第七十七回

第七十七回 玉泉山关公显圣 洛阳城曹操感神

却说孙权求计于吕蒙，蒙曰：“吾料关某兵少，必不从大路而逃，麦城正北有险峻小路，必从此路而去。可令朱然引精兵五千，伏于麦城之北二十里，彼军至，不可与敌，只可随后掩杀。彼军定无战心，必奔临沮。却令潘璋引精兵五百，伏于临沮山僻小路，关某可擒矣。今遣将士各门攻打，只空北门，待其出走。”权闻计，令吕范再卜之。卦成，范告曰：“此卦主敌人投西北而走，今夜亥时必然就擒。”权大喜，遂令朱然、潘璋领两枝精兵，各依军令埋伏去讫。

且说关公在麦城，计点马步军兵，止剩三百馀人，粮草又尽。是夜，城外吴兵招唤各军姓名，越城而去者甚多，救兵又不见到。心中无计，谓王甫曰：“吾悔昔日不用公言！今日危急，将复何如？”甫哭告曰：“今日之事，虽子牙复生，亦无计可施也。”赵累曰：“上庸救兵不至，乃刘封、孟达按兵不动之故。何不弃此孤城，奔入西川，再整兵来，以图恢复？”公曰：“吾亦欲如此。”遂上城观之。见北门外敌军不多，因问本城居民：“此去往北，地势若何？”答曰：“此去皆是山僻小路，可通西川。”公曰：“今夜可走此路。”王甫谏曰：“小路有埋伏，可走大路。”公曰：“虽有埋伏，吾何惧哉！”即下令：马步官军，严整装束，准备出城。甫哭曰：“君侯于路，小心保重！某与部卒百馀人，死据此城，城虽破，身不降也！专望君侯速来救援！”

公亦与泣别，遂留周仓与王甫同守麦城。关公自与关平、赵累引残卒二百馀人，突出北门。关公横刀前进，行至初更以后，约走二十馀里，只见山凹处，金鼓齐鸣，喊声大震，一彪军到，为首大将朱然，骤马挺枪叫曰：“云长休走！趁早投降，免得一死！”公大怒，拍马轮刀来战。朱然便走，公乘势追杀。一棒鼓响，四下伏兵皆起。公不敢战，望临沮小路而走，朱然率兵掩杀。关公所随之兵，渐渐稀少。走不得四五里，前面喊声又震，火光大起，潘璋骤马舞刀杀来。公大怒，轮刀相迎，只三合，潘璋败走。公不敢恋战，急望山路而走。背后关平赶来，报说赵累已死于乱军中。关公不胜悲惶，遂令关平断后，公自在前开路，随行止剩得十馀人。行至决石，两下是山，山边皆芦苇败草，树木丛杂，时已五更将尽，正走之间，一声喊起，两下伏兵尽出，长钩套索，一齐并举，先把关公坐下马绊倒。关公翻身落马，被潘璋部将马忠所获。关平知父被擒，火速来救，背后潘璋、朱然率兵齐至，把关平四下围住。平孤身独战，力尽亦被执。至天明，孙权闻关公父子已被擒获，大喜，聚众将于帐中。

少时，马忠簇拥关公至前。权曰：“孤久慕将军盛德，欲结秦、晋之好，何相弃耶？公平昔自以为天下无敌，今日何由被吾所擒？将军今日还服孙权否？”关公厉声骂曰：“碧眼小儿，紫髯鼠辈！吾与刘皇叔桃园结义，誓扶汉室，岂与汝叛汉之贼为伍耶！我今误中奸计，有死而已，何必多言！”权回顾众官曰：“云长世之豪杰，孤深爱之。今欲以礼相待，劝使归降，何如？”主簿左咸曰：“不可。昔曹操得此人时，封侯赐爵，三日一小宴，五日一大宴，上马一提金，下马一提银，如此恩礼，毕竟留之不住，听其斩关杀将而去，致使今日反为所逼，几欲迁都以避其锋。今主公既已擒之，若不即除，恐贻后患。”孙权沉吟半晌，曰：“斯言是也。”遂命推出。于是关公父子皆遇害。时建安二十四年冬十二月也。关公亡年五十八岁。后人有诗叹曰：

