Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Now Sun Jian was surrounded by Liu Table, but with the desperate rescue of Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and the three generals Han Dang, he managed to escape, though he lost more than half his troops. He seized a road and led his remaining forces back to Jiangdong. From this point on, Sun Jian bore a grudge against Liu Table.

Meanwhile, Yuan Shao was stationed in Henan with his army but lacked grain and provisions. Han Fu, Governor of Ji Province, sent men to deliver grain to support the military. The advisor Feng Ji said to Shao: "A great man who strides across the land—why should he depend on others to send him grain to eat? Ji Province is a land rich in wealth and provisions. Why does my lord not take it?" Shao replied: "I have no good plan." Feng Ji said: "Send a man with a secret letter to Gongsun Zan, ordering him to advance his troops to take Ji Province. Promise him a joint attack. Zan will surely raise his army. Han Fu is a man of no cunning—he will certainly ask you to take charge of the province's affairs. Then, in the midst of it, you can seize control with the greatest ease." Shao was overjoyed and immediately sent the letter to Zan. When Zan received it, seeing that it spoke of jointly attacking Ji Province and dividing the land equally, he was delighted and set out with his army that very day. Shao, however, sent a man to secretly inform Han Fu. Han Fu, in a panic, gathered his two advisors, Xun Chen and Xin Ping, to deliberate. Xun Chen said: "Gongsun Zan leads the forces of Yan and Dai in a swift advance—his vanguard cannot be withstood. Moreover, he has Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei to aid him, making him difficult to oppose. Now Yuan Shao is a man of surpassing wisdom and courage, with many famous generals under his command. You should invite him to jointly administer the province's affairs. He will certainly treat you generously, and you need have no fear of Gongsun Zan." Han Fu immediately sent the carriage officer Guan Chun to invite Yuan Shao. Chief Clerk Geng Wu remonstrated: "Yuan Shao is a lone guest with a destute army, dependent on our very breath for survival—like an infant in the palm of one's hand. Cut off his milk and nourishment, and he can be starved to death in an instant. Why would you entrust the affairs of the province to him? This is leading a tiger into a flock of sheep!" Han Fu replied: "I am a former subordinate of the Yuan family, and my abilities are inferior to Shao's. The ancients chose the worthy and yielded to them—why are you all so jealous?" Geng Wu sighed and said: "Ji Province is doomed!" More than thirty men thereupon abandoned their posts and left. Only Geng Wu and Guan Chun concealed themselves outside the city wall, waiting for Yuan Shao. Several days later, Shao arrived with his army. Geng Wu and Guan Chun drew their swords and rushed out, intending to assassinate Shao. Shao's general Yan Liang immediately cut down Geng Wu, and Wen Chou struck Guan Chun dead. Shao entered Ji Province and appointed Han Fu as General of the Stalwart Might, while assigning Tian Feng, Ju Shou, Xu You, and Feng Ji to manage the province's affairs, stripping Han Fu of all power. Han Fu, overcome with regret too late to remedy, abandoned his family and rode alone to seek refuge with Zhang Miao, Governor of Chenliu.

Now Gongsun Zan learned that Yuan Shao had already seized Ji Province. He sent his younger brother Gongsun Yue to visit Shao, demanding a share of the territory. Shao said: "You may ask your elder brother to come himself—I have matters to discuss with him." Yue took his leave and started back. He had not traveled more than fifty li when a body of soldiers suddenly appeared from the roadside, shouting, "We are household generals of the Prime Minister Dong!" They loosed a volley of arrows and shot Gongsun Yue dead. His attendants fled back to report to Gongsun Zan that Yue had been killed. Zan was furious. "Yuan Shao lured me to raise my army against Han Fu, yet he seized the province for himself. Now he falsely used Dong Zhuo's troops to shoot my dead brother. How can this grievance go unavenged!" He mustered his entire force and sped toward Ji Province. Learning that Zan's army was approaching, Shao also led his troops out. The two armies met at the Pan River: Shao's forces were east of the Pan River Bridge, and Zan's forces were west of it. Zan took his stand on the bridge and shouted at the top of his lungs: "You treacherous wretch—how dare you betray me!" Shao also rode to the bridge's edge and, pointing at Zan, said: "Han Fu is a man of no ability and was willing to yield Ji Province to me. What concern is it of yours?" Zan replied: "In the past, I held you to be loyal and righteous and推举 you as the leader of the alliance. What you have done now—you are truly a creature of wolfish heart and bestial conduct. What face do you have to stand in this world?" Yuan Shao was enraged. "Who can seize him?"

Before he had finished speaking, Wen Chou spurred his horse and leveled his spear, charging straight onto the bridge. Gongsun Zan met Wen Chou in combat beside the bridge. After no more than ten exchanges, Zan could not withstand him and fled from the battle. Wen Chou pressed the pursuit. Zan retreated into his own formation, but Wen Chou galloped straight into the center of the army, charging back and forth. Four of Zan's stalwart generals came to engage him all at once; Wen Chou thrust his spear and unhorsed one of them, and the other three all fled. Wen Chou pursued Gongsun Zan out behind his battle lines. Zan fled toward the valley. Wen Chou urged his horse forward and shouted fiercely: "Dismount and surrender!" Zan's arrows were all spent, and his helmet fell to the ground. With his hair loosened, he galloped his horse across the hillside, but the horse stumbled, and Zan tumbled down the slope. Wen Chou hastily leveled his spear to strike. Suddenly, from the left side of the grassy slope, a young general emerged, spurring his horse and thrusting his spear straight at Wen Chou. Gongsun Zan climbed up the slope and looked at the young man: he stood eight chi tall, with thick brows and large eyes, a broad face and a heavy jaw, his bearing awe-inspiring. He fought Wen Chou for fifty or sixty exchanges with neither side prevailing. When Zan's rescue troops arrived, Wen Chou turned his horse and withdrew. The young man did not pursue. Zan hurried down the slope and asked the young man's name. The young man bowed and replied: "I am from Zhending in Changshan. My surname is Zhao, my given name is Yun, and my courtesy name is Zilong. I was formerly under Yuan Shao's command. Seeing that Shao has no heart to serve the sovereign and save the people, I therefore abandoned him and came to join your ranks. I did not expect to meet you here." Zan was overjoyed. They returned together to camp, where they put the armor and weapons in order.

The following day, G Zan divided his cavalry into two wings, deployed like the pinions of a bird. He had over five thousand horses, the majority of them white. Because G Zan had fought the Qiang people in the past and had always chosen white horses as his vanguard, he was known as the "White Horse General." The Qiang would flee at the sight of white horses, and for this reason his army possessed an abundance of them. Yuan Shao appointed Yan Liang and Wen Chou as his vanguard commanders, each leading a thousand archers, also divided into two wings: those on the left were to shoot at G Zan's right wing, and those on the right were to shoot at G Zan's left wing. He then ordered Qū Yi to position eight hundred archers and fifteen thousand infantry in the center of the formation. Yuan Shao himself led several tens of thousands of cavalry and infantry as reinforcements in the rear. G Zan had recently acquired Zhao Yun and did not yet know whether he could trust him, so he assigned him a separate force to bring up the rear. He appointed his general Yan Gang as the vanguard commander. G Zan took personal command of the central army, mounting his horse upon the bridge, with a large red banner embroidered with gold thread and the character "帥" (Commander) planted beside his horse. From the hour of Chen they beat the drums, but it was already the hour of Si and Shao's army still had not advanced. Qū Yi ordered his archers all to crouch behind their arrow shields, waiting only for the signal of a cannon before loosing their shafts. Yan Gang raised a great clamor and shouting, charging straight at Qū Yi. When Qū Yi's soldiers saw Yan Gang's troops approaching, they all remained crouched and motionless. When the enemy had come very close indeed, a cannon boomed, and the eight hundred archers loosed their arrows all at once. Yan Gang wheeled his horse in haste to retreat, but Qū Yi spurred his horse forward, flourishing his blade, and cut him down beneath his saddle. G Zan's army was utterly routed. The two wings attempted to come to the rescue, but were pinned down by the archers under Yan Liang and Wen Chou. Shao's forces advanced as one, fighting their way straight to the bank of Jie Bridge. Qū Yi's horse arrived first; he slew the standard-bearer and cut down the embroidered banner. When G Zan saw the banner fall, he turned his horse and fled back across the bridge. Qū Yi led his troops in a direct charge toward the rear army, where they came face to face with Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun leveled his spear, leaped upon his horse, and rode straight at Qū Yi. After no more than a few exchanges, he drove his spear through Qū Yi and killed him beneath his horse. Zhao Yun then rode alone, darting into Yuan Shao's ranks, charging left and right as though entering an empty land where no man stood. G Zan led his army in a counterattack, and Shao's forces were routed.

