Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 1 (Tuttle Classics)

by Lo Kuan-Chung

  “Now is just the time to make use of good men. I will not forfeit the regard of the world for the sake of removing one individual. Kuo Feng-hsiao and I both see this in the same light.”

  Wherefore he rejected all persuasion to work against Liu Pei but sent him soldiers and a large supply of grain, and set him on his way to Yu (Honan). He was to march to Hsiaop’ei, occupy it, call together his former soldiers and attack Lu Pu.

  When Liu Pei reached Yuchou he sent to inform Ts’ao Ts’ao, who prepared to march an army to subjugate Lu Pu. But just then hasty news came that Chang Chi, who had gone to the attack of Nanyang, had been wounded by a stray arrow and had died. His nephew Hsiu had succeeded to the command of his army and with Chia Hsu as strategist, had joined Liu Piao and camped at Wanch’eng. They intended to attack the capital and get possession of the Emperor’s person.

  Ts’ao Ts’ao was placed in a quandary. He would go to attack this combination but he feared lest Lu Pu would attack the capital if he left it. So he sought the advice of Hsun Yu.

  “Lu Pu has no notion of a policy. He is led astray by any little advantage that presents itself to his eyes. All you need do is to obtain promotion for him, giving him some additional title, and tell him to make peace with Yuan-te and he will do it.”

  “Good,” said Ts’ao Ts’ao and he acted upon the hint and sent an officer with the official announcement and a letter urging peace, while he went on with preparations to meet the other danger. When ready he marched out in three divisions, Hsiahou Tun was the van-leader and they went to Yushui River and camped there.

  Chia Hsu succeeded in persuading Chang Hsiu of the hopelessness of resistance.

  “You would do well to surrender since his army is too large for you to oppose,” said he.

  Seeing the truth of this Hsiu sent his adviser to propose submission. Ts’ao Ts’ao was greatly pleased with the messenger, admiring his ready and fluent repartee, and tried to win him to his service.

  “I was formerly with Li Ts’ui and was held guilty with him. Now I am with Chang who accepts my advice and I should not like to abandon him,” said Chia Hsu.

  He left and next day conducted his master into Ts’ao Ts’ao’s presence. Ts’ao was generous. Then he entered Wanch’eng, the greater part of the army being put in camp outside where the lines extended some ten li. Great banquets were given every day and Ts’ao Ts’ao was always being entertained.

  One day, when Ts’ao Ts’ao returned to his quarters in a more than usual merry mood, he asked the attendants if there were any singing girls in the city. The son of his elder brother heard the question and said,“Peeping through one of the partitions last evening I saw a perfectly beautiful woman in one of the courts. They told me she was the wife of Chang Hsiu’s uncle. She is very lovely.”

  Ts’ao Ts’ao, inflamed by the description given him of the beauty, told his nephew to go and bring her to visit him. He did so supported by an armed escort and very soon the woman stood before him.

  She was a beauty indeed and Ts’ao Ts’ao asked her name. She replied,“Thy handmaid was wife to Chang Chi; I was born of the Tsou family.”

  “Do you know who I am?”

  “I have known the Minister by reputation a long time. I am happy to see him and be permitted to bow before him,” said she.

  “It was for your sake that I allowed Chang Hsiu to submit; otherwise I would have slain him and cut him off root and branch,” said Ts’ao.

  “Indeed, then, I owe my very life to you; I am very grateful,” said she.

  “To see you is a glimpse of paradise, but there is one thing I should like better. Stay here and go with me to the capital where I will see that you are properly cared for. What do you say to that?”

  She could but thank him.

  “But Chang Hsiu will greatly wonder at my prolonged absence and gossips will begin to talk,” said she.

  “If you like you can leave the city tomorrow.”

  She did so, but instead of going at once to the capital she stayed with him among the tents, where Tien Wei was appointed as a special guard over her apartments. Ts’ao was the only person whom she saw and he passed the days in idle dalliance with the lady, quite, content to let time flow by.

  But Chang’s people told him what had gone amiss and he was angry at the shame brought upon the family. He confided his trouble to Chia Hsu who said,“Keep this secret, wait till he appears again to carry on business and then… .”

  A plan was arranged quite secretly.

