Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The poem says:

The rolling Yangtze flows eastward, its waters washing away the heroes of old.

Success and failure, right and wrong—all turn to emptiness in the end.

The green mountains remain, as they always have, while the red sun sets time and again.

White-haired fishermen and woodcutters upon the river isles, accustomed to the autumn moon and spring breeze.

A pot of cloudy wine, joyfully shared when old friends meet:

The countless events of past and present, all passed over in laughter and conversation.

It is said that the great trend of the world is that what has long divided must unite, and what has long united must divide. In the final years of the Zhou Dynasty, seven states contended for power, until they were absorbed into Qin. After Qin fell, Chu and Han contended, and then were absorbed into Han. The Han Dynasty began when its founding emperor, Gaozu, raised his rebellion after slaying a white serpent, and unified the realm. Later, Emperor Guangwu restored the dynasty, and the throne passed down to Emperor Xian, whereupon the empire split into three kingdoms. Tracing the cause of the chaos, one finds it began with Emperors Huan and Ling. Emperor Huan suppressed the worthy and placed his trust in eunuchs. When Emperor Huan died and Emperor Ling ascended the throne, the Grand General Dou Wu and the Grand Tutor Chen Fan jointly assisted in governance. At that time, the eunuch Cao Jie and others wielded power, and Dou Wu and Chen Fan plotted to put them to death, but the affair was not kept secret and they were instead killed by the eunuchs. From then on, the palace attendants grew ever more arrogant.

In the second year of Jianning, on the fifteenth day of the fourth month, the emperor ascended the Wenteng Hall. Just as he had taken his seat, a sudden fierce wind arose at the corner of the hall, and a great green serpent was seen flying down from the beam above, coiling itself upon the throne. The emperor fell in shock, his attendants rushed him into the palace, and all the officials fled in all directions. In a moment, the serpent was nowhere to be seen. Then came great thunder and torrential rain, mixed with hailstones, which fell until midnight before ceasing, destroying countless buildings. In the fourth year of Jianning, in the second month, Luoyang suffered an earthquake; at the same time the sea overflowed its banks, and all the coastal dwellers were swept into the waves. In the first year of Guanghe, a hen transformed into a rooster. On the first day of the sixth month, a black vapor some ten zhang long flew into the Wenteng Hall. In the seventh month, a rainbow appeared over the Yutang Hall, and the banks of the five Yuan Mountains all cracked and collapsed. There were many such ill omens, and these were not the only ones. The emperor issued an edict asking his ministers the reasons for these disasters. The Consultant Cai Yong submitted a memorial, arguing that the falling rainbow and the transformation of the hen were caused by the interference of women and eunuchs in state affairs, and his words were most direct and earnest. The emperor sighed upon reading the memorial and rose to change his robes. Cao Jie, watching from behind, secretly revealed everything to those around him, and subsequently framed Cai Yong on other charges, sending him back to his home in the countryside. Later, Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, Feng Xu, Duan Gui, Cao Jie, Hou Lan, Jian Shuo, Cheng Kuang, Xia Yun, and Guo Sheng formed a clique of ten, known as the "Ten Constant Attendants." The emperor honored and trusted Zhang Rang, calling him "Father." The governance of the court grew daily worse, until the hearts of the people throughout the realm turned toward rebellion, and bandits rose on every side.

