Lu Bu, styled Fengxian, was a native of Jiuyuan in Wuyuan County. Because of his strong martial arts skills, he was appointed to serve in Bingzhou. The Governor of Bingzhou, Ding Yuan, appointed him as Cavalry Commander and stationed him in Henei, making Lu Bu his Chief Clerk, whom he highly valued. After the death of Emperor Ling of the Han, Ding Yuan led his troops to Luoyang. He and He Jin planned to assassinate the eunuchs, and later, Lu Bu was appointed as the Capital Commandant. After He Jin's failure, Dong Zhuo entered the capital, with plans to rebel and kill Ding Yuan and seize his military power. Dong Zhuo knew that Lu Bu was deeply trusted by Ding Yuan, so he tricked Lu Bu into killing Ding Yuan. Lu Bu killed Ding Yuan and presented his head to Dong Zhuo, who then appointed Lu Bu as Cavalry Commander, lavishing him with favor and trust, even swearing to become father and son with him.
Lu Bu was skilled in horseback archery, had great strength, and was known as the "Flying General." He was later promoted to General of the Household and appointed as Marquis of Duting. Dong Zhuo was rough and impolite, always worried that others would harm him, so he always had Lu Bu with him for protection wherever he went. However, Dong Zhuo had a violent temper and a narrow mind, often getting angry easily. Once, he threw a halberd at Lu Bu over something trivial. Lu Bu quickly dodged it and apologized to Dong Zhuo, who let it go. After this incident, Lu Bu secretly resented Dong Zhuo. Dong Zhuo often had Lu Bu guard the inner chamber, and Lu Bu had an affair with Dong Zhuo's maid, constantly anxious about being found out and never feeling at ease.
Earlier, Wang Yun saw that Lv Bu was strong and held him in high regard. Later, Lv Bu went to see Wang Yun and told him that Dong Zhuo was soon to be assassinated. At that time, Wang Yun and his subordinate Shi Sun Rui were plotting to assassinate Dong Zhuo, so he instructed Lv Bu to collaborate with them. Lv Bu said, "I am like a son to Dong Zhuo, how can I do this?" Wang Yun said, "Your surname is Lv; you are not related to Dong Zhuo. Now we are all desperate to stay alive, why talk about father-son relationship?" Lv Bu agreed and personally killed Dong Zhuo. This incident is documented in the "Biography of Dong Zhuo." Wang Yun appointed Lv Bu as General of the Agile Cavalry, issued him a false imperial edict, and treated him with the same courtesy as the Three Excellencies. He also enfeoffed him as Marquis of Wen, enabling him to partake in court affairs. After killing Dong Zhuo, Lv Bu was afraid of retaliation from the people of Liangzhou, who harbored resentment towards him. Therefore, Li Jue and others united to attack Chang'an. Lv Bu was unable to withstand, so Li Jue and others broke into Chang'an. Less than two months after Dong Zhuo's death, Lv Bu also failed. He escaped with several hundred cavalry from Wuguan, intending to seek refuge with Yuan Shu.
Lv Bu believed that by killing Dong Zhuo, he could settle the score and wanted to use this merit to join Yuan Shao. However, Yuan Shao felt that Lv Bu was fickle and unreliable, so he outright rejected him. Lv Bu had no choice but to go to Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao and Lv Bu joined forces to battle Zhang Yan in Changshan. Zhang Yan commanded over ten thousand elite troops and several thousand cavalry. Lv Bu had a good horse called Red Hare. He led his loyal followers, Cheng Lian and Wei Yue, into battle and secured a resounding victory, defeating Zhang Yan's army.
Then Lu Bu requested troops from Yuan Shao, and his soldiers were pillaging everywhere. Yuan Shao grew increasingly concerned about Lu Bu and wary of his power. Lu Bu also sensed Yuan Shao's doubts and asked to depart. Afraid that Lu Bu would come back to harm him, Yuan Shao sent assassins to eliminate Lu Bu in the dead of night, but the attempt failed. When this plot was uncovered, Lu Bu quickly fled to Henei and allied with Zhang Yang. Yuan Shao sent men to pursue Lu Bu, but everyone was afraid of him and no one dared to approach.
