Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 1 (Tuttle Classics)

by Lo Kuan-Chung

  Ts’ao Hung uttered a great shout and jumped from the saddle to accept the challenge. Sword in hand he advanced on foot and the two engaged in fierce combat in the face of both armies. They exchanged some scores of blows, neither gaining the advantage. Then Ts’ao Hung feigned defeat and ran away. Ho Man went after him. Just as he closed Hung tried a feint and then suddenly wheeling about, wounded his adversary. Another slash, and Ho Man lay dead.

  At once Li Tien dashed forward into the midst of the enemy and laid hands on the rebel chief whom he carried off captive. Ts’ao Ts’ao’s men then set on and scattered the rebels. The spoil of treasure and food was immense.

  The other leader, Ho I, fled with a few horsemen toward Kopei.

  While on their road thither there suddenly appeared a force led by a certain swashbuckler, who shall be nameless for the moment. This bravo was a shortish man, thickset and stout, with a waist ten span in girth. He used a long sword.

  He barred the way of retreat. The rebel leader set his spear and rode toward him. But at the first encounter the bravo caught him under his arm and bore him off a prisoner. All his men were terror-stricken, dropped from their horses and allowed themselves to be bound. Then the victor drove them like cattle into an enclosure with high banks.

  Presently Tien Wei, still pursuing the rebels, reached Kopei. The swashbuckler went out to meet him.

  “Are you also a Yellow Turban?” said Tien Wei.

  “I have some hundreds of them prisoners in an enclosure here.”

  “Why not bring them out?” said Tien.

  “I will if you win this sword from my hand.”

  This annoyed Tien Wei who attacked him. They engaged and the combat lasted for two long hours and then was still undecided. Both rested a while. The swashbuckler was the first to recover and renewed the challenge. They fought till dusk and then, as their horses were quite spent, the combat was once more suspended.

  In the meantime some of Tien Wei’s men had run off to tell the story of this wondrous fight to Ts’ao Ts’ao who hastened in amazement, followed by many officers to watch it and see the result.

  Next day the unknown warrior rode out again and Ts’ao Ts’ao saw him. In his heart he rejoiced to see such a doughty hero and desired to gain his services for his own side. So he bade his champion feign defeat.

  Tien Wei rode out in answer to the challenge and some score of bouts were fought. Then Tien Wei turned and fled toward his own side. The bravo followed and came quite close. But a flight of arrows drove him away.

  Ts’ao Ts’ao hastily drew off his men for some distance and then secretly sent a certain number to dig a pitfall and sent hookmen to lie in ambush.

  The following day Tien Wei was sent out with a small company of horse. His adversary nothing loth came to meet him.

  “Why does the defeated leader venture forth again?” cried he laughing.

  The swashbuckler spurred forward to join battle but Tien Wei, after a faint show of fighting, turned his horse and rode away. His adversary intent upon capture, took no care and he and his followers all blundered into the pitfall. The hookmen took them all captive, bound them and carried them before their chief.

  As soon as he saw the prisoners, Ts’ao advanced from his tent, sent away the soldiers and with his own hands loosened the leader’s bonds. Then he brought out clothing and dressed him, bade him be seated and asked who he was and whence he came.

  “I am named Hsu Ch’u, and by my near friends called Chungk’ang. I am from Chao * When the rebellion broke out I and my relations built a stronghold within a rampart for protection. One day the robbers came but I had stones ready for them. I told my relatives to keep on bringing them up to me and I threw them, hitting somebody every time I threw. This drove off the robbers.”

  “Another day they came and we were short of grain. So I agreed with them to an exchange of plough oxen against grain. They delivered the grain and were driving away the oxen when the beasts took fright and tore off to their pens. I seized two of them by the tail, one with each hand, and hauled them backwards a hundred or so paces. The robbers were so amazed that they thought no more about oxen but went their way. So they never troubled us again.”

  “I have heard of your mighty exploits,” said Ts’ao Ts’ao.“Will you join my army?”

  “That is my strongest desire,” said Hsu.

  So he called up his clan, some hundreds in all, and they formally submitted to Ts’ao Ts’ao. The strong man received the rank of Tu-yu and received ample rewards. The two rebel leaders were executed.

