Authors: Luo Guanzhong
This victory gave the First Ruler possession of Xiaoting. But when the battle ended all returned except Guan Xing. Search parties were sent to look for him throughout the countryside.
Now when Guan Xing dashed in among the men of Wu he had caught sight of Pan Zhang, his arch enemy, and galloped after him in hot pursuit. In terror, Pan Zhang took to the hills and disappeared in the valleys. Thinking that his foe could only be in the hills, Guan Xing looked high and low, but Pan Zhang was nowhere to be found. Then darkness fell and he lost his way. Fortunately it was a clear, starry night. At about midnight he came to a farm, where he dismounted and knocked at the door. A venerable old man appeared and asked him who he was.
“I am an officer in the war, and I have lost my way,” said Guan Xing. “I wonder if you could give me something to eat.”
The old man led him into a hall lit by candles, and there he saw a picture of his father. At once he fell to his knees before it and wailed.
“Why do you cry?” asked the old man.
“This is my father,” said Guan Xing.
At this, the old man bowed to his guest.
“Why should you treat my father with such respect?” asked the young man.
“This place is protected by your father’s honored spirit. Even when he lived the people here served him, and even more so now he is a saint. I have been counting on the army of Shu to avenge his death, and it is indeed a good fortune for the people that you have come.”
Then he brought forth wine and food to serve his guest. He also unsaddled his horse and fed it.
Some two hours later a knocking came at the door, and when the old man opened it, the visitor turned out to be none other than Pan Zhang. He had also come to ask for shelter.
As he came in Guan Xing recognized him. Drawing his sword, he cried, “Stay, you ruffian!”
Pan Zhang immediately turned to flee, but on the threshold there suddenly appeared a figure of ruddy complexion with phoenix eyes, bushy eyebrows, and a long, flowing beard, who was clad in a green robe and golden armor, and armed with a weighty sword.
Recognizing Guan Yu in his spirit form, Pan Zhang shrieked in terror, and his very soul seemed to have been squeezed out of him. He tried to escape but before he could even turn round, Guan Xing raised his sword and as it fell, Pan Zhang lay dead. Taking the bloody heart of his dead enemy, Guan Xing presented it as a sacrifice before the picture of his father. After that he took possession of his father’s sword, the Blue Dragon, curved as the crescent moon. Having hacked off the head of his fallen enemy he fastened it to his bridle. Then he took leave of his host, saddled his enemy’s horse, and rode away toward his own camp. The old man dragged the corpse of the dead soldier outside and burned it.
Guan Xing had not gone very far when he heard the neighing of horses and soon met a troop led by Ma Zhong, one of Pan Zhang’s men, who fell into a great rage when he saw the head of his chief swinging under the neck of Guan Xing’s horse and the famous sword in his hand. He galloped up furiously and Guan Xing, who recognized him as another enemy of his late father, rushed forward and raised the Blue Dragon to strike him. Just then, however, Ma Zhong’s three hundred soldiers all came up to support their chief, and Guan Xing was surrounded. Fighting all alone against hundreds of enemies, Guan Xing was soon in dire danger, but at that moment a rescue force arrived from the northwest led by his cousin Zhang Bao. At this Ma Zhong drew off his men and rode away.
The two cousins pursued him. But before they had gone far they met another force under Mi Fang and Fu Shi-ren, who had come out to seek Ma Zhong. The two bodies of soldiers clashed, but as they had few men the two cousins hastily drew off. Then they made their way to Xiaoting, where they told their adventure to their uncle and presented the head of their enemy. The First Ruler was amazed but pleased that one of his sworn enemies had been slain.
Ma Zhong went back and rejoined his commanders. The defeated men, many of them wounded, were recalled to their camps to set up defenses. Ma Zhong, together with Mi Fang and Fu Shi-ren, encamped by the riverside.
That night many of their soldiers were groaning with the pain of their wounds. Mi Fang, who was listening, heard one of them say: “We used to be Jingzhou men and our general fell victim to Lu Meng’s vile machinations. Now the Emperor of Shu has arrived in person to destroy Wu, and sooner or later Wu will be wiped out. But he has a special grudge against Mi Fang and Fu Shi-ren. Why don’t we kill these two traitors and go over to Shu? We will have done a great service.” Then he heard another say: “Don’t be too hasty. Wait till there is a good opportunity.”
Mi Fang did not like this at all. He told Fu Shi-ren that the men were mutinous and their lives were in danger.
“The Emperor of Shu hates Ma Zhong most intensely,” he said to his comrade. “Suppose we kill him and surrender. We can say we were compelled to give in to Wu, but as soon as we learned of his coming we wanted to return to him and admit our fault.”
“No, it won’t do,” objected Fu Shi-ren. “If we go he will kill us.”
“No, I don’t think so,” insisted Mi Fang. “He is merciful and kind. And his heir, A-dou, is my nephew. He will surely not harm a relative.”
In the end they decided to go. At midnight they furtively crept into Ma Zhong’s tent and stabbed him to death. Then they cut off his head, and with their grisly trophy and dozens of followers they set off for the camp of the First Ruler. They arrived at the outpost and were taken to see the officers there, to whom they told their tale. The next day they were led into the main camp and brought before Liu Bei. They presented the trophy, knelt on the ground and wept, saying, “We are not traitors but victims of Lu Meng’s wickedness. He lied that General Guan was dead and tricked us into opening the city gate. We were then compelled to surrender. But when we heard Your Majesty had come we slew this man to avenge the general. We implore your forgiveness, Your Majesty.”
The First Ruler said, “I left Chengdu a long time ago—why did you not come to confess your crime earlier? Now you find yourselves in danger and you come with this specious tale to try to save your lives. If I pardon you, how can I look my brother in the face when we meet beneath the Nine Springs?”
Then he ordered Guan Xing to set up an altar to his father in the camp, and he himself offered Ma Zhong’s head before the tablet of Guan Yu. After that he had the two deserters stripped and made them kneel before the altar, and with his own hand he hewed them to pieces as sacrifices.
Suddenly Zhang Bao came in and wailed before him. “The two enemies of my uncle have been slain, but when will I avenge my father’s death?”
“Don’t grieve, my nephew,” said the First Ruler, “I’m going to lay waste the land of Wu and slay all the curs that live there. I will assuredly capture the two murderers of your father and let you offer them as sacrifices to his spirit.”
Zhang Bao thanked him and went away, still weeping.
By this time the powerful name of the First Ruler was felt very deeply among the men of Wu, who stood in mortal dread of him and wailed night and day. Their two commanders, Han Dang and Zhou Tai, were much upset by this unusual behavior of their soldiers, so they sent a dispatch to their master to tell him of what had happened to Ma Zhong and the other two.
Much distressed at the news, Sun Quan called together his counselors for advice. At this meeting Bu Ji said, “Among those whom Liu Bei hated most, five are already dead. The only remaining ones are the two murderers of Zhang Fei. Why not hand over the two assassins and Zhang Fei’s head? Then promise to give up Jingzhou and send back Lady Sun so as to have peace with Liu Bei, and propose to continue our former alliance against Wei. That will make the men of Shu withdraw.”
This proposal seemed good to Sun Quan. So the head of Zhang Fei was enclosed in a sandalwood box and the two assassins, Fan Jiang and Zhang Da, were bound and put in a cage-cart. All these were sent with a letter proposing peace through the envoy, Cheng Bing, to the First Ruler in Xiaoting.
The First Ruler was about to march farther east when he was told that a messenger had come from Wu with the head of his brother and the two assassins. The First Ruler raised both his hands to his forehead
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and cried in joy, “This is indeed a gift from Heaven! It is also an indication of the power of my brother’s spirit!”
He told Zhang Bao to prepare an altar. When he opened the box and saw that his brother’s face looked so much alive, without an altered complexion, he broke into loud wailing. Then the son hacked the two men to pieces and offered them on the altar.
However, this friendly gesture from Sun Quan did not appease his anger and he still desired to destroy Wu.
“Your enemies are now all dead and you have your vengeance,” remonstrated Ma Liang. “Minister Cheng is here to propose peace, promising to return Jingzhou and Lady Sun to you and offering perpetual alliance with you. He is waiting for your reply.”
