第七十五回

第七十五回 关云长刮骨疗毒 吕子明白衣渡江

却说曹仁见关公落马，即引兵冲出城来，被关平一阵杀回，救关公归寨，拔出臂箭。原来箭头有药，毒已入骨，右臂青肿，不能运动。关平慌与众将商议曰：“父亲若损此臂，安能出敌？不如暂回荆州调理。”于是与众将入帐见关公。公问曰：“汝等来有何事？”众对曰：“某等因见君侯右臂损伤，恐临敌致怒，冲突不便。众议可暂班师回荆州调理。”公怒曰：“吾取樊城，只在目前。取了樊城，即当长驱大进，径到许都，剿灭操贼，以安汉室。岂可因小疮而误大事？汝等敢慢吾军心耶！”平等默然而退。

众将见公不肯退兵，疮又不痊，只得四方访问名医。忽一日，有人从江东驾小舟而来，直至寨前。小校引见关平。平视其人，方巾阔服，臂挽青囊，自言姓名，“乃沛国谯郡人，姓华，名佗，字元化。因闻关将军乃天下英雄，今中毒箭，特来医治。”平曰：“莫非昔日医东吴周泰者乎？”佗曰：“然。”平大喜，即与众将同引华佗入帐见关公。时关公本是臂疼，恐慢军心，无可消遣，正与马良弈棋，闻有医者至，即召入。礼毕，赐坐。茶罢，佗请臂视之。公袒下衣袍，伸臂令佗看视。佗曰：“此乃弩箭所伤，其中有乌头[1]之药，直透入骨，若不早治，此臂无用矣。”公曰：“用何物治之？”佗曰：“某自有治法，但恐君侯惧耳。”公笑曰：“吾视死如归，有何惧哉？”佗曰：“当于静处立一标柱，上钉大环，请君侯将臂穿于环中，以绳系之，然后以被蒙其首。吾用尖刀割开皮肉，直至于骨，刮去骨上箭毒，用药敷之，以线缝其口，方可无事。但恐君侯惧耳。”公笑曰：“如此，容易！何用柱环？”令设酒席相待。

公饮数杯酒毕，一面仍与马良弈棋，伸臂令佗割之。佗取尖刀在手，令一小校捧一大盆于臂下接血。佗曰：“某便下手。君侯勿惊。”公曰：“任汝医治。吾岂比世间俗子，惧痛者耶！”佗乃下刀，割开皮肉，直至于骨，骨上已青，佗用刀刮骨，悉悉有声，帐上帐下见者，皆掩面失色。公饮酒食肉，谈笑弈棋，全无痛苦之色。

须臾，血流盈盆。佗刮尽其毒，敷上药，以线缝之。公大笑而起，谓众将曰：“此臂伸舒如故，并无痛矣。先生真神医也！”佗曰：“某为医一生，未尝见此。君侯真天神也！”后人有诗曰：

治病须分内外科，世间妙艺苦无多。神威罕及惟关将，圣手能医说华佗。

关公箭疮既愈，设席款谢华佗。佗曰：“君侯箭疮虽治，然须爱护，切勿怒气伤触。过百日后，平复如旧矣。”关公以金百两酬之，佗曰：“某闻君侯高义，特来医治，岂望报乎！”坚辞不受，留药一帖，以敷疮口，辞别而去。

却说关公擒了于禁，斩了庞德，威名大震，华夏皆惊。探马报到许都，曹操大惊，聚文武商议曰：“某素知云长智勇盖世，今据荆襄，如虎生翼。于禁被擒，庞德被斩，魏兵挫锐，倘彼率兵直至许都，如之奈何？孤欲迁都以避之。”司马懿谏曰：“不可。于禁等被水所淹，非战之故，于国家大计，本无所损。今孙、刘失好，云长得志，孙权必不喜。大王可遣使去东吴陈说利害，令孙权暗暗起兵蹑云长之后，许事平之日，割江南之地以封孙权，则樊城之危自解矣。”主簿蒋济曰：“仲达之言是也。今可即发使往东吴，不必迁都动众。”操依允，遂不迁都，因叹谓诸将曰：“于禁从孤三十年，何期临危反不如庞德也！今一面遣使致书东吴，一面必得一大将以当云长之锐。”言未毕，阶下一将应声而出曰：“某愿往。”操视之，乃徐晃也。操大喜，遂拨精兵五万，令徐晃为将，吕建副之，克日起兵，前到阳陵坡驻扎，看东南有应，然后征进。

