第五十七回
第五十七回 柴桑口卧龙吊丧 耒阳县凤雏理事
却说周瑜怒气填胸，坠于马下，左右急救归船。军士传说：“玄德、孔明在前山顶上饮酒取乐。”瑜大怒，咬牙切齿曰：“你道我取不得西川，吾誓取之！”正恨间，人报吴侯遣弟孙瑜到。周瑜接入，具言其事。孙瑜曰：“吾奉兄命来助都督。”遂令催军前行。行至巴丘，人报上流有关平、刘封二人领军截住水路，周瑜愈怒。忽又报孔明遣人送书至，周瑜拆封视之，书曰：
汉军师中郎将诸葛亮，致书于东吴大都督公瑾先生麾下：亮自柴桑一别，至今恋恋不忘。闻足下欲取西川，亮窃以为不可。益州民强地险，刘璋虽弱，足以自守。今劳师远征，转运万里，欲收全功，虽吴起不能定其规，孙武不能善其后也。曹操失利于赤壁，志岂须臾忘报仇哉？今足下兴兵远征，倘操乘虚而至，江南齑粉矣！亮不忍坐视，特此告知。幸垂照鉴。
周瑜览毕，长叹一声，唤左右取纸笔作书上吴侯。乃聚众将曰：“吾非不欲尽忠报国，奈天命已绝矣。汝等善事吴侯，共成大业。”言讫昏绝。徐徐又醒，仰天长叹曰：“既生瑜，何生亮！”连叫数声而亡，寿三十六岁。后人有诗叹曰：
赤壁遗雄烈，青年有俊声。弦歌知雅意，杯酒谢良朋。曾谒三千斛，常驱十万兵。巴丘终命处，凭吊欲伤情。
周瑜停丧于巴丘，众将将所遗书缄，遣人飞报孙权。权闻瑜死，放声大哭。拆视其书，乃荐鲁肃以自代也，书略曰：
瑜以凡才，荷蒙殊遇，委任腹心，统御兵马，敢不竭股肱之力，以图报效。奈死生不测，修短有命，愚志未展，微躯已殒，遗恨何极！方今曹操在北，疆场未静。刘备寄寓，有似养虎。天下之事，尚未可知。此正朝士旰食[1]之秋，至尊垂虑之日也。鲁肃忠烈，临事不苟，可以代瑜之任。“人之将死，其言也善”。倘蒙垂鉴，瑜死不朽矣。
孙权览毕，哭曰：“公瑾有王佐之才，今忽短命而死，孤何赖哉？既遗书特荐子敬，孤敢不从之。”即日便命鲁肃为都督，总统兵马，一面教发周瑜灵柩回葬。
却说孔明在荆州，夜观天文，见将星坠地，乃笑曰：“周瑜死矣。”至晓，告于玄德。玄德使人探之，果然死了。玄德问孔明曰：“周瑜既死，还当如何？”孔明曰：“代瑜领兵者，必鲁肃也。亮观天象，将星聚于东方。亮当以吊丧为由，往江东走一遭，就寻贤士佐助主公。”玄德曰：“只恐吴中将士加害于先生。”孔明曰：“瑜在之日，亮犹不惧，今瑜已死，又何患乎？”乃与赵云引五百军，具祭礼，下船赴巴丘吊丧。于路探听得孙权已令鲁肃为都督，周瑜灵柩已回柴桑。孔明径至柴桑，鲁肃以礼迎接。周瑜部将皆欲杀孔明，因见赵云带剑相随，不敢下手。孔明教设祭物于灵前，亲自奠酒，跪于地下，读祭文曰：
呜呼公瑾，不幸夭亡！修短故天，人岂不伤？我心实痛，酹酒一觞；君其有灵，享我烝尝！
吊君幼学，以交伯符；仗义疏财，让舍以居。吊君弱冠，万里鹏抟；定建霸业，割据江南。吊君壮力，远镇巴丘；景升怀虑，讨逆无忧。吊君丰度，佳配小乔；汉臣之婿，不愧当朝。吊君气概，谏阻纳质；始不垂翅，终能奋翼。吊君鄱阳，蒋干来说；挥洒自如，雅量高志。吊君弘才，文武筹略；火攻破敌，挽强为弱。想君当年，雄姿英发；哭君早逝，俯地流血。忠义之心，英灵之气；命终三纪，名垂百世。哀君情切，愁肠千结；惟我肝胆，悲无断绝。昊天昏暗，三军怆然；主为哀泣，友为泪涟。
亮也不才，丐计求谋；助吴拒曹，辅汉安刘；掎角之援，首尾相俦；若存若亡，何虑何忧？
呜呼公瑾！生死永别！朴守其贞，冥冥灭灭。魂如有灵，以鉴我心：从此天下，更无知音！呜呼痛哉！伏惟尚飨。
孔明祭毕，伏地大哭，泪如涌泉，哀恸不已。众将相谓曰：“人尽道公瑾与孔明不睦，今观其祭奠之情，人皆虚言也。”鲁肃见孔明如此悲切，亦为感伤，自思曰：“孔明自是多情，乃公瑾量窄，自取死耳。”后人有诗叹曰：
卧龙南阳睡未醒，又添列曜下舒城。苍天既已生公瑾，尘世何须出孔明！
鲁肃设宴款待孔明。宴罢，孔明辞回。方欲下船，只见江边一人道袍竹冠，皂绦素履，一手揪住孔明大笑曰：“汝气死周郎，却又来吊孝，明欺东吴无人耶！”孔明急视其人，乃凤雏先生庞统也，孔明亦大笑。两人携手登舟，各诉心事。孔明乃留书一封与统，嘱曰：“吾料孙仲谋必不能重用足下。稍有不如意，可来荆州共扶玄德。此人宽仁厚德，必不负公平生之所学。”统允诺而别，孔明自回荆州。