Zhang Miao, courtesy name Mengzhuo, was from Dongping Shouzhang. He was renowned for his chivalry from a young age, often aiding those in distress, even at the expense of his own fortune. Many people followed him because of this. Both Cao Cao and Yuan Shao counted Zhang Miao as a friend. Zhang Miao was summoned by the court and appointed as the Cavalry Commander due to his outstanding performance, later promoted to the position of Chenliu Prefect. During the rebellion led by Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao and Zhang Miao were the first to raise the banner of rebellion. In the Battle of Bian River, Zhang Miao even dispatched Wei Zi with troops to assist Cao Cao. After Yuan Shao became the leader, he grew arrogant and complacent, so Zhang Miao confronted him directly. Yuan Shao then ordered Cao Cao to kill Zhang Miao, but Cao Cao refused, chastising Yuan Shao with the words, "Mengzhuo is my good friend. Even if he has made a mistake, I should still be tolerant of him. The world has not yet been unified; we should not fight amongst ourselves!" Upon learning of this, Zhang Miao held Cao Cao in even higher regard. When Cao Cao went to campaign against Tao Qian, he instructed his family to seek refuge with Mengzhuo if he did not return. When Cao Cao returned and saw Zhang Miao, the two embraced and wept, demonstrating their deep bond!
Lu Bu left Yuan Shao and defected to Zhang Yang. Before leaving, he and Zhang Yang even shook hands and swore an oath. Yuan Shao was infuriated when he heard about this. Zhang Miao, however, was apprehensive that Cao Cao would come after him in the future because of Yuan Shao, and he felt uneasy. In the first year of Xingping, Cao Cao went to campaign against Zhang Xiu. Zhang Miao's brother, Zhang Chao, conspired with Chen Gong, the officer Xu Si, and Wang Kai to plot against Cao Cao. Chen Gong advised Zhang Miao, saying, "All the heroes in the world have risen up now, the world is in chaos, and you have so many troops but are surrounded on all sides, living in constant fear. Isn’t this quite disgraceful? The armies in the provinces are all fighting in the east, leaving the rear empty. Lu Bu is a formidable character in battle. If you invite him to join forces and take control of Yanzhou together, assess the situation in the world, and make plans when the time is right, it would be a great opportunity!" Zhang Miao agreed to this suggestion. Initially, Cao Cao stationed Chen Gong's troops in Dongjun, and then Zhang Miao led his army to welcome Lu Bu, appointing him as the Governor of Yanzhou, and occupying Puyang. The various counties of Yanzhou surrendered to Lu Bu, except for Juancheng, Dong'e, and Fan, which remained under Cao Cao's control. When Cao Cao returned with his troops, he fought against Lu Bu in Puyang, but Cao Cao suffered a defeat, and both sides were deadlocked for over a hundred days. At that time, there was a severe drought, locust plague, and food shortage, leading people to starve and even resort to cannibalism. Lu Bu then moved his troops to Shanyang. Two years later, Cao Cao recaptured those cities and defeated Lu Bu in Juye. Lu Bu fled to Liu Bei's side. Zhang Miao followed Lu Bu and left his brother Zhang Chao to station with his family in Yongqiu. Cao Cao besieged Yongqiu for several months, eventually breaking through the city and killing Zhang Chao's entire family. Zhang Miao sought help from Yuan Shu, but before Yuan Shu's reinforcements could arrive, he was killed by his own soldiers.