Now Yuan Shao had earlier sent out scouts to observe the situation. They returned with word that Qū Yi had slain an officer and seized a banner and was pursuing the defeated troops. Taking this as a sign of victory, he made no preparations for defense. With Tian Feng, he rode out to watch the battle, accompanied by several hundred guards carrying halberts and a few dozen mounted archers. He laughed aloud and said, "G Zan is a man of no ability at all!" Even as he spoke, Zhao Yun suddenly charged into their very presence. The archers hastily attempted to shoot, but Zhao Yun had already speared several men, and the rest of the soldiers all fled. Behind them, G Zan's army closed in from all sides. Tian Feng said to Yuan Shao in alarm, "My lord, you must take shelter behind that empty wall!" Yuan Shao threw his helmet to the ground and cried out with a great voice, "A true man of courage wishes to face the enemy in battle and die—how could I cower behind a wall and hope to live!" The soldiers fought with united resolve, and Zhao Yun could not break through. Then the main body of Shao's army arrived in force, and Yan Liang also led his troops to the scene. The two forces attacked from both sides. Zhao Yun fought to protect G Zan and cut their way through the encirclement, and they returned to Jie Bridge. Shao drove his troops forward in pursuit, pushing across the bridge, and those who fell into the water and drowned were beyond counting. Yuan Shao was in the lead, and before he had ridden five li, a great shout arose from behind the mountains, and a body of horsemen appeared. At their head were three great generals: Liu Xuande, Guan Yunchang, and Zhang Yide. Having learned in Pingyuan that G Zan and Yuan Shao were locked in battle, they had come expressly to aid in the fight. The three horses and three weapons came flying forward, charging straight at Yuan Shao. Shao was so terrified that his very soul seemed to fly beyond the heavens; his jeweled sword fell from his horse, and he hastily turned his mount and fled. His men fought desperately to save him, and they crossed the bridge. G Zan also gathered his army and returned to his camp. After Xuande, Guan, and Zhang had exchanged greetings, G Zan said, "Had you not come from afar to rescue me, I should have been in a sorry plight indeed." He introduced Zhao Yun to them. Xuande was greatly drawn to him and cherished him, and from that moment he could not bear to part with him.

Now Yuan Shao, having lost this engagement, fortified his position and would not come out. The two armies faced each other for over a month. Someone came to Chang'an to report the matter to Dong Zhuo. Li Ru said to Zhuo, "Yuan Shao and G Zan are both men of heroic stature in the present age. Now they are fighting at Panhe. You should, in the name of the Emperor, send an envoy to make peace between them. Grateful for this favor, they will surely submit to the Grand Tutor." Zhuo was overjoyed. The following day he sent Grand Tutor Ma Ritu and Grand Coachman Zhao Qi to carry the imperial edict to the two armies. When they arrived in Hebei, Yuan Shao came out to greet them from a hundred li away, bowing twice to receive the edict. The next day the two envoys went to G Zan's camp to announce the decree. G Zan then sent an envoy to Yuan Shao with a letter, and the two made peace. The two envoys returned to the capital to report on their mission. G Zan withdrew his troops that same day and submitted a memorial recommending Liu Xuande for the post of Grand Administrator of Pingyuan. When Xuande and Zhao Yun parted, they clasped hands and shed tears, unable to bear the separation. Zhao Yun sighed and said, "In former days I mistakenly took G Zan to be a hero. But judging by his conduct, he is no different from the likes of Yuan Shao!" Xuande said, "For now, humble yourself and serve him. We shall meet again." They parted in tears.

