015 The Guardian of the Yellow River, Su Ming.
Yellow River Ferry.
The commander guarding the Yellow River ferry was Qin Qi. For the past few days, Qin Qi had been unable to sleep and found no pleasure in his meals.
He’d already heard the news: Guan Yu had crossed four gates and slain five generals.
Now!
He was heading straight for Qin Qi’s ferry.
Qin Qi knew his own capabilities well enough. He was fully aware of his own limitations. He was no match for the famed Guan Yu.
He reckoned that if he dared to block Guan Yu, his own head would likely not be spared.
Yet, if he simply let Guan Yu pass, his head would probably not be spared either.
Thus, Qin Qi had spent several days in fear, so anxious that he’d taken to his bed, unable even to rise.
Lying there, he felt weak all over. Not only was the idea of riding out to confront Guan Yu inconceivable, he couldn’t even muster the strength to stand.
“Report—” The deputy strode into the tent and saluted Qin Qi, delivering his message: “General Qin, scouts report that General Xu Chu is approaching with three thousand cavalry, less than three li away.”
Qin Qi instinctively asked, “What brings General Xu Chu here?”
Before the deputy could answer, Qin Qi seemed to realize something and probed, “Is it because of Guan Yu?”
“It must be to block Guan Yu. After all, Guan Yu has slain five of the Prime Minister’s generals; how could we let him go unpunished?”
“With General Xu Chu here, I doubt Guan Yu will find any advantage,” the deputy replied with confidence.
Guan Yu’s reputation echoed throughout the land; everyone knew of his prowess. But if Guan Yu was formidable, Xu Chu was certainly no less so.
Besides, Guan Yu traveled alone, escorting Liu Bei’s family.
Xu Chu was different. He not only came himself but brought three thousand elite cavalry.
Moreover, this was the Yellow River ferry.
With the river’s natural barrier, even if Guan Yu grew wings, he couldn’t fly across.
Originally, this situation had left Qin Qi sick with worry.
But upon hearing that Xu Chu had arrived with reinforcements, Qin Qi’s ailment vanished at once.
How to explain it?
This is what they call a “heartache cured by the right medicine.” With the heart’s remedy administered, Qin Qi’s illness was gone.
When the sky falls, there is always someone taller to bear it.
Now that Xu Chu had arrived, regardless of whether Guan Yu crossed the ferry or not, it no longer concerned Qin Qi.
“Hurry!”
“Follow me to the camp gate to welcome General Xu Chu,” Qin Qi ordered hastily.
A distance of less than three li was nothing for cavalry.
Qin Qi had just reached the camp gate when he saw a troop approaching in the distance.
As they drew closer, Qin Qi noticed something unexpected.
At the front of the column were three men; the one in the center was not Xu Chu.
In ancient times, the center position was one of honor.
On campaign, the person in the center was the main commander.
With Xu Chu not at the center, it was clear he was not the chief; the man in the middle was.
Qin Qi stared at Su Ming for a long moment, thinking to himself, I’ve never seen this general before.
Qin Qi believed he knew all the commanding officers in Cao’s camp, but he could not place Su Ming.
“Qin Qi at your service. May I ask the general’s name?” Qin Qi bowed respectfully to Su Ming.
Though he didn’t recognize Su Ming, Qin Qi could distinguish rank well enough.
Su Ming had arrived alongside Xu Chu, and if Xu Chu was acting as his subordinate, Su Ming’s status must be extraordinary.
“Su Ming,” Su Ming replied, and got straight to the point: “Have you seen Guan Yu?”
Qin Qi bowed and quickly answered, “Reporting to General Su Ming, I have not encountered Guan Yu.”
After a brief inquiry, Su Ming realized Guan Yu hadn’t yet arrived at the Yellow River ferry.
Just as he’d predicted, heading straight for the ferry would allow them to intercept Guan Yu.
Guan Yu hadn’t yet arrived, so Su Ming could lay in wait for him.
...
...
The following day.
Noon.
On the official road, more than ten li from the Yellow River ferry.
It must be said—Guan Yu’s audacity was unparalleled.
He’d crossed four gates, slain five generals, and marched straight down the main road, making no attempt to conceal himself.
Clearly, he relied on possessing the Green Dragon Crescent Blade and the Red Hare horse, never considering the generals of Cao’s camp as a threat.
Just as Su Ming had previously remarked, if Guan Yu were permitted to pass unopposed, he would simply attribute it to his own prowess, never suspecting that Cao Cao had deliberately let him go.
In truth, if not for Cao Cao’s intent, more than four gates and five generals would have tried to stop him.
“Uncle, where are we now? When will we reach Ye City?” a gentle voice came from the carriage.
Guan Yu dared not neglect her; he spurred his horse forward and replied, “Sister-in-law, ahead lies the Yellow River ferry. Once we cross, we will leave the Prime Minister Cao’s territory.”
“In short, it won’t be long before we reach Ye City and see my elder brother.”
In reality, Guan Yu still feared being blocked by Cao’s officers.
Brave as he was, he was not alone.
He was escorting Liu Bei’s family, and he dreaded the possibility of his sister-in-law being harmed, unable to face Liu Bei.
...
...
After Su Ming arrived yesterday, he immediately took charge of the Yellow River camp.
He deployed scouts in all directions, keeping constant watch around the ferry.
As soon as Guan Yu’s convoy was spotted, the scouts would report at once.
When Guan Yu was still more than ten li from the ferry, Su Ming’s scouts had already seen him.
By now, Guan Yu was no longer alone.
Aside from the old soldiers driving the carriage, he had taken in his adopted son Guan Ping at Guan Family Village, and also recruited Zhou Cang, who carried his blade.
“Father, there have just been scouts in the area.”
“Should we chase them down and intercept them?” Guan Ping rode up to Guan Yu and asked.
Yet Guan Yu seemed unfazed by the appearance of Cao’s scouts.
He replied, “Ahead lies the Yellow River ferry. I hear the commander there is called Qin Qi.”
“If he’s prepared the boats and lets us cross, so be it. If not, I may have to slay him and seize the boats to cross.”
To Guan Yu, whether or not Cao’s scouts saw them made no difference.
The ferry was just ahead, and they were close.
This crossing was their last battle before leaving Cao’s camp, and no matter what, Guan Yu would not hold back.
He had already crossed four gates and slain five generals. Whoever guarded this last pass, he must go through.
Guan Yu had spent more than half a year in Cao’s camp, half a year without seeing his brother Liu Bei. He was eager to return.
No one could stop his fervent desire to reunite with Liu Bei.
Little did Guan Yu know, the commander at the Yellow River ferry was no longer Qin Qi.
It was Su Ming.