Chapter 69

Chapter 69

That day, Cao Cao had seen the corpses rise up all together in the dark wind and was so frightened that he fell to the ground. Presently the wind died down and all the corpses vanished. His attendants helped him back to the palace, and from this fright he fell ill. A later poet praised Left Ci in these verses:

He trod the clouds and ranged the nine provinces,

Relying on his arts of concealment to wander at will.

Casually he displayed the skills of an immortal,

But Cao Man, though enlightened, would not turn his head.

Cao Cao's illness persisted, and no medicine cured him. It happened that Xu Zhi, the Assistant太史, came from Xuchang to see him. Cao Cao bade him perform divination by the *Changes*. Xu Zhi said, "Has Your Majesty ever heard of the divine diviner Guan Lu?" Cao Cao replied, "I have heard something of his name, but I know nothing of his methods. You may tell me about him in detail."

Xu Zhi said, "Guan Lu, styled Gongming, is a man of Pingyuan. His appearance is coarse and ugly, and he is fond of wine and careless and wild. His father once served as a district head of Langya Commandery. From childhood Guan Lu loved to gaze up at the stars and could not sleep at night. His parents could not stop him. He would often say, 'The domestic fowl and the wild swan both know the seasons; how much more should a man living in the world!' When playing with the children of the neighborhood, he would draw on the ground representations of the heavens and distribute the sun, moon, and stars. As he grew older, he mastered the *Zhou Changes* thoroughly, became skilled in observing the winds and angles, and his mathematical arts reached the level of divination. He was also an excellent physiognomist."

"The Grand Administrator of Langya, Shan Zichun, having heard of his reputation, summoned Guan Lu to an audience. There were more than a hundred guests present, all men of eloquence. Guan Lu said to Zichun, 'I am young and my courage is not yet firm. Please let me have three liters of good wine first, and I will speak after drinking.' Zichun thought this extraordinary and gave him three liters of wine. When he had drunk it, Guan Lu asked Zichun, 'Now with whom am I to contend? Is it the four ranks of your officers?' Zichun replied, 'I myself will match you, blow for blow.' Thereupon they discussed the principles of the *Changes*. Guan Lu spoke fluently and with the utmost subtlety. Zichun raised objection after objection, but Guan Lu answered everything with ease. From dawn to dusk they talked, and neither wine nor food was served. Zichun and all the guests were filled with admiration. Thereafter the whole world styled him the 'Divine Youth.'"

"Later a man of that region, Guo En, had three brothers, all of whom suffered from lameness. They asked Guan Lu to divine the cause. Guan Lu said, 'In the hexagram there appears a female ghost from your family tomb. She is either your father's elder brother's wife or his younger brother's wife. In years of famine, scheming after a few liters of rice, she was pushed down into a well, and a great stone was dropped upon her, crushing her head. Her lonely spirit suffered bitterly and complained to Heaven; hence this retribution upon your brothers, which cannot be averted.' Guo En and his brothers wept and acknowledged their guilt."

"The Grand Administrator of Anping, Wang Ji, knowing Guan Lu's divine skill at divination, invited him to his home. It happened that the wife of the Magistrate of Xindu was afflicted with chronic headaches, and her son suffered from pains in the heart. They asked Guan Lu to divine the cause. Guan Lu said, 'In the west corner of this hall there are two dead bodies. One man holds a spear, and one holds a bow and arrows. Their heads are inside the wall and their feet outside. The one with the spear causes the stabbing pains in the head, hence the headaches; the one with the bow and arrows stabs the chest and belly, hence the heart pains.' They dug and, eight feet down, found two coffins. In one coffin was a spear, and in the other a horn bow and arrows, the wood all rotted away. Guan Lu ordered the bones to be removed and buried ten li outside the city, and the wife and son recovered."

