Chapter 68

Chapter 68

Meanwhile, in Rukou, Sun Quan was gathering his forces when he received word that Cao Cao had marched from Hanzhong with a four-hundred-thousand-strong army to relieve Hefei. Sun Quan consulted with his advisors. He ordered Dong Xi and Xu Sheng to hide fifty large boats at Rukou, and sent Chen Wu to patrol the riverbank. Zhang Zhao said, “Cao Cao has come a great distance. We must first break his spirit.” Sun Quan then asked his officers, “Cao Cao has come from afar. Who dares to lead the charge and break his spirit?” Ling Tong volunteered, “I will go.” Sun Quan asked, “How many troops will you need?” Ling Tong replied, “Three thousand will be enough.” Gan Ning said, “I need only a hundred horsemen to defeat the enemy—why three thousand?” Ling Tong was furious, and the two began arguing before Sun Quan. Sun Quan said, “The Cao army is vast; we must not underestimate them.” He ordered Ling Tong to take three thousand troops out of Rukou to scout and engage the enemy if encountered.

Ling Tong set out with three thousand men and soon met the vanguard of Cao Cao’s army. The two sides clashed, and Ling Tong fought Zhang Liao, the enemy’s vanguard commander, for fifty exchanges without either side prevailing. Sun Quan, fearing for Ling Tong’s safety, ordered Lü Meng to cover his retreat. When Ling Tong returned, Gan Ning went to Sun Quan and said, “I will raid Cao Cao’s camp tonight with just a hundred men. If I lose even a single man or horse, it will not count as a deed.” Sun Quan admired his boldness and gave him a hundred elite horsemen, along with fifty bottles of wine and fifty pounds of mutton to reward the soldiers. Gan Ning returned to his camp, had the hundred men sit in a row, and poured wine into silver cups, drinking two himself. He then said, “We are ordered to raid the enemy camp tonight. Please each of you drink a full cup and strive forward with all your might.” The men looked at one another uncertainly. Seeing their hesitation, Gan Ning drew his sword and shouted, “I am a general and I do not value my own life—how can you hesitate?” The men, seeing his fierce expression, rose and bowed, saying, “We will give our utmost strength.”

Gan Ning shared the wine and meat with the hundred men. After they had finished eating, around the second watch of the night, he gave each of them a hundred white goose feathers to wear on their helmets as a sign. They donned their armor and mounted their horses, then galloped to Cao Cao’s camp. They broke through the abatis, raised a great shout, and charged into the camp, heading straight for the central tent to kill Cao Cao. However, the central camp was surrounded by chariots and barriers, locked together like an iron bucket, and they could not break through. With only a hundred horsemen, Gan Ning charged left and right. The Cao soldiers were thrown into panic, not knowing how many enemies there were, and fell into disorder. The hundred horsemen rampaged through the camp, killing anyone they encountered. The other camps lit fires like stars and raised a tremendous clamor. Gan Ning led his men out through the south gate of the camp, and no one dared to stand in his way. Sun Quan sent Zhou Tai with a detachment to meet them. The hundred horsemen returned to Rukou without losing a single man or horse. Fearing an ambush, Cao Cao’s forces did not pursue. A later poet praised the feat:

*The war drums thundered, shaking the earth,*

*Wu’s soldiers struck terror into ghosts and gods.*

*A hundred plumes pierced through the Cao camp,*

*All say Gan Ning is a tiger among generals.*

When Gan Ning arrived back at the camp with his hundred riders, not a man or horse was lost. At the camp gate, he ordered them to beat drums and blow flutes, shouting, “Long live!” The cheers shook the air. Sun Quan himself came out to welcome them. Gan Ning dismounted and bowed. Sun Quan raised him up and, taking his hand, said, “Your expedition was enough to strike terror into that old villain. It was not that I begrudged you—I wished to see your courage.” He then bestowed upon him a thousand bolts of silk and a hundred sharp blades. Gan Ning accepted the gifts with thanks and distributed them among the hundred men. Sun Quan said to his officers, “Mengde has Zhang Liao; I have Gan Xingba. They are well matched.”

