Novel scene
Zhao Yun Takes Guiyang by Stratagem 趙子龍計取桂陽
About this event
"Zhao Yun Takes Guiyang by Stratagem" is the latter scene of the title of Chapter 52 of the Romance, "Zhuge Liang Shrewdly Turns Away Lu Su; Zhao Zilong Takes Guiyang by Stratagem," and is one of the stories of Liu Bei taking the four commanderies south of Jing Province. Zhao Yun draws the lot and goes to Guiyang Commandery, captures Chen Ying and receives the surrender of the Administrator Zhao Fan, but, angered at the offer of Zhao Fan's widowed sister-in-law Lady Fan as his wife, leaves the city; he then beheads Chen Ying and Bao Long, who feign surrender, and captures Zhao Fan. Romance, Ch. 52 §25–43
In the Biography of the First Sovereign, Chen Shou's text records only that Zhao Fan, Administrator of Guiyang, surrendered to Liu Bei together with the three other administrators. Records, Shu 2 §24
In the Romance
In Chapter 52 of the Romance, when Liu Bei, having taken Lingling, asks who will take Guiyang Commandery, Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei compete for the task, Zhuge Liang has them draw lots, and Zhao Yun is chosen. Zhao Yun sets out with 3,000 troops, saying he will accept military punishment if he fails to take the city. Zhao Fan, Administrator of Guiyang, wants to surrender, saying he cannot stand against Zhao Yun, famed from Changban at Dangyang, but Chen Ying, a former hunter, goes out to fight. Zhao Yun catches the flying fork Chen Ying hurls at him and throws it back, captures him alive and lets him go, and Zhao Fan comes bearing his seal and ribbon to surrender. Romance, Ch. 52 §25–31
Zhao Fan, saying they share the surname Zhao and both come from Zhending, asks to become sworn brothers, and Zhao Yun, older by four months, becomes the elder brother. At a banquet in the city the next day, Zhao Fan calls his widowed sister-in-law Lady Fan to offer a cup, and offers Zhao Yun as a wife Lady Fan, who had said she would marry only a man accomplished in both letters and arms, of imposing presence and of the same surname as her late husband. Zhao Yun, saying that a sworn brother's sister-in-law is his own sister-in-law, flies into a rage, knocks Zhao Fan down with his fist and leaves the city. Romance, Ch. 52 §32–37
Zhao Fan has Chen Ying and Bao Long take 500 soldiers and feign surrender, but Zhao Yun sees through their intent, gets the two drunk, ties them up and beheads them. Sending those 500 ahead to get the city gate opened at night, he captures Zhao Fan when he comes out. When Zhuge Liang, arriving with Liu Bei, asks why, Zhao Yun gives three reasons: marrying his sworn brother's sister-in-law would bring him scorn, the woman would lose her chastity, and the mind of the newly surrendered Zhao Fan could not be known. Liu Bei says that Zilong is truly a real man, releases Zhao Fan and keeps him on as Administrator of Guiyang. Romance, Ch. 52 §38–43
Where the Romance differs
The surrender of Guiyang: In Chapter 52 of the Romance, Zhao Yun captures Chen Ying in battle, and by a stratagem captures again Zhao Fan, with whom he has fallen out over the marriage. The Biography of the First Sovereign in the Records says only that when Liu Bei attacked the four southern commanderies, Zhao Fan, Administrator of Guiyang, surrendered together with the administrators of Wuling, Changsha and Lingling, and records neither a battle nor a marriage proposal. Romance, Ch. 52 §29–41Records, Shu 2 §24
Zhao Yun's part: The main text of the Biography of Zhao Yun in the Records records only that after guarding the Later Sovereign at Dangyang he became General of the Standard, and that he stayed in Jing Province when Liu Bei entered Shu; there is nothing about Guiyang. Chen Ying and Bao Long do not appear in Chen Shou's text either. Romance, Ch. 52 §26–27Records, Shu 6 §39
Written by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) — The tags at the end of each paragraph link to the exact passage in the Records volume or Romance chapter it is based on.