Chapter 77

Chapter 77

**Book Seventeen**

Now Sun Quan sought counsel from Lü Meng. Meng said, "I calculate that Guan Yu's forces are too few to flee by the main road. North of Maicheng there is a rugged mountain path—he will surely take it. Order Zhu Ran to lead five thousand elite troops and lie in ambush twenty li north of Maicheng. When the enemy arrives, do not engage them directly, but follow and attack from behind. Their troops will have no will to fight and will certainly flee toward Linji. Then order Pan Zhang to lead five hundred elite troops and conceal them along the remote mountain paths near Linji—Guan Yu can be captured. Meanwhile, send officers to assault all the city gates, leaving only the north gate open, waiting for him to flee."

Sun Quan, pleased with this plan, ordered Lü Fan to consult the divination once more. When the hexagram was cast, Lü Fan reported, "This hexagram indicates the enemy will flee toward the northwest. He will certainly be captured tonight at the hour of Hai." Sun Quan was greatly delighted and ordered Zhu Ran and Pan Zhang to lead their two elite detachments and take up their ambush positions according to the plan.

Now it must be told that Lord Guan was in Maicheng. He counted his cavalry and infantry—barely three hundred men remained. Moreover, provisions were entirely exhausted. That night, Wu troops outside the city called out the names of soldiers, and many climbed over the walls to desert. No reinforcements had arrived. With no stratagem left, he said to Wang Fu, "I regret that I did not heed your counsel in the past! Now that we are in this desperate situation, what can be done?" Wang Fu wept and replied, "Even if the Grand Duke of Zhou were reborn, he could devise no plan for us today."

Zhao Lei said, "The relief force from Shangyong has not come because Liu Feng and Meng Da refuse to move their troops. Why not abandon this isolated city and flee into Xichuan, then rally our forces again to seek recovery?" Lord Guan said, "I have had the same thought." He went up to observe from the walls. Seeing that the enemy forces at the north gate were few, he asked a local resident, "What is the terrain like to the north?" The man replied, "The road leads through remote mountain paths, but it connects to Xichuan." Lord Guan said, "We shall take this road tonight." Wang Fu remonstrated, "The mountain paths are sure to have ambushes. We should take the main road." Lord Guan replied, "Even if there are ambushes, what have I to fear?" He gave orders that the cavalry and infantry officers should prepare in full battle gear to leave the city.

Wang Fu wept and said, "My lord, take care on the road! I, with over a hundred soldiers, will defend this city to the death. Though the city may fall, I shall never surrender! I look only to you, my lord, to come swiftly with reinforcements."

Lord Guan also parted from him in tears. He left Zhou Cang and Wang Fu to defend Maicheng together. Lord Guan himself, along with Guan Ping and Zhao Lei, led the remaining two hundred soldiers and burst out through the north gate. Lord Guan advanced with his sword drawn. They had traveled past the first watch, covering about twenty li, when from a mountain hollow there arose the beating of drums and the blaring of horns, with a great clamor. A body of troops emerged, led by the commander Zhu Ran, who spurred his horse forward, brandished his spear, and shouted, "Yunchang, halt! Surrender now and save your life!" Lord Guan flew into a rage, whipped his horse, and swung his blade to engage him. Zhu Ran immediately retreated, and Lord Guan pursued him. At the sound of a drum, ambushes rose on all sides. Lord Guan dared not fight and fled toward the Linji mountain path. Zhu Ran led his troops in pursuit. Lord Guan's remaining soldiers dwindled steadily. After traveling no more than four or five li, the clamor rose again ahead, and flames blazed up as Pan Zhang charged forward on horseback, swinging his blade. Lord Guan, furious, met him with his sword. After only three exchanges, Pan Zhang fled in defeat. Lord Guan dared not linger and hurried along the mountain road. Guan Ping came up from behind and reported that Zhao Lei had perished in the chaos of battle. Lord Guan was overcome with grief and anguish. He ordered Guan Ping to guard the rear while he himself led the way forward. Fewer than ten men remained with him.

They came to a place called Jueshi, where steep mountains rose on both sides, their slopes covered with withered reeds and wild grass, with tangled growths of trees. The fifth watch was nearly spent. As they pressed on, a shout arose, and ambushes emerged from both sides. Long hooks and nooses flew together, and first the horse beneath Lord Guan was tripped and thrown. Lord Guan tumbled from the saddle and was seized by Ma Zhong, an officer under Pan Zhang. Guan Ping, learning that his father had been captured, rushed swiftly to his rescue. But Pan Zhang and Zhu Ran arrived with their troops from behind, surrounding Guan Ping on all sides. Ping fought alone, and when his strength was spent, he was also taken captive.

