Styled Mengde, Cao Cao was a man of medium build with small eyes and a
long beard. Born in Qiao, Cao Cao’s father, Cao Song, had been born
Xiahou Song but was adopted into the Cao family by the Eunuch Cao Teng.
During his youth, Cao Cao enjoyed hunting, songs and dancing; he was a
resourceful and crafty young man. One of his uncles seeing this in him
used to get angry and tell Cao Song of his son’s deeds, resulting in Cao
Cao being reprimanded by his father. However, one day Cao Cao pretended
to have a fit when his uncle came near. The uncle quickly brought Cao
Song who found Mengde in perfect health and so quizzed him about the
fit. The young man told his father “I have never suffered from fits or
any such illness but my uncle distrusts me and he has therefore deceived
you.” From that day forth, Cao Song never listened to complaints about
his son from that uncle and the young man grew up immoral and
uncontrolled. A man named Qiao Xian once said to Cao Cao, “Rebellion is
at hand, and only a man of the greatest ability can succeed in restoring
tranquillity. That man is yourself.” a view that was echoed by He Yong.
Upon these words, Mengde sought out a wise man from Runan named Xu Shao
and asked him “What manner of man am I?” to which the Xu Shao replied,
“In peace you are an able subject, in chaos you are a crafty hero.”
At the age of twenty, Cao Cao graduated and became known for his
decency and integrity. He soon took up a post as Commanding Officer in a
county near the capital where he made a name for himself by punishing
all those who broke the law, regardless of rank. He was quickly made a
magistrate of Dunqiu. When the Yellow Scarves Rebellion broke out in AD
184, Cao Cao was promoted from General to Cavalry Commander and given
command of 5,000 mounted troops to reinforce Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun at
Yingchuan. As Cao’s army arrived at Changse, they encountered the
retreating rebels and a slaughter ensued as thousands of the Yellow
Scarves were cut to pieces. The rebels had been led by two of the three
founders of the movement, brothers Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang, who had
escaped in the confusion. Cao Cao and his men set off after them but the
two rebel commanders split up so Cao remained in pursuit of Zhang
Liang. After joining forces with Huangfu Song, Cao Cao fought against
Zhang Liang at Quyang where they met with seven successes despite Zhang
Liang’s numbers being reinforced (1) and eventually Zhang Liang was killed. For his role in the victory, Cao Cao was promoted and assigned to Jinan.
In AD 188, the Ten Eunuch Attendants to the
Emperor had become drunk with the power they wielded and freely abused
it, destroying anyone who could stand in their way. By AD 189 the situation grew worse when the Emperor became ill and the Eunuchs plotted against the Regent Marshal, He Jin (2).
He Jin got wind of the plot and summoned many of the ministers to
consult with him, including Cao Cao who now held the title General of
Military Standards. Mengde advised caution and for the meeting to be
kept secret but He Jin was angered by such thoughts. Their disagreement
was interrupted by news that the Emperor had died and that the eunuchs
intended for Prince Xian to ascend the throne instead of Prince Bian.
The Imperial Commander, Yuan Shao, offered to storm the palace with five
thousand troops, set up the true heir and slay the eunuchs, an offer
that He Jin accepted. Yuan Shao’s force met with success and Prince Bian
was made the new emperor but the crafty eunuchs gained the protection
from the new emperor’s mother. Finding himself powerless against the
eunuchs, in the sixth month of the year, He Jin decided that he would
summon the warlord Dong Zhuo to the capital to kill the eunuchs.
Secretary Chen Lin objected to this course of action, but He Jin was
adamant. Cao Cao laughed at the two arguing men saying, “Solving this
issue is as easy as turning over one’s hand! Why so much talk? The
eunuch evil is of very old standing, but the real cause of the present
trouble is in the improper influence allowed them by the emperors and
the misplaced favouritism they have enjoyed. A single bailiff would be
ample force to employ against this kind of evil, why involve regional
forces? Any plot to slay all of them will speedily become known, and the
plan will fail.” but He Jin accused Mengde of having his own agenda.
Cao Cao left the meeting saying, “He Jin is the one who throws the world
into chaos” and He Jin continued with his plan to bring Dong Zhuo to
the capital. When Dong Zhuo accepted, the eunuchs began to plot against
He Jin once more and coerced his sister to summon him to the palace.
Despite the pleas of Chen Lin, Yuan Shao and Cao Cao, He Jin could not
see the possibility of a trap so Cao Cao and Yuan Shao accompanied him
to the palace, along with a force of 500 men. When they arrived at the
palace, the guard would only admit He Jin, so Cao Cao and the others
waited at the gate. After waiting for a long time, Cao Cao and Yuan Shao
shouted through the gate “Your carriage awaits, general!” only for He
Jin’s head to be thrown over the wall to them. With that, the party at
the gate broke into the palace and started slaying any eunuchs they
found. During the chaos, many men who lacked facial hair were mistaken
for eunuchs and killed, but four of the eunuchs kidnapped the Emperor
and Prince Xian and fled. Many fires had started, so Cao Cao set himself
to extinguishing the flames and set troops in pursuit of the Emperor.
The large troop that went after the Emperor and his brother successfully
liberated him but it was at that time that the army of Dong Zhuo
arrived at the capital.
With his large army stationed at the capital, Dong Zhuo flaunted the
rules without fear of reprisal. Slowly he added more troops to his army,
including the mighty warrior, Lü Bu. With no one capable of stopping
him, Dong Zhuo removed Emperor Bian from the throne, raised Prince Liu
Xian instead and named himself Prime Minister (3).
Yuan Shao wrote to the Minister of the Interior, Wang Yun, urging him
to rebel and promising support. Wang Yun held a banquet at his home,
under the guise of a birthday party, to urge his fellow ministers to
action. A weeping Wang Yun gave a passionate speech to the guests in
attendance, bringing his guests to tears too. Cao Cao sat in attendance,
clapping his hands and laughing at his fellow ministers; “Will all this
weeping slay Dong Zhuo?” he asked the assembly. Wang Yun was greatly
angered; “Your forbears ate the bounty of the Hans. Do you feel no
gratitude? How can you laugh?”, but Cao Cao replied “I laughed at the
absurdity of an assembly like this being unable to compass the death of
one man. Foolish and incapable as I am, I will cut off his head and hang
it at the gate as an offering to the people. Recently, I have bowed my
head to Dong Zhuo with the sole desire of finding a chance to destroy
him. Now he begins to trust me, and so I can get close to him. You have a
sword with seven precious jewels which I would borrow, and I will go
into his palace and kill him. I care not if I die for it.” Mengde swore
an oath, took the jewelled sword, hid it under his robe and left the
hall. The next day Cao Cao, with the hidden sword, went to see Dong Zhuo
at the palace. He found the Prime Minister seated on a couch in the
small guest room, flanked as usual by Lü Bu. “Why so late Cao Cao?”
asked Dong Zhuo. “My horse is slow,” replied Mengde. “We have some fine
horses from my district” said Zhuo, and he sent Lü Bu to bring one for
their guest. Dong Zhuo was a powerful man with great physical strength
and Cao Cao was afraid to strike in case the blow was not fatal. The
Prime Minister rolled over on his couch, facing away from Cao Cao.
Mengde knew this was his best chance and drew the sword to strike, but
as he did, Zhuo saw Cao Cao’s reflection in a mirror and turned around
shouting “What are you doing Cao Cao?” Cao Cao dropped to his knees and
said, “I have a precious sword which I wish to present to you.” while Lü
Bu re-entered the room. Dong Zhuo took the sword and then the three men
went outside to look at the horse that Lü Bu had chosen. Cao Cao
thanked the Prime Minister for the horse, led it outside then rode away
quickly. Lü Bu and Dong Zhuo conferred, both suspecting Cao Cao’s
assassination attempt and decided to send for Mengde. However, they
found that Cao Cao had not returned home and instead had fled from the
city, heading east. Dong Zhuo immediately had wanted posters distributed
and offered a large reward for the capture of his would be assassin.
Cao Cao travelled towards Qiao but when he reached Zhongmu, one of
the gate guards recognised him and made him prisoner. When he appeared
before the Magistrate, Mengde claimed to be a merchant named Huang Fu,
but the Magistrate was not fooled and ordered him to be held in prison
until the reward could be claimed. Around midnight, Mengde was brought
to the Magistrate’s private chambers for interrogation and asked why he
had tried to kill the Prime Minister. Cao replied, “What does the
sparrow know of the swan’s ambition? You have me, just turn me in for
the reward. Why bother with questions” The Magistrate sent away the
guards and turned back to his prisoner saying “Please do not despise me,
I am no mere officeholder, I simply have not found a worthy master” Cao
Cao replied, “My ancestors enjoyed the bounty of the Han, and if I did
not repay that debt then I would be no different than bird or beast. I
have bowed the knee to Dong Zhuo that thereby I might find an
opportunity against him, and so remove this evil from the state. I have
failed this time. Such is the will of Heaven. I am going home to my
county. There I shall issue a summons calling all of the lords of this
realm to action against the tyrant.” The magistrate loosened the bonds
and bowed to him, introducing himself as Chen Gong and swore to follow
Mengde. Chen Gong took some money, gave Cao Cao new clothes and then the
two men rode away towards Qiao.
Three days later, the two men arrived at Chenggao. Cao Cao knew that
his father’s sworn brother, Lu Boshe, lived nearby and suggested that
they take refuge with him for the night. When they arrived at his home,
Lu Boshe greeted the two men and asked of how his nephew had become a
fugitive. Mengde explained the entire story and when he finished, Lu
Boshe bowed low in thanks to Chen Gong for his release of Cao and
promised them a bed each. Lu Boshe then went into the inner chamber for a
while and when he came out he told the guests that he was going to
fetch some wine from the village. The two guests sat and waited for
their host to return but after a while they heard from the rear of the
house the sharpening of a knife. Cao Cao began to doubt his sworn
uncle’s intentions so the two men went to the back of the house and
listened further. “Bind before killing”, they heard. “As I thought,”
said Cao Cao, “we must strike first or we will be captured!” Cao Cao and
Chen Gong burst into the room and killed the eight men and women who
were inside. As they looked around they found a pig bound ready for
killing. “You were too suspicious and now we have killed innocent
people!” said Chen Gong. The two men immediately mounted their horses
and rode away but they soon met Lu Boshe who was carrying wine and food.
Lu Boshe was surprised to see his guests leaving and enquired why they
refused his hospitality but Cao Cao continued to ride on. Suddenly
Mengde drew his sword and cut down Lu Boshe, much to the horror of Chen
Gong who implored, “What we did before was wrong enough, why now this?”
Mengde replied, “When he got home and saw his family killed, do you
think he would have let it lie? He would have raised the alarm and
brought a mob after us, we would be killed!” “But you murdered him
knowing he was innocent! You have committed a great wrong!” Chen Gong
cried. Cao Cao retorted, “I would rather betray the world than have the
world betray me!” Chen Gong said nothing further. They soon arrived at
an inn but while Cao Cao was asleep, Chen Gong left for his home county
of Dongjun (4).
The next day Cao Cao continued his journey to Qiao where he met with
his father, Cao Song. He related what had happened and expressed his
desire to sell all of the family property in order to enlist soldiers.
Knowing that their property would not raise much money, Cao song
suggested that his son seek out Wei Hong, a wealthy local man, known for
his thrift and virtue. Cao Cao invited the wealthy man to a banquet and
said to him, “The Hans have lost their lordship, and Dong Zhuo is
really a tyrant. He flouts his prince and is cruel to the people, who
gnash their teeth with rage. I would restore the Hans, but my means are
insufficient. Sir, I appeal to your loyalty and public spirit.” Wei Hong
had long wished to move against Dong Zhuo and readily pledged all his
wealth to the cause. With funding secured, Cao Cao appealed far and wide
for volunteers and set up a large white recruitment banner with the
words “Loyalty and Honour” inscribed on it. Response was rapid and soon
Cao Cao had amassed a sizeable army. Among the recruits were Yue Jin and
Li Dian who were appointed to Cao Cao’s personal staff. Mengde was also
joined by his cousins, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren and Cao Hong
who each brought a thousand men. The army began to drill in readiness
for battle while Wei Hong bought clothing, armour, flags and banners. In
addition, the army received many donations of gift and grain from
supporters.
Hearing of Cao Cao’s movements, Yuan Shao marched his army of thirty
thousand men to Qiao to join with Mengde and then a call to arms was
sent across the nation. Sixteen warlords pledged their support and
mobilised their armies to march on the capital. Along with Cao Cao and
Yuan Shao, the alliance consisted of the forces of:
Yuan Shu, Governor of Nanyang
Gongsun Zan, Governor of Beiping accompanied by Liu Bei, Magistrate of Pingyuan
Sun Jian, Governor of Changsha
Ma Teng, Governor of Xiliang
Kong Rong, Governor of Beihai
Tao Qian, Imperial Protector of Xuzhou Region
Han Fu, Imperial Protector of Jizhou Region
Kong Zhou, Imperial Protector of Yuzhou Region
Wang Kuang, Governor of Henei
Liu Dai, Imperial Protector of Yanzhou Region
Zhang Miao, Governor of Chenliu
Qiao Mao, Governor of Dongjun
Yuan Yi, Governor of Shanyang
Bao Xin, Lord of Jibei
Zhang Chao, Governor of Guangling and
Zhang Yang, Governor of Shangdang
Each force varied in numbers from ten thousand men to thirty thousand
men and when the armies met, the camp spread over seventy miles. When
all the armies had arrived, Cao Cao called all the lords to an assembly
so that they could lay out plans and elect a leader. Mengde addressed
the other lords, “For four generations the highest offices of state have
been filled by members of the Yuan family, and their clients and
supporters are everywhere. As a descendant of ancient ministers of Han,
Yuan Shao is a suitable man to be our chief lord.” and all agreed with
him. Once Yuan Shao had sworn an oath of leadership, Cao Cao addressed
the lords, “We must all obey the commander we have appointed this day
and support the state. There must be no feeling of rivalry or
superiority based upon numbers.” Yuan Shao then appointed his brother
Yuan Shu as being in charge of supplies and Sun Jian as van leader. Sun
Jian’s army was then sent against the River Si Pass while the other
armies took up support positions.
The battle did not go in the favour of the alliance as the defender
of the pass, Hua Xiong, defeated and killed Bao Xin’s brother, Bao Zhong
and his army. Sun Jian fared somewhat better until a shortage of
supplies and a sneak attack by Hua Xiong forced him to retreat. Greatly
alarmed by this turn of events, Yuan Shao summoned the commanders to a
meeting. During the meeting Hua Xiong came to the camp offering
challenges. Two trusted generals were sent against the attacker but both
fell. Liu Bei’s sworn brother, Guan Yu, offered to go and fight Hua
Xiong but Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao were outraged that a simple foot
soldier should speak out of turn. Cao Cao saw ability in Guan Yu and
convinced the Yuans to allow Guan Yu to fight Hua Xiong. Guan Yu felled
his opponent quickly. Despite the victory, the Yuans begun to argue with
Liu Bei’s other sworn brother, Zhang Fei, but Cao Cao intervened and
kept matters calm. That night, Mengde sent meat and wine to Liu Bei and
his two brothers.
Hearing of the defeat of Hua Xiong, Dong Zhuo sent fifty thousand
troops to reinforce the River Si Pass while leading an army of one
hundred and fifty thousand to Tiger Trap Pass, fifteen miles from the
capital. When they arrived, a stockade was erected outside the pass, at
which Lü Bu was stationed with thirty thousand troops. Cao Cao
recommended an opposing force be sent against Dong Zhuo, so Gongsun Zan,
Wang Kuang, Bao Xin, Qiao Mao, Yuan Yi, Kong Rong, Tao Qian, Zhang Yan
and Cao Cao all moved their armies to attack Tiger Trap Pass. Their
initial attack was unsuccessful as Lü Bu’s forces quickly scattered the
armies of Wang Kuang, Yuan Yi and Qia Mao. During a second engagement
the allies lost more troops including two generals who were killed by Lü
Bu himself. Soon Lü Bu’s army attacked again but were repelled when Liu
Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei fought Lü Bu himself and caused him to
retreat. News of this victory saw Sun Jian move against River Si Pass
again and with his men being forced slowly back, Dong Zhuo ordered the
capital to be abandoned and relocated to the easier to defend city of
Chang’an. The residents of the capital, including the emperor, were
driven out and marched to Chang’an while the city was looted and then
burnt to the ground by Dong Zhuo’s men.
With Dong Zhuo’s army in retreat, both River Si Pass and Tiger Trap
Pass were seized by the alliance. Cao Cao went to see Yuan Shao and
asked, “Dong Zhuo has gone west. We ought to follow and attack his rear
without loss of time. Why do you remain inactive?” but Yuan Shao felt
that nothing could be gained from an attack and that it was better to
rest the armies. Mengde disagreed, “This moment was most propitious in
the utter confusion that reigned: palaces burned, the Emperor abducted,
the whole world upset, and no one knowing where to turn. A single blow
could exterminate Dong Zhuo. Why not pursue?” but all the lords agreed
with Yuan Shao and would not act. “Those unworthy people cannot discuss
worthy things!” cried Cao Cao and then he led his army of ten thousand
men in pursuit of Dong Zhuo.
Cao Cao caught up with Dong Zhuo’s army just past Yingyang and rode
forward shouting, “Rebels, abductors, drovers of the people, where are
you going?” Xiahou Dun rode out and engaged Lü Bu but almost
immediately, Dong Zhuo’s men attacked Cao Cao’s forces from both the
left and the right. The attack on three fronts was too much and Cao
Cao’s defeated army had to pull back to Yingyang. As the army reformed
and a meal was being prepared, an ambush sprung up around them led by
Yingyang’s governor Xu Rong. Cao Cao mounted his horse and fled but ran
straight into the way of Xu Rong. As Mengde turned and rode away, Xu
Rong fired an arrow that hit Cao Cao in the shoulder. Not pausing to
remove the arrow, Cao Cao continued to flee but as he went over a hill,
two soldiers dashed out and brought down his horse. The soldiers seized
Cao Cao but just then Cao Hong rode up and cut down the two captors.