At that time in Julu Commandery there were three brothers: one named Zhang Jue, one named Zhang Bao, and one named Zhang Liang. This Zhang Jue had been a scholar who failed the examinations. One day, gathering herbs in the mountains, he met an old man with bright eyes and a youthful face, holding a staff of broomcorn millet, who called Zhang Jue into a cave and presented him with three volumes of a heavenly book, saying: "This is called the Art of Great Peace. If you obtain it, you shall represent Heaven in spreading its teachings and saving the people of the world. But if you harbor any treacherous thoughts, you shall surely meet with evil retribution." Zhang Jue bowed and asked the old man's name. The old man replied: "I am the Old Immortal of Mount Nanhua." With these words, he transformed into a clear breeze and vanished. Zhang Jue obtained this book and studied it day and night; he could summon wind and rain, and was known as the "Daoist of Great Peace." In the first month of the first year of Zhongping, pestilence was abroad in the land. Zhang Jue distributed talismanic water to cure the people's ailments, calling himself the "Great Worthy and Excellent Master." Zhang Jue had more than five hundred disciples, who wandered in all directions and could all write talismans and recite incantations. Later his followers multiplied daily, and Zhang Jue established thirty-six divisions: the larger ones numbering over ten thousand men, the smaller ones six or seven thousand, each with its own commander, called a general. They spread the false prophecy: "The Blue Heaven is dead; the Yellow Heaven shall be established. In the year of Jiazi, great fortune shall come to the world." They ordered people everywhere to write the characters "Jiazi" in white clay upon the gates of their homes. The people of Qing, You, Xu, Jing, Yang, Yan, and Yu—eight provinces in all—every household honored the name of the Great Worthy and Excellent Master Zhang Jue. Zhang Jue sent his follower Ma Yuan Yi with gold and silks in secret to befriend the palace attendant Feng Xu, to serve as an inside agent. Zhang Jue consulted with his two brothers, saying: "The most difficult thing to obtain is the hearts of the people. Now the people's hearts are already with us. If we do not seize this opportunity to take the world, it would be truly a pity." So on the one hand they secretly made yellow banners and set a date for the uprising; on the other hand they sent the disciple Tang Zhou with a letter to report to Feng Xu. Tang Zhou instead went straight to the imperial secretariat and reported the plot. The emperor summoned the Grand General He Jin to deploy troops and arrest Ma Yuan Yi, who was executed. Feng Xu and the others involved were thrown into prison. Zhang Jue, learning that the affair had been exposed, raised his forces by night, calling himself the "General of Heaven," Zhang Bao the "General of Earth," and Zhang Liang the "General of Man." He declared to the masses: "Now the fortune of Han is about to end, and a great sage has appeared. You should all follow Heaven and embrace righteousness, so as to enjoy the Great Peace." The common people of the four directions who wrapped yellow cloth around their heads and followed Zhang Jue in rebellion numbered four or five hundred thousand. The rebel forces were vast, and the imperial troops melted away at the mere sight of them. He Jin memorialized the emperor to issue urgent edicts ordering every region to prepare its defenses and attack the rebels to win merit. At the same time he dispatched the Palace Commandant Lu Zhi, Huangfu Song, and Zhu Jun, each leading elite troops, to attack the rebels on three fronts.

Now it must be told that Zhang Jue's army advanced to the borders of Youzhou. The Grand Administrator of Youzhou, Liu Yan, was a native of Jingling in Jiangxia, and a descendant of Prince Gong of Lu of the House of Han. When word reached him that the rebel forces were approaching, he summoned Colonel Zou Jing to deliberate with him. Zou Jing said, "The enemy is numerous while our troops are few. Your Excellency should quickly recruit soldiers to meet them." Liu Yan approved his counsel and immediately posted a proclamation calling for volunteers. The proclamation reached Zhuoxian County, and there it brought forth a hero from among the men of that county. This man was not much given to study; his nature was generous and mild, he spoke little, and neither joy nor anger showed upon his face. He had long harbored a great ambition and devoted himself to befriending the bold men of the realm. He stood seven feet five inches tall, with ears so long they reached his shoulders, arms so long they extended past his knees, and eyes that could see his own ears. His face was smooth as jade, his lips as if painted with vermilion. He was a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan, Liu Sheng, and a great-great-grandson of Emperor Jing of Han. His surname was Liu, his given name Bei, and his style Xuande. In former times, Liu Sheng's son Liu Zhen had been enfeoffed as Lord of Zhulu under Emperor Wu of Han, but later lost his title for failing to present the proper gold for the ancestral sacrifices. Thus this branch of the family remained in Zhuoxian. Xuande's grandfather was Liu Xiong, and his father Liu Hong. Liu Hong had been recommended as a man of filial piety and integrity and had served as an official, but he died early. Xuande was orphaned in his youth and served his mother with the utmost devotion. The family was poor, and he made his living selling shoes and weaving mats. They lived in Lousang Village in that county. To the southeast of his house stood a great mulberry tree, more than five feet tall, which from a distance looked like a carriage canopy. A physiognomist had said, "This family will surely produce a man of noble rank." When Xuande was a boy, he played beneath the tree with the village children and said, "When I become Son of Heaven, I shall ride in a carriage with a canopy like this." His uncle Liu Qiyuan, marveling at these words, said, "This is no ordinary child!" And seeing that Xuande's family was poor, he often provided for him. At the age of fifteen, his mother sent him to study away from home, and he became a student of Zheng Xuan and Lu Zhi, and a friend of Gongsun Zan and others. By the time Liu Yan issued his proclamation for troops, Xuande was already twenty-eight years old.