Liu Bei devised a strategy in the east, ambushed and captured Xiaopei, then returned to Lu Bu. Lu Bu ordered Liu Bei to garrison at Xiaopei. Lu Bu proclaimed himself as the Inspector of Xu Province. Cao Cao sent Ji Ling and others to lead thirty thousand infantry and cavalry to attack Liu Bei. Liu Bei sought Lu Bu’s assistance. Lu Bu's subordinates said to him, "General, you have always wanted to kill Liu Bei. Now you can use Cao Cao to eliminate him." Lu Bu said, "No. If Cao Cao defeats Liu Bei, he will unite with the generals in the Taishan area. By then, I will be surrounded by Cao Cao and will have no choice but to rescue Liu Bei." So Lu Bu immediately took one thousand infantry and two hundred cavalry and hurried to Liu Bei’s aid. When Ji Ling and others heard that Lu Bu was coming, they hesitated to attack again. Lu Bu set up camp southwest of Pei County and sent people to invite Ji Ling and others. Ji Ling and others also invited Lu Bu to join them for a meal. Lu Bu said to Ji Ling and others, "Liu Xuande is my brother. He is besieged by you, so I came to rescue him. I prefer not to fight; I only wish to mediate disputes." Lu Bu ordered the guards to raise a spear at the center of the camp entrance, saying, "If I hit the small tip of the spear with an arrow, you will withdraw your troops. If I miss, we will continue to fight." Lu Bu shot the spear with his bow, hitting the tip perfectly. The generals were astonished and exclaimed, "General, you are truly impressive!" The next day, they shared another feast before each side withdrew their troops.
Cao Cao sought to win Lu Bu over as an ally, so he arranged a marriage proposal for his son to Lu Bu's daughter. Lu Bu agreed. Cao Cao sent the messenger Han Yin with an overreaching edict to inform Lu Bu and to welcome the bride. The Prefect of Pei, Chen Gui, feared that if Cao Cao and Lu Bu formed an alliance, the provinces of Xuzhou and Yangzhou would unite and bring disaster to the country. He urged Lu Bu, "Cao Cao has served the emperor, assisted in state affairs, and built a formidable reputation. He is about to conquer the world, and you should plan with him to preserve the peace of the Taishan region. Marrying Cao Cao now will tarnish your reputation unjustly across the land, and it would be as precarious as a tower of eggs." Lu Bu also resented Cao Cao for rejecting him earlier. The bride was already on her way, but Lu Bu intercepted her, called off the wedding, bound Han Yin and executed him in Xuchang. Chen Gui wanted his son Chen Deng to go see Cao Cao, but Lu Bu refused to let him go. At that moment, an envoy arrived, promoting Lu Bu to General of the Left. Lu Bu was delighted and quickly consented to let Chen Deng go, sending him with a letter of gratitude. When Chen Deng met Cao Cao, he described Lu Bu as brave yet lacking in strategy, fickle, and advised that preparations should be made early. Cao Cao said, "Lu Bu is ambitious and difficult to tolerate in the long run. Except for you, no one can fully understand his thoughts." He then elevated Chen Gui to the rank of 2000 shi and appointed Chen Deng as the Prefect of Guangling. Before they parted, Cao Cao shook Chen Deng's hand and said, "I entrust the eastern affairs to you," and instructed Chen Deng to secretly coordinate with the army as an insider.
At first, Lu Bu wanted Chen Deng to ask the Governor of Xu Zhou for help. When Chen Deng came back, Lu Bu was furious, drew his sword and slammed it onto the table, shouting, "Your father advised me to unite with Cao Cao, sever my ties with Liu Bei; now I have got nothing, yet you and your father have both been prosperous in your official careers. You've clearly betrayed me! What did you say to Cao Cao?" Chen Deng remained calm and calmly explained, "When I met Cao Cao, I said to him, 'Treating a general is like raising a tiger; you must feed it. If you don't feed it, it will bite back.' Cao Cao said, 'That's not as good as my approach. It's like raising a hawk; when it's hungry, you can use it, and when it's full, you can let it fly away.' Cao Cao said that." Hearing this, Lu Bu's anger eased a bit.
Then, Zhang Xiu became angry; he teamed up with Han Xian, Yang Feng, and others, and sent General Zhang Xun to attack Lu Bu. Lu Bu asked Chen Gui, "Now Zhang Xiu's army is coming because of you. What do we do now?" Chen Gui said, "Han Xian, Yang Feng, and Zhang Xiu are just a makeshift coalition; they haven't discussed any strategy in advance and cannot hold out for long. You can turn them against each other. Like a flock of chickens, they can't all stay in one coop; they can easily be split up." Lu Bu accepted Chen Gui's plan, sent people to convince Han Xian and Yang Feng to join him in attacking Zhang Xiu's army, and provided them with all the military resources. As a result, Han Xian and Yang Feng agreed, leading to Zhang Xun's army being defeated.
