Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Now Cao Ren, burning with rage, raised the full strength of his army and crossed the river by night, determined to raze Xinye to the ground.

As for Shan Fu, he returned to the county in triumph and said to Xuande, "Cao Ren has stationed his troops at Fancheng. Now that he has learned his two generals have been slain, he will certainly march out with a great force to fight." Xuande said, "How should we meet him?" Shan Fu replied, "If he brings his entire army, Fancheng will be left undefended—we can seize the opportunity to take it." Xuande asked for his plan. Shan Fu whispered it into his ear. Xuande was overjoyed and made his preparations in advance. Suddenly a scout reported, "Cao Ren is leading his army across the river." Shan Fu said, "This is exactly as I predicted." He then asked Xuande to lead the army out to meet the enemy. The two forces formed their battle lines, and Zhao Yun rode out to challenge the enemy to send forth a general. Cao Ren ordered Li Dian to take the field, and he engaged Zhao Yun in combat. After some dozen exchanges, Li Dian realized he was outmatched and wheeled his horse back to his lines. Zhao Yun pressed forward in pursuit, but the archers on both flanks held him back, and the two sides withdrew to their camps.

Li Dian returned to Cao Ren and said, "Their army is elite—we must not underestimate them. It would be better to withdraw to Fancheng." Cao Ren flew into a rage. "Even before you took the field, you already dampened the spirit of my army. Now you have sold your position in battle—your crime warrants execution!" He ordered the guards to drag Li Dian out for beheading. Only after the other generals pleaded earnestly was Li Dian spared. Cao Ren then reassigned Li Dian to command the rear guard and took personal command of the vanguard. The next day, drums sounded and the army advanced, forming a battle array. Cao Ren sent a messenger to ask Xuande, "Do you recognize my formation?"

Shan Fu ascended a high vantage point, surveyed the formation, and said to Xuande, "This is the 'Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation.' The eight gates are: Rest, Life, Harm, Block, View, Death, Shock, and Open. Entering through the Life, View, or Open gates brings good fortune; entering through the Harm, Shock, or Rest gates brings injury; entering through the Block or Death gates brings destruction. Although the eight gates are arrayed neatly, the center still lacks proper command. If we charge in from the southeast through the Life gate and exit due west through the View gate, the formation will surely fall into disarray."

Xuande issued orders, directing his soldiers to seize the corners of the formation. He commanded Zhao Yun to lead five hundred troops in from the southeast and go straight through to the west. Zhao Yun received the order, leveled his spear, mounted his horse, and led his men straight to the southeast corner with a great shout, charging into the center of the enemy formation. Cao Ren fled northward. Zhao Yun did not pursue but instead burst out through the western gate, then turned and charged back from the west to the southeast corner. Cao Ren's army fell into great confusion. Xuande commanded his forces to press the attack, and Cao Ren's troops were utterly routed and driven back. Shan Fu ordered that no pursuit be made and recalled the army.

Now Cao Ren, having lost this engagement, began to believe Li Dian's words. He summoned Li Dian again to confer with him, saying, "There must be a capable strategist in Liu Bei's army—my formation was broken after all." Li Dian said, "Though I am here, I am deeply worried about Fancheng." Cao Ren said, "Tonight we will raid their camp. If we prevail, we will make further plans; if not, we will withdraw to Fancheng." Li Dian said, "That cannot be done. Liu Bei will certainly be prepared." Cao Ren said, "If we are so suspicious, how can we wage war?" He refused to heed Li Dian's counsel. He took personal command of the vanguard and ordered Li Dian to serve with the rear guard as support. That night, at the second watch, they set out to raid the camp.

Now Shan Fu was in the camp discussing matters with Xuande when suddenly a violent wind arose. Shan Fu said, "Tonight Cao Ren will certainly come to raid our camp." Xuande said, "How shall we counter him?" Shan Fu smiled and said, "I have already calculated everything." He then issued his secret dispositions. By the second watch, Cao Ren's troops were approaching the camp when suddenly fires broke out on all four sides, consuming the palisades. Cao Ren knew they had been anticipated and ordered an immediate retreat. Zhao Yun fell upon them from behind. Before Cao Ren could rally his men and return to camp, he fled in haste toward the northern river. When he reached the riverbank and was searching for boats to cross, a force of warriors appeared on the shore. At their head was a great general—Zhang Fei. Cao Ren fought desperately, and Li Dian helped him down to the boats to cross the river. More than half of Cao Ren's soldiers drowned in the water.

