The Three Kingdoms Volume 2 (53 page)

So he summoned Zhuge Liang to discuss sending an army to the west.

Zhuge Liang said, “This place here is important and must be well defended.”

Liu Bei replied, “I will go to Yizhou with Pang Tong, Huang Zhong, and Wei Yan, while you stay here to defend Jingzhou with my two brothers and Zhao Yun.”

So Zhuge Liang was in charge of the entire defense force in Jingzhou. Guan Yu was sent to guard the pass of Qingni, a key point on the way to Xiangyang; Zhang Fei was to take care of four towns and to patrol the river; and Zhao Yun was to camp at Jiangling while also defending the neighboring town of Gongan. For the march westward, Huang Zhong was to lead the van, Wei Yan to command the rearguard, while Liu Bei and two young officers were to be in the center. Pang Tong was made chief advisor of the whole army of 50,000 men.

Just before they set out, Liao Hua came with a troop to offer his service to Liu Bei. He and his men were asked to help Guan Yu guard against Cao Cao.

It was in winter that the expedition started toward the west. Soon they met the force under Meng Da, who told Liu Bei that he was sent by his master to escort him to Yizhou. Liu Bei dispatched a messenger to inform Liu Zhang that he had embarked on the westward expedition and the latter sent orders to his various districts along the way that they should supply Liu Bei’s army with money and grain.

Liu Zhang proposed to go out in person to welcome Liu Bei at Fucheng. He ordered his men to prepare carriages, tents, and banners. All the escort were to be dressed in glittering armor. At this, Huang Quan again tried to dissuade him. “My lord, if you go out you will be exposed to danger,” he said. “I have been in your service for many years and I cannot bear to see you fall victim to another’s wiles. Pray think carefully.”

Zhang Song said, “What he said is to sow discord between kinsmen and increase the power of your enemy. Assuredly his words are to your detriment.”

Liu Zhang then spoke angrily to Huang Quan saying, “My mind is made up. How dare you oppose me?”

The objector bowed his head and wept. Approaching nearer, he seized his master’s robe with his teeth to try to stop him from leaving. Liu Zhang angrily shook his robe clear and rose from his seat. Huang Quan, still trying to hold on, dropped to the ground, and two of his teeth fell out in the fall. Liu Zhang ordered guards to push him out and, crying bitterly, he went home.

As Liu Zhang was starting another man cried, “My lord, you neglect his loyal words. Do you want to go to your doom?” So saying he prostrated himself at the steps in an effort to make his lord change his mind. He was Li Hui of Jianning.

“I hear the Emperor has his ministers to remonstrate with him and the father, his sons,” he said. “Huang Quan’s words are loyal and you ought to listen. To let Liu Bei into this land is to welcome the tiger into your gates.”

“Liu Bei is my brother and will not harm me,” said the prefect. “Who else dares to oppose me again will suffer death.” And he ordered Li Hui to be thrown out.

Zhang Song said, “The civil officials of Shu are only concerned about the safety of their own families and no longer render services to you, while the military officers are resting on their past merits and each has some scheme of his own to further. If you do not get Liu Bei to help you, you will be opposed by the invaders from without and your own people from within. That will be the road to ruin.”

The prefect agreed that the plan was to his best advantage. Soon he mounted his horse to ride out to Elm Tree Bridge.

Then it was reported to him that Wang Lei had suspended himself, head downwards, from the city gate. In one hand he held a written petition and in the other a knife. “And he says that if you do not heed him he will cut the rope and die at your feet,” concluded the messenger.

Liu Zhang went to the gate, took the paper, and read: “Good medicine tastes bitter but cures the disease; faithful words offend the ear but benefit the conduct. Of old the king of Chu, failing to listen to Qu Yuan,
*
went to meet the lords at Wu Pass and was besieged by Qin. Now you, sir, are leaving your place thoughtlessly to welcome Liu Bei, but I fear there is a way out and none back. Could you but behead Zhang Song in the marketplace and abandon this alliance with Liu Bei, it would be to the happiness of all the people of Shu and the safety of your territory.”

Anger rose in his breast as he read this. “Why do you insult me when I go to meet a kindly kinsman?”

At this Wang Lei gave a great cry, cut the rope and fell dead to the ground.

Head downwards at the city gate he hung,

A last petition in his outstretched hand,
Resolved that, were his words rejected, he
Would repay his master by his own death.

Loyal, too, was the other who lost his teeth
But submitted to Liu Bei in the end.

Sincere indeed, but how can he compare
With staunch Wang Lei, who remained true to the end?

With a great company, Liu Zhang went out to welcome his kinsman, followed by more than a thousand wagons laden with supplies.

Liu Bei’s foremost division had by then arrived at the Dian River. During the march the army observed strict discipline, without in the least affecting the life of the local people, what with the provisions supplied by the local governments, and with Liu Bei’s order that anyone who dared to take things from the people would suffer the penalty of death. Thus no one was disobedient and the people came in crowds to watch the soldiers marching by and welcomed them in every way. Liu Bei soothed them with very gracious words.

Then Fa Zheng secretly showed Pang Tong a letter from Zhang Song, proposing the assassination of Liu Zhang when he arrived to welcome Liu Bei at Fucheng.