By dawn, Sun Quan had learned that Lord Guan and his son were captured. Overjoyed, he assembled his officers in his tent.

Presently, Ma Zhong escorted Lord Guan before him. Sun Quan said, "I have long admired your noble virtue and wished to form a bond of kinship with you. Why have you spurned me? You considered yourself without equal under heaven. How is it that you have been captured by me today? Do you submit to Sun Quan now?"

Lord Guan cursed him fiercely: "Green-eyed boy! Purple-bearded rat! I swore an oath of brotherhood with the Imperial Uncle in the Peach Garden, vowing to uphold the House of Han. How could I join myself with a traitor who has rebelled against the Han! I have been ensnined by a wicked stratagem, and there is nothing for me but death. Why say more?"

Sun Quan turned to his officers and said, "Yunchang is a hero of the age, and I have deep admiration for him. What if I treat him with courtesy and seek to persuade him to join me?"

The Chief Secretary Zuo Xian said, "That cannot be done. When Cao Cao first gained possession of this man, he enfeoffed him as a marquis and bestowed titles, holding a small banquet every three days and a grand feast every five. He gave him gold when he mounted his horse and silver when he dismounted. Yet despite such generous treatment, he could not keep him. Cao Cao let him pass through his passes and slay his officers, and as a result Cao Cao is now pressed to the point of considering moving his capital to escape his sharp edge. Now that my lord has captured him, if you do not put him away at once, I fear he will become a source of future calamity."

Sun Quan pondered for a long time, then said, "Your words are just." He gave the order to lead Lord Guan out. And so Lord Guan and his son were both put to death. This occurred in the twelfth month of the twenty-fourth year of the Jian'an era. Lord Guan was fifty-eight years of age at his death. A later poet lamented:

In the last days of Han, no talent matched his might;

Yunchang stood peerless, above all the rest.

His divine valor could rouse the warrior's fire,

And with scholarly grace, he knew the written word.

His heart was clear as the sun and mirror,

His righteousness rivaled the Spring and Autumn Annals, soaring above the clouds.

His glory shines through the ages,

Surpassing even the heroes of the Three Kingdoms.

Another poem says:

For the noblest man, men seek the ancient Jieliang;

The people pay homage to Han's Yunchang.

In the Peach Garden, one day made them brother and brother;

For a thousand years, the Emperor and the King receive sacrifice and offering.

His spirit commanded wind and thunder, without equal;

His ambition shone like the sun and moon, radiant and bright.

To this day, his temples fill the world—

Ancient trees, cold crows, and the light of many setting suns.

After Lord Guan's death, his steed, the Red Hare, was seized by Ma Zhong and presented to Sun Quan. Sun Quan at once bestowed the horse upon Ma Zhong to ride. But the horse refused to eat fodder for several days and died.

Now Wang Fu was in Mai City, trembling with fear. He said to Zhou Chang, “Last night I dreamed that our lord stood before me covered in blood. When I hastily questioned him, I awoke in fright in a cold sweat. I wonder if this is an omen of good or ill.” While they were speaking, a report suddenly came that the Wu troops were at the city gates, displaying the heads of Lord Guan and his son to summon surrender. Wang Fu and Zhou Chang were greatly alarmed. They hurried up to the wall to look, and indeed it was the heads of Lord Guan and his son. Wang Fu gave a great cry and threw himself from the wall to his death. Zhou Chang cut his own throat and perished. And so Mai City also fell to Eastern Wu.

Now Lord Guan’s spirit did not disperse but drifted and waisted on the wind until it reached a certain place—a mountain in Jingmen Prefecture, Dangyang County, called the Jade Spring Mountain. On the mountain lived an old monk, whose dharma name was Pujing. He had once been the elder of the Temple of the Protecting Nation at Sishui Pass. Later he wandered the world and came to this place. Finding the mountain bright and the waters beautiful, he built a thatched hut and sat in meditation every day, seeking the Way. He had with him only one young acolyte, who begged for food to sustain them. That night the moon was white and the breeze cool. After the third watch, Pujing was sitting in silence in his hut when suddenly he heard a voice cry out in the heavens: “Give me back my head!” Pujing looked up and examined the sky carefully. He saw a figure riding the Red Hare and wielding the Green Dragon Blade. On his left was a fair-faced general; on his right, a dark-faced man with bristling whiskers. Together they descended upon the clouds and alighted on the summit of Jade Spring Mountain. Pujing recognized that it was Lord Guan. He struck the door of his hut with the fly whisk in his hand and said, “Where is Yun-chang?”

