Chapter 81

Zhang Fei Is Murdered in His Haste to Avenge His Brother; the First Emperor Raises an Army to Redress the Wrong

Now the First Emperor had raised his army for an eastern campaign. Zhao Yun remonstrated with him: “The traitor to the realm is Cao Cao, not Sun Quan. Now Cao Pi has usurped the Han, and gods and men alike are outraged. Your Majesty should move swiftly against the passes, station troops on the upper reaches of the Wei River, and strike down the wicked usurper. Then the loyal men east of the passes will surely wrap provisions upon their backs and spur their horses forth to welcome the royal army. But if you leave Wei untouched and attack Wu, once the armies are locked in battle, how can they be swiftly disengaged? I beg Your Majesty to consider this.” The First Emperor replied, “Sun Quan murdered Our brother. Moreover, Fu Shiren, Mi Fang, Pan Zhang, and Ma Zhong are all enemies against whom We bear a gnashing hatred. Only when We have devoured their flesh and exterminated their clans will Our wrath be appeased. Why do you seek to hinder Us?” Zhao Yun said, “The enmity against the traitor to the Han is a public cause; the enmity for a brother is a private one. I beg Your Majesty to place the realm above all else.” The First Emperor answered, “If We do not avenge Our brother, what value would there be in possessing ten thousand leagues of rivers and mountains?” Thus he rejected Zhao Yun’s counsel and issued orders to raise an army against Wu. He also sent envoys to Wuxi to borrow fifty thousand tribal troops for mutual support. At the same time, he dispatched an envoy to Langzhong, promoting Zhang Fei to General of Chariots and Cavalry, appointing him Colonel Director of Retainers and Marquis of Xixiang, and making him concurrently Governor of Langzhong. Bearing the imperial edict, the envoy departed.

As for Zhang Fei, when word reached him in Langzhong that Lord Guan had been murdered by Eastern Wu, he wailed and wept from dawn to dusk until blood soaked the front of his robe. His officers tried to console him with wine, but the more he drank, the fiercer his rage became. Any man in or around his tent who gave the least offense was immediately flogged, and many were beaten to death. Each day he faced south, gnashing his teeth and glaring in fury, and cried aloud without cease. Suddenly it was reported that an imperial envoy had arrived. Zhang Fei hurriedly admitted him and opened and read the edict. After accepting his new dignities, he bowed toward the north, then laid out a banquet for the envoy. Zhang Fei said, “My elder brother was murdered, and my hatred is as deep as the sea. Why have the ministers at court not memorialized the throne to raise an army at once?” The envoy replied, “Many have urged His Majesty first to destroy Wei and only afterward attack Wu.” Zhang Fei angrily cried, “What manner of talk is that? Long ago, the three of us swore brotherhood in the Peach Garden and vowed to live and die together. Now, to my misfortune, both my elder brothers have perished halfway along the road. How can I alone enjoy wealth and honor? I shall go before the Son of Heaven in person and beg to command the vanguard. Wearing mourning, I shall attack Wu, capture the traitors alive, and offer them in sacrifice to my two elder brothers, thus fulfilling our former oath!” When he had finished speaking, he set out with the imperial envoy for Chengdu.

Meanwhile, the First Emperor went down each day to the drill ground to train his troops and horses. He fixed a date for the army to march and resolved to lead the expedition in person. Thereupon all the high ministers and nobles assembled at the chancellor’s residence and said to Kongming, “The Son of Heaven has only just ascended the throne. For him to command the army in person is no way to safeguard the altars of state. As chancellor, entrusted with the balance of government, why do you not remonstrate with him?” Kongming replied, “I have remonstrated earnestly several times, but he will not listen. Today, gentlemen, follow me to the drill ground, and we shall remonstrate again.” Kongming then led the entire body of officials before the First Emperor and memorialized: “Your Majesty has only just ascended the precious throne. If you intend to march north against the traitor to the Han and proclaim righteousness beneath Heaven, then it would be fitting for you to command the imperial armies in person. But if you intend only to attack Wu, you need merely appoint a great general to lead the campaign. Why must Your Sacred Majesty trouble yourself personally?” Faced with Kongming’s earnest remonstrance, the First Emperor began somewhat to relent. Just then it was reported that Zhang Fei had arrived, and the First Emperor hastily summoned him. Zhang Fei entered the martial review hall, prostrated himself, clasped the First Emperor’s feet, and wept. The First Emperor wept as well. Zhang Fei said, “Now that Your Majesty has become sovereign, you have already forgotten our oath in the Peach Garden! How can the murder of our second elder brother go unavenged?” The First Emperor replied, “Many officials have remonstrated against it, so We have not dared act rashly.” Zhang Fei said, “How could others understand the oath we swore in former days? If Your Majesty will not go, I shall sacrifice this body to avenge my two elder brothers! If I cannot avenge them, I would sooner die than ever see Your Majesty again!” The First Emperor said, “We shall go with you. Lead your own troops out from Langzhou, while We command the picked forces and rendezvous with you at Jiangzhou. Together we shall attack Eastern Wu and wash away this hatred.” As Zhang Fei was about to leave, the First Emperor admonished him: “We have long known that when you drink, your temper grows violent. You flog your stout soldiers, then order them to remain at your side. This is the way to bring disaster upon yourself. Henceforth you must be tolerant and must not behave as you did before.” Zhang Fei bowed in farewell and departed.

