“Governor Liu Bin was dubious, too. He sent for Guan Lu and put him to the following test. He placed his seal and a pheasant feather in a box and asked what were the contents. The reply was:
'Square within, without so round,
Beauteous colors here abound;
The jewel within is held secure
And what it witnesses is sure.
Is not this a seal in its bag?
'There's a bird on the precipice steep,
Its body with flame seems aglow.
Its wings are barred yellow and black.
At sunrise it never fails to crow.
And I think this hints at a pheasant feather.
“Governor Liu Bin treated the marvelous diviner with great honor.
“One day Guan Lu saw a youth plowing a field. After watching him for a long time, Guan Lu suddenly asked his name and age.
“'My name is Zhao Yan, and I am nineteen,' said the young man. 'Pray, who may you be, Sir?'
“'I am Guan Lu; you may have heard of me. I see an air of early death about you, and you will be done with life in three days. It is a pity that one so handsome should die so young.'
“Zhao Yan forsook his plow, hurried home and told his father. The father at once set out to find Guan Lu, and, having found Guan Lu, threw himself on the ground and besought the diviner to save his son.
“'How can I avert the doom? It is fate,' said Guan Lu.
“'Alas! I have but this one son, I pray you save him.'
“And the son added his tears and prayers to those of his father. Guan Lu was deeply touched. Then he turned to the lad and said, 'You get ready some good wine and some venison. Tomorrow go into the forest on the south there, and underneath a lofty tree you will see two men seated on boulders playing chess. One of them will be dressed in white, and he will be facing the south. He is very evil looking. The other will be seated opposite, dressed in red. He is very handsome. They will be deeply absorbed in their game and will not notice who offers them food and wine, which you will humbly present on your knees. When they have eaten and drunk, you will prostrate yourself and with tears pray them to grant you length of days. You will gain an increased span of life, but, above all things, do not mention that I told you what to do.'
“The father kept Guan Lu as a guest, and the next day the son followed out his instructions. He entered the forest and soon came upon the two men seated beneath a pine, playing chess. They seemed oblivious to all around them. Zhao Yan presented the wine and the food, and the two men ate absent-mindedly, for the game went on.
“But when Zhao Yan threw himself on the ground and implored the gift of long life, they seemed startled. “'This must be some of Guan Lu's doing,' said Red-Robe. 'Still, as we have accepted a gift at his hand, we must have pity on him.'
“He who was dressed in white then lifted up a book that hung at his side and looked therein.
“'You are nineteen this year,' said White-Dress to Zhao Yan. 'You ought to die. But we will insert a number nine over the number one and so make it read ninety-nine, and that is the age you will attain. But when you go back, tell Guan Lu he is not to betray the secrets of fate, or Heaven will surely punish him.'
“Then Red-Robe took out a pen and added the figure. A gust of wind passed, and the two old men were transformed into two cranes that rose into the sky and flew away.
“Zhao Yan came back home and told what he had seen. Guan Lu told him the red-robed man was the Southern Dipper Constellation, and the white-robed, the Northern Dipper.
“'But the Northern Dipper consists of nine stars, and there was only one man,' objected the lad.
“'Separately they are nine, but they combine to form one. The Northern Dipper records deaths; the Southern Dipper, births. Now the extra figure has been added, you need have no anxiety; you will live long.
“Father and son both thanked him most sincerely, but thereafter Guan Lu was very careful how he divined for people lest he should betray celestial secrets.
“Now, this man is at Pingyuan, and you, O Prince, can seek your fate of him. Why not call him?”
Cao Cao was greatly glad. Guan Lu was sent for and came. As soon as the salutations were over, Cao Cao asked him to cast lots for him.
Guan Lu at once found the cause and said, “The illness is only due to magical machinations; it should not create anxiety.”
Cao Cao was much relieved in his mind, and his health began to improve.
Next Cao Cao wished to know about the conditions in the empire's affairs.
After the necessary calculations the prophet said, “Three and eight cross; the yellow boar meets the tiger; the southern expedition causes the loss of one limb.”
Then Cao Cao asked him to inquire whether his life should be long or not.
Guan Lu replied, “Lion in the Palace to preserve the talents of ancestors: the Prince's way is securely renewed, and his son and grandson shall come to high honor.”
Then Cao Cao asked concerning himself.
“Divination concerning the fate of the universe may not be foreknown; wait a time and I will look into it.”
Cao Cao was pleased and would like to keep such a man near him, so he offered him the post of historiographer (who was also soothsayer) at his court, but it was declined.
“My destiny is mean, my luck despicable; I am not equal to such an office and dare not undertake it,” said Guan Lu.
“Why not?” said Cao Cao.
“My forehead has no lofty fullness; my eyes no steady expression; my nose no bridge; my feet no round, solid heels; my back lacks the triple armor (of shoulder blades and intervening muscles); and my breast the three marks (like the character indicating wealth). I can only control evil spirits securely; I cannot rule living humans.”
“What think you of my physiognomy?”
“What can a minister of extremely exalted rank like yourself desire further?” said Guan Lu.
Cao Cao pressed him to say; the soothsayer only laughed. Then Cao Cao asked him to look at the many officers of all kinds standing around.
“Every one of them is a servant equal to the administration of the empire,” said Guan Lu.
But when Cao Cao asked whether good or bad fortune was to be his, the soothsayer would not give a clear and full reply.
A poem says:
Guan Lu was a seer of old.
Stars to him their secrets told.
Mysteries, occult and dim,
Were as daylight unto him.
His so subtle intellect
Could the shade of death detect,
But the secrets of his skill
Died with him, — are secrets still.
Again Cao Cao asked him to divine concerning his rivals Wu and Shu.
Guan Lu said, “The south just lost a famous leader, and the west is encroaching on your territory.”
Cao Cao's doubts as to the accuracy of one of these events were soon set at rest, for a messenger came from Hefei to report: “Lu Su, the Supreme Commander of the South Land, has died in Lukou.”
Then Cao Cao sent hurriedly into Hanzhong, and the scout returned to report: “Zhang Fei and Ma Chao have taken the Xiabian Pass and are threatening Hanzhong.”