Chapter 38

The Threefold Realm Is Planned at Longzhong; The Suns Avenge Their Father on the Yangzi

Now Liu Bei, having twice sought Kongming without finding him, wished to pay him a third visit. Guan Yu said, “Elder Brother has twice gone in person to call upon him. You have shown him more than enough courtesy. I suspect Zhuge Liang has an empty reputation and no true learning, and therefore hides rather than dare meet you. Why are you so greatly taken with this man?” Liu Bei replied, “That is not so. In former times, Duke Huan of Qi wished to see a recluse of Dongguo, and only after five attempts did he obtain an interview. How much more should I persevere when I seek a great worthy?” Zhang Fei said, “Brother, you are mistaken. What makes you think this village rustic worthy of being called a great sage? This time you need not go. If he will not come, I shall simply bind him with a hempen rope and drag him here!” Liu Bei rebuked him: “Have you never heard how King Wen of Zhou paid court to Jiang Ziya? King Wen himself showed such reverence for a worthy, yet you are grossly discourteous! This time you shall remain behind; I will go with Yunchang.” Zhang Fei said, “If both my elder brothers are going, how can your younger brother remain behind?” Liu Bei said, “If you come with us, you must not behave discourteously.”

Zhang Fei promised to obey. The three then mounted and led their attendants toward Longzhong. When they were still half a li from the thatched cottage, Liu Bei dismounted and proceeded on foot. Just then they encountered Zhuge Jun. Liu Bei hastened to salute him and asked, “Is your honored elder brother at home?” Zhuge Jun replied, “He returned only last evening. Today, General, you may be able to meet him.” With that he drifted away. Liu Bei said, “By good fortune, this time I shall see the Master!” Zhang Fei said, “What an ill-mannered fellow! It would have cost him nothing to lead us to the farmstead. Why did he simply go off on his own?” Liu Bei replied, “He has affairs of his own. How can we compel him?”

The three reached the gate of the farmstead and knocked. The boy opened the door and came out to inquire who they were. Liu Bei said, “May I trouble you, immortal lad, to announce that Liu Bei has come expressly to pay his respects to the Master?” The boy replied, “The Master is at home today, but he is taking his midday sleep in the thatched hall and has not yet awakened.” Liu Bei said, “If that is so, do not announce us yet.” He instructed Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to wait outside the gate, then entered with slow steps. He saw the Master lying on his back upon a couch in the thatched hall. Liu Bei stood below the steps, hands respectfully clasped.

A long while passed, but the Master did not wake. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei had stood outside for so long without hearing any movement that they entered and saw Liu Bei still waiting respectfully. Zhang Fei flew into a rage and said to Yunchang, “How arrogant this Master is! He sees my brother standing below the steps, yet he lies there sound asleep, pretending not to wake! Let me go around back and set the house on fire. Then we shall see whether he gets up!” Yunchang repeatedly urged him to desist. Liu Bei again ordered them both to wait outside the gate. When he looked into the hall, he saw the Master turn over as if about to rise, but suddenly he faced the inner wall and fell asleep again. The boy wished to announce the visitor, but Liu Bei said, “Do not disturb him yet.” He stood there for another two hours before Kongming at last awoke and chanted:

Who first awakens from the dream of life?All through my days, I alone have known.My spring sleep in the thatched hall has been deep;Beyond the window, the sun moves slowly on.

When Kongming had finished chanting, he turned over and asked the boy, “Have any common visitors come?” The boy replied, “Imperial Uncle Liu is here. He has been standing and waiting for a long while.” Kongming rose and said, “Why did you not tell me sooner? I must change my clothes.” He then went into the rear hall. Another long while passed before he emerged, properly dressed and capped, to greet his visitor. Liu Bei saw that Kongming stood eight feet tall, with a face like fine jade. Upon his head he wore a silk kerchief, and over his shoulders a crane-feather cloak; his free and lofty bearing was that of an immortal. Liu Bei bowed low and said, “I am a remote scion of the imperial house of Han, a dull fellow from Zhuo Commandery. Long have I heard your great name, Master; it has thundered in my ears. Twice before I came to pay my respects, but was unable to see you. I left my humble name in writing upon your desk, though I do not know whether it met your eye.” Kongming said, “I am merely a rustic of Nanyang, indolent and negligent by nature. That you, General, should repeatedly condescend to visit me leaves me overwhelmed with shame.”

After exchanging courtesies, the two took their seats according to the distinction between host and guest. The boy served tea. When the tea was finished, Kongming said, “From the meaning of your letter, I saw clearly, General, your concern for the people and the realm. I regret only that I am young and shallow in talent, and fear your inquiry has been misdirected.” Liu Bei said, “Could the words of Sima Decao and Xu Yuanzhi have been empty talk? I beg you, Master, not to disdain one so base and insignificant, but to bend your wisdom and grant me instruction.” Kongming replied, “Decao and Yuanzhi are eminent scholars of the age. I am only a plowman. How dare I discuss the affairs of the empire? Those two gentlemen praised me mistakenly. Why, General, do you cast aside beautiful jade and seek a worthless stone?” Liu Bei said, “When a great man possesses extraordinary talent to order the world, how can he grow old in vain among woods and streams? I beg you, Master, to keep the suffering people of the realm in your thoughts, enlighten me in my stupidity, and grant me your teaching.” Kongming smiled and said, “I should like to hear your ambition.” Liu Bei dismissed his attendants, drew his mat closer, and said, “The house of Han is crumbling; treacherous ministers have usurped its authority. Without measuring my own strength, I have sought to uphold the great cause of righteousness throughout the realm, but my wisdom and skill are meager, and to this day I have accomplished nothing. If you alone, Master, would enlighten my ignorance and deliver me from peril, it would be the greatest of blessings.”

Kongming said, “Since Dong Zhuo began his rebellion, heroes have risen together throughout the empire. Cao Cao’s power was once inferior to Yuan Shao’s, yet in the end he was able to defeat Shao. This was due not only to the timing granted by Heaven, but also to human strategy. Cao Cao now commands a million men and holds the emperor in his grasp to issue orders to the feudal lords. Truly, he cannot be opposed head-on. Sun Quan occupies Jiangdong, which his family has held for three generations. The terrain is defensible and the people support him. He may be used as an ally, but cannot be conquered. Jingzhou is shielded to the north by the Han and Mian rivers; its advantages extend south to the sea; to the east it connects with Wu and Kuaiji; to the west it opens upon Ba and Shu. It is a land made for the use of arms, yet without the right master it cannot be held. This must be Heaven’s gift to you, General. How can you cast it aside? Yizhou is rugged and strongly fortified, with fertile plains stretching a thousand li—a land of Heaven’s own abundance. Gaozu used it to establish his imperial enterprise. Now Liu Zhang is benighted and weak. His people are numerous and his country rich, yet he does not know how to preserve and cherish them. Men of wisdom and ability long for an enlightened lord. You, General, are a scion of the imperial house; your good faith and righteousness are renowned throughout the four seas; you draw heroes to yourself and thirst for worthy men. If you gain possession of both Jingzhou and Yizhou, hold their rugged strongholds, make peace with the Rong tribes in the west, soothe the Yi and Yue peoples in the south, ally yourself outwardly with Sun Quan, and cultivate good government within, then, when a change comes over the empire, you may order one great general to lead the troops of Jingzhou toward Wan and Luoyang, while you yourself lead the forces of Yizhou out through the Qin Riverlands. Would any among the common people fail to bring baskets of food and jars of drink to welcome you? If this is truly accomplished, then the great enterprise may succeed, and the house of Han may be restored. This is the strategy I offer you, General. I ask only that you consider it.”

When he had finished, he ordered the boy to bring out a painted scroll. He hung it in the central hall, pointed to it, and said to Liu Bei, “This is a map of the fifty-four prefectures of Western Chuan. If you wish to achieve the enterprise of a hegemon, yield to Cao Cao in the north the advantage of Heaven’s timing, and to Sun Quan in the south the advantage of favorable terrain. You, General, may possess the advantage of harmony among men. First take Jingzhou as your home; afterward seize Western Chuan and establish your foundations there, forming a three-legged balance of power. Only then may you seek to gain the Central Plains.”

When Liu Bei heard this, he left his seat, clasped his hands, and said in gratitude, “Your words, Master, have instantly cleared the blockage from my mind. I feel as though the clouds and mist had been swept aside and I now behold the blue heavens. But Liu Biao of Jingzhou and Liu Zhang of Yizhou are both kinsmen of the imperial house. How could I bear to seize their lands?” Kongming replied, “By night I have observed the signs in the heavens. Liu Biao has not long to live. Liu Zhang is no lord capable of founding a great enterprise; in time, his territory must surely fall to you, General.” At these words, Liu Bei bowed his head to the ground in thanks. From this one conversation it may be seen that, before Kongming had even left his thatched cottage, he already knew how the empire would be divided in three. Truly, none through all the ages could equal him. A later poet praised him:

That day, the Lord of Yuzhou mourned his lonely plight;How blessed that Nanyang sheltered the Sleeping Dragon!Would you know where the realm would one day stand divided?Smiling, the Master pointed within the painted map.

Liu Bei bowed and entreated Kongming: “Though my name is obscure and my virtue slight, I beg you, Master, not to disdain one so base and insignificant, but to leave these mountains and lend me your aid. I shall attend with folded hands upon your enlightened instruction.” Kongming replied, “I have long delighted in plowing and hoeing, and am too indolent to answer the call of the world. I cannot accept your command.” Liu Bei wept and said, “If you will not come forth, Master, what is to become of the suffering people?” As he spoke, his tears fell upon his sleeves until the front of his robe was drenched. Seeing the sincerity of his purpose, Kongming said, “Since you, General, do not cast me aside, I am willing to render you the service of a dog or horse.”

Liu Bei was overjoyed. He at once summoned Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to enter, pay their respects, and present gifts of gold and silk. Kongming firmly declined them. Liu Bei said, “These are no fitting gifts with which to engage a great worthy; they merely express the small measure of Liu Bei’s devotion.” Only then did Kongming accept. Liu Bei and the others spent the night together at the farmstead. The next day Zhuge Jun returned, and Kongming instructed him: “I have received Imperial Uncle Liu’s kindness in visiting me three times, and I cannot refuse to go forth. You must continue to farm here and must not let the fields fall waste. When my work is accomplished, I shall return and live in seclusion.” A later poet lamented:

Before he had risen, he already thought of retreat;His work complete, he should have recalled his words at parting.Only because the Former Lord entrusted his heir with solemn care,A star fell in the autumn wind over Wuzhang Plains.

There is also an old-style ballad:

Gaozu raised in his hand a three-foot blade bright as snow;By night on Mangdang, the white serpent spilled its blood.He crushed Qin, destroyed Chu, and entered Xianyang;Yet within two hundred years, the line was nearly severed.Great indeed was Guangwu, who restored the throne at Luoyang;But by Huan and Ling’s reigns, the realm was rent again.Emperor Xian moved his capital and took refuge in Xuchang;Across the four seas, heroes rose in throngs.Cao Cao monopolized power and gained Heaven’s timing;The house of Sun in Jiangdong began a mighty enterprise.Liu Bei, alone and impoverished, wandered all the realm;Dwelling by himself in Xinye, he grieved for his imperiled people.The Sleeping Dragon of Nanyang harbored vast ambitions;Within his breast were mighty armies, ordered orthodox and strange.Only because Xu Shu spoke to him before departing,Three visits to the thatched cottage joined two kindred hearts.The Master at that time was twenty-seven years of age;He gathered up his zither and books and left the furrowed fields.First he would take Jingzhou, and afterward take Chuan;Then display his statecraft—the hand that could mend Heaven.On his tongue, a game of strategy stirred wind and thunder;Amid laughter, his heart could shift the stars.Soaring like a dragon, gazing like a tiger, he secured the world;Through ten thousand ages, his name shall never perish.

Liu Bei and his two brothers took leave of Zhuge Jun and returned with Kongming to Xinye. Liu Bei treated Kongming as his teacher: they ate at the same table, slept upon the same couch, and spent every day discussing the affairs of the realm. Kongming said, “Cao Cao has constructed the Black Tortoise Lake in Jizhou to train his naval forces. He must intend to invade the lands south of the Yangtze. You should secretly send men across the river to ascertain the truth.” Liu Bei followed his advice and dispatched agents to Jiangdong to gather information.

Now since the death of Sun Ce, Sun Quan had occupied Jiangdong and inherited the foundations laid by his father and elder brother. He welcomed worthy scholars far and wide, opening guest lodges in Wu and Kuaiji and ordering Gu Yong and Zhang Hong to receive visitors from every quarter. Over the years, men recommended one another to him. Among those who came to Jiangdong were Kan Ze of Kuaiji, styled Derun; Yan Jun of Pengcheng, styled Mancai; Xue Zong of Pei County, styled Jingwen; Cheng Bing of Runan, styled Deshu; Zhu Huan of Wu Commandery, styled Xiumu; Lu Ji, styled Gongji; Zhang Wen of Wu, styled Huishu; Luo Tong of Kuaiji, styled Gongxu; and Wu Can of Wucheng, styled Kongxiu. Sun Quan treated them all with the greatest courtesy and honor. He also obtained several able generals: Lü Meng of Ruyang, styled Ziming; Lu Xun of Wu Commandery, styled Boyan; Xu Sheng of Langya, styled Wenxiang; Pan Zhang of Dong Commandery, styled Wengui; and Ding Feng of Lujiang, styled Chengyuan. These civil and military officers worked together to support him. From this time onward, Jiangdong was celebrated for its abundance of talent.

