Chapter 75: Guan Yun Chang Scrapes the Bone to Heal the Poison; Lü Ziming Crosses the River in White

Chapter 75: Guan Yu Scrapes the Bone to Heal the Poison; Lü Meng Crosses the River in White Robes

As Cao Ren saw Guan Yu fall from his horse, he immediately led his troops charging out of the city. Guan Ping drove them back with a single assault, rescued Guan Yu back to camp, and pulled the arrow from his arm. It turned out the arrowhead had been tipped with poison, which had already penetrated to the bone. His right arm was swollen and livid, unable to move. Guan Ping hurriedly consulted with the other generals, saying, "If Father loses the use of this arm, how can he take the field against the enemy? It would be better to temporarily withdraw to Jingzhou for treatment." So they went together into the tent to see Guan Yu. Guan Yu asked, "What business have you all here?" The men replied, "We have seen that your lordship’s right arm is injured, and we fear that in the heat of battle, if you grow angry, it will be inconvenient for you to charge and fight. We have discussed it and think it best to temporarily return to Jingzhou for treatment." Guan Yu said angrily, "I am on the verge of taking Fancheng. Once I capture Fancheng, I should press forward with a great advance, drive straight into Xuchang, wipe out that treacherous Cao, and stabilize the Han dynasty. How can I let a minor wound delay such a great enterprise? Do you dare to shake the morale of my army?" Guan Ping and the others withdrew in silence.

Seeing that Guan Yu refused to retreat and that his wound was not healing, the generals had to search everywhere for a famous physician. Suddenly one day, a man came from Jiangdong in a small boat, right up to the camp. A minor officer led him to see Guan Ping. Guan Ping observed the man: he wore a square cap and loose robes, with a green bag slung over his arm. He gave his name as Hua Tuo, style name Yuanhua, a native of Qiao Commandery in Pei State. "Because I heard that General Guan is a hero under heaven, and that he has been struck by a poisoned arrow, I have come specially to treat him," he said. Guan Ping asked, "Are you not the one who previously treated Zhou Tai of Eastern Wu?" Hua Tuo replied, "That is correct." Guan Ping was overjoyed, and together with the other generals, he led Hua Tuo into the tent to see Guan Yu. At that time, Guan Yu was suffering from arm pain but, fearing it would shake the army’s morale, had no diversion and was playing chess with Ma Liang. Hearing that a physician had arrived, he summoned him in. After the formalities were completed, he offered him a seat. After tea, Hua Tuo asked to see the arm. Guan Yu took off his robe and extended his arm for Hua Tuo to examine. Hua Tuo said, "This is a wound from a crossbow bolt, tainted with aconite poison, which has penetrated straight to the bone. If not treated soon, the arm will be useless." Guan Yu asked, "What treatment do you propose?" Hua Tuo said, "I have a method, but I fear your lordship might be afraid." Guan Yu laughed and said, "I regard death as a return home; what is there to fear?" Hua Tuo said, "We should set up a post in a quiet place with a large ring nailed into it. I would ask your lordship to put your arm through the ring, tie it with rope, and then cover your head with a blanket. I will use a sharp knife to cut open the flesh down to the bone, scrape away the poison from the bone, apply medicine, and stitch the wound closed. Only then will it be safe. But I fear your lordship may be frightened." Guan Yu laughed and said, "Something so simple—why use a post and ring?" He ordered a feast to be prepared.

Guan Yu drank a few cups of wine, while continuing to play chess with Ma Liang, and extended his arm for Hua Tuo to operate. Hua Tuo took the sharp knife in hand and ordered a minor officer to place a large basin beneath the arm to catch the blood. Hua Tuo said, "I will begin now; do not be alarmed, my lord." Guan Yu said, "Do as you will. Do you think I am like some common man of the world who fears pain?" Hua Tuo then cut open the flesh with his knife, right down to the bone. The bone had already turned green. Hua Tuo scraped the bone with the knife, making a grating sound. All those present in the tent, both above and below, covered their faces, their complexions changing. Guan Yu ate and drank, talked and laughed, and played chess, showing no sign of pain. Soon the basin was full of blood. Hua Tuo scraped away all the poison, applied medicine, and stitched the wound closed. Guan Yu stood up with a great laugh and said to the generals, "This arm moves freely now, and there is no more pain. Sir, you are truly a divine physician!" Hua Tuo said, "In all my years of practicing medicine, I have never seen such a thing. Your lordship is truly a god among men!" Later generations composed a poem:

To cure illness, one must distinguish internal and external medicine;

Rare are the subtle arts in this world.

