Now it is told that on that day, when Cao Cao saw the multitude of corpses rise up within the black wind, he was terrified and fell to the ground. In a short while, the wind ceased, and the corpses all vanished. His attendants helped Cao Cao back to his palace, but the shock had made him ill.
A poet of the time wrote in praise of Zuo Ci: "He strode through the clouds across the nine provinces, relying solely on his mastery of the Daoist arts to wander freely. With casual ease, he displayed his immortal skills, hoping to awaken Cao Cao—yet the man would not turn back."
Cao Cao’s illness persisted, and no medicine could cure him. At that time, the Grand Astrologer’s Assistant, Xu Zhi, came from Xuchang to see Cao Cao. Cao Cao ordered him to perform a divination. Xu Zhi said, “Your Majesty, have you ever heard of the divine diviner Guan Lu?” Cao Cao replied, “I have heard his name, but I know nothing of his skills. Tell me in detail.” Xu Zhi said, “Guan Lu, styled Gongming, is a native of Pingyuan. His appearance is coarse and ugly, and he is fond of wine and unrestrained in his ways. His father once served as the Chief of Langya’s Jiqiu County. From childhood, Guan Lu loved to gaze at the stars and refused to sleep at night; his parents could not stop him. He often said, ‘Even the domestic fowl and the wild crane know the seasons—how much more so a man living in this world?’ When playing with the neighborhood children, he would draw the heavens on the ground with his finger, arranging the sun, moon, and stars. As he grew older, he deeply understood the Book of Changes. By observing the winds and the stars, his mathematical knowledge became supernaturally profound, and he was also skilled in physiognomy. The Grand Administrator of Langya, Shan Zichun, heard of his fame and summoned him for an audience. At the time, there were over a hundred guests present, all eloquent scholars. Guan Lu said to Shan Zichun, ‘I am young and my courage is not yet firm. First, let me have three measures of fine wine, and then I will speak.’ Shan Zichun, amazed, gave him the wine. After drinking, Guan Lu asked Shan Zichun, ‘Do you wish to debate with me yourself, or with all the gentlemen of your company?’ Shan Zichun replied, ‘I shall match wits with you myself.’ So they began to discuss the principles of the Book of Changes. Guan Lu spoke eloquently, his every word profound and subtle. Shan Zichun questioned him repeatedly, but Guan Lu answered as easily as flowing water. From dawn to dusk, they did not stop for food or drink. Shan Zichun and all the guests were filled with admiration. Thus, Guan Lu became known throughout the realm as a child prodigy.
Later, there was a commoner named Guo En, who, along with his two brothers, all suffered from lameness. They invited Guan Lu to divine the cause. Guan Lu said, ‘The hexagram reveals a female ghost in your family’s ancestral tomb. She is either your aunt or your uncle’s wife. During a year of famine, your family, seeking a few measures of grain, pushed her into a well and crushed her head with a large stone. Her lonely soul, in its suffering, has cried out to Heaven, and so you brothers suffer this retribution. It cannot be remedied.’ Guo En and his brothers wept and confessed their guilt. The Grand Administrator of Anping, Wang Ji, knowing of Guan Lu’s divine skills, invited him to his home. At that time, the magistrate of Xindu’s wife was suffering from chronic headaches, and his son from heart pain. They asked Guan Lu to divine the cause. Guan Lu said, ‘In the western corner of this hall, there are two corpses: one man holding a spear, the other a bow and arrows. Their heads are inside the wall, and their feet outside. The one with the spear causes the headache, and the one with the bow and arrows causes the heart and stomach pain.’ They dug at the spot. Eight feet down, they indeed found two coffins. One contained a spear, and the other a horn bow and arrows, all of which had rotted. Guan Lu ordered the bones moved and buried ten li outside the city. The magistrate’s wife and son then recovered. The magistrate of Guantao, Zhuge Yuan, was promoted to Grand Administrator of Xinxing, and Guan Lu came to see him off. A guest mentioned that Guan Lu could divine the contents of covered objects. Zhuge Yuan did not believe it. He secretly took a swallow’s egg, a wasp’s nest, and a spider, placing each in a separate box, and asked Guan Lu to divine what was inside. After forming the hexagrams, Guan Lu wrote four lines on each box. On the first, he wrote: ‘Contains a breath that must change, dwelling within a hall; male and female in form, wings spread wide—this is a swallow’s egg.’ On the second: ‘A house upside down, with many doors; it stores essence and nurtures venom, maturing in autumn—this is a wasp’s nest.’ On the third: ‘Trembling with long legs, it spins silk into a net; seeking food within its web, it profits in the dark of night—this is a spider.’ All those present were astonished.