In the seventh year of Jian’an, after Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shao, he sent an envoy to Jiangdong ordering Sun Quan to send a son to court to attend the imperial carriage. Sun Quan hesitated, unable to decide. Lady Wu summoned Zhou Yu, Zhang Zhao, and the others to discuss the matter before her. Zhang Zhao said, “Cao Cao wishes us to send a son to court as a means of controlling the feudal lords. Yet if we refuse to send him, I fear Cao Cao will raise an army and descend upon Jiangdong, and our position will surely become perilous.” Zhou Yu said, “The General has inherited the enterprise bequeathed by his father and elder brother and commands the people of six commanderies. His soldiers are well trained, his provisions abundant, and his officers and men ready to obey his commands. Under what compulsion should he send a hostage to another? Once the hostage enters Cao Cao’s hands, we shall be forced into alliance with the Cao clan. Whenever Cao Cao issues a summons, we shall be forced to obey. In this way we shall become subject to another’s control. Better not to send him. We should calmly observe how events unfold, then devise a sound strategy to resist Cao Cao.” Lady Wu said, “Gongjin’s words are right.” Sun Quan therefore followed his advice, dismissed the envoy with apologies, and did not send his son. From that time, Cao Cao conceived the desire to descend upon the lands south of the Yangtze. But because the north was not yet pacified, he had no leisure for a southern campaign.

In the eleventh month of the eighth year of Jian’an, Sun Quan led an army against Huang Zu, and they fought upon the Great River. Huang Zu’s army was defeated. Sun Quan’s general Ling Cao, leading the attack in a light vessel, fought his way into Xiakou, but was shot dead by an arrow from Gan Ning, one of Huang Zu’s generals. Ling Cao’s son Ling Tong, then only fifteen years old, fought desperately to recover his father’s body and bring it back. Seeing that the circumstances were unfavorable, Sun Quan recalled his army and returned to Eastern Wu.

Now Sun Quan’s younger brother Sun Yi was Administrator of Danyang. By nature, Sun Yi was harsh and fond of wine; when drunk, he often had his soldiers flogged. Gui Lan, the military commander of Danyang, and Dai Yuan, the commandery vice administrator, had long harbored the desire to kill him. They made a confidant of Bian Hong, one of Sun Yi’s attendants, and together plotted Sun Yi’s murder. At that time, the generals and county magistrates had all assembled in Danyang, and Sun Yi prepared a banquet to entertain them. His wife, Lady Xu, was both beautiful and wise and exceptionally skilled in divination by the Book of Changes. That day she cast a hexagram whose signs were exceedingly ominous, and she urged Sun Yi not to go out and receive his guests. Sun Yi refused to heed her and proceeded to hold the great gathering.

In the evening, when the banquet ended, Bian Hong followed Sun Yi outside with a sword at his side. He suddenly drew it and cut Sun Yi down. Gui Lan and Dai Yuan then placed all the blame on Bian Hong and had him beheaded in the marketplace. Taking advantage of the situation, the two men seized Sun Yi’s family property and concubines. When Gui Lan saw Lady Xu’s beauty, he said to her, “I have avenged your husband. You must now submit to me. If you refuse, you shall die.” Lady Xu replied, “My husband has been dead only a short while; I cannot bear to submit to you at once. Wait until the last day of the month, when I shall make the funeral offering and put off my mourning garments. It will not be too late for us to marry afterward.”

Gui Lan agreed. Lady Xu then secretly summoned Sun Gao and Fu Ying, two veteran officers who had been her husband’s trusted confidants, into the residence. Weeping, she told them, “While my late husband lived, he often spoke of the loyalty and righteousness of you two gentlemen. Now the two traitors Gui Lan and Dai Yuan have plotted my husband’s murder, placed all the blame upon Bian Hong, and divided between themselves my family property, servants, and maidservants. Gui Lan also wishes to take me by force. I have falsely promised myself to him in order to put his mind at ease. You two generals must send someone with all speed, traveling by night, to report this to the Marquis of Wu. Meanwhile, devise a secret plan to destroy the two traitors and avenge this wrong and humiliation. Whether I live or die, I shall be forever grateful!” When she had finished, she bowed twice. Sun Gao and Fu Ying both wept and said, “In former days we received great favor from the Administrator. The only reason we did not die with him when calamity struck was that we intended to devise a way to avenge him. How could we fail to exert ourselves in carrying out my lady’s command?”

They therefore secretly dispatched a trusted messenger to report the matter to Sun Quan. On the last day of the month, Lady Xu first summoned Sun Gao and Fu Ying and concealed them behind the curtains of a private chamber. She then set out the funeral offering in the main hall. When the rites were completed, she removed her mourning garments, bathed, perfumed herself, and dressed in brilliant finery, speaking and laughing as naturally as ever.

Gui Lan was overjoyed when he heard of this. That night, Lady Xu sent a maidservant to invite him into the residence. A banquet was spread in the hall, and he drank until he was intoxicated. Lady Xu then invited him into the private chamber. Delighted, Gui Lan entered in his drunkenness. Lady Xu cried out, “Where are Generals Sun and Fu?” The two men leaped from behind the curtains, swords in hand. Taken completely by surprise, Gui Lan was struck down by a single blow from Fu Ying. Sun Gao followed with another stroke and killed him on the spot. Lady Xu then sent another invitation, asking Dai Yuan to attend the banquet. When Dai Yuan entered the residence and reached the hall, he too was killed by Generals Sun and Fu. At the same time, men were sent to execute the families of the two traitors and the remnants of their faction. Lady Xu then put on her mourning garments once more and offered the heads of Gui Lan and Dai Yuan before Sun Yi’s spirit tablet. Within a few days, Sun Quan personally led troops to Danyang. When he learned that Lady Xu had already slain the two traitors Gui and Dai, he appointed Sun Gao and Fu Ying Generals of the Gate and ordered them to defend Danyang, while he took Lady Xu back to his own household to support her in her later years. Throughout Jiangdong, none failed to praise Lady Xu’s virtue. A later poet wrote in her praise:

Talent and honor joined—such a woman the world had never known;In a single day, the treacherous villains were hewn down.A worthless minister joined the rebels, while loyal servants died;None could equal Eastern Wu’s heroic woman.

