Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 1 (Tuttle Classics)

by Lo Kuan-Chung

  The few men at Liu Pei’s disposal were led out of the city and arranged to make a brave show, but it was good news to him to hear that Lu Pu had arrived and was quite near. He camped only a li away to the southwest. When Yuan Shu’s general, Chi Ling, heard of his arrival he wrote letters reproaching Lu Pu for his treachery. Lu Pu smiled as he read them.

  “I know how to make both of them love me,” said he. So he sent invitations to both leaders to come to a banquet. Liu Pei was for accepting the invitation and going, but his brothers dissuaded him Saying,“There is some treachery in his heart.”

  “I have treated him too well for him to do me any harm,” said Yuan-te.

  So he mounted and rode away, the two brothers following. They came to the camp.

  The host said,“Now by a special effort I have got you out of danger; I hope you will not forget that when you come into your own.”

  Yuan-te thanked him heartily and was invited to take a seat. The two brothers took up their usual place as guards.

  But when Chi Ling was announced Yuan-te felt a spasm of fear and got up to go away.

  “You two are invited for the particular purpose of a discussion,” said the host.“Do not take it amiss.”

  Yuan-te, being quite ignorant of his intentions, was very uneasy. Presently his fellow guest entered. Seeing Yuan-te in the tent, and in the seat of honour, he was puzzled, hesitated and tried to withdraw. But the attendants prevented this and Lu Pu, advancing, laid hold of him and drew him into the tent as he had been a child.

  “Do you wish to slay me?” asked he.

  “Not at all,” replied Lu Pu.

  “Then you are going to slay Long-ears?”

  “No; not that.”

  “Then what does it mean?”

  “Yuan-te and I are brothers. Now, General, you are besieging him and so I have come to the rescue.”

  “Then slay me,” said Chi Ling.

  ‘There would be no sense in that. All my life I have disliked fighting and quarrels, but have loved making peace. And now I want to settle the quarrel between you two.”

  “May I ask how you think of doing so?”

  “I have a means and one approved of heaven itself.”

  Then he drew Ling within the tent and led him up to Pei. The two men faced each other, full of mutual suspicion, but their host placed himself between them and they took their seats, Liu Pei on the right hand of the host.

  The banquet began. After a number of courses almost in silence, Lu Pu spoke, saying,“I wish you two gentlemen to listen to me and put an end to your strife.”

  Liu Pei made no reply but Chi Ling said,“I have come with an army of ten legions at the express bidding of my master to take Liu Pei. How can I cease the strife? I must fight.”

  “What!” exclaimed Chang Fei drawing his sword.“Few as we are we regard you no more than a lot of children. What are you compared with a million Yellow Turbans? You dare to hurt our brother!”

  Kuan Yu urged him to be silent. Let us see what General Lu has to say first; after that there will be time to go to our tents and fight.”

  “I beg you both to come to an understanding. I cannot let you fight,” said Lu Pu.

  Now on one side Chi Ling was discontented and angry; on the other Chang Fei was dying for a fight and neither of the two chiefly concerned would signify assent. Then suddenly the host turned to his attendants saying,“Bring my halberd!” They did so and he sat there gripping the graceful but effective weapon in his right hand. Both guests felt very ill at ease and turned pale. Lu Pu went on “I have tried to persuade you to make peace for that is the command of the Most High. It shall be put to the test.”

  He then bade his servants take the halberd outside beyond the gate and set it up. Then speaking to his two guests he said,“That gate is one hundred and fifty paces distant. If I can hit that centre branch of the halberd-head with an arrow, you will both withdraw your armies. If I miss, you can go away and prepare for immediate battle. I shall compel you to abide by what I say.”

  Chi Ling thought to himself,“That small mark at that distance! How could any one hit it?” So he assented, thinking he would have plenty of fighting after his host had missed the mark. Of course Liu Pei was willing.

  They all sat down again and wine was served. When this had been drunk the host called for his bow and arrows. Yuan-te silently prayed that he would hit the mark.

