Chapter 61: Zhao Yun Intercepts the River and Takes Back A Dou; Sun Quan Sends a Letter to Repulse Old Cao
Then Pang Tong and Fa Zheng urged Liu Bei to kill Liu Zhang during the banquet, so that Western Sichuan could be easily taken. Liu Bei said, “I have only just entered the Shu region; my favor and trust have not yet been established. This matter absolutely cannot be done.” They pleaded repeatedly, but Liu Bei simply would not listen. The next day, he again feasted with Liu Zhang in the city, and they spoke at length of their innermost feelings, their affection very close. When the wine had reached half intoxication, Pang Tong and Fa Zheng consulted together, saying, “Matters have reached this point; it is no longer up to our lord.” They then instructed Wei Yan to ascend the hall and perform a sword dance, using the opportunity to kill Liu Zhang. Wei Yan therefore drew his sword and stepped forward, saying, “There is no entertainment at the feast; I wish to dance with my sword to add to the pleasure.” Pang Tong then ordered the armed attendants to enter and arrange themselves below the hall, waiting only for Wei Yan to act. When Liu Zhang’s generals saw Wei Yan dancing with his sword before the banquet, and also saw the soldiers below the steps with their hands on their sword hilts, staring fixedly at those on the hall, Zhang Ren, a marshal, also drew his sword and began to dance, saying, “A sword dance must have an opponent. I am willing to dance together with General Wei.”
The two men danced facing each other before the banquet. Wei Yan signaled with his eyes to Liu Feng, who also drew his sword and joined the dance. Then Liu Gui, Leng Bao, and Deng Xian each drew their swords and said, “We should all dance together, to win a laugh.” Liu Bei was greatly alarmed. He quickly seized the sword from the side of one of his attendants, stood up in the banquet, and said, “We brothers meet in joyful drinking, with no suspicion between us. This is not the Feast at Hongmen—why should there be a sword dance? Anyone who does not throw down his sword shall be beheaded immediately!” Liu Zhang also shouted in rebuke, “When brothers gather, why carry weapons?” He ordered the attendants to remove all swords. The crowd all hurried down from the hall. Liu Bei called the various officers up to the dais, gave them wine as a reward, and said, “We brothers are of the same clan, flesh and bone, and we consult together on great affairs. There is no second intention. You must not be suspicious.” The generals all bowed and thanked him. Liu Zhang grasped Liu Bei’s hand and said, weeping, “My elder brother’s kindness—I swear I dare not forget it!” The two men drank joyfully until evening before parting. Liu Bei returned to his camp and rebuked Pang Tong, saying, “Why do you seek to trap me in unrighteousness? From now on, you must never again do such a thing.” Pang Tong sighed and withdrew.
Now when Liu Zhang returned to his camp, Liu Gui and others said, “Did our lord see what happened at today’s banquet? It would be better to return early, to avoid future trouble.” Liu Zhang said, “My elder brother Liu Xuande is not comparable to others.” The generals said, “Although Xuande has no such intention, his subordinates all wish to swallow up Western Sichuan, to seek wealth and rank.” Liu Zhang said, “You must not sow discord between us brothers.” So he would not listen, and every day he drank and conversed happily with Liu Bei.
Suddenly a report came that Zhang Lu was marshaling his troops and would soon attack Jiameng Pass. Liu Zhang then invited Liu Bei to go and oppose him. Liu Bei agreed generously, and that very day led his own troops toward Jiameng Pass. The generals urged Liu Zhang to order his great commanders to guard the various strategic points strictly, to guard against any change among Liu Bei’s troops. At first Liu Zhang did not listen, but later, because everyone pressed him earnestly, he ordered the two White River commanders Yang Huai and Gao Pei to guard the Fushui Pass. Liu Zhang himself returned to Chengdu. When Liu Bei reached Jiameng Pass, he strictly restrained his soldiers, widely bestowed favors, and so won the hearts of the people.
