Meanwhile, within the inhospitable city, Wei Yan and Wen Ping fought. The battle continued for four or five watches, all through the middle of the day, and nearly all the combatants fell. Then Wei Yan got away. As he could not find Liu Bei, he rode off to Changsha and sought an asylum with Governor Han Xuan.
Liu Bei wandered away from the city of Xiangyang that had refused shelter. Soldiers and people, his following numbered more than a hundred thousand. The carts numbered scores of thousands, and the burden bearers were innumerable. Their road led them past the tomb of Liu Biao, and Liu Bei turned aside to bow at the grave.
He lamented, saying, “Shameful is thy brother, lacking both in virtue and in talents. I refused to bear the burden you wished to lay upon me, wherein I was wrong. But the people committed no sin. I pray your glorious spirit descend and rescue these people.”
His prayer was fraught with sorrow, and all those about him wept.
Just then a scout rode up with the news that Fankou was already taken by Cao Cao and that his army were preparing boats and rafts to cross the river.
The generals of Liu Bei said, “Jiangling is a defensible shelter, but with this crowd we can only advance very slowly and when can we reach the city? If Cao Cao pursue, we shall be in a parlous state. Our counsel is to leave the people to their fate for a time and press on to Jiangling.”
But Liu Bei wept, saying, “The success of every great enterprise depends upon humanity; how can I abandon these people who have joined me?”
Those who heard him repeat this noble sentiment were greatly affected.
The progress of Liu Bei, with the crowd of people in his train, was very slow.
“The pursuers will be upon us quickly,” said Zhuge Liang. “Let us send Guan Yu to Jiangxia for succor. Liu Qi should be told to bring soldiers and prepare boats for us at Jiangling.”
Liu Bei agreed to this and wrote a letter which he sent by the hands of Guan Yu and Sun Qian and five hundred troops. Zhang Fei was put in command of the rear guard. Zhao Yun was told to guard Liu Bei's family, while the others ordered the march of the people.
They only traveled three or four miles daily and the halts were frequent.
Meanwhile Cao Cao was at Fankou, whence he sent troops over the river toward Xiangyang. He summoned Liu Zong, but Liu Zong was too afraid to answer the call. No persuasion could get him to go.
Wang Wei said to him privately, “Now you can overcome Cao Cao if you are wise. Since you have announced surrender and Liu Bei has gone away, Cao Cao will relax his precautions, and you can catch him unawares. Send a well-prepared but unexpected force to waylay him in some commanding position, and the thing is done. If you were to take Cao Cao prisoner, your fame would run throughout the empire and the land would be yours for the taking. This is a sort of opportunity that does not recur and you should not miss it.”
The young man consulted Cai Mao, who called Wang Wei an evil counselor and spoke to him harshly.
“You are mad! You know nothing and understand nothing of destiny,” said Cai Mao.
Wang Wei angrily retorted, saying, “Cai Mao is the betrayer of the country, and I wish I could eat him alive!”
The quarrel waxed deadly, and Cai Mao wanted to slay Wang Wei; but eventually peace was restored by Kuai Yue.
Then Cai Mao and Zhang Yun went to Fankou to see Cao Cao. Cai Mao was by instinct specious and flattering, and when his host asked concerning the resources of Jingzhou, he replied, “There are fifty thousand of horse, one hundred fifty thousand of foot, and eighty thousand of marines. Most of the money and grain are at Jiangling; the rest is stored at various places. There are ample supplies for a year.”
“How many war vessels are there? Who is in command?” said Cao Cao.
“The ships, of all sizes, number seven thousands, and we two are the commanders.”
Upon this Cao Cao conferred upon Cai Mao the title of the Lord Who Controls the South, and Supreme Admiral of the Naval Force; and Zhang Yun was his Vice-Admiral with the title of the Lord Who Brings Obedience.
When they went to thank Cao Cao for these honors, he told them, saying, “I am about to propose to the Throne that Liu Biao's son should be perpetual Imperial Protector of Jingzhou in succession to his late father.”
With this promise for their young master and the honors for themselves, they retired.
Then Xun You asked Cao Cao, “Why these two evident self-seekers and flatterers have been treated so generously?”