In 198 AD, Lu Bu rebelled against Cao Cao again, sending Gao Shun to attack Liu Bei in Pei County, which led to Liu Bei's defeat. Cao Cao then sent Xiahou Dun to rescue Liu Bei, but unexpectedly faced a major defeat against Gao Shun. Cao Cao personally led his troops to attack Lu Bu, and upon reaching Lu Bu's city, he even wrote a letter to Lu Bu outlining the stakes clearly. Lu Bu initially wanted to surrender, but Chen Gong and the others, feeling guilty, dissuaded him. Lu Bu then sent someone to seek help from Yuan Shu while leading over a thousand cavalry out of the city to fight, only to be defeated and sneak back into the city, and dared not come out again. Yuan Shu was unable to save him either. Although Lu Bu was brave, he lacked strategy, was excessively suspicious, and couldn't manage his subordinates, only trusting a select few of his generals. These generals had their own agendas and distrusted one another, leading to their repeated defeats. Cao Cao besieged Lu Bu for three months by digging trenches, which caused disunity among Lu Bu's troops. His subordinates, Hou Cheng, Song Xian, and Wei Xu, bound Chen Gong and led their troops in surrender. Lu Bu, with his remaining followers, retreated to the White Gate Tower. With the enemy at the gates and the situation desperate, Lu Bu had no choice but to surrender. Cao Cao captured Lu Bu, and Lu Bu said, "The bindings are too tight; can you loosen them a bit?" Cao Cao replied, "How can I not bind a tiger tightly?" Lu Bu then said, "You're only worried about me now that I've surrendered; what else is there to fear? You lead the infantry, let me lead the cavalry, and the world will soon be pacified!" Cao Cao hesitated. Just then, Liu Bei interjected, "My lord, haven't you seen how Lu Bu treated Ding Jianyang and Dong Zhuo?" Cao Cao nodded. Lu Bu pointed at Liu Bei and said, "This kid is the most unreliable!" So, Cao Cao ordered Lu Bu's execution by hanging. Lu Bu, Chen Gong, Gao Shun, and others were all executed, taken to Xuchang, and then buried.
After Cao Cao captured Chen Gong, he asked him if he wanted to protect the lives of his mother and daughter. Chen Gong replied, "I have heard that a wise and benevolent ruler will not sever others' family ties, and a king who rules with kindness will not let the people's lineage be cut off. You can take care of my mother's safety; I don't need to worry about that." Cao Cao then brought his mother to live with him for her remaining years and arranged for his daughter to marry into a good family.
Chen Deng, with the courtesy name Yuanlong, was especially famous in the Guangling region. He had also achieved great success in battles against Lu Bu and was appointed General of the Pacifying Waves, but unfortunately, he passed away at the age of thirty-nine.
Later, Xu Si and Liu Bei visited Liu Biao's residence in Jingzhou. Liu Biao and Liu Bei discussed the heroes and notable figures of their time, and Xu Si said, "Chen Yuanlong is a person with great ambitions and lofty aspirations!" Liu Bei asked Liu Biao, "Is Mr. Xu correct?" Liu Biao replied, "If I were to say he is wrong, it would be unfair; Chen Yuanlong is a good person, and I cannot tell lies. If I were to say he is right, Chen Yuanlong's reputation resounds throughout the world." Liu Bei then asked Xu Si, "You mentioned his great ambitions; do you have any specific examples?" Xu Si said, "During the chaos in the world in the past, I passed by Xiapi and met Chen Yuanlong. He didn't treat me like a guest at all, didn't speak to me for a long time, slept on the top bunk, and let me sleep on the bottom bunk." Upon hearing this, Liu Bei said, "Mr. Xu, although you may be famous, in the current chaos in the world where the emperor has lost his throne, scholars like you should be concerned about the country and the people, thinking about how to save the world. But you are only concerned about acquiring land and finding a place to live, focusing on trivial matters. This is why Chen Yuanlong looks down on you and why he wouldn't talk to you much. It's like a small-minded person wanting to sleep on the top bunk of a hundred-foot high building, but making you sleep on the ground. It's not just a matter of top and bottom bunk!" Liu Biao burst into laughter upon hearing this. Liu Bei continued, "People like Chen Yuanlong, who are both literary and military talents with extraordinary courage and insight, are probably only found in ancient times. It's hard to find someone comparable to him in today’s world!"
