After Lu Xun of Eastern Wu had routed the Wei soldiers, the Wu king appointed him General Who Aids the State, the Marquis of Jiangling, and the Governor of Jing Province. From then on, all military command was in Lu Xun’s hands. Zhang Zhao and Gu Yong petitioned the Wu king to adopt a new era name. Sun Quan approved, and the year was changed to the first year of Huangwu.

A message from Wei then arrived, and Sun Quan summoned the envoy in.

The envoy reported, “Shu recently sent people to ask for troops from Wei, but Wei was at first unsure how to answer, so it dispatched an army. It now deeply regrets that and intends to send four separate armies to seize Sichuan. Eastern Wu should come to assist. If Sichuan falls, each side will divide the territory in half.”

Hearing this, Sun Quan could not decide. He asked Zhang Zhao, Gu Yong, and the others. “Lu Boyan sees clearly and has very fine judgment,” Zhang Zhao said. “You can ask him.”

Sun Quan immediately summoned Lu Xun.

When Lu Xun arrived, he submitted, “Cao Pi is established in the Central Plains, and this is no time for loose planning. If we refuse, there will surely be enmity. I judge that neither Wei nor Wu has an opponent of Zhuge Liang’s caliber. For now, agree outwardly. Muster the army and prepare; meanwhile, explore how the four Wei advances are going. If the four armies win, Sichuan will be in danger and Zhuge Liang will not be able to come to relief in time. In that case, Your Majesty should send an expedition to respond, first taking Chengdu. That is the superior strategy. If the four armies lose, we should deliberate separately.”

Sun Quan agreed and told the Wei envoy, “Our army has not yet completed its preparations, but on an auspicious day we will depart at once.”

The envoy bowed and left.

Soon Sun Quan heard that the western barbarian troops had moved out of Xipin Pass and, on seeing Ma Chao, withdrew without fighting. In the south, Meng Huo raised troops and marched on four counties, but each was repelled by Wei Yan’s feint tactics and forced to retreat into caves. The Meng Da troops from Shangyong were halfway on the road when they suddenly fell ill and could not move. Cao Zhen’s force moved out through Yangping Pass, and Zhao Zilong held every difficult pass. As expected, one good commander at a narrow way could not be broken by ten thousand men. Cao Zhen camped on the route through Xia Valley, could not force victory, and withdrew.

When Sun Quan received this news, he said to the ministers and generals, “Lu Boyan is indeed a true mathematician of strategy. If I were to act rashly, I would again make enemies in Western Shu.”

At that moment came news that Western Shu had sent Deng Zhi.

Zhang Zhao said, “This is another design of Zhuge Liang to check the army and it has sent Deng Zhi as envoy.”

“Then how should we answer him?” asked Sun Quan.

“First, have a great cauldron prepared in the hall, and fill it with hundreds of jin of oil,” said Zhang Zhao. “Then heat it with charcoal. When the oil is boiling, choose a thousand tall, broad-faced warriors and have each carry a blade. Line them from the palace gate directly up to the hall, and summon Deng Zhi to appear. Before he can begin speech-making, rebuke him with the old Qi precedent of Li’s talk and execute him in this manner. Then we can see how he answers.”

Sun Quan accepted the suggestion and had the oil cauldron installed. He ordered the warriors to stand on both sides, blades in hand, and then summoned Deng Zhi.

Deng entered in full ceremonial dress. As he approached the palace gate, he saw two rows of armed men, stern in their bearing, each holding steel blades, great axes, long swords, and short halberds, all drawn up to the hall front.

He understood their intent and showed not a trace of fear; he advanced upright and proud. At the hall front, he again saw the cauldron of boiling oil. The warriors on both sides watched him with their eyes fixed there. Deng Zhi merely smiled faintly.

A near minister brought him near the curtain. Deng Zhi made a full respectful bow but did not kneel.

Sun Quan ordered the pearl curtain pulled up and roared, “Why do you not kneel?”

Deng replied with lifted chin, “Envoy from the Upper Country does not kneel before the lord of a minor state.”

Sun Quan snapped, “Do you think you can evade and prattle like Li’s ‘talking down Qi’ with your three-inch tongue? Go at once into the oil cauldron!”