却说孙权接得曹操书信，览毕，欣然应允，即修书发付使者先回，乃聚文武商议。张昭曰：“近闻云长擒于禁，斩庞德，威震华夏，操欲迁都以避其锋。今樊城危急，遣使求救，事定之后，恐有反覆。”权未及发言，忽报：“吕蒙乘小舟自陆口来，有事面禀。”权召入问之，蒙曰：“今云长提兵围樊城，可乘其远出，袭取荆州。”权曰：“孤欲北取徐州，如何？”蒙曰：“今操远在河北，未暇东顾，徐州守兵无多，往自可克。然其地势利于陆战，不利水战，纵然得之，亦难保守。不如先取荆州，全据长江，别作良图。”权曰：“孤本欲取荆州，前言特以试卿耳。卿可速为孤图之，孤当随后便起兵也。”

吕蒙辞了孙权，回至陆口，早有哨马报说：“沿江上下，或二十里，或三十里，高阜处各有烽火台。”又闻荆州军马整肃，预有准备，蒙大惊曰：“若如此，急难图也。我一时在吴侯面前劝取荆州，今却如何处置？”寻思无计，乃托病不出，使人回报孙权。权闻吕蒙患病，心甚怏怏。陆逊进言曰：“吕子明之病，乃诈耳，非真病也。”权曰：“伯言既知其诈，可往视之。”陆逊领命，星夜至陆口寨中，来见吕蒙，果然面无病色。逊曰：“某奉吴侯命，敬探子明贵恙。”蒙曰：“贱躯偶病，何劳探问。”逊曰：“吴侯以重任付公，公不乘时而动，空怀郁结，何也？”蒙目视陆逊，良久不语。逊又曰：“愚有小方，能治将军之疾，未审可用否？”蒙乃屏退左右而问曰：“伯言良方，乞早赐教。”逊笑曰：“子明之疾，不过因荆州兵马整肃，沿江有烽火台之备耳。予有一计，令沿江守吏，不能举火，荆州之兵，束手归降，可乎？”蒙惊谢曰：“伯言之语，如见我肺腑。愿闻良策。”陆逊曰：“云长倚恃英雄，自料无敌，所虑者惟将军耳。将军乘此机会，托疾辞职，以陆口之任让之他人，使他人卑辞赞美关公，以骄其心，彼必尽撤荆州之兵，以向樊城。若荆州无备，用一旅之师，别出奇计以袭之，则荆州在掌握之中矣。”蒙大喜曰：“真良策也！”

由是吕蒙托病不起，上书辞职。陆逊回见孙权，具言前计。孙权乃召吕蒙还建业养病。蒙至，入见权，权问曰：“陆口之任，昔周公瑾荐鲁子敬以自代，后子敬又荐卿自代，今卿亦须荐一才望兼隆者代卿为妙。”蒙曰：“若用望重之人，云长必然提备。陆逊意思深长，而未有远名，非云长所忌，若即用以代臣之任，必有所济。”权大喜，即日拜陆逊为偏将军、右都督，代蒙守陆口。逊谢曰：“某年幼无学，恐不堪重任。”权曰：“子明保卿，必不差错。卿毋得推辞。”逊乃拜受印绶，连夜往陆口，交割马步水三军已毕，即修书一封，具名马、异锦、酒礼等物，遣使赍赴樊城见关公。

