Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Then Gao Shun, leading Zhang Liao, attacked Guan Yu's camp, while Lü Bu himself attacked Zhang Fei's camp. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei each rode out to meet the enemy, and Liu Bei led troops to support both flanks. Lü Bu divided his forces and attacked from behind. Both Guan Yu's and Zhang Fei's armies were routed. Liu Bei fled back to the city of Pei with several dozen horsemen. Lü Bu pursued him closely. Liu Bei urgently called to the soldiers on the city wall to lower the drawbridge. Lü Bu arrived right behind him. The soldiers on the wall wished to shoot arrows but feared hitting Liu Bei. Lü Bu seized the opportunity and burst through the city gate. The gate guards could not resist and scattered in all directions. Lü Bu led his army into the city. Seeing the situation was desperate and that he could not reach his home in time, Liu Bei had no choice but to abandon his wife and children, pass through the city, and flee out the West Gate on horseback alone.

Lü Bu arrived at Liu Bei's residence. Mi Zhu came out to meet him and said to Lü Bu, "I have heard that a true man does not harm another man's wife and children. The one vying with you for the dominion under Heaven is Cao Cao. Liu Bei often remembers the grace you showed at the gate when you shot the halberd, and he would never turn his back on you. He has no choice now but to go over to Cao Cao. I ask only that you show him mercy." Lü Bu said, "Liu Bei and I are old friends. How could I bear to harm his wife and children?" He then ordered Mi Zhu to take Liu Bei's wife and children to Xuzhou and settle them there. Lü Bu himself led his troops toward the border of Yanzhou in Shandong, leaving Gao Shun and Zhang Liao to defend Xiaopei. By this time, Sun Qian had already escaped from the city. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei had each gathered some men and were living in the mountains.

Now then, Liu Bei was fleeing alone on horseback. As he was riding along, a man caught up with him from behind. He looked and saw it was Sun Qian. Liu Bei said, "I do not know whether my two brothers are alive or dead, and my wife and children are lost. What shall I do?" Sun Qian said, "There is nothing for it but to go over to Cao Cao for now and plan our next move from there." Liu Bei agreed and took a side road toward Xudou. Along the way, his provisions ran out, and he often went to villages to beg for food. Wherever he went, upon hearing that it was the Governor of Yuzhou, the people all vied to offer him food and drink. One day he stopped at a household to spend the night. A young man of the house came out to pay his respects. Upon asking his name, Liu Bei learned he was a hunter named Liu An.

Liu An, hearing that the Governor of Yuzhou had arrived, wished to find some game to offer as food, but could not obtain any at short notice. So he killed his own wife and served her flesh as a meal. Liu Bei said, "What kind of meat is this?" Liu An said, "It is wolf meat." Liu Bei did not suspect anything and ate his fill. As evening fell, he took lodging there. The next morning, as he was about to leave, he went to the back courtyard to fetch his horse when he suddenly saw a woman slaughtered in the kitchen, the flesh on her arms already completely cut away. Liu Bei was shocked upon asking and only then learned that what he had eaten the night before was the flesh of Liu An's wife. Liu Bei was overcome with grief and sorrow. He shed tears and mounted his horse. Liu An said to Liu Bei, "I wished to follow you, my lord, but my aged mother is at home, and I dare not travel far."

Liu Bei thanked him and took his leave, setting out on the road past Liangcheng. Suddenly he saw dust clouds blotting out the sun, and a great army appeared. Liu Bei knew it was Cao Cao's army. Together with Sun Qian he went straight to the commander's standard and was received by Cao Cao. He related in full how he had lost Pei City, become separated from his two brothers, and lost his wife and children. Cao Cao shed tears for him as well. Liu Bei then told of Liu An's killing of his wife to feed him, and Cao Cao ordered Sun Qian to take a hundred taels of gold and bestow it on Liu An.

