After repelling the Wei army, the King of Wu, Sun Quan, appointed Lu Xun as General Who Assists the State, created him Marquis of Jiangling, and made him Provincial Governor of Jing Province. From that day forward, all military authority fell under Lu Xun's command. Zhang Zhao and Gu Yong then petitioned Sun Quan to adopt a new reign name, to mark a new era. Sun Quan agreed, proclaiming the first year of Huangwu (Yellow Martial). Suddenly, word arrived that the Wei ruler had sent an envoy. Sun Quan summoned the man into his presence. The envoy delivered his message: "Shu recently begged Wei for aid against Wu, and in a moment of confusion, Wei responded by sending an army. Now, we deeply regret this. We intend to raise four armies to invade Shu, and we wish for Eastern Wu to coordinate with us. If we conquer Shu, we will divide its territory equally."
Sun Quan, uncertain how to respond, consulted Zhang Zhao and Gu Yong. Zhang Zhao said, "Lu Xun has exceptional strategic insight. Ask him." Sun Quan immediately summoned Lu Xun. Lu Xun advised, "Cao Pi sits securely in the Central Plains. We cannot move against him rashly. If we refuse his proposal now, we will surely make an enemy of him. I believe that neither Wei nor Wu can match Zhuge Liang. For now, we should feign agreement, prepare our forces, and wait to see how his four armies fare. If they succeed and Shu is in crisis, with Zhuge Liang unable to defend every front, then Your Majesty can send our army to join the attack, taking Chengdu first—that would be the best strategy. If the four armies fail, we will reconsider." Sun Quan accepted this plan and told the Wei envoy, "Our supplies are not yet ready. We will set out on a chosen day." The envoy took his leave and departed.
Sun Quan sent scouts to gather intelligence. They reported that the Western Qiang army had reached Xi Ping Pass, but upon seeing Ma Chao, they had withdrawn without a fight. The Southern Man king, Meng Huo, had raised troops to attack the four commanderies, but Wei Yan had used feints and decoys to drive them back into their caves. Meng Da of Shangyong had fallen ill midway through his march and could not continue. Cao Zhen's army had advanced through Yangping Pass, but Zhao Yun held every strategic defile—truly, "one general guarding a pass can hold back ten thousand men." Cao Zhen camped at the Xie Valley route but, unable to achieve victory, turned back. Upon receiving this news, Sun Quan addressed his civil and military officials: "Lu Xun's foresight is divine. If I had acted rashly, I would have made an enemy of Shu as well." Just then, word came that Deng Zhi of Shu had arrived. Zhang Zhao said, "This is another of Zhuge Liang's schemes to force a retreat—he sends Deng Zhi as a persuader." Sun Quan asked, "How should I receive him?" Zhang Zhao replied, "First, place a great cauldron before the throne, fill it with several hundred catties of oil, and light a fire beneath it. When the oil boils, select a thousand tall, fierce-looking warriors, each armed with a blade, and line them from the palace gate to the hall. Then summon Deng Zhi. Before he can speak a word, accuse him of trying to emulate Li Yiji, who persuaded Qi to submit to Han—and then boil him alive. Let us see how he answers."
Sun Quan followed this advice. The oil cauldron was set up, warriors stood on either side with weapons, and Deng Zhi was summoned. Deng Zhi adjusted his robes and cap and entered. As he approached the palace gate, he saw two rows of towering warriors, their presence imposing, each holding steel swords, great axes, long halberds, or short blades, lined all the way to the hall. Deng Zhi understood their intent. Showing no fear, he walked forward with his head held high. Before the hall, he saw the cauldron of oil bubbling fiercely. The warriors on either side glared at him, but Deng Zhi only smiled faintly. An attendant led him before the beaded curtain, where Deng Zhi made a deep bow but did not kneel. Sun Quan ordered the curtain rolled up and shouted, "Why do you not kneel!" Deng Zhi replied proudly, "An envoy from the court of a superior state does not bow to the lord of a small kingdom." Sun Quan erupted in fury: "You do not know your place! You think you can wag your tongue like Li Yiji, who persuaded Qi to surrender? Then step into the oil cauldron!" Deng Zhi laughed heartily. "Everyone says Eastern Wu is full of wise men, but I see only fear of a single scholar!" Sun Quan's anger grew: "What fear would I have of a common fellow like you?" Deng Zhi replied, "If you are not afraid of Deng Zhi, why are you so anxious about what I might say?" Sun Quan said, "You come as Zhuge Liang's mouthpiece, to persuade me to break with Wei and ally with Shu—is that not so?" Deng Zhi answered, "I am but a scholar of Shu, and I have come solely to discuss the interests of Wu. Yet you array soldiers and set up a boiling cauldron to intimidate a single envoy—how narrow is your tolerance!"
