Chapter 36: Xuende Captures Fancheng by Strategy; Yuan Zhi Rides to Recommend Zhuge Liang
CHAPTER 36: XUANDE USES A STRATAGEM TO CAPTURE FANCHENG; YUANZHI RIDES TO RECOMMEND ZHUGE
Cao Ren, enraged, mobilized his own troops in full force and crossed the river by night, intent on razing Xinye to the ground.
Meanwhile, Shan Fu returned victorious to the county town and said to Xuande, “Cao Ren is stationed at Fancheng. Now that he knows two of his generals have been killed, he will surely bring a large army to attack.” Xuande asked, “What strategy should we use to meet him?” Shan Fu replied, “If he brings all his troops here, Fancheng will inevitably be left undefended, and we can seize the opportunity to attack it.” Xuande inquired about the plan. Shan Fu leaned close and whispered the details. Xuande was delighted and made preparations in advance. Suddenly a scout reported, “Cao Ren is crossing the river with a large army.” Shan Fu said, “Just as I expected.” He then asked Xuande to lead the troops out to meet the enemy.
The two armies drew up in battle formation. Zhao Yun rode out and challenged the opposing general to a duel. Cao Ren ordered Li Dian to engage Zhao Yun. After about a dozen exchanges, Li Dian realized he could not prevail, turned his horse, and retreated back to his lines. Zhao Yun gave chase, but the enemy archers on both flanks shot arrows to hold him off, and both sides withdrew to their camps.
Li Dian returned to see Cao Ren and said, “Their troops are elite and should not be taken lightly. It would be better to return to Fancheng.” Cao Ren angrily replied, “Before you even went into battle, you were undermining our army’s morale. Now you retreat in the field—your crime deserves death!” He ordered the executioners to drag Li Dian out and behead him. The other generals pleaded hard for mercy, and Li Dian was spared the death penalty. Cao Ren then assigned Li Dian to command the rear guard, while he himself led the vanguard. The next day, they beat the drums and advanced, forming a battle array. Cao Ren sent a man to ask Xuande, “Do you recognize my formation?”
Shan Fu climbed to a high vantage point, surveyed it, and said to Xuande, “This is the ‘Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation.’ The eight gates are: Rest, Life, Injury, Terror, Scenery, Death, Surprise, and Opening. Entering through the Life, Scenery, or Opening gates brings good fortune; entering through the Injury, Surprise, or Rest gates brings harm; entering through the Terror or Death gates brings destruction. Although the eight gates are arranged neatly, the center lacks a commander. If we attack from the Life gate in the southeast corner and break out through the Scenery gate due west, the formation will fall into chaos.”
Xuande issued orders, instructing his troops to hold their positions, and commanded Zhao Yun to lead five hundred soldiers to enter from the southeast and cut straight westward. Zhao Yun obeyed, raised his spear, spurred his horse, and led his men charging into the southeast corner with war cries, breaking into the enemy’s central camp. Cao Ren fled northward. Zhao Yun did not pursue but broke out through the west gate, then wheeled back to the southeast corner. Cao Ren’s army fell into great disorder. Xuande directed his forces to press the attack, and Cao’s troops were routed. Shan Fu ordered no pursuit and withdrew the army back to the city.
After losing the battle, Cao Ren finally believed Li Dian’s words. He summoned Li Dian to discuss the situation, saying, “There must be a capable man among Liu Bei’s ranks. My formation was broken by him.” Li Dian replied, “Though I am here, I am deeply worried about Fancheng.” Cao Ren said, “Tonight we will raid their camp. If we win, we can make further plans; if not, we will retreat to Fancheng.” Li Dian objected, “That won’t do. Liu Bei is sure to be prepared.” Cao Ren retorted, “If you are so full of doubts, how can we wage war?” He ignored Li Dian’s advice, took command of the vanguard himself, and ordered Li Dian to support the rear. At the second watch that night, they set out to raid the camp.
