In order to see to what lengths he would go, Ma Chao led him on, saying, “Truth to tell, I have long hated the man too.”
“Then you join Meng Da and attack, while I will win over the people of Eastern and Western Lands of Rivers. That will make it easy enough,” said Peng Yang.
“What you propose is very feasible, but we will talk it over again tomorrow,” said Ma Chao, and took leave.
Taking with him the captured man and the letter he carried, Ma Chao then proceeded to see the Prince, to whom he related the whole story. Liu Bei was very angry and at once had the intended traitor arrested and put in prison, where he was examined under torture to get at full details.
While Peng Yang lay in prison, bitterly but vainly repentant, Liu Bei consulted his adviser.
“That fellow Peng Yang meant to turn traitor; what shall I do with him?” “The fellow is something of a scholar, but irresponsible,” replied Zhuge Liang. “He is too dangerous to be left alive.”
Thereupon orders were given that he should be allowed to commit suicide in gaol. The news that Peng Yang had been made away frightened his sympathizer and friend, Meng Da, and put him in a quandary. What would he better do on the top of this? Liu Feng's promotion and transfer to Mianzhu arrived, and frightened him still more. So he sought advice from two friends and commanders, the brothers Shen Dan and Shen Yi, who lived in Shangyong.
“My friend Peng Yang and I did much for the Prince of Hanzhong. But now Peng Yang is dead, and I am forgotten. More than that, the Prince wishes to put me to death. What can I do?” said Meng Da.
Shen Dan replied, “I think I can find a plan that will secure your safety.”
“What is it?” asked Meng Da, feeling happier.
“Desertion. My brother Shen Yi and I have long desired to go over to Wei. You just write the Prince of Hanzhong a memorial resigning your service and betake yourself to the Prince of Wei, who will certainly employ you in some honorable way. Then we two will follow.”
Meng Da saw that this was his best course, so he wrote a memorandum, which he gave to the messenger who had brought the recent dispatches to take back with him. That night Meng Da left his post and went to Wei.
The messenger returned to Chengdu, handed in Meng Da's memorial and told the story of his desertion. The Prince was angry. He tore open the letter and read:
“In the humble opinion of thy servant, O Prince, you have set out to accomplish a task comparable with that of Yi
Yin, and to walk in the meritorious footsteps of Lu Wang in building the fame of Kings Wen and Huan. When the great design was rough-hewn, you had the support of the lands of the states of Wu and Chu, wherefore many people of ability incontinently joined you. Since I entered your service, I have committed many faults; and if I recognize them, how much more do you see them! Now, O Prince, you are surrounded by famous people, while I, useless as a helper at home and inept as a leader abroad, should be shamed were I to take a place among them.
“It is well known that when Fan Li saw certain eventualities, he went sailing on the lakes, and Zi Fan acknowledged his faults and stayed by the rivers. Inasmuch as one cannot take means of safeguarding one's self at the critical and dangerous moment, I desire — as is my duty — to go away as I came, untainted. Moreover, I am stupid and without use or merit, merely born in these days as the sport of circumstances.
“In the days of old, Shen Sheng, though perfectly filial, incurred the suspicions of his father and died; Zi Xu, though perfectly loyal, was put to death. Meng Tian, though he extended the borders of Qin, suffered the extreme penalty; and Yue Yi, though he destroyed the might of Qi, was the victim of calumny. Whenever I have read of these men, I have been moved to tears, and now I am in like case and the more mortified.
“Lately Jingzhou was overwhelmed, and I, an officer of rank, failed in my duty, not one in a hundred behaving as I should. Only I return Fangling and Shangyong and seek service abroad. Now I desire you, O Prince, graciously to understand, to sympathize with thy servant and to condone the step he is about to take. Really I am but a mean man, incapable of great deeds. I know what I am doing, and I dare to say it is no small fault.
“They say that dissolution of bonds should not occasion recrimination, and the dismissed servant should take leave without heart-burning. I have taken your orders many times, and now, O Prince, you must act yourself. I write this with extreme trepidation.”
But the reading gave rise to great anger in the breast of the Prince.
“The unmerited fellow!” said he. “He turns traitor and dares to insult me by sending a letter of farewell.”
Liu Bei was just giving orders to send a force to seize the deserter, when Zhuge Liang interposed, saying, “You would better send Liu Feng to capture him and let the two tigers worry each other to weakness. Whether Liu Feng succeeds or fails, he will have to come to the capital, and you can kill him. Thus will you cut off two evils.”
Liu Bei took his advice. Orders were sent to Mianzhu, and Liu Feng obediently led out his troops.
Now Meng Da arrived when Cao Pi was holding a great council. When the attendants told him that General Meng Da of Shu had come, Cao Pi summoned him to enter and said to him, “Is not this an insincere surrender?”
Meng Da replied, “I was in fear of death for not having relieved Guan Yu. That is my only reason for coming.”
However, Cao Pi did not trust him. When they reported that Liu Feng was coming to arrest him, with a large army, and had attacked Xiangyang and was challenging Meng Da to battle, Cao Pi said, “You seem to be true. Go then to Xiangyang and take Liu Feng. If you bring me his head, I shall no longer doubt.”
Meng Da replied, “I will convince him by argument; no soldiers will be needed. I will bring him to surrender too.”
So Meng Da was made General Who Establishes Strong Arms, Lord of Pingyang, and Governor of Xincheng, and sent to guard Xiangyang and Fankou.
Now there were two generals there already, Xiahou Shang and Xu Huang, who engaged in reducing the surrounding territories. Meng Da arrived, met his two colleagues, and was told that Liu Feng was fifteen miles from the city. Whereupon Meng Da wrote him a letter urging him to surrender. But Liu Feng was in no mood to surrender; instead he tore up the letter and put the messenger to death.
“The renegade has already made me offend against my duty to my uncle, and now would sever me from my father so that I shall be reproached as disloyal and unfilial,” said Liu Feng.
Meng Da went out with his army to give battle. Liu Feng rode to the front, pointed with his sword at his opponent and railed against him.
“Death is very near you,” replied Meng Da, “yet you continue blindly in the way of foolishness and will not understand.”
Liu Feng rode out flourishing his sword. He engaged Meng Da, who ran away before the conflict had well begun. Liu Feng pursued hotly to seven miles. Then he fell into an ambush and found himself attacked on two sides by Xiahou Shang and Xu Huang. Also Meng Da returned to the attack. Liu Feng was forced to fly. He made straight for Shangyong, pursued all the way. When he reached the city and hailed the gate, he was met by a volley of arrows.
“I have surrendered to Wei,” cried Shen Dan from the city tower. It was impossible to attack the city, as the army of Wei was close behind, and having no resting place, he set off for Fangling. He arrived there to find the banners of Wei set out along the walls. Then he saw Shen Yi wave a signal from the tower, and at once there appeared from the shelter of the wall a body of soldiers led by Xu Huang.
Then Liu Feng made for home. But he was pursued, and only a hundred riders of his remained to him when he regained Chengdu.