The Three Kingdoms Volume 2 (63 page)

Here Ma Dai was suddenly confronted by a warrior with a thunderous voice who dashed down from the pass as on a flying steed.

It was Zhang Fei, who had just arrived. Hearing the noise of battle below the pass he had come to find out what it meant and saw Wei Yan hit by an arrow. Vaulting into the saddle, he rushed off to his rescue. Then he shouted to Ma Dai, “Who are you? Tell me your name first, then fight.”

“I am Ma Dai of Xiliang.”

“So you are not Ma Chao,” said Zhang Fei in disappointment. “Go away quickly. You are no match for me. Tell Ma Chao to come himself, and say that Zhang Fei of Yan is here.”

“How dare you treat me with contempt?” cried Ma Dai in hot anger, and he came galloping up with his spear set to thrust. But after about ten bouts he had to flee. Zhang Fei was about to pursue when a rider came up to him hastily, crying, “Don’t pursue, brother.” The rider was Liu Bei, and Zhang Fei stopped. The two returned together to the pass.

“I know your impulsive temper, and so I followed you. Since you’ve got the better of him you should take a good rest tonight and recuperate for the fight tomorrow with Ma Chao.”

The rolling of drums at dawn the next day declared the arrival of Ma Chao. Liu Bei looked down at him from the pass: there was Ma Chao emerging from the shade of his great standard, clad in a white robe and silver armor, with a lion helmet on his head and a belt with a wild beast clasp around his waist. Just as his attire was uncommon, so were his looks.

Liu Bei gasped admiringly. “What a fine looking young warrior! No wonder people call him Handsome Ma Chao.”

Zhang Fei wanted to go down at once, but his brother checked him, saying, “No, not yet. You must avoid the keenness of his fighting ardor.”

Thus from below Ma Chao challenged Zhang Fei, while above Zhang Fei fretted at not being allowed to swallow Ma Chao up at one gulp. Time and again Zhang Fei wanted to set out, but each time his brother checked him. And so it continued till past midday, when Liu Bei, noticing signs of fatigue and weariness among Ma Chao’s men, decided that it was the moment to let Zhang Fei go to his great fight. He picked out five hundred cavalrymen to accompany his brother and let the party go.

Ma Chao, seeing Zhang Fei coming with his force, signaled with his spear to his men to retreat the distance of a bowshot, and Zhang Fei’s riders halted. Liu Bei and the other men at the pass also came down to take their places as onlookers. Zhang Fei set his spear and rode out.

“Do you know who I am?” shouted Zhang Fei. “I am Zhang Fei of Yan.”

Ma Chao replied contemptuously, “My family has been noblemen for many generations. I certainly do not know any rustic dolts.”

This reply enraged Zhang Fei. In a moment the two steeds were rushing toward each other, and the two men raised their spears. A hundred bouts were fought but neither could prevail over the other.

“A veritable tiger of a general,” sighed Liu Bei.

Fearing that the fight might go amiss for Zhang Fei, he sounded the gong to signal the end of the combat. And each drew off to his own side. Zhang Fei rested his steed for a time, then, casting off his helmet and wrapping a turban about his head, he mounted and rode out again to resume the fight. Ma Chao also came out, and the duel continued.

Liu Bei, anxious for his brother’s safety, put on his armor and went down to witness the combat. Taking his position close to the scene of the battle, he watched till they had fought another hundred bouts, and then as both seemed to wax fiercer than ever, he again gave the signal to cease the fight.

Both drew off and each returned to his own side. It was then getting late, and Liu Bei said to his brother: “You must be careful—he’s a terrible opponent. Let’s go back to the pass now and you can fight him again tomorrow.”

But as Zhang Fei’s lust for combat burned, he refused to listen to his brother’s advice.

“No,” he shouted, “even death will not make me go back!”

“But it’s late—you can’t go on fighting,” said Liu Bei.

“Let them bring torches, and we’ll have a night battle,” said Zhang Fei.

Ma Chao having mounted a fresh steed, now rode out and shouted, “Do you dare to fight a night battle, Zhang Fei?”

Zhang Fei, provoked to even greater excitement, hastily changed horses with his brother, and rushed forth.