But the First Ruler replied savagely, “The one I would grind to pieces is Sun Quan. To enter into an alliance with him would be treachery to my two brothers and a breach of our oath. Now I will exterminate Wu first, and Wei will follow.”
He wished also to put the messenger to death, but relented after earnest pleadings from his officials. The messenger ran off terrified, and returned to tell Sun Quan how implacable his enemy was.
Sun Quan was panic-stricken, not knowing what to do. Seeing this, Kan Ze stepped forth and said, “My lord, you possess a mighty pillar, why not use him?”
“Who do you mean?” asked Sun Quan.
“In the past you entrusted Zhou Yu with important matters of the country, and he was followed by Lu Su. After him it was Lu Meng who made decisions on major issues. Though he is dead now there is still Lu Xun in Jingzhou. He is reputed to be a scholar but he is actually a bold and capable strategist, not inferior to Zhou Yu, in my opinion. It was his plan that captured Guan Yu. If anyone can destroy Liu Bei, he is the man. If he fails, I will share his punishment.”
“I nearly made a serious mistake if you hadn’t reminded me,” said Sun Quan gratefully.
“Lu Xun is only a scholar. He is no match for Liu Bei,” objected Zhang Zhao. “I fear he is not suitable for the post.”
Gu Yong also disagreed, saying, “He is too young and too inexperienced. He will not be able to command his officers and that will lead to disasters.”
Bu Ji, too, voiced his opposition. “He is clever enough to control a district, but not fit for the command of the entire force.”
Exasperated, Kan Ze shouted, “He is our only hope! I guarantee that he will succeed on the lives of all my family.”
“I know he is unique,” said Sun Quan. “I have now made up my mind he is the man. No more arguing, gentlemen.”
So Lu Xun was summoned. Now Lu Xun, also called Lu Bo-yan, was a native of Wu, son of Lu Jun, who was an officer in Jiujiang. He was a fine-looking man of medium height, with a clear complexion like fine jade.
After arriving he went to pay his respects to Sun Quan, who said to him, “I want to place you in supreme command of all the forces to withstand Liu Bei.”
“My lord, you have numerous experienced officers and advisors in your service. I am young and untalented. How can I hope to command them?” replied Lu Xun.
“Kan Ze vouches for your ability with the lives of his whole family. And I, too, know you are capable. You are going to be commander-in-chief and I hope you will not refuse.”
“But what if the officers do not obey me?”
“Here is authority!” said Sun Quan, taking his own sword from his side. “Slay the disobedient first and report to me afterwards.”
“I am grateful for your trust and I dare not refuse. But I pray you will assemble all the officials and confer the office upon me in their presence.”
Kan Ze said, “The practice of the ancients was to set up an altar on which to present the commander-elect a white yak’s tail, a golden ax, the seal of office, and the military commission. Then his authority would be firmly established. It would be well to follow the old rule. Choose a good day and appoint Lu Xun before all the world. Thus no one will defy his leadership.”
The building of an altar was begun at once and as soon as it was finished a great assembly was called. Lu Xun was requested to ascend the altar, where he was formally appointed Commander-in-chief and Marquis of Lou and conferred the sword of authority and the seal of office. He was authorized to command all the forces in the six districts and the eighty-one towns as well as the forces in Jingzhou.
In assigning him the vital position Sun Quan said, “Within the capital I rule—outside it, you command.”
Lu Xun then descended from the altar. He chose Xu Sheng and Ding Feng as commanders of his guards, and the army lost no time in taking the field. Land and marine forces were deployed, and a dispatch was sent to the two commanders near Xiaoting.
Han Dang and Zhou Tai were much upset at this appointment of a mere bookish fellow to command them. So when the new commander-in-chief came they all showed their discontent with a lack of enthusiasm. Lu Xun went to his tent and summoned his officers for counsel, and they manifested only sullen respect and reluctant deference.
Lu Xun addressed them: “By order of our lord I am commander-in-chief of all the forces, and my commission is to destroy Shu. You, gentlemen, all know the conventional military rules, and you will do well to obey them. The law is no respecter of persons, as those who disobey will find out. Do not regret when it is too late.”