  Juying being now perfectly quiet Ts’ao Ts’ao withdrew his army. His lieutenants came out to welcome him and they told him that spies had reported Yenchou to be left defenceless, all its garrison having given themselves up to plundering the surrounding country, and they wanted him to go against it without loss of time.“With these soldiers fresh from victory the city will fall at a tap of the drum,” said they.

  So the army was marched to the city. An attack was quite unexpected but the two leaders, Hsueh and Li, hurried out their few soldiers to fight. Hsu Ch’u, the latest recruit, said he wished to capture these two and he would make of them an introductory gift.

  The task was given him and he rode forth. Li Feng with his halberd advanced to meet Hsu Ch’u. The combat was brief as Li fell in the second bout. His colleague retired with his men. He found the drawbridge had been seized so that he could not get shelter within the city. He led his men toward Chuyeh. He was followed and slain. His soldiers scattered to the four winds. And thus Yenchou was recaptured.

  Next an expedition was prepared to take Puyang. The army moved out in perfect order with van leaders, commanders of the flanks and rear guard. Ts’ao Ts’ao led the centre; Tien Wei and Hsu Ch’u were van leaders. When they approached Puyang, Lu Pu wished to go out in person and alone to attack but his adviser protested, begging him to await the arrival of his officers.

  “Whom do I fear?” said Lu.

  So he threw caution to the winds and went. He met his foes and he began to revile them. The redoubtable Hsu Ch’u went to fight with him, but after a score of bouts neither combatant was any the worse.

  “He is not the sort that one man can overcome,” said Ts’ao Ts’ao, and he sent Tien Wei to assist. Lu Pu stood the double onslaught. Soon after the flank commanders joined in and Lu Pu had six opponents. These proved really too many for him so he turned his horse and rode back to the city.

  But when the members of the T’ien family saw him coming back beaten they raised the drawbridge. Pu shouted to open the gates, but the T’iens said,“We have gone over to Ts’ao Ts’ao.” This was hard to hear and the beaten man abused them roundly before he left. The faithful Ch’en Kung got away through the east gate taking with him the general’s family.

  Thus Puyang came into Ts’ao Ts’ao’s hands and for their present services the T’ien family were pardoned their previous fault. However, Liu Hua said that savage Lu Pu left alive was a great danger and he should be hunted down. Wherefore Ts’ao Ts’ao determined to follow Lu Pu to Tingt’ao whither he had gone for refuge.

  Lu Pu and many of his captains were assembled in the city, but certain of them were out foraging. Ts’ao Ts’ao’s army arrived but did not attack for many days and presently he withdrew a long way and made a stockade. It was the time of harvest and he set his men to cut the wheat for food. The spies having reported this to Lu Pu he came over to see, but when he saw that Ts’ao Ts’ao’s stockade lay near a thick wood he feared an ambush and retired. Ts’ao Ts’ao heard that he had come and gone and guessed the reason.

  “He fears an ambush in the wood,” said he.“We will set up flags there and deceive him. There is a long embankment near the camp but behind it there is no water. There we will lay an ambush to fall upon Lu Pu when he comes to burn the wood.”

  So he hid all his soldiers behind the embankment except half a hundred drummers, and he got together many peasants to loiter within the stockade as though it was empty.


  Lu Pu rode back and told his adviser what he had seen.“This Ts’ao Ts’ao is very crafty and full of wiles,” said the adviser; “great care in necessary.”

  “I will use fire this time and burn out his ambush,” said Lu Pu.

  Next morning he rode out and there he saw flags flying everywhere in the wood. He ordered his men forward to set fire on all sides. But to his surprise no one rushed out to make for the stockade. Still he heard the beating of drums and doubt filled his mind. Suddenly he saw a party of soldiers move out from the shelter of the stockade. He galloped over to see what it meant.

  Then the signal-bombs exploded; out rushed the men and all their leaders dashed forward. Lu Pu was at a loss and fled into the open country. One of his captains was killed by an arrow. Two thirds of his men were lost and the beaten remainder went to tell Ch’en Kung what had come to pass.

  “We had better leave” said he.“An empty city cannot be held.”