On that day, when he read the proclamation, he heaved a long sigh. Then a man behind him spoke in a stern voice: "A true man who does not devote his strength to the state—why does he sigh?" Xuande turned to look at him: he stood eight feet tall, with a leopard's head and ringed eyes, a swallow's jaw and a tiger's whiskers. His voice was like a thunderclap, his bearing like a galloping horse. Xuande, seeing that his appearance was extraordinary, asked his name. The man said, "My surname is Zhang, my given name Fei, and my style Yide. I have lived for generations in Zhuojun. I have considerable farmland, and I sell wine and slaughter pigs. I devote myself to befriending the bold men of the realm. Just now I saw you reading the proclamation and sighing, and so I asked." Xuande said, "I am of the imperial House of Liu, my name is Bei. Now I hear that the Yellow Turban rebels have risen, and I have the ambition to crush the bandits and bring peace to the people. But I lack the strength, and so I sighed." Fei said, "I have ample means. I shall recruit men from the countryside and join you in a great undertaking—what say you?" Xuande was overjoyed, and together they went into a village inn to drink. As they were drinking, they saw a great man pushing a cart, who stopped it before the inn door, came in, seated himself, and called to the wine steward: "Quick, pour me wine to drink—I mean to hurry into the city and enlist." Xuande looked at him: he stood nine feet tall, with a beard two feet long; his face was dark as a heavy date, his lips as if painted with vermilion; he had phoenix eyes and silkworm eyebrows. His bearing was majestic, his presence awe-inspiring. Xuade invited him to sit with them and asked his name. The man said, "My surname is Guan, my given name Yu, my style Changsheng, later changed to Yunchang. I am from Jieliang in Hedong. A local strongman there oppressed the people, and I killed him. I have been fleeing through the land for five or six years. Now I hear that troops are being raised here to crush the bandits, and so I have come to enlist." Xuande then told him of his own ambition. Yunchang was greatly pleased. They went together to Zhang Fei's farm to discuss their plans.

Fei said, "Behind my farm there is a peach garden, and the blossoms are in full bloom. Tomorrow we should sacrifice to Heaven and Earth in that garden, and the three of us become brothers, working together with one heart—then we may plan our great undertaking." Xuande and Yunchang both replied, "That would be excellent." The next day, in the peach garden, they prepared the sacrificial offerings of a black ox and a white horse. The three men burned incense, bowed twice, and swore this oath: "We, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, though of different surnames, having now become brothers, will work together with one heart to rescue the imperiled and aid the distressed; we will serve the state above and bring peace to the common people below. We do not ask to be born on the same day of the same month of the same year, but we pray to die on the same day of the same month of the same year. May Heaven and Earth bear witness to this heart. If any of us betrays righteousness or forgets kindness, may both Heaven and man destroy him!" When the oath was finished, they bowed to Xuande as eldest brother, to Guan Yu as the second, and to Zhang Fei as the youngest. After sacrificing to Heaven and Earth, they slaughtered cattle and set out wine, and gathered the bold men of the countryside—more than three hundred in all—and drank themselves into a deep stupor in the peach garden. The next day they set about preparing weapons, but lamented that they had no horses to ride. Even as they were pondering this, a report came that two merchants had arrived, leading a company of men and driving a herd of horses to the farm. Xuande said, "Heaven is aiding us!" The three men went out to greet them. It turned out the two merchants were great traders from Zhongshan: one named Zhang Shiping, the other Su Shuang. Every year they traveled north to trade in horses, but had recently turned back because of the bandit uprising. Xuande invited the two men to his farm, set out wine for them, and told them of his desire to campaign against the bandits and bring peace to the people. The two merchants were greatly pleased and offered fifty fine horses as a gift. They also gave five hundred taels of gold and silver and a thousand jin of fine iron for the making of weapons. Xuade thanked the two merchants and took his leave, then ordered a skilled smith to forge a pair of swords for him. Yunchang had the Green Dragon Crescent Blade made—also called the "Cold Elegant Saw"—weighing eighty-two jin. Zhang Fei had a sixteen-foot steel-tipped spear made. Each of them had a full suit of armor fitted. They gathered more than five hundred volunteers and went to see Zou Jing. Zou Jing presented them to Grand Administrator Liu Yan. The three men paid their respects and each gave his name. When Xuande spoke of his lineage, Liu Yan was overjoyed and acknowledged Xuande as his nephew.