Deng laughed aloud. “Everyone says Eastern Wu has many worthy men. Who would have thought anyone fears a scholar?”

Sun Quan turned with anger. “Do you suppose I fear a single common soldier like you?”

Deng said, “If you are not frightened by the old Deng Boyao, what is there to fear in what they have come to tell you?”

Sun Quan asked, “You have come to serve as Zhuge Liang’s spokesman to speak with me, have you not?”

Deng answered, “I am a small scholar from Shu, and I have come for the welfare of Wu. You set troops in place and the boiling cauldron to meet one envoy. How narrow is your mind, that it cannot contain another man?”

At those words Sun Quan was abashed. He shouted off the armed men, summoned Deng into the hall, offered him a seat, and asked,

“Tell me the advantages and dangers between Wu and Wei. Instruct me, Master.”

Deng said, “Does Your Majesty seek peace with Shu, or with Wei?”

“Your Majesty knows my heart,” said Sun Quan. “I want peace with the lord of Shu, but I fear Shu’s ruler is young and shallow and cannot keep faith from start to finish.”

Deng said, “You are one of the heroic men chosen by Heaven, and Zhuge Liang is also one of the outstanding worthies of this age. Shu has terrain strong with mountains and rivers; Wu has the triple river defenses. If the two states stay in close alliance and become as jaw and molars together, then advancing together one might absorb the world, and retreating together one might stand on three supports. If Your Majesty now submits and declares yourself a vassal to Wei, Wei will certainly call Your Majesty to court and demand a crown prince to serve as inner attendant. If this is refused, it will raise troops and attack. Shu will then advance with the current in support. Then the lands south of the Yangtze will no longer be yours. If Your Majesty rejects my counsel, as you say, this humble man will die before you here and thereby end the business of a would-be spokesman.”

When he had finished, he loosened his robe and stepped down from the hall, and would have leapt straight into the cauldron.

Sun Quan urgently ordered the men to stop him and invited him into a rear hall, where he treated him with guest-hospitality.

“Your words are exactly what I wished to hear,” Sun Quan said. “I now want to make a lasting peace with the lord of Shu. Will you introduce us?”

Deng said, “He who just now sought to cook a servant was Your Majesty. He who now would employ this servant is also Your Majesty. If Your Majesty remains doubtful, how can others trust you?”

Sun Quan said, “My will is fixed now. Do not doubt, Master.”

So Sun Quan kept Deng and summoned many officials. He said, “I command the eighty-one prefectures of Jiangnan and also the lands of Jing and Chu, yet this does not even compare to the remote reaches of Western Shu. Shu has Deng Zhi and he does not disgrace his lord. Wu has no one who can enter Shu and express my intentions.”

A man stepped forward and offered, “I will serve as envoy.”

All eyes turned to him. He was Zhang Wen of Wu Commandery, surname Zhang, given name Wen, courtesy name Huishu, presently the Colonel of the Zhonglang rank.

Sun Quan said, “I fear that if you go to Shu and see Zhuge Liang, you may fail to convey my intent.”

Zhang Wen answered, “Kongming is only a man, and why should I fear him?”

Sun Quan rejoiced and rewarded Zhang Wen richly, sending him with Deng Zhi to open relations with Shu.

Not long after Deng Zhi left, Zhuge Liang reported to the Later Lord,

“Once Deng Zhi is in his post, this task will certainly succeed,” he said. “Many capable men reside in Wu; surely someone has come to answer our gift. Your Majesty should treat them with courtesy and send him back so that our alliance may be restored. If Wu and Shu settle into peace, Wei will not dare to send troops against Shu. When Wu and Wei are both stable, I can campaign in the south, pacify the southern barbarians, and only then move against Wei. Once Wei is weakened, Eastern Wu cannot survive long by itself. Then the foundation for unity may be restored.”

The Later Lord assented.

Soon news arrived that Eastern Wu had sent Zhang Wen and Deng Zhi into Shu to return the courtesy visit. Liu Shan gathered the civil and military officers at the vermilion terrace and summoned Deng Zhi and Zhang Wen in.