In the countryside, an old woman lost her ox and asked Guan Lu to divine its whereabouts. Guan Lu judged, ‘On the banks of the northern stream, seven men have slaughtered and cooked it. Go quickly and search—the hide and flesh will still be there.’ The old woman went and indeed found the seven men cooking the ox behind a thatched hut; the hide and flesh were still intact. She reported them to the Grand Administrator of the commandery, who arrested and punished the seven men. He then asked the old woman, ‘How did you know?’ She told him of Guan Lu’s divine divination. The Grand Administrator, skeptical, invited Guan Lu to his residence. He placed an official seal pouch and a pheasant feather in a box and asked Guan Lu to divine their contents. Guan Lu divined the first and said, ‘Square inside, round outside, with five-colored patterns; it contains a treasure and upholds trust, revealing itself with authority—this is an official seal pouch.’ For the second, he said, ‘A bird from the cliffs, with a brocade body and vermilion robes; its wings are black and yellow, and it crows without fail at dawn—this is a pheasant feather.’ The Grand Administrator was greatly astonished and treated Guan Lu as an honored guest. One day, Guan Lu was strolling in the countryside when he saw a young man plowing in a field. He stopped by the roadside and watched for a long time. He asked, ‘Young man, what is your surname and age?’ The youth replied, ‘My surname is Zhao, my given name Yan, and I am nineteen years old. May I ask who you are, sir?’ Guan Lu said, ‘I am Guan Lu. I see a death aura between your brows. Within three days, you will surely die.
You have a handsome face—it is a pity you will not live long.’ Zhao Yan returned home and urgently told his father. The father, hearing this, rushed after Guan Lu, fell to his knees weeping, and said, ‘Please come back and save my son!’ Guan Lu said, ‘This is the Mandate of Heaven. How can it be averted?’ The father pleaded, ‘I have only this one son. I beg you to save him!’ Zhao Yan also wept and begged. Seeing the depth of the father and son’s emotion, Guan Lu said to Zhao Yan, ‘Prepare a bottle of pure wine and a piece of dried venison. Tomorrow, take them into the southern mountains. Under a large tree, on a flat rock, you will see two men playing chess. One will be sitting facing south, dressed in white, with a fierce appearance. The other will be sitting facing north, dressed in red, with a handsome face. When they are deep in their game, rush forward and offer them the wine and venison. After they have eaten and drunk, kneel and weep, begging for an extension of your life. You will surely gain additional years. But do not say that I taught you this.’ The old man kept Guan Lu at his home. The next day, Zhao Yan took the wine, venison, and cups into the southern mountains.
After walking about five or six li, he indeed saw two men playing chess on a flat rock under a large pine tree, paying him no attention. Zhao Yan knelt and offered the wine and venison. The two men, absorbed in their game, drank all the wine without noticing. Zhao Yan then knelt, wept, and begged for an extension of his life. The two men were startled. The one in red said, ‘This must be the doing of that Guan Lu. Since we have accepted his gift, we must show him mercy.’ The one in white took out a ledger from his side, examined it, and said to Zhao Yan, ‘You are nineteen this year and are fated to die. I will now add a “nine” before the “ten,” so you will live to be ninety-nine. Go back and tell Guan Lu never to reveal Heaven’s secrets again, or he will incur divine punishment.’ The one in red picked up a brush and made the addition. A fragrant breeze passed by, and the two men transformed into a pair of white cranes, soaring into the sky. Zhao Yan returned and asked Guan Lu about them. Guan Lu said, ‘The one in red was the Southern Dipper; the one in white was the Northern Dipper.’ Zhao Yan said, ‘I have heard that the Northern Dipper has nine stars. Why was there only one person?’ Guan Lu replied, ‘When scattered, they are nine; when united, they become one. The Northern Dipper governs death, and the Southern Dipper governs life. Now that your lifespan has been increased, what more is there to worry about?’ The father and son thanked him with deep bows. From that day on, Guan Lu, fearing to reveal Heaven’s secrets, no longer divined lightly for others. This man is now in Pingyuan. If Your Majesty wishes to know the fortunes and misfortunes of the future, why not summon him?”
