The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation by Luo Guanzhong Read Free Book Online Page B

Alas! what they beheld left them with no doubt. With a despairing cry Wang Fu threw himself over the wall and perished, while Zhou Cang killed himself with his own sword. Thus the city also fell to Wu.
    Now the spirit of Guan Yu did not dissipate into air, but wandered through the void till it came to the Jade Spring Hill in Dangyang. There lived a venerable Buddhist priest whose religious name was Pujing. He was originally an abbot of a temple, called Guardian of the State, at Sishui Pass. Later he left the temple because he helped Guan Yu escape from the pass (See Chapter Twenty-Seven) and during his travel around the country he had reached this place. Entranced with its natural beauty, he had built himself a shelter of boughs and grass, where he sat meditating on Buddhist teachings. He had a novice with him to beg food and to attend to his simple wants.
    That night the moon was bright and the air serene. Just after midnight Pujing was meditating in the stillness of the mountains when he suddenly heard a voice calling loudly in the sky: “Give me back my head, give me back my head.”
    Gazing upward, he saw the shape of a man mounted on a steed known as Red Hare and holding in his hand a shining blade, the Blue Dragon. On his left was a general of fair complexion while on his right, a warrior of swarthy countenance and a curly beard. The three of them floated along on a cloud, which came to rest on top of the hill.
    The recluse recognized the figure as that of Guan Yu, so with his flagellum he hit the lintel of his hut and cried, “Where is Yun-chang?”
    The spirit, suddenly alerted, dismounted, sailed down with the wind, and came to a stop in front of the hut. Interlacing his fingers, he stood reverently and inquired, “Who are you, my teacher, and what is your religious name?”
    “My name is Pujing,” replied the monk. “We met in the Guardian of the State temple at Sishui Pass. Have you forgotten that?”
    “I am deeply grateful for the help you gave me then. Misfortune has befallen me, and I have ceased to live. I would like you to enlighten me with your instruction, to help me recover my bearings.”
    “Let us say nothing about past wrongs or present rights, nor about causes or consequences. I know that Lu Meng has killed you and you call aloud for the return of your head. But who will return the heads of your victims, such as Yan Liang, Wen Chou, and the six officers of the five passes?”
    A realization came over Guan Yu, who bowed in acceptance of the Buddhist teaching and disappeared. Later his spirit often visited the hill, manifesting its sacred power to protect the people. Grateful for his virtue, the local people built a temple on top of the Jade Spring Hill to honor him and sacrificial offerings were given at the four seasons. Later a poet wrote a couplet for the temple, which reads:
    Ruddy face foretold an honest heart; he rode the wind on the Red
Hare, mindful of the Red Emperor;
By the blue-shaded lamp he read the histories; he held his Blue
Dragon blade, heart pure as the azure heaven.
    The execution of Guan Yu gave Sun Quan undisputed possession of the whole of the Jingzhou area. He rewarded his soldiers and spread a great feast, at which Lu Meng held the seat of honor. At the banquet he said, “Thanks to the magnificent service of General Lu my long-cherished desire to possess this area has been finally satisfied.”
    Lu Meng again and again declined the honor, but Sun Quan continued, “In the past Zhou Yu was superior to most men, and he defeated Cao Cao at the Red Cliff. Alas! he died too soon. Then Lu Su succeeded him. In his first meeting with me he outlined to me the general policy of creating a kingdom. That was the first instance of his keen insight. When Cao Cao descended upon my country, and when everyone advised me to yield, he advised me to summon Zhou Yu to oppose him. That was the second instance of his keen insight. But he blundered when he advised me to lend Jingzhou to Liu Bei.