Sun Quan, shamed by these words, immediately dismissed the warriors and invited Deng Zhi into the hall. He offered him a seat and asked, "What are the true interests of Wu and Wei? I beg you to enlighten me." Deng Zhi said, "Does Your Majesty wish to ally with Shu or with Wei?" Sun Quan replied, "I wish to make peace with the Lord of Shu, but I fear he is young and inexperienced and may not see things through to the end." Deng Zhi said, "Your Majesty is a hero of your age, and Zhuge Liang is a genius of his time. Shu has the protection of its mountains and rivers; Wu has the defense of its great waterways. If the two kingdoms unite, like lips and teeth, then when we advance, we can swallow the whole realm; when we retreat, we can stand firm as a tripod. If instead Your Majesty submits to Wei, Cao Pi will demand your presence at court and your son as a hostage. If you refuse, he will attack, and Shu will sail downstream to take advantage. Then the lands south of the river will no longer be yours. If you think my words are wrong, I will die here before you, to end the name of 'persuader'." With that, he gathered his robes, stepped down from the hall, and made as if to leap into the boiling oil. Sun Quan urgently ordered him stopped and invited him into the rear hall, treating him with the highest courtesy. Sun Quan said, "Your words match my own thoughts. I wish to ally with the Lord of Shu. Will you be my envoy to arrange it?" Deng Zhi replied, "The one who wanted to boil me alive was you, Your Majesty. Now the one who wants to employ me is also you. Your Majesty still wavers like a fox—how can you earn anyone's trust?" Sun Quan said, "My mind is made up. Have no doubt."
And so the King of Wu kept Deng Zhi as a guest. He gathered his officials and said, "I rule over eighty-one prefectures south of the river, plus the lands of Jing and Chu. Yet I am outdone by a remote corner of Shu! Shu has a Deng Zhi who does not disgrace his lord, while Wu has no one to send to Shu to convey my intentions." At that, an official stepped forward and said, "I am willing to go as envoy." All eyes turned to him. He was Zhang Wen, styled Huishu, a native of Wu Commandery, currently serving as a General of the Household. Sun Quan said, "I fear that when you meet Zhuge Liang, you may not be able to convey my feelings." Zhang Wen replied, "Zhuge Liang is only a man. Why should I fear him?" Sun Quan was greatly pleased, lavished rewards upon Zhang Wen, and sent him to Shu with Deng Zhi to establish friendly relations.
Meanwhile, after Deng Zhi had departed, Zhuge Liang reported to the Second Lord, Liu Shan: "Deng Zhi's mission will surely succeed. Wu has many talented men, and they will send someone to return the courtesy. Your Majesty should treat him with great respect, so that he returns to Wu and strengthens our alliance. If Wu and Shu are united, Wei will not dare to attack us. With peace on our northern and eastern fronts, I can lead a campaign south to pacify the southern tribes. Then we can turn our attention to Wei. Once Wei is weakened, Wu cannot long survive, and we can restore the unified realm." The Second Lord agreed.