The next day, as the First Emperor was preparing his army to march, the Academician Qin Mi memorialized: “Your Majesty would cast aside the person of an emperor and sacrifice it for a lesser righteousness. The ancients did not approve of such conduct. I beg Your Majesty to reflect upon it.” The First Emperor replied, “Yunchang and We were as one body. That great bond of righteousness still endures—how could We forget it?” Qin Mi remained prostrate and would not rise. “If Your Majesty does not heed your servant’s words, I truly fear that disaster will follow.” The First Emperor flew into a rage. “We intend to raise an army! How dare you utter such ill-omened words!” He ordered the guards to drag Qin Mi out and behead him. Qin Mi’s expression did not change. Looking back at the First Emperor, he laughed and said, “I shall die without regret. I grieve only that the enterprise so newly founded is about to be overthrown once more!” All the officials pleaded for Qin Mi’s life. The First Emperor said, “Confine him for now. When We return after avenging Our brother, We shall decide his punishment.” When Kongming heard of this, he at once submitted a memorial to save Qin Mi. In substance it read: “Your servants Zhuge Liang and the others humbly submit that the villains of Wu employed treacherous and deceitful schemes, bringing upon Jingzhou the calamity of destruction. A great general’s spirit fell amid the Dipper and Ox constellations, and a pillar of Heaven was broken in the land of Chu. The grief and anguish of this loss truly cannot be forgotten. Yet we reflect that the guilt for transferring the sacred vessel of Han lies with Cao Cao, while the fault for displacing the imperial fortune of the Liu house does not lie with Sun Quan. We humbly believe that if the rebels of Wei are destroyed, Wu will submit of itself. We beg Your Majesty to accept Qin Mi’s words, firm as metal and stone, preserve the strength of your officers and men, and devise some other sound plan. Then great indeed will be the good fortune of the altars of state, and great the good fortune of all beneath Heaven!”

When the First Emperor had finished reading, he flung the memorial to the ground and said, “Our mind is made up. Let no one remonstrate again!” He then commanded Chancellor Zhuge Liang to protect the Crown Prince and guard the Two Riverlands. General of Agile Cavalry Ma Chao and his younger brother Ma Dai were to assist General Who Guards the North Wei Yan in holding Hanzhong against the armies of Wei. General of Tiger’s Might Zhao Yun was to provide support in the rear and supervise provisions and fodder. Huang Quan and Cheng Ji were appointed military advisers; Ma Liang and Chen Zhen were placed in charge of documents; Huang Zhong was made vanguard commander, with Feng Xi and Zhang Nan as his deputies; Fu Tong and Zhang Yi were appointed guard commandants of the central army; and Zhao Rong and Liao Chun were to bring up the rear. There were several hundred officers from the Riverlands, together with the tribal commanders from Wuxi and others, and the whole army numbered seven hundred fifty thousand. The day bingyin of the seventh month in the first year of Zhangwu was selected for the departure of the army.

Zhang Fei, meanwhile, returned to Langzhong and issued an order throughout the army: within three days, white banners and white armor were to be prepared so that all three divisions might don mourning and march against Wu. The next day, two junior officers under his command, Fan Qiang and Zhang Da, entered his tent and reported, “White banners and white armor cannot be procured at such short notice. The time limit must be extended before they can be made ready.” Zhang Fei flew into a rage. “I burn to avenge my brother and bitterly regret that I cannot reach the traitors’ borders tomorrow! How dare you disobey my military order?” He commanded the guards to bind them to trees and give each fifty lashes across the back. When the flogging was over, Zhang Fei pointed at them and said, “Everything must be ready tomorrow! If you fail to meet the deadline, I shall behead you both as a warning to the army!” Beaten until blood filled their mouths, the two returned to their camp and conferred together. Fan Qiang said, “We were punished today, but how can we possibly have everything ready tomorrow? His temper is as violent as fire. If the work is unfinished tomorrow, you and I will both be killed!” Zhang Da said, “Rather than let him kill us, we should kill him first.” Fan Qiang said, “But how can we get near him?” Zhang Da replied, “If we are not fated to die, he will be drunk upon his bed. If we are fated to die, he will not be drunk.” Thus the two completed their plans.

As for Zhang Fei, his thoughts were in utter confusion, and in every movement he seemed dazed and distracted. He asked his officers, “My heart now pounds with fright and my flesh trembles. Whether sitting or lying down, I find no peace. What can this mean?” An officer replied, “My lord, it is because you grieve so deeply for Lord Guan.” Zhang Fei ordered wine brought and drank with his officers until, before he knew it, he was deeply intoxicated and lay down inside his tent. The two villains, Fan Qiang and Zhang Da, learned of this. During the first watch, each concealed a short knife and slipped secretly into the tent, pretending that they had grave and confidential military matters to report. They went straight to the bedside. Now, whenever Zhang Fei slept, his eyes never fully closed. That night, as he lay in his tent, the two villains saw his bristling beard and wide-open eyes and at first dared not strike. Only when they heard his breathing thunder like a storm did they venture closer and plunge their short knives into his belly. Zhang Fei gave one great cry and died. He was fifty-five years old. A later poet lamented him in these lines:

At Anxi, it is told, he flogged the postal inspector;He swept the Yellow Turbans away and upheld the fiery Liu.At Hulao Pass, his mighty voice first shook the field;Beside Changban Bridge, the river itself seemed to reverse its flow.In honor he released Yan Yan and brought peace to Shu;By cunning he deceived Zhang He and secured the central provinces.Before he could conquer Wu, his life was lost;Autumn grass in Langzhong forever harbors sorrow.