时公正将息箭疮，按兵不动。忽报：“江东陆口守将吕蒙病危，孙权取回调理，近拜陆逊为将，代吕蒙守陆口。今逊差人赍书具礼，特来拜见。”关公召入，指来使而言曰：“仲谋见识短浅，用此孺子为将！”来使伏地告曰：“陆将军呈书备礼，一来与君侯作贺，二来求两家和好。幸乞笑留。”公拆书视之，书词极其卑谨。关公览毕，仰面大笑，令左右收了礼物，发付使者回去。使者回见陆逊曰：“关公欣喜，无复有忧江东之意。”

逊大喜，密遣人探得关公果然撤荆州大半兵赴樊城听调，只待箭疮痊可，便欲进兵。逊察知备细，即差人星夜报知孙权。孙权召吕蒙商议曰：“今云长果撤荆州之兵，攻取樊城，便可设计袭取荆州。卿与吾弟孙皎同引大军前去，何如？”孙皎字叔明，乃孙权叔父孙静之次子也。蒙曰：“主公若以蒙可用则独用蒙，若以叔明可用则独用叔明。岂不闻昔日周瑜、程普为左右都督，事虽决于瑜，然普自以旧臣而居瑜下，颇不相睦，后因见瑜之才，方始敬服？今蒙之才不及瑜，而叔明之亲胜于普，恐未必能相济也。”

权大悟，遂拜吕蒙为大都督，总制江东诸路军马，令孙皎在后接应粮草。蒙拜谢，点兵三万，快船八十馀只，选会水者扮作商人，皆穿白衣，在船上摇橹，却将精兵伏于[2]船中。次调韩当、蒋钦、朱然、潘璋、周泰、徐盛、丁奉等七员大将，相继而进。其馀皆随吴侯为合后救应。一面遣使致书曹操，令进兵以袭云长之后，一面先传报陆逊，然后发白衣人驾快船往浔阳江去。昼夜趱行，直抵北岸。江边烽火台上守台军盘问时，吴人答曰：“我等皆是客商，因江中阻风，到此一避。”随将财物送与守台军士。军士信之，遂任其停泊江边。约至二更，中精兵齐出，将烽火台上官军缚倒，暗号一声，八十馀船精兵俱起，将紧要去处墩台之军，尽行捉入船中，不曾走了一个。于是长驱大进，径取荆州，无人知觉。将至荆州，吕蒙将沿江墩台所获官军，用好言抚慰，各各重赏，令赚开城门，纵火为号。众军领命，吕蒙便教前导。比及半夜，到城下叫门。门吏认得是荆州之兵，开了城门。众军一声喊起，就城门里放起号火。吴兵齐入，袭了荆州。吕蒙便传令军中：“如有妄杀一人，妄取民间一物者，定按军法。”原任官吏，并依旧职。将关公家属另养别宅，不许闲人搅扰。一面遣人申报孙权。

一日大雨，蒙上马引数骑点看四门。忽见一人取民间箬笠以盖铠甲，蒙喝左右执下问之，乃蒙之乡人也。蒙曰：“汝虽系我同乡，但吾号令已出，汝故犯之，当按军法。”其人泣告曰：“某恐雨湿官铠，故取遮盖，非为私用。乞将军念同乡之情！”蒙曰：“吾固知汝为覆官铠，然终是不应取民间之物。”叱左右推下斩之。枭首传示毕，然后收其尸首，泣而葬之。自是三军震肃。

不一日，孙权领众至。吕蒙出郭迎接入衙。权慰劳毕，仍命潘濬为治中，掌荆州事；监内放出于禁，遣归曹操；安民赏军，设宴庆贺。权谓吕蒙曰：“今荆州已得，但公安傅士仁、南郡糜芳，此二处如何收复？”言未毕，忽一人出曰：“不须张弓只箭，某凭三寸不烂之舌，说公安傅士仁来降，可乎？”众视之，乃虞翻也。权曰：“仲翔有何良策，可使傅士仁归降？”翻曰：“某自幼与士仁交厚，今若以利害说之，彼必归矣。”权大喜，遂令虞翻领五百军，径奔公安来。

