Chapter 73

Chapter 73

Cao Cao had retreated to the valley of Xie. Kongming, anticipating that Cao would abandon Hanzhong altogether, dispatched Ma Chao and several other generals with over ten columns of troops to attack at irregular intervals. Consequently, Cao could not maintain his position for long. Then Wei Yan shot an arrow at him, and he hastily ordered the withdrawal. The fighting spirit of the three armies was utterly broken. The vanguard had scarcely started moving when fire broke out on both sides—it was Ma Chao's ambush troops in pursuit. Every soldier in Cao's army was paralyzed with fear. Cao ordered the troops to march at full speed, pressing on by day and night without rest; not until they reached Jingzhao did he finally feel safe.

Meanwhile, Liu Feng had Liu Feng, Meng Da, Wang Ping, and others attack and seize the commanderies of Shangyong. Shen Dan and his fellows, upon hearing that Cao Cao had abandoned Hanzhong and fled, all surrendered. Having pacified the people and restored order, Liu Feng bestowed generous rewards upon the three armies, and the hearts of all were greatly rejoiced. By then, the generals all entertained the desire to urge Liu Feng to ascend the throne. They did not dare broach the matter directly, so they went instead to report to Military Adviser Zhuge Liang. Kongming said, "My mind is already made up." He then led Fa Zheng and the others in to see Liu Feng, saying, "Today Cao Cao monopolizes power, and the people have no sovereign. Your Lordship's benevolence and righteousness are renowned throughout the world. Now that you have brought the two Rivers regions under your governance, you may respond to Heaven and accord with the people by ascending the imperial throne—a course both just and proper—so as to punish the traitor of the state. The matter brooks no delay. Choose an auspicious day at once."

Liu Feng was greatly startled. "Military Adviser, you are mistaken. Although Liu Bei is indeed of the imperial Liu clan, I am still a subject. To do this would be to rebel against the Han." Kongming said, "Not so. Today the realm is torn asunder; heroes rise together, each dominating his own region. The talented and virtuous of the four seas who sacrifice their lives to serve their superiors all wish to attach themselves to a dragon or a phoenix and establish merit and fame. If Your Lordship avoids this out of scruple and clings to righteousness, I fear you will disappoint the hopes of the multitude. I beg Your Lordship to ponder this deeply." Liu Feng said, "To presume to occupy the exalted position—I absolutely dare not. Let us deliberate further on a proper strategy." The generals all spoke together: "If Your Lordship merely declines, the hearts of the multitude will unravel."

Kongming said, "Your Lordship has throughout your life taken righteousness as your foundation and has been unwilling to assume an imperial title. But now, possessing the territories of Jingzhou and the two Rivers, you may temporarily assume the title of King of Hanzhong." Liu Feng said: "Though you wish to honor me as a king, without a clear edict from the Son of Heaven, this would be an act of usurpation." Kongming said: "One must act according to circumstance now and cannot cling rigidly to ordinary principles." Zhang Fei roared: "Men of other surnames all wish to become sovereigns—how much more so, then, my elder brother, who is of the imperial Liu lineage! Never mind King of Hanzhong—even if you were to take the title of Emperor, what would be wrong with that?" Liu Feng rebuked him: "Say no more!" Kongming said: "Your Lordship should adapt to circumstance. First assume the title of King of Hanzhong, and then submit a memorial to the Son of Heaven. It will not be too late."

Liu Feng declined again and again but could not refuse, and at last consented. In the seventh month of the twenty-fourth year of Jian'an, a platform was erected at Mianyang—nine li in circumference, laid out according to the five directions, with banners and ceremonial regalia arranged at each station. The officials all took their places in proper order. Xu Jing and Fa Zheng invited Liu Feng to ascend the platform. After the crown and robes and the imperial seal and ribbons were conferred, he faced south and received the obeisance and congratulations of the civil and military officials as King of Hanzhong. His son Liu Shan was established as Crown Prince. Xu Jing was appointed Grand Tutor, and Fa Zheng as Imperial Secretary. Zhuge Liang was named Military Adviser, with overall responsibility for the weighty affairs of state and military. Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, and Huang Zhong were enfeoffed as the Five Tiger Great Generals. Wei Yan was appointed Grand Administrator of Hanzhong. The remaining officers were each enfeoffed according to their merits.

