Zhou Yu, whose courtesy name was Gongjin, had been routed in one clash by Zhuge Liang, Kongming, who had laid an ambush for him beforehand with Guan Yu, Huang Zhong, and Wei Yan, each with a column of horsemen. Huang Gai and Han Dang rushed forward to help; they shoved away innumerable boats from the river force. From a hilltop, Liu Bei, whose courtesy name was Xuande, and Lady Sun with her attendants and escorts stopped to watch. How could Zhou Yu not burn with anger? His arrow wound had not yet fully healed. In the surge of rage, the wound split and he fainted to the deck. His officers revived him, then hurriedly boarded and withdrew. Kongming ordered that no pursuit be made, and then returned with Liu Bei to Jing Province to celebrate, rewarding the commanders.

When Zhou Yu came back to Chaisang, Jiang Qin and the rest of the escorting force returned south to Xuxu and reported to Sun Quan. Sun Quan could not contain himself in anger and wanted to appoint Cheng Pu as Chief Commander and raise troops to recover Jing Province. Zhou Yu then submitted another memorial asking for action to repay his grudge. Zhang Zhao remonstrated.

“Do not.” “Cao Cao has thought of this Red Cliffs grievance day and night. He therefore fears Liu and Sun becoming one. That is why he has not yet dared to strike. Now if our lord acts from a momentary fury and swallows each other in haste, Cao Cao will surely march in and pounce. Our state will stand on a knife-edge.”

Gu Yong said, “How, is there not a minor clerk in Xu City for this purpose? If Cao Cao knows that Sun and Liu are not at peace, he will surely stir up Liu Bei against us. Liu Bei, fearing Eastern Wu, will then throw himself beneath Cao Cao. If that happens, when will Jiangnan ever come to peace? For our plans at this moment, best is this: send someone to Xu City, and report that Liu Bei has been appointed Governor of Jing Province. Once Cao Cao hears it, he will fear to send armies southeast. At the same time, make Liu Bei not resent our lord. After that, use my trusted men to spread rumors and split Cao and Liu into mutual conflict. Then we seize the chance. That will serve us best.”

Sun Quan said, “Yong’s words are excellent. But who could be sent?”

“Among us is one man whom Cao Cao admires. He could serve as envoy.” “Who is it?” “Hua Xin is here. Why not send him?”

Sun Quan was delighted and immediately sent him off with a memorial to Xu City. Hua Xin accepted the charge and set out. He traveled straight to Xu City to request audience with Cao Cao. Hearing that Cao Cao was hosting his ministers at Ye County for the Bronze Sparrow festivities, Hua Xin went there and waited on him.

Since Cao Cao’s defeat at Red Cliffs, he had been constantly planning revenge; only suspicion that Sun and Liu were acting in concert had held him from moving quickly. In the spring of the fifteenth year of Jian’an, the Bronze Sparrow Terrace was finished. Cao Cao convened all civil and military officials at Ye County for a great banquet in celebration. The platform stood on the bank of the Zhang River. In the center rose the Bronze Sparrow Terrace; to its left stood the Yulong Terrace, to its right the Jinfeng Terrace, each ten zhang high. Two bridges joined them broadside to side, with a thousand gateways and ten thousand doors. Gold and jade gleamed together.

That day, Cao Cao wore a bejeweled gold crown, a green brocade robe of horsehair silk, a jade belt and pearl-soled shoes, and sat on the height above all. Civil officials and military officers stood below. Desiring to watch the horsemen prove their bowcraft, Cao Cao had a man in a robe of Xichuan crimson silk drape it on a willow branch, fixing an arrow-shooting range and marking the boundary at one hundred paces. The military men were split into two divisions. Cao clan members all wore red, while all other officers and soldiers wore green.

Each man carried a carved bow and a fine arrow, mounted and bridled as if for charge, waiting for command.

Cao Cao issued orders: “Whoever can shoot through the bullseye marked at the center of the target shall receive this brocade robe. Whoever misses shall drink a full cup of water as penalty.”

As soon as he gave the command, from the red-robed line a young general spurred forth. Looking at him, it was Cao Xiu.

He rode back and forth three times, running at speed, nocked an arrow, drew to the ear, and loosed. The shaft flew straight into the red center. The drums and gongs rang together and all shouted in approval. From above on the platform Cao Cao smiled broadly and said, “This is a thousand-li stallion of my own house!”

He moved to have the robe brought to Cao Xiu, when another rider dashed out from the red-robed line, crying, “The Chancellor’s robe is for an outsider to claim first; one should not jostle within the clan!”