却说傅士仁听知荆州有失，急令闭城坚守。虞翻至，见城门紧闭，遂写书拴于箭上，射入城中。军士拾得，献与傅士仁。士仁拆书视之，乃招降之意。览毕，想起“关公去日恨吾之意，不如早降”，即令大开城门，请虞翻入城。二人礼毕，各诉旧情。翻说吴侯宽洪大度，礼贤下士，士仁大喜，即同虞翻赍印绶来荆州投降。孙权大悦，仍令去守公安。吕蒙密谓权曰：“今云长未获，留士仁于公安，久必有变，不若使往南郡招糜芳归降。”权乃召傅士仁谓曰：“糜芳与卿交厚，卿可招来归降，孤自当有重赏。”傅士仁慨然领诺，遂引十馀骑，径投南郡招安糜芳。正是：今日公安无守志，从前王甫是良言。未知此去如何，且看下文分解。

[1] 乌头——药用植物名，就是附子，茎、叶、根都有毒。

[2] （ɡōu　lù）——吴地的一种大船。

CHAPTER 75. Guan Yu Has A Scraped-Bone Surgery; Lu Meng In White Robe Crosses The River.

At the sight of Guan Yu falling from his charger, Cao Ren led his army out of the city to follow up with an attack, but Guan Ping drove him off and escorted his father back to camp. There the arrow was extracted, but the arrow head had been poisoned. The wound was deep, and the poison had penetrated to the bone. The right arm was discolored and swollen and useless.

Guan Ping consulted with the other leaders and proposed, saying, “As fighting is impossible for the moment, we should withdraw to Jingzhou, where my father's wound can be treated.”

Having decided upon this, they went to see the wounded warrior.

“What have you come for?” asked Guan Yu when they entered.

“Considering that you, Sir, have been wounded in the right arm, we fear the result of the excitement of battle. Moreover, you can hardly take part in a fight just now, and we therefore propose that the army retire till you are recovered.”

Guan Yu replied angrily, “I am on the point of taking the city, and if I succeed, I must press forward to Capital Xuchang, and destroy that brigand Cao Cao, so that the Hans may be restored to their own. Think you that I can vitiate the whole campaign because of a slight wound? Would you dishearten the army?”

Guan Ping and his colleagues said no more, but somewhat unwillingly withdrew.

Seeing that their leader would not retire and the wound showed no signs of healing, the various generals inquired far and near for a good surgeon to attend their general.

One day a person arrived in a small ship and, having landed and come up to the gate of the camp, was led in to see Guan Ping. The visitor wore a square-cut cap and a loose robe. In his hand he carried a small black bag.

He said, “My name is Hua Tuo, and I belong to Qiao. I have heard of the wound sustained by the famous general and have come to heal it.”

“Surely you must be the physician who treated Zhou Tai in the South Land,” said Guan Ping.

“I am.”

Taking with him the other generals, Guan Ping went in to see his father. Guan Yu was engaging in a game of chess with Ma Liang, although his arm was very painful. But Guan Yu kept up appearances so as not to discourage the troops. When they told him that a physician had come, he consented to see him.

Hua Tuo was introduced, asked to take a seat and, after the tea of ceremony, was shown the injured arm. “This was caused by an arrow,” said the doctor. “There is poison in the wound, and it has penetrated to the bone. Unless the wound is soon treated, the arm will become useless.”

“What do you propose to do?” asked Guan Yu.

“I know how to cure the wound, but I think you will be afraid of the remedy.”

“Am I likely to be afraid of that when I am not even afraid of death? Death is only a return home after all.”

Then Hua Tuo said, “This is what I shall do. In a private room I shall erect a post with a steel ring attached. I shall ask you, Sir, to insert your arm in the ring, and I shall bind it firmly to the post. Then I shall cover your head with a quilt so that you cannot see, and with a scalpel I shall open up the flesh right down to the bone. Then I shall scrape away the poison. This done, I shall dress the wound with a certain preparation, sew it up with a thread, and there will be no further trouble. But I think you may quail at the severity of the treatment.”

