Chapter 77

Guan Yu Manifests His Spirit on Jade Spring Hill; Cao Cao Encounters the Spirit at Luoyang

Now Sun Quan sought counsel from Lü Meng. Lü Meng said, “I judge that Guan Yu has few troops left and will surely not flee by the main road. Due north of Maicheng is a steep and narrow path; he will certainly take that way. Zhu Ran should lead five thousand picked men and lie in ambush twenty li north of Maicheng. When Guan’s army arrives, Zhu Ran must not engage it, but merely follow and strike from behind. Guan’s troops will surely have no heart for battle and must flee toward Linju. Then have Pan Zhang lead five hundred picked men and lie in ambush along a secluded mountain path near Linju, and Guan Yu can be captured. For now, send officers and men to attack every gate, leaving only the north gate open, and wait for him to flee through it.” On hearing the plan, Sun Quan ordered Lü Fan to cast another divination. When the signs were formed, Lü Fan reported, “This oracle indicates that the enemy will flee toward the northwest. At the hour of the Boar tonight, he will certainly be captured.” Sun Quan was overjoyed and at once ordered Zhu Ran and Pan Zhang to lead two detachments of picked troops and proceed to their ambushes in accordance with their commands.

Meanwhile, at Maicheng, Lord Guan mustered his horse and foot and found that only a little over three hundred men remained; their provisions and fodder were also exhausted. That night, outside the city, the soldiers of Wu called out the names of the men within, and many deserted over the walls. Still no relief force appeared. At a loss, Lord Guan said to Wang Fu, “I regret that I did not heed your words before! In today’s desperate straits, what am I to do?” Wang Fu wept and replied, “As matters stand today, even if Jiang Ziya were reborn, he would have no stratagem to employ.” Zhao Lei said, “The relief force from Shangyong has not come because Liu Feng and Meng Da are holding their troops back. Why not abandon this isolated city, flee into the Western Riverlands, and muster another army to recover what has been lost?” Lord Guan said, “That is also my desire.” He then went up onto the walls to survey the country. Seeing that there were few enemy troops outside the north gate, he asked the local inhabitants, “What is the terrain like north of here?” They answered, “From here onward there are only secluded mountain paths, but they lead into the Western Riverlands.” Lord Guan said, “Tonight we shall take that road.” Wang Fu remonstrated, “There may be ambushes along the narrow path. You should take the main road.” Lord Guan said, “Though there be ambushes, why should I fear them?” He immediately gave orders for every officer and soldier, horse and foot, to put his gear in order and prepare to leave the city. Wang Fu wept and said, “My lord, take good care upon the road! I shall remain here with more than a hundred men and defend this city to the death. Though the city fall, I shall never surrender! My sole hope is that my lord will swiftly return to our rescue!”

Lord Guan also wept as he took his leave. He left Zhou Cang with Wang Fu to defend Maicheng, while he himself, with Guan Ping and Zhao Lei, led the surviving force of more than two hundred men out through the north gate. Holding his saber crosswise, Lord Guan advanced at their head. After the first watch, when they had traveled some twenty li, gongs and drums suddenly sounded together from a hollow in the hills, and mighty shouts shook the air as a body of troops appeared. At their head was the great general Zhu Ran, who spurred forward, leveled his spear, and cried, “Yun Chang, flee no farther! Surrender while there is still time and spare yourself death!” Enraged, Lord Guan urged on his horse and whirled his saber to meet him. Zhu Ran turned and fled, and Lord Guan pressed after him, striking down men as he went. At a roll of drums, ambushing troops arose on every side. Lord Guan dared not linger in battle, but fled toward the narrow road to Linju. Zhu Ran led his troops in pursuit, attacking from behind. The soldiers following Lord Guan gradually dwindled away. Before they had gone four or five li, shouts again thundered ahead, and a great blaze of torches arose as Pan Zhang spurred forward, brandishing his saber. Lord Guan flew into a rage and met him with his own whirling blade. After only three bouts, Pan Zhang fled in defeat. Lord Guan dared not prolong the fight, but hastened toward the mountain road. Guan Ping came up from behind and reported that Zhao Lei had been killed amid the chaos. Overcome with grief and alarm, Lord Guan ordered Guan Ping to guard the rear while he himself cleared the way in front. Only a little more than ten men remained with them. When they reached Jueshi, mountains rose on both sides; the slopes were covered with reeds and withered grass, and trees grew in tangled profusion. The fifth watch was nearly over. As they pressed onward, a shout suddenly arose, and ambushing troops poured out from both sides. Long hooks and looped ropes were raised all at once, and first they tripped the horse beneath Lord Guan. He was flung from the saddle and captured by Ma Zhong, a subordinate general of Pan Zhang. When Guan Ping learned that his father had been taken, he rushed back at once to rescue him; but Pan Zhang and Zhu Ran arrived together with their troops and surrounded Guan Ping on all sides. Guan Ping fought on alone until his strength was spent, and he too was seized. At daybreak, when Sun Quan heard that Lord Guan and his son had been captured, he rejoiced greatly and assembled all his commanders in his tent.