The next day, Zhang Liao led his troops out to challenge them. Ling Tong, seeing Gan Ning’s success, said eagerly, “I will face Zhang Liao.” Sun Quan agreed. Ling Tong led five thousand men out of Rukou, while Sun Quan himself went with Gan Ning to observe the battle. When the lines were drawn, Zhang Liao rode out, with Li Dian on his left and Yue Jin on his right. Ling Tong, sword in hand, rode to the front. Zhang Liao sent Yue Jin to meet him. The two fought for fifty exchanges without either gaining the upper hand. When Cao Cao heard of this, he rode to the gate of his camp to watch. Seeing the two locked in fierce combat, he ordered Cao Xiu to shoot a hidden arrow. Cao Xiu moved behind Zhang Liao and loosed an arrow that struck Ling Tong’s horse squarely. The horse reared up and threw Ling Tong to the ground. Yue Jin rushed forward with his spear to strike, but before the spear could reach, a bowstring sounded and an arrow hit Yue Jin in the face, knocking him from his horse. Both armies rushed out to rescue their commanders, and the battle ended with the sounding of the gongs. Ling Tong returned to camp and thanked Sun Quan. Sun Quan said, “The one who shot the arrow to save you was Gan Ning.” Ling Tong then bowed deeply to Gan Ning and said, “I never expected such kindness from you!” From that day on, they became sworn brothers and bore no further grudge against one another.

Meanwhile, Cao Cao, seeing Yue Jin wounded by an arrow, went personally to his tent to tend to him. The next day, he divided his army into five columns to attack Rukou: Cao Cao led the central column; Zhang Liao commanded the first column on the left, Li Dian the second; Xu Huang commanded the first column on the right, Pang De the second. Each column numbered ten thousand men, and they advanced toward the river. Dong Xi and Xu Sheng were aboard their boats. When they saw the five columns approaching, the soldiers showed signs of fear. Xu Sheng said, “We receive the lord’s pay and must serve the lord’s cause—what is there to fear?” He led several hundred warriors in small boats across the river and charged into Li Dian’s column. Dong Xi, from his ship, ordered his men to beat drums and shout to boost their morale. Suddenly, a fierce wind rose on the river, with white waves reaching the sky and surging torrents. The soldiers, seeing their great ships about to capsize, scrambled to abandon ship and flee. Dong Xi drew his sword and roared, “We are under the lord’s orders to guard against the enemy—how dare you abandon your ships?” He cut down more than ten deserters on the spot. In moments, the wind grew fiercer and the ships overturned. Dong Xi perished in the waters at the river’s mouth. Xu Sheng continued to charge back and forth through Li Dian’s column.

Now Chen Wu heard the fighting along the riverbank and led a detachment to investigate. He encountered Pang De, and the two forces fell into a chaotic melee. From his stronghold at Ruxu, Sun Quan heard that Cao Cao's troops had reached the riverbank and personally led reinforcements with Zhou Tai. They found Xu Sheng locked in fierce combat amid Li Dian's army, so Sun Quan ordered his forces to charge in and relieve him. But Zhang Liao and Xu Huang's two detachments surrounded Sun Quan in the center of the field. From a high mound, Cao Cao saw Sun Quan trapped and urgently ordered Xu Chu to gallop into the fray with his saber, cutting Sun Quan's army in two so that neither half could aid the other.

Zhou Tai fought his way out of the battle to the riverbank, but Sun Quan was nowhere to be seen. He reined in his horse and charged back into the formation from the outside, asking his own men, "Where is our lord?" The soldiers pointed toward where the enemy forces were thickest. "Our lord is surrounded and in grave danger!" Zhou Tai plunged forward and found Sun Quan. "My lord, follow me out," said Zhou Tai. Zhou Tai took the lead with Sun Quan behind him, and they fought desperately to break through. When they reached the riverbank, Zhou Tai looked back and again did not see Sun Quan. He turned and charged back into the encirclement, finding Sun Quan once more. "They are shooting arrows and crossbow bolts from every direction—we cannot break out. What can we do?" said Sun Quan. "My lord ride ahead, and I will guard the rear. We can break through."

