Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 1 (Tuttle Classics)

by Lo Kuan-Chung

  “You are a criminal,” said Shao.“How dare you come with such wild nonsense to upset my armies.”

  And turning to the gaolers he continued,“I bade you confine him; why did you let him come?”

  Then he issued orders to put the gaolers to death and appointed others to keep the prisoner in close custody.

  Chu Shou went away, wiping his falling tears and sighing deeply.“Our soldiers’ destruction is at hand and I know not where my poor corpse may find a resting place.”

  Blunt truth offended Yuan Shao,

  Too stupid any plan to make,

  His stores destroyed ‘tis evident

  That Ch’ichou also is at stake.

  Ts’ao Ts’ao’s raiding party went along through the night. Passing one of Yuan Shao’s outpost camps they were challenged Ts’ao sent forward a man to say,“Chiang Chi has orders to go to Wuch’ao to guard the grain stores.”

  Seeing that the raiders marched under the ensigns of Yuan Shao the guard had no suspicions and let them pass. At every post this ruse was effective and they got safely through.

  They reached their objective at the end of the fourth watch, the straw and wood were placed in position without loss of time and the blaze started. Then the captains beat to attack.

  At the time of the attack Shunyu Ch’iung and his companions were all asleep after a heavy drinking bout. However, when the alarm was given, they sprang up and asked what was the matter. The hubbub was indescribable. Very soon the fuddled officers were caught with hooks and hauled out of their camp.

  Mu Yuan-chin and Chao Jui were just returning from taking grain to the camp and seeing the flames arise, they hastened to assist. Some of Ts’ao’s soldiers ran to tell him that some of the enemy were coming up in the rear and ask him to send reinforcements, but he only replied by ordering the generals to press on to the front till the enemy was actually close at hand and then face about. So the attack was pressed and they all hastened forward.

  Very soon the fire gained strength and thick smoke hung all around filling the sky. When Mu and Chao drew near, Ts’ao turned about and attacked them. They could not stand this for a moment and both captains were killed. Finally the stores of grain and forage were utterly destroyed.

  The commander, Shunyu Ch’iung, was made prisoner and taken to Ts’ao who ordered him to be deprived of ears, nose and hands. He was bound on a horse and sent, thus horribly mutilated, to his master.

  From Yuan’s camp the flames of the burning depot were seen away in the north and they knew what they meant. Yuan hastily summoned his officers to a council to send a rescue party. Chang Ho offered to go with Kao Lan but Kuo Tu said,“You may not go; it is certain that Ts’ao Ts’ao is there in person, wherefore his camp is undefended. Let loose our soldiers on the camp and that will speedily bring Ts’ao back again. This is how Sun Pin besieged Wei and thereby rescued Han.”

  But Chang Ho said,“Not so; Ts’ao is too wily not to have fully prepared against a chance attack. If we attack his camp and fail and Shunyu Ch’iung should be caught we shall all be captured too.”

  Kuo Tu said,“Ts’ao will be too intent on the destruction of the grain to think of leaving a guard. I entreat you to attack his camp.”

  So five companies under Chang Ho and Kao Lan were sent to attack Ts’ao’s camp and Chiang Chi was sent to try to recover the grain store.

  Now after overcoming Shunyu, Ts’ao’s men dressed themselves in the armour and clothing of the defeated soldiers and put out their emblems, thus posing as defeated men running back to their own headquarters. And when they happened upon Chiang Chi’s rescue legion they said they had been beaten at Wuch’ao and were retreating. So they were suffered to pass without molestation while Chiang Chi hastened on. But soon he came to Chang Liao and Hsu Chu who cried out to him to stop. And before he could make any opposition Chang Liao had cut him down. Soon his men were killed or dispersed and the victors sent false messengers to Shao’s camp to say that Chiang Chi had attacked and driven away the defenders of the granaries. So no more reliefs were sent that way. However, reinforcements were sent to Kuantu,

  In due course the Yuan men came down upon Ts’ao’s camp at uantu and the defenders at once came out and fought them on three sides so that they were worsted. By the time reinforcements arrived Ts’ao’s army, returning from the raid, had also come and Yuan’s men were attacked in the rear. So they were quite surrounded. However, Chang Ho and Kao Lan managed to force their way out and got away.

  When the remains of the defenders of the gram stores reached their master’s camp they were mustered. Seeing the mutilated state of their one time leader, Shao asked how he had come to betray his trust and to suffer thus and the soldiers told their lord that their commander had been intoxicated at the time of the attack. So Shun-yu was forthwith executed.

  Kuo T’u, fearing lest Chang Ho and Kao Lan would return and testify the whole truth, began to intrigue against them. First he went to his lord saying,“Those two, Chang and Kