Read The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation for Free Online Page B
Authors: Luo Guanzhong
to get help from the prince. So, cursing bitterly at the two heartless men, he rode out of the city to embark on a journey toward Chengdu.
At Maicheng Guan Yu looked anxiously, but vainly, for the coming of the expected aid. He was in a sorry plight. His men numbered but a few hundred, many of them wounded. And there was no grain.
Then someone came to the foot of the city wall and, calling out to the men on the wall not to shoot, said he had a message for the commander. It was Zhuge Jin and he was allowed to enter. When he had saluted his host and taken tea, he began his persuasive speech.
“I have come at the command of my master to exhort you to take a wise course. From of old it has always been recognized that ‘A true hero must bow to circumstances.’ The nine districts of Jingzhou that you once ruled have come under another, with the exception of this single city. But with no food within nor help from without, it will fall at any moment. Therefore, general, why not take my advice and join your fortunes with my master? You will be restored to the governorship of this region and reunited with your family. I entreat you to reflect upon this.”
Guan Yu replied seriously, “I am but a common soldier of Jieliang, yet my lord has treated me as his own ‘hands and feet’ (brother). I will never betray him for an enemy country. If the city falls, so ends my life. Jade may be shattered, but its whiteness remains; bamboo may be burned, but its joints * cannot be destroyed. My body may perish, but my fame will live through history. Say no more, but leave the city quickly. I will fight Sun Quan to death.”
“My master desires that his house and yours may be united by a marriage bond so that you can assist each other to destroy Cao Cao and restore the Hans. He means no harm. Why do you persist in this wrong course?”
He had hardly finished this speech than Guan Ping drew his sword to slay him. But his father checked him.
“Remember his brother is in Shu, helping your uncle. If you hurt him you will injure their brotherly affection.”
He then ordered his men to lead Zhuge Jin away. Crimson with shame, he left the city. When he saw his master he told him of Guan Yu’s obduracy and rejection of all persuasion.
“He is indeed a loyal servant!” said Sun Quan in admiration. “Then what is to be done?”
“Let us make a divination according to the Book of Changes ,” said Lu Fan.
So lots were cast, which were interpreted to mean that the enemy would flee to a distance.
Sun Quan asked Lu Meng, “If he escapes to a distant land, how are you going to capture him?”
“The divination exactly fits in with my scheme,” he replied. “Even though Guan Yu had wings to soar to the skies he could not fly out of my net.”
The dragon in a puddle is the sport of shrimps,
The phoenix in a cage is mocked by small birds.
What scheme Lu Meng would employ will be revealed in the next chapter.
Footnotes
* A general in West Han, famous for his highly disciplined army.
* In Chinese the character for a bamboo joint is jie , which is a homonym for “rectitude.”
CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN
Guan Yu’s Ghost Visits Jade Spring Mountain
Cao Cao Is Possessed in Luoyang
A t the end of the last chapter Sun Quan asked Lu Meng for a plan to capture Guan Yu. To his question Lu Meng replied, “As he has very few men left, Guan Yu will not venture to escape via the high road but seek the risky path to the north of Maicheng. Therefore we can lay an ambush about twenty li north of the city. When he comes, do not stop him, but only harass his rear. Thus his men will be disheartened and he will be forced to turn toward Linju. Set another ambush in the hills there, and we will capture him. For the present, we can attack the city vigorously on all sides but leave the north gate open for him to escape.”
Before carrying out this plan, Sun Quan asked Lu Fan to consult the diviners again. Presently the diviner announced that
At Maicheng Guan Yu looked anxiously, but vainly, for the coming of the expected aid. He was in a sorry plight. His men numbered but a few hundred, many of them wounded. And there was no grain.
Then someone came to the foot of the city wall and, calling out to the men on the wall not to shoot, said he had a message for the commander. It was Zhuge Jin and he was allowed to enter. When he had saluted his host and taken tea, he began his persuasive speech.
“I have come at the command of my master to exhort you to take a wise course. From of old it has always been recognized that ‘A true hero must bow to circumstances.’ The nine districts of Jingzhou that you once ruled have come under another, with the exception of this single city. But with no food within nor help from without, it will fall at any moment. Therefore, general, why not take my advice and join your fortunes with my master? You will be restored to the governorship of this region and reunited with your family. I entreat you to reflect upon this.”
Guan Yu replied seriously, “I am but a common soldier of Jieliang, yet my lord has treated me as his own ‘hands and feet’ (brother). I will never betray him for an enemy country. If the city falls, so ends my life. Jade may be shattered, but its whiteness remains; bamboo may be burned, but its joints * cannot be destroyed. My body may perish, but my fame will live through history. Say no more, but leave the city quickly. I will fight Sun Quan to death.”
“My master desires that his house and yours may be united by a marriage bond so that you can assist each other to destroy Cao Cao and restore the Hans. He means no harm. Why do you persist in this wrong course?”
He had hardly finished this speech than Guan Ping drew his sword to slay him. But his father checked him.
“Remember his brother is in Shu, helping your uncle. If you hurt him you will injure their brotherly affection.”
He then ordered his men to lead Zhuge Jin away. Crimson with shame, he left the city. When he saw his master he told him of Guan Yu’s obduracy and rejection of all persuasion.
“He is indeed a loyal servant!” said Sun Quan in admiration. “Then what is to be done?”
“Let us make a divination according to the Book of Changes ,” said Lu Fan.
So lots were cast, which were interpreted to mean that the enemy would flee to a distance.
Sun Quan asked Lu Meng, “If he escapes to a distant land, how are you going to capture him?”
“The divination exactly fits in with my scheme,” he replied. “Even though Guan Yu had wings to soar to the skies he could not fly out of my net.”
The dragon in a puddle is the sport of shrimps,
The phoenix in a cage is mocked by small birds.
What scheme Lu Meng would employ will be revealed in the next chapter.
Footnotes
* A general in West Han, famous for his highly disciplined army.
* In Chinese the character for a bamboo joint is jie , which is a homonym for “rectitude.”
CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN
Guan Yu’s Ghost Visits Jade Spring Mountain
Cao Cao Is Possessed in Luoyang
A t the end of the last chapter Sun Quan asked Lu Meng for a plan to capture Guan Yu. To his question Lu Meng replied, “As he has very few men left, Guan Yu will not venture to escape via the high road but seek the risky path to the north of Maicheng. Therefore we can lay an ambush about twenty li north of the city. When he comes, do not stop him, but only harass his rear. Thus his men will be disheartened and he will be forced to turn toward Linju. Set another ambush in the hills there, and we will capture him. For the present, we can attack the city vigorously on all sides but leave the north gate open for him to escape.”
Before carrying out this plan, Sun Quan asked Lu Fan to consult the diviners again. Presently the diviner announced that
Similar Books
Vampire Dragon
Annette Blair
The Blood of Olympus
Rick Riordan
The Solstice Mistletoe Effect
Serena Yates
The Island of Excess Love
Francesca Lia Block
Prickly Business
Piper Vaughn & Kenzie Cade
The Science of Shakespeare
Dan Falk
Born on the Fourth of July
Ron Kovic
Infinity Unleashed
Sedona Venez