Mengde said, “I am doomed, go and save yourself!” but Cao Hong gave up
his horse and replied, “The world can do without Cao Hong but not
without you my lord!” Cao Cao mounted the horse and the two men
continued their escape until they reached a wide stream. “This is my
fate, I really am doomed!” exclaimed Cao Cao. Cao Hong took Mengde down
from the horse, took the wounded man on his back and then waded into the
stream. By the time they reached the other side, their pursuers had
almost caught up with them and fired arrows across the stream. The two
men continued their flight for another ten miles, where they sat and
rested under a precipice. Suddenly there was shouting and Xu Rong with a
party of horsemen appeared but at that moment, Xiahou Dun and Xiahou
Yuan with their men arrived. Xiahou Dun quickly killed Xu Rong and ran
off the enemy troops. Soon Cao Cao’s other generals arrived but the
greetings were mixed with sadness and joy. Only a few hundred men
remained of the ten thousand so the defeated army marched back to
Luoyang.
They were welcomed back to Luoyang back Yuan Shao and a feast was
prepared to console them. During the banquet, Cao Cao said sadly, “My
object was for the public good, and all you gentlemen nobly supported
me. My plan was to get Yuan Shao with his Henei troops to approach
Mengching; and my force at Qiao to keep Chenggao; while the others of
you to hold Suanzao, to close the passes of Huanyuan and Daigu, and to
take possession of the granaries, to control the points of vantage, and
thus to secure the Capital District. I planned for Yuan Shu with his
Nanyang army to occupy the counties of Danshi and Xilin and go into Wu
Pass to help the three supports. All were to fortify their positions and
not to fight. Advantage lay in a diverse military coalition that could
show the empire a possibility of dealing with the rebellion. We could
have convinced the people to side with us against Dong Zhuo. Victory
would have been ours at once. But then came delays and doubts and
inaction, and the confidence of the people was lost, and I am ashamed.”
None of the lords present could make any reply. Cao Cao knew that the
other lords did not trust him and that nothing could be accomplished, so
he led his troops off to Yanzhou. Soon afterwards, the alliance between
the warlords crumbled. In the months that followed, Dong Zhuo would be
slain by Lü Bu but the tyrant’s generals, Li Jue and Guo Si, would
attack and seize the capital forcing the assassin to seek refuge with
Yuan Shu. Meanwhile, Cao Cao became Governor of Dongjun and drew
together another army.
When another Yellow Scarves rebellion broke out in Qingzhou, Cao Cao
was ordered to suppress it along with Bao Xin. The two lords attacked
the rebels at Shouyang with Bao Xin leading the charge and were
victorious over the rebels, although Bao Xin was killed. Ten thousand of
the rebels surrendered, so Cao Cao added them to his own army and
placed the defectors in the vanguard. Wherever the army went, more
rebels surrendered and Mengde’s army quickly grew and this continued for
three months. The best of these newly gained troops were made the
Quingzhou Army while the others were sent home. Cao Cao’s fame quickly
spread and for his successes, he was given the title General Who Guards
the East.
Liu Dai submitted control of Yanzhou to Cao Cao, which became
Mengde’s headquarters. While here, he recruited wise counsellors and
bold warriors. Included in these new recruits were Xun Yu, Xun You,
Cheng Yu, Guo Jia, Liu Ye, Man Chong, Lü Qian, Mao Jie and Yu Jin. Then
one day Xiahou Dun brought a man to Cao Cao and said, “He is named Dian
Wei and he is from Chenliu. He is the boldest of the bold, the strongest
of the strong. He was one of Zhang Miao’s people, but quarrelled with
his tent companions and killed some dozens of them with his fists. Then
he fled to the mountains where I found him. I was out shooting and saw
him follow a tiger across a stream. I persuaded him to join my troop,
and I recommend him. He killed a man once to avenge a friend and carried
his head through the whole market place. Hundreds saw him, but dared
not come near. The weapon he uses now is a pair of spears, each weighs a
hundred and twenty pounds, and he vaults into the saddle with these
under his arm.” Mengde was impressed and asked the man to give a
demonstration of his skill. A group of soldiers nearby were vainly
trying to keep a huge banner upright in the strong wind, so Dian Wei
sent the men away and held the banner perfectly upright with only one
hand. Dian Wei was assigned a post in the headquarters and given a fast
horse with a beautiful saddle. Cao Cao even presented his own finely
embroidered robe as a gift to the newcomer.
Mengde wished to be reunited with his father who was presently living
at Langye so the Governor of Taishan, Ying Shao, was dispatched to
escort Cao Song and his family of forty to Yanzhou. Their route passed
through the Xuzhou Region where the Imperial Protector, Tao Qian,
greeted them. Qian wished to be on good terms with Cao Cao so he treated
the travellers with great hospitality and when they set off, he
personally accompanied them for a while. From there, he had one of his
generals, Zhang Kai, along with five hundred men escort the Cao family
for the rest of the journey. However, Zhang Kai and his men were former
rebels who had submitted to Tao Qian through lack of choice and they
soon killed the Cao family and stole their possessions. Ying Shao
survived and fled to Yuan Shao for protection while the bandits went to
the South of River Huai. Some of the servants escaped and told Cao Cao
of his family’s fate. Mengde fell to the ground and uttered a great cry
when told of his father’s death. Once raised he snarled through gritted
teeth, “Tao Qian’s people have slain my father: No longer can the same
sky cover us. I will sweep Xuzhou off the face of the earth. Only thus
can I satisfy my vengeance.” Thirty thousand men were assigned under Xun
Yu and Cheng Yu to guard the headquarters while the rest of the army
was mobilised to Xuzhou with orders to slaughter all residents of every
city they captured. The huge army marched under a banner that had one
word inscribed on it: ‘Vengeance’.
Bian Rang, the Governor of Jiujiang, was a friend of Tao Qian and
marched five thousand troops to Xuzhou. However, Cao Cao heard of this
move and sent Xiahou Dun to destroy the army and kill Bian Rang before
they could get there. Chen Gong, who had lived peacefully in Dongjun
since leaving Cao Cao, went to see his former companion in the hope that
he could prevent the intended slaughter of Xuzhou. At first, Cao would
not grant Chen Gong an audience but eventually consented after
remembering the kindness he had received from Chen. The visitor said,
“They say you go to avenge your father’s death on Xuzhou, to destroy its
people. I have come to say a word. Imperial Protector Tao Qian is
humane and a good man. He is not looking out for his own advantage,
careless of the means and of others. Your worthy father met his unhappy
death at the hands of Zhang Kai. Tao Qian is guiltless. Still more
innocent are the people, and to slay them would be an evil. I pray you
think over it.” but Cao Cao angrily replied, “You once abandoned me and
now you have the impudence to come to see me! Tao Qian slew my whole
family, and I will tear his heart out in revenge. I swear it! You may
speak for your friend and say what you will. I shall be as if I heard
not.” Chen Gong took his leave and then set off to Chenliu to serve
Zhang Miao. The army continued it’s march, laying waste to all in it’s
path.
When Cao Cao’s army reached Xuzhou, he rode forth dressed in white
mourning robes to abuse Tao Qian. Tao Qian bowed low and said, “I wished
to make friends with you, Illustrious Sir, and so I sent Zhang Kai to
escort your family. I knew not that his rebel heart was still unchanged.
The fault does not lie at my door as you must see.” but Cao Cao spat,
“You old wretch! You killed my father, and now you dare mumble this
nonsense,” and sent Xiahou Dun out to attack. The combat was interrupted
by a storm so both armies drew off. During the temporary reprieve, Tao
Qian wrote letters to Kong Rong of Beihai and Tien Kai requesting aid.
Both men marched armies to aid Xuzhou but camped at a great distance
from Cao Cao’s army, as both were fearful of Mengde. Cao Cao received a
letter from Liu Bei asking that the siege be reconsidered, but this only
strengthened Mengde’s resolve. “Who is this Liu Bei that he dares write
and exhort me?” shouted Cao Cao. He ordered the messenger to be put to
death and the siege to be renewed, but Guo Jia intervened, “Liu Bei has
come from afar to help Tao Qian, and he is trying the effect of
politeness before resorting to arms. I pray you, my lord, reply with
fair words that his heart may be lulled with a feeling of safety. Then
attack with vigour and the city will fall.” This advice pleased Cao, so
he spared the messenger. However, at this time, a horseman came bearing
news that Lü Bu had invaded Yanzhou and that Juancheng, Fanxia and
Dongjun were suffering fierce attacks (5).
Cao Cao was deeply disturbed by this and said “If my own region is lost
the I will have no home to return to. I must do something at once.” Guo
Jia suggested befriending Liu Bei and returning to Yanzhou. Mengde
agreed, so he wrote a letter to Liu Bei and then ordered the army to
withdraw (6).
Cao Cao’s army marched to Puyang where Lü Bu was stationed with fifty
thousand soldiers. The two armies arrayed in open land and Mengde,
mounted on horseback, sat between his two banners watching the enemy
manoeuvre. Cao Cao rode forth and pointing to Lü Bu shouted, “You and I
had no quarrel, why then did you invade my land?” but Lü Bu replied,
“The empire of Han is the possession of all. What is your special
claim?” and ordered Zang Ba to challenge. Cao Cao sent Yu Jing to engage
the enemy, but neither man could gain an advantage. Xiahou Dun also
rode out but was engaged by Zhang Liao. Lü Bu became angry and charged
forward, forcing Cao Cao’s army to retreat. Mengde regrouped his troops,
ordered a new camp to be made and then called his officers to a
council. Yu Jin suggested attacking the lightly guarded enemy camp to
the West of Puyang and Cao Cao readily agreed. That night Cao led an
army of twenty thousand men against the western camp and captured it
easily. However, reinforcements led by Lü Bu soon arrived and forced Cao
to flee. However, he quickly found there to be no way out and cried out
in fear, “Who can save me?” With that Dian Wei burst forth and cut a
path out, leading Mengde to safety. As soon as they had made it back to
the safety of their camp, Lü Bu attacked but was driven off by Xiahou
Dun. Cao Cao gave Dian Wei a promotion and rewarded him greatly.
While trying to establish the next course of action, Cao Cao received
a secret letter from the Tian family promising him help from within the
city. The letter said that the people hated Lü Bu and that the signal
would be a white flag with the word ‘Rectitude’ written on it. “Heaven
is going to give me Puyang!” said Cao Cao happily. Liu Ye advised
caution and advised that Mengde should only take one third of the army
with him, leaving the other two thirds outside as reinforcements. Cao
Cao saw this advice was good and took the advised precautions. When he
reached Puyang, he carefully looked at each of the flags until he
spotted the signal flag at the west gate and he quietly rejoiced. At
noon the gates of the city opened and a body of troops emerged to give
battle. However, before any fighting could begin, the army drew back
into the city but a few soldiers broke away and came to Cao Cao. These
soldiers came bearing letters from the Tian family saying that they
would beat a gong within the city as the signal to begin the attack. Cao
Cao ordered the army to advance and took his place at the front despite
the objections of Li Dian.
As night fell Mengde heard a commotion within the city followed by
the signal gong and saw the gates being thrown wide open. Cao led the
advance but as he reached the state residence he noticed that the
streets were deserted and realised that he had been tricked. As he gave
the order to retreat, a bomb went off and an ambush sprung up around
them led by Lü Bu’s generals Zang Ba and Zhang Liao. As he rode away,
Cao Cao found that the gates out of the city were blocked and that there
was no way out. The situation worsened as he became separated from his
men, so he desperately tried the north gate again. As he got there he
saw silhouetted against the glow of the ambush fires, the imposing
figure of Lü Bu. With no way out, Cao Cao covered his face with his hand
and rode straight past Lü Bu but then he felt a tapping on his helmet
and Lü Bu’s voice boomed, “Where is Cao Cao?” Mengde turned and pointed
to a horseman in the distance, “There, that is Cao Cao!” and was
relieved as Lü Bu wheeled his steed, Red Hare, around and set off after
the horseman. Cao rode away quickly for the east gate, where he met up
with Dian Wei. The two men fought their way to the gate but found that
it was engulfed in flames. Slowly making their way through the fire and
smoke, Cao Cao looked up to see a burning beam falling towards him. He
managed to ward it off with his arm but the beam badly burnt him and
brought down his horse. Xiahou Yuan arrived at that time and helped Dian
Wei to get Cao Cao out of the city.
At daybreak, they returned to their camp and Cao Cao went to his tent
to recover while his officers waited anxiously for news of his health.
Soon Cao Cao sat with his officers, laughing at how he had blundered
into such a simple trap. He then said, “I will turn his trick to my own
use. I will spread a false report that I was burned in the fire, and
that I died during the night. He will come to attack as soon as the news
gets abroad, and I will have an ambush ready for him in Maling Hills. I
will get him this time.” With this, the soldiers were all ordered to
wear mourning dress and soon Lü Bu heard of Cao Cao’s “death”. As
expected, Lü Bu marched his army through the Mailing Hills and fell into
the ambush that was prepared for him. Lü Bu managed to escape back to
Puyang but he had lost many men. Soon afterwards famine spread across
the country and Cao Cao’s army found themselves short on supplies.
Mengde ordered the army to withdraw to Juancheng.
Shortly news came from Xuzhou that Tao Qian had died and given
control of the region to Liu Bei. Cao Cao was angry, “I have missed my
revenge. This Liu Bei has simply stepped into command of the region
without expending half an arrow: He sat still and attained his desire.
But I will put him to death and then dig up Tao Qian’s corpse in revenge
for the death of my noble father!” and was intent upon a new campaign
against Xuzhou. Xun Yu begged Cao Cao to reconsider, pointing out that
Lü Bu would certainly attack them from behind if they set off. He
suggested attacking three cities held by Yellow Scarves, Chencheng,
Yingchuan and Runan in order to gain food and the stores of treasure
that the rebels had plundered. Mengde saw that this was a wiser course
of action and so personally led the army against Chencheng, which
quickly fell to him. Soon the army set off for Runan and Yingchuan and
at Goat Hill, they encountered the rebels who fell easily to Cao Cao’s
might. However, one of the rebel leaders, He Yi, fled to the Kobei hills
and was pursued by Dian Wei. Later in the day, soldiers returned from
the hills bringing news that Dian Wei had duelled for hours against a
man who had single-handedly captured hundreds of the rebels. Amazed by
this story, Mengde set off for the hills to see this contest for
himself. When he saw Dian Wei’s opponent, Cao knew that he must gain
this man’s services and ordered Dian Wei to feign defeat. When Dian Wei
retreated from the duel, the man rode hard in pursuit and fell into a
pit trap that had been prepared by Cao Cao. He was made prisoner and
brought before Cao Cao who loosened his bonds and asked him to sit. The
man introduced himself as Xu Chu and he related his struggles against
the rebels. Mengde asked him to join his army and quickly received Xu
Chu’s formal submission. Xu Chu was made general and the captured rebel
leaders were executed.
With Runan and Yingchuan pacified, the army returned to Jiancheng.
The city of Yanzhou was barely defended so Cao Cao launched an immediate
attack on it, killing the two leaders charged with defending the city.
Next the army marched on Puyang where Lü Bu came out to give challenge.
Xu Chu went out and fought with Lü Bu but neither man showed any signs
of advantage, so Cao Cao dispatched Dian Wei to attack from another
direction. Lü Bu still showed no signs of weakness so Cao Cao sent the
Xiahous to attack the left and Li Dian and Yue Jin to attack the right.
Lü Bu could not withstand six opponents and so retired to the city but
found the drawbridge had been raised. The Tian family had seen Lü Bu’s
defeat and had switched allegiances to Cao Cao, forcing Lü Bu to flee to
Dingtao. Soon Mengde occupied Puyang and he pardoned the Tian family’s
previous doings.
Determined to hunt down Lü Bu, Cao ordered the army to advance to
Dingtao where a stockade was built at the edge of a wood. It was harvest
time so Cao Cao sent his troops to cut wheat. Soon Lü Bu arrived at the
stockade but quickly turned and withdrew. Cao Cao knew why Lü Bu had
retired and said to his men, “He fears an ambush in the wood, we will
set up flags there and deceive him. There is a long embankment near the
camp but behind it there is no water. There we will lay an ambush to
fall upon Lü Bu when he comes to burn the wood.” With the exception of
fifty drummers, Mengde sent his entire army to hide behind the
embankment while he recruited peasants to loiter within the stockade,
making it look occupied. The next day, Lü Bu returned and burned the
wood as expected. When no troops came rushing out, Lü Bu went over to
inspect the stockade and fell into Cao’s ambush. Two-thirds of Lü Bu’s
troops were killed in the confusion along with the general Cheng Lian.
Lü Bu himself barely escaped. Cao Cao’s army then attacked Dingtao and
met with no resistance. The whole northeast was now under Mengde’s
control and he set about rebuilding the cities and their defences. Cao
Cao memorialised the throne and was awarded the title General Who
Exhibits Firm Virtue and was made Lord of Feiting.
Months later, news reached Cao Cao that the Emperor had relocated to Luoyang (7)
so he called his advisors together. Xun Yu suggested that Cao should
offer his army in protecting the Emperor and helping him restore order,
so that Mengde could gain universal regard. Cao Cao at once prepared his
army, but before they could move, a messenger arrived from the Emperor
requesting Cao Cao’s aid. Having the decree from the Emperor was exactly
what Cao wanted, so his army set off immediately. As they marched
towards the capital, word reached them that Li Jue and Guo Si were also
heading for the capital. Xiahou Dun was sent to ride ahead of the main
force with fifty thousand veteran soldiers to protect the Emperor. After
they left, Cao Cao feared that the advance force may not be enough and
so he sent Cao Hong, Li Dian and Yue Jin to reinforce Xiahou Dun.
When Cao Cao reached Luoyang, he went into the city for an audience
with the Emperor. He knelt at the foot of the steps, but the Emperor
called Cao to stand beside him and be thanked. Mengde replied, “Having
been the recipient of great bounty, thy servant owes the state much
gratitude. The measure of evil of the two rebels is full, I have two
hundred thousand of good soldiers to oppose them, and those soldiers are
fully equal to securing the safety of Your Majesty and the Throne. The
preservation of the state sacrifice is the matter of real moment.” Cao
Cao was appointed Commander of Capital District and Minister of War. He
was also given Military Insignia.
