Dong Cheng and the others asked Ma Teng, “Governor, whom do you intend to choose?” “See there is Liu Bei, Governor of Yu Province, here,” Ma Teng said. “Why not invite him?” Dong Cheng said, “This man is, though he is the Imperial Uncle, now attached to Cao Cao. Would he agree to this?” Ma Teng replied, “I observed him in the arena yesterday when Cao Cao rode out to receive all the congratulations. Yunchang stood behind Liu Bei with his knife raised, as if ready to strike Cao Cao. Liu Bei noticed it and motioned with his eyes to stop him. Liu Bei does not fail to dislike Cao Cao, but he saw that Cao Cao had too many blades around him and feared he could not win. Ask him to help, and he will certainly consent.” Wu Shuo said, “We should not move too quickly. We should discuss this at leisure.” All withdrew.

The next night, Dong Cheng entered the city at once with the imperial order tucked near his person and went straight to Liu Bei’s pavilion. The gate officer announced him, and Liu Bei came out to meet him and asked him into the small pavilion and had him seated. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, whose courtesy names were Yunchang and Yide, stood at the sides. Liu Bei said, “Your Imperial Uncle came here at this late hour. There must be a matter of consequence.” Dong Cheng replied, “If he had visited by day, Cao Cao might have become suspicious. So I came at night.” Liu Bei ordered wine to be brought. Dong Cheng said, “Yesterday in the arena, Yunchang wanted to kill Cao Cao. The General simply looked at him and shook his head for him to stop. Why was that?” Liu Bei’s expression changed in alarm. “How do you know that?” Dong Cheng said, “No one else saw it. I alone saw it.”

Liu Bei could not conceal the feeling and said, “My younger brother, seeing Cao Cao overreaching, could not restrain his anger.” Dong Cheng covered his face and wept. “If ministers of the court were all like Yunchang, how could there be unrest in the realm?” Liu Bei, fearing that Cao Cao had sent him to test, said with feigned casualness, “Why does the Chancellor of the Cao state fear disorder so much?” Dong Cheng’s color changed, and he rose. “You are the Imperial uncle of Han. How can you hide the truth in a heart that has offered up its liver and spleen? Why do you feign?” Liu Bei said, “Fearful you might be testing me, I only tested you.”

Then Dong Cheng showed him the folded order. Liu Bei could not hide his grief and resentment. He also produced the oath document. The names were only six: 1) Dong Cheng, General of Cavalry; 2) Wang Zifu, Minister of Works; 3) Zhong Ji, Colonel of Changshui; 4) Wu Shuo, Gentleman Secretary; 5) Wu Zilan, General Zhaoxin; and 6) Ma Teng, Governor of Xiliang. Liu Bei said, “You now bear an imperial order to punish traitorous rebels; how could I not labor like a hound and horse in your service?” Dong Cheng bowed and thanked him, then asked for a personal seal and order of rank. Liu Bei also wrote out “General of the Left Liu Bei,” signed and stamped it, and had him take it. Dong Cheng said, “You may still ask three more men and gather ten to plot against the bandit of the state.” Liu Bei said, “Do it slowly and cautiously. Do not disclose matters lightly.”

They discussed through the fifth watch and parted. Liu Bei himself, fearing Cao Cao’s designs, went to the back garden and personally watered the vegetable beds he had set there, as a stratagem of concealment. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei asked, “Brother, why neglect the great affairs of the state and busy yourself in such petty matters?” Liu Bei said, “This is no matter for your younger brother to know.” The two did not speak further.

One day, with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei absent, Liu Bei was tending the garden, when Xu Chu and Zhang Liao entered with several tens of soldiers. “By order of the Chancellor,” they said, “the lord must depart at once.” Liu Bei asked in alarm, “Is there an urgent matter?” Xu Chu said, “I do not know. They only told me to come and summon you.” Reluctantly Liu Bei followed the two men to the ruler’s residence. Cao Cao smiled. “You have done a fine thing at home.” Liu Bei turned ashen. Cao Cao took him by the hand and led him to the rear garden. “Your garden of vegetables is not an easy thing to keep.” Only then did Liu Bei finally relax. He answered, “Only idle amusement.” Cao Cao said, “Just now, seeing the green plums on the branches, I remembered last year when we marched against Zhang Xiu. The roads were dry and waterless, and all the men were thirsty. A plan came to me then. I pointed my whip at the air and said, ‘A plum grove lies ahead.’ Hearing that, every soldier moistened his mouth with saliva, and their thirst was lessened. To see these plums now is a moment we should celebrate. Also, now that the boiled wine is just at its best, I have invited you to this pavilion for a brief meeting.” Liu Bei, now at ease, followed him to the pavilion where casks and trays had already been set out: green plums arranged on a dish and one jar of boiled wine. The two sat across from each other and drank with good heart.