The army marched to the north of the Ji River, where Xiahou Yuan and others came to welcome them into the camp. He reported in full that his elder brother Xiahou Dun had lost one eye and was still bedridden and unrecovered. Cao Cao went personally to his sickroom to see him and ordered him to return first to Xudou to recuperate. At the same time, he sent men to find out where Lü Bu presently was. The scouts returned and reported, "Lü Bu has joined with Chen Gong and Zang Ba and linked up with the bandits of Mount Tai to attack the commanderies of Yanzhou." Cao Cao immediately ordered Cao Ren to lead three thousand troops against Pei City. Cao Cao himself led the main army, together with Liu Bei, to engage Lü Bu. Advancing to Shandong, they drew near Xiao Pass, where they encountered the Mount Tai bandits Sun Guan, Wu Dun, Yin Li, and Chang Xi, who were blocking the road with over thirty thousand troops. Cao Cao ordered Xu Chu to meet them in battle. The four commanders all rode out together. Xu Chu fought with all his might, and the four commanders could not withstand him and each fled in defeat. Cao Cao pressed the attack and pursued them to Xiao Pass, where scouts galloped to report to Lü Bu.

At that time, Lü Bu had already returned to Xuzhou. He wished to go with Chen Deng to relieve Xiaopei and ordered Chen Gui to defend Xuzhou. As Chen Deng was about to depart, Chen Gui said to him, "In the past, Cao Cao said that all matters in the east were entrusted to you. Now Lü Bu is about to be defeated. You may act accordingly." Chen Deng said, "Matters outside, I will manage myself. If Lü Bu returns in defeat, Father, please join with Mi Zhu to hold the city and do not let Lü Bu enter. I have my own plan to extricate myself." Chen Gui said, "Lü Bu's wife and children are here, and he has many confidants. What shall we do about that?" Chen Deng said, "I have a plan for that as well." He then went in to see Lü Bu and said, "Xuzhou is surrounded by enemies on all sides, and Cao Cao will certainly attack with all our strength. We should first consider a retreat. You could move your money and grain to Xiapi. If Xuzhou is besieged, the grain in Xiapi can serve as relief. Why not make plans for this soon, my lord?" Lü Bu said, "Your words are very wise. I shall move my wife and children there as well." He then ordered Song Xian and Wei Xu to escort Liu Bei's wife and children along with the money and grain to garrison Xiapi. He himself led his troops with Chen Deng to relieve Xiao Pass. Halfway there, Chen Deng said, "Allow me to go ahead to the pass to scout the strength of Cao Cao's forces before you advance."

Lü Bu gave his permission, and Chen Deng went first to the pass. Chen Gong and the others received him. Chen Deng said, "The Marquis of Wen is deeply angered that you have not advanced and intends to punish you." Chen Gong said, "Cao Cao's forces are very strong now, and we must not underestimate the enemy. We should hold the pass firmly and advise our lord to defend Pei City deeply—that is the best strategy." Chen Deng assented. That evening he went up to look out over the pass and saw that Cao Cao's troops had advanced right up to the foot of the pass. That night he wrote three letters, tied them to arrows, and shot them down below the pass. The next morning he took leave of Chen Deng and rode swiftly to see Lü Bu. He said, "Sun Guan and the others on the pass all wish to surrender it. I have left Chen Gong to hold it. You can attack at dusk to relieve them."

Lü Bu said, "But for you, this pass would have been lost." He ordered Chen Deng to ride swiftly ahead to the pass and arrange with Chen Gong to act as an inside accomplice, using a fire as the signal. Chen Deng went straight to report to Chen Gong, saying, "Cao Cao's troops have already found a way to the inside of the pass. I fear Xuzhou may be lost. You should return at once." Chen Gong thereupon led the men and abandoned the pass. Chen Deng set a fire on the pass. Lü Bu charged in under cover of darkness, and Chen Gong's forces and Lü Bu's forces ended up attacking each other in the dark.