Now Yuan Shu was in Nanyang when he heard that Yuan Shao had recently seized Jizhou. He sent an envoy to ask for a thousand horses. Shao refused to give them, and Shu was enraged. From that time forward, the brothers were estranged. Shu also sent an envoy to Jingzhou to ask Liu Biao for two hundred thousand bushels of grain. Biao likewise refused. Shu bore a deep grudge and secretly sent a man to deliver a letter to Sun Jian, urging him to attack Liu Biao. The letter read in part:

"Previously, when Liu Biao blocked your path, it was the scheme of my elder brother, Benchu [Yuan Shao]. Now Benchu has been in secret discussion with Biao to attack Jiangdong. You must swiftly raise your army and attack Liu Biao. I will seize Benchu on your behalf, and both your enemies can be avenged. You take Jingzhou, and I shall take Jizhou. Do not delay!"

Sun Jian received the letter and said, "How intolerable, this Liu Biao! In former days he cut off my homeward route; now if I do not seize the opportunity to avenge this grudge, when shall I ever do so?" He gathered his officers—Cheng Pu, Gai Gai, Han Dang, and others—to deliberate. Cheng Pu said, "Yuan Shu is full of deceit; we cannot trust his word." Sun Jian replied, "I myself desire to avenge this wrong. Should I depend on Yuan Shu's aid?" He then sent Huang Gai ahead to the riverbank to arrange warships, loading them abundantly with weapons and provisions, the larger vessels carrying war-horses, setting a date to launch the campaign. Spies along the river learned of this and reported it to Liu Biao. Liu Biao was greatly alarmed and hastily assembled his civil and military officers for counsel. Kuai Liang said, "There is no cause for alarm. Order Huang Zu to lead the troops of Jiangxia as the vanguard, and you, my lord, bring the forces of Jing and Xiang as support. When Sun Jian crosses the river and traverses the lakes, where can he employ his might?" Liu Biao approved this counsel and ordered Huang Zu to make preparations, after which he himself raised a great army.

Now Sun Jian had four sons, all born to Lady Wu: the eldest was named Ce, styled Bofu; the second was named Quan, styled Zhongmou; the third was named Yi, styled Shubi; and the fourth was named Kuang, named Jizuo. Lady Wu's younger sister was Sun Jian's second wife and bore him one son and one daughter: the son was named Lang, styled Zao'an; the daughter was named Ren. Sun Jian also adopted a son from the Yu family, named Shao, styled Gongli. Sun Jian had one younger brother, named Jing, styled Youtai. As Sun Jian was about to depart, Jing led all the sons to kneel before his horse and remonstrate, saying, "Now Dong Zhuo monopolizes power, the Son of Heaven is weak, all within the realm is in chaos, and each warlord seizes territory for himself. The land east of the river is only just beginning to find peace. To raise a great army over a small grudge is not fitting—I beg you to consider this carefully." Sun Jian replied, "Say no more, brother. I shall sweep across the Underworld; how can I leave an enemy unavenged?" His eldest son Sun Ce said, "If Father insists on going, I wish to accompany you." Sun Jian consented, and so he and Sun Ce boarded the ships and set sail for Fancheng. Huang Zu had hidden archers and crossbowmen along the riverbank. When the ships approached the shore, they loosed a torrent of arrows. Sun Jian ordered his troops not to move rashly but to remain concealed within the boats, sailing back and forth to draw the enemy on. For three days running, the ships approached the shore dozens of times. Huang Zu's soldiers kept firing arrows until their supply was exhausted. Sun Jian then collected all the arrows recovered from his ships, amounting to several hundred thousand. That day the wind happened to be favorable, and Sun Jian ordered his soldiers to shoot all at once. Those on shore could not withstand the barrage and were forced to retreat.