Meanwhile, the mountain bandits throughout Eastern Wu were all pacified. More than seven thousand warships rode upon the Great River. Sun Quan appointed Zhou Yu Chief Commander and placed him over all the land and naval forces of Jiangdong. In the tenth month, in winter, of the twelfth year of Jian’an, Sun Quan’s mother, Lady Wu, fell gravely ill. She summoned Zhou Yu and Zhang Zhao and said to them, “I was born in Wu. My parents died when I was young, and I moved with my younger brother Wu Jing to the region of Yue. Later I married into the Sun family and bore four sons. When my eldest son, Ce, was born, I dreamed that the moon entered my bosom. Later, when I bore my second son, Quan, I dreamed that the sun entered my bosom. A diviner said, ‘When a woman dreams that the sun and moon enter her bosom, her sons are certain to attain high rank.’ Unhappily, Ce died young, and now the foundations of Jiangdong have been entrusted to Quan. I hope that you gentlemen will unite in supporting him. Then, though I die, I shall not perish!” She further instructed Sun Quan: “Serve Zibu and Gongjin with the reverence due to teachers and mentors, and never treat them with neglect. My younger sister and I were both married to your father, so she too is your mother. After my death, serve my sister as you have served me. You must also care lovingly for your own younger sister and choose a worthy husband for her.”

When she had finished speaking, she died. Sun Quan wept bitterly and observed all the proper rites of mourning and burial; there is no need to relate them in detail. In the spring of the following year, Sun Quan opened a discussion on attacking Huang Zu. Zhang Zhao said, “A full year of mourning has not yet passed. We must not mobilize the army.” Zhou Yu said, “Why wait a full year to avenge an injury and wipe away hatred?” Sun Quan hesitated, unable to decide. Just then Lü Meng, Commandant of Beiping, entered and reported to him: “While I was guarding the mouth of the Longqiu River, Gan Ning, one of Huang Zu’s generals, suddenly came to surrender. I questioned him closely. Ning is styled Xingba and is a native of Linjiang in Ba Commandery. He is well versed in the classics and histories, possesses great physical strength, and delights in wandering deeds of chivalry. He once gathered outlaws about him and roamed at will among the rivers and lakes. He wore copper bells at his waist, and whenever people heard their ringing, they all made way for him. He also used brocade from Western Chuan for his sails and awnings, and so men of the time called him the ‘Brocade-Sail Bandit.’ Later he repented of his former misdeeds, reformed his conduct, and led his followers to join Liu Biao. When he saw that Liu Biao was incapable of achieving anything, he wished to come and join Eastern Wu, but Huang Zu detained him at Xiakou.

“When Eastern Wu previously defeated Huang Zu, it was through Gan Ning’s efforts that Huang escaped back to Xiakou; yet Huang treated Ning very poorly. Commander Su Fei repeatedly recommended Ning to Huang Zu, but Huang Zu said, ‘Ning is nothing but a river pirate. How could he be entrusted with important employment?’ Gan Ning therefore bore a grudge against him. Su Fei understood his feelings and prepared wine, inviting Gan Ning to his home. He said to him, ‘I have recommended you several times, but unfortunately my lord will not employ you. The days and months hasten by, and how long is a man’s life? You should make plans for your distant future. I shall sponsor you as magistrate of E County, and from there you may decide for yourself whether to remain or depart.’ In this way Gan Ning was able to pass beyond Xiakou. He wished to join Jiangdong, but feared that Jiangdong still hated him for saving Huang Zu and killing Ling Cao. I explained fully that my lord thirsts for worthy men and does not remember old grudges. Besides, each man was serving his own master at the time, so what cause was there for hatred? Gan Ning was delighted and has led his followers across the river to present himself before my lord. I await your honored decision.”

Sun Quan was overjoyed and said, “Now that I have gained Xingba, Huang Zu is certain to be defeated.” He ordered Lü Meng to bring Gan Ning before him. When Gan Ning had finished paying his respects, Sun Quan said, “Xingba, your coming here is entirely to my liking. How could I bear you a grudge? Harbor no doubts. I ask you to teach me a plan for defeating Huang Zu.” Gan Ning said, “The fortunes of Han grow more precarious by the day, and in the end Cao Cao is certain to usurp the throne. The lands south of Jingzhou are places Cao Cao will inevitably contest. Liu Biao has no foresight, and his sons are foolish and inferior, incapable of preserving the foundations they inherit. My enlightened lord should move against them early. If you delay, Cao Cao will seize them first. For the present, you should begin by taking Huang Zu. Huang Zu is now old and muddleheaded and concerns himself only with wealth and profit. He oppresses and exploits officials and common people, and all hearts resent him. His engines of war are neglected, and his army lacks discipline. If my enlightened lord attacks him, he is certain to be defeated. Once Huang Zu’s army has been destroyed, you may march westward with drums beating, occupy the passes of Chu, and turn your designs toward Ba and Shu. Then your enterprise as hegemon may be secured.”

Sun Quan said, “These are words of gold and jade!” He appointed Zhou Yu Chief Commander over all the land and naval forces; Lü Meng commander of the vanguard; and Dong Xi and Gan Ning deputy generals. Sun Quan himself led a great army of one hundred thousand to campaign against Huang Zu. Spies learned of the movement and carried the report to Jiangxia. Huang Zu hastily assembled his officers for consultation. He appointed Su Fei his chief general, with Chen Jiu and Deng Long as vanguard commanders, and mobilized all the troops of Jiangxia to meet the enemy. Chen Jiu and Deng Long each led a squadron of armored warships to block the mouth of the Mian. Upon each warship were mounted more than a thousand powerful bows and heavy crossbows, while the vessels were secured to the surface of the river with great cables. When the Eastern Wu forces arrived, drums thundered aboard the warships and bows and crossbows discharged together. The troops dared not advance and withdrew several li over the water. Gan Ning said to Dong Xi, “Matters have come to this; we have no choice but to advance.” They selected more than a hundred small boats and placed fifty picked soldiers in each. Twenty men handled the boats, while the other thirty donned armor and each grasped a steel saber. Heedless of arrows and stones, they drove straight alongside the armored warships and cut through the great cables, whereupon the warships swung broadside.

Gan Ning leaped aboard an armored warship and cut down Deng Long. Chen Jiu abandoned his vessel and fled. When Lü Meng saw this, he jumped into a small boat, seized an oar himself, and drove straight into the enemy fleet, setting fire to the ships. Chen Jiu hurried to gain the shore, but Lü Meng pursued him with utter disregard for his own life, caught him, and struck him full in the chest with his saber, cutting him down. By the time Su Fei led troops along the bank to reinforce them, the Wu army was pouring ashore in a body, its momentum irresistible. Huang Zu’s army suffered a crushing defeat. Su Fei fled into the wilderness and ran straight into Pan Zhang, a great general of Eastern Wu. Their horses crossed, and after only a few bouts Pan Zhang captured him alive and took him directly to Sun Quan aboard ship. Sun Quan ordered his attendants to imprison Su Fei in a caged cart, intending to execute him together with Huang Zu once the latter had been taken alive. He then urged all three armies onward, attacking Xiakou day and night without pause. Indeed:

Because he would not employ the Brocade-Sail Bandit,The great cable fleet was broken and thrown wide.