Guan Yu smiled.

“It all sounds easy enough;” said he, “but why the post and the ring?”

Refreshments were then served; and after a few cups of wine, the warrior extended his arm for the operation. With his other hand he went on with his game of chess. Meanwhile the surgeon prepared his knife and called a lad to hold a basin beneath the limb.

“I am just going to cut; do not start,” said Hua Tuo.

“When I consented to undergo the treatment, did you think I was afraid of pain?”

The surgeon then performed the operation as he had pre-described. He found the bone much discolored, but he scraped it clean. When the knife went over the surface of the bone and made horrible sounds, all those near covered their eyes and turned pale. But Guan Yu went on with his game, only drinking a cup of wine now and again, and his face betrayed no sign of pain. When the wound had been cleansed, sewn up and dressed, the patient stood up smiling and said, “This arm is now as good as it ever was; there is no pain. Indeed, Master, you are a marvel.”

“I have spent my life in the art;” said Hua Tuo, “but I have never seen such a patient as you, Sir. You are as if not from the earth but heaven.”

Here as surgeons, there physicians, all boast their skill;

Bitter few are those that cure one when one's really ill.

As for superhuman valor rivals Guan Yu had none,

So for holy touch in healing Hua Tuo stood alone.

When the cure was well advanced, Guan Yu gave a fine banquet in honor of Hua Tuo and offered him a fee of a hundred ounces of gold. But Hua Tuo declined it, saying, “I had come to treat you, O General, from admiration of your great virtue and not for money. Although your wound is cured, you must be careful of your health, and especially avoid all excitement for a hundred days, when you will be as well as ever you were.”

Then Hua Tuo, having prepared dressings for the wound, took his leave, refusing fees to the very last.

Having captured Yu Jin and accomplished the death of Pang De, Guan Yu became more famous and more fear-inspiring through the whole empire than even before. Cao Cao called together his advisers to help him decide upon what he should do.

Said Cao Cao, “I must acknowledge this Guan Yu as the one man who, in skill and valor, overtops the whole world. Lately he has obtained possession of Jingzhou and the territory near it, and has so become very terrible. He is a tiger with wings added. Pang De is no more; Yu Jin is his prisoner; the armies of Wei have lost their morale; and if he led his armies here, Xuchang, we should be helpless. I can only think of avoiding the peril by removal of the capital. What think you?”

“No; do not take that step,” said Sima Yi, rising to reply. “Yu Jin and all the others you lost were victims of the flood and slain in battle. These losses do no harm at all to your great plan. The Suns and Lius are no longer friends since Guan Yu has accomplished his desire. You may send a messenger into Wu to foment the quarrel and cause Sun Quan to send his armies to attack the army of Guan Yu from the rear, promising that, when things are tranquil, you will reward the south to Sun Quan. In this way you will relieve Fankou.”

Here Minister Jiang Ji said, “Sima Yi speaks well, and the messenger should lose no time. Do not move the capital or send an army.”

Cao Cao therefore did not carry out his first proposal. But he was sad at the loss of Yu Jin, and spoke of him affectionately, “Yu Jin had followed me faithfully for thirty years, yet in that moment of truth he was less than Pang De.”

It was necessary to send someone with the letters to Wu and also to find another leader willing to face Guan Yu. Cao Cao had not long to wait for the latter, as an officer stepped out from the ranks of those in waiting and offered himself. It was Xu Huang.

Xu Huang's offer was accepted, and he was given fifty thousand of veterans. Lu Qian was sent as his second, and the army marched to Yangling Slope, where they halted to see if any support was coming from the southeast.

Sun Quan fell in with the scheme of Cao Cao as soon as he had read Cao Cao's letter. He at once prepared a reply for the messenger to take back, and then gathered his officers, civil and military, to consult. Zhang Zhao was the first speaker.