Cao Cao was overjoyed and immediately sent messengers to Pingyuan to summon Guan Lu. When Guan Lu arrived and paid his respects, Cao Cao ordered him to divine. Guan Lu replied, “This was merely a magic trick. Why should you be troubled by it?” Cao Cao’s mind was set at ease, and his illness gradually improved. Cao Cao then ordered Guan Lu to divine the affairs of the realm. Guan Lu divined and said, “Threes and eights crisscross; the Yellow Pig meets the Tiger. South of Dingjun Mountain, one limb will be broken.” Cao Cao then ordered him to divine the length of his own dynasty’s rule. Guan Lu divined and said, “In the palace of the Lion, the spirit throne will be set. The royal way will be renewed, and descendants will be supremely honored.” Cao Cao asked for more details. Guan Lu said, “The vastness of Heaven’s decrees cannot be known in advance. In time, it will prove itself.” Cao Cao wanted to appoint Guan Lu as Grand Astrologer. Guan Lu said, “My fate is thin and my physiognomy poor. I am unworthy of this office and dare not accept it.” Cao Cao asked why. Guan Lu replied, “My forehead lacks the bone of authority; my eyes lack the steady gaze of command; my nose lacks a solid bridge; my feet lack the root of Heaven; my back lacks the three marks of longevity; my belly lacks the three folds of fortune. I am only fit to govern ghosts on Mount Tai, not to govern living men.” Cao Cao said, “Then what do you see in my physiognomy?” Guan Lu replied, “You have already reached the highest rank a subject can attain. Why even ask?” When pressed repeatedly, Guan Lu only smiled and would not answer. Cao Cao ordered Guan Lu to read the physiognomies of all his civil and military officials. Guan Lu said, “They are all ministers fit for a peaceful era.” When Cao Cao asked about their fortunes, Guan Lu would not speak fully. A poet of later times wrote in praise: “The divine diviner of Pingyuan, Guan Gongming, could calculate the movements of the Southern and Northern Dippers. The subtle mysteries of the eight trigrams connected him to the spirit world; the profound depths of the six lines revealed the courts of Heaven. He foresaw in his own physiognomy that he would not live long, yet he knew his own heart was supremely spiritual. A pity that his extraordinary arts, passed down to later generations, have no one to inherit the ancient texts.”
Cao Cao ordered Guan Lu to divine the fates of Eastern Wu and Western Shu. Guan Lu set up the hexagrams and said, “The lord of Eastern Wu will lose a great general, and in Western Shu, troops will invade your borders.” Cao Cao did not believe it. Suddenly, a report arrived from Hefei: “Lu Su, the defender of Lukou in Eastern Wu, has died.” Cao Cao was greatly startled. He then sent men to Hanzhong to gather intelligence. Within a few days, a flying report came that Liu Bei had sent Zhang Fei and Ma Chao to garrison troops at Xia Bian, preparing to take the passes. Cao Cao was furious and wanted to personally lead a large army back into Hanzhong. He ordered Guan Lu to divine the outcome. Guan Lu said, “Your Majesty should not act rashly. Next spring, a fire will break out in Xuchang.”
Seeing that Guan Lu’s words had repeatedly proven true, Cao Cao did not dare to move recklessly. He remained in Ye Commandery. He ordered Cao Hong to lead 50,000 troops to reinforce Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He in defending the eastern regions of Hanzhong. He also ordered Xiahou Dun to lead 30,000 troops to patrol between Ye and Xuchang, guarding against any unforeseen events. He further appointed the Chief Clerk Wang Bi to command the Imperial Guard. The Registrar Sima Yi said, “Wang Bi is fond of wine and lenient by nature. I fear he is not fit for this duty.” Cao Cao replied, “Wang Bi has been with me since I was hacking through brambles and enduring hardships. He is loyal and diligent, with a heart as firm as iron and stone. He is the most suitable for this post.” So he entrusted Wang Bi with the command of the Imperial Guard, stationing them outside the East Flowery Gate of Xuchang.