Soon Li Jue and Guo Si attacked the city, so Cao Cao sent Cao Ren, Xu
Chu and Dian Wei to oppose them with three hundred horsemen. Xu Chu
took the heads of Li Jue’s nephews, Li Xian and Li Bie and brought them
before Mengde. Cao patted Xu Chu on the back saying, “You are really my
Fan Kuai!” (8)
Following this success, Cao Cao himself led his army against the
rebels, killing ten thousand of Li Jue and Guo Si’s men and receiving
the surrender of many more. With their army destroyed, the two rebel
leaders fled to the hills. Yang Feng and Han Xian, jealous of Cao’s
successes and fearing there would be no place for them, withdrew their
armies to Daliang.
One day a messenger arrived from the Emperor to summon Cao Cao.
Mengde noticed that the messenger looked plump and well despite everyone
else being hungry and famine stricken. The messenger explained that he
had always lived on meagre rations and introduced himself as Dong Zhao.
Cao Cao stood up and went over to the messenger and told him, “I have
heard of you. How happy I am to meet you!” Cao called Xun Yu in to be
introduced, and the three men sat drinking wine and talking about
affairs of state. Dong Zhao advised that the capital should be moved to
Xuchang and that while many would object, the rewards for such a move
would make it worthwhile. “Exactly my own inclination!” replied Cao Cao,
seizing his guest’s hand. “But are there not dangers? Yang Feng at
Daliang and the court officials!” Zhao suggested writing to Yang Feng to
set his mind at rest while explaining to the court officials that as
there is no food in the capital, it would be better to go to Xuchang. As
Dong Zhao left, Cao Cao took his hands again and said, “I shall need
your advice in future affairs.” Then Cao Cao and his advisors began
discussing the change of capital.
Soon Cao Cao heard that the Court Counsellor and astrologer, Wang Yi
had written a letter to the Emperor predicting the end of The Han
Dynasty and that it would be succeeded by the ancient state of Wei (9)
Cao consulted Xun Yu who explained that the stars favoured Mengde if he
could relocate the capital to Xuchang. The next day, Cao Cao addressed
the court, “Luoyang is deserted and cannot be restored, nor can it be
supplied easily with food. Xuchang is a noble city, resourceful and
close to Luyang, which is a grain basin. It is everything that a capital
should be. I venture to request that the court move thither.” No one,
not even the Emperor dared to oppose the suggestion, and so the capital
was moved. On the set day, Cao Cao commanded the escort but they had not
travelled far before he found the way barred by Han Xian and Yang Feng.
At the front of their force was Yang Feng’s general Xu Huang. Cao Cao
rode forward and ordered Xu Chu to fight the enemy general but after
fifty bouts, Mengde signalled Xu Chu to retire. Cao Cao called a meeting
and said to his advisors, “The two rebels themselves need not be
discussed; but Xu Huang is a fine general, and I was unwilling to use
any great force against him. I want to win him over to our side.” and so
Man Chong volunteered to go and see Xu Huang as they were old friends.
Man Chong was successful and Xu Huang quickly set off with a few
horsemen for Cao Cao’s camp. Yang Feng heard of Xu Huang’s defection and
quickly set off after him. Cao Cao had expected this and laid in wait
for him. As Yang Feng caught up with Xu Huang, the ambush sprung up
around him. Cao Cao shouted, “I have been waiting here a long time. Do
not run away!” and a confused battle began. Han Xian arrived as
reinforcements and succeeded in helping Yang Feng escape, but the two
men had few troops left and so went to Yuan Shu.
The next day Cao Cao ordered the cavalcade to resume it’s journey.
They eventually arrived at Xuchang, where they built palaces, a temple
and altar and all the other necessary buildings. Those who had given
good and poor service were then respectively awarded with rewards and
punishments. Cao Cao had sole decision over these and Dong Cheng, along
with thirteen others, were raised to the rank of Lordship. Cao Cao
became Prime Minister, Regent Marshal and Lord of Wuping, while his
generals and advisors all received titles and promotions. Cao Cao now
held absolute power over the court; all memorials to the Emperor went
first to him before the throne. When all had settled, Cao Cao called all
his advisors to a banquet to discuss affairs outside the capital. “Liu
Bei has his army at Xuzhou, and he carries on the administration of the
region. Lü Bu fled to Liu Bei when defeated, and Liu Bei gave Lü Bu Xiao
Pei to live in. If these two agreed to join forces and attack, my
position would be most serious. What precautions can be taken?” asked
Cao Cao of his advisers. Xun Yu suggested, “Liu Bei has no decree
authorizing him to govern the region. You, Sir Prime Minister, can
procure one for him, and when sending it, and so conferring upon him
right in addition to his might, you can enclose a private note telling
him to get rid of Lü Bu. If he does, then he will have lost a vigorous
warrior from his side, and he could be dealt with as occasions serve.
Should he fail, then Lü Bu will slay him.” Cao Cao was delighted with
this plan and promptly memorialised the throne accordingly. Liu Bei was
made General Who Conquers the East, Lord of Yicheng and Imperial
Protector of Xuzhou. A messenger was given the official decree along
with a secret letter from Cao Cao and then dispatched to Liu Bei.
When the messenger returned, he brought a letter from Liu Bei stating
that it would take time to plan and implement Lü Bu’s death. However,
the messenger told Mengde that Liu Bei had actually told Lü Bu of the
letter from Cao Cao and had vowed not to kill him. “The plan has failed.
What next?” asked Cao Cao of his advisors. Xun Yu had another plan,
“Send to Yuan Shu to say that Liu Bei has sent up a secret memorial to
the Throne that he wishes to subdue the southern regions around the Huai
River. Yuan Shu will be angry and attack him. Then you will order Liu
Bei to dispose of Yuan Shu and so set them destroying each other. Lü Bu
will certainly think that is his chance and turn traitor.” Cao Cao liked
this plan and sent a messenger with a false edict to Liu Bei. Xun Yu’s
plan worked perfectly; soon Lü Bu had seized Xuzhou and had forced Liu
Bei to flee to Xuchang. Cao Cao received Liu Bei’s messenger, Sun Qian,
and was very friendly to him, saying “Liu Bei is as my brother.” Liu Bei
was invited to the city and when he arrived, Cao Cao treated him with
great respect and said of Lü Bu, “He has no sense of right, you and I,
my brother, will attack him together.” Liu Bei was grateful and, after a
great banquet, retired to his camp outside the city’s walls.
After Liu Bei had left, Cao Cao met with Xun Yu who advised killing
Liu Bei while the opportunity was present. Mengde made no reply to this
suggestion and chose to consult Guo Jia, to whom he said, “I have been
advised to kill Liu Bei: What of such a scheme?” Guo Jia advised against
this plan, pointing out that killing a man who had come for help would
certainly reflect badly on Cao Cao and would alienate potential allies.
“What you say exactly fits in with what I think,” said Cao Cao. Mengde
then memorialised the Emperor to bestow the Imperial Protectorship of
Yuzhou on Liu Bei. Hearing of this, Cheng Yu came to see his master and
also advised killing Liu Bei, but Cao Cao responded, “Now is just the
time to make use of good people. I will not forfeit the regard of the
world for the sake of removing one individual. Guo Jia and I both see
this in the same light.” From there, he would hear no further
suggestions of assassination and sent three thousand troops with ten
thousand carts of grain to aid Liu Bei in attacking Lü Bu. When Liu Bei
reached Yuzhou he informed Cao Cao, who prepared to march his army in
support. Just then, news came that Liu Biao and Zhang Xiu had joined
forces and were preparing to attack the capital. Cao knew that to attack
these two would allow Lü Bu the opportunity to attack the capital and
so he consulted Xun Yu. The advisor suggested obtaining a promotion for
Lü Bu and ordering him to make peace with Liu Bei so that he would hold
his place. Cao Cao sent a messenger to Lü Bu bearing the promotion while
he prepared to march south.
Cao Cao marched his army of one hundred and fifty thousand troops in
three divisions to River Yu and made a camp. Soon Zhang Xiu’s advisor,
Jia Xu, came proposing his master’s submission. Admiring Jia Xu’s
abilities, Cao Cao tried to convince him to leave Zhang Xiu’s service
but Jia Xu refused. The next day, Zhang Xiu arrived and Cao Cao met him
with great generosity. Cao Cao then entered Wancheng with a small force
where he was entertained nightly with great banquets. One day Cao was
feeling exceptionally happy and he asked his attendants if there were
any singing girls in the city. His nephew, Cao Amin, recommended Zhang
Xiu’s aunt who he described as beautiful. Cao Cao was eager to meet the
woman and sent his nephew to bring her to him. Cao Amin quickly set off
with an armed escort and soon brought the woman before Cao Cao. The
woman was indeed as beautiful as described and introduced herself to her
host as Lady Zhou. Cao Cao said to her, “It was for your sake that I
allowed Zhang Xiu to submit; otherwise I would have slain him and cut
him off root and branch. To see you is a glimpse of paradise, but there
is one thing I should like better. Stay here and go with me to the
capital where I will see that you are properly cared for. What do you
say to that, my lady?” The woman thanked him and moved to Cao Cao’s camp
immediately. Dian Wei was appointed to guard over her and Mengde was
the only person allowed to see her. Cao Cao spent his days with her,
content to let time pass them by. However, their relationship angered
Zhang Xiu and he started to plot against Cao Cao. Soon Zhang Xiu visited
Mengde. He told Cao that the surrendered troops were deserting, and
suggested they should be placed in the centre of Cao Cao’s camp to stop
further desertion. Cao Cao permitted this and soon Zhang Xiu’s troops
arrived.
One night Cao Cao was having supper with Lady Zhou when he heard a
commotion outside the tent. He sent to find out what was going on and
was informed that it was simply the night patrol passing by. Later in
the night, again a commotion could be heard from the rear of the tent
and Cao Cao was informed that one of the fodder carts was burning. This
did not worry him but soon the fire spread and so Cao Cao summoned Dian
Wei. However, Dian Wei was intoxicated as Zhang Xiu had deliberately
incapacitated him and was unresponsive. Eventually roused, Dian Wei went
out to hold the main gate while Cao Cao fled by the rear gate
accompanied by Cao Amin who was on foot. An arrow struck Mengde in the
arm while his horse was hit by three arrows, but the powerful beast
continued on despite it’s wounds. As they reached the River Yu, some of
the pursuers caught up and hacked Cao Amin to pieces. Mengde dashed into
the river and had just reached the other side when his horse was hit in
the eye by an arrow and killed. Cao Ang, the eldest son of Cao Cao,
gave up his horse to his father and urged him on. Cao Ang was quickly
killed by a flight of arrows as his father made away. Soon Cao Cao fell
in with several of his officers and a few troops.
Soon Cao Cao met with Xiahou Dun’s troops who reported that Yu Jin
had turned traitor and attacked them. This surprised Mengde and so he
gave the order for Xiahou Dun, Li Dian, Yue Jin and Xu Chu to attack the
rogue officer. As they approached Yu Jin’s army they saw that he was
constructing a camp, and as Yu Jin finished his construction Zhang Xiu
attacked him. . Zhang Xiu was overcome and lost nearly all of his
troops, forcing him to flee to Liu Biao for refuge. Yu Jin then came
before Cao Cao and told him how Xiahou Dun’s troops, the Qingzhou army (10),
were plundering, so Yu Jin’s men had attacked them in order to protect
the people. He explained also that he had ordered a camp to be made as
he felt it was paramount to protect himself from the enemy and could
explain his actions later. (11)
Cao Cao said, “When the first thought of a leader in the time of
greatest stress is to maintain order and to strengthen his defences,
giving no thought to slander but shouldering his burdens bravely, and
when he thereby turns a defeat into a victory, who, even of the ancient
leaders, can excel Yu Jin?” Yu Jin was rewarded with golden armour and
the lordship of Yishou while Xiahou Dun was reprimanded for the lack of
discipline amongst his soldiers. Soon sacrifices were made for Dian Wei
with Cao Cao himself leading the mourning. To his officers he said, “I
have lost my first born son, but I grieve not so heavily for him as for
Dian Wei. I weep for him!” Once the mourning was completed, the army
returned to the capital where Cao Cao took into his care Dian Wei’s son,
Dian Man.
Soon afterwards, Chen Deng came from Lü Bu as a messenger with Yuan Shu’s messenger, Han Yin, as a captive (12).
With him he brought a letter of thanks and a letter asking to be
confirmed as the Imperial Protector of Xuzhou. Cao Cao was pleased to
hear that the marriage arrangement had broken down and promptly put Han
Yin to death in the market place. Afterwards, Chen Deng secretly told
Cao Cao, “Lü Bu is cruel, stupid, and facile. The longer he remains, the
worse.” Cao replied, “I know Lü Bu quite well, he is a wolf with a
savage heart, and it will be hard to feed him for long. If it had not
been for you and your father, I should not have known all the
circumstances and you must help me to get rid of him. (13)”
Cao Cao rewarded the two men; Chen Deng was given the governorship of
Guangling while his father was given an annual grant of two thousand
carts of rice. As Chen Deng prepared to leave for Xuzhou, Cao Cao took
him by the hand and said, “I shall depend upon you in the eastern
affairs.” Soon word reached Cao Cao that Yuan Shu was marching to attack
Xuzhou so he sent a messenger to Sun Ce appointing him Governor of
Kuaji and ordering him to attack Yuan Shu (14).
Sun Ce wrote back proposing a joint attack instead. Shortly after
receiving Sun Ce’s reply, a report came that Yuan Shu was short of food
and had raided Chenliu. Feeling that this was an opportune moment, Cao
Cao ordered an army of one hundred and seventy thousand men to begin the
march south while Cao Ren was left to guard the capital. Summons were
sent to Sun Ce, Liu Bei and Lü Bu. As the army reached the border of
Yuzhou they met with Liu Bei who brought the severed heads of Han Xian
and Yang Feng before the Prime Minister. The two men had been plundering
the local people so Liu Bei had the men assassinated. Cao Cao praised
Liu Bei saying, “You have removed an evil, which is a grand service.”
The army continued their march and soon met with Lü Bu, who Cao Cao
appointed General of the Left Army. The three armies were combined with
Cao Cao in the centre while Lü Bu led the left wing, Liu Bei the right
with Xiahou Dun and Yu Jin leading the van.
Cao Cao’s army encountered Yuan Shu’s vanguard at Shouchun and scored
a quick victory, killing the enemy general Qiao Rui and driving his
troops back into the city. News came that Sun Ce’s fleet had arrived and
would attack the city from the west, so Cao Cao ordered Lü Bu to attack
the east and Liu Bei to attack the south, while his own army attacked
the north. Cao Cao’s large army soon begun to run short of food and none
could be gained from the surrounding area as it had suffered from
famine for several years. Cao Cao stepped up military operations in
order to capture the city faster but the defenders knew the value of
delay. Mengde requested aid from Sun Ce who sent a hundred thousand
carts of grain but soon the usual distribution became impossible. The
Prime Minister met with the Chief of the Commissariat, Ren Jun, and the
Controller of the Granaries, Wang Hou, to decide on a course of action.
Cao Cao said to them, “Serve out with a smaller measure, that will save
us for a time.” but the two men were concerned that the soldiers would
complain. Cao assured them that if that were the case, then he had
another plan. As ordered, Wang Hou served out smaller measures to the
troops. Soon Cao Cao heard that the troops were indeed complaining and
so he sent a secret summons to Wang Hou. When the Controller arrived,
Cao Cao said to him, “I want to ask you to lend me something to pacify
the soldiers with. You must not refuse. I want the loan of your head to
expose to the soldiers.” Wang Hou exclaimed, “But I have done nothing
wrong!” “I know that,” said Mengde, “but if I do not put you to death,
there will be a mutiny. After you are gone, your wife and children shall
be my care, so you need not grieve on their account.” Wang Hou was led
out by the executioners and was beheaded. His head was mounted on a tall
pole with a sign attached stating that he had been put to death in
accordance with military law for issuing short measures of grain. This
appeased the troops. Cao Cao then issued an order to take the city
within three days and that failure would mean death. The Prime Minister
himself supervised the work at the walls of the city, braving the
defender’s constant showers of stones and arrows. Two lesser officers
who left their stations in fear were slain by Cao Cao. After this, Cao
Cao worked alongside the soldiers. Encouraged by their leader, the army
became unstoppable and they quickly scaled the walls and battered down
the gates. The officers of the city were captured and executed while all
of Yuan Shu’s imperial paraphernalia was burned.
Cao Cao wished to follow up on this success by crossing the river to
attack Yuan Shu but Xun Yu advised against it as food for the army was
still an issue. Then a message arrived stating that Zhang Xiu, with Liu
Biao’s support, was ravaging the surrounding country. Rebellions had
broken out in Nanyang and Jiangling, and Cao Hong had been defeated in
several encounters. Cao Cao immediately wrote to Sun Ce asking him to
blockade the Great River to prevent any move on the part of Liu Biao,
while Cao himself would go against Zhang Xiu. Before the army set out,
Cao Cao ordered Liu Bei to station himself at Xiao Pei so that he and Lü
Bu could be as brothers. However, once Lü Bu had left for Xuzhou,
Mengde secretly said to Liu Bei, “I am leaving you at Xiaopei to dig a
pitfall for the ‘tiger’. You will only take advice from Chen Deng and
Chen Gui, and there can be no mishap. You will find an ally when
needed.” Cao Cao then marched his army back to Xuchang where he sent a
memorial to the Emperor stating that Zhang Xiu was in rebellion and that
an army needed to be sent against him. The Emperor personally escorted
Cao Cao out of the city when the expedition began.
