The Bonds of Brotherhood - Part 3 of 3
Guan Yu landed on the northern shore and had gone no further than the end of the wooden dock when a rider approached from the north. Assuming the worst he reached for Green Dragon and went to mount Red Hare. The ladies were still on the ferry.
‘Lord Guan!’ Sun Qian called out, he had picked up the pace. ‘Lord Guan! How fortuitous to have met you on the road. Liu Bei has left for Runan.’ The man panted, his face murky from the road.
Guan Yu was exasperated, ‘To Runan!? Why would my brother go there?’
Sun Qian reached the dock and reined in his horse, ‘I convinced him to leave Yuan Shao. Allow me to explain,’ he held both hands out, fingers splayed, to deter Guan from responding just yet. ‘Yuan Shao has imprisoned his most talented advisor, Tian Feng, and his court is nothing more than power. plays between Guo Tu and Shen Pie. He dithers on every issue and is bitter about the deaths of Yan Liang and Wen Chou. Let us cross the river and journey south to Runan.’
‘But why Runan?’
‘I did as you asked and came to Ji but I did it under the pretext of securing an alliance with Yuan Shao for Liu Pi. There is no hope for such a union but it provided our lord with a destination.’
Guan Yu stroked his beard, ‘I see. There is some sense to that, I suppose.’ With a surge of energy, ‘We have no time to waste. Board the ferry, take us back across!’ his command rippled across the silt thick water of the river. He returned to the boat and knocked on the door of the carriage and bowed. ‘Sun Qian has found us and informed me that Liu Bei is in Runan, we are headed there now. I am sorry for the delay.’
‘I am relieved to hear of my lord’s whereabouts no matter how long it takes to return to his side,’ Lady Mi said, her voice echoing from within the carriage. Guan Yu could not see her or Lady Gan. but he could hear them both weeping.
Back on Cao Cao’s side of the river Qin Qi’s men were confused by Guan Yu’s return but none dared confront him about it, instead they aided him in securing the boat and getting the horses back on dry land. As soon as they were Guan Yu raced ahead as fast as the carriage allowed. He pelted out of the dock and was a good distance to Huazhou when he heard hoof beats behind. He urged Sun Qian and the carriage to continue on.
‘Halt!’ a voice barked.
Lord Guan turned to see the one-eyed general Xiahou Dun racing towards him with three hundred riders. He raised Green Dragon, ready for a fight. ‘Are you going to ignore the Prime Minister’s orders?’ Guan Yu growled through his clenched jaw.
‘I have no orders but you have slain my commander and killed others on your way, that is an outrage, one the Prime Minister must address. He can do with you as he wishes,’ Xiahou Dun trotted back and forth, spear in hand. Steam rose from his mounts flared nostrils. He roared wordless and kicked his horse into a gallop.
‘Stop!’ a rider cried from further north on the road. ‘Guan Yu is not to be harmed or obstructed!’
Xiahou Dun pulled the reins and his mount skidded to a halt, ‘You have word from the Prime Minister!?’ he was incredulous, the muscles of his face twitching.
The messenger tugged his reins, his mount neighing as it clattered to a halt, legs trembling. He saluted and handed Xiahou Dun a scroll.
The one-eyed general skimmed the characters, ‘His Excellency does not know about the men you have killed, I will still arrest you for him to judge.’ Xiahou Dun tossed the letter to the ground and raised his spear, kicking his horse to action.
‘You will try,’ Guan Yu remained still, ready to parry the man’s strike. Xiahou Dun jabbed as he galloped by, the blow glancing off the head of Guan’s crescent blade. Sparks skittered through the air. Guan Yu circled Red Hare and was ready to give chase when a second messenger thundered down the road.
‘His Excellency the Prime Minister orders all commanders and governors to allow Lord Guan Yu safe passage!’
