Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Here is the translation:

Let us return to our story. Zhou Yu, his chest surging with rage, fell from his horse. His attendants rushed to his aid and carried him back to the ship. The soldiers spread the word: "Liu Bei and Kongming are drinking and making merry on the mountaintop ahead." Zhou Yu flew into a fury, grinding his teeth and saying, "You think I cannot take Xichuan — I swear I shall take it!" Just as he was nursing his resentment, a report came that the Marquis of Wu had sent his younger brother, Sun Yu. Zhou Yu received him and told him all that had happened. Sun Yu said, "I come by my brother's command to assist the Commander-in-Chief." He then ordered the army to advance. When they reached Baqiu, word arrived that Liu Feng and Guan Ping, leading forces upstream, had blocked the waterway. Zhou Yu's anger grew fiercer still. Then another report: Kongming had sent a letter. Zhou Yu broke the seal and read:

"Army Consultant and General of the Han, Zhuge Liang, sends this letter to the esteemed Commander-in-Chief Zhou Yu, Marshal of Eastern Wu: Since our parting at Chaisang, my thoughts have never ceased to dwell upon you. I hear that you intend to take Xjiang, and I humbly believe this cannot be done. The people of Yizhou are strong and its terrain is treacherous; though Liu Zhang is weak and dim-witted, he is sufficient to defend himself. Now you would toil your army on a long campaign, transporting supplies ten thousand li — even if you sought total success, Wu Qi could not have laid down the plan for it, and Sun Wu could not have brought it to a good end. Cao Cao's defeat at Chibi — does he not harbor thoughts of revenge even for an instant? Should you march your army far away, and should Cao Cao seize the moment to strike, the lands south of the river would be ground to powder. I cannot bear to sit by and watch. I therefore inform you of this, and pray you will consider it well."

When Zhou Yu finished reading, he let out a long sigh. He called for paper and brush and wrote a letter to the Marquis of Wu. Then he gathered his generals and said, "It is not that I do not wish to serve my country with all my heart and soul — but Heaven's mandate for me has run its course. Serve the Marquis of Wu well, and together achieve great things." With these words, he fell into unconsciousness. Gradually he came to, raised his face to heaven, and cried out with a long sigh: "Since Heaven gave birth to a Yu, why did it also give birth to a Liang?" He cried out several times and then died. He was thirty-six years of age. A later poet wrote these lines in lament:

At Chibi he left his heroic might,

In youth his noble fame shone bright.

His lute and song revealed a refined heart,

His wine cups thanked the friends who played their part.

He once received three thousand measures' grace,

And often led a hundred thousand men in place.

At Baqiu his fate was sealed at last,

And those who mourn him grieve for ages past.

Zhou Yu's body lay in state at Baqiu. The generals sealed the letter he had written and sent a courier with all haste to Sun Quan. When Sun Quan learned of Zhou Yu's death, he wept aloud. He opened the letter and read it — Zhou Yu was recommending Lu Su to take his place. The letter read roughly as follows:

"I, Yu, a man of ordinary talent, received extraordinary favor and was entrusted with matters of the heart and given command of the army and horses. How could I fail to exhaust the strength of my limbs in service and strive to repay that kindness? Yet life and death are beyond foresight, and the span of one's years is ordained by fate. My humble ambitions remain unfulfilled, and my frail body has perished — what boundless regret! Now Cao Cao threatens from the north, and the frontier is not yet at peace; Liu Bei dwells among us as a guest, much like a tiger being nurtured. The affairs of the empire remain uncertain. This is the season when the court officials forget their meals and the Sovereign must bend his thoughts to governance. Lu Su is loyal and resolute, and in all matters he does not act carelessly — he can take my place. 'When a man is dying, his words are good.' If you will deign to consider this, though I die, I shall not perish."

When Sun Quan finished reading, he wept and said, "Gongjin possessed the talents of a king's chief minister. Now he has died before his time — upon whom shall I rely? Since he specially recommended Zijing in his letter, how could I dare disobey?" That very day he appointed Lu Su as Commander-in-Chief, with overall command of the army and horses. At the same time, he ordered Zhou Yu's coffin sent back for burial.

