The Three Kingdoms Volume 2 (22 page)

Zhou Yu laughed, “His fate is sealed.” He sent for the executioners at once and ordered them to conceal themselves inside his tent, and when all was arranged for the assassination he contemplated, he went out to welcome his visitor. Liu Bei came with Guan Yu and his attendants to Zhou Yu’s tent. After the greetings Zhou Yu asked his guest to take the seat of honor, but Liu Bei declined, saying, “General, you are famous throughout the country while I am a man of no talent. I cannot accept such great honor.”

So they took their seats as host and guest and a banquet was given to entertain Liu Bei.

Now it so happened that Zhuge Liang came on shore by chance and heard that his master had arrived to meet Zhou Yu. The news gave him a great shock and he hastened to Zhou Yu’s tent to steal a look inside. He saw murder written on Zhou Yu’s face and noted the many assassins hidden behind the curtains. “What’s to be done now?” he said to himself in distress. He turned to look at Liu Bei, and much to his surprise, he found him laughing and talking quite unconcernedly. Then he noticed the figure of Guan Yu standing behind Liu Bei, with his hand on his sword.

He was greatly relieved. “There will be no danger for my master,” he said joyfully. He decided not to go in, but returned to the riverbank to wait for his master there.

Meanwhile, the banquet proceeded. After the wine had gone around several times Zhou Yu got up to pour wine for his guest when he suddenly saw a powerful warrior behind Liu Bei, sword in hand. He hastily asked who he was.

“That is my brother, Guan Yu,” replied Liu Bei.

Greatly startled, Zhou Yu asked, “Is he the one who killed Yan Liang and Wen Chou?”

“Exactly,” replied Liu Bei.

Fear gripped Zhou Yu and he broke into a cold sweat, which trickled down his back. Then he poured out a cup of wine and presented it to Guan Yu.

Soon Lu Su came in and Liu Bei said to him, “Where is Zhuge Liang? Could I trouble you to ask him to come?”

“Wait till we have defeated Cao Cao,” said Zhou Yu. Liu Bei dared not repeat his request. Guan Yu gave him a meaningful look and Liu Bei, taking the hint, rose and said, “I must leave now but I will come again to congratulate you when our enemy is defeated and our success is complete.”

Zhou Yu did not press him to remain. He escorted his guest to the gate of his camp, where Liu Bei took leave of his host and headed toward the shore. When he and his group reached there they found Zhuge Liang waiting in their ship. Liu Bei was exceedingly pleased.

Zhuge Liang said, “Do you know you were in great danger today?”

“Why, no,” answered Liu Bei in amazement.

“If Yun-chang had not been there you would have been killed,” said Zhuge Liang.

Liu Bei, after a moment’s reflection, saw that it was true. He begged Zhuge Liang to return with him to Fankou, but the advisor refused.

“I am quite safe,” he said. “Although I am living in the tiger’s mouth, I am as steady as Mount Tai. Now, my lord, return and prepare your ships and men. On the twentieth day of the eleventh month send Zi-long with a small boat to the south bank to wait for me. Be sure there is no mistake.”

When Liu Bei asked him what he meant by this, he only replied, “When the southeasterly wind begins to blow I will return.”

Liu Bei would have questioned him further, but Zhuge Liang exhorted him to leave at once. After Zhuge Liang went off Liu Bei and the others started the boat up the river toward home. They had not proceeded far when there appeared a small fleet of some fifty boats sweeping down with the current, and in the prow of the leading vessel stood a tall figure armed with a spear. It was Zhang Fei, who had come to assist them for fear that something might happen to Liu Bei and Guan Yu alone might not be able to rescue him. The three brothers then returned together.

After seeing off Liu Bei, Zhou Yu returned to his camp. Lu Su soon came in and asked, “Since you had cajoled Liu Bei into coming, why didn’t you kill him?”

“Because of that Guan Yu. He is a very tiger and he never left his brother for a moment. If I had attempted to kill his brother he would certainly have taken my life.”

Just then it was announced that Cao Cao had sent a messenger to deliver a letter. Zhou Yu ordered the guards to bring him in and took the letter. But when he saw the signature, “From the Prime Minister of Han to Commander Zhou,” he fell into a frenzy of rage. Without so much as opening it, he tore the letter to shreds and threw them on the ground. Then he ordered the messenger to be killed at once.