Within a few days, a report came that Cheng Yuanzhi, a Yellow Turban rebel commander, was leading fifty thousand troops to attack Zhuo Commandery. Liu Yan ordered Zou Jing to lead Xuande and his two sworn brothers, with five hundred soldiers, to meet the enemy. Xuande and his men marched forth with high spirits, advancing as far as the foot of Daxing Mountain, where they came face to face with the rebels. The rebel soldiers all wore their hair loose and bound their foreheads with yellow cloth. The two armies drew up opposite each other. Xuande rode out, with Yun Chang on his left and Yi De on his right, and brandished his whip, crying out in fury: "Traitors who rebel against the realm—why do you not surrender at once!" Cheng Yuanzhi flew into a rage and sent his lieutenant Deng Mao into the battle. Zhang Fei leveled his eighteen-foot serpent-headed spear and rode forth; with a single thrust he struck Deng Mao through the heart, who toppled from his horse. Cheng Yuanzhi, seeing that Deng Mao had fallen, galloped forward with sword drawn, straight at Zhang Fei. Yun Chang brandished his great blade and spurred his horse to meet him. When Cheng Yuanzhi saw this, he was seized with alarm; before he could recover himself, Yun Chang's blade fell and sliced him in two. A later poet praised the two heroes thus:

The heroes reveal their prowess this very day,

One tests his spear and one tests his blade.

From their first outing their might is displayed,

And the Three Kingdoms shall know their names.

When the rebel host saw that Cheng Yuanzhi had been slain, they threw down their weapons and fled. Xuande led his army in pursuit; those who surrendered were beyond counting, and they returned in triumph. Liu Yan himself came out to welcome them and rewarded the troops. The following day, they received a dispatch from Gong Jing, the Grand Administrator of Qingzhou, stating that the Yellow Turban rebels were besieging his city and it was on the verge of falling; he begged for reinforcements. Liu Yan consulted with Xuande, who said, "I am willing to go to his relief." Liu Yan ordered Zou Jing to lead five thousand soldiers, together with Xuande, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, to march on Qingzhou. When the rebels saw the reinforcements arrive, they divided their forces to engage in a confused battle. Xuande's troops were too few and could not prevail, so he withdrew thirty li and made camp. Xuande said to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei: "The enemy are many and we are few—we must employ extraordinary tactics to win." He then divided his forces: Guan Yu led one thousand men to conceal themselves on the left of the mountain, and Zhang Fei led one thousand men to conceal themselves on the right, with the sound of gongs as the signal to sally forth together. The next day, Xuande and Zou Jing led their troops forward with shouting and drumming. The rebels came out to meet them, and Xuande ordered a retreat. The rebels pressed their advantage in pursuit; but just as they had passed the ridge, Xuande's army sounded the gongs together, and the two forces on either side charged out at once, while Xuande wheeled his troops around and attacked again. With three columns converging, the rebel host was utterly routed. They pursued them all the way to the walls of Qingzhou, where Grand Administrator Gong Jing also led the militia out of the city to join the attack. The rebels suffered a crushing defeat, with vast numbers slain or captured, and the siege of Qingzhou was lifted. A later poet praised Xuande thus:

In scheming and planning he wields a divine power;

Two tigers must yield to a single dragon.

