Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Now Sun Quan wanted to reclaim Jing Province. Zhang Zhao offered a stratagem, saying: "Liu Bei relies heavily on Zhuge Liang. Liang's elder brother Zhuge Jin now serves in Wu. Why not seize Jin's wife and children, and send Jin into Shu to speak to his brother, urging him to persuade Liu Bei to hand over Jing Province? 'If he does not return it, my old and young will surely be implicated.' Liang, mindful of brotherly affection, will certainly agree." Sun Quan said: "Zhuge Jin is an honest gentleman. How can I bear to imprison his wife and children?" Zhang Zhao said: "Let him know plainly it is a stratagem, and he will naturally feel at ease." Sun Quan followed this advice, summoning Zhuge Jin's wife and children and placing them under nominal confinement in his residence. At the same time he prepared a letter and sent Zhuge Jin to Xi Province.

Within several days, Zhuge Jin arrived in Chengdu and first sent word to Liu Bei. Liu Bei asked Zhuge Kongming: "Why has your elder brother come here?" Kongming: "To demand Jing Province." Liu Bei: "How shall we reply?" Kongming: "We need only do thus and thus."

The plan was settled. Kongming went out beyond the walls to receive Zhuge Jin. Instead of taking him to a private residence, he conducted him straight to the guest lodge. After the formal courtesies were completed, Zhuge Jin broke into loud weeping. Kongming said: "If my elder brother has some matter to discuss, why does he give way to grief?" Zhuge Jin said: "My entire household is doomed!" Kongming said: "Is it because Jing Province has not been returned? Because of me, your wife and children have been taken into custody. How can I rest easy? Brother, do not worry. I have a plan to return Jing Province."

Zhuge Jin was overjoyed and at once accompanied Kongming to see Liu Bei, presenting Sun Quan's letter. Liu Bei read it and said angrily: "Sun Quan has given me his sister in marriage, yet while I was away from Jing Province, he secretly took her back. This is hard to bear in reason and justice! I was just about to raise a great army from Shu and march down to Jiangnan to avenge my grievance. And now he still wants to demand Jing Province?"

Kongming wept and prostrated himself on the ground, saying: "The Marquis of Wu has seized my elder brother's wife and children. If Jing Province is not returned, my brother's whole family will be put to death. If my brother dies, how can I survive alone? I beg my lord, for my sake, to return Jing Province to Eastern Wu and preserve the bond between brothers!" Liu Bei steadfastly refused, while Kongming continued to weep and plead. Liu Bei said at last, slowly: "Since it is so, for the Commander's sake, I will return half of Jing Province: the three prefectures of Changsha, Lingling, and Guiyang shall be given to him." Kongming said: "Since you have graciously agreed, I will write a letter to Yun Chang instructing him to hand over the three prefectures." Liu Bei said: "When Ziyu arrives there, you must use gentle words to persuade my brother. My brother's temper is like raging fire, and even I fear him. You must be very careful."

Zhuge Jin obtained the letter, took leave of Liu Bei, and bade farewell to Kongming. He set out directly for Jing Province. Yun Chang invited him into the main hall, where host and guest took their seats. Zhuge Jin produced Liu Bei's letter, saying: "The Imperial Uncle has agreed to return the three prefectures first to Eastern Wu. He hopes you will hand them over at once, so that I may return and report to my lord." Yun Chang's countenance changed. "My elder brother and I swore brotherhood in the Peach Garden to restore the Han together. Jing Province is territory of the Great Han. How can we recklessly yield even an inch of it to another? 'A general in the field may decline a sovereign's command.' Though my elder brother has sent a letter, I simply will not return it." Zhuge Jin said: "Now the Marquis of Wu has seized my wife and children. If Jing Province is not returned, they will surely be put to death. I hope you will take pity on them!" Yun Chang said: "This is a cunning scheme of the Marquis of Wu. How could it deceive me?" Zhuge Jin said: "Why does the General show so little regard for appearances?"

Yun Chang seized his sword and said: "Say no more! This sword has no regard for appearances!" Guan Ping interjected: "The Commander's reputation suffers. I hope my father will calm his anger." Yun Chang said: "But for the Commander's sake, you would not return alive to Eastern Wu!"

