Chapter 68

Gan Ning Raids the Wei Camp with a Hundred Horsemen; Zuo Ci Tosses a Cup to Mock Cao Cao

Now Sun Quan was mustering his troops at Ruxu Estuary when word suddenly came that Cao Cao had led an army of four hundred thousand from Hanzhong to relieve Hefei. Sun Quan consulted with his advisers, then first assigned Dong Xi and Xu Sheng to command fifty large ships and lie in ambush at Ruxu Estuary; Chen Wu was ordered to lead troops in patrols along the riverbanks. Zhang Zhao said, “Cao Cao has come from afar. We must first blunt his keen edge.” Sun Quan therefore asked those beneath his command, “Cao Cao has come a great distance. Who dares lead the attack and defeat the enemy, to blunt his keen edge?” Ling Tong stepped forward and said, “I am willing to go.” Sun Quan asked, “How many troops will you take?” Ling Tong replied, “Three thousand will be enough.” Gan Ning said, “A hundred horsemen are all I need to break the enemy. Why take three thousand?” Ling Tong flew into a rage, and the two began contending with each other before Sun Quan. Sun Quan said, “Cao Cao’s forces are powerful. The enemy must not be taken lightly.” He then ordered Ling Tong to lead three thousand troops out from Ruxu Estuary to reconnoiter and to engage Cao Cao’s soldiers if he encountered them.

Ling Tong accepted the command and led his three thousand troops out of the Ruxu stockade. Where clouds of dust arose, Cao Cao’s soldiers had already arrived. Their vanguard commander, Zhang Liao, engaged Ling Tong, and they fought fifty bouts without either gaining the advantage. Fearing that Ling Tong might come to harm, Sun Quan ordered Lü Meng to go to his support and bring him back to camp. When Gan Ning saw Ling Tong return, he said to Sun Quan, “Tonight I shall take only one hundred horsemen to raid Cao Cao’s camp. If I lose so much as one man or one horse, let the deed count for nothing.” Sun Quan admired his valor and assigned him one hundred picked cavalrymen from his own command, together with fifty jars of wine and fifty catties of mutton as a reward for the soldiers. Gan Ning returned to his camp and ordered the hundred men to sit in ranks. First he filled a silver bowl with wine and drank two bowls himself. Then he addressed the hundred men: “Tonight we have orders to raid the enemy camp. I ask each of you gentlemen to drain a full bowl and strive boldly forward.” At these words, the men looked uneasily at one another. Seeing hesitation on their faces, Gan Ning drew his sword and angrily rebuked them: “I am a chief commander, yet even I do not begrudge my life. How dare you hesitate?” Seeing Gan Ning’s wrath, they all rose and bowed, saying, “We are willing to fight to the death.”

Gan Ning shared the wine and meat with the hundred men. When they had finished eating, it was nearly the second watch. He took a hundred white goose feathers and had each man place one in his helmet as a sign. All donned armor, mounted their horses, and galloped to the edge of Cao Cao’s camp. Tearing aside the chevaux-de-frise, they gave a mighty shout and charged into the encampment, heading straight for the central command to kill Cao Cao. But the troops around the central command had placed wagons and weapons across the approaches and linked them together in a ring as tight as an iron barrel, so the raiders could not break through. With only his hundred horsemen, Gan Ning charged left and right. Cao Cao’s troops panicked, having no idea how many enemies had entered, and fell into confusion among themselves. Gan Ning’s hundred riders galloped wildly through the camp, killing everyone they encountered. Drums and shouts arose from every division; torches flared like stars, and battle cries thundered on every side. Gan Ning fought his way out through the camp’s southern gate, and no one dared stand against him. Sun Quan ordered Zhou Tai to lead a detachment to his support. Gan Ning brought all hundred horsemen safely back to Ruxu. Fearing an ambush, Cao Cao’s troops did not dare pursue. A later poet praised the deed:

War drums thundered till the earth itself shook;Where Wu’s host passed, ghosts and spirits quailed.A hundred plumes pierced straight through Cao Cao’s camp,And all proclaimed Gan Ning a tiger general.

Gan Ning led his hundred horsemen back to camp without losing a single man or horse. At the camp gate he ordered all hundred men to beat drums and play flutes while crying, “Ten thousand years!” Their triumphant cheers shook the air. Sun Quan came out in person to welcome them. Gan Ning dismounted and bowed to the ground. Sun Quan raised him up, took him by the hand, and said, “Your exploit was enough to strike terror into the old villain. It was not that I wished to cast you away; I merely wanted to see the full measure of your courage.” He at once awarded him a thousand bolts of silk and a hundred keen blades. Gan Ning bowed, accepted the gifts, and distributed them among the hundred men. Sun Quan told his commanders, “Mengde has Zhang Liao, but I have Gan Xingba. They are well matched.”

The next day, Zhang Liao led troops forth to challenge them. Seeing the honors Gan Ning had won, Ling Tong cried with fierce resolve, “I wish to oppose Zhang Liao.” Sun Quan gave his consent. Ling Tong then led five thousand troops out from Ruxu, while Sun Quan himself took Gan Ning with him to observe the battle. When the opposing formations had been drawn up, Zhang Liao rode forth, with Li Dian on his left and Yue Jin on his right. Ling Tong spurred his horse, raised his saber, and rode before the lines. Zhang Liao sent Yue Jin out to meet him. The two fought fifty bouts without either gaining the advantage. When Cao Cao heard of it, he personally rode beneath the gate banner to watch. Seeing the two commanders locked in fierce combat, he ordered Cao Xiu to loose a stealthy arrow. Cao Xiu slipped behind Zhang Liao, drew his bow, and shot an arrow that struck Ling Tong’s horse squarely. The animal reared upright and hurled Ling Tong to the ground. Yue Jin hastily leveled his spear and rushed forward to stab him. Before the spear could reach him, a bowstring twanged, and an arrow struck Yue Jin in the face, toppling him from his horse. Both armies surged forward, each rescuing one commander and bearing him back to camp; then the gongs sounded and the fighting ceased. Ling Tong returned to the stockade and bowed in gratitude to Sun Quan. Sun Quan said, “The man who saved you with that arrow was Gan Ning.” Ling Tong thereupon bowed his head to the ground before Gan Ning and said, “I never thought you could show me such great kindness!” From that day forward, he and Gan Ning became sworn companions in life and death, and never again bore ill will toward each other.