When half drunk, a dark bank of cloud spread at the horizon and a sudden storm was about to arrive. A servant pointed far off to a cloud shaped like a dragon, and Cao Cao and Liu Bei leaned over the balustrade to watch. Cao Cao asked, “Do you know the transformations of dragons?” Liu Bei said, “I do not know them in detail.” Cao Cao replied, “A dragon can grow great or small. It can rise and it can hide. Great, it raises clouds and exhales mist. Small, it hides and crouches close to the ground. When it rises, it soars through the spaces of heaven and earth; when it hides, it lies submerged within the waves. At this time of deep spring, a dragon follows the changes of season, like a man who gains command and ranges freely over the four seas. Dragons may be compared to heroes of the world. You have traveled in the world long enough and must know the heroes of the age. Please point them out and I will hear.”

Liu Bei said, “With eyes alone, how can I know heroes?” Cao Cao said, “Do not feign such modesty.” Liu Bei said, “By your grace and protection, I have been admitted to office. As for the heroes of all under Heaven, truly there are many I do not know.” Cao Cao said, “If you do not know their appearance, at least you know their names.” Liu Bei said, “In Huainan there is Yuan Shu, whose stores and grain are full. He can be called a hero.” Cao Cao said, “Bones waiting in a grave mound—sooner or later I will capture him.” Liu Bei said, “In Hebei there is Yuan Shao, who comes from four generations of the Three Dukes’ line and who has many old state men at hand. Now he has entrenched himself in Ji Province and has many capable men under him. He may be called a hero.” Cao Cao said, “Yuan Shao has a fierce face and thin courage. He can conceive plans but never finishes them. He undertakes great undertakings yet saves his own life, and for a small profit he forgets life and duty. He is no hero.” Liu Bei said, “There is a man called the Eight Halls, who holds power across the Nine Provinces: Liu Biao, courtesy name Jingsheng, might be a hero.” Cao Cao said, “Liu Biao is hollow fame without substance. He is no hero.” Liu Bei said, “There is a man whose blood and qi are vigorous and upright, a leader of Jiangdong: Sun Ce, whose sobriquet was the Little Conqueror, is a hero.” Cao Cao said, “Sun Ce hides behind his father’s reputation. He is no hero.” Liu Bei said, “What of Liu Zhang of Yi Province, courtesy name Jiyu? Could he be a hero?” Cao Cao said, “Though Liu Zhang is of imperial clan, he is a gate dog in a householder’s home. How could he be a hero?” Liu Bei said, “Then what of men such as Zhang Xiu, Zhang Lu, and Han Sui?” Cao Cao clapped his hands and laughed loudly. “Those are mere trifling men—surely not worth mentioning.” Liu Bei said, “Outside these, I truly do not know.” Cao Cao said, “A hero is one whose heart bears vast ambition and whose belly contains sound counsel: one who holds the stratagems of the cosmos and the will of heaven and earth.” Liu Bei asked, “Who can shoulder that?” Cao Cao pointed at Liu Bei with one hand, then to himself with the other and said, “As for heroes of the world today, only the lord and I.”

When Liu Bei heard this, he was startled and the spoon-and-chopsticks he held fell from his hand to the ground. At that very moment thunder rolled as the rain came. Liu Bei quietly stooped and picked up the fallen spoon. “The force of one clap of thunder can go so far,” he said. Cao Cao laughed. “Would a man not fear thunder?” Liu Bei said, “When a sage commands lightning and wind to rage, how can one not fear?” He used his dropped utensil as a light pretext to pass over the cause of his alarm. Cao Cao then harbored no more suspicion.

Later, someone wrote a verse praising him:

He steps from the tiger’s den but for a moment, Names the hero and startles those who would die. He shrewdly borrows the thunder for cover, And meets each turn of chance with a spirit like a god.

When the rain stopped, two men charged into the rear garden with sword in hand and forcefully pushed to the pavilion. Cao Cao and Liu Bei looked up and could not stop them. They were Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. Guan and Zhang had just returned from the city wall after shooting arrows. They had heard that Xu Chu and Zhang Liao had taken Liu Bei away and came hastily to his hall to inquire. Hearing he was in the garden, they feared delay and broke through the gate. There they saw Liu Bei drinking with Cao Cao. Both men drew their swords and stood upright. Cao Cao asked, “How did you come?” Guan Yu said, “Hearing that the Chancellor and my elder brother are drinking together, I came to dance my sword and join a laugh.” Cao Cao said, “This is no banquet at Hongmen. Why need Xiang Zhuang and Xiang Bo?” Liu Bei laughed as well. Cao Cao said, “Give the two of them wine to steady their nerves.” Guan Yu and Zhang Fei thanked him and withdrew.