  Lu Pu turned back his sleeves, carefully fitted an arrow to the string and pulled the bow to its utmost stretch. A slight exclamation escaped him as the bow curved like the harvest moon sailing through the sky.“Twang!” went the bowstring and the arrow sped like a falling star. And it struck the slender tongue of the halberd head full and square. A roar of acclamation from all sides greeted the exploit.

  O Lu was a wonderful archer,

  And the arrow he shot sped straight;

  By hitting the mark he saved his friend

  That day at his yamen gate.

  Hou 1, the archer of ancient days,

  Brought down each mocking sun,

  And the apes that gibbered to fright Yuchi

  Were slain by him, one by one.

  But we sing of Lu Pu that drew the bow,

  And his feathered shaft that flew;

  For a myriad men could doff their mail

  When he hit the mark so true.

  Lu Pu laughed loud at the success of his shot. Dropping his bow he seized his guests by the hands saying,“The command of Heaven indeed! And now you cease from fighting!”

  He ordered the soldier attendants to pour out great goblets of wine and each drank. Liu Pei in his inmost heart felt rather ashamed; his fellow guest sat silent, nodding his head. Presently he said,“I cannot disobey your command, General, but let me depart. What will my master say and will he believe me?”

  “I will write a letter and confirm it,” said Lu Pu.

  After a few more rounds of the wine Chi Ling asked that he might have the letter and after that departed. When the brothers took their leave Lu Pu again reminded Liu Pei that he owed him his deliverance.

  In a short time the soldiers had gone. Here nothing will be said of the entry of two of the actors in the drama into their own towns. When Chi Ling had got back to Huainan and told the story of the feat of archery and the peacemaking that followed, and had presented the letter, his lord was very wroth.

  “He repays me for all my grain with this bit of play acting!” cried he.“He has saved Liu Pei, but I will lead a large army myself and settle him, and take Lu Pu too.”

  “Be careful, my lord,” said Chi Ling.“He is braver and stronger than most men and has wide territory. He and Liu Pei together make a powerful combination, not easy to break. But there is another course. I have found out that his wife, the lady Yen, has a daughter just of marriageable age and as you have a son, you could arrange a marriage alliance with Lu Pu. If his daughter wedded your son he would certainly slay your enemy for you. This is the nothing-can-separate-relations plan.”

  This scheme appealed to Yuan Shu, who soon set about its accomplishment. He sent presents by the hand of Han Yin, who was to discuss the question. When Han saw Lu he spoke of the immense respect his master had for him and his desire to ensure perpetual alliance between the two families by a marriage, an alliance such as existed between the states Ts’in and Chin.

  Lu Pu was well disposed toward the scheme, but went in to consult his wife. Now Lu Pu had two wives and one concubine. He first married a lady of the Yen family and she was the legal wife. Then he took Little Cicada as a concubine, and while he was living at Hsiaop’ei he had married a secondary wife, a daughter of Ts’ao Pao. She had died quite young leaving no issue. Neither had his concubine borne any children. So that he had but one child, this daughter, of whom he was dotingly fond.

  When he broached the subject his wife said,“The Yuan’s have dominated their part of the country these many years. They have a large army and are very prosperous. One day a Yuan will become Emperor and our
daughter may hope to be an Empress. But how many sons has he?”

  “Only this one.”

  “Then we should accept the offer. Even if our daughter does not become an Empress, Hsuchou is nothing to be sad about.”

  Lu Pu decided to accept and so treated the messenger with extreme generosity. Han Yin went back with a favourable answer. The wedding gifts were then prepared ready for Han Yin to take to the bride’s family. They were received and banquets and merry-making filled all the time.

  One day Ch’en Kung went to see the messenger in his lodging, and when the usual ceremonies and greetings had been exchanged, the two men sat down to talk. When the servants had been sent out of earshot Ch’en Kung said,“Who originated this scheme by which Yuan Shu and Lu Pu are to become connections by this marriage so that Liu Pei’s head may fall?”

  Han Yin was terrified.“I pray you not to let it get abroad,” said he.

  “I certainly shall keep it secret. But if there be any delay some other person will find it out and that spells failure.”