Only General Guan can match such divine might;

Only Hua Tuo’s sacred hands can heal.

Guan Yu’s arrow wound healed completely after this, and he set up a feast to thank Hua Tuo. Hua Tuo said, "Your lordship’s arrow wound is cured, but you must take care. Do not let anger provoke it. After a hundred days, it will be as before." Guan Yu rewarded him with a hundred taels of gold. Hua Tuo said, "I heard of your lordship’s high righteousness and came specially to treat you. Did I do it for a reward?" He firmly declined and refused to accept, leaving behind a packet of medicine for dressing the wound, then took his leave and departed.

Now, after Guan Yu had captured Yu Jin and beheaded Pang De, his fame and might shook the realm, alarming all within China. A scout reported this to Xuchang. Cao Cao was greatly startled and assembled his civil and military officials to discuss the matter. "I have long known that Yun Chang’s wisdom and courage surpass the world," he said. "Now that he occupies Jing and Xiang, it is like adding wings to a tiger. Yu Jin is captured, Pang De is beheaded, and the spirit of our Wei troops is blunted. If he leads his army straight to Xuchang, what then? I am thinking of moving the capital to avoid him." Sima Yi admonished, "That cannot be. Yu Jin and the others were overwhelmed by water, not defeated in battle. This does no harm to the great plan of the state. Now Sun and Liu are at odds; with Yun Chang’s success, Sun Quan will certainly be displeased. Your Majesty may send an envoy to Eastern Wu to explain the advantages and disadvantages, letting Sun Quan secretly raise troops to follow behind Yun Chang. Promise that, when the matter is accomplished, you will cede the lands south of the Yangzi to enfeoff Sun Quan. Then the crisis at Fancheng will naturally be resolved." Chief Clerk Jiang Ji said, "Zhongda’s words are correct. Send an envoy to Eastern Wu immediately; there is no need to move the capital and alarm the people." Cao Cao agreed and thus did not move the capital. He then sighed and said to the generals, "Yu Jin has followed me for thirty years; how could I have thought that, in the face of danger, he would prove inferior to Pang De? Now, while we send a messenger with a letter to Eastern Wu, we must also dispatch a great general to blunt Yun Chang’s edge." Before he finished speaking, a general stepped forward from below the steps and said, "I am willing to go." Cao Cao looked and saw it was Xu Huang. Cao Cao was greatly pleased and immediately mobilized fifty thousand elite troops, appointing Xu Huang as commander and Lü Jian as his deputy. They would set out on an auspicious day and camp at Yangling Slope, waiting for reinforcements from the southeast before advancing.

Now Sun Quan received Cao Cao’s letter. After reading it, he gladly agreed, wrote a reply, and sent the messenger back first. Then he assembled his civil and military officials to discuss. Zhang Zhao said, "Recently I heard that Yun Chang has captured Yu Jin and beheaded Pang De, shaking the whole realm with his might. Cao Cao wanted to move the capital to avoid his edge. Now Fancheng is in danger, and he sends an envoy to ask for help. Once the matter is settled, I fear there may be a change of heart." Before Sun Quan could speak, a report suddenly arrived that Lü Meng had come from Lukou in a small boat, with important business to discuss in person. Sun Quan summoned him in and asked him. Lü Meng said, "Now Yun Chang is leading troops to besiege Fancheng. We can take advantage of his absence to launch a surprise attack and seize Jingzhou." Sun Quan said, "I am thinking of taking Xuzhou to the north. What do you think?" Lü Meng replied, "Now Cao Cao is far away north of the Yellow River, with no time to attend to the east. The garrison at Xuzhou is small; if we attack, we can certainly take it. But the terrain there favors land battles, not water battles. Even if we gain it, it will be hard to hold. It would be better to take Jingzhou first, completely occupy the Yangzi River, and then make other plans." Sun Quan said, "I originally intended to take Jingzhou. My earlier words were only to test you. You must plan for me quickly. I will raise troops shortly after." Lü Meng took leave of Sun Quan and returned to Lukou. Scouts had already reported that along both banks of the Yangzi, every twenty or thirty li, on high ground, there were beacon towers. He also heard that the Jingzhou troops were well-disciplined and had prepared defenses in advance. Lü Meng was greatly alarmed and said, "If this is so, it will be difficult to achieve our plan in a hurry. I rashly urged the Marquis of Wu to take Jingzhou, but now what can be done?" He pondered but found no plan, so he pretended to be ill and did not leave his tent, sending a man to report back to Sun Quan. When Sun Quan heard that Lü Meng was ill, he was very displeased. Lu Xun spoke up and said, "Lü Ziming’s illness is feigned, not real." Sun Quan said, "Since Boyan knows it is feigned, go and see him."

