Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 1 (Tuttle Classics)

by Lo Kuan-Chung

  They rose from their knees. The two others bowed before ‘Yuan-te, as their elder brother and Chang Fei was to be the youngest of the trio. This solemn ceremony performed, they slew other oxen and made a feast to which they invited the villagers. Three hundred joined them and all feasted and drank deep in the Peach Garden.

  The next day weapons were mustered. But there were no horses to ride. This was a real grief, but soon they were cheered by the arrival of two horse dealers with a drove of horses.

  “Thus does Heaven help us,” said Yuan-te and the three brothers went forth to welcome the merchants. They were from Changshan and went northwards every year to buy horses. They were now on their way home because of the rising. They also came to the farm, where wine was set before them, and presently Yuan-te told them of the plan to strive for tranquility. The two dealers were glad and at once gave them fifty good steeds, and beside, gold and silver and a thousand catties of steel fit for the forging of weapons.

  After the merchants had taken their leave, armourers were summoned to forge weapons. For Yuan-te they made double sword. Yun-ch’ang fashioned a long-handled, curved blade called “Black Dragon” or “Cold Beauty,” which weighed a full hundredweight, and Chang Fei made himself an eighteen-foot spear. Each too had a helmet and full armour.

  When these were ready the troop, now five hundred strong, marched to Tsou Ching, who presented them to Liu Yen. When the cerermony of introduction was over, Yuan-te declared his ancestry and Yen at once accorded him the favour due to a relation.

  Before many days it was announced that the rebellion had actually broken out and the leader, Cheng Yuan-chih, had invaded the district with a huge army. Tsou Ching and the three heroes went out to oppose them with the five hundred men. Yuan-te joyfully undertook to lead the van and marched to the foot of the Tahsing Hills where they saw the rebels. The rebels wore their hair flying about their shoulders and their foreheads were bound with yellow turbans.

  When the two armies had been drawn up opposite each other Yuan-te with his two brothers, one on each side, rode to the front and, flourishing his whip, began to hurl reproaches at the rebels and called upon them to surrender. Their leader, full of rage, sent out one Teng Mou to begin the battle. At once rode forward Chang Féi, his long spear poised to strike. One thrust and Teng rolled off his horse pierced through the heart. At this the leader himself whipped up his steed and rode forth with sword raised ready to slay Chang. But Kuan Yu swung up his ponderous weapon and rode at him. At the sight fear seized upon Cheng, and ere he could recover himself the great sword fell, cutting him in halves.

  Two heroes new to war’s alarms,

  Ride boldly forth to try their arms.

  Their doughty deeds three kingdoms tell

  And poets sing how these befell.

  Their leader fallen, the rebels threw away their weapons and fled. The official soldiers dashed in among them. Many thousands surrendered and the victory was complete. Thus this part of the rebellion was broken up.

  On their return the Prefect met them and distributed rewards. But before long letters came from the prefecture of Chingchou saying that the rebels were laying siege to the chief city and it was near falling. Help was needed quickly.

  “I will go,” said Yuan-te as soon as he heard the news and he set out at once with his own men, reinforced by a large body under Tsou Ching. The rebels seeing help coming at once attacked most fiercely. The relieving force being comparatively small could not prevail and retired some thirty li, where they made a camp.

  ‘They are many and we but few,” said Yuan-te to his brothers.“We can only beat them by superior strategy.”

  So they prepared an ambush. The two younger brothers, each with a goodly party, went behind the hills right and left and there hid. When the gongs beat they were to move out to support the main army.

  These preparations made, the drums rolled for the advance. The rebels also came forward. Then Yuan-te suddenly retired. Thinking this was their chance the rebels pressed forward and were led over the hills. Then suddenly the gongs sounded for the ambush to discover itself and the rebels were attacked on three sides. They lost heavily and fled to the provincial city. But the Prefect led out the men he had to assist in the battle and the rebels were entirely defeated and many slain. Chingchou was no longer in danger.

  Tho’ fierce as tigers soldiers be,

  Battles are won by strategy.

  A hero comes; he gains renown,

  Already destined for a crown.