Soon a scout reported this to Eastern Wu. Marquis Wu, Sun Quan, assembled his civil and military officers to discuss it. Gu Yong stepped forward and said, “Liu Bei has divided his troops and traveled far over dangerous mountains; it will not be easy for him to return. Why not send an army to first cut off the mouth of the river, cutting off his return road, and then raise all the forces of Eastern Wu and, in one effort, take Jingzhou and Xiangyang? This is an opportunity that must not be missed.” Sun Quan said, “This plan is excellent!”
While they were deliberating, suddenly a person from behind the screen came out shouting loudly, “The one who proposed this plan should be killed! Do you want to harm my daughter’s life?” The crowd looked in surprise—it was Lady Wu, the National Mother. Lady Wu said angrily, “In all my life I have only one daughter, and she was married to Liu Bei. Now if you move troops, what will become of my daughter’s life?” She then rebuked Sun Quan, saying, “You hold the foundation laid by your father and elder brother, and you sit ruling over eighty-one provinces, yet you are still not content. You care only for petty gain and do not think of the ties of blood and bone!” Sun Quan repeatedly assented, and replied, “How dare I disobey my mother’s teachings?” So he dismissed the officers. Lady Wu withdrew in anger. Sun Quan stood under the corridor, thinking to himself: “If this opportunity is lost, when will Jingzhou and Xiangyang ever be obtained?”
While he was thus pondering, he saw Zhang Zhao enter and ask, “What is my lord worrying and hesitating about?” Sun Quan said, “I am just thinking about the matter just now.” Zhang Zhao said, “This is very easy. Now send a trusted general, with only five hundred soldiers, to secretly enter Jingzhou and deliver a secret letter to the Commandery Princess, saying only that the National Mother is dangerously ill and wishes to see her own daughter. Let the Commandery Princess return to Eastern Wu overnight. Liu Bei has only one son in his life; order her to bring him along. At that time, Liu Bei will surely offer Jingzhou in exchange for A Dou. If he does not do so, then we may move troops as we please—what harm is there?” Sun Quan said, “This plan is excellent! I have a man, named Zhou Shan, who has the greatest courage; since childhood he has entered houses and passed through doors, and often followed my elder brother. Now he can be sent.” Zhang Zhao said, “Be sure not to let it leak out. Send him off at once.”
So they secretly dispatched Zhou Shan, with five hundred men dressed as merchants, in five separate boats. They also forged a letter from the National Mother, to be ready for inspection. Weapons were hidden within the boats. Zhou Shan accepted his orders and came by the river route from Jingzhou. The boats moored at the riverbank, and Zhou Shan himself entered Jingzhou, ordering the gatekeeper to report to Lady Sun. The lady ordered Zhou Shan to enter, and he presented the secret letter. When the lady saw that it said the National Mother was dangerously ill, she wept and asked about it. Zhou Shan bowed and reported, “The National Mother is very ill; day and night she only thinks of you, Lady. If you delay in going, I fear you may not be able to see her. She also orders you to bring A Dou to meet her once.” The lady said, “The Imperial Uncle has led his troops far away. Now I wish to return, but I must inform the Military Advisor before I can go.” Zhou Shan said, “If the Military Advisor replies, ‘You must report to the Imperial Uncle, and wait until his orders come back before you can board the boat’—what then?” The lady said, “If I leave without taking leave, I fear there will be obstacles.” Zhou Shan said, “On the great river, boats are already prepared. Now, please, Lady, mount your carriage and leave the city.” When Lady Sun heard that her mother was dangerously ill, how could she not be alarmed? So she took her seven-year-old child A Dou, placed him in the carriage, and brought along more than thirty attendants, all on horseback with swords and crossbows, and left Jingzhou city. They then went to the riverbank and boarded the boat. When those in the city tried to report the matter, Lady Sun had already reached Shatou Town and gone down into the boat.
