Chapter 82: Sun Quan Submits to Wei and Receives Nine Bestowments; The First Lord Attacks Wu and Rewards His Armies

In the autumn of the first year of Zhangwu (221 AD), in the eighth month, the Former Lord (Liu Bei) led the main army to Kuiguan, establishing his imperial camp at Baidicheng. The vanguard forces had already reached the Sichuan estuary. A close attendant memorialized: "The envoy from Eastern Wu, Zhuge Jin, has arrived." The Former Lord issued an edict ordering that he not be permitted entry. Huang Quan memorialized: "Zhuge Jin's younger brother serves as Chancellor in Shu Han; he must have come on some matter. Why does Your Majesty refuse to see him? You should summon him and hear what he has to say. If it can be agreed to, agree; if not, use his words to send a message to Sun Quan, letting him know that our inquiry into his crimes is justified." The Former Lord heeded this advice and summoned Zhuge Jin into the city. Zhuge Jin knelt and prostrated himself on the ground. The Former Lord asked: "Ziyu (Zhuge Jin's style name), you have come from afar—what business brings you here?" Zhuge Jin said: "Your servant’s younger brother has long served Your Majesty, and thus I, not fearing execution, have come specifically to report on the matter of Jingzhou. Previously, when Lord Guan (Guan Yu) was in Jingzhou, the Marquis of Wu (Sun Quan) repeatedly sought a marriage alliance, but Lord Guan refused. Later, when Lord Guan attacked Xiangyang, Cao Cao repeatedly sent letters to the Marquis of Wu, urging him to assault Jingzhou; the Marquis of Wu was originally unwilling to comply, but because Lü Meng and Lord Guan were at odds, he acted on his own initiative and mistakenly brought about the great affair. Now the Marquis of Wu regrets it beyond measure. This was Lü Meng’s crime, not the Marquis of Wu’s fault. Now Lü Meng is dead, and the enmity has been settled. Lady Sun (Sun Quan’s sister, wife of Liu Bei) has long wished to return. Now the Marquis of Wu has sent me as an envoy, willing to return the Lady, bind and hand over the surrendered generals, and restore Jingzhou as before, forever forging an alliance of friendship, to jointly destroy Cao Pi and rectify his crime of usurpation and rebellion." The Former Lord said in great anger: "You Eastern Wu killed my younger brother, and today you still dare to use glib words to persuade me!" Zhuge Jin said: "Your servant begs to discuss matters of light and heavy, great and small, with Your Majesty. Your Majesty is the imperial uncle of the Han dynasty. Now the Han Emperor has been usurped by Cao Pi. Your Majesty does not think of eliminating him, but instead, for the sake of a relative by marriage who is not of the same surname (referring to Guan Yu), bends the dignity of the imperial carriage—this is to abandon the great and pursue the small. The Central Plains are the rightful domain of the realm, and the Two Capitals (Chang’an and Luoyang) are the foundations of the Great Han’s enterprise. Your Majesty does not seize them but contends only for Jingzhou—this is to discard the important and take the trivial. All under Heaven know that since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you must revive the Han house and restore the rivers and mountains. Now Your Majesty sets aside the state of Wei and attacks Eastern Wu instead; your servant privately believes this is not what Your Majesty should do." The Former Lord said in great anger: "The hatred for killing my younger brother is one that cannot be shared under the same sky! If you want me to cease hostilities, it will not happen until I die! Were it not for the Chancellor’s (Zhuge Liang’s) sake, I would first cut off your head! Today I will temporarily let you return. Tell Sun Quan to wash his neck and await death!" Seeing that the Former Lord would not listen, Zhuge Jin could only return south of the Yangtze.