At that time, there was a man named Geng Ji, styled Jixing, a native of Luoyang. He had formerly served as an aide in the Chancellor’s office and later was promoted to Palace Attendant and Minister of the Imperial Household. He was very close to Wei Huang, the Director of the Imperial Secretariat. Seeing that Cao Cao had advanced himself to the rank of king and used the imperial carriage and regalia, they were deeply resentful. It was the first month of the twenty-third year of the Jian’an reign. Geng Ji secretly discussed with Wei Huang, saying, “That traitor Cao Cao grows more evil by the day. In time, he will surely usurp the throne. We are ministers of Han. How can we join in his evil deeds?” Wei Huang said, “I have a trusted man, Jin Yi, a descendant of the Han Chancellor Jin Midi. He has long harbored a desire to punish Cao Cao. Moreover, he is very close to Wang Bi. If we can win him over, our plan will succeed.” Geng Ji said, “If he is so close to Wang Bi, how can he be willing to conspire with us?” Wei Huang replied, “Let us go and speak with him and see what happens.” So the two went together to Jin Yi’s residence. Jin Yi received them in the rear hall, and they sat down. Wei Huang said, “Dewei, you are very close to Chief Clerk Wang. We have come to ask a favor.” Jin Yi asked, “What favor?” Wei Huang said, “We have heard that the King of Wei will soon receive the abdication and ascend the throne. You and Chief Clerk Wang will surely be greatly promoted. We hope you will not forget us and will extend your help. We would be deeply grateful!” Jin Yi flicked his sleeves and stood up. Just then, a servant brought tea, and Jin Yi threw the tea to the ground. Wei Huang feigned surprise and said, “Dewei, we are old friends. Why are you so cold?” Jin Yi replied, “I have been close to you because you are descendants of Han officials. Now, instead of thinking of repaying your debt to the dynasty, you want to aid a rebel. How can I face you as a friend?” Geng Ji said, “But such is the will of Heaven. We have no choice!” Jin Yi was enraged.
Seeing that Jin Yi was truly loyal, Geng Ji and Wei Huang revealed the truth: “We originally wanted to punish the traitor and came to seek your help. Our earlier words were only a test.” Jin Yi said, “For generations, my family has served Han. How could I follow a rebel! Since you wish to support the Han house, what plan do you have?” Wei Huang said, “Though we have the heart to serve the nation, we have no plan to punish the traitor.” Jin Yi said, “I intend to strike from within and without. Kill Wang Bi, seize his military command, and support the Emperor. Then we will ally with Imperial Uncle Liu as an outside force. That traitor Cao Cao can be destroyed.” The two clapped their hands in approval. Jin Yi said, “I have two trusted men who have a blood feud with Cao Cao. They are now outside the city and can be used as allies.” Geng Ji asked who they were. Jin Yi said, “They are the sons of the Imperial Physician Ji Ping. The elder is named Ji Miao, styled Wenran, and the younger is named Ji Mu, styled Siran. When Cao Cao dealt with the affair of Dong Cheng’s sash edict, he killed their father. The two sons fled to distant lands and escaped death. Now they have secretly returned to Xuchang. If we ask them to help us punish the traitor, they will surely agree.” Geng Ji and Wei Huang were overjoyed. Jin Yi immediately sent a man to secretly summon the two Ji brothers. In a short while, they arrived. Jin Yi explained the plan. The two brothers wept with indignation, their anger surging to the heavens, and swore to kill the traitor to the state.
Jin Yi said, “On the night of the fifteenth day of the first month, the city will be brightly lit to celebrate the Lantern Festival. Minister Geng and Director Wei, you will each lead your household retainers to attack Wang Bi’s camp. Watch for a fire to start in the camp, then charge in from two directions. Kill Wang Bi, then follow me into the palace. We will invite the Emperor to ascend the Five Phoenix Tower and summon the officials to announce the campaign against the traitor. Brothers Ji Wenran and Ji Siran will attack from outside the city, setting fires as a signal. Everyone must shout for the people to kill the traitor Cao Cao and cut off the relief forces within the city. When the Emperor issues his decree and the situation is secured, we will advance on Ye Commandery to capture Cao Cao. We will then send envoys with the imperial decree to summon Imperial Uncle Liu. We have agreed on this. On the appointed night, at the second watch, we will act. Let us not be like Dong Cheng, who brought disaster upon himself.” The five men swore an oath to Heaven, smeared blood on their lips as a covenant, and each returned home to prepare their weapons and troops, awaiting the night of action.