A short while later, the meal ended and Liu Bei took his leave. He turned to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei with his voice low, “You nearly caused us to die, both of you.” Liu Bei explained to them the matter of the dropped chopsticks. Zhang Fei asked what it meant. Liu Bei said, “In tending my garden, I wanted Cao Cao to see that I had no great ambition. Yet he ended by pointing to me as a hero. So I was startled and dropped my chopsticks. Then, fearing Cao Cao might suspect me, I used the thunder as cover.” Both Guan Yu and Zhang Fei replied, “Brother’s vision is truly extraordinary.”

On the next day, Cao Cao invited Liu Bei again. While they were drinking, full and at ease, Man Chong returned from scouting Yuan Shao and report was made. Cao Cao summoned him in. Man Chong said, “Gongsun Zan has already been defeated by Yuan Shao.” Liu Bei urgently asked, “Tell me the details.”

Man Chong said, “Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao could not contend well. He built a circular defense and a high tower ten zhang above it, calling it the Yijing Tower. He stockpiled 300,000 measures of grain and kept watch. No sooner did soldiers enter or leave than he sent them through. Some among Zhang’s men came under siege by Yuan Shao and petitioned rescue. Zhang said, ‘If we rescue one man, then every future battle man will wait to be rescued and will not dare to die in combat.’ So he would not send aid. Therefore many joined Yuan Shao’s forces. Gongsun grew isolated and sent letters to the capital asking for rescue, but they were intercepted on the way. He then sent a letter to Zhang Yan and made a secret signal of raising fire as a mark for inside and outside coordination. The man who carried that letter was captured by Yuan Shao anyway. He was brought out before the walls to set fire and lure the enemy outward. Zhang then rode out in battle. Hidden troops rose and the army horses broke into half. He fell back into the city. Yuan Shao burrowed through the earth floor and entered beneath Zhang’s dwelling tower, then set fire below it. With no way out, Zhang slew his wife and children and then hanged himself. The whole household was burned. Now Yuan Shao gained Gongsun’s army, and his prestige rose greatly. Yuan Shao’s younger brother Yuan Shu in Huainan had grown arrogant and extravagant; he neglected troops and the people, and all under him rebelled in spirit. Yuan Shu sent word submitting the imperial title to Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao wanted to take the Imperial Seal, and Yuan Shu promised to send it to him in person. Now he has abandoned Huainan and intends to return north to Hebei. If the two of them unite, this calamity could be recovered with difficulty. I beg your Highness, take emergency action.”

Hearing of Gongsun Zan’s death, Liu Bei could not hide his sorrow at remembering the old favor that had once recommended him. He was also anxious, not knowing how Zhao Zilong had fared. In thought, he said, “If I do not find a way to escape now, when can I?” He rose and said to Cao Cao, “If Yuan Shu submits to Yuan Shao, he must pass through Xuzhou. Grant me one army and I can intercept him halfway and capture him.” Cao Cao laughed. “Tomorrow I will report this to the emperor, then we shall raise troops.”

The following day Liu Bei presented himself before the Son of Heaven. Cao Cao ordered him to supervise fifty thousand men and horses and sent Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao with him. Liu Bei spoke before he left. The emperor wept and sent him off. When Liu Bei returned to his quarters, he packed his arms and horses in one night and, with his command seal hung, urged the army to speed. Ma Teng rode out ten li to send him off. Liu Bei said, “Please endure this, Imperial Uncle. I will someday repay this command.” Ma Teng said, “You should stay alert and never fail the mind of the emperor.” They parted. As they rode, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei asked while still mounted, “Brother, why such haste in this campaign?” Liu Bei said, “I have long been a bird in a cage and a fish in a net. This trip is like a fish entering the Great Sea or a bird up into broad sky, free from cage and chain.” So he ordered Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to urge Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao forward at speed.