Now Kongming, while in Jing Province, had been observing the heavens at night and saw a general's star fall to the earth. He smiled and said, "Zhou Yu is dead." At dawn, he reported this to Liu Bei. Liu Bei sent someone to investigate, and it was indeed so. Liu Bei asked Kongming, "Now that Zhou Yu is dead, what should we do?" Kongming replied, "The one who will take command of Zhou Yu's army will surely be Lu Su. I have observed the stars — the general's stars are gathered in the east. I should use the occasion of offering condolences as my reason to travel to Jiangdong and seek out worthy men to assist you, my lord." Liu Bei said, "I only fear that the officers of Wu might do you harm." Kongming replied, "Even when Zhou Yu was alive, I did not fear him. Now that he is dead, what cause for alarm?" He then set out with Zhao Yun and five hundred soldiers, bearing offerings for the funeral, and sailed by boat to Baqiu to mourn. Along the way, he learned through his scouts that Sun Quan had already appointed Lu Su as Commander-in-Chief and that Zhou Yu's coffin had been sent back to Chaisang. Kongming went directly to Chaisang, where Lu Su received him with courtesy. Zhou Yu's officers all wished to kill Kongming, but seeing Zhao Yun at his side with sword in hand, they dared not act. Kongming directed that sacrificial offerings be laid before the coffin. He poured the wine himself, knelt upon the ground, and read the eulogy:

"Alas, Gongjin, cut down in your prime!

Heaven ordains our span — who does not grieve?

My heart is truly pained; I pour this cup of wine.

If your spirit endures, accept these offerings!

I mourn your youth in study, when you befriended Bofu;

In justice you gave freely, yielding your home to others.

I mourn your early manhood, soaring like the roc across ten thousand li;

You established your dominion, carving out the lands of Jiangnan.

I mourn your strength in the prime of life, guarding Baqiu afar;

Jing Sheng harbored his concerns, but you quelled all threats without fear.

I mourn your grace and bearing, wed to the fair Qiao;

A minister of Han as son-in-law — you brought no shame to the court.

I mourn your noble spirit, when you urged against sending a hostage;

You would not droop your wings, and in the end you soared aloft.

I mourn your time at Poyang, when Jiang Gan came as envoy;

With effortless mastery, your magnanimity and lofty purpose shone.

I mourn your vast talent, your civil and martial stratagems;

You broke the enemy with fire, turning strength into weakness.

I think of you in those years, so vigorous and brilliant in your prime.

I weep that you died so soon, bowing to the ground, my blood flowing forth.

Your heart of loyalty and righteousness, your spirit of heroism and valor.

Your life ended at thirty-six, but your name will endure for a hundred generations.

My grief for you is keen, my sorrow knotted a thousand times.

Only my own heart and liver know — my sorrow knows no end.

The vault of heaven is dark, the three armies are stricken with grief.

The lord weeps in anguish, your friends shed tears in streams.

I, Liang, am untalented, yet I begged for counsel and sought strategies.

I assisted Wu against Cao, and aided Han to secure Liu.

With mutual support, flank and rear joined together,

Whether to advance or retreat — what was there to fear, what cause for worry?

Alas, Gongjin! In life and death we are parted forever!

You kept your integrity pure, and now you pass into the darkness beyond.

If your spirit has consciousness, let it witness my heart.

From this day forth, in all the world, I shall have no one who truly knows me!

Alas, how bitter is this grief! I bow and pray that you may partake of these offerings!"

When Kongming had finished his sacrifice, he prostrated himself on the ground and wept loudly, his tears gushing like a spring, his grief unceasing. The generals said to one another: "Everyone says Zhou Yu and Kongming were on bad terms, yet judging from the feeling shown in his mourning, all those people were speaking falsely." Seeing Kongming so deeply grieved, Lu Su too was moved. He thought to himself: "Kongming is naturally full of feeling; it was Zhou Yu who was narrow-minded and brought death upon himself." A later poet wrote in lament:

The sleeping dragon lay in Nanyang, not yet awake,

And another star descended upon Shucheng.