As the army marched towards their destination, they passed through a
wheat region. The peasants had not cut the wheat as they had fled at the
news of the oncoming army. Cao Cao sent a proclamation to all the
surrounding villages and towns, “I am sent on the expedition by command
of the Emperor to capture a rebel and save the people. I cannot avoid
moving in the harvest season; but if anyone tramples down the corn, he
shall be put to death. Military law is strict without exception, and the
people need fear no damage.” The local people were pleased and lined
the road, wishing success to the army. When the soldiers passed wheat
fields, they would dismount and push aside the stalks so that none were
trampled. One day, as Cao Cao was riding through a field, a dove
suddenly flew up, startling Cao’s horse so that it swerved into the
wheat, trampling down a large patch. The Prime Minister at once called
the Marshal and told him to decree the sentence, saying, “I made the
rule, and I have broken it. Can I otherwise satisfy public opinion?” He
then grasped his sword and went to take his own life, but those around
him prevented him from doing so. Guo Jia said to him, “In ancient days
the laws were not applied to those of the most important. You are the
supreme leader of a mighty army and must not wound yourself.” Cao Cao
thought for a long time and eventually said, “Since there exists the
reason just quoted, I may perhaps escape the death penalty.” and with
his sword he cut off his hair and threw it on the ground. “I cut off the
hair as touching the head.” Then he sent messengers to exhibit the hair
throughout the whole army, saying, “The Prime Minister, having trodden
down some corn, ought to have lost his head by the terms of the order;
now here is his hair cut off as an attack on the head.” This act served
as an effective message to the troops and not one was disobedient after
that (15).
A myriad soldiers march along and all are brave and bold,
And their myriad inclinations by one leader are controlled.
That crafty leader shore his locks when forfeit was his head,
O full of guile were thou, Cao Cao, as everyone has said.
Cao Cao’s army eventually came to Nanyang. Zhang Xiu himself rode in
front of his army and shouted at Cao Cao, “O false and pretended
supporter of benevolence and justice! O shameless one! You are just a
beast of the forest, and absolutely devoid of humanity.” Greatly
angered, Cao Cao sent Xu Chu against the enemy who killed Zhang Xian and
drove the enemy back into the city. Mengde began the siege of the city,
filling up the moat and building a large mound near the walls so that
the inside of the city could be seen. He rode around the city,
inspecting the defences and noticed that the southeast corner of the
city’s wall had been repaired with poor quality bricks and that the
defences were in disrepair. He then ordered a mound of earth and
brushwood to be made at the northwest corner of the city in order to
divert the enemy from the real attack. Soon the scouts reported that the
city’s defenders had moved to the northwest and were making
preparations for defence. “They have fallen into my trap!” said Cao Cao
gleefully. He ordered his troops to attack the northwest but after a
while, the veteran soldiers were dispatched to the opposite corner where
they quietly climbed the wall and entered the city. However an ambush
fell on them, the troops were totally defeated and Cao Cao’s army was
sent into retreat. Cao Cao rallied his army but he had lost fifty
thousand men and two of his generals, Yu Jin and Lü Qian were wounded.
The army was ordered to withdraw. As the army retreated they marched
through Xiangyang, and as they passed alongside the River Yu Cao Cao
uttered a great cry. The officers nearby asked why he had cried out, to
which he replied, “I remembered that here, only a year ago, I lost my
great general: Dian Wei. Is that not a reason to grieve?” He then
ordered the army to halt while he made sacrifice and mourned for the
fallen warrior. Sacrifices were made for Cao Amin, Cao Ang, the soldiers
who had died and even the steed that had carried Cao Cao across the
river. The army was deeply affected by Cao Cao’s devotion.
The next day Cao Cao received a letter from Xun Yu informing him that
Liu Biao had cut off the path of retreat and that Zhang Xiu was in
pursuit. Mengde wrote back saying, “I have been marching only a short
distance each day and of course knew of the pursuit. But my plans are
laid and, as I am near Anzhong, my enemy will be broken. You need not
have any fears.” The army’s march was then quickened until he neared Liu
Biao’s position. Cao ordered his men to open a path through the pass
during the night, and laid an ambush there. During the first light of
dawn, Liu Biao and Zhang Xiu’s forces met and dashed at Cao Cao’s army.
As they entered the pass, the ambush sprung around them and drove them
back. Cao’s army then camped outside the pass. However, another letter
arrived from Xun Yu with news that Yuan Shao was preparing for an attack
on Xuchang. Alarmed by this, Mengde set out homeward immediately. Zhang
Xiu and Liu Biao attempted another attack on the retreating army but
where thwarted by the rearguard. A second attack was made and this time
the rearguard was routed with the wagons and baggage being captured by
Zhang Xiu’s men. When Cao Cao heard of this attack, he hastily turned
back to support the rearguard but he saw the enemy drawing off. The
defeated rearguard told him that they had been aided by troops that came
from the hills. “What troops?” asked Cao Cao in surprise. The leader of
the troops introduced himself as Li Tong, Imperial Commander, from
Jiangxia. He had heard of the struggle and had come from Runan to lend
his help. As a sign of his gratitude, Cao Cao bestowed upon him the
title Lord Who Renders High Services and charged him with the defence of
Runan against Liu Biao and Xhang Xiu. Li Tong expressed his thanks and
then returned to Runan.
Upon returning to the capital, Cao Cao memorialised the Emperor in regard to the services rendered by Sun Ce (16).
Xun Yu asked Mengde how he was so certain of victory at Anxhong, to
which Cao replied, “My soldiers, who retire and find their retreat cut
off, fight vigorously and desperately. I retired slowly to entice the
enemy into following whereby I could do as I wished with them. Basing my
movements on these considerations I felt secure.” Xun Yu bowed his head
in admiration. Guo Jia then entered bearing a letter from Yuan Shao
that expressed his desire to attack Gongsun Zan and requesting the loan
of troops. Cao Cao said, “Yuan Shao was going to attack Xuchang. I
suppose my return has made him change his intention,” and then he read
the letter for himself. “Yuan Shao is so exceedingly rude that I will
attack him,” said Cao Cao. “Only I think I am not quite strong enough.
What should be done?” Guo Jia said, “My lord, you know well who lost,
and why, in the conflict between Liu Bang, the Supreme Ancestor, and
Xiang Yu, his rival. The former won only by superior wisdom. Xiang Yu
was the stronger, but in the end he was overcome. Your rival has ten
weak points whereas you have ten strong ones, and, though his army is
large, it is not terrible. Yuan Shao is overmuch devoted to ceremony and
deportment; while you are sympathetic and natural; this is an
excellence in conduct. He is antagonistic and drives; you are
conciliatory and lead; so you have the advantage of popular approval.
For many years the government has been lax, and he makes it more so; you
strive vigorously after efficiency; this is the excellence of able
administration. He is outwardly liberal but grudging at heart, and too
given to nepotism; you appear exacting, but you understand and use
people after their ability; this is the advantage of correct
appreciation. He is a visionary but lacking in decision; you are a man
of prompt decision and direct action; this is an advantage in policy. He
loves to gather about him people of renown; you treat people as you
find them regardless of their reputation; this is where you excel in
moral virtue. He is compassionate to those at hand, but careless about
those out of sight; your care is all-embracing; this is where you excel
in humanity. He lends a ready ear to calumny and is misled; you may be
flooded with evil counsel, but you preserve independence; this is where
you excel in perspicacity. His sense of right and wrong is confused;
your appreciation is accurate and clear; this is where you excel in
administrative capacity. He loves the make-believe force, but is
ignorant of military essentials; you would overcome with far inferior
numbers as you possess military genius; this is where you excel in war.
With your ten superiorities, you will have no difficulty in overcoming
Yuan Shao.” Cao Cao smiled and said, “How can I be worth as much as you
say?” Xun Yu replied, “What Guo Jia has said about the ten points in
your favor agrees exactly with what I think. Yuan Shao’s army is not
formidable in spite of its size.” Cao Cao’s advisers suggested that they
should launch an attack on Lü Bu once Yuan Shao had begun his march
against Gongsun Zan, thereby ensuring that enemies would no longer
surround the capital.
Cao Cao wrote to Liu Bei to secure his aid against Lü Bu and also
reassured Yuan Shao by obtaining promising aid in the campaign against
Gongsun Zan. Unfortunately, Liu Bei’s reply to Mengde’s letter was
intercepted by Chen Gong and taken to Lü Bu who attacked Liu Bei. Soon
Liu Bei’s messenger, Jian Yong, arrived to inform the Prime Minister
that Lü Bu was attacking Liu Bei at Xiao Pei. Cao Cao said, “I wish to
attack Lü Bu. I fear not Yuan Shao, but Liu Biao and Zhang Xiu may
attack me in the rear.” Xun You pointed out that the two men in question
would not pose a threat as they had been recently defeated and would
not be eager to fight again. Reassured, Cao Cao sent an army of fifty
thousand in advance with four commanders; Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Lü
Qian and Li Dian. Mengde himself commanded the centre while Jian Yong
brought up the rear. As the army reached Xiao Pei, Xiahou Dun engaged
the enemy and killed the enemy general Cao Xing despite losing his left
eye to an arrow. As Xiahou Dun retreated, Gao Shun attacked and routed
the army. At this victory, Lü Bu attacked Xiao Pei and quickly occupied
the city while scattering Liu Bei’s forces.
As Cao Cao approached Liangcheng, they fell in with Liu Bei. Liu Bei
related to the Prime Minister how Xiao Pei had been lost, how his family
had been captured and how he was not sure of the fate of his sworn
brothers. Cao Cao shed tears at the story and sent a hundred ounces of
silver to a hunter who had sheltered Liu Bei the previous night. The
army continued its march to Jibei where Xiahou Yuan welcomed them.
Mengde went to visit Xiahou Dun’s bedside and had him returned to
Xuchang for skilled medical treatment. Shortly afterwards, scouts
reported that Lü Bu had allied with bandits and was now attacking
Yanzhou. Cao Cao charged Cao Ren with capturing Xiao Pei while he and
Liu Bei went against Lü Bu. The Prime Minister’s army marched east and
encountered the bandits at Mangdang Hills, but Xu Chu easily defeated
them, forcing them back to Xiao Pass.
Meanwhile, Lü Bu marched from Xuzhou to reinforce Xiao Pei while, at
Chen Deng’s suggestion, ordering all treasure and his own family to be
moved to Xia Pi. Chen Deng wrote three notes to Cao Cao, tied them to
arrows and shot them into Cao’s camp. Chen Deng then continued his
machinations and successfully tricked Chen Gong and Lü Bu into fighting
each other (17).
Upon seeing Chen Deng’s signal, Cao Cao advanced his force as quickly
as possible, easily defeating the bandits who held the pass. From there,
the army marched on to Xiao Pei which was now under Cao Ren’s control (18). As they arrived they saw that Lü Bu’s army was in battle with a force led by Zhang Fei (19).
Lü Bu quickly retreated when faced with Cao Cao’s force and fled east
towards Xia Pi. Mengde then entered the captured city of Xuzhou with Liu
Bei who had been recently reunited with his sworn brothers. Cao Cao
held a huge banquet for the officers with Chen Gui and Liu Bei as guests
of honour. At the end of the banquet, Cao praised the two Chens and
rewarded them with the revenues of ten counties. In addition, the
younger Chen was given the title of General Who Quells the Waves.
Cao Cao turned his attention to the taking of Xia Pi. Cheng Yu
advised against attacking Lü Bu, “If Lü Bu is pressed too hard, he may
get clear by a desperate effort and throw himself into the arms of our
especial enemy, Yuan Shu. These two as allies would be difficult to
overcome. Rather send a capable man to guard the South of River Huai,
one able to secure you against Lü Bu on one hand and to hold Yuan Shu on
the other. Moreover the bandits are in Huashang Mountains and still our
enemies. They must be watched.” Cao Cao replied, “I can keep the whole
of Huashang Mountains, and I will request Liu Bei to take the south.”
With their plan set, Cao Cao marched his army against Xia Pi. The army
advanced all the way to the city without resistance (20)
After the camp had been set up, Cao Cao stood at the foot of the city’s
wall and called to Lü Bu. When Lü Bu appeared on top of the wall, Cao
Cao said to him, “When I heard that your family and that of Yuan Shu
were likely to be united by marriage, I sent an army against you. Yuan
Shu was guilty of treason, while you had to your credit on the
destruction of Dong Zhuo. For what reason have you sacrificed all your
merits to throw in your lot with a rebel? It will be over late to regret
when this city shall have fallen. But if you surrender and help me to
support the ruling house, you shall not lose your rank.” Lü Bu asked the
Prime Minister to withdraw his army so that they could discuss the
matter but as he spoke, Chen Gong shot an arrow that hit Cao’s helmet.
Pointing at Chen Gong, Mengde shouted, “I swear that I will slay you at
least!” and then ordered the attack on the walls to begin.
Cao Cao’s assault on the walls continued for days with Lü Bu offering
no resistance. Later, Liu Bei brought one of Lü Bu’s generals, He Meng,
before Cao Cao. The captured general had been returning from Yuan Shu’s
territory where he had renewed the proposal of marriage. Yuan Shu had
agreed to send troops to aid Lü Bu as soon as Lü Bu’s daughter had
arrived. The Prime Minister was angry and ordered He Meng to be executed
at the main gate. He then sent orders for extra care to be taken in
ensuring that none of the besieged had any contact with the outer world,
the penalty being rigorous punishment for any who failed. Within days
Lü Bu, accompanied by three thousand troops, attempted to take his
daughter to Yuan Shu but was beaten back into the city by Liu Bei and
his brothers. After two months under seige and with no means of securing
aid, Lü Bu took to wine.
Word reached Cao Cao that Kui Gu was leading an army from Henei to aid Lü Bu (21)
and so Mengde sent Shi Huan to intercept this force and kill the
leader. The Prime Minister called a counsel and said to his advisers,
“We are threatened on the north by Yuan Shao, and on the west Liu Biao
and Zhang Xiu are a menace. Here we meet with no success against the
city of Xia Pi. We are for leaving Lü Bu to his fate and returning home.
What do you think?” Xun Yu objected, advising a swift decisive attack.
Guo Jia proposed such a plan, suggesting that the River Si and River Yi
could be used to flood the city. Cao Cao was overjoyed by this
suggestion and sent troops to cut the banks of the rivers while he moved
his men to high ground. The city soon flooded with only the east gate
being free of water.
Soon afterwards Lü Bu’s general, Hou Cheng arrived at Mengde’s camp
with Lü Bu’s steed, Red Hare. He explained that Wei Xu, Song Xian and
himself intended to defect and that they would show a white flag to
signal that the city’s gates were open. Upon hearing this, Cao Cao had
notifications written out which were attached to arrows and shot over
the wall. The notification read: “Regent Marshal Cao Cao has received a
command from the Emperor to destroy Lü Bu. Those who interfere with the
operations of his grand army, whatever their rank, shall be put to death
in the gate on the day that the city shall be captured. Should anyone
capture Lü Bu or bring his head, he shall be well rewarded. Let all take
note of this.” At Dawn the next day, the white signal flag was raised
and so Cao Cao begun his attack. The assault lasted until noon when the
attackers drew off to rest. Soon afterwards the white was raised again
and the traitors shouted from the city’s walls, “Lü Bu has been captured
alive!” the gates were thrown open and Cao Cao’s army entered the city,
capturing Gao Shun, Zhang Liao and Chen Gong. Mengde gave orders for
the rivers to be turned back to their usual courses and then set about
soothing the people of the city.
Cao Cao and Liu Bei, accompanied by Zhang Fei and Guan Yu, seated
themselves in the White Gate Tower where the prisoners were brought
before them. Lü Bu was brought first, “The bonds are very tight, I
beseech you to loosen them!” he cried. “A tiger must be bound tight”
replied Cao Cao. Gao Shun was brought in and Cao asked him “What have
you to say?” but the prisoner made no reply. Mengde ordered Gao Shun to
be taken away and executed. Chen Gong was next to be brought before the
Prime Minister. “I hope you have been well since we last saw each other,
Chen Gong?” said Cao Cao. The prisoner replied, “Your ways were
crooked, and so I left you,” “You say I was crooked; and what of your
serving Lü Bu?” asked Mengde. “Though he was a fool, he did not resemble
you in deceit and wickedness.” retorted Chen Gong. Cao Cao asked him,
“You say you are able enough and clever, but what about your position
today?” Turning toward Lü Bu, Chen Gong said, “This man would not follow
my advice. Had he done so, he would not now be a captive.” “What think
you ought to be done about this day’s work?” asked Cao Cao. Undaunted,
Chen Gong replied, “There is death for me today, and that is the end!”
Cao continued, “Very well for you; but what of your mother and wife and
children?” The defeated general replied, “It is said that one who rules
with due regard to filial piety does not harm a person’s family; one who
would show benevolence does not cut off the sacrifices at a person’s
tomb. My mother and wife and children are in your hands. But since I am
your prisoner, I pray you slay me quickly and not to try to harrow my
feelings.” Cao Cao wished to spare him, but Chen Gong turned and walked
away. Mengde rose from his seat and walked with Chen Gong, tears falling
from his eyes, but Chen Gong never looked at him. The Prime Minister
turned to the guards and said, “Let his mother and family be taken to
Xuchang and looked after immediately. Any postponement will be
punished!” Chen Gong’s body was buried with honours at the capital
Xuchang.
When Cao Cao returned to his seat, Lü Bu addressed him, “Your only
trouble, Illustrious Sir, is myself, and I am on your side now. You take
the lead, I will help you, and together the world is at our feet.” Cao
turned to Liu Bei and asked his opinion. “You are willing to forget the
episodes of Ding Yuan and Dong Zhuo?” replied Liu Bei. Cao Cao ordered
Lü Bu to be taken away and executed by strangulation. As Lü Bu was being
taken away, Zhang Liao was being escorted in and shouted at him, “Lü
Bu, O fool! Death is but death, and why are you scared of it?” Cao Cao
pointed at the prisoner and said, “He has a familiar face.” “You were
not likely to forget me: You saw me before in Puyang,” said Zhang Liao.