Zhuge Jin left in deep shame and haste, going down to his boat. He returned to Xi Province to see Kongming, but Kongming had already gone out on inspection. Zhuge Jin could only see Liu Bei again and tearfully reported that Yun Chang had tried to kill him. Liu Bei said: "My brother is hot-tempered and very difficult to deal with. Ziyu, return for now. When I have taken the prefectures of Eastern Hanzhong and the other regions of Eastern Sichuan, I will transfer Yun Chang to garrison them. Only then will I be able to hand over Jing Province."

Zhuge Jin had no choice but to return to Eastern Wu and see Sun Quan, recounting everything that had happened. Sun Quan was furious. "Ziyu, you have been going back and forth. Could this all be Zhuge Liang's scheme?" Zhuge Jin said: "No. My brother also wept and pleaded with Liu Bei, who only then agreed to return three prefectures first. But then Yun Chang stubbornly refused." Sun Quan said: "Since Liu Bei has spoken of returning three prefectures first, we can send officials to take up their posts in Changsha, Lingling, and Guiyang and see what happens." Zhuge Jin said: "What my lord says is most sound." Sun Quan then ordered Zhuge Jin to retrieve his wife and children, and at the same time dispatched officials to assume office in the three prefectures.

Not many days later, the officials sent to the three commanderies were all driven back. They reported to Sun Quan: "Guan Yunchang refused to accommodate us. He drove us back to Eastern Wu by night, threatening to kill anyone who lingered." Sun Quan was furious. He summoned Lu Su and rebuked him: "Zijing once stood surety for Liu Bei and borrowed our Jing Province from us. Now that Liu Bei has seized Xichuan and refuses to return it, can Zijing simply stand by and do nothing?" Lu Su said, "I have devised a plan and was just about to present it to Your Lordship." Sun Quan asked what the plan was. Lu Su said: "Let us now station troops at Lukou and send an invitation to Guan Yunchang to attend a meeting. If Yunchang agrees, we shall persuade him with gentle words. If he refuses, we shall have armed men lying in wait to kill him. If he will not come at all, we shall immediately advance our troops, fight a decisive battle, and seize Jing Province." Sun Quan said: "This suits my wishes perfectly. Proceed at once." Kan Ze stepped forward and said: "This cannot be done. Guan Yunchang is a tiger general of this age—no ordinary man can match him. I fear that if the matter goes awry, we shall suffer instead." Sun Quan angrily said: "If that is so, when shall we ever obtain Jing Province!" He then ordered Lu Su to carry out the plan without delay. Lu Su took his leave of Sun Quan and went to Lukou, where he summoned Lü Meng and Gan Ning to deliberate with him. They prepared a feast at the Riverside Pavilion outside the Lukou camp, drafted a letter of invitation, selected one of their men who was quick-tongued and eloquent to serve as envoy, and sent him by boat across the River. At the River mouth, Guan Ping questioned the envoy, then led him into Jing Province, where he paid his respects to Yunchang, explained that Lu Su wished to invite him to a meeting, and presented the letter. Yunchang read it through and said to the envoy: "Since Zijing invites me, I shall come to the feast tomorrow. You may return first."

The envoy took his leave. Guan Ping said: "When Lu Su extends an invitation, there can be no good intent. Why did my father agree?" Yunchang smiled and said: "Do you think I do not know? This is Zhuge Jin reporting back to Sun Quan that I refuse to return the three commanderies. That is why he has ordered Lu Su to station troops at Lukou and invite me to a meeting, so as to demand Jing Province. If I do not go, they will say I am afraid. Tomorrow I shall sail alone in a small boat, taking only a dozen personal attendants. I shall attend the meeting with a single sword and see how Lu Su dares approach me." Ping remonstrated: "How can my father, whose person is worth a thousand pieces of gold, personally venture into the den of tigers and wolves? I fear this is not the way to honor the trust that my uncle has placed in you." Yunchang said: "Amidst a thousand spears and ten thousand blades, with arrows and stones flying, I have ridden my horse in and out as though none stood in my way. Why should I worry about a pack of rats from Jiangdong?" Ma Liang also remonstrated: "Although Lu Su bears the manner of a man of honor, yet the present situation is urgent, and one cannot guarantee that he will not turn treacherous. The General must not go lightly." Yunchang said: "In the days of the Warring States, Lin Xiangru of Zhao had no strength to bind a chicken, yet at the meeting at Mianchi he treated the rulers and ministers of Qin as though they were nothing. And I, who have studied the art of defeating ten thousand men—am I not his superior? Having already given my word, I cannot break it." Ma Liang said: "Even if the General goes, there should still be preparations." Yunchang said: "Tell my son to select ten swift boats and conceal five hundred skilled water troops upon the River. When they see my red flag raised, let them cross the River." Ping received his orders and went to make the preparations.