That very night, the two villains cut off Zhang Fei’s head, then led several dozen men away and fled through the darkness to Eastern Wu. The next day, when the army learned what had happened, troops were sent in pursuit, but they could not overtake them. At the time, one of Zhang Fei’s officers, Wu Ban, had come from Jingzhou to see the First Emperor. The First Emperor had appointed him General of the Standard Gate and ordered him to assist Zhang Fei in guarding Langzhong. Wu Ban now first sent a memorial reporting the matter to the Son of Heaven. He then ordered Zhang Fei’s eldest son, Zhang Bao, to prepare an inner and outer coffin and place his father’s body within. Zhang Bao’s younger brother, Zhang Shao, was left to guard Langzhong, while Zhang Bao himself went to report to the First Emperor, who had already fixed the date for the army’s departure. Officials of every rank accompanied Kongming for ten li to see the First Emperor off before returning. When Kongming came back to Chengdu, he was dejected and ill at ease. Turning to the assembled officials, he said, “If Fa Xiaozhi were still alive, he would surely have been able to restrain His Majesty from marching east.”

That night, the First Emperor’s heart pounded with fright and his flesh trembled, so that he could find no rest in sleep. Leaving his tent, he raised his eyes to observe the heavens and saw in the northwest a star as large as a peck measure suddenly fall to earth. Deeply troubled, the First Emperor sent a man that very night to ask Kongming what it meant. Kongming replied in a memorial: “A great general is destined to be lost. Within three days, an alarming report will surely arrive.” Because of this, the First Emperor held his army in place. Suddenly an attendant reported, “Wu Ban, an officer under General of Chariots and Cavalry Zhang in Langzhong, has sent a man bearing a memorial.” The First Emperor stamped his foot and cried, “Alas! Our third brother is lost!” When he read the memorial, it indeed reported the dreadful news of Zhang Fei’s death. The First Emperor wailed aloud and fell unconscious to the ground. The officials revived him. The next day, it was reported that a troop of horsemen was approaching like a violent wind. The First Emperor went outside the camp to look. After a long while, he saw a young commander in a white robe and silver armor gallop up, roll from his saddle, prostrate himself, and weep. It was Zhang Bao. He said, “Fan Qiang and Zhang Da murdered my father and carried his head away to Eastern Wu!” The First Emperor’s grief was so extreme that he refused all food and drink. His ministers earnestly remonstrated: “Your Majesty is about to avenge your two younger brothers. How can you first ruin your own imperial person?” Only then did the First Emperor take nourishment. He said to Zhang Bao, “Will you and Wu Ban dare lead your own troops as the vanguard and avenge your father?” Zhang Bao replied, “For my country and my father, I would face ten thousand deaths without refusing!” The First Emperor was about to order Zhang Bao to set forth when it was reported that another body of troops was sweeping toward them like a gale. The First Emperor ordered an attendant to investigate. Presently, the attendant led into camp another young commander, clad in a white robe and silver armor, who prostrated himself and wept. The First Emperor looked and saw that it was Guan Xing. At the sight of Guan Xing, he thought of Lord Guan and once more wailed aloud. The officials pleaded earnestly with him to restrain his grief. The First Emperor said, “We remember how, when We were still a commoner, We swore brotherhood with Guan and Zhang and vowed to live and die together. Now that We are Son of Heaven, We had hoped to share wealth and honor with Our two brothers, but unhappily both have died violent deaths! When We see these two nephews, how can Our heart not break?”

Having spoken, he wept again. The officials said, “Let the two young generals withdraw for now, so that His Majesty may rest and preserve his imperial person.” An attendant memorialized, “Your Majesty is past sixty and ought not give way to such excessive grief.” The First Emperor said, “Both Our brothers are dead. How can We bear to live alone?” With that, he struck his head against the ground and wept. The assembled officials conferred together: “The Son of Heaven is so overcome with sorrow—how can we console him?” Ma Liang said, “His Majesty is personally leading a great army against Wu. For him to wail all day is harmful to the army.” Chen Zhen said, “I have heard that west of Mount Qingcheng near Chengdu there lives a recluse whose surname is Li and whose given name is Yi. It is said among the people that this old man is more than three hundred years old and can discern a person’s life and death, good fortune and calamity. He is an immortal of the present age. Why not report this to the Son of Heaven and summon the old man to ask him what fortune awaits us? His words would carry more weight than ours.” They accordingly entered and reported this to the First Emperor. The First Emperor agreed and at once dispatched Chen Zhen with an imperial edict to summon Li Yi from Mount Qingcheng.