  “What had best be done?”

  “I will see Lu Pu and get him to send the girl immediately so that the marriage may be concluded quickly.”

  “If it happened thus my master would indeed hold you in high respect.”

  With this Ch’en Kung took his leave and sought an interview with Lu Pu.

  “I hear your daughter is to be married to Yuan Shu’s son. That is capital, but no one knows when.”

  “That has yet to be considered.”

  “There were certain fixed rules as to the period between sending presents and consummation of the marriage; Emperors, a year; nobles, half a year; high officers, three months; and common people, one month.”

  Lu Pu replied,“As to Yuan Kung-lu, Heaven has already put into his hands one Imperial jewel and he will surely arrive at the dignity one day. So, I should think the Imperial rule would apply.”

  “No; it will not.”

  “The nobles’ rule, then?”

  “No; nor that.”

  “The high officers’?”

  “Not even that.”

  Lu Pu laughed. Then you mean me to go by the rule for common people.”

  “Nor that either.”

  “Then what do you mean?”

  “In the midst of the present troubles, when there is great rivalry between the nobles, do you not see that the others will be exceedingly jealous of your marriage alliance with such a family as the Yuans? Suppose you postpone the choice of the day, most likely when your fine morning arrives the wedding party will fall into an ambush on the road and the bride be carried off. Then what could be done? My opinion is that you would have done better to refuse. But since you have consented, then carry out the plan at once before the lords hear of it and so send the girl over without delay to Shouch’un. You can hire a lodging there till you have selected the wedding day and the odds are greatly against any failure.”

  “What you say is quite to the point,” replied Lu.

  He went into the private apartments to see his wife and told her the bride elect would set out immediately and the trousseau was to be prepared as far as it could be. On his side he chose some good horses and had a wedding carriage got ready. The escort consisted of Han Yin and two military officers. The procession went out of the city to the sound of music.

  Now at this time Ch’en Kuei, father of Ch’en Teng (Yuanlung) was placidly waiting till the evening of his life passed into night. Hearing this burst of music he enquired the occasion and the servants told him.

  “They are working on the ‘Relatives-are-inseparable’ device, then,” said he.“Yuan-te is in danger.”

  Thereupon in spite of his many infirmities he went to see Lu Pu.

  “Noble Sir, what brings you here?” asked Lu.

  “I heard you were dead and I came to mourn,” quavered the old man.

  “Who said that?” exclaimed his host.

  “Once upon a time you received grand presents from the Yuan’s that you might slay Liu Pei, but you got out by that clever shot at your halberd. Now they suddenly seek a marriage alliance thinking to get hold of your daughter as a pledge. The next move will be an attack on Hsiaop’ei and, that gone, where are you? Whatever they ask in future, grain or men or anything else, and you yield, will bring your own end nearer, and make you hated all round. If you refuse, then you are false to the duties of a relative and that will be an excuse to attack you openly. Beside this Yuan Shu intends to call himself Emperor, which would be rebellion, and you would be of the rebel’s family; something abominable, which the Empire would not suffer.”

  Lu Pu was much disturbed to hear this.“I have been misled!” cried he.

  So he hurriedly sent Chang Liao to bring the wedding party back to the city. When they had come he threw Han Yin into prison and sent a reply to Yuan Shu saying curtly that the girl’s trousseau was not ready and she could not be married till it was.

  Han Yin was sent back to the capital. Lu Pu was hesitating what course to adopt, when he heard that Liu Pei was enlisting soldiers and buying horses for no apparent reason.

  “He is simply doing his duty; there is nothing to be surprised at,” said Lu Pu.

  Then came two officers saying,“As you ordered us we went into Shantung to purchase horses. We had got three hundred when, on our way back, on the borders of Peihsien some robbers stole half of them. We hear that the real robbers were Chang Fei and his men, who took on the guise of brigands.”

  Lu Pu was very angry at this and began to prepare an expedition against Hsiaop’ei. When Liu Pei heard that an attack threatened he led out his army to oppose it and the two armies were arrayed. Liu Pei rode to the front and said,“Elder brother, why have you brought an army against me?”