Lu Su tried to reason with him: “When two countries are at war their emissaries are not to be slain.”

“I slay the messenger to show our strength,” replied Zhou Yu.

So the bearer of the letter was decapitated and his head sent back to Cao Cao by the victim’s attendants. Zhou Yu then decided to move into action. Gan Ning was appointed leader of the van, supported by two wings under Han Dang and Jiang Qin, while Zhou Yu himself was to follow with the main force. The next morning they had an early meal at the fourth watch and by the fifth watch the ships hoisted sail and set out amid loud shouting and the beating of drums.

Cao Cao was furious when he heard that his letter had been torn up and his envoy slain. He, too, resolved to attack his opponent. His advance was led by Cai Mao, Zhang Yun, and the other Jingzhou officers who had recently joined his army, whereas he himself followed in the rear. They sailed as fast as possible to the meeting place of the rivers, where they soon saw the ships of Wu sailing toward them. In the prow of the foremost ship stood a fierce warrior who cried, “I am Gan Ning. Who dares to fight with me?”

Cai Mao sent his younger brother to accept the challenge, but as his ship approached Gan Ning shot an arrow and the man was killed instantly. With this victory, Gan Ning’s fleet pressed forward while his archers kept up a heavy discharge of arrows that forced their enemy to retreat. The two wings also joined in and the three forces charged into Cao Cao’s fleet. Being mostly from the dry plains of the north, Cao Cao’s men did not know how to fight effectively on water, and they could hardly keep their footing once the ships moved. The three southern officers, reinforced soon by their commander, Zhou Yu, had the battle all their own way. It lasted till the afternoon and a countless number of Cao Cao’s men were killed by arrows or cannon. Although he had won, Zhou Yu thought it more prudent to call off the fight, in view of the superior numbers of his enemy. So he ordered his men to beat the gongs as a signal to cease battle and recall the ships.

The defeated men also returned. Cao Cao went to his camp on the bank and redeployed his force. Then he sent for Cai Mao and Zhang Yun and reproached them: “How could you be worsted by the inferior force of Wu? You did not do your best.”

Cai Mao tried to defend himself. “The Jingzhou marines have not been drilled for a long time,” he said, “while the northern men have never been trained for naval warfare at all. That was why we were defeated. Now we must set up a naval camp, placing the northern men in the center and the Jingzhou men on the flanks. Drill them every day until they are familiar with fighting on water. Then they will win victories.”

“If you know what should be done, why have you not done it?” said Cao Cao. “What is the use of telling me this? Get to work.”

So Cai Mao and Zhang Yun went off to train their naval force. They established twenty-four “water gates” along the riverbank, with the large ships outside as a sort of rampart, and under their protection the smaller ships could move about freely inside. At night when the lanterns and torches were lit the very sky was illuminated and the water shone red with the glare. On land the smoke of the camp fires could be traced for 300
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without a break.

Zhou Yu returned triumphantly to camp. He feasted his victorious fighting men and sent a messenger to take the joyful tidings of victory to his master. When night fell Zhou Yu went up to the top of a hill to survey the enemy camp. He saw to his fear a long line of bright lights stretching to the west, showing the extent of the enemy’s camp. The next day, Zhou Yu decided that he would go in person to find out the strength of his enemy’s naval force. So he prepared a double-decker vessel and sailed upstream, accompanied by musicians and drummers, as well as several of his brave officers armed with powerful bows and crossbows. When they got opposite Cao Cao’s camp the heavy stones that served as anchors were lowered and the drums and trumpets began to play while Zhou Yu scanned the enemy’s naval camp. What he saw gave him a big fright, for his enemy seemed to know everything about training a navy. He asked his men who the commanders of Cao Cao’s navy were and was told that they were Cai Mao and Zhang Yun.

“They have lived in these parts for a long time,” he said, “and are thoroughly experienced in naval warfare. I must find some means to remove them first.”