"The Magistrate of Guantao, Yuan Qi of the Zhuge family, was promoted to be Grand Administrator of Xingxing, and Guan Lu went to see him off. A guest said that Guan Lu could guess hidden objects. Yuan Qi did not believe this. He secretly took a swallow's egg, a wasp's nest, and a spider, and placed them separately in three boxes, then asked Guan Lu to divine what they were. When the hexagram was cast, Guan Lu wrote four lines on each box. The first read: 'Containing breath, it must transform; it depends on the halls and chambers; male and female take form, and wings spread wide. This is a swallow's egg.' The second read: 'The dwelling hangs upside down, its doors are many; it stores essence and nurtures poison, and transforms when autumn comes. This wasp's nest.' The third read: 'With trembling long legs, it spins silk to make a net; it seeks its prey on the web, and profits in the dark of night. This is a spider.' The whole company was astounded."

"An old woman in the village had lost a cow and came to ask him to divine its whereabouts. Guan Lu pronounced, 'By the bank of the northern stream, seven men are slaughtering and cooking it. Hasten there at once, and the hide and flesh will still be there.' The old woman went and found seven men cooking the cow behind a thatch hut, and the hide and flesh were still there. She reported it to the Grand Administrator of the commandery, Liu Bin, who arrested and punished the seven men. He asked the old woman, 'How did you know?' She told him of Guan Lu's divine divination. Liu Bin was not convinced, so he invited Guan Lu to his yamen. He took a seal bag and some pheasant feathers, hid them in a box, and asked Guan Lu to divine. Guan Lu divined the first: 'Square within and round without, its five colors form patterns; it contains treasure and keeps faith, and when brought out it bears authority. This is the seal bag.' The second: 'Lofty the mountain peaks, there is a bird with a crimson body; its wings are black and yellow, and it cries without missing the dawn. This is the pheasant feather.' Liu Bin was greatly astonished and thereafter treated Guan Lu as an honored guest."

"One day Guan Lu went for a walk in the outskirts and saw a young man plowing in the field. Guan Lu stood by the roadside and watched him for a long time, then asked, 'Young man, what is your honored surname and how old are you?' The youth replied, 'My name is Zhao Yan. I am nineteen years of age. May I ask who you are, sir?' Guan Lu said, 'I am Guan Lu. I see a deathly aura between your eyebrows. You will surely die within three days. You are handsome, but it is a pity you will not live long.' Zhao Yan went home and told his father at once. His father, upon hearing this, ran after Guan Lu and threw himself on the ground weeping. 'Please return and save my son!' he begged. Guan Lu said, 'This is the decree of Heaven. How can it be averted?' The father said, 'I have only this one son. I beg you to save him!' Zhao Yan also wept and pleaded. Seeing the depth of feeling between father and son, Guan Lu said to Zhao Yan, 'Take a bottle of clean wine and a piece of dried venison, and tomorrow carry them into the great mountains to the south. Beneath a great tree you will see two men playing chess on a flat stone. One sits facing south, wears a white robe, and has a very ugly face. The other sits facing north, wears a red robe, and has a very handsome face. When their interest in the game is at its height, kneel and present the wine and the venison. When they have finished eating and drinking, weep and bow, begging for an extension of your life, and you will certainly gain additional years. But on no account say that I told you.'"

"The old man kept Lu at home. The next day, Zhao Yan brought wine, dried meat, cups, and plates into the southern mountains. After traveling about five or six li, he indeed found two men playing chess on a flat stone beneath a great pine tree, paying no attention to anything else. Zhao Yan knelt and offered them the wine and meat. The two men, absorbed in their game, unwittingly drank all the wine. Zhao Yan wept, prostrated himself on the ground, and begged for a longer life. The two men were greatly startled. The one in the red robe said, 'This must be the doing of Master Guanlu. Since we have already accepted his gift, we must take pity on him.' The one in the white robe then took out a register from his robes and examined it. He said to Zhao Yan, 'You are nineteen this year and are fated to die. I will now add a nine to the character ten, and your lifespan shall reach ninety-nine. When you return, tell Guanlu he must never again reveal the secrets of Heaven; otherwise, he will surely bring down Heaven's punishment.' The one in red took out a brush and made the addition. A fragrant wind passed by, and the two men transformed into two white cranes and soared into the sky."

"Zhao Yan returned and asked Guanlu about it. Lu said, 'The one in red is the Southern Dipper; the one in red is the Northern Dipper.' Yan said, 'I have heard the Northern Dipper has nine stars—why is there only one?' Lu said, 'Scattered they are nine; united they are one. The Northern Dipper governs death; the Southern Dipper governs life. Now your lifespan has been amended—what more do you have to worry about?' Father and son bowed in thanks. From then on, Guanlu feared revealing Heaven's secrets and no longer lightly divined for others. This man is now in Pingyuan. If Your Majesty wishes to know fortune or misfortune, why not summon him?"

