“‘No,’ said the prefect. ‘I myself am anxious to be your contender.’
“‘Then they began a discussion upon the meaning of the Book of Changes. Guan Lu’s words poured forth like a torrent, and his ideas were most profound. The prefect tried hard to challenge him with difficult questions but Guan Lu swept them away in a stream of eloquence. So they went on the whole day, without even pausing for food. Both the prefect and his guests were filled with admiration for him. From then on he came to be known as a prodigy.
“He was also famous for his practice of divination. Once there were three brothers of the Guo family who all became lame, and they called in Guan Lu to cast lots and discover the reason for this. Guan Lu said, ‘According to the lots there is a female ghost in your family tomb, who was your aunt, wife of the brother of either your father or your mother. Some years ago, in a time of famine, for the sake of a few measures of grain, you pushed her into a well and crushed her head with a big stone so that she suffered intensely. The poor soul complained to the Most High, and your lameness is retribution for that crime. No prayer will avert the punishment.’ The three brothers wept and admitted their guilt.
“Another time, when he was a guest at the house of the Prefect of An-ping, he was asked to employ his powers for the magistrate of Xindu, whose wife suffered from headaches and whose son from pains in the heart. Guan Lu was asked to discover the reasons. He cast lots and said to the magistrate, ‘At the west corner of your hall there are buried two corpses, one of them holding a spear, the other, a bow and arrows. As the wall is built across them, their heads are inside the wall but their feet outside. The spearman pierces the head and so your wife has head pains. The archer stabs the heart and so your son’s heart suffers anguish.’ Following his directions they dug the ground and found, about eight feet down, two coffins, one with a spear inside and the other with a bow and arrows. All were much decayed. Guan Lu told them to remove the bones and bury them ten li away from the house. After that the woman and her son suffered no more.
“Another time when the magistrate of Guantao, who had been promoted to the prefectship and was leaving for his new post, Guan Lu went to see him off. One of the guests present mentioned that Guan Lu could divine what was hidden from sight. The prefect doubted such powers and said he would put them to a test. He got a swallow’s egg, a wasp’s nest, and a spider, and concealed them in three separate boxes. Then he asked Guan Lu to guess the contents. Having made the divination, Guan Lu wrote three quatrains:
The latent life will declare itself,
It will cling to your lordly hall,
As either a male or a female.
Wide wings will prevent its fall. — This is a swallow’s egg.
A many-chambered dwelling
Is hanging to your eaves,
Each room has a poisonous tenant
That will die when fall comes. — This indicates a wasp’s nest.
This is a long-shanked, trembling thing,
Who spins a thread from his inside
And spreads a fine spun net for flies;
He profits most at eventide. — This is a spider.
“All those present were simply amazed.
“An old woman in his village lost a cow and came to him for help. After the divination he told her that seven men had taken away the cow and were cooking it on the bank of a stream in the north. If she went with all speed she would find the skin and the flesh. She went and found the seven men hidden behind a small shanty, boiling the beast. Most of the cow’s flesh was still there. She told the prefect, who arrested the seven men and punished them. Then he asked the old lady how she came to know exactly who the offenders were, and she told him about Guan Lu. Incredulous, the prefect sent for Guan Lu and set him the following test. He placed his seal and a pheasant’s feather in a box and asked him what was hidden inside. Guan Lu’s reply again came in two quatrains:
Square inside, outside so round,
Beauteous colors here abound.
The jewel within is held secure
And what it witnesses is sure. — This is a seal.
There is a bird on the rocky steep,
Its body with flame seems aglow,
Its wings are barred yellow and black,
At sunrise it ne’er fails to crow. — This is a pheasant’s feather.
“The prefect, immensely impressed, treated the marvelous diviner with great honor.
“One day, when walking in the country, Guan Lu saw a youth ploughing in the field. After watching him for a long time, Guan Lu suddenly asked him his name and age.
“‘My name is Zhao Yan, and I am nineteen,’ said the young man, who then asked Guan Lu who he was.
