Xu Huang Fights At The River Mian;
Guan Yu Retreats To Maicheng.

The fall of Jingzhou put Mi Fang in a quandary. Before he could decide upon any course, his old colleague Fu Shiren came to see him. Fu Shiren was admitted, and when asked why he had come, he blurted out his business without beating about the bush.

"I am faithful enough, but I got into difficulties and danger and could not hold on, so I have surrendered to Wu. And I advise you to do the same."

"You and I have both fed on the bounty of the Prince of Hanzhong, and I cannot understand how you can turn against him."

"Guan Yu went away hating both of us intensely. Even if he comes back victorious, I do not think he will forgive us. Just think it over."

"My brother and I have followed the Prince these many years, and I do not like leaving him like this."

Mi Fang hesitated.

Before he could make up his mind, there came a messenger, saying, "The army in Fancheng is short of grain, and I was sent to demand white rice for the soldiers. Nanjun and Gongan are to send ten thousand carts at once. Delay will be most severely punished."

This sudden demand was a shock to Mi Fang.

"Where am I to get the rice?" said he despairingly to his friend and tempter. "Jingzhou is now in the hands of Wu."

"Do not dilly-dally," said Fu Shiren. Thereupon he drew his sword and slew the messenger as he stood in the hall.

"What have you done?" cried Mi Fang.

"Guan Yu wanted to slay us two and has forced me to this. Are we to fold our hands and await death? Either you give in at once and go over to Wu, or you will be put to death by Guan Yu."

Just then they heard that Lu Meng's troops had actually reached the city wall. Mi Fang saw that nothing could save his life but desertion, so he went out with Fu Shiren and gave in his allegiance to Lu Meng, by whom he was led to Sun Quan. Sun Quan gave both of them presents, after which he proceeded to restore order and to reward his army for their services.

At the time that great discussion about Jingzhou was going on in Xuchang, a messenger arrived with a letter from Sun Quan. It told the plan of attacking Jingzhou and begged Cao Cao to send an army to attack Guan Yu in the rear, enjoining the utmost secrecy.

Cao Cao summoned his advisers to a meeting for consultation.

First Secretary Dong Zhao said, "Now that Fancheng is surrounded, it would be well to shoot letter into the city to let the besieged know, so that they may not yield to depression. Then we will inform Guan Yu of the danger from the south. If Guan Yu hears that Jingzhou is threatened by Wu, he will come back to try to defend it. Then let Xu Huang take the chance to attack, and our victory will be complete."

Cao Cao agreed that the plan was good, and so he sent a messenger to urge Xu Huang to attack. Cao Cao himself led a large force to Yangling Slope, south of Luoyang, to rescue Cao Ren.

Xu Huang was sitting in his tent when they told him that a messenger from the Prince of Wei had arrived.

The messenger was called in and said, "The Prince has led an army to Luoyang, and he wishes you to hasten to attack Guan Yu in order to relieve Fancheng."

Just then the scouts came to report: "Guan Ping has encamped at Yencheng and Liao Hua at Sizhong. The enemy have built a line of twelve stockades."

Xu Huang ordered two of his generals---Lu Qian and Xu Shang---to Yencheng to masquerade as if he himself was in command, by showing his ensigns. Xu Huang himself, at the head of five hundred veterans, went along River Mian to attack Yencheng in the rear.

When Guan Ping heard of the approach of Xu Huang, he prepared his own division to meet him. When both sides were arrayed, Guan Ping rode out and engaged Xu Shang. After three encounters Xu Shang had the worst of it and fled. Then the other general, Lu Qian, went out. He fought half a dozen bouts and also ran away. Thereupon Guan Ping went in pursuit and smote the flying enemy for seven miles. But then there was an alarm of fire within Yencheng, and Guan Ping knew that he had been inveigled into the pursuit and was a victim. So he turned and set out for the city again. On his way he met a body of troops, and standing under the great standard was Xu Huang.

Xu Huang shouted out, "Guan Ping, my worthy nephew, it is strange that you do not recognize death when it stares you in the face. Your Jingzhou has fallen into the hands of Wu, and yet you act so madly."

Guan Ping, whirling his sword, just rode hard at Xu Huang, and they engaged. But after the third bout there was a tremendous shouting among the soldiers, for the flames within the city burst up higher than before. Guan Ping could not follow up his desire to continue the fight, but cut his way out and made a dash for Sizhong, where Liao Hua received him with the news of the disaster to Jingzhou.

"People say that Jingzhou has fallen to Lu Meng, and the news has frightened the whole army. What is to be done?" said Liao Hua.

"It is only a malicious rumor. Do not let it spread. If anyone repeats it, put him to death."

Just then a man came running in to say that Xu Huang was attacking the first stockade on the north.

"If that goes," said Guan Ping, "the remainder will follow. But as we have River Mian at our back, they will not dare attack this. Let us go to the rescue."

So Liao Hua summoned his subordinate leaders and gave them orders to hold the camp and make a signal if the enemy came.

"There is no danger here," said they. "The camp is defended by a tenfold line of thorny barriers. Even a bird could not get in."

Guan Ping and Liao Hua mustered all the veterans they had and went away to the first stockade.

Seeing the Wei soldiers camped on a low hill, Guan Ping said to his colleague, "Those soldiers are stationed in an unsafe place. Let us raid their camp tonight."

"You take half the force, General, and I will remain to keep the camp," said Liao Hua.