Before long, Ma Zhong and his men escorted Lord Guan into Sun Quan’s presence. Sun Quan said, “I have long admired the general’s illustrious virtue and wished to form with you an alliance as close as that of Qin and Jin. Why did you spurn me? In ordinary times, you considered yourself invincible beneath Heaven. How is it, then, that today you have been captured by me? Will the general now submit to Sun Quan?” Lord Guan cursed him sternly: “Green-eyed brat! Purple-bearded rat! In the Peach Garden I swore brotherhood with Imperial Uncle Liu and vowed to uphold the House of Han. How could I consort with a rebel against Han such as you? Today I mistakenly fell into a treacherous scheme; there is nothing left but death. Why waste further words?” Sun Quan turned to his officers and said, “Yun Chang is a hero of the age, and I cherish him deeply. I wish now to treat him with honor and persuade him to submit. What say you?” Zuo Xian, the registrar, said, “You must not. When Cao Cao once held this man, he conferred rank and a marquisate upon him and bestowed rich gifts; every three days there was a small banquet, and every five days a great one; when Guan mounted his horse, he received a gift of gold, and when he dismounted, a gift of silver. Yet despite such favor and courtesy, Cao Cao could not keep him. He allowed him to pass through the barriers, slaying generals as he went, with the result that Cao Cao was later so hard-pressed by him that he nearly moved his capital to avoid his edge. Now that my lord has captured him, if you do not remove him at once, I fear he will leave troubles for the future.” Sun Quan pondered for a long while, then said, “These words are right.” He thereupon ordered the prisoners taken out. Thus Lord Guan and his son were both put to death. It was in the twelfth month of winter, in the twenty-fourth year of Jian’an. Lord Guan was fifty-eight years old at his death. A later poet lamented him:

At Han’s last hour none matched his might;Yun Chang alone surpassed the throng.Divine in awe, he excelled in war;Refined and learned, he knew letters too.His heart, like sunlit heaven, was bright as a mirror;His righteousness in the Spring and Autumn spirit soared to the clouds.His shining fame shall endure through all the ages,Not merely crown the heroes of the Three Kingdoms.

Another poem says:

For heroes we look back to ancient Xieliang;Soldier and commoner vie to revere Han’s Yun Chang.One day in Peach Garden made them elder and younger brothers;A thousand autumns of sacrifice made them emperors and kings.His spirit bore wind and thunder, without rival;His purpose shines with sun and moon in deathless radiance.To this day, his temples fill the world—Ancient trees, cold crows, and many a setting sun.

After Lord Guan’s death, his Red Hare mount was captured by Ma Zhong and presented to Sun Quan. Sun Quan at once bestowed the horse upon Ma Zhong to ride. For several days it refused all grain and fodder, and then it died.

Meanwhile, within Maicheng, Wang Fu felt his bones tremble and his flesh creep. He asked Zhou Cang, “Last night I dreamed that my lord, his whole body stained with blood, stood before me. I hastened to question him, but suddenly awoke in fright. I do not know whether this bodes good or ill for him.” While he was still speaking, a report came that the troops of Wu were below the city, displaying the heads of Lord Guan and his son as they summoned the defenders to surrender. Wang Fu and Zhou Cang were aghast and hurried up onto the walls to look. They were indeed the heads of Lord Guan and his son. With a great cry, Wang Fu cast himself from the wall and died. Zhou Cang cut his own throat and perished. Maicheng thus also passed into the hands of Eastern Wu.

Yet the heroic spirit of Lord Guan did not disperse. Drifting and wandering, it came at last to a mountain in Dangyang County, Jingmen Prefecture, called Mount Yuquan. On the mountain lived an old monk whose religious name was Pujing. He had formerly been the abbot of Zhenguo Temple at Sishui Pass; later, while roaming throughout the realm, he came to this place. Seeing its lovely mountains and clear waters, he built himself a thatched hermitage there, and each day sat in meditation and sought the Way. He had with him only a young acolyte, and they lived on food gathered as alms. That night the moon was bright and the wind clear. After the third watch, Pujing was sitting silently in his hermitage when he suddenly heard someone in the air cry loudly, “Give me back my head!” Pujing raised his face and looked closely. In the sky he saw a man riding the Red Hare and carrying the Green Dragon saber. On his left followed a white-faced general, and on his right a black-faced man with a bristling beard. Together they descended from the clouds and came to the summit of Mount Yuquan. Pujing recognized Lord Guan, and so struck his door with the fly whisk in his hand and called, “Where is Yun Chang?”

Lord Guan’s heroic spirit understood. He dismounted, rode the wind down before the hermitage, folded his hands, and asked, “Who is my reverend master? I beg to know your religious name.” Pujing said, “This old monk is Pujing. Long ago, at Zhenguo Temple before Sishui Pass, I once met my lord. Can you have forgotten me today?” Lord Guan said, “I received your aid in the past, and my gratitude is engraved upon my heart; I have never forgotten it. Now I have met calamity and died. I beg your pure instruction to guide me from delusion.” Pujing said, “Let all dispute over past wrong and present right be put aside. Later fruit springs from former cause, and neither side escapes the reckoning. Now, General, you were slain by Lü Meng and cry aloud, ‘Give me back my head!’ But from whom, then, shall Yan Liang, Wen Chou, the six generals at the five passes, and all the others demand their heads?” At this Lord Guan suddenly attained enlightenment, bowed his head, embraced the faith, and departed. Thereafter he often manifested his divine presence on Mount Yuquan and protected the people. Grateful for his virtue, the local people built a temple to him on the mountaintop and offered sacrifices in all four seasons. A later writer inscribed this couplet at the temple:

With ruddy face and loyal heart, he rode Red Hare, pursuer of the wind; amid all his galloping campaigns, he never forgot the Red Emperor.By green lamp he studied the green annals, wielding the Green Dragon Crescent Blade; in the most hidden and subtle things, he never shamed the blue heavens.

After Sun Quan had slain Lord Guan, he took possession of all the lands of Jingzhou and Xiangyang, rewarded the three armies, and held a great banquet for his commanders to celebrate their victory. He seated Lü Meng in the place of honor and, turning to the commanders, said, “For long I could not obtain Jingzhou, yet now it has fallen into my hands as easily as turning my palm. This is all Ziming’s achievement.” Lü Meng repeatedly declined the praise. Sun Quan said, “In former days Zhou Yu possessed extraordinary valor and strategy. He defeated Cao Cao at the Red Cliffs but unhappily died young, and Lu Su succeeded him. When Zijing first met me, he at once spoke of the grand design for founding an imperial dominion: that was one great satisfaction. When Cao Cao marched east, all the others urged me to surrender; Zijing alone advised me to summon Gongjin and meet Cao in battle: that was a second great satisfaction. His sole defect was that he urged me to lend Jingzhou to Liu Bei. Now Ziming, by devising a scheme and settling a plan, has taken Jingzhou at a stroke. He far surpasses Zijing and Zhou Yu.” Sun Quan then poured wine with his own hand and bestowed it upon Lü Meng. Lü Meng took the cup and was about to drink when he suddenly hurled it to the ground, seized Sun Quan with one hand, and cursed fiercely, “Green-eyed brat! Purple-bearded rat! Do you still know me?” The commanders were horrified. When they rushed forward to rescue Sun Quan, Lü Meng threw him to the ground, strode ahead, and seated himself in Sun Quan’s place. His brows stood on end, his eyes opened round, and he shouted, “Since I first fought the Yellow Turbans, I have ranged unhindered throughout the realm for more than thirty years. Now in a single day you have plotted against me with a treacherous scheme. In life I could not devour your flesh, but in death I shall pursue the soul of the traitor Lü! I am Guan Yun Chang, Marquis of Hanshou!” Sun Quan was terrified and hastily led every officer and soldier, high and low, in prostrating themselves. Then Lü Meng fell to the ground, blood streaming from all seven orifices, and died. At the sight, every commander was filled with dread. Sun Quan had Lü Meng’s body placed in a coffin and buried. He posthumously appointed him Grand Administrator of Nanjun and Marquis of Chanling, and ordered his son Lü Ba to inherit the title. From that time onward, Sun Quan remained profoundly shaken and astonished by the affair of Lord Guan.

Suddenly it was reported that Zhang Zhao had arrived from Jianye. Sun Quan summoned him and asked why he had come. Zhang Zhao said, “Now that my lord has destroyed Lord Guan and his son, disaster is not far from Jiangdong. When this man swore brotherhood with Liu Bei in the Peach Garden, they vowed to live and die together. Liu Bei now commands the armies of the two Riverlands; moreover, he has Zhuge Liang’s strategy and the valor of Zhang Fei, Huang Zhong, Ma Chao, and Zhao Yun. If Liu Bei learns that Yun Chang and his son have been slain, he will certainly raise the entire strength of his realm and strive with all his might to avenge them. I fear Eastern Wu will find it difficult to withstand him.” Sun Quan was greatly alarmed. Stamping his foot, he said, “I have miscalculated! What is to be done now?” Zhang Zhao said, “My lord, do not be troubled. I have a plan that will prevent the troops of Western Shu from invading Eastern Wu and make Jingzhou as secure as a mighty rock.” Sun Quan asked what the plan was. Zhang Zhao said, “Cao Cao now commands a million men and watches all the realm of China like a tiger. In his urgency to avenge himself, Liu Bei will certainly seek peace with Cao Cao. If their two armies unite and come against us, Eastern Wu will be in peril. It would be better first to send Lord Guan’s head to Cao Cao, plainly leading Liu Bei to believe that Cao Cao instigated the deed. He will then bitterly hate Cao Cao, and the troops of Western Shu will march not against Wu, but against Wei. We may watch which side prevails and seize advantage in the midst of their conflict. This is the best policy.”

Sun Quan followed his advice. He immediately sent an envoy with Lord Guan’s head enclosed in a wooden casket, to be carried through the night to Cao Cao. At the time, Cao Cao had withdrawn his army from Mobei and returned to Luoyang. When he heard that Eastern Wu had sent him Lord Guan’s head, he rejoiced and said, “Now that Yun Chang is dead, I may sleep soundly at night.” One man stepped forward from below the dais and said, “This is Eastern Wu’s scheme to shift disaster onto another.” Cao Cao looked and saw that it was Sima Yi, the registrar. Cao Cao asked him to explain, and Sima Yi said, “When Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei swore brotherhood in the Peach Garden, they vowed to live and die together. Now Eastern Wu has slain Lord Guan and fears Liu Bei’s vengeance. Therefore, they have presented his head to Your Majesty, intending Liu Bei to transfer his wrath to you and attack Wei instead of Wu, while they exploit the opportunity to pursue their own designs.” Cao Cao said, “Zhongda’s words are correct. By what plan may I extricate myself?” Sima Yi said, “That is very easy. Your Majesty should carve Lord Guan a body of fragrant wood to match his head and bury him with the rites accorded a great minister. When Liu Bei learns of it, he will surely hate Sun Quan deeply and exert all his strength in a southern campaign. We may then watch which side prevails. If Shu defeats Wu, we strike Wu; if Wu defeats Shu, we strike Shu. Once we gain either realm, the other cannot long endure.” Cao Cao was delighted and followed his plan. He summoned the envoy from Wu, who presented the wooden casket. Cao Cao opened it and looked within. Lord Guan’s face appeared just as it had in life. Cao Cao laughed and said, “Lord Yun Chang, have you been well since last we parted?” Before the words had left his mouth, Lord Guan’s mouth opened, his eyes moved, and his beard and hair bristled out. Cao Cao collapsed in terror. His officers hurried to revive him, and only after a long while did he regain consciousness. Turning to them, he said, “General Guan is truly a god of Heaven!” The envoy from Wu then told Cao Cao how Lord Guan had manifested his divine presence, possessed Lü Meng, cursed Sun Quan, and pursued Lü Meng to his death. Cao Cao was more frightened than ever. He prepared sacrificial animals and wine, carved a body of agarwood, and buried Lord Guan outside the southern gate of Luoyang with the rites of a prince. He ordered officers of every rank to attend the funeral, personally offered sacrifice, posthumously created Guan Yu King of Jing, and appointed an officer to guard the tomb. He then sent the envoy of Wu back to Jiangdong.