却说鲁肃送周瑜灵柩至芜湖，孙权接着，哭祭于前，命厚葬于本乡。瑜有两男一女，长男循，次男胤，权皆厚恤之。鲁肃曰：“肃碌碌庸才，误蒙公瑾重荐，其实不称所职，愿举一人以助主公。此人上通天文，下晓地理，谋略不减于管、乐，枢机可并于孙、吴。往日周公瑾多用其言，孔明亦深服其智。现在江南，何不重用？”权闻言大喜，便问此人姓名。肃曰：“此人乃襄阳人，姓庞，名统，字士元，道号凤雏先生。”权曰：“孤亦闻其名久矣。今既在此，可即请来相见。”于是鲁肃邀请庞统入见孙权。施礼毕，权见其人浓眉掀鼻，黑面短髯，形容古怪，心中不喜。乃问曰：“公平生所学，以何为主？”统曰：“不必拘执，随机应变。”权曰：“公之才学，比公瑾如何？”统笑曰：“某之所学，与公瑾大不相同。”权平生最喜周瑜，见统轻之，心中愈不乐，乃谓统曰：“公且退。待有用公之时，却来相请。”统长叹一声而出。鲁肃曰：“主公何不用庞士元？”权曰：“狂士也，用之何益！”肃曰：“赤壁鏖兵之时，此人曾献连环策，成第一功。主公想必知之。”权曰：“此时乃曹操自欲钉船，未必此人之功也。吾誓不用之。”鲁肃出谓庞统曰：“非肃不荐足下，奈吴侯不肯用公。公且耐心。”统低头长叹不语。肃曰：“公莫非无意于吴中乎？”统不答。肃曰：“公抱匡济之才，何往不利？可实对肃言，将欲何往？”统曰：“吾欲投曹操去也。”肃曰：“此明珠暗投矣。可往荆州投刘皇叔，必然重用。”统曰：“统意实欲如此，前言戏耳。”肃曰：“某当作书奉荐。公辅玄德，必令孙、刘两家，无相攻击，同力破曹。”统曰：“此某平生之素志也。”乃求肃书，径往荆州来见玄德。
此时孔明按察四郡未回，门吏传报：“江南名士庞统，特来相投。”玄德久闻统名，便教请入相见。统见玄德，长揖不拜。玄德见统貌陋，心中亦不悦，乃问统曰：“足下远来不易？”统不拿出鲁肃、孔明书投呈，但答曰：“闻皇叔招贤纳士，特来相投。”玄德曰：“荆楚稍定，苦无闲职。此去东北一百三十里，有一县名耒阳县，缺一县宰，屈公任之。如后有缺，却当重用。”统思：“玄德待我何薄！”欲以才学动之，见孔明不在，只得勉强相辞而去。统到耒阳县，不理政事，终日饮酒为乐，一应钱粮词讼，并不理会。有人报知玄德，言庞统将耒阳县事尽废。玄德怒曰：“竖儒焉敢乱吾法度！”遂唤张飞，分付引从人去荆南诸县巡视：“如有不公不法者，就便究问。恐于事有不明处，可与孙乾同去。”
张飞领了言语，与孙乾前至耒阳县。军民官吏，皆出郭迎接，独不见县令。飞问曰：“县令何在？”同僚覆曰：“庞县令自到任及今将百馀日，县中之事，并不理问，每日饮酒，自旦及夜，只在醉乡。今日宿酒未醒，犹卧不起。”张飞大怒，欲擒之。孙乾曰：“庞士元乃高明之人，未可轻忽。且到县问之，如果于理不当，治罪未晚。”飞乃入县，正厅上坐定，教县令来见。统衣冠不整，扶醉而出。飞怒曰：“吾兄以汝为人，令作县宰，汝焉敢尽废县事！”统笑曰：“将军以吾废了县中何事？”飞曰：“汝到任百馀日，终日在醉乡，安得不废政事？”统曰：“量百里小县，些小公事，何难决断！将军少坐，待我发落。”随即唤公吏，将百馀日所积公务，都取来剖断。吏皆纷然赍抱案卷上厅，诉词被告人等，环跪阶下。统手中批判，口中发落，耳内听词，曲直分明，并无分毫差错，民皆叩首拜伏。不到半日，将百馀日之事，尽断毕了，投笔于地而对张飞曰：“所废之事何在？曹操、孙权，吾视之若掌上观文，量此小县，何足介意！”飞大惊，下席谢曰：“先生大才，小子失敬。吾当于兄长处极力举荐。”统乃将出鲁肃荐书。飞曰：“先生初见吾兄，何不将出？”统曰：“若便将出，似乎专藉荐书来干谒矣。”飞顾谓孙乾曰：“非公则失一大贤也。”遂辞统回荆州见玄德，具说庞统之才。玄德大惊曰：“屈待大贤，吾之过也！”飞将鲁肃荐书呈上。玄德拆视之。书略曰：
庞士元非百里之才，使处治中、别驾之任，始当展其骥足。如以貌取之，恐负所学，终为他人所用，实可惜也！
玄德看毕，正在嗟叹，忽报孔明回。玄德接入，礼毕，孔明先问曰：“庞军师近日无恙否？”玄德曰：“近治耒阳县，好酒废事。”孔明笑曰：“士元非百里之才，胸中之学，胜亮十倍。亮曾有荐书在士元处，曾达主公否？”玄德曰：“今日方得子敬书，却未见先生之书。”孔明曰：“大贤若处小任，往往以酒糊涂，倦于视事。”玄德曰：“若非吾弟所言，险失大贤。”随即令张飞往耒阳县敬请庞统到荆州。玄德下阶请罪。统方将出孔明所荐之书。玄德看书中之意，言凤雏到日，宜即重用。玄德喜曰：“昔司马德操言：‘伏龙、凤雏，两人得一，可安天下。’今吾二人皆得，汉室可兴矣。”遂拜庞统为副军师中郎将，与孔明共赞方略，教练军士，听候征伐。
早有人报到许昌，言刘备有诸葛亮、庞统为谋士，招军买马，积草屯粮，连结东吴，早晚必兴兵北伐。曹操闻之，遂聚众谋士商议南征。荀攸进曰：“周瑜新死，可先取孙权，次攻刘备。”操曰：“我若远征，恐马腾来袭许都。前在赤壁之时，军中有讹言，亦传西凉入寇之事，今不可不防也。”荀攸曰：“以愚所见，不若降诏加马腾为征南将军，使讨孙权，诱入京师，先除此人，则南征无患矣。”操大喜，即日遣人赍诏至西凉召马腾。