Since the blue heavens had already given birth to Zhou Yu,

Why did the dusty world need to bring forth Kongming?

Lu Su prepared a banquet to entertain Kongming. When the banquet ended, Kongming took his leave. Just as he was about to board his boat, he saw a man by the riverbank wearing a Daoist robe and a bamboo cap, a black sash and plain shoes, who seized Kongming by the arm and laughed loudly. "You caused Zhou Yu to die of rage, and yet you come to pay your respects at his mourning rites. Do you think Wu truly has no one of consequence?" Kongming looked at the man closely—it was Pang Tong, the Master Phoenix Fledgling. Kongming also laughed. The two men went hand in hand onto the boat and each confided his thoughts to the other. Kongming then left a letter for Pang Tong, urging him: "I predict that Sun Quan will not be able to put your talents to full use. Should things not go as you wish, come to Jingzhou and assist Xuande together. That man is generous, kind, and virtuous—he will surely not betray the learning of a lifetime." Pang Tong agreed and parted. Kongming returned to Jingzhou.

Now, Lu Su escorted Zhou Yu's coffin to Wuhu. Sun Quan received it, wept, and performed sacrifices before the coffin, then ordered that he be given a generous burial in his native village. Zhou Yu had two sons and a daughter: the elder son was Xun, the younger was Yin. Sun Quan provided generously for them all. Lu Su said: "I, Su, am a man of mediocre talent, who wrongly received Zhou Yu's strong recommendation—I truly do not deserve the post I hold. I wish to recommend a man to assist Your Lordship. This man understands astronomy above and geography below; his strategic talent is no less than that of Guan Zhong or Yue Yi, and his skill in planning rivals that of Sun Wu or Wu Qi. In former days, Zhou Gongjin often followed his counsel, and Kongming too deeply admired his wisdom. He is now in Jiangnan—why not employ him?"

Sun Quan was greatly pleased upon hearing this and asked the man's name. Lu Su said: "This man is from Xiangyang. His surname is Pang, his given name Tong, and his courtesy name Shiyuan. His Daoist title is the Master Phoenix Fledgling." Sun Quan said: "I too have long heard his name. Since he is now here, invite him to come at once." Lu Su then invited Pang Tong to come before Sun Quan. After the formal greetings, Sun Quan saw that the man had thick eyebrows that jutted upward, an upturned nose, a dark face, and a short beard—a strange-looking figure—and took an unfavorable impression. He asked, "What is the main focus of your lifelong studies?" Pang Tong replied, "I do not confine myself to any one thing; I adapt to circumstances as they arise." Sun Quan asked, "How does your learning compare to Zhou Yu's?" Pang Tong smiled and said, "My learning and Zhou Yu's are entirely different." Sun Quan had always admired Zhou Yu above all others. Seeing Pang Tong belittle him, Sun Quan became still more displeased. He said to Pang Tong, "You may retire for now. When there is occasion to use you, I shall send for you."

Pang Tong heaved a long sigh and left. Lu Su said, "My lord, why do not you employ Pang Shiyuan?" Sun Quan replied, "He is a madman—what use would he be?" Lu Su said: "During the battle of Red Cliff, this man presented the Linked-Rings Strategy and achieved the greatest merit. Your Lordship must surely know this." Sun Quan said: "At that time, Cao Cao himself wanted to chain his ships together—this man's contribution was not necessarily the cause. I am resolved not to employ him." Lu Su came out and said to Pang Tong: "It is not that I did not recommend you, but the Marquis of Wu is unwilling to use you. You must be patient." Pang Tong hung his head and sighed long without speaking. Lu Su said: "Surely you have no intention of remaining in Wu?" Pang Tong did not answer. Lu Su said: "You possess the talent to bring order and aid the world—where could you go and not succeed? Tell me truly: where do you intend to go?" Pang Tong said: "I intend to go over to Cao Cao." Lu Su said: "That would be casting a pearl into darkness. You could go to Jingzhou and join Imperial Uncle Liu—he would certainly employ you." Pang Tong said: "That is in fact what I truly wish to do; my earlier words were merely in jest." Lu Su said: "I shall write a letter of recommendation. If you assist Xuande, you will surely ensure that the houses of Sun and Liu do not attack each other but instead join forces to destroy Cao Cao." Pang Tong said: "That has always been my lifelong aspiration." He then requested Lu Su's letter and went directly to Jingzhou to see Xuande.