Having become King of Hanzhong, Liu Feng then drew up a memorial and dispatched a messenger to bear it to Xuchao. The memorial read:

Your servant Bei, endowed with the talents of a mere functionary, bearing the heavy responsibility of a supreme commander, directing the three armies and carrying out commissions abroad—has been unable to sweep away the bandit threats and bring peace to the royal house, but has long allowed Your Majesty's sacred teachings to decline. Within the six directions, all is blocked and not at peace; your servant lies awake in anxiety, afflicted as though with a severe illness.

In former times, Dong Zhuo created the initial disorder. From then on, a host of villains ran rampant, ravaging and despoiling the realm. It was due to Your Majesty's sacred virtue and awe-inspiring presence that subjects responded in unison—some with loyal and righteous campaigns, others through Heaven's punishment—so that the violent and rebellious were all destroyed, gradually melting away like ice. Only Cao Cao has long remained uneliminated, encroaching upon the authority of the state and indulging his heart in the extremes of disorder. Your servant once conspired with General of Chariots and Horses Dong Cheng to plot against Cao Cao. The secret was not kept, and Dong Cheng was entrapped and killed. Your servant was driven from place to place, without a foothold, and loyalty and righteousness came to naught, allowing Cao Cao to reach the ultimate of cruelty and rebellion. The Empress was murdered; the princes were poisoned. Though your servant gathered allies and formed a pact, resolved to strive with all his strength, he was weak and lacked martial prowess, and after many years has achieved nothing. He constantly fears that he will perish and fail the state's grace; he sighs ceaselessly whether waking or sleeping, and is vigilant as though in constant peril as sharp as if facing a storm.

Now your servant's assembled officials hold that, as in the ancient Yu Shu, where the nine branches of the family were harmoniously ordered and the many enlightened ones encouraged and assisted, this principle has not been abandoned in the succession of emperors and kings. The Zhou, taking the two previous dynasties as their mirror, established the various princes of the Ji surname, relying truly on the supporting power of the states of Lu and Zheng. When the Gaozu rose to glory, he honored his younger brother with a kingdom and greatly inaugurated nine states, and in the end put down the various Lü to secure the great line of succession. Today Cao Cao hates the upright and regards the correct as evil; those of his kind are indeed numerous. He harbors treacherous designs in his heart, and his usurpation and theft are already manifest. Since the imperial clan is weak and the imperial kindred holds no position, weighing ancient precedents and relying on expedient measures: your servant has been appointed Grand Marshal and King of Hanzhong.

Your servant reflects upon himself thrice over: he has received the state's abundant grace and bears responsibility in one region; his efforts have not been effective, yet what he has received already exceeds his merit. He should not again disgrace a high position and thereby compound the censure against him. The assembled officials press him and constrain him by righteousness. Your servant, retiring to consider, reflects that the bandits and thieves are not yet destroyed and the state's troubles are not yet ended; the ancestral temples are in peril and the altars of soil and grain are about to fall—truly the day when your servant's heart is shattered and his head hangs in despair. If by responding to circumstance and adapting to change he may bring peace to the sacred court, though it be into water or fire, he cannot decline. He therefore follows the general counsel and accepts the seals and ribbons to exalt the state's prestige.

Looking up, he considers the noble title—the position is high and the favor is deep; looking down, he contemplates how to repay this—his anxiety is profound and his responsibility is heavy. In alarm and trepidation, breathless with fear, as though standing at the edge of a valley, how dare he not exhaust his strength and offer his sincerity, to spur on the six armies and lead the assembled righteous ones, responding to Heaven and according with the times, to strike down the violent and rebellious and bring peace to the altars of soil and grain? Respectfully he presents this memorial to inform Your Majesty.

When the memorial reached Xuchang, Cao Cao, who was in Ye Commandery, learned that Liu Bei had proclaimed himself King of Hanzhong. Flying into a rage, he said, "That mat-weaving brat—how dare he act thus! I swear I will destroy him!" He immediately issued orders to mobilize the entire military forces of the state and march to the two rivers to decide supremacy with the King of Hanzhong. A man stepped forward from the court and remonstrated, saying, "Your Majesty should not, on account of a moment's anger, personally undertake the toil of a distant expedition. I have a plan that requires not a single bow or arrow—it will cause Liu Bei to bring disaster upon himself within Shu. Once his forces are spent and exhausted, a single general need only be sent to campaign against him, and success will be assured."