Feeling he had found his opportunity, Zhang Wen ascended with head held high and performed a formal bow before Liu Shan.

The Later Lord granted him a brocade seat and placed him on the left of the hall and held a palace banquet for them.

Liu Shan was formal and courteous, but not overly familiar. After the banquet, all officials escorted Zhang Wen to his lodging.

The next day, Zhuge Liang held a banquet in his honor. He said to Zhang Wen,

“When our former ruler lived, Shu and Wu were not on good terms. He has now passed away. The present lord longs for the Wu king, and wishes to abandon old enmity and forge lasting alliance, and together break Wei. I hope Your Excellency will carry this back in your words.”

Zhang Wen acknowledged.

When the wine reached the middle of the cup, Zhang Wen still smiled cheerfully and seemed faintly proud.

The following day, the Later Lord gave Zhang Wen gold and silk and held another banquet at the pavilion south of the city, sending all officials to escort him.

Zhuge Liang earnestly urged him to drink more.

In the midst of drinking, a man staggered in on wine and entered with a lofty bow, then sat himself at the table.

Zhang Wen looked puzzled and asked Zhuge Liang, “Who is this man?”

Zhuge Liang replied, “His surname is Qin, name Mi, courtesy name Zilai; he is now a Yizhou Scholar.”

Zhang Wen smiled. “A ‘scholar’ by that name, and I do not know what books he may have studied.”

Qin Mi said sternly, “In Shu, children of three feet of height all still go to school. What of me should be unknown?”

Zhang Wen said, “Then Master, what have you studied?”

Qin Mi replied, “From Heaven and astronomy down to earth sciences, the Three Teachings and the Nine Disciplines, the various masters, and the hundred schools: all have I seen. The rise and fall of ages, the classics of sages and worthies, all have I read.”

Zhang Wen smiled. “Since you speak so grandly, answer me one thing. Does Heaven have a head?”

Qin Mi said, “It has one.”

“Where is the head?”

“It is in the west,” said Qin Mi. “The Book of Songs says, ‘There behold the westward face.’ Inference confirms the head is in the west.”

“Does Heaven have ears?”

“Yes.”

“Where is this evidence?”

“‘The cranes cry in the reeds at nine mounds, and their sound is heard in Heaven,’ says the Book of Songs. How could there be hearing without ears?”

“Does Heaven have feet?”

“It has feet.”

“‘Heaven walks with difficulty,’ says the Book of Songs. How could one walk without feet?”

“Does Heaven have a surname?”

“How could it have none?”

“Which surname?”

“It is Liu.”

“And how do you know?”

“The Son of Heaven’s surname is Liu, and so I know.”

Zhang Wen asked, “Does the sun rise in the east?”

Qin Mi replied, “It rises in the east, yet it sets in the west.”

By now Qin Mi’s answers were clear and flowing, and all seated were astonished. Zhang Wen had no answer.

Qin Mi then said,

“Master Zhang, since you have already raised such matters of Heaven, you must understand Heaven’s principles clearly. In the beginning, chaos was divided; yin and yang were separated. What is light and clear rose up as Heaven; what was heavy and turbid sank and condensed as Earth. Then, when Genggong was defeated, his head struck Mount Buzhou, the columns of Heaven broke, and the ties of Earth were torn. Heaven tilted northwest and Earth sank southeast. If Heaven is only light and clear, why did it tilt northwest? Apart from such light and clear, what else is there? Please teach me.”

Zhang Wen had nothing with which to answer. He withdrew from his seat and left, bowing to apologize.

All his eyes were widened. He said, “I had not expected Shu to produce such prodigies! I only thought, from this learned exchange, that the blockage in my understanding had suddenly cleared.”

Zhuge Liang, fearing Zhang Wen’s humiliation, explained, “The challenge at the table was but playful exchange. You know the ways of stabilizing a state and securing peace. What use is this sparring over lips and teeth?”

Zhang Wen acknowledged.

Zhuge Liang then ordered Deng Zhi to return to Wu with his courtesy gifts and to travel with Zhang Wen.

The two paid homage to Zhuge Liang and departed for Eastern Wu.