Traveling day and night, Chen Zhen reached Qingcheng and had local villagers guide him deep into the mountain valleys. From afar he beheld the immortal’s retreat, half veiled in pure clouds and surrounded by an extraordinary auspicious vapor. Suddenly a young boy came forward to meet him and said, “Can the newcomer be none other than Chen Xiaoqi?” Chen Zhen was greatly astonished. “How does this immortal youth know my name?” The boy replied, “Last night my master said, ‘Tomorrow an imperial summons will surely arrive, and the envoy will surely be Chen Xiaoqi.’” Chen Zhen said, “He is truly an immortal! What men say of him is no falsehood!” He entered the immortal retreat with the boy, bowed before Li Yi, and proclaimed the Son of Heaven’s summons. Li Yi pleaded old age and refused to go. Chen Zhen said, “The Son of Heaven urgently desires to see the Immortal Elder. I beg you not to withhold the honor of your crane-borne presence.” Only after repeated and earnest entreaties did Li Yi consent to go. When he reached the imperial camp, he entered and was received by the First Emperor. The First Emperor saw that Li Yi had a crane-white head and the rosy countenance of a child. His blue eyes had square pupils that shone with brilliant light, while his body resembled an ancient cypress. Knowing him to be an extraordinary man, the First Emperor treated him with the highest courtesy. Li Yi said, “This old man is merely a rustic from the barren mountains, without learning or knowledge. Your Majesty has honored me with a summons, but I do not know what instruction you wish to give me.” The First Emperor said, “For more than thirty years, We were bound to Our two younger brothers Guan and Zhang in a fellowship of life and death. Now both have been murdered, and We are personally leading a great army to avenge them. Yet We do not know whether the outcome will be fortunate or disastrous. We have long heard that the Immortal Elder understands Heaven’s hidden workings, and We beg you to favor Us with your instruction.” Li Yi replied, “This belongs to the decrees of Heaven and is not something this old man knows.” The First Emperor questioned him again and again. At last Li Yi asked for paper and brush and drew more than forty pictures of soldiers, horses, weapons, and armor. When he had finished, he tore them all to pieces one by one. He then drew a great man lying face upward upon the ground, with another man beside him digging earth to bury him. Above them he wrote a large word, “white.” He then bowed his head to the ground and departed. The First Emperor was displeased and said to his ministers, “That old fellow is a madman! He is not to be believed!” He immediately had the drawings burned and urged the army onward.

Zhang Bao entered and memorialized: “Wu Ban’s troops have arrived. Your young servant begs to command the vanguard.” Admiring his spirit, the First Emperor took the vanguard’s seal and bestowed it upon Zhang Bao. Zhang Bao was about to hang it at his waist when another young commander strode forth boldly and cried, “Leave that seal for me!” They looked and saw that it was Guan Xing. Zhang Bao said, “I have already received the imperial command.” Guan Xing replied, “What ability have you that you dare assume this office?” Zhang Bao said, “I have practiced the martial arts since childhood, and no arrow of mine ever misses its mark.” The First Emperor said, “We wish to observe the martial skills of Our worthy nephews and determine which is superior.” Zhang Bao ordered soldiers to set up a banner a hundred paces away, with a red heart painted upon it. He took up his bow, drew three arrows in succession, and planted all three in the red heart. Everyone voiced his praise. Guan Xing took his bow in hand and said, “What is remarkable about hitting a red heart?” As he spoke, a flight of wild geese happened to pass overhead. Guan Xing pointed and said, “I shall shoot the third goose in that flight.” He loosed an arrow, and the goose fell at the twang of the bowstring. Civil and military officers alike shouted their applause. Zhang Bao was enraged. He sprang upon his horse, leveled the eighteen-span tempered-steel spear his father had wielded, and shouted, “Do you dare test your martial skill against mine?” Guan Xing also mounted. Snatching up the great broadsword inherited from his family, he spurred forward and cried, “Do you think you alone can wield a spear? Can I not wield a blade?”

The two young generals were just about to engage when the First Emperor shouted, “You two, cease this insolence!” Guan Xing and Zhang Bao hurriedly dismounted, cast aside their weapons, and prostrated themselves to beg forgiveness. The First Emperor said, “From the time We were in Zhuo Commandery, We were bound to your fathers in brotherhood despite our different surnames and were as close as flesh and bone. You two likewise stand to one another as brothers. You ought to unite in heart and strength and together avenge your fathers. How can you contend against each other and violate the greater bond of righteousness? If you behave like this while your fathers’ deaths are still so recent, what will you do in days to come?” The two bowed twice and confessed their fault. The First Emperor asked, “Which of you is the elder?” Zhang Bao replied, “Your servant is one year older than Guan Xing.” The First Emperor immediately commanded Guan Xing to acknowledge Zhang Bao as his elder brother. Before the imperial tent, the two broke arrows and swore an oath that each would forever aid and protect the other. The First Emperor then issued an edict appointing Wu Ban as vanguard and ordering Zhang Bao and Guan Xing to guard the imperial person. The army advanced by both land and water, ships and cavalry moving abreast. In a vast and mighty host, they swept toward the kingdom of Wu.

Meanwhile, Fan Qiang and Zhang Da carried Zhang Fei’s head to the Marquis of Wu and offered it to him, recounting the whole course of events in detail. When Sun Quan had heard them out, he took the two men into his service, then addressed his officials: “Liu Xuande has now assumed the imperial throne and personally leads more than seven hundred thousand picked troops against us. His power is immense. What are we to do?” Every official turned pale, and they stared at one another in dismay. Zhuge Jin stepped forward and said, “I have long enjoyed Your Lordship’s bounty but have found no way to repay it. I am willing to hazard what remains of my life and go to see the ruler of Shu. I shall explain the advantages and dangers to him, induce our two states to make peace, and persuade him to join us in punishing Cao Pi’s crimes.” Sun Quan was overjoyed and immediately dispatched Zhuge Jin as envoy to persuade the First Emperor to withdraw his army. Truly:

When two realms contend, an envoy passes between;One word may resolve the crisis, if the messenger proves able.

What came of Zhuge Jin’s mission will be told in the chapter that follows.

