Cao Ren, furious at his recent defeat, at once mustered the bulk of his garrison and, under cover of night, ferried his army across the river with orders to raze Xinye to the ground.
Back at Xinye, Shan Fu returned triumphant and warned Liu Xuande, “Cao Ren has taken up his station at Fan City. Now that our two generals have been slain, he will surely march here with a large force.” Xuande asked, “How shall we meet him?” Shan Fu leaned close and whispered his plan. Xuande’s face brightened—preparations were made at once.
Soon the scouts arrived with word: “Cao Ren is crossing the river with his main army.” Shan Fu nodded gravely, “Just as I predicted.” He invited Xuande to lead the troops out to meet the enemy. On the plain the two armies formed lines. Zhao Yun rode forward alone to challenge their commander. Cao Ren ordered Li Dian to take the field against him. After a dozen thrusts and parries, Li Dian, realizing he was outmatched, withdrew back into the ranks. Yun pursued, but the enemy’s flanking archers kept him at bay, and both sides soon returned to their camps. Reporting to Cao Ren, Li Dian urged caution: “Their troops are elite—you would do better to fall back to Fan City.” Incensed, Cao Ren snapped, “You undermine my men’s confidence before the battle even begins! Now you cower on the field? You deserve execution!” Only the pleas of his officers stayed the blade. Cao Ren relented, assigning Li Dian to command the rearguard while he himself led the vanguard.
Before dawn the next day drums sounded and Cao Ren advanced in a single massive formation. He sent a herald to Xuande: “Do you recognize my deployment?” From a nearby hill Shan Fu studied the enemy’s array and explained to Xuande, “This is the Eight Trigrams Golden Lock formation. Its eight gates are: Rest, Life, Injury, Blocking, View, Death, Alarm, and Opening. If one enters through the Life gate, passes the View gate, and exits via the Opening gate, victory is assured; but if one enters through the Injury, Alarm, or Rest gates, the outcome is ruin; entry by the Blocking or Death gates spells annihilation. Though Cao Ren has arranged his eight gates in perfect order, the center is unguarded. If we send five hundred men under Zhao Yun to charge in at the southeast corner—through the Life gate—and out the western View gate, his lines will collapse.” Xuande issued the orders at once. Seizing his spear, Zhao Yun led five hundred horsemen to the southeast flank, thundered their war cry, and burst into the heart of Cao Ren’s formation. Caught by surprise, Cao Ren’s troops broke and fled toward the north. Zhao Yun did not pursue; instead he circled out the western gate and rejoined the main camp. Xuande then launched his full-on assault, and Cao Ren’s army was routed in a rout. Shan Fu halted the pursuit at Zhao Yun’s signal, and they withdrew in good order.
Shamed by his defeat, Cao Ren now heeded Li Dian’s counsel. He summoned Li Dian and said, “Liu Bei must have a stratagem that shattered my formation.” Li Dian admitted he feared for Fan City itself. Cao Ren snapped, “Tonight we will raid their camp. If we succeed, we will devise further plans; if we fail, we will withdraw to Fan City.” Li Dian demurred: “They must be prepared.” Cao Ren scorned, “If you distrust every opponent, how can you risk battle?” He dismissed Li Dian’s advice, putting him in charge of the rear guard and leading the charge himself at the second watch.
Meanwhile, Xuande and Shan Fu were deep in council when a sudden stiff wind blew through the camp. Shan Fu declared, “Cao Ren will attack tonight.” Xuande asked, “How shall we defend?” Shan Fu smiled: “My preparations are already complete.” By the second watch, Cao Ren’s soldiers approached and set fire to the palisade. Alarmed, they found escape cut off, and Cao Ren ordered a hasty retreat. Zhao Yun marshaled his troops to harry their withdrawal. Cao Ren barely escaped back to the riverbank, where he scrambled to find boats. At that moment Zhang Fei’s cavalry charged down upon them. Cao Ren fought desperately but was forced aboard a ferry by Li Dian’s escort. Many of his men drowned in the river. Reaching the far shore, Cao Ren galloped off through the night toward Xuchang.
When he arrived, he summoned the gate opened under a single drumbeat—but outside waited none other than Guan Yu, his standard raised: “I have held Fan City for some time!” Startled, Cao Ren wheeled and fled once more. Guan Yu pursued, cutting down many more of his steeds. By dawn Cao Ren had limped back into Xuchang, having learned that it was Shan Fu whose cunning had undone him.