Lu Xun accepted the order and that night arrived at the camp at Lukou to see Lü Meng, and indeed there was no sign of illness on his face. Lu Xun said, "I have come by order of the Marquis of Wu to respectfully inquire about Ziming's esteemed ailment." Lü Meng replied, "My humble body has fallen ill by chance; why trouble yourself to inquire?" Lu Xun said, "The Marquis of Wu has entrusted you with a heavy responsibility. If you do not act when the time is right, why brood in vain?" Lü Meng looked at Lu Xun and remained silent for a long time. Lu Xun continued, "I have a small remedy that could cure the General's illness. I wonder if it is acceptable to use it?" Lü Meng then dismissed his attendants and asked, "Boya's excellent prescription—please favor me with it quickly." Lu Xun smiled and said, "Ziming's illness is nothing more than the fact that the troops in Jingzhou are well-ordered and there are beacon towers along the river for defense. I have a plan that will prevent the guards along the river from lighting the fires and cause the soldiers of Jingzhou to surrender with hands tied. Would that be acceptable?" Lü Meng was overjoyed and thanked him, saying, "Boya's words have seen into my very heart and lungs. I am eager to hear your excellent plan." Lu Xun said, "Yunchang relies on his own heroism and considers himself invincible. The only one he is wary of is you, General. Take advantage of this opportunity to feign illness and resign your post, yielding the command at Lukou to another. Let that person use humble words to praise Lord Guan, making him arrogant. He will then surely withdraw all his troops from Jingzhou and head to Fancheng. If Jingzhou is left unguarded, use a single army to launch a surprise attack by another stratagem, and Jingzhou will be within your grasp." Lü Meng was greatly pleased and said, "Truly an excellent plan!"

Thus Lü Meng pretended to be ill and unable to rise, submitting his resignation in writing. Lu Xun returned to see Sun Quan and explained the plan in detail. Sun Quan then recalled Lü Meng to Jianye to recuperate. After Lü Meng arrived, he entered the palace to pay respects to Sun Quan. Sun Quan asked, "The post at Lukou was previously recommended by Zhou Gongjin (Zhou Yu) as a replacement for himself by Lu Zijing (Lu Su); later, Zijing recommended you to replace him. Now you must also recommend someone of high talent and reputation to take your place." Lü Meng said, "If one employs a person of great reputation, Guan Yu will certainly be on his guard. Lu Xun has profound foresight, but he has no great reputation yet and is not someone Guan Yu fears. If you use him to replace me, success is certain." Sun Quan was very pleased and that very day appointed Lu Xun as Lieutenant General and Right Commander-in-Chief, to replace Lü Meng in guarding Lukou. Lu Xun declined, saying, "I am young and lacking in learning; I fear I am unequal to such a great responsibility." Sun Quan said, "Ziming (Lü Meng) has recommended you, and there will surely be no mistake. Do not decline." Lu Xun then accepted the seal and credentials and hurried to Lukou that night. After taking over the cavalry, infantry, and naval forces, he wrote a letter and prepared gifts of fine horses, superior brocade, fine wine, and other items, sending an envoy with them to Fancheng to see Lord Guan.