Having crossed the river, Cao Ren made for Fancheng and ordered the gates to be opened. Suddenly a drum sounded atop the city walls, and a general led an army out, shouting loudly, "I seized Fancheng long ago!" All looked up in astonishment—it was Guan Yunchang. Cao Ren was greatly alarmed and turned his horse to flee. Yunchang pursued him. Cao Ren lost many more men and horses and rode by night for Xuchang. Along the way he made inquiries and learned that Shan Fu was the military advisor who had devised all the strategies.

Let us leave Cao Ren's retreat to Xuchang. As for Xuande, having won a great victory, he led his army into Fancheng. The county magistrate Liu Mi came out to welcome him. Xuande settled the people and restored order. This Liu Mi was a native of Changsha and also of the imperial Liu clan. He invited Xuande to his home and prepared a banquet in his honor. Xuande noticed a man standing in attendance whose bearing was imposing and distinguished, and he asked Liu Mi, "Who is this person?" Liu Mi replied, "This is my nephew Kou Feng, son of the Marquis of Kou. Both his parents are deceased, so he has attached himself to me." Xuande took a liking to him and wished to adopt him as a son. Liu Mi gladly agreed, and Kou Feng was made to bow to Xuande as his father, taking the name Liu Feng. Xuande brought him back and had him bow to Yunchang and Yide as uncles. Yunchang said, "My elder brother already has a son of his own—why adopt a foundling? This will surely lead to trouble in the future." Xuande said, "I shall treat him as my own son, and he will surely serve me as his father. What trouble could arise?" Yunchang was displeased. Xuande consulted with Shan Fu and ordered Zhao Yun to garrison Fancheng with a thousand troops. Xuande then led his forces back to Xinye.

Cao Ren and Li Dian returned to Xuchang and went to see Cao Cao. Weeping, they prostrated themselves on the ground to plead guilty, and told him in full of the loss of officers and troops. Cao Cao said, "Victory and defeat are the common lot of soldiers. But who advised Liu Bei in his strategy?" Cao Ren said it was Shan Fu's plan. Cao Cao asked, "Who is this Shan Fu?" Cheng Yu smiled and said, "This is not Shan Fu. As a youth, he loved study and swordsmanship. In the last years of the Zhongping era, he once killed a man to avenge a friend. He fled with his hair loose and his face smeared with paint, but was seized by the officials. When they asked his name, he would not answer. So they bound him to a cart, beat drums, and paraded him through the market so that the townspeople might identify him. Though some recognized him, none dared speak. A companion secretly freed him and helped him escape. He then changed his name, set himself to study with earnest purpose, and visited many famous teachers. He once conversed with Sima Hui. This man is Xu Shu of Yingchuan, styled Yuanzhi. Shan Fu is but an assumed name." Cao Cao said, "How does Xu Shu's ability compare with yours?" Cheng Yu replied, "He is ten times my superior." Cao Cao said, "What a pity that this worthy scholar has gone to Liu Bei! His wings are fully grown now. What can be done?" Cheng Yu said, "Though Xu Shu is with him, if Your Excellency wishes to use him, it will not be difficult to summon him." Cao Cao asked, "How can we make him come over?" Cheng Yu said, "Xu Shu is a man of supreme filial piety. His father died when he was young, and only his old mother remains. His younger brother Xu Kang has now died, so there is no one to care for her. Your Excellency can send someone to lure his mother to Xuchang and then have her write a letter summoning her son. Xu Shu will certainly come."

Cao Cao was greatly pleased and sent someone with all haste to fetch Xu Shu's mother. In less than a day, she was brought. Cao Cao treated her generously and said to her, "I hear that your son Xu Yuanzhi is one of the finest talents in the world. He is now at Xinxe, helping the rebel Liu Bei to betray the court. It is like a fair jewel fallen into the mud—truly a pity. I would trouble you to write a letter calling him back to Xuchang. I will speak on his behalf before the Emperor, and he will surely be handsomely rewarded."