  Not long after this Chang Hsiu went into Ts’ao Ts’ao’s tent to say that, as many of his men were deserting, it would be well to camp them in the centre and when permission was given the men of his old command were moved in and placed in four camps.

  But Tien Wei, the especial guard of Ts’ao Ts’ao’s tent, was a man to be feared, being both brave and powerful. It was hard to know how to attack him. So counsel was taken with an officer, Hu Ch’erh, a man of enormous strength and activity. He could carry a burden of six hundred pounds and travel seven hundred li in a day. He proposed a plan. He said,“The fearsome thing about Tien Wei is his double halberd. But get him to come to a party and make him quite drunk before you send him back. I will mingle among his escort and so get into his tent and steal away his weapon. One need not fear him then.”

  So the necessary arms were prepared and orders given in the various camps. This done the intended victim was invited and plied vigorously with wine so that he was quite intoxicated when he left. And, as arranged, the officer mingled with his escort and made away with his weapons.

  That night, when Ts’ao Ts’ao was at supper with the lady, he heard the voices of men and neighing of horses and sent out to ask what it meant. They told him it was the night patrol going the rounds and he was satisfied.

  Near the second watch of the night again was heard some noise in the rear of his tent and one of the fodder carts was reported to be burning.

  “One of the men has dropped a spark; there is nothing to be alarmed at,” said he.

  But very soon the fire spread on all sides and became alarming. He called Tien Wei. But he, usually so alert, was lying down quite intoxicated.

  However, the beating of gongs and rolling of drums mingling with his dreams awoke him and he jumped up. His trusty halberd had disappeared. The enemy was near. He hastily snatched up an infantryman’s sword and rushed out. At the gate he saw a crowd of spearmen just bursting in. Tien Wei rushed at them slashing all around him and a score or more fell beneath his blows. The others drew back. But the spears stood around him like reeds on the river bank. Being totally without mail he was soon wounded in several places. He fought desperately till his sword snapped and was no longer of any use. Throwing it aside he seized a couple of soldiers and with their bodies as weapons felled half a score of his opponents. The others dared not approach, but they shot arrows at him. These fell thick as rain but he still maintained the gate against the assailants.

  However, the mutineers got in by the rear of the camp and one of them wounded him in the back with a spear thrust. Uttering a loud cry he fell. The blood gushed from the wound in torrents and he died. Even after he was dead not a man, dared to come in by the main gate.

  Ts’ao Ts’ao, relying on Tien Wei to hold the main gate, had fled in haste by the rear gate. His nephew accompanied him on foot. Then Ts’ao was wounded by an arrow in the arm and three arrows struck his horse. However, fortunately, the horse was a fine beast from Tawan full of spirit and, in spite of his wounds, he bore his master swiftly and well as far as the Yushui River.

  Here some of the pursuers came up and his nephew was backed to pieces. Ts’ao Ts’ao dashed into the river and reached the further side, but there an arrow struck his steed in the eye and he fell. Ts’ao Ts’ao’s eldest son dismounted and yielded his horse to his father, who galloped on. His son was killed but he himself got away. Soon after he met several of his officers who had rallied a few soldiers.

  The soldiers under Hsiahou Tun seized th
e occasion to plunder the people. Yu Chin took his men fell upon them and slew many. Thus he protected and appeased the people. The plunderers, meeting Ts’ao Ts’ao on the road, knelt down howling and said Yu Chin had mutinied and attacked them. Ts’ao Ts’ao was surprised and when he met Hsiahou Tun, gave orders to attack Yu Chin.

  Now when Yu Chin saw his master and a great company approaching he at once stopped the attack and set his men to make a camp. Hsun Yu asked him why.

  “The Chingchou soldiers say you have turned traitor; why do you not explain now that the Minister has arrived? Why first make a camp?” said he.

  He replied,“Our enemies are coming up in our rear and are very close. It is necessary to prepare for defence or we shall not withstand them. Explanation is a small matter, but defence is very important.”

  Soon after the camp was finished Chang Hsiu fell upon them in two divisions. Yu Chin himself rode out to face them. Chang drew back. The other leader, seeing Yu Chin advance thus boldly, also attacked and Chang Hsiu was overcome. They pursued him a great distance until his force was almost annihilated. With the miserable remnant he finally fled to Liu Piao.