When Sun Quan heard that Zhang Wen had gone to Shu and had not yet returned, he gathered ministers and generals to deliberate. A courtier reported, “Shu has sent Deng Zhi together with Zhang Wen to return our courtesy visit.”

Sun Quan had him admitted.

Zhang Wen bowed before the hall and extolled Liu Shan and Zhuge Liang’s virtue. He said he wished for enduring alliance and that he had been sent by the Chief Minister for that purpose. Sun Quan rejoiced and gave him a banquet.

Sun Quan asked Deng Zhi, “If Wu and Shu unite and destroy Wei, and in time win all under heaven with peace, and each lord governs in two realms, would that not be joy?”

Deng said, quoting, “There are no two suns, and no two kings for one people. If Wei is destroyed, we still do not know by what Heaven will assign its charge. The one who governs must each cultivate his virtue; the one who serves must each keep his loyalty. Then only can war subside.”

Sun Quan laughed. “So this is your sincerity?”

He then rewarded Deng handsomely and sent him back to Shu. From then on, Wu and Shu were at peace.

A Wei undercover scout learned this and quickly carried the word to the capital. Cao Pi heard it and shouted in rage, “If Wu and Shu are now allied, they surely intend designs on the Central Plains. Better that I attack first.”

So he gathered ministers and discussed marching an army against Wu.

At this point, Grand Commandant Cao Ren and Grand Commandant Jia Xu were already dead.

Xin Pi stepped forward in court and said, “The plains of Zhongyuan are wide and thinly populated, and to send troops there has no clear advantage. The present plan should be to raise troops and settle into field agriculture for ten years, enough to supply men and grain, and only then use the army. Only then could Wu and Shu be broken.”

Cao Pi said angrily, “This is the argument of a backward Confucian pedant! Wu and Shu are now allied and will surely cross into our territory sooner or later. Where is the time to wait ten years?”

He issued the order to raise troops against Wu.

Sima Yi reported, “Wu has the hazard of the Yangtze; it cannot be crossed except by ship. Your Majesty should ride with the army in person. Choose small and large warships from Caizhong and Ying, enter through Huai, take Shouchun, then Guangling, cross at the estuary, and go straight to Nanxu. This is the superior strategy.”

Cao Pi adopted it. He had ten dragon boats built, each more than twenty zhang long and capable of holding over two thousand people, and prepared more than three thousand warships.

That autumn, in the fifth year of Huangchu, in the eighth month, he assembled all troops and ordered Cao Zhen to lead the vanguard, with Zhang Liao, Zhang He, Wen Ping, and Xu Huang as senior generals to advance first; Xu Chu and Lü Qian to protect the center; Cao Xiu to guard the rear; and Liu Ye and Jiang Ji as advisers. In total the land-and-water host numbered more than three hundred thousand cavalry and infantry.

At the next selected day they marched. He made Sima Yi the Prefect of the Masters of Writing and left him in Xuchang. All major state affairs were to be decided by Sima Yi.

The Wei army’s departure was not narrated. Yet Eastern Wu spies had learned of it and reported in:

“Now the Wei king Cao Pi himself rides the dragon boats, bringing both water and land forces of over three hundred thousand. From Cai and Ying he goes out through Huai, surely will take Guangling, cross the river mouth, and come down to Jiangnan. It is very dangerous.”

Sun Quan was alarmed and again gathered many civil and military officers.

Gu Yong said, “Since our lord has allied with Western Shu, write to Zhuge Kongming and have him raise troops out of Hanzhong to divide their strength. At the same time send one great commander and station troops at Nanxu to resist.”

Sun Quan replied, “No one but Lu Boyan can bear this heavy task.”

Gu Yong said, “Lu Boyan is holding Jing Province; he should not be moved lightly.”

Sun Quan said, “I do not deny that. But now there is no one to replace him.”

Before he finished, another spoke at once from the crowd: “Though unworthy, I am willing to lead an army against the Wei host. If Cao Pi himself crosses the Great River, I will capture him alive and offer him to Your Majesty. If he does not cross, I will still kill most of the Wei army and keep them from facing Wu directly.”