Cao Cao saw him: it was Wen Ping.

The officers cried, “Watch Wen Zhongye shoot!”

Wen Ping drew his bow and loosed a single arrow as he urged his horse; he too hit the red center. All cheered, and gongs and drums thundered in disorderly joy.

Wen Ping called loudly, “Bring the robe!”

Again, from the red-robed file another rider sprang out, voice ringing: “Wen Lied shot first. How can you contest this? See how I too split the heart!” He drew to fullness and loosed, striking the center as well.

The eyes of the gathered men turned to him. It was Cao Hong.

He reached for the robe, and from the green line another general surged out.

“Your three-way shooting is no marvel. Watch me shoot!”

It was Zhang He.

Zhang He turned in the saddle and shot backward over his shoulder, also striking the center. Four arrows now clustered in the heart.

Everyone said, “What an archer!”

Zhang He said, “That robe is mine by right!”

He had not finished the words when once again a rider shot forth from the red line, crying, “You call it a feat to turn in the saddle and shoot backward? Watch me take that heart!”

The man was Xiahou Yuan.

He drove forward to the boundary, twisted in place and loosed. His arrow flew among the four that already struck.

The drums and gongs rang as one.

He reined in and shouted over his bow, “Can one steal a robe with this shot?”

From the green side, another rider answered at once, crying, “Set it aside for me—Xu Huang!”

Xiahou Yuan snapped, “Have you any trick other than that to claim my robe?”

Xu Huang replied, “You hitting the red heart is nothing to write home about. Watch me claim the brocade in a single draw.”

He drew, set arrow to string, aimed across the willow pole, loosed—its shaft cut exactly through the willow branch, and the brocade fluttered down. Xu Huang snatched the robe and slung it over his shoulders. He rode to the platform and, with salutes, said, “Thanks to the Chancellor for the robe!”

Cao Cao and all the officers exclaimed with envy. Xu Huang wheeled back to move away, but suddenly at the platform’s edge a green-robed general vaulted out and shouted, “Where are you going with that robe? Put it down and give it to me first!”

They saw Xu Chu.

Xu Huang answered, “The robe is here. Who are you to seize it by force?”

Xu Chu did not answer but came riding to snatch. The two horses met close together. Xu Huang struck at Xu Chu’s bow with his own. Xu Chu put his hand on the bow and dragged Xu Huang off his saddle.

Xu Huang could not hold the bow and leapt from his horse. Xu Chu also dismounted. The two locked in grips and battered each other. Cao Cao hastily ordered men to separate them. The robe had already been torn to shreds.

Cao Cao ordered both men onto the platform.

Xu Huang narrowed his eyes in anger, Xu Chu ground his teeth. Neither would release each other. Cao Cao laughed.

“I merely wished to watch your courage. Who minds one brocade?”

He then ordered all generals up to the platform and gave each a bolt of Shu silk.

Each expressed thanks in turn. Cao Cao then had all return to rank and sit in order. Music blazed forth, with land and river entertainments arranged. Literati and martial officers took turns raising cups and exchanging tribute of wine and toast.

Cao Cao addressed the civil officials.

“The warriors have already shown their valor by horse-and-bow display, and enough is said for military excellence. All of you are men steeped in learning, and now that you have mounted this high terrace, should you not all advance good verses to mark this moment’s triumph?”

All the officials bowed and replied, “We stand ready to obey.”

At that moment, Wang Lang, Zhong Yao, Wang Can, and Chen Lin came forward and presented poems.

Their lines praised Cao Cao’s towering merit and spoke of how rightful it was for him to receive command.

After reading through them all, Cao Cao smiled and said,

“The pieces are fine. You flatter me beyond truth. In my youth I was dull and unworthy and was first selected as a xiaolian candidate, a man of filial piety and incorruptibility. Later, when the realm was in chaos, I built an austere cottage fifty li east of Qiao and meant to spend spring and summer reading and autumn and winter hunting, only to wait for peace under Heaven before entering office. Yet the court called me for recruitment as Commander of the Local Militia, and my intention changed; I wished only to serve the state, bring down bandits, and make merit for it, so that in death I could have a mausoleum inscription reading, ‘The tomb of Cao Hou, General Who Conquers the West of the Former Han.’ That has always been enough for me.