He then ordered his attendants to bring writing materials and bade the old lady write. Lady Xu asked, "What sort of man is Liu Bei?" Cao Cao said, "He is a young nobody from Pei who falsely claims to be an Imperial Uncle. He has no good faith or honor at all—outwardly a gentleman, but inwardly a base fellow." Lady Xu said sternly, "How utterly you lie and deceive! I have long heard that Xuande is a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan and a great-great-grandson of Emperor Xiaojing. He humbles himself to treat scholars with respect, conducts himself with courtesy, and is kind to others. His benevolent reputation is well established. Throughout the land, young and old, herdsmen and woodcutters—all know his name. He is truly a hero of our time. My son serves him and has found his rightful lord. Though you pretend to be the Prime Minister of Han, you are in fact a traitor to Han. Yet you call Xuande a rebel and wish to make my son turn from the light to the dark—are you not ashamed of yourself!"

With these words, she seized an inkstone and flung it at Cao Cao. Cao Cao flew into a rage and ordered his guards to seize Lady Xu and lead her out to be executed. Cheng Yu hastened to stop him and went in to remonstrate. He said, "Lady Xu offended Your Excellency because she seeks death. If you put her to death, you will earn a reputation for injustice and fulfill her desire for a virtuous end. If she dies, Xu Shu will devote himself utterly to Liu Bei to avenge her. It would be better to spare her, so that Xu Shu's heart is divided between two places. Even if he assists Liu Bei, he will not do so with all his strength. Moreover, so long as we keep Lady Xu alive, I have a plan to lure Xu Shu here to serve Your Excellency."

Cao Cao saw the wisdom of this and spared Lady Xu, sending her to another quarters where she was well cared for. Cheng Yu visited her daily and falsely claimed to have sworn brotherhood with Xu Shu, treating her as his own mother. He often sent her gifts, always accompanied by a letter in his own hand. Lady Xu also wrote replies in her own hand. Cheng Yu thus obtained samples of her handwriting and forged a letter in her style. He sent a trusted man with the letter straight to Xinxe County to inquire for Shan Fu's headquarters. The soldiers brought him to Xu Shu. Xu Shu, learning that a letter had come from his mother, hastily called the messenger in and questioned him. The man said, "I am a servant from your household. By Lady's command, I bring a letter for you." Xu Shu broke the seal and read:

"Recently your younger brother Kang died, and I am left with no kin. In the midst of my grief, I did not expect Prime Minister Cao to send men and lure me to Xuchang. He said you had rebounded against the court and threw me into prison. Thanks to Cheng Yu and others, I was spared. If you come and surrender, my life may be spared. When this letter arrives, remembering the toil with which I raised you, come with all speed to save me, that you may fulfill your duty of filial piety. Afterward we can plan to return to our old home and escape great calamity. Now my life hangs by a thread. I look only to you for rescue! I have no more to say."

When Xu Shu had finished reading, tears poured down like a spring. He took the letter and went to see Xuande. He said, "I am Xu Shu of Yingchuan, styled Yuanzhi. Because I was fleeing from trouble, I changed my name to Shan Fu. Earlier, when I heard that Liu Jing-sheng welcomed worthy men and scholars, I went to see him. But after discussing matters with him, I realized he was a useless man. I wrote a letter of farewell and went by night to the villa of Sima Shui-jing to tell him of it. Shui-jing blamed me sharply for not recognizing where my true master lay, and said, 'The Provincial Governor of Yuzhou is here—why do you not serve him?' So I purposely sang a mad song in the market to attract Your Lordship's attention. Fortunately, you did not reject me but gave me important duties. But now my old mother has been treacherously lured by Cao Cao to Xuchang and imprisoned, and he intends to do her harm. A letter in her own hand summons me, and I cannot refuse to go. It is not that I do not wish to serve you with all my strength and repay Your Lordship; but my dear mother is in captivity, and I cannot devote myself fully. I must now take my leave and hope to meet again another day."

