Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 1 (Tuttle Classics)

by Lo Kuan-Chung

  In the meantime Tung Cho missed his henchman and doubt filled his heart. Hastily taking leave of the Emperor, he mounted his chariot and returned to his palace. There at the gate stood Lu Pus well known steed, riderless. He questioned the doorkeepers and they told him the Marquis was within. He sent away his attendants and went alone to the private apartments. Lu Pu was not there. He called Cicada, but she did not reply. He asked where she was and the waiting maids told him she was in the garden among the flowers.

  So he went into the garden and there he saw the lovers in the pavilion in most tender talk. Lu Pus halberd was leaning on the railing beside him.

  A howl of rage escaped Tung Cho and startled the lovers. Lu Pu turned, saw who it was and ran away. Cho caught up the halberd and ran in pursuit. But Lu Pu was fleet of foot while his master was very stout. Seeing no hope of catching the runaway Cho hurled the halberd. Lu Pu fended it off and it fell to the ground. Cho picked it up and ran on. But by this time Lu Pu was far ahead. Just as Cho was running out at the garden gate he dashed full tilt against another man running in, and down he went.

  Surged up his wrath within him as the billows heavenward leap,

  Crashed his unwieldy body to earth in a shapeless heap.

  We shall presently see who the other runner was.

  CHAPTER IX

  LU PU HELPS TO SUPPRESS DISORDER: CHIA HSU COUNSELS AN ATTACK ON THE CAPITAL

  T he person who collided with the irate Tung Cho was his most trusty adviser Li Ju. Li had not fallen in spite of the shock and at once helped his master to regain his feet and led him inside to the library, where they sat down.

  “What were you coming about?”

  “Happening to be passing your gates I heard that you had gone into your private garden to look for your adopted son. Then came Lu Pu running and crying out that you wanted to kill him, and I was coming in as fast as I could to intercede for him when I accidentally collided with you. I am very sorry. I deserve death.”

  “The wretch! How could I bear to see him toying with my fair one? I will be the death of him yet.”

  “Your Graciousness is making a mistake. It is the ‘plucked tassel’ story over again. But if you remember Prince Chuang of Ch’u made no fuss about the liberties taken with his lady love, although the hat-tassel in her hand betrayed the culprit. His restraint stood him in good stead, for the same man saved his life when he was hemmed in by the hosts of Ts’in. After all Cicada is only a woman, but Lu Pu is your trustiest friend and most dreaded commander. If you took this chance of making the girl over to him, your kindness would win his undying gratitude. I beg you, Sir, to think over it well.”

  Tung Cho hesitated a long time; he sat murmuring to himself. Presently he said,“What you say is right. I must think over it.”

  Li Ju felt satisfied. He took leave of his master and went away. Cho went to his private rooms and called Cicada.

  “What were you doing there with Lu Pu?” said he.

  She began to weep.“Thy handmaid was in the garden among the flowers, when he rushed in on me. I was frightened and ran away. He asked why I ran away from a son of the family and pursued me right to the pavilion, where you saw us. He had that halberd in his hand all the time. I felt he was a vicious man and would force me to his will so I tried to throw myself into the lily pond, but he caught me in his arms and held me so that I was helpless. Luckily just at that moment you came and saved my life.”

  “Suppose I send you to him.”

  She shrieked with terror.

  “After having been yours to be given to a mere slave! Never! I would rather die.”

  And with this she snatched down a dagger hanging on the wall to kill herself. Tung Cho plucked it from her hand and, throwing his arms about her, cried,“I was only joking.”

  She lay back on his breast hiding her face and sobbing bitterly.“This is the doing of that Li Ju,” said she.“He is much too thick with Lu Pu. He suggested that, I know. Little he cares for your reputation or my life. Oh! I would like to eat him alive.”

  “Do you think I could bear to lose you?”

  “Though you love me yet I must not stay here. That Lu Pu will do me some harm if I do. I fear him.”

  “We will go to Meiwu tomorrow, you and J, and we will be happy together and have no cares.”