Now Zhang Zhao, upon seeing Sun Quan, said: "Zhuge Ziyu knows that the Shu army is powerful, so he has used the pretext of requesting to be an envoy to betray Eastern Wu and defect to Shu Han. Once he goes, he will surely not return." Sun Quan said: "I have a covenant of life-and-death constancy with Ziyu. I do not fail Ziyu, and Ziyu will not fail me. Previously, when Ziyu was at Chaisang, Kongming (Zhuge Liang) came to Eastern Wu, and I wanted Ziyu to detain him. Ziyu said: ‘My younger brother already serves Xuande (Liu Bei); in righteousness, he cannot have two minds. Since my younger brother will not stay, it is just as I, Zhuge Jin, would not go there.’ His words could move the gods. How could he now be willing to surrender to Shu Han? Ziyu and I may be called friends in spirit, not to be estranged by the words of outsiders." As they were speaking, suddenly a report came that Zhuge Jin had returned. Sun Quan said: "What did I say?" Zhang Zhao withdrew in deep shame. Zhuge Jin met Sun Quan and told him of the Former Lord’s refusal to reconcile. Sun Quan was greatly alarmed and said: "If this is so, then the south of the Yangtze is in danger!" A man from below the steps stepped forward and said: "I have a plan to relieve this crisis." On looking, it was the Palace Medium Zhao Zi. Sun Quan said: "Dedu (Zhao Zi’s style name), what good strategy do you have?" Zhao Zi said: "My lord may write a memorial of submission. I am willing to serve as an envoy and go to see the Wei Emperor Cao Pi to explain the advantages and disadvantages, causing him to attack Hanzhong; then the Shu troops will naturally be in danger." Sun Quan said: "This plan is best. But on this mission of yours, do not lose the dignity of Eastern Wu." Zhao Zi said: "If there is the slightest error, I will throw myself into the river and die. How could I then have the face to see the people of the south of the Yangtze?" Sun Quan was greatly pleased, immediately wrote a memorial acknowledging himself as a subject, and sent Zhao Zi as the envoy. Traveling day and night, they reached Xuchang, first meeting the Grand Commandant Jia Xu and others, as well as officials of all ranks. The next day at the morning court, Jia Xu stepped out from the ranks and memorialized: "Eastern Wu has sent the Palace Medium Zhao Zi to present a memorial." Cao Pi laughed and said: "This is necessarily for the purpose of repelling the Shu troops." He immediately ordered him summoned. Zhao Zi knelt and prostrated himself on the red steps. After Cao Pi finished reading the memorial, he asked Zhao Zi: "What kind of lord is the Marquis of Wu?" Zhao Zi said: "He is a lord of intelligence, benevolence, wisdom, and great talent." Cao Pi laughed and said: "Your praise is surely excessive!" Zhao Zi said: "Your servant does not offer excessive praise. The Marquis of Wu accepted Lu Su among commoners—this is his intelligence; promoted Lü Meng from the ranks—this is his wisdom; captured Yu Jin without harming him—this is his benevolence; took Jingzhou without bloodying a sword—this is his insight; occupies the Three Rivers region and glares at the world like a tiger—this is his great talent; humbles himself to serve Your Majesty—this is his strategy. Judging by these, is he not a lord of intelligence, benevolence, wisdom, and great talent?" Cao Pi further asked: "Does the Lord of Wu love learning?" Zhao Zi said: "The Lord of Wu has ten thousand warships on the river, a million armored troops, employs the worthy and capable, and is determined to manage the realm. In his spare moments, he broadly peruses the classics, thoroughly examines historical records, and grasps their essential meanings; he is not like pedantic scholars who merely pick out phrases and sentences." Cao Pi said: "I wish to attack Eastern Wu—is it permissible?" Zhao Zi said: "A great state naturally has its army for punitive expeditions; a small state also has its strategies for defense." Cao Pi said: "Does Eastern Wu fear Wei?" Zhao Zi said: "With a million armored troops and the Yangtze and Han Rivers as moats, what is there to fear?" Cao Pi said: "How many men like you, a grandee, does Eastern Wu have?" Zhao Zi said: "Those of penetrating intelligence number eighty or ninety; men like me can be counted by the cartload and measured by the peck—countless." Cao Pi sighed and said: "'Sent as an envoy to the four quarters, not disgracing his lord’s command'—you are worthy of this praise." He then immediately issued an edict, ordering the Grand Master of Ceremonies Xing Zhen to take the patent of enfeeoffment and enfeoff Sun Quan as King of Wu, bestowing upon him the Nine Dignities. Zhao Zi thanked the emperor and left the city. The grandee Liu Ye remonstrated: "Now Sun Quan, fearing the pressure of the Shu troops, has come to request submission. In your servant’s humble opinion, the war between Shu and Wu is Heaven’s way of destroying them. If now Your Majesty sends a high general with several tens of thousands of troops to cross the river and attack them, with Shu attacking from outside and Wei from within, the destruction of Wu will not take ten days. With Wu destroyed, Shu will be isolated. Why does Your Majesty not plan early?" Cao Pi said: "Since Sun Quan has already submitted to Us with due ceremony, if We attack him, it would cut off the hearts of those under Heaven who wish to submit. It is better to accept him." Liu Ye further said: "Although Sun Quan has great talent, he is merely a General of Chariots and Cavalry and Marquis of Nanchang from the failing Han. If his office is low, his power is weak, and he still fears the Central Plains; but if he is enfeoffed as a king, he will be only one rank below Your Majesty. Now Your Majesty trusts in his feigned surrender, honors him with a title, and thus enfeoffs and fosters him—this is to add wings to a tiger." Cao Pi said: "Not so. I will not aid Wu, nor will I aid Shu. Let us wait and see the war between Wu and Shu; if one state is destroyed and only one remains, then at that time we will eliminate it—what difficulty is there? My mind is made up; say no more." He then ordered the Grand Master of Ceremonies Xing Zhen to go together with Zhao Zi, bearing the patent and the Nine Dignities, directly to Eastern Wu.