At this time, Lord Guan was nursing his arrow wound and had halted his troops. Suddenly someone reported, "The commander at Lukou in Jiangdong, Lü Meng, is critically ill. Sun Quan has recalled him for treatment and recently appointed Lu Xun as general to replace Lü Meng in guarding Lukou. Now Lu Xun has sent an envoy with a letter and gifts, specially coming to pay respects." Lord Guan summoned the envoy, pointed at him, and said, "Sun Quan is shortsighted to use this stripling as a general!" The envoy knelt on the ground and reported, "General Lu Xun presents this letter and has prepared gifts, first to congratulate the Marquis, and second to seek harmony between our two sides. He hopes you will kindly accept them." Lord Guan opened the letter and read it; the words were extremely humble and cautious. After reading, Lord Guan looked up and laughed heartily, ordered his men to accept the gifts, and sent the envoy away. The envoy returned to see Lu Xun and said, "Lord Guan was very pleased and no longer has any concern about Jiangdong."

Lu Xun was overjoyed and secretly sent men to investigate. They found that Guan Yu had indeed withdrawn most of his troops from Jingzhou to Fancheng, awaiting orders, and was only waiting for his arrow wound to heal before advancing. Having learned the details, Lu Xun immediately sent a man to report to Sun Quan that night. Sun Quan summoned Lü Meng and discussed, saying, "Now Guan Yu has indeed withdrawn his troops from Jingzhou to attack Fancheng. We can devise a plan to seize Jingzhou by surprise. Would it be appropriate for you and my younger brother Sun Jiao to lead the main army together?" Sun Jiao, styled Shuming, was the second son of Sun Jing, Sun Quan's uncle. Lü Meng said, "If you, my lord, consider me, Lü Meng, fit for the task, then use me alone; if you consider Shuming fit, then use him alone. Have you not heard of how Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu served as Left and Right Commanders in the past? Although matters were decided by Zhou Yu, Cheng Pu, considering himself an old minister but ranking below Zhou Yu, was very dissatisfied. Only later, when he saw Zhou Yu's ability, did he respect him. Now my ability is inferior to Zhou Yu's, and Shuming's closeness to you, my lord, surpasses that of Cheng Pu. I fear that we may not cooperate well."

Sun Quan suddenly understood, and he appointed Lü Meng as Grand Commander, in overall command of all the forces of Jiangdong, and ordered Sun Jiao to handle the supply of provisions in the rear. Lü Meng bowed in thanks, mustered thirty thousand troops, over eighty fast boats, selected men skilled in swimming to disguise themselves as merchants, all dressed in white, rowing the oars on the boats, while hiding the elite troops in the holds of the large vessels. He then deployed seven generals—Han Dang, Jiang Qin, Zhu Ran, Pan Zhang, Zhou Tai, Xu Sheng, and Ding Feng—to advance in succession. The rest were to follow the Marquis of Wu (Sun Quan) as reserves. At the same time, he sent a letter to Cao Cao, urging him to attack Guan Yu's rear, and first sent word to Lu Xun. Then he dispatched the men in white, piloting the fast boats toward the Xunyang River. Traveling day and night, they reached the northern bank directly. When the guards at the beacon towers on the riverbank questioned them, the men of Wu replied, "We are all merchants; we were delayed by the wind on the river and have come here to take shelter." They then gave gifts of valuables to the soldiers guarding the towers. The soldiers believed them and allowed them to moor their boats by the riverbank.

Around the second watch, the elite troops from the holds of the large vessels emerged together, tied up the officers and soldiers at the beacon towers, and at a prearranged signal, the elite troops from over eighty boats all moved out, capturing the soldiers at the watchtowers in all key locations, bringing them onto the boats without letting a single one escape. Thus they advanced unopposed, heading straight for Jingzhou, without anyone noticing. When they neared Jingzhou, Lü Meng treated the captured officers and soldiers from the riverbank watchtowers with kind words, rewarded each generously, and ordered them to trick the city gates open, then set off a signal fire. The troops received their orders, and Lü Meng had them lead the way. By midnight, they arrived at the city walls and called for the gates to be opened. The gatekeepers recognized them as soldiers from Jingzhou and opened the gates. The troops shouted loudly and lit the signal fire inside the gate. The Wu troops entered together and seized Jingzhou by surprise. Lü Meng then issued orders to the army: "Anyone who kills a single person without cause or takes a single item from the people without reason shall be dealt with according to military law." The original officials were all kept in their posts. Guan Yu's family was placed in separate quarters, with orders that no one was to disturb them. At the same time, a man was sent to report to Sun Quan.