Zhou Shan was about to set sail when suddenly they heard someone on the bank shouting loudly, “Do not cast off yet! Let me offer the Lady a farewell drink!” They looked—it was Zhao Yun. It turned out that Zhao Yun had just returned from a patrol and heard this news. Greatly alarmed, he took only four or five horsemen and came rushing like the wind along the riverbank. Zhou Shan, holding a long halberd, roared, “Who are you, that dare to stop the Lord’s wife?” He ordered the soldiers to cast off all at once, and to bring out their weapons and arrange them on the boats. With a favorable wind and a swift current, all the boats went downstream. Zhao Yun pursued along the riverbank, shouting, “Let the Lady go! I have only one thing to say.”
Zhou Shan paid no attention and urged the boats to speed onward. Zhao Yun chased along the river for over ten li, when suddenly he saw a fishing boat moored slantwise on the bank. Zhao Yun dismounted, took his spear, and leaped into the fishing boat. Only two men rowed the boat forward, pursuing the large boat in which the lady sat. Zhou Shan ordered the soldiers to shoot arrows. Zhao Yun knocked them aside with his spear, and all the arrows fell into the water. When he was about ten feet from the large boat, the Wu soldiers thrust at him with their spears. Zhao Yun dropped his spear into the small boat, drew the Azure Blade sword he wore at his side, and, parting the spear thrusts, leaped with a bound onto the large boat. The Wu soldiers all fell down in fright.
Zhao Yun entered the cabin and saw Lady Sun holding Adou in her arms. She scolded Zhao Yun, saying, “Why are you so insolent!” Zhao Yun sheathed his sword and bowed, saying, “Where is the Lady going? Why did you not inform the Military Advisor?” The Lady said, “My mother is critically ill; there was no time to report.” Zhao Yun said, “The Lady is visiting a sick relative—why take the young master along?” The Lady said, “Adou is my son. If I leave him in Jingzhou, there will be no one to look after him.” Zhao Yun said, “The Lady is mistaken. Our lord has only this one child in his lifetime. I, a minor general, rescued him from a million troops at Dangyang Changban Slope. Today the Lady wants to carry him off—what is the meaning of this?” The Lady said angrily, “You are nothing but a tent-bound warrior; how dare you meddle in my household affairs!” Zhao Yun said, “If the Lady insists on going, then go, but leave the young master behind.” The Lady scolded, “You forced your way into the boat halfway—surely you harbor rebellious intent!” Zhao Yun said, “If I do not leave the young master here, even if I die ten thousand deaths, I dare not let the Lady depart.”
The Lady ordered her maids to seize Zhao Yun, but he pushed them down, snatched Adou from her bosom, and carried him out onto the prow of the boat. He wanted to make for the shore, but had no help; he wanted to use violence, but feared it would be improper, and so he could neither advance nor retreat. The Lady ordered the maids to snatch Adou back, but Zhao Yun held Adou fast with one arm and brandished his sword with the other, so no one dared approach. Zhou Shan at the stern grasped the rudder and let the boat drift downstream. With a favorable wind and swift current, the boat headed for midstream. Zhao Yun was alone and helpless; he could only protect Adou—how could he move the boat to shore?
Just as the crisis was at its height, suddenly a line of over ten boats emerged from the harbor downstream, flags waving and drums beating. Zhao Yun thought to himself, “This time I have fallen into Wu’s trap!” The foremost boat carried a great general wielding a long spear, who shouted loudly, “Sister-in-law, leave my nephew behind!” It was Zhang Fei, who, while on patrol, had heard the news and rushed to Youjiang Estuary, where he happened upon the Wu boats and blocked their way.
Zhang Fei immediately drew his sword and leaped onto the Wu boat. Zhou Shan, seeing Zhang Fei board, raised his blade to meet him, but Zhang Fei struck him down with a single sword stroke, cut off his head, and threw it before Lady Sun. The Lady was greatly startled and said, “Why is my brother-in-law so insolent?” Zhang Fei said, “My sister-in-law has no regard for my elder brother and leaves home without permission—that is the real insolence!” The Lady said, “My mother is gravely ill and in dire urgency. If I waited for your brother to return, he would surely delay my affairs. If you will not let me go back, I would rather throw myself into the river and die!”
