Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Then Liu Bei asked Zhuge Liang for a plan to repel Cao Cao's forces. Zhuge Liang said, "Xin County is a small town and cannot be held for long. I have lately heard that Liu Jingsheng is gravely ill. We could take advantage of this opportunity to seize Jing Province as a place of refuge—only then could we resist Cao Cao." Liu Bei replied, "Your words are most wise, but I have received Jingsheng's kindness. How could I bear to scheme against him?" Zhuge Liang said, "If you do not take it now, you will regret it when it is too late!" Liu Bei said, "I would rather die than do anything unrighteous." Zhuge Liang said, "Then let us discuss the matter further another time."

Meanwhile, Xiahou Dun, having been defeated, returned to Xuchang. He bound himself and went before Cao Cao, prostrating himself on the ground and begging for death. Cao Cao released him from his bonds. Xiahou Dun said, "I fell victim to Zhuge Liang's cunning scheme—he used fire to break our army." Cao Cao said, "You have been using military force since youth. How could you not know that narrow places must be guarded against fire attacks?" Xiahou Dun said, "Li Dian and Yu Jin did mention this, but I regret I did not heed them in time!" Cao Cao then rewarded the two men. Xiahou Dun said, "Liu Bei has grown so arrogant—he is truly a threat to the core and must be eliminated without delay." Cao Cao said, "Those I concern myself with are Liu Bei and Sun Quan. The rest are not worth troubling over. Now is the time to sweep the south." He then issued orders to raise an army of five hundred thousand men, assigning Cao Ren and Cao Hong as the first division; Zhang Liao and Zhang He as the second division; Xiahou Yuan and Xiahou Dun as the third division; Yu Jin and Li Dian as the fourth division; and Cao Cao himself leading the remaining generals as the fifth division. Each division was to command one hundred thousand soldiers. He also appointed Xu Chu as General of Resolute Assault, leading three thousand men as the vanguard. The army was set to depart on the bingwu day of the seventh month of the thirteenth year of the Jian'an era.

The Grand Counselor, Kong Rong, remonstrated: "Liu Bei and Liu Biao are both of the imperial Liu clan—they should not be lightly attacked. Sun Quan holds the six commanderies like a tiger and commands the natural barrier of the great river—he too is not easy to overcome. If Your Excellency raises this unrighteous army now, I fear you will lose the hopes of the realm." Cao Cao was furious. "Liu Bei, Liu Biao, and Sun Quan are all ministers who defy the imperial command—how can they be left unpunished?" He then drove Kong Rong away with a shout and issued an order that anyone who remonstrated again would be beheaded. Kong Rong left the ministry, looked up to heaven, and sighed: "To attack the most benevolent with the utmost lack of benevolence—how can this end in anything but defeat?"

At that time, a retainer of the Imperial Censor, Xi Lu, heard these words and reported them to Xi Lu. Xi Lu had long been humiliated and slighted by Kong Rong and bore a grudge against him. He therefore brought these words to Cao Cao's attention, adding: "Rong has always treated Your Excellency with familiarity and disrespect, and he is also close with Mi Heng. Mi Heng praised Rong, saying, 'Confucius never died.' Rong praised Mi Heng, saying, 'Yan Hui has been reborn.' The earlier insult that Mi Heng inflicted upon Your Excellency was instigated by Rong." Cao Cao was enraged. He ordered the Commandant of Justice to arrest Kong Rong. Kong Rong had two sons, both still young. At the time, they were at home, sitting across from each other playing weiqi. The attendants rushed in and reported: "Your father has been taken by the Commandant of Justice and will be executed. Why do you two not flee at once?" The two sons said: "When the nest is overturned, how can the eggs remain unbroken?"

Before they had finished speaking, the Commandant of Justice arrived again, arrested the entire Kong household including the two sons, and had them all executed. Kong Rong's corpse was displayed in the marketplace. The Metropolitan Assistant, Zhi Xi, prostrated himself over the corpse and wept. Cao Cao heard of this and was furious, intending to put him to death. Xun Yu said, "I have heard that Zhi Xi often admonished Rong, saying, 'Your rigidity and straightforwardness go too far—this is the path to disaster.' That he has come to weep now that Rong is dead shows he is a man of righteousness. He must not be killed." Cao Cao then relented. Zhi Xi gathered the bodies of Kong Rong and his sons and buried them. A later poet composed verses in praise of Kong Rong:

Kong Rong dwelt in Beihai, his heroic spirit piercing the rainbow.