Sun Quan saw that it was Xu Sheng.

Sun Quan rejoiced: “If I have you hold this southern stretch of Jiangnan, what need then have I to fear?”

He thereby made Xu Sheng the General Who Guards the East, and ordered him to command the combined armies at Jianye and Nanxu. Xu Sheng thanked him, accepted the command, and withdrew. He then ordered all officers to prepare many weapons and raise many banners as part of the riverbank defense.

Again someone stepped out and said,

“Your Majesty has entrusted this heavy duty to this general and asked him to break the Wei army and capture Cao Pi. Why does he not advance early with cavalry and cross the river to meet the enemy at once at the land of Huainan? If he waits until Cao Pi’s soldiers arrive, it may be too late.”

Xu Sheng saw him and said, “That is my brother-in-law’s son, Sun Shao.”

Sun Shao, courtesy name Gongli, was a General Who Exalts Valor. He had once defended Guangling and though young was strong of spirit and extraordinarily brave.

Xu Sheng said, “Cao Pi’s force is vast, and he has renowned generals as his vanguard. It is not fit to cross the river and meet him there. If we let him gather all his ships on the north bank, I shall have a method to break them.”

Sun Shao replied, “I myself have three thousand horse and men under me, and I know Guangling roads and waters well. I wish to go north of the river and fight Cao Pi to death. If I fail, I shall accept the army’s judgment.”

Xu Sheng refused, but Sun Shao would not relent.

He repeated his request. Xu Sheng, angry, said, “If you defy commands this way, how can I control the other generals?” He shouted and ordered soldiers to remove Sun Shao.

Executioners seized Sun Shao and pulled him out beyond the gate, where he raised a black flag. One of his subordinates rode to report to Sun Quan.

When Sun Quan heard it he mounted at once and came to rescue him.

The executioners were just about to carry out the sentence when Sun Quan arrived. He shouted and dispersed them, saving Sun Shao. Sun Shao wept and presented himself: “In earlier years in Guangling I came to know the terrain deeply. If I had not gone there and fought Cao Pi, and instead waited until he had gone across the Yangtze, our doom would be near immediate for Eastern Wu.”

Sun Quan went straight into the camp. Xu Sheng welcomed him into his tent and reported,

“Your Majesty assigned me as chief commander to take up arms and resist Wei. Now this General Gongli has disobeyed the military law and should have been executed. Why has Your Majesty pardoned him?”

Sun Quan said, “His youth and fierceness gave him bloodshot courage, and he violated military law. I will allow him leniency.”

Xu Sheng said, “The law was not made by me. It is not made by Your Majesty alone. It is the statute of the state. If we spare one due to kinship, how can we govern the rest?”

Sun Quan replied, “He indeed broke the law and should be punished by this commander. Yet he was born of the Yu clan, and my elder brother loved him and bestowed on him the surname Sun; he has done me some service. If I kill him, I betray my brother’s favor.”

Xu Sheng said, “Still, look upon Your Majesty’s face and see the weight of this capital crime.”

Sun Quan ordered Sun Shao to apologize.

Sun Shao refused to kneel and shouted, “From what I see, one should simply lead troops and crush Cao Pi! If I die, I will not submit to your understanding!”

Xu Sheng’s color changed.

Sun Quan sent Sun Shao away and said to Xu Sheng, “If we remove this man, how much does it cost Wu? There is no need to use him again. Never let him be used.” He then returned.

That same night men reported to Xu Sheng that Sun Shao had quietly taken three thousand elite troops from his own unit and crossed the river in secret.

Fearing it would reflect badly before the king, Xu Sheng secretly told Ding Feng of his design, and ordered three thousand troops to cross the river in support.

Wei’s king rode the dragon boats to Guangling. In advance, Cao Zhen already had troops lined at the bank of the Great River.

Cao Pi asked, “How many of them on the far bank?”

Cao Zhen said, “From afar I can see no one on the opposite bank and no banners or camps.”

Cao Pi said, “This must be a ruse. I will go and inspect directly.”

He opened the river passage wide and sent his dragon boats straight to the Great River bank.