Meanwhile, his movement was discovered and reported to Cao Cao, who immediately ordered out some ships to capture him. When he saw the commotion in the center of the naval force Zhou Yu hastily gave the order to put to sea. Oarsmen on all sides rowed as fast as they could and the vessel shot speedily downstream. Before Cao Cao’s ships had got underway, Zhou Yu was already far away. The chase was futile.

Cao Cao summoned his officers and asked, “The other day we lost a battle and the soldiers were greatly dispirited. Now the enemy has spied on our camp. What can be done?”

Before he had finished a man stepped forth and said, “When I was young Zhou Yu and I were fellow students and close friends. I would like to use all my eloquence to persuade him to submit.”

Cao Cao was delighted to hear this. He looked at the speaker and recognized him to be Jiang Gan of Jiujiang, one of his secretaries.

“Are you a good friend of Zhou Yu’s?” asked Cao Cao.

“Rest assured, sir,” replied Jiang Gan. “I will not fail.”

“What do you need to take with you?” asked Cao Cao.

“Just a serving lad and a couple of people to row the boat. Nothing else.”

Cao Cao, greatly pleased, offered him wine and sent him on his mission.

Clad in a simple cloth headpiece and a robe, the messenger sailed in a small boat to Zhou Yu’s camp where he asked the guards to report to their commander that his old friend Jiang Gan wished to see him.

Zhou Yu was in his tent at a council when the message of his arrival came, and he laughed as he said to those about him, “They have sent someone to persuade me.” Then he whispered certain instructions in the ear of each one of them and they took the orders and left.

Zhou Yu went to receive his friend in full ceremonial garb, escorted by a crowd of followers in rich silken robes. The guest appeared, his sole attendant being a lad dressed in a plain blue gown. He bore himself proudly as he advanced and Zhou Yu bowed his welcome.

“You’ve been well, I hope, since we last met,” said Jiang Gan.

“You must have suffered much, my friend, crossing rivers and lakes from afar to be Cao Cao’s emissary,” said Zhou Yu.

“I haven’t seen you for a very long time,” said the envoy, much taken aback, “and I came to visit you for old times’ sake. Why do you call me an emissary of Cao Cao?”

“Though I’m not so clever a musician as Shi Kuang,
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yet I can comprehend the thought behind the music,” replied Zhou Yu.

“As you choose to treat your old friend like this I think I will take my leave,” said Jiang Gan.

Zhou Yu laughed and, taking his guest by the arm, said, “Well, I feared you might have come on his behalf to try to persuade me. But if this is not your intention, you needn’t go away in such a hurry.”

So the two entered the tent, where they exchanged salutes and took their seats. Then the civil and military officials were called in to be introduced to the guest. They soon appeared, all dressed in their best finery—even the minor officers were clad in glittering silver armor. The staff looked very imposing as they stood ranged in two lines. The visitor was introduced to them all. Presently a banquet was spread out, and while they feasted the musicians played songs of victory and wine was passed around. Under its mellowing influence Zhou Yu’s reserve seemed to thaw as he said, “He is a fellow student of mine and we are close friends. Though he is from the north he has not come to speak for Cao Cao, so you need not be suspicious of him.”

Then he took off the sword which he wore at his side and handed it to Taishi Ci, saying, “You take this and wear it for the day as master of the feast. Today we talk only about friendship, and if anyone dares to mention the war between Cao Cao and our country, just slay him.”

Taishi Ci took the sword and seated himself at the table. Jiang Gan was frightened and dared not utter a word about his mission.

Then Zhou Yu said, “Since I assumed command I haven’t tasted a single drop of wine, but today as my old friend is present and there is no distrust between us, I’m going to drink freely.” So saying, he drank a huge goblet and laughed loudly.

The rhinoceros cups went swiftly round from one to another till all were half drunk. Then Zhou Yu, laying hold of the guest’s hand, led him outside the tent. The guards who stood around all stood to attention, holding spears or halberds.

“Don’t you think my soldiers are a fine lot of fellows?” asked Zhou Yu.

“Strong as bears and bold as tigers, they are,” replied Jiang Gan.

Then Zhou Yu led him to the rear of the tent to show him the grain and forage piled up in mountainous heaps. “Don’t you think I have a fairly good store of grain and forage?”