“‘I am Guan Lu. I see a sign of early death about your eyebrows, and I fear you will be done with life within three days. It is a great pity that one so handsome as you should die so young.’
“Zhao Yan dropped his hoe and hurried home to tell his father, who at once set out to find Guan Lu. Having caught up with him, the father threw himself to the ground and begged Guan Lu to save his son.
“‘How can I avert the doom? It is fate,’ said Guan Lu.
“‘Please have pity on me! I have but this one son.’
“And the son added his tears and prayers to those of his father’s. Moved by compassion, Guan Lu turned to the lad and said, ‘Get ready a bottle of good wine and some venison. Tomorrow take these with you to the South Hill where, underneath a big tree, you will see two men seated on boulders playing wei-qi. One of them, an ugly man dressed in a white robe, will be seated facing south while the other, a handsome man dressed in a red robe, will be seated facing north. They will be deeply absorbed in their game and will not notice who offers them food and wine, which you will humbly present on your knees. When they have eaten and drunk, you will prostrate yourself and with tears beg them to prolong the length of your life. You will certainly gain an increased span of your days, but, above all things, do not mention that I have instructed you what to do.’
“The father kept Guan Lu in his house as a guest, and the next day the son went out as he was instructed. He climbed into the hill and soon came upon the two men seated beneath a magnificent pine tree, playing wei-qi. They seemed oblivious to all around them. The young man presented the wine and the food on his knees, and the two men, engrossed in the game, ate absentmindedly. When the wine and the meat had been consumed, the young man prostrated himself and implored them for long life. They were greatly startled.
“‘This must be Guan Lu’s doing,’ said Red Robe. ‘Still, as we have accepted his gifts we must have pity on him.’
“White Robe then took out a book that he kept by his side and found the place where the young man’s name was listed.
“‘You are nineteen this year and your life is at its end,’ he said to the young man. ‘But I will insert a “nine” before the “ten,”* making it read ninety and nine, and that is the age you will attain. But when you go back, tell Guan Lu he is not to betray the secrets of fate, or Heaven will surely punish him.’
“Then Red Robe took out a pen and added his signature. A waft of fragrant wind passed, and the two men, now transformed into two cranes, rose into the sky and flew away.
“The young man came back home and told his father and Guan Lu what had happened. Guan Lu told him that the red-robed man was the Star of the Southern Dipper, and the white-robed man the Star of the Northern Dipper.
“‘But I was told that the Northern Dipper consists of nine stars,’ said the lad, dubious. Why is there only one man?’
“‘Separately they are nine, but they combine to form one. The Northern Dipper records deaths, whereas the Southern Dipper, births. Now that the extra figure has been added you will live up to the age of ninety-nine. There is no need for anxiety.’
“Father and son both bowed to him in deep gratitude. Afterwards, Guan Lu seldom divined for people lest he should betray Heaven’s secrets. Now he resides at Pingyuan. If you want to know your
fate, why not summon him?”
Guan Lu was sent for and he came. After he had made his obeisance, Cao Cao asked him to divine for him.
Guan Lu at once found that the illness was only the result of some magical tricks, not worth worrying about. Cao Cao was much relieved in his mind, and his health gradually improved.
Cao Cao next asked him about the future of the state. After making the necessary calculations, the prophet said:
Three-eight crosswise,
The yellow boar meets the tiger.
South of Dingjun,
The loss of one limb.*
Then Cao Cao asked him how long his life would last. After divining, he replied:
At the Lion Palace
A place is secured.
Thrive is the Prince’s way
And his posterity will come to high honor.
When Cao Cao asked him to explain what this meant, Guan Lu replied, “Divination is the work of the universe and is not to be foreknown. After some time it will manifest itself.”
Cao Cao was pleased and wanted to keep such a man near him, so he offered him the post of historiographer at his court, but was declined.
“My destiny is mean and my luck, despicable,” said Guan Lu. “I am not equal to such an office and dare not undertake it.”
When Cao Cao asked him the reason he continued, “My forehead has no bony fullness; my eyes no steady expression; my nose no straight bridge; my feet no solid heels; and my back and my abdomen are equally deficient. I am fit only to control evil spirits, but not to rule living men.”
