The Three Kingdoms Volume 2 (67 page)

But it so happened that Cao Cao had been sleeping after too much wine, and his faithful henchman, Xu Chu, would not allow Cao Ren to enter.

“I am of the family,” said Cao Ren, angry at the hindrance. “How dare you stop me?”

“General, you may be a relative, but you are an officer from the frontier. I am no relation, but I am a guard in the residence. Our lord is overcome with wine and asleep, and I dare not allow you to enter.”

The refusal came to Cao Cao’s knowledge, and he commended Xu Chu for his loyalty.

Soon after, Xiahou Dun also came and the discussion about the expeditions to Wu and Shu began. However, Xiahou Dun was not in favor of an operation against these two rivals. Instead, he proposed subduing Zhang Lu of Hanzhong first. “Then with the triumphant army we can seize Shu without difficulty,” he said. The advice coincided with Cao Cao’s own idea, and so he prepared an expedition for the west.

Barely had he ridden roughshod o’er a feeble king;

At once he hastened to sweep his west frontiers clean.

What happened will be told in the next chapter.

*
An old city in modern Henan where the two rulers of the Kingdoms of Zhao and Qin met in 279
B.C.
Lin Xiangru, an official of Zhao was also present and his bravery prevented his lord from being humiliated by his powerful rival.

CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN

Cao Cao Conquers Hanzhong

Zhang Liao Spreads Terror at Xiaoyao Ford

T
he
expedition against Hanzhong was divided into three divisions, with Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He as leaders of the van, Cao Cao in command of the center, and Cao Ren and Xiahou Dun bringing up the rear, in charge of the supplies. Spies soon carried the news into Hanzhong, and Zhang Lu called in his brother Wei to discuss how to meet the invaders.

Zhang Wei said, “The most dangerous point to hold is Yangping Pass, and I will go and set up a dozen stockades there in the hills and woods to hold the enemy. You, my brother, should assist me with plenty of supplies from here.”

Accordingly two officers, Yang Ang and Yang Ren, were sent with Zhang Wei to Yangping Pass, where they built the stockades. Soon the vanguard of the enemy arrived and camped at a point fifteen
li
away. The soldiers were fatigued after the long march, and all lay down to rest without placing proper guards. Suddenly a fire broke out at the back of the camp, which was at once attacked by the two Yangs from two different points. Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He mounted quickly and tried to beat off the raiders, but the enemy poured in all around, and Cao Cao’s men suffered a great loss. They returned to the main body to tell their master of their defeat and were severely reproached for their want of care.

“Don’t you know the warning, ‘Guard against a raid on the camp after a long and weary march?’ How could old soldiers like you have forgotten that?”

He was so angry that he even desired to put them to death to observe military law, but their fellow officers interceded and he spared them. Soon Cao Cao himself marched in the van. Then he saw the dangerous nature of the place, with its precipitous mountains and thick growth of trees and brambles. As he knew nothing of the roads he was afraid lest there was an ambush, so he returned to his camp.

Calling up his two henchmen, Xu Chu and Xu Huang, he said, “Had I known the place was so perilous I would never have come.”

Xu Chu replied, “The army is here now, my lord, and you cannot recoil before the hardships.”

The next day Cao Cao, with only these two officers, rode out to reconnoiter the enemy camp. As they rode over the crest of a hill the enemy position came into view in the distance. Cao Cao pointed at it with his whip and said, “It will be very difficult to reduce a place as strong as this.”

Just then there arose a shout in their rear and a shower of arrows fell about them. The two Yangs were attacking and the danger was imminent.

“You look after our lord,” cried Xu Chu to his comrade. “I’ll hold the enemy.”

He galloped out and the two Yangs, who were unable to counter him, took flight, while their men scattered. In the meantime, Xu Huang led his master down the slope. Soon they met a troop of soldiers led by Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He, who had heard the sound of fighting and had come to the rescue, and Cao Cao got back safely to camp. The four officers were rewarded.

For fifty days the two armies held each other at bay without coming to battle. At the end of this time, Cao Cao gave orders to withdraw.

“We have not tried the strength of the enemy yet,” said Jia Xu. “Why withdraw, my lord?”

“I see that they are always on the alert,” replied Cao Cao. “I am only withdrawing to put them off their guard. Then I will send some light cavalry to attack their rear. In this way I can defeat them.”

“Your resourcefulness is without depth!” cried Jia Xu in admiration.

Two bodies of soldiers under Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He were then sent to get around to the back of the pass by unfrequented roads, while Cao Cao broke up his camp and led his main body to feign a retreat.

When Yang Ang heard of the retreat he thought it would be a good chance to attack, but Yang Ren, knowing how cunning their opponent was, opposed it. Yang Ang was nevertheless willful and said, “If you don’t go, I will.”

In spite of the protestations of his colleague, Yang Ang went in pursuit of the enemy, taking with him almost all the men of the five camps, leaving only a few to hold the stockades. However, the force soon ran into great difficulties, for there was a heavy fog that day and the soldiers could hardly see anything in front. As advance was impossible they had to encamp temporarily on the road.

