The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation (17 page)

Hearing of the defeat of his colleague, Zhu Ran was already thinking of going to his help. Just then his men brought a few enemy deserters to his ship. He questioned them and they said they were Feng Xi’s men, who had deserted because of unfair treatment. “We have a secret to tell you,” they added.

“What secret is it?”

“Tonight Feng Xi is going to make an attack upon General Sun’s camp. They are going to raise a fire as a signal.”

Zhu Ran at once sent someone to warn Sun Huan of this. But the messenger never arrived, as Guan Xing intercepted and slew him. Unaware of what had happened to his messenger, Zhu Ran discussed with his men about going to help his colleague.

“You cannot fully trust the words of those soldiers,” said Cui Yu. “Both army and navy will be lost if anything goes awry. I think you had better hold the position here and let me go instead.”

Zhu Ran saw this was the wiser plan, so he gave Cui Yu nearly half his force and sent him away. That night an attack was made on Sun Huan’s camp. Fire broke out everywhere in the camp and the men of Wu scattered and fled in utter confusion.

Seeing the flames, Cui Yu pressed on. But just as he was passing some hills he came upon the ambush, and the two cousins appeared, one on either side. Taken by surprise, Cui Yu could only try to flee, but he met Zhang Bao, who captured him following a single bout. When Zhu Ran heard of it he was panic-stricken and retreated some sixty
li
downstream.

The remnants of Sun Huan’s men ran away. As they went he asked what places suitable for encampment lay on their road. They told him that the city of Yiling in the north had strong walls and ample supplies. So they went toward the city. Just as they entered Yiling, their pursuers came up and the city was besieged.

Guan Xing and Zhang Bao went back to Zigui to see the First Ruler, who rejoiced at their success. The prisoner was put to death and the soldiers were rewarded. News of these victories spread far and wide and the officers of Wu had no inclination to fight.

When the Prince of Wu received Sun Huan’s appeal for help he was so frightened that he did not know what to do. So he called a great council at which he said, “Sun Huan is besieged in Yiling and Zhu Ran has been defeated on the river—what can be done?”

Zhang Zhao said, “Though several of your officers are dead, yet you have a dozen more left. There is no need to worry about Liu Bei. You can make Han Dang commander and Zhou Tai as his second. Place Pan Zhang in the van, Ling Tong in the rear, and Gan Ning in reserve. Give them 100,000 men to withstand the enemy.”

Sun Quan made the appointments as proposed. Gan Ning was ill with diarrhea just then, but he accepted the task.

Now the First Ruler had made a line of forty camps from Jianping near the Wu Gorge to Yiling, at a distance of seven hundred
li
apart. He was exceedingly pleased with his two nephews, who had distinguished themselves repeatedly in battles.

“All my former generals are old and useless,” he said. “But now I have two such brave nephews. What have I to worry about Sun Quan?”

Then he was told of the coming of Sun Quan’s army under newly appointed leaders, and before he could select an officer to oppose his enemy his men came to report that Huang Zhong had run off to Wu with half a dozen men.

“He is no traitor,” he said, smiling. “I made a slip of the tongue when I spoke of old and useless generals. He will not admit he is old and wants to demonstrate he is not.”

Then he called his two nephews and said to them, “Huang Zhong may fail in this rash action of his, so I want you two to go to his assistance. Do not mind the fatigue. As soon as he has achieved some sort of success make him return and do not let him come to grief.”

So the two got their men together and went off to assist the aged warrior.

When young, success is easy, thine at will,
Aged warriors may fail, though willing still.

What happened to Huang Zhong will be related in the next chapter.

CHAPTER EIGHTY-THREE

Liu Bei Gets His Sworn Enemies at Xiaoting

Lu Xun Is Made Commander to Guard the Yangtze

A
s
has been said, the veteran warrior Huang Zhong was among the officers who followed the First Ruler to war against Wu. When he heard his master spoke disparagingly of old generals, he took his sword and made his way to the army camp at Yiling with a few faithful followers. He was welcomed by the officers there, but they wondered why he had come.

“Why have you come, general?” they asked.

“I have followed our lord the Emperor ever since he seized Changsha, and I have always exerted myself. I am now over seventy, but I have a good appetite, can stretch the strongest bow, and ride the fastest horse without fatigue. I am not an enfeebled old man. But our master says old generals are useless, so I have come to take part in the fight against Wu. I will show him that I am not too old to slay enemy officers.”

Just about that time the leading division of the Wu army drew near, and their scouts were close to the camp. Huang Zhong rose at once to go out into the battle.

“Wait, general, do not be too hasty,” warned the officers.

But Huang Zhong paid no attention and set off at full speed. Worried for his safety, the van leader sent Feng Xi to help him. As soon as he saw the array of the enemy, the old general pulled up and challenged the enemy van leader, Pan Zhang, to battle but the latter sent out one of his subordinates instead. Seeing how old his antagonist was the man rode casually forth with his spear set, but in the third bout Huang Zhong cut him down. This angered Pan Zhang, who flourished the Blue Dragon, the mighty sword of Guan Yu, and took up the battle. These two fought several bouts, but Pan Zhang, who soon realized that he could not overcome the old warrior, galloped off. Huang Zhong pursued and smote him, scoring a full victory.

