come to encroach upon our southern country?”

Cao Cao replied, “You are disobedient, and I have the Emperor’s decree to execute you.”

“What nonsense!” cried Sun Quan with a laugh. “Are you not ashamed? Everyone knows that you control every act of the Emperor and you tyrannize over the nobles. I am no rebel against the Han, but I do desire to capture you and reform the government.”

Enraged at this speech, Cao Cao commanded his officers to go up the hill and take Sun Quan prisoner. But before they could obey, two troops of archers and crossbowmen led by four officers rushed out from behind the hill to the sound of beating drums, and instantly arrows and crossbow bolts began to fall like raindrops around Cao Cao, who at once fled back, pursued hotly by the archers and bowmen. However, Xu Chu soon appeared with the Tiger Guard, who rescued Cao Cao and escorted him back to his camp. The men of Wu scored a victory and they triumphantly marched back to Ruxu.

Alone in his camp, Cao Cao thought, “This Sun Quan is certainly no ordinary man, and by the presage of the sun in my dream he will become an emperor in the future.”

He began to think about withdrawal, but he hesitated for fear that it would incur ridicule from the men of Wu. So the two armies remained facing each other a whole month, with occasional skirmishes or battles in which victory fell sometimes to the one and sometimes to the other.

And so it went on till the new year when the spring rains filled the watercourses to overflowing and the soldiers were wading in deep mud. Their sufferings were extreme and Cao Cao became vexed at heart. At a council he consulted his officers and advisors, whose views were divided, some being for retreat and others anxious to hold on, arguing that the warm weather was exactly the time to fight. Their chief could not make up his mind.

Then there came a messenger from Wu bearing a letter, which read: “You and I, sir, are both servants of Han. But instead of devoting yourself to your country and soothing the people you think only of launching wars, thus causing great suffering. Is this conduct worthy of a kindly man? Now spring with its heavy rains is at hand, and you will be wise to retire while you can. If not, you may expect a repetition of the misfortune at the Red Cliff. I hope you will consider this.”

And on the back of the letter was a note in two lines: “There is no peace for me while you live.”

Cao Cao read the letter and laughed. “Sun Quan is honest with me!”

He rewarded the messenger and issued orders to retreat. Placing the Prefect of Lujiang to guard Wancheng, Cao Cao led the army back to the capital.

Sun Quan returned to Moling. At a council with his advisors he said, “Cao Cao has marched north but Liu Bei is still in the west country. Should I lead the army that has just repulsed the northern men to take Jingzhou?”

“No, you should not,” said Zhang Zhao. “I know how to keep Liu Bei from returning to Jingzhou.”