Lord Guan’s spirit understood. He immediately dismounted, rode the wind, and landed before the hut. He joined his hands and asked, “Who are you, master? I would know your dharma name.” Pujing said, “This old monk is Pujing. We met long ago at the Temple of the Protecting Nation before Sishui Pass. Have you forgotten so soon?” Lord Guan said, “I have not forgotten your kindness in saving me, and I am deeply grateful. Now I have met my death. I beg for your pure instruction and guidance through this confusion.” Pujing said, “What was wrong in the past may be right now—let us not speak of such things. The consequences of former deeds and the causes of later ones do not deceive. Now, General, you were harmed by Lü Meng, and you cry out, ‘Give me back my head!’ But the heads of Yan Liang, Wen Chou, and the generals of the five passes—from whom will you demand those?” Thereupon Lord Guan was greatly enlightened. He bowed in reverence, took refuge in the faith, and departed. After this he often manifested his holy presence on Jade Spring Mountain to protect the people. The villagers, moved by his virtue, built a temple on the mountain peak and offered sacrifices in all four seasons. Later generations inscribed a couplet on the temple:

A red face that held a red heart,

Riding the Red Hare that chased the wind—

In all his campaigns he never forgot the Red Emperor.

By the blue lamp he read blue histories,

Wielding the Green Dragon Crescent Blade—

In hidden places he was worthy of the blue sky.

Now after Sun Quan had done away with Lord Guan, he gathered all the lands of Jing and Xiang, rewarded the army, and held a great feast to celebrate the victory with his generals. He placed Lü Meng in the seat of honor and said to the assembled officers, “For long I could not take Jingzhou, and now it is mine as easily as spitting into my hand. This is all due to Ziming’s merit.” Lü Meng repeatedly declined the praise. Sun Quan said, “Of old Zhou Yu surpassed all in bold strategy. He defeated Cao Cao at Red Cliff, but alas he died too soon, and Lu Zijing succeeded him. When Zijing first came to me, he spoke at once of the great design of a true king—this was one delight. When Cao Cao came east, all urged me to surrender, but Zijing alone urged me to summon Zhou Yu and strike back—this was the second delight. Yet his one failing was persuading me to lend Jingzhou to Liu Bei. Now Ziming, by his planning and strategy, has taken Jingzhou at once. He surpasses both Zijing and Zhou Yu by far.” Thereupon Sun Quan himself poured wine and bestowed it upon Lü Meng. Lü Meng took the cup and was about to drink when suddenly he dashed it to the ground, seized Sun Quan with one hand, and cried out fiercely: “Blue-eyed little boy! Purple-bearded rat! Do you still know me?” The generals were greatly alarmed. As they rushed to rescue him, Lü Meng thrust Sun Quan aside, strode forward, and sat in Sun Quan’s own seat. His brows were drawn down, his eyes round and glaring, and he shouted, “Since I broke the Yellow Turban rebels, I have swept the world for more than thirty years. Now by your treacherous schemes you have destroyed me. In life I cannot eat your flesh; in death I will pursue the soul of the Lü wretch! I am the Marquis of Han-shou-ting, Guan Yun-chang!” Sun Quan was terrified and hastily led his officers, great and small, in bowing down. Then Lü Meng fell to the ground, blood flowing from his seven orifices, and died. The generals who saw it were all filled with fear. Sun Quan had Lü Meng’s body placed in a coffin and buried with honor, posthumously bestowing on him the title of Marquis of Cangling, Grand Administrator of Nan Commandery. He ordered Lü Meng’s son Lü Ba to inherit the marquisate. From this time on Sun Quan was haunted by the affair of Lord Guan and could not cease from alarm.