Zhang Fei Is Murdered in His Haste to Avenge His Brother; the First Emperor Raises an Army to Redress the Wrong

Now Liu Bei, the First Emperor, raised an army for an eastern campaign. Zhao Yun remonstrated with him: “The enemy of the state is Cao Cao, not Sun Quan. Now Cao Pi has usurped the Han throne, angering both gods and men. Your Majesty should move quickly against the Guanzhong region and station troops on the upper reaches of the Wei River to punish the vicious rebel. Then the loyal men east of the passes will surely carry provisions and spur their horses to welcome the royal army. But if you leave Wei alone and attack Wu, once the armies clash, how can the conflict be quickly ended? I beg Your Majesty to consider this carefully.”

The First Emperor said, “Sun Quan murdered Our brother. Moreover, Fu Shiren, Mi Fang, Pan Zhang, and Ma Zhong are all enemies We hate to the very marrow of Our bones. Only by devouring their flesh and exterminating their clans can Our hatred be appeased. Why do you obstruct Us?”

Zhao Yun said, “The enmity against the enemies of the Han is a public matter; the enmity over a brother is a private matter. I beg Your Majesty to place the realm above all else.”

The First Emperor replied, “If We do not avenge Our brother, what value would there be in possessing ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains?”

He therefore refused to heed Zhao Yun’s remonstrance and issued orders to raise an army against Wu. He also sent an envoy to Wuxi to borrow fifty thousand tribal troops so they could coordinate with his forces. At the same time, he sent an envoy to Langzhong to appoint Zhang Fei General of Chariots and Cavalry, Colonel-Director of Retainers, Marquis of Xixiang, and Governor of Langzhong. The envoy departed carrying the imperial edict.

As for Zhang Fei, while he was in Langzhong, he learned that Lord Guan had been murdered by Eastern Wu. Morning and night he wailed and wept until blood soaked the front of his robe. His generals tried to console him with wine, but when he became drunk, his anger only grew fiercer. Whether above or below his command tent, anyone who offended him was immediately flogged, and many men were beaten to death. Every day he faced south, grinding his teeth and glaring in rage and hatred, and he never ceased crying aloud in grief.

Suddenly it was reported that an imperial envoy had arrived. Zhang Fei hurriedly had him brought in and opened and read the edict. After accepting his new titles and bowing toward the north, Zhang Fei arranged a banquet for the envoy.

Zhang Fei said, “My brother was murdered, and my hatred is as deep as the sea. Why have the ministers at court not long since petitioned for troops to be raised?”

The envoy said, “Many have urged that Wei be destroyed first and Wu attacked afterward.”

Zhang Fei angrily said, “What kind of talk is that? Long ago, the three of us swore brotherhood in the Peach Garden and vowed to live and die together. Now, unhappily, my second elder brother has died midway through our course. How can I enjoy wealth and honor alone? I shall go before the Emperor in person and ask to serve as vanguard. Wearing mourning, I will attack Wu, capture the rebels alive, and offer them in sacrifice to my second elder brother, thereby fulfilling our former oath!”

When he had finished speaking, he accompanied the imperial envoy toward Chengdu.

Meanwhile, the First Emperor personally drilled his troops and horses on the training ground each day, fixing a date to mobilize the army and personally lead the campaign. The dukes and ministers therefore all went to the chancellor’s residence and said to Kongming, “The Emperor has only just ascended the throne. For him to command the army in person does not show proper regard for the security of the state. As chancellor, you hold responsibility for the balance of government. Why do you not remonstrate with him?”

Kongming said, “I have bitterly remonstrated with him several times, but he simply will not listen. Today, gentlemen, follow me to the training ground, and we will remonstrate with him there.”

Kongming then led all the officials before the First Emperor and memorialized: “Your Majesty has only just ascended the precious throne. If you wished to march north against the enemies of the Han and proclaim righteousness throughout the realm, it would be proper for you to command the imperial armies in person. But if you wish only to attack Wu, you need merely appoint a senior general to command the campaign. Why must Your Sacred Majesty personally endure the hardship?”

Seeing Kongming remonstrate so earnestly, the First Emperor’s resolve began to soften slightly. Suddenly it was reported that Zhang Fei had arrived, and the First Emperor quickly summoned him.

Zhang Fei entered the martial hall, prostrated himself, embraced the First Emperor’s feet, and wept. The First Emperor wept as well.

Zhang Fei said, “Now that Your Majesty has become Emperor, you have already forgotten the oath of the Peach Garden! How can you fail to avenge our second elder brother?”

The First Emperor said, “Many officials have remonstrated and opposed it, so We have not dared to act rashly.”

Zhang Fei said, “How could anyone else understand the oath we swore long ago? If Your Majesty will not go, I will sacrifice this body to avenge my second elder brother! If I cannot avenge him, I would rather die than see Your Majesty again!”

The First Emperor said, “We will go with you. Lead your own troops out from Langzhou, while We command the elite army and rendezvous with you at Jiangzhou. Together we will attack Eastern Wu and wipe away this hatred.”

As Zhang Fei was about to depart, the First Emperor cautioned him: “We have long known that after drinking, you fly into violent rages and flog brave soldiers, yet afterward you continue to keep those same men at your side. That is the way to bring disaster upon yourself. From now on, you must be lenient and must not behave as you did before.”

Zhang Fei bowed farewell and departed.

The next day, as the First Emperor prepared his army to march, Academician Qin Mi memorialized: “Your Majesty is setting aside your person, worth ten thousand chariots, to pursue a lesser obligation. The ancients would not have approved. I beg Your Majesty to consider.”

