The Three Kingdoms Volume 2 (79 page)

“Liu Bei, you ungrateful and despicable rebel! How dare you betray the court?”

Liu Bei answered, “I am a member of the imperial family, and I hold an edict authorizing me to seize you. You have murdered the Empress, made yourself a prince, and arrogantly assume the use of an imperial chariot. Are you not an out-and-out rebel?”

Cao Cao ordered Xu Huang to give battle, and Liu Feng went to meet him. As the combat began, Liu Bei left his position to move into the ranks of his army. Liu Feng proved to be no match for his opponent and presently fled. Cao Cao, determined to capture Liu Bei, issued an order, promising that whoever captured Liu Bei would be the ruler of the west country. Encouraged by this incentive his army uttered one great roar and surged forward. The men of Shu abandoned their camps and fled toward the river, even discarding their horses and their weapons, which littered the ground. The temptation was great and Cao Cao’s men began eagerly picking these up for their own possession. Seeing this, Cao Cao hastily clanged the gongs to indicate withdrawal.

“Why did you call us off when we were on the point of capturing Liu Bei?”

“There are two things that puzzle me. First, why did our enemy encamp with the river to their back? Secondly, why did they abandon their steeds and weapons? We must withdraw at once and not pick up the discarded things on the ground. Whoever dares to collect these castaways will suffer the penalty of death. Now retreat as quickly as you can.”

As Cao Cao turned about to retreat, Zhuge Liang hoisted the signal flag for the offensive, and the retreating soldiers were at once harassed on three sides by Liu Bei, Zhao Yun, and Huang Zhong. The chase was kept up throughout the day and well into the night—the men of Cao were in chaos. Cao Cao ordered his army to take refuge in Nanzheng.

Presently, however, they saw flames rising at five points before them, and soon it was known that their city of refuge had fallen into the hands of Zhang Fei and Wei Yan. These two, who had been replaced by the aged general Yan Yan, had seized Nanzheng on their way to join Liu Bei. This was another serious blow to Cao Cao, who then turned toward Yangping Pass. Liu Bei followed them with his main army to Baozhou in the Nanzheng district, where the chase halted and Liu Bei set about pacifying the people and restoring peace.

“Cao Cao was very quickly overcome this time,” said Liu Bei to his advisor, “how was that?”

“He has always been of a suspicious nature,” said Zhuge Liang, “and that often leads to failure, although he is a good commander. I have defeated him by playing upon his doubts.”

“He is rather weakened now,” said Liu Bei. “What plan do you have to drive him out entirely?”

“That is all thought out.”

So saying, the advisor sent Zhang Fei and Wei Yan on two different routes to intercept Cao Cao’s supply wagons, and Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun to go and set fire to the hills. All four officers went away, taking with them locals to act as guides.

At Yangping Pass, Cao Cao dispatched scouts to do reconnoitering work, who returned to report that the roads far and near were blocked by the men of Shu and every hill was burning. However, they had not seen any enemy soldiers. Cao Cao was pondering with dismay over this information when another startling report came in that his supply wagons would be intercepted by Zhang Fei and Wei Yan. At this, he called for a volunteer to counter Zhang Fei and Xu Chu offered himself. He was given a thousand veterans, and ordered to escort the grain wagons safely back to Yangping Pass.

The officer in charge of grain transport was very glad to see Xu Chu. “Except for you, General, the grain would never reach Yangping.”

He entertained Xu Chu with the wine and food on the wagons, who ate and drank copiously, so that he became quite intoxicated. And in that state he urged the convoy to proceed.

“The sun has set,” objected the transport officer, “and the road near Baozhou is difficult and dangerous. We should not pass there at night.”

“I can face any danger,” boasted the drunken captain. “I am brave as a myriad of men put together. Who do you think I fear! Besides, there is a good moon tonight, and it is light enough for us to push the wagons along.”

So Xu Chu took the lead, sword in hand. By the second watch they were advancing toward Baozhou. About halfway there rolling drums and blaring horns greeted them through a gap in the hills. It was soon followed by the appearance of a cohort led by Zhang Fei. With spear ready, he came racing down straight at Xu Zhu, who, whirling his sword, dashed to the front to meet him.