When the Cao forces saw the signal fire, they advanced together, attacking with the tide of success. Sun Guan and the others scattered and fled in all directions. Lü Bu fought straight through until dawn before he realized it had been a ruse. He hurried back to Xuzhou with Chen Gong. When they reached the city walls and called out to open the gates, a shower of arrows rained down from above. Mi Zhu, standing on the watchtower, shouted, "You seized our lord's city. Now it shall be returned to him. You shall never enter this city again!" Lü Bu flew into a rage. "Where is Chen Gui?" he demanded. "I have already killed him," Mi Zhu replied. Lü Bu turned back to Chen Gong. "And where is Chen Deng?" Chen Gong said, "Are you still so deluded as to ask about that treacherous scoundrel?"

Lü Bu ordered a search throughout the army, but Chen Deng was nowhere to be found. Chen Gong urged Lü Bu to flee to Xiaopei at once, and Lü Bu followed this advice. Halfway there, a body of troops suddenly appeared on the scene. They turned out to be Gao Shun and Zhang Liao. When Lü Bu questioned them, they replied, "Chen Deng came to report that you, my lord, were surrounded, and so we rushed here to rescue you." Chen Gong said, "This is yet another scheme by that treacherous scoundrel!" Lü Bu roared, "I will surely kill this wretch!" He spurred his horse toward Xiaopei. But when he arrived, he saw that the walls were now flying Cao Cao's banners. It turned out that Cao Cao had ordered Cao Ren to seize the city and garrison it with his troops. Lü Bu cursed Chen Deng from beneath the walls. Deng stood atop the wall and pointed back at Lü Bu, shouting, "I am a servant of the Han—how could I ever serve a rebel like you!" Lü Bu was furious. Just as he was about to attack the city, a great clamor arose from behind him, and a column of men and horses came riding up. The commander in the lead was none other than Zhang Fei. Gao Shun rode out to meet him but could not gain the advantage. Lü Bu himself entered the fray. In the midst of their combat, shouts erupted again outside the formation, as Cao Cao personally led his main army in a charge.

Lü Bu saw he could not withstand them and led his forces eastward in retreat. The Cao troops pursued close behind. By now, Lü Bu's men were exhausted and their horses spent. Suddenly, a body of troops burst forth and blocked the road ahead. Their general sat astride his horse with his blade leveled, and he shouted, "Lü Bu, do not flee! Guan Yunchang is here!" Lü Bu hastily engaged him in battle. Then Zhang Fei came up from behind. Lü Bu had no heart for fighting. He and Chen Gong cut their way through and fled straight to Xiapi. Hou Cheng led troops out to meet and escort them. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei saw each other and wept as they spoke of their time apart. Guan Yu said, "I was stationed along the Haizhou road when I learned the news, and so I came here." Zhang Fei said, "I have been staying on Mount Mangdang all this time. What fortune that we meet again today!"

When the two had finished talking, they led their troops together to see Liu Bei, falling to the ground in tears as they bowed. Liu Bei was overcome with both sorrow and joy. He brought the two men to see Cao Cao, and then followed Cao into Xuzhou. Mi Zhu came to greet them and reported that Liu Bei's family was safe and unharmed. Liu Bei was greatly pleased. Chen Gui and his son also came to pay their respects to Cao Cao. Cao Cao hosted a great feast to reward the officers and men. Cao Cao himself sat in the center, with Chen Gui on his left and Liu Bei on his right. The other officers were seated in order of rank. When the feast ended, Cao Cao commended Chen Gui and his son for their service, granting them the revenue from ten counties and appointing Chen Deng as General of the Waves.

Now, when Cao Cao had taken Xuzhou, he was overjoyed and proposed raising troops to attack Xiapi. Cheng Yi said, "Lü Bu now has only Xiapi. If we press him too hard, he will fight to the death and defect to Yuan Shu. If Lü Bu joins forces with Yuan Shu, their combined strength will be difficult to overcome. We should now send capable men to guard the routes to Huainai, to contain Lü Bu within and oppose Yuan Shu from without. Moreover, in Shandong there are still Zang Ba, Sun Guan, and others who have not yet submitted—we cannot neglect to guard against them."