Now the envoy returned to Lu Su and reported that Yunchang had readily agreed and would arrive on the morrow. Su conferred with Lü Meng: "What shall we do when he comes?" Meng said: "If he brings troops, Gan Ning and I shall each lead a company concealed along the riverbank. We will use a cannon as the signal and prepare for battle. If he brings no troops, we shall simply conceal fifty armed men behind the hall and kill him during the feast." The plan was thus settled. The following day, Su posted men to watch from the riverbank. After the morning hour, they saw a single boat upon the river, with only a handful of helmsman and sailors. A red红旗 fluttered in the wind, displaying a large character: "Guan." As the boat drew near the shore, they saw Yunchang in a green turban and a dark robe, seated upon the boat, with Zhou Cang standing beside him bearing a great broadsword, and eight or nine men of the western regions each wearing a sword at their waists. Lu Su, startled and uneasy, received him into the pavilion. After the formal greetings were completed, they took their seats and began drinking. Su raised his cup to offer a toast but dared not look Yunchang in the face. Yunchang conversed and laughed with perfect ease.

When the wine had been half consumed, Su said: "I have a matter to lay before Your Lordship, and I hope you will give it your attention. In former days, your elder brother, the Imperial Uncle, sent me to plead with my lord to lend Jing Province as a temporary refuge, with the understanding that it would be returned after Xichuan was taken. Now Xichuan has been taken, yet Jing Province has not been returned. Is this not a breach of faith?" Yunchang said: "These are matters of state. They need not be discussed at a banquet." Su said: "My lord possesses only the modest territory of Jiangdong, yet he was willing to lend Jing Province out of consideration for Your Lordship and the others, who had suffered defeat and come from afar with no resources of your own. Now that you have obtained Yizhou, Jing Province should of course be returned. Yet the Imperial Uncle is willing to cede only three commanderies, and Your Lordship refuses even that. I fear this cannot be justified on principle."

Yunchang said: "At the Battle of Wulin, the Left General himself braved arrows and stones and strove with all his might to destroy the enemy. How can it be said that he toiled without reward and received no land in return? And now you come again to demand territory?" Su said: "Not so. When Your Lordship and the Imperial Uncle were defeated together at Changban, your plans were exhausted and your strength spent, and you were on the verge of fleeing far away. My lord took pity on the Imperial Uncle for having nowhere to turn, and did not begrudge the land, giving you a place to rest so that you might build upon it for future achievements. But the Imperial Uncle has repaid virtue with injury and broken good faith—having already seized Xichuan, he now also holds Jing Province. Such greed and betrayal of righteousness will, I fear, bring the ridicule of the whole world. I beg Your Lordship to consider this carefully." Yunchang said: "These are all my elder brother's affairs. It is not for me to involve myself in them." Su said: "I have heard that Your Lordship and the Imperial Uncle swore brotherhood in the Peach Garden, pledging to live and die together. The Imperial Uncle is Your Lordship, and Your Lordship is the Imperial Uncle. How can you evade responsibility?"

Before Guan Yu could answer, Zhou Cang shouted fiercely from below the steps: "The land of the empire belongs to whoever possesses virtue. How can it be that only your Eastern Wu deserves it?" Guan Yu's expression changed as he rose, seized the great sword from Zhou Cang's hands, and stood in the courtyard. He glared at Zhou Cang and rebuked him: "This is a matter of state—how dare you speak so presumptuously! Leave at once!" Zhou Cang understood, went ahead to the riverbank, and waved the red banner. Guan Ping's boat shot forth like an arrow, racing across the river toward the eastern shore. Guan Yu raised his sword in his right hand while taking Lu Su's hand in his left, feigning drunkenness. "You have invited me to a banquet today, but let us not speak of Jing Province. I am already drunk, and I fear that discussing such matters might harm the feelings of our old friendship. Another day I shall invite you to Jing Province for a feast, and we shall deliberate further."

Lu Su's soul nearly fled from his body as Guan Yu dragged him to the river's edge. Lü Meng and Gan Ning each led their troops forward, intending to intervene, but seeing Guan Yu holding the great sword and grasping Lu Su personally, they feared Lu Su would be harmed and dared not move. When Guan Yu reached the boat, he finally released his grip and stood at the bow, bidding Lu Su farewell. Lu Su stood as if dazed and transfixed, watching Guan Yu's vessel depart with the wind. A later poet praised Guan Yu:

He looked upon the Wu ministers like children,

Attending alone with his single sword, daring to match them in boldness.