Now Geng Ji and Wei Huang each had three or four hundred household retainers, and they prepared their weapons. The Ji brothers also gathered three hundred men, claiming they were going on a hunt, and made their arrangements. Jin Yi went ahead to see Wang Bi and said, “Now that the realm is somewhat at peace and the King of Wei’s might shakes the world, with the Lantern Festival approaching, we should not fail to display lanterns to show an appearance of peace.” Wang Bi agreed and ordered the city’s residents to hang lanterns and decorations to celebrate the festival. On the night of the fifteenth, the sky was clear, the stars and moon shone together, and throughout the streets and markets, colorful lanterns vied for brilliance.
Truly, the night patrol was suspended, and the water clock seemed to have no urgency! Wang Bi and the generals of the Imperial Guard feasted in their camp. After the second watch, they suddenly heard shouting from within the camp. A man reported that a fire had broken out behind the camp. Wang Bi rushed out of his tent to look and saw flames rolling everywhere. He heard the din of battle and shouting that seemed to shake the heavens. Knowing that a revolt had broken out in the camp, he quickly mounted his horse and fled out the south gate. There he encountered Geng Ji, who shot an arrow into his shoulder, nearly knocking him from his horse. Wang Bi fled toward the west gate, with pursuers behind him. In his panic, he abandoned his horse and fled on foot. He came to Jin Yi’s gate and knocked urgently. It turned out that Jin Yi had sent men to set fires in the camp while he himself led his retainers to join the attack, leaving only the women at home. Hearing the knocking, Jin Yi’s wife, thinking it was her husband returning, called out from behind the door, “Has that wretch Wang Bi been killed yet?” Wang Bi was horrified and realized that Jin Yi was part of the conspiracy. He fled straight to Cao Xiu’s house and informed him that Jin Yi, Geng Ji, and others had rebelled. Cao Xiu quickly donned his armor, mounted his horse, and led a thousand men to resist the rebels within the city. Fires broke out everywhere, and the Five Phoenix Tower caught fire. The Emperor took refuge deep within the palace. Cao Cao’s loyal followers held the palace gates at all costs. Throughout the city, voices shouted, “Kill all the traitors of Cao! Support the Han dynasty!”
Now Xiahou Dun, acting on Cao Cao’s orders, was patrolling Xuchang with 30,000 troops, encamped five li from the city. That night, seeing the fires from afar, he led his main force to surround Xuchang and sent a contingent into the city to reinforce Cao Xiu. The fighting raged on until dawn. Geng Ji and Wei Huang had no support. Word came that Jin Yi and the two Ji brothers had all been killed. Geng Ji and Wei Huang fought their way to the city gate, only to be surrounded by Xiahou Dun’s main force and captured alive. Their hundred or so followers were all slain. Xiahou Dun entered the city, extinguished the remaining fires, and arrested the entire families and clans of the five conspirators. He sent a flying report to Cao Cao. Cao Cao ordered that Geng Ji, Wei Huang, and the families of the five conspirators be executed in the marketplace, and that all civil and military officials in the capital be arrested and sent to Ye Commandery to await judgment. Xiahou Dun escorted Geng Ji and Wei Huang to the execution ground. Geng Ji shouted loudly, “Cao A’man! If I could not kill you in life, I will become a vengeful spirit and strike you down in death!” The executioner stabbed his mouth with a sword, but Geng Ji continued to curse until the blood flowed everywhere, and he died without ceasing. Wei Huang pounded his face against the ground and cried, “How hateful! How hateful!” He ground his teeth to pieces and died. A poet of later times wrote in praise: “Geng Ji, pure in loyalty, and Wei Huang, worthy and wise, each grasped at empty hands, trying to hold up Heaven. Who could have known that the fate of Han was nearly spent? Their hearts were filled with regret as they descended to the Nine Springs.”
