The Three Kingdoms Volume 2 (68 page)

He went to see Zhang Lu that very night and fabricated a story that Pang De had deliberately lost the battle because he had been bribed by Cao Cao. Zhang Lu summoned his general in a fury, abused him severely and even desired to put him to death. Yan Pu, however, interceded very strongly for his friend, and finally Zhang Lu agreed to give Pang De another chance. “If you lose again this time there will be no mercy for you,” added Zhang Lu.

Pang De retired, full of resentment. The next day Cao Cao attacked the city, and Pang De went out to repel him. Cao Cao sent out his favorite, Xu Chu, to challenge but ordered him to feign defeat. When Pang De pursued, Cao Cao rode to a slope, where he halted and called to his pursuer to surrender.

Pang De thought to himself that to capture Cao Cao would be worth the seizure of a thousand officers, so he boldly flew up the hill. But there arose a great shouting as if heaven and earth were clashing together and he and his horse went headlong into a pit. Out came men with ropes and hooks, and Pang De was caught.

When he was taken before Cao Cao he was received with the greatest kindness. Cao Cao himself dismounted, loosened the captive’s bonds and asked him if he would surrender. Pang De, remembering the ill-treatment he had just received at the hands of Zhang Lu, gave in. Cao Cao was overjoyed. He himself helped Pang De onto a horse and intentionally accompanied him to his camp, so that those on the city wall would see them together. And, indeed, men on the city wall saw this and told Zhang Lu that Pang De was riding side-by-side with Cao Cao. This further convinced Zhang Lu that Yang Song had spoken truly.

On the following day, scaling ladders were set against the city wall on three sides and catapults threw in great stones. The danger being imminent, Zhang Wei advised his brother to destroy all supplies in the city and escape to the mountains in the south, where they might be able to get to Bazhong. But Yang Song said the best course was to throw open the gates and surrender. Zhang Lu could not decide which to do. His brother insisted that burning everything and fleeing was the only course.

Zhang Lu said, “I have always desired to return my to allegiance to the state but so far I have been unable to attain this end. Now escape seems to be the only course open to me. However, the grain and money belong to the state and must be kept safe.”

So the granaries and the government buildings were all carefully barred and sealed. The same night, Zhang Lu and his family went out through the south gate. Cao Cao told his men not to pursue, so they made their way through with ease. When he entered the city and saw that Zhang Lu had taken great care of the government property, Cao Cao rather pitied the man. He then sent a messenger into Bazhong to ask him to surrender. Zhang Lu was disposed to do so, but his brother would not hear of it. Yang Song wrote a secret letter to Cao Cao urging him to attack and promising to assist him from the inside.

Cao Cao presently attacked, and Zhang Wei rode out to meet him. But his opponent was the mighty Xu Chu, who made short work of him. The beaten soldiers went back into the city, which Zhang Lu then decided to defend. As this would not give Yang Song the chance to carry out his treacherous scheme, he persuaded his master to go out and fight, leaving him to hold the city. Zhang Lu took this advice, despite Yan Pu’s opposition, and went out. But before he could fight with the enemy, his rear ranks began to desert, and Zhang Lu was forced to retreat, with Cao Cao’s men following in pursuit. However, when he called at the gate, Zhang Lu was denied entrance by the traitor Yang Song.

Cao Cao came riding up and shouted, “Why not surrender at once?” There being no way out, Zhang Lu dismounted and bowed in submission. Cao Cao, remembering how he had taken care of the public property, treated him with great kindness and conferred on him the title of General–Guardian of the South. Yan Pu and many others were also given honorable posts. A prefect and a military officer were appointed to each district. All the officers and soldiers were duly rewarded, all except the traitor Yang Song, who was condemned to public execution and exposure.

He slandered the able and betrayed his lord,

But what he gained was of no use in the end.

Before glory came to his house he died a shameful death;
And he is an object of contempt for ages to come.

As Hanzhong was quite subdued, Sima Yi, an important official, advised Cao Cao to attack Liu Bei. “The men of Shu are against Liu Bei because of his treacherous treatment of his kinsman Liu Zhang. If on the strength of your present success you press forward, Liu Bei will crumble as a shattered tile. The wise man knows how to seize the right occasion and this is a good opportunity that you should not miss.”