That heroic spirit of old

Even surpassed that of Lin Xiangru at Mianchi.

Guan Yu returned to Jing Province. Lu Su and Lü Meng discussed together: "This plan too has failed. What shall we do?" Meng said: "We may report to our lord and raise troops to fight Guan Yu in a decisive battle." Lu Su at once sent a report to Sun Quan. Quan was furious upon hearing it and deliberated raising the entire army of the state to seize Jing Province. Then word arrived that Cao Cao was again raising an army of three hundred thousand. Quan was greatly alarmed and instructed Lu Su to cease provoking Jing Province's forces, redirecting the army instead toward Hefei and Ruxu to resist Cao Cao.

Now it was said that Cao Cao was about to set out on a southern expedition when the advisor Fu Gan, styled Yancai, submitted a memorial advising against it. The memorial read roughly as follows: "I have heard that in employing military force, one must first establish awe; in employing civil governance, one must first establish virtue. When awe and virtue reinforce each other, then the royal enterprise is accomplished. In times past, when the empire was in great disorder, Your Excellency employed military force to pacify it, restoring order to nine parts of ten. Now those who have not submitted to the royal mandate are only Wu and Shu. Wu has the natural barrier of the Yangtze River; Shu has the obstruction of towering mountains—it is difficult to overcome them by force. I humbly believe it would be best to cultivate civil virtue, keep the troops in their armor and let the soldiers rest, nurture the officers, and await the proper moment to act. Now if you raise a force of several hundred thousand and encamp them along the Yangtze, should the rebels rely on their natural defenses and remain deeply hidden, preventing our soldiers and horses from displaying their abilities and preventing stratagems from exercising their power, then Heaven's awe would be brought low. I hope Your Excellency will examine this carefully."

When Cao Cao had finished reading, he abandoned the southern expedition and instead established schools and extended courtesies to scholars. Thereupon the four officials Wang Can, Du Xi, Wei Kai, and He Qia, who served as Palace Attendants, deliberated on honoring Cao Cao as the Prince of Wei. The Secretariat Director Xun You said: "This cannot be done. The Chancellor has already reached the rank of Duke of Wei and received the honor of the Nine Bestowments—his position has reached its utmost. Now to further advance him to princely rank is contrary to propriety." When Cao Cao heard this, he was enraged: "This man wishes to follow Xun Yu's example!" Xun You learned of this and fell ill from anxiety and indignation. He took to his bed and died after some ten days, at the age of fifty-eight. Cao Cao gave him a lavish burial and abandoned the matter of the princedom.

One day, Cao Cao entered the palace wearing his sword. The Emperor was sitting together with Empress Fu. When the Empress saw Cao Cao approaching, she rose hastily in alarm. The Emperor, seeing Cao Cao, trembled uncontrollably. Cao Cao said: "Sun Quan and Liu Bei each dominate a region and do not respect the court. What should be done about this?" The Emperor said: "It all rests with the Duke of Wei's judgment." Cao Cao was angered: "If Your Majesty speaks such words, outsiders will say that I am deceiving my sovereign." The Emperor said: "If you are willing to assist me, that would be most fortunate. If not, I beg you to show mercy and let me go."

Cao Cao glared at the Emperor and departed in bitter anger. Those in attendance reported to the Emperor: "We have recently heard that the Duke of Wei wishes to establish himself as a prince and will soon seize the throne." The Emperor and Empress Fu wept bitterly. The Empress said: "My father Fu Wan has long harbored the desire to kill Cao Cao. I shall now write a letter and secretly conspire with my father against him." The Emperor said: "In the past, Dong Cheng failed because he was not cautious enough and met with disaster. Now if this too is leaked, both you and I are doomed!" The Empress said: "Day and night we sit as if upon a needle—to live like this is better than an early death! Among the eunuchs, I see none more loyal and righteous than Mu Shun. Let him be entrusted with this letter." She summoned Mu Shun behind the screen and dismissed the attendants nearby. The Emperor and Empress wept and told Mu Shun: "The traitor Cao Cao wishes to become the Prince of Wei and will soon carry out his usurpation. I wish to have the Empress's father Fu Wan secretly plot against this traitor, but all those around us are the traitor's confidants—there is no one to trust. I want you to carry the Empress's secret letter to Fu Wan. Judging by your loyalty and righteousness, you will not betray me." Mu Shun wept and said: "Your subject is moved by Your Majesty's great kindness and would dare not repay it except with my life. I beg permission to go."