  So he and Kao Shun, taking their chief’s family with them, abandoned Tingt’ao. When Ts’ao Ts’ao’s soldiers got into the city they met with no resistance, one leader burned himself to death, the other fled to Yuan Shu.

  Thus the whole of Shantung fell under the power of Ts’ao Ts’ao.

  How he tranquillised the people and rebuilt the cities will not be told here. But Lu Pu in his retreat fell in with his foragers and Ch’en Kung also rejoined him so that he was by no means broken.

  “I have but few men,” said he,“but still enough to break Ts’ao Ts’ao.” And so he retook the backward road.

  Thus does fortune alternate, victory, defeat,

  The happy conqueror today, tomorrow, must retreat.

  What was the fate of Lu Pu will appear later.

  Footnote

  * Modern Anhui

  CHAPTER XIII

  GREAT BATTLE BETWEEN LI TS’UI AND KUO SSU: THE EMPEROR RESCUED

  T he chapter told of the defeat of Lu Pu, and his gathering the remnant of his army at Haipin. When all his lieutenants had joined him he began to feel strong enough to try conclusions with Ts’ao Ts’ao once again.

  Said Ch’en Kung, who was opposed to this course,“He is too strong; seek some place where you can rest a time before trying.”

  “Suppose I went to Yuan Shao,” said Lu Pu.

  “Send first to make enquiries.”

  Lu Pu agreed. The news of the fighting between Ts’ao and Lu Pu had reached Ichou and one of Yuan’s advisers, Shen P’ei, warned him saying,“If this savage Lu Pu gets possession of Yenchou he will certainly attempt to add this district to it. For your own safety you should help to crush him.”

  Wherefore Yen Liang, with five legions, was sent. The spies heard this and at once told Lu Pu, who was greatly disturbed and called in the faithful Ch’en Kung.

  “Go over to Liu Pei, who has lately succeeded to Hsuchou.”

  Hence Lu Pu went thither. Some one urged Liu Pei to go out to meet such a warrior and receive him with honour. Mi Chu was strongly against receiving him at all saying he was a cruel, bloodthirsty beast.

  But Pei replied,“How would misfortune have been averted from this place if he had not attacked Yenchou? He cannot be our enemy now that he comes seeking an asylum.”

  “Brother, your heart is really too good. Although it may be as you say yet it would be well to prepare,” said Chang Fei.

  The new Prefect with a great following met Lu a long way outside the city gates and the two chiefs rode in side by side. They proceeded to the residence and there, after the elaborate ceremonies of reception were over, they sat down to converse.

  “After Wang Yun’s plot to slay Tung Cho and my misfortune in the Li-Kuo sedition, I drifted about from one place to another and none of the nobles seemed willing to receive me. When Ts’ao Ts’ao wickedly invaded this district and you, Sir, came to its rescue, I aided you by attacking Yenchou and thus diverting a portion of his force. I did not think then that I should be the victim of a vile plot and lose my leaders and my soldiers. But now if you will I offer myself to you that we may together accomplish great designs.”

  Liu Pei replied,“When the late Prefect died there was no one to administer Hsuchou and so I assumed that task for a time. Now since you are here, General, it is most suitable that I retire in your favour.”

  Whereupon he handed the insignia and the seal to Lu Pu. Lu was on the point of accepting them when he saw Kuan and Chang, who stood behind the Prefect, glaring at him with angry eyes, so he put on a smile and said,“Lu may be something of a fighting man but he could not rule a place like this.”

  Yuan-te repeated his offer. Ch’en Kung said,“The strong guest does not oppress his host. You need not fear, O Prince Elect.”

  Then Yuan-te desisted. Banquets were held and dwelling places prepared for the guest and his retinue. As soon as convenient Lu Pu returned the feast. Liu Pei went with his two brothers. Half through the banquet Lu Pu requested his guest to retire to one of the inner private rooms, whither the brothers followed him. There Lu Pu bade his wife and daughters bow as to their benefactor. Here also Yuan-te showed excessive modesty and Pu said,“Good younger brother, you need not be so very modest.”