Meanwhile, Liu Xuande rode into Fan City in triumph. The county magistrate Liu Bi—also a member of the imperial clan—greeted him with a feast. At the banquet stood a young man of commanding bearing. Xuande inquired of Liu Bi, “Who is this?” Liu Bi replied, “He is my nephew, Kou Feng of Luo Commandery, orphaned and taken in here.” Xuande was taken with the youth and resolved to adopt him as his heir. Liu Bi consented joyfully. They performed the formal rites, Kou Feng becoming “Liu Feng,” Xuande’s foster son, and Xuande appointed Guan Yu and Zhang Fei as his uncles. Guan Yu protested, “Why adopt a hostage child? He will only sow discord.” Xuande replied, “I shall treat him as a son, and he will serve me as a father—where lies the conflict?” Unconvinced, Guan Yu remained aloof. After making these arrangements, Xuande left a thousand men under Zhao Yun to garrison Fan City and returned to Xinye with the bulk of his army.
Elsewhere in Xuchang, Cao Ren and Li Dian knelt before Cao Cao in tears, confessing their losses. Cao Cao said, “Victory and defeat are the common lot of war. What troubles me is this—who counseled Liu Bei so well?” Cao Ren told him it was Shan Fu. Cheng Yu laughed, “That ‘Shan Fu’ is no other than Xu Shu, courtesy name Yuan Zhi. In his youth he studied swordsmanship, avenged his family’s wrongs, fled with his face painted to evade capture, then humbled himself to scholarship, even debating with Sima Hui. He now serves under Liu Bei.” Cao Cao asked, “How does Xu Shu’s talent compare to yours?” Cheng Yu replied, “Ten times mine.” Cao Cao sighed, “What a pity such a man aids Liu Bei! Does he now serve as Liu’s right arm? How can I win him back?” Cheng Yu said, “Xu Shu is filially pious. His mother is held in Xuchang, lonely and unprotected. If we summon her here, he will come to rescue her.” Cao Cao rejoiced and that very night sent for Xu Shu’s mother.
Within two days she was brought to the capital and received every honor. Cao Cao entreated her, “Your son, Xu Shu, is a unique talent. Yet he has thrown in with the rebel Liu Bei, betraying the throne. Would you please write to him and persuade him to return, and I shall see to it before the emperor that he is richly rewarded.” Supplying brush and ink, he urged her to compose a letter. Xu Shu’s mother asked, “What manner of man is Liu Bei?” Cao Cao replied, “A man of low birth who falsely claims imperial kinship—faithless, hypocritical.” Furious, she seized an inkstone and struck Cao Cao. He ordered her seized and left for execution, but Cheng Yu interceded: “Madam Xu’s boldness arises from her loyalty. If you kill her, your reputation will suffer, and Xu Shu will swear vengeance on your head. Better to spare her and hold her here. I will then contrive to send her a letter calling for Xu Shu. Once he comes, we may yet win him.” Cao Cao relented.
Cheng Yu visited her daily under the pretense of brotherly friendship, sending gifts and letters. At last he collected a sample of her handwriting and forged a second “family letter,” dispatching it by a trusted courier deep into Liu Bei’s camp. Xu Shu received the letter and read these words:
“My younger brother, Xu Kang, has died, leaving me alone and helpless. I had not expected that the Chancellor of Xuchang would lure me here by a false promise of safety. If you return to save me, you will restore filial duty and escape disaster. I await your loyal aid.”
Overcome with sorrow, Xu Shu wept ceaselessly. He presented the letter to Liu Bei: “My name is Xu Shu of Yingchuan—my courtesy name is Yuan Zhi. I fled from my home and took the alias Shan Fu. At first I served Liu Jing at Xiangyang, but found him unworthy and left. Master Sima Hui rebuked me and spoke of you. I sang in the market to draw your attention, and you took me in. Yet my mother is now held captive by Cao Cao, who summons her with a forged letter. I cannot remain here; I must go to her.” Hearing this, Xuande wept: “A son’s duty to his mother is sacred. I cannot ask you to break that bond. But please—meet her first, then return if you can.” Xu Shu bowed and prepared to leave.