  She dried her tears and thanked him. Next day Li Ju came again to persuade Tung Cho to send the damsel to Lu Pu.“This is a propitious day,” said he.

  “He and I standing in the relation of father and son I cannot very well do that,” said Tung Cho.“But I will say no more about his fault. You may tell him so and soothe him as well as you can.”

  “You are not being beguiled by the woman, are you?” said Li.

  Tung Cho coloured.“Would you like to give your wife to some body else? Do not talk about this any further. It would be better not to.”

  Li left the chamber. When he got outside he cast his eyes up to heaven, saying,“We are dead men, slain by the hand of this girl.”

  When a certain student of history reached this episode he wrote a verse or two:—

  Just introduce a woman,

  Conspiracies succeed,

  Of soldiers, or their weapons,

  There really is no need.

  They fought their bloody battles,

  And doughty deeds were done;

  But in a garden summer house

  The victory was won.

  The order was given to journey to Meiwu and the whole body of officers assembled to add lustre to the start. Cicada, from her carriage, saw Lu Pu among the crowd. She at once dropped her eyes and assumed an appearance of deepest melancholy. After the cavalcade started and when her carriage had almost disappeared in the distance, the disappointed lover reined in his steed on a mount whence he could watch the dust that rose around it. Unutterable sadness filled his heart.

  Suddenly a voice said,“Why do you not accompany the Minister, Marquis, instead of standing here and sighing?”

  It was Wan Yun.“I have been confined to the house by illness these few days,” continued he,“so I have not seen you. But I had to struggle out today to see the Minister set off. This meeting is most fortunate. But why were you sighing?”

  “Just on account of that damsel of yours,” said Lu Pu.

  Feigning great astonishment he said,“So long a time and yet not given to you!”

  “The old ruffian has fallen in love with her himself.”

  “Surely this cannot be true.”

  Lu Pu related the whole story while Wang Yun listened, silent, but stamping on the ground as with irritation and perplexity. After a long time he said,“I did not think he was such a beast.”

  Taking Lu Pu by the hand he said,“Come to my house and we will talk it over.”

  So they went away together to the house and retired to a secret room. After some refreshments, Lu Pu told the whole story of the episode in the garden just as it happened.

  “He seems to have corrupted my little girl and has stolen your wife. He will be an object of shame and ridicule to the whole world. And those who do not laugh at him will laugh at you and me. Alas! I am old and powerless and can do nothing. Mores the pity! But you, Commander, you are a warrior, the greatest hero in the world. Yet you have been put to this shame and exposed to this contempt.”

  A wave of fierce wrath rolled up in Lu Pu. Banging the table he shouted and roared. His host ostentatiously tried to calm him saying,“I forgot myself. I should not have spoken like that. Do not be so angry, I pray.”

  “I will kill the wretch, I swear it. In no other way can I wash away my shame.”

  “No, no! Do not say such a thing,” said Wang, putting his hand over the other’s mouth.“You will bring trouble on poor me.”

  “When a man is born great he cannot be patient for long under another man’s domination,” said Lu Pu.

  “It needs some one greater than the Minister to limit the scope of such talents as voters.”

  Lu Pu said,“I would not mind ki
lling the old wretch were it not for the relation in which we stand. I fear to provoke the hostile criticism of posterity.”

  His host smiled.“Your name is Lu; his is Tung. Where was the paternal feeling when he threw the halberd at you?”

  “I had been misled if you had not said that,” said Lu hotly.

  Wang Yun saw the effect of his words and continued,“It would be a loyal deed to restore the House of Han, and history would hand down your name to posterity perpetually fragrant. If you lend your aid to Tung Cho you will be a traitor and your name will stink through all the ages.”

  Lu Pu rose from his place and bowed to Wang Yun.“I have decided,” said he.“You need not fear, Sir.”

  “But yet you may fail and bring upon yourself misfortune,” said Wang.

  Lu Pu drew his dagger and pricking his arm swore by the blood that flowed.

  Wang fell on his knees and thanked him.“Then the Han sacrifices will not be cut off and you will be their saviour. But this must remain a secret and I will tell you how the plot shall be worked out.”