Cao Cao looked at the man and saw that it was Sima Yi. Delighted, Cao Cao asked, "What is your esteemed view, Zhongda?" Sima Yi said, "Sun Quan of Jiangdong gave his sister in marriage to Liu Bei, then seized the opportunity to take her back. Liu Bei, moreover, has occupied Jing Province and refuses to return it. Both sides harbor bitter hatred toward each other. Now we may dispatch an eloquent envoy bearing a letter to persuade Sun Quan to raise troops and seize Jing Province. Liu Bei will surely send the armies of the two rivers to relieve Jing Province. At that time, Your Majesty can raise forces to seize Han River, so that Liu Bei cannot succor both his head and his tail. His position will certainly be imperiled."

Cao Cao was overjoyed. He at once drafted a letter and ordered Man Chong as his envoy, who rode day and night to Jiangdong to see Sun Quan. When Sun Quan learned that Man Chong had arrived, he took counsel with his advisors. Zhang Zhao stepped forward and said, "Wei and Wu have had no enmity between them. It was only because we heeded Zhuge Liang's rhetoric that the two houses have waged unceasing war year after year, and the people have suffered calamity. Now Man Boying has come—he surely comes with intentions of making peace. We should receive him with courtesy." Sun Quan followed his advice and ordered his advisors to welcome Man Chong into the city for an audience. When the formalities were complete, Sun Quan treated Man Chong as an honored guest. Man Chong presented Cao Cao's letter, which said: "Wu and Wei have naturally had no enmity. It is all on account of Liu Bei that rifts have arisen. the Prince of Wei has sent me here to propose that you, General, attack and seize Jing Province, while the Prince of Wei advances with his forces to the Han River, attacking from both front and rear. After Liu Bei is defeated, the territory shall be divided between us, and we shall pledge never to encroach upon each other."

When Sun Quan had finished reading the letter, he held a banquet to entertain Man Chong and then sent him to the guest quarters to rest.

Sun Quan took counsel with his advisors. Gu Yong said, "Although this is rhetoric, there is reason in it. Now we may, on the one hand, send Man Chong back and arrange with Cao Cao for a coordinated attack from both ends; and on the other hand, send someone across the river to investigate Yun Chang's movements before we act." Zhuge Jin said, "I have heard that since Yun Chang arrived in Jing Province, Liu Bei took a wife for him, who bore a son first and then a daughter. The daughter is young and has not yet been betrothed. I would like to go and seek a marriage alliance with your eldest son. If Yun Chang agrees, then we can join with Yun Chang in planning to defeat Cao Cao together. If Yun Chang refuses, then we can assist Cao Cao in seizing Jing Province."

Sun Quan adopted his strategy. He first sent Man Chong back to Xuchang, then dispatched Zhuge Jin as an envoy to Jing Province. Zhuge Jin entered the city and, having completed the formalities before Yun Chang, was asked by Yun Chang, "What is the purpose of your visit, Ziyu?" Zhuge Jin said, "I come specifically to propose a bond of friendship between our two houses. My lord, the Marquis of Wu, has a son who is exceedingly intelligent. Hearing that you have a daughter, he has sent me to seek her hand in marriage. If the two houses form an alliance and join forces to defeat Cao Cao, this would be a truly fine matter. I ask you to consider it."

Yun Chang flew into a furious rage. "How could my tiger daughter be married to a dog's son! Were it not for the regard I hold for your brother, I would have your head struck off immediately! Speak no more of this!" He then ordered his attendants to drive Zhuge Jin out.

Zhuge Jin fled with his tail between his legs and returned to see the Marquis of Wu. He dared not conceal anything and reported the truth. Sun Quan, enraged, said, "How utterly insolent!" He then summoned Zhang Zhao and the military officials to deliberate on a strategy for seizing Jing Province. Bu Zhi said, "Cao Cao has long desired to usurp the Han; the one he fears is Liu Bei. Now he has sent an envoy to order Wu to raise troops and swallow Shu—this is shifting the calamity onto Wu." Sun Quan said, "I too have long desired to seize Jing Province." Bu Zhi said, "Now Cao Ren is stationed at Xiangyang and Fancheng. There is no natural barrier of the Yangtze River, and Jing Province can be taken by land. Why does he not take it himself but instead orders Your Majesty to mobilize troops? This alone reveals his intentions. Your Majesty may send an envoy to Xuchang to see Cao Cao and instruct Cao Ren to first raise troops by land to seize Jing Province. Yun Chang will surely pull the Jing Province forces toward Fancheng. Once Yun Chang moves, Your Majesty can dispatch a general to secretly seize Jing Province, and it will be taken in one stroke."