Sun Quan spurred his horse forward. Zhou Tai shielded him on every side, taking several spear thrusts and arrows that pierced his heavy armor, but he succeeded in rescuing Sun Quan. At the riverbank, Lu Meng arrived with a naval detachment to help them aboard ship. "I owe my life to Zhou Tai's three charges through the enemy lines," said Sun Quan. "But Xu Sheng is still trapped in the center. How can we save him?" "I will go rescue him again," said Zhou Tai. He took up his spear and charged back into the encirclement, bringing Xu Sheng out. Both generals were gravely wounded. Lu Meng ordered his men to rain arrows on the enemy on shore, covering the two generals as they boarded the ship.

Meanwhile, Chen Wu and Pang De had been locked in a great battle. With no reinforcements behind him, Chen Wu was driven by Pang De into a valley mouth where the trees grew thick. As Chen Wu tried to turn and fight again, a tree branch caught his sleeve, leaving him unable to defend himself, and Pang De killed him. When Cao Cao saw that Sun Quan had escaped, he personally drove his troops to the riverbank to exchange fire. Lu Meng's arrows ran out. Just as panic set in, a fleet of boats appeared on the opposite bank. At their head was a great general—Sun Ce's son-in-law Lu Xun—who had arrived with a hundred thousand troops. A volley of arrows drove back Cao Cao's forces, and Lu Xun seized the advantage to pursue them ashore, recapturing several thousand horses. Cao Cao's casualties were beyond counting, and his army retreated in defeat. Amid the chaos, they recovered Chen Wu's body.

When Sun Quan learned of Chen Wu's death, and that Dong Xi had also drowned in the river, he was overcome with grief. He had men search the waters for Dong Xi's body and gave both Chen Wu and Dong Xi a grand burial. Moved by Zhou Tai's valor in saving his life, Sun Quan held a feast in his honor. Sun Quan personally raised a cup and, placing his hand on Zhou Tai's back, said with tears streaming down his face, "You saved my life twice, risking your own without hesitation, pierced by dozens of spears, your skin carved as if by a knife. How could I not treat you as my own flesh and blood and entrust you with the weight of my armies? You are my meritorious servant, and I shall share both glory and hardship with you through all our days." Having spoken, he ordered Zhou Tai to remove his garments so that all the generals could see. His flesh and skin were scarred as if carved by a knife, the marks covering his entire body. Sun Quan pointed to each scar and asked about it in turn. Zhou Tai recounted how he had received each wound in battle, and for each wound Sun Quan made him drink a full cup of wine. By day's end, Zhou Tai was deeply drunk. Sun Quan bestowed upon him a blue silk canopy, ordering that it be held over him whenever he appeared in public, as a mark of distinction.

Sun Quan remained at Ruxu, locked in a standoff with Cao Cao for over a month, unable to gain the upper hand. Zhang Zhao and Gu Yong came forward and said, "Cao Cao's power is too great to overcome by force. A prolonged war would cost us dearly in soldiers. We should seek peace and put the people's welfare first." Sun Quan heeded their counsel and sent Bu Zhi to Cao Cao's camp to sue for peace, offering annual tribute. Cao Cao saw that the south could not be quickly conquered and agreed, saying, "Sun Quan must withdraw his forces first, and then I will return home." Bu Zhi reported back, and Sun Quan left only Jiang Qin and Zhou Tai to guard the Ruxu pass, embarking the entire army on ships back to Moling.

Cao Cao left Cao Ren and Zhang Liao to garrison Hefei and led the army back to Xuchang. All the civil and military officials proposed that Cao Cao be made King of Wei. The Minister of Personnel, Cui Yan, spoke vehemently against it. The other officials said, "Do you not remember Xun Wenruo?" Cui Yan flew into a rage. "The times! The times! There will be a change! Do as you please!" Someone who bore a grudge against Cui Yan reported his words to Cao Cao. Enraged, Cao Cao had Cui Yan arrested and thrown into prison. Cui Yan glared with fierce eyes and a bristled beard, cursing Cao Cao as a treacherous villain who had wronged his sovereign. The Commandant of Justice reported this to Cao Cao, who ordered Cui Yan beaten to death in prison. A later poet praised him:

Cui Yan of Qinghe,

By nature firm and unyielding,

With bristled beard and tiger's eyes,

A heart of iron and stone.

Evil shrank before him,

His voice and integrity shone bright.

Loyal to the Lord of Han,

His name resounds through the ages!

In the twenty-first year of Jian'an, in the fifth month of summer, the officials petitioned Emperor Xian, extolling the Duke of Wei Cao Cao's merits as reaching to the heavens and the earth, surpassing even Yi Yin and the Duke of Zhou, and requesting that he be elevated to the rank of king. Emperor Xian ordered Zhong Yao to draft an edict investing Cao Cao as King of Wei. Cao Cao made a show of declining three times in written memorials. The edict was issued three times refusing his refusal, and Cao Cao then accepted the title of King of Wei. He wore a crown with twelve pendants, rode in the golden-root carriage drawn with six horses, and used the carriage, regalia, and ceremonial guards of the Son of Heaven, with runners clearing the way wherever he went. He built a royal palace at Ye and began deliberating the appointment of an heir. Cao Cao's principal wife, Lady Ding, had no children. His concubine Lady Liu had borne a son, Cao Ang, who had died at Wan City during the campaign against Zhang Xiu. Lady Bian bore four sons: the eldest was Pi, the second Zhang, the third Zhi, and the fourth Xiong. Cao Cao set aside Lady Ding and established Lady Bian as the Queen of Wei.

The third son, Cao Zhi, courtesy name Zijian, was extremely intelligent; he could compose essays at the brush's first stroke. Cao Cao wished to name him as his heir. The eldest son, Cao Pi, feared he would not be chosen and sought advice from the Grand Master of the Palace, Jia Xu. Jia Xu instructed him accordingly. From then on, whenever Cao Cao went on campaign and his sons saw him off, Cao Zhi would deliver speeches extolling his father's merits and virtues, speaking with eloquent fluency. Only Cao Pi, when bidding farewell to his father, would simply shed tears and bow, while all those around them were moved to sorrow. Thus Cao Cao began to suspect that Cao Zhi was merely cunning and that his sincerity fell short of Cao Pi's. Cao Pi further bribed the attendants close to his father, all of whom spoke of Cao Pi's virtue. Cao Cao, wishing to name his heir but unable to decide, asked Jia Xu, "I wish to name my successor. Whom should I choose?" Jia Xu did not answer. Cao Cao asked why. Jia Xu said, "I was just lost in thought, and so could not reply at once." Cao Cao said, "What were you thinking of?" Jia Xu replied, "I was thinking of Yuan Benchu and Jing Sheng and their sons." Cao Cao laughed heartily and thereupon named his eldest son Cao Pi as Crown Prince.

In the tenth month of winter, the Prince of Wei's palace was completed. He sent men to various regions to collect rare flowers and exotic fruits to plant in the rear gardens. An envoy arrived in Wu, met with Sun Quan, and conveyed the Prince of Wei's command to proceed to Wenzhou for oranges. At that time Sun Quan was showing deference and yielding to the Prince of Wei, so he had his own city select over forty large baskets of fine oranges, which were sent by night to Ye Commandery. Midway through the journey, the porters carrying the baskets were exhausted and rested at the foot of a mountain. They saw a gentleman approach—blind in one eye, lame in one leg, wearing a white rattan crown and a blue robe of coarse silk—who came and bowed to the porters, saying, "You men are toiled with carrying these loads. How would it be if this poor Daoist carried a shoulder's burden for each of you?" The men were overjoyed. Thereupon the gentleman carried each basket for five li. But every basket he carried became lighter. All were astonished and puzzled. Before departing, the gentleman said to the officer in charge of the oranges, "This poor Daoist is an old acquaintance from the Prince of Wei's hometown. My surname is Zuo, given name Ci, courtesy name Yuanfang, and my Daoist name is Master Wujiao. When you reach Ye Commandery, please convey Zuo Ci's regards." Then he flicked his sleeves and departed.