Meanwhile, Shan Fu was discussing matters with Xuande in the camp when a sudden strong wind arose. Shan Fu said, “Tonight Cao Ren will surely come to raid our camp.” Xuande asked, “How shall we counter him?” Shan Fu smiled and said, “I have already calculated it.” He then secretly deployed the troops. At the second watch, as Cao Ren’s forces neared the camp, they saw flames erupt from all sides, igniting the camp palisades. Cao Ren realized they had been anticipated and hastily ordered a retreat. Zhao Yun attacked from the rear. Unable to regroup and return to the camp, Cao Ren fled north toward the river. As he approached the riverbank, looking for boats to cross, an army from the shore fell upon him, led by Zhang Fei. Cao Ren fought desperately, and Li Dian protected him as they boarded a boat to cross. Many of Cao’s troops drowned in the river.
After crossing, Cao Ren reached the shore and fled to Fancheng. He called for the gate to be opened. Suddenly a drumroll sounded from the city wall, and a general led his troops out, shouting, “I have already taken Fancheng long ago!” The astonished men looked up and saw it was Guan Yunchang. Cao Ren, greatly alarmed, turned his horse and fled. Yunchang pursued and killed many more of Cao’s soldiers. Cao Ren fled through the night toward Xuchang. Along the way, he learned that Shan Fu was the strategist who had devised the plans.
Leaving aside Cao Ren’s defeat and return to Xuchang, we return to Xuande, who had won a great victory. He led his troops into Fancheng, where the county magistrate Liu Mi came out to welcome him. Xuande settled the people. Liu Mi was a native of Changsha and also a member of the Han imperial clan. He invited Xuande to his home and hosted a banquet in his honor. Xuande noticed a man standing by his side, who had an imposing bearing, and asked Liu Mi, “Who is this?” Liu Mi replied, “He is my nephew Kou Feng, originally of the Hou Kou clan. His parents died, so he lives here with me.” Xuande took a liking to him and wished to adopt him as a son. Liu Mi gladly agreed, and Kou Feng was made to bow to Xuande as his father, changing his name to Liu Feng. Xuande brought him back and had him pay respects to Yunchang and Yide as uncles. Yunchang said, “Brother, since you already have a son, why adopt another? It will surely cause trouble later.” Xuande replied, “I will treat him as my own son, and he will surely serve me as a father. How could trouble arise?” Yunchang was displeased. Xuande discussed with Shan Fu and ordered Zhao Yun to lead a thousand troops to guard Fancheng. Xuande then returned to Xinye with the rest of his men.
Cao Ren and Li Dian went back to Xudu to see Cao Cao. They knelt and wept, confessing their fault and detailing the loss of generals and soldiers. Cao Cao said, “Victory and defeat are common in war. But I wonder who is devising strategies for Liu Bei?” Cao Ren replied that it was Shan Fu’s plans. Cao Cao asked, “Who is Shan Fu?” Cheng Yu laughed and said, “This is not Shan Fu. This man in his youth loved studying swordsmanship. In the later years of the Zhongping era, he avenged someone by killing a man, then blackened his face and fled with disheveled hair. He was captured by officials. When asked his name, he refused to answer. The officials bound him to a cart, beat drums, and paraded him through the streets for people to identify him. Though some recognized him, they dared not speak. His companions secretly rescued him. He then changed his name, fled, and devoted himself wholeheartedly to study, visiting famous teachers. He once discussed matters with Sima Hui. This man is Xu Shu of Yingchuan, styled Yuanzhi. Shan Fu is merely a borrowed name.” Cao Cao said, “How does Xu Shu’s ability compare to yours?” Cheng Yu replied, “He is ten times better than I.” Cao Cao said, “What a pity that such a worthy man has joined Liu Bei! His wings have grown. What can be done?” Cheng Yu said, “Though Xu Shu is with him, if you wish to employ him, summoning him here is not difficult.” Cao Cao asked, “How can he be made to come?” Cheng Yu said, “Xu Shu is extremely filial. His father died when he was young, and only his aged mother remains. Now his younger brother Xu Kang has also died, leaving his mother without support. You can send someone to trick his mother into coming to Xuchang, have her write a letter summoning her son, and Xu Shu will surely come.”