Cao Cao said, "I will take personal command of the routes in Shandong. The Huainai routes I ask the Imperial Uncle to guard." Liu Bei said, "How could I presume to disobey the Prime Minister's orders?" The next day, Liu Bei left Mi Zhu and Jian Yi in Xuzhou and, taking Sun Qian, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, led his troops to guard the Huainai routes. Cao Cao himself led an army to attack Xiapi.

Meanwhile, Lü Bu in Xiapi, relying on his ample grain supplies and the natural barrier of the Si River, sat in comfort behind his walls, confident that he had nothing to fear. Chen Gong said, "The Cao army has just arrived. We can strike while their camp and defenses are still not established—attacking the weary with our fresh forces, victory is assured." Lü Bu replied, "I have suffered repeated defeats and cannot risk a sortie. Let them attack us, and we will strike when they do—they will all end up in the Si River!" He would not listen to Chen Gong.

Several days later, the Cao army had established their camp. Cao Cao led his officers to the foot of the city walls and called out for Lü Bu to come and parley. Lü Bu mounted the wall. Cao Cao said to him, "I heard that Fengxian wishes to form a marriage alliance with Yuan Shu, and so I have led my army here. Yuan Shu has committed grave acts of rebellion, yet you have the merit of having campaigned against Dong Zhuo. Why now abandon your former achievements and follow a rebel? If the city falls, it will be too late for regret! If you come over early, together we may support the royal house, and you will not lose the chance to be ennobled as a marquis." Lü Bu said, "Prime Minister, please withdraw for now. I must still deliberate."

Chen Gong, standing beside Lü Bu, cursed Cao Cao as a treacherous villain and loosed an arrow that struck Cao Cao's canopy. Cao Cao pointed at Chen Gong in fury and said, "I swear I will kill you!" He then led his troops in an assault on the city. Chen Gong said to Lü Bu, "Cao Cao has come from far away and cannot sustain this campaign for long. You, General, should take your infantry and cavalry and encamp outside, while I lead the remainder of the troops to defend the city from within. If Cao Cao attacks you, I will lead forces to strike his rear. If he attacks the city, you will come to our relief from behind. In no more than ten days, Cao Cao's army will have exhausted their provisions, and we can destroy them in one stroke. This is the pincer formation." Lü Bu said, "Your counsel is excellent." He returned to his residence to prepare his armor and weapons. Since it was the middle of winter, he ordered his attendants to bring extra padded garments.

His wife, Lady Yan, heard of this and came out to ask, "Where do you intend to go?" Lü Bu told her of Chen Gong's plan. Lady Yan said, "You would entrust the entire city to others, abandon your wife and children, and march out with your army alone. If anything should happen, how could I ever remain your wife?" Lü Bu hesitated and could not decide, and for three days he did not emerge. Chen Gong came in to see him and said, "The Cao army has surrounded the city on all sides. If you do not sortie soon, you will be trapped." Lü Bu said, "On reflection, I think it better to hold fast rather than march out." Chen Gong said, "I have lately heard that the Cao army's grain supplies are running low, and they have sent men to Xuchandu to fetch more, which will arrive before long. You could lead your elite troops to cut off their supply lines. This is an excellent plan."

Bu accepted her words and went back inside to tell Lady Yan about the matter. Lady Yan wept and said, "If you leave the city, how can Chen Gong and Gao Shun hold the walls? If anything goes wrong, it will be too late for regrets! In Chang'an, I was abandoned by you once. I was lucky that Pang Shu hid me, allowing us to be reunited. Who would have thought you would abandon me again? Your future stretches ten thousand leagues—please do not think of me!" She finished speaking and wept bitterly.

Bu heard her words but remained troubled and indecisive. He went to tell Diao Chan. Diao Chan said, "My lord, take charge for my sake and do not ride out lightly." Bu said, "Have no fear. With my halberd and my Red Hare, who would dare come near me?" He then went out and told Chen Gong, "The report that Cao Cao's army has brought grain is a ruse. Cao Cao is full of schemes—I dare not act." Chen Gong left with a sigh and said, "We shall die without a burial ground!"