“We know Guan Yu has captured one leader and slain another. This has added greatly to his fame and reputation. Cao Cao was going to move the capital rather than risk an attack. We also know that Fankou is in imminent danger. Cao Cao has asked for our help; but when he has gained his end, I doubt whether he will hold to his promise.”

Before Sun Quan had replied they announced the arrival of Lu Meng, who had come in a small ship from Lukou with a special message. He was at once called in and asked what it was.

Said Lu Meng, “The armies of Guan Yu being absent at Fankou, the opportunity should be taken to attack Jingzhou.”

“But I wish to attack Xuzhou in the north; what of this plan?” said Sun Quan.

“It would be better to attack Jingzhou, and so get control of the Great River. Cao Cao is far away to the north and too occupied to regard the east. Xuzhou is weakly held and could be taken easily, but the lie of the land favors the use of an army rather than a navy force. If you capture it, it will not be easy to hold; but once you hold Jingzhou, you can evolve other schemes.” “Really, my desire was to attack Jingzhou, but I wished to hear what you would say to the other plan. Now, Sir, make me a plan speedily and I will act upon it.”

So Lu Meng took his leave and went back to Lukou. But soon they heard that Guan Yu had had beacon towers erected at short distances all along the Great River, and that the army of Jingzhou was being put into most efficient condition.

“If this is so, it is hard to make a plan that will ensure success,” said Lu Meng. “I have already advised my master to attack Jingzhou, but I am unable to meet this complication.”

Therefore he made illness an excuse to stay at home, and sent to inform Sun Quan, who was very distressed at the news.

Then said Lu Xun, “The illness is feigned; he is quite well.”

“If you know that so well, go and see,” said Sun Quan.

Away went Lu Xun and speedily arrived at Lukou, where he saw Lu Meng, who indeed appeared to be in perfect health. Nor did his face bear any signs of recent illness.

“The Marquis of Wu has sent me to inquire after your honorable complaint,” said Lu Xun.

“How distressed I am that the state of my wretched carcass has caused the Marquis the inconvenience of inquiring” replied Lu Meng.

“The Marquis placed a very heavy responsibility on your shoulders, but you are not making the best use of the opportunity. However, what is the real origin of your distress?”

Lu Meng sat gazing at his visitor a long time without replying.

“I have a little remedy,” said Lu Xun. “Do you think you might use it?”

Lu Meng dismissed the servants, and when the two were alone, he said, “This remedy, my friend, please tell me what it is.”

“Your ailment is due simply to the efficiency of the Jingzhou soldiers; and I know how to keep the beacons from flaring, and I can make the defenders of Jingzhou come to you with their hands tied. Would that cure you?”

“My friend, you speak as if you saw into my inmost heart. Pray unfold your good scheme.”

“Guan Yu thinks himself too much of a hero for anyone to dare to face him, and his only anxiety is yourself. Now you must take advantage of this excuse you have made of illness actually to resign this post so that the farce may be kept up and another person be appointed to your place. Let this person, your successor, humbly praise Guan Yu till that general becomes so conceited that he will withdraw all the troops from Jingzhou to send them against Fankou. When Jingzhou is left undefended then is our chance, and the city will fall into our hands.”

“The plan seems most excellent,” said Lu Meng.

Wherefore Lu Meng's malady waxed worse, so that he was confined to bed; and he gave Lu Xun his letter of resignation to carry back to Sun Quan. The messenger hastened back and explained the ruse to his master, who soon after issued a command for Lu Meng to retire and attend to the recovery of his health.

But Lu Meng came to Sun Quan to discuss the matter of a successor.

Sun Quan said to him, “As to the appointment at Lukou, you know Zhou Yu recommended Lu Su, who at his last moment proposed you. Now you ought to be able to mention some other talented and well-known officer to succeed you.”

“If you choose a well-known man, Guan Yu will certainly be on his guard against him. Now Lu Xun is deep and farseeing, but he has no widespread fame. Hence no particular notice would be taken of his appointment and no countermeasures taken. So he is the most suitable person to send.”