Xiahou Dun executed all the families of the five conspirators and sent the officials to Ye Commandery. Cao Cao set up a red flag on the left and a white flag on the right in the training grounds and issued an order: “Geng Ji, Wei Huang, and others rebelled and set fire to Xuchang. Some of you went to put out the fires, and some of you shut your gates and did nothing. Those who helped put out the fires, stand under the red flag. Those who did not, stand under the white flag.” The officials thought that those who helped put out the fires would surely be innocent, so most of them rushed to the red flag. Only one out of three stood under the white flag. Cao Cao ordered that all those under the red flag be arrested. The officials each protested their innocence. Cao Cao said, “At that time, your intention was not to put out the fire, but to aid the rebels.” He ordered them all to be taken to the banks of the Zhang River and executed. More than three hundred officials died. Those who stood under the white flag were all rewarded and allowed to return to Xuchang. By this time, Wang Bi had died from his arrow wound. Cao Cao ordered a lavish burial for him. He appointed Cao Xiu to command the Imperial Guard, Zhong Yao as Chancellor, and Hua Xin as Censor-in-Chief. He then established six ranks and eighteen levels for marquises, and seventeen levels for marquises within the Guanzhong region, all with gold seals and purple ribbons. He also established sixteen levels for marquises within and outside the passes, with silver seals, tortoise-shaped knobs, and black ribbons. And fifteen levels of Grand Masters, with copper seals, ring-shaped knobs, and black ribbons. With these titles and offices established, the court was filled with a new set of men. Only then did Cao Cao realize the truth of Guan Lu’s prophecy about the fire. He richly rewarded Guan Lu, but Guan Lu refused the reward.
Now Cao Hong led his troops to Hanzhong. He ordered Zhang He and Xiahou Yuan to hold the strategic points while he personally advanced to engage the enemy. At that time, Zhang Fei and Lei Tong were defending Baxi. Ma Chao’s army arrived at Xia Bian. He sent Wu Lan as vanguard to scout ahead. Wu Lan encountered Cao Hong’s forces. Wu Lan wanted to retreat, but his subordinate general Ren Kui said, “The enemy has just arrived. If we do not blunt their edge, how will we face Ma Chao?” So he galloped forward, leveled his spear, and challenged Cao Hong to single combat. Cao Hong himself took up his blade, spurred his horse, and rode out. After three exchanges, he cut Ren Kui down from his horse and took advantage of the moment to press the attack. Wu Lan was heavily defeated. He returned to Ma Chao, who berated him, saying, “Without my orders, why did you recklessly engage the enemy and cause this defeat?” Wu Lan replied, “Ren Kui would not listen to me, and so we suffered this loss.” Ma Chao said, “Hold the passes tightly and do not engage the enemy.” He then sent a report to Chengdu, awaiting further instructions. Seeing that Ma Chao had not emerged for days, Cao Hong feared a trap and withdrew his forces to Nanzheng. Zhang He came to see Cao Hong and asked, “General, since you have already slain an enemy officer, why are you retreating?” Cao Hong said, “I saw that Ma Chao would not come out and feared he had another plan. Besides, when I was in Ye, I heard the divine diviner Guan Lu say that a great general would be lost in this place. I am troubled by this prophecy and dare not advance recklessly.” Zhang He laughed heartily and said, “General, you have campaigned for half your life. How can you now let a diviner’s words cloud your judgment? Though I am untalented, I am willing to lead my own troops to take Baxi. If we take Baxi, Shu Commandery will be easy.” Cao Hong said, “The defender of Baxi is Zhang Fei. He is no ordinary man. Do not underestimate him.” Zhang He replied, “Everyone fears Zhang Fei, but I see him as no more than a child! I will capture him this time!” Cao Hong asked, “What if you fail?” Zhang He said, “I will accept the full penalty of military law.” Cao Hong had the written pledge drawn up, and Zhang He advanced.
Truly, “Since ancient times, the arrogant army has often been defeated; the one who underestimates his enemy rarely succeeds.”
Whether Zhang He would succeed or fail, and what would happen next, will be revealed in the following chapter.