🏰 Story 26: Chen Deng and His Son's Scheme

1. The Worries and Plans of Chen Deng and His Son

 

During the Three Kingdoms period, Lu Bu seized Xuzhou from Liu Bei and occupied dozens of towns. Chen Deng, a respected local figure, and his father, Chen Gui, disapproved of Lu Bu's actions, but for the time being, they had no choice but to conceal their true thoughts.

 

At that time, Lu Bu returned to Xuzhou, intending to take Chen Deng to relieve Xiaopei, which was under attack by Cao Cao, and leave Chen Gui behind to defend Xuzhou. Before Chen Deng left, Chen Gui said to him, "Cao Cao once said he would entrust all matters in the east to you. Now that Lu Bu is about to be defeated, you should take this opportunity to find a way to deal with him." Chen Deng replied, "I will handle the external affairs myself. If Lu Bu is defeated and escapes back to Xuzhou, Father, please ask General Mi Zhu to help defend the city and prevent Lu Bu from entering. I have a way to escape." Chen Gui asked worriedly, "Lu Bu's wife and children are in the city, and he has many trusted confidants. What should we do?" Chen Deng answered, "I also have a way to deal with them."

 

2. Chen Deng cleverly tricked Lu Bu.

 

Chen Deng then went to see Lu Bu and suggested, "Xuzhou is surrounded by enemies on all sides; Cao Cao will definitely attack with all his might. We should first think of a way out. Why not move our grain and money to Xiapi? That way, if Xuzhou is besieged, Xiapi will have grain to send reinforcements. My lord, you should make plans early!"

Lu Bu agreed, saying, "Yuanlong (Chen Deng's courtesy name) makes a good point. I will move there with my wife and children." Therefore, Lu Bu ordered Song Xian and Wei Xu to protect his wife, children, and grain and money, and move to Xiapi to garrison; he himself led his army with Chen Deng to rescue Xiaoguan (a county town).

 

Halfway there, Chen Deng said, "Please let me go to the pass first to scout out the true situation of Cao Cao's army before you proceed, my lord." Lu Bu agreed.

 

3. Chen Deng's inside-outside cooperation in seizing the pass

Chen Deng arrived at Xiaoguan first and met with General Chen Gong and others. Chen Deng told them, "Lord Wen (Lu Bu's respectful title) is very displeased with your refusal to launch a preemptive attack and is preparing to punish you." Chen Gong said, "Cao Cao's army is too powerful now; it's not advisable to engage in battle lightly. Our best course of action is to hold the pass firmly and advise our lord to defend Xiaopei City." Chen Deng agreed.

 

That night, Chen Deng climbed the pass and looked out, seeing Cao Cao's army approaching. He immediately wrote three letters that very night, tied them to arrows, and shot them at Cao Cao's camp below the pass. The next day, he bid farewell to Chen Gong and rode swiftly to see Lu Bu. Chen Deng told Lu Bu, "Generals like Sun Guan at the pass want to surrender. I've left Chen Gong there to defend it. General, you can attack at dusk to rescue it and recapture the pass!" Lu Bu happily said, "If it weren't for you, this pass would be lost." He immediately sent Chen Deng swiftly to the pass first, agreeing that Chen Gong would light a fire as a signal, acting as an inside agent. Chen Deng went straight back to Chen Gong and told him, "Cao Cao's army has already taken a shortcut into the pass. I fear Xuzhou will fall. You should retreat immediately!" Chen Gong immediately led his troops to abandon the pass and flee. Chen Deng immediately set fire to the pass as a signal.

 

Lu Bu attacked under cover of darkness. Lu Bu's army and Chen Gong's fleeing army mistook each other for enemies in the darkness and began fighting amongst themselves.

 

4. Lu Bu was kept out of the city.

Cao Cao's army saw the signal fire and immediately rushed forward, launching an attack. Generals like Sun Guan also fled. Lu Bu fought until dawn before realizing it was Chen Deng's scheme. He hurriedly led Chen Gong back to Xuzhou. When they reached the city walls and called for the gates, a hail of arrows rained down from the city walls. Mi Zhu stood atop the city wall and shouted, "You seized our lord's city, and now it should be returned to him! You can no longer enter this city!" Lu Bu was furious: "Where is Chen Gui?" Mi Zhu replied, "I have already killed him!" Lu Bu turned to Chen Gong and asked, "And where is Chen Deng?" Chen Gong sighed, "General, are you still so stubborn, asking that treacherous villain?"

026 

Lu Bu seized Xu Province from Liu Bei, which included dozens of cities and counties. Chen Deng and Chen Gui couldn't stand by and watch, but they were powerless to stop him immediately, so they concealed their true intentions. Later, Chen Deng and Chen Gui, within Lu Bu's camp, became intermediaries, deliberately saying "no" when troops were needed at the front lines and "yes" when they weren't. This confused Lu Bu's army, creating an opportunity for Cao Cao to defeat him. Internal personnel and their voices were crucial.