The Three Kingdoms Volume 2 (80 page)

This only increased Cao Cao’s hatred of him.

Cao Cao’s third son, Zhi, admired Yang Xiu for his talent and often invited him to his place, where they would talk the whole night.

Later Cao Cao considered appointing Zhi as his heir. When his eldest son Cao Pi learned about this, he secretly requested Wu Zhi to come and discuss this matter. Then fearing that someone might see his visitor, he had a large basket made, in which the advisor was smuggled into his residence. He gave out that the basket contained rolls of silk. Yang Xiu heard about this and informed Cao Cao, who sent men to watch at his son’s gates. Cao Pi, in alarm, consulted Wu Zhi, who told him not to be afraid but to fill a basket with real silk the next day and have it brought in as before. Cao Pi did as he was told. When the searchers peeped into the basket they found inside only rolls of silk. They reported this to Cao Cao, who began to suspect Yang Xiu of plotting against his son. This also added to his hatred.

Another time Cao Cao, wishing to compare the abilities of his two sons Pi and Zhi, told them both to go out of the city, at the same time ordering the gate warden to forbid their exit. Cao Pi got to the gate first, was stopped by the wardens and returned. But his brother Zhi consulted Yang Xiu, who said, “You have the prince’s order to go out. If anyone dares to prevent you, simply cut him down!”

So when Cao Zhi went to the gate and was stopped, he shouted to the warden, “I have the prince’s order to go out—how dare you stop me?”

He slew the man who tried to stop him. Cao Cao, hearing of this incident, thought his younger son the more able. But when someone told him that the idea came from Yang Xiu, he was angry and took a dislike to his son Zhi.

Yang Xiu had also helped Zhi prepare replies to likely questions from his father, which the young man learned by heart and quoted when necessary. Every time Cao Cao asked him about his opinion on state matters, Zhi always had a fluent reply prepared. His father was not without suspicions, which were turned into certainties when the eldest son Pi gave his father the written replies that he had obtained from his brother’s house by bribing his servants. Cao Cao was quite angry.

“How dare he throw dust in my eyes like this?” said Cao Cao. He was determined to kill the talented Yang Xiu.

Therefore it was only a subterfuge to send him to execution on the charge of destroying the morale of the soldiers. Yang Xiu was but thirty-four when he met his end.

Talented was Yang Xiu,

Born of an illustrious stock,
His pen traced wonderful characters,
His breast nurtured beautiful words.
When he talked, his hearers were amazed,
In a repartee his quick wit excelled.

He died because of misdirected genius
And not because he foretold retreat.

After executing his much-hated rival, Cao Cao pretended anger against Xiahou Dun and threatened to kill him as well, but later listened to those who begged him to show mercy.

The next day he issued an order to advance. The army moved out of the valley and came face to face with the men of Shu, led by Wei Yan. He summoned Wei Yan to surrender, but received abuse and scorn in return.

Pang De went out to fight Wei Yan, but while the combat was in progress fire broke out in Cao Cao’s camp and soldiers rushed over to say that the rear and center camps had been seized by Ma Chao. Fearing lest this should lead to a rout, he drew his sword and stood before the army, crying out, “Death for any officer who flinches!”

Therefore they pressed forward valiantly, and Wei Yan, feigning defeat, retreated. Thinking he had driven back this force, Cao Cao gave the signal for his men to turn toward the camp and fight with Ma Chao. He took up his station on the top of a hill, from where he could survey the field.

Suddenly a force appeared just below him, and the leader cried, “Wei Yan is here!” No sooner had he finished speaking than he fitted an arrow to his bow, then shot and wounded Cao Cao just above his lip. He fell from his horse. Wei Yan threw aside his bow, seized his sword, and came charging up the hill to slay Cao Cao. But just at that moment Pang De intervened from the side with a loud yell.

“Do not harm my lord!” he cried.

He rushed up and drove Wei Yan back. Then he escorted Cao Cao away. By that time Ma Chao had also retreated, and the wounded prince returned to his own camp.

Cao Cao had been hit full in the face, and the arrow knocked out two of his front teeth. When being treated by his physician he lay thinking over Yang Xiu’s words. In a repentant mood, he had the remains of the dead official decently interred.

Then he gave the order to retreat back to the capital. Pang De was appointed commander of the rear force. Cao Cao set out homeward in a padded carriage, escorted by his Tiger Guard.