Now when Cao Cao saw that Yue Jin had been wounded by an arrow, he went personally to his tent to tend him. The next day he divided his forces into five columns to attack Ruxu. Cao Cao himself commanded the center; Zhang Liao led the first column on the left, Li Dian the second; Xu Huang led the first column on the right, Pang De the second. Each column had ten thousand men, and all swept toward the riverbank. At that time Dong Xi and Xu Sheng were aboard the ships. When they saw the five columns approaching, fear showed on the faces of their soldiers. Xu Sheng said, “We receive our lord’s pay and must loyally serve his cause. What is there to fear?” He then led several hundred warriors across to the riverbank in small boats and charged into Li Dian’s army. Dong Xi remained aboard ship and ordered his men to beat the drums and raise shouts to bolster their comrades. Suddenly a violent gale swept over the river. White-crested waves towered to the sky, and the waters surged tumultuously. Seeing that the great ships were about to capsize, the soldiers scrambled down into the small craft to save their lives. Dong Xi brandished his sword and shouted, “As a commander, I have received my lord’s order to defend this place against the enemy. How dare any of you abandon ship?” On the spot he beheaded more than ten men who tried to leave the vessel. In a moment the gale intensified and the ship overturned; Dong Xi drowned in the waters at the river mouth. Meanwhile, Xu Sheng charged back and forth through Li Dian’s army.

Now Chen Wu heard the fighting on the riverbank and led a force toward it. He encountered Pang De, and the two armies fell into a confused battle. Inside the Ruxu stockade, Sun Quan heard that Cao Cao’s troops had reached the riverbank. He personally led troops with Zhou Tai to reinforce the battle. Seeing Xu Sheng embroiled in fierce fighting within Li Dian’s army, he waved his troops forward to support him. But then Zhang Liao’s and Xu Huang’s two forces closed around Sun Quan and trapped him at the heart of the encirclement. From high ground Cao Cao saw that Sun Quan was surrounded and urgently ordered Xu Chu to spur his horse, wield his saber, and charge into the battle. Xu Chu split Sun Quan’s army in two, leaving each half unable to aid the other.

Now Zhou Tai fought his way out of the army and reached the riverbank, but when he could not find Sun Quan, he reined around and charged back into the battle from the outside. He asked the soldiers of his own division, “Where is our lord?” Pointing toward the densest mass of troops, they replied, “Our lord is hard pressed within the encirclement!” Zhou Tai plunged bodily into the fray and found Sun Quan. “My lord, follow me and we shall fight our way out,” he said. Zhou Tai went first and Sun Quan followed, and they charged forward with all their might. When Zhou Tai reached the riverbank, he looked back and again could not see Sun Quan. He wheeled around once more, fought his way back into the encirclement, and found Sun Quan again. Sun Quan said, “The bows and crossbows are all shooting at once. We cannot break out. What are we to do?” Zhou Tai replied, “My lord, ride in front and I shall follow behind. Then we can escape the encirclement.”

Sun Quan spurred his horse forward. Zhou Tai shielded him on both sides, suffering several spear wounds, while arrows pierced his layered armor; yet he succeeded in saving Sun Quan. When they reached the riverbank, Lü Meng came with a naval force to receive them aboard the ships. Sun Quan said, “Only through Zhou Tai’s three desperate charges have I escaped that close encirclement. But Xu Sheng is still trapped at its heart. How can he break free?” Zhou Tai said, “I shall go and rescue him too.” Whirling his spear, he turned back and once again charged into the dense encirclement, from which he rescued Xu Sheng. Both commanders bore grievous wounds. Lü Meng ordered his soldiers to hold the enemy on the bank at bay with volleys of arrows, while the two wounded commanders were helped aboard.

Now Chen Wu had fought a great battle with Pang De, but no reinforcements came up behind him. Pang De drove him to the mouth of a valley, where the woods grew thick and tangled. Chen Wu was about to turn and fight again when a tree caught the sleeve of his robe. Unable to meet the enemy, he was slain by Pang De. Seeing that Sun Quan had escaped, Cao Cao personally spurred his horse and drove his troops to the riverbank, where they exchanged arrows with the enemy. Lü Meng’s supply of arrows was exhausted, and just as he fell into alarm, a squadron of ships suddenly approached from across the river. At its head was a great commander, Lu Xun, Sun Ce’s son-in-law, who had personally brought one hundred thousand troops. A single volley drove back Cao Cao’s soldiers; then, taking advantage of their retreat, Lu Xun landed his forces and pursued them, seizing several thousand warhorses. The number of Cao Cao’s wounded troops was beyond reckoning, and his army returned in utter defeat. Amid the confusion of the battlefield, Chen Wu’s body was found.

When Sun Quan learned that Chen Wu had fallen and that Dong Xi had drowned in the river, his grief was profound. He ordered men into the water to recover Dong Xi’s body and had it buried with full honors together with Chen Wu’s. Deeply moved by Zhou Tai’s service in protecting and rescuing him, he also held a banquet in Zhou Tai’s honor. Sun Quan personally filled a cup for him, stroked his back, and said with tears streaming down his face, “Twice you saved me without sparing your own life. You suffered scores of spear wounds, until your skin is carved as if by knives. How could I then fail to treat you with the affection due my own flesh and blood and entrust you with the grave responsibility of commanding troops? You are my meritorious servant, and I shall share honor and disgrace, joy and sorrow with you.” When he had finished speaking, he ordered Zhou Tai to remove his garments so that all the commanders might see. The flesh of his body looked as though it had been gouged with knives, and twisted scars covered him from head to foot. Sun Quan pointed to each scar in turn and asked how it had been received. Zhou Tai gave a full account of the battle in which each wound had been suffered. For every wound, Sun Quan made him drink a great cup of wine. That day Zhou Tai became thoroughly drunk. Sun Quan bestowed upon him a blue silk parasol and ordered that it be carried over him whenever he came or went, as a mark of distinction.

Sun Quan remained at Ruxu opposing Cao Cao for more than a month, but could gain no victory. Zhang Zhao and Gu Yong submitted this counsel: “Cao Cao’s power is great and cannot be overcome by force. If we wage a protracted war against him, we shall suffer grievous losses among our soldiers. It would be better to seek peace and bring security to the people.” Sun Quan followed their advice and sent Bu Zhi to Cao Cao’s camp to ask for peace, promising an annual tribute. Cao Cao saw that Jiangnan could not be conquered in haste, so he agreed, but gave this order: “Sun Quan must withdraw his troops first. Only then shall I recall my army.” Bu Zhi returned and reported this. Sun Quan left only Jiang Qin and Zhou Tai to guard Ruxu Estuary, then embarked the whole of his main army and returned to Moling.