Sun Quan assembled his officials to discuss strategies against Shu. Suddenly, a report arrived that the Wei emperor had enfeoffed the lord as a king, and according to protocol, he should be welcomed from afar. Gu Yong admonished, “My lord should proclaim himself the Superior General or the Earl of the Nine Provinces, and should not accept Wei’s enfeoffment.” Sun Quan replied, “In the past, Pei Gong accepted Xiang Yu’s title, adapting to the times; why should I refuse?” He then led his officials out of the city to welcome the envoy. Xing Zhen, arrogantly acting as an envoy from a superior state, did not alight from his carriage upon entering the city. Zhang Zhao, enraged, shouted sternly, “Ritual demands respect; law demands solemnity. How dare you act so presumptuously—do you believe Jiangnan lacks even an inch of a blade?” Xing Zhen hastily descended from his carriage, met Sun Quan, and they entered the city together in the same carriage. Suddenly, from behind the carriage, a man burst into loud wails, crying, “We cannot risk our lives to devour Cao Wei and destroy Shu Han for our lord, yet we allow him to accept another’s enfeoffment—is this not shameful?” All turned to look; it was Xu Sheng. Hearing this, Xing Zhen sighed, “With such generals and ministers in Jiangdong, they will surely not remain subordinate for long!”

After Sun Quan accepted the enfeoffment, the civil and military officials offered their congratulations. He then ordered the preparation of fine jade, pearls, and other treasures to be sent as tribute to Wei. Scouts soon reported, “The Shu lord has led his main army, along with the barbarian king Shamoke’s tens of thousands of tribal troops, and the two forces of Dongxi Han generals Du Lu and Liu Ning, advancing by both land and water with a thunderous momentum. The navy has already passed Wu Pass, and the army has reached Zigui.” At this time, although Sun Quan had ascended to kingship, the Wei lord refused to provide support. He asked his officials, “The Shu army is formidable; what should be done?” All remained silent. Sun Quan sighed, “After Zhou Yu came Lu Su; after Lu Su came Lü Meng; now Lü Meng is gone, and no one can share my worries!” Before he finished speaking, a young general stepped forward from the ranks, knelt boldly, and reported, “Though I am young, I am well-versed in military texts. I request several tens of thousands of troops to defeat the Shu army.” Sun Quan looked and saw it was Sun Huan. Sun Huan, styled Shuwu, was the son of Sun He, who was originally surnamed Yu but was given the surname Sun by Sun Ce; thus he was considered part of the Wu king’s clan. Sun He had four sons. Sun Huan, the eldest, was skilled in archery and horsemanship, often accompanying the Wu king on campaigns and achieving many feats, holding the rank of Military Guard Commander; he was then twenty-five years old. Sun Quan asked, “What strategy do you have to defeat him?” Sun Huan said, “I have two generals, Li Yi and Xie Jing, each with the strength to match ten thousand. Give me several tens of thousands of troops to capture Liu Bei.” Sun Quan replied, “Though you are brave, nephew, you are young; you need assistance.” Tiger Might General Zhu Ran stepped forward and said, “I am willing to join the young general in capturing Liu Bei.” Sun Quan agreed, allocating fifty thousand land and naval troops, appointing Sun Huan as Left Commander and Zhu Ran as Right Commander, and they departed that day. Scouts reported that the Shu army had reached Yidu and set up camp. Sun Huan led twenty-five thousand troops to station at the Yidu border, dividing into three camps to resist the Shu forces.