Cao Cao sighed. “Men are insatiable—once you get Long
*
you want to take Shu.”

Liu Ye supported Sima Yi, saying: “If you delay, Zhuge Liang, who knows how to run the government, will have consolidated their rule while Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and the other bold warriors will be at the head of the army. If the men of Shu once establish themselves, and the points of vantage are firmly held, you will not be able to overcome them.”

Cao Cao replied, “My men have suffered much on this long expedition. We must think of them.” Therefore he took no further action for a time in order to rest his army.

Meanwhile, the populace of Yizhou, having heard of Cao Cao’s occupation of Hanzhong, concluded that they would be his next target, and fear spread among them. Liu Bei called in Zhuge Liang and asked him for advice. Zhuge Liang replied that he could make Cao Cao retreat of his own accord.

“A part of Cao Cao’s army is camped at Hefei because of his fear of Sun Quan. If now we restore those three districts of the Jingzhou region to Wu, and send an eloquent speaker to persuade Sun Quan to attack Hefei, Cao Cao will be off on a southward journey.”

“Who is a suitable person to be the messenger?” asked Liu Bei.

At this Yi Ji replied, “I will go.”

Liu Bei, well satisfied, wrote a letter and prepared gifts. Yi Ji took these offerings, calling in at Jingzhou on the way to tell Guan Yu. Then he went on to Moling to see Sun Quan. After the greetings, Sun Quan asked him the reason for his visit.

Yi Ji replied, “On a former occasion Zhuge Jin came for the three districts that my master agreed to return to you, but the absence of our chief advisor at the time prevented the actual transfer. Now I have brought a letter to ask General Guan to give these districts back to you. The other districts, including Jingzhou and Nanjun, were meant to be restored to you as well, but as Cao Cao has got possession of Hanzhong, there is no place for General Guan to stay in Shu. Now Hefei is not well defended. We hope you will attack the city, so as to make Cao Cao withdraw to the south, and let my master seize Hanzhong. If that is taken, he will return the whole of the Jingzhou district to you.”

“You may go back to the guesthouse and let me discuss this matter with my people.”

After Yi Ji had gone, Sun Quan turned to his advisors and asked them what should be done.

Zhang Zhao said, “Liu Bei fears that Cao Cao will attack him so he has resorted to this scheme. However, since Cao Cao is absent in Hanzhong, it will be advantageous to seize the opportunity to take Hefei.”

Sun Quan accepted the advice. After he had sent the messenger away he began to prepare for the expedition. He ordered Lu Su to be in charge of the transfer of power of the three districts of Changsha, Jiangxia, and Guiyang. Then he encamped at Lukou and summoned three of his ablest officers to his side: Lu Meng, Gan Ning, and Ling Tong.

Very soon, Lu Meng and Gan Ning arrived. After learning of their lord’s intentions, Lu Meng suggested a plan, saying, “Cao Cao has ordered the Prefect of Lujiang to station an army at Wancheng and cultivate a large tract of paddy fields to supply grain for Hefei. Let us first take Wancheng and then attack Hefei.”

“This scheme is just after my own heart,” said Sun Quan.

So he ordered Lu Meng and Gan Ning to lead the van while he commanded the center, aided by four officers. But the veteran warriors Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and Han Dang were not called to take part in this expedition, as they were away guarding various positions.

The army crossed the river, captured Hezhou on the way and soon arrived at Wancheng. The prefect, after sending an urgent message to Hefei for help, set himself to strengthen the fortifications against a siege. Sun Quan went very near the city to observe its defense, and a flight of arrows greeted him, hitting his great umbrella. He went back to camp and asked his officers to propose plans to take the city.

One of them suggested sending the soldiers to pile up mounds of earth and attack from the summits, while another recommended setting up long ladders and constructing overhead bridges so that they could attack from above.

But Lu Meng was opposed to both plans. “Such plans need a long time to prepare, and in the meantime their supporters will have come from Hefei. Then it will be hard to capture the city. Now our men have only just arrived and we can take advantage of their high morale to launch a relentless attack. Their fresh fighting spirit will do the work. Tomorrow let us attack at dawn, and the city should fall by noon.”