At that time Guo Jia and Cheng Yu, having recently returned from calculating grain and silver accounts, learned that Cao Cao had already sent Liu Bei toward Xuzhou and hurried in remonstration. “Why did the Chancellor send Liu Bei to command troops?” Cao Cao asked. “Previously, when Liu Bei served as Governor of Yu Province, we urged him to be executed and the Chancellor refused. Now to send troops with him is to cast a dragon into the sea and let a tiger return to its mountain. When you later wish to bring it under control, how can you?” Guo Jia said, “Even if the Chancellor does not kill Liu Bei, he should not let him go. The old saying is true: one day of letting an enemy loose becomes trouble for ten generations. Please consider it.” After hearing them, Cao Cao wavered. “Let him go,” said Cheng Yu and Guo Jia. Cao Cao gave Xu Chu orders to go with five hundred men and bring Liu Bei back by force if he tried to leave; Xu Chu agreed and rode out.

Yet while Liu Bei was traveling onward, he saw dust rise behind them and told Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, “This can only be Cao Cao’s soldiers pursuing us.” He then broke camp and ordered Guan Yu and Zhang Fei each to hold weapons at their sides and stand on both flanks. Xu Chu arrived; seeing the strict array and full armor, he dismounted and went into camp. Liu Bei said, “Why have you come here?” Xu Chu replied, “I have an order from the Chancellor, summoning the general to return. There is other business.” Liu Bei said, “A general abroad can refuse what is not fit for him. I have already faced you and have the Chancellor’s words in my ears. I have no other matter. You can return quickly and report this to the Chancellor.” Xu Chu thought to himself, “The Chancellor and Liu Bei have always been close. This time he did not tell me to strike him. I should simply relay Liu Bei’s words and await the Chancellors’ final judgment.” So he took leave of Liu Bei and returned with his troops. When he reached Cao Cao, he reported Liu Bei’s words. Cao Cao still hesitated. Cheng Yu and Guo Jia said, “Since Liu Bei refuses to recall his army, we may know his heart has turned.” Cao Cao said, “I have Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao there. Liu Bei will not dare to change his heart. In any case, since I have sent him, how can I now repent and bring him back?” He gave no further order to pursue Liu Bei.

Later, someone wrote a verse praising him:

A swift departure with troops fed and saddled, Yet he carried Heaven’s mandate in his belt. He crashes the iron cage and escapes tiger and leopard, Opening suddenly a golden chain and departing like a river-dragon.

When Ma Teng learned that Liu Bei had left and fresh reports came from the frontier, he returned to Xiliang. Liu Bei’s army reached Xuzhou. The city commander Che Zuo came out to receive them. A banquet followed. Sun Qian, Mi Zhu and others came to pay their respects. After visiting the elders and the children at home, Liu Bei sent people to inquire after Yuan Shu. A scout returned and said, “Yuan Shu has overreached and become too luxurious. Lei Bo and Chen Lan have both gone to Songshan. Yuan Shu’s strength is now depleted, and he has abandoned Huainan and set his face toward Hebei. He has written to yield the imperial title to Yuan Shao. If the two of them work together, this emergency will be hard to repair. Yuan Shao has summoned him, and Yuan Shu has packed his men and beasts and palace goods and arrived at Xuzhou first.”

Knowing Yuan Shu was nearing, Liu Bei called forward Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhu Ling, and Lu Zhao with fifty thousand soldiers and rode out to meet him. They were met by the forward guard Ji Ling. Zhang Fei said nothing and rode straight at him. They fought fewer than ten passes before Zhang Fei roared once and stabbed Ji Ling beneath his horse. The enemy army broke and fled. Yuan Shu then came on in person. Liu Bei divided his force into three columns: Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao on the left, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei on the right, Liu Bei himself in the center. He met Yuan Shu beneath the gate and thundered, “You traitor act against the state with no sense of righteousness. I now come with an imperial order to suppress you. You should lay down your weapons and surrender, so your offense may be lessened.” Yuan Shu jeered, “A rag-plaited cobbler of a fellow dares speak so lightly of me!” He gestured for troops to charge. Liu Bei gave ground for a while to let the left and right wings cut through. They slew Yuan Shu’s men, filling the field with bodies and turning streams red with blood. When the enemy soldiers fled, they escaped in number beyond counting. Lei Bo and Chen Lan, now at Songshan, plundered their grain and forage. Attempting to return to Shouchun, they were attacked by bandits, so they could only halt at Jiangting. Only a little over a thousand remained, all old or weak. It was high summer. Supplies were exhausted. Only thirty hu of wheat remained. Liu Bei distributed what remained only among the soldiers; his household had no food, and many starved.

Yuan Shu disliked the coarse grain and could not swallow it. He ordered the cook to bring honey water to soothe his thirst. The cook said, “Only blood water remains. How can I bring honey water?” Yuan Shu sat up, shouted once, and collapsed to the ground, retching out blood before dying. It was the fourth year of Jian’an, sixth month. Later people made a verse:

At the end of the Eastern Han, weapons and war broke in four quarters, Yuan Shu rose too recklessly, with no cause. Forgetting generations of service in office, he sought in solitude the title of Son of Heaven, He boasted of the Imperial Seal and boasted of Heaven’s blessing. Thinking of honey water and finding none, he lay alone upon an empty bed and died after vomiting blood.