  After the celebrations in honour of victory were over Tsou Ching proposed to return home, but Yuan-te preferred to go to the aid of his old master Lu Chih, then struggling with a horde of rebels led by Chang Chio. So they separated and the three brothers with their troop made their way of Kuangtsung.

  They found the Prefect in camp, were admitted to his presence and declared the reason of their coming. The Prefect received them with great joy and they remained with him while he made his plans.

  At that time the rebels there were three to one and the two armies were facing each other. Neither had had any success. The Prefect said to Liu Pei,“I am surrounding these rebels here but the other two brothers Chang Liang and Chang Pao are strongly entrenched opposite Huangfu Sung and Chu Chien at Yingch’uan. I will give you a thousand more men and with these you can go to find out what is happening and we can then settle the moment to attack.”

  So Yuan-te set off and marched as quickly as possible. At that time the imperial troops were attacking with success and the rebels had retired upon Changshe. They had encamped among the thick grass, and, seeing this, Huangfu decided to attack them by fire. So he bade every man cut a bundle of dry grass and laid an ambush. That night the wind blew a gale and at the second watch they started a blaze. At the same time the rebels were attacked. Their camp was set on fire and the flames rose to the very heavens. The rebels were thrown into great confusion. There was no time to saddle horses or don armour; they fled in all directions.

  The battle continued till dawn. Chang Liang and Chang Pao, with a few flying soldiers, found, as they thought, a way of escape. But suddenly a troop of soldiers with crimson banners appeared to oppose them. Their leader was a man of medium stature with small eyes and a long beard. He was one Ts’ao Ts’ao, also known as Ts’ao Meng-te, a P’eikuo man, holding the rank of Chi-tu-yu. His father was Ts’ao Sung, who had been born to the Hsiahou family, but he had been brought up by the eunuch Ts’ao Teng and had taken his family name. This Ts’ao Ts’ao was Sung’s son and, as a lad, bore the name of A-man.

  As a young man Ts’ao Ts’ao had been fond of hunting and delighted in songs and dancing. He was resourceful and full of guile. An uncle, seeing the young fellow so unsteady, used to get angry with him and told his father Ts’ao Sung of his misdeeds. His father remonstrated with him.

  But the youth was equal to the occasion. One day, seeing his uncle coming, he fell to the ground in a pretended fit. The uncle alarmed ran to tell his father, who came, and there was the youth in most perfect health.

  “But your uncle said you were in a fit; are you better?”

  “I have never suffered from fits or any such illness,” said Ts’ao Ts’ao.“But I have lost my uncle’s affection and he has deceived you.”

  Thereafter, whatever the uncle might say of his faults, his father paid no heed. So the young man grew up licentious and uncontrolled.

  A certain man of the time said to Ts’ao Ts’ao,“Rebellion is at hand and only a man of the greatest ability can succeed in restoring tranquility. That man is yourself.”

  And Ho Yung of Nanyang said of him,“The dynasty of Han is about to fall. He who can restore peace is this man and only he.”

  Ts’ao Ts’ao went to enquire his future of a wise man of Junan.

  “What manner of man am I?” asked Ts’ao.

  The seer made no reply and again he put the question. Then he replied,“You are able enough to rule the world, but wicked enough to disturb it.”

  Ts�
�ao greatly rejoiced to hear this.

  He graduated at twenty and began his career in a district near Loyang. In the four gates of the city he ruled he hung up clubs of various sorts and any breach of the law met with its punishment whatever the rank of the offender.

  Now an uncle of a eunuch was found one night in the streets with a sword and was arrested. In due course he was beaten. Thereafter no one dared to offend and Ts’ao’s name became terrible. Soon he became a magistrate.

  At the outbreak of rebellion he held the rank of Chi-tu-yu and was given command of five thousand horse and foot to help fight at Yingch’uan. He just happened to fall in with the newly, defeated rebels whom he cut to pieces. Thousands were slain and endless banners and drums and horses were captured and not a little money. However the two leaders got away and, after an interview with Huangfu Sung, Ts’ao went in pursuit of them.

  We return now to Yuan-te. He and his brothers were hastening toward the point of danger when they heard the din of battle and saw flames rising high toward the sky. However they arrived too late for the fighting. They saw Huanfu and Chu to whom they told the intentions of Lu Chih.