Sun Quan agreed and thereupon promoted Lu Xun to the rank of General of the Right Army and Admiral of the Right Fleet, and sent him to defend the port.

“I am very young,” said Lu Xun, “and feel unequal to such a post.”

“Lu Meng has proposed you, and you will not make any mistakes. Pray do not decline,” said Sun Quan.

So the appointment was made, and Lu Xun set out at once. When he had assumed charge of the cavalry, the infantry, and the marines, he set about drawing up a letter to Guan Yu, and he selected fine horses and beautiful silks and good wines and delicacies suitable for gifts to go with the letter. He sent all by the hand of a trusty messenger to Fankou.

The news of the change of command reached Guan Yu when he lay ill from the effects of his wound and unable to conduct any military operations. Close upon the news came the letter and the gifts from Lu Xun, and the bearer was called in to see the warrior.

“Friend Sun Quan was not very prudent when he made a general out of a mere scholar,” said Guan Yu, pointing to the messenger.

The messenger said, “General Lu Xun sends this letter and some presents, which he hopes you will accept. He also sends his felicitations, and would rejoice if the two houses could become friends.”

Guan Yu read the letter, which was couched in most modest language, and then threw back his head and laughed loud. He bade the attendants receive the various gifts, and sent the bearer away.

The messenger forthwith returned to Lukou and said the old warrior had seemed very gratified and would henceforward feel no anxiety that danger might threaten from their direction. Spies were sent out to report on proceedings, and they returned to say that half the troops of Jingzhou had been sent to assist in the siege of Fankou. That city was to be seriously assaulted as soon as Guan Yu had recovered.

This news was promptly sent on to Sun Quan, who at once called in Lu Meng to decide upon the next move.

“Now is the favorable moment to get possession of Jingzhou,” said Sun Quan. “I propose to send you and my brother, Sun Jiao, to lead the army.”

This Sun Jiao was really only a cousin, as he was the second son of Sun Quan's uncle, Sun Jing. But Lu Meng objected. “My lord, if you think to employ me, then employ me only; if Sun Jiao, then Sun Jiao only. You cannot have forgotten that Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu were associate commanders, and although the final decision lay with Zhou Yu, yet the other presumed upon his seniority and there was some unfriendliness between the two. All ended well because Cheng Pu recognized the ability of his colleague and so supported him. I know I am not so clever as Zhou Yu, but Sun Jiao's consanguinity will be a greater obstacle than mere length of service, and I fear he may not be wholly with me.”

Sun Quan saw the force of the contention, and appointed Lu Meng to sole command with Sun Jiao to help him in the commissariat. Lu Meng thanked his lord for his commission, soon got his thirty thousand marines together and assembled eighty ships for the expedition.

Lu Meng dressed a number of sailors in the plain white costumes of ordinary merchants and put them on board to work his vessels. He concealed his veterans in the compartments. He selected seven generals—Han Dang, Jiang Qin, Zhu Ran, Pan Zhang, Zhou Tai, Xu Sheng, and Ding Feng—to serve under him and settled the order of their successive movements. The remainder of the forces was left with Sun Quan as supports and reserves. Letters were also written to Cao Cao that he might cooperate by sending his army to attack Guan Yu in the rear, and to Lu Xun that he would act in concert.

Then the sailors in plain white dress navigated the ships to River Xunyang as quickly as possible, and then crossed to the north bank.

When the beacon-keepers came down to question them, the men of Wu said, “We are traders forced into the bank by contrary winds.”

And they offered gifts to the beacon-keepers, who accepted them and let the ships come to an anchor close to the shore.

At about the second watch the soldiers came out of hiding in the holds of the transports, suddenly fell upon the beacon-keepers and made them prisoners, officers and soldiers. Next the signal for a general landing was given, and all the soldiers from the eighty ships went ashore. The guard stations were attacked, and all the troops captured and carried off to the ships, not one being allowed to escape. Then the force of Wu hurried off to the city of Jingzhou, having so far carried out their plans that no one knew of their coming.