Cao was greatly pleased and immediately sent someone to Pingyuan to summon Lu. When Lu arrived and had finished his obeisance, Cao ordered him to perform a divination. Lu replied, 'This is mere sorcery—why should it be a cause for worry?' Cao's mind was put at ease, and his illness gradually improved. Cao then ordered Lu to divine the affairs of the empire. Lu divined: 'When three and eight cross in confusion, the yellow pig meets the tiger; south of Dingjun, a limb shall be broken and lost.' He also divined the length of the dynasty's fortune. Lu divined: 'Within the Lion Palace, the spirit's seat shall be set in peace; the royal way is renewed, and descendants shall be exceedingly honored.' Cao asked him to explain in detail. Lu said, 'The vast numbers of Heaven's decree cannot be foretold. Wait, and they will verify themselves in time."

Cao wished to appoint Lu as Grand Astrologer. Lu said, 'My fate is thin and my appearance poor; I am not suited for this post and dare not accept it.' Cao asked why. Lu replied, 'Lu's forehead lacks the bone of mastery; his eyes lack the guarding of the pupils; his nose lacks the pillar of a ridge; his feet lack the root of Heaven; his back lacks the three Jia; his belly lacks the three Ren. I can only govern ghosts on Mount Tai—I cannot govern the living.' Cao said, 'How do you read my physiognomy?' Lu said, 'You have already reached the highest position a subject can attain—what need is there for further reading?' Cao pressed him repeatedly, but Lu only smiled and would not answer. Cao ordered Lu to read the physiognomies of all the civil and military officials. Lu said, 'They are all ministers fit to govern an age.' When Cao asked about their fortunes, Lu would not speak fully. A later poet composed these lines in praise of Guanlu:

At dawn the divine diviner Guan Gongming,

Who could calculate the Southern Star and the Northern Dipper.

The Eight Trigrams' subtlety reached through the spirits' lairs,

The Six Lines' profundity plumbed the vault of Heaven.

He foresaw by physiognomy that he should not live long,

Yet felt his heart-source to be most inspired.

Alas, that singular art of those years—

No later men received the transmitted classic.

"Cao ordered him to divine concerning Eastern Wu and Western Shu. Lu cast the hexagram and said, 'The ruler of Eastern Wu will lose a great general; Western Shu will have troops crossing the border.' Cao did not believe it. Suddenly a report came from Hefei: 'Lu Su, the garrison commander of Lukou in Eastern Wu, has died.' Cao was greatly startled and immediately sent men to Hanzhong to investigate. Within days, a flying report arrived: 'Liu Bei has sent Zhang Fei and Ma Chao to station troops at Xiabian and seize the pass.' Cao was furious and wished to lead troops into Hanzhong himself, but he ordered Guanlu to divine on it. Lu said, 'Your Majesty must not act rashly. Next spring there will surely be a fire in Xudu.' Since Cao had found Lu's words repeatedly verified, he dared not act lightly. He remained in Ye Commandery and sent Cao Hong with fifty thousand troops to assist Xiahou Yuan and He Qi in guarding the eastern provinces. He also sent Xiahou Dun with thirty thousand troops to patrol Xudu as a precaution. He further ordered the Chief Registrar Wang Bi to command the Imperial Guard. The Chief Clerk Sima Yi said, 'Wang Bi is given to wine and is too lenient by nature—I fear he is not fit for this duty.' Cao said, 'Wang Bi is the man who accompanied me when I cut through brambles and endured hardship—loyal and diligent, with a heart of iron and stone. He is the most suitable man for the post.' He therefore entrusted Wang Bi with the Imperial Guard, stationed outside the East Flower Gate of Xudu.