“What do you think of my physiognomy?”
“What can a minister of your exalted rank desire further?” asked Guan Lu.
Although Cao Cao pressed him to say more, the soothsayer only smiled. Then Cao Cao asked him to look at all the officials around.
“Every one of them is an official equal to the administration of a state,” said Guan Lu.
But when Cao Cao asked him about their fate, the soothsayer would not give a clear and full reply. A poem says:
Guan Lu was a seer of old,
Stars to him their secrets told.
Mysteries, occult and dim,
Were as daylight unto him.
His subtlest intellect
Could the shade of death detect,
But the secrets of his skill
Died with him—and are secrets still.
Again Cao Cao asked him to divine concerning his rivals of Wu and Shu. He predicted that Wu would lose a major official and Shu would encroach on his territory. Cao Cao suspected the accuracy of these prophecies but soon one of the events manifested itself, for a messenger came from Hefei to say that Lu Su had died.
Cao Cao, now apprehensive of what might happen in Shu, hurriedly sent a man into Hanzhong for news, and the scout returned to say that Zhang Fei and Ma Chao had stationed an army at Xiabian, aiming to capture the pass. Cao Cao was angry and inclined to re-enter Hanzhong; but he consulted the great soothsayer, who advised him not to move.
“In the coming spring there will be a conflagration in the capital,” he said.
Having witnessed the accuracy of Guan Lu’s predictions, Cao Cao was in no mood to neglect the warning. He stayed on in his palace, but he sent Cao Hong with 50,000 men to assist in the defense of the Hanzhong region, and ordered Xiahou Dun with 30,000 men to guard the streets of the capital against any potential attack from his enemy. He placed Wang Bi in command of the Imperial Guard.
Sima Yi warned him against this final appointment. “Wang Bi is given to too much drinking and is too lenient. He is not a suitable man for such a post.”
Cao Cao replied, “He has followed me through every difficulty and danger. He is loyal and diligent, with a heart solid as stone or iron. He is the right man for the post.”
So ignoring Sima Yi’s warning, he appointed Wang Bi commander of the Imperial Guard, to camp outside the East China Gate of the capital.
Now the time was the early months of the twenty-third year of Jian An. There was a man called Geng Ji, a native of Luoyang, who once worked in Cao Cao’s residence in a subordinate capacity and had later been promoted to a better post. He had a good friend whose name was Wei Huang. These two were greatly distressed at Cao Cao’s promotion to princely rank and his use of the imperial chariot.
Geng Ji said, “This rebel Cao Cao behaves worse every day. He intends to usurp the throne, I’m sure. How can we, as Han officials, thwart him in his wickedness?”
“I have a friend named Jin Yi, who is a descendant of a prime minister of Han and an enemy of Cao Cao’s,” said Wei Huang. “Besides, he is friendly with Wang Bi. If he can assist us we’ll succeed in destroying Cao Cao.”
“But if he’s friendly with Wang Bi he won’t assist us!” said Geng Ji.
“Let’s go and sound him out,” said Wei Huang.
So the two went to see Jin Yi, who received them in the inner hall.
Wei Huang spoke first: “We know you’re on most friendly terms with Commander Wang Bi, and so we’ve come to ask a favor of you.”
“What is it?”
“We hear that the Prince of Wei will soon accede to the throne. Then you and your friend Wang Bi will surely advance to offices of great honor. When that day comes, we hope you won’t desert us but recommend us for employment. We’d be most grateful for your kindness.”
Jin Wei, flicking down his sleeves, rose angrily. At that instant the attendant brought in the tea for the visitors. He snatched it from the serving man and poured it on the floor.
Wei Huang started up in feigned alarm.
“How have I offended you, my good, old friend?” he cried.
“I have been friends with you because you are descendants of men who have served Han faithfully. But instead of trying to repay the debt you owe the Emperor, you desire to assist one who is his enemy. Do you think I can regard you as friends? How could I look the world in the face?”
“But it’s destiny, one can’t help it,” said Geng Ji.