The First Emperor said, “Yunchang and We were as one body. That great bond of righteousness still remains. How could We forget it?”

Qin Mi remained prostrate and would not rise, saying, “If Your Majesty does not heed your subject’s words, I truly fear you will suffer a reverse.”

The First Emperor flew into a rage. “We intend to raise an army. How dare you utter such inauspicious words!”

He ordered the guards to drag Qin Mi out and behead him. Without changing expression, Qin Mi looked back at the First Emperor and laughed: “I shall die without regret. I merely lament that the enterprise so newly founded is about to be overthrown once more!”

All the officials pleaded for Qin Mi’s pardon.

The First Emperor said, “Imprison him for now. We will pass judgment upon him after We return from taking Our revenge.”

When Kongming heard of this, he immediately submitted a memorial to save Qin Mi. Its substance was as follows:

Your subjects Zhuge Liang and the others humbly observe that the rebels of Wu employed treacherous and deceitful schemes, bringing the disaster of destruction upon Jingzhou. A general’s heart fell among the constellations of the Dipper and Ox, and the pillar of Heaven was broken in the lands of Chu. The grief and anguish caused by this truly cannot be forgotten. Yet we reflect that the guilt for transferring the imperial cauldron of Han lies with Cao Cao, while the fault for displacing the Liu dynasty does not lie with Sun Quan. Your subjects humbly believe that if the rebels of Wei are eliminated, Wu will submit of its own accord. We beg Your Majesty to accept Qin Mi’s words, which are as firm as metal and stone, preserve the strength of the officers and soldiers, and devise another sound plan. Then great indeed will be the good fortune of the state, and great indeed the good fortune of the realm!

After reading the memorial, the First Emperor threw it to the ground and said, “Our mind is made up. No one is to remonstrate again!”

He then ordered Chancellor Zhuge Liang to protect the crown prince and guard the two river provinces. General of Agile Cavalry Ma Chao and his younger brother Ma Dai were to assist General Who Guards the North Wei Yan in defending Hanzhong against the armies of Wei. General of Tiger Might Zhao Yun was to provide support in the rear and also supervise provisions and fodder. Huang Quan and Cheng Ji were appointed military advisers; Ma Liang and Chen Zhen were placed in charge of documents; Huang Zhong was appointed vanguard commander, with Feng Xi and Zhang Nan as his deputies; Fu Tong and Zhang Yi were appointed guard commandants of the central army; and Zhao Rong and Liao Chun were assigned to bring up the rear. Including several hundred officers from Shu and the tribal generals from Wuxi, the total force numbered seven hundred fifty thousand. The army’s departure was fixed for the bingyin day of the seventh month in the first year of Zhangwu.

When Zhang Fei returned to Langzhong, he issued an order to the army: within three days, white flags and white armor were to be prepared so the entire army could wear mourning and attack Wu.

The following day, two junior officers under his command, Fan Qiang and Zhang Da, entered his tent and reported: “White flags and white armor cannot be obtained at such short notice. The deadline must be extended before they can be prepared.”

Zhang Fei flew into a rage. “I am in such haste to avenge my brother that I bitterly regret not being able to reach the rebels’ territory tomorrow! How dare you disobey my military order!”

He ordered the guards to bind them to trees and give each fifty lashes across the back. When the flogging was over, Zhang Fei pointed at them and said, “Everything must be ready by tomorrow! If you miss the deadline, I will kill both of you as a warning to the rest!”

The beating left both men bleeding from the mouth. After returning to their camp, they conferred.

Fan Qiang said, “We were punished today. How can we possibly have everything ready tomorrow? His temper is as violent as fire. If it is not finished tomorrow, both of us will be killed!”

Zhang Da said, “If he is going to kill us, we would be better off killing him first.”

Fan Qiang said, “But how can we get close to him?”

Zhang Da said, “If we are not fated to die, he will be lying drunk on his bed. If we are fated to die, he will not be drunk.”

The two then settled their plan.

Meanwhile, Zhang Fei’s mind was in complete turmoil, and his movements and behavior were distracted. He asked his subordinate generals, “My heart is pounding and my flesh trembling. Whether sitting or lying down, I cannot find peace. What does this mean?”

A general replied, “My lord, this has been caused by your longing for Lord Guan.”

Zhang Fei ordered wine brought and drank with his generals. Before he knew it, he was thoroughly drunk and lay down inside his tent.

The two villains Fan Qiang and Zhang Da learned what had happened. During the first watch of the night, each concealed a short knife and secretly entered the tent, falsely claiming that they had an urgent and confidential matter to report. They went straight to the bedside.

It happened that Zhang Fei never closed his eyes when he slept. That night, as he lay asleep in his tent, the two villains saw his beard bristling and his eyes wide open and at first did not dare make a move. Only when they heard his breathing rumble like thunder did they dare approach. They plunged their short knives into Zhang Fei’s belly. He gave one great cry and died. He was fifty-five years old.

A later poet lamented:

At Anxi, he was famed for flogging the supervising inspector;He swept away the Yellow Turbans and aided the Han house of Liu.At Hulao Pass, his voice alone first shook the foe;Beside Changban Bridge, the waters seemed to flow backward.Righteously freeing Yan Yan, he brought peace to Shu;Cleverly deceiving Zhang He, he secured the central provinces.Before he could conquer Wu, he himself first died;Autumn grass forever leaves the land of Langzhong in sorrow!