汉末才无敌，云长独出群。神威能奋武，儒雅更知文。天日心如镜，《春秋》义薄云。昭然垂万古，不止冠三分。

又有诗曰：

人杰惟追古解良，士民争拜汉云长。桃园一日兄和弟，俎豆千秋帝与王。气挟风雷无匹敌，志垂日月有光芒。至今庙貌盈天下，古木寒鸦几夕阳。

关公既殁，坐下赤兔马被马忠所获，献与孙权。权即赐马忠骑坐，其马数日不食草料而死。

却说王甫在麦城中，骨颤肉惊，乃问周仓曰：“昨夜梦见主公浑身血污，立于前，急问之，忽然惊觉。不知主何吉凶？”正说间，忽报吴兵在城下，将关公父子首级招安。王甫、周仓大惊，急登城视之，果关公父子首级也。王甫大叫一声，堕城而死，周仓自刎而亡。于是麦城亦属东吴。

却说关公一魂不散，荡荡悠悠，直至一处，乃荆门州当阳县一座山，名为玉泉山。山上有一老僧，法名普净，原是汜水关镇国寺中长老，后因云游天下，来到此处，见山明水秀，就此结草为庵，每日坐禅参道，身边只有一小行者，化饭度日。是夜月白风清，三更已后，普净正在庵中默坐，忽闻空中有人大呼曰：“还我头来！”普净仰面谛视，只见空中一人，骑赤兔马，提青龙刀，左有一白面将军、右有一黑脸虬髯之人相随，一齐按落云头，至玉泉山顶。普净认得是关公，遂以手中麈尾[1]击其户曰：“云长安在？”关公英魂顿悟，即下马乘风落于庵前，叉手问曰：“吾师何人？愿求法号。”普净曰：“老僧普净，昔日汜水关前镇国寺中，曾与君侯相会，今日岂遂忘之耶？”公曰：“向蒙相救，铭感不忘。今某已遇祸而死，愿求清诲，指点迷途。”普净曰：“昔非今是，一切休论；后果前因，彼此不爽。今将军为吕蒙所害，大呼‘还我头来’，然则颜良、文丑、五关六将等众人之头，又将向谁索耶？”于是关公恍然大悟，稽首皈依[2]而去。后往往于玉泉山显圣护民，乡人感其德，就于山顶上建庙，四时致祭。后人题一联于其庙云：

赤面秉赤心、骑赤兔追风，驰驱时、无忘赤帝。

青灯观青史、仗青龙偃月，隐微处、不愧青天。

却说孙权既害了关公，遂尽收荆襄之地，赏犒三军，设宴大会诸将庆功，置吕蒙于上位，顾谓众将曰：“孤久不得荆州，今唾手而得，皆子明之功也。”蒙再三逊谢。权曰：“昔周郎雄略过人，破曹操于赤壁，不幸早殀，鲁子敬代之。子敬初见孤时，便及帝王大略，此一快也；曹操东下，诸人皆劝孤降，子敬独劝孤召公瑾逆而击之，此二快也；惟劝吾借荆州与刘备，是其一短。今子明设计定谋，立取荆州，胜子敬、周郎多矣！”

于是亲酌酒赐吕蒙。吕蒙接酒欲饮，忽然掷杯于地，一手揪住孙权，厉声大骂曰：“碧眼小儿！紫髯鼠辈！还识我否？”众将大惊，急救时，蒙推倒孙权，大步前进，坐于孙权位上，两眉倒竖，双眼圆睁，大喝曰：“我自破黄巾以来，纵横天下三十馀年，今被汝一旦以奸计图我，我生不能啖汝之肉，死当追吕贼之魂！我乃汉寿亭侯关云长也。”权大惊，慌忙率大小将士皆下拜。只见吕蒙倒于地上，七窍流血而死。众将见之，无不恐惧。权将吕蒙尸首，具棺安葬，赠南郡太守、孱陵侯，命其子吕霸袭爵。孙权自此感关公之事，惊讶不已。

忽报张昭自建业而来，权召入问之，昭曰：“今主公损了关公父子，江东祸不远矣！此人与刘备桃园结义之时，誓同生死。今刘备已有两川之兵，更兼诸葛亮之谋，张、黄、马、赵之勇。备若知云长父子遇害，必起倾国之兵，奋力报仇，恐东吴难与敌也。”权闻之大惊，跌足曰：“孤失计较也！似此如之奈何？”昭曰：“主公勿忧。某有一计，令西蜀之兵不犯东吴，荆州如磐石之安。”权问何计。昭曰：“今曹操拥百万之众，虎视华夏，刘备急欲报仇，必与操约和：若二处连兵而来，东吴危矣。不如先遣人将关公首级，转送与曹操，明教刘备知是操之所使，必痛恨于操，西蜀之兵，不向吴而向魏矣。吾乃观其胜负，于中取事，此为上策。”

