Main Next to Chapter 22 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 22
Chapter 22
Yuan Shao And Cao Cao Both Take The Field；
Guan Yu And Zhang Fei Captures Two Generals。
This was the plan Chen Deng proposed to Liu Bei； 〃Yuan Shao is Cao Cao's terror。 He is strongly posted in an extensive territory of four regions………Jizhou； Qingzhou； Youzhou； and Bingzhou………with one million fighting soldiers and numerous able officers。 Write letters and pray him rescue you。〃
Liu Bei replied； 〃But we have never had any dealings with each other； and he is unlikely to do such a thing for a person who has just destroyed his brother。〃
〃There is someone here whose family have been on intimate terms with the Yuans for a hundred years。 Yuan Shao would surely e； if he wrote。〃
〃And who is this？〃
〃A man you know well and respect greatly。 Can you not guess？〃
〃You surely mean Zheng Xuan；〃 said Liu Bei suddenly。
〃That is he；〃 said Chen Deng smiling。
Now Zheng Xuan was a student and a man of great talent； who had long studied under the famed teacher Ma Rong； whose knowledge of the Book of Odes was universally recognized。 Whenever Ma Rong lectured； he let fall a curtain behind which were a circle of singing girls。 The students were assembled in front of this curtain。 Zheng Xuan attended these lectures for three years and never once let his eyes wander to the curtain。
Naturally the master admired his pupil。 After Zheng Xuan had finished his studies and gone home； Ma Rong praised him to the others； saying； 〃Only one man has penetrated the inner meaning of my instructions； and that one is Zheng Xuan。〃
In Zheng Xuan's household； the waiting maids were familiar with the Book of Odes。 Once one of the maids opposed Zheng Xuan's wishes； so as punishment she was made to kneel in front of the steps。 Another girl made fun of her； quoting from an ode：
〃What are you doing there in the mire？〃
The kneeling girl capped the verse from another ode； quoted she：
〃That was but a simple word I said；
Yet brought it wrath upon my head。〃
Such was the family in which Zheng Xuan had been born。 In the reign of the Emperor Huan； he rose to the rank of Chair of the Secretariat。 But when the Ten Eunuchs began to control the government； he gave up office and retired into the country to Xuzhou。 Liu Bei had known him before； had consulted him on many occasions； and greatly respected him。
Liu Bei was glad that he had remembered this man； and without loss of time； in pany with Chen Deng； he went to Zheng Xuan's house to ask him to draft this letter； which Zheng Xuan generously consented to do。
Sun Qian was entrusted with the task of delivery and set out at once。 Yuan Shao read it and considered the matter long before speaking。
〃Liu Bei destroyed my brother； and I ought not to help him； but out of consideration for the writer of this letter I must。〃
Thereupon Yuan Shao assembled his officers to consider an attack upon Cao Cao。
Adviser Tian Feng said； 〃Do not raise an army。 The people are worn out； and the granaries are empty with these constant wars。 Let us rather report the recent victory of Gongsun Zan to the Throne。 If that does not reach the Emperor； then memorialize that Cao Cao is hindering the government。 Then raise an army； occupy Liyang； assemble a Yellow River fleet in Henan； prepare weapons； send out your various divisions； and within three years you will win all round。〃
Adviser Shen Pei replied； 〃I do not agree。 The military genius of our illustrious lord having overe the hordes of the north； to dispose of Cao Cao is as simple as turning one's hand。 It is not a matter of months。〃
Adviser Ju Shou said； 〃Victory is not always to the many。 Cao Cao's discipline is excellent； his soldiers are brave and well drilled。 He will not sit down quietly waiting to be surrounded as Gongsun Zan did。 Now you abandon the intention to inform the Throne of our success； which I find a good plan； but you intend to send out an army without any valid excuse。 Our lord should not do that。〃
Then followed adviser Guo Tu； saying； 〃You are wrong。 No expedition against Cao Cao can lack excuse。 But if our master would take the chance now offering itself of ing into his own； he will accede to the request in the letter of Zheng Xuan and ally himself with Liu Bei for the destruction of Cao Cao。 This would win the approval of Heaven and the affections of the people； a double blessing。〃
Thus the four advisers differed and wrangled； and Yuan Shao could not decide which to follow。
Then there came two others； Xu You and Xun Shen； and； seeing them； Yuan Shao said； 〃You two have wide experience； how would you decide？〃
The two made their obeisance； and Yuan Shao said； 〃A letter from Zheng Xuan the Chair has arrived； counseling me to support Liu Bei in an attack on Cao Cao。 Now am I to send an army or not send an army？〃
They both cried with one voice； 〃Send！ Your armies are numerous enough and strong enough。 You will destroy a traitor and help the dynasty。〃
〃Your words just express my desire；〃 said Yuan Shao and thenceforward the discussion turned on the expedition。
First； Liu Bei's legate； Sun Qian； was sent back with Yuan Shao's consent and instructions for Liu Bei to make ready to cooperate。 Second； Yuan Shao assigned Shen Pei and Peng Ji as manding Generals； Tian Feng； Xun Shen； and Xu You as Military Advisers； Yan Liang and Wen Chou as Generals。 The army was to be posed of three hundred thousand； horse and foot in equal numbers。 They were to march on Liyang。
When the arrangements were plete； Guo Tu went to his chief； saying； 〃In order to manifest the righteousness of your attack on Cao Cao； it would be well to issue a manifesto with a summary of his various crimes。〃