  Ts’ao Ts’ao’s army reformed and the captains mustered. Then Yu Chin went to see his master and told him of the conduct of the Chingchou soldiers and their looting and why he had attacked them.

  “Why did you not tell me before you made the camp?”

  Yu Chin related what had occurred.

  Said Ts’ao,“When the first thought of a leader in the time of greatest stress is to maintain order and strengthen his defences, giving no thought to slander but shouldering his burdens manfully, and when he thereby turns a defeat into a victory, who, even of the ancient leaders, can excel him?”

  He rewarded Yu Chin with a service of plate and a marquisate. But he reprimanded Hsiahou Tun for his lack of discipline.

  Sacrifices in honour of the dead warrior Tien Wei were instituted. Ts’ao himself led the wailing and paid due honours. Turning to his offices he said,“I have lost my first born son, but I grieve not so heavily for him as for Tien Wei. I weep for him.”

  All were sad at the loss of this captain. Then orders were issued to return but nothing will be said here of the march to the capital.

  When Wang Tse, bearing the imperial decree, reached Hsuchou, he was met by Lu Pu, who conducted him into the residence where the decree was read. It conferred the title General,“Pacificator of the East,” and a special seal accompanied the mandate. The private letter was also handed over and the messenger detailed the high appreciation in which Lu was held by the chief Minister of State.

  Next came news that a messenger from Yuan Shu had arrived. When he had been introduced he said that Shu’s project of declaring himself Emperor was advancing. He had already built a palace and would speedily choose an Empress and concubines and would come to Huainan.

  “Has the rebel gone so far?” cried Lu Pu in a rage.

  He put the messenger to death and Han Yin into the cangue. He drafted a memorial of thanks and sent it to the capital, at the same time sending, too, Han Yin, the unfortunate agent who had arranged the marriage alliance. He also replied to Ts’ao Ts’ao’s private letter asking to be confirmed in his governorship.

  Ts’ao was pleased to hear of the rupture of the marriage arrangement, and forthwith put Han Yin to death in the market place.

  However, Ch’en Teng sent a secret remonstrance to Ts’ao Ts’ao, vilifying Lu Pu as cruel, stupid and facile and advising his destruction.

  “I know Lu Pu quite well,” said Ts’ao.“He is a wolf with a savage heart, and it will be hard to feed him for long. If it had not been for you and your father I should not have known all the circumstances and you must help me to get rid of him.”

  “Anything the Minister wishes to do shall have my assistance,” was the reply.

  As a reward Ts’ao Ts’ao obtained a grant of grain for the father and a prefecture for the son, who then took his leave. As he was saying farewell Ts’ao took him by the hand saying,“I shall depend upon you in the eastern affair.”

  Ch’en Teng nodded acquiescence. Then he returned to Lu Pu, who asked him how he had fared. Ch’en told him of the gifts to his father, which annoyed Pu.

  “You did not ask Hsuchou for me, but you got something for yourself. Your father advised me to help Ts’ao Ts’ao by breaking off the marriage, and now I get nothing at all of what I asked while you and your father get everything. I have been victimised by your father.”

  He threatened.Ch’en with his sword.

  Ch’en Teng only laughed saying,“O how stupid you are, General!”

  “I! How stupid?”

  “When I saw Ts’ao, I said that to keep you going was like feeding a tiger. The tiger must be kept fully fed or he would eat men. But Ts’ao laughed and replied, ‘No; not that. One must treat the marquis like a falcon. Not feed it till the foxes and hares are done. Hungry, the bird is of use; full fed it flies away.’ I asked who were the quarry. He replied ‘Yuan Shu, Sun Ts’e, Yuan Shao, Liu Piao, Liu Chang and Chang Lu; these are the foxes and hares.’”

  Lu Pu threw aside his sword and laughed, saying,“Yes; he understands me.”

  But just about that time came news of the advance of Yuan Shu on Hsuchou and that frightened Lu Pu.

  When discord rose ‘twixt Ts’in and Chin,

  They were attacked by Yueh and Wu,

  And when a promised bride ne’er came,

  An army marched to enforce the claim.

  How all this fell out will be shown in the next chapter.