Xiahou Dun cursed and guided his horse in a trot to the messenger to read the second letter. He chewed the meaning and then finally said, ‘His Excellency is unaware of Qin Qi’s death, he was Cai Yang’s nephew and Cai will want retribution.’
‘Retribution is not his to decide. The Prime Minister has granted me safe passage and if you will not let me go then I will slay you too,’ Guan Yu raised his crescent blade, ready for another bout.
‘Surround him!’ Xiahou Dun ordered his three hundred riders. The cavalry shuddered into action and Guan Yu found himself in a duelling ring with Xiahou Dun. ‘Yield!’
‘No,’ Guan Yu said, unafraid of the three hundred or their general.
‘Then you leave me no choice!’ Xiahou Dun went on the offensive, their blades crossing three times.
‘Stop this fighting!’ Zhang Liao yelled. ‘His Excellency grants Guan Yu safe passage, and a pass for him to carry and show wherever it is needed. The Prime Minister is aware of Qin Qi’s death, as well as all the other officers, and pardons Lord Guan. Let him go!’
Xiahou Dun howled and launched his spear like a javelin into the hard packed earth of the road. The spear cracked the dirt and swayed from the force of the throw. The three hundred riders parted for Lord Guan who cantered through, Green Dragon held high for all to see. Lord Guan saluted Zhang Liao, accepted the pass, and galloped after Sun Qian and the Ladies.
‘Cai Yang will not forgive him,’ Xiahou Dun said.
Guan Yu caught up to Sun Qian and regaled him with the tale. The advisor could not believe Guan’s luck but was thankful that there would be no more pursuers.
The road south to Runan led them near to Gucheng, a small walled town. On the road Lord Guan heard two travellers talking about a new magistrate called Zhang and stopped them to enquire. Zhang was a common name but Guan felt a stir from the Heavens. ‘Tell me, good sirs, what do you know of this Zhang?’
‘Oh not a lot, only that he beat up the old magistrate and has been recruiting men and buying provisions for some big campaign,’ the older of the two men said. He bowed, ‘Sorry I do not know more.’
Sun Qian raised an eyebrow, ‘Beat up the old magistrate, that sounds like Zhang Fei.’
‘It does sound like third brother, let us go to Gucheng and see,’ Lord Guan said.
The gates were closed. Flags with the character for Liu flew over Gucheng. Guan Yu and Sun Qian halted an arrows distance from the gate when it opened and a single rider bolted out towards them. The Gucheng horseman carried a banner with the character for Zhang emblazoned on it.
‘The Magistrate Zhang wishes to know who approaches Gucheng?’ the rider slowed and stopped a short distance away.
‘Guan Yu, brother to Liu Bei and Zhang Fei, and Sun Qian. Where is elder brother? His flag flies above the gatehouse.’
‘I am under instruction not to answer your questions. Wait here while I report,’ the rider galloped back towards Gucheng. The gate yawned open and close, swallowing the rider.
Sun Qian stared slack jawed, ‘What is going on?’
‘I do not know,’ Lord Guan stroked his long beard, feeling the warmth of the sun on his face. The air smelt sweet with blossom and the horizon shimmered from the heat. The sun dipped a degree before the gates reopened and a boar of a man emerged mounted and in full scale, his beard unruly, wielding a serpent spear. Guan Yu was delighted to see third brother, Zhang Fei, after many months of knowing nothing of his whereabouts. He clicked his tongue and Red Hare began to trot.
‘Traitor! How dare you show your face here!’ Zhang Fei roared. He kicked his black stallion into a full gallop and readied his serpent spear.
‘Brother? I have only just heard where you were by chance, this is an auspicious day before us!’ Guan Yu refused to raise his Green Dragon. ‘Where is elder brother?’
‘Silence! You’re here to capture me for Cao Cao, you will not have Liu Bei as well. You have been bought with rank and title, prepare yourself!’ Zhang Fei was crimson with rage, he yelled wordlessly and brought his weapon up high.
‘If I were here to capture you, wouldn’t I need an army?’