Zang Hong, styled Ziyuan, hailed from Sheyang in Guangling. His father, Zang Min, served as a General under the Xiongnu, Prefect of Zhongshan, and Prefect of Taiyuan, and was highly respected wherever he went. Zang Hong was tall and sturdy, with a unique appearance, and was recommended as a candidate known for his filial piety and integrity, taking on the role of a government official. At that time, the court selected three officials to fill the vacant positions of county magistrates. Zhao Yu of Langye became the magistrate of Juxian County, Liu Yao of Donglai became the magistrate of Xiayi County, Wang Lang of Donghai became the magistrate of Zhiqiu County, and Zang Hong became the magistrate of Qiuxian County. In the final years of Emperor Ling's reign, Zang Hong resigned from his official position and returned home, where Prefect Zhang Chao invited him to take up a position as a clerk.
When Dong Zhuo killed the emperor and sought to bring down the state, Zang Hong said to Cao Cao, "Your family has received imperial favor for generations, and both you and your brother manage large counties. Now that the imperial family is in imminent danger and the treacherous ministers have not been eliminated, this is the perfect opportunity for everyone to repay the imperial favor and be loyal to the court! Our county is still relatively peaceful, the people are prosperous, and with a single command, we can gather twenty thousand troops to eliminate the traitors and set an example for the people, and that would be the right thing to do!" Cao Cao agreed with Zang Hong's words and together they went to Chenliu to discuss with his brother Cao Mai. Cao Mai had long been dissatisfied with Dong Zhuo, so they all gathered in Suanzao. Cao Mai asked Cao Cao, "I heard that as a county magistrate, matters of governance, education, prestige, and virtue are not something you can handle alone. You rely on Zang Hong, right? Who exactly is Zang Hong?" Cao Cao replied, "Zang Hong is exceptionally talented, strategic, wise, and resourceful. I admire him greatly; he is a rare talent in the world!" Cao Mai immediately recommended Zang Hong to the Inspector of Yanzhou, Liu Dai, and the Inspector of Yuzhou, Kong Rong, who were already well-acquainted with Zang Hong. They all then set up an altar to pay homage to the heavens and prepared to swear together. Each province and county deferred to one another, hesitant to take the lead, so they unanimously chose Zang Hong as their leader.
Zang Hong ascended the altar, took up the wine cup, swore an oath by bloodletting, and said, "The Han Dynasty is in a tragic state, the imperial power has fallen, the treacherous minister Dong Zhuo took advantage of the situation to cause chaos, harming the emperor, mistreating the people, and the nation is on the verge of annihilation! The governors of Yanzhou (Liu Dai), Yuzhou (Kong Rong), Chenliu (Cao Mai), Dongjun (Cao Mao), and Guangling (Cao Cao) are now uniting rebel forces to resist the national crisis. All of us allies must work together, be loyal to the country, even if it means sacrificing our lives; we must remain steadfast! If we break our oath, may the heavens punish us, and may we not die in peace! The heavens and ancestors are watching!" Zang Hong spoke passionately and tearfully, and all who heard him, even ordinary soldiers, were filled with fervor to lay down their lives for the nation. However, before long, the various armies ran out of food and the soldiers dispersed, resulting in the mission's failure.