From then on, Bu did not leave the city at all. He simply drank with Lady Yan and Diao Chan to pass the time. His advisors Xu Si and Wang Kai came to see him and offered a plan: "Yuan Shu in Huainan has greatly expanded his power. My lord, you were once betrothed to his family. Why not renew the request? If his army arrives and we attack from within and without, Cao Cao will not be hard to defeat." Bu followed their advice and at once wrote a letter, sending the two men on their way. Xu Si said, "We will need an escort to break through." Bu ordered Zhang Liao and Hao Meng to lead a thousand men and see them through the pass.

That night, at the second watch, Zhang Liao rode ahead and Hao Meng behind, protecting Xu Si and Wang Kai as they fought their way out of the city. They passed by Liu Bei's camp, but the officers could not catch up with them, and they had already reached the pass. Hao Meng took five hundred men and followed Xu Si and Wang Kai onward. Zhang Liao led half his force back, but at the pass, Guan Yu blocked him. Before they could engage, Gao Shun led troops out of the city to rescue him and brought him back inside.

Now, Xu Si and Wang Kai arrived at Shouchun and had an audience with Yuan Shu, presenting the letter. Yuan Shu said, "Earlier, my envoy was killed and the marriage alliance broken. Now you come asking again—what is the meaning of this?" Xu Si said, "This was all a mistake caused by Cao Cao's treachery. I hope Your Excellency will look into it carefully." Yuan Shu said: "If your master were not desperate from Cao Cao's siege, would he agree to give me his daughter?" Wang Kai said, "If Your Excellency does not come to his aid, I fear that when the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold—and this will not be to Your Excellency's benefit either." Yuan Shu said, "Lu Bu is faithless and unreliable. Let him send the daughter first, and then I will send my army." Xu Si and Wang Kai had no choice but to take their leave and return with Hao Meng. When they reached the edge of Liu Bei's camp, Xu Si said, "We cannot pass by day. At midnight, the two of us will go first, and General Hao will cover the rear."

They settled their plan. That night, passing Liu Bei's camp, Xu Si and Wang Kai went through first. As Hao Meng was making his way, Zhang Fei came out of the camp and blocked the road. Hao Meng exchanged only one blow with Zhang Fei before being captured alive. His five hundred men were all killed or scattered. Zhang Fei brought Hao Meng in chains to see Liu Bei, who escorted him to the main camp to see Cao Cao. Hao Meng told everything about the mission to seek aid and arrange the marriage. Cao Cao was furious and had Hao Meng beheaded at the camp gate. He then sent word to all the camps to guard carefully, declaring that anyone who let Lu Bu or his men slip through would be punished under military law. All the camps were filled with dread.

Liu Bei returned to his camp and instructed Guan Yu and Zhang Fei: "We are positioned at a crucial point on the road to Huainan. You two must be careful and do not violate Lord Cao's military orders." Zhang Fei said, "We captured one enemy general, yet Cao Cao offers no reward—only threats. Why?" Liu Cao said, "Not so. Cao Cao commands a great host. Without military discipline, how could he keep men in line? Do not violate his orders." Guan Yu and Zhang Fei assented and withdrew.

Now, Xu Si and Wang Kai returned to Lu Bu and told him that Yuan Shu insisted on receiving the daughter before sending troops to his aid. Bu said, "How can she be delivered?" Xu Si said: "Now that Hao Meng has been captured, Cao Cao will surely know our plans and prepare accordingly. Unless you escort her personally, who could break through the encirclement?" Bu said, "What if we send her today?" Xu Si said: "Today is an inauspicious day—we cannot go. Tomorrow is favorable. The hours of xu and hai would be best." Bu ordered Zhang Liao and Gao Shun to lead three thousand troops and prepare a small carriage. "I will escort her two hundred li myself, and then you two will take her the rest of the way."