Cao Cao was overjoyed and sent men that very night to fetch Xu Shu’s mother. Within a day, she arrived. Cao Cao treated her generously and said, “I have heard that your son, Yuanzhi, is a man of genius. He is now in Xinye, aiding the traitor Liu Bei against the court—like a fine gem fallen into the mud, truly regrettable. I beg you, old mother, to write a letter summoning him back to Xudu. I will recommend him before the Son of Heaven, and he will receive rich rewards.”
He then ordered his attendants to bring out the writing materials and asked Mother Xu to write the letter. Mother Xu said, “What kind of man is Liu Bei?” Cao Cao replied, “A petty fellow from Pei Commandery, who falsely claims to be an imperial uncle. He has no trustworthiness or honor—an outward gentleman but an inward villain.” Mother Xu sternly said, “How can you deceive so blatantly! I have long heard that Xuande is a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan, a great-great-grandson of Emperor Jing of the Xiaojing reign. He humbles himself and treats the worthy with respect, is courteous and kind, and his reputation for benevolence is well known. Even children, the elderly, shepherds, and woodcutters know his name. He is truly a hero of our time. My son serving him has found a true master. You, though you pretend to be the Han chancellor, are in fact a traitor to the Han. Yet you call Xuande a rebel and want to make my son turn from light to darkness—are you not ashamed of yourself?”
Having said this, she picked up the inkstone and struck at Cao Cao. Cao Cao, enraged, ordered his guards to drag Lady Xu out and behead her. Cheng Yu quickly stopped him, went inside, and advised Cao Cao, saying: “Lady Xu’s offense against the Chancellor is a deliberate act to seek death. If the Chancellor kills her, you will incur a reputation for injustice while fulfilling Lady Xu’s virtuous intent. Once Lady Xu is dead, Xu Shu will surely devote himself wholeheartedly to helping Liu Bei avenge her. It would be better to keep her alive, so that Xu Shu’s heart and body are divided; even if he helps Liu Bei, he will not do so with full effort. Moreover, with Lady Xu here, I have a plan to lure Xu Shu here to assist the Chancellor.”
Cao Cao deemed this reasonable, so he did not kill Lady Xu but sent her to another room to be cared for. Cheng Yu visited her daily, claiming that he had once sworn brotherhood with Xu Shu, treating Lady Xu as his own mother; he often sent gifts and always wrote letters in person. Lady Xu then wrote back in her own hand to thank him. Cheng Yu obtained her handwriting, imitated her script, and forged a family letter. He dispatched a trusted agent to take the letter straight to Xinye County, seeking Dan Fu’s camp. The soldiers led him to see Xu Shu. Knowing that a letter from his mother had arrived, Xu Shu quickly summoned the man in and questioned him. The man said: “I am a courier from the post station, sent by your honored mother’s orders, and have a letter for you.” Xu Shu opened the letter and read it. It said:
“Recently, your younger brother Xu Kang has passed away, leaving me with no relatives. Just as I was in grief and desolation, unexpectedly Cao Cao’s men tricked me into coming to Xuchang, saying you had betrayed him, and imprisoned me. Thanks to Cheng Yu and others, I was saved from death. If you can come and surrender, it will spare my life. When this letter arrives, remember the hardship of my raising you, come immediately through the night to fulfill your filial duty; then gradually plan to return to our homeland for farming, avoiding great calamity. My life now hangs by a thread, I await your rescue! No more words.”
Xu Shu finished reading, tears streaming like a spring. Holding the letter, he went to see Liu Bei and said: “I am originally from Yingchuan, Xu Shu, styled Yuanzhi; because I was fleeing from trouble, I changed my name to Dan Fu. Earlier, I heard that Liu Jingsheng was recruiting virtuous men, so I went to see him. But after discussing matters with him, I realized he was a useless man; I wrote a farewell letter and left that night, going to the estate of Sima Shuijing, where I told him of this. Shuijing deeply rebuked me for not recognizing an enlightened lord, and said: ‘Liu Yuzhou is here; why not serve him?’ I deliberately sang wildly in the streets to move you. Thanks to your not despising me, you immediately gave me great responsibility. But now my aged mother has been tricked by Cao Cao’s cunning plan to Xuchang and imprisoned, about to be harmed. My mother has sent a letter summoning me, and I must go. It is not that I am unwilling to exert the utmost effort to repay you; it is just that my loving mother is imprisoned, and I cannot give my all. Now I must take my leave, hoping we may meet again in the future.”