  Chang Fei heard what he said and his eyes glared.“What sort of a man are you that dares call our brother, ‘younger brother’?” cried he.“He is one of the ruling family (a golden branch, a jade leaf). Come out; and I will fight you three hundred bouts for the insult.”

  Yuan-te hastily checked the impulsive one and Kuan Yu persuaded him to go away. Then the host apologised saying,“My poor brother talks wildly after he has been drinking. I hope you will not blame him.”

  Lu Pu nodded, but said nothing. Soon after the guests departed. But as the host escorted Liu Pei to his carriage he saw Chang Fei galloping up armed as for a fray.

  “Lu Pu, you and I will fight that duel of three hundred!” shouted he.

  Liu Pei bade Kuan Yu check him. Next day Lu Pu came to take leave of his host.“You, O Prince, kindly received me but I fear your brothers and I cannot agree. So I will seek some other asylum.”

  “General, if you go, my brother’s fault becomes grave. My rude brother has offended and must eventually apologise. In the meantime what think you of a temporary sojourn at the town where I was encamped for some time, Hsiao-p’ei? The place is small and mean, but it is near and I will see to it that you are supplied with all you need.”

  Lu Pu thanked him and accepted this offer. He led his men there and took up residence. After he had gone Liu Pei buried his annoyance and Chang Fei did not again refer to the matter.

  That Ts’ao Ts’ao had subdued Shantung has been stated before. He memorialised the throne and was rewarded with the title of General with the epithet “Firm Virtue” and a marquisate. At this time the rebellious Li Ts’ui had made himself Ta-ssu-ma, or Minister of War, and his colleague styled himself Grand Commander. Their conduct was abominable but no one dared to criticise them. The Tai-yu Yang Piao and the Minister of Agriculture, Chu Chien, privately talked with the Emperor Hsien and said,“Ts’ao Ts’ao has twenty legions of soldiers and many capable advisers and leaders; it would be well for the Empire if he would lend his support to the imperial family and help to rid the government of this evil party.”

  His Majesty wept,“I am weary of the insults and contempt of these wretches and should be very glad to have them removed,” said he.

  “I have thought of a plan to estrange Li and Kuo and so make them destroy each other. Then Ts’ao could come and cleanse the Court,” said Piao.

  “How will you manage it?” asked the Emperor.

  “Kuo’s wife is very jealous and we can take advantage of her weakness to bring about a quarrel.”

  So Yang Piao received instruction to act, with a secret edict to support him.

  Piao’s wife made an excuse to visit Madam Kuo at her palace and, in the course of conversation, said “There is talk of secret liaison between the General, your husband, and the wife of the Minister Li. It is a great secret, but if t
he Minister knew it he might try to harm your husband. I think you ought to have very little to do with that family.”

  Madam Kuo was surprised but said,“I have wondered why he has been sleeping away from home lately, but I did not think there was anything shameful connected with it. I should never have known if you had not spoken. I must put a stop to it.”

  By and by, when Madam Yang took her leave, her hostess thanked her warmly for the information she had given.

  Some days passed and Kuo Ssu was going over to the dwelling of his colleague to a dinner. His wife did not wish him to go and she said,“This Ts’ui is very deep and one cannot fathom his designs. You two are not of equal rank and if he made away with you, what would become of your poor handmaid?”

  Kuo Ssu paid no attention and his wife could not prevail on him to stay at home. Late in the afternoon some presents arrived from the Li palace and Kuo’s wife secretly put poison into the delicacies before she set them before her lord. He was going to taste at once but she said,“It is unwise to consume things that come from outside. Let us try on a dog first.”

  They did and the dog died. This incident made Kuo doubt the kindly intentions of his colleague.

  One day, at the close of business at Court, Li invited Kuo to his palace. After Kuo arrived home in the evening, rather the worse for too much wine, he was seized with a colic. His wife said she suspected poison and hastily administered an emetic, which relieved the pain. Kuo Ssu began to feel angry.

  “We did everything together and helped each other always. Now he wants to injure me. If I do not get in the first blow, I shall suffer some injury.”

  So Kuo began to prepare his guard for any sudden emergency. This was told to Li and he in turn grew angry, saying,“So Kuo is doing so and so.”