Sun Quan followed his counsel and immediately sent an envoy across the river to present a letter to Cao Cao, laying out this plan. Cao Cao was overjoyed. He dismissed the envoy to return first, then sent Man Chong to Fancheng to assist Cao Ren as a strategic advisor in planning the mobilization. At the same time, he dispatched urgent orders to Eastern Wu, directing them to lead forces by water to coordinate the seizure of Jing Province.

Now, the King of Hanzhong ordered Wei Yan to command the army and defend the Eastern River region. He then led his officials back to Chengdu. He dispatched functionaries to construct palaces and also built guest quarters—from Chengdu to Baishui, more than four hundred postal stations and guest houses were erected. He amassed grain and fodder on a large scale and manufactured many weapons, with the aim of advancing to seize the Central Plains. Spies learned that Cao Cao was forming an alliance with Eastern Wu to seize Jing Province, and they flew with the report into Shu.

The King of Hanzhong hastily summoned Kongming for counsel. Kongming said, "I had anticipated that Cao Cao would certainly have such a scheme. Moreover, Wu has many strategists, and they will surely instruct Cao Cao to have Cao Ren raise his forces first." The King of Hanzhong said, "If so, what should we do?" Kongming said, "We may dispatch an envoy to deliver the official commission to Yun Chang, ordering him to first raise troops and attack Fancheng. This will strike fear into the enemy's heart, and they will naturally collapse."

The King of Hanzhong was greatly pleased and at once dispatched the vanguard marshal Fei Shi as his envoy, bearing the royal commission, to Jing Province. Yunchang went out beyond the city walls to welcome him and escort him into the city. When the formal greetings had been exchanged in the public hall, Yunchang asked, "What title has the King of Hanzhong conferred upon me?" Fei Shi replied, "You are to be foremost among the Five Tiger Generals." Yunchang asked, "And who are those Five Tiger Generals?" Fei Shi said, "Guan, Zhang, Zhao, Ma, and Huang." Yunchang flew into a rage. "Yide is my own brother. Mengqi comes from a distinguished family of long standing. Zilong has served my elder brother for many years—he is as a brother to me as well. It is fitting that they should rank alongside me. But what manner of man is Huang Zhong, that he dares to be ranked with me! A true warrior will never keep company with an old soldier!" And so he refused to accept the seal.

Fei Shi smiled and said, "Your Excellency is mistaken. In former times, Xiao He and Cao Can joined with the First Emperor of Han in his great undertaking and were his closest companions, while Han Xin was a fugitive general from Chu. Yet Han Xin was made a king and ranked above Xiao and Cao, and I have never heard that Xiao and Cao bore any resentment on that account. Now, although the King of Hanzhong has created the Five Tiger Generals, he shares with Your Excellency the bond of brotherhood—he regards you as one and the same body. The King of Hanzhong is you, and you are the King of Hanzhong. How can you be placed on the same level as the others? Your Excellency has received the deepest favor from the King of Hanzhong. You should share weal and woe, fortune and misfortune, with him. It is not right to quibble over the rank or precedence of titles. I beg Your Excellency to consider this carefully."

Yunchang saw the truth of this and bowed twice, saying, "My own blindness was great. Had you not instructed me, I would have brought disaster upon a great cause." He then bowed and accepted the seal and ribbon.

Fei Shi then issued the King's edict, commanding Yunchang to lead his troops and attack Fancheng. Yunchang received the order and at once appointed Fu Shiren and Mi Fang as his vanguard commanders, sending them ahead with a force to encamp outside the walls of Jingzhou. At the same time, he prepared a feast within the city to entertain Fei Shi. When the banquet had reached the second watch of the night, a sudden report came that fire had broken out in the camp outside the city walls. Yunchang at once donned his armor and mounted his horse to ride out and investigate. It turned out that Fu Shiren and Mi Fang had been drinking wine, and a fire had been left burning behind their tent. It had ignited the gunpowder, shaking the entire camp, and arms and provisions had all been consumed in the flames. Yunchang led his troops to fight the fire, and it was not until the fourth watch that it was finally extinguished.

Yunchang returned to the city and summoned Fu Shiren and Mi Fang. He rebuked them, saying, "I appointed you two as vanguard commanders. Before you had even set out on campaign, you destroyed a great quantity of arms and provisions. The gunpowder killed men of our own forces. What use are you, who cause such disasters?" He ordered them put to death. Fei Shi interceded, saying, "To execute generals before the campaign has begun is bad for the army's morale. I ask that you remit their punishment for now." Yunchang's anger had not yet subsided. He shouted at the two men, "Were it not for the sake of the Marshal of the Army Fei, I would have your heads!" He then ordered the guards to give each of them forty blows with the rod, stripped them of their vanguard seals and ribbons, and assigned Mi Fang to defend Nanjun and Fu Shiren to defend Gong'an, saying, "When I return in victory, if there is the slightest fault, both offenses will be punished!" The two men left in shame and humiliation.