Pang Tong cautioned him to say nothing about that for the moment. “Wait for opportunities to arise after the two Lius have met,” he added. “But now is too early to talk. Any leakage will spoil the plan.”

So Fa Zheng said nothing. Fucheng, where the meeting was to take place, lies three hundred and sixty
li
from Chengdu. Liu Zhang arrived first and sent his men to welcome Liu Bei. The two armies camped on the bank of the Fu River. Liu Bei went into the city to see the governor and they met cordially, as brothers should. Both shed a few tears as each opened his heart to the other. Then a banquet was given and after this they returned to their own camps.

Back in his own camp Liu Zhang said to his followers: “How ridiculous were Huang Quan and Wang Lei! They suspected my brother for no reason at all. I see he is really a kindly and noble man, and with him to support me I do not have to fear either Cao Cao or Zhang Lu. And I owe all this to Zhang Song.”

To show his gratitude he took off the green silken robe he wore and sent it as a gift to Zhang Song together with five hundred
liang
*
of gold.

However, his officers and advisors did not share his optimism and they warned him to be cautious. “Do not rejoice too soon, sir,” they said. “Liu Bei is tough inside, despite his mild exterior. His heart is unfathomable and you should be on your guard.”

“You are all too suspicious,” he said, laughing, “my brother is no double-dealer, I am sure.”

When Liu Bei had returned to his own tent, Pang Tong came in to ask what impression he had of his host.

“He is really a very honest man,” said Liu Bei.

“He is good enough, but some of his officers are discontented at this turn of affairs and it is difficult to predict what our fate will be. I think it is better to ask Liu Zhang to a banquet and assassinate him there and then. Place a hundred guards armed with swords and axes behind the partition, and at a signal from you, they will rush out and finish him. All that will remain to be done is to march into Chengdu. In this way no sword need be drawn, no arrow need be fitted to the string—and the province will be yours.”

“He is a brother of mine and has treated me with sincerity. Besides, I have just arrived and so far I am unknown in this land. Such a deed would be abhorrent to both Heaven and the people here. Even a tyrant will not follow such a scheme as yours.”

“The scheme is not mine,” said Pang Tong. “It is Zhang Song who sends a secret letter to Fa Zheng and says there must be no delay.”

At this moment Fa Zheng came in and said, “This is not for ourselves— we are only trying to follow the will of Heaven.”

“Liu Zhang and I are of the same family and I will shudder at harming him.”

“Sir, you are wrong,” said Fa Zheng. “If you do not act as we propose, Zhang Lu will surely take Shu in revenge for the death of his mother. Then what is there for you at the end of your long march? Advance, and success is yours; retreat, and you have nothing. And delay is most dangerous. At any moment this scheme may leak out and you yourself will be the victim. This is your chance when Heaven and men both smile on you. Act before Liu Zhang suspects you and establish yourself as soon as possible. This is the best policy.”

Pang Tong, too, did his best to try to persuade Liu Bei into accepting this scheme.

Though the master still had some kindness left

His officials were on the murderous scheme bent.

What Liu Bei would decide to do will be told in the next chapter.

*
A famous scholar in West Han Dynasty, native of Zhu in modern Sichuan province.

†
A famous general in West Han Dynasty, native of Zhu.

‡
A famous doctor in West Han Dynasty, native of Honan.

§
A famous astrologer in West Han Dynasty, native of Zhu.

*
Modern Wuhan in central China.

*
A great poet (c. 340–278
B.C.
) and an official in the kingdom of Chu during the period of Warring States. Out of favor with his king because of his more democratic political views, he was exiled for a long period during his life and later drowned himself in the Milu River (in modern Hubei province) after Chu was destroyed by its rival Qin. His memory is cherished even today.

*
A monetary unit of old days, equal to about two ounces (57 grams).

CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE

Zhao Yun Rescues A-Dou on the River

Sun Quan Writes a Letter to Repulse Cao Cao

I
n
spite of the persuasion of Pang Tong and Fa Zheng, Liu Bei consistently refused to approve of the plot to assassinate his kinsman Liu Zhang, even if he could gain possession of Yizhou by that means.

The next day there was another banquet in the city, at which the two Lius unburdened themselves freely to each other and became exceedingly friendly. In the middle of the banquet, when wine had gone several rounds, Pang Tong said to Fa Zheng, “Under the circumstances we have to ignore our master’s decision and act on our own.” So saying, he ordered Wei Yan to demonstrate sword-play at the banquet and to use the opportunity to kill Liu Zhang.

At his order, Wei Yan went into the banquet hall shortly afterward with his sword drawn and said, “As there is no entertainment at this banquet, may I show you a little sword-play to amuse you?”

In the meantime Pang Tong called up all his guards, who were then told to range themselves along the lower part of the hall, ready to join in the slaughter the moment Wei Yan should fall on the governor. However, these murderous preparations did not escape the notice of Liu Zhang’s officers. Sensing the impending danger one of them, Zhang Ren, drew his sword and said, “An opponent is needed to make sword-play a success. I would like to join General Wei Yan.”