权从其言，随遣使者以木匣盛关公首级，星夜送与曹操。时操从摩陂班师回洛阳，闻东吴送关公首级至，喜曰：“云长已死，吾夜眠贴席矣。”阶下一人出曰：“此乃东吴移祸之计也。”操视之，乃主簿司马懿也。操问其故，懿曰：“昔刘、关、张三人桃园结义之时，誓同生死。今东吴害了关公，惧其复仇，故将首级献与大王，使刘备迁怒大王，不攻吴而攻魏，他却于中乘便而图事耳。”操曰：“仲达之言是也。孤以何策解之？”懿曰：“此事极易。大王可将关公首级，刻一香木之躯以配之，葬以大臣之礼，刘备知之，必深恨孙权，尽力南征。我却观其胜负，蜀胜则击吴，吴胜则击蜀。二处若得一处，那一处亦不久也。”操大喜，从其计，遂召吴使入。呈上木匣，操开匣视之，见关公面如平日。操笑曰：“云长公别来无恙！”言未讫，只见关公口开目动，须发皆张，操惊倒。众官急救，良久方醒，顾谓众官曰：“关将军真天神也！”吴使又将关公显圣附体、骂孙权追吕蒙之事告操。操愈加恐惧，遂设牲醴祭祀，刻沉香木为躯，以王侯之礼，葬于洛阳南门外，令大小官员送殡，操自拜祭，赠为荆王，差官守墓，即遣吴使回江东去讫。

却说汉中王自东川回成都，法正奏曰：“王上先夫人去世，孙夫人又南归，未必再来。人伦之道，不可废也，必纳王妃，以襄内政。”汉中王从之。法正复奏曰：“吴懿有一妹，美而且贤。尝闻有相者，相此女后必大贵。先曾许刘焉之子刘瑁，瑁早殀。其女至今寡居，大王可纳之为妃。”汉中王曰：“刘瑁与我同宗，于理不可。”法正曰：“论其亲疏，何异晋文之与怀嬴[3]乎？”汉中王乃依允，遂纳吴氏为王妃。后生二子：长刘永，字公寿；次刘理，字奉孝。

且说东西两川，民安国富，田禾大成。忽有人自荆州来，言东吴求婚于关公，关公力拒之。孔明曰：“荆州危矣！可使人替关公回。”正商议间，荆州捷报使命，络绎而至。不一日，关兴到，具言水淹七军之事。忽又报马到来，报说关公于江边多设墩台，提防甚密，万无一失，因此玄德放心。

忽一日，玄德自觉浑身肉颤，行坐不安。至夜，不能宁睡，起坐内室，秉烛看书，觉神思昏迷，伏几而卧，就室中起一阵冷风，灯灭复明，抬头见一人立于灯下。玄德问曰：“汝何人，夤夜至吾内室？”其人不答。玄德疑怪，自起视之，乃是关公，于灯影下往来躲避。玄德曰：“贤弟别来无恙！夜深至此，必有大故。吾与汝情同骨肉，因何回避？”关公泣告曰：“愿兄起兵，以雪弟恨！”言讫，冷风骤起，关公不见。玄德忽然惊觉，乃是一梦，时正三鼓。玄德大疑，急出前殿，使人请孔明来。孔明入见，玄德细言梦警。孔明曰：“此乃王上心思关公，故有此梦。何必多疑？”玄德再三疑虑，孔明以善言解之。

孔明辞出，至中门外，迎见许靖。靖曰：“某才赴军师府下报一机密，听知军师入宫，特来至此。”孔明曰：“有何机密？”靖曰：“某适闻外人传说，东吴吕蒙已袭荆州，关公已遇害！故特来密报军师。”孔明曰：“吾夜观天象，见将星落于荆楚之地，已知云长必然被祸，但恐王上忧虑，故未敢言。”二人正说之间，忽然殿内转出一人，扯住孔明衣袖而言曰：“如此凶信，公何瞒我！”孔明视之，乃玄德也。孔明、许靖奏曰：“适来所言，皆传闻之事，未足深信。愿王上宽怀，勿生忧虑。”玄德曰：“孤与云长，誓同生死，彼若有失，孤岂能独生耶！”

