Soon after, guards at the gates reported that a fire had started.
“Some careless men must have let sparks fly about. There is nothing to worry about,” said Cao Ren.
Hardly had he finished speaking when along came urgent reports of similar fires from the south, west, and north gates. Cao Ren realized that the fires were not due to accidents. So he immediately gave orders to evacuate the city. Soon, the whole city was on fire and a red glow hung in the sky. The army was beset with fire fiercer than it had been at Bowang.
Thrice wicked was Cao, but he was bold;
Though all in the capital he controlled,
Yet with this he was not content,
So southward his ravaging army went.
But, the fall wind aiding, the Spirit of Fire
Wrought to his army destruction dire.
Officers and men dashing through the smoke and fire in utter confusion sought some way of escape, and hearing that the east gate was free, they made for that quarter. Out they rushed pell-mell, many being trodden down and trampled to death. Those who got through took the road to the east.
But presently there was shouting behind them and Zhao Yun came up with his men and attacked. Cao Ren’s men scattered, each fleeing for his life. None would turn back and fight. A little later they were further smitten by Mi Zhu and Liu Feng. At about the fourth watch the fleeing men, most of them badly burned and very wearied, reached the shore of the White River.
To their joy, the river was shallow and fordable. And both men and horses went down into the stream and drank their fill, men shouting and horses neighing.
In the meantime Guan Yu had dammed the river with sandbags at its upper part, so that its waters were collected in a lake. Toward dusk he saw the red glow of the burning city and began to listen for his signal. At about the fourth watch he heard the sounds of men and horses downstream and at once ordered the breaking of the dam. The water rushed down in a torrent and overwhelmed the horses and men in the bed of the river. Many were swept away and drowned.
Cao Ren led the remainder to escape from where the current was not so swift. But to their dismay, as they reached the ferry at Bowang they were again faced with loud shouting, and they found their road barred by a troop led by Zhang Fei.
“You Cao brigands!” shouted Zhang Fei. “Come and meet your fate!”
Within the city the red flame leaps out:
On the riverbank black anger is met.
Whether Cao Ren could escape death will be told in the next chapter.
Footnote
* Also called Yan Yuan (521 B.C. –490 B.C. ), the best-known disciple of Confucius.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Liu Bei Leads His People Across the River
Zhao Yun Rescues the Child of His Lord
T he last chapter closed with Zhang Fei blocking the enemy’s escape route. He met with Xu Chu and combat began, but Xu Chu had no heart to engage in a prolonged fight and ran away. Zhang Fei pursued till he came upon Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, and the three went upstream where boats had already been prepared. They all crossed the river and went toward Fancheng. As soon as they disembarked Zhuge Liang ordered the boats and rafts to be burned.
Cao Ren gathered together the remnants of his army and camped at Xinye, while his brother, Cao Hong, went to tell their lord the bad tidings of the defeat.
“This rustic fool, Zhuge Liang!” exclaimed Cao Cao angrily. “How dare he do this to me!”
He then set out with his overwhelming army to camp at the deserted city of Xinye and gave orders for the soldiers to search the hills and fill up the White River in order to launch a violent assault on Fancheng from every side.
His advisor Liu Ye came in to see him and said, “Sir, you are new to this district and you should win over the people’s hearts first. Liu Bei has evacuated all the people from Xinye to Fancheng. If we move straight in, the two places will be ground to powder. It would be better to call upon Liu Bei to surrender first, which will prove to the people
“Some careless men must have let sparks fly about. There is nothing to worry about,” said Cao Ren.
Hardly had he finished speaking when along came urgent reports of similar fires from the south, west, and north gates. Cao Ren realized that the fires were not due to accidents. So he immediately gave orders to evacuate the city. Soon, the whole city was on fire and a red glow hung in the sky. The army was beset with fire fiercer than it had been at Bowang.
Thrice wicked was Cao, but he was bold;
Though all in the capital he controlled,
Yet with this he was not content,
So southward his ravaging army went.
But, the fall wind aiding, the Spirit of Fire
Wrought to his army destruction dire.
Officers and men dashing through the smoke and fire in utter confusion sought some way of escape, and hearing that the east gate was free, they made for that quarter. Out they rushed pell-mell, many being trodden down and trampled to death. Those who got through took the road to the east.
But presently there was shouting behind them and Zhao Yun came up with his men and attacked. Cao Ren’s men scattered, each fleeing for his life. None would turn back and fight. A little later they were further smitten by Mi Zhu and Liu Feng. At about the fourth watch the fleeing men, most of them badly burned and very wearied, reached the shore of the White River.
To their joy, the river was shallow and fordable. And both men and horses went down into the stream and drank their fill, men shouting and horses neighing.
In the meantime Guan Yu had dammed the river with sandbags at its upper part, so that its waters were collected in a lake. Toward dusk he saw the red glow of the burning city and began to listen for his signal. At about the fourth watch he heard the sounds of men and horses downstream and at once ordered the breaking of the dam. The water rushed down in a torrent and overwhelmed the horses and men in the bed of the river. Many were swept away and drowned.
Cao Ren led the remainder to escape from where the current was not so swift. But to their dismay, as they reached the ferry at Bowang they were again faced with loud shouting, and they found their road barred by a troop led by Zhang Fei.
“You Cao brigands!” shouted Zhang Fei. “Come and meet your fate!”
Within the city the red flame leaps out:
On the riverbank black anger is met.
Whether Cao Ren could escape death will be told in the next chapter.
Footnote
* Also called Yan Yuan (521 B.C. –490 B.C. ), the best-known disciple of Confucius.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Liu Bei Leads His People Across the River
Zhao Yun Rescues the Child of His Lord
T he last chapter closed with Zhang Fei blocking the enemy’s escape route. He met with Xu Chu and combat began, but Xu Chu had no heart to engage in a prolonged fight and ran away. Zhang Fei pursued till he came upon Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, and the three went upstream where boats had already been prepared. They all crossed the river and went toward Fancheng. As soon as they disembarked Zhuge Liang ordered the boats and rafts to be burned.
Cao Ren gathered together the remnants of his army and camped at Xinye, while his brother, Cao Hong, went to tell their lord the bad tidings of the defeat.
“This rustic fool, Zhuge Liang!” exclaimed Cao Cao angrily. “How dare he do this to me!”
He then set out with his overwhelming army to camp at the deserted city of Xinye and gave orders for the soldiers to search the hills and fill up the White River in order to launch a violent assault on Fancheng from every side.
His advisor Liu Ye came in to see him and said, “Sir, you are new to this district and you should win over the people’s hearts first. Liu Bei has evacuated all the people from Xinye to Fancheng. If we move straight in, the two places will be ground to powder. It would be better to call upon Liu Bei to surrender first, which will prove to the people
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