“It is a pity that the fire that day was not fierce enough to burn you
up, rebel that you are.” he continued. Cao Cao began to get angry, “How
dare you insult me?” and he lifted his sword to kill the prisoner. Zhang
Liao was undaunted and stretched his neck out for the blow. Just then
Liu Bei grabbed Cao Cao’s arm and Guan Yu knelt before the Prime
Minister, both men pleading for the prisoner’s life to be spared. Cao
Cao threw away his sword, smiled and said, “I know Zhang Liao to be
loyal and good. I was just testing him,” He then loosened the prisoner’s
bonds and led him to a seat of honour. Zhang Liao formally yielded and
so Cao Cao bestowed upon him the rank of Imperial Commander and the
title of Lordship. Zhang Liao was sent to win over the bandit leader
Zang Ba who then submitted along with all but one of his colleagues;
Chang Xi. The soldiers were rewarded with a great feast and then the
army retired to Xuchang. As they passed through Xuzhou, the people lined
the roads petitioning the Prime Minister that Liu Bei should be made
their protector. Cao Cao addressed them, “Liu Bei has rendered great
services. You must wait till he has been received in audience and
obtained his reward. After that he shall be sent here.” The people bowed
low to express their thanks to Cao Cao. Mengde left General of the
Flying Cavalry, Che Zhou, in command of the region in the meantime.
Upon reaching the capital, all officers who had participated in the
expedition were rewarded and the next day Cao Cao memorialised the
services of Liu Bei. Liu Bei was presented to the Emperor, was
recognised as being the Emperor’s uncle (22)
and was given the rank of General of the Left Army and Lord of Yicheng.
When Cao Cao returned to his palace his advisors came to see him,
warning that it is of no advantage that Liu Bei is seen as the Emperor’s
uncle. Cao said, “Liu Bei may be recognized as uncle, but he is under
my orders since I control the decrees of the Throne. He will be all the
more ready to obey. Beside I will keep him here under the pretence of
having him near his sovereign, and he will be entirely in my hands. I
have nothing to fear. The man I fear is Yang Biao, who is a relative of
the two Yuan brothers. Should Yang Biao conspire with them, he is an
enemy within and might do much harm. He will have to be removed.” So Cao
Cao sent a secret messenger to say that Yang Biao was in league with
Yuan Shu, and so Yang Biao was arrested and imprisoned. However the
Governor of Behai, Kong Rong, was at Xuchang and he remonstrated with
Cao Cao, pointing out that the charge was obviously false and that the
people would know of Cao’s involvement. Mengde had no choice but to
relinquish the charges but he took away Yang Biao’s offices and banished
him to his family’s estate in the countryside. Zhao Yan, the Court
Counsellor, sent a memorial to the throne impeaching Cao Cao for his
actions against Yang Biao, but Cao had Zhao Yan arrested and executed.
Cheng Yu advised taking a more definite position; that of Chief of the
Feudatory Princes. Mengde felt that there would be many in the court
that would object and he intended to propose a royal hunt to find out
the best path to follow.
When the Prime Minister proposed the hunting expedition, the Emperor
said he feared it was an improper thing to do. Cao Cao replied, “In
ancient times rulers made four expeditions yearly at each of the four
seasons in order to show their strength. They were called Sou, Miao,
Xien, and Shou, in the order of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Now
that the whole country is in confusion, it would be wise to inaugurate a
hunt in order to train the army. I am sure Your Majesty will approve.”
The Emperor agreed and joined the hunting party. Liu Bei and his
brothers rode with the imperial train while Cao Cao, mounted on a horse
called Flying Lightning, rode even with the Emperor. The hunt took place
in Xutian over an area of one hundred square miles. While riding
towards the hunting ground, the Emperor saw a deer and fired three
arrows at it, but not one hit. He then turned to Cao Cao and asked him
to try. Cao replied, “Lend me Your Majesty’s bow,” The Prime Minister
fired an arrow that hit the deer in the shoulder, disabling it. The
crowd of officers saw the Emperor’s arrow stuck in the deer and assumed
that the Emperor had killed the deer. They all started shouting “Wan
Shui! O Emperor!” (23) Cao Cao pushed past the Emperor to acknowledge the congratulations. Liu Bei congratulated Cao on the amazing shot (24),
to which Mengde replied with a smile, “It is only the enormous good
fortune of the Son of Heaven!” He then turned and felicitated the
Emperor, but did not return the bow. The hunt finished with a huge
banquet, and when the entertainment was over, everyone returned to the
capital.
Days later Cao Cao heard that the State Uncle, Dong Cheng, was having
an audience with the Emperor. The Prime Minister made his way to the
palace immediately and arrived as Dong Cheng was leaving. Cao asked
where Dong Cheng had been, to which Cheng replied, “His Majesty summoned
me into the Palace and has given me this robe and beautiful girdle.”
Cao Cao became suspicious and asked to inspect the robe and girdle.
After closely scrutinising the objects, Mengde put them on, turned to
his attendants and said, “How is it for length?” “Beautiful!” they
replied. Turning to Dong Cheng, Mengde asked, “Will you give these to
me?” but the State Uncle refused, offering another robe instead. “Is
there not some intrigue connected with these presents? I am sure there
is.” said Cao Cao (25).
Dong Cheng trembled and replied, “If you are so set on it, then I must
give it up.” but the Prime Minister said, “How could I take away what
our Prince has given you? It was all a joke.” and returned both the robe
and girdle.
One day Cao Cao sent Xu Chu and Zhang Liao with an escort to bring
Liu Bei to him. When he arrived, Mengde led him to his private garden
and said, “That is a big business you have in hand at home. The growth
of vegetables that you are trying to learn is very difficult.” (26)
He continued, “I happened to notice the green plums on the trees today,
and suddenly my thoughts went back to a year ago when we were fighting
Zhang Xiu. We were marching through a parched county, and everyone was
suffering from thirst. Suddenly I lifted my whip, and pointing at
something in the distance I said, ‘Look at those fruitful plum trees in
the forest ahead.’ The soldiers heard it, and it made their mouths
water. Seeing the plums kindles my appreciation. I owe something to the
plums, and we will repay it today. I ordered the servants to heat some
wine very hot and sent to invite you to share it.” The two men sat in a
small spring pavilion in a plum garden where they enjoyed the wine. As
they drank, the weather gradually changed and clouds gathered. The
servants pointed out that one of the clouds looked like a dragon, so
both host and guest leaned over the balcony to inspect it. “Do you
understand the evolution of dragons? A dragon can assume any size, can
rise in glory or hide from sight. Bulky, it generates clouds and evolves
mist; attenuated, it can scarcely hide a mustard stalk or conceal a
shadow. Mounting, it can soar to the empyrean; subsiding, it lurks in
the uttermost depths of the ocean. This is the midspring season, and the
dragon chooses this moment for its transformations like a person
realizing his own desires and overrunning the world. The dragon among
animals compares with the hero among people. You, General, have
travelled all lakes and rivers. You must know who are the heroes of the
present day, and I wish you would say who they are.” Liu Bei replied, “I
am just a common dullard. How can I know such things?” Thanks to your
kindly protection I have a post at court. But as to heroes I really do
not know who they are.” “You may not have looked upon their faces, but
you must have heard their names.” replied Mengde. “Yuan Shu of the South
of River Huai, with his strong army and abundant resources: Is he one?”
asked Liu Bei. Cao Cao laughed, “A rotting skeleton in a graveyard. I
shall put him out of the way shortly.” Liu Bei tried again, “Well, Yuan
Shao then. The highest offices of state have been held in his family for
four generations, and his clients are many in the empire. He is firmly
posted in Jizhou, and he commands the services of many able people.
Surely he is one.”
“A bully, but a coward. He is fond of grandiose schemes, but is
devoid of decision. He makes for great things but grudges the necessary
sacrifice. He loses sight of everything else in view of a little present
advantage. He is not one.”
“There is Liu Biao of Jingzhou. He is renowned as a man of perfection, whose fame has spread on all sides. Surely he is a hero.”
“He is a mere semblance, a man of vain reputation. No; not he.”
“Sun Ce is a sturdy sort, the chief of all in the South Land. Is he a hero?”
“He has profited by the reputation of his father Sun Jian. Sun Ce is not a real hero.”
“What of Liu Zhang of Yizhou?”
“Though he is of the reigning family, he is nothing more than a watch dog. How could you make a hero of him?”
“What about Zhang Xiu, Zhang Lu, Han Sui, and all those leaders?”
Cao Cao clapped his hands and laughed very loudly, saying, “Paltry people like them are not worth mentioning.”
“With these exceptions I really know none.”
“Now heroes are the ones who cherish lofty designs in their bosoms
and have plans to achieve them. They have all-embracing schemes, and the
whole world is at their mercy.”
“Who is such a person?” said Liu Bei.
Cao Cao pointed his finger first at his guest and then at himself, saying, “The only heroes in the world are you and I.”
Liu Bei gasped and dropped his chopsticks in fright, just as a loud
clap of thunder boomed overhead. Stooping to pick up the utensils he
said, “What a shock! And it was quite close.” (27)
Soon Guan Yu and Zhang Fei arrived and took their usual places to
await Liu Bei. Cao Cao asked them why they had come, to which they
replied, “We heard that you, Sir, had invited our brother to a wine
party, and we came to amuse you with a little sword play.” (28) but Cao Cao declined. Soon afterwards the three brothers took their leave.
The next day Cao Cao again invited Liu Bei and while they were
drinking, Man Chong came to present his report on Yuan Shao’s
activities. Yuan Shao had killed Gongsun Zan and was now in the process
of forging an alliance with his brother, Yuan Shu. (29)
Yuan Shu was now marching north and if he succeeded in conquering the
north of the Yellow River then the two brothers would control adjoining
regions. Liu Bei offered to lead an army to intercept Yuan Shu, to which
Cao Cao replied, “Memorialise the Emperor tomorrow, and I will give you
an army.” The next day, Liu Bei’s expedition was approved, and so
Mengde gave him command of fifty thousand soldiers along with generals
Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao. Soon after Liu Bei had departed, Guo Jia and Cheng
Yu came to see Cao and asked why Liu Bei had been allowed to leave. “He
is going to cut off Yuan Shu,” replied Cao Cao. Cheng Yu replied,
“Formerly, when he was Imperial Protector of Yuzhou, we recommended that
he should be put to death, but you would not hear of it. Now you have
given him an army. You have allowed the dragon to reach the sea, the
tiger to return to the mountains. What control will you have in future?”
Guo Jia agreed, saying, “Even if you would not put him to death, you
need not have let him go. As the proverb says, ‘Relax opposition for one
day and age-long harm ensues.’ You must admit the truth of this.” The
Prime Minister realised that the advice was good so he sent Xu Chu with
five hundred horsemen to bring Liu Bei back. When Xu Chu returned, it
was with only the horsemen he had been given and Liu Bei’s reply: “When a
general has once taken the field, even the royal command is of no
effect. I bade farewell to the Emperor, I received the Prime Minister’s
commands, and there can be nothing further to talk about.” Cao Cao was
still hesitant to take any action and said to his advisors, “Two of my
people are with him. He will not dare do anything unfriendly, I think.
Beside, I sent him and I cannot go back on my own orders.” and so Liu
Bei was not pursued.
Liu Bei’s campaign was a success as Yuan Shu died and his army was
broken. Yuan Shu’s family fled to Lujiang where the magistrate, Xu Liu,
killed them and took their possessions including the Imperial Hereditary
Seal. Xu Liu brought the seal to Cao Cao and was made the Governor of
Gaoling as reward for his service. Shortly afterwards, Zhu Ling and Lu
Zhao returned to the capital. (30)
Cao was angry that the two men had returned without Liu Bei and wanted
them executed, but Xun Yu reasoned with him and the two men were
pardoned. On Xun Yu’s advice, Cao Cao sent secret orders to Che Zhou,
the Deputy Imperial Protector of Xuzhou, to destroy Liu Bei. However Che
Zhou’s plan failed and he was killed when his confident, Chen Deng,
betrayed him. Liu Bei feared retribution from Cao Cao and wrote to Yuan
Shao seeking protection.
One day, Cao Cao was in bed with a bad headache when one of his
servants brought a piece of paper to him. The paper was a manifesto
issued by Yuan Shao accusing Cao Cao of numerous crimes. The manifesto
read:
“A perspicacious ruler wisely provides against political
vicissitudes; a loyal minister carefully foresees the difficulties in
the assertion of authority. Wherefore a person of unusual parts precedes
an extraordinary situation, and of such a person the achievements will
be extraordinary. For indeed the ordinary person is quite unequal to an
extraordinary situation.
“In former days, after having gained ascendancy over a weakling
emperor of the powerful Qin Dynasty, Prime Minister Zhao Gao wielded the
whole authority of the Throne, overruling the government. All dignity
and fortune came through him, and his contemporaries were restrained so
that none dared to speak openly. Slowly but surely evolved the tragedy
of the Wangyi Palace, when the Emperor was slain and the Imperial
Tablets perished in the flames. Zhao Gao, the author of these crimes,
has ever since been held up to obloquy as the arch example of an evil
doer.
“In the later days of Empress Lu of the Hans, after the death of the
Supreme Ancestor, the world saw Lu Chan and Lu Lu, brothers of the
Empress and fellows in wickedness, monopolizing the powers of
government. Within the capital, they commanded two armies, and without
they ruled the feudal states of Liang and Zhao. They arbitrarily
controlled all state affairs and decided all questions in the council
chamber and the court. This dominance of the base and declension of the
noble continued till the hearts of the people grew cold within them.
“Thereupon Zhou Bo, Lord of Jiang, and Liu Zhan, Lord of Zhuxu,
asserted their dignity and let loose their wrath. They destroyed the
contumacious ministers and restored their ruler to his royal state. Thus
they enabled the kingly way to be re-established and the glory to be
manifested. Here are two instances where ministers asserted their
authority.
“This Cao Cao, now Minister of Works, forsooth, had for ancestor a
certain eunuch named Cao Teng, fitting companion of Xu Huan and Zuo
Guan. All three were prodigies of wickedness and insatiably avaricious
and, let loose on the world, they hindered ethical progress and preyed
upon the populace. This Cao Teng begged for and adopted Cao Cao’s father
who, by wholesale bribery, wagons of gold and cartloads of jewels
presented at the gates of the influential, contrived to sneak his way
into considerable office where he could subvert authority. Thus Cao Cao
is the depraved bantling of a monstrous excrescence, devoid of all
virtue in himself, ferocious and cunning, delighting in disorder and
revelling in public calamity.
“Now I, Yuan Shao, a man of war, have mustered my armies and
displayed my might that I may sweep away and destroy the evil opponents
of government. I have already had to deal with Dong Zhuo, the ruffian
who invaded the official circle and wrested the government. At that time
I grasped my sword and beat the drums to restore order in the east. I
assembled warriors, selected the best, and took them into my service. In
this matter I came into relations with this Cao Cao and conferred with
him to further my scheme. I gave him command of a subordinate force and
looked to him to render such petty service as he was equal to. I
suffered his stupidities and condoned his shortcomings, his rash attacks
and facile retreats, his losses and shameful defeats, his repeated
destruction of whole armies. Again and again I sent him more troops and
filled the gaps in his depleted ranks. I even addressed a memorial to
the Throne for him to be appointed Imperial Protector of Yanzhou. I made
him feel as he were a tiger. I added to his honours and increased his
authority, hoping that eventually he would justify himself by a victory
against Dong Zhuo such as Qin used Meng Ming against Jin.
“But Cao Cao availed himself of the opportunity to overstep all
bounds, to give free rein to violence and evil. He stripped the common
people, outraged the good, and injured the virtuous. Bian Rang, Governor
of Jiujiang, was a man of conspicuous talent and of worldwide
reputation. He was honest in speech and correct in demeanour. He spoke
without flattery. Cao Cao put him to death and his head was exposed, and
his family utterly destroyed. From that day to this scholars have
deeply mourned, and popular resentment has steadily grown. One person
raised his arm in anger, and the whole countryside followed him.
Whereupon Cao Cao was smitten at Xuzhou, and his territory was snatched
by Lü Bu. He fled eastward without shelter or refuge.
“My policy is a strong trunk and weak branches, a commanding central
government and obedient feudal lords. Also I am no partisan. Therefore I
again raised my banners, donned my armour, and moved forward to attack.
My drums rolled for an assault on Lü Bu, and his multitudes
incontinently fled. I saved Cao Cao from destruction and restored him to
a position of authority. Wherein I must confess to showing no kindness
to the people of Yanzhou, although it was a great matter for Cao Cao.
“Later it happened that the imperial cortege moved east, and a horde
of rebels of Dong Zhuo’s faction rose and attacked. The course of
government was hindered. At that moment my territory was threatened from
the north, and I could not leave it. Wherefore I sent one of my
officers, Xu Xun, to Cao Cao to see to the repair of the dynastic
temples and the protection of the youthful sovereign. Thereupon Cao Cao
gave the rein to his inclinations. He arbitrarily ordered the removal of
the court to Xuchang. He brought shame upon the Ruling House and
subverted the laws. He engrossed the chairmanship of the three highest
offices and monopolized the control of the administration. Offices and
rewards were conferred according to his will; punishment was at his
word. He glorified whole families of those he loved; he exterminated
whole clans of those he hated. Open critics were executed; secret
opponents were assassinated. Officials locked their lips; wayfarers only
exchanged glances. Chairs of boards recorded levies, and every
government official held a sinecure.
“The late Yang Biao, a man who had filled two of the highest offices
of state as Chairs of two boards, because of some petty grudge was,
though guiltless, charged with a crime. He was beaten and suffered every
form of cruelty. This arbitrary and impulsive act was a flagrant
disregard of constitutional rules.
“Another victim was the Counselor Zhao Yan. He was faithful in
remonstrance, honest in speech, endowed with the highest principles of
rectitude. He was listened to at court. His words carried enough weight
with the Emperor to cause him to modify his intention and confer reward
for outspokenness. Desirous of diverting all power into his own hands
and stifle all criticism, Cao Cao presumed to arrest and put to death
this censor, in defiance of all legal procedures.
“Another evil deed was the destruction of the tomb of Prince Xiao of
Liang, the brother of the late Emperor. His tomb should certainly have
been respected, even its mulberries and sweetgum trees, its cypresses
and its pines. Cao Cao led soldiers to the cemetery and stood by while
it was desecrated, the coffin destroyed and the poor corpse exposed.