His hall ever filled with guests, his cups never empty of wine.

His writings startled the age, his laughter and jest insulted princes and lords.

The historian's brush praised his loyalty and integrity, recording his office as Grand Counselor.

After Cao Cao had put Kong Rong to death, he ordered the five army divisions to set out in succession, leaving only Xun Yu and others to guard Xuchang.

Meanwhile, in Jing Province, Liu Biao's illness grew grave. He sent for Liu Bei to entrust his heir to him. Liu Bei brought Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to Jing Province to see Liu Biao. Biao said, "My illness has reached the incurable stage, and I shall not live long. I entrust my heir to you, worthy brother. My sons lack talent and I fear they cannot carry on their father's work. After my death, you may take command of Jing Province yourself." Liu Bei bowed weeping and said, "I will do my utmost to assist your nephews—how dare I harbor any other intention?"

Even as they were speaking, a report came that Cao Cao himself was leading a great army to their borders. Liu Bei hastily took leave of Liu Biao and returned by night to Xin County. Liu Biao, ill as he was, received this news with no small alarm. He deliberated and wrote a will entrusting Liu Bei to assist his eldest son Liu Qi as lord of Jing Province. Lady Cai, upon hearing this, was furious. She shut the inner gates and ordered Cai Mao and Zhang Yun to guard the outer gates. At this time, Liu Qi was in Jiangxia. Upon learning that his father's illness was critical, he came to Jing Province to visit him. Just as he reached the outer gate, Cai Mao blocked him, saying: "Your lordship was commanded by your father to defend Jiangxia—a most weighty responsibility. Now you abandon your post without authorization. If Eastern Wu's forces should arrive, what then? If you enter to see your lord father, he will surely grow angry, and his illness will worsen. That would be unfilial. You should return at once."

Liu Qi stood outside the gate, wept bitterly, and mounted his horse to return to Jiangxia. Liu Biao's condition grew desperate; he looked for Liu Qi but he did not come. On the wushen day of the eighth month, Liu Biao cried out several times and died. A later poet composed verses lamenting Liu Biao:

In times past I heard the Yuan clan held the lands north of the river,

And now I see the Liu lord dominating Hanyang.

Ever it is the hen crowing at dawn that brings ruin to the household—

How pitiful that before long all is swept away.

After Liu Biao's death, Lady Cai, together with Cai Mao and Zhang Yun, deliberated and forged a will, making his second son Liu Cong the lord of Jing Province. They then announced the mourning and reported the death. Liu Cong was only fourteen years old but rather intelligent. He gathered the assembled men and said: "My father has passed away. My elder brother is in Jiangxia, and my uncle Liu Bei is in Xin County. If you make me lord, and my brother and uncle raise armies to challenge me, how will you explain yourselves?"

The officials had not yet responded when Li Gui, a staff officer, answered, "What the young lord says says is very sound. You can now urgently send a letter of mourning to Jiangxia, inviting the eldest son to become the lord of Jing Province and ordering Xuande to govern together with him. To the north, they can resist Cao Cao; to the south, they can repel Sun Quan. This is a plan of absolute safety." Cai Mao shouted, "Who are you to speak such disorderly words and go against the late lord's final wishes?" Li Gui cursed loudly, "You have plotted within and without, falsely claiming the final wishes, setting aside the elder to establish the younger—one can see clearly that the nine districts of Jing and Xiang will be handed over into the hands of the Cai clan! If the departed lord has a spirit, he will surely strike you dead!" Cai Mao flew into a rage and ordered his attendants to drag Li Gui out and behead him. Li Gui cursed unceasingly until his death. Thereupon Cai Mao established Liu Cong as lord. Members of the Cai clan were given command of the troops of Jing Province; Deng Yi, the Registrar, and Liu Xian, the Assistant Aide were ordered to defend Jing Province. Lady Cai herself went with Liu Cong to Xiangyang to garrison the city, to guard against Liu Qi and Liu Bei, and Liu Table's coffin was buried on the plain of Nanyang outside Xiangyang city. No notice of mourning was sent to Liu Qi or Xuande.

When Liu Cong arrived at Xiangyang and had just rested his horse, it was suddenly reported that Cao Cao was leading a great army directly toward Xiangyang. Cong was greatly alarmed and summoned Kuai Yue, Cai Mao, and others to deliberate. Fu Xun, the East Bureau Officer, offered his counsel, "It is not merely the coming of Cao Cao's army that is cause for worry. The eldest young lord is at Jiangxia, and Xuande is at Xinye—we have not gone to report the mourning to either of them. If they raise an army to demand justice, Jing and Xiang are in peril. I have a plan that can make the people of Jing and Xiang as secure as Mount Tai and can also preserve your lord's rank and title." Cong asked, "How would you carry it out?" Fu Xun said, "Better to hand over the nine districts of Jing and Xiang to Cao Cao. Cao will surely treat your lord with great honor."