Soon, word arrived that Wu had sent Zhang Wen to Shu with Deng Zhi to return the courtesy. The Second Lord assembled his civil and military officials in the palace courtyard and summoned Deng Zhi and Zhang Wen. Zhang Wen, feeling proud of his position, strode boldly into the hall, paid his respects to the Second Lord, and was offered a seat on an embroidered stool to the left of the throne. A royal banquet was prepared in his honor. The Second Lord treated him with every courtesy. After the feast, the officials escorted Zhang Wen to the guesthouse. The next day, Zhuge Liang hosted a banquet for him. Zhuge Liang said to Zhang Wen, "When the late Emperor was alive, he was at odds with Wu. Now he has passed away. Our current ruler deeply admires the King of Wu and wishes to set aside old grievances, forge a lasting alliance, and combine our strength to destroy Wei. I hope you will convey this to your lord." Zhang Wen agreed. As the wine flowed and the feast reached its midpoint, Zhang Wen grew jovial and arrogant, showing clear disdain.
The following day, the Second Lord bestowed gold and silk upon Zhang Wen and held a farewell banquet at the post station south of the city, ordering all officials to see him off. Zhuge Liang plied him with wine. As they drank, a man suddenly entered, already flushed with drink. He strode in boldly, made a deep bow, and took a seat at the table. Zhang Wen, annoyed, asked Zhuge Liang, "Who is this?" Zhuge Liang replied, "His name is Qin Mi, styled Zichi, and he serves as a Scholar of Yi Province." Zhang Wen laughed and said, "You call yourself a scholar, but have you actually learned anything?" Qin Mi replied sternly, "Even a child of three feet in Shu goes to school. How much more so a man like me?" Zhang Wen asked, "Then what have you studied?" Qin Mi answered, "From the heavens above to the earth below; the Three Teachings and Nine Schools; the Hundred Schools of Thought—I have mastered them all. The rise and fall of kingdoms, ancient and modern; the classics and commentaries of the sages—I have read them all." Zhang Wen laughed again. "Since you boast so boldly, let me ask you about Heaven. Does Heaven have a head?" Qin Mi replied, "It does." Zhang Wen asked, "Where is its head?" Qin Mi answered, "In the west. The Book of Songs says, 'He looks with favor to the west.' From this, we know its head is in the west." Zhang Wen asked, "Does Heaven have ears?" Qin Mi replied, "Heaven is high but hears even the lowly. The Book of Songs says, 'The crane cries in the marsh, and its voice is heard in Heaven.' Without ears, how could it hear?" Zhang Wen asked, "Does Heaven have feet?" Qin Mi said, "It does. The Book of Songs says, 'Heaven's steps are difficult.' Without feet, how could it step?" Zhang Wen asked, "Does Heaven have a surname?" Qin Mi said, "Of course it does!" Zhang Wen asked, "What surname?" Qin Mi replied, "Liu." Zhang Wen asked, "How do you know?" Qin Mi said, "The Son of Heaven is surnamed Liu. Therefore, Heaven is also surnamed Liu." Zhang Wen then asked, "Does the sun rise in the east?" Qin Mi replied, "Though it rises in the east, it sets in the west."
At this point, Qin Mi's speech was clear and fluent, his answers flowing like a stream. The entire assembly was astonished. Zhang Wen fell silent. Qin Mi then asked him, "You are a famous scholar of Eastern Wu. Since you have questioned me about Heaven, you must understand its principles deeply. In ancient times, when chaos first separated, the pure and light rose to form Heaven, while the heavy and turbid sank to form Earth. Then Gong Gong, in his defeat, struck Mount Buzhou, breaking the pillar of Heaven and snapping the cords of Earth. Heaven tilted to the northwest, and Earth sank to the southeast. Since Heaven is light and pure, why did it tilt to the northwest? And beyond that which is light and pure, what else exists? I beg you to enlighten me." Zhang Wen had no answer. He rose from his seat and apologized: "I never imagined Shu had so many brilliant men! Your discourse has opened my eyes." Zhuge Liang, fearing Zhang Wen would be too shamed, gently intervened: "These questions at the banquet were only a game. You, sir, deeply understand the art of governing a kingdom—why bother with such wordplay?" Zhang Wen bowed in gratitude. Zhuge Liang then ordered Deng Zhi to return to Wu with Zhang Wen to reciprocate the courtesy. The two men took their leave of Zhuge Liang and set out for Eastern Wu.