Sun Jian's forces landed. Cheng Pu and Huang Gai divided their troops into two columns and advanced directly upon Huang Zu's camp. From behind, Han Dang drove his forces forward. Attacked on three sides, Huang Zu was utterly routed. He abandoned Fancheng and withdrew into Dengcheng. Sun Jian ordered Huang Gai to guard the ships and personally led the pursuit. Huang Zu brought out his army to meet him and drew up his battle lines in the open country. Sun Jian formed his array and rode out beneath the banner at the gate. Sun Ce, fully armed, stood with lance in hand beside his father. Huang Zu led two generals forward: one was Zhang Hu of Jiangxia, and the other was Chen Sheng of Xiangyang. Huang Zu brandished his whip and cursed, "Rat-thieves from Jiangdong, how dare you invade the domain of a scion of the House of Han!" He ordered Zhang Hu to challenge the enemy. From Sun Jian's ranks, Han Dang rode out to meet him. The two horsemen clashed and fought for more than thirty bouts. When Chen Sheng saw Zhang Hu weakening, he flew to his aid. Sun Ce, perceiving this, steadied his lance, drew his bow, and loosed an arrow that struck Chen Sheng full in the face. He fell from his horse at once. Zhang Hu, seeing Chen Sheng tumble to the ground, was so startled that before he could recover, Han Dang's blade swept down and sheared off half his head. Cheng Pu galloped straight to the front lines to capture Huang Zu. Huang Zu cast aside his helmet and horse and fled for his life among the foot soldiers. Sun Jian's forces cut down the defeated troops all the way to the Han River, then ordered Huang Gai to bring the ships up and moor them along the Han.

Huang Zu gathered his defeated troops and went to see Liu Biao, telling him in full that Sun Jian's army was irresistible. Liu Biao, in distress, consulted Kuai Liang. Liang said, "Now that we have just suffered defeat, the soldiers have no will to fight. We can only dig deep moats and build high ramparts to avoid their sharp edge. Meanwhile, secretly send someone to beg aid from Yuan Shao, and this siege will be lifted of itself." Cai Mao said, "Master Kuai's counsel is nothing but a clumsy plan. The enemy is at our very gates and will soon reach the river—how can we sit here waiting for death? Though I am no great man, I will lead our troops out of the city to fight a decisive battle." Liu Biao gave his consent. Cai Mao led more than ten thousand troops out beyond the walls of Xiangyang and drew up his lines on Xian Mountain. Sun Jian brought his victorious army sweeping forward in a long drive. Cai Mao rode out. Sun Jian said, "This man is the elder brother of Liu Biao's second wife. Who will capture him for me?" Cheng Pu rode out with his iron-spined spear and engaged Cai Mao. In a few bouts Cai Mao was defeated and fled. Sun Jian drove his great army forward, and the corpses lay strewn across the field. Cai Mao escaped into Xiangyang. Kuai Liang declared that Cai Mao had disregarded his good counsel and thus brought about this great defeat, and by military law he should be executed. But Liu Biao, having recently married Cai Mao's sister, refused to impose punishment.