“If I do not capture you, I will not go back to the pass,” said Zhang Fei.

“And if I do not overcome you, I will not return to the camp,” said Ma Chao.

Both sides cheered. They lit hundreds of torches till it seemed as light as day, and the two great warriors went out to fight. At the twentieth bout Ma Chao turned his steed to go.

“Where are you going?” shouted Zhang Fei.

Now Ma Chao, seeing he could not win in direct combat, decided to try a ruse. By a false flight he intended to draw Zhang Fei into pursuit. Then secretly taking out a copper hammer, he suddenly turned and threw it straight at his opponent. Zhang Fei, who had been on his guard when he saw his rival taking flight, dodged just in time, and the hammer flew narrowly past his ear. Then Zhang Fei turned his horse to go back but Ma Chao came to pursue. Zhang Fei pulled up and, taking out his bow and arrow, shot at Ma Chao who also dodged, and the arrow flew by. Then each returned to his own side.

Liu Bei rode to the front of his battle line and called out to his opponent: “Ma Chao, I believe in treating people with kindness and justice. You can withdraw and rest. I will not take advantage of your repose to pursue or attack.”

Ma Chao, hearing these words, ordered his men to withdraw, he himself guarding the rear. Gradually his army retreated and Liu Bei also drew his army back to the pass.

Early the next day Zhang Fei was once more going down the pass to fight when they told him that the chief advisor, Zhuge Liang, had arrived. Liu Bei went to receive him, and Zhuge Liang at once began to speak of Ma Chao.

“He is the most terrifying warrior of the age—if he and Yi-de fight a desperate battle, one of the two will inevitably suffer. So I have left Mianzhu in the care of Zi-long and come as quickly as I can. With a little ruse I think I can bring Ma Chao over to our side.”

“He is so brave and I do admire him,” said Liu Bei. “How can we win him over?”

Zhuge Liang said, “Well, Ma Chao is now in the service of Zhang Lu, who greatly desires the title of Prince of Hanning. Among his subordinates there is one called Yang Song whom I know is open to bribery. We can send a person secretly to see him and bribe him with gold and silver so as to win his support. This done, we will write to Zhang Lu and tell him that your fighting with Liu Zhang for Yizhou is actually in his interest; that he should not listen to slanders against you; and that you will petition the Emperor to confer on him his coveted title. This will make him order Ma Chao to return, and when that happens I will find a means of winning him over.”

Liu Bei accordingly wrote the letter and sent it by the hand of Sun Qian, together with gold and pearls for the greedy Yang Song. Sun Qian went by secret roads to see Yang Song, to whom he explained his mission. Greatly pleased with the gifts Yang Song quickly introduced him to his master.

“How can Liu Bei petition the throne to confer on me the rank of prince when he is but a general himself?” asked Zhang Lu, when he understood the offer and its conditions.

“He is an uncle of the Emperor,” said Yang Song. “He is exactly the right person to present such a memorial.”

Zhang Lu assented. He sent a messenger to tell Ma Chao to cease fighting. In the meantime, Sun Qian remained at Yang Song’s house, waiting for further news. Before long, the messenger came back with a reply from Ma Chao saying that he could not cease fighting since he had not yet triumphed. A second, and then a third, messenger was sent, but returned with a similar response.

“This Ma Chao is untrustworthy,” said Yang Song. “His unwillingness to withdraw can only mean he wants to rebel.”

Then Yang Song began to set a rumor afloat that Ma Chao desired to establish himself as the ruler of the west so as to avenge the death of his father, and would no longer be content with a subordinate rank. The false rumor came to the ear of Zhang Lu, who again turned to Yang Song for advice.

Yang Song said, “You can take two measures. On the one hand, send someone to tell Ma Chao that if he wants to fight on, you will allow him a month on the condition that he accomplish three things within that period: the capture of Yizhou, the head of Liu Zhang, and the repulse of Liu Bei’s troops. If he can do all these he will be rewarded. Otherwise he will be put to death. On the other hand, you must strengthen the defense at various passes and cities to guard against his possible rebellion.”

Zhang Lu took his advice and hence a messenger was sent to declare the three conditions to Ma Chao.