孔明、许靖正劝解之间，忽近侍奏曰：“马良、伊籍至。”玄德急召入问之。二人具说荆州已失，关公兵败求救，呈上表章。未及拆观，侍臣又奏荆州廖化至。玄德急召入。化哭拜于地，细奏刘封、孟达不发救兵之事。玄德大惊曰：“若如此，吾弟休矣！”孔明曰：“刘封、孟达如此无礼，罪不容诛！王上宽心，亮亲提一旅之师，去救荆襄之急。”玄德泣曰：“云长有失，孤断不独生！孤来日自提一军去救云长！”遂一面差人赴阆中报知翼德，一面差人会集人马。未及天明，一连数次，报说关公夜走临沮，为吴将所获，义不屈节，父子归神。玄德听罢，大叫一声，昏绝于地。正是：为念当年同誓死，忍教今日独捐生！未知玄德性命如何，且看下文分解。

[1] 麈（zhǔ）尾——麈，鹿类。古人取它的尾作拂尘，就把这种用具叫做麈尾。

[2] 皈（ɡuī）依——佛教的说法，身心归向于佛的意思。

[3] 晋文之与怀嬴——怀嬴，春秋时秦穆公的女儿，先嫁给晋怀公子圉为妻，后又改嫁给了晋怀公的伯父晋文公重耳。

CHAPTER 77. Guan Yu Manifests His Sacredness At Mount of The Jade Spring; Cao Cao Is Possessed At Luoyang.

Sun Quan having asked Lu Meng for a plan, Lu Meng replied, “This Guan Yu has very few soldiers left, and he will not venture along the high road. North of Maicheng is a risky path, and he will try to escape along that. Therefore you must lay an ambush for him seven miles away from the city, but do not stop him. Let him go by, and then harass his rear. Thus he will be forced into Linju. Set another small ambush near there, and you will capture your enemy. For the present, attack the city vigorously on all sides but one, leaving the north gate for escape.”

Before carrying out this plan, Sun Quan bade Lu Fan consult the auspices. He did so, announcing, “The enemy will flee toward the northwest, but will be caught that night before midnight.”

So Zhu Ran was sent in command of the first ambush, and Pan Zhang was the second. The troops sent were all veterans.

When Guan Yu mustered his fighting men in the city of Maicheng, he had but three hundred. The food was done. That night many soldiers of Wu came to the city walls and called to their friends by name, and many of these slipped over the wall and deserted, reducing the small force still further. No rescue force appeared, and Guan Yu was at the end of his resources.

Again he bewailed to Wang Fu, saying, “I regret that I have neglected your wise warning; in this danger what is to be done?”

“I think even if Lu Wang could come to life again, he would be helpless in this case,” replied Wang Fu, weeping.

Said Zhao Lei, “Liu Feng and Meng Da have surely decided not to send help from Shangyong. Let us abandon this miserable place, try to get to Yiazhou, and recover the army. We may then tempt our fortune once more.”

“I agree with you that that is the best plan,” said Guan Yu.

Then he ascended the walls and surveyed the country. Noting that the weakest side was the north, he called in some of the inhabitants and inquired the nature of the country on that side.

They replied, “There are only paths there, but by them one may get into the Western Land of Rivers.”

“We will go that way tonight,” said Guan Yu.

Wang Fu opposed it, saying, “General, you will surely fall into an ambush. The main road will be safer.”

“There may be an ambush, but do I fear that?” said the old warrior.

Orders were given to be ready to march.

“At least be very cautious,” said Wang Fu. “I will defend this city to the very last; I only need a hundred troops. Never will we surrender. Only I hope, most noble General, that you will send me speedy help.”

The two parted in tears; Wang Fu and Zhou Cang remaining to guard Maicheng. Guan Yu, Guan Ping, and Zhao Lei marched with their weak force out of the north gate. Guan Yu, his green-dragon saber ready to hand, went first. About the third watch, seven miles lay between them and the city. There they saw a deep cleft in the hills wherefrom rolled the sound of beaten drums. And men were shouting.

Soon appeared a large force with Zhu Ran at their head. He came dashing forward, and summoned the small party, saying, “Guan Yu, do not run! Surrender and live!”

But Guan Yu whipped his steed to a gallop and bore down on the leader with anger in his eyes. Then Zhu Ran ran away. Guan Yu followed him till there came the loud boom of a large drum, and out sprang troops from all sides. Guan Yu dared not engage such a number, and fled in the direction of Linju. Zhu Ran came up behind and attacked the flying soldiers, so that Guan Yu's following gradually became smaller and smaller.