Meanwhile, the King of Wu, seeing that Zhang Wen had not yet returned from Shu, gathered his officials to discuss matters. Suddenly, an attendant reported, "Shu has sent Deng Zhi with Zhang Wen to return the courtesy." Sun Quan summoned them. Zhang Wen knelt before the throne and praised the virtue of the Second Lord and Zhuge Liang, expressing their desire for a lasting alliance, and that Deng Zhi had been sent as an envoy of friendship. Sun Quan was overjoyed and held a banquet in their honor. Sun Quan asked Deng Zhi, "If Wu and Shu unite to destroy Wei and bring peace to the realm, and the two rulers divide the land between them, would that not be a joy?" Deng Zhi replied, "The sky cannot have two suns, and the people cannot have two kings. After Wei is destroyed, it remains to be seen who will receive the Mandate of Heaven. Let each ruler cultivate his virtue, and each minister fulfill his loyalty, and then the wars will cease." Sun Quan laughed heartily. "Your sincerity is truly remarkable!" He lavished gifts upon Deng Zhi and sent him back to Shu. From that day forward, Wu and Shu were bound in friendship.
Spies from Wei soon learned of this alliance and reported it urgently to the Central Plains. When Cao Pi heard the news, he flew into a rage. "Wu and Shu have allied! They must be plotting against the Central Plains. I will strike first!" He assembled his civil and military officials to discuss an invasion of Wu. By this time, the Grand Marshal Cao Ren and the Grand Commandant Jia Xu had both died. The Attendant Secretary Xin Pi stepped forward and said, "The Central Plains are vast, but our population is sparse. To launch a campaign now would not be to our advantage. Our best plan is to rest our troops, farm the land for ten years, build up our provisions and soldiers, and then strike. Only then can we defeat Wu and Shu." Cao Pi retorted angrily, "This is the talk of a pedant! Wu and Shu have allied; they will surely invade our borders soon. We have no time to wait ten years!" He immediately ordered an invasion of Wu. Sima Yi advised, "Wu is protected by the Yangtze River. We cannot cross without boats. If Your Majesty will lead the campaign personally, we can build large and small warships, sail from the Cai and Ying Rivers into the Huai, take Shouchun, proceed to Guangling, cross the river at the mouth, and strike directly at Nanxu. This is the best strategy." Cao Pi agreed. Day and night, they worked to build ten dragon boats, each over twenty zhang long and capable of holding more than two thousand men. They also prepared over three thousand warships. In the autumn of the fifth year of Huangchu (224 AD), in the eighth month, Cao Pi assembled his forces, large and small. He appointed Cao Zhen as the vanguard, with Zhang Liao, Zhang He, Wen Ping, and Xu Huang as leading generals. Xu Chu and Lü Qian guarded the central army, Cao Xiu commanded the rear, and Liu Ye and Jiang Ji served as strategists. In total, they had over three hundred thousand men, both land and naval forces. They set a date to march. Cao Pi appointed Sima Yi as Director of the Imperial Secretariat and left him in Xuchang to decide all matters of state.
We leave the Wei army's departure. Spies from Wu soon learned of this and reported it to the Wu court. An attendant urgently informed the King of Wu: "Cao Pi himself is leading a fleet of dragon boats with over three hundred thousand land and naval troops. They are sailing from the Cai and Ying Rivers into the Huai, and will surely cross the river at Guangling to invade the south. This is a grave threat." Sun Quan was greatly alarmed and assembled his officials for counsel. Gu Yong said, "Now that Your Majesty has allied with Shu, you can send a letter to Zhuge Liang, asking him to raise an army from Hanzhong to divide Wei's forces. Meanwhile, dispatch a great general to garrison Nanxu and oppose them." Sun Quan said, "Only Lu Xun can handle such a task." Gu Yong replied, "Lu Xun is guarding Jingzhou. He cannot be moved lightly." Sun Quan said, "I know this, but I have no one else to take his place." Before he finished speaking, a man stepped forward from the ranks and said, "Though I am unworthy, I am willing to lead an army to resist the Wei forces. If Cao Pi himself crosses the great river, I will capture him and present him to Your Majesty. If he does not cross, I will still slaughter most of his troops, so that Wei will never dare to look south again." Sun Quan looked and saw that it was Xu Sheng. Overjoyed, Sun Quan said, "If you can defend the southern riverbank, what worry have I?" He appointed Xu Sheng as General Who Pacifies the East, with overall command of the armies at Jianye and Nanxu. Xu Sheng thanked the king and withdrew. He immediately ordered his officers to prepare ample weapons and set up numerous banners, planning to defend the riverbank.