‘Master Zhang,’ Sun Qian pleaded. ‘Lord Guan has escorted Lord Liu’s wives, we are here to reunite.’
‘You have been tricked. Sisters I will save you from this villain!’
‘Magnanimous brother, Lord Guan is loyal to us all. We stayed with Cao Cao because we had too while he searched for word of Liu Bei!’ Lady Gan cried from the carriage.
‘You have been tricked, I will save you! Traitor, your army has arrived!’ Zhang Fei growled. His first strike was aimed at Lord Guan’s head. Guan Yu was forced to defend himself, refusing to attack and only deflecting his sworn brother’s relentless assault. Guan was unable to see what Zhang Fei had seen.
‘Cao Cao is here!’ Sun Qian cried.
‘Brother, we need to retreat into the city!’ Guan Yu said, deflecting a vicious strike to his leg.
‘That’s your army! You’re here to finish us off!’
‘Never! Let me prove it to you,’ Lord Guan parried a strike hard enough to knock Zhang Fei off balance. His third brother had his teeth bared, grunting, his knuckles white around his spear.
‘Slay the general before the third round of the drum!’ Zhang Fei spun his steed around and returned to the city. Heartbeats later he was atop the wall, his armour discarded, his robe tied around his waist. With the drum sticks in hand he mounted the war drum and began to beat.
Guan Yu was already facing the enemy. It was Cao Cao’s army but it was not Cao Cao at the head of it, nor was it Xiahou Dun who Guan had expected. It was Cai Yang. ‘Guan Yu! Stand and fight! You have betrayed the Prime Minister’s trust and slew my nephew Qin Qi. Prepare to die!’ Cai Yang shrieked and sped ahead of his army. The drums beat thrice. Lord Guan rode out to meet Cai Yang and forced all his frustration into the swing. Cai Yang’s scream was cut short as he was decapitated in a single swing before the first round of drums had finished. Guan Yu surged forward, grabbing the flag bearer of Cai Yang’s army as the rest fled.
‘Does Cao Cao know we are here?’
The flag bearer was on his knees before Red Hare, Guan Yu scowling down. ‘No, we were on our way to recapture Runan. General Cai Yang was furious about Qin Qi’s death and petitioned the Prime Minister to take revenge, he was denied and sent to quell Runan but he happened to hear about a long bearded man escorting a carriage heading to Gucheng and ordered us to pursue you.’
Zhang Fei was galloping down the road, wearing only his robes. ‘Brother!’ Grinning from ear to ear, his tiger’s beard bushy and thick. ‘Incredible, your stint with the traitor Cao has not dulled your skill.’ He yanked the reins of his mount to a halt before the flag bearer. ‘Who’s this?’
‘Cai Yang’s flag bearer, tell my younger brother what you told me.’
The flag bearer did so and Zhang Fei chuckled, ‘To think I thought you had betrayed big brother and I when in fact you’ve been wrecking havoc throughout his lands.’ He howled with laughter. ‘Come, brother, join me for a banquet and lots of wine to celebrate our reunion,’ Zhang Fei clapped Guan Yu on the back and they rode together into Gucheng.
‘Where is elder brother?’ Lord Guan asked as the gates of the city opened for them, Sun Qian, the riders and the carriage carrying Lady Mi and Lady Gan.
‘Runan, he thought he could forge an alliance with the Yellow Turbans there to fight Cao Cao. He should be back soon,’ Zhang Fei grunted. ‘They’re not soldiers though, more likely to run than to fight.’
‘Hmm. I reclaimed Runan for Cao Cao, it was where I found out Liu Bei was with Yuan Shao. Liu Pi and Gong Du fled without giving battle, they are not trustworthy in battle.’
‘Exactly. Tell elder brother that when he returns.’