  CHAPTER XVII

  AN ARMY OF SEVEN DIVISIONS MARCHES OUT: THREE GENERALS ARE BROUGHT TOGETHER

  H uainan was very fruitful, and Yuan Shu, as governor of such a large district, was very influential. He was not a little puffed up. The possession of the Imperial seal, pledged by Sun Ts’e, added to his pride. And he seriously thought of assuming the full style. As a preliminary he assembled all his officers and addressed them thus.—

  “Of old Kao-Tsu, Founder of the Dynasty of Han, was only a very minor official and yet he became ruler of the Empire. The Dynasty has endured four centuries and its measure of fortune has run out. It no longer possesses authority; the cauldron is on the point of boiling over. My family has held the highest offices of State for four generations and is universally respected. Wherefore I wish, in response to the will of Heaven and the desire of the people, to assume the Imperial dignity. What think ye of the proposal, my officers?”

  The Recorder, Yen Hsiang, rose in opposition at once.“You may not do this. Hou Chi, the Minister of the Chou Dynasty, was of distinguished virtue and held many offices, till in the time of Wen Wang he had two thirds of the Empire. Still he served and was loyal to the Yin Dynasty. Your house is honourable, but it is not so glorious as that of Chou. The Hans may be reduced, but they are not so abominably cruel as Tsou of the Yins. Indeed this should not be done.”

  Yuan Shu did not hear this with pleasure.“We Yuans came from Ch’en and he was a descendant of Shun (the Emperor). By the rule of interpreting the signs of fate the day has come when earth receives fire. Beside there is an oracle saying, ‘He who replaces the Hans must wade through deep mire.’ My name means ‘the high road.’ It fits exactly. Further than this, I possess the hereditary seal of State and must become lord of all or I turn from Heaven’s own way. Finally I have made up my mind, so if any one says too much he will simply suffer death.”

  He arrogated himself the insignia of royalty. He set up officials with titles only given by an Emperor, and rode in a carriage decorated with the dragon and phoenix and offered sacrifices after the manner of an Emperor in the north and south suburbs. Also he appointed an “Empress” and an “Heir Apparent” (in the Eastern Palace) and pressed for the early wedding of Lu Pu’s daughter with his son that the palace entourage might be complete.

  But when he heard of the fate of his marriage ambassador he was very angry and began at once to plan for revenge. Chang Hsun was made General
issimo having under his command more than twenty legions, in seven divisions under so many commanders, and each of these was instructed to make a certain town his objective. The Governor of Yenchou, Chin Shang, was ordered to superintend the commissariat, but he declined the office and so was put to death. Chi Ling was in command of the reserves to help wherever he was required. Yuan Shu led three legions and he appointed three tried officers to go up and down and see that the various armies did not lag behind.

  Lu Pu found out from his scouts that his own city was Chang Hsun’s objective; the other towns to be first attacked being Hsiaop’ei, Itu, Langya, Chiehshih, Hsiap’ei and Chunshan. The armies were marching fifty li a day, and plundering the countryside as they advanced.

  He summoned his advisers to a council to which came Ch’en Kung, Ch’en Teng and his father. When all had assembled Ch’en Kung said,“This misfortune that has come to us is due to the two Ch’ens, who fawned upon the central government in order to obtain rank and appointments. Now remove the evil by putting these two to death and sending their heads to our enemy. Then he will retire and leave us in peace.”

  Lu Pu acquiesced and had the two arrested. But the son, Ch’en Teng, only laughed.“What is this anxiety about?” said he.“These seven armies are no more to me than so many heaps of rotting straw. They are not worth thinking about.”

  “If you can show us how to overcome them I will spare your life,” said Lu.

  “General, if you will listen to a poor stupid fool the city will be perfectly safe.”

  “Let us hear what you have to say.”

  “Yuan Shu’s men are numerous but they are only a flock of crows; they are not an army under a leader. There is no mutual confidence. I can keep them at bay with the ordinary guards of the place and could overcome them by some unsuspected stratagem. If I should fail I have another plan by which I can not only protect the city but capture our enemy.”

  “Let us have it.”

  “Han Hsien and Yang Feng, two of the leaders of our enemies, are old servants of the Han dynasty who fled from fear of Ts’ao Ts’ao and, being homeless, sought refuge with Yuan Shu. He despises them and they are dissatisfied with his service. A little letter will secure their help as our allies, and with Liu Pei to help us on the outside we can certainly overcome Yuan.”