When night fell, the attacking force went out. But on reaching the camp not a man opposed them. The camp was empty. Then Guan Ping knew he had been deceived, and turned to retreat. He was at once attacked on two sides by Xu Shang and Lu Qian from left and right. Unable to stand, his troops ran for the camp. The soldiers of Wei followed, and presently the camp was surrounded. They were compelled to abandon the position and set off for Sizhong. As they drew near they saw torches, and presently knew by the ensigns displayed that the camp had also fallen to the enemy. Retiring, they hastened along the high road toward Fancheng, but presently their way was barred by a force under Xu Huang himself. By dint of hard fighting they got away and returned to their main camp, and Guan Ping went to his father.

Said he, "Xu Huang has got possession of Yencheng. Cao Cao's main army is on the way in three divisions. And many say that Jingzhou is in the enemy's hands."

Guan Yu bade him be silent.

"This is a fabrication of the enemy," said Guan Yu, "but it may dishearten the soldiers. We know Lu Meng is ill, and they have appointed that impractical fellow Lu Xun to succeed him at Lukou. There is nothing to fear."

Then news came that Xu Huang had arrived. At once Guan Yu bade them saddle his charger.

"Father, you are not strong enough to go into the battle," said Guan Ping.

"Xu Huang and I were once friends, and I know what he can do and not do. I will give him the chance to retire. If he does not take it, then I shall just slay him as a warning to the others."

Mounting his charger, Guan Yu rode out as impetuously as of yore, and the sight of the old warrior made to quake the hearts of the troops of Wei.

When he came close enough to his enemy, Guan Yu checked his steed and said, "Where is my friend Xu Huang?"

As a reply, the gate of the battle opened, and Xu Huang appeared under the standard.

With a low bow Xu Huang said, "Some years have passed since I met you, Most Excellent Marquis, but I had not expected to see you so gray. I have not forgotten the old brave days, when we were together and you taught me so much, and I am very grateful. Your new fame has spread throughout the whole empire, and your old friends cannot but praise you. I am indeed glad that I have the happiness to see you."

Guan Yu replied, "We have been excellent friends, Xu Huang---better than most. But why have you pressed my son so hardly of late?"

Xu Huang suddenly turned to the officers about him and cried fiercely, "I would give a thousand ounces of gold for this Guan Yu's head."

Guan Yu, greatly shocked, said, "What did you say that for?"

"Because today I am on state business, and I have no inclination to let private friendship override my public duty."

As he said this, he whirled his battle-ax and rode at Guan Yu, who, greatly enraged, threw up his great saber to strike. They fought a half score bouts, but although his skill lacked nothing of its pristine vigor and excelled all the world, the old warrior's right arm was still weak from the wound. Guan Ping saw that his father failed somewhat, and so hastily beat the gong for retreat. Guan Yu rode back.

Suddenly the noise of a great shouting was heard. It came from the troops in Fancheng, for Cao Ren, having heard of the arrival of troops of his own side, had made a sortie and was about to attack to help Xu Huang. His army fell on, and the army of Jingzhou were routed. Guan Yu, with as many of his officers as could, fled away along the banks of River Xiang, hotly pursued by the army of Wei. Crossing the river, he made for Xiangyang.

Suddenly the scouts reported: "Jingzhou has been taken by Lu Meng. Your family is now in the hand of enemy."

Guan Yu was shocked. Thence he marched for Gongan.

But the scouts told him: "Fu Shiren has yielded Gongan to the hands of Wu."

Then some of the men he had dispatched for supplies came in and reported: "Fu Shiren murdered the officer and persuade Mi Fang to surrender to Wu."

The story filled Guan Yu with boundless rage. It was too much. The wound reopened, and he fell in a swoon.

"Wang Fu, you were right," said he when he recovered consciousness. "How I regret that I did not heed what you said!"

"But why were the beacon fires not lighted?" continued he presently.

Said the scouts, "Lu Meng's marines in the guise of traders came over the river. There were soldiers hidden in the ships, and they seized the beacon guards, so preventing them from kindling the fires."

Guan Yu sighed. Beating the ground with his foot, he said, "Indeed I have fallen into their trap. How shall I look my brother in the face?"

Then outspoke Commissariat Commander Zhao Lei, saying, "We are in straits. Send to Chengdu for help, and let us take the land road to Jingzhou to try to recover it."

So Guan Yu sent Ma Liang and Yi Ji to Shu to ask for help. The messengers rode out swiftly by different routes, while the army set out to return to Jingzhou, Guan Yu leading and Liao Hua with Guan Ping keeping the rear.

The siege of Fancheng being thus raised, Cao Ren went to see his master. With tears he acknowledged his fault and asked pardon.

"It was the will of heaven, and no fault of yours," said Cao Cao.

And he rewarded the armies.

When he visited Sizhong and had inspected the captured stockades, he remarked on the defenses, saying, "Xu Huang was very clever to overcome these. With my thirty years of war, I should not have dared to penetrate such opposition. He is valiant and wise, and both in a high degree."

"Aye," said they with him, for they could not but agree.

Cao Cao's army marched back to Mopo and there camped. When Xu Huang returned, Cao Cao went out of the stockade to meet him, and netted with joy when seeing the excellent order and discipline that his army showed. Every soldier was in his place, the ranks perfectly kept, all without a trace of disorder.

[e] Zhou Yafu was son of Zhou Bo, the prime minister of Emperor Wen (BC 179-156). After the death of Emperor Wen, Duke Wu started a rebellion of Seven Kingdoms. Zhou Yafu as a general put down this rebellion. .....

"General Xu Huang has the spirit of the old Zhou Yafu*," said Cao Cao, and on the spot conferred on his commander the title of General Who Pacifies the South. Xu Huang was sent soon after to share in the defense of Xiangyang with Xiahou Shang and to meet Guan Yu's army.

Jingzhou being still in turmoil, Cao Cao remained at Mo............