Suddenly, a man stepped forward and said, "Today, the king has entrusted a great responsibility to you, General. You intend to break the Wei army and capture Cao Pi. Why not send troops across the river early and meet the enemy on the Huainan plain? If you wait until Cao Pi's army arrives, it may be too late." Xu Sheng looked at the speaker. It was Sun Shao, the king's nephew. Sun Shao, styled Gongli, held the rank of General Who Displays Might. He had previously defended Guangling. Young and hot-tempered, he was bold and courageous. Xu Sheng said, "Cao Pi's forces are vast, and he has famous generals as his vanguard. We cannot cross the river to meet them. Let their ships gather on the northern shore, and I will have a plan to break them." Sun Shao said, "I have three thousand troops under my command, and I know the terrain of Guangling well. Let me go north of the river and fight Cao Pi to the death. If I fail, I will accept any punishment." Xu Sheng refused. Sun Shao insisted. Xu Sheng still refused. Sun Shao pressed the matter a third time. Xu Sheng grew angry. "If you will not obey orders, how can I command the other generals?" He ordered the warriors to take Sun Shao out and behead him. The executioners dragged Sun Shao outside the camp gate and raised the black execution flag. Sun Shao's officers rushed to inform Sun Quan. The king mounted his horse and galloped to the camp just as the executioners were about to strike. He scattered them and saved Sun Shao. Sun Shao knelt and wept: "In past years, I served at Guangling. I know the terrain well. If we do not fight Cao Pi there, but wait until he crosses the Yangtze, Eastern Wu is doomed!" Sun Quan entered the camp.
Xu Sheng greeted the king and said, "Your Majesty appointed me as commander to resist Wei. Now General Sun Shao has disobeyed military law. According to the code, he should be executed. Why has Your Majesty pardoned him?" Sun Quan said, "Sun Shao acted out of youthful passion. Please forgive him this once." Xu Sheng replied, "The law was not established by me, nor by Your Majesty. It is the law of the state. If we pardon a relative, how can we command the troops?" Sun Quan said, "Sun Shao violated the law, and you should punish him. But though he was originally surnamed Yu, my late brother loved him and gave him the surname Sun. He has rendered many services to me. If I let him die, I would betray my brother's trust." Xu Sheng said, "For Your Majesty's sake, I will spare his life." Sun Quan ordered Sun Shao to thank Xu Sheng. Sun Shao refused, shouting, "In my view, I should lead the army to destroy Cao Pi! I would rather die than accept your strategy!" Xu Sheng's face darkened. Sun Quan dismissed Sun Shao with a scolding and said to Xu Sheng, "Without this boy, we lose nothing. Do not use him again." He then left. That night, someone reported to Xu Sheng: "Sun Shao has secretly led his three thousand elite troops across the river." Fearing that harm might come to Sun Shao, which would reflect badly on him before the king, Xu Sheng summoned Ding Feng, gave him secret instructions, and sent him with three thousand men across the river to support Sun Shao.
Meanwhile, Cao Pi's dragon boat reached Guangling. The vanguard, Cao Zhen, had already arrayed his troops along the riverbank. Cao Pi asked, "How many men are on the opposite shore?" Cao Zhen replied, "From a distance, we see no one—no banners, no camps." Cao Pi said, "This must be a trick. I will go see for myself." He ordered the river opened wide, and the dragon boat sailed directly to the Yangtze, anchoring near the shore. The ship flew banners embroidered with dragons, phoenixes, suns, and moons in five colors. The imperial retinue crowded the deck, dazzling to behold. Cao Pi sat upright in the boat, gazing toward the south bank. He saw no one. He turned to Liu Ye and Jiang Ji and asked, "Should we cross?" Liu Ye said, "In the art of war, the real and the false are intertwined. They have seen our great army approach—why would they not prepare? Your Majesty should not act rashly. Wait three or five days to see their movements, then send the vanguard across to probe." Cao Pi said, "Your words match my thoughts."