One day, heavy rain fell. Lü Meng mounted his horse and, accompanied by a few cavalrymen, inspected the four gates. Suddenly he saw a man taking a bamboo rain hat from a civilian to cover his armor. Lü Meng ordered his attendants to seize the man and interrogate him. It turned out to be a fellow townsman of Lü Meng. Lü Meng said, "Although you are my fellow townsman, my orders have already been issued. You deliberately violated them, and you must be dealt with according to military law." The man wept and pleaded, "I feared that the rain would soak the government-issued armor, so I took it to cover it. It was not for my own private use. I beg the General, in consideration of our hometown ties, to spare me." Lü Meng said, "I know full well that you took it to cover the government armor, but still, you should not have taken an item from the people." He ordered his attendants to take the man away and behead him. After the severed head was displayed as a warning, he then collected the corpse and buried it with tears. From then on, the entire army was awestruck and disciplined.

Within a day, Sun Quan arrived with his retinue. Lü Meng went out of the city to welcome him and escorted him into the government office. After Sun Quan had expressed his commendations, he appointed Pan Jun as Administrator, in charge of Jing Province affairs; he released Yu Jin from prison and sent him back to Cao Cao; he pacified the common people, rewarded the troops, and held a banquet to celebrate. Sun Quan said to Lü Meng: “Now that Jing Province is in our hands, but what about Gong’an, held by Fu Shiren, and Nan Commandery, held by Mi Fang? How shall we recover these two places?” Before he had finished speaking, a man suddenly stepped forward and said: “No need for bows and arrows. With my glib tongue, I can persuade Fu Shiren of Gong’an to surrender. Will that do?” Everyone looked and saw it was Yu Fan. Sun Quan said: “Zhongxiang (Yu Fan), what good plan do you have to make Fu Shiren submit?” Yu Fan replied: “I have been close friends with Fu Shiren since childhood. Now, if I reason with him about the advantages and disadvantages, he is sure to surrender.” Sun Quan was overjoyed and ordered Yu Fan to take five hundred troops and proceed directly to Gong’an.

Now, Fu Shiren, hearing that Jing Province had already fallen, hastily ordered the city gates closed and defenses strengthened. When Yu Fan arrived and saw the gates shut, he wrote a letter, tied it to an arrow, and shot it into the city. The soldiers picked it up and presented it to Fu Shiren. Fu Shiren opened the letter and read it—it was a summons to surrender. After reading it, he recalled how Guan Yu had resented him before leaving, and thought it better to surrender early. So he ordered the city gates thrown open and invited Yu Fan inside. After the two had exchanged greetings, they spoke of their old friendship. Yu Fan said that Lord Wu (Sun Quan) was magnanimous and treated worthy men with courtesy. Fu Shiren was delighted, and went with Yu Fan to Jing Province, bearing his seal and official ribbon, to surrender. Sun Quan was greatly pleased and ordered him to return and continue guarding Gong’an. Lü Meng secretly said to Sun Quan: “Now that Guan Yu has not yet been captured, if Fu Shiren is left in Gong’an, in time there will surely be trouble. Better to send him to Nan Commandery to persuade Mi Fang to surrender.” Sun Quan then summoned Fu Shiren and said to him: “You and Mi Fang are close friends. You can go and persuade him to submit, and I will surely reward you handsomely.” Fu Shiren bravely accepted the order, took a dozen cavalrymen, and headed straight for Nan Commandery to persuade Mi Fang to surrender. Truly:

Now Gong’an has no will to hold fast;

How true were Wang Fu’s words from the past!

We do not know what will happen on this mission; let us see in the next chapter.