Cao Cao left Cao Ren and Zhang Liao to garrison Hefei, then recalled his army to Xuchang. All the civil and military officials urged that Cao Cao be made King of Wei. The Imperial Secretary Cui Yan argued forcefully that this must not be done. The assembled officials said, “Have you alone failed to see what befell Xun Wenruo?” Cui Yan flew into a rage and cried, “The times! The times! A great change must come! Do as you please!” One who was at odds with Cui Yan reported these words to Cao Cao. Cao Cao was furious and had Cui Yan arrested and imprisoned for interrogation. With his tiger eyes and curling beard, Cui Yan did nothing but revile Cao Cao as a treacherous villain who deceived his sovereign. When the Commandant of Justice reported this to Cao Cao, Cao Cao ordered Cui Yan beaten to death in prison. A later poet praised him:

Cui Yan of Qinghe, steadfast by nature,With curling beard and fierce tiger eyes;His heart was iron, his spirit stone.Before him the wicked shrank away;Resounding and lofty were his fame and honor.Loyal in heart to the sovereign of Han,His glorious name shall endure through the ages!

In the twenty-first year of Jian’an, in the fifth month of summer, the assembled ministers submitted a memorial to Emperor Xian praising the achievements and virtues of Cao Cao, Duke of Wei, as reaching to the utmost bounds of heaven and earth and surpassing even those of Yi Yin and the Duke of Zhou. They declared that he should be elevated to the rank of king. Emperor Xian at once ordered Zhong Yao to draft an edict investing Cao Cao as King of Wei. As a show of humility, Cao Cao submitted three memorials declining the honor. Three times the edict replied that his refusal would not be accepted. Cao Cao then bowed to the command and accepted the title of King of Wei. His ceremonial crown bore twelve pendant strands; he rode in a Gold-Radix chariot drawn by six horses; he used the chariots, robes, bells, and insignia of the Son of Heaven; heralds cleared the road when he went forth and barred passage when he entered. In Ye Commandery he built a palace for the King of Wei and began deliberating whom to appoint as heir. Cao Cao’s principal wife, Lady Ding, had borne no children. His concubine Lady Liu had borne Cao Ang, who died at Wancheng during the campaign against Zhang Xiu. Lady Bian had borne four sons: the eldest was Cao Pi, the second Cao Zhang, the third Cao Zhi, and the fourth Cao Xiong. Cao Cao therefore removed Lady Ding and established Lady Bian as consort to the King of Wei.

The third son, Cao Zhi, whose style was Zijian, was extraordinarily intelligent and could produce a polished composition the moment he took up his brush. Cao Cao wished to establish him as his heir. The eldest son, Cao Pi, feared that he would not be chosen, and so asked the Grand Palace Counselor Jia Xu for advice. Jia Xu instructed him what to do. From that time forward, whenever Cao Cao went on campaign and his sons came to see him off, Cao Zhi would extol his father’s achievements and virtues, his every utterance forming a polished composition. Cao Pi alone, when taking leave of his father, would merely shed tears and bow, moving everyone around him to sorrow. Cao Cao therefore began to suspect that Cao Zhi was artful and clever but less sincere than Cao Pi. Cao Pi also sent men to bribe Cao Cao’s close attendants, who all spoke highly of his virtue. When Cao Cao wished to establish an heir, he hesitated and could not decide, so he asked Jia Xu, “I wish to appoint my successor. Whom should I choose?” Jia Xu gave no answer. Cao Cao asked why, and Jia Xu replied, “I was considering something, and therefore could not answer at once.” Cao Cao asked, “What were you considering?” Jia Xu replied, “I was thinking of Yuan Benchu and Liu Jingsheng and their sons.” Cao Cao laughed heartily and thereupon established his eldest son, Cao Pi, as heir to the king.

In the tenth month of winter, the palace of the King of Wei was completed. Agents were sent to every region to collect rare flowers and exotic fruits for planting in the rear gardens. One envoy came to the lands of Wu, where he saw Sun Quan and conveyed the King of Wei’s command before proceeding to Wenzhou to obtain mandarins. At that time Sun Quan was showing deference to the King of Wei, so he had more than forty loads of large mandarins selected within his own city and sent by forced marches to Ye Commandery. Midway on the journey, the porters grew exhausted beneath their shoulder poles and rested at the foot of a mountain. There they saw a gentleman blind in one eye and lame in one leg, wearing a white rattan cap on his head, a dark-green robe on his body, and wooden clogs on his feet. He came forward, saluted the porters, and said, “You are weary from carrying these loads. How would you like this poor Taoist to carry one stage for each of you?” The men were delighted. The gentleman then carried each load for five li. Yet every load he had carried afterward became lighter. Everyone was astonished and suspicious. Before leaving, the gentleman said to the official in charge of the mandarins, “This poor Taoist is an old acquaintance from the King of Wei’s native district. My surname is Zuo, my given name Ci, and my style Yuanfang. My Taoist title is Master Black Horn. When you reach Ye Commandery, you may convey Zuo Ci’s regards.” With that, he flicked his sleeves and departed.

The men transporting the mandarins reached Ye Commandery, obtained an audience with Cao Cao, and presented the fruit. Cao Cao personally cut one open, but it was nothing more than an empty rind, with no flesh inside. Greatly astonished, Cao Cao questioned the men who had brought them. They told him what had happened with Zuo Ci, but Cao Cao was unwilling to believe them. Suddenly a gate officer reported, “A gentleman calling himself Zuo Ci requests an audience with Your Majesty.” Cao Cao summoned him inside. The man who had brought the mandarins said, “This is the very man we saw on the road.” Cao Cao rebuked him: “By what sorcery did you steal away my fine fruit?” Zuo Ci laughed and said, “How could such a thing be?” He took up mandarins and cut them open, and all were full of flesh and exceedingly sweet. Yet every one Cao Cao cut open himself was only an empty rind.

Cao Cao was more astonished than ever. He granted Zuo Ci a seat and questioned him. Zuo Ci asked for wine and meat, and Cao Cao ordered them given to him. Zuo Ci drank five dou of wine without becoming drunk and ate the flesh of an entire sheep without being satisfied. Cao Cao asked, “What arts do you possess that enable you to do such things?” Zuo Ci replied, “This poor Taoist studied the Way for thirty years on Mount Emei by the Jialing River in Western Chuan. One day I suddenly heard a voice within a stone cliff calling my name, but when I looked, I saw nothing. This happened for several days. Then suddenly heavenly thunder shattered the cliff, revealing three volumes of a celestial book entitled The Heavenly Book of Hidden Transformations. The first volume is called ‘Heavenly Concealment,’ the middle volume ‘Earthly Concealment,’ and the last volume ‘Human Concealment.’ Heavenly Concealment enables one to mount the clouds, ride the wind, and soar into the great void. Earthly Concealment enables one to pass through mountains and penetrate stone. Human Concealment enables one to wander on the clouds throughout the Four Seas, hide or transform one’s shape, and send flying swords and hurled blades to take men’s heads. Your Majesty has attained the highest rank possible for a subject. Why not step back, follow this poor Taoist to Mount Emei, and cultivate the Way? I shall then transmit the three volumes of the celestial book to you.” Cao Cao said, “I too have long wished to withdraw boldly from the swift current, but unfortunately the court has not yet found a man to take my place.” Zuo Ci laughed and said, “Liu Xuande of Yizhou is a scion of the imperial house. Why not yield your position to him? If you do not, this poor Taoist shall send a flying sword to take your head.” Cao Cao flew into a rage. “This man is plainly a spy for Liu Bei!” he cried, and ordered his attendants to seize him. Zuo Ci merely laughed without cease. Cao Cao commanded more than ten jailers to drag him away and torture him. The jailers beat him with all their strength, but when they looked at Zuo Ci, he was sleeping soundly and snoring, wholly untouched by pain. Enraged, Cao Cao ordered a great cangue brought, secured it with iron nails, fastened him in iron chains, and sent him under guard into prison. Yet the cangue and chains all fell away, and Zuo Ci lay on the ground without the slightest injury. He was imprisoned for seven days and given neither food nor drink. When they went to look, Zuo Ci was sitting upright on the ground, and his complexion had grown rosier than before. The jailers reported this to Cao Cao, who had Zuo Ci brought out and questioned him. Zuo Ci said, “I may go without eating for several decades and suffer no harm; or I may eat a thousand sheep in a day and finish them all.” Cao Cao was at a loss what to do.