At this time, Kongming was away inspecting the four commanderies. The gate official reported that Pang Tong, a famous scholar from Jiangdong, had come to seek service. Xuande had long heard of Pang Tong's name and ordered that he be invited in. Pang Tong saw Xuande and made a deep bow but did not kneel. Seeing Pang Tong's ugly appearance, Xuande too was displeased. He said, "It must have been no easy journey for you to come from so far." Pang Tong did not at once produce Lu Su's letter or Kongming's recommendation; he only replied, "Hearing that the Imperial Uncle seeks out worthy men and accepts scholars, I have come specially to offer my service." Xuande said: "The Jing-Chu region has only just been settled, and I have unfortunately no vacancy. Some several hundred li to the southeast there is a county called Leiyang, which lacks a county magistrate. I must ask you to accept this post. When a better position opens, I will certainly employ you with greater responsibility."

Pang Tong reflected that Xuande was treating him very coldly. He wished to move him by demonstrating his learning, but seeing that Kongming was not present, he had no choice but to take his leave with reluctance. Pang Tong arrived at Leiyang County and neglected all government affairs, spending his days drinking in pleasure. All matters of revenue, grain, grain supplies, and litigation—he ignored them entirely. Someone reported to Xuande, saying that Pang Tong had completely abandoned the administration of Leiyang County. Xuande was furious. "How dare this petty Confucian disrupt our laws and standards!" He summoned Zhang Fei and instructed him: "Take some men and inspect the counties of southern Jingzhou. Wherever you find injustice or unlawful conduct, investigate and set matters straight. If there are points you do not fully understand, you may go together with Sun Qian."

Zhang Fei received these instructions and went with Sun Qian to Leiyang County. The military and civilian officials all came out of the city to welcome them, but the county magistrate alone was not seen. Zhang Fei asked, "Where is the county magistrate?" His colleagues reported: "Since Magistrate Pang took up his post, more than a hundred days have passed. He has not attended to any affairs of the county. Every day he drinks, from morning to night, and dwells only in the land of intoxication. Today he is still sleeping off yesterday's wine and has not yet risen."

Zhang Fei flew into a rage and wanted to seize him. Sun Qian said, "Pang Shiyuan is a man of great talent and insight—he must not be taken lightly. Let us go to the county and question him there. If his conduct proves unjustified, there will be time enough to punish him." Fei then entered the county office, took his seat in the main hall, and ordered the magistrate to appear before him. Pang Tong came forth with his robes and cap in disarray, reeking of wine. Fei said angrily, "My elder brother took you for a capable man and appointed you county magistrate. How dare you neglect all the business of the county?" Tong smiled and said, "General, what business of the county have I neglected?" Fei replied, "You have been in office for over a hundred days, and you spend every day in a drunken stupor. How can the administration not be neglected?" Tong said, "This is a small county of a few hundred li—how difficult can its affairs be to manage? General, take a seat and wait while I settle them." He at once summoned the clerks and ordered them to bring all the accumulated paperwork of the past hundred days for judgment. The clerks bustled about, carrying stacks of documents and files into the hall. The plaintiffs and defendants knelt in a ring at the foot of the steps. Tong annotated documents with his hand, issued verdicts with his mouth, and listened to testimony with his ear—distinguishing right from wrong with perfect clarity, without the slightest error. The people all kowtowed in submission. In less than half a day, he had settled the business of a hundred days, cast his pen to the ground, and said to Zhang Fei, "What neglected business did you see? Cao Cao and Sun Quan—I regard them as no more than words on the palm of my hand. What concern is this little county to me?"