How Huang Zu fared in victory or defeat will be told in the next chapter.

The Threefold Realm Is Planned at Longzhong; The Suns Avenge Their Father on the Yangzi

Liu Bei had twice gone to visit Kongming without finding him at home, and now wished to go again. Guan Yu said, “Elder Brother, you have personally gone to pay your respects twice already. You have shown more than enough courtesy. I suspect Zhuge Liang has an empty reputation but no real learning, and therefore avoids you because he does not dare meet you. Why are you so captivated by this man?” Liu Bei said, “That is not so. Long ago, Duke Huan of Qi wished to meet the recluse of Dongguo, and only after five visits did he finally see him. How much more effort should I make when I wish to meet a great worthy?” Zhang Fei said, “Brother, you are mistaken. What makes you think this village rustic is some great worthy? This time you need not go. If he refuses to come, I’ll tie him up with a hemp rope and drag him here!” Liu Bei rebuked him: “Have neither of you heard how King Wen of Zhou paid a visit to Jiang Ziya? Even King Wen showed such respect for a worthy man. How can you be so rude? This time you stay behind. I will go with Yunzhang.” Zhang Fei said, “If both my elder brothers are going, how can I remain behind?” Liu Bei said, “If you come with us, you must not behave discourteously.”

Zhang Fei promised. The three men then mounted their horses and led their attendants toward Longzhong. Half a mile from the thatched cottage, Liu Bei dismounted and continued on foot. Just then he met Zhuge Jun. Liu Bei hastened to salute him and asked, “Is your elder brother at home?” Zhuge Jun said, “He returned only last evening. You may be able to meet him today, General.” With that, he lightly went on his way. Liu Bei said, “This time we are fortunate—we will finally meet the Master!” Zhang Fei said, “What an ill-mannered fellow! It would have done him no harm to lead us to the house. Why did he simply go off by himself?” Liu Bei said, “He has his own affairs. How could we compel him?”

The three men reached the house and knocked at the gate. The boy opened it and came out to ask their business. Liu Bei said, “Please be so kind as to announce that Liu Bei has come especially to pay his respects to the Master.” The boy said, “The Master is at home today, but he is taking his afternoon nap in the thatched hall and has not yet awakened.” Liu Bei said, “In that case, do not announce me yet.” He instructed Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to wait outside the gate. Liu Bei slowly entered and saw the Master lying on his back upon a couch in the thatched hall. Liu Bei stood below the steps with his hands respectfully clasped.

A long time passed, but the Master did not wake. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei had stood outside for a long while without seeing any activity, so they came in and saw Liu Bei still standing there in attendance. Zhang Fei was furious and said to Yunzhang, “How arrogant this Master is! He sees my brother standing below the steps, yet he lies there pretending to sleep and refuses to get up! Wait until I go around back and set fire to the house. Then we’ll see whether he gets up or not!” Yunzhang repeatedly dissuaded him. Liu Bei again ordered them both to wait outside the gate. When he looked toward the hall, he saw the Master turn over as though about to rise, but then he faced the inner wall and fell asleep again. The boy wished to announce Liu Bei, but Liu Bei said, “Do not disturb him yet.” After he had stood there for another two hours, Kongming finally awoke and recited:Who first awakens from the great dream?All my life I alone have known.My spring sleep in the thatched hall has been deep;Outside the window, the sun moves slowly on.

After reciting the poem, Kongming turned over and asked the boy, “Have any common guests come?” The boy said, “Imperial Uncle Liu is here and has been standing outside for a long time.” Kongming rose at once and said, “Why did you not tell me sooner? Ask him to wait while I change my clothes.” He then went into the rear hall. After another long interval, he emerged in proper cap and robes to welcome his guest. Liu Bei saw that Kongming stood eight feet tall, with a face as fine as polished jade. He wore a silk headcloth and a crane-feather cloak, and had the air of a transcendent immortal. Liu Bei bowed low and said, “I am an obscure descendant of the imperial house and an ignorant man from Zhuo Commandery. I have long heard your great name, Master, which has thundered in my ears. I came twice before to pay my respects but could not meet you. I left a note with my humble name upon your writing table, but I do not know whether you have read it.” Kongming said, “I am merely a rustic of Nanyang, indolent and careless by nature. General, you have honored my humble dwelling with repeated visits, and I am deeply ashamed.”

After exchanging courtesies, the two took their seats as host and guest. The boy served tea. When they had finished, Kongming said, “From the message you left, I saw clearly, General, how deeply you care for the people and the realm. I only regret that I am young and lacking in ability, and fear your request for advice has been misdirected.” Liu Bei said, “Could the words of Sima Decao and Xu Yuanzhi have been empty talk? I hope, Master, that you will not reject me for my humble worthlessness, but will stoop to instruct me.” Kongming said, “Decao and Yuanzhi are eminent scholars of the age. I am only a farmer. How would I dare discuss the affairs of the realm? Those two gentlemen have praised me mistakenly. Why, General, do you cast aside beautiful jade to seek a common stone?” Liu Bei said, “When a great man possesses extraordinary talent to govern the age, how can he idly grow old among forests and springs? I beg you, Master, to keep the suffering people of the realm in mind, enlighten me in my ignorance, and grant me your instruction.” Kongming smiled and said, “I would like to hear your ambition.” Liu Bei dismissed the attendants, drew his seat closer, and said, “The House of Han is collapsing, and treacherous ministers have usurped its authority. Though I have overestimated my own strength, I wish to uphold great righteousness throughout the realm. But my intelligence and skill are shallow and limited, and thus far I have achieved nothing. If you alone, Master, would enlighten my ignorance and rescue me from this predicament, it would be my greatest good fortune.”