That day, all the officials came to the royal palace for a great banquet. While the wine was being served, Zuo Ci appeared before the feast wearing wooden clogs. All the officials stared in astonishment. Zuo Ci said, “Today Your Majesty has provided every delicacy from land and water for this great banquet of your ministers, and there are rare products here from all quarters. Whatever may be lacking among them, this poor Taoist is willing to obtain.” Cao Cao said, “I want dragon liver for a soup. Can you obtain it?” Zuo Ci replied, “What difficulty is there in that?” Taking a brush and ink, he painted a dragon on the whitewashed wall. When he swept his sleeve across it, the dragon’s belly opened by itself. Zuo Ci reached into the dragon’s belly and drew out a whole liver, from which fresh blood was still dripping. Cao Cao did not believe him and rebuked him: “You had that hidden in your sleeve beforehand!” Zuo Ci said, “The weather is cold now, and all the plants and trees have withered. Whatever fine flower Your Majesty desires, ask for it at will.” Cao Cao said, “I want only peonies.” Zuo Ci replied, “That is easy.” He ordered a large flowerpot placed before the banquet and sprayed it with water from his mouth. In a moment, a peony plant sprang forth and opened two blossoms. All the officials were greatly amazed and invited Zuo Ci to sit and dine with them.

A short while later, the cooks presented minced raw fish. Zuo Ci said, “For minced fish to be truly delicious, it must be made from Songjiang perch.” Cao Cao said, “Songjiang is a thousand li away. How can such fish be obtained?” Zuo Ci replied, “That is not difficult either!” He ordered a fishing rod brought and began angling in the fishpond below the hall. In a moment he pulled out several dozen large perch and placed them in the palace hall. Cao Cao said, “Those fish have always been in my pond.” Zuo Ci replied, “Why does Your Majesty seek to deceive me? All other perch beneath heaven have only two gills, but the perch of Songjiang alone have four. By this they may be distinguished.” The assembled officials examined them, and indeed each had four gills. Zuo Ci said, “To cook Songjiang perch, one must have purple-budded ginger.” Cao Cao asked, “Can you obtain that as well?” Zuo Ci replied, “Easily.” He ordered a golden basin brought and covered it with his robe. In a moment the basin was filled with purple-budded ginger, which he presented to Cao Cao. When Cao Cao reached into it, he suddenly found a book inside bearing the title The New Book of Mengde. Cao Cao took it out and examined it. Not a single character differed from his own book. Cao Cao’s suspicions deepened. Zuo Ci picked up a jade cup from the table, filled it with fine wine, and offered it to Cao Cao, saying, “If Your Majesty drinks this wine, you shall live a thousand years.” Cao Cao said, “You drink first.”

Zuo Ci pulled the jade hairpin from his cap and drew it once through the wine in the cup, dividing the liquid into two halves. He drank one half himself and offered the other to Cao Cao. Cao Cao rebuked him. Zuo Ci tossed the cup into the air, where it changed into a white turtledove and flew around the palace hall. All the officials looked upward at it, and when they looked back, Zuo Ci had vanished. Suddenly an attendant reported, “Zuo Ci has gone out through the palace gate.” Cao Cao said, “Such a sorcerer must be destroyed! Otherwise he is certain to cause harm.” He ordered Xu Chu to lead three hundred armored troops in pursuit and capture him. Xu Chu mounted his horse and led the troops to the city gate, where he saw Zuo Ci ahead, walking slowly in his wooden clogs. The soldiers galloped after him, but could not overtake him. They pursued him all the way into the mountains, where a young shepherd approached, driving a flock of sheep. Zuo Ci walked into the midst of the flock. Xu Chu shot an arrow at him, and Zuo Ci instantly disappeared. Xu Chu slaughtered the entire flock and returned.

The young shepherd stood over the sheep and wept. Suddenly one of the severed sheep’s heads on the ground spoke in a human voice and called to him, “Put all the sheep’s heads back against the bodies of the dead sheep.” The boy was terrified, covered his face, and ran away. Suddenly he heard someone calling behind him, “There is no need to flee in fear. I shall restore your living sheep.” The boy looked back and saw that Zuo Ci had already joined the dead sheep together and restored them to life, and was driving them toward him. The boy hastened forward to question him, but Zuo Ci flicked his sleeves and departed. He moved as swiftly as flight and vanished in an instant.

The boy returned and told his master, who did not dare conceal the matter and reported it to Cao Cao. Cao Cao had portraits drawn and circulated everywhere with orders for Zuo Ci’s arrest. Within three days, three or four hundred gentlemen had been seized inside and outside the city, all blind in one eye and lame in one leg, all wearing white rattan caps, dark-green robes, and wooden clogs, and all identical in appearance. The streets and marketplaces were thrown into an uproar. Cao Cao ordered his commanders to drench the men in the blood of pigs and sheep, then escort them to the drill ground south of the city. Cao Cao personally led five hundred armored soldiers to surround them and had them all beheaded. From every severed neck arose a stream of blue vapor. The vapors flew halfway to the sky and gathered in one place, transforming into a single Zuo Ci. He beckoned a white crane from the air, mounted it, clapped his hands, and laughed loudly:

“When the earth rat follows the metal tiger,The treacherous hero shall meet his end!”

Cao Cao ordered his commanders to shoot Zuo Ci with bows and arrows. Suddenly a furious gale arose, sending stones rolling and sand swirling through the air. All the beheaded corpses leaped to their feet, each carrying its own head in its hands, and rushed up into the martial hall to strike Cao Cao. Civil ministers and military commanders alike covered their faces and fell down in terror, each heedless of the others. Truly:

A treacherous hero’s power may overturn a realm,But stranger still are the immortal arts of a Taoist sage.