Meanwhile, the Shu general Wu Ban, holding the vanguard seal, had advanced from Sichuan, with enemy forces surrendering at the sight of him; he reached Yidu without bloodshed. Learning that Sun Huan was encamped there, he swiftly reported to the Former Lord. The Former Lord had already arrived at Zigui and, upon hearing this, angrily said, “How dare this mere boy oppose me!” Guan Xing reported, “Since Sun Quan has made this boy a general, there’s no need to trouble Your Majesty to send a high commander; I am willing to capture him.” The Former Lord said, “I wish to see your spirit.” He ordered Guan Xing to proceed. As Guan Xing took his leave, Zhang Bao stepped forward and said, “Since Guan Xing is going to punish the rebels, I wish to go with him.” The Former Lord said, “It’s good for both nephews to go together; but be cautious, and do not act rashly.”

The two took their leave of the Former Lord, joined the vanguard, and advanced together, forming their battle array. Sun Huan, hearing of the Shu army’s massive approach, deployed his entire force. The two arrays faced each other. Sun Huan, with Li Yi and Xie Jing, reined in his horses beneath the gate banner, and saw from the Shu camp two generals emerge, both in silver helmets and armor, on white horses with white banners: the upper one, Zhang Bao, wielding a long eight-span steel spear; the lower one, Guan Xing, brandishing a large broadsword. Zhang Bao cursed, “Sun Huan, you brat! Facing death, you still dare resist the heavenly army!” Sun Huan retorted, “Your father has become a headless ghost, and now you come to meet your death—how foolish!” Zhang Bao, enraged, thrust his spear and charged directly at Sun Huan. Behind Sun Huan, Xie Jing spurred his horse to meet him. The two generals fought over thirty bouts; Xie Jing was defeated and fled, with Zhang Bao pursuing. Li Yi, seeing Xie Jing’s defeat, hastily whipped his horse and raised his battle-axe to engage. Zhang Bao fought him for over twenty bouts, with neither gaining the upper hand. Wu’s deputy general Tan Xiong, seeing Zhang Bao’s valor and Li Yi’s inability to prevail, shot a hidden arrow, striking Zhang Bao’s horse. The wounded horse galloped back to its own formation but collapsed before reaching the gate banner, throwing Zhang Bao to the ground. Li Yi quickly advanced, raising his axe to strike Zhang Bao’s head. Suddenly, a flash of red light, and Li Yi’s head fell to the ground. It turned out that Guan Xing, seeing Zhang Bao’s horse return, was about to assist when he saw the horse fall and Li Yi approach. With a great shout, Guan Xing cleaved Li Yi from his horse, saving Zhang Bao, and then pressed the attack. Sun Huan suffered a great defeat. Both sides sounded the gongs to withdraw.

The next day, Sun Huan led his forces out again. Zhang Bao and Guan Xing advanced together. Guan Xing reined in his horse before the formation and challenged Sun Huan to single combat. Sun Huan, enraged, spurred his horse and swung his blade, fighting Guan Xing for over thirty bouts until his strength waned, and he fled back to his formation in defeat. The two young generals pursued into the camp, and Wu Ban, with Zhang Nan and Feng Xi, drove their forces in a fierce assault. Zhang Bao, charging ahead boldly, entered the Wu camp, encountered Xie Jing, and killed him with a single spear thrust. The Wu troops scattered in all directions. The Shu generals emerged victorious and withdrew, but Guan Xing was missing. Zhang Bao, greatly alarmed, said, “If An’guo is lost, I will not live alone!” With that, he grasped his spear and mounted his horse. After searching for less than a few li, he saw Guan Xing, holding a sword in his left hand and a captured general in his right. Zhang Bao asked, “Who is this?” Guan Xing replied with a smile, “In the chaos, I met my enemy, so I captured him alive.” Zhang Bao looked and saw it was Tan Xiong, who had shot the hidden arrow the day before. Delighted, Zhang Bao returned to camp with him, where they beheaded him, drained his blood to sacrifice to the dead horse, and wrote a report to be sent to the Former Lord, announcing the victory.

Sun Huan, having lost many officers, including Li Yi, Xie Jing, and Tan Xiong, was exhausted and isolated, unable to resist, and sent a messenger to Wu for reinforcements. The Shu generals Zhang Nan and Feng Xi said to Wu Ban, “Now that the Wu army is defeated, we should take advantage of their weakness to raid their camp.” Wu Ban replied, “Though Sun Huan has lost many officers, Zhu Ran’s navy is still encamped on the river, untouched. If we raid the camp today and the navy comes ashore, cutting off our retreat, what then?” Zhang Nan said, “This is easy. We can order Generals Guan and Zhang to each lead five thousand troops and ambush in the mountain valleys. If Zhu Ran comes to the rescue, both flanks will strike together, and we will surely win.” Wu Ban said, “Better to first send a soldier pretending to surrender, and tell Zhu Ran about the raid. When he sees the fire, he will come to aid, and then our ambush will attack him; thus the plan will succeed.” Feng Xi and the others were delighted and carried out the plan.