Cong rebuked him, "What words are these! I have just inherited my late father's domain—I have not yet sat firmly upon it—how can I simply cast it away to another?" Kuai Yue said, "What Fu Gongti says is correct. There is a great principle in submission and resistance, and strength and weakness have their fixed conditions. Now Cao Cao campaigns in the south and north in the name of the imperial court. If your lord resists him, the cause lacks legitimacy. Moreover, your lord has newly assumed power—external troubles are not yet settled, and internal strife is about to arise. The people of Jing and Xiang, upon hearing that Cao's troops are arriving, will lose heart before battle is even joined—how can they be made to resist him?" Cong said, "It is not that I refuse to follow your counsel, but I fear that abandoning my late father's domain to another at the first opportunity will invite the ridicule of the world."

Before he had finished speaking, a man stepped forward with a bearing of resolve. "The words of Fu Gongti and Kuai Yidu are most sound—why do you not follow them?" The assembly looked and saw a person from Gaoping in Shandong—surnamed Wang, given name Can, courtesy name Zhongxuan. Can was frail and slight of build, short in stature. In his youth he had gone to visit the Court Gentleman for Ceremonies Cai Yong. At that time Yong's hall was full of distinguished guests; upon hearing that Can had arrived, he rushed to greet him with his shoes on backwards. The guests were all astonished and said, "Why does the Court Gentleman for Ceremonies show such singular respect to this youth?" Yong replied, "This young man has extraordinary talent—I am not his equal." Can had a wide learning and a powerful memory, surpassing all others. He could read a roadside stele once and then recite it from memory; watching others play chess, if the board was disturbed, he could reconstruct the entire position without a single piece misplaced. He was also skilled in mathematics. His literary compositions were the finest of the age. At seventeen he was appointed as a Gentleman of the Palace Gate, but he did not accept. Later, fleeing the disorders, he came to Jing and Xiang, where Liu Table treated him as an honored guest.

On that day he said to Liu Cong, "Does Your Excellency consider himself comparable to the Duke of Cao?" Cong replied, "I am not his equal." Can said, "The Duke of Cao has strong troops and brave generals, wisdom and cunning in abundance. He captured Lü Bu at Xiapi, crushed Yuan Shao at Guandu, drove Liu Bei to Longyou, and defeated the Wuhuan at Bailang—those he has rooted out and pacified are beyond counting. Now he leads a great army southward into Jing and Xiang; his force is difficult to withstand. The plan of the two ministers Fu and Kuai is a long-term strategy. Your Excellency must not hesitate, lest you invite future regret." Cong said, "Your instruction is most correct. But I must first inform my mother." Just then Lady Cai emerged from behind the screen and said to Cong, "Since Zhongxuan, Gongti, and Yidu are all of the same opinion, why bother to tell me?"

Thereupon Liu Cong's resolve was fixed. He wrote a letter of surrender and sent Song Zhong in secret to present it to Cao Cao's army. Song Zhong received the order and proceeded all the way to Wancheng, where he met Cao Cao and presented the letter of surrender. Cao Cao was greatly pleased, richly rewarded Song Zhong, and instructed him to tell Liu Cong to come out of the city to welcome him, and that he would be confirmed as the permanent lord of Jing Province. Song Zhong took leave of Cao Cao and set off back toward Jing and Xiang. As he was about to cross the river, he suddenly saw a detachment of troops approaching. He looked and saw it was Guan Yunchang. Song Zhong could not avoid him; Yunchang called out to stop him and questioned him closely about the affairs of Jing Province. Zhong at first concealed the matter, but when he could no longer withstand Yunchang's interrogation, he was forced to confess everything from beginning to end in full truth. Yunchang was greatly alarmed, and he seized Song Zhong and brought him to Xinye to see Xuande, telling him the whole story in detail.

Xuande wept bitterly upon hearing it. Zhang Fei said, "Since matters have come to this, we can first put Song Zhong to death, then raise troops and cross the river, seize Xiangyang, kill Lady Cai and Liu Cong, and then do battle with Cao Cao." Xuande said, "Hold your tongue for now—I have my own considerations." He then rebuked Song Zhong, "You knew what others were doing—why did you not come and report it to me sooner? Though I were to put you to death now, it would be of no use. Go quickly." Zhong thanked him and fled with his head tucked between his legs.