Upon hearing these words, Xu Shu wept bitterly. "Mother and son are bound by heaven's own tie," he said. "I beg you, my lord, do not think of me. Perhaps after I have seen my old mother again, I may have the chance to serve you once more." Xu Shu then bowed and took his leave, ready to depart.

Liu Bei said, "I beg you to stay one more night. Tomorrow I shall hold a farewell banquet for you."

Sun Qian said to Liu Bei in private, "Xu Shu is a genius without equal in the empire. He has been in Xinye for a long time and knows every detail of our army. If he goes to serve Cao Cao, he will certainly be put to great use, and we shall be in grave danger. My lord, you must do everything to keep him—do not let him go. If Cao Cao sees that Xu Shu will not stay, he will surely put his mother to death. When Xu Shu learns of his mother's death, he will surely seek vengeance against Cao Cao and attack him with all his strength."

Liu Bei said, "I cannot do such a thing. To cause a man's mother to be killed and then use his son—that would be inhumane. To keep him from going and sever the bond between mother and son—that would be unjust. I would rather die than commit an act that is both inhumane and unjust."

All those present sighed with admiration.

Liu Bei invited Xu Shu to drink with him. Xu Shu said, "Now that I know my old mother is imprisoned, even the finest wine cannot pass my throat."

Liu Bei replied, "I hear that you are leaving, and it is as though I have lost my own hands and feet. Even the most exquisite delicacies have no taste for me."

The two men sat facing one another in tears, waiting for dawn. The generals had already arranged a farewell banquet outside the city walls. Liu Bei and Xu Shu rode out of the city side by side. When they reached the long pavilion, they dismounted to bid each other farewell.

Liu Bei raised his cup and said to Xu Shu, "I am shallow in merit and thin in fortune—I cannot keep you by my side. I hope you will serve your new master well and achieve great fame and success."

Xu Shu wept and said, "My talents are meager and my wisdom shallow, yet you, my lord, have treated me with the highest regard. That I must part from you halfway through our journey is solely because of my old mother. Even if Cao Cao presses me, I shall never offer him a single stratagem as long as I live."

Liu Bei said, "Since you must go, Liu Bei too will flee far into the mountains."

Xu Shu said, "The reason I was able to join you in pursuing the cause of kingship or hegemony was because I had this—" and he pointed to his heart. "But now, on account of my old mother, my heart is in turmoil. Even if I remained here, I would be of no use. You must seek out another wise and worthy man to assist you in achieving your great enterprise. Why give way to such despair?"

Liu Bei said, "There is no wise man in all the empire who surpasses you."

Xu Shu said, "I am but a worthless piece of timber—how dare I accept such high praise?"

As he was about to depart, he turned and said to the generals, "I hope you will all serve our lord well, so that your names may be inscribed on bamboo and silk and your deeds recorded in the annals of history. Do not follow my example, who could not see things through from beginning to end."

All the generals were deeply moved.

Liu Bei could not bear to part. He escorted Xu Shu one stage of the journey, then another. Xu Shu said, "My lord, you need not trouble yourself to escort me any further. I shall take my leave here."

Liu Bei, still on horseback, grasped Xu Shu's hand and said, "Once you leave, we shall be separated to the ends of heaven. Who knows when we shall meet again!" As he spoke, his tears fell like rain.

Xu Shu too shed tears and parted from him.

Liu Bei stood his horse at the edge of a grove and watched as Xu Shu rode away with his attendants in haste. Liu Bei wept and said, "Xu Shu is gone! What shall I do?" He stared after him through his tears, but a grove of trees blocked his view. Liu Bei pointed with his whip and said, "I wish I could cut down every one of these trees!"

The others asked why.

Liu Bei replied, "Because they obstruct my eyes as I gaze after Xu Shu."

Even as he stared, he suddenly saw Xu Shu galloping back on horseback.

Liu Bei said, "Xu Shu has returned—perhaps he does not wish to go after all!" He rode forward joyfully and asked, "You have come back, sir—surely you have something to tell me?"