Even at his first emergence he achieves great deeds,

As if destined to claim his share of the realm in humble beginnings.

When Gong Jing had finished feasting the army, Zou Jing wished to return. Xuande said: "I have recently heard that the Court Commandant Lu Zhi is fighting the rebel chief Zhang Jue at Guangzong. I was once a student of Lu Zhi and wish to go to his aid." So Zou Jing led his troops back, while Xuande, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei took their original five hundred men and set out for Guangzong. They proceeded to Lu Zhi's camp, entered his tent, paid their respects, and explained the purpose of their visit. Lu Zhi was overjoyed and kept them in his tent to await orders.

At that time Zhang Jue's rebel forces numbered a hundred and fifty thousand, while Lu Zhi had fifty thousand troops; the two armies faced each other at Guangzong, with neither side gaining the upper hand. Lu Zhi said to Xuande: "I now have the rebels besieged here. Zhang Jue's younger brothers Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao are at Yingchuan, confronting Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun. You may lead your own men, and I will add a thousand government soldiers for you, to go to Yingchuan and gather intelligence, so that we may agree on a date for a joint campaign." Xuande accepted the order and led his troops by day and night to Yingchuan. At that time Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun were commanding the army against the rebels. The rebels had fought unsuccessfully and retreated into Changshe, where they made camp among the grass. Song and Jun conferred, saying: "The rebels have camped among the grass—we should attack them with fire." They therefore ordered every soldier to bundle up a armful of grass and lie in ambush under cover of darkness. That night a great wind suddenly arose. After the second watch, they all set fires simultaneously. Song and Jun each led their troops to attack the rebel camp. The flames shot up to the sky. The rebel soldiers, in a panic, had no time to saddle their horses or don their armor, and scattered in all directions.

By dawn, Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao led their battered remnant troops, fighting to break through. Suddenly a body of soldiers appeared, all flying red banners, blocking their path. At their head rode a general: seven feet tall, with narrow eyes and a long beard; he held the title of Commandant of Cavalry; a man of Qiao Commandery in the Kingdom of Pei. His surname was Cao, his given name Cao, and his style name Mengde. Cao Cao's father, Cao Song, was originally of the Xiahou family; because he had been adopted as a son by the Regular Attendant Cao Teng, he took the surname Cao. Cao Song fathered Cao Cao, whose childhood name was Aman, also called Jili. As a boy, Cao Cao loved roaming the fields and hunting, and delighted in song and dance; he possessed cunning and resourcefulness, and was full of schemes and stratagems. Cao Cao had an uncle who, seeing the boy wander about without restraint, was often angry and complained to Cao Song. Song would scold his son. But Cao Cao conceived a plan: whenever his uncle approached, he would fall to the ground and feign the symptoms of a stroke. The uncle, alarmed, rushed to tell Cao Song, who hurried to see for himself—but Cao Cao was perfectly well. Song said, "Your uncle said you had a stroke. Are you recovered now?" Cao Cao replied, "I have never had such an illness. Because my uncle bears a grudge against me, he has been telling you lies." Song believed him. After that, whenever the uncle spoke of Cao Cao's faults, Song paid no heed. And so Cao Cao was free to indulge his wild ways as he pleased.

At that time there was a man named Qiao Xuan, who said to Cao Cao, "The empire is about to fall into chaos; only a man of extraordinary talent can save it. The one who will bring peace—could it be you?" He Yang of Nanyang, upon meeting Cao Cao, said, "The House of Han is doomed. The one who will pacify the realm will surely be this man." Xu Shao of Runan had a reputation for judging character. Cao Cao went to see him and asked, "What manner of man am I?" Xu Shao made no reply. Cao Cao pressed him, and Shao said, "In times of order, you would be a capable minister; in times of disorder, you would be a cunning hero." Cao Cao went away greatly pleased.