On ship stood banners of dragon, phoenix, sun, and moon in five colors. Courtly regalia surrounded him and flashed with fierce brilliance. Cao Pi sat upright in the boat and looked toward the south bank, where he saw no figure. He turned back to Liu Ye and Jiang Ji:

“Can we cross now?”

Liu Ye said, “In war, one must both hide and reveal. How could a large army arrive and leave itself unprepared? Your Majesty should not rush. In three or five days we can see their movements; then dispatch the vanguard to cross and scout.”

Cao Pi said, “You speak as I intended.”

That day the sky grew dark at dusk, and they camped on the river.

That night the moon was absent. The soldiers lit torches all around, so bright that the heavens and earth seemed day.

Looking toward the south bank, not a single glimmer of fire could be seen. Cao Pi asked those around him, “Why is this?”

A courtier said, “It is no doubt because they know Your Majesty’s army has arrived and have fled at the first alarm.”

Cao Pi laughed inwardly.

At dawn thick fog covered all. The opposite bank was invisible. Then wind rose and the mist thinned as the clouds parted. The south bank came into view. It was now a line of fortifications for miles on end; from city gate towers to military towers, spears and swords flashed in the light, and banners and flags were hung across every span.

Repeatedly messengers came reporting: “Along Nanxu beside the Yangtze, all the way to Stone City, there stretches for hundreds of li a continuous chain of city walls and towers. In one night carts and people have filled them without gap.”

Cao Pi was startled. What had happened was this: Xu Sheng had bound reeds into the shape of men, all wearing blue robes, carrying flags, and placing them upon false towers and decoy battlements.

When Wei soldiers saw so many men and horses above the walls, they could not but fear. Cao Pi sighed, “Though Wei has ten thousand warriors, there is no way to apply them. The people of Jiangnan are not to be underestimated.”

Even as he marveled, a violent wind rose at once. White waves lashed high; river spray soaked the dragon robes. Great vessels threatened to capsize. Cao Zhen hurriedly ordered Wen Ping to take a light boat and rush to rescue the command.

Men on the dragon boat could not stand steady.

Wen Ping leapt onto the dragon boat, shouldered Cao Pi down to a small craft, and ran into the river harbor. At that moment a messenger galloped in: “Zhao Yun has moved his forces out of Yangping Pass and is taking Chang’an directly.”

Cao Pi was amazed and terrified and gave orders to withdraw.

Troops scattered each on their own.

Behind them came Wu forces.

Cao Pi issued orders to abandon all court goods and retreat. As the dragon boats neared Huai, reeds in the river had beforehand been soaked in fish oil and set alight.

With wind at their backs the flames ran fierce and fast, and the fire rose across the water, cutting off the dragon craft.

Cao Pi, alarmed, jumped into a small boat. As he neared the shore, the dragon ship had already caught fire.

He quickly mounted in haste. On the bank a mass of enemy came; at its head stood Ding Feng.

Zhang Liao pounded in hard on horseback to come to him, but Ding Feng shot an arrow into his waist. Xu Huang rescued him and together they carried the Wei king away.

The army was broken in untold numbers. Behind, Sun Shao and Ding Feng seized horses, military transports, ships, and equipment beyond count.

The Wei army was badly defeated and withdrew. Xu Sheng gained complete merit and all honor from Wu. Sun Quan bestowed high rewards.

When Zhang Liao returned to Xuchang, the arrow wound split open and he died. Cao Pi buried him with great ceremony; further details are omitted.

After Zhao Yun had led troops to break out and kill through Yangping Pass, there suddenly came a memorial to the Chancellor: a prominent Yizhou elder, Yong Kai, had joined hands with the barbarian king Meng Huo, raised one hundred thousand of the southern tribes, and raided four counties. Therefore the Chancellor ordered Zhao Yun to withdraw his forces and Ma Chao to hold Yangping Pass firmly. The Chancellor wished to campaign south in person.

Zhao Yun gathered the army at speed and returned.

At this time Zhuge Liang in Chengdu was drilling troops and prepared to march south himself.

It was then that:

If one sees Eastern Wu oppose Wei to the north, and Shu in the west fighting the southern barbarians, Who can tell who will win and who will lose?

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