While Xuande was still brooding in distress, it was suddenly reported that Yi Ji had arrived, sent by Young Lord Liu Qi. Xuande was grateful to Yi Ji for his past kindness in saving him and came down the steps to welcome him, thanking him again and again. Yi Ji said, "The eldest young lord at Jiangxia heard that the lord of Jing Province had died. Lady Cai and Cai Mao plotted together and did not send notice of mourning—they actually established Liu Cong as lord. The young lord sent men to Xiangyang to investigate, and they confirmed it was true. Fearing that Your Lordship might not know of this, he specially sent me to bring a letter of mourning and to request that Your Lordship raise all your elite troops and go together to Xiangyang to demand justice."

When Xuande had finished reading the letter, he said to Yi Ji, "Zhibo only knows that Liu Cong has usurped the succession—he does not yet know that Liu Cong has already surrendered the nine districts of Jing and Xiang to Cao Cao!" Yi Ji was greatly startled. "My lord, how did you come to know this?" Xuande told him in full about the capture of Song Zhong. Yi Ji said, "If this is so, my lord, why not go to Xiangyang under the pretext of offering condolences for the funeral? Lure Liu Cong out to welcome you, seize him on the spot, put his partisans to death, and the province of Jingzhou will belong to you."

Kongming said, "Zhibo speaks truly. My lord, you should follow his advice." Xuande said with tears in his eyes, "My brother, on his deathbed, entrusted his son to me. If I were now to seize his son and take his territory, when I die and go to the realm below, what face would I have to see my brother again?" Kongming said, "But if you do not do this, Cao Cao's troops are already at Wancheng. How will you resist them?" Xuande said, "We would do better to withdraw to Fancheng and avoid them."

While they were still deliberating, a scout galloped in to report that Cao's troops had already arrived at Bowang. Xuande hastily sent Yi Ji back to Jiangxia to assemble the troops, while he discussed with Kongming a plan for resisting the enemy. Kongming said, "My lord, set your mind at ease. Last time, a single fire burned the greater part of Xiahou Dun's army. Now that Cao's army comes again, I shall certainly make them fall into this same plan. We can no longer stay in Xinxing—we had better go to Fancheng at once." He then ordered notices to be posted on all four gates, informing the inhabitants: "All people, old and young, male or female, who wish to follow us, must set out with me today to Fancheng to take shelter for the time being. Do not delay to your own peril." He sent Sun Qian to the riverbank to arrange boats for the relief of the people, and sent Mi Zhu to escort the families of the officials to Fancheng. Then he assembled all his generals and gave his orders. First he told Yunlong to lead a thousand troops and lie in ambush at the upper reaches of the White River: "Let each man carry a cloth sack filled with sand to dam up the waters of the White River. After the third watch tomorrow night, when you hear men shouting and horses neighing at the lower reaches, quickly remove the sacks and release the water to flood them, then charge downstream to meet the enemy." Next he summoned Zhang Fei to lead a thousand troops and lie in ambush at Boling Ford: "The current is slowest here. The Cao troops, having been flooded, will surely try to escape this way. You may then attack them and strike as opportunity offers." Then he called on Zhao Yun: "Take three thousand troops and divide them into four companies. Lead one company yourself and lie in ambush outside the East Gate; let the other three companies lie in ambush outside the West, South, and North Gates respectively. First hide in the houses within the city and store on the rooftops large quantities of sulfur, saltpeter, and other combustibles. When Cao's troops enter the city, they will surely rest in the people's houses. After sundown tomorrow, there will be a strong wind. As soon as the wind rises, order the troops lying in ambush at the West, South, and North Gates to fire arrows carrying flames into the city. When the fire is burning fiercely, shout and make a great din outside the city, but leave the East Gate open for them to flee through. Then attack them from behind at the East Gate. At dawn, join the two generals Yunlong and Zhang Fei, and withdraw the army to Fancheng." He further ordered Mifang and Liu Feng to take two thousand troops—half carrying red banners and half carrying green banners—and encamp thirty li outside Xinxing, at the foot of Quewei Slope: "As soon as you see Cao's troops arriving, let the red-bannered troops go left and the green-bannered troops go right. They will suspect a trap and will not dare to pursue. Then you two go separately to lie in ambush. Wait only until you see fire rising from the city, then pursue and attack the defeated troops. Afterward, go to the upper reaches of the White River to meet the others." When Kongming had finished his dispositions, he went with Xuande to ascend a high place and look out, awaiting news of victory.