Still he struggled on. A few miles farther the drums rolled again, and torches lit up all round. This was Pan Zhang's ambush, and he appeared flourishing his sword. Guan Yu whirled his blade and went to meet him, but Pan Zhang ran away after a couple of bouts. However, Guan Yu saw they were too many for him, and sought refuge among the mountains. His son followed, and when he got within speaking distance, Guan Ping gave him the mournful tidings: “Zhao Lei has fallen in the melee!”

Guan Yu was very sad, and bade his son try to protect the rear while he should force his way forward.

With about ten men he reached Zhuxi, a place with mountains on both sides. At their foot was a thick mass of reeds and dried grass. The trees grew very close. It was then the fifth watch. Presently the small party stumbled into another ambush, and the ambushing soldiers thrust forth hooks and threw ropes. Entangled in these, Guan Yu's horse fell, and Guan Yu reeled out of the saddle. In a moment Ma Zhong, the Marching General of Pan Zhang, made him a prisoner. Guan Ping dashed to his rescue, but before he could do anything, he also was surrounded and held. Father and son were both captives.

With great joy Sun Quan heard of the success of his plans. In the morning, he assembled all his officers in his tent to await the arrival of the prisoners. Before long, Ma Zhong came hustling his prisoner before his lord.

“I have long had a friendly feeling for you,” said Sun Quan to Guan Yu, “on account of your great virtues. Now I would have made a covenant and alliance with you, if you would. You and your son have long held yourselves to be invincible, but you see you are my prisoners today. Yet I hope to win you over to my side.”

But Guan Yu only answered roughly, “You green-eyed boy! You red-bearded rat! I made a covenant in the Peach Garden with my brothers to uphold the Hans. Think you that I will stand side by side with a rebel such as you are? I am a victim of your vile schemes, but I can only die once. And there is no need of many words.”

“He is a real hero, and I love him,” said Sun Quan to those standing near. “I will treat him well and endeavor to win him over. Do you think it well?”

Said the First Secretary Zuo Xian, “When Cao Cao had hold of this man, Cao Cao treated him lavishly well. Cao Cao created him a marquis; in three-day interval Cao Cao held a small banquet, in five days a great one; Cao Cao gave him gold and presented him with silver; all this, hoping to retain him at his side. But Cao Cao failed. The man broke through his gates, slew his six generals in five passes and went away. Today Cao Cao fears him, and almost moved the capital for dread of him. Now he is in your power, destroy him, or you will rue the day. Evil will come if you spare him.”

Sun Quan reflected for some time.

“You are right,” said he presently, and gave the order for execution.

So father and son met their fate together in the winter of the twenty-fourth year (AD 219) in the tenth month. Guan Yu was fifty-eight.

A poem says:

Peerless indeed was our Lord Guan Yu, of the latter days,

Head and shoulders stood he out among the best;

Godlike and terrible in war, elegant and refined in peace,

Resplendent as the noonday sun in the heavens,

Haloed as are the noblest of those early days,

He stands, the brightest model for all ages,

And not only for the strenuous days he lived in.

And another:

Seek ye a noble one? Then take ye the way of Jieliang,

Watch ye how all men revere Guan Yu,

Each excelling others to honor him,

Him, one of the three brothers of the Peach Garden Oath,

Of whom two have won sacrifices, as Emperor and prince.

Incomparable their aura spreads through the world;

They are resplendent as the great lights of the firmament;

Temples to our Lord Guan Yu abound, no village lacks one,

Their venerable trees at sundown are the resting places for birds.

So Guan Yu ended his life. His famous steed, Red-Hare, also captured with its master, was sent to Sun Quan, who gave it as a reward to his captor, Ma Zhong. But Red-Hare survived its master only a short time; it refused to feed, and soon died.

Foreboding of misfortune came to Wang Fu within the city of Maicheng. His bones felt cold; his flesh crept; and he said to his colleague Zhou Cang, “I have had a terrible dream in which I saw our lord all dripping with gore. I would question him, but I was overcome with dread. May it augur no evil tidings!”

Just then the troops of Wu came up to the city wall and displayed the gory heads of the two, father and son. Wang Fu and Zhou Cang went up on the wall to see if the dread tokens were real. There was no doubt. Wang Fu with a despairing cry threw himself over the wall and perished, Zhou Cang died by his own hand. Thus Maicheng fell to Wu.

Now the spirit of Guan Yu did not dissipate into space, but wandered through the void till it came to a certain spot in Dangyang on a famous hill known as the Mount of the Jade Spring. There lived a venerable Buddhist priest whose name in the faith was Transverse-Peace. He was originally of the Guardian Temple in the River Si Pass and abbot of that temple. In the course of roaming about the world, he had reached this place. Entranced with its natural beauty, he had built himself a shelter of boughs and grass, where he sat in meditation on the “Way.” He had a novice with him to beg food and to attend to his simple wants.