When the orange collectors arrived in Ye Commandery and presented the oranges to Cao Cao, he personally cut one open—but it was only an empty shell with no flesh inside. Cao Cao was greatly alarmed and questioned the orange collectors. They told him the story of Zuo Ci. Cao Cao was not inclined to believe it. Suddenly a gate official reported, "There is a gentleman who calls himself Zuo Ci and requests an audience with Your Highness." Cao Cao summoned him in. The orange collectors said, "This is exactly the man we saw on the road." Cao Cao rebuked him, "What sorcery have you used to steal my fine fruits?" Zuo Ci smiled and said, "How could such a thing be?" He cut open an oranges, and all had flesh inside, and the taste was very sweet. But all the ones Cao Cao himself had cut open were empty shells.

Cao Cao was even more astonished. He offered Zuo Ci a seat and questioned him. Zuo Ci asked for wine and meat, and Cao Cao ordered them given to him. He drank five dou of wine without becoming intoxicated, and ate an entire sheep without feeling full. Cao Cao asked, "What arts do you possess that enable you to do this?" Zuo Ci replied, "This poor Daoist studied the Way for thirty years in the Emei Mountains of Xichuan. Suddenly I heard a voice from within a stone cliff calling my name; when I looked, there was nothing to be seen. This happened for several days. Then one day a heavenly thunderbolt shattered the stone cliff, and I obtained three volumes of a heavenly book, called the 'Heavenly Escape Heavenly Book.' The upper volume is named 'Heavenly Escape,' the middle volume 'Earthly Escape,' and the lower volume 'Human Escape.' Heavenly Escape enables one to soar upon the clouds and ride the wind, ascending to the highest void. Earthly Escape enables one to pass through mountains and penetrate stone. Human Escape enables one to roam the four seas, conceal one's form and change one's shape, hurl flying swords and cast blades, and take a man's head. Your Highness stands at the pinnacle of human office. Why not step back and follow this poor Daoist to cultivate the Way in the Emei Mountains? I would present you with the three volumes of the heavenly book." Cao Cao said, "I too have long thought of retiring while at the height of my powers, but the court has yet to find a suitable person." Zuo Ci smiled and said, "Xuande of Yuzhou is of imperial lineage. Why not yield this position to him? If not, this poor Daoist will take your head with a flying sword." Cao Cao flew into a rage. "This is surely a spy of Liu Bei!" He ordered his guards to seize him. Zuo Ci laughed without restraint. Cao Cao commanded more than ten prison guards to drag him away and torture them. The guards beat him with all their might, but when they looked at Zuo Ci, he was sleeping soundly with a snore, showing no sign of pain. Enraged, Cao Cao ordered a large cangue to be fetched, nailed shut with iron nails and locked with iron chains, and had him thrown into prison under guard. They saw the cangue and chains all fall away, and Zuo Ci lay upon the ground without a single wound. He was imprisoned for seven days without food or drink. When they checked on him, Zuo Ci was sitting upright on the ground, his face growing ever more ruddy. The guards reported this to Cao Cao, who had him brought out and questioned him. Zuo Ci said, "Even if I did not eat for several decades, it would be no matter. And I could consume a thousand sheep in a day and finish them all." Cao Cao was at his wits' end.

On that day, all the officials gathered at the palace for a grand feast. As the wine was being circulated, Zuo Ci, wearing wooden sandals, stood at the head of the banquet. The officials were startled and bewildered. Zuo Ci said, "Today Your Highness has prepared both land and water delicacies for a grand feast for his ministers, with the most extraordinary rarities from all four directions. Is there anything lacking? This poor Daoist would be happy to obtain it." Cao Cao said, "I wish to make a stew of dragon liver. Can you get it?" Zuo Ci said, "What difficulty is there in that?" He took a brush and painted a dragon on the whitewashed wall, then flicked his sleeve, and the dragon's belly opened of its own accord. From inside the dragon's belly Zuo Ci produced a fresh dragon liver, blood still flowing. Cao Cao did not believe it and rebuked him, "You had it hidden in your sleeve!" Zuo Ci said, "Now it is the height of summer; the grass and trees are withered. Whatever fine flower Your Highness desires, simply name it." Cao Cao said, "I want only peonies." Zuo Ci said, "That is easy." He had a large flowerpot placed before the banquet table and sprayed water upon it. In an instant a peony plant sprouted, blooming with double flowers. The officials were greatly astonished and invited Zuo Ci to sit with them and eat.