As Jin Yi grew still more angry, the two visitors were convinced that at heart he was loyal to Han. Then they told him of their true intention.
“Our real desire is to destroy this rebel, and we’ve come to ask you for help. Just now we were testing how you really felt.”
“My family has been in the service of the Hans for generation upon generation. Do you think I’d willingly follow a rebel? If you, sirs, are really thinking of restoring the dynasty, please tell me your plans.”
“Unfortunately we have only the desire, but not the plan, to destroy the rebel,” said Wei Huang.
Jin Yi said, “We must rely on forces from within and supporters from without. If we slay Wang Bi we can get his troops to help the Emperor. Then with the help of Liu Bei, we should be able to destroy the rebel Cao Cao.”
Hearing Jin Yi’s plan, the other two clapped their hands in approval.
“And I have two bosom friends who’ll certainly join us,” said Jin Yi. “Both of them have the murder of a father to avenge. They’re the sons of the court physician Ji Ping, who was tortured to death by Cao Cao, together with Dong Cheng and the others. The two sons escaped death at the time by escaping but have secretly returned and are now staying outside the capital. If we ask them for help they will not refuse.”
His two friends rejoiced at the prospect of further help, and the two Ji brothers were called forth. Soon they arrived, and the plan was laid before them. Weeping with deep gratitude for their friends and intense hatred for the torturer of their father, they swore to aid in the destruction of Cao Cao.
Jin Yi suggested that they took action on the fifteenth day of the first month,* as the city would then be lit by lights and fire everywhere for the celebration of the lantern festival.
Turning to Geng Ji and Wei Huang, he added: “You two are to lead out your servants and make your way quickly to Wang Bi’s camp. When you see a fire breaking out inside the capital, burst in, slay Wang Bi and follow me into the palace. We’ll
then request the Emperor to ascend the Tower of the Five Phoenixes, where he’ll assemble his officers and issue orders to destroy the rebels.”
To the two Ji brothers, he said: “You’re to make your way into the city and set fires going. Raise your voices to call on the populace to aid you in destroying the enemy of the state. In the meantime, try to delay any rescue force inside the city. When the Emperor has issued the edict and the disturbance is calmed, we’ll mobilize an army to Yejun to seize Cao Cao. By then, a messenger will have been dispatched with a summons for Liu Bei. Tonight we’ve decided upon our plan and when the day comes we’ll begin our action at the second watch. We mustn’t bring misfortune to ourselves like Dong Cheng.”
All five swore before Heaven and smeared their lips with blood to pledge to be true. After this, each returned to his own home to prepare arms and call up their men.
Both Geng Ji and Wei Huang had a large number of servants, whom they armed. The Ji brothers also got together some hundreds of men, pretending that they were preparing for a hunting party.
Before the time fixed for their operation, Jin Yi went to see Wang Bi, to whom he said, “The country has enjoyed some peace now and the prestige of the Prince of Wei extends over all the land. The lantern festival is drawing near. I think we must have the lights and fireworks out to mark the joy and felicitation of the occasion.”
Wang Bi agreed and had notices put out to tell the residents to hang out lanterns and decorations for the festival. On the night of the full moon, the sky was very clear. The moon and stars vied for brilliance. Among the “six streets and the three market places” of the city lanterns were hung out in profusion, and the people took advantage of the occasion to have a wonderful time. They were not to fear the interference of city guards or mind about the passing of time—all was pure gaiety.
That night Wang Bi and his colleagues had a feast in their camp. Just after the second watch they heard a great shouting in the camp, and reports came in to say that a fire had started in the rear. Wang Bi hurriedly left the table and went outside, where he saw flames leaping up on every side and heard shouts of “Kill!” rising to the very sky. He thought the camp had certainly mutinied, and, jumping on his horse, exited by the south gate. Just outside he ran into Geng Ji, who fired an arrow that struck him in the shoulder. He nearly fell from the wound, but he got away toward the west gate. He found he was pursued by armed men, so he gave up his horse and went on foot. Presently he came to the house of Jin Yi and hammered at the door.