This night, about the third watch, the moon was bright and the air serene. Transverse-Peace sat in his usual attitude in the silence of the mountains. Suddenly he heard a great voice calling in the upper air, “Give back my head; give back my head.”

Gazing upward Transverse-Peace saw the shape of a man mounted on a horse. In the hand was a shining blade like unto the green-dragon saber. Two military figures were with him, one on either side. He on the left had a white face; he on the right was swarthy of countenance with a curly beard. And they followed the figure with the shining blade. They floated along on a cloud which came to rest on the summit of the mountain.

The recluse recognized the figure as that of Guan Yu, so with his yak's tail flagellum he smote the lintel of his hut and cried, “Where is Guan Yu?”

The spirit understood, and the figure dismounted, glided down, and came to rest at the door of the hut. Interlacing its fingers, it stood in a reverential attitude and said, “Who is my teacher, and what is his name in the faith?”

“In the state Guardian Temple in River Si Pass, I once saw you, O noble Sir, and I was not likely to forget your face,” replied the priest.

“I am deeply grateful for the help you gave me. Misfortune has befallen me, and I have ceased to live. I would seek the pure instruction and beg you to indicate the obscure way.”

“Let us not discuss former wrongdoings nor present correct actions. Later events are the inevitable result of former causes. I know that Lu Meng has injured you. You call aloud for the return of your head; who will also return the heads of your several victims—Yan Liang, Wen Chou, and the commanders of the five passes?”

Thereupon Guan Yu seemed suddenly to comprehend, bowed in token of assent, and disappeared. After this appearance to the recluse, his spirit wandered hither and thither about the mountain, manifesting its sacred character and guarding the people.

Impressed by his virtue, the inhabitants built a temple on the Mount of the Jade Spring, wherein they sacrificed at the four seasons. In later days, one wrote a couplet for the temple, the first member reading:

“Ruddy faced, reflecting the honest heart within, out-riding the wind on the Red-Hare steed, mindful of the Red

Emperor;"

“In the light of clear lamp, reading the histories, resting on the Green-Dragon saber curved as the young moon, heart pure as the azure heaven.”

The execution of Guan Yu gave Sun Quan undisputed possession of the whole of the Jingzhou Region. He rewarded his soldiers and spread a great feast at which Lu Meng was in the seat of honor.

Sun Quan made a speech, saying, “After long waiting, the desire of my heart has come to me very easily through the magnificent efforts of my friend Lu Meng.”

Lu Meng bowed and bowed deprecatingly, but Sun Quan continued, “My good Zhou Yu was superior to most humans, and he defeated Cao Cao at the Red Cliffs. Alas! He died too soon. My good Lu Su succeeded him. In his first interview, he inaugurated the general policy of creating a state. That was the first instance of his keen insight. When Cao Cao descended upon my country, and everyone counseled me to yield, he advised me to summon my good Zhou Yu to oppose and smite Cao Cao. That was the second instance of his keen insight. He made only one fault; he advised me to let Liu Bei occupy Jingzhou. Now today my good Lu Meng has succeeded, and in that he far surpasses both his predecessors.”

Then Sun Quan filled a goblet and in person presented it to the guest of the evening. Lu Meng took the cup, but as he raised it, a sudden change came over him. Dashing the cup to the ground, he seized Sun Quan, crying, “O green-eyed boy! O red-bearded rat! Do you know me?”

Consternation seized the whole assembly, but many rushed to the rescue of their lord, who had been thrown to the floor by the guest he had so lately complimented. Rushing forward over Sun Quan's body, Lu Meng sat himself in the host's seat, his eyebrows staring stiff and his eyes glaring.

“After I quelled the Yellow Scarves, I went hither and thither for thirty years. Now I have fallen victim to your base plots, and you have overcome me. If living, I have been unable to gorge upon the flesh of my enemy; dead, I will pursue the spirit of this bandit Lu Meng. I am the Lord of Hanshou, Guan Yu.”

Terror-stricken, Sun Quan was the first to fall prostrate, and all his officers followed him.

Thereupon Lu Meng fell over dead, with blood gushing from the seven orifices of his body.

In due time the body was coffined and interred. Lu Meng was created posthumously Governor of Nanjun and Lord of Chanling. His son, Lu Ba, was given hereditary nobility.