"At this time there was a man named Geng Ji, styled Jixing, a man of Luoyang. He had formerly been a clerk in the Chancellor's office and later promoted to Palace Attendant and Lesser Treasury. He was on very close terms with Director Wei Huang. When they saw Cao Cao advance to the rank of king and use the carriage and robes of the Son of Heaven, they were deeply indignant. In the first month of the spring of the twenty-third year of Jian'an, Geng Ji and Wei Huang held a secret discussion. Geng Ji said, 'The traitor Cao's wickedness grows worse by the day; in the future he will surely commit usurpation. We are ministers of the Han—how can we share in his evil?' Wei Huang said, 'I have a trusted man named Jin Wei, a descendant of the Han Prime Minister Jin Midi. He has long harbored a desire to strike down Cao, and moreover he is on very close terms with Wang Bi. If we can secure his cooperation, our great enterprise will succeed.' Geng Ji said, 'Since he is close to Wang Bi, how could he be willing to plot with us?' Wei Huang said, 'Let us go and speak with him and see what he says.'"

Thereupon the two men went together to Jin Wei's residence. Jin Wei received them into the inner hall, and they took their seats. Huang said, "De Wei and the Chief Administrator Wang are on very intimate terms. We three have come especially to seek your help."

Jin Wei asked, "What is it you wish?"

Huang said, "I have heard that the King of Wei will soon receive the abdication and ascend the throne. You and Chief Administrator Wang will surely be promoted to high office. I hope you will not forget us and will kindly extend your patronage — we would be deeply grateful for your kindness!"

Jin Wei brushed his sleeves and rose. Just then a servant brought tea, and Jin Wei poured it upon the ground. Huang feigned surprise and said, "De Wei, we are old friends — why are you so cold?"

Jin Wei replied, "I have been on close terms with you precisely because you are descendants of ministers of the Han court. Now you think not of repaying your debt to the dynasty but instead wish to aid a rebel. How could I have any face left to call myself your friend?"

Geng Ji said, "Heaven's decree has brought things to this — we have no choice!"

Jin Wei flew into a rage. Geng Ji and Wei Huang, seeing that Jin Wei truly possessed a loyal and righteous heart, then told him the truth. They said, "We originally intended to raise troops against the tyrant and came to seek you out. Our earlier words were merely a test."

Jin Wei said, "I am a minister of the Han by generations of service — how could I follow a traitor? If you wish to support the Han house, what is your plan?"

Huang said, "Though we have hearts loyal to the state, we lack a plan to strike down the tyrant."

Jin Wei said, "I intend to coordinate a response from within and without — kill Wang Bi, seize his military authority, support the Emperor, and ally with Imperial Uncle Liu as an external force. Then the traitor Cao can be destroyed." Hearing this, the two men clapped their hands and praised the plan.

Jin Wei said, "I have two trusted men who bear a blood feud against the traitor Cao — their father was killed by him. They now reside outside the city and can be used as our wings." Geng Ji asked who they were.

Jin Wei said, "They are the sons of the Imperial Physician Ji Ping: the elder is Ji Miao, styled Wenran; the younger is Ji Mu, styled Siran. When Cao dealt with Dong Cheng's secret edict affair, he put their father to death. The two sons fled to distant lands and escaped the calamity. They have now secretly returned to Xuchou. If we summon them to help strike down the tyrant, they will not refuse."

Geng Ji and Wei Huang were overjoyed. Jin Wei at once sent someone to secretly summon the two Ji brothers. Presently the two men arrived. Jin Wei laid out the matter in full. The two brothers were moved to tears with indignation, their resentment reaching to the heavens, and they swore to kill the traitor to the state.

Jin Wei said, "On the night of the fifteenth day of the first month, the city will display lanterns in grand fashion to celebrate the Lantern Festival. Junior Counselor Geng and Censor Wei — you two will each lead your household servants and attack Wang Bi's camp. When you see fire break out in the camp, divide into two routes and charge in. Kill Wang Bi, then follow me straight into the palace. We will invite the Son of Heaven to ascend the Five-Phoenix Tower and summon all the officials to announce the campaign against the tyrant. Brothers Ji Wenran and Ji Mu will attack from outside the city, setting fires as a signal. Both of you must raise your voices, calling upon the people to slay the tyrant and to cut off any relief forces within the city. When the Son of Heaven issues an edict and the situation is pacified, we will advance upon Ye Commandery to capture Cao Cao, and send a messenger bearing the edict to summon Imperial Uncle Liu. Let this be agreed upon — on that day, at the second watch, we shall act. Do not repeat Dong Cheng's mistake of bringing ruin upon himself."