Zhang Fei was greatly astonished. He descended from his seat and bowed in apology, saying, "Your talents are great, sir, and I have been discourteous. I shall strongly recommend you to my elder brother." Pang Tong then produced Lu Su's letter of recommendation. Fei said, "Why did you not present this when you first met my elder brother?" Tong replied, "Had I produced it at once, it would have seemed as though I sought office solely on the strength of a letter of introduction." Fei turned to Sun Qian and said, "Had it not been for you, we would have lost a great worthy." He then took leave of Tong and returned to Jingzhou to see Xuande, reporting in full on Pang Tong's abilities.

Liu Bei was greatly startled and said, "I have treated a great worthy with disrespect—the fault is mine!" Fei presented Lu Su's letter of recommendation. Xuande opened it and read it. The letter read roughly as follows: "Pang Shiyuan is not a man for a mere county. Give him the post of Assistant Administrator or Attendant Officer, and then his abilities will be fully displayed. If you judge him by his appearance, you will fail to make use of his learning, and he will end in another's service—a truly lamentable waste."

Xuade had just finished reading and was sighing with regret when it was reported that Kongming had returned. Xuande received him and the courtesies were completed. Kongming at first asked, "Has the Military Strategist Pang been well of late?" Xuande replied, "He has been administering Leiyang County, but he indulges in wine and neglects his duties." Kongming smiled and said, "Shiyuan is not a man for a small county—his learning surpasses mine tenfold. I once gave him a letter of recommendation, which he still has. Has it reached you, my lord?" Xuande replied, "Today I received Zijing's letter, but I have not yet seen yours." Kongming said, "When a great worthy is placed in a minor post, he often drowns himself in wine and grows weary of attending to affairs." Xuande said, "Had it not been for my younger brother's words, I would have nearly lost a great worthy." He at once ordered Zhang Fei to go to Leiyang County and invite Pang Tong to Jingzhou. Xuande descended from his seat to apologize. Tong then produced the letter Kongming had written recommending him. Xuade read its contents, which stated that when Fengchu arrived, he should be given an important post at once. Xuande was overjoyed and said, "Sima Dechao once said, 'Of Foulong and Fengchu, if you obtain even one of the two, you may pacify the empire.' Now I have obtained both of them—the House of Han may rise again!" He thereupon appointed Pang Tong as Vice Military Counselor and Army Inspector, to work alongside Kongming in devising strategy, drilling the troops, and awaiting orders for military campaigns.

Word soon reached Xuchang that Liu Bei had Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong as his strategists, that he was recruiting soldiers, buying horses, and storing grain, and that he had allied himself with Eastern Wu and would surely march north before long. When Cao Cao heard this, he gathered his advisors to discuss a southern expedition. Xun You advanced the proposal: "Zhou Yu has recently died. We should attack Sun Quan first and then Liu Bei." Cao Cao said, "If I lead a distant campaign, I fear Ma Teng will attack Xuchang. At the time of the Battle of Red Cliffs, there were already rumors in the army of an invasion from Xiliang. We cannot fail to guard against this." Xun You said, "In my humble view, we should issue an imperial edict appointing Ma Teng as General Who Campaigns the South and ordering him to attack Sun Quan. If we lure him to the capital and eliminate him first, then we will have no worries in our southern campaign." Cao Cao was greatly pleased and at once dispatched a messenger with the edict to Xiliang to summon Ma Teng.

Now Ma Teng, whose courtesy name was Shoucheng, was a descendant of Ma Yuan, the Fubo General of the Han dynasty. His father was named Su, courtesy name Zishuo, who had served as a county captain in Lan'gan County in Tianshui during the reign of Emperor Huan. After losing his post, he drifted to Longxi and lived among the Qiang people, marrying a Qiang woman who bore Teng. Teng stood eight feet tall, with a striking appearance and a gentle disposition, and many people respected him. In the final years of Emperor Ling's reign, when the Qiang rebelled repeatedly, Teng raised militia forces and defeated them. In the early years of the Chuping era, for his meritorious service in suppressing rebels, he was appointed General Who Campaigns the West, and he became sworn brothers with Han Sui, the General Who Guards the West.