Nearing Jingzhou, Lu Meng spoke kindly to his captives, and gave them gifts and comforted them in order to induce them to get the gates opened for him to enter the city. He won them over to his side, and they promised to aid him. They would show a flare as a signal that the gates were free. So they went in advance and arrived at the gates about midnight. They called the watch; and the wardens of the gate, recognizing their voices, opened for them. Once within, they shouted and lit the flares. Immediately the soldiers of Wu came in with a rush and were soon in possession.

The first order issued by Lu Meng was to spare the people. Instant death should be the punishment for any murder or robbery. The various officials in the city were retained in their offices and continued their functions. Special guards were set over Guan Yu's family dwelling, and none dared break open any other house. A messenger was sent with tidings to Sun Quan.

One very wet day Lu Meng, with a few horsemen as escort, was going round the walls and visiting the gates. One of the soldiers took from a passer-by a broad-brimmed hat and put it on over his helmet to keep his armor dry. Lu Meng saw it, and the offender was seized. He was a fellow-villager of Lu Meng, but that did not save him.

“You are an old acquaintance, but you knew my order; why did you disobey it?” “I thought the rain would spoil my uniform, and I took the hat to protect it. I did not take it for my own advantage, but to protect official property. Spare me, O General, for the sake of our common dwelling-place.”

“I know you were protecting your armor, but still it was disobedience to the order against taking anything from the people.”

The soldier was beheaded, and his head exposed as a warning. But when all was over, Lu Meng had the body buried decently and wept at the grave for the loss of his friend. Never after this was there the least laxity of discipline.

When Sun Quan visited the city, Lu Meng met him at the boundary and led him to the official residence, where Sun Quan issued rewards and commendations. This done, Sun Quan ordered Pan Jun to take charge of the new possession. Yu Jin, who was in prison, was freed and sent back to Cao Cao. When the people had been comforted and the soldiers rewarded, there was a great banquet in honor of the success of the expedition.

Then said Sun Quan to Lu Meng, “We have got the city of Jingzhou, but now Fu Shiren is holding Gongan and Mi Fang Nanjun. How can we get these two territories?”

Suddenly Yu Fan started up and offered his services.

“You will need neither bows nor arrows,” said Yu Fan, “unless my little tongue is worn out. I can persuade Fu Shiren to surrender.”

“Friend Yu Fan, how will you do it?” asked Sun Quan.

“Fu Shiren and I are very old friends, ever since we were boys; and if I explain the matter to him, I am sure he will come over to this side.”

So Yu Fan, with an escort, left quickly for Gongan, where his friend was in command.

Now when Fu Shiren heard of the capture of Jingzhou, he closed his gates. Yu Fan arrived, but was refused entrance. So Yu Fan wrote a letter, attached it to an arrow, and shot it over the city wall. A soldier picked it up and took it to his commander, who found therein much persuasion to surrender. Having read all this, he thought within himself, “I think I should do well in surrender, for at his departure Guan Yu was very bitter against me.”

Without further ado, he bade the wardens open the gate, and his friend came in. After their greetings they talked of old times, and Yu Fan praised Sun Quan's magnanimity and liberality and greatness generally. So finally Fu Shiren decided to exchange masters and went away, taking with him his seal of office. He was presented to Sun Quan, who reappointed him to the command of Gongan under its new lord.

Lu Meng thought the appointment imprudent and said to Sun Quan, “Guan Yu is yet unconquered; we should not put Fu Shiren in Gongan. Instead, send him to Nanjun to induce his former colleague and fellow Mi Fang to join him in desertion to the enemy.”

Lu Meng's advice was followed, and Fu Shiren was recalled.

“Go to Nanjun and win over Mi Fang, and I will reward you richly,” said Sun Quan.

Fu Shiren accepted the mission and duly left for Nanjun.

Jingzhou's defender failed when tried,

So Wang Fu's words were justified.

For the events of the journey see the next chapter.