Now Sun Jian divided his forces on four sides to besiege Xiangyang. One day, a sudden violent gale arose and snapped the pole of the commander's banner in the central camp. Han Dang said, "This is no auspicious omen. We should temporarily withdraw our army." Sun Jian replied, "I have fought and won again and again. Taking Xiangyang is only a matter of days. How can I abruptly call off the campaign because the wind broke the banner pole?" He would not heed Han Dang's words and pressed the assault even harder. Kuai Liang said to Liu Biao, "Last night I observed the heavens and saw a general star about to fall. Judging by the celestial divisions, it corresponds to Sun Jian. My lord, you must send a letter at once to Yuan Shao and beg his assistance." Liu Biao wrote the letter and asked who dared to break through the encirclement. A stalwart officer named Lü Gong volunteered at once. Kuai Liang said, "Since you are willing to go, listen to my plan. I will give you five hundred soldiers, with many skilled archers. Break through the enemy lines and make straight for Xian Mountain. He will surely bring troops to pursue you. Take a hundred men up the mountain and prepare stones; take a hundred others with bows and crossbows to hide in the woods. When the pursuing troops arrive, do not flee directly—lead them in winding, twisting paths to the ambush, then let arrows and stones fly together. If you prevail, fire the signal cannons in succession, and the city will send out reinforcements. If no one pursues, do not fire the cannons but hasten on your way. The moon will not be very bright tonight. You may leave the city at dusk."

Lü Gong received the strategy and assembled his troops. At dusk, he secretly opened the East Gate and led his soldiers out of the city. In his camp, Sun Jian suddenly heard shouts. He quickly mounted his horse and led some thirty riders out to investigate. His soldiers reported, "A force of men is charging out, heading toward Mount Xiang." Jian did not wait for his generals but took only the thirty riders in pursuit. Lü Gong had already set his ambush among the dense woods and undergrowth on the mountain. Jian's horse was swift, and he rode far ahead of his men, approaching the enemy vanguard. Jian shouted, "Do not flee!" Lü Gong reined his horse around to engage Sun Jian. After only a single exchange of blows, Lü Gong turned and fled, disappearing into the mountain path. Jian pursued him into the road, but Lü Gong had vanished. Just as Jian was about to ascend the mountain, suddenly a gong sounded from above. Stones rained down from the heights, and arrows flew in thick volleys from the forest. Jian was struck by stones and arrows, his brains splattering forth. Both he and his horse perished within Mount Xiang. He was thirty-seven years old.

Lü Gong intercepted the thirty riders and killed them all, then raised a continuous signal barrage. In the city, Huang Zu, Kuai Yue, and Cai Mao led their forces out in separate columns, and the Eastern Wu troops fell into great disorder. Huang Gai, hearing the earth-shaking shouts, led his naval force in a charge and met Huang Zu head-on. After barely two exchanges, Huang Zu was taken alive. Cheng Pu, protecting Sun Ce, urgently sought a way through, and encountered Lü Gong. Cheng Pu spurred his horse forward and, in fewer than several exchanges, drove his spear through Lü Gong, unhorsing him. The two armies fought on until dawn, then each withdrew. Liu Table's forces returned into the city. When Sun Ce returned to the Han River, he learned that his father had been killed by a hail of arrows and that Liu Table's soldiers had already carried his body into the city. He broke into loud weeping. The entire army wailed with him. Ce said, "My father's body is in their hands—how can we return home?" Huang Gai said, "We now hold Huang Zu alive. If we send someone into the city to negotiate, we can exchange Huang Zu for our lord's body." Before he had finished speaking, the military official Huan Kai stepped forward and said, "I have an old acquaintance with Liu Table. I volunteer to enter the city as an envoy." Ce granted his request. Huan Kai entered the city and was granted an audience with Liu Table, where he laid out the matter in full. Table said, "Wentai's body I have already placed in a coffin and stored here. You may quickly release Huang Zu, and both sides shall cease hostilities and trouble each other no more." Huan Kai bowed his thanks and was about to depart when Kuai Liang emerged from below the steps and said, "This must not be! This must not be! I have a plan that will leave the Eastern Wu army not a single soldier to return. I ask that Huan Kai be executed first, and then let the plan be put into action." Indeed:

As Sun Jian pursued the enemy and met his death,

Huan Kai sought peace and found his doom.

What became of Huan Kai's fate will be told in the chapter that follows.