  Lu Pu began abusing him saying,“That shot of mine at the yamen gate saved you from grave danger; why then did you steal my horses?”

  “I wanted horses and I sent out to buy them. Should I dare to take yours?” said Liu.

  “You stole a hundred and fifty in the person of your brother Chang Fei. You only used another man’s hand.”

  Thereupon Chang Fei, with his spear in rest, rode out saying,“Yes; I stole your good horses, and what more do you expect?”

  Lu Pu replied,“You goggled-eyed thief! You are always treating me with contempt.”

  “Yes; I took your horses and you get angry. You did not say any thing when you stole my brother’s city.”

  Lu Pu rode forward to give battle and Chang Fei advanced. A reckless fight began and the two warriors kept it up for a hundred bouts without a decisive stroke. Then Liu Pei, fearing some accident to his brother, hastily beat the gongs as a signal to retire and led his army into the city. Lu Pu then invested it.

  Liu Pei called his brother and chid him as the cause of all this misfortune.

  “Where are the horses?” said he.

  “In some of the temples and courts,” replied Fei.

  A messenger was sent out to speak softly and offer to restore the stolen horses if hostilities were to cease. Lu Pu was disposed to agree but Ch’en Kung opposed.“You will suffer by and by if you do not remove this Liu Pei.”

  Under his influence the request for peace was rejected and the attack on the city pressed harder.

  Liu Pei called Mi Chu and Sun Ch’ien to him to ask advice.

  Said the latter,“The one person that Ts’ao Ts’ao detests is Lu Pu. Let us then abandon the city and take refuge with Ts’ao Ts’ao, from whom we may borrow men to destroy him.”

  “If we try to get away, who will lead the van?”

  “I will do my best,” said Chang Fei.

  So he led the way. Kuan Yu was rearguard and in the centre was Liu Pei with the non-fighting portion. The cavalcade started and went out at the north gate. They met some opposition but the soldiers were driven off and the besieging force was passed without difficulty. Chang Liao pursued, but was held off by the rearguard. It seemed Lu Pu was not dissatisfied at the flight for he took no p
ersonal trouble to prevent it. He made formal entry into the city, settled local affairs and appointed a governor.

  Liu Pei approached Hsutu and encamped outside the city, whence he sent Sun Ch’ien to see Ts’ao Ts’ao and relate the events that brought him there. Ts’ao was very friendly and said,“Liu Pei is as my brother.” He invited him to enter the city.

  Leaving his brothers at the camp Liu Pei, with Sun Ch’ien and Mi Chu, went to Ts’ao Ts’ao, who received him with the greatest respect. The story of Lu Pu’s perfidy was again related.

  “He has no sense of right,” said Ts’ao Ts’ao.“You and I, my brother, will attack him together.”

  Yuan-te was very grateful. A banquet was then prepared and it was late evening before the visitor left for his own camp.

  Hsun Yu then had an interview with his master and said,“If you are not on your guard Liu Pei will be your undoing. You ought to destroy him. He is too much of the hero.”

  Ts’ao made no reply and his adviser retired. Presently Kuo Chia came and Ts’ao Ts’ao said,“I have been advised to kill Liu Pei; what of such a scheme?”

  “A bad scheme,” said Kuo.“You are the popular champion, pledged to relieve the people from oppression and only by truth and rectitude can you secure the support of the nobleminded. Your only fear is lest they stay away. Now Liu Pei is famous. He has come to you for help and protection and to put him to death would be to alienate all good men and put fear into the hearts of all the able advisers. Hampered by these difficulties where will you find those whose help you need? To remove the dangers represented by one man and thereby injure yourself in the eyes of all mankind is a sure means of destruction. These conditions need careful consideration.”

  “What you say exactly fits in with what I think,” said Ts’ao, greatly pleased with these remarks.

  His next step was to memorialise the Emperor to give Liu Pei the governorship of Yuchou.

  Again Ch’eng Yu said,“Liu Pei is certain to rise to the top; he will never remain in a subordinate position. You had better remove him.”