But Xu Chu was too drunk to stand against such an opponent. After a few bouts he was wounded in the shoulder, and fell off his horse. His men rushed to his help, and they carried him away as they retreated, while Zhang Fei took all the wagons of grain and forage away to his own camp.

The defeated men carried their wounded leader back to the pass, where he was placed in the care of physicians. Then Cao Cao himself led out his army to fight a decisive battle with the men of Shu. Liu Bei went out to meet him, and, when both sides were arrayed, Liu Feng rode out to challenge. Cao Cao at once taunted his rival and his adopted son.

“Seller of shoes, you are always sending out this pretended son of yours to fight for you. If I only call my boy here, your so-called son will be chopped to mincemeat.”

These words enraged Liu Feng, who raised his spear and galloped toward Cao Cao, who told Xu Huang to combat the young man. Liu Feng at once ran away in feigned retreat. Cao Cao led on his army, but almost immediately he was harassed by a cacophony of noises from inside his enemy’s camps, the explosion of four bombs, the beating of drums, and the blowing of trumpets. Afraid he was being led into an ambush, he hastened to retreat. The sudden retreat only caused even greater confusion, for the soldiers trampled upon each other and many were killed. All ran off to Yangping Pass as quickly as they could.

But before they could have any rest the men of Shu came right up to the walls of the pass. All four gates were being attacked—fire at the east and south gates, shouting from the west, and rolling of drums at the north. Cao Cao, scared out of his wits, gave up the pass and ran away.

The road to safety was not easy. In front Zhang Fei barred their way of advance; at the back Zhao Yun cut off their chances of retreat; and from the side Huang Zhong attacked. Cao Cao was severely defeated. His officers succeeded in making a sortie and escorted him toward Ye Valley. Here, another great cloud of dust was seen in the distance.

“If that is an ambush it is the end of me,” sighed Cao Cao.

The force came nearer, and then Cao Cao recognized not an enemy but his second son, Zhang. Now as a lad, Cao Zhang was a good horseman and an expert archer. He was more powerful than most men and could overcome a wild beast with his bare hands. Cao Cao did not approve of the young man’s bent, and often urged him to study more.

“You spend too much time on your bow and horse but not on books. That is the mere valor of a soldier. Do you think you can make an honorable career out of that?”

But Cao Zhang replied, “I admire remarkable generals like Wei Qing
*
and Huo Qubing
*
and, like them, I want to establish my name fighting in the desert and command a mighty army able to overrun the whole land. What have I to do with scholarship?”

Cao Cao used to ask his sons what career they would like to pursue, and Zhang always replied that he would be a general.

“But what kind of a general?” asked Cao Cao.

“He should be imbued with firmness and courage, and dares to stand at the head of his officers and men in times of danger. His rewards and punishments should be fair.”

Cao Cao laughed with pleasure.

In the twenty-third year of the period Jian An, Wuhuan tribesmen revolted, and Cao Cao sent this son with 50,000 men to suppress the rebellion. Just as he was leaving, his father reminded him of his duty.

“At home we are father and son, but on the battlefield we are officer and his lord. The law knows no kindness, and you must be aware of this.”

When the expedition reached the scene of trouble he acted heroically, fighting always ahead of his men and smote the rebels as far as a place called Sanggan. The uprising was put down. He had lately heard that his father was smitten at Yangping Pass, and had come to his aid.

His coming greatly pleased his father, who said, “Now that my son has arrived, we can destroy Liu Bei for certain.”

So the army marched back again and encamped at Ye Valley.

Liu Bei was informed of the arrival of Cao Zhang, and he asked for a volunteer to face him in combat. Liu Feng offered himself first but Meng Da also desired to go, so both were given permission.

“See which one of you can succeed,” said Liu Bei.

Each officer had 5,000 men, and Liu Feng led the way. Cao Zhang rode out and engaged him, and in the third bout Liu Feng was overcome and ran off. Then Meng Da advanced, but hardly had the struggle begun when he saw that Cao Cao’s men were in confusion. The cause was the sudden arrival of Ma Chao and Wu Lan. Meng Da immediately joined his comrades in the attack. Ma Chao’s men, who had been nursing their courage for a long time, fought so ferociously that the men of Cao could not withstand their onslaught. But in combat with Cao Zhang, Wu Lan was slain. A tangled battle ensued.

