Guan Yu

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Guan Yu : biography

Unknown – 219

Battle of Boma

Later that year, Yuan Shao sent his general Yan Liang to lead an army to attack Cao Cao’s garrison at Boma (白馬; or Baima), which was defended by Liu Yan (劉延). Cao Cao sent Zhang Liao and Guan Yu to lead a vanguard force to resist the enemy. In the midst of battle, Guan Yu recognised Yan Liang’s parasol so he charged towards the latter, decapitated him and returned with Yan’s head. Yuan Shao’s men were unable to stop him. The siege on Boma was lifted. On Cao Cao’s recommendation, Emperor Xian conferred the title of "MarquisThe title of marquis was divided into three grades during the Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period. These are, in ascending order of prestige, tinghou (亭侯; marquis of a village), xianghou (郷侯; marquis of a district) and xianhou (縣侯; marquis of a county). Guan Yu’s was the first. of Hanshou Village" (漢壽亭侯) on Guan Yu.(紹遣大將軍顏良攻東郡太守劉延於白馬,曹公使張遼及羽為先鋒擊之。羽望見良麾蓋,策馬刺良於萬衆之中,斬其首還,紹諸將莫能當者,遂解白馬圍。曹公即表封羽為漢壽亭侯。) Sanguozhi vol. 36.

Leaving Cao Cao

Cao Cao admired Guan Yu’s character, but he also sensed that Guan had no intention of serving under him for long. He told Zhang Liao, "Why don’t you make use of your friendship with Guan Yu to find out his objective?" When Zhang Liao asked Guan Yu, the latter replied, "I’m aware that Lord Cao treats me very generously. However, I’ve also received much favours from General Liu and I’ve sworn to follow him until I die. I cannot break my oath. I’ll leave eventually, so you should help me convey my message to Lord Cao." Zhang Liao did so, and Cao Cao was further impressed with Guan Yu.(初,曹公壯羽為人,而察其心神無乆留之意,謂張遼曰:「卿試以情問之。」旣而遼以問羽,羽歎曰:「吾極知曹公待我厚,然吾受劉將軍厚恩,誓以共死,不可背之。吾終不留,吾要當立效以報曹公乃去。」遼以羽言報曹公,曹公義之。) Sanguozhi vol. 36. The Fu Zi gave a slightly different account of this incident. It stated that Zhang Liao had a dilemma on whether to convey Guan Yu’s message to Cao Cao or not: if he did, Cao Cao might execute Guan Yu; if he did not, he would be failing in his service to Cao Cao. He sighed, "Lord Cao is my superior and is like a father to me; Guan Yu is like a brother to me." He eventually made his decision to tell Cao Cao. Cao Cao said, "A subject who serves a lord but does not forget his origins is truly a man of righteousness. When do you think he will leave?" Zhang Liao replied, "Guan Yu has received favours from Your Excellency. He’ll most probably leave after he has repaid your kindness."(傅子曰:遼欲白太祖,恐太祖殺羽,不白,非事君之道,乃歎曰:「公,君父也;羽,兄弟耳。」遂白之。太祖曰:「事君不忘其本,天下義士也。度何時能去?」遼曰:「羽受公恩,必立效報公而後去也。」) Fu Zi annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 36.

After Guan Yu slew Yan Liang and lifted the siege on Boma, Cao Cao knew that he would leave, so he presented Guan with even heavier rewards. Guan Yu sealed up all the gifts he received from Cao Cao, wrote a farewell letter to the latter, and headed towards Yuan Shao’s territory to reunite with Liu Bei. Cao Cao’s subordinates wanted to pursue Guan Yu, but Cao stopped them and said, "He’s just doing his duty to his lord. There’s no need to pursue him."(及羽殺顏良,曹公知其必去,重加賞賜。羽盡封其所賜,拜書告辭,而奔先主於袁軍。左右欲追之,曹公曰:「彼各為其主,勿追也。」) Sanguozhi vol. 36.

Pei Songzhi commented on this as follows: "Cao Cao admired Guan Yu’s character even though he knew that the latter would not remain under him. He did not send his men to pursue Guan Yu when the latter left, so as to allow Guan to fulfil his loyalty. If he did not possess the magnanimity of an overlord, how would he have allowed this to happen? This was a showcase of Cao Cao’s goodness."(臣松之以為曹公知羽不留而心嘉其志,去不遣追以成其義,自非有王霸之度,孰能至於此乎?斯實曹氏之休美。) Pei Songzhi’s annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 36.

Battle of Fancheng

In 219, Liu Bei emerged victorious in the Hanzhong Campaign against Cao Cao, after which he declared himself "King of Hanzhong" (漢中王). He appointed Guan Yu as "General of the Vanguard" (前將軍) and bestowed upon him a ceremonial axe. In the same year, Guan Yu led his forces to attack Cao Ren at Fan (樊; or Fancheng, in present-day Fancheng District, Xiangyang, Hubei) and besieged the city. Cao Cao sent Yu Jin to lead reinforcements to help Cao Ren. It was in autumn and there were heavy showers, so the Han River overflowed. Yu Jin’s seven armies were destroyed in the flood. Yu Jin surrendered to Guan Yu while his subordinate Pang De refused and was executed by Guan. The bandits led by Liang Jia (梁郟) and Lu Hun (陸渾) received official seals from Guan Yu, so they submitted to him and became his followers. Guan Yu’s fame spread throughout China.(二十四年,先主為漢中王,拜羽為前將軍,假節鉞。是歲,羽率衆攻曹仁於樊。曹公遣于禁助仁。秋,大霖雨,漢水汎溢,禁所督七軍皆沒。禁降羽,羽又斬將軍龐德。梁郟、陸渾羣盜或遙受羽印號,為之支黨,羽威震華夏。) Sanguozhi vol. 36.