Cao Cao sent Zang Hong to seek reinforcements from Grand Marshal Liu Yu, but he encountered a rebellion instigated by Gongsun Zan, fought against troops from Youzhou and Jizhou in Hejian, and failed to complete the mission. Later, Yuan Shao recognized Zang Hong's talents and held him in high regard, forming an alliance with him. Just as the Inspector of Qingzhou, Jiao He, died, Yuan Shao appointed Zang Hong to govern Qingzhou and bring peace to the people there. Zang Hong spent two years in Qingzhou, quelling the banditry. Yuan Shao admired his talents and transferred him to Dongjun as the Prefect, where he worked in Dongwuyang.
It is said that Cao Cao besieged Zhang Chao in Yongqiu. Zhang Chao said, "I only hope for Zang Hong to come and save me." Everyone thought that Yuan Shao and Cao Cao had a good relationship, and since Zang Hong was appointed by Yuan Shao, he would not jeopardize his relationship with Cao Cao by coming so far to save him. However, Zhang Chao said, "Zang Hong is a renowned man of honor in the world; he would never betray old friendships, but he may be constrained by Yuan Shao and unable to come."
After Zang Hong heard about it, he cried while barefoot and quickly gathered his troops, also requesting reinforcements from Yuan Shao to save Zhang Chao, but Yuan Shao ultimately refused. As a result, Zhang Chao's family was wiped out. Zang Hong harbored resentment towards Yuan Shao and completely severed ties with him. Yuan Shao besieged Zang Hong for many years but was unable to defeat him. Yuan Shao had Zang Hong's hometown acquaintance Chen Lin write a letter to Zang Hong, scolding him for his ingratitude.
Zang Hong replied: "I miss you, dreaming of you day and night. We are so close, yet due to our different positions, we cannot meet, which truly hurts my heart! Not long ago, you generously shared your wisdom with me, and I felt honored. Your letter spoke of blessings and misfortunes, balancing both public and private matters, which was very sincere. The reason I did not reply in time is partly because of my limited knowledge and abilities, unable to respond to your kind advice; on the other hand, you are currently living under someone else's roof, while your home is in Dongjun, and I am your enemy. In this situation, even if I poured my heart out in an explanation, you would still doubt my intentions and find it hard to believe me, and I cannot even guarantee my own safety, let alone consider others.
Moreover, with your talent and extensive knowledge, how could you not see the underlying principles? You advised me like this, and I realized your words weren't sincere; you were just trying to keep me out of trouble. If we were to weigh the pros and cons, debate right and wrong, there are endless arguments like this in the world, and it is hard to clarify them, with no loss even if left unsaid. Besides, I can't bring myself to end our friendship over hurt feelings, that's why I put down my pen and didn't reply. I hope you can understand my predicament and know that my decision is final and will not change. Now that you have written again, citing classics and writing extensively, even though I really don't want to reply, I feel like I have no choice!"
I am just a humble little person, originally just an errand runner. Because bandits invaded the province, your kindness to me weighs heavily on my heart. How can I bear to face you in battle today! Every time I ascend the city walls to oversee the soldiers, seeing my lord's flag and the war drums, I recall the times I fought alongside old friends, holding a bow and arrow, unable to hold back my tears. Why? Because I feel that assisting you gives me a clear conscience. Your kindness to me runs deep, surpassing the typical master-servant bond. When I received your orders, I thought I could accomplish a great cause, and together we would support the royal family. I didn't expect the emperor to be displeased; our province was invaded, the county magistrate met with misfortune, and Chenliu devised a military strategy. Our plans were repeatedly delayed, which led to the loss of our reputation for loyalty and filial piety. I had to leave, leaning on a cane, burdened with a bad reputation, disappointing my friends. In comparison, bearing the loss of my reputation for loyalty and filial piety, as well as the guilt of disappointing friends, the severity of the situation, the closeness of relationships, and the urgency of my departure are all completely different, so I had to leave in pain. If you, my lord, could take the friendship of old friends into consideration, those who remain could empathize with one another, and those who leave could restrain themselves, not rushing to sever ties with friends, believing that the law can impose self-restraint, then I would aspire to follow in the footsteps of Jizha, and I would not have come to battle today.
Why do you say that? In the past, Zhang Jingming personally took to the altar, swore loyalty, worked tirelessly, and ultimately forced Han Mu to relinquish the seal so that you could obtain that land; but later, he only submitted a memorial to the court, requesting a title, and in an instant, he received no forgiveness, but instead, his clan was exterminated. Lv Fengxian sought refuge with you after defeating Dong Zhuo, requested your troops but did not receive them, and left—what crime did he commit? As a result, he was killed and almost lost his life. Liu Ziqi was sent on a mission, exceeded the time limit, and requested to return to the court but was not allowed. He feared your authority and longed for home, so he devised a scheme to return home; he can be seen as ambitious, loyal, and filial, and did not harm your dominance; however, he still met his end at your hands, without any compensation. Although I am inadequate in ability and have always been unable to see the beginning and end of things, I cannot see the details clearly, but I speculate on the master's thoughts. Do you really think that these three should all die, deserving of death? In fact, you want to unify Shandong, increase troops to fight enemies, worry that the soldiers will hesitate and be difficult to motivate, so you suppress royal decrees, elevate your orders, support those who receive rewards from you, and those who oppose you will be killed; this serves your interests, not those of us wandering scholars. So I have learned from the lessons of predecessors, even in adversity, I will fight to the bitter end. Although I am foolish, I have also heard the words of a gentleman.
This is not actually my intention, but you forced me. I have abandoned my homeland, served you to defend this city, precisely because a gentleman does not serve an enemy country; that is why I did this.
So, I have offended you because of this matter and have been attacked by others for quite some time. Now you are using this reasoning to persuade me; it may sound the same, but the intentions differ, isn't it? This is not the way gentlemen should behave, supporting one another through thick and thin!
I've heard that you can't abandon filial piety or betray loyalty. So, I’m relying on the strength of my clan in Honshu for support, and I'm also backing the military of Zhongfu County to stabilize the state. I've managed to fulfill both my filial duties and my loyalty. What’s wrong with that? But you want me to give it all up, destroy my family business, just to please your master. My master, who’s older than me and like a brother, is also a close friend. I distanced myself from him over differing principles, to appease the monarch and my parents. It is reasonable. So, according to you, Bao Xu should just die for Wu Yuan instead of crying in the Qin court? You’re only focused on the immediate situation, but you don’t see how unreasonable your words are!
You probably see the city is under siege and reinforcements haven’t arrived, and you think that relying on marriage ties and lifelong friendships to survive is better than sticking to your principles and failing. But Yan Ying didn’t bow to the blade, and Nan Shi didn’t twist the facts to survive, so their stories are recorded in history and remembered by future generations. Plus, I’m currently in a strong city, leading the people’s strength, using three years’ worth of savings for one year’s military expenses, helping the poor, and filling in shortages to keep the people at peace. How could I even think about building houses and farming? I’m just worried that when the autumn wind kicks up, the dust will fly. Bo Gui will lead his army south, and Zhang Yang, Fei Yan, and the others will cause trouble with their strong forces. The northern border will be in a tight spot. My men will also want to go home. Master, you need to think about us and quickly pull the army back. Get the army set up in Ye City. How can you keep putting pressure on my city for so long?
You mock me for relying on Heishan as a rescue, don’t you remember the alliance of the Yellow Turbans? Moreover, Fei Yan and others have already accepted the imperial order. In the past, Gaozu gained Peng Yue in Juye, and Guangwu Emperor rose in the Green Woods; eventually, they soared to great heights and revived the Han Dynasty, achieving imperial success. As long as we can help the monarch thrive and educate, what’s there to worry about! Furthermore, I have personally received the imperial decree to work with him.
Kong Zhang, you’re out there chasing benefits abroad, while Zang Hong follows the monarch's orders; you’re depending on the alliance leader, while Zang Hong gains fame in Chang'an. You say I’ll lose my reputation if I die, but I find it laughable that you live in obscurity—how sad! We were once like-minded, but in the end we went our separate ways, so work hard, what else is there to say!
Hong Hao, the governor of Shaoxing, received the court's letter and realized the court had no intention of coming to their rescue, so he escalated the attack. The city ran out of food, and there were no reinforcements coming; Hong Hao knew in his heart that there was no escape this time. He gathered the officials and soldiers and said, "The Yuan court is being unreasonable and has sinister intentions; they’re not even trying to rescue our garrison in Hongzhou! For the good of the country, I have no choice but to face death; now everyone has to suffer this injustice with me! While the city hasn’t fallen yet, hurry and take your families and leave!"
Officials, soldiers, and commoners all cried and said, "Sir, you had no feud with the Yuan clan before. It is only because you are the county magistrate now that you have ended up in this situation. How can we, the common people, abandon you and escape for our lives?" At first, everyone could still catch rats and boil tendons and bones to fill their stomachs, but later on, there was nothing left to eat. The registrar opened the pantry and found three dou of rice, intending to cook it into watery porridge for everyone to share. Hong Hao sighed and said, "What use is this little bit of food to me?" So, he had the rice cooked into very thin porridge, and everyone shared a little. He even had his beloved concubine killed and let the soldiers eat her. The soldiers all cried and could not lift their heads. In the end, seven or eight thousand men, women, and children in the city clung to each other and starved to death, not a single person betrayed him and fled.
When the city fell, Cao Cao captured Zang Hong. Cao Cao and Zang Hong were on good terms before, and he even set up a tent and threw a grand ceremony for all the generals to see Zang Hong together, then questioned him, "Zang Hong, why did you betray me like this? Are you planning to surrender now?" Zang Hong glared at him on the ground and angrily said, "The Yuan clan has served the Han dynasty for generations, showing great loyalty to the court. But now that the court is weak and no one wants to support it, you, Cao Cao, want to take advantage of the chaos and realize your unrealistic ambitions, slaughtering countless loyal ministers and generals to bolster your authority. I treated Zhang Miao as a brother, so you should treat me as a brother, and we should work together to eliminate the pests for the country. Why do you bring your army to stand by while others are slaughtered? Unfortunately, my power is too weak to wield a blade for vengeance for the world. What reason do I have to surrender to you?"
Cao Cao initially had a fondness for Zang Hong, hoping to persuade him to submit; but seeing how resolute Zang Hong was, knowing he would not be of use to him, he had him executed. Chen Rong, a man from Zang Hong's hometown, was a scholar in his youth and greatly admired Zang Hong. He followed Zang Hong and became the magistrate of Dongjun. Before the city was breached, Zang Hong had sent him away. Cao Cao had Chen Rong sit beside him, and when he saw Zang Hong about to be executed, Chen Rong stood up and said to Cao Cao, "General, if you want to do great things, to rid the world of evil and promote good, why do you first kill loyal and righteous men? Is this in accordance with the will of heaven? Zang Hong was appointed as a magistrate; why do you want to kill him?" Cao Cao felt somewhat embarrassed, and his men dragged Chen Rong away. Cao Cao said, "You are not a hero like Zang Hong; why do you act this way?" Chen Rong turned around and said, "There is no standard for benevolence and righteousness. Upholding benevolence and righteousness is what defines a true gentleman; betraying benevolence and righteousness is the act of a villain. Today, I would rather die on the same day as Zang Hong than live on the same day as the general!" He was executed as well. Among Cao Cao's men present, not a single one could hold back a sigh, privately discussing, "How could two loyal and righteous men be executed in a single day!" Before this, Zang Hong had sent two marshals out to seek help from Lu Bu; when they returned, the city had already been breached, and both of them died in battle.
Commentary: Lu Bu possessed the ferocity of a tiger, but lacked outstanding strategic vision, was frivolous and deceitful, fickle, and only cared about his own interests. From ancient times to the present, there has not been anyone as fickle and unchanging who has not been destroyed. In the past, Emperor Guangwu of Han was deceived by Pang Meng, and later Wei Zu also fell under the deception of Zhang Mai. Understanding talent is wise, but only an emperor finds it difficult to do so; this is undeniably true! Chen Deng and Zang Hong both had heroic spirit and integrity. Chen Deng died young before accomplishing his achievements, and Zang Hong's ambitions were unfulfilled due to weak military strength and strong enemies, which is truly a pity!