On the day he received the edict, he consulted with his eldest son, Ma Chao, saying, "Ever since I received the secret edict in the girdle together with Dong Cheng and made a pact with Liu Xuande to join in suppressing the traitors, Dong Cheng has died and Xuande has suffered repeated defeats. I, confined here in Xiliang, have been unable to assist Xuande. Now I hear that Xuande has obtained Jingzhou, and I was just about to realize our former ambition—but instead Cao Cao summons me. What should I do?" Ma Chao said, "Cao Cao summons you in the name of the Son of Heaven. If you do not go, he will certainly accuse you of defying an imperial command. You should take advantage of his summons and go to the capital. Once there, you can seize the opportunity and act—then our former ambition may be realized."

Ma Teng's nephew Ma Dai remonstrated, saying, "Cao Cao's intentions are sinister. If you go, Uncle, you will fall into his trap and perish." Ma Chao said, "I will raise all the troops of Xiliang and accompany Father into Xuchang to rid the empire of this menace—what is wrong with that?" Teng said, "You will remain in Xiliang to command the Qiang troops and defend the region. Let only your younger brothers Ma Xiu and Ma Tie, along with your cousin Ma Dai, accompany me to the capital. With you in Xiliang and Han Sui lending his support, Cao Cao will not dare to harm me." Ma Chao said, "If Father goes, you must on no account enter the capital carelessly. You must adapt to circumstances and observe their every move." Teng said, "I have my own plans—do not worry."

Thus Ma Teng led five thousand Xiliang troops, ordering Ma Xiu and Ma Tie to advance as the vanguard while leaving Ma Dai behind to provide support. They advanced in stages toward Xuchang, and at twenty li from the city, Ma Teng encamped his forces.

When Cao Cao learned that Ma Teng had arrived, he summoned Huang Kui, a Gentleman of the Palace Gate, and instructed him: "Ma Teng is currently marching south. I appoint you as a military advisor and send you first to Ma Teng's camp to offer gifts of comfort. Tell him that the road from Xiliang is long and transporting grain is extremely difficult, so he could not bring many troops. I will dispatch additional forces to advance in coordination with him. Tomorrow, tell him to enter the city to pay his respects to the Emperor, and I shall arrange provisions for him."

Huang Kui received his orders and went to see Ma Teng. Ma Teng set out wine to entertain him. When they were halfway through their cups, Huang Kui said, "My father, Huang Wan, perished in the disaster caused by Li Jue and Guo Si. I have long harbored bitter resentment. I never expected to encounter another traitor who deceives the sovereign today."

Ma Teng asked, "Who is this traitor who deceives the sovereign?"

Huang Kui said, "The traitor is the scoundrel Cao! Surely you already know this—why ask me?"

Ma Teng, fearing that Cao Cao had sent him to spy, quickly silenced him: "There are eyes and ears nearby. Speak no rash words!"

Huang Kui rebuked him: "Have you forgotten the edict hidden in the belt?"

When Ma Teng saw that Huang Kui had spoken of what weighed on his heart, he secretly revealed the truth to him. Huang Kui said: "Cao wants you to enter the city to pay respects to the Emperor—this surely cannot be good intentions. You must not enter lightly. Tomorrow, you should marshal your troops beneath the city walls. When Cao Cao comes out to review the forces, strike him down right there and then. The great cause will be accomplished!"

The two men concluded their plan. Huang Kui returned home, his wrath still unabated. His wife asked him repeatedly what troubled him, but he would not say. What he did not know was that his concubine, Li Chunxiong, was carrying on an affair with his wife's younger brother, Miao Ze. Miao Ze desired Chunxiong but had no means to obtain her. The concubine, seeing Huang Kui's fury, said to Miao Ze: "The Vice Minister returned today after discussing military matters. He seems deeply enraged. I wonder why?"

Miao Ze said, "You can test him with words. Say to him: 'Everyone says the Imperial Uncle Liu is benevolent and virtuous, while Cao Cao is a treacherous villain. Why is this?' See what he says."

That night, Huang Kui went to Chunxiong's chamber. The concubine tested him with those words. Huang Kui, half drunk, said: "You are a woman, yet you still know right from wrong—how much more should I? What I hate is that I wish to kill Cao Cao!"