Then a report came that Zhang Zhao had arrived from Jianye. Sun Quan summoned him and asked his counsel. Zhang Zhao said, “Now that my lord has lost Lord Guan and his son, calamity for the lands east of the river is not far off. This man and Liu Bei swore an oath of brotherhood in the Peach Garden to live and die together. Liu Bei already commands the armies of the two Chuan regions, and besides he has Zhuge Liang’s wisdom and the valor of Zhang, Huang, Ma, and Zhao. If he learns that Yun-chang and his son have been slain, he will certainly raise the whole strength of his kingdom to avenge them with all his might. I fear Eastern Wu will not be able to stand against him.” Sun Quan, hearing this, was greatly alarmed. He stamped his foot and said, “I have misjudged the situation! What is to be done?” Zhang Zhao said, “My lord need not worry. I have a plan that will keep the armies of Western Shu from attacking Eastern Wu, and make Jingzhou as secure as a massive rock.” Sun Quan asked what the plan was. Zhang Zhao said, “Now Cao Cao commands a hundred thousand troops and glares across the land. Liu Bei is desperate for revenge and will certainly make peace with Cao Cao. If both forces march against us together, Eastern Wu will be in peril. It would be better to send someone first to present Lord Guan’s head to Cao Cao, making it clear to Liu Bei that this was Cao Cao’s doing. Liu Bei will then nurse a bitter hatred for Cao Cao. The armies of Western Shu will turn not against Wu but against Wei. We can then watch the outcome of their struggle and act accordingly. This is the best policy.”

Quan followed his counsel and immediately dispatched a messenger with Guan Yu's head sealed in a wooden casket, sending him with all haste to Cao Cao. At that time, Cao Cao was returning from Mopo with his army to Luoyang. When he learned that Eastern Wu had sent Guan Yu's head, he said with delight, "Yunchang is dead. Now I shall sleep soundly at night." But one man stepped forward from below the dais and said, "This is Eastern Wu's scheme to shift calamity upon us." Cao Cao looked and saw that it was his Chief Secretary, Sima Yi. Cao Cao asked his reasoning, and Yi replied, "In the past, when Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei swore brotherhood in the Peach Garden, they pledged to live and die together. Now Eastern Wu has slain Guan Yu and, fearing his brothers' vengeance, they have sent his head to Your Highness. Their intent is to make Liu Bei turn his wrath upon you instead of attacking Wu, so that Wu may take advantage of the situation and pursue their own designs." Cao Cao said, "Zhongda speaks truly. How shall I resolve this?" Yi said, "It is quite simple. Your Highness may carve a fragrant wooden body to accompany Guan Yu's head and bury him with the rites due a high minister. When Liu Bei learns of this, he will surely harbor deep hatred against Sun Quan and marshal all his strength to campaign south. We need only observe the outcome: if Shu triumphs, we strike Wu; if Wu triumphs, we strike Shu. Whichever falls, the other will not endure long either." Cao Cao was greatly pleased and adopted his plan, then summoned the Wu messenger into his presence. The wooden casket was presented. Cao Cao opened it and saw that Guan Yu's face appeared as it had in life. Cao Cao smiled and said, "General Yunchang, have you been well since we parted?" Before he had finished speaking, Guan Yu's eyes opened and moved, his mouth parted, and his whiskers bristled. Cao Cao fell over in shock. His officials rushed to revive him, and only after a long while did he regain consciousness. Turning to his officers, he said, "General Guan is truly a god among men!" The Wu messenger then told Cao Cao of Guan Yu's spirit manifesting through a medium, cursing Sun Quan and pursuing Lü Meng. Cao Cao grew even more fearful, so he offered sacrifices, carved a body from aloeswood, and buried Guan Yu with the rites of a prince outside the southern gate of Luoyang. He ordered all officials, high and low, to attend the funeral rites, and he himself bowed in offering. He posthumously enfeoffed Guan Yu as Prince of Jing and appointed officials to guard his tomb. Then he dismissed the Wu messenger back to Jiangdong.

Now the Prince of Hanzhong had returned from Eastern Chuan to Chengdu. Fa Zheng memorialized, saying, "Your late first Lady has passed away, and Lady Sun has returned south and may never come again. The proper relations of mankind cannot be neglected. You must take a consort to manage the inner household." The Prince of Hanzhong agreed. Fa Zheng further memorialized, "Wu Yi has a sister, both beautiful and virtuous. I have long heard that a physiognomist predicted that this woman would attain great nobility. She was once betrothed to Liu Yan's son Liu Mao, but Mao died young. She remains a widow to this day. Your Highness may take her as your consort." The Prince of Hanzhong said, "Liu Mao and I share the same clan. This would be improper." Fa Zheng replied, "Considering the degree of kinship, is it any different from Duke Wen of Jin and Huai Ying?" The Prince of Hanzhong then consented and took Lady Wu as his consort. She bore him two sons: the elder, Liu Yong, styled Gongshou, and the younger, Liu Li, styled Fengxiao.