Ma Chao was greatly shocked. “How come things change so quickly?” he said in distress.

He discussed the matter with his cousin, Ma Dai, and the two decided to suspend fighting and withdraw. Hearing this, Yang Song started another rumor that Ma Chao’s return with an army meant rebellion. Hence all the strategic points on the homeward road were closely guarded to deny him entrance. Thus Ma Chao, unable either to fight or to retreat, could see no way out of his plight.

At this moment Zhuge Liang said to his lord, “Now Ma Chao is in a fix. I am going to his camp, and with my three-inch-long tongue, I will persuade him to come over to our side.”

“But I do not like you to run such a risk. You are my most trusted advisor—if anything happened to you, what should I do?”

Zhuge Liang, however, was set upon going but Liu Bei persistently refused. At this juncture it was announced that Zhao Yun had sent a letter by the hand of someone who wished to yield to Liu Bei. The man turned out to be Li Hui of Jianning, who had formerly advised Liu Zhang not to let Liu Bei enter the west.

“You once pleaded with your master to keep me out—why do you want to join me now?”

“As the saying goes, the prudent bird chooses the branch to perch and the wise man his master to serve. I did attempt to dissuade my old master from a course which I felt to be disastrous, and thereby fulfilled my duty as his servant. He rejected my counsel and I knew he would fail. Your kindness and virtue is known to all the province, and I know success must be yours. That is why I wish to serve under your banner.”

“Your service will surely be of great benefit to me, sir,” said Liu Bei.

Then Li Hui began to talk of Ma Chao. “I met him once in Longxi. He is now in great straits, and I may be able to talk him over. What do you say?”

“Just the man to go on my behalf,” interjected Zhuge Liang. “But what arguments will you use?”

Li Hui leaned over and whispered something in his ear. What he said seemed to please Zhuge Liang mightily, and he was sent on the mission.

Arriving at the camp, Li Hui sent in his name, at which Ma Chao remarked, “Yes, I know him. A glib and specious talker. I know why he has come, too.”

So he placed a score of armed guards in hiding about his tent and told them to cut the visitor to pieces if the signal was given.

A moment later the guest walked in proudly. His host, remaining seated stiff and upright, asked roughly, “Why are you here?”

“Especially to talk you round.”

“This sword here in my scabbard is newly sharpened. You may go ahead with your persuasion, but if the words cannot convince me I will ask you to try my sword.”

Li Hui smiled, saying, “General, danger is not far off. I am afraid your newly-ground sword will not be tried on my head, but on your own.”

“What danger could there be for me?”

“I was told that the worst vilification could not hide the beauty of Xishi
*
nor could the most fulsome flattery smooth over the ugliness of Wu yan.
^†
When the sun rises to the mid-sky it declines westward; and when the moon waxes to the full it wanes. All things obey the law. Now, sir, you are at enmity with Cao Cao for your father’s death, and in teeth-grinding hatred with Longxi for the loss of your family. You can neither rescue Liu Zhang by repulsing the army from Jingzhou, nor can you subdue Yang Song to seek an interview with Zhang Lu. Large as the world is, you can find no place for shelter nor a lord to serve—and if you experience further defeats, like that one on the Wei River, or the loss of Jicheng, will you be able to look any man in the face?”

Ma Chao bowed his head. “You are absolutely right. I am helpless.”

“If you think my words are reasonable, why do you place those fearsome guards hiding in your tent?” asked Li Hui.

Ma Chao, ashamed, ordered them to retire. Li Hui continued his speech: “Liu Bei, the uncle of the Emperor, is affable to his subordinates. I am certain he will succeed and so I have forsaken Liu Zhang to cling to him. Your honored father once joined him in denouncing Cao Cao. Why don’t you abandon darkness for light? You can avenge your father as well as make a name for yourself.”

Ma Chao, convinced of the wisdom of the course thus recommended, sent for Yang Bo, brother of the slanderous Yang Song, and slew him at once. Taking with him the head of his victim, he accompanied Li Hui to Jiameng Pass and tendered his submission. Liu Bei welcomed him warmly and treated him as a highly honored guest.

Ma Chao bowed his head and said, “Meeting you, my lord, is like dispersing the clouds to see the clear sky.”