The Empress then wrote the letter and gave it to Mu Shun. He concealed it within his hair and slipped out of the forbidden palace, going directly to Fu Wan's residence to present the letter. When Fu Wan saw that it was Empress Fu's own hand, he said to Mu Shun: "The traitor Cao Cao has too many confidants—we cannot act rashly. Unless Sun Quan in Jiangdong and Liu Bei in Xichuan raise armies from without, Cao Cao will certainly lead troops himself. At that time we may seek loyal and righteous ministers at court to plot together with us. Attacking from within and without simultaneously, then perhaps we may succeed." Mu Shun said: "Your Excellency may write a letter in reply to the Emperor and Empress, requesting a secret edict and secretly sending men to Wu and Shu to arrange for them to raise armies together, attack the traitor, and rescue the sovereign." Fu Wan at once took paper and wrote a letter, giving it to Mu Shun. Mu Shun concealed it within his hair knot, took leave of Fu Wan, and returned to the palace.

It turned out that someone had already reported the matter to Cao Cao. Cao Cao waited at the palace gate in advance. Mu Shun encountered Cao Cao on his way back. Cao Cao asked, "Where have you been?" Mu Shun replied, "The Empress is ill and ordered me to seek a physician." Cao Cao said, "Where is the physician you summoned?" Mu Shun said, "He has not yet been summoned." Cao Cao ordered his attendants to search his body thoroughly; finding nothing concealed upon him, they let him pass. Suddenly a gust of wind blew off his hat. Cao Cao called him back, took the hat, examined it all over—finding nothing—and returned it, telling him to put it on. Mu Shun put the hat on with both hands, wearing it backwards. Cao Cao grew suspicious and ordered his attendants to search Mu Shun's hair, where they found Fu Wan's letter. When Cao Cao read it, the letter spoke of plotting to ally with Sun and Liu as external support. Cao Cao flew into a rage, seized Mu Shun, and interrogated him in a private chamber, but Mu Shun refused to confess. Cao Cao mustered three thousand armored troops that very night, surrounded Fu Wan's private residence, and arrested everyone, old and young alike. They found the Empress Fu's personally written letter, and subsequently threw the entire Fu clan—all three branches of the family—into prison. At daybreak, Cao Cao sent Xi Lv of the Imperial Guard bearing an imperial tally into the palace to first seize the Empress's seal and ribbons.

That day the Emperor was in the outer hall when he saw Xi Lv leading three hundred armored soldiers marching straight in. The Emperor asked, "What is the matter?" Xi Lv said, "By order of the Duke of Wei, I am here to seize the Empress's seal." The Emperor knew the affair had been exposed, and his heart and gall were shattered. Xi Lv went to the inner palace. The Empress Fu had just risen. Xi Lv then called for the keeper of the seal and ribbons to hand over the imperial seal and departed. The Empress Fu realized what had happened and hid herself in a concealed compartment behind the hall in the Pepper Chamber. Shortly afterward, Hua Xin, the Minister over the Masses, led five hundred soldiers into the rear hall and asked the palace attendants, "Where is the Empress Fu?" The attendants all professed ignorance. Hua Xin ordered the soldiers to break open the red doors, but they could not find her anywhere. Suspecting she was behind the wall, he commanded the soldiers to break through the wall and search. Hua Xin personally seized the Empress by her hair and dragged her out. The Empress said, "I hope you will spare my life!" Hua Xin rebuked her, "Go tell the Duke of Wei yourself!" With her hair disheveled and her feet bare, the Empress was pushed and dragged out by two armored soldiers.