Now in both Eastern and Western Chuan, the people were at peace and the state prosperous, with bountiful harvests. Suddenly someone arrived from Jingzhou saying that Eastern Wu had sought a marriage alliance with Guan Yu, but Guan Yu had firmly refused. Zhuge Liang said, "Jingzhou is in danger! We must send someone to relieve Guan Yu." Even as they deliberated, couriers from Jingzhou bearing dispatches arrived in steady succession. Within a few days, Xing arrived and gave a full account of the flooding of the seven armies. Then another horseman came with a report that Guan Yu had erected many beacon towers along the riverbank, with defenses so thorough that nothing could go wrong. For this reason, Xuande set his mind at ease.

Then one day, Xuande felt a tremor throughout his flesh and could not sit or stand in peace. By night he could not sleep. He rose and sat in his inner chamber, reading by candlelight, but his spirit grew clouded and he slumped over his desk. A sudden cold wind arose in the room; the lamp went out and then flared up again. He raised his head and saw a figure standing by the lamp. Xuande asked, "Who are you, to come to my inner chamber in the dead of night?" The figure did not answer. Xuande, puzzled and uneasy, rose to look more closely and saw that it was Guan Yu, moving to and fro in the lamplight. Xuande said, "Dear brother, have you been well since we parted? Coming at this late hour, you must surely have grave tidings. You and I are bound as flesh and bone—why do you keep your distance?" Guan Yu wept and said, "I beg you, brother, raise an army to avenge your brother's hatred!" With these words, a sudden gust of cold wind arose, and Guan Yu vanished. Xuande awoke with a start—it had been a dream. It was then the third watch. Xuande was deeply troubled and hurried to the front hall, sending for Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang entered and was received. Xuande described his ominous dream in detail. Zhuge Liang said, "This is merely Your Highness's longing for Guan Yu, which gave rise to such a dream. Why be so troubled?" Xuande remained deeply suspicious, but Zhuge Liang reassured him with gentle words.

As Zhuge Liang took his leave and reached the middle gate, he encountered Xu Jing, who said, "I had just gone to the Military Director General's residence to report a secret matter. Hearing that you had entered the palace, I came here specially." Zhuge Liang asked, "What secret matter?" Xu Jing replied, "I have just heard outsiders saying that Lü Meng of Eastern Wu has seized Jingzhou and that Guan Yu has perished. I came to report this in confidence to you." Zhuge Liang said, "I observed the heavens last night and saw a general star fall over the region of Jing and Chu. I already knew that Yunchang must have met disaster, but I feared that the Prince would be distressed, so I did not dare speak." As they were speaking, a figure suddenly emerged from within the palace, seized Zhuge Liang's sleeve, and said, "With news so dire, why did you conceal it from me?" Zhuge Liang looked and saw that it was Xuande himself. Zhuge Liang and Xu Jing memorialized, "What we just spoke of are only rumors and cannot be fully trusted. We beg Your Highness to set your mind at ease and not give way to anxiety." Xuande said, "Yunchang and I swore to live and die together. If he has fallen, how could I bear to live on alone?"

While Kongming and Xu Jing were trying to console him, an attendant suddenly announced: "Ma Liang and Yi Ji have arrived." Liu Bei hastily summoned them to enter and questioned them. The two reported in full that Jingzhou had been lost, that Guan Yu's forces were defeated and he was begging for aid, and they presented his memorial. Before Liu Bei could open and read it, a court official again announced that Liao Hua from Jingzhou had arrived. Liu Bei hastily summoned him to enter. Liao Hua wept and prostrated himself on the ground, then gave a detailed account of Liu Feng and Meng Da's refusal to send reinforcements. Liu Bei was greatly alarmed and said: "If this is so, my brother is done for!" Kongming said: "Liu Feng and Meng Da have shown such gross disrespect—their crime is beyond pardon! Let Your Majesty set his heart at rest. I will personally lead a force to relieve the crisis in Jingzhou." Liu Bei wept and said: "If Yunchang is lost, I will not live on alone! Tomorrow I will personally lead an army to rescue Yunchang!" He thereupon sent a messenger to Langzhong to inform Yide, and at the same time dispatched men to assemble troops. Before dawn, report after report came in, saying that Guan Yu had fled by night to Linju, where he was captured by the Wu generals; he would not submit to dishonor, and father and son gave up their lives. When Liu Bei heard this, he let out a great cry and collapsed unconscious upon the ground. Truly it was:

Remembering how once they swore together to die,

How can he bear that this day she alone should perish!

What became of Liu Bei's life will be told in the next chapter.