  “The rebel power is quite broken here,” said the chiefs,“but they will surely make for Kuangtsung to join Chang Chio. You can do nothing better than hasten back.”

  The three brothers retraced their steps. Half way along the road they met a party of soldiers escorting a prisoner in a cage-cart. When they drew near the prisoner was no other than the man they were going to help. Hastily dismounting Liu Pei asked what had happened. Liu Chih explained,“I had surrounded the rebels and was on the point of smashing them, when Chang Chio employed some of his supernatural powers and prevented my victory. The Court sent down a eunuch to enquire into my failure and that official demanded a bribe. I told him how hard pressed we were and asked him where, in the circumstances, I could find a gift for him. He went away in wrath and reported that I was hiding behind my ramparts and would not give battle and I disheartened my men. So I was superseded by one Tung Cho and I have to go to the capital to answer the charge.”

  This story put Chang Fei into a rage. He was for slaying the escort and setting free the prisoner. But Yuan-te checked him.

  “The Government will take the proper course,” said he.“You must not act hastily.” And they went their ways.

  It was useless to continue on that road so Kuan Yu proposed to go back and they retook the road. Two days later they heard the thunder of battle behind some hills. Hastening to the top they beheld the government soldiers suffering great loss and they saw the countryside was full of Yellow Turbans. On their banners were the words,“Celestial Duke,” writ large.

  “We will attack this Chang Chio,” said Yuan-te and they galloped out to join in the battle.

  Chang Chio had worsted Tung Cho and was following up his advantage. He was in hot pursuit when the three brothers dashed into his army, threw his ranks into confusion and drove him back. Then they returned with the rescued general to his camp.

  “What officers have you?” asked Tung Cho, when he had leisure to speak to the brothers.

  “None,” was the reply. And Tung treated them with disrespect. Yuan-te retired calmly, but Chang Fei was furious.

  “We have just rescued this menial in a bloody fight,” cried he,“and now he is rude to us! Nothing but his death can slake my anger.”

  He would have dashed into the tent and slain the insulter had not his elder brothers held him back.

  As it was in olden time so it is today,

  The simple wight may merit well,

  officialdom holds sway,

  Chang Fei, the blunt and hasty,

  where can you find his peer?

  But slaying the ungrateful would

  mean many deaths a year.

  Tung Cho’s fate will be unrolled in later chapters.

  CHAPTER II

  AN OFFICIAL IS THRASHED: UNCLE HO PLOTS TO KILL THE EUNUCHS

  I t must here be told who this Tung Cho was. Cho, or Chung-ying, was born in the west at Lint’ao in modern Shensi. His father was a prefect. He himself was arrogant and overbearing. But the day he had treated the three brothers with contumely had been his last had not the two elders restrained their wrathful brother.

  “Remember he has the government commission,” said Yuan-te,“who are we to judge and slay?”

  “It is bitter to take orders from such a wretch; I would rather slay him. You may stay here an you wish to, but I will seek some other place.”

  “We three are one in life and in death; there is no parting for us. We will all go hence.”

  So spake Yuan-te and his brother was satisfied. Wherefore all three set out and lost no time in travelling till they came to Chu Chien, who received them well and accepted their aid in attacking Chang Pao.

  At this time Ts’ao Ts’ao had joined himself to Huangfu Sung and they were trying to destroy Chang Liang and there was a great battle at Chuyang. At the same time Chang Pao was attacked. The rebel had led his men to a strong position in the rear of the hills. An attack being decided upon Yuan-te was hsien-feng, or leader of the van. On the rebel side a subordinate leader, Kao Hsing, came out to offer battle. Chang Fei was sent to smite him. Out rode Fei at full speed, his spear ready set. After a few bouts he wounded Kao, who was unhorsed. At this the main army had the signal to advance. Then Chang Pao, while still mounted, loosened his hair, grasped his sword and uttered his incantations. Thereupon began the wind to howl and the thunder to roll, while a dense black cloud from the heavens settled upon the field. And therein seemed to be horse and footmen innumerable, who swept to attack the imperial troops. Fear came upon them and Yuan-te led off his men, but they were in disorder and returned defeated.