At the age of twenty, he was recommended for Filial and Incorrupt, appointed a Gentleman, and assigned as Commandant of the Northern District of Luoyang. Upon taking up his post, he at once set up more than ten five-colored rods at the four gates of the district; anyone who violated the prohibitions, no matter how wealthy or powerful, was punished without exception. The uncle of the Regular Attendant Jian Shuo, carrying a sword, walked the streets at night; Cao Cao, on his night patrol, seized him and had him beaten with the rods. From that time, no one within or without dared defy the law, and his reputation for stern authority spread far and wide. Later he was appointed Magistrate of Dunqiu. When the Yellow Turbans rose, he was named Commandant of Cavalry and led five thousand horse and foot to Yingchuan to aid in the campaign. It happened that Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao were in retreat; Cao Cao blocked their way, fell upon them with great slaughter, took over ten thousand heads, and captured an enormous quantity of banners, drums, and horses. Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao fought desperately and escaped. Cao Cao went to meet Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun, then at once led his troops in pursuit of Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao.

Now let us turn to Xuande, who with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei had come to Yingchuan. Hearing the sounds of battle and seeing the sky ablaze with firelight, he hastened forward with his men—but the rebels had already been routed and scattered. Xuande met Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun and explained Lu Zhi's intentions. Song said, "Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao, with their strength exhausted, must be making for Guangzong to join Zhang Jue. You should go at once, by day and night, to reinforce them." Xuande received the order and led his troops back. Before they had gone far, they saw a column of soldiers escorting a prisoner in a cage-cart. The man in chains was Lu Zhi himself. Xuande was greatly startled. He threw himself from his horse and asked what had happened. Lu Zhi said, "I had Zhang Jue surrounded and was on the verge of victory; but because he employed sorcery, I could not prevail at once. The court sent the Palace Attendant Zuo Feng to observe the situation and to demand a bribe from me. I replied, 'Our army's provisions are still short—how could I have extra money to offer an envoy of the Son of Heaven?' Zuo Feng bore a grudge and reported to the court that I was building earthworks and refusing to fight, that I was slack and demoralizing the troops. The court was enraged and sent the General of the Household Dong Zhuo to take over my command and bring me back to the capital to answer for my crimes."

When Zhang Fei heard this, his fury blazed up. He wanted to cut down the escorting soldiers and rescue Lu Zhi. Xuande restrained him at once, saying, "The court will render its own judgment. How can you act so rashly?" The soldiers bore Lu Zhi away.

Lord Guan said, "Since General Lu has been arrested and another man commands the troops, we have nowhere to attach ourselves. We should return to Zhuo Commandery." Xuande agreed and led his army northward. They had marched no more than two days when they suddenly heard a great clamor of battle from behind the hills. Xuande, with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, rode up to a high ridge and looked out. They saw the imperial army in full rout; behind them, covering the mountains and filling the plains, the Yellow Turban horde surged forward, their banners inscribed with the words "General of Heaven." Xuande cried, "That is Zhang Jue himself! We must attack at once." The three men spurred their horses and led their troops forth. Zhang Jue had just defeated Dong Zhuo and was pressing the pursuit when the three charged into his ranks. Zhang Jue's army fell into chaos and fled more than fifty li. The three rescued Dong Zhuo and brought him back to camp. Dong Zhuo asked the three what offices they presently held. Xuande said, "We are commoners, without rank." Dong Zhuo treated them with great contempt and showed them no courtesy. When Xuande withdrew, Zhang Fei's rage boiled over. "We threw ourselves into blood and battle to save this wretch, and he treats us with such insolence! If I do not kill him, I shall never be avenged!" He seized his sword and strode toward the tent to slay Dong Zhuo. Truly it is said:

The ways of favor and advantage are the same in ancient times and now—

Who recognizes that a hero may be a common man?

If only there were more men like Yide,

To sweep from this world all who repay kindness with ingratitude!

What became of Dong Zhuo's life—let us turn to the next chapter.