Meanwhile, the King of Hanzhong returned from the Eastern Riverlands to Chengdu. Fa Zheng memorialized him, saying, “My lord’s former lady has passed away, while Lady Sun has returned south and may never come back. The proper relations of mankind cannot be cast aside. You must take a royal consort to assist in governing the inner household.” The King of Hanzhong consented. Fa Zheng further memorialized him: “Wu Yi has a younger sister who is both beautiful and virtuous. I have heard that a physiognomist once examined her and declared that she would one day rise to the highest rank. She was formerly betrothed to Liu Zhang’s son Liu Mao, but Liu Mao died young. She has remained widowed to this day. Your Majesty may take her as consort.” The King of Hanzhong said, “Liu Mao and I are of the same clan. By propriety, this cannot be done.” Fa Zheng said, “Considering the remoteness of the kinship, how does this differ from Duke Wen of Jin taking Huai Ying?” The King of Hanzhong thereupon agreed and took Lady Wu as his royal consort. She later bore him two sons: the elder was Liu Yong, styled Gongshou; the younger, Liu Li, styled Fengxiao.

In both the Eastern and Western Riverlands, the people were at peace, the realm prospered, and the harvests were abundant. Suddenly a man arrived from Jingzhou and reported that Eastern Wu had sought a marriage alliance with Lord Guan, but Lord Guan had firmly rejected it. Kongming said, “Jingzhou is in danger! Someone must be sent to relieve Lord Guan of his post.” While they were still discussing the matter, messengers bearing victory reports from Jingzhou arrived in an unbroken stream. Before many days had passed, Guan Xing arrived and gave a full account of how the Seven Armies had been drowned. Suddenly another courier came and reported that Lord Guan had erected many beacon towers along the riverbank and that the defenses were so stringent that nothing could possibly go amiss. Xuande therefore set his mind at ease.

Then one day, Xuande felt the flesh trembling all over his body and could find no rest whether walking or sitting. At night he was unable to sleep peacefully, so he arose and sat in his inner chamber, reading by candlelight. His mind grew dazed and confused, and he laid his head upon his desk and slept. Suddenly a blast of cold wind swept through the room. The lamp went out and then flared up again. Raising his head, he saw a man standing beneath its light. Xuande asked, “Who are you, to enter my private chamber in the depths of night?” The man did not answer. Suspicious and perplexed, Xuande rose to look at him and saw that it was Lord Guan, moving back and forth in the lamplight and avoiding his gaze. Xuande said, “My worthy brother, have you been well since we parted? That you should come here so late at night means some grave event must have occurred. You and I are as close as flesh and bone; why do you avoid me?” Lord Guan wept and said, “I pray that Elder Brother will raise an army and avenge my wrong!” When he had spoken, a cold wind suddenly arose, and Lord Guan vanished. Xuande awoke with a start and realized it had been a dream. It was then exactly the third watch. Filled with foreboding, Xuande hastened to the front hall and sent someone to summon Kongming. Kongming entered and was received. Xuande related every detail of the warning dream. Kongming said, “My lord has been thinking deeply of Lord Guan, and therefore had this dream. Why harbor such grave suspicions?” Xuande remained troubled and doubtful, but Kongming soothed him with reassuring words.

Kongming took his leave and, outside the middle gate, encountered Xu Jing. Xu Jing said, “I had just gone to the Military Adviser’s residence to report a confidential matter. When I learned that you had entered the palace, I came here expressly.” Kongming asked, “What confidential matter?” Xu Jing said, “I have just heard people outside report that Lü Meng of Eastern Wu has seized Jingzhou and that Lord Guan has been slain. I therefore came to report it secretly to the Military Adviser.” Kongming said, “When I observed the heavens last night, I saw a general’s star fall over the region of Jing and Chu. I already knew that Yun Chang must have met calamity, but I feared that the king would be distressed and therefore did not dare speak of it.” While the two were talking, a man suddenly emerged from the hall, seized Kongming by the sleeve, and said, “Why did you conceal such dreadful news from me?” Kongming looked and saw that it was Xuande. Kongming and Xu Jing memorialized him, saying, “What we have just spoken of is all mere rumor and not yet worthy of full belief. We pray that my lord will set his mind at ease and not give way to grief.” Xuande said, “Yun Chang and I swore to live and die together. If harm has befallen him, how can I go on living alone?”

While Kongming and Xu Jing were still trying to console him, an attendant suddenly reported, “Ma Liang and Yi Ji have arrived.” Xuande hastily summoned them and questioned them. The two gave a full account of the loss of Jingzhou and of how Lord Guan, defeated in battle, had appealed for aid; they then presented his memorial. Before Xuande could open and read it, a court attendant reported that Liao Hua had arrived from Jingzhou. Xuande hastily summoned him. Liao Hua prostrated himself on the ground, weeping, and related in detail how Liu Feng and Meng Da had refused to send relief troops. Xuande was aghast and cried, “If that is so, my brother is lost!” Kongming said, “Liu Feng and Meng Da have behaved with such insolence that death itself cannot expiate their crimes! Let my lord set his mind at ease. I, Liang, will personally lead a force to relieve the peril in Jingzhou.” Xuande wept and said, “If harm has befallen Yun Chang, I shall never live on alone! Tomorrow I will personally lead an army to rescue him!” He sent one messenger to Langzhong to inform Yide and another to muster the troops. Before daybreak, a succession of reports arrived, saying that Lord Guan had fled by night toward Linju, where he had been captured by the generals of Wu; that in loyalty and righteousness he had refused to abase his honor; and that father and son had returned to the spirits. When Xuande heard this, he uttered a great cry and fell senseless to the ground. Truly:

Remembering how in former days they swore to die together,How could he bear to let one life alone be sacrificed today?

Whether Xuande lived or died will be revealed in the chapter that follows.