  Chu Chien and Yuan-te considered the matter.“He uses magic,” said Chien.“Tomorrow, then, will I prepare counter magic in the shape of the blood of slaughtered swine and goats and dogs. This blood shall be sprinkled upon their hosts from the precipices above by men whom they see. not. Thus shall we be able to break the power of their black art.”

  So it was done. The two younger brothers took each a company of men and hid them on the high cliffs behind the hills, and they had a plentiful supply of the blood of swine and goats and dogs and all manner of filthy things. And so next day, when the rebels with fluttering banners and rolling drums came out to challenge, Yuan-te rode forth to meet them. At the same moment that the armies met, again Chang Pao began his magic and again the elements began to struggle together. Sand flew in clouds, pebbles were swept along the ground, black masses of vapour filled the sky and rolling masses of foot and horse descended from on high. Yuan-te turned, as before, to flee and the rebels rushed on. But as they pressed through the hills the trumpets blared and the hidden soldiers exploded bombs, threw down filth and spattered blood. The masses of men and horses in the air fluttered to the earth as fragments of torn paper, the wind ceased to blow, the thunder subsided, the sand sank and the pebbles lay still upon the ground.

  Chang Pao quickly saw his magic had been countered and turned to retire. Then he was attacked on the flanks by the two younger brothers, and in rear by Yuan-te and Chu Chien. The rebels were routed. Yuan-te, seeing from afar the banner of the “Duke of Earth,” galloped toward it but only succeeded in wounding the “Duke” with an arrow in the left arm. Wounded though he was, he got away into Yangch’eng, where he fortified himself and was besieged by Chu Chien.

  Scouts, sent out to get news of Huangfu, reported that he had been very successful and Tung Cho had suffered many reverses. Therefore the Court had put Huangfu in the latter’s place. Chang Chio had died before his arrival. Chang Liang had added his brother’s army to his own but no headway could be made against Huangfu, whose army gained seven successive victories. And Chang Liang had been slain at Chuyang. Beside this Chang Chios coffin had been exhumed, the corpse beheaded and the head, after exposure, had been sent to the capital. The common crowd had surrendered. For these services Huangfu had been promoted an
d now ruled in Ichou.

  He had not forgotten his friends. His first act after he had attained to power was to memorialise concerning the case of Lu Chih, who was then restored to his former rank.

  Ts’ao Ts’ao also had received advancement for his services and was preparing to go south to his new post.

  Hearing these things Huangfu Sung pressed harder yet upon Yangch’eng and the approaching break-up of the rebellion became evident. Then one of Chang Pao’s officers killed his leader and brought his head in token of submission. Thus rebellion in that part of the country was stamped out and Chu Chien made his report to the government.

  However, the embers still smouldered. Three of the rebels Chao Hung, Han Chung and Sun Chung, began to murder and rob and burn, calling themselves the avengers of Chang Chio. The successful Chu Chien was commanded to lead his veteran and successful troops to destroy them. He at once marched toward Wanch’eng, which the rebels were attacking. When Chu arrived Han Chung was sent to oppose him. Chu Chien sent the three brothers, our heroes, to attack the south west angle of the city. Han Chung at once led the best of his men to beat them off. Meanwhile Chu Chien himself led two companies of armoured horsemen to attack the opposite corner. The rebels, thinking the city lost, abandoned the south west and turned back. The three brothers pressed hotly in their rear and they were utterly routed. They took refuge in the city which was then invested. When famine pressed upon the besieged they sent a messenger to offer to surrender but the offer was refused.

  Said Yuan-te,“Seeing that the founder of the Han Dynasty could welcome the submissive and receive the favourable why reject these?”

  “The conditions are different,” replied Chu Chien.“In those days disorder was universal and the people had no fixed lord. Wherefore submission was welcomed and support rewarded to encourage people to come over. Now the Empire is united and the Yellow Turbans are the only malcontents. To receive their surrender is not to encourage the good. To allow brigands, when successful, to give way to every licence, and to let them surrender when they fail is to encourage brigandage. Your plan is not a good one.”