却说腾字寿成，汉伏波将军马援之后。父名肃，字子硕，桓帝时为天水兰干县尉。后失官流落陇西，与羌人杂处，遂取羌女生腾。腾身长八尺，体貌雄异，禀性温良，人多敬之。灵帝末年，羌人多叛，腾招募民兵破之。初平中年，因讨贼有功，拜征西将军，与镇西将军韩遂为弟兄。当日奉诏，乃与长子马超商议曰：“吾自与董承受衣带诏以来，与刘玄德约共讨贼，不幸董承已死，玄德屡败。我又僻处西凉，未能协助玄德。今闻玄德已得荆州，我正欲展昔日之志，而曹操反来召我，当是如何？”马超曰：“操奉天子之命以召父亲，今若不往，彼必以‘逆命’责我矣。当乘其来召，竟往京师，于中取事，则昔日之志可展也。”马腾兄子马岱谏曰：“曹操心怀叵测，叔父若往，恐遭其害。”超曰：“儿愿尽起西凉之兵，随父亲杀入许昌，为天下除害，有何不可？”腾曰：“汝自统羌兵保守西凉，只教次子马休、马铁并侄马岱随我同往。曹操见有汝在西凉，又有韩遂相助，谅不敢加害于我也。”超曰：“父亲欲往，切不可轻入京师。当随机应变，观其动静。”腾曰：“吾自有处[2]，不必多虑。”于是马腾乃引西凉兵五千，先教马休、马铁为前部，留马岱在后接应，迤逦望许昌而来。离许昌二十里屯住军马。
曹操听知马腾已到，唤门下侍郎黄奎分付曰：“目今马腾南征，吾命汝为行军参谋，先至马腾寨中劳军，可对马腾说：西凉路远，运粮甚难，不能多带人马。我当更遣大兵，协同前进。来日教他入城面君，吾就应付粮草与之。”奎领命，来见马腾。腾置酒相待。奎酒半酣而言曰：“吾父黄琬死于李傕、郭汜之难，尝怀痛恨。不想今日又遇欺君之贼！”腾曰：“谁为欺君之贼？”奎曰：“欺君者操贼也。公岂不知之，而问我耶？”腾恐是操使来相探，急止之曰：“耳目较近，休得乱言。”奎叱曰：“公竟忘却衣带诏乎！”腾见他说出心事，乃密以实情告之。奎曰：“操欲公入城面君，必非好意，公不可轻入。来日当勒兵城下，待曹操出城点军，就点军处杀之，大事济矣。”二人商议已定。黄奎回家，恨气未息。其妻再三问之，奎不肯言。不料其妾李春香，与奎妻弟苗泽私通，泽欲得春香，正无计可施。妾见黄奎愤恨，遂对泽曰：“黄侍郎今日商议军情回，意甚愤恨，不知为谁？”泽曰：“汝可以言挑之曰：‘人皆说刘皇叔仁德，曹操奸雄，何也？’看他说甚言语。”是夜黄奎果到春香房中，妾以言挑之，奎乘醉言曰：“汝乃妇人，尚知邪正，何况我乎？吾所恨者，欲杀曹操也！”妾曰：“若欲杀之，如何下手？”奎曰：“吾已约定马将军，明日在城外点兵时杀之。”妾告于苗泽，泽报知曹操。操便密唤曹洪、许褚分付如此如此，又唤夏侯渊、徐晃分付如此如此。各人领命去了，一面先将黄奎一家老小拿下。
次日，马腾领着西凉兵马，将次近城，只见前面一簇红旗，打着丞相旗号。马腾只道曹操自来点军，拍马向前。忽听得一声炮响，红旗开处，弓弩齐发。一将当先，乃曹洪也。马腾急拨马回时，两下喊声又起：左边许褚杀来，右边夏侯渊杀来，后面又是徐晃领兵杀至，截断西凉军马，将马腾父子三人困在垓心。马腾见不是头，奋力冲杀。马铁早被乱箭射死。马休随着马腾，左冲右突，不能得出。二人身带重伤，坐下马又被箭射倒，父子二人俱被执。曹操教将黄奎与马腾父子，一齐绑至。黄奎大叫：“无罪！”操教苗泽对证。马腾大骂曰：“竖儒误我大事！我不能为国杀贼，是乃天也！”操命牵出。马腾骂不绝口，与其子马休及黄奎，一同遇害。后人有诗叹马腾曰：
父子齐芳烈，忠贞著一门。捐生图国难，誓死答君恩。嚼血盟言在，诛奸义状存。西凉推世胄，不愧伏波孙！
苗泽告操曰：“不愿加赏，只求李春香为妻。”操笑曰：“你为了一妇人，害了你姐夫一家，留此不义之人何用！”便教将苗泽、李春香与黄奎一家老小并斩于市，观者无不叹息。后人有诗叹曰：
苗泽因私害荩臣，春香未得反伤身。奸雄亦不相容恕，枉自图谋作小人。
曹操教招安西凉兵马，谕之曰：“马腾父子谋反，不干众人之事。”一面使人分付把住关隘，休教走了马岱。
且说马岱自引一千兵在后，早有许昌城外逃回军士，报知马岱。岱大惊，只得弃了兵马，扮作客商，连夜逃遁去了。曹操杀了马腾等，便决意南征。忽人报曰：“刘备调练军马，收拾器械，将欲取川。”操惊曰：“若刘备收川，则羽翼成矣。将何以图之？”言未毕，阶下一人进言曰：“某有一计，使刘备、孙权不能相顾，江南、西川皆归丞相。”正是：西州豪杰方遭戮，南国英雄又受殃。未知献计者是谁，且看下文分解。
[1] 旰（ɡàn）食——旰，晚的意思；旰食，因为公务繁忙，很晚才能吃饭。
[2] 吾自有处（chǔ）——我自有办法对付。处，处理，处置。
CHAPTER 57. Sleeping-Dragon Mourns At Chaisang; Blooming-Phoenix Intervenes At Leiyang.