Kongming said, “Since Dong Zhuo began his rebellion, heroes have risen everywhere across the realm. Cao Cao’s power was once inferior to Yuan Shao’s, yet he ultimately defeated Shao. This was due not only to favorable timing, but also to human strategy. Cao now commands a million men and uses the emperor’s authority to issue orders to the feudal lords. You truly cannot contend with him directly. Sun Quan occupies Jiangdong, which his family has held for three generations. Its terrain is defensible and its people are loyal. He may be used as an ally, but you must not plot against him. Jingzhou is protected to the north by the Han and Mian rivers; its resources extend south to the sea; it connects eastward with Wu and Kuaiji and westward with Ba and Shu. It is a region made for military operations, yet its present lord is incapable of holding it. This may be Heaven’s gift to you, General. How can you reject it? Yizhou is rugged and strongly defended, with a thousand miles of fertile land. It is a land of heavenly abundance, and Gaozu used it as the foundation of his imperial achievement. Now Liu Zhang is weak and unenlightened. His people are prosperous and his domain is rich, yet he does not know how to cherish and protect them. Men of intelligence and ability long for an enlightened ruler. General, you are a descendant of the imperial house; your trustworthiness and righteousness are renowned throughout the realm; you gather heroes around you and thirst for worthy men. If you take possession of Jingzhou and Yizhou, secure their rugged strongholds, make peace with the Rong tribes in the west, conciliate the Yi and Yue peoples in the south, form an alliance with Sun Quan abroad, and improve government and administration at home, then, when change comes to the realm, you may order one of your foremost generals to lead the forces of Jingzhou toward Wan and Luoyang, while you personally lead the army of Yizhou out through the Qin Riverlands. Would the common people not welcome you with baskets of food and jars of drink? If you truly act in this way, your great enterprise can succeed and the House of Han can be restored. This is the strategy I have devised for you, General. I ask you to consider it.” When he had finished, he ordered the boy to bring out a scroll map and hang it in the central hall. Pointing to it, he said to Liu Bei, “This is a map of the fifty-four prefectures of Western Chuan. If you wish to establish a hegemonic enterprise, let Cao Cao in the north possess the advantage of timing, and let Sun Quan in the south possess the advantage of terrain. You, General, can possess the allegiance of the people. First take Jingzhou as your home, and afterward seize Western Chuan as the foundation of your enterprise. This will create a three-legged balance of power, after which you may seek to conquer the Central Plain.”

On hearing this, Liu Bei left his seat, clasped his hands, and thanked him: “Your words, Master, have suddenly cleared away the confusion blocking my mind. I feel as though the clouds and mist have been swept aside and I can see the blue sky. But Liu Biao of Jingzhou and Liu Zhang of Yizhou are both kinsmen of the House of Han. How could I bear to take their lands from them?” Kongming said, “At night I have observed the signs in the heavens. Liu Biao will not remain long in this world. Liu Zhang is no lord capable of founding a great enterprise, and in time his territory will surely fall to you, General.” On hearing this, Liu Bei bowed his head to the floor in gratitude. From this single conversation, it can be seen that before Kongming had even left his thatched cottage, he already knew that the realm would be divided into three. Truly, no man throughout the ages could equal him. A later poet wrote in praise:That day, the lord of Yuzhou lamented his lonely plight;How fortunate that Nanyang possessed the Sleeping Dragon.If you would know where the realm’s tripod would stand in later years,See the Master smiling as he points it out upon the map.

Liu Bei bowed and appealed to Kongming: “Though my reputation is slight and my virtue meager, I beg you, Master, not to reject me for my humble worthlessness, but to leave these mountains and assist me. I will respectfully heed your enlightened instruction.” Kongming said, “I have long taken pleasure in plowing and hoeing. I am too indolent to involve myself in the affairs of the age and cannot obey your request.” Liu Bei wept and said, “If you will not come forth, Master, what will become of the suffering people?” When he had spoken, his tears soaked his sleeves and drenched the front of his robe. Seeing the profound sincerity of his intentions, Kongming said, “Since you do not reject me, General, I am willing to serve you with all the devotion of a dog or horse.”

Liu Bei was overjoyed and ordered Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to enter, bow, and present gifts of gold and silk. Kongming firmly declined to accept them. Liu Bei said, “These are not sufficient gifts with which to engage a great worthy. They merely express the sincerity in Liu Bei’s heart.” Only then did Kongming accept them. Liu Bei and the others stayed together at the house that night. The following day, Zhuge Jun returned, and Kongming instructed him: “I have received the grace of Imperial Uncle Liu’s three visits, so I cannot refuse to go with him. You may continue farming here yourself, but do not let the fields become overgrown. When I have accomplished my work, I will return and retire.” A later poet lamented:Before he had risen, he already thought of withdrawing;Once success was won, he should have recalled his words upon departing.Only because the Former Lord entrusted the future so earnestly,His star fell in the autumn wind over Wuzhang Plain.

There is also an old-style ballad:Emperor Gao raised in his hand a three-foot blade bright as snow;At Mount Mangdang, the white serpent spilled its blood by night.He pacified Qin, destroyed Chu, and entered Xianyang;Yet two hundred years ago, the dynasty nearly met its end.Great indeed was Guangwu, who restored it at Luoyang;But by the reigns of Huan and Ling, it fractured once again.Emperor Xian moved the capital and took refuge in Xuchang;Across the four seas, heroes rose in throngs.Cao Cao monopolized power and gained the advantage of timing;The Sun clan in Jiangdong began its magnificent enterprise.Liu Bei, alone and destitute, wandered throughout the realm;Living alone in Xinye, he grieved that the people were in peril.Nanyang’s Sleeping Dragon harbored lofty ambitions;Within his breast, mighty armies deployed in orthodox and unexpected formations.Only because of Xu Shu’s words upon departing,Three visits to the thatched cottage brought two hearts to mutual understanding.The Master was then twenty-seven years old;He packed his zither and books and left the fields.First take Jingzhou, then take Chuan:Thus he unfolded statecraft with hands that could mend Heaven.He moved his pieces while his tongue stirred wind and thunder;Amid talk and laughter, his mind transformed the stars.Soaring like a dragon and watching like a tiger, he brought peace to the world;For ten thousand ages his immortal name shall endure.

Liu Bei and his two brothers took leave of Zhuge Jun and returned to Xinye with Kongming. Liu Bei treated Kongming as his teacher: they ate at the same table, slept on the same couch, and discussed the affairs of the realm throughout the day. Kongming said, “Cao Cao has built the Xuanwu Pool in Jizhou to train a naval force. He must intend to invade the lands south of the Yangtze. You should secretly send someone across the river to investigate the true situation.” Liu Bei followed his advice and sent a man to Jiangdong to gather information.

After Sun Ce’s death, Sun Quan occupied Jiangdong and inherited the foundation established by his father and elder brother. He recruited worthy men on a broad scale and opened guest lodges in Wu and Kuaiji, appointing Gu Yong and Zhang Hong to receive visitors from every quarter. Over the years, one man recommended another. Among those who came to Jiangdong were Kan Ze of Kuaiji, styled Derun; Yan Jun of Pengcheng, styled Mancai; Xue Zong of Pei County, styled Jingwen; Cheng Bing of Runan, styled Deshu; Zhu Huan of Wu Commandery, styled Xiumu; Lu Ji, styled Gongji; Zhang Wen of Wu, styled Huishu; Luo Tong of Kuaiji, styled Gongxu; and Wu Can of Wucheng, styled Kongxiu. Sun Quan treated them all with great respect and courtesy. He also obtained several able generals: Lü Meng of Ruyang, styled Ziming; Lu Xun of Wu Commandery, styled Boyan; Xu Sheng of Langya, styled Wenxiang; Pan Zhang of Dong Commandery, styled Wengui; and Ding Feng of Lujiang, styled Chengyuan. These civil and military officers assisted him together. From then on, Jiangdong became renowned for its abundance of talented men.