In the end Cao Cao withdrew his army to encamp at Ye Valley. There he remained for many days, prevented from advancing by Ma Chao and fearing ridicule if he should retreat back to the capital. One day, while he was pondering over what course to take, his cook brought in some chicken broth. He noticed in the broth some chicken tendons, which somehow touched him to the heart. He was still deep in thought when Xiahou Dun entered his tent to ask for the password for that night. Involuntarily Cao Cao blurted out, “Chicken tendon.”

It was passed on to the other officers. When Yang Xiu, the wit, heard the password he told all his men to pack up their belongings ready for a return march. Someone who saw this went to tell Xiahou Dun, who sent for Yang Xiu and asked him the reason for this.

He replied, “By tonight’s password I see that the prince is soon going to return. Chicken tendons lack meat and yet it’s a pity to waste them. Now if we advance we can’t conquer, and if we retreat we fear we will look ridiculous. There being no advantage here, the best course is to return. You’ll certainly see the Prince of Wei retreat before long. I’ve made my preparations so as not to be hurried at the last moment.”

“You do seem to know the prince’s inmost heart,” marveled Xiahou Dun, who then told his men to pack up. The other officers seeing this, also made preparations for departure.

That night Cao Cao’s mind was too perturbed to fall asleep. So he got up, took a steel battle-ax in his hand, and wandered secretly through the camp. When he got to Xiahou Dun’s tents he saw his men all packing up, ready to leave. Very much surprised, he made his way back to his own tent and sent for the general.

“Why are you packing up?”

“Yang Xiu told me about your plan to return,” he said.

Cao Cao summoned Yang Xiu and questioned him, who replied with his interpretation of the chicken-tendon password.

“How dare you invent such a story and disturb the hearts of my men?”

Cao Cao ordered his guards to behead Yang Xiu and hang his head at the camp gate.

The victim was a man of acute and ingenious mind, but inclined to show off. His lack of restraint in containing himself had often aroused Cao Cao’s jealousy. Once Cao Cao was having a garden laid out, and when it was completed he went to inspect the work. Without uttering a word of praise or criticism, he wrote the character “alive” on the gate and left. Nobody could guess what he meant till Yang Xiu heard of it.

“‘Gate’ with ‘alive’ inside it makes the word for ‘wide,’” he said. “The prime minister thinks the gates are too wide.”

Therefore they rebuilt the outer walls on an altered plan. When complete, Cao Cao was asked to go and see it again. And he was delighted.

“But who guessed what I intended?” he asked.

“Yang Xiu,” replied his men.

Cao Cao outwardly praised Yang Xiu for his ingenuity but inwardly he was displeased.

Another time Cao Cao received a box of cream cheese from Mongolia. He just scribbled three words on the lid and left it on the table. The words seemed to have no meaning. But Yang Xiu happened to come in, saw the words, and at once handed a spoonful of the contents to each guest in the room. When Cao Cao asked him why he did this, he answered with an interpretation of the words on the box, which, when worked out into their primary strokes, read, E
ACH MAN A MOUTHFUL
.

“Could I possibly disobey your order, sir?” he asked.

Cao Cao laughed with the others, but in his heart he was again jealous of someone who seemed to excel in cleverness.

Cao Cao lived in constant fear of assassination, and to his attendants he often warned, “None of you should come near me when I am asleep, for I am likely to slay people in my dreams.”

One day he was enjoying a siesta, and his quilt fell off. One of the attendants saw it and hastened to cover him again. Cao Cao suddenly leaped up from the couch, slew the man with his sword, and lay down again to sleep. Some time after he got up, he simulated surprise, and asked who had killed his attendant. When the other attendants told him, he wept aloud for the dead man and had him buried in a fine grave. Most people thought that Cao Cao had slain the man while immersed in a dream, but Yang Xiu knew better, and at the funeral of the victim he remarked, “The prime minister was in no dream, but the gentleman in the grave was dreaming.”