In the last chapter it was said that a sudden rage filled the bosom of Zhou Yu, and he fell to the ground. Then he was carried to his boat. It only added to his rage and mortification to be told that Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang could be seen on the top of one of the hills apparently feasting and enjoying some music. He lay grinding his teeth with vexation.
“They say I shall never be able to get Yiazhou! But I will; I swear I will.”
Soon after Sun Quan's brother Sun Shao arrived, and Zhou Yu told him his vexations.
“My brother sent me to assist you,” said Sun Shao.
Zhou Yu ordered Sun Shao to press the army forward for Yiazhou, and they got to Baqiu. There they stopped, for the scouts reported large forces under Liu Bei's generals—Liu Feng and Guan Ping—barring the water route in the Great River. This failure did not make the Commander-in-Chief any calmer.
About this time a letter from Zhuge Liang arrived, which ran like this:
“Since our parting at Chaisang I have thought of you often. Now comes to me a report that you desire to take the
Western Land of Rivers, which I regret to say I consider impossible. The people there are strong, and the country is precipitous and defensible. Imperial Protector Liu Zhang may be weak within, but he is strong enough to defend himself.
“Now indeed, General, you would go far and you would render great services, yet can any one foretell the final result? No; not even Wu Qi the Great General could say for certain, nor could Sun Zi the Famed Strategist be sure of a successful issue. Cao Cao suffered severe defeat at the Red Cliffs; think you he will ever cease to hope for revenge? Now if you undertake a long expedition, will he not seize the occasion to fall upon the South Land and grind it to powder? Such a deed would be more than I could bear, and I venture to warn you of the possible danger if haply you may condescend to regard it.”
The letter made Zhou Yu feel very sorrowful, and he sighed deeply. He called for paper and ink and wrote to the Marquis of Wu and, having done this, he said to his assembled officers, “I have honestly tried to do my best for my country, but my end is at hand. The number of my days is accomplished. You must continue to aid our master till his end shall be achieved——”
He stopped; for he had swooned.
Slowly he regained consciousness; and as he looked up to heaven, he sighed heavily, “O God, since thou made Zhou Yu, why did thou also create Zhuge Liang?”
Soon after he passed away; he was only thirty-six.
The battle at the Red Cliffs made him famous;
Though young in years he gained a veteran's reputation.
Deep feeling, his music declared its intensity;
Subtle, with excess hospitality he foiled a plot;
Persuasive, he obtained a large gift of grain from Lu Su;
Capable, he led an army of millions.
Baqiu was his deathbed, there his fate met him.
Sadly indeed they mourned him.
After his death his generals sent his dying memorial to the Marquis of Wu, who was most deeply affected and wept aloud at the sad tidings of his death. When Sun Quan opened the letters, he saw that Lu Su was named as the dead general's successor, This is the letter:
“Possessing but ordinary abilities, there was no reason why I should have been the recipient of your confidence and high office, but I have not spared myself in the leadership of the great army under my command that thereby I might prove my gratitude. Yet none can measure life and the number of our days is ordained by fate. Before I could achieve even my poor intentions, my feeble body has failed me. I regret it without measure. I die with Cao Cao threatening and our northern borders disturbed, and with Liu Bei in your family as though you were feeding a fierce tiger. None can foretell the fate of the empire in these nervous days of stress and of peculiar anxiety for you.
“Lu Su is most loyal, careful in all matters and a fitting man to succeed to my office. When a person is near death, his words are wise; and if I may haply retain your regard, I may die but I shall not decay.”
“Zhou Yu should have been a king's counselor,” cried Sun Quan, amid his tears. “He has left me alas! too soon, and whom have I to lean upon? But he recommends Lu Su, and I can do nothing better than take that advice.”
Whereupon Sun Quan appointed Lu Su to the vacant command, Commandership-in-Chief. Sun Quan also saw that the coffin of his beloved general was sent to Chaisang ready for the funeral sacrifices.
The night of Zhou Yu's death, Zhuge Liang was gazing up at the heavens when he saw a star of a general fall to the earth.
“Zhou Yu is dead,” said he with a smile.