The concubine asked: "If you wish to kill him, how will you do it?"

Huang Kui said: "I have already arranged with General Ma to kill him tomorrow when the troops are reviewed outside the city."

The concubine told Miao Ze, and Miao Ze reported it to Cao Cao. Cao Cao then secretly summoned Cao Hong and Xu Chu and gave them their orders in detail; he also summoned Xiahou Yuan and Xu Huang and gave them their orders in detail. Each received his command and departed. Meanwhile, Huang Kui's entire household was seized.

The next day, Ma Teng led his Xiliang troops and drew near the city. Suddenly he saw ahead a cluster of red banners bearing the insignia of the Prime Minister. Ma Teng assumed that Cao Cao himself had come to review the troops and spurred his horse forward. Suddenly a cannon roared, and where the red banners parted, a volley of arrows and crossbow bolts flew forth. A general led the charge—it was Cao Hong. Ma Teng hastily wheeled his horse to retreat, but then shouts erupted on both sides. From the left, Xu Chu charged in; from the right, Xiahou Yuan charged in; from behind, Xu Huang led troops to attack as well. They cut off the Xiliang forces, trapping Ma Teng and his two sons in the center of the encirclement.

Ma Teng saw the situation was hopeless and fought with all his might. Ma Tie had already been struck down by a random arrow. Ma Xiu followed Ma Teng, charging left and right, but they could not break free. Both men were severely wounded, and their mounts were shot from under them. Father and sons were all taken captive. Cao Cao ordered that Huang Kui and the three Ma men be bound together and brought before him. Huang Kui cried out: "We are innocent!" Cao Cao had Miao Ze confront them as a witness. Ma Teng cursed loudly: "A wretched scholar has ruined my great cause! That I cannot slay the traitor for my country—this is Heaven's will!" Cao Cao ordered them led away. Ma Teng cursed without cease and, together with his son Ma Xiu and Huang Kui, met their deaths. A later poet praised Ma Teng:

Father and son, glorious in virtue,

Loyal and steadfast, one household renowned.

They gave their lives to save the realm from peril,

Sworn to repay their sovereign's grace even unto death.

Their oath sealed in blood endures,

Their righteous deed to punish the traitor remains.

A scion of a noble house of Xiliang,

Worthy grandson of the Fubo General.

Miao Ze said to Cao Cao: "I seek no reward—I only ask to take Li Chunxiong as my wife." Cao Cao laughed and said: "For the sake of one woman, you destroyed your brother-in-law's entire family. What use is there in keeping such an unrighteous person?" He then ordered Miao Ze, Li Chunxiong, and all of Huang Kui's household to be executed in the marketplace. Those who witnessed it sighed without exception. A later poet lamented:

Miao Ze, driven by lust, brought harm to loyal ministers;

Chunxiong, never obtained, instead lost her own life.

Even the treacherous hero would not forgive or spare her—

In vain she plotted, a petty person to the end.

Cao Cao then issued a proclamation to pacify the Xiliang troops, declaring: "Ma Teng and his sons plotted rebellion—this does not concern the rest of you." Meanwhile, he sent men to guard the mountain passes, ordering that Ma Dai not be allowed to escape.

Now Ma Dai had been leading a thousand troops behind him. Soldiers who had fled from outside Xuchang soon reached Ma Dai with the news. Ma Dai was greatly alarmed. He had no choice but to abandon his troops, disguise himself as a merchant, and flee through the night. After executing Ma Teng and the others, Cao Cao resolved to march south. Suddenly a messenger reported: "Liu Bei is drilling his troops and gathering equipment—he intends to seize the Riverlands." Cao Cao was startled and said: "If Liu Bei takes the Riverlands, his wings will be fully grown. How then can I deal with him?"

Before he finished speaking, a man at the foot of the steps stepped forward and said: "I have a plan that will prevent Liu Bei and Sun Quan from fulfilling each other's desires—both Jiangnan and the Riverlands will belong to the Prime Minister." And so:

The heroes of the Riverlands have just been slain,

The champions of the south shall now suffer as well.

Who was it that offered this plan? Read on in the next chapter.