After this visitation Sun Quan lived in constant terror. Soon Zhang Zhao came in from Jianye to see him and blame him for the murder.

“My lord, by the slaughter of Guan Yu you have brought misfortune very near to this state. You know the oath sworn in the Peach Garden. Now Liu Bei has the force of the two Lands of Rivers at his back, Zhuge Liang as adviser, and those heroes Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong, and Ma Chao to carry out his behests. When Liu Bei hears of the death of both father and son, he will set in motion the whole force he has to avenge them, and I fear you cannot stand such an onslaught.”

Sun Quan started up in a fright. “Yes; I have made a little mistake,” said he. “But seeing it is so, what shall I do?”

“You need have no fear,” replied Zhang Zhao. “I have a plan to fend off the armies of the west from our borders and keep Jingzhou quite safe.”

“What is your plan?” asked Sun Quan.

“Cao Cao with his many legions is greedily aiming at the whole empire. If Liu Bei wants revenge, he will ally himself with Cao Cao, and, should they combine against this country, we should be in great danger. Therefore I advise you to send Guan Yu's head to Cao Cao to make it appear that Cao Cao was the prime cause of his destruction. This should divert Liu Bei's extreme hatred toward Cao Cao and send the armies of Shu against Wei instead of toward Wu. After carefully considering the whole matter, I counsel this as the best course of action.”

Sun Quan thought the move worth making, and so the head of the great warrior was placed in a box and sent off as quickly as possible to Cao Cao.

At this time Cao Cao's army had marched back from Mopo to Luoyang. When he heard of the coming of the gruesome gift, he was glad at heart and said, “So Guan Yu is dead; now I can stick to my mat and sleep soundly at night.” But Sima Yi saw through the ruse and said from his place by the steps, “This is a trick to divert evil from Wu.”

“What do you mean? How?” said Cao Cao.

“The Peach Garden Oath bound the three brothers to live and die together. Now Wu is fearful of revenge for the execution of one of the three and sends the head to you to cause Liu Bei's wrath to fasten on you, O Prince. Sun Quan wishes Liu Bei to attack you instead of himself, the real perpetrator of the crime. Then he will find a way of accomplishing his ends while you two are quarreling.”

“You are right, friend;” said Cao Cao, “and now how can we escape?”

“I think escape is easy. You have the head of Guan Yu; make a wooden image of the remainder of the body, and bury the whole with the rites suitable to a minister of state. When Liu Bei hears of this, he will turn his hate toward Sun Quan and raise all his forces to attack him. If you will think it out, you will see that whichever is victor the other will be smitten; and if we get one of the two, the other will follow before very long.”

Cao Cao was pleased with the solution. Then he ordered the messenger to come in with the box, which was opened, and he looked upon the face of the dead. The features had not changed; the face bore the same appearance as of old. Cao Cao smiled.

“I hope you have been well since our last meeting, Guan Yu,” said Cao Cao.

To his horror, the mouth opened, the eyes rolled, and the long beard and hair stiffened. Cao Cao fell to the ground in a swoon.

They rushed to him, but it was a long time before he recovered consciousness.

“General Guan Yu is indeed a spirit,” he said.

Suddenly the messenger who had brought the dead warrior's head became also possessed by the spirit of Guan Yu, and fell to cursing and reviling his master, Sun Quan, and he told the story of what had befallen Lu Meng.

Cao Cao, filled with dread, prepared sacrifices and performed the rites for the honored dead. An effigy was carved out of heavy fragrant wood and buried outside the south gate with all the rites of a princely noble, a huge concourse of officials of all grades following in the procession. At the funeral Cao Cao himself bowed before the coffin and poured a libation. He also conferred on the dead the posthumous title of Prince of Jingzhou, and appointed guardians of the tomb. The messenger was sent back to Wu.

The Prince of Hanzhong returned to his capital Chengdu. Fa Zheng memorialized, saying, “O Prince, thy consort has passed away and the Lady Sun has returned to her maiden home, perhaps never to come again. Human relations should not be set at nought, wherefore a secondary consort should be sought, so that all things may be correctly ordered within the palace.”

The Prince having signified his acceptance of the principle, Fa Zheng continued, “There is the sister of Wu Yi, comely and good, and declared by the physiognomist as destined to high honor. She was betrothed to Liu Mao, son of Liu Yan, but he died in youth, and she has remained unwedded. Take her as a wife.”

“It is incompatible with propriety; Liu Mao and I are of the same ancestry.” “As to the degree of relationship, would it differ from the marriage of Duke Wen of Jin and Huai Ying?”