Since dispatching against Dong Zhuo, suppressing the Yellow Turbans, subduing Yuan Shu, defeating Lü Bu, crushing Yuan Shao, and pacifying Liu Biao, I have already brought peace to the realm. To be Chancellor, the honor of a minister at this moment, is the top this state can give. What more is left to seek?

If this land were without my person, who can say how many would call themselves emperor, how many would call themselves king?

Some may see me heavy with power and recklessly infer my heart. They imagine I have strange designs; this is a grave delusion. I have always kept in mind that Confucius praised King Wen of Wen for his self-restraint. Those words pierce me still. What I desire is to relinquish command and troops and accept instead the marquisate of Wuping. Yet that is impossible.

I fear that if I loosened the reins of soldiers and men even once, I would be destroyed by others; if I failed, the realm would totter.

Thus I could never turn from actual danger to idle fame.

No one among you has failed to understand my heart.”

All rose and bowed, saying, “Even Yiyin and Duke Zhou fall short of the Chancellor.”

Later scholars wrote:

Each day Zhou Gong fears a whisper in the street, and Wang Mang bows so humbly to lowly men. Had he fallen by his own hand in that first year, who now would know true and false in all his life?

Cao Cao drank several cups in quick succession and, half intoxicated, summoned an attendant for pen and inkstone and began to write a poem on Bronze Sparrow Terrace. Just as he had touched down the brush, word came in: “A messenger from Eastern Wu named Hua Xin has submitted a memorial recommending that Liu Bei be appointed Governor of Jing Province. Sun Quan has married his sister to Liu Bei; the greater part of the nine commanderies under Heaven now belong to him.”

At the report, Cao Cao’s hands and feet grew unsteady; he tossed the brush aside.

Cheng Yu said, “When your lord stood in ten thousand ranks and faced arrows and stones, he never trembled. Why should you be thus startled now that Liu Bei has obtained Jing Province?”

Cao Cao said, “Liu Bei was a dragon among men and never before has he ever been granted this chance. Now he has obtained Jing Province—it is a trapped dragon entering the sea. How then could I not be moved?”

Cheng Yu said, “Does the Chancellor know the meaning of Hua Xin’s mission?”

Cao Cao said, “I do not.”

Cheng Yu said, “Sun Quan has long mistrusted Liu Bei and wished to raise troops against him, but feared that the Chancellor himself might strike south while he did. Therefore he sent Hua Xin as envoy, recommending Liu Bei. He calms Liu Bei’s heart and fills the Chancellor’s expectations with that.”

Cao Cao nodded. “It is so.”

Cheng Yu said, “I have a plan: let Sun and Liu consume one another, while I seize both by exploiting the opening. One drumbeat can break two enemies.”

Cao Cao delightedly replied, “Your words, Zhongde, match my mind exactly.”

He then summoned Hua Xin back to the platform and bestowed him with additional rewards.

When the banquet dispersed that day, Cao Cao brought officials and officers back to Xuchang and submitted a memorial: appoint Zhou Yu, Gongjin, as Administrator of Nanjun Commandery, and Cheng Pu as Administrator of Jiangxia Commandery. He enfeoffed Hua Xin as Grand Master of the Department of Justice and left him at Xu City.

His order had already reached Eastern Wu, and Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu accepted their posts.

Now that Zhou Yu had taken office at Nanjun, his longing for vengeance grew. He submitted a memorial to his lord, asking that Lu Su be ordered to recapture Jing Province.

Sun Quan told Lu Su,

“Earlier you guarded Jing Province with Liu Bei. He is now delayed in return. When will he move?”

Lu Su said, “The text he gave is clear: once he has obtained Xichuan, he will come back.”

Sun Quan barked, “He only said he would take Xichuan, and yet until now he has still not moved troops. He has made old men wait.”

Lu Su said, “If you permit, I will go and speak.”

He then rode to Jing Province.

Returning to Liu Bei and Kongming, they had gathered grain and trained men in Jing Province. Men of the nearby and distant lands rallied to him. Then came report that Lu Su had arrived.

Liu Bei asked Kongming, “What is Zijing here for?”

Kongming said, “Yesterday Sun Quan petitioned the state to make you Governor of Jing Province, clearly because he fears Cao Cao. Cao Cao now enfeoffed Zhou Yu as Administrator of Nanjun; this is his design to set our two houses against each other, so that he may work from the center. Now Lu Su’s coming means Zhou Yu, already an administrator, comes to demand Jing Province.”

Liu Bei asked, “How shall we answer?”

Kongming said, “If Lu Su raises the matter, let our lord cry aloud in grief. Cry until your pain is piercing; then I will come forth and persuade.”