Now, Xiahou Yuan and his men were trying to find some bypath behind the hills when they heard the voices of men and the neighing of horses. In the dense fog they could see nothing, but fearing an ambush they hastened to turn back. They lost their way and presently stumbled on an enemy camp. The remaining soldiers thought their comrades had returned, so they threw open the gates to let them in. Seeing that the camp was empty, Xiahou Yuan’s men raised a blaze, which frightened those in the camps and they fled. As soon as the fog cleared, Yang Ren came to the rescue, but as more of Cao Cao’s men came up, the enemy force was too strong for him and he quickly fled toward Nanzheng.
*
When Yang Ang returned, he found his camp in the possession of Cao Cao’s men.

Soon Cao Cao’s main army came up, and Yang Ang was between two forces. There was no way out for him and in desperation he made a dash to break through. However, he fell in with Zhang He and was slain. Those who escaped carried the news of the disaster to Zhang Wei, who abandoned the pass and fled.

So the invaders took possession of the pass, and its former defenders, Zhang Wei and Yang Ren, had to go back and report failure to their master. Zhang Wei laid the blame on his companion, saying the pass could not be held after its supporting positions were lost. Zhang Lu, enraged, threatened to behead Yang Ren for his failure.

Yang Ren argued, “I tried to prevent Yang Ang from taking a rash action, but he would not listen. Let me make another attack and if I fail I will abide by the consequences without regret.”

Zhang Lu accepted his formal pledge and Yang Ren left with 20,000 men to camp some distance from Nanzheng.

Before Cao Cao made any further advance he sent Xiahou Yuan with 5,000 men to reconnoiter the road to Nanzheng, and they encountered the force led by Yang Ren. Both sides drew up their battle formations. From Yang Ren’s side went forth a minor officer to engage Xiahou Yuan, who disposed of him in the third bout. Then Yang Ren himself set his spear and rode to the front. They two fought for nearly two score bouts but neither could claim victory. Then Xiahou Yuan pretended defeat and fled. The other rushed in pursuit. The fugitive suddenly turned to strike and Yang Ren, caught unprepared, was killed by his opponent. His men ran away.

As soon as Cao Cao knew of this victory he pressed on to Nanzheng and camped outside the city.

In a panic, Zhang Lu called a general council to discuss measures to overcome the enemy.

“I can recommend a man able to stand against the best fighter of the enemy,” said Yan Pu.

“Who is he?” asked Zhang Lu.

“Pang De,” replied Yan Pu. “He came here with Ma Chao, but could not go with him into Yizhou, as he was sick at that time. He is under your wings now. Why not send him to fight the enemy?”

Zhang Lu, greatly pleased, at once summoned Pang De, loaded him with gifts and appointed him commander of a force of 10,000 men. Pang De then marched off with his men and camped ten
li
from the city, near the besieging force.

Having made his camp, Pang De rode out to challenge. Now Cao Cao, remembering Pang De’s boldness at the battle of the bridge over the Wei River, was desirous of winning this warrior for himself, so he told his men to try to weary him by prolonging the fights, and so make him captive.

Therefore out rode Zhang He first to answer the challenge. He fought a few bouts and returned. Then Xiahou Yuan repeated the same trick. So did Xu Huang. Lastly went Xu Chu, who kept up the fight to fifty bouts before he, too, returned to his own side. Still Pang De showed no signs of fatigue or fear, and all those who had fought with him praised his prowess and skill.

“If only I could win him over to my side!” said Cao Cao longingly.

The advisor Jia Xu said, “I know Zhang Lu has a subordinate called Yang Song. He is avaricious and open to bribery. You can secretly send him presents and get him to slander Pang De before his master so as to weaken his position. Then your chance will come.”

“But how can one get at this man? He is in Nanzheng.”

“In the next battle pretend defeat and flee, leaving the camp for Pang De to occupy. Then raid the camp at night and drive him out, and he will be forced to retreat into the city. Choose a man with a persuasive tongue. Disguised as one of Pang De’s soldiers, he is to mingle among them and so gain entrance into the city.”

A subtle agent was found, and goodly gifts were given to him in advance. He was entrusted with a golden breastplate as a bribe for the greedy official. He wore it next to his flesh and over it put on the coat of an ordinary soldier of Hanzhong. Then he made his way quietly to a point on the road to Nanzheng. There he waited for Pang De’s men, who would retreat into the city later in the night.

The next day, after two bodies of soldiers left to wait in ambush, Xu Huang was sent out to challenge, but with orders to feign defeat. The scheme went well, and as Pang De came on to strike, Cao Cao’s men retreated before him till he found himself at their very camp. In he entered, and was exceedingly pleased to find grain and forage in great quantities.

Having sent off a messenger to his chief to report the victory, he spread a feast in the camp to celebrate the happy occasion; and when night came, they slept. But about the second watch fire broke out on three sides, and the camp was raided by three forces. It was the night attack arranged by Cao Cao, and Pang De, who was entirely unprepared, could not make any defense. Hurriedly he mounted, cut his way through, and made for the city. With the attackers in close pursuit he reached the gate, opened it, and rushed in.

And the spy also stole in amid the confusion. He made his way quickly to Yang Song’s residence to see him. He told the corrupt official that the Duke of Wei, who knew him by reputation and held him in high esteem, had sent him a golden breastplate and a confidential letter. The rapturous Yang Song accepted the bribe, read the letter, and said, “Tell the duke to have no anxiety for I will find a means of proving my gratitude. You may return.”