At dawn he sent to tell Liu Bei, who sent people to find out, and they came back to say it was true Zhou Yu had died.
“Now that this has come to pass, what should we do?” said Liu Bei.
“Lu Su will succeed,” said Zhuge Liang. “And I see in the heavens signs of an assembly of generals in the southeast, so I shall go there. The mourning for Zhou Yu will serve as a pretext. I may find some able leaders there to be of help to you.”
“I am afraid lest the generals of the South Land harm you,” said Liu Bei.
“While Zhou Yu lived, I did not fear; is there anything to dread now that he is gone?”
However, Zhuge Liang took Zhao Yun as commander of his escort when he embarked for Baqiu, and on the road he heard of Lu Su's succession to the late general's post. As the coffin of Zhou Yu had been sent to Chaisang, Zhuge Liang continued his journey thither and, on landing, was kindly received by Lu Su. The officers of the South Land did not conceal their enmity, but the sight of the redoubtable Zhao Yun, always close at hand, kept them from trying to hurt Zhuge Liang.
The officers brought by Zhuge Liang were arranged in order before the bier, and he himself poured the libation. Then he knelt and read this threnody:
“Alas, Zhou Yu! Hapless are you in your early death. Length of days is in the hands of God, yet do humans suffer and my heart is deeply grieved for you. I pour this libation that your spirit may enjoy its fragrance.
“I lament you. I lament your younger days passed in the companionship of Sun Ce, when, preferring eternal principles to material wealth, you abode in a humble cottage.
“I lament your ripe strength when you guarded distant Baqiu, putting fear into the heart of Liu Biao, destroying rebels and ensuring safety.
“I lament the grace of your manhood. Married to a fair maid of the Qiao family, son-in-law of a great minister, you were such as would add luster to the Han Court.
“I lament your resolute purpose when you opposed the pledge-giving to Cao Cao. As in the beginning your wings drooped not, so in the end your pinions spread wide.
“I lament your abandon, when your false friend, Jiang Gan, came to you at Poyang Lake. There you manifested your lofty ideals.
“I lament your magnificent talents, proved in civil administration as in military science. With fire attacking the fierce enemy at the Red Cliffs, you brought his strength to weakness.
“I recall you as you were but yesterday, bold and successful, and I weep your untimely death. Prostrate I weep tears of sorrow. Loyal and upright in heart, noble and spiritual by nature, your life has been but three decades, but your fame will endure for ages.
“I mourn for your affection. My bowels writhe with sorrow, and my deep-seated sadness will never cease. The very heavens are darkened. The army is sad; your lord sheds tears; your friends weep floods.
“Scanty of ability am I, yet even of me you begged plans and sought schemes to aid the South Land to repulse Cao Cao, to restore the Hans and comfort the Lius. But with you as the firm corner stone and your perfect dispositions, could the final result cause any anxiety?
“Alas, my friend! The quick and the dead are ever separate; they mingle never. If in the deep shades spirits have understanding, you now read my inmost heart, yet hereafter there will be none on earth to comprehend.
“Alas, the pain!
“Deign to accept this my sacrifice.”
The sacrifice finished, Zhuge Liang bowed to the ground and keened while his tears gushed forth in floods. He was deeply moved.
Those who stood on guard by the bier said one to another, “People lied when they said these two were enemies; look at the sincerity shown in sacrifice.”
And Lu Su was particularly affected by the display of feeling and thought, “Plainly Zhuge Liang loved Zhou Yu much, but Zhou Yu was not broadminded enough and would have done Zhuge Liang to death.”
Before Sleeping-Dragon emerged from his Nanyang retreat,
A brilliant man had descended upon this earth;
Since, O Azure Heaven, ye made Zhou Yu,
Why needed Yellow Earth produce an Zhuge Liang?
Lu Su gave a banquet for Zhuge Liang after which the guest left. Just as Zhuge Liang was embarking, his arm was clutched by a person in Taoist dress who said with a smile, “You exasperated literally to death the man whose body lies up there; to come here as a mourner is an open insult to the South Land. It is as good as to say they have no other left.”
At first Zhuge Liang did not recognize the speaker, but very soon he saw it was no other than Pang Tong, or the Blooming-Phoenix. Then Zhuge Liang laughed in his turn, and they two hand in hand went down into the ship, where they talked heart to heart for a long time.
Before leaving, Zhuge Liang gave his friend a letter and said, “I do not think that Sun Quan will use you as you merit. If you find life here distasteful, then you may come to Jingzhou and help to support my master. He is liberal and virtuous and will not disdain what you have spent your life in learning.”
Then they parted, and Zhuge Liang went alone to Jingzhou.
Lu Su had the coffin of Zhou Yu taken to Wuhu, where Sun Quan received it with sacrifices and lamentations. The dead leader was buried in his native place.
Zhou Yu's family consisted of two sons and a daughter, the children being named Zhou Xun, Zhou Yin, and Zhou Ying. Sun Quan treated them with generosity and tenderness.
Lu Su was not satisfied that he was the fittest successor to his late chief and said, “Zhou Yu was not right in recommending me, for I have not the requisite ability and am unfitted for this post. But I can commend to you a certain able man, conversant with all knowledge, and a most capable strategist, not inferior to the old Guan Zhong or Yue Yi, one whose plans are as good as those of Sun Zi and Wu Qi, the most famous masters of the Art of War. Zhou Yu often took his advice, and Zhuge Liang believes in him. And he is at hand.”
This was good news for Sun Quan, who asked the man's name, and when he heard it was Pang Tong or Blooming-Phoenix, he replied, “Yes; I know him by reputation; let him come.”
