Mr. Kang Mao Cai's Story: The Act of Blocking General Chen You Liang's Passage

At the end of the Yuan Dynasty (A.D. 1279-1368), there were many uprisings across the country against the rule of the Yuan Emperor, who was of Mongol origin. Many warlords emerged, fighting against one another as well as nationwide. Chen You Liang and Zhang Shicheng were among the most powerful warlords, and formed an allied force against Zhu Yuanzhang, who later became the first Emperor of the Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1368-1644).

Zhu Yuanzhang's legendary strategist Liu Bowen learns one day that one of Zhu Yuanzhang's senior generals, Kang Mao Cai, was once Chen You Liang's schoolmate and that they are sworn brothers. (For a description of the sworn brothers' oath, please see the entry Zheng En was Executed While I was Drunk in this collection.) He thus becomes unwilling to dispatch Kang Mao Cai to any of the critical battle zones. Kang Mao Cai follows Zhu Yuanzhang for many years, and insists upon taking part in battle. To show his determination, he offers a written pledge and is willing to give his life to fulfill the military order. Liu Bowen orders him to the riverside to block the enemy's escape.

Later, the warlord Chen You Liang is defeated and hounded by Zhu's army to that same riverside. Kang Mao Cai blocks Chen's way, and Chen You Liang asks a favour from the man who was once his sworn brother. Kang Mao Cai feels sorrow over Chen's fate, and therefore does not capture his old friend. Instead, he rescues Chen at the mouth of the Jiujiang River. After making sure Chen has safely escaped, Kang Mao Cai returns to Liu Bowen and apologizes for his deed. He decides to commit suicide to keep his word. Zhu Yuanzhang praises Kang Mao Cai for his righteousness, and says that he would have done the same if he had been a sworn brother to Chen You Liang. He then releases Kang Mao Cai, and keeps him as his senior general.