The following night, at the second watch, Lu Bu wrapped his daughter in silk and padded armor, strapped her to his back, took up his halberd, and mounted his horse. The city gates were opened, and Bu rode out first, with Zhang Liao and Gao Shun following. As they approached Liu Bei's camp, a drum sounded, and Guan Yu and Zhang Fei blocked the road, shouting, "Do not flee!" Bu had no heart for battle and only tried to force his way through. Liu Bei himself led a force to attack, and the two armies clashed. Though Bu was valiant, he had a woman bound to his body. He feared she might be harmed and did not dare to fight his way through the encirclement. Behind him, Xu Huang and Xu Chu came charging, and all the soldiers cried out, "Do not let Lu Bu escape!"

Seeing the enemy pressing too hard, Bu had no choice but to retreat back into the city. Liu Bei gathered his troops, and Xu Huang and the others returned to their camps—truly not a single man had gotten through. Lu Bu returned to the city, heavy at heart, and could only drink to drown his sorrows.

Now, as it happened, Cao Cao had laid siege to the city for two months without success. Suddenly a report arrived: "Zhang Yang, Governor of Henei, has marched out from Dongshi to rescue Lü Bu. His officer Yang Chou killed him and meant to present his head to the Prime Minister, but was himself slain by Sui Gu, one of Zhang Yang's trusted captains, who then fled with his men to Quan City." Upon hearing this, Cao Cao at once dispatched Shi Huan, who pursued and cut down Sui Gu. Then Cao Cao gathered his officers and said, "Though Zhang Yang has happily destroyed himself, yet to the north I have the anxiety of Yuan Shao, and to the east the troubles of Liu Biao and Zhang Xiu. The siege of Xiapi has dragged on too long without result. I am thinking of abandoning Lü Bu and returning to the capital to rest my troops for a time. What do you think?" Xun You urgently checked him: "That cannot be done. Lü Bu has suffered repeated defeats, and his fighting spirit has waned. An army depends on its commander; when the commander is in decline, the army loses all will to fight. Chen Gong is crafty, but he is slow to act. Now Lü Bu's energy has not yet recovered, and Chen Gong's plans are not yet formed. Attack at once, and Lü Bu can be taken." Guo Jia said, "I have a plan that will bring down Xiapi at once—better than two hundred thousand troops." Xun Yu said, "Surely you mean to breach the Yi and Si Rivers?" Guo Jia smiled and said, "Exactly so."

Cao Cao was overjoyed. He at once ordered the soldiers to breach the two rivers. The Cao troops all took up positions on high ground and sat watching as the waters engulfed Xiapi. Of the entire city, only the East Gate remained above water; every other gate was flooded. The soldiers rushed to report this to Lü Bu. Bu said, "I have the Hare horse—I cross water as though it were flat ground. What is there to fear?" And so he passed his days drinking deeply with his wives and concubines. From excess of wine and women, his appearance wasted away. One day he took a mirror and looked at himself, and cried out in alarm, "I have been ruined by wine and women! From this day forward I will abstain!" He then issued an order throughout the city: anyone found drinking wine would be beheaded.

Now, it happened that Hou Cheng had fifteen horses, which a groom from the stables stole, meaning to present them to the Duke of Xu. Hou Cheng discovered the theft, pursued the groom, killed him, and recovered the horses. The other officers came to congratulate him. Hou Cheng brewed five or six hu of wine and wished to share a feast with the officers, but fearing Lü Bu might take offense, he first brought five bottles of wine to Lü Bu's residence and reported, "Thanks to your mighty prestige, I was able to recover my lost horses. All the officers have come to congratulate me, and I have brewed some wine. I did not dare drink it without permission, so I offer this small token first."

Lü Bu flew into a rage and said, "I have just issued a prohibition against wine, and yet you brew wine and hold a feast—are you plotting with others to attack me?" He ordered Hou Cheng dragged out and beheaded. Song Xian, Wei Xu, and the other officers all came in to plead for mercy. Lü Bu said: "He has deliberately defied my order—he deserves death. But in consideration of you officers, I will reduce the sentence to one hundred blows." The officers begged again, and Hou Cheng received fifty lashes on his back before being released. The officers were all dispirited.