Upon this precedent the Prince gave his consent and wedded the lady, and she bore to him two sons, the elder of whom was named Liu Yung and the younger Liu Li.

Meanwhile, the whole land of Shu was prospering, the people were tranquil, and the state was becoming wealthy. The fields yielded bountiful harvests. Suddenly there came one who told of the attempt of Sun Quan to ally himself with Guan Yu by marriage, and the indignant rejection of the proposal.

“Jingzhou is in danger,” said Zhuge Liang. “Recall and replace Guan Yu.”

Then began to arrive a series of messengers from Jingzhou, bearers of news of the moves in the game. At first they brought good tidings, then evil. Guan Xing came first to tell of the drowning of the seven armies of Yu Jin. Then one reported the installation of beacon towers along the river bank, and other preparations which seemed as near perfect as any could be. And Liu Bei's anxiety ceased.

But evil tidings were on the way. Liu Bei was ill at ease and felt a creepiness of the skin that boded evil. He was restless by day and sleepless by night. One night he rose from his couch and was reading by the light of a candle when drowsiness overcame him, and he fell asleep over the low table by his side. He dreamed. A cold gust of wind swept through the chamber, almost putting out the candle flame. When it brightened again he glanced up and saw a figure standing near the light.

“Who are you, who thus come by night to my chamber?” asked he.

The figure made no reply, and Liu Bei got up to go over and see who it was. Then the figure took the shape of his brother. But it avoided him, retreating as he advanced.

Liu Bei said, “Brother, there is nothing wrong, I hope. But surely something of great importance brings you here thus in the dead of the night. And why do you avoid me, your brother, who loves you as himself?”

Then the figure wept and said, “Brother, send your armies to avenge me.”

As Guan Yu said that, a chilly blast went through the room, and the figure disappeared. Just then Liu Bei awoke and knew that he had dreamed.

The drums were beating the third watch as he awoke. He felt greatly worried and disturbed. So he went into the front portion of the palace and sent for Zhuge Liang. Soon he came, and Liu Bei told him of the vision.

“You have been thinking too deeply of Guan Yu lately, my lord,” said Zhuge Liang. “There is no need to be distressed.”

But Liu Bei could not find comfort, and Zhuge Liang was long in calming his feelings and arguing away his fancies.

As Zhuge Liang left the palace, he met Xu Jing, who said, “Instructor, I went to your residence to deliver a very secret piece of news, and they told me to find you here.”

“What is your secret?”

“There is a report about that Wu has got possession of Jingzhou; Lu Meng has taken it. And more than that, Guan Yu is dead. I had to come to tell you.”

“I saw it in the sky some nights ago. A large star of a general fell over against Jingzhou, and I knew some evil had befallen Guan Yu. But I feared the effect upon our master, and I forbore to say anything.”

They did not know that Liu Bei was standing just within the door. Suddenly he rushed out, seized Zhuge Liang by the sleeve and said, “Why did you hide from me? Why, when you had such terrible news?”

“Because it is only a rumor,” replied they. “It is too improbable for belief. We pray you not to be distressed.”

“By our oath we live or die together; how can I go on living if he is lost?”

The two men soothed their lord as best they could; but even as they spoke to him, one of the private attendants said that Ma Liang and Yi Ji had arrived. Liu Bei called them in and questioned them eagerly.

They said, “Jingzhou has indeed been lost, and Guan Yu begs for instant help.”

The letters they brought had not been read before Liao Hua was ushered in. He prostrated himself and, weeping, told the story of the refusal of help on the part of Liu Feng and Meng Da.

“Then is my brother lost!” cried Liu Bei.

“If those two have really behaved so badly, the offense is even too great for death,” said Zhuge Liang. “But calm yourself, O Prince. I will see about an army and lead it to the rescue.”

“If Guan Yu is gone, I cannot live,” moaned Liu Bei. “Tomorrow I myself will set out with an army to rescue him.”

Liu Bei sent off a messenger to Zhang Fei in Langzhong and gave orders to muster horse and foot for instant departure.

Before day dawned other messengers arrived, giving step by step the sequence of the tragedy: “Guan Yu had cut his way to Linju at night and been captured by a general of Wu. He had refused to bend, and both father and son had gone to the Nine Springs.”

When he heard of the final catastrophe, Liu Bei uttered a great cry and fell swooning.

His mind went back to the pledge of days gone by;

Could he live still and let his brother die?

What happened will be told in the next chapter.