Meanwhile, Zhu Ran, hearing that Sun Huan had lost men and generals, was about to come to his aid when the patrol brought several soldiers to his boat who claimed to surrender. Zhu Ran questioned them, and the soldiers said, “We are soldiers under Feng Xi’s command. Because rewards and punishments are unfair, we have come to surrender and also report a secret.” Zhu Ran asked, “What secret?” The soldiers said, “Tonight, Feng Xi plans to raid General Sun’s camp, using a fire signal.” After hearing this, Zhu Ran sent someone to inform Sun Huan. The messenger was killed halfway by Guan Xing. Zhu Ran deliberated, intending to lead troops to rescue Sun Huan. His subordinate Cui Yu said, “The words of these soldiers cannot be fully trusted. If something goes wrong, both the land and naval forces will be lost. General should only hold the naval camp securely; I am willing to go in your stead.” Zhu Ran agreed and ordered Cui Yu to lead ten thousand troops. That night, Feng Xi, Zhang Nan, and Wu Ban divided their forces into three routes and charged directly into Sun Huan’s camp, setting fires on all sides. The Wu troops fell into chaos, fleeing in every direction.

While Cui Yu was marching forward, he suddenly saw flames rising and urgently urged his troops to advance. Just as they turned around the mountain, drumbeats shook the sky from the valley; Guan Xing on the left and Zhang Bao on the right attacked from both sides. Cui Yu was greatly alarmed and tried to flee, but he ran straight into Zhang Bao. After only one clash of horses, he was captured alive by Zhang Bao. Zhu Ran, hearing of the critical situation, retreated his ships fifty or sixty li downstream. Sun Huan led his defeated troops in flight and asked his officers, “Which place ahead has strong city walls and ample supplies?” An officer replied, “To the due north, Yiling City can garrison troops.” Sun Huan hurried his defeated army toward Yiling. As soon as they entered the city, Wu Ban and his men arrived in pursuit and besieged it on all four sides. Guan Xing and Zhang Bao escorted Cui Yu to Zigui. The First Ruler was overjoyed, had Cui Yu beheaded, and richly rewarded the three armies. From then on, his prestige and might spread far and wide, and none of the generals south of the River dared not tremble with fear.

Meanwhile, Sun Huan sent a messenger to the King of Wu for aid. The King of Wu was greatly alarmed and immediately summoned his civil and military officials to discuss the matter, saying, “Now Sun Huan is besieged in Yiling, and Zhu Ran has been heavily defeated on the river. The Shu army is powerful—what is to be done?” Zhang Zhao memorialized, “Though many of our generals have passed away, there are still over a dozen. Why worry about Liu Bei? You may order Han Dang as chief commander, Zhou Tai as his deputy, Pan Zhang as vanguard, Ling Tong as rear guard, and Gan Ning as relief force. Raise a hundred thousand troops to resist them.” Sun Quan followed this advice and ordered the generals to set out swiftly. At this time, Gan Ning was suffering from dysentery but joined the campaign despite his illness.

Now the First Ruler’s camp stretched from Wu Gorge in Jianping all the way to the border of Yiling, over seventy li, with more than forty linked camps. Seeing that Guan Xing and Zhang Bao had repeatedly achieved great deeds, he sighed and said, “The generals who followed me in former days are all aged and useless; yet with two nephews so heroic, why should I worry about Sun Quan?” As he spoke, a report suddenly arrived that Han Dang and Zhou Tai had come with their troops. The First Ruler was about to dispatch generals to meet the enemy when a close attendant reported, “The veteran general Huang Zhong has taken five or six men and defected to Eastern Wu.” The First Ruler laughed and said, “Huang Hansheng is no traitor. Because I inadvertently said the old were useless, he must be unwilling to accept his age and has thus gone to fight fiercely.” He immediately summoned Guan Xing and Zhang Bao and said, “Huang Hansheng’s going will surely lead to mishap. Dear nephews, do not shrink from hardship; go and assist him. Once he has achieved some merit, let him return, and do not let him come to harm.” The two young generals took their leave and led their own troops to aid Huang Zhong. Truly:

The old minister has always harbored a loyal heart to serve his lord;

In his youth, he already achieved merit in serving his country.

The old minister has always harbored a loyal heart to serve his lord;

In his youth, he already achieved merit in serving his country.

What the outcome of Huang Zhong’s action would be, let the next chapter explain.