The five men swore an oath before heaven, smeared their lips with blood to seal the pact, and each returned home to prepare weapons and horses for the appointed time.

Now, Geng Ji and Wei Huang each had three or four hundred household servants, and they prepared their weapons. The Ji brothers also gathered three or four four hundred men, claiming they were going on a hunt. Their arrangements were complete. Jin Wei went first to see Wang Bi and said, "Now that the realm is somewhat at peace and the King of Wei's might shakes the world, it would be fitting to release lanterns on the Lantern Festival, as a sign of the prosperous era."

Wang Bi approved his words and ordered the city's residents to hang lanterns and decorations throughout to celebrate the festival.

On the night of the fifteenth day of the first month, the weather was clear and the stars and moon shone together in splendor. The six great streets and three market districts competed in setting up lanterns. Truly it was a night when the night watch was suspended and the water clock knew no haste!

Wang Bi and the commanders of the Imperial Guard were feasting in their camp. After the second watch, they suddenly heard shouting in the camp. A messenger reported that fire had broken out behind the camp. Wang Bi hurriedly emerged from his tent and saw flames swirling wildly. He also heard continuous shouting and knew that a mutiny had erupted in the camp. He quickly mounted his horse and rode out through the south gate, where he ran straight into Geng Ji, who shot an arrow into his shoulder. Wang Bi nearly fell from his horse and fled toward the west gate. A chariot pursued him behind. In his haste, Wang Bi abandoned his horse and went on foot. He arrived at Jin Wei's gate and frantically pounded on the door. As it happened, Jin Wei had on one hand sent men to set fire to the camp, and on the other had personally led his household servants to follow and assist in the attack, leaving only the women at home. When those in the house heard Wang Bi pounding on the door, they thought Jin Wei had returned. Jin Wei's wife called out from behind the screen, "Has that scoundrel Wang Bi been killed?" Wang Bi was greatly startled and at last realized that Jin Wei was part of the conspiracy. He went directly to Cao Xiu's house and reported that Jin Wei, Geng Ji, and the others were plotting rebellion together. Cao Xiu hastily donned his armor, mounted his horse, and led over a thousand men into the city to resist the enemy. Fires broke out on all sides within the city, and the Five-Phoenix Tower was set ablaze. The Emperor took refuge in the deep palace. Cao Cao's trusted followers and retainers held the palace gates by force. Throughout the city could be heard the cry: "Slay all the traitors of the Cao family, to uphold the Han house!"

Now Xiahou Dun, by Cao Cao's command, was patrolling Xuchang with thirty thousand troops, encamped five li from the city. That night, seeing fires rise in the distance within the city, he led his great army forward, surrounded Xuchou, and sent a detachment into the city to reinforce the defenders. Cao Xiu fought in the confused melee until daybreak. Geng Ji, Wei Huang, and the others received no assistance. A messenger reported that Jin Wei and the two Ji brothers had all been killed. Geng Ji and Wei Huang fought their way out of the city gate, only to find Xiahou Dun's great army surrounding them. They were captured alive. Their hundred or so followers were all slain.

Xiahou Dun entered the city, extinguished the remaining fires, and seized the entire families and clans of the five conspirators. He sent a swift messenger to report to Cao Cao. Cao Cao issued an order that Geng Ji and Wei Huang, together with all the family members and clans of the five men, were to be executed in the marketplace. All the great and small officials at court were to be arrested and taken to Xuchou to await judgment.

Xiahou Dun escorted Geng Ji and Wei Huang to the execution ground. Geng Ji cried out in a fierce voice: "Cao Aman! In life I could not kill you — in death I shall become a vengeful ghost and strike down the tyrant!" The executioner thrust a knife into his mouth, and blood covered the ground, but he died cursing without cease. Wei Huang struck his cheeks against the ground, crying, "What a pity! What a pity!" He ground his teeth to pieces and died.

A later poet wrote in praise:

Geng Ji was loyal and Wei Wei worthy,

Each with empty hands sought to uphold Heaven.

Who knew the Han's mandate was nearing its end?