Whereupon Pang Tong was invited to the Palace and introduced. The formal salutations over, Sun Quan was disappointed with the man's appearance, which was indeed extraordinary. Pang Tong had bushy eyebrows, a turned-up nose, a dark face, and a stubby beard. So Sun Quan was prejudiced against Pang Tong.
“What have you studied,” asked Sun Quan, “and what are you master of?”
Pang Tong replied, “One must not be narrow and obstinate; one must change with circumstances.”
“How does your learning compare with that of Zhou Yu?” asked Sun Quan.
“My learning is not to be compared with his in the least; mine is far greater.”
Now Sun Quan had always loved his late general, and he could not bear to hear him disparaged. This speech of Pang Tong only increased his dislike. So he said, “You may retire, Sir; I will send for you when I can employ you.”
Pang Tong uttered one long sigh and went away.
When he had gone, Lu Su said, “My lord, why not employ him?”
“What good would result; he is just one of those mad fellows.”
“He did good service at the Red Cliffs fight, however, for it was he who got Cao Cao to chain his ships together.”
“It was simply that Cao Cao wished to chain his ships together. No credit was due to this fellow. In any case I give you my word that I will not employ him. That much is certain.”
Lu Su went out and explained to Pang Tong that the failure was not due to lack of recommendation, but simply a whim of Sun Quan, and he must put up with it. The disappointed suitor hung his head and sighed many times without speaking.
“I fear you are doomed to constant disappointment here,” said Lu Su. “There is nothing you can hope for, eh?”
But still Pang Tong was silent.
“With your wonderful gifts, of course you will be successful whithersoever you may go. You may take my word for that. But to whom will you go?”
“I think I will join Cao Cao,” said Pang Tong suddenly.
“That would be hinging a gleaming pearl into darkness. Rather go to Liu Bei, who would appreciate you and employ you fittingly.”
“The truth is that I have been thinking of this for a long time,” said Pang Tong. “I was only joking just now.”
“I will give you a letter to Liu Bei; and if you go to him, you must try to maintain peace between him and my lord and get them to act together against Cao Cao.”
“That has been the one desire of my life.”
Pang Tong took the letter offered by Lu Su and soon made his way to Jingzhou City. He arrived at a moment that Zhuge Liang was absent on an inspection journey, but the doorkeeper announced him and said he had come to throw in his lot with Liu Bei. He was received, for he was no stranger in name.
When Pang Tong was admitted, he made the ordinary salutation but did not make an obeisance and this, coupled with his ugly face, did not please his host.
“You have come a long and arduous journey,” said Liu Bei.
At this point the suitor should have produced his letters from Zhuge Liang and Lu Su, but did not. Instead he replied, “I hear, O Imperial Uncle, that you are welcoming the wise and receiving scholars, wherefore I have come to join your service.”
“The country is decently peaceful now, and unfortunately there is no office vacant. But away to the northeast there is a small magistracy, Leiyang, which needs a chief. I can offer you that post until there should be something more fitting.”
Pang Tong thought this rather poor welcome for a person of his talent. But his friend was absent, so he could do nothing but control his annoyance and accept. He took his leave and started.
But when he arrived at his post, he paid no attention to business at all; he gave himself up entirely to dissipation. The taxes were not collected nor were lawsuits decided.
News of this reaching Liu Bei, who was angry and said, “Here is this stiff-necked pedant throwing my administration into disorder.”
So Liu Bei sent Zhang Fei to the county with orders to make a general inspection of the whole county and look into any irregularities and disorders. But as Liu Bei thought there might be some tact needed, Sun Qian was also sent as coadjutor.
In due course the inquisitors arrived at Leiyang, where they were received by the officials and welcomed by the people at the boundary. But the Magistrate did not appear.
“Where is the Magistrate?” asked Zhang Fei.
“Ever since his arrival, a hundred days ago and more, he has attended to no business, but spends his days from morn to night in wine-bobbing and is always intoxicated. Just now he is sleeping off a debauch and is not yet risen.”
This raised Zhang Fei's choler, and he would have dismissed the offender forthwith had not his colleague said, “Pang Tong is a man of great ability, and it would be wrong to deal with him thus summarily. Let us inquire into it. If he is really so guilty, we will punish his offense.”
So they went to the magistracy, took their seats in the hail of justice, and summoned the Magistrate before them. He came with dress all disordered and still under the influence of wine.
“My brother took you for a decent person,” said Zhang Fei, angrily, “and sent you here as magistrate. How dare you throw the affairs of the county into disorder?”
“Do you think I have done as you say, General?” said Pang Tong. “What affairs have I disordered?”
“You have been here over a hundred days and spent the whole time in dissipation. Is not that disorderly?”
“Where would be the difficulty in dealing with the business of a trifling county like this? I pray you, General, sit down for a while till I have settled the cases.”
Thereupon Pang Tong bade the clerks bring in all the arrears and he would settle them at once. So they brought in the piles of papers and ordered the suitors to appear. They came and knelt in the hall while the magistrate, brush in hand, noted this and minuted that, all the while listening to the pleadings. Soon all the difficulties and disputes were adjusted, and never a mistake was made, as the satisfied bows of the people proved. By midday the whole of the cases were disposed of, and the arrears of the hundred days settled and decided.
This done, the Magistrate threw aside his pen and turned to the inquisitors, saying, “Where is the disorder? When I can take on Cao Cao and Sun Quan as easily as I can read this paper, what attention from me is needed for the business of this paltry place?”
Zhang Fei was astonished at the man's ability, rose from his seat, and crossed over, saying, “You are indeed a marvel, Master. I have not treated you respectfully enough, but now I shall commend you to my brother with all my might.”