In the seventh year of Jian’an, after Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shao, he sent an envoy to Jiangdong ordering Sun Quan to send a son to court to attend the imperial entourage. Sun Quan hesitated and could not decide. Lady Wu summoned Zhou Yu, Zhang Zhao, and the others to discuss the matter face-to-face. Zhang Zhao said, “Cao Cao wants us to send a son to court as a means of keeping the feudal lords under his control. But if we refuse, I fear he will raise an army and descend upon Jiangdong, placing us in grave danger.” Zhou Yu said, “General, you have inherited the enterprise left by your father and elder brother, and you command the people of six commanderies. Your soldiers are elite, your provisions abundant, and your officers and men ready to obey your orders. What pressure compels you to send a hostage to another man? Once the hostage enters his hands, we will have no choice but to ally ourselves with the Cao clan. Whenever he summons us, we will have no choice but to go. In that way, we would be controlled by another. It would be better not to send him. We can calmly observe developments and devise another sound strategy to resist Cao Cao.” Lady Wu said, “Gongjin’s words are correct.” Sun Quan therefore followed his advice, declined the envoy’s demand, and did not send his son. From then on, Cao Cao intended to march south of the Yangtze. But because the north was not yet pacified, he had no time for a southern campaign.

In the eleventh month of the eighth year of Jian’an, Sun Quan led an army against Huang Zu, and they fought upon the Yangtze. Huang Zu’s army was defeated. Sun Quan’s general Ling Cao led the way in a light vessel and fought his way into Xiakou, but Huang Zu’s officer Gan Ning shot him dead with an arrow. Ling Cao’s son Ling Tong, who was only fifteen years old at the time, fought fiercely to recover his father’s body and brought it back. Seeing that conditions were unfavorable, Sun Quan withdrew his army and returned to Eastern Wu.

Sun Quan’s younger brother Sun Yi was Administrator of Danyang. Sun Yi was harsh by nature and fond of wine, and when drunk he often flogged his soldiers. Gui Lan, the military commander of Danyang, and Dai Yuan, the commandery assistant, had long harbored thoughts of killing him. They made a confidant of Bian Hong, one of Sun Yi’s attendants, and together plotted Sun Yi’s murder. At that time, the various generals and county magistrates had all gathered in Danyang. Sun Yi arranged a banquet to receive them. His wife, Lady Xu, was beautiful and intelligent, and exceptionally skilled in divination by the Book of Changes. That day she cast a hexagram whose signs were extremely ominous, and she urged Sun Yi not to go out and meet his guests. Sun Yi refused to listen and proceeded to the great gathering.

That evening, when the banquet ended, Bian Hong followed Sun Yi outside carrying a sword. He immediately drew it and hacked Sun Yi to death. Gui Lan and Dai Yuan then laid all the blame upon Bian Hong and had him beheaded in the marketplace. Taking advantage of the situation, the two men seized Sun Yi’s family property and concubines. When Gui Lan saw Lady Xu’s beauty, he said to her, “I avenged your husband. You must now submit to me. If you refuse, you will die.” Lady Xu said, “My husband has only just died, and I cannot bear to submit to you at once. Wait until the last day of the month, when I will hold a sacrifice and put off my mourning clothes. It will not be too late for us to marry afterward.”

Gui Lan agreed. Lady Xu then secretly summoned Sun Gao and Fu Ying, two veteran officers who had been Sun Yi’s trusted confidants, into the residence. Weeping, she told them, “While my late husband lived, he often spoke of your loyalty and righteousness. Now the two traitors Gui Lan and Dai Yuan conspired to murder my husband, but placed all the blame upon Bian Hong. They have divided between them all my family property, serving boys, and maidservants. Gui Lan also intends to take me by force. I have pretended to consent so that he will lower his guard. You two generals must send a man to report to the Marquis of Wu with all possible speed, while secretly devising a plan to destroy these two traitors and avenge this hatred and humiliation. Whether I live or die, I will remain forever grateful!” When she had finished, she bowed twice. Sun Gao and Fu Ying both wept and said, “We have always been grateful for the Administrator’s kindness and favor. The only reason we did not immediately die with him was that we were waiting for a chance to avenge him. Since you command us, Madam, how could we dare not exert ourselves?”

They then secretly sent a trusted messenger to report to Sun Quan. On the last day of the month, Lady Xu first summoned Sun Gao and Fu Ying and concealed them behind curtains in a private chamber. She then arranged a sacrifice in the main hall. When the sacrifice was over, she removed her mourning clothes, bathed, perfumed herself with incense, put on splendid makeup and gorgeous clothes, and spoke and laughed as though nothing troubled her.

Gui Lan was delighted when he heard of this. That night, Lady Xu sent a maidservant to invite him into the residence. A banquet was laid in the hall, where he drank wine. Once he was drunk, Lady Xu invited him into the private chamber. Gui Lan was overjoyed and entered in his drunken state. Lady Xu cried out, “Where are Generals Sun and Fu?” The two men instantly leaped from behind the curtains with swords in their hands. Taken completely by surprise, Gui Lan was struck down by a single blow from Fu Ying. Sun Gao followed with another blow and killed him on the spot. Lady Xu then sent another invitation asking Dai Yuan to come to the banquet. When Dai Yuan entered the residence and reached the hall, he too was killed by Generals Sun and Fu. At the same time, they sent men to exterminate the families of the two traitors and all the rest of their faction. Lady Xu then put her mourning clothes back on and offered the heads of Gui Lan and Dai Yuan before Sun Yi’s spirit tablet. Within a few days, Sun Quan personally led an army to Danyang. When he saw that Lady Xu had already killed the two traitors Gui and Dai, he appointed Sun Gao and Fu Ying as Gate Commandants and ordered them to guard Danyang. He then took Lady Xu back to his own household, where she could live out her old age. No one in Jiangdong failed to praise Lady Xu’s virtue. A later poet wrote in praise:Talent and honor both complete—a thing the world rarely sees;In a single day, the wicked were struck down and destroyed.Mediocre officers followed traitors while loyal officers died;None could equal Eastern Wu’s heroic woman.