Their hatred filled their breasts as they perished beneath the springs.

Xiahou Dun put the elderly, young, and entire clans of the five families to the sword, and sent the officials under escort to Ye Commandery. Cao Cao set up a red flag on the left and a white flag on the right at the drill ground, and issued an order: "Geng Ji, Wei Huang, and the others rebelled and set fire to Xuchang. Some of you went out to fight the fire, while others shut your doors and stayed inside. Those who fought the fire may stand under the red flag; those who did not may stand under the white flag." The officials reasoned among themselves that those who had fought the fire must be innocent, so the greater number rushed to stand beneath the red flag. Of every three, only one stood under the white flag. Cao Cao ordered all those who had stood under the red flag to be seized. The officials each protested their innocence. Cao Cao said, "What was in your hearts at the time was not to fight the fire—you truly wished to aid the rebels." He ordered them all led out to the bank of the Zhang River and beheaded. More than three hundred perished. Those who had stood under the white flag were all rewarded and sent back to Xuchang. By then Wang Bi had already died from the wound inflicted by the arrow. Cao Cao ordered him given a generous burial. He appointed Cao Xiu to command the Imperial Guard, Zhong Yao as Chancellor, and Hua Xin as Imperial Censor. He then fixed the nobility into six classes and eighteen ranks, the Guanzhong nobility into seventeen ranks, all with gold seals and purple ribbons; he also established the Inner and Outer Guanzhong nobility into sixteen ranks, with silver seals, tortoise-knob clasps, and black ribbons; and the Grand Masters of the Fifth Rank into fifteen ranks, with bronze seals and ring-linked ribbons. Having fixed the ranks and appointed the officials, the court was now staffed by an entirely new set of figures. Cao Cao then recalled Guan Lu's prophecy about the fire and bestowed rich rewards upon him. Guan Lu declined them.

Now Cao Hong led his troops to Hanzhong, ordering Zhang He and Xiahou Yuan to hold the strategic points. Cao Hong himself advanced to meet the enemy. At this time Zhang Fei and Lei Tong were defending Baxi. Ma Chao arrived at Xiabian and sent Wu Lan as vanguard to reconnoiter. Wu Lan's force encountered Cao Hong's army, and Wu Lan wished to withdraw. The lieutenant general Ren Kui said, "The enemy has just arrived. If we do not first blunt their sharpness, how can we face Meng Qi?" He spurred his horse forward, leveled his spear, and challenged Cao Hong to battle. Cao Hong himself raised his saber and rode out to meet him. After three exchanges, Cao Hong struck Ren Kui from his horse and pressed the attack. Wu Lan was routed and returned to Ma Chao. Ma Chao reproached him: "Without my orders, why did you engage the enemy lightly and suffer defeat?" Wu Lan replied, "Ren Kui would not heed my words, hence this defeat." Ma Chao said, "Guard the passes firmly and do not engage them." At the same time he sent a report to Chengdu, awaiting further instructions.

When Cao Hong saw that Ma Chao had not come out for several days, he feared some stratagem and led his troops back to Nanzheng. Zhang He came to see Cao Hong and asked, "General, you have already slain an enemy officer—why withdraw?" Cao Hong replied, "I saw that Ma Chao would not come out, and I feared he had some other design. Moreover, while I was in Ye Commandery, I heard the divine diviner Guan Lu propy that a great general would fall in this place. I suspected this saying and therefore did not dare advance rashly." Zhang He laughed loudly and said, "General, you have commanded troops all your life—how can you now let the words of a diviner confuse your mind? Though I am of no great ability, I will take my own troops and seize Baxi. Once Baxi is taken, Yizhou will be easy." Cao Hong said, "The defender of Baxi is Zhang Fei—he is no ordinary man. You must not underestimate him." Zhang He said: "Everyone fears Zhang Fei, but I regard him as a mere child! I will certainly capture him on this campaign." Cao Hong said: "What if something goes wrong?" Zhang He said: "I will accept military punishment." Cao Hong drew up the written pledge, and Zhang He advanced his army. Truly it is said:

Since ancient times, proud armies have often met defeat;

Since time began, those who scant the foe have rarely known success.

What the outcome would be may be learned in the next chapter.