Yunchang then appointed Liao Hua as vanguard commander and Guan Ping as his deputy. He took personal command of the main army, with Ma Liang and Yi Ji serving as military advisers, and they advanced together. Now, Hu Ban, the son of Hu Hua, had previously come to Jingzhou to surrender to Lord Guan. Lord Guan, remembering how Hu Ban had once saved him in former days, held him in great affection and sent him with Fei Shi into Sichuan to receive a title from the King of Hanzhong. Fei Shi took his leave of Lord Guan, and taking Hu Ban with him, returned to Shu.

Now, on that day Lord Guan had sacrificed to the great banner of the commander-in-chief and was resting in his tent when he fell into a doze. Suddenly he saw a pig, large as a ox, entirely black in color, rush into his tent and bite at his foot. Lord Guan flew into a rage and hastily drew his sword to strike it. Its cry was like the tearing of silk. He started awake—it had been nothing but a dream. He then felt a dull pain in his left foot. Troubled in his heart, he summoned Guan Ping and told him of the dream. Guan Ping replied, "A pig may also bear the likeness of a dragon. A dragon attaching itself to your foot is an omen of ascension—there is no cause for suspicion or dread."

Lord Guan assembled his officers in his tent and told them of the dream. Some said it was an auspicious sign; others said it was inauspicious—opinions varied. Lord Guan said, "A true warrior nearing sixty years of age—if I were to die even now, what regret would I have?" Even as he spoke, an envoy from Shu arrived bearing the King of Hanzhong's edict, appointing Yunchang as General of the Vanguard, granting him the authority of the Imperial Axe, and placing him in command of the nine districts of Jing and Xiang. When Yunchang had received the appointment, his officers all came forward to congratulate him, saying, "This confirms the auspicious omen of the dragon-pig!" And so Yunchang put aside all doubt and set out with his army along the great road to Xiangyang.

Cao Ren was in the city when a report suddenly came that Yunchang was leading an army against him. Cao Ren was greatly alarmed and wished to hold fast behind his walls and not go out to meet him. His lieutenant general Zhai Yuan said, "The King of Wei has ordered Your Excellency to join with Eastern Wu to seize Jing Province. Now they have come of their own accord—they are delivering themselves to death. Why should you avoid them?" The military adviser Man Chong remonstrated, saying, "I have long known that Yunchang is brave and resourceful. He must not be taken lightly. The best course is to hold fast and not engage." The valiant general Xiahou Cun said, "This is the talk of a bookish scholar. Have you not heard, 'When the water comes, earth dams it; when the general comes, soldiers meet them'? Our army, resting and ready while the enemy is worn with marching, will surely prevail." Cao Ren followed their counsel, ordering Man Chong to defend Fancheng while he himself led his troops to meet Yunchang.

When Yunchang learned that Cao Ren's forces were approaching, he summoned Guan Ping and Liao Hua and gave them their orders. The two armies drew up facing each other.

Liao Hua rode out to challenge, and Zhai Yuan came out to meet him. After only a few exchanges, Liao Hua feigned defeat and turned his horse to flee. Zhai Yuan pursued him from behind, and the Jingzhou forces retreated twenty li. The next day, they came again to challenge. Xiahou Cun and Zhai Yuan both rode out to meet them, and the Jingzhou forces were again defeated. They were pursued for more than twenty li when suddenly a great shouting was heard from behind, with drums and horns sounding all at once. Cao Ren hastily ordered his vanguard to turn back, but behind them Guan Ping and Liao Hua came upon them, and Cao Ren's troops fell into great disorder. Cao Ren realized he had fallen into a trap and at once detached a force to race to Xiangyang. Several li from the city, he saw embroidered banners fluttering in the wind, and Yunchang, reining in his horse and holding his great blade across his path, blocking the way. Cao Ren's courage failed him, and he dared not engage. He turned onto a side road toward Xiangyang and fled. Yunchang did not pursue him. Presently Xiahou Cun's troops arrived. When he saw Xiahou Cun, Lord Guan was filled with fury and engaged him in combat. In a single exchange, Lord Guan struck him down and killed him. Zhai Yuan attempted to flee, but Guan Ping overtook him and cut him down with a single stroke. Seizing the opportunity to press the attack, the Jingzhou forces inflicted such slaughter that more than half of Cao Ren's soldiers perished in the Xiang River. Cao Ren withdrew to defend Fancheng.