That same night, the two villains cut off Zhang Fei’s head, then led several dozen men away and fled through the night to Eastern Wu. The following day, when the army learned what had happened, troops were sent in pursuit, but they could not overtake them.

At the time, Zhang Fei had a subordinate general named Wu Ban, who had previously come from Jingzhou to see the First Emperor. The First Emperor had appointed him Gate General and ordered him to assist Zhang Fei in guarding Langzhong. Wu Ban immediately sent a memorial reporting the matter to the Emperor. He then ordered Zhang Fei’s eldest son, Zhang Bao, to prepare an inner and outer coffin and place his father’s body within. Zhang Fei’s younger son, Zhang Shao, was ordered to guard Langzhong, while Zhang Bao himself went to report to the First Emperor.

By then, the First Emperor had already chosen the date for the army’s departure. Officials high and low accompanied Kongming in escorting him for ten li before returning. When Kongming came back to Chengdu, he was deeply dejected. Looking around at the assembled officials, he said, “If Fa Xiaozhi were still alive, he would surely have been able to restrain His Majesty from marching east.”

That night, the First Emperor’s heart pounded and his flesh trembled, and he could find no rest in bed. He went outside his tent and looked up at the heavens. In the northwest, he saw a star as large as a dipper suddenly fall to the earth. Deeply alarmed, the First Emperor sent a messenger that very night to ask Kongming what it meant.

Kongming replied in a memorial: “A senior general is destined to be lost. Within three days, an urgent report will surely arrive.”

Because of this, the First Emperor held his troops in place.

Suddenly, an attendant reported, “Wu Ban, a subordinate general of General of Chariots and Cavalry Zhang in Langzhong, has sent a man bearing a memorial.”

The First Emperor stamped his foot and cried, “Alas! Our third brother is no more!”

When he read the memorial, it indeed reported the terrible news of Zhang Fei’s death. The First Emperor wailed aloud and fainted to the ground. The officials revived him.

The next day, it was reported that a body of troops was approaching as swiftly as a gale. The First Emperor went outside the camp to observe. After some time, he saw a young officer in a white robe and silver armor. The young man tumbled from his saddle, prostrated himself, and wept. It was Zhang Bao.

Zhang Bao said, “Fan Qiang and Zhang Da murdered my father, then took his head and fled to Eastern Wu!”

The First Emperor’s grief was so profound that he refused food and drink. His ministers earnestly remonstrated with him: “Your Majesty is about to avenge your two younger brothers. How can you first destroy your own imperial health?”

Only then did the First Emperor take some food. He said to Zhang Bao, “Would you and Wu Ban dare lead your own troops as the vanguard and avenge your father?”

Zhang Bao said, “For my country and my father, I would not refuse even ten thousand deaths!”

The First Emperor was just about to dispatch Zhang Bao with the army when it was reported that another powerful troop of soldiers was approaching like a wind-driven mass. The First Emperor ordered an attendant to investigate. Shortly afterward, the attendant led a young general in a white robe and silver armor into the camp, where he prostrated himself and wept.

The First Emperor looked at him and saw that it was Guan Xing. At the sight of Guan Xing, he thought of Lord Guan and again wailed aloud. The officials earnestly tried to console him.

The First Emperor said, “We remember how, when We were still a commoner, We swore brotherhood with Guan and Zhang and vowed to live and die together. Now that We are Emperor, We had hoped to share wealth and honor with Our two brothers, but unhappily, both have died unnatural deaths! Seeing these two nephews, how can Our heart not break?”

When he had finished speaking, he wept again.

The officials said, “The two young generals should withdraw for now and allow His Sacred Majesty to rest and recover his imperial health.”

An attendant memorialized, “Your Majesty is over sixty years old. You should not grieve so excessively.”

The First Emperor said, “Both Our brothers are dead. How can We bear to remain alive alone?”

After saying this, he struck his head against the ground and wept.

The officials conferred among themselves: “The Emperor is now so distressed. How can we console him?”

Ma Liang said, “His Majesty is personally commanding the great army against Wu, yet he wails and weeps all day. This is harmful to the army.”

Chen Zhen said, “I have heard that west of Mount Qingcheng near Chengdu there lives a recluse whose surname is Li and whose given name is Yi. People say that this old man is already more than three hundred years old and can know whether a person will live or die and whether fortune or misfortune awaits them. He is an immortal of the present age. Why not report this to the Emperor, summon the old man, and ask him about the outcome? His words would carry more weight than ours.”

They accordingly went in and memorialized the First Emperor. The First Emperor agreed and immediately sent Chen Zhen with an imperial edict to Mount Qingcheng to summon the recluse.

Traveling day and night, Chen Zhen reached Qingcheng. He had a local man guide him deep into the mountain valleys. From a distance, he saw the immortal’s retreat, where pale clouds hovered and an extraordinary auspicious aura filled the air.

Suddenly, a young boy came forward to meet him and said, “Can the visitor be none other than Chen Xiaoqi?”

Chen Zhen was greatly startled. “How does an immortal youth know my name?”

The boy said, “Last night my master said, ‘An imperial summons will certainly arrive tomorrow, and the envoy will surely be Chen Xiaoqi.’”

Chen Zhen said, “He truly is an immortal! What people say is indeed no lie!”

He followed the boy into the immortal’s retreat, bowed before Li Yi, and proclaimed the Emperor’s edict. Li Yi pleaded old age and refused to go.