They stole the gold and jewels of the dead. This deed brought tears to
the eyes of the Emperor and rent the hearts of all people. Cao Cao also
appointed new offices—Commander Who Opens Grave Mounds and General Who
Seeks for Gold—whose tracks were marked by desecrated graves and exhumed
bodies. Indeed, while assuming the position of the highest officer of
state, he indulged the inclination of a bandit, polluting the empire,
oppressing the people, a bane to gods and humans.
“He added to this by setting up minute and vexatious prohibitions so
that there were nets and snares spread in every pathway, traps and
pitfalls laid in every road. A hand raised was caught in a net; a foot
advanced was taken in an entanglement. Wherefore the people of his
regions, Yanzhou and Yuzhou, waxed desperate and the inhabitants of the
metropolis groaned and murmured in anger.
“I have investigated the cases of evil deeds in the regions, but I
have been unable to reform him. I have given him repeated opportunities
hoping that he would repent. But he has the heart of a wolf, the nature
of a wild beast. He nourishes evil in his bosom and desires to pull down
the pillars of the state, to weaken the House of Han, to destroy the
loyal and true, and to stand himself conspicuous as the chief of
criminals.
“Formerly, when I attacked the north, Gongsun Zan, that obstinate
bandit and perverse brave, resisted my might for a year. Before Gongsun
Zan could be destroyed, this Cao Cao wrote to him that, under the
pretence of assisting my loyal armies, he would covertly lead them to
destruction. The plot was discovered through his messengers, and Gongsun
Zan also perished. This blunted Cao Cao’s ardour, and his plans failed.
“Now he is camped at the Ao Granaries, with the Yellow River to
strengthen his position. Like the mantis in the story, that threatened
the chariot with its forelegs, he thinks himself terrible. But with the
dignity and prestige of Han to support me, I confront the whole world. I
have spearmen by millions, horsemen by hundreds of thousands, fierce
and vigorous warriors strong as Chong Huang and Wu Huo, those heroes of
antiquity. I have enlisted expert archers and strong bowmen. In Bingzhou
my armies have crossed the Taihang Range, and in Qingzhou they have
forded River Ji and River Ta. They have coasted down the Yellow River to
attack his van, and from Jingzhou the armies of Liu Biao have descended
to Wancheng and Wangye to smite his rearguard. Thunder-like in the
weight of their march, tiger-like in the alertness of their advance,
they are as flames let loose among light grass, as the blue ocean poured
on glowing embers. Is there any hope that he escapes destruction?
“Of the hordes of Cao Cao, those who can fight are from the north or
from other camps, and they all desire to return home. They weep whenever
they look to the north. The others belong to Yanzhou or Yuzhou, being
remnants of the armies of Lü Bu and Zhang Yang. Beaten, stern necessity
forced them to accept service, but they take it only as a temporary
expedient. They who have been wounded hate each other. If I give the
signal to return and send my drums to the mountaintops, and wave the
white flag to show them they may surrender, they will melt away like dew
before the sun, and no blood will be shed. The victory will be mine.
“Now the Hans are failing and the bonds of empire are relaxed. The
sacred dynasty has no supporter; the ministers are not strong enough to
cope with the difficulties. Within the capital the responsible ministers
are crestfallen and helpless. There is no one to rely upon. Such loyal
and high-principled people as are left are browbeaten by a tyrannical
minister. How can they manifest their virtue?
“Cao Cao has surrounded the Palace with seven hundred veterans, the
ostensible object being to guard the Emperor, but the covert design
being to hold him prisoner. I fear this is but the first step in
usurpation, and so I take my part. Now is the time for loyal ministers
to sacrifice their lives, the opportunity for officers to perform
meritorious deeds. Can I fail to urge you?
“Cao Cao has forged commands to himself to undertake the control of
government affairs and, in the name of the state, sends out calls for
military assistance. I fear lest distant regions may obey his behest and
send troops to help him, to the detriment of the multitude and their
everlasting shame. No wise person will do so.
“The forces of four regions—Bingzhou, Jizhou, Qingzhou, and
Youzhou—are moving out simultaneously. When this call reaches Jingzhou,
you will see their forces cooperate with those of Liu Biao. All regions
and counties ought to organize volunteers and set them along their
borders to demonstrate their force and prove their loyal support of the
dynasty. Will not this be rendering extraordinary service?
“The rank of lordship, with feudal rights over five thousand
households and a money reward of five millions, will be the reward of
the one who brings the head of Cao Cao. No questions will be asked of
those who surrender. I publish abroad this notice of my bounty and the
rewards offered that you may realize that the dynasty is in real
danger.” (31)
Upon finishing reading the manifesto, Cao Cao became very frightened
and broke into a cold sweat. He leapt out of bed and asked Cao Hong,
“Who wrote this?” Cao Hong replied, “They say it is Chen Lin’s brush.”
Cao Cao laughed, “They have the literary gift; they would rather have
the military to back it up. This fellow may be a very elegant writer,
but what if Yuan Shao’s fighting capacity falls short?” and then called
his advisors together to establish a plan. Having agreed on going to war
with Yuan Shao, Mengde drew up two armies; the first consisted of fifty
thousand troops under Liu Dai and Wang Zhong, and was to attack Liu Bei
at Xuzhou, while the second army consisted of two hundred thousand men
and was led by Cao Cao himself. This second army was to attack Yuan Shao
at Liyang. Cheng Yu said to the Prime Minister, “Liu Dai and Wang Zhong
are unequal to their task.” Cao Cao replied, “I know. They are not
meant to fight Liu Bei. It is merely a feint. They have orders not to
make any real attack till I have overcome Yuan Shao. Then Liu Bei will
be next.” The armies marched out and when Cao’s army reached Liyang,
they made a fortified camp and observed the enemy. After two months of
inaction, Cao Cao gave orders to his commanders: Zang Ba was to put
pressure on Qingzhou and Xuzhou; Yu Jin and Li Dian were to deploy
troops along the Yellow River while Cao Ren was to be stationed at
Guandu. With the orders issued, Cao Cao returned to Xuchang.
Liu Dai and Wang Zhong returned from Xuzhou and explained to Cao Cao
that Liu Bei did not wish to fight the Prime Minister, but that he had
been forced to kill Che Zhou (32).
Mengde grew extremely angry and shouted, “You shameful traitors, what
use are you?” and ordered the guards to execute them. Kong Rong objected
to the death penalty and said, “You knew these two were no match for
Liu Bei, and if you put them to death because they failed, you will lose
the hearts of your people.” Cao Cao reconsidered and spared the two
men, but they were stripped of rank and office. The Prime Minister was
intent on leading an army against Liu Bei immediately, but Kong Rong
advised waiting for better weather while arranging peace with Zhang Xiu
and Liu Biao. Mengde agreed, sending Liu Ye to negotiate peace with
Zhang Xiu. Due to his feud with Cao Cao, Zhang Xiu was not inclined
towards an alliance, but on the advice of Jia Xu (33)
he travelled to the capital and formally submitted. Xiu came before
Mengde and bowed low, but Cao Cao took him by the hand and raised him
saying, “Forget that little fault of mine, I pray, General!” (34)
Zhang Xiu was made General Who Possesses Prowess, while Jia Xu was
appointed Counsellor. Cao Cao then directed his secretaries to write
letters to Liu Biao, asking for his support. Jia Xu suggested sending a
famous scholar to appeal to Liu Biao and Kong Rong recommended the
services of Mi Heng for this task.
Cao Cao summoned Mi Heng and after the greetings were over, Mi Heng
was not invited to sit down. Looking up, the guest said with a sigh,
“Wide as is the universe, it cannot produce the person.” Cao Cao
replied, “Under my command are scores of people whom the world call
heroes. What do you mean by saying there is not the person?” “I should
be glad to hear who they are,” said Mi Heng. “Xun Yu, Xun You, Guo Jia,
and Cheng Yu are all people of profound skill and long views, superior
to Xiao He (35) and Chen Ping (36). Zhang Liao, Xu Chu, Li Dian, and Yue Jin are bravest of the brave, better than Cen Peng (37) and Ma Wu (38).
Lü Qian and Man Chong are my secretaries; Yu Jin and Xu Huang are my
van leaders; Xiahou Dun is one of the world’s marvels, Cao Ren is the
most successful leader of the age. Now say you there are not the
people?” said the Prime Minister. “Sir, you are quite mistaken,” said Mi
Heng with a smile. “I know all these things you call people. Xun Yu is
qualified to pose at a funeral or ask after a sick man; Xun You is fit
to be a tomb guardian; Cheng Yu might be sent to shut doors and bolt
windows; and Guo Jia is a reciter of poems; Zhang Liao might beat drums
and clang gongs; Xu Chu might lead cattle to pasture; Yue Jin would make
a fair reader of elegy; Li Dian could carry dispatches and notices; Lü
Qian would be a fair armourer; Man Chong could be sent to drink wine and
eat brewers’ grains; Yu Jin might be of use to carry planks and build
walls; Xu Huang might be employed to kill pigs and slay dogs; Xiahou Dun
should be styled ‘Whole Body General,’ and Cao Ren should be called
‘Money-grubbing Governor.’ As for the remainder, they are mere clothes
shelves, rice sacks, wine vases, flesh bags.” Cao Cao grew angry and
asked, “And what special gifts have you?” The scholar replied, “I know
everything in heaven above and the earth beneath. I am conversant with
the Three Religions and the Nine Systems of Philosophy. I could make my
prince the rival of Kings Yao and Shun, and I myself could compare in
virtue with Confucius and Mencius. Can I discuss on even terms with
common people?” Zhang Liao, who was present, raised his sword to cut
down Mi Heng but Cao Cao stopped him and said, “I want another drummer
boy to play on occasions of congratulation in the court. I will confer
this office upon him.” Mi Heng accepted the position and left. Zhang
Liao then asked Cao Cao why he had saved Mi Heng, to which Cao replied,
“He has something of a reputation which is empty, but people have heard
of him and so, if I put him to death, they would say I was intolerant.
As he thinks he has ability, I have made him a drummer to mortify him.”
Soon afterwards, Cao Cao held a huge banquet at the capital and so
the drummers were all ordered to wear new clothes but Mi Heng attended
clad in old, worn garments. The attendants asked him why he had not worn
the new clothes he had been given, but Mi Heng’s only reply was to
remove all of his clothes. The banquet guests covered their faces while
Mi Heng stood before them naked. “Why do you behave so rudely at court?”
asked Cao Cao. “To flout one’s prince and insult one’s superiors is the
real rudeness,” cried Mi Heng. “I bare my natural body as an emblem of
my purity.” The Prime Minister replied, “So you are pure! And who is
foul?”, to which Mi Heng retorted, “You do not distinguish between the
wise and the foolish, which is to have foul vision. You have never read
the Odes or the Histories, which is to have foul speech. You are deaf to
honest words, which is to have foul ears. You are unable to reconcile
antiquity with today, which is to be foul without. You cannot tolerate
the nobles, which is to be foul within. You harbour thoughts of
rebellion, which is to have a foul heart. I am one of the most famous
scholars in the empire, and you make me a drummer boy, that is as Yang
Huo belittling Confucius or Zang Cang vilifying Mencius. You desire to
be chief and arbitrator of the great nobles, yet you treat me thus!”
Fearing for Mi Heng’s life, Kong Rong intervened saying, “Mi Heng is
only guilty of a misdemeanour. He is not a man likely to disturb your
dreams, Illustrious Sir.” Mengde pointed at Mi Heng and said, “I will
send you to Jingzhou as my messenger and if Liu Biao surrenders to me, I
will give you a post at court.” but the scholar was unwilling to go, so
Cao Cao ordered two of his men to prepare three horses. Mi Heng was set
on the middle horse and was dragged along by the other two (39).
Shortly afterwards Liu Biao’s Commander, Han Song, arrived at the
capital. Cao Cao gave Han Song rank and made him Governor of Lingling.
Xun Yu disagreed with The Prime Minister’s decision to reward a man who
was obviously sent as a spy while a renowned scholar, like Mi Heng, was
not tested and sent to his death. “Mi Heng shamed me too deeply before
all the world, you need say no more.” replied Cao Cao. Han Song was then
sent back to Jingzhou so that he could tell Liu Biao of how well he was
treated. However, after some time there was still no sign of Liu Biao
joining Cao Cao, so the Prime Minister began to think of attacking
Jingzhou but Xun Yu dissuaded him by saying, “Yuan Shao is not
subjugated; Liu Bei is not destroyed. To attack Liu Biao would be to
neglect the vital to care for the immaterial. Destroy the two chief
enemies first, and the Han River is yours at one blow.”
One night, a man named Qin Qingtong came to Cao Cao’s palace seeking
an audience. The man had been a servant under Dong Cheng but had been
beaten earlier that day for talking with one of Dong’s concubines, so
had now come to warn the Prime Minister that Dong Cheng planned to
assassinate him. Mengde took the man to a secret chamber where the
servant said, “Wang Zifu, Wu Zilan, Chong Ji, Wu Shi, Ma Teng, and my
master have been meeting secretly. My master has a roll of white silk,
with writing on it, but I do not know what it means. Yesterday, Ji Ping
bit off one of his fingers as a pledge of fidelity. I saw that.” Qin
Qingtong was kept in secret chambers while Cao Cao took to his bed,
feigning a headache (40),
and sent for the court’s physician, Ji Ping, as usual. When the
physician arrived, Cao asked him to prepare a potion for him but knew
that it would be poisoned. When Ji Ping presented the potion Cao Cao
made excuses not to drink it and sitting up said, “You are a scholar and
know what is the correct thing to do. When the master is ill and takes
drugs, the attendant first tastes them; when a man is ill, his son first
tastes the medicine. You are my confidant and should drink first. Then I
will swallow the remainder.” Ji Ping dashed forward, seized Cao Cao by
the ear and tried to pour the potion down his throat by Cao resisted and
the potion was spilt. The bricks that had been touched by the potion
all split open. The servants seized the assassin and the Prime Minister
said to him, “I am not ill. I only wanted to test you. So you really
thought to poison me!” The prisoner was then escorted to the inner
apartments to be interrogated, where Mengde said to him, “I thought you
were a physician. How dare you try to poison me? Someone incited you to
this crime. If you tell me, I will pardon you.” Ji Ping would not give
up his fellow conspirators and instead railed at Cao Cao: “You are a
rebel. You flout your Prince and injure your betters. The whole empire
wishes to kill you. Do you think I am the only one?” The Prime Minister
asked the prisoner over and over to give up the others, but Ji Ping only
replied that no one else was involved. Mengde became angry and ordered
the jailers to beat the assassin, but after two watches, he began to
fear that the prisoner may die and bade the jailers to cease and remove
him.
The next day Cao Cao held a banquet and all of the courtiers,
including the conspirators, attended except Dong Cheng, who claimed to
be ill. After several courses of food, the host said to the guests,
“There is not much to amuse us today, but I have a man to show you that
will sober you.” Ji Ping was brought in securely fastened in a wooden
collar and placed where all the guests could see him. The Prime Minister
continued, “You officials do not know that this man is connected with a
gang of evil doers who desire to overturn the government and even
injure me. However, Heaven has defeated their plans, but I desire that
you should hear his evidence.” and then he ordered the jailers to beat
the prisoner. Ji Ping was beaten unconscious by the jailers who then
revived him by throwing water in his face. The prisoner cried, “Cao Cao,
you rebel! What are you waiting for? Why not kill me?” “The
conspirators were only six at first; you made the seventh. Is that
true?” replied Mengde. The beating of the prisoner continued but he
still would not betray his fellow conspirators so the Prime Minister
ordered him to be taken away.
When the banquet came to an end, the four conspirators, Minister Wang
Zifu, General Wu Zilan, Commander Chong Ji and Court Counsellor Wu Shi,
were invited to remain for supper and they dared not refuse. Cao Cao
said to them, “There is something I want to speak about, so I have asked
you to stay for a time longer. I do not know what you four have been
arranging with Dong Cheng.” “Nothing at all,” said Wang Zifu. “And what
is written on the white silk?” asked Cao. They all said they knew
nothing about it so Mengde had Qin Qingtong brought in. Qin Qingtong
said to the accused men, “You five very carefully chose retired places
to talk in, and you secretly signed a white roll. You cannot deny that.”
Wang Zifu replied, “This miserable creature was punished for
misbehaviour with one of Uncle Dong Cheng’s maids, and now because of
that he slanders his master. You must not listen to him.” Cao Cao
replied, “Ji Ping tried to pour poison down my throat. Who told him to
do that if it was not Dong Cheng?” The men said that they knew nothing
about who it was. “So far,” said Cao Cao, “matters are only beginning,
and there is a chance of forgiveness. But if the thing grows, it will be
difficult not to take notice of it.” The four men were then led away by
the guards and put into prison.
The next day Cao Cao with a large armed escort went to Dong Cheng’s
and asked, “Why did you not come last night?” “I am not quite well yet
and have to be very careful about going out,” replied the State Uncle.
“One might say you were suffering from national sorrow, eh?” said
Mengde. “Have you heard of the Ji Ping affair?” he continued. “No. What
is it?” asked Dong Cheng. Cao Cao smiled coldly, saying, “How can it be
you do not know?” as Ji Ping was brought in by the jailers. “This man,”
said Cao Cao, pointing to Ji Ping, “has implicated Wang Zifu and three
others, all of whom are now under arrest. There is one more whom I have
not caught yet.” Turning towards the physician, he continued, “Who sent
you to poison me? Quick, tell me!” Ji Ping replied, “Heaven sent me to
slay a traitor!” Mengde became angry and asked the prisoner, “You were
born with ten fingers. How is it you have now only nine?” Ji Ping
replied, “I bit off one as a pledge when I swore to slay a traitor.” Cao
Cao then had the jailers cut off the assassins other fingers. “Now they
are all off. That will teach you to make pledges.” but the prisoner
retorted, “Still I have a mouth that can swallow a traitor and a tongue
that can curse him.” The Prime Minister ordered the jailers to cut out
Ji Ping’s tongue, but before they did the prisoner cried, “Do not. I
cannot endure any more punishment, I shall have to speak out. Loosen my
bonds.” The jailers were ordered to free the prisoner and Ji Ping stood
up, turned towards the Emperor’s palace and bowed, saying, “It is
Heaven’s will that thy servant has been unable to remove the evil.” Then
he turned and smashed his head into the steps and died.