Before they had gone far there was another alarm, warning of fire and ambush. The soldiers were all fear-stricken.

‘Twas something like the danger once at Tong Pass met,
Or like the fight at Red Cliff which Cao could ne’er forget.

How Cao Cao fared will be told in the next chapter.

*
Wei Qing (?– 106
B.C.
), a reknowned general in West Han, who repeatedly defeated the Huns, thus securing the northern borders of the Hans.

*
Huo Qubing (140–17
B.C.
), a contemporary of Wei Qing, who also defended Han’s northern borders against the Huns.

CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE

Liu Bei Becomes Prince of Hanzhong

Guan Yu Attacks and Occupies Xiangyang

T
he
fire on two sides turned out to have been started by Ma Chao and his men, who were pursuing the retreating army. When Cao Cao withdrew to Ye Valley, Zhuge Liang anticipated that he would abandon Hanzhong, so he sent out Ma Chao and others in more than a dozen parties to hasten his retreat through incessant harassment. For this reason, Cao Cao, who was suffering from his wound, was compelled to keep moving. It was a dejected army fleeing for its life. Every man in the Cao army was dispirited, and none had any courage left. Day and night, they retreated as swiftly as they could, without even halting to rest. It was only after reaching Jingzhao that they felt secure again.

Then Liu Bei sent Liu Feng, Meng Da, and Wang Ping to take the remaining towns and cities in the region. The officials, knowing that Cao Cao had withdrawn, offered their submission. After peace had been restored among the people, Liu Bei rewarded his army generously, and all were joyful.

It was after this victory that the general body of Liu Bei’s officers began to think that their lord should assume the title of “Emperor,” but they dared not tell him so. However, they sent up a petition to Zhuge Liang, who replied that he had already decided on this course. Then with Fa Zheng and others he went in to see Liu Bei.

Zhuge Liang said, “Now that Cao Cao really holds the reins of authority the people are without a true ruler. My lord, your kindness and sense of justice have spread throughout the empire. You have restored peace over this vast region of the west. It is now imperative that you become Emperor so as to satisfy both Heaven’s will and the desire of the people. Then by right and title you could destroy the arch rebel. This matter should not be delayed and we pray you to choose the auspicious day.”

But Liu Bei evinced great surprise and replied, “You are wrong, sir. Although I am of the imperial house, yet I am but a servant of the throne—and to do this would be rebellion against the Han house.”

“No, my lord,” Zhuge Liang replied. “Today, the empire is torn apart and many of the bolder spirits have risen and claimed the rule of various parts. The talented and the valiant, who have risked their lives in serving their lords, all desire to have the opportunity of serving an Emperor, and by doing so making their own names. Now, if you insist on modestly maintaining your righteous way I fear that you will lose popular support. My lord, I beg you to reflect upon this.”

“But you desire me to assume a place of the greatest honor, and I dare not. Let us give this matter more careful discussion.”

But with one voice his officers said, “If you reject this the hearts of your men will turn from you.”

At this Zhuge Liang interceded: “My lord, you have always made rectitude your motto. If you really object to the title of Emperor, I think you can temporarily take the title of Prince of Hanzhong, since you have already obtained Jingzhou and the west regions.”

“Gentlemen, though you may desire to honor me by the title of a prince, yet, without an edict from the Emperor, such an act would be usurpation.”

Zhuge Liang said, “The time demands recognition of the actual state of affairs, and not a rigid adherence to all the rules of propriety.”

Here Zhang Fei interrupted, roaring, “People with all sorts of family names want to call themselves rulers—how much more ought you, brother, who are of the imperial house? There’s nothing wrong for you to be Emperor, let alone Prince of Hanzhong!”

“Say no more,” scolded Liu Bei, roughly.

“My lord,” said Zhuge Liang, “it is fitting to adapt one’s conduct to circumstances. First take the princedom and then there is still time to petition for the throne.”

As there seemed to be no alternative, Liu Bei complied. In the seventh month of the twenty-fourth year of the period Jian An (
A.D.
219), an enormous altar was set up at Mianyang, with appropriate flags and symbols set along five sides. All the officials assembled there in order of their ranks. And at the request of the two ministers, Xu Jing and Fa Zheng, Liu Bei ascended the altar and received the headdress and seal of a prince. Then he took his seat, facing the south as a ruler should, and received the salutes and felicitations of all his subordinates as Prince of Hanzhong.