  Lu Pu took leave with great emotion.

  Wang Yun took into his confidence two colleagues, Sun Jui and Huang Yuan. The former said,“The moment is favourable. The Emperor has just recovered from his illness and we can despatch an able talker to Meiwu to persuade Tung Cho to come here to discuss affairs. Meanwhile we will obtain a secret decree as authority for Lu Pu. Lay an ambush just inside the palace gates to kill Cho as he enters. This is the best plan to adopt.”

  “But who would dare to go?”

  “Li Su would go. He belongs to the same district as Lu Pu and is very angry with the Minister for not advancing him. His going would excite no suspicions.”

  “Good,” said Wang Yun.“Let us see what Lu Pu thinks of it.”

  When Pu was consulted he told them that this man’s persuasion had led him to kill Ting, his former benefactor.“If he refuse this mission I will kill him,” said he.

  So they sent for Li Su. When he arrived Lu Pu said,“Formerly you talked me into killing Ting and going over to Tung Cho. Now we find Tung Cho means evil for the Emperor and is an oppressor of the people. His iniquities are many and he is hated of gods and men. You go to Meiwu, say you have a command from the Emperor to summon Tung Cho to the palace. He will come and he will be put to death. You will have the credit of being loyal and restoring the Hans. Will you undertake this?”

  “I also wish to slay him,” was the reply.“But I could not find any to assist me. How can I hesitate? Your intervention is directly from heaven.”

  And he snapped an arrow in twain as register of his oath.

  “If this succeed, what glorious rank will be yours!” said Wang Yun.

  Next day Li Su, with a small escort, set out for Meiwu and announced himself as bearer of a decree. He was conducted into Tung Cho’s presence. After he had made his obeisance Tung asked what the decree was.

  “His Majesty has recovered and wishes his ministers to meet him in the palace to consider the question of his abdication in your favour. That is what this summons means.”

  “What does Wang Yun think of the scheme?”

  “Wang Yun has already begun the construction of the Terrace of Abdication and only awaits my lord’s arrival.”

  “Last night I dreamed a dragon coiled round my body,” said Tung Cho greatly pleased,“and now I get this happy tidings! I must not neglect the opportunity.”

  So he gave instructions for the safekeeping of his city and announced his intention of starting on the morrow.

  “When I am Emperor you shall be my Precursor,” said he.

  “Your minister thanks you,” said Li.

  Cho went to bid farewell to his aged mother.“Whither are you going, my son?”

  “I go to receive the abdication of Han; and soon you will be Empress Dowager.”

  “I have been feeling nervous and creepy these few days. It is a bad sign.”

  “Any one about to become the mother of the State must have premonitions,” said her son.

  He left her with these words. Just before-starting he said to Cicada,“When I am Emperor, you shall be Kuei-fei, the first of my ladies.” She bowed low thanking him, but she knew and inwardly rejoiced.

  He went out and mounted his carriage, and began his journey to the Capital with an imposing escort. Less than half way the wheel of his carriage broke. He left it and mounted a horse. Soon after the horse snorted and neighed, threw up his head and snapped the reins.

  Tung Cho turned to Li Su and asked what these things portended.

  “It means that you are going to receive the abdication of the Hans, which is to renew all things, to mount the jewelled chariot and sit in the golden saddle.”

  And Cho believed him. During the second day’s journey a violent gale sprang up and the sky became covered with a thick mist. The wily Li Su had an interpretation for this also.“You are ascending to the place of the dragon; there must be bright light and lurid vapour to dignify your majestic approach.”

  Cho had no more doubts. He presently arrived and found many officials waiting without the city gate to receive him, all but Li Ju who was ill and unable to leave his chamber. He entered and proceeded to his own palace, where Lu Pu came to congratulate him.

  “When I sit on the throne, you shall command the whole armies of the Empire, horse and foot,” said he.

  That night Cho slept in a tent in the midst of his escort. In the suburbs that evening some children at play were singing a little ditty and the words drifted in on the wind.