Yuan Shu was already dead. His nephew Yuan Yin brought his coffin and his family to Lujiang. Xu Qiu slew them all. He took the Imperial Seal and carried it to Xudu to present it to Cao Cao. Cao Cao rejoiced greatly and made Xu Qiu Governor of Gaoling. At this time the Imperial Seal returned to Cao Cao.

When Liu Bei learned that Yuan Shu was dead, he composed and presented a memorial to the court and delivered a copy to Cao Cao, instructing Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao to return to Xudu and leave the troops to hold Xuzhou while he himself went out of the city and summoned the scattered people to return to farming.

Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao came back to Xudu and told Cao Cao that Liu Bei had left troops in place. Cao Cao grew angry and wished to execute the two. Xun Yu said, “The authority now lies with Liu Bei; these two were in no position to refuse.” Cao Cao pardoned them. Xun Yu added, “Write to Che Zuo and set an inside plan.”

Cao Cao accepted the plan and secretly sent a man to Che Zuo with the Chancellor’s instructions. Che Zuo immediately asked Chen Deng to counsel with him. Chen Deng said, “The matter is easy. Liu Bei has gone out to summon civilians. He will soon return. You may post soldiers hidden at the edge of Weng City and let them merely receive him. When his horse arrives, one stroke can cut him down. I will stand atop the city walls and fire on his rear troops. Then the matter will be settled.” Che Zuo followed this.

Chen Deng then returned to his father, Chen Gui, and explained what had happened. Chen Gui ordered him to report it first to Liu Bei. Chen Deng rode hard and, upon reaching the road, encountered Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. He relayed it to them all. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei had already returned; Liu Bei was behind.

When Zhang Fei heard, he readied himself to fight. Guan Yu said, “He is waiting outside Weng City to receive me. If I go, I will walk into danger. I have one plan: we can kill Che Zuo. We will spend the night in the clothing and flags of Cao Cao’s army, ride to Xuzhou, and lure Che Zuo out to welcome us. Then we kill him.” Zhang Fei accepted. Their men already held Cao’s insignia, their armor matching. At the middle of the third watch, they called at the gate. Those above the city wall asked who came. The men shouted, “The troops of Chancellor Cao sent by Zhang Wenyuan.” Che Zuo was told. He quickly asked Chen Deng for counsel. “If we do not receive them, that is suspicious. If we go out to receive them, there may still be deceit.” Che Zuo then climbed the wall and shouted back, “Night makes it hard to distinguish faces. Let us meet in the morning.” From below, the voices answered, “Liu Bei may learn of this. Open at once!”

Che Zuo still hesitated. From outside there came many cries calling for the gate to open. Che Zuo finally donned his armor, mounted, and rode out with one thousand men. Crossing the hanging bridge, he cried, “Where is Zhang Wenyuan?” In the firelight Guan Yu was seen, sword in hand, driving straight from horseback to meet him. Guan Yu shouted, “How could a common man dare to plot deceit and come to kill my elder brother?” Che Zuo was shocked. Before the battle had gone even for a few exchanges, he could not block him, so he turned his horse away. At the hanging bridge, Chen Deng shot a storm of arrows from above the wall, and Che Zuo ran around the city. Guan Yu pursued and, with one stroke, severed him at the horse’s side, cutting off his head. He raised it high and called back to the wall, “The rebel Che Zuo has been killed. I have his head. The soldiers and townsfolk are innocent. If they surrender, they will not die.” The opposing forces turned their swords around and surrendered. Army and civilians all came to peace.

Guan Yu carried Che Zuo’s head to meet Liu Bei and explained the plot against him. It was already ended by the beheading. Liu Bei was stunned. “If Cao Cao comes, what then?” Guan Yu said, “My brother and Zhang Fei will meet him.” Liu Bei regretted deeply, then entered Xuzhou. The elders and old men met him in the roads and came to welcome him. When he reached his hall, he searched for Zhang Fei. Zhang Fei had already killed Che Zuo’s entire household. Liu Bei said, “Would one who had slain Cao Cao’s trusted officer ever be allowed to rest?” Chen Deng said, “I have a plan. It may send Cao Cao away.”

He slipped from the tiger’s den as a single man, then set a brilliant plan in motion to quiet the war-smoke. How this turned out will be told in the next chapter.