Sun Quan agreed. So the next morning breakfast was taken at the fifth watch and then the whole army advanced to the city wall. The defenders sent down showers of arrows and stones but were not able to discourage their enemy from the attack. Gan Ning, an iron chain in hand, climbed up the wall at the risk of his life. The prefect ordered his men to shoot at him but he pushed aside the arrows and bolts and, with his iron chain, knocked the prefect down. Lu Meng himself beat the drum for the attack. The soldiers made a rush forward to ascend the wall, and slew the prefect. His officers and soldiers gave in, and so the city fell to Sun Quan. It was still a long time to noon.

In the meantime, Zhang Liao was bringing his army to aid the prefect. Halfway through the journey he heard that the city had fallen, and so he returned to Hefei.

Soon after the conqueror’s entry into Wancheng, Ling Tong arrived with his army. Then banquets were prepared to celebrate the victory and entertain the army. Special rewards were given to Lu Meng, Gan Ning and others who had rendered splendid services at the battle. Lu Meng extolled the prowess of his comrade Gan Ning and yielded him the seat of honor.

But as the cup of felicitation was passing around, Ling Tong’s thoughts turned to the enmity he bore Gan Ning for having slain his father, and the praises which Lu Meng now heaped upon his enemy filled Ling Tong’s heart with bitterness. For some time he glared savagely at Gan Ning, and then, drawing an attendant’s sword, he suddenly rose to his feet and cried, “There is nothing to amuse the assembly. I’ll present a sword play.”

Gan Ning quickly saw his real intention. He pushed aside his table and laid hold of a halberd in each hand, crying, “See how I’m adept in the use of this weapon.”

Lu Meng saw the evil meaning of both, and taking his sword and shield he hastily stepped between the two warriors, shouting, “Neither of you gentlemen is so dexterous as I am.”

Thus he kept the two combatants apart. At the same time the fight was reported to Sun Quan, who hastily jumped into the saddle and rode to the banquet hall. At the sight of their lord, all three immediately put down their weapons.

“I have bidden you two to forget this old grudge,” said Sun Quan. “Why do you bring it up again today?”

Ling Tong bowed to the ground, crying bitterly. After much persuasion from Sun Quan, he finally calmed down.

The next day the army set out for Hefei.

Meanwhile, Zhang Liao was grieving over the loss of Wancheng, when Cao Cao sent a small casket sealed by his own hand with the words, If rebels come, open this, written on the outside.

So when he received the news of the coming of a powerful army, Zhang Liao opened the casket and read the letter inside, which said: “If Sun Quan comes to attack Hefei, Zhang Liao and Li Dian are to go out to oppose him and Yue Jin is to guard the city.”

Zhang Liao showed the letter to his two colleagues.

“What do you think of this?” asked Yue Jin.

Zhang Liao replied, “As our lord is away, Sun Quan thinks that he can certainly overcome us. We must first go out and exert ourselves to the utmost to repel his men so as to dampen their fighting spirit and allay the fears of the populace. Then we’ll hold the city as best as we can.”

But Li Dian was silent, for he was not on friendly terms with Zhang Liao. Seeing this, Yue Jin said, “I think we’d better be on the defensive, since we are greatly outnumbered by our enemy.”

“Gentlemen, it seems you’re only thinking about yourselves and not about the common good,” said Zhang Liao. “I will go out to repel the enemy even if I have to fight to the death.”

Then he told his servants to saddle his steed. At this Li Dian’s higher feelings were aroused, and he rose, saying, “How can I be careless of the common good and indulge in my personal feelings? I’m ready to follow you and do as you command.”

Zhang Liao, elated at winning his support, said, “If so, I’ll ask you to lie in ambush to the north of Xiaoyao Ford. Destroy the bridge there as soon as the army of Wu has crossed. Then Yue Jin and I will smite them.”

Li Dian went away to muster his men and prepare the ambush.

Now the army of Wu was pressing toward Hefei, the advance guard being led by the veterans Lu Meng and Gan Ning, the central force by Sun Quan and Ling Tong, and the other officers following in the rear. The leaders of the van soon ran into Yue Jin, and Gan Ning rode out to engage him. After a few bouts Yue Jin pretended to be defeated and fled. Gan Ning called his colleague to join him in the pursuit.