The famous poet Du Fu wrote some verses which run something like this:
Planner of three kingdoms; no small praise
Is his………Inventor of the Eight Arrays。
And for that famous boulders; on the rivers brim;
Firm was set the denouncement of Wus whim。
Lu Xun took his way to his camp in deep thought。
〃This Zhuge Liang is well named Sleeping Dragon;〃 said he。 〃I am not his equal。〃
Then; to the amazement of all; Lu Xun gave orders to retire。 The officers ventured to remonstrate; seeing that they had been so successful。
〃General; you have utterly broken the enemy; and Liu Bei is shut up in one small city。 It seems the time to smite; and yet you retire because you have e across a mysterious arrangement of stones。〃
〃I am not afraid of the stones; and it is not on their account that I retire。 But I fear Cao Pi。 He is no less resourceful than his father; and when he hears I am marching into Shu; he will certainly attack us。 How could I return then?〃
The homeward march began。
On the second day the scouts brought a report: 〃Three Wei generals with three armies are debouching at three different points and moving toward the borders of Wu………Cao Ren to Ruxu; Cao Xiu to Dongkou; and Cao Zhen to Nanjun。 Their intentions are unclear。〃
〃Just as I thought;〃 said Lu Xun。 〃But I am ready for them。〃
〃And now the west is mine;〃 the victor thought;
But danger from the north discretion taught。
The story of the retreat will be told in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 85 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 85
Chapter 85
The First Ruler Confides His Son To The Guardians Care;
Zhuge Liang Calmly Settles The Five Attacks。
In summer; the sixth month of the second year of Manifest Might (AD 221) Lu Xun destroyed the army of Shu at Yiling。 The First Ruler sought refuge in Baidicheng; of which Zhao Yun then undertook the defense。 When Ma Liang returned only to find his lord defeated; he was more distressed than he could say。 He announced what Zhuge Liang had said concerning the plans。
The First Ruler sighed; saying; 〃If I had listened to the Prime Ministers advice; the defeat would not have happened。 Now how can I face the officials if I return to my capital?〃
So he promulgated a mand to change the guest…house into the Palace of Eternal Peace。 He was deeply grieved when they told him Feng Xi; Cheng Jin; Fu Tong; Zhang Nan; King Shamo Ke; and many of his generals had died loyally in his cause。
Next he heard people say: 〃Huang Quan; who had been given mand of the army on the north bank; had given in to Wei。 Your Majesty should deliver his whole family to the authority and hold them responsible for the renegade。〃
But the First Ruler only said; 〃The army was quite cut off by Wu from the south bank; and he had no alternative but to surrender。 Really; I betrayed him; not he me。 Why should I take vengeance on his family?〃
So he continued the issue of the renegades pay to his family。
When Huang Quan surrendered; he was led into the presence of the Ruler of Wei。