Hearing this, Liu Bei wept loudly and said: “Mother and son are bound by natural kinship; Yuanzhi need not worry about me. After you have reunited with your mother, perhaps you may still grant me your guidance again.” Xu Shu then bowed in thanks and prepared to leave. Liu Bei said: “Please stay one more night; tomorrow I will see you off with a farewell feast.” Sun Qian quietly said to Liu Bei: “Yuanzhi is a genius of the world, long stationed at Xinye, fully aware of our army’s strengths and weaknesses. Now if he goes over to Cao Cao, Cao Cao will surely employ him heavily, and we will be in danger. My lord should earnestly detain him, and by no means let him go. If Cao Cao sees that Yuanzhi does not come, he will surely kill his mother. Knowing his mother is dead, Yuanzhi will avenge her and attack Cao Cao with full force.” Liu Bei said: “No. To have another man kill his mother while I use her son is inhumane; to keep him and not let him go, severing the bond between mother and son, is unjust. I would rather die than do such inhumane and unjust deeds.” Everyone sighed in admiration. Liu Bei invited Xu Shu to drink, but Xu Shu said: “Now that I hear my mother is imprisoned, even golden waves and jade dew cannot go down my throat.” Liu Bei said: “I hear that you are leaving, and it feels like losing my right hand; even dragon liver and phoenix marrow would have no taste for me.”
The two wept facing each other, sitting until dawn. The generals had already arranged a farewell feast outside the city. Liu Bei and Xu Shu rode side by side out of the city, reached the pavilion, dismounted, and bid farewell. Liu Bei raised his wine cup and said to Xu Shu: “My fortune is shallow and my fate thin; I cannot keep you with me, sir. I hope you will serve your new lord well and achieve fame.” Xu Shu wept and said: “My talent is shallow and my learning crude; I have been deeply honored by your great trust. Now, unfortunately, we part halfway, truly because of my mother’s sake. Even if Cao Cao forces me, I will never devise a single strategy for him.” Liu Bei said: “Since you are leaving, I too will soon withdraw into the mountains and forests.” Xu Shu said: “What enabled me to plan with you for the cause of kingly enterprise was this heart alone. Now, because of my mother, my heart is in turmoil; even if I stay, it will be of no use. You should seek another worthy sage to assist you in your great endeavor; why be so disheartened?” Liu Bei said: “Among the worthy sages of the world, none surpass you.” Xu Shu said: “I am but a worthless piece of rotten wood; how dare I bear such high praise?” At parting, he turned again to the generals and said: “I hope you all will serve our lord well, to leave your names on bamboo and silk, and your deeds in the annals of history; do not end up like me, with a beginning but no end.” All the generals were deeply moved. Liu Bei could not bear to part; he saw him off for one stage, then another. Xu Shu declined, saying: “Do not trouble yourself, my lord, to send me further; I will take my leave here.” Liu Bei, on horseback, grasped Xu Shu’s hand and said: “After this departure, sir, we will be separated by the width of heaven; when will we meet again?” As he spoke, tears fell like rain. Xu Shu also wept as he bade farewell.
Liu Bei reined in his horse at the edge of the woods and watched as Xu Shu and his attendants departed swiftly. Liu Bei wept and said: “Yuanzhi is gone! What will I do?” He stared through his tears, but a grove of trees blocked his view. Liu Bei pointed with his whip and said: “I want to cut down all these trees.” The others asked why. Liu Bei said: “Because they block my view of Xu Yuanzhi.”