Guan Yu Manifests His Spirit on Jade Spring Hill; Cao Cao Encounters the Spirit at Luoyang

Meanwhile, Sun Quan asked Lü Meng for a plan. Lü Meng said, “I judge that Guan’s force is small, so he will certainly not flee by the main road. Directly north of Maicheng is a steep and narrow trail, and he is certain to take that route. Have Zhu Ran lead five thousand picked troops and lie in ambush twenty li north of Maicheng. When Guan’s army arrives, he must not engage it, but only follow behind and attack. Guan’s men will surely have no heart for battle and will flee toward Linju. Then have Pan Zhang lead five hundred picked troops and lie in ambush on a remote mountain trail near Linju. Guan will be captured. For now, send officers and soldiers to attack every gate, leaving only the north gate open and waiting for him to flee through it.” When Sun Quan heard the plan, he ordered Lü Fan to divine once more. When the hexagram was formed, Lü Fan reported, “This hexagram indicates that the enemy will flee to the northwest. He is certain to be captured tonight during the hour of the Boar.” Sun Quan was delighted and ordered Zhu Ran and Pan Zhang to lead their two forces of picked troops and go lie in ambush, each in accordance with his orders.

Meanwhile, at Maicheng, Lord Guan counted his cavalry and infantry and found that only a little over three hundred men remained; his grain and fodder were also exhausted. That night, the Wu soldiers outside the city called the men inside by name, and many climbed over the walls and deserted. No relief force appeared. At a loss, Lord Guan said to Wang Fu, “I regret that I did not follow your advice before! Now that matters have reached this desperate point, what can we do?” Wang Fu wept and replied, “As matters stand today, even if Jiang Ziya were reborn, there would be no strategy he could use.” Zhao Lei said, “The relief troops from Shangyong have not come because Liu Feng and Meng Da are holding their forces back and refusing to move. Why not abandon this isolated city, flee into the western lands of Shu, reorganize our army, and then return to recover what was lost?” Lord Guan said, “That is also what I wish to do.” He then went up onto the wall to survey the area. Seeing that there were not many enemy troops outside the north gate, he asked the local residents, “What is the terrain like if we head north from here?” They answered, “From here there are only remote mountain trails, but they lead into western Shu.” Lord Guan said, “Tonight we can escape by this route.” Wang Fu remonstrated, “There may be ambushes on the trails. You should take the main road.” Lord Guan said, “Even if there are ambushes, why should I fear them?” He immediately issued orders for the cavalry and infantry officers and soldiers to put their gear in perfect order and prepare to leave the city. Wang Fu wept and said, “My lord, take care and protect yourself on the road! I will remain here with more than a hundred men and defend this city to the death. Even if the city falls, I will never surrender! I ask only that my lord return quickly to rescue us!”

Lord Guan also wept as he took leave of him. He left Zhou Cang behind to defend Maicheng together with Wang Fu. Lord Guan himself led his remaining force of more than two hundred men, together with Guan Ping and Zhao Lei, and broke out through the north gate. Holding his saber crosswise, Lord Guan advanced at the head of the column. After the first watch had begun, when they had traveled about twenty li, gongs and drums suddenly sounded together in a mountain hollow, and mighty shouts arose as a body of troops appeared. At their head was the general Zhu Ran, who spurred forward with his spear leveled and shouted, “Yunchang, do not run! Surrender while there is still time, and you may escape death!” Lord Guan flew into a rage, urged his horse forward, and swung his saber to engage him. Zhu Ran immediately fled, and Lord Guan pressed after him, taking advantage of the momentum. At one roll of the drums, ambush troops rose on every side. Lord Guan did not dare remain and fight, but fled toward the trail to Linju. Zhu Ran led his troops in pursuit, attacking from behind. The number of men following Lord Guan gradually dwindled. Before he had gone another four or five li, shouts again thundered ahead, and a great blaze of fire sprang up as Pan Zhang spurred his horse forward, brandishing his saber. Lord Guan flew into a rage and swung his own saber to meet him. After only three bouts, Pan Zhang fled in defeat. Lord Guan did not dare prolong the battle and hurried toward the mountain trail. Guan Ping caught up from behind and reported that Zhao Lei had been killed in the fighting. Lord Guan was overwhelmed with grief and alarm. He ordered Guan Ping to guard the rear while he himself opened the way in front. Only a little over ten men still followed them. When they reached Jueshi, mountains rose on both sides, and the slopes were covered with reeds, withered grass, and tangled trees. The fifth watch was nearly over. As they hurried onward, a shout suddenly arose, and ambush troops poured out from both sides, raising long hooks and looped ropes all at once. They first tripped Lord Guan’s horse and brought it down. Lord Guan tumbled from the saddle and was captured by Ma Zhong, a subordinate general of Pan Zhang. When Guan Ping learned that his father had been captured, he rushed back to rescue him. Behind him, Pan Zhang and Zhu Ran arrived with their troops and surrounded Guan Ping on every side. Guan Ping fought alone until his strength was exhausted, and he too was captured. At daybreak, Sun Quan heard that Lord Guan and his son had been taken prisoner. Delighted, he assembled his generals in his command tent.

