When they had become mellow with wine, Lu Su said, “I have a word to say to you, Sir, if haply I may have your attention. You know that your illustrious brother, the Imperial Uncle, made me surety with my master that Jingzhou would be returned after Yiazhou had been taken. Well, now that country is in his possession, but Jingzhou is still unreturned. Is not this a breach of good faith?”
“This is a government affair,” said Guan Yu. “Such matters should not be introduced at a banquet.”
“My master only has petty possessions in the east, and he allowed the temporary loan of Jingzhou out of consideration for the need in which you then were. But now you have Yiazhou, and Jingzhou should be given up. The Imperial Uncle has even yielded three territories, but you, Sir, seem unwilling to let them go. This seems hard to explain on reasonable grounds.”
Guan Yu replied, “My brother braved the arrows and the stones in the battle at Wuling and with all his strength drove back the enemy; did he get a single foot of land for all his efforts? Now you come to force this place out of him.”
“No; I do not,” said Lu Su. “But at the time that you and your brother suffered defeat at Dangyang, when you were helpless and in the greatest straits, fugitives you knew not whither, then my master was moved with pity and did not grudge the land. So he gave your brother a foothold whence he might be able to accomplish other ends. But your brother has presumed upon long-suffering. He has attained his end — the country of his desire — and still he occupies Jingzhou. Such greed and such treachery will make the whole world laugh him to shame, as you know quite well.”
“All that is no affair of mine; it is my brother's. I cannot yield the land.”
“I know that by the oath in the Peach Garden you three were to live or die together. But your brother has consented to yield; how are you going to get out of that?”
Guan Yu was at a loss to reply. However, Zhou Cang burst into the conversation, roaring out, “Only the virtuous get hold of territory, does that mean only you people of East Wu?”
Guan Yu's anger now showed itself. His face changed; he rose in his place, took his sword from his sword-bearer and said fiercely, “How dare you talk like this at a discussion of state matters? Go! And go quickly!”
Zhou Cang understood. He left the hall, made his way to the river and waved the red call-flag. The ships of Guan Ping darted across like arrows and were ready for action.
The mighty sword in his right hand, Guan Yu laid hold of Lu Su with his left and, simulating intoxication, said, “You have kindly invited me today, Sir, but do not say anything about Jingzhou, for I am so drunk that I may forget our old friendship. Some other day I hope to invite you to Jingzhou, and then we will talk about that matter.”
Poor Lu Su's soul almost left his body with fright as he was led down to the river bank in the grip of his guest. Lu Meng and Gan Ning, who Lu Su had placed in ambush, dared not act and so made no move lest they should bring about the doom of Lu Su. When they got to the bank, Guan Yu released his host, got on board, and then said farewell. Lu Su stood stupidly staring at the ship while a fair breeze bore it quickly out of sight.
This episode has been commemorated in verse:
Guan Yu took his homeward way, while Lu Su and his two confederates talked over what had occurred.
“What can be done now?” said Lu Su.
“The only thing is to tell our master and let him send an army,” replied Lu Meng.
Lu Su sent a messenger to Sun Quan, who, in his wrath, was for sending every available soldier at once against Jingzhou.
But at this crisis there came news that Cao Cao was raising a huge army with the intention of attacking the South Land. So hasty orders were sent to Lu Su to make no move, but to send all the troops he could from Hefei and Ruxu toward the north to repel Cao Cao.
However, Cao Cao did not march south. One of his military advisers, Fu Gan, sent in a memorial against the scheme:
