Records of the Three Kingdoms in Plain Language by Anonymous

Author:Anonymous [Idema, Wilt L.; West, Stephen H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-62466-588-2
Publisher: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc.
Published: 2016-02-19T16:00:00+00:00

Cao Cao’s Great Campaign

But let us turn to the Imperial Uncle, who invited the field marshal and other officers to go to the Xinye yamen for a celebratory banquet and a good time. But someone reported, “Lord Cao is leading a huge army of a million men and a thousand officers and is making his way from afar to Fancheng and Xinye.” This scared the Imperial Uncle so much he was stupefied and he asked the field marshal for his advice. The latter replied, “This is simple to deal with!” He immediately wrote a letter and sent someone off to Jingzhou in the southeast to see Liu Biao and borrow three hundred thousand troops. The letter went out that very night and the answer came at full light of the morning, stating that the Prince of Jing had died and that Jingzhou had established Liu Cong, the second son of the Prince of Jing, as ruler. This news moved the Imperial Uncle to tears.

The following day it was again reported that Cao Cao’s army was approaching. When the Imperial Uncle questioned Zhuge, the field marshal replied, “This is not a place to oppose Cao Cao,” and he invited the Imperial Uncle to flee.

That night in the second watch the officers and troops all fled and proceeded to Jingzhou. Below the city wall they loudly shouted and asked to be admitted into the city. When Liu Cong mounted the wall, he said, “Weep, Imperial Uncle, for my father is dead.” Liu Bei responded, “Why didn’t you inform me?” Kuai Yue stated, “When the Prince of Jing died, Liu Qi rose in rebellion and he was deposed by the second son. And you, Imperial Uncle Xuande, didn’t know?” The Imperial Uncle then said, “Cao Cao is leading a million troops and will arrive below these walls within three days. Dear nephew, please open the gate. As for Cao’s fleet, you have your four generals who will grapple with him at the rapids. I am bringing you the two generals Guan and Zhang, and as for someone who understands the civil arts I bring you my field marshal Zhuge.” But Liu Cong said, “Jingzhou is too narrow and cramped, there’s no space for you here.” And Kuai Yue loudly shouted, “These gates will not be opened!” Xuande [13b] was extremely irritated.

By the next day, they were some forty li from Jingzhou, where Xuande saw a large grove. When he dismounted and asked about it, he was told, “This is the grave of the Prince of Jing.” Xuande offered him food and wine and a plate {82} of fruit in sacrifice, but while he was still bitterly weeping the field marshal informed him, “Cao Cao’s army is near.”

The next day Xuande heard a great commotion behind them and when he asked who these people were a soldier reported, “These are the common people of Fancheng and Xinye who have caught up with you here.” And when Xuande asked, “Why have you come?” one of the group replied, “You, Imperial Uncle, are a man of humanity and virtue.

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