The Peach Garden Oath of Brotherhood among Heroes (part 4)

Back

The next day, they prepared a black ox, a white horse, and other sacrificial items in the peach orchard. The three of them burned incense and swore an oath: "Though we are not born on the same day, we wish to die on the same day. We will work together to save the troubled and help the endangered, repay the country, and bring peace to the people. Heaven and earth will witness our hearts. If we betray this oath, may heaven and earth punish us!" They swore, with Xuande as the eldest brother, Guan Yu as the second, and Zhang Fei as the youngest. After the ceremony, they slaughtered the ox and horse, feasted with the local warriors, and drank heartily in the orchard.

The next day, they gathered weapons but lacked horses. While they were worrying, someone reported, "Two guests are driving a herd of horses to the village." Xuande said, "Heaven is helping us!" The three went out to welcome the guests. The two guests were merchants from Zhongshan, named Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang. They traded horses in the north and returned due to the rebellion. Xuande invited them to the village, treated them with wine, and explained their plan to fight the rebels and bring peace. The merchants were delighted and offered fifty good horses, five hundred taels of silver, and a thousand pounds of iron for weapons.

Xuande thanked the merchants and ordered craftsmen to forge a pair of double-edged swords for himself, a Green Dragon Crescent Blade for Guan Yu, weighing eighty-two pounds, and an eight-foot-long spear for Zhang Fei. They also acquired full armor. With over five hundred local warriors, they went to see Zou Jing. Zou Jing introduced them to Governor Liu Yan. After meeting, Liu Yan was delighted to learn of Xuande's royal lineage and recognized him as a nephew.

Soon, they received a letter from the Governor of Qingzhou, Gong Jing, stating that the Yellow Turban rebels were besieging the city and requesting urgent assistance. Liu Yan discussed with Xuande, who volunteered to help. Liu Yan ordered Zou Jing to lead five thousand troops with Xuande, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei to Qingzhou. The rebels, seeing the reinforcements, divided their forces to fight. Xuande's small force could not win and retreated thirty miles to set up camp. Xuande said to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, "The rebels are many, and we are few. We must use a surprise attack to win." He divided the troops, with Guan Yu leading one thousand to ambush on the left, Zhang Fei leading one thousand to ambush on the right, and the signal to attack being the sound of the gong.

Other Stories