A short while later, Ma Zhong and his men escorted Lord Guan before him. Sun Quan said, “I have long admired your great virtue, General, and wished to form a marriage alliance with you. Why did you reject me? In ordinary times you considered yourself invincible under Heaven. How is it, then, that you have been captured by me today? Will you now submit to Sun Quan?” Lord Guan cursed him in a stern voice: “Green-eyed brat! Purple-bearded rat! I swore brotherhood with Imperial Uncle Liu in the Peach Garden and vowed to uphold the house of Han. How could I ever join the ranks of a traitor to Han like you? Today I have mistakenly fallen into a treacherous scheme. There is nothing left but death. Why waste words?” Sun Quan turned to the assembled officials and said, “Yunchang is a great hero of his age, and I deeply admire him. I now wish to treat him with honor and persuade him to surrender. What do you think?” Zuo Xian, the chief secretary, said, “You must not. When Cao Cao had this man in his power, he made him a marquis and granted him titles. Every three days he gave him a small banquet, and every five days a great banquet. When Guan mounted his horse, he was presented with gold, and when he dismounted, with silver. Yet despite such favor and courtesy, Cao Cao could not keep him. He allowed Guan to break through passes, slay generals, and depart, with the result that today Cao Cao has instead been driven to such desperation by him that he nearly moved his capital to escape his attack. Now that my lord has captured him, if you do not eliminate him at once, I fear you will leave yourself future trouble.” Sun Quan pondered for a long while and said, “Those words are correct.” He then ordered the prisoners taken out. Thus Lord Guan and his son were both put to death. It was the twelfth month of winter in the twenty-fourth year of Jian’an. Lord Guan was fifty-eight years old when he died. A later poet lamented him:

At the Han’s end, his gifts had no equal;Yunchang alone stood above the rest.With divine might, he displayed his valor;Cultured and refined, he also knew letters.His heart was clear as the sun in heaven;His righteous spirit in the Spring and Autumn soared to the clouds.His shining fame descends through all the ages,Not merely foremost among the Three Kingdoms.

Another poem says:

To find his peer among heroes, one must look back to ancient Jieliang;Scholars and commoners alike contend to worship Han’s Yunchang.One day in the Peach Garden made them elder and younger brothers;For a thousand autumns, altar offerings honor him as emperor and king.His spirit bore wind and thunder, unmatched by any foe;His purpose shines forever with the sun and moon.To this day, temples bearing his image fill the world;Ancient trees and cold crows have watched how many sunsets?

After Lord Guan died, his mount, the Red Hare, was captured by Ma Zhong and presented to Sun Quan. Sun Quan immediately bestowed the horse on Ma Zhong to ride. For several days the horse refused all grain and fodder, and then it died.

Meanwhile, inside Maicheng, Wang Fu felt his bones tremble and his flesh quiver with dread. He asked Zhou Cang, “Last night I dreamed that my lord, his whole body stained with blood, stood before me. I hurriedly asked him what had happened, but suddenly awoke in alarm. I do not know whether this means good or ill for my lord.” As they were speaking, a sudden report came that Wu troops were below the city walls, displaying the heads of Lord Guan and his son and calling on the defenders to surrender. Wang Fu and Zhou Cang were horrified and hurried up onto the wall to look. They were indeed the heads of Lord Guan and his son. Wang Fu gave a great cry, threw himself from the wall, and died. Zhou Cang cut his own throat. Thus Maicheng also fell to Eastern Wu.

But Lord Guan’s heroic spirit did not disperse. Drifting and wandering, it came at last to a mountain in Dangyang County, Jingmen Prefecture, called Mount Yuquan. On the mountain lived an old monk whose religious name was Pujing. He had originally been the elder of Zhen’guo Temple at Sishui Pass. Later, while wandering throughout the realm, he came to this place and, seeing its lovely mountains and clear waters, built himself a thatched hermitage. Every day he sat in meditation and contemplated the Way. He had only a young acolyte with him, and they lived on food obtained through alms. That night, beneath a bright moon and in a clear wind, after the third watch, Pujing was sitting silently in his hermitage when he suddenly heard someone in the air cry loudly, “Give me back my head!” Pujing raised his face and looked closely. In the air he saw a man riding the Red Hare and carrying the Green Dragon saber. A white-faced general accompanied him on the left, and on the right was a black-faced man with a bristling beard. Together they lowered their cloud and descended onto the summit of Mount Yuquan. Pujing recognized Lord Guan and struck the door with the fly whisk in his hand, calling, “Where is Yunchang?”

Lord Guan’s heroic spirit understood. He immediately dismounted, rode the wind down before the hermitage, clasped his hands, and asked, “Who are you, Master? May I ask your religious name?” Pujing said, “This old monk is Pujing. Long ago, at Zhen’guo Temple before Sishui Pass, I met you, my lord. Can it be that you have forgotten me today?” Lord Guan said, “You once rescued me, and I have never forgotten my gratitude. Now I have met disaster and died. I beg for your pure instruction to guide me from this path of delusion.” Pujing said, “What was wrong before and seems right now should all be set aside. Later effects arise from earlier causes, and there is never the slightest error between them. Now, General, you have been killed by Lü Meng, and you cry loudly, ‘Give me back my head!’ But from whom, then, will Yan Liang, Wen Chou, the six generals at the five passes, and all the others demand their heads?” At this, Lord Guan suddenly attained complete understanding. He bowed his head, took refuge in the teaching, and departed. Afterward, he often manifested his divine presence on Mount Yuquan and protected the people. Grateful for his virtue, the local people built a temple to him on the summit and offered sacrifices in all four seasons. A later writer inscribed this couplet at his temple:

With red face and loyal heart, he rode the wind-swift Red Hare,And in all his campaigns never forgot the Red Emperor;By a blue-green lamp he read the blue-green histories, wielding the Green Dragon Crescent Blade,And in his most hidden thoughts he never shamed the blue heavens.