Sun Qian counseled Xuande: “Yuan Zhi is the wisest man in all the realm. He knows our strengths and weaknesses. If he goes, Cao Cao will seize him and punish us. We are in great peril. You must detain him.” But Xuande replied, “To hold a mother hostage while employing her son would be neither righteous nor humane. I would rather die than do so.” His generals were moved to tears.
That night Xuande and Xu Shu shared a final cup of wine. Xuande said, “Without you, it is like losing my right arm. No banquet would taste sweet.” Xu Shu replied, “My heart is torn by worry for my mother. Even the finest wine cannot ease my sorrow.” They wept until dawn. The officers arranged a farewell reception outside the city.
When they reached the long pavilion, Xuande took Xu Shu’s hand: “I have fallen short of your favor. I pray you serve your new lord faithfully and win undying fame.” Xu Shu wept, “I am but a humble man. Your grace has overwhelmed me. Though compelled by filial duty, I shall never scheme against you.” Xuande said, “Once you depart, I too shall retreat to the mountains.” Xu Shu answered, “I accepted your service for the hope of forging empire together. But my mother’s plight distracts me. Even if I stayed, I could do nothing. You must seek other sages to aid you—do not despair.” Xuande replied, “No one matches your virtue in all under Heaven.” Xu Shu demurred.
Turning to the other generals, Xu Shu said, “Please aid our lord well, that his name and yours may be remembered in history. Do not follow my example of incomplete service.” The officers were deeply moved. Xuande escorted him out of the city until the roads parted. Xu Shu paused: “No need to see me off further. I will take my leave here.” But Xuande, holding Xu Shu’s hand, cried, “We may never meet again!” Both wept. Xuande watched until Xu Shu and his escort disappeared into the distance, his tears falling like rain. He raised his whip, pointed at the trees, and said, “I would fell every tree in this wood, for they hide my view of Yuan Zhi’s retreat.”
At that moment, Xu Shu thundered back on horseback. Xuande exclaimed, “You return—surely you have thought better of it?” He cantered forward: “You must have an idea.” Xu Shu dismounted and said, “I have forgotten to tell you: a wondrous man dwells only twenty li northwest of Xiangyang—at Longzhong. You should seek him in person.” Xuande asked, “Will you introduce me?” Xu Shu replied, “He is too proud to come at another’s summons. You must go yourself. If he agrees, he will be to you what Lü Wang was to Zhou, what Zhang Liang was to Han. Without him, you can never succeed.” Xuande asked, “How does his talent compare to yours?” Xu Shu laughed: “To compare me with him is like pairing a tired nag with a qilin, or a crow with a phoenix. He likens himself to Guan Zhong and Yue Yi—and by my judgment, even they fall short of him. His genius is heaven-ordained, unmatched in all the world. You must haste to meet him.” Xuande’s heart leapt: “Could he be the Crouching Dragon of Master Sima’s prophecy?” Xu Shu said, “The Phoenix Chick is Pang Tong of Xiangyang; the Crouching Dragon is none other than Zhuge Kongming.” Xuande cried, “Today I see the meaning of Master Sima’s words! Never did I dream that such talent stood before me! Had you not said it, I would have been blind!” Later poets would commemorate Xu Shu’s swift horse recommendation:
“Regret that once great worth went unseen, their parting tears like thunder’s roar—one word, a springstorm clear and keen, awakened the sleeping dragon of Nanyang’s shore.”
Thus, Xu Shu bade farewell and rode off. Xuande, awakened as from a dream, marshaled his generals and returned to Xinye. He gathered lavish gifts and, with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei at his side, set out for Nanyang to petition Zhuge Kongming in person.
Meanwhile, Xu Shu, moved by Xuande’s warm regard and fearing Zhuge might refuse to leave his recluse’s hut, spurred his horse straight to Wolong Ridge. He entered the thatched cottage and told Zhuge Liang of the situation: “I came intending to serve Liu Yuzhou, but my mother was captured. I could do nothing but recommend you to him. He will soon arrive—I beg you not to refuse, but to display your great talents in his service.” Zhuge Liang, anger flashing in his eyes, replied, “Do you take me for a sacrificial lamb?” With that he swept back into his hut, leaving Xu Shu abashed. He hastened back to Xuchang to see his mother. Thus:
“A friend’s one word for a loyal lord, And filial love spanned a thousand li to be restored.”
What follows next? The answer lies in the pages to come.