What fate befell Cao Cao will be revealed in the next chapter.

Gan Ning Raids the Wei Camp with a Hundred Horsemen; Zuo Ci Tosses a Cup to Mock Cao Cao

Meanwhile, Sun Quan was mustering his troops at Ruxu when a sudden report arrived that Cao Cao had led an army of four hundred thousand from Hanzhong to relieve Hefei. Sun Quan consulted with his advisers, then first assigned Dong Xi and Xu Sheng to command fifty large ships and lie in ambush at Ruxu. He ordered Chen Wu to lead troops in patrolling the riverbanks. Zhang Zhao said, “Cao Cao has come from far away. We must first blunt his momentum.” Sun Quan then asked those beneath his command, “Cao Cao has come from afar. Who dares lead the attack and defeat the enemy to blunt his momentum?” Ling Tong stepped forward and said, “I am willing to go.” Sun Quan asked, “How many troops will you take?” Ling Tong replied, “Three thousand will be enough.” Gan Ning said, “A mere hundred horsemen would be enough to defeat the enemy. Why take three thousand?” Ling Tong flew into a rage, and the two began contending with each other right in front of Sun Quan. Sun Quan said, “Cao Cao’s army is powerful. We must not underestimate the enemy.” He then ordered Ling Tong to take three thousand troops beyond Ruxu to scout and to engage Cao Cao’s soldiers if he encountered them.

Ling Tong accepted the order and led his three thousand troops out of the Ruxu fortifications. Where clouds of dust arose, Cao Cao’s soldiers had already arrived. Their vanguard commander, Zhang Liao, engaged Ling Tong, and they fought for fifty bouts without either gaining the advantage. Fearing that Ling Tong might come to harm, Sun Quan ordered Lü Meng to support him and bring him back to camp. When Gan Ning saw Ling Tong return, he said to Sun Quan, “Tonight I will take only one hundred men and raid Cao Cao’s camp. If I lose so much as one man or one horse, it will not count as a victory.” Sun Quan admired his courage and assigned him one hundred elite cavalrymen from his own command. He also bestowed fifty jars of wine and fifty catties of mutton upon the soldiers. Gan Ning returned to his camp and had the hundred men sit in rows. He first filled a silver bowl with wine and drank two bowls himself. Then he said to the hundred men, “Tonight we have orders to raid the enemy camp. Gentlemen, I ask each of you to drain a full cup and exert all your strength in pressing forward.” On hearing this, the men looked uneasily at one another. Seeing their reluctance, Gan Ning drew his sword and angrily shouted, “I am a senior general, yet even I do not begrudge my life! How dare you hesitate?” Seeing Gan Ning’s fury, they all rose and bowed, saying, “We are willing to fight to the death.”

Gan Ning shared the wine and meat with the hundred men. When they had finished eating, at about the second watch he took one hundred white goose feathers and had each man put one in his helmet as an identifying mark. They all donned armor, mounted their horses, and galloped to the edge of Cao Cao’s camp. They tore open the antler barricades, gave a great shout, and charged into the camp, heading straight for the central command to kill Cao Cao. But the troops around the central command had placed carts and weapons across the approaches and linked them together in an enclosure as tight as an iron barrel, so Gan Ning could not break through. With only his hundred horsemen, he charged left and right. Cao Cao’s soldiers panicked, not knowing how many enemies there were, and fell into disorder among themselves. Gan Ning and his hundred riders galloped wildly through the camp, killing everyone they encountered. Drums and shouts arose from every camp, fires blazed like stars, and thunderous cries filled the air. Gan Ning fought his way out through the camp’s southern gate, and no one dared stand against him. Sun Quan ordered Zhou Tai to lead a detachment to support him. Gan Ning brought all hundred riders safely back to Ruxu. Fearing an ambush, Cao Cao’s troops did not dare pursue. A later poet praised him:

War drums thundered, shaking the earth;Wherever Wu’s troops came, ghosts and spirits wailed.A hundred white plumes pierced straight through Cao Cao’s camp;All proclaimed Gan Ning’s prowess as a tiger general.

Gan Ning led the hundred riders back to camp without losing a single man or horse. When they reached the camp gate, he ordered all hundred men to beat drums, play flutes, and shout, “Long live our lord!” Their cheers shook the air. Sun Quan came out personally to welcome them. Gan Ning dismounted and bowed low. Sun Quan helped him up, took him by the hand, and said, “Your expedition was enough to strike terror into that old traitor. It was not that I wished to abandon you; I merely wanted to witness your courage.” He immediately bestowed upon him one thousand bolts of silk and one hundred keen blades. Gan Ning bowed and accepted them, then distributed the rewards among his hundred men. Sun Quan said to his generals, “Mengde has Zhang Liao, but I have Gan Xingba. They are well matched.”

The next day, Zhang Liao led troops forward to challenge them. Seeing that Gan Ning had earned merit, Ling Tong declared with fierce resolve, “I am willing to fight Zhang Liao.” Sun Quan gave his permission. Ling Tong then led five thousand troops out of Ruxu, while Sun Quan personally brought Gan Ning to the battlefield to watch the fighting. Once the two armies had formed their battle lines, Zhang Liao rode out, with Li Dian on his left and Yue Jin on his right. Ling Tong spurred his horse forward with saber in hand and rode to the front of the lines. Zhang Liao sent Yue Jin out to meet him. The two fought for fifty bouts without either gaining the advantage. When Cao Cao heard of it, he personally rode beneath the main standard to watch. Seeing the two generals locked in fierce combat, he ordered Cao Xiu to loose a hidden arrow. Cao Xiu slipped behind Zhang Liao, drew his bow, and fired. The arrow struck Ling Tong’s horse squarely. The horse reared upright and threw Ling Tong to the ground. Yue Jin hurried forward with his spear to stab him. Before the spear could reach him, there came the twang of a bowstring, and an arrow struck Yue Jin in the face, sending him tumbling from his horse. Both armies surged forward, each rescuing one of the generals and carrying him back to camp, and the gongs sounded to end the battle. Ling Tong returned to camp and bowed in thanks to Sun Quan. Sun Quan said, “The man who saved you with that arrow was Gan Ning.” Ling Tong then bowed his head to the ground before Gan Ning and said, “I never imagined you would show me such great kindness!” From that time on, he and Gan Ning became friends for life and death and were never hostile again.

When Cao Cao saw that Yue Jin had been struck by an arrow, he personally went to his tent to oversee his treatment. The next day, he divided his army into five columns to attack Ruxu. Cao Cao himself commanded the center; on the left, Zhang Liao commanded the first column and Li Dian the second; on the right, Xu Huang commanded the first and Pang De the second. Each column had ten thousand troops and advanced toward the riverbank. At the time, the generals Dong Xi and Xu Sheng were aboard the ships. When they saw the five columns approaching, fear appeared on the faces of their troops. Xu Sheng said, “We receive our lord’s pay and must loyally serve our lord’s cause. What is there to fear?” He then led several hundred fierce warriors across to the riverbank in small boats and charged into Li Dian’s army. From his ship, Dong Xi ordered the troops to beat their drums and shout to bolster Xu Sheng’s attack. Suddenly, a fierce wind arose over the river. White waves towered into the sky, and the surging waters raged. Seeing that the large ships were about to capsize, the soldiers scrambled down into the smaller boats to save their lives. Dong Xi brandished his sword and shouted, “As a general, I received my lord’s command to defend this place against the enemy. How dare you abandon ship and flee?” He immediately beheaded more than ten soldiers who were leaving the ship. A short while later, the wind grew more violent, the ship capsized, and Dong Xi drowned in the waters at the river’s mouth. Meanwhile, Xu Sheng charged back and forth through Li Dian’s army.

Meanwhile, when Chen Wu heard the fighting along the riverbank, he led a force there and encountered Pang De. The two armies became entangled in battle. Inside the Ruxu fortifications, Sun Quan heard that Cao Cao’s troops had reached the riverbank. He personally led forces with Zhou Tai to join the fighting. Seeing Xu Sheng embroiled in a chaotic struggle within Li Dian’s army, Sun Quan waved his troops forward to support him. But Zhang Liao’s and Xu Huang’s two forces surrounded Sun Quan in the very heart of the battle. From a high hill, Cao Cao saw that Sun Quan had been encircled and immediately ordered Xu Chu to gallop into the fighting with saber in hand. Xu Chu split Sun Quan’s army in two, leaving each half unable to aid the other.

Zhou Tai fought his way out of the army and reached the riverbank, but when he did not see Sun Quan, he reined his horse around and charged back into the formation from the outside. He asked the troops under his command, “Where is our lord?” A soldier pointed toward the densest mass of troops and said, “Our lord is hard-pressed within the encirclement!” Zhou Tai threw himself into the battle and found Sun Quan. He said, “My lord, follow me and fight your way out.” Zhou Tai went first, with Sun Quan behind him, and they charged forward with all their strength. When Zhou Tai reached the riverbank, he looked back and once more could not see Sun Quan. He therefore turned around and fought his way back into the encirclement, where he found Sun Quan again. Sun Quan said, “Their bows and crossbows are all firing at once. I cannot break out. What are we to do?” Zhou Tai said, “My lord, ride in front, and I will follow behind. Then we can escape the encirclement.”

Sun Quan spurred his horse forward. Zhou Tai guarded him on both sides, suffering several spear wounds, while arrows pierced through the layers of his armor, but he succeeded in rescuing Sun Quan. When they reached the riverbank, Lü Meng arrived with a naval force to meet them and take them aboard the ships. Sun Quan said, “It was only through Zhou Tai’s three charges that I escaped this tight encirclement. But Xu Sheng is still trapped in its midst. How can he get out?” Zhou Tai said, “I will go back and rescue him.” Whirling his spear, he turned around once more and charged into the dense encirclement, rescuing Xu Sheng. Both generals were badly wounded. Lü Meng ordered the soldiers to hold back the troops onshore with volleys of arrows, then brought the two generals aboard.

Meanwhile, Chen Wu fought a great battle with Pang De. With no reinforcements behind him, he was driven by Pang De to the mouth of a ravine thick with trees. When Chen Wu tried to turn and fight again, a tree snagged the sleeve of his robe, leaving him unable to meet the attack, and Pang De killed him. When Cao Cao saw that Sun Quan had escaped, he personally spurred his horse forward and drove his troops to the riverbank, where the two sides exchanged volleys of arrows. Lü Meng’s arrows ran out, and just as he was growing desperate, a fleet of ships suddenly approached from across the river. At its head was the great general Lu Xun, Sun Ce’s son-in-law, personally leading one hundred thousand troops. A volley of arrows drove Cao Cao’s forces back. Taking advantage of the moment, Lu Xun landed his men and pursued Cao Cao’s soldiers, capturing several thousand warhorses. Cao Cao’s army suffered countless casualties and returned in complete defeat. Amid the chaos of battle, Chen Wu’s body was found.

When Sun Quan learned that Chen Wu had fallen and that Dong Xi had drowned in the river, he was overcome with grief. He sent men into the water to recover Dong Xi’s body and had it buried with full honors alongside Chen Wu’s. Grateful for Zhou Tai’s service in protecting and rescuing him, he held a banquet in his honor. Sun Quan personally poured him wine, stroked his back, and, with tears streaming down his face, said, “Twice you rescued me without regard for your own life. You suffered dozens of spear wounds, and your skin is carved all over. How could I possibly fail to treat you with the affection due my own flesh and blood, or fail to entrust you with weighty military command? You are a meritorious servant of mine. I will share honor and disgrace, joy and sorrow with you.” After speaking, he ordered Zhou Tai to remove his clothes so the generals could see. His flesh and skin looked as though they had been gouged by knives, and twisted scars covered his entire body. Sun Quan pointed to each scar in turn and asked how he had received it. Zhou Tai gave a complete account of the circumstances in which each wound had been suffered in battle. For every wound, Sun Quan had him drink a goblet of wine. That day Zhou Tai became extremely drunk. Sun Quan bestowed upon him a green silk parasol and ordered that it be raised over him whenever he went in or out, as a mark of distinction.

At Ruxu, Sun Quan opposed Cao Cao for more than a month but could not gain victory. Zhang Zhao and Gu Yong submitted this advice: “Cao Cao’s power is great and cannot be overcome by force. If we fight him for long, we will suffer heavy losses among our troops. It would be better to seek peace and bring security to the people.” Sun Quan followed their advice and sent Bu Zhi to Cao Cao’s camp to seek peace, promising to present annual tribute. Seeing that the lands south of the Yangtze could not be taken quickly, Cao Cao agreed, but ordered, “Sun Quan must withdraw his troops first. Only then will I return with my army.” Bu Zhi returned with the reply. Sun Quan left only Jiang Qin and Zhou Tai to defend Ruxu and sent the entire main army aboard ships to return to Moling.