That evening, they anchored on the river. The night was moonless and dark. The soldiers lit torches, illuminating the sky and earth as bright as day. Gazing south, they saw not a single spark of light. Cao Pi asked his attendants, "Why is this?" One replied, "Perhaps, hearing of Your Majesty's celestial army, they have fled in fear." Cao Pi smiled to himself. At dawn, a thick fog obscured everything, so that they could not see each other face to face. Soon a wind rose, scattering the mist and clouds. Then they saw the southern shore: a continuous line of city walls, with spears and swords glittering on the battlements, and banners and pennants covering every wall. Messenger after messenger reported: "From Nanxu along the riverbank all the way to Stone City, for several hundred li, there are cities, boats, and chariots in an unbroken line. It was all built in a single night!" Cao Pi was stunned. In truth, Xu Sheng had tied together bundles of reeds, dressed them in blue clothes, armed them with banners, and placed them on the false walls and watchtowers. When the Wei soldiers saw so many men on the walls, how could they not be terrified? Cao Pi sighed, "Though Wei has a thousand brave warriors, they are useless here. The men of the south are like this. We cannot conquer them!"
As he stood in astonishment, a fierce wind suddenly arose. White waves surged to the sky. The river spray soaked Cao Pi's dragon robe, and the great ship was on the verge of capsizing. Cao Zhen urgently ordered Wen Ping to take a small boat and rescue the emperor. The men on the dragon boat could not keep their footing. Wen Ping leaped onto the dragon boat, carried Cao Pi onto the small boat, and fled into a river channel. Just then, a messenger on a swift horse reported: "Zhao Yun has led his army out of Yangping Pass and is marching directly on Chang'an!" Cao Pi, hearing this, went pale with shock. He ordered a retreat. The troops fled in all directions. Behind them, Wu troops gave chase. Cao Pi ordered all imperial possessions abandoned. As the dragon boat was about to enter the Huai River, drums and horns suddenly sounded, and shouts shook the heavens. A force charged in from the flank. At its head was Sun Shao. The Wei troops could not withstand the attack. Half of them were killed or wounded, and countless drowned. The generals fought desperately to rescue the Wei ruler. Cao Pi crossed the Huai River and had traveled less than thirty li when the reeds in the river—which had been soaked in fish oil—burst into flames. The fire spread downstream with the wind, the flames filling the sky, blocking the dragon boat. Cao Pi was terrified. He hurriedly boarded a small boat and made for the shore, but the dragon boat was already ablaze. Cao Pi mounted his horse in panic. A force charged from the shore. At its head was Ding Feng. Zhang Liao spurred his horse to meet him, but Ding Feng shot an arrow that struck Zhang Liao in the waist. Xu Huang rescued Zhang Liao and, together with the other generals, protected Cao Pi as they fled, losing countless men. Behind them, Sun Shao and Ding Feng captured horses, chariots, boats, and weapons beyond counting. The Wei army was utterly routed. Xu Sheng had achieved a great victory, and the King of Wu rewarded him handsomely. Zhang Liao returned to Xuchang, but his arrow wound burst open, and he died. Cao Pi gave him a lavish burial. Of this, no more need be said.
Meanwhile, Zhao Yun was leading his army out of Yangping Pass when a messenger arrived with a dispatch from the Chancellor. It said that Yong Kai, a tribal chieftain of Yi Province, had allied with the Man king, Meng Huo, and raised a hundred thousand Man troops to raid the four commanderies. Therefore, Zhao Yun was ordered to return. Ma Chao was to hold Yangping Pass, while the Chancellor himself would lead the southern campaign. Zhao Yun immediately withdrew his troops. At that time, Zhuge Liang was in Chengdu, organizing his forces for the southern expedition.
Truly, no sooner had the east seen Wu oppose Wei than the west saw Shu battle the southern Man. What would be the outcome of this campaign? Read the next chapter to find out.