Then Pang Tong drew forth Lu Su's letter and showed it to Zhang Fei.
“Why did you not show this to my brother when you first saw him?” asked Zhang Fei.
“If I had had a chance, I would have done so. But is it likely that one would just take advantage of a letter of commendation to make a visit?”
Zhang Fei turned to his colleague and said, “You just saved a wise man for us.”
Sun Qian and Zhang Fei left the magistracy and returned to Liu Bei to whom they related what had happened.
Liu Bei then seemed to be conscious of his error and said, “I have been wrong; I have behaved unjustly to a sage.”
Zhang Fei then gave his brother the letter in which Lu Su had recommended Pang Tong. Opening it he read:
“Pang Tong is not the sort of person to be met with in any day's march. Employ him in some capacity where extra ordinary talent is required, and his powers will declare themselves. Beware of judging him by his looks, or you may lose the advantage of his abilities, and some other will gain him. This would be a misfortune.”
While Liu Bei was feeling cast down at the mistake he had made, as shown by the letter, they announced the return of Zhuge Liang.
Soon Zhuge Liang entered the hall, and the first question he put after the formal salutations was: “Is Directing-Instructor Pang Tong quite well?”
“He is in charge of Leiyang,” replied Liu Bei, “where he is given to wine and neglects his business.”
Zhuge Liang laughed, saying, “My friend Pang Tong has extraordinary abilities and ten times my knowledge. I gave him a letter for you, my lord. Did he present it?”
“This very day I have received a letter, but from Lu Su. I have had no letter written by you.”
“When a person of transcendent abilities is sent to a paltry post, he always turns to wine out of simple ennui,” said Zhuge Liang.
“If it had not been for what my brother said, I should have lost a great person,” said Liu Bei.
Then he lost no time, but sent Zhang Fei off to the northeast to request Pang Tong to come to Jingzhou City. When he arrived, Liu Bei went out to meet him and at the foot of the steps asked pardon for his mistake. Then Pang Tong produced the letter that Zhuge Liang had given him. What Liu Bei read therein was this: “As soon as the Blooming-Phoenix shall arrive, he should be given an important post.”
Liu Bei rejoiced indeed as he read it, and he said, “Water-Mirror said of the two men, Sleeping-Dragon and Blooming-Phoenix, that any man who obtained the help of either of them could restore the empire when he would. As I now have them both, surely the Hans will rise again.”
Then he appointed Pang Tong as Vice Directing Instructor and General, and the two strategists began training the army for its work of subjugation.
News of these doings came to the capital, Xuchang, and Cao Cao was told of Liu Bei's two strategists and of the army in training and the stores accumulating and the league between his two chief enemies. And he knew that he had to expect an attack sooner or later. So he summoned his strategists to a council for a new campaign.
Said Xun Yu, “Sun Quan should be first attacked. because of the recent death of their ablest general Zhou Yu. Liu Bei will follow.”
Cao Cao replied, “If I go on such a distant expedition, Ma Teng will fall upon the capital. While I was at the Red Cliffs, there were sinister rumors of this, and I must guard against it.”
Xun Yu said, “The best thing that occurs to stupid me is to obtain for Ma Teng the title of General Who Subdues the South and send him against the South Land. Thus he can be enticed to the capital and got rid of. Then you can have no fear of marching southward.”
Cao Cao approved, and soon Ma Teng was summoned from Xiliang, a frontier territory in the west.
Ma Teng was a descendant of the famous leader Ma Yuan, General Who Quells the Waves. His father's name was Ma Su. Ma Su had held a minor magistracy in Tianshui in the reign of Emperor Huan, but had lost it and drifted west into Longxi where he got amongst the Qiang Peoples, one of whose women he took to wife. She bore him a son, Ma Teng. Ma Teng was rather over the common height, and bold-looking. He was of a mild disposition and very popular. But in the reign of Emperor Ling, these Qiangs made trouble, and then Ma Teng raised a force and put it down. For his services he received the tile of General Who Corrects the West. He and Han Sui, who was known as Commander Who Guards the West, were pledged brothers.
On receipt of the summons to the capital, Ma Teng took his eldest son, Ma Chao, into his confidence and told him some of his former life.
“When Dong Cheng got the Girdle Edict from the Emperor, we formed a society, of which Liu Bei was one, pledged to put down rebellion. However, we accomplished nothing, for Dong Cheng was put to death and Liu Bei was unfortunate, while I escaped to the west. However, I hear that Liu Bei now holds Jingzhou, and I am inclined to carry out the plan we made so long ago. But here I am summoned by Cao Cao and what is to be done?”
Ma Chao replied, “Cao Cao has the command of the Emperor to call you; and if you do not go, that will mean disobeying an imperial command and you will be punished. Obey the summons in so far as to go to the capital, where you may be able to arrange to carry out your original intention.”
But Ma Teng's nephew, Ma Dai, held other opinions and opposed this.
Said he, “Cao Cao's designs are unfathomable; and if you go, Uncle, I fear you will suffer.” “Let me lead the army against the capital,” said Ma Chao. “Can we not purge the empire of evil?”
But his father said, “You must take command of the Qiang troops for the defense of our territory here. I will take with me your two brothers and your cousin. When Cao Cao knows that you have the Qiangs at your call and that Han Sui is prepared to assist, he will hardly dare to work any harm to me.”
“Father, if you must go, be careful not to enter the city till you know exactly what plots and machinations are afoot.”
“I will certainly take great care, so do not be too anxious,” said the father.
The order of march was prepared. The governor took five thousand troops, with his two sons—Ma Xiu and Ma Tie—as Leaders of the Van and his nephew Ma Dai bringing up the rear. These set out along the tortuous road to the capital. At seven miles distance from Xuchang they camped.