Having captured Xiangyang, Yunzhang rewarded the troops and comforted the people. Sima Wang Fu, who accompanied the army, said: "My lord took Xiangyang at one stroke, and though the Cao troops have lost their nerve, in my humble opinion, Lü Meng of Eastern Wu is stationed at Lukou and has long harbored designs on seizing Jing Province. Should he lead his forces directly against Jing Province, how would we withstand him?"

Yunzhang said: "I have also considered this. You may take charge of the matter. Along the length of the Yangtze, every twenty or thirty *li*, select elevated ground and build a beacon tower. Station fifty soldiers at each tower. If Wu troops cross the river, they are to light fires at night and raise smoke by day as signals. I will go personally to strike them."

Wang Fu said: "Mi Fang and Fu Shiren guard the two passes, but I fear they will not exert themselves to the fullest. We must have someone else to oversee Jing Province."

Yunzhang said: "I have already appointed Pan Jun, the Director of Affairs, to guard it. What cause is there for worry?"

Wang Fu said: "Pan Jun has always been jealous and greedy throughout his life—he should not be employed. You could appoint Zhao Lei, the Supply Officer of the Vanguard, in his place. Zhao Lei is loyal, upright, and incorruptible. If you employ this man, there will be no room for error."

Yunzhang said: "I have long known Pan Jun's character. Since the appointment has already been made, there is no need to change it. Zhao Lei is currently in charge of provisions, which is also important work. Do not be overly suspicious—just go and build the beacon towers for me."

Wang Fu departed with a heavy heart after bowing his farewell. Yunzhang ordered Guan Ping to prepare boats to cross the Xiang River and attack Fancheng.

Now, Cao Ren had lost two generals and withdrew to defend Fancheng. He said to Man Chong: "Had I heeded your words, this would not have happened—troops routed, generals slain, and Xiangyang lost. What are we to do?"

Man Chong said: "Yunzhang is a tiger of a general, wise and full of stratagems. He must not be taken lightly. We should hold firm behind our walls."

While they were speaking, a report came that Yunzhang had crossed the river and was attacking Fancheng. Cao Ren was greatly alarmed.

Man Chong said: "We must hold firm."

General Lü Chang stepped forward eagerly and said: "I beg for several thousand troops to meet the enemy on the Xiang River."

Man Chong tried to dissuade him, but Lü Chang said angrily: "According to you civil officials, we should only hold our ground—how will that drive off the enemy? Have you not heard the art of war say: 'Strike when the army is halfway across'? Now Yunzhang is halfway across the Xiang River—why not attack? If his troops reach the city walls and approach the moat, it will be too late to resist."

Cao Ren thereupon gave him two thousand troops and ordered Lü Chang to leave Fancheng and meet the enemy. Lü Chang advanced to the river mouth. Before him, embroidered banners parted, and Yunzhang rode forth with his sabre across his horse. Lü Chang prepared to meet him, but the soldiers behind him, awed by Yunzhang's formidable presence, fled without fighting. Lü Chang could not stop them. Yunzhang charged in with a roar, and Cao's forces were utterly routed, losing more than half their cavalry and infantry. The remnants fled into Fancheng, and Cao Ren hastily sent a messenger to beg for reinforcements.

The envoy rode day and night to Chang'an and presented the letter to Cao Cao, saying: "Yunzhang has taken Xiangyang and is now besieging Fancheng urgently. I beg you to dispatch a great general to our relief."

Cao Cao pointed to one man among his assembled officers and said: "You may go and lift the siege of Fancheng."

The man answered and stepped forward. All eyes turned to him—it was Yu Jin.

Yu Jin said: "I request a general to serve as vanguard and lead troops with me."

Cao Cao then asked the assembly: "Who dares serve as the vanguard?"

One man stepped forward eagerly and said: "I wish to offer my humble efforts—I will capture Guan Yu alive and present him at your feet."

Cao Cao looked upon him with great delight.

And so it was:

Before the Eastern Wu could move to exploit the breach,

The Northern Wei first sent forth fresh troops.

Who this man was, you will discover in the next chapter.

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Romance of the Three Kingdoms