Song Xian and Wei Xu went to Hou Cheng's house to visit him. Hou Cheng wept and said, "Had it not not been for you, I would be dead!" Song Xian said, "Lü Bu cares only for his wives—he treats us like weeds." Wei Xu said: "The army surrounds the city and the water laps at the moat. Our days are numbered!" Song Xian said: "Lü Bu is neither kind nor just. Why not we abandon him and flee?" Wei Xu said: "That would not be the act of true men. Better to seize Lü Bu and hand him over to Lord Cao." Hou Cheng said: "I was punished for recovering the horses, but the one thing Lü Bu relies on is the Hare horse. If you two can seize the gate and capture Lü Bu, I will first steal the horse and ride to Lord Cao."

The three men settled their plan. That night Hou Cheng went secretly to the stables and stole the Hare horse, then galloped to the East Gate. Wei Xu opened the gate and let him out, while making a show of pursuing him. Hou Cheng reached Cao Cao's camp, presented the horse, and told him in detail that Song Xian and Wei Xu would raise white flags as a signal and would prepare to surrender the gate. Upon receiving this intelligence, Cao Cao had dozens of proclamations written and shot into the city on arrows. The proclamation read:

The Grand General Cao, acting by the sacred edict of the Emperor, has marched to subdue Lü Bu. All who resist the great army, when the city is taken, will be exterminated together with their entire households. From officers and commanders down to common folk, whoever captures Lü Bu and presents him, or brings his head, will be richly rewarded with rank and gifts. Let all take heed of this proclamation.

The next morning at dawn, the shouting outside the city shook the ground. Lü Bu was greatly alarmed. He seized his halberd and mounted the wall, inspecting each gate. He berated Wei Xu for letting Hou Cheng escape and losing his warhorse, and was about to punish him. Below, the Cao soldiers saw the white flags on the wall and stormed the city with all their might. Lü Bu had no choice but to defend in person. From dawn until midday the battle raged, and then the Cao troops drew back a little. Lü Bu rested briefly in the gate tower and, without realizing it, fell asleep in his chair. Song Xian drove away the attendants, first stole Lü Bu's painted halberd, and then together with Wei Xu set upon Lü Bu, binding him tightly with ropes and cords.

Lü Bu awoke from his sleep with a start and called urgently for his attendants, but they had both been scattered by the two men. Song Xian raised the white flag, and the Cao soldiers all converged beneath the city wall. Wei Xu shouted, "Lü Bu has been taken alive!" Xiahou Yuan was not yet convinced. Song Xian threw Lü Bu's painted halberd down from the wall, then threw open the gate wide, and the Cao soldiers poured in. Gao Shun and Zhang Liao, at the West Gate, hemmed in by the floodwaters, were captured by the Cao troops. Chen Gong fled to the South Gate, where he was taken by Xu Huang.

Cao Cao entered the city and at once gave orders to close the breached waters and restore the flood. He issued proclamations to reassure the people. Then he sat with the Duke of Xu upon the White Gate Tower, with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei standing in attendance. The prisoners were brought before them. Lü Bu, tall though he was, was trussed up like a bundle. Bu said: "You are tying me too tightly—please loosen the ropes!" Cao Cao said: "When you bind a tiger, you cannot afford to be gentle." Lü Bu saw Hou Cheng, Wei Xu, and Song Xian all standing nearby and said to them, "I have treated you officers generously—how could you bring yourselves to betray me?" Song Xian replied: "You listen to your wives and concubines and ignore the counsel of your officers—how can you call that generous?"