On his way back he fell in with the two young officers, Guan Xing and Zhang Bao, who told him they had come by their uncle’s command to aid him if necessary.

“And now that you have scored so complete a victory we beg you to return to the main camp.”

But the veteran would not listen. The next day Pan Zhang came to challenge again, and Huang Zhong at once accepted. He would not allow the two young men to go with him, nor would he accept assistance from the others. With 5,000 men he set out. Before many bouts had been exchanged Pan Zhang made a feint and escaped.

Huang Zhong pursued, shouting at him. “Do not attempt to flee, for now I will avenge the death of Guan Yu,” he cried.

Huang Zhong pursued some thirty
li
, when all of a sudden loud shouts rose on all sides and he found himself attacked on both flanks and in the rear; his erstwhile fleeing enemy also turned, so that he was completely surrounded. At that moment a great storm came on and the wind blew furiously. Huang Zhong hastened to retreat. But as he did so, Ma Zhong led another enemy troop down a slope and shot an arrow that wounded the veteran in the shoulder, nearly throwing him down from his horse. Seeing him wounded the men of Wu all came on to attack, but at that critical moment the two young officers rushed up, drove off the enemy, and rescued Huang Zhong.

He was taken back to the main camp. But he was too old to survive the serious wound which gaped wide, causing him great pain. On his deathbed the First Ruler visited him and, patting him on the back, said regretfully, “It is my fault that you have been hurt in the battle.”

“I am but a soldier,” said the old general. “I am glad that I could serve Your Majesty. Now I am seventy-five and I have lived long enough. Pray take good care of your health and strive to conquer the whole country.”

These were his last words. Then he lost consciousness and died that night.

A poem was written to honor him:

First among veterans stands Huang Zhong,
Who won great merit in the conquest of Shu.
Old, he still donned his coat of mail,
And laid his hand to the curving bow.
His valor was the talk of all the north,
His fame spread across the newly-won west.
Tardy he bowed his snow-white head to death,
Fighting to the end—in very truth a hero.

The First Ruler was very sad when he heard of Huang Zhong’s death and had him buried in Chengdu.

“Three of my Five Tiger Generals are gone,” he sighed, “yet I have been unable to avenge their deaths. How very grievous it is!”

Then he led the Imperial Guard to Xiaoting, where he called a great assembly. He divided his forces into eight units to launch an all-out attack on his enemy by land and water. The marines were placed under the command of Huang Quan, while he himself led the land force. It was then the second month of the second year of Zhang Wu (
A.D.
222).

When Han Dang and Zhou Tai heard of the approach of the army of Shu, they led their own forces to confront it. When near, the two armies were arrayed against each other. The two leaders of Wu rode out and saw the First Ruler seated on horseback beneath the great standard amid every kind of imperial insignia, surrounded by his military staff.

Han Dang spoke loudly: “Your Majesty is now Ruler of Shu. Why do you risk your life on the battlefield? Should anything go amiss it would be too late to regret.”

The First Ruler pointed at the speaker and abused him vehemently: “You dogs of Wu killed my brother. I swear that you and I will never live under the same sky!”

“Who dares to plunge into the enemy line?” asked Han Dang, turning to those in his train.

An officer rode to the front with his spear set and as he did so Zhang Bao with a roar galloped out to meet him. Frightened by his thunderous voice the officer sought to flee. Then Zhou Tai’s brother, Zhou Ping, seeing that his colleague was panic-stricken, flourished his sword and rode out to his aid. At once Guan Xing dashed to the front to engage him. With another roar, Zhang Bao thrust his opponent down from his steed. His colleague’s death scared Zhou Ping and enfeebled his defense, so that Guan Xing speedily slew him. Then the two cousins plunged forward to attack the two enemy leaders, who hurriedly sought refuge in the rear of their force.

“The tiger fathers have no curs of sons,” said the First Ruler with a sigh of satisfaction.

Then he waved his whip as a signal to press on, and the Wu army suffered a great defeat. The force of the eight divisions was irresistible as a river in flood, and the slaughter was immense.

At that time Gan Ning was nursing his illness onboard a ship, but he dashed into his saddle when he heard the army of Shu had come. Soon he met a cohort of the barbarian soldiers. These men wore their hair loose and went barefoot. Their weapons were crossbows, long spears, swords, or axes. And they had shields to ward off blows. They were led by their own ruler, King Shamoke. His face was spotted with red as if splashed with blood, and his eyes were blue and protruding. He wielded a spiked iron staff and had two bows slung at his belt, looking the very image of terror. Gan Ning, knowing that he had no chance of victory against such a man, dared not engage him but turned his steed to flee. But as he fled, Shamoke shot an arrow that hit Gan Ning’s head. Seriously wounded as he was, he rode on to Fuchikou, where he dismounted and sat under a tree. There he died. Hundreds of crows flew down from the tree and gathered round the corpse.

The Prince of Wu was genuinely grieved at the news of his death. He had the remains buried honorably and erected a shrine to his memory.

Gan Ning was first of warriors in Wu
With silken sails he stemmed the Yangtze’s tide,
Right loyally he served his prince, and true,
For friendship’s sake he saved his foe.
Light horse led he by night a camp to raid,
And first he warmed his men with generous wine.
His resting place the solemn birds betrayed,
And fragrant incense smolders at his shrine.