After Sun Quan had killed Lord Guan, he took complete possession of the lands of Jing and Xiang, rewarded the three armies, and held a great banquet with all his generals to celebrate their victory. He seated Lü Meng in the place of honor and said to the assembled generals, “For a long time I was unable to obtain Jingzhou. Now I have gained it as easily as turning my hand, and all of it is due to Ziming.” Lü Meng repeatedly declined the praise. Sun Quan said, “In former days, Zhou Yu possessed extraordinary courage and strategy and defeated Cao Cao at Red Cliffs, but unfortunately he died young, and Lu Su succeeded him. When Lu Su first met me, he immediately discussed the grand strategy by which one may become emperor and king. That was his first great merit. When Cao Cao advanced eastward, everyone urged me to surrender, but Lu Su alone urged me to summon Gongjin and meet Cao Cao in battle. That was his second great merit. His one failing was that he advised me to lend Jingzhou to Liu Bei. Now Ziming has devised a strategy and settled the plan, taking Jingzhou at one stroke. In this he has far surpassed Lu Su and Zhou Yu.” Sun Quan then personally poured wine and presented it to Lü Meng. Lü Meng accepted the wine and was about to drink when he suddenly hurled the cup to the ground, seized Sun Quan with one hand, and cursed him in a fierce voice: “Green-eyed brat! Purple-bearded rat! Do you still recognize me?” The generals were horrified. When they rushed to the rescue, Lü Meng shoved Sun Quan to the ground, strode forward, and sat in Sun Quan’s place. His eyebrows rose on end, his eyes opened wide and round, and he shouted, “Since I first fought the Yellow Turbans, I have roamed unconquered throughout the realm for more than thirty years. Now, in a single day, you have plotted against me with a treacherous scheme. Though in life I could not devour your flesh, in death I will pursue the soul of the traitor Lü! I am Guan Yunchang, Marquis of Hanshou!” Sun Quan was terrified and hurriedly led all his officers and soldiers, high and low, in prostrating themselves. Then they saw Lü Meng fall to the ground, blood pouring from all seven openings of his body, and die. None of the generals who witnessed it was free from fear. Sun Quan had Lü Meng’s body placed in a coffin and buried. He posthumously granted him the titles of Governor of Nan Commandery and Marquis of Chanling, and ordered Lü Meng’s son Lü Ba to inherit his rank. From that time onward, Sun Quan remained deeply shaken and astonished by all that concerned Lord Guan.

Suddenly it was reported that Zhang Zhao had arrived from Jianye. Sun Quan summoned him and questioned him. Zhang Zhao said, “Now that my lord has destroyed Lord Guan and his son, calamity is not far from Jiangdong. When this man swore brotherhood with Liu Bei in the Peach Garden, they vowed to live and die together. Liu Bei now commands the forces of both regions of Chuan. In addition, he has the strategy of Zhuge Liang and the valor of Zhang Fei, Huang Zhong, Ma Chao, and Zhao Yun. If Liu Bei learns that Yunchang and his son have been killed, he will surely mobilize the entire strength of his realm and fight with all his might to avenge them. I fear Eastern Wu will find it difficult to withstand him.” Sun Quan was greatly alarmed. Stamping his foot, he said, “I miscalculated! What can be done now?” Zhang Zhao said, “Do not worry, my lord. I have a plan that will prevent the armies of western Shu from invading Eastern Wu and make Jingzhou as secure as a great rock.” Sun Quan asked what the plan was. Zhang Zhao said, “Cao Cao now commands a million men and watches all the realm of China like a tiger. Liu Bei, in his urgency to take revenge, is certain to make peace with Cao Cao. If their two armies join forces and come against us, Eastern Wu will be in danger. It would be better to send Lord Guan’s head to Cao Cao first, making Liu Bei understand that Cao Cao was behind the deed. Liu Bei will then bitterly hate Cao Cao, and the armies of western Shu will march not against Wu, but against Wei. We can watch which side wins and take advantage of events between them. This is the best plan.”

Sun Quan followed his advice and immediately sent an envoy carrying Lord Guan’s head in a wooden box to Cao Cao, traveling through the night with all speed. At the time, Cao Cao had withdrawn his army from Mobei and returned to Luoyang. When he heard that Eastern Wu had sent Lord Guan’s head, he said happily, “Now that Yunchang is dead, I can sleep soundly at night.” A man stepped forward from below the dais and said, “This is Eastern Wu’s plan to shift disaster onto us.” Cao Cao looked at him and saw that it was his chief secretary, Sima Yi. Cao Cao asked why. Sima Yi said, “Long ago, when Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei swore brotherhood in the Peach Garden, they vowed to live and die together. Now Eastern Wu has killed Lord Guan and fears Liu Bei’s revenge. Therefore, Sun Quan has presented the head to Your Highness, hoping that Liu Bei will redirect his anger toward you and attack Wei instead of Wu, while Wu takes advantage of the conflict to pursue its own designs.” Cao Cao said, “What Zhongda says is correct. What plan can I use to resolve this?” Sima Yi said, “This matter is extremely easy. Your Highness may carve a body of fragrant wood to accompany Lord Guan’s head and bury him with the rites due a great minister. When Liu Bei learns of it, he will surely hate Sun Quan deeply and exert his full strength in a southern campaign. We can then watch which side wins. If Shu is victorious, we attack Wu; if Wu is victorious, we attack Shu. Once we have obtained either of the two, the other will not last long.” Cao Cao was delighted and followed his plan. He summoned the envoy from Wu, who presented the wooden box. Cao Cao opened it and looked inside. Lord Guan’s face appeared just as it had in life. Cao Cao laughed and said, “Lord Yunchang, have you been well since we parted?” Before he had finished speaking, Lord Guan’s mouth opened, his eyes moved, and his beard and hair bristled. Cao Cao fell over in terror. The assembled officials rushed to help him, and only after a long while did he regain consciousness. Turning to them, he said, “General Guan truly is a heavenly god!” The envoy from Wu then told Cao Cao how Lord Guan had manifested his divine power, possessed Lü Meng, cursed Sun Quan, and pursued Lü Meng to his death. Cao Cao became even more frightened. He prepared sacrificial animals and wine, carved a body of agarwood, and buried Lord Guan outside the south gate of Luoyang with the rites due a prince. He ordered officials of every rank to accompany the funeral procession, personally offered sacrifices, posthumously conferred on Lord Guan the title King of Jing, and assigned an officer to guard the tomb. He then sent the Wu envoy back to Jiangdong.