Xu Shu reined in his horse and said to Liu Bei, "My mind was in such a turmoil that I forgot to mention something. In this region there is a remarkable scholar, only twenty long leagues from Xiangyang, in a place called Longzhong. Why do you not seek him out, my lord?"

Liu Bei said, "Would you be willing to go and bring him here for me to meet?"

Xu Shu said, "This man cannot be summoned—you must go to seek him in person. If you obtain his services, it would be no different from the Zhou dynasty obtaining Lü Wang or the Han dynasty obtaining Zhang Liang."

Liu Bei asked, "How do this man's talents and virtues compare with yours?"

Xu Shu said, "If I compare myself to him, it would be like matching a lame horse against a qilin, or a cold crow against a phoenix. This man often compares himself to Guan Zhong and Yue Yi, but in my view, even Guan and Yue could not equal him. He possesses talents that could weave heaven and earth together—he is the foremost man in all the empire."

Liu Bei, overjoyed, said, "I would gladly hear this man's name."

Xu Shu said, "He is a man from Yangdu in Langya. His surname is Zhuge, his given name Liang, and his courtesy name Kongming. He is a descendant of Zhuge Feng, who served as Colonel Director of Retainers in the Han dynasty. His father, Zhuge Gui, courtesy name Zigong, served as an assistant grand administrator of Taishan, but died early. Liang followed his uncle, Zhuge Xuan. Zhuge Xuan was an old acquaintance of Liu Jing, the Governor of Jing Province, and went to seek refuge with him, settling in Xiangyang. After Zhuge Xuan died, Liang and his younger brother Zhuge Jun tilled the fields in Nanyang. He was fond of chanting the Liangfu Yin. Where he lived there was a ridge called Wolong Ridge—for this reason he styled himself Master Wolong. This man is a genius of an unparalleled age. My lord, you must go to see him without delay. If this man is willing to assist you, what worry would you have that the empire cannot be pacified?"

Liu Bei said, "Master Shuijing once told me, 'If you obtain either the Sleeping Dragon or the Phoenix Chick, you may bring peace to the empire.' Could this be the very man he spoke of?"

Xu Shu said, "The Phoenix Chick is Pang Tong of Xiangyang. The Sleeping Dragon is none other than Zhuge Kongming."

Liu Bei leaped with excitement and said, "Today at last I understand the meaning of the words 'Sleeping Dragon' and 'Phoenix Chick.' Who would have thought that so great a sage was right before my eyes? Had you not spoken, my lord, I would have been as blind as a man without eyes!"

Later, a poet wrote in praise of Xu Shu's recommending Zhuge Liang:

Grief that so noble a sage may not be met again,

At the crossroads they part, their tears mingling with deep feeling.

A few words, like spring thunder's mighty roll,

Could rouse the Sleeping Dragon from his southern home.

After recommending Kongming, Xu Shu once more took leave of Liu Bei and rode away.

Having heard Xu Shu's words, Liu Bei now understood what Sima Hui had meant. As a drunken man suddenly wakes, as one roused from a dream, he led his generals back to Xinye. He then prepared generous gifts and, together with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, set out for Nanyang to invite Kongming.

Let us now speak of Xu Shu. After parting from Xuande, moved by the affection his lord had shown him, he feared that Kongming might refuse to leave his retreat to assist him. He therefore rode straight to the Sleeping Dragon Ridge, entered the thatched cottage, and went in to see Kongming. Kongming asked the reason for his visit.

Xu Shu said, "I had intended to serve the Governor of Yu Province, but my aged mother is held captive by Cao Cao, and a letter summoning me has arrived. I have no choice but to leave and go to her. Before departing, I recommended you to Lord Xuande. He will come to pay his respects very soon. I hope you will not refuse, but will unfold all the great talents of your lifetime to assist him. That would be a blessing indeed."

At these words, Kongming's expression changed. "Do you treat me as a sacrificial victim to be offered up on the altar?" With that, he swept his sleeves and went inside. Xu Shu withdrew in shame and confusion, mounted his horse, and hastened on his way to Xuchang to see his mother. Truly it can be said:

One word to a friend, for love of his lord;

A thousand leagues to his home, for thoughts of his kin.

What happened next will be told in the following chapter.