And his son Liu Chan (A Dou) was nominated as heir-apparent. Xu Jing and Fa Zheng were given very high positions. Zhuge Liang was reappointed Chief Counselor of the Forces, with the additional power of control over important issues of the state and the army. Liu Bei’s two brothers, along with Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, and Huang Zhong, were named the Five Tiger Generals. Wei Yan was made Governor of Hanzhong, and all the others were given ranks according to the services they had rendered.

As soon as the investiture was completed, Liu Bei composed a memorial and sent it to the capital. This is the document:

I, Lui Bei, have but ordinary talents, yet I was created a general of high rank and commanded a great army. Though I received a commission to purge the empire of rebels and so bring tranquillity to Your Majesty’s house and restore the dynasty, I was unable to cleanse it. Too long have I delayed to spread Your Majesty’s sacred governance. The world is evil and troubled. As I sorrowfully ponder over it again and again in my mind I am distressed as one in severe pain.

Rebellion began with Dong Zhuo, since when all kinds of evils have sprung up; cruelty and ferocity have become rife. Thanks to Your Majesty’s sacred virtue and inspiring presence, some of these evil doers have been eliminated by Your Majesty’s loyal servants, who allied each other in a just cause to destroy the rebels, while others were smitten by heavenly power. As the fierce and the unruly have been exterminated, rebellion has gradually died down.

Only Cao Cao now remains, too long unpunished. He has claimed for himself the authority of the state, thus revealing his true intention of wicked rebellion. Once I, with General Dong Cheng, planned to destroy him, but the secret was discovered and the general suffered death. Without my allies I was a wanderer and my loyalty availed nothing. As virtuous efforts failed, Cao Cao became all the more vicious in his evil doing, ultimately committing the heinous crime of slaying Her Majesty the Empress and poisoning her two sons. Although I rallied together people who shared my faith, hoping to destroy him with all our energy, yet we were too weak to overcome him. Therefore the years passed and little was accomplished. Amid perpetual risk of being destroyed by my enemy I often feared that I might fail to repay Your Majesty’s kindness to me. Waking and sleeping I sighed, and my nights were times of anguish.

Now my subordinates, quoting the ancient writing of the
Book of Yu
,
*
have pointed out to me our ancestors’ emphasis on elevating the nine branches of their own clan members. They think that hereditary succession of rulers is a fundamental principle. The House of Ji, who ruled the two dynasties of the empire of Zhou (West Zhou and East Zhou) and extensively set up their own clan, relied heavily on the support of the two lords, Jing and Zheng. When the great Founder of Han came to power, he ennobled his own family. Later, to wipe out the widespread influence of Empress Lu’s family, the Hans mobilized all their members to re-establish the authority of the ruling house.

Now Cao Cao, an enemy of all rectitude, is assisted by many followers, and his treachery is manifest. Since the members of the imperial clan are few and weak, my subordinates, after reflecting upon the ancient models, suggested an expedient policy of elevating me, your humble servant, to Grand Minister of War and Prince of Hanzhong.

I have given this matter very serious consideration: I have received great kindness from Your Majesty and accepted the responsibility for a portion of the state, but I have not rendered any substantial service. My rewards have already exceeded my merits and I am in no position to receive even higher ranks to increase the burden of reproach on myself. But, I have been compelled by my subordinates, who have appealed to me in the name of justice. Should I refuse, the wicked will not be destroyed and the danger to the state will not be removed. The temple of Your Majesty’s ancestors is in danger and the imperial prerogatives are failing. And my heart is eaten up with worry. If by this temporary expedient, peace for the dynasty could be maintained, I should not refuse at any cost. Therefore I have ventured to succumb to the request of my subordinates and accepted the seal of office for the glory of the state.

Humbly I think of the exalted position and favor such a title granted me, and I would endeavor to show true gratitude. Like one on the brink of a cliff my anxiety is deep, for the responsibility is heavy. I must surely exert myself to the utmost, encouraging my armies and leading all committed to integrity, in accordance with the will of Heaven and the demand of the times, to smite rebellion so as to restore the dynasty. I hereby bow to present this memorial to Your Majesty.