Chen Zhen said, “The Emperor urgently desires to see the venerable immortal in person. I beg you not to withhold your crane-borne presence.”

Only after Chen Zhen repeatedly and earnestly entreated him did Li Yi agree to go.

When they reached the imperial camp, Li Yi entered to see the First Emperor. The First Emperor saw that Li Yi had the white hair of a crane and the youthful complexion of a child. His green eyes had square pupils and shone with brilliant light, while his body resembled an ancient cypress. Knowing him to be an extraordinary man, the First Emperor treated him with exceptional courtesy.

Li Yi said, “I am merely an old villager from a desolate mountain, without learning or knowledge. Your Majesty has honored me with an imperial summons, but I do not know what instruction you have for me.”

The First Emperor said, “We formed a bond of life and death with Our two younger brothers, Guan and Zhang, more than thirty years ago. Now both have been murdered, and We are personally leading a great army to avenge them, but We do not know whether the outcome will be fortunate or disastrous. We have long heard that the venerable immortal understands the hidden workings of fate, and We beg you to instruct Us.”

Li Yi said, “This is determined by Heaven. It is not something this old man can know.”

The First Emperor questioned him again and again. Li Yi then asked for paper and a brush and drew more than forty pictures of soldiers, horses, weapons, and equipment. When he had finished, he tore each picture to pieces. He then drew a great man lying faceup on the ground, with another man beside him digging earth to bury him. Above them he wrote one large character, “white.” He then bowed deeply and departed.

The First Emperor was displeased and said to his ministers, “This is a mad old man! He is not worth believing!”

He immediately burned the drawings and ordered the army to press forward.

Zhang Bao entered and reported, “Wu Ban’s troops have arrived. This young subject begs to serve as vanguard.”

The First Emperor admired his courage and immediately gave Zhang Bao the vanguard’s seal of command. Zhang Bao was just about to hang the seal from his belt when another young general strode forward boldly and cried, “Leave that seal for me!”

They looked and saw that it was Guan Xing.

Zhang Bao said, “I have already received the imperial command.”

Guan Xing said, “What abilities do you possess that you dare assume this responsibility?”

Zhang Bao said, “I have studied martial arts since childhood, and none of my arrows ever misses.”

The First Emperor said, “We wish to observe Our worthy nephews’ martial skill and determine which of you is superior.”

Zhang Bao ordered soldiers to set up a flag a hundred paces away, with a red heart painted on it. He took up his bow and arrows and shot three arrows in succession, all of which struck the red heart. Everyone praised his skill.

Guan Xing took his bow in hand and said, “What is remarkable about hitting a red heart?”

As he spoke, a flight of wild geese happened to pass overhead. Guan Xing pointed and said, “I will shoot the third goose in that flight.”

He released an arrow, and the goose fell as soon as the bowstring sounded. The civil and military officials cheered in unison.

Zhang Bao flew into a rage. He leaped onto his horse, leveled the eighteen-foot, steel-tipped spear his father had used, and shouted, “Do you dare compete with me in martial skill?”

Guan Xing also mounted his horse, seized his family’s great broadsword, and galloped forward, crying, “Do you think you alone can wield a spear? Can I not wield a blade?”

The two young generals were about to engage when the First Emperor shouted, “You two boys, stop this insolence!”

Guan Xing and Zhang Bao hurriedly dismounted, cast aside their weapons, prostrated themselves, and asked forgiveness.

The First Emperor said, “Ever since Zhuo Commandery, We have been bound in brotherhood with your fathers, though our surnames were different, and we were as close as flesh and bone. Now you two also stand in the relationship of elder and younger brothers. You should unite your hearts and strength to avenge your fathers together. How can you contend against one another and betray that great bond of righteousness? Your fathers’ deaths are still so recent, yet already you behave like this. What will you do in the future?”

The two bowed again and confessed their guilt.

The First Emperor asked, “Which of you is older?”

Zhang Bao said, “Your subject is one year older than Guan Xing.”

The First Emperor immediately ordered Guan Xing to acknowledge Zhang Bao as his elder brother. Before the command tent, the two broke arrows and swore an oath always to protect and rescue each other.

The First Emperor then issued an edict appointing Wu Ban as vanguard and ordering Zhang Bao and Guan Xing to guard the imperial person. The army advanced by both land and water, with ships and cavalry traveling side by side. In a vast and mighty host, they drove toward the state of Wu.

Meanwhile, Fan Qiang and Zhang Da presented Zhang Fei’s head to the Marquis of Wu and gave him a detailed account of everything that had happened. After hearing them out, Sun Quan accepted the two men and then said to his officials, “Liu Xuande has now ascended the imperial throne and personally leads more than seven hundred thousand elite troops on campaign. His power is immense. What are we to do?”

All the officials turned pale and looked at one another in dismay.

Zhuge Jin stepped forward and said, “I have long received my livelihood from my lord, yet have rendered no service in return. I am willing to risk what remains of my life and go see the ruler of Shu. I will explain the advantages and dangers to him, persuade our two states to make peace, and urge that we join together to punish Cao Pi for his crimes.”

Sun Quan was delighted and immediately sent Zhuge Jin as his envoy to persuade the First Emperor to withdraw his troops.

Indeed:

While two states contend, an envoy passes between them;To resolve a crisis with one word depends upon the messenger.

What came of Zhuge Jin’s mission will be revealed in the next chapter.