Zhang Fei consulted with Zhao Yun: “If we press the Lady to death, it would not be the way of a subject. It is enough that we protect Adou and take him to our boat.” So he said to the Lady, “My elder brother is a Han imperial uncle, and he does not dishonor you, sister-in-law. Today we part—if you remember his kindness and righteousness, return early.” Having said this, he took Adou in his arms and returned with Zhao Yun to their own boat, letting Lady Sun’s five boats depart. Later, someone composed a poem praising Zilong:
“In days past he saved his lord at Dangyang,
Today he flies across the great river.
The Wu soldiers on the boats all lost their courage,
Zilong’s valor is unmatched in the world!”
Another poem praised Yide:
“At Changban Bridge his rage filled the sky,
A single tiger’s roar routed Cao’s army.
Today on the river he aids his endangered lord,
The green history shall pass his fame down ten thousand years.”
The two men returned to their boat delighted. They had not gone far when Kongming arrived with a large fleet to meet them. Seeing that Adou had been recovered, he was overjoyed. The three rode side by side on horseback. Kongming himself wrote a dispatch and sent it to Jiameng Pass to inform Liu Bei.
Meanwhile, Lady Sun returned to Wu and recounted in detail how Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun had killed Zhou Shan, intercepted the river, and seized Adou. Sun Quan was enraged and said, “Now that my sister has come back, I have no more ties with him. And shall the vengeance for Zhou Shan’s death go unavenged?” He summoned his civil and military officials to discuss raising an army to attack Jingzhou. Just as they were deliberating troop movements, a report arrived that Cao Cao had raised four hundred thousand troops to avenge his defeat at Red Cliffs. Sun Quan was greatly alarmed and set aside the matter of Jingzhou for the moment to plan resistance against Cao Cao. Someone reported that Chief Clerk Zhang Hong had resigned due to illness and returned home, and had now died of that illness, leaving a testamentary letter. Sun Quan opened it and read that the letter urged him to move the capital to Moling, saying that Moling’s mountains and rivers bore the aura of an emperor and that he should relocate there as soon as possible to establish a foundation for ten thousand generations.
Sun Quan, after reading the letter, said tearfully to his officials, “Zhang Zigang urged me to move to Moling—how could I not comply?” He immediately ordered the administrative seat moved to Jianye and had Stone City built. Lü Meng submitted a proposal: “Since Cao Cao’s army is coming, we should build a fort at the mouth of the Ruxu River to resist him.” All the generals said, “When we land to attack the enemy, we can board our ships barefoot—why build a fort?” Lü Meng said, “Weapons can be sharp or blunt, and battles are never certain victories. If we suddenly encounter the enemy and foot soldiers and cavalry press us, before men can get into the water, how can they board the ships?” Sun Quan said, “‘If a man has no far-reaching plans, he will surely have near-at-hand worries.’ Ziming’s insight is very profound.” He then dispatched several tens of thousands of troops to build the Ruxu Fort. They worked day and night and completed it on schedule.
Meanwhile, Cao Cao in Xuchang saw his prestige and fortune grow greater day by day. Chief Clerk Dong Zhao said to him, “Since ancient times, no minister has achieved merits like those of the Chancellor. Even the Duke of Zhou and Lü Wang are not his equals. For over thirty years, through wind and rain, he has swept away all the evil bands, rid the people of harm, and preserved the Han house—how can he be ranked among ordinary ministers? He should accept the title of Duke of Wei and be granted the Nine Bestowals to manifest his virtue.” Do you know what the Nine Bestowals are?
First, chariots and horses;
Second, robes and garments;
Third, musical instruments;
Fourth, vermilion gates;
Fifth, the privilege of ascending steps;
Sixth, tiger-bodied guards;
Seventh, axes and halberds;
Eighth, bows and arrows;
Ninth, sacrificial wine and jade ladles.