‘What happened with Yuan Shao? Sun Qian mentioned divisions in his court.’ The two brothers reached the magistrates compound and a meal was already being prepared. They dismounted and stablehands took their steeds. Woman servants emerged, shuffling along, heads bowed, to escort the two Ladies to their quarters. The twenty riders were given a guard barracks. Guan Yu set Green Dragon on a weapons rack in the main hall beside Zhang Fei’s serpent spear. Roast meats, grilled vegetables, and a mix of millet and rice. Stacks of wine jars were being warmed by the ovens, an uncouth method but one Zhang required to quench his thirst.
‘I wasn’t with elder brother when he was with Yuan. I would have told him to abandon the pompous oaf to his fate. He could have twice Cao’s number and he would still lose, even now my scouts report that Cao Cao’s vanguard is surrounded Yuan’s main provisions depot this side of the river. Without that he’s finished, without Yan Liang and Wen Chou he was finished already. You saw to that.’
‘I did what I had promised.’
Zhang Fei fetched two pots of wine. He grunted, ‘Doesn’t matter. Wouldn’t have made a difference to the war. We need to attack from the rear, attack Xu direct, while the Traitor Cao is distracted up north.’
Guan Yu accepted a cup. ‘Does elder brother approve?’
‘To our reunion!’ Zhang clashed his wine jug against Guan’s bronze cup and swigged for many heartbeats. He gasped, wine dripping through his grizzled beard, ‘No. He does not approve, doesn’t think four thousand men can do much. I told him a small force causing havoc here, there, and everywhere would work. Well he went to Runan for an alliance,’ he shrugged and chugged more wine.
The pair drank late into the night, Zhang drinking three cups for Guan’s one, until the former sank into a snoring stupor. Guan Yu took himself to find a bed.
Morning came and Guan Yu emerged into the light of day with a clouded mind. He reached the main hall and found a pair of swords in the weapons rack too. ‘Elder brother!’ he exclaimed.
‘Guan Yu!’ Liu Bei cried, his hair was unkempt and shoes dusty from the road. He was standing over Zhang with a pot of water, two empty ones were beside him yet Zhang remained sleeping. A stream trickled out from the hall and down the steps to the pavilion. Liu Bei set the water down and hurried over to embrace Guan Yu, ‘I cannot imagine the harrowing time you have had as a servant of Cao Cao.’
‘I was no servant. We had an agreement, one we both honoured even if his underlings tried to refuse.’
‘Well it is good to see you in any case,’ Liu Bei frowned at Guan Yu’s implied praise of Cao Cao but he quickly moved on. ‘Now help me wake third brother, we must prepare to depart,’ he had not even removed his travel cloak.
‘Runan?’
‘They will be of no use, they are opportunists, not true allies of the Han. We must go to family, Liu Biao in Jing is near, Liu Zhang in Yi is further west. Both will aid us in dispatching the rebel Cao, I am certain.’
Guan Yu knelt beside Zhang Fei while Liu Bei spoke and pinched a few of his brother’s acupuncture sites. Zhang Fei startled awake with a deafening roar, sitting up like a doll. ‘Good morning, third brother, it is time to leave. Round up your recruits and provisions, we head south.’ Guan Yu spoke slow and steady before standing and retrieving his sword and long pole crescent blade.
‘South?’ the word was groggy on Zhang’s tongue.
‘Liu Biao in Jing, an Imperial Scion like elder brother,’ Guan Yu said.
Zhang Fei grunted, ‘Fine. I still think we should fight.’
Guan Yu leant a hand to Zhang Fei to help him stand, ‘I’m sure there will be plenty of fighting to come. Isn’t that right elder brother?’
Liu Bei slid his swords onto his belt, ‘Most definitely. So long as I live I will fight to save the Han.’ He drew one of his swords and pointed it to the Heavens.
‘As will I,’ Guan Yu and Zhang Fei said together, raising their Green Dragon and serpent spear too.
Thank you for reading!
Make sure to check out my new serial starting Thursday 19th June. Read the introduction now!