  “The grass in the meadow looks fresh now and green,

  Yet wait but ten days, not a blade will be seen.”*

  The song sounded ominous but Li Su was again prepared with a happy interpretation.“It only means that the Lius are about to disappear and the Tungs to be exalted.”

  Next morning at the first streak of dawn Tung Cho prepared for his appearance at court. On the way he saw a Taoist, dressed in a black robe and wearing a white turban, who carried in his hand a tall staff with a long strip of white cloth attached. At each end of the cloth was drawn a mouth.

  “What is the meaning of this?” said Tung Cho.

  “He is a madman,” said Li Su, and he told the guards to drive the fellow away.

  Tung Cho went in and found all the officials in court dress lining the road. Li Su walked beside his carriage, a sword in his hand. When he reached the side room on the north he found soldiers drawn up outside and only the pushers of the palace carriage, a score or so, were allowed to proceed further. When he arrived near the Reception Hall he saw that Wang Yun and all the other officials standing at the door were armed.

  “Why are they all armed?” said he to Li Su. Li Su was silent. The pushers urged the carriage forward swiftly to the entrance.

  Suddenly Wang Yun shouted,“The rebel is here! where are the executioners?”

  At this call sprang from both sides men armed with halberds and spears who attacked Tung Cho. He had not put on the breastplate he usually wore and a spear pierced his breast. He sank down in the carriage calling loudly for his son,“Where is Feng-hsien?”

  “Here, and with a decree to deal with a rebel,” said Lu Pu savagely, as he appeared in front of his “father.”

  Thereupon he thrust his halberd through his victim’s throat. Then Li Su hacked off the head and held it up. Lu Pu, his left hand holding his halberd, thrust his right hand into his bosom whence he drew the decree, crying,“The decree was to slay the rebel Tung Cho; no other.”

  The whole assembly shouted,“Live for ever! O Emperor.”

  A sympathetic poet has written a few lines in pity:—

  Await the time, O noble, and be king,

  Or failing, reap the solace riches bring,

  Heaven n’er is partial, but severely just,

  Meiwu stood strong yet now it lies in dust.

  The lust of blood awakened, Lu Pu urged the slaughter of Li Ju, who had been the confidant of the murdered Minister and Li Su vol
unteered to go in search of him. But just then a shouting was heard at the gates and it was told them that a household slave had brought their intended victim in bonds. Wang Yun ordered his immediate execution in the market place.

  Tung Cho’s head was exposed in a crowded thoroughfare. He was very fat and the guards made torches by sticking splints into the body. The passers-by pelted the poor head and spurned the body with their feet.

  A large force under Lu Pu was sent to destroy Meiwu. His first captive was Cicada. Then they slew every member of the Tung family, sparing none, not even his aged mother. Some of his particular adherents, with the “Flying Bear” force, fled to Chingchou. In Meiwu were hidden many young ladies of good family. These were set free. The spoil was enormous; stores of wealth in all its forms had been collected there.

  When they returned to report success Wang Yun rewarded and feasted the soldiers. Banquets were held in the halls to which all the officials were invited. They drank and congratulated each other. While the feasting was in progress it was announced that some one had come and was wailing over the corpse exposed in the market place.

  “Tung Cho has been put to death,” said Wang Yun, angrily.“Every body is glad to be rid of him and yet one is found to lament over him. Who is this?”

  So he gave orders to arrest the mourner and bring him in. Soon be was brought in and when they saw him all were startled. For he was no other than Ts’ai Yung the Shih-chung.

  Wang Yun spoke to him angrily,“Tung Cho has been put to death as a rebel and all the land rejoices. You, a Han Minister, instead of rejoicing, weep for him. Why?”

  Yung confessed his fault.“I am without talent, yet know I what is right. Am I the man to turn my back on my country and toward Tung Cho? Yet once I experienced his kindness and I could not help mourning for him. I know my fault is grave but I pray you to regard the reasons. If you will leave my head and only cut off my feet, you may use me to continue the History of Han, whereby I may have the good fortune to be allowed to expiate my fault.”