Attendant Secretary Xun Yu said, “No. The Chancellor originally raised a righteous army to support the Han house. He should uphold a loyal and steadfast will and maintain a humble and yielding character. The gentleman uses virtue to love others—he should not act thus.” When Cao Cao heard this, his face changed color in anger. Dong Zhao said, “How can one man block the hopes of the multitude?” Thereupon they presented a memorial requesting that Cao Cao be honored as Duke of Wei and granted the Nine Bestowals. Xun Yu sighed and said, “I never thought I would live to see such a day!”
When Cao Cao heard this, he hated Xun Yu deeply, considering that he did not support him. In the winter of the seventeenth year of Jian’an, Cao Cao raised an army to march south of the Yangtze and ordered Xun Yu to accompany him. Xun Yu already knew that Cao Cao intended to kill him and pleaded illness, remaining in Shouchun. Suddenly Cao Cao sent a man with a box of food. On the box was Cao Cao’s personal seal. When Xun Yu opened it, there was nothing inside. He understood the meaning and took poison, dying at the age of fifty. Later, someone composed a poem lamenting him:
“Wenruo’s talent was famed throughout the land,
Alas, he stumbled at the powerful one’s gate.
Later men carelessly compare him to Zhang Liang,
At death he had no face to see the Han sovereign.”
His son Xun Yun sent news of the death to Cao Cao. Cao Cao was filled with regret and ordered a lavish burial, posthumously granting him the title of Marquis Jing.
Now, Cao Cao’s great army reached Ruxu. He first sent Cao Hong with thirty thousand armored cavalry to scout the riverbank. They reported back: “From afar, we see countless flags all along the riverbank—we do not know where the troops are massed.” Cao Cao, uneasy, led his troops forward and deployed his battle array at the mouth of Ruxu. Leading a hundred men up a hillside, he gazed into the distance and saw the warboats, each squadron arrayed in order, flags of five colors, and bright weapons. Under the blue silk canopy on the largest boat sat Sun Quan, with civil and military officials standing in attendance on either side. Cao Cao pointed with his horsewhip and said, “A son should be like Sun Zhongmou! As for Liu Jingsheng’s son—he is nothing but a pig or a dog!”
Suddenly there was a great clamor, and from the south a fleet of boats came speeding over. From within the Ruxu Stockade another army burst forth, charging into Cao’s troops. Cao’s army fell back, and despite all attempts to stop them, they fled. Then several hundred cavalry arrived at the foot of the hills, led by a man on horseback with green eyes and a purple beard. The troops recognized him as Sun Quan. Sun Quan himself was leading a body of cavalry to attack Cao Cao. Greatly alarmed, Cao Cao hastily turned his horse, but at that moment the two Eastern Wu generals, Han Dang and Zhou Tai, rode straight up to him. Behind Cao Cao, Xu Chu urged his horse forward, brandishing his sword, and engaged the two generals, allowing Cao Cao to escape back to his camp. Xu Chu fought them for thirty bouts before returning. Back in his camp, Cao Cao richly rewarded Xu Chu and berated his other officers: “To retreat before the enemy, blunting my sharpness! If this happens again, you shall all be beheaded!”
That night, at the third watch, suddenly a great shouting arose outside the camp. Cao Cao hastily mounted his horse and saw fires blazing on all sides; the Wu troops had raided his camp. The fighting lasted until dawn, and Cao’s army retreated over fifty li before pitching camp again. Cao Cao was deeply troubled and idly studied his books on military strategy. Cheng Yu said, “Since you, O Minister, understand the art of war, do you not know that ‘speed is the soul of warfare’? Your rising in arms has been delayed too long, giving Sun Quan time to prepare. He has built a stockade at the mouth of the Ruxu River, which is difficult to attack. It would be better to retreat for the time being back to Xuchang and devise another plan.”