Meanwhile, after the King of Hanzhong returned from eastern Chuan to Chengdu, Fa Zheng memorialized him, saying, “My lord’s former wife has passed away, and Lady Sun has returned south and may never come back. The proper relations of human society cannot be neglected. You must take a queen consort to assist with the governance of the inner palace.” The King of Hanzhong agreed. Fa Zheng then memorialized him again: “Wu Yi has a younger sister who is both beautiful and virtuous. I once heard that a physiognomist examined this woman and declared that she would one day attain the highest rank. She was formerly betrothed to Liu Zhang’s brother Liu Mao, but Liu Mao died young. She has remained widowed to this day. Your Highness may take her as your consort.” The King of Hanzhong said, “Liu Mao belonged to the same clan as I do. This would be improper in principle.” Fa Zheng said, “Considering how distant the relationship is, how would it differ from Duke Wen of Jin taking Huai Ying?” The King of Hanzhong then consented and took Lady Wu as his queen consort. She later bore two sons: the elder, Liu Yong, whose courtesy name was Gongshou; and the younger, Liu Li, whose courtesy name was Fengxiao.

In both eastern and western Chuan, the people were at peace, the state was prosperous, and the crops yielded a great harvest. Suddenly, someone arrived from Jingzhou and reported that Eastern Wu had proposed a marriage alliance with Lord Guan, but Lord Guan had firmly rejected it. Kongming said, “Jingzhou is in danger! We should send someone to relieve Lord Guan and bring him back.” While they were discussing the matter, messengers bearing reports of victories from Jingzhou arrived one after another in an unbroken stream. Before many days had passed, Guan Xing arrived and gave a full account of the flooding of the Seven Armies. Soon another mounted courier arrived and reported that Lord Guan had established numerous watchtowers along the river and had arranged defenses with the greatest care, so there was no possibility of anything going wrong. Because of this, Xuande put his mind at ease.

Then one day, Xuande felt the flesh all over his body quivering and could find no peace whether walking or sitting. That night he could not sleep. He rose and sat in his private chamber, lit a candle, and read a book. His mind grew hazy, and he leaned over his desk and fell asleep. Suddenly, a blast of cold wind swept through the room. The lamp went out and then flared up again. Raising his head, Xuande saw a man standing beneath the lamp. Xuande asked, “Who are you, coming into my private chamber in the depths of night?” The man did not answer. Suspicious and bewildered, Xuande rose to look and saw Lord Guan moving back and forth in the lamplight, trying to avoid him. Xuande said, “My worthy brother, have you been well since we parted? For you to come here so late at night, some great misfortune must have occurred. You and I are as close as flesh and bone. Why do you avoid me?” Lord Guan wept and said, “I beg my elder brother to raise an army and avenge my wrong!” As soon as he finished speaking, a cold wind suddenly arose, and Lord Guan vanished. Xuande abruptly awoke and realized it had been a dream. It was exactly the third watch. Deeply troubled, Xuande hurried to the front hall and sent someone to summon Kongming. Kongming entered to see him, and Xuande related every detail of the warning in his dream. Kongming said, “My lord has been thinking of Lord Guan, and therefore had this dream. Why be so suspicious?” Xuande repeatedly expressed his fears, but Kongming reassured him with comforting words.

Kongming took his leave and, outside the middle gate, encountered Xu Jing coming toward him. Xu Jing said, “I was just going to the military adviser’s residence to report a secret matter. When I heard that the military adviser had entered the palace, I came here especially.” Kongming asked, “What secret matter?” Xu Jing said, “I have just heard people outside saying that Lü Meng of Eastern Wu has already seized Jingzhou and that Lord Guan has been killed. I therefore came especially to report it to the military adviser in confidence.” Kongming said, “When I observed the heavens at night, I saw a general’s star fall over the region of Jing and Chu, and I already knew that Yunchang was certain to meet disaster. But I feared that the king would be distressed, and so I did not dare speak of it.” While the two were talking, a man suddenly emerged from the palace hall, seized Kongming by the sleeve, and said, “Why have you concealed such dreadful news from me?” Kongming looked and saw that it was Xuande. Kongming and Xu Jing reported, “What we just said is all based on rumor and is not yet reliable enough to believe. We beg my lord to ease his mind and not give way to anxiety.” Xuande said, “Yunchang and I swore to live and die together. If anything has happened to him, how can I go on living alone?”

While Kongming and Xu Jing were still trying to comfort him, a close attendant suddenly reported, “Ma Liang and Yi Ji have arrived.” Xuande hurriedly summoned them and questioned them. The two gave a full account of the loss of Jingzhou and of how Lord Guan, after his defeat, had appealed for aid. They presented his memorial. Before Xuande could open and read it, an attendant reported again that Liao Hua had arrived from Jingzhou. Xuande hurriedly summoned him. Liao Hua fell to the ground, weeping and bowing, and gave a detailed account of how Liu Feng and Meng Da had refused to send relief troops. Xuande was horrified and said, “If this is so, my brother is finished!” Kongming said, “For Liu Feng and Meng Da to act with such outrageous insolence is a crime for which even death would be inadequate punishment! Let my lord set his mind at ease. I, Liang, will personally lead a force to relieve Jingzhou in its peril.” Xuande wept and said, “If anything has happened to Yunchang, I absolutely will not go on living alone! Tomorrow I will personally lead an army to rescue Yunchang!” He immediately sent one messenger to Langzhong to notify Yide and another to assemble troops and horses. Before daybreak, several reports arrived in quick succession, saying that Lord Guan had fled by night toward Linju, had been captured by the generals of Wu, and, refusing in righteousness to compromise his honor, had ascended to the spirits together with his son. When Xuande heard this, he gave a great cry and fell unconscious to the ground. Truly:

Remembering how in former days they swore to die together,How could he bear to let his brother alone give up his life today?

Whether Xuande lived or died will be revealed in the next chapter.