The arrangement was settled. They received Lu Su at the government hall, exchanged ceremony, and took their seats.

Lu Su said, “Today my lord, the Lord of Wu, has made your marriage to the eastern queen. I, Lu Su, should be your host—how can I sit now?”

Liu Bei laughed.

“This is no matter with me and Zhongjing being old friends. Why this excess of courtesy?”

Lu Su then sat.

After tea, he said, “I come by my lord Wu’s command, solely on the matter of Jing Province. Your Highness has occupied it for some time and has not yet returned it. Now that our two families are bound by marriage, on the basis of kinship alone it should be handed over.”

Hearing this, Liu Bei covered his face and wept.

Lu Su was startled. “Why does the Lord of Xuanda weep so?”

His crying did not cease.

Kongming came out from behind the screen.

“I have heard this long enough. Does Zijing know why my lord weeps?”

Lu Su said, “I truly do not.”

Kongming said, “What is difficult to see? When first my lord received leave in Jing Province, he promised to return it once he obtained Xichuan. Look carefully: in Yi Province, Liu Zhang is our lord’s younger brother’s age, and by kinship all of Han are of one family. If he raises troops to seize that city, outsiders will spit at him. If he does not, then he cannot return Jing and where will he stand? If he returns it now, he loses face before his honorific father-in-law. It is truly a twofold hardship that brings tears from our hearts.”

When Kongming finished, Liu Bei struck his breast and feet against the floor and wept loudly. Lu Su advised,

“Your Highness, do not be so distressed. Discuss this at length with Kongming.”

Kongming said, “I beg you, Zijing, return to Wu and report this burdening matter fully to the Lord. Ask him to allow time, and say our pain is real.”

Lu Su asked, “If your lord does not agree, what then?”

Kongming said, “Since my lord has already married your lord’s younger sister, how can he refuse?”

Lu Su said, “Please speak well and carry this plea back and report again.”

Lu Su was known as a broad-hearted elder. Seeing how Liu Bei grieved, he could only agree. Liu Bei and Kongming thanked him. The banquet ended; they escorted him to his ship and he departed.

He went straight back to Chaisang and told Zhou Yu all this in full. Zhou Yu stamped and said,

“Zijing has again fallen into Kongming’s scheme. When Liu Bei depended on Liu Biao, there was already intent to swallow him. How much more so with Liu Zhang in Xichuan? As this is arranged, your honorable self should not be too secure, old brother.”

“I have a way so that Kongming cannot move within my calculations. Let him follow through.”

Lu Su said, “I wish to hear your clever plan.”

Yohu said, “Zijing need not go back to Wu with this. Go again to Jing Province and tell Liu Bei this: since Sun and Liu are now joined by kinship, the two are one house. If Liu’s men cannot bear to take Xichuan, then Eastern Wu will raise armies and seize it. When we have obtained Xichuan, we will use it as marriage tribute, and in exchange Jing Province will be returned.”

Lu Su said, “Xichuan is far and difficult to take. Can this plan hold?”

Zhou Yu laughed. “You truly are generous of heart, elder. You think I will truly go for Xichuan and seize it for him? I only use the name as pretense. My intent is to take Jing Province, and to make him unready. When Eastern Wu troops and horses pass through Jing on the Sichuan road, I will ask him to provide silver and grain. Liu Bei will surely come out of the city to inspect and reward the soldiers. Then, seizing the moment, we strike and take Jing Province, settle our old grievance, and relieve your threat.”

Lu Su rejoiced and returned again to Jing Province.

Liu Bei and Kongming conferred.

Kongming said, “Lu Su has not truly seen Wu’s lord; he only discussed this with Zhou Yu here at Chaisang. He has come to tempt us. All you need do is nod and answer yes to every word he speaks.”

The plan was set.

When Lu Su entered, ceremony complete, he said, “The Lord of Wu greatly admires Your Highness’s virtue. He and our commanders have discussed taking up arms to retrieve Xichuan for you. Once we take Xichuan, we will exchange it back for Jing Province and use Xichuan as the dowry token. But as the horse and men pass through, he asks for some grain and silver.”

Kongming nodded quickly.

“Such benevolence from the Lord of Wu is hard to find.”

Liu Bei clasped his hands and gave thanks. “It is all Zijing’s words well spoken.”

Kongming said, “When the mighty host arrives, I shall prepare to meet them and honor the troops.”

Lu Su was inwardly delighted. After the banquet he took leave.