Now Hua Xin had long been renowned for his literary talent and had been close friends with Bing Yuan and Guan Ning in earlier days. People of the time called the three of them a single dragon: Hua Xin was the dragon's head, Bing Yuan the dragon's belly, and Guan Ning the dragon's tail. One day, Guan Ning and Hua Xin were together planting vegetables in a garden. While hoeing the ground, they saw a piece of gold. Guan Ning swung his hoe and paid it no mind, but Hua Xin picked it up, looked at it, and then threw it down. Another day, Guan Ning and Hua Xin were sitting together reading when they heard a commotion outside—a nobleman passing by in a carriage. Guan Ning remained seated without moving, but Hua Xin cast aside his book and went to watch. From then on, Guan Ning despised Hua Xin's character, so he cut the mat they shared and sat apart, and they were friends no more. Later, Guan Ning withdrew to live in Liaodong, always wearing a white cap, dwelling in a single upstairs room, his feet never touching the ground, and he never served Wei to the end of his life. Hua Xin, however, first served Sun Quan and later submitted to Cao Cao, and it was thus that he came to be the one who arrested Empress Fu. A later poet lamented Hua Xin thus:

Hua Xin that day unleashed his ruthless scheme,

Breaking through the wall to seize the mother of the realm.

Aiding tyranny, he added tiger wings for a day,

His name mocked for a thousand years—the dragon's head held in scorn.

Another poem praised Guan Ning:

In Liaodong there stands the tower of Guan Ning,

The man is gone, the tower empty, yet his name alone endures.

Laugh at Ziyu who coveted wealth and rank—

How could he compare to the white cap, drifting with grace in the wind?

Now Hua Xin escorted Empress Fu to the outer hall. The Emperor saw her, came down from the hall, and embraced her weeping. Hua Xin said, "The Duke of Wei has given his command—make haste!" The Empress wept and said to the Emperor, "Can you not save my life?" The Emperor said, "I do not even know when my own life will end!" The soldiers escorted the Empress away, and the Emperor beat his breast in great anguish. Seeing Xi Lv standing nearby, the Emperor said, "Lord Xi! Does such a thing exist under Heaven!" He collapsed weeping to the ground. Xi Lv ordered the attendants to help the Emperor back into the palace.

Hua Xin brought Empress Fu before Cao Cao. Cao Cao cursed her, "I treated you all with sincerity, and you in turn wished to harm me! If I do not kill you, you will surely kill me." He ordered his attendants to beat her to death with clubs, then went into the palace and poisoned both sons born to Empress Fu. That night, more than two hundred of Fu Wan's and Mu Shun's kinsmen were all beheaded in the marketplace. There was no one in the court or in the countryside who was not horrified. This was in the eleventh month of the nineteenth year of Jian'an. A later poem lamented:

Cao Man's ferocity and cruelty were without equal in the world;

What could Fu Wan's loyalty and righteousness avail?

Piteous was the place where Emperor and Empress were parted—

They were not even as well off as a common husband and wife.

Ever since the destruction of Empress Fu, the Emperor of Xian had eaten nothing for several days in a row. Cao Cao came in and said, "Let Your Majesty have no worries. I have no ulterior motives. My daughter is already among Your Majesty's honored consorts—great in virtue and great in filial piety; she is fit to occupy the central palace." How could the Emperor of Xian dare to refuse? In the first month of the twentieth year of Jian'an, on the New Year's Day celebration, Cao Cao's daughter, Lady Cao, was installed as Empress of the central palace. None among the assembled officials dared to utter a word.

By then Cao Cao's power and prestige were growing daily. He gathered his ministers to discuss the matter of subjugating Wu and destroying Shu. Jia Xu said, "We must first recall Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren and deliberate on this matter." Cao Cao immediately dispatched messengers to summon them with all haste. Before Xiahou Dun arrived, Cao Ren reached the capital first and entered the headquarters that very night to see Cao Cao. Cao Cao had retired in a state of drunkenness, and Xu Chu stood guard with his sword inside the hall door. Cao Ren wished to enter but was blocked by Xu Chu. Cao Cao flew into a rage, saying, "I am of the Cao clan—how dare you obstruct me?" Xu Chu said, "Though you are of the family, you are an official guarding the frontiers; though I am of no relation, I am now serving as an inner guard. His Lordship is sleeping drunk in the hall—I dare not let anyone in." When Cao Cao heard this, he sighed and said, "Xu Chu is a true loyal minister!"

Within a few days, Xiahou Dun also arrived, and together they deliberated on the campaign. Xiahou Dun said, "Wu and Shu cannot be attacked in haste. We should first seize Zhang Lu in Hanzhong, and with a victorious army take Shu—it could be toppled in a single stroke." Cao Cao said, "This coincides perfectly with my own thinking." He then raised an army and marched west. Indeed:

Having just unleashed his ruthless schemes to deceive a weak sovereign,

He now drove his mighty troops to sweep away a peripheral state.

What happened next will be told in the following chapter.