Cao Cao left Cao Ren and Zhang Liao to garrison Hefei, then returned with his army to Xuchang. All the civil and military officials proposed that Cao Cao be made King of Wei. Cui Yan, the Imperial Secretary, argued forcefully against it. The officials said, “Have you alone failed to see what happened to Xun Wenruo?” Cui Yan flew into a rage and said, “The times! The times! A change is bound to come! Do as you please!” Someone who was on bad terms with Cui Yan reported his words to Cao Cao. Cao Cao was furious and had Cui Yan arrested and imprisoned for questioning. With his tiger-like eyes and curling beard, Cui Yan did nothing but curse Cao Cao as a treacherous criminal who deceived the emperor. The Commandant of Justice reported this to Cao Cao, who ordered Cui Yan beaten to death in prison. A later writer praised him:

Cui Yan of Qinghe was steadfast and strong by nature,With curling beard and tiger eyes, and a heart of iron and stone.The wicked shrank before him; his honor and integrity shone high.His loyal heart belonged to the Han emperor,And his name will be renowned through the ages!

In the twenty-first year of Jian’an, during the fifth month of summer, the assembled ministers submitted a memorial to Emperor Xian praising the achievements and virtues of Cao Cao, Duke of Wei, as reaching to the limits of heaven and earth, beyond even those of Yi Yin and the Duke of Zhou, and declaring that he should be raised to the rank of king. Emperor Xian immediately ordered Zhong Yao to draft an edict formally appointing Cao Cao as King of Wei. Cao Cao made a show of submitting three memorials declining the honor. Three times the imperial reply refused his request, and only then did Cao Cao accept the command and receive the title of King of Wei. He wore a crown with twelve pendants, rode in a gold-adorned carriage drawn by six horses, and used the imperial carriage, robes, bells, and ceremonial insignia of the Son of Heaven. His passage was announced when he went out, and the roads were cleared when he entered. He built the palace of the King of Wei in the Ye Commandery and discussed appointing an heir. Cao Cao’s principal wife, Lady Ding, had borne no children. His concubine Lady Liu had borne Cao Ang, who had died at Wancheng during the campaign against Zhang Xiu. Lady Bian had borne four sons: the eldest was Cao Pi, the second Cao Zhang, the third Cao Zhi, and the fourth Cao Xiong. Cao Cao therefore removed Lady Ding and made Lady Bian consort to the King of Wei.

The third son, Cao Zhi, whose courtesy name was Zijian, was exceptionally intelligent and could compose a finished essay as soon as he put brush to paper. Cao Cao wanted to appoint him as his heir. His eldest son, Cao Pi, feared that he would not be chosen, so he asked the Palace Counselor Jia Xu for advice. Jia Xu instructed him what to do. From then on, whenever Cao Cao went on campaign and his sons saw him off, Cao Zhi would recite his father’s achievements and virtues, speaking in polished compositions. Cao Pi alone, when taking leave of his father, merely wept and bowed, moving everyone around him. Cao Cao consequently began to suspect that Cao Zhi was being artful and that his sincerity was inferior to Cao Pi’s. Cao Pi also sent men to bribe his father’s close attendants, who all spoke of Cao Pi’s virtues. Cao Cao wanted to appoint an heir but remained hesitant and undecided, so he asked Jia Xu, “I wish to appoint my heir. Whom should I choose?” Jia Xu did not answer. Cao Cao asked him why. Jia Xu replied, “I was thinking about something, and so I could not answer at once.” Cao Cao asked, “What were you thinking about?” Jia Xu replied, “I was thinking of Yuan Benchu and Liu Jingsheng and their sons.” Cao Cao laughed heartily and then appointed his eldest son, Cao Pi, as heir to the king.

In the tenth month of winter, the palace of the King of Wei was completed. Men were dispatched throughout the land to collect rare flowers and exotic fruits for planting in the rear gardens. One envoy went to the land of Wu, met Sun Quan, and conveyed an order from the King of Wei before proceeding to Wenzhou to obtain tangerines. At the time, Sun Quan was showing deference to the King of Wei, so he had more than forty loads of large tangerines selected within his own city and sent them by day and night to Ye Commandery. Midway through the journey, the porters carrying the loads became exhausted and rested at the foot of a mountain. There they saw a gentleman blind in one eye and lame in one leg, wearing a white rattan cap on his head, a blue robe on his body, who approached and greeted them. He said, “You are suffering under these heavy loads. How would you like this poor Daoist to carry one shoulder-load for each of you?” The men were delighted. The gentleman then carried each load for five miles, but every load he had carried became lighter. They were all amazed and suspicious. Before leaving, the gentleman said to the official in charge of the tangerines, “This poor Daoist is an old acquaintance from the King of Wei’s home region. My surname is Zuo, my given name is Ci, and my courtesy name is Yuanfang. My Daoist title is Master Black Horn. When you reach Ye Commandery, you may convey Zuo Ci’s regards.” He then flicked his sleeves and departed.

The men transporting the tangerines reached Ye Commandery, went before Cao Cao, and presented the fruit. Cao Cao personally cut one open, but it was only an empty rind with no flesh inside. Greatly astonished, Cao Cao questioned the men who had brought them. They told him about Zuo Ci, but Cao Cao refused to believe them. A gate official suddenly reported, “A gentleman calling himself Zuo Ci is requesting an audience with Your Majesty.” Cao Cao summoned him inside. The man who had brought the tangerines said, “This is the very man we met on the road.” Cao Cao rebuked him: “What sorcery did you use to steal the fine fruit from my tangerines?” Zuo Ci laughed and said, “How could such a thing have happened?” He took a tangerine and cut it open. It was full of flesh and tasted exceedingly sweet. Yet every one Cao Cao cut open himself was nothing but an empty rind.

Cao Cao grew even more astonished. He gave Zuo Ci a seat and questioned him. Zuo Ci asked for wine and meat, and Cao Cao ordered them provided. Zuo Ci drank five dou of wine without becoming drunk and ate an entire sheep without being full. Cao Cao asked, “What arts do you possess that enable you to do this?” Zuo Ci replied, “This poor Daoist studied the Way for thirty years on Mount Emei by the Jialing River in western Sichuan. One day, I suddenly heard a voice inside a stone wall calling my name, but when I looked, I saw nothing. This continued for several days. Then a thunderbolt suddenly shattered the stone wall, revealing three volumes of a celestial book called The Celestial Book of the Hidden Stems. The first volume is called ‘Heavenly Escape,’ the middle volume ‘Earthly Escape,’ and the last volume ‘Human Escape.’ Heavenly Escape allows one to ride the clouds, bestride the wind, and ascend into the great void. Earthly Escape allows one to pass through mountains and penetrate stone. Human Escape allows one to roam the four seas upon the clouds, conceal or transform one’s body, and send flying swords or hurl knives to take men’s heads. Your Majesty has attained the highest rank possible for a subject. Why not step back and follow this poor Daoist to Mount Emei to cultivate the Way? I will then transmit all three volumes of the celestial book to you.” Cao Cao said, “I too have long thought of courageously withdrawing from the swift current, but unfortunately the court has not yet found the right man to replace me.” Zuo Ci laughed and said, “Liu Xuande of Yizhou is a scion of the imperial house. Why not yield your position to him? Otherwise, this poor Daoist will send a flying sword to take your head.” Cao Cao flew into a rage and said, “This man is clearly a spy for Liu Bei!” He shouted to his attendants to seize him. Zuo Ci laughed without stopping. Cao Cao ordered more than ten jailers to take him away and torture him. The jailers beat him with all their strength, but when they looked at Zuo Ci, he was fast asleep and snoring, entirely free of pain. Enraged, Cao Cao ordered them to bring a great cangue, nail it shut with iron spikes, bind him with iron chains, and lock him in prison under guard. Yet the cangue and chains all fell away, and Zuo Ci lay on the ground without the slightest injury. They kept him imprisoned for seven days without food or drink. When they looked in on him, Zuo Ci was sitting upright on the ground, his complexion even rosier than before. The jailers reported this to Cao Cao, who had Zuo Ci brought out and questioned him. Zuo Ci said, “I can go for decades without eating and suffer no harm. Or I can eat a thousand sheep a day and finish them all.” Cao Cao could do nothing with him.