Cao Cao had his men bring Qin Qingtong in and said to Dong Cheng, “Do
you know this man, Uncle?” “Yes,” cried Dong Cheng. “So the runaway
servant is here. He ought to be put to death!” Cao replied, “He just
told me of your treachery. He is my witness. Who would dare kill him?”
The State Uncle pleaded, “How can you, the First Minister of State, heed
the unsupported tale of an absconding servant?” “But I have Wang Zifu
and the others in prison,” said Cao Cao. “And how can you rebut their
evidence?” He then ordered his men to search Dong Cheng’s bedroom where
they found the decree that had been hidden in the girdle along with the
pledge signed by the conspirators. “You mean rat!” cried Cao Cao. “You
dared do this?” He then ordered the whole household to be arrested and
Ji Ping’s body to be quartered and exposed in the city as a warning. (41)
Mengde returned to his palace and called his advisors together to
discuss deposing the Emperor and setting up a successor. Cheng Yu spoke
strongly against this, saying, “Illustrious Sir, the means by which you
impress the world and direct the government is the command of the House
of Han. In these times of turmoil and rivalry among the nobles, such a
step as the deposition of the ruler will certainly bring about civil war
and is much to be deprecated.” Cao Cao considered this and abandoned
the idea. However, Dong Cheng and the other four conspirators were
executed along with every member of their households; over seven hundred
people in all.
However, Cao Cao was not satisfied and was determined to slay Dong
Cheng’s sister who was a consort to the Emperor. Marching into the
Forbidden City, sword in hand, he confronted the Emperor who was sitting
with the Consort Dong and Empress Fu. “Does Your Majesty know that Dong
Cheng conspired against me?” he said. “Dong Zhuo died long ago,”
replied the Emperor. “Not Dong Zhuo! Dong Cheng!” roared Cao Cao.
“Really I did not know!” the Emperor replied. “So the cut finger and the
blood written decree are all forgotten, eh?” asked Mengde. The guards
were then ordered to seize Consort Dong while the Emperor asked that she
be spared as she was five months pregnant. Cao Cao would not spare her
and said, “If Heaven had not interposed and defeated the plot, I should
be a dead man. How could I leave this woman to work evil to me by and
by?” The Emperor continued to plead for her life but The Prime Minister
would not yield. “Do you wish me to spare her offspring to avenge the
mother?” he said as he ordered her to be taken out and strangled. As he
left the palace, Cao Cao gave strict orders to the guards: “Anyone of
the imperial relatives by marriage who enter the palace will be put to
death, and the guards will share the same punishment for lack of zeal.”
To ensure the orders were carried out, he appointed three thousand of
his own Imperial Guards, under Cao Hong, to guard the palace.
Cao Cao then met with Cheng Yu, to whom he said, “The conspirators in
the capital have been removed, but there are yet two others, Ma Teng
and Liu Bei. These must not be left.” Cheng Yu replied, “Ma Teng is
strong in the west and would not be easily captured. He might be enticed
to the capital by suave words and kindly praises, when he would be at
your mercy. Liu Bei is at Xuzhou, strongly posted in an ox-horn
formation, and not to be lightly attacked. More than this, Yuan Shao is
at Guandu, and his one desire is to attack you. Any attempt on the east
will send Liu Bei to Yuan Shao for help, and Yuan Shao will come here at
once. Then what will you do?” Cao replied, “You are wrong. Liu Bei is a
bold warrior. If we wait till he is fully fledged and winged, he will
be more difficult to deal with. Yuan Shao may be strong, but he is not
to be feared. He is too undeciding to act.” As they discussed this Guo
Jia came in, so Cao Cao put it to him: “If I attack Liu Bei, then Yuan
Shao is to be feared. What do you think of it?” Guo Jia said, “Yuan Shao
by nature is dilatory and hesitating, and his various advisers are
jealous of each other. He is not to be feared. Liu Bei is getting
together a new army and has not yet won their hearts. You could settle
the east in one battle.” “This advice is in harmony with my thinking,”
said the Prime Minister. An army was drawn up of two hundred thousand
troops and then marched in five divisions to Xuzhou.
On the way to Xiaopei a tornado occurred and tore down one of Cao
Cao’s banners. Cao called his advisers together for their interpretation
of this omen and was told that it foretold a night raid. Accordingly,
preparations were made: the army was drawn up into nine parts, one was
left to camp while the other eight were placed in ambush. During the
night an army led by Zhang Fei approached the camp and fell into
Mengde’s trap. Many of Zhang Fei’s soldiers had formally served under
Cao Cao and quickly surrendered to their old master, so Zhang Fei was
forced to retreat to the Mangdang Hills. Liu Bei’s army, which was in
reserve, was also scattered and he was forced to flee for Qingzhou,
which was under the control of Yuan Shao. After capturing Xiaopei, Cao
Cao’s army marched on Xuzhou, which fell after a short fight. Mengde
entered the city, restored order and pacified the people before turning
his attention to Xiapi. Xun Yu said, “Guan Yu is there, in charge of his
brother’s family, and he will defend the city to the last. If you do
not take it quickly, Yuan Shao will get it.” Cao Cao replied, “I have
always loved Guan Yu, both for his warlike abilities and his principles.
I would engage him to enter my service. I would rather send someone to
talk him into surrender.” “He will not do that,” said Guo Jia. “His
sense of right is too solid. I fear anyone who went to speak with him
would suffer.” Zhang Liao stepped forward and volunteered to speak with
Guan Yu but Cheng Yu proposed a plan: “Since Guan Yu is far braver than
ordinary warriors, he can only be overreached by superior cunning. Now
send some of the captured soldiers who have lately been of Liu Bei’s
army into Xiapi, where they shall say they have come back. They shall
thus be our allies on the inside. Then an attack and a feigned defeat
will entice Guan Yu to a distance from the city. And his return road
shall be cut.” Cao Cao accepted this and a few score of troops were sent
to the city. Mengde then sent Xiahou Dun with five thousand toops
against the city and Guan Yu came out to meet him. After ten bouts
Xiahou Dun fled but made occasional stands in order to draw the enemy
further from the city where Xu Huang and Xu Chu joined the fight. Guan
Yu’s path of retreat was cut off so he set up camp on a low hill of the
Tushan Mountains from which he saw that he was completely surrounded and
that the city had been captured.
Cao Cao sent Zhang Liao to convince Guan Yu to surrender, and after
long talks Guan Yu agreed provided three conditions were met: Guan Yu’s
loyalty was to the Han and would submit to the Emperor, not Cao Cao;
secondly was that Liu Bei’s wives were to be looked after and only Guan
Yu could approach them and thirdly that Guan Yu would be allowed to
rejoin Liu Bei if he heard of where his brother was. When Zhang Liao
returned he related the three conditions to The Prime Minister. When Cao
heard that Guan Yu would only submit to the Hans, he laughed saying,
“As I am a minister of Han, so am I Han. I grant that.” Zhang Liao then
related the second condition to which Mengde replied, “I will give them
twice the regular amount for an Uncle of the Emperor. As for securing
them from molestation, that is simple. The ordinary domestic law is
enough. Why should there be any doubt?” However, when Zhang Liao told of
the third condition that would allow Guan Yu to leave at any time, Cao
Cao shook his head, saying, “Then I am merely to feed Guan Yu. What is
the use of this? I cannot consent.” Zhang Liao reminded the Prime
Minister of the saying ‘The difference in behaviour brought about by
difference of treatment’ and suggested that Cao Cao could win the heart
of Guan Yu by treating him well. “What you say is much to the point. I
will grant the three conditions,” said Cao Cao.
Zhang Liao went to inform Guan Yu and returned requesting that the
army withdraw three miles so that Guan Yu could re-enter the city to
tell Liu Bei’s wives of what had been agreed. Xun Yu objected to this
but Cao Cao ordered the army to retire saying, “He will certainly not
break faith, he is too high principled.” Soon afterwards Guan Yu, with a
small escort, left the city and came to the Prime Minister’s camp. “I
have so long admired your loyalty and high principles that this happy
meeting gratifies the desire of my whole life,” Cao Cao said to Guan Yu.
“As the Prime Minister has granted the three requests which my friend
petitioned for on my behalf, there is now but little to discuss,” said
Guan Yu. Cao replied, “As I have spoken, so be it. I could not break
faith,” The defeated general continued, “Whenever I hear where Uncle Liu
Bei is, I must certainly go to him, even if through fire and water. It
may be that there will be no time nor opportunity of saying farewell. I
trust you will understand the reason.” “If Liu Bei should prove to be
alive, you must certainly be allowed to go to him. But I fear that in
the confusion he may have lost his life. You may set your mind at rest
and let me make enquiries.” replied Cao Cao. A banquet was then held in
Guan Yu’s honour and the next day the army began the march back to the
capital. On the way there, the army rested at a post station and so Cao
Cao assigned Guan Yu the same apartment as the ladies under his
protection in the hopes that Guan Yu would forget his duty. However,
Guan Yu stood in front of the apartment door the whole night with a lit
candle in his hand, not once yielding to fatigue. Cao Cao was impressed
and his respect for Guan Yu grew.
Upon reaching the capital, Cao Cao assigned Guan Yu and the ladies a
place of residence and then brought Guan Yu before the Emperor (42).
The next day, Mengde held a great banquet for Guan Yu where gifts of
silk, silver and gold were presented to the guest, but he gave them
instead to Liu Bei’s wives. From then onwards, every three days a small
banquet was held in Guan Yu’s honour and large banquets every five days.
Cao Cao also presented Guan Yu with ten lovely serving girls but they
too were sent to the ladies under his protection. One day Cao noticed
that Guan Yu’s robe was old and frayed and so had a new one made for
him, but Guan Yu took it and put it on beneath the tattered robe. “Why
so very thrifty?” laughed Cao Cao. “It is not thrift,” replied Guan Yu.
“The old robe was a gift from my brother, and I wear it because it
reminds me of him. I could not allow the new gift to eclipse his old
one.” Mengde sighed saying, “How very highly principled!”
One day, during a banquet, Cao Cao noticed that Guan Yu looked sad
and tearful so asked his guest why. Guan Yu explained that his
sisters-in-law had been weeping for his brother and that he felt sad.
Mengde attempted to cheer him with wine but Guan Yu continued to be
upset. Cao asked, “How many hairs in your beard?” to which Guan Yu
replied “Some hundreds, perhaps. In the autumn a few fall out, but in
the winter it is fullest. Then I use a black silk bag to keep the hairs
from being broken,” Cao Cao had a bag made for Guan Yu to protect his
beard.
On another occasion, Cao noticed that Guan Yu’s horse was very thin
and out of condition. The Prime Minister had his attendants bring out
Red Hare (43),
which he presented to Guan Yu. Guan Yu bowed many times and thanked Cao
Cao over and over again until Cao became displeased and said, “I have
given you many things, lovely handmaids and gold and silks and never won
a bow of gratitude from you before. This horse seems to please you
better than all the rest. Why do you think so poorly of the damsels and
so much of the steed?” Guan Yu replied, “I know the horse: It can travel
five hundred miles a day, and I am very lucky to get him. Now as soon
as I find out where my brother is, I can get to him in a single day,”
said Guan Yu. Mengde immediately began to regret the gift (44).
He then said to Zhang Liao, “I have treated Guan Yu pretty liberally,
but he still cherishes the desire to leave me. Do you know if it is
really so?” Zhang Liao went to see Guan Yu and soon returned confirming
that Guan Yu was still firm in his decision to leave when he knew of Liu
Bei’s whereabouts. Cao Cao sighed and said, “To serve one’s chief with
unswerving fidelity is a proof of the highest principle of all,” Xun Yu
said, “He spoke of performing some act of service before leaving. If he
gets no chance of such a thing, he will not be able to go.” to which Cao
Cao agreed.
An urgent message arrived at the capital from the Governor of
Dongjun, Liu Yue, reporting that Yuan Shao had marched an army to
Liyang. Guan Yu offered to lead the van bur The Prime Minister replied,
“I scarcely dare put you to such inconvenience, but presently, if need
arises, I will call upon you.” Cao Cao quickly mobilised his armies and
marched out one hundred and fifty thousand soldiers in three directions.
Mengde arrived at Baima with fifty thousand troops, encamped in a
position supported by hills and then set out to observe the enemy force.
The enemy army consisted of one hundred thousand veterans led by Yan
Liang. Cao Cao was terrified and returned to his camp where he
immediately summoned Song Xian and said to him, “You are one of Lü Bu’s
famous veteran generals. Can you give battle to this Yan Liang?” Song
Xian agreed to try and engaged the enemy general, but was cut down after
only three bouts. Wei Xu asked to go against Yan Liang to avenge his
comrade and The Prime Minister agreed, but with the first blow, Wei Xu
was killed. Xu Huang rode out next but was forced to flee after twenty
bouts and so Cao Cao withdrew his army. Cheng Yu suggested sending Guan
Yu against the enemy general but Mengde was unsure, “I am afraid that if
he is given an opportunity to perform that return service he spoke of,
he will leave me.” but Cheng Yu suggested, “If Liu Bei is still alive,
he is with Yuan Shao. If you get Guan Yu to defeat Yuan Shao’s army,
Yuan Shao will look askance at Liu Bei and put him to death. Liu Bei
gone, where can Guan Yu go?” Cao Cao was satisfied by this argument and
sent for Guan Yu at once.
When Guan Yu arrived at Baima, Cao Cao told him what had happened and
then they went to observe the enemy army from a hilltop. “See how
formidable these soldiers of the North of Yellow River are,” said Cao
Cao. “There under that grand umbrella, in that embroidered robe and that
silver breastplate and riding on horseback and gripping that huge sword
is Yan Liang.” Guan Yu rose and said, “I am a poor thing, but I will go
over and bring you his head if you like.” He quickly mounted, rode
straight into the enemy’s lines and with one swift blow killed Yan
Liang. Guan Yu dismounted, cut off the dead general’s head and then rode
back to his own camp. Panic-stricken, Yuan Shao’s troops made no
attempt to fight and were easily defeated by Cao Cao’s army. Many
horses, weapons and military supplies were captured while great numbers
of the enemy were killed. Guan Yu returned and laid the head of Yan
Liang at the feet of Cao Cao, who said, “You are more than human,
General!” but Guan Yu dismissed his achievement: “What have I done to
talk about? My brother, Zhang Fei, did the same thing in an army of a
hundred legions, and did it as easily as picking something from his own
pocket.” Mengde turned to those around him and said, “If you meet this
Zhang Fei, be careful.” and made them write his name on the overlap of
their robes so that they would remember. Cao Cao’s respect for the
humble general doubled and so he obtained the title Lord of Hanshou for
Guan Yu.
News came that Yuan Shao’s army had positioned itself above Yenjin so
Cao Cao led out an army to oppose the enemy. However, he ordered the
army to about face so that the rearguard led the army and even the
supply wagons were placed in the vanguard. When questioned about this
unorthodox order by Lü Qian, the Prime Minister said, “When the supplies
are in rear, they are liable to be plundered. So I have put them
first.” Lü Qian continued, “But if you meet the enemy and they steal
them?” Cao Cao replied, “Wait till the enemy appears. I shall know what
to do.” As the army moved along the river towards Yenjin, the vanguard
raised a great shout and so Cao sent to see what was happening. The
messenger soon returned, reporting that the enemy army (45)
was approaching and that the supply train had been abandoned. Cao Cao
pointed to two mounds and said, “We will take refuge here for the
present.” When the army reached the mounds, they were ordered to remove
their armour and rest while the horses were turned loose. Soon Cao’s
officers reported that Wen Chou’s force was approaching and they advised
catching the horses in order to retreat to Baima. Xun You said to them,
“These are a bait for the enemy. Why retire?” Cao Cao glanced across at
him and said, “He understands. Do not say anything.” With the supply
carts in their possession, Wen Chou’s men broke rank to capture the
horses. Seeing this, the Prime Minister gave the order to attack.
Cao Cao’s army quickly surrounded the enemy and threw them into
confusion. As his men trampled each other in blind panic, Wen Chou was
forced to flee. Cao Cao stood at the top of one of the mounds observing
the battle and saw the flight of the enemy commander. “There is one of
the most famous generals of the north. Who can capture him?” he shouted.
Zhang Liao and Xu Huang both mounted their horses and set off after Wen
Chou. Mengde continued to observe from the hilltop, watching as Wen
Chou drove off both of his pursuers but ultimately fell to Guan Yu (46).
With Wen Chou dead Cao Cao gave the signal for a general advance,
driving half of the northern army into the river where they drowned. The
supply carts and horses were quickly recovered. Xiahou Dun was sent to
defend the strategic points of Guandu while the Prime Minister withdrew
the bulk of his army to the capital.
Upon reaching the capital, Cao Cao held many banquets in honour of
the service rendered by Guan Yu. He also told Lü Qian that putting the
supplies in front of the army was bait to draw the enemy to their
destruction. “Only Xun You understood that,” said Cao Cao in conclusion.
During the banquet a messenger brought news of another uprising of the
Yellow Scarves in Runan, which Cao Hong was struggling to hold. Guan Yu
offered to march to Runan to aid Cao Hong but Cao Cao was hesitant: “You
have already rendered noble services for which you have not been
properly requited. I could hardly trouble you again.” Guna Yu protested
and so Mengde allowed him to go, giving him fifty thousand troops with
Yu Jin and Yue Jin as generals under him. Xun Yu advised against this
saying, “He always cherishes the idea of returning to Liu Bei. He will
leave you if he hears any news. Do not let him go on this expedition.”
Cao Cao replied, “If he does well this time, I will not let him go into
battle again.”