Meanwhile, the mountain bandits throughout Eastern Wu were all pacified. More than seven thousand warships sailed upon the Yangtze. Sun Quan appointed Zhou Yu Grand Commander and placed him in overall command of Jiangdong’s land and naval forces. In the tenth month, during the winter of the twelfth year of Jian’an, Sun Quan’s mother, Lady Wu, fell gravely ill. She summoned Zhou Yu and Zhang Zhao and said to them, “I was originally from Wu. My parents died when I was young, and I moved with my younger brother Wu Jing to the region of Yue. I later married into the Sun family and bore four sons. When my eldest son Ce was born, I dreamed that the moon entered my breast. Later, when I gave birth to my second son Quan, I dreamed that the sun entered my breast. A diviner said, ‘When a woman dreams that the sun or moon enters her breast, her son is certain to attain high rank.’ Unfortunately, Ce died young, and now the foundation of Jiangdong has been entrusted to Quan. I hope you gentlemen will unite in assisting him. Then even after I die, I will not perish!” She also instructed Sun Quan: “Treat Zibu and Gongjin with the respect due to teachers and mentors, and never neglect them. My younger sister and I both married your father, so she too is your mother. After my death, serve my sister as you have served me. You must also care kindly for your own younger sister and choose a worthy husband for her.”

When she had finished speaking, she died. Sun Quan wept bitterly and performed all the proper funeral rites, which need not be recounted. In the spring of the following year, Sun Quan discussed launching an attack upon Huang Zu. Zhang Zhao said, “Not even a full year of mourning has passed. You must not mobilize the army.” Zhou Yu said, “Why wait a full year to take revenge and wipe away our hatred?” Sun Quan hesitated and could not decide. Just then Lü Meng, Commandant of Beiping, came to see him and reported: “While I was guarding the mouth of Longqiu, Gan Ning, one of Huang Zu’s officers, suddenly came to surrender. I questioned him closely. Ning is styled Xingba and is a native of Linjiang in Ba Commandery. He is well read in the classics and histories, possesses great strength, and delights in the life of a wandering knight. He once gathered fugitives around him and roamed freely across the rivers and lakes. He wore copper bells at his waist, and whenever people heard the bells, they all moved out of his way. He also used brocade from Western Chuan for his sails and awnings, so the people of the time called him the ‘Brocade-Sail Bandit.’ Later he regretted his former wrongs, reformed his ways, and led his followers to join Liu Biao. When he saw that Biao was incapable of accomplishing anything, he decided to come to Eastern Wu, but Huang Zu detained him at Xiakou.

“When Eastern Wu previously defeated Huang Zu, Zu relied upon Gan Ning’s strength to escape back to Xiakou, yet afterward treated Ning very poorly. Commander Su Fei repeatedly recommended Ning to Huang Zu, but Zu said, ‘Ning is nothing but a river pirate. How could I entrust him with an important position?’ Ning therefore bore a grudge. Su Fei understood his feelings, so he prepared wine, invited Ning to his home, and said to him, ‘I have recommended you several times, but unfortunately my lord will not employ you. The days and months pass swiftly, and how much time does a man have in his life? You should make plans for your own future. I will recommend you as Chief of E County, and from there you may decide for yourself whether to stay or go.’ Ning was thus able to leave Xiakou. He wished to join Jiangdong, but feared that the people of Jiangdong would hate him because he had saved Huang Zu and killed Ling Cao. I explained fully that you, my lord, thirst for worthy men and do not remember old grievances. Besides, each man was serving his own master, so what cause was there for hatred? Ning gladly led his followers across the river and has come to see you, my lord. I respectfully ask you to decide the matter.”

Sun Quan was delighted and said, “Now that I have Xingba, Huang Zu is certain to be defeated.” He ordered Lü Meng to bring Gan Ning in to see him. After Gan Ning had bowed, Sun Quan said, “Xingba, your coming here greatly pleases me. How could I possibly hold a grudge against you? Have no doubts. Please teach me a strategy for defeating Huang Zu.” Gan Ning said, “The fortunes of the Han are declining day by day, and Cao Cao will ultimately usurp the throne. Cao is certain to contend for the lands south of Jingzhou. Liu Biao has no long-range plans, and his sons are foolish and inferior, incapable of inheriting and preserving his enterprise. You should make plans for the region soon, my lord. If you delay, Cao Cao will seize it first. For now, you should begin by taking Huang Zu. Zu is old and muddleheaded, and concerns himself only with profit. He exploits his officials and people, and all their hearts are filled with resentment. His weapons and equipment are neglected, and his army lacks discipline. If you attack him, my lord, he will certainly be defeated. Once his army has been destroyed, march westward in triumph, occupy the passes of Chu, and then plan to take Ba and Shu. Your hegemonic enterprise can thus be established.”

Sun Quan said, “These are words as precious as gold and jade!” He appointed Zhou Yu Grand Commander with overall command of the land and naval forces; Lü Meng as vanguard of the forward division; and Dong Xi and Gan Ning as deputy generals. Sun Quan himself led a great army of one hundred thousand men to attack Huang Zu. When Huang Zu’s spies learned of this, they carried the report to Jiangxia. Huang Zu hastily gathered his officers to discuss the matter. He appointed Su Fei as chief general and Chen Jiu and Deng Long as vanguards, then mobilized all the troops of Jiangxia to meet the enemy. Chen Jiu and Deng Long each led a squadron of armored warships to block the mouth of the Mian River. Each warship was equipped with more than a thousand powerful bows and heavy crossbows, and thick cables anchored the vessels in place upon the water. When the Eastern Wu forces arrived, drums sounded aboard the warships and the bows and crossbows fired together. The Wu soldiers did not dare advance and withdrew several miles across the water. Gan Ning said to Dong Xi, “Matters have come to this. We have no choice but to advance.” He selected more than a hundred small boats, placing fifty elite soldiers aboard each. Twenty men rowed while thirty wore armor and carried steel swords. Braving the arrows and stones, they went straight alongside the warships and hacked through the thick cables, causing the ships to swing sideways.

Gan Ning leaped aboard one of the warships and cut down Deng Long. Chen Jiu abandoned his ship and fled. Seeing this, Lü Meng jumped into a small boat, personally seized the oars, and drove straight into the enemy fleet, where he set fire to the ships. Chen Jiu hurried toward the shore, but Lü Meng recklessly pursued him, caught up, and struck him across the chest with one slash, cutting him down. By the time Su Fei led troops to support them from the shore, the entire Wu army had landed and its force was irresistible. Huang Zu’s army suffered a crushing defeat. Su Fei fled into the wilderness and ran directly into Pan Zhang, a general of Eastern Wu. Their horses met, and after only a few bouts, Pan Zhang captured Su Fei alive and took him straight to Sun Quan’s ship. Sun Quan ordered his attendants to confine Su Fei in a caged cart until Huang Zu was captured alive, when they would be executed together. He then urged all three armies onward, attacking Xiakou day and night. Truly:Because he would not employ the Brocade-Sail Bandit,The great cable ships were broken through.What became of Huang Zu, and whether he won or lost, will be told in the next chapter.