Yuan Shao approved of this； and Chen Lin； well known as a scholar； was entrusted to pose such a document。 Chen Lin had been the Court Secretary in the reign of the late Emperor Ling。 When Dong Zhuo unseated Regent Marshal He Jin； Chen Lin sought safety in Jizhou。 This is the manifesto：
〃A perspicacious ruler wisely provides against political vicissitudes； a loyal minister carefully foresees the difficulties in the assertion of authority。 Wherefore a person of unusual parts precedes an extraordinary situation； and of such a person the achievements will be extraordinary。 For indeed the ordinary person is quite unequal to an extraordinary situation。
＇e＇ Zhao Gao a court eunuch serving the First Emperor。 Zhao Gao killed the eldest son and supported the second son for the throne after the First Emperor's death （BC 209）。 In the final days of Qin Dynasty； Zhao Gao killed the Second Emperor and placed the First Emperor's grandson on the throne （BC 206）。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Zhou Bo was prime minister of Han Emperor Wen （BC 179…156）。 After Empress Lu died； Zhou Bo cooperated with Chen Ping and Liu Zhan to purge the Lu clan。 Ennobled as Lord of Jiang。 。。。。。
〃In former days； after having gained ascendancy over a weakling emperor of the powerful Qin Dynasty； Prime Minister Zhao Gao* wielded the whole authority of the Throne； overruling the government。 All dignity and fortune came through him； and his contemporaries were restrained so that none dared to speak openly。 Slowly but surely evolved the tragedy of the Wangyi Palace； when the Emperor was slain and the Imperial Tablets perished in the flames。 Zhao Gao； the author of these crimes； has ever since been held up to obloquy as the arch example of an evil doer。
〃In the later days of Empress Lu of the Hans； after the death of the Supreme Ancestor； the world saw Lu Chan and Lu Lu； brothers of the Empress and fellows in wickedness； monopolizing the powers of government。 Within the capital； they manded two armies； and without they ruled the feudal states of Liang and Zhao。 They arbitrarily controlled all state affairs and decided all questions in the council chamber and the court。 This dominance of the base and declension of the noble continued till the hearts of the people grew cold within them。
〃Thereupon Zhou Bo*； Lord of Jiang； and Liu Zhan； Lord of Zhuxu； asserted their dignity and let loose their wrath。 They destroyed the contumacious ministers and restored their ruler to his royal state。 Thus they enabled the kingly way to be reestablished and the glory to be manifested。 Here are two instances where ministers asserted their authority。
〃This Cao Cao； now Minister of Works； forsooth； had for ancestor a certain eunuch named Cao Teng； fitting panion of Xu Huan and Zuo Guan。 All three were prodigies of wickedness and insatiably avaricious and； let loose on the world； they hindered ethical progress and preyed upon the populace。 This Cao Teng begged for and adopted Cao Cao's father who； by wholesale bribery； wagons of gold and cartloads of jewels presented at the gates of the influential； contrived to sneak his way into considerable office where he could subvert authority。 Thus Cao Cao is the depraved bantling of a monstrous excrescence； devoid of all virtue in himself； ferocious and cunning； delighting in disorder and reveling in public calamity。
〃Now I； Yuan Shao； a man of war； have mustered my armies and displayed my might that I may sweep away and destroy the evil opponents of government。 I have already had to deal with Dong Zhuo； the ruffian who invaded the official circle and wrested the government。 At that time I grasped my sword and beat the drums to restore order in the east。 I assembled warriors； selected the best； and took them into my service。 In this matter I came into relations with this Cao Cao and conferred with him to further my scheme。 I gave him mand of a subordinate force and looked to him to render such petty service as he was equal to。 I suffered his stupidities and condoned his shortings； his rash attacks and facile retreats； his losses and shameful defeats； his repeated destruction of whole armies。 Again and again I sent him more troops and filled the gaps in his depleted ranks。 I even addressed a memorial to the Throne for him to be appointed Imperial Protector of Yanzhou。 I made him feel as he were a tiger。 I added to his honors and increased his authority； hoping that eventually he would justify himself by a victory against Dong Zhuo such as Qin used Meng Ming against Jin。
〃But Cao Cao availed himself of the opportunity to overstep all bounds； to give free rein to violence and evil。 He stripped the mon people； outraged the good； and injured the virtuous。 Bian Rang； Governor of Jiujiang； was a man of conspicuous talent and of world…wide reputation。 He was honest in speech and correct in demeanor。 He spoke without flattery。 Cao Cao put him to death and his head was exposed； and his family utterly destroyed。 From that day to this scholars have deeply mourned； and popular resentment has steadily grown。 One person raised his arm in anger； and the whole countryside followed him。 Whereupon Cao Cao was smitten at Xuzhou； and his territory was snatched by Lu Bu。 He fled eastward without shelter or refuge。
〃My policy is a strong trunk and weak branches； a manding central government and obedient feudal lords。 Also I am no partisan。 Therefore I again raised my banners； donned my armor； and moved forward to attack。 My drums rolled for an assault on Lu Bu； and his multitudes incontinently fled。 I saved Cao Cao from destruction and restored him to a position of authority