Bu was silent. Before long, the crowd brought Gao Shun in. Cao Cao asked, "What have you to say?" Shun made no reply. Cao Cao angrily ordered him beheaded. Xu Huan brought Chen Gong in, bound. Cao Cao said, "Gongtai, have you been well since we parted?" Gong said, "Your heart is not upright, and that is why I abandoned you!" Cao Cao said, "If my heart is not upright, why then did you serve Lü Bu alone?" Gong said, "Bu may lack cunning, but he is not like you—treacherous, deceitful, and treacherous." Cao Cao said, "You consider yourself resourceful and full of schemes—how has it turned out for you now?" Gong looked at Lü Bu and said, "I regret that this man did not follow my counsel! Had he done so, he might not have been captured." Cao Cao said, "What shall be done today?" Gong cried out loudly, "Today there is only death!" Cao Cao said, "If that is so, what of your aged mother and your wife and children?" Gong said, "I have heard that he who governs the world with filial piety does not harm another's kin, and he who rules with benevolence does not extinguish another's line. Whether my mother, wife, and children live or die rests with you, my lord. Since I myself have been taken captive, I ask only to be executed—I have no further concern."

Cao Cao was inclined to spare him. But Gong walked straight down the stairs, and those who tried to hold him back could not restrain him. Cao Cao rose to his feet and, weeping, escorted him. Gong did not look back. Cao Cao said to his attendants, "Take Gongtai's mother, wife, and children back to Xuchang and provide for them in their old age. Anyone who neglects this shall be beheaded." Gong, hearing these words, still said nothing, but stretched out his neck to receive the blade. All present shed tears. Cao Cao had his body placed in a coffin and buried him in Xuchang. A later poet lamented him thus:

In life and death, one purpose held—

What a man of valor, firm and bold!

Had he not trusted words of stone,

A pillar's strength would lie untold.

Loyal to his lord, he earned our praise,

But leaving kin drew tears untold.

On White Gate Tower, when he met his end,

Who else could match Gongtai's hold?

As Cao Cao escorted Gong down the stairs, Bu said to Xuande, "You are a guest seated in honor, while I am a prisoner in chains. Why not speak a word for me?" Xuande nodded. When Cao Cao came back upstairs, Bu called out, "The only one you need fear is me. I submit now. Take me as your general, and I shall serve as your lieutenant—the world would not be hard to conquer!" Cao Cao turned to Xuande and said, "What do you think?" Xuande replied, "Do you not recall what happened to Ding Jianyang and Dong Zhuo?" Bu glared at Xuande and said, "This is the most faithless man alive!" Cao Cao ordered him taken downstairs to be strangled. Bu looked back at Xuande and said, "Big Ears! Do you not remember the Gate of the Camp and the shot at the halberd?" Suddenly a man cried out, "Lü Bu, you wretch! If you must die, then die—what is there to fear?" All turned to see—it was Zhang Liao, brought in by the executioners. Cao Cao ordered Lü Bu strangled first, then his head cut off. A later poet lamented thus:

The floods surged high around Xiapi,

Where Lü Bu was taken that day.

The Red Hare Horse roams no more,

The Halberd of Heaven holds no sway.

To spare a bound tiger shows weakness now,

To keep a full hawk—no doubt from the past.

He loved his wife, ignored Chen Gong's counsel,

And cursed in vain the Big Ears at last.

Another poem judged Xuande thus:

A hungry tiger, bound—do not be lenient,

For Ding and Dong's blood has not yet dried.

Xuande knew well the man who devoured his lords—

Why not leave him to trouble Cao Cao's side?

Now the warriors brought Zhang Liao in. Cao Cao pointed at him and said, "This man's face is strangely familiar." Liao said, "We met once in the city of Puyang—how could you have forgotten?" Cao Cao laughed, "So you remember it too!" Liao said, "Only it is a pity!" Cao Cao said, "A pity? What do you mean?" Liao said, "It is a pity the fire that day was not bigger—it failed to burn you, this traitor to the state!" Cao Cao flew into a rage. "How dare a defeated general insult me!" He drew his sword and came forward himself to kill Zhang Liao. Liao showed no fear at all, but stretched out his neck to await the blow. Behind Cao Cao, one man seized his arm, and another threw himself before him, saying, "My lord, do not strike!" Thus it was:

Lü Bu begged for mercy and none would save,

But Zhang Liao cursed the thief and his life was spared.

Who, then, was it that saved Zhang Liao? Read on and you shall know.