Shortly after, the kitchen staff served sliced raw fish. Zuo Ci said, "Only sliced fish from the perch of Songjiang is truly delicious." Cao Cao said, "Songjiang is a thousand li away—how could it possibly be obtained?" Zuo Ci said, "How difficult could it be?" He ordered a fishing rod brought to him and began fishing in the pond below the hall. In a moment, he pulled out dozens of large perch and placed them before the hall. Cao Cao said, "My pond originally had these fish." Zuo Ci said, "Why does Your Majesty deceive me? Perch everywhere in the world have only two gill slits, but Songjiang perch have four. This can be used to tell them apart." The officials examined them and found they indeed had four gill slits. Zuo Ci said, "To cook Songjiang perch, one must use purple-sprout ginger." Cao Cao said, "Can you obtain that as well?" Zuo Ci said, "That is easy." He ordered a gold basin brought, and Zuo Ci covered it with his robe. In a short while, the basin was filled with purple-sprout ginger, which he presented before Cao Cao. Cao Cao reached in with his hand and suddenly found a book inside the basin, titled *Mengde Xinshu* (Cao Cao's New Book). Cao Cao took it out and examined it—not a single character was different. Cao Cao was greatly perplexed. Zuo Ci took the jade cup from the table, filled it with fine wine, and presented it to Cao Cao, saying, "Your Majesty may drink this wine and live a thousand years." Cao Cao said, "You drink first."

Zuo Ci then pulled the jade hairpin from his cap and drew it through the cup, dividing the wine in two. He drank half himself and offered the other half to Cao Cao. Cao Cao rebuked him. Zuo Ci threw the cup into the air, where it transformed into a white dove that circled the hall in flight. The officials looked up, but Zuo Ci had vanished without a trace. An attendant suddenly reported, "Zuo Ci has left the palace gates." Cao Cao said, "Such a sorcerer must be eliminated! Otherwise he will surely bring harm." He then ordered Xu Chu to lead three hundred armored soldiers to pursue and capture him. Xu Chu mounted his horse and led the troops to the city gate, where he saw Zuo Ci ahead wearing wooden clogs, walking slowly at an easy pace. They spurred their horses in pursuit, yet could not catch up. They chased him all the way into a mountain, where a young shepherd boy was driving a flock of sheep. Zuo Ci walked into the midst of the flock. Xu Chu drew his bow and shot an arrow, but Zuo Ci immediately disappeared. Xu Chu slaughtered the entire flock of sheep and returned.

The young shepherd boy stood weeping over his sheep. Suddenly he heard a sheep's head on the ground speaking in a human voice, calling to him, "You must place all the sheep heads back onto the bodies of the dead sheep." The boy was terrified and fled, covering his face. Then he heard someone behind him call out, "You need not flee in fear—here are your living sheep returned to you." The boy turned and saw that Zuo Ci had already restored the dead sheep to life and was driving them toward him. The boy was about to question him when Zuo Ci had already flicked his sleeves and departed, moving as swiftly as if flying, vanishing in an instant.

The boy returned and told his master, who dared not conceal the matter and reported it to Cao Cao. Cao Cao had drawings made and issued orders to arrest Zuo Ci everywhere. Within three days, inside and outside the city, three or four hundred men were captured—all blind in one eye, lame in one foot, wearing white rattan caps and blue unlined robes, with wooden clogs, all bearing the same appearance. The streets were thrown into an uproar. Cao Cao ordered the generals to douse them with pig and sheep's blood and escort them to the southern drill ground. Cao Cao personally led five hundred armored soldiers to surround them, and all were beheaded. From each person's neck a stream of blue vapor rose into the sky, gathered in one place, and formed into a single Zuo Ci, who summoned a white crane from the empty air, mounted it, and clapped his hands, laughing loudly, saying, "The earth rat follows the golden tiger—the treacherous hero's end is nigh!"

Cao Cao ordered the generals to shoot arrows at him, when suddenly a violent wind arose, whipping up stones and sand. The corpses that had been beheaded all leapt to their feet, seized their own heads in their hands, and rushed onto the Martial Hall to attack Cao Cao. Civil and military officials alike covered their faces and collapsed in terror, none looking after the other. Indeed:

The treacherous hero's power could topple a state,

But the Taoist's immortal arts surpassed all men.

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