The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation by Luo Guanzhong Page A
Authors: Luo Guanzhong
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him. Then we will wait and see the result of their battle and attack whoever emerges the weaker. And if we can destroy either of the two, the other will perish before very long.”
Cao Cao was very pleased with the advice. He called in the messenger from Wu. When the box was presented to him he opened it and looked into the face of the dead general. The features had not changed and the face looked exactly the same as of old. Cao Cao smiled.
“I hope you have been well since our last meeting, Yun-chang,” said Cao Cao.
To his horror, Guan Yu’s mouth opened, his eyes rolled, and his long beard and hair moved. Cao Cao collapsed to the ground in a swoon.
His officials rushed to his rescue, but it was a long time before he recovered consciousness.
“General Guan is indeed more than human,” he said.
The messenger from Wu then told him how Lu Meng had been possessed and killed by Guan Yu’s spirit, and how he fell to cursing and reviling his master, Sun Quan.
After hearing this story Cao Cao, even more horrified, prepared sacrifices to offer to the spirit of the dead warrior. An effigy was carved out of eaglewood and buried outside the south gate, with all the rites of a prince. Officials of all levels were ordered to take part in the funeral procession and Cao Cao himself bowed before the coffin and poured a libation. He also conferred on the dead warrior the posthumous title of “Prince of Jing,” and appointed wardens to look after the tomb. The messenger was sent back to Wu.
The sad tidings, however, had not yet reached the land of Shu. At that time Liu Bei was in his capital, Chengdu. One day Fa Zheng went in to see him with a petition: “Your Highness, your consort has passed away and Lady Sun has returned to her maiden home, perhaps never to come back. The correct conduct of human relations should not be set at nought. Therefore a second consort should be sought, so that all affairs may be appropriately handled within the palace.”
As Liu Bei voiced no objection, Fa Zheng continued: “There is the sister of Wu Yi, comely and virtuous, and declared by a prophet as destined to high honor. She was betrothed to Liu Mao, son of Liu Yan, but he died in youth, and she has remained unmarried. Your Highness can take her as your consort.”
“But Liu Mao and I are of the same house. This marriage will be against propriety.”
“Well, there is a precedent in history. The case is similar to the marriage of Duke Wen of Jin and Huai Ying.” *
Upon this Liu Bei gave his consent and wedded the lady, who later bore him two sons, the elder of whom was named Yong and the younger Li.
Meanwhile, the whole land of Shu was prospering, the people enjoying peace and the state becoming affluent. The crops were doing well and the fields yielded bountiful harvests. Just as everything looked perfect there suddenly came someone from Jingzhou with the news of Guan Yu’s angry rejection of Sun Quan’s marriage proposal.
“Jingzhou will be in danger!” said Zhuge Liang. “We must send someone to replace Guan Yu.”
But this alarming news was followed by a series of happy tidings from Jingzhou of the victories Guan Yu had won in battle. Then Guan Xing came to see his uncle and reported his father’s great success in destroying Cao Cao’s seven forces by drowning. Some time later scouts brought yet another piece of good news, which said that Guan Yu had installed beacon towers along the riverbank and had taken every precaution against Wu. Thus Liu Bei’s anxiety ceased.
But evil tidings were on the way. One day Liu Bei was strangely disturbed. He was restless either in walking or sitting and he felt a creepiness of the skin that seemed to portend evil. By night, finding himself unable to sleep, he rose to read by candlelight when drowsiness overcame him and he fell asleep by the table. A cold gust of wind suddenly swept across the chamber, putting out the candle flame. When it brightened again he glanced up and saw a
Cao Cao was very pleased with the advice. He called in the messenger from Wu. When the box was presented to him he opened it and looked into the face of the dead general. The features had not changed and the face looked exactly the same as of old. Cao Cao smiled.
“I hope you have been well since our last meeting, Yun-chang,” said Cao Cao.
To his horror, Guan Yu’s mouth opened, his eyes rolled, and his long beard and hair moved. Cao Cao collapsed to the ground in a swoon.
His officials rushed to his rescue, but it was a long time before he recovered consciousness.
“General Guan is indeed more than human,” he said.
The messenger from Wu then told him how Lu Meng had been possessed and killed by Guan Yu’s spirit, and how he fell to cursing and reviling his master, Sun Quan.
After hearing this story Cao Cao, even more horrified, prepared sacrifices to offer to the spirit of the dead warrior. An effigy was carved out of eaglewood and buried outside the south gate, with all the rites of a prince. Officials of all levels were ordered to take part in the funeral procession and Cao Cao himself bowed before the coffin and poured a libation. He also conferred on the dead warrior the posthumous title of “Prince of Jing,” and appointed wardens to look after the tomb. The messenger was sent back to Wu.
The sad tidings, however, had not yet reached the land of Shu. At that time Liu Bei was in his capital, Chengdu. One day Fa Zheng went in to see him with a petition: “Your Highness, your consort has passed away and Lady Sun has returned to her maiden home, perhaps never to come back. The correct conduct of human relations should not be set at nought. Therefore a second consort should be sought, so that all affairs may be appropriately handled within the palace.”
As Liu Bei voiced no objection, Fa Zheng continued: “There is the sister of Wu Yi, comely and virtuous, and declared by a prophet as destined to high honor. She was betrothed to Liu Mao, son of Liu Yan, but he died in youth, and she has remained unmarried. Your Highness can take her as your consort.”
“But Liu Mao and I are of the same house. This marriage will be against propriety.”
“Well, there is a precedent in history. The case is similar to the marriage of Duke Wen of Jin and Huai Ying.” *
Upon this Liu Bei gave his consent and wedded the lady, who later bore him two sons, the elder of whom was named Yong and the younger Li.
Meanwhile, the whole land of Shu was prospering, the people enjoying peace and the state becoming affluent. The crops were doing well and the fields yielded bountiful harvests. Just as everything looked perfect there suddenly came someone from Jingzhou with the news of Guan Yu’s angry rejection of Sun Quan’s marriage proposal.
“Jingzhou will be in danger!” said Zhuge Liang. “We must send someone to replace Guan Yu.”
But this alarming news was followed by a series of happy tidings from Jingzhou of the victories Guan Yu had won in battle. Then Guan Xing came to see his uncle and reported his father’s great success in destroying Cao Cao’s seven forces by drowning. Some time later scouts brought yet another piece of good news, which said that Guan Yu had installed beacon towers along the riverbank and had taken every precaution against Wu. Thus Liu Bei’s anxiety ceased.
But evil tidings were on the way. One day Liu Bei was strangely disturbed. He was restless either in walking or sitting and he felt a creepiness of the skin that seemed to portend evil. By night, finding himself unable to sleep, he rose to read by candlelight when drowsiness overcame him and he fell asleep by the table. A cold gust of wind suddenly swept across the chamber, putting out the candle flame. When it brightened again he glanced up and saw a
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