That day, all the officials came to the royal palace for a great banquet. While the wine was being served, Zuo Ci appeared in wooden clogs and stood before the banquet. The officials were all astonished. Zuo Ci said, “Your Majesty has prepared every delicacy from land and water today and is holding a great banquet for your ministers. There are many rare things here from all four directions. Whatever is missing, this poor Daoist is willing to obtain.” Cao Cao said, “I want dragon liver for a soup. Can you get it?” Zuo Ci said, “What could be difficult about that?” Taking an ink brush, he painted a dragon upon a whitewashed wall. With a sweep of his sleeve, the dragon’s belly opened by itself. Zuo Ci reached inside and pulled out an entire dragon liver, from which fresh blood was still dripping. Cao Cao did not believe him and rebuked him: “You had it hidden in your sleeve beforehand!” Zuo Ci said, “Now that winter is here, all the plants and trees have withered. What fine flower would Your Majesty like? Ask for whatever you wish.” Cao Cao said, “I want only peonies.” Zuo Ci replied, “That is easy.” He ordered a large flowerpot placed before the banquet and sprayed it with water from his mouth. In moments, a peony plant sprouted and bloomed with two flowers. The officials were all greatly astonished and invited Zuo Ci to sit and eat with them.

A short while later, the cooks brought in sliced raw fish. Zuo Ci said, “For sliced fish to be truly delicious, it must be perch from the Songjiang River.” Cao Cao said, “It is a thousand miles away. How could you possibly obtain it?” Zuo Ci replied, “That is not difficult either!” He ordered a fishing rod brought and fished in the pond below the hall. In moments, he caught several dozen large perch and laid them out in the palace hall. Cao Cao said, “My pond already contained these fish.” Zuo Ci replied, “Why does Your Majesty try to deceive me? All other perch beneath heaven have only two gills, but the perch of the Songjiang River have four. That is how they may be distinguished.” The officials examined the fish and found that they indeed had four gills. Zuo Ci said, “To cook Songjiang perch, one must have purple-sprouted ginger.” Cao Cao asked, “Can you obtain that as well?” Zuo Ci said, “Easily.” He had a gold basin brought and covered it with his robe. A short while later, the basin was filled with purple-sprouted ginger, and he presented it to Cao Cao. Cao Cao reached in to take some, but suddenly found a book in the basin titled Mengde’s New Book. Cao Cao picked it up and examined it. Not a single word differed from his own book. Cao Cao became deeply suspicious. Zuo Ci took a jade cup from the table, filled it with fine wine, and offered it to Cao Cao, saying, “If Your Majesty drinks this wine, you will live a thousand years.” Cao Cao said, “You drink first.”

Zuo Ci pulled the jade hairpin from his cap and drew it through the cup, dividing the wine into two halves. He drank one half himself and offered the other half to Cao Cao. Cao Cao rebuked him. Zuo Ci flung the cup into the air, where it changed into a white turtledove and flew around the palace hall. The officials all raised their heads to watch it, and when they looked back, Zuo Ci had vanished. An attendant suddenly reported, “Zuo Ci has left through the palace gate!” Cao Cao said, “A sorcerer like this must be eliminated, or he will certainly cause trouble!” He ordered Xu Chu to lead three hundred armored troops in pursuit and capture him. Xu Chu mounted his horse and led the troops to the city gate. Ahead, he saw Zuo Ci in his wooden clogs, strolling slowly along. Xu Chu’s men galloped after him, yet they could not catch up. They pursued him all the way into the mountains, where a young shepherd came driving a flock of sheep toward them. Zuo Ci ran into the flock. Xu Chu shot an arrow at him, and Zuo Ci vanished. Xu Chu slaughtered the entire flock and returned.

The young shepherd stood over the sheep and wept. Suddenly, one of the sheep’s heads lying on the ground spoke in a human voice and called to him, “Place all the sheep’s heads back against the bodies of the dead sheep.” The boy was terrified, covered his face, and ran away. Suddenly, he heard someone behind him call, “There is no need to run away in fear. I will restore your living sheep to you.” The boy looked back and saw that Zuo Ci had joined the dead sheep on the ground back together and brought them all to life, and was driving them toward him. The boy hurried forward to question him, but Zuo Ci had already flicked his sleeves and departed. He moved as swiftly as though flying and vanished in an instant.

The young shepherd returned and told his master. His master did not dare conceal the matter and reported it to Cao Cao. Cao Cao had portraits of Zuo Ci drawn and distributed, ordering his arrest everywhere. Within three days, three or four hundred gentlemen had been seized inside and outside the city, each blind in one eye and lame in one leg, wearing a white rattan cap, a blue robe, and wooden clogs, and all identical in appearance. The uproar shook the marketplace. Cao Cao ordered his generals to splash them with the blood of pigs and sheep and escort them to the drill ground south of the city. Cao Cao personally led five hundred armored soldiers to surround them and had them all beheaded. From each severed neck rose a stream of green vapor. The vapors flew halfway into the sky, gathered together, and transformed into a single Zuo Ci. He beckoned a white crane out of the air, mounted it, clapped his hands, and laughed loudly:

“When the earth rat follows the metal tiger,The treacherous hero’s end will come in a single day!”

Cao Cao ordered his generals to shoot him with bows and arrows. Suddenly, a violent wind arose, sending stones tumbling and sand flying. All the beheaded corpses sprang to their feet, each carrying its own head in its hands, and rushed into the martial hall to attack Cao Cao. Civil officials and military officers alike covered their faces and fell to the ground in terror, each too frightened to care about the others. Truly:

A treacherous hero’s power can overturn a realm,But a Daoist immortal’s arts are stranger still.

What became of Cao Cao’s life will be revealed in the next chapter.