Now, Cao Ren and Cao Hong led a hundred thousand troops as the vanguard. In front of them, Xu Chu led three thousand armored soldiers to clear the road. In mighty force they advanced upon Xinxing. At about the hour of noon they arrived at Quewei Slope and saw a body of troops on the slope ahead, all flying red and green banners. Xu Chu urged his troops forward, but Liu Feng and Mifang divided into four companies, the green and red banners each going to their respective sides. Xu Chu reined in his horse and said, "Do not advance yet—there must be an ambush ahead. Let our troops halt here." Xu Chu rode alone at full speed to report to Cao Ren at the front. Cao Ren said, "These are merely troops meant to create suspicion—there is certainly no ambush. Advance at once. I will follow up with the main force."

Xu Chu returned to the slope and led his troops in to attack. But when they reached the woods and searched, not a man was to be found. By now the sun was setting in the west. Xu Chu was about to advance further when he heard the sound of gongs and drums being played loudly on the mountain. He looked up and saw a cluster of banners on the mountain peak, and in the midst of the banners two canopies—Xuande on the left and Kongming on the right—sitting opposite each other and drinking wine. Xu Chu was furious and led his troops up the mountain by the road. But from above, logs and stones were hurled down upon them, and they could not advance. Then they heard a great clamor from behind the mountain, and tried to find a way to engage the enemy, but it was already dark.

Cao Ren arrived with the army and ordered them to take Xinxing and rest the horses there. When the soldiers reached the city, they found all four gates wide open. The Cao troops rushed in and met no resistance. There was not a single person in the city—it was completely empty.

Cao Hong said, "This means they are isolated and have exhausted their plans, so they have taken all the people and fled. Let our army rest in the city for now, and tomorrow at daybreak we will advance." By this time the troops were all worn out and hungry, and they went to find houses to cook their meals. Cao Ren and Cao Hong rested in the government offices. After the first watch, a fierce wind arose. The soldiers guarding the gates rushed in to report that a fire had broken out. Cao Ren said, "This must be because the soldiers were careless while cooking—a stray spark. Do not be alarmed."

He had scarcely finished speaking when several more reports came in succession: fires had broken out at the West, South, and North Gates. Cao Ren hastily ordered all his generals to mount their horses, but by then the whole town was ablaze, red from top to bottom. That night's fire was even greater than the fire at Bowang that had burned the camp the day before. A later poet wrote in lament:

The cunning hero Cao Cao held the Central Plains in his grasp,

In the ninth month he marched south to the banks of the Han.

The Wind God raged over the county of Xinxing,

And the God of Fire descended, his flames scraping the sky.

Cao Ren led his generals through the smoke and flames, seeking a way to escape. Hearing that there was no fire at the East Gate, they hurried out through it. The soldiers trampled one another, and countless numbers died. Cao Ren and the others had barely escaped the calamity of the fire when a shout arose from behind, and Zhao Yun led his troops up to join the fray. The defeated soldiers each fled for their lives—who would turn back to fight?

While fleeing in disarray, Mi Fang arrived with a fresh force. Another fierce charge followed, and Cao Ren suffered a crushing defeat, fighting his way free and fleeing. Liu Feng then led yet another force to intercept and strike them again. By the fourth watch of the night, the men and horses were utterly exhausted, the greater part of the soldiers burned and blistered. They reached the banks of the White River, and to their relief the water was not deep; the men and horses waded in to drink. The soldiers clamored, and the horses neighed without cease.

Now it must be told that Guan Yu had been upstream, damming the river with sandbags. At dusk he had seen the fires rise from Xinye, and by the fourth watch he suddenly heard the shouts of men and the cries of horses downstream. He at once ordered his soldiers to pull up all the sandbags together. The waters surged to the heavens, rushing downstream in a mighty flood. Cao Ren's men and horses were all engulfed in the water, and the dead were beyond counting. Cao Ren led his generals in flight toward a place where the current was gentler, fighting his way through. When they reached the Boling ford, a great shout rose up and a force blocked the road. The general at their head was none other than Zhang Fei, who bellowed, "Cao the rebel, come and surrender your life!" Cao Ren's army was struck with terror.

For indeed:

Within the city they had just beheld the red flames leap,

By the waterside they now met the dark wind's sweep.

What became of Cao Ren's fate? Read on in the next chapter.