Cao Cao made no reply. Cheng Yu left. Cao Cao lay down on his table to sleep, when suddenly he heard the roaring of the tide, like the thunder of ten thousand horses. He looked up hastily and saw a red sun rising out of the great river, its rays dazzling; then, gazing at the sky, he saw two suns facing each other. Suddenly the red sun in the river soared up and fell into the hills before the camp with a noise like thunder. Startled awake, he realized it had been a dream in his tent. The guards before the tent reported it was noon. Cao Cao ordered his horse saddled and, leading a few dozen cavalry, galloped straight out of the camp. He reached the hills where the sun had fallen in his dream, and as he gazed, suddenly a troop of horsemen appeared, led by a man in a golden helmet and golden armor. Cao Cao looked at him and recognized Sun Quan.
Sun Quan, seeing Cao Cao approach, showed no alarm but reined in his horse on the hill. Pointing with his whip, he said, “You, O Minister, sit in power in the Central Plains, enjoying the utmost wealth and honor. Why are you insatiably greedy, coming to encroach on my lands south of the river?” Cao Cao replied, “You are a subject who does not respect the royal house. I bear the emperor’s decree and have come especially to punish you!” Sun Quan laughed and said, “Are these words not shameful? Does not all the world know that you hold the emperor hostage and issue orders to the lords? It is not that I do not respect the House of Han; rather, it is to punish you that I seek to correct the state!”
Cao Cao, enraged, ordered his generals to go up the hill and seize Sun Quan. Suddenly a drum roll sounded, and two bodies of troops emerged from behind the hills: on the right, Han Dang and Zhou Tai; on the left, Chen Wu and Pan Zhang. These four generals led three thousand crossbowmen, who shot arrows like rain. Cao Cao hastily led his officers and fled back. The four generals pursued hotly. Halfway, Xu Chu, leading his Tiger Guard troops, held them off and rescued Cao Cao. The Wu troops sang songs of victory and returned to Ruxu.
Back in his camp, Cao Cao pondered to himself: “Sun Quan is no ordinary man. The omen of the red sun will surely make him an emperor in time.” With this, he conceived the idea of retreating. But he feared being mocked by Eastern Wu, so he remained undecided. The two sides faced each other for another month, fighting several battles with mixed results. By the first month of the new year, spring rains fell incessantly, filling the waterways and streams. The soldiers were mostly mired in mud and water, suffering extreme hardship. Cao Cao was deeply worried. One day, while in his camp discussing matters with his advisers, some urged him to withdraw his troops; others said that in the warmth of spring it was a good time to hold their ground and that retreat was unwise. Cao Cao remained hesitant. Suddenly, word came that an envoy from Eastern Wu had arrived with a letter. Cao Cao opened and read it. The letter said: “I and you, O Minister, are both ministers of the Han dynasty. You do not think of repaying the state or bringing peace to the people; instead, you rashly take up arms, harming living creatures. Is this the act of a benevolent man? Now that the spring waters have just risen, you should depart quickly. If not, you will suffer another disaster like that at Red Cliffs. Consider this well.”
On the back of the letter were two additional lines: “If you do not die, I shall have no peace.” After reading it, Cao Cao laughed heartily and said, “Sun Zhongmou has not deceived me.” He richly rewarded the envoy and then issued orders to withdraw the army, appointing Zhu Guang, the Prefect of Lujiang, to guard the city of Wan, while he himself led the main force back to Xuchang. Sun Quan also withdrew his troops and returned to Moling. Sun Quan then deliberated with his generals: “Though Cao Cao has returned north, Liu Bei has not yet come back from Jiameng Pass. Why not lead the army that resisted Cao Cao to attack Jingzhou?” Zhang Zhao offered a plan: “Do not send out troops for now. I have a stratagem that will ensure Liu Bei never returns to Jingzhou.” Indeed:
Cao Cao’s mighty host had just withdrawn to the north; Sun Quan’s bold ambition now turned southward.
Cao Cao’s mighty host had just withdrawn to the north; Sun Quan’s bold ambition now turned southward.
If you want to know what plan Zhang Zhao proposed, read the next chapter.