Liu Bei asked Kongming, “What does this mean?”

Kongming laughed broadly.

“Zhou Yu’s life is near the end! Even a boy would not be deceived by such a scheme.”

Liu Bei asked, “How?”

Kongming said, “This is the stratagem known as Jia-tu Mie-Guo: a false route to claim Guo. The name is to fetch Sichuan; the intent is to seize Jing. When Your Highness comes out of the city to reward your troops, strike at that unprepared moment and break through. It is all done by surprise.”

Liu Bei said, “How should I proceed?”

Kongming said, “Keep broad and calm. Spend your strength preparing bows for the tiger, and set baiting fragrance to catch the crocodile. Once Zhou Yu arrives, if he survives he will be with nine parts of no breath left.”

Then he called Zhao Yun and added, “Do it in this way; the rest I will set in place.”

Liu Bei rejoiced.

Later poets later sighed:

Zhou Yu devises the plan to take Jing, yet Kongming reads first among all the counsels. He trusted the river’s fragrant bait to hold, not knowing a hook was cast in secret waters.

Returning, Lu Su told Zhou Yu that Liu Bei and Kongming seemed delighted and had no suspicion, preparing to come out and reward their troops.

Zhou Yu laughed. “So this round, we have trapped him too!”

He ordered Lu Su to report back to his lord and sent Cheng Pu with troops in support.

By now Zhou Yu’s arrow wound had mostly healed and his body was sound. He sent Gan Ning in the vanguard, followed by Xu Sheng and Ding Feng, with Ling Tong and Lü Meng as rear guard. Fifty thousand troops by water and land advanced toward Jing Province.

Zhou Yu sat in his boat and often laughed, certain that Kongming had fallen into the snare.

When the vanguard reached Xiakou, Zhou Yu asked,

“Are there men ahead from Jing meeting us?”

They reported, “General Mi Zhu has come to see the Chief Commander.”

Zhou Yu called him in.

“How goes the inspection of troops?” he asked.

Mi Zhu said, “My lord has made all arrangements.”

Zhou Yu said, “Where is the Imperial Uncle?”

Mi Zhu said, “He is at the gate of Jing, waiting. He means to drink with the Commander.”

Zhou Yu said, “Today is for your household’s matters and for campaigning far away. The rites of reward are not to be done lightly.”

Mi Zhu took these words and returned.

Battle boats packed tightly upon the river, advancing one after another. As they came to Gong’an, not one warship was to be seen and not a man appeared to receive them. Zhou Yu urged the boats forward. Within ten li of Jing, the river lay flat and still.

A scout called back: “On the wall of Jing, two white flags are raised and no man’s shadow is to be seen.”

Zhou Yu suspected trouble. He had his boat pulled close to shore and disembarked himself. Taking Gan Ning, Xu Sheng, and Ding Feng, he led three thousand elite men and their attendants directly toward Jing.

When he arrived beneath the city wall, there was no movement.

Zhou Yu pulled up his horse and ordered a soldier to call at the gate.

The city asked, “Who comes?”

The Wu troops answered, “The Chief Commander of Eastern Wu, Zhou, comes in person.”

Before the reply was done, a clapper rang sharply. The city’s battlements sprang up with spears and blades.

From the gatehouse, Zhao Yun appeared.

“What is the reason for your arrival?” Zhou Yu called.

“Do you not yet know,” Zhao Yun said, “that Kongming has already seen your stratagem of using a false route to destroy Guo and kept Zhao Yun here?”

“My lord has said,” Zhao Yun continued, “that Liu Bei and I are both kinsmen in the Han household. Can we bear such betrayal and still take Xichuan? If your Eastern Wu truly intends to take Shu, I will tear my hair and flee to the hills before all the world, and I will not break my word.”

Hearing this, Zhou Yu reined in and rode back. At that moment a man bearing a command flag came before him, shouting at the horse:

“We have learned that four columns of troops are advancing together to seize you. Guan has come from Jiangling, Zhang Fei from Zigui, Huang Zhong from Gong’an, and Wei Yan from Yiling’s mountain pass. How many troops there are no one can tell. Their shouts are shaking the sound over the hundred li. They all say they come to capture Zhou Yu.”

Mounted there and then, Zhou Yu cried out in one voice. His bow and lance split apart and snapped, and he threw himself from the horse.

The rest is told like this:

A masterful move in chess makes opposition hard to match; all these calculations are now turned to empty wind.

How this turned out will be told in the next chapter.