When Cao Cao heard of Ma Teng's arrival, he called to him Minister Huang Kui and said to him, “Ma Teng is to be sent against the south, and I shall send you as Adviser. You are first to go to his camp and express my congratulations on his arrival and say that as Xiliang is so distant and transport very difficult, he is not to take too large an army of his own. I will send a large force. Also tell him to come in soon for audience of the Emperor. I will send him supplies.”
With these instructions Huang Kui went to Ma Teng, who brought out wine and entertained him well.
In his cups the messenger grew confidential and said, “My father perished at the hands of Li Jue and Guo Si, and I have always nourished resentment. Now there is another rebel in power wronging our Prince.”
“Who is that?” asked Ma Teng.
“The wrong doer is that rebel Cao Cao, of course. Do you mean to say you do not know?”
However, Ma Teng was careful. He thought it very likely that these words were but a trap for him, so he pretended to be greatly shocked and begged his guest to be careful lest he be overheard.
But Huang Kui cared not, shouting, “Then you have quite forgotten the Girdle Edict, eh?”
Ma Teng began to see Huang Kui was sincere and presently became confidential in turn and told his guest all his schemes.
“Cao Cao wants you to go in to audience; there is no good intention there. Do not go,” said Huang Kui. “You lead your army up close to the city and get Cao Cao to come and review them; and when he comes, assassinate him.”
They two settled how this plan could be worked out and the messenger, still hot with anger and excitement, returned to his home.
Seeing Huang Kui so disturbed in mind, his wife, Lady Zhi, asked him what was wrong. But he would tell her nothing. However, he had a concubine, Li Chunxiang. And it happened that she had an intrigue with the wife's younger brother, Miao Ze, who much desired to marry her. The concubine who also saw her lord's displeasure, spoke of it to her paramour, and he told her she could probably draw from him what was wrong by a leading question. “Ask him what is the truth about two men, Liu Bei and Cao Cao? Who is the wicked one.”
That evening Huang Kui went to the apartments of his concubine, and she presently put the question proposed by her lover.
Her lord, still rather intoxicated, said, “You are a woman; still you know right from wrong as well as I. My enemy and the man I would slay if I could, is Cao Cao.”
“But why? And if you wish to slay him, why do you not do something?” said she.
“I have done something. I have settled with General Ma Teng to assassinate Cao Cao at the review.”
Li Chunxiang of course told her paramour, who told Cao Cao, and Cao Cao made his arrangements to defeat the scheme. He called up his trusty generals and gave them orders for the morrow and, this done, he arrested Huang Kui and all his household.
Next day, as arranged, Ma Teng and his western troops came close up to the wall, and among the flags and banners he discerned that of the Prime Minister himself, whereby he knew that Cao Cao would hold the review in person.
So Ma Teng rode forward. Suddenly a bomb exploded, and at this signal there appeared bodies of armed troops in four directions: right and left, front and rear, led by Xu Chu, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Hong, and Xu Huang. The western forces were quite hemmed in. Ma Teng then saw the mistake he had made, and he and his two sons fought valiantly to free themselves from the trap. The youngest son—Ma Tie—soon fell in the volleys of arrows. Father and son rode this way and that, seeking a way out, but failed on every side. Both were sorely wounded; and when their steeds fell from their many arrow wounds, both were captured.
Ma Teng, Ma Xiu, and the miserable Huang Kui who could not keep his counsel, were brought before Cao Cao. Huang Kui loudly protested his innocence. Cao Cao then called in the witness Miao Ze.
“That worthless scoundrel has spoiled all my plans!” cried Ma Teng. “Now I cannot slay the rebel and purge my country. But it is the will of God.”
Father and son were dragged forth, the father uttering volleys of abuse all the time. And so three men were executed in this adventure.
The sons and father share one niche of fame,
For purest loyalty their praise the same.
To their own hurt the rebels they withstood,
Content to die to make their pledges good.
In blood the solemn oath they did indite
To slay the wicked and preserve the right.
A worthy father's worthy sons by western bride,
Old Waves Queller's name his grandson glorified.
“I desire no other reward than Li Chunxiang as wife,” said the betrayer, Miao Ze.
Cao Cao smiled and said, “For the sake of a woman then you have brought a whole household to death. What advantage would there be in preserving such a miscreant?”
So Cao Cao bade the executioners put both the traitor and the woman to death, with Huang Kui's household. Those who saw the fearful vengeance sighed at its cruelty.
Through passion base a loyal man was slain,
And she who shared his passion shared his fate;
The man they served was pitiless in hate,
And thus a mean man's treachery was vain.
Cao Cao did not desire to rouse the rancor of the army of Xiliang, wherefore he proclaimed to them, “The intended treachery of your leaders was theirs alone.”
However, he sent to secure the passes so that Ma Dai should not escape.
As has been said, Ma Dai led the rearguard. Before long the fugitives from the main army came and told him what had occurred at the capital. This frightened him so much that he abandoned his army and escaped disguised as a trader.
Having slain Ma Teng, Cao Cao decided to set out on his expedition to the south. But then came the disquieting news of the military preparations of Liu Bei, whose objective was said to be the west. This caused him alarm, for, as he said, “The bird's wings will be fully grown if he obtains possession of the Western Land of Rivers.”
Cao Cao recognized the difficulty, but from among his counselors there arose one who said, “I know how to prevent Liu Bei and Sun Quan from helping each other, and both the south and the west will be yours.”
Chill death struck down the heroes of the west,
Calamity approached the bold leaders of the south.
The next chapter will unfold the scheme.