Guan Yu recaptured Runan with ease and was welcomed back to the
capital by Cao Cao. However, soon Yu Jin reported that Guan Yu had heard
that Liu Bei was with Yuan Shao and so Zhang Liao was sent to see Guan
Yu. When Zhang Liao returned with the news that Guan Yu was intending to
leave, Cao Cao said “I must find a way to keep him here.” Soon Gaun Yu
arrived at the Prime Minister’s palace to say farewell, but Cao knew why
he was coming and gave orders to not allow him in. The next day Guan Yu
came to see Cao Cao several times but could not gain entry to the
palace so instead he wrote a letter to The Prime Minister:
“As a young man I entered the service of the Imperial Uncle, and
pledged myself to share his fortunes. Heaven and Earth witnessed this
oath. When I lost the city, I made three requests which you granted. Now
I hear my brother is with Yuan Shao and I, remembering our pledge,
cannot but go to him. Though your bounty is great, I forget not the bond
of the past; wherefore I write this letter of farewell trusting that
when you have read it, you will be content for me to postpone to another
season the proof of my gratitude.”
When Cao Cao received the letter he exclaimed, “So he has left!” The
gate warden then reported that Guan Yu had forced his way out, and was
gone with a carriage, a horse, and a score of guards. Next came the
servants from his house to report that he had left, taking nothing of
the treasure, nor any of the waiting maids. Everything was left in the
house, even his seal of Lordship was there. His only escort were the few
soldiers of his original force. General Cai Yang stepped forward and
offered to bring Guan Yu back to the capital but Cao Cao said to him,
“He does not forget his old leader, and he was perfectly open in all his
actions. He is a gentleman, and you would do well to follow his
example,” The Prime Minister then sent away Cai Yang. Cheng Yu advised
capturing Guan Yu rather than allowing him to join Yuan Shao, but Cao
Cao was adamant: “He had my promise, and can I break my word? Each has
his master. Do not pursue.” He then turned to Zhang Liao and said, “He
has rejected all I gave him, so bribes were powerless with him in
whatever shape. I have the greatest respect for such as him. He has not
yet gone far, and I will try to strengthen his attachment to me and make
one appeal to sentiment. Ride after him and beg him to stop till I can
come up and bid farewell and offer him a sum of money for his expenses
and a fighting robe, that he may remember me kindly in after days.”
Zhang Liao then set off alone while Cao Cao followed leisurely with an
escort.
When Cao Cao caught up with Guan Yu, he saw that the fleeing general
was ready to fight and so ordered his escort to open out into two lines
so that Guan Yu would see that they were unarmed. As he reached the
bridge that Guan Yu had taken position on, Mengde asked, “Why do you go
in such haste, Guan Yu?” Guan Yu said, “I informed you in writing that
since my lord was in the North of Yellow River, I had to leave at once. I
went to your palace again and again but was refused admittance. So I
wrote a letter of farewell, sealed up the treasure, resigned my lordship
seal, and left everything for you. I hope you recall the promise you
once made me.” Cao Cao replied, “My desire is to keep my word with all
people. I cannot go back on my word. However, you may find the journey
expensive, and therefore I have here prepared a sum of money to help
you.” Then he held out a packet of gold but Guan Yu refused to take it.
“Why should you refuse this? It is but an insignificant return for great
services.” asked Mengde. “My services have been all trifling, not worth
mentioning.” was the reply. “Really, Guan Yu, you are the most
high-principled of humans. I am very sorry my luck is too poor to retain
you at my side. Pray accept just this robe to show you I am not quite
ungrateful,” said Cao Cao. With that, one of his generals presented to
Guan Yu the robe, which was accepted with caution. Guan Yu turned to Cao
and said, “I thank you, Sir Prime Minister, for the robe and trust we
shall meet again.” and then rode away to the north. Xu Chu turned to Cao
Cao and asked, “He is a very rude man, why do you not take him
prisoner?” Cao Cao replied, “He was absolutely alone facing scores of
us. He was justified in being suspicious. But my word has gone forth,
and he is not to be pursued.”
The Prime Minister and his escort returned to the capital, where he
was very sad when he thought of the loss of Guan Yu. However, it
occurred to him that the commanders of the passes might not let Guan Yu
through as he had no official orders. So a messenger was sent with a
letter to show to the guards so that Guan Yu would be able to leave
without incident. After the first messenger had left, Mengde thought
over the situation further and sent a second messenger to ensure that if
Guan Yu had already experienced difficulties then he was not to be
arrested. Soon after the second messenger had left, word came that Guan
Yu had been stopped by commanders on his journey and had been forced to
slay them. Cao Cao sent Zhang Liao in pursuit of Guan Yu with orders
stating that Guan Yu was to be allowed passage despite his crimes (47)
Cai Yang again came before the Prime Minister asking that he be allowed
to pursue Guan Yu. One of the commanders that Guan Yu had slain was Cao
Yang’s nephew and he demanded vengeance. However Mengde would not grant
him permission and as way of a compromise, sent the angry general to
attack Liu Bei at Runan. (48)
During this time, Sun Ce had cemented his power in the south lands (49)
and sent a memorial detailing his successes to the capital by the hand
of Zhang Hong. Cao Cao saw in Sun Ce a powerful rival and said, “He is a
lion difficult to contend with.” So the Prime Minister married his
niece, the daughter of Cao Ren, to Sun Ce’s youngest brother, Sun Kuang,
in order to form an alliance. Zhang Hong was also retained at the
capital. However, Sun Ce later sought the title of Grand Commander but
Cao Cao would not approve it. News came that Sun Ce had been gravely
injured by assassins and so Zhang Hong was allowed to return to the
south land. Zhang Hong soon came back to the capital reporting that Sun
Ce had died from his injuries (50)
and that his younger brother, Sun Quan, now ruled the south lands.
Mengde was for sending an army against the south but Zhang Hong
dissuaded him saying, “It would be mean to take advantage of the period
of mourning. And if you should not overcome him, you will make him an
enemy instead of being a friend. It would be preferable to treat him
generously.” Cao Cao heeded this advice and obtained for Sun Quan the
title of General and Governor of Kuaji, while Zhang hong was appointed
Commander. Hong was then sent to take the appointments to Quan and to
co-administrate the region.
Shortly afterwards, a letter arrived from Xiahou Dun requesting aid
as Yuan Shao was marching an army towards Guandu. Cao Cao assembled an
army of seventy thousand troops and marched to reinforce Dun while
leaving Xun Yu to guard the capital. However when Cao Cao’s army reached
its destination, the sight of Yuan Shao’s army consisting of seven
hundred thousand soldiers terrified the men. Mengde called a council of
his advisors, at which Xun Yu said, “The enemy are many but not
terrible. Ours is an army of veterans, every soldier of ours worth ten
of theirs. But our advantage lies in a speedy battle, for unhappily our
stores are insufficient for a long campaign.” Cao Cao agreed saying,
“You speak to the point. I think the same.” He then issued orders for
his army to advance noisily towards the enemy and soon the two armies
were arrayed opposite each other.
Mengde, flanked by Xu Chu, Xu Huang, Li Dian, Zhang Liao and other
generals, pointed his whip at Yuan Shao and shouted, “In the presence of
the Emperor, I pressed your claims to consideration and obtained for
you the title of Regent Marshal. Why do you now plan rebellion?” Yuan
Shao replied, “You take the title of a minister of Han, but you are
really a rebel against the House. Your crimes and evil deeds reach to
the heavens, and you are worse than the usurper Wang Mang and the rebel
Dong Zhuo. What are these slanderous words about rebellion that dare you
address to me?” Cao Cao retorted, “I have a command to make you
prisoner!” Yuan Shao replied, “I have the Girdle Decree to arrest
rebels!” The Prime Minister became angry and sent Zhang Liao forth as
his champion while Zhang He rode out from Yuan Shao’s side. The two men
fought with neither gaining an advantage and Cao Cao was amazed by the
contest. Xu Chu rode out to join the fight but was met by the enemy
general Gao Lan. Mengde ordered Xiahou Dun and Li Dian to take three
thousand troops and attack the enemy’s array but as soon as they started
their advance, they were driven back by a volley of crossbow bolts from
the enemy. Unable to advance, Cao Cao’s army withdrew to the south but
were attacked in the rear by Yuan Shao’s army and driven back to Guandu.
As soon as Cao Cao’s army was driven back to Guandu, Yuan Shao began
building up over fifty mounds of earth around the city and then erected
towers on top of the mounds. From these towers, Yuan Shao’s archers were
able to rain down arrows on Guandu, forcing Cao’s soldiers to crawl on
the ground under their shields. At Liu Ye’s suggestion, Cao Cao
constructed hundreds of catapults and fired them at the towers killing
enormous numbers of Yuan Shao’s archers and ensuring the towers could
not be used. Soon troops reported that the enemy were digging out pits
behind the mounds and Liu Ye observed that the enemy were intending to
tunnel into the city. On Liu Ye’s advice, Cao Cao ordered that a deep
moat be dug around the city to render the tunnels useless. After two
months under siege the army was exhausted and supplies were beginning to
run low. Cao Cao began to think of withdrawing to the capital but wrote
to Xun Yu to ask his advice. Xun Yu’s reply was as follows: “I have
received your command to decide whether to continue the campaign or
retire. It appears to me that Yuan Shao assembled such large forces at
Guandu with the expectation of winning a decision. You, Sir, are very
weak while he is very strong. If you cannot get the better of him, he
will be able to work his will on you, and this will be a crisis of the
empire. Your opponents are indeed numerous, but their leader knows not
how to use them. With your military genius and discernment, where are
you not sure to succeed? Now though your numbers are small, your
situation is still brighter than Liu Bang’s when he faced against Xiang
Yu in Jungyang and Chenggao. You are securely entrenched with your hands
on Yuan Shao’s throat; and even if you cannot advance, that state of
things cannot endure forever but must change. This is the time to play
some unexpected move, and you must not miss it. The device I leave to
your illustrious ingenuity.” This letter greatly pleased Cao Cao and he
urged his troops to use every effort in defending the camp.
Xu Huang reported to Cao Cao that an enemy spy had been captured and
had revealed that Yuan Shao was expecting a supply convoy and that spies
had been sent to find out the best routes. Cao tasked Xu Huang with
capturing the supply convoy, sending Xu Chu and Zhang Liao as support.
The attack was successful, all of the thousands of supply wagons were
burned and many of Yuan Shao’s soldiers were killed. When the raiding
party returned to Guandu, Cao Cao rewarded them richly and then set up
an outpost in front of the main camp. Food was starting to run low so
Mengde sent a messenger to Xuchang to request grain but, unbeknown to
him, the messenger was captured by the enemy.
While resting in his tent, a messenger came to inform the Prime
Minister that an old friend of his, Xu You of Nanyang wished to see him.
Cao was overjoyed, running in his bare feet to meet his old friend,
whom he bowed before. Xu You helped him to rise and said, “Sir, you, a
great minister, should not thus salute a simple civilian like me.” but
Mengde replied, “But you are my old friend, and no name or office makes
any difference to us,” Xu You explained that he had served under Yuan
Shao but his advice was ignored so he had now come to Cao Cao for
employment. (51)
“If you are willing to come, then have I indeed a helper. I desire you
to give me a scheme for the destruction of Yuan Shao.” said Cao Cao. “I
counselled him to send a light force to take Capital Xuchang and at the
same time attack here in full scale so that head and tail be both
attacked.” was the reply. Mengde was alarmed, saying, “If he does so, I
am lost!” “How much grain have you in store?” asked the new adviser.
“Enough for a year.” replied the Prime Minister. “I think not quite,”
said Xu You, smiling. “Well, half a year.” said Cao. Xu You rose and
hurried toward the door of the tent saying, “I offer him good counsel,
and he repays me with deceit. Could I have expected it?” Cao Cao hurried
after him and held him back. “Do not be angry. I will tell you the
truth. Really I have here only enough for three months.” he said.
“Everybody says you are a marvel of wickedness, and indeed it is true,”
said Xu You. “But who does not know that in war there is no objection to
deceit?” replied Cao Cao. Then whispering in Xu You’s ear, he said,
“Actually here I have only supplies for this month’s use.” Xu You
replied, “Do not throw dust in my eyes any more. Your grain is exhausted
and I know it.” Cao Cao was startled, as he thought no one knew of the
dire straits he was in. “How did you find that out?” asked Cao Cao. Xu
You produced the letter and told of the messenger’s capture. Cao Cao
seized him by the hand, saying, “Since our old friendship has brought
you to me, I hope you have some plan to suggest to me.” The new adviser
told of Yuan Shao’s supply depot at Wuchao, suggesting disguising troops
as Yuan Shao’s in order to gain access to the depot.
Cao Cao approved the plan and organised and army of five thousand men
to send against Wuchao. Zhang Liao protested, convinced that Xu You was
a traitor, but Mengde said, “Xu You is no traitor. He has come sent by
Heaven to defeat Yuan Shao. If we do not get grain, it will be hard to
hold out. I have to either follow his advice or sit still and be hemmed
in. If he were a traitor, he would hardly remain in my camp. Moreover
this raid has been my desire for a long time. Have no doubts: The raid
will certainly succeed.” Xun You, Xu You, Jia Xu and Cao Hong were
assigned to guard the main camp; Xiahou Yuan and Xiahou Dun to guard the
left camp while Cao Ren and Li Dian were to guard the right camp. The
soldiers in the attacking army carried bundles of straw and wood with
which to set fires and each of the men, along with his horse, was gagged
to prevent them from making noise. Zhang Liao and Xu Chu led the van;
Xu Huang and Yu Jin commanded the rear while Cao Cao himself commanded
the centre. The army set off at dusk carrying the banners of Yuan Shao.
As they passed one of Yuan Shao’s outposts the army was challenged.
Cao Cao sent a man forward to tell the guard, “Jiang Qi has orders to go
to Wuchao to guard the grain stores.” Seeing the banners of Yuan Shao,
the guard had no suspicions and let them pass. The straw and wood were
quickly placed in position and the blaze was started. As the fire began
to spread, Cao Cao gave the order to attack and the depot commander,
Chunyu Qiong, was soon captured. As the fighting continued, reports came
that Yuan Shao’s generals Gui Yuanjin and Zhao Rui were approaching
from the rear, but Cao Cao only replied, “Press on to the front till the
enemy is actually close at hand and then face about.” As the two enemy
generals approached, Cao’s army turned about and attacked in full force,
utterly defeating their opponents, killing Zhao Rui and Gui Yuanjin.
Wuchao was now fully engulfed in flames and smoke filled the sky, all of
the stores of grain were destroyed. Chunyu Qiong was brought before
Mengde who ordered the prisoner’s ears, nose and hands to be cut off. He
was then bound to a horse and sent to Yuan Shao.
Cao Cao ordered his troops to dress themselves in the armour of the
defeated soldiers, so as to pose as a defeated force in retreat. As they
retired they came across the army of Jiang Qi who had been dispatched
to assist Wuchao. As Jiang Qi passed the disguised army, he was slain by
Zhang Liao and his army was scattered. Messengers were then sent to
Yuan Shao to tell him that Jiang Qi had been successful to prevent more
reinforcements from being sent to Wuchao. As Cao’s army approached
Guandu they saw a great battle underway between the camps’ defenders and
Yuan Shao’s army. Mengde’s troops attacked from the rear, utterly
destroying the enemy and forcing the commanders, Zhang He and Gao Lan,
to flee.
Soon afterwards, Gao Lan and Zhang He returned and offered their surrender (52)
When they arrived, Xiahou Dun said to his master, “These two have come
to surrender, but I have doubts about them.” Cao Cao replied, “I will
meet them generously and win them over, even if they have treachery in
their hearts.” The two generals were invited to enter and they laid down
their weapons and armour before bowing to Cao Cao. He made them
Generals and conferred upon Zhang He the title of Lord of Duting and
made Gao Lan Lord of Donglai. With three defections and the destruction
of the Wuchao depot, Yuan Shao’s troops’ morale had dwindled away and so
Cao Cao ordered an immediate attack with Zhang He and Gao Lan leading
three thousand men. The army began their attack during the night and the
fighting lasted until dawn. Yuan Shao’s army had been decimated; he had
lost half of his soldiers.
Then Xun You suggested a plan to Cao Cao, saying, “Now is the moment
to spread a report that an army will go to take Suanzao and attack
Yejun, and another to take Liyang and intercept the enemy’s retreat.
Yuan Shao, when he hears of this, will be alarmed and tell off his
troops to meet this new turn of affairs; and while he is making these
new dispositions, we can have him at great disadvantage.” Mengde adopted
the suggestion and the false report was spread. Before long it was
reported that Yuan Shao had sent fifty thousand men to rescue Yejun and a
further fifty thousand to Liyang. With the enemy camp almost empty, Cao
Cao dispatched an army in eight divisions to attack from all
directions. The defenders were too dispirited to put up a fight and gave
way, forcing Yuan Shao to flee for his life. Zhang Liao, Yu Jin, Xu
Huang and Xu Chu were all sent in pursuit but they could not capture
him. Yuan Shao was forced to abandon all of his treasure, stores and
baggage, escaping with only eight hundred men. Cao Cao’s army
slaughtered over eighty thousand of Yuan Shao’s men and soon the
watercourses ran red with the blood. The captured treasure was brought
before the Prime Minister who had it all distributed amongst his troops.
Among Yuan Shao’s papers were a bundle of letters that were
correspondence between himself and many people of the capital and Cao
Cao’s army. Cao’s advisors suggested arresting all of those incriminated
in the letters, but Mengde refused saying, “Yuan Shao was so strong
that even I could not be sure of safety. How much less other people?” He
then ordered the letters to all be burned and for nothing further to be
said.
One of Yuan Shao’s advisors, Ju Shou, was brought before Cao Cao. (53)
Ju Shou shouted, “I will not surrender!” Cao Cao said to him, “Yuan
Shao was foolish and neglected your advice: Why still cling to the path
of delusion? Had I had you to help me, I should have been sure of the
empire.” The prisoner was treated well, but he stole a horse and tried
to get away to rejoin Yuan Shao. Cao Cao was angry and had Ju Shou
captured and put to death. Afterwards, Cao Cao said sadly, “I have slain
a faithful and righteous man!” and ordered him to be buried honourably
at Guandu with the inscription ‘This is the tomb of Ju Shou the Loyal
and Virtuous.’
Cao Cao then gave orders to attack Jizhou.
TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 3
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