Just as he was gazing into the distance, he suddenly saw Xu Shu turn his horse and ride back. Liu Bei said: “Yuanzhi has returned; could it be that he has changed his mind about leaving?” Delighted, he spurred his horse forward to meet him and asked: “Sir, your return—surely there is some plan?” Xu Shu reined in his horse and said to Liu Bei: “Because my mind was in a turmoil, I forgot one thing. There is a remarkable man here, just twenty li outside Xiangyang City at Longzhong. Why do you not go and seek him?” Liu Bei said: “May I trouble Yuanzhi to go and invite him to come and meet me?” Xu Shu said: “This man cannot be summoned to you; you must go and visit him in person. If you obtain this man, it will be no different from the Zhou dynasty obtaining Lü Wang, or the Han dynasty obtaining Zhang Liang.” Liu Bei said: “How does this man compare to you in talent and virtue?” Xu Shu said: “Comparing me to him is like a worn-out horse to a unicorn, or a cold crow to a phoenix. This man often compares himself to Guan Zhong and Yue Yi; in my view, Guan Zhong and Yue Yi are probably not his equal. This man has the talent to order heaven and earth; truly he is the foremost man under heaven.”
Xuande said happily, "I hope to learn this person’s name." Xu Shu replied, "This man is from Yangdu in Langya. His surname is Zhuge, given name Liang, style name Kongming. He is a descendant of Zhuge Feng, the Colonel Director of the Retinue under the Han dynasty. His father was named Zhuge Gui, style name Zigong, who served as a deputy magistrate of Taishan Commandery and died young. Zhuge Liang followed his uncle Zhuge Xuan. Zhuge Xuan was acquainted with Liu Jingsheng of Jingzhou, so he went to seek refuge with him and settled in Xiangyang. Later, Zhuge Xuan passed away, and Zhuge Liang, along with his younger brother Zhuge Jun, farmed the land himself in Nanyang. He delights in chanting the ‘Liangfu Song.’ Near his dwelling is a hill called Wolong Ridge, and thus he styles himself Master Wolong. This man is a peerless genius of the age. You should hasten to visit him in person, humbling yourself. If this man is willing to assist you, why worry that the realm will not be pacified?"
Xuande said, "Previously, Mr. Shuijing said to me: ‘If one can obtain either of the two, the Crouching Dragon or the Young Phoenix, the realm can be settled.’ Could he have been referring to the Crouching Dragon and the Young Phoenix?" Xu Shu said, "The Young Phoenix is Pang Tong of Xiangyang. The Crouching Dragon is none other than Zhuge Kongming." Xuande said excitedly, "Today I finally understand the words about the Crouching Dragon and the Young Phoenix. Who would have thought that the great worthy was right before my eyes? If not for you, sir, I would have been blind though I had eyes!"
A later poet composed a verse in praise of Xu Shu recommending Zhuge Liang while riding his horse:
How I grieve that the high worthy will meet no more,
At the parting we wept, our feelings deep and strong.
A single word, like spring thunder’s roar,
Could rouse the Crouching Dragon in Nanyang along.
Xu Shu, having recommended Kongming, took his leave of Xuande again and spurred his horse away. After hearing Xu Shu’s words, Xuande understood what Sima Dezao had said, as if waking from a drunken stupor or emerging from a dream. He led his generals back to Xinye, prepared generous gifts, and went with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to Nanyang to invite Kongming.
Now, after Xu Shu parted from Xuande, he was moved by Xuande’s lingering affection for him and feared that Kongming might refuse to come forth and assist him. So he rode directly to the foot of Wolong Ridge, entered the thatched cottage, and went to see Kongming. Kongming asked him why he had come. Xu Shu said, "I originally wished to serve Liu Yuzhou, but unfortunately my aged mother was imprisoned by Cao Cao, and a swift letter summoned me away, so I had to leave him. Before departing, I recommended you to Xuande. He will come to visit you today. I hope you will not refuse but immediately display your lifelong talents to aid him—that would be excellent."
Upon hearing this, Kongming’s expression changed, and he said, "Do you take me for a sacrificial offering?" With that, he shook his sleeves and went inside. Xu Shu withdrew in shame, mounted his horse, and journeyed on to Xu Chang to see his mother. Truly:
A word for a friend, born of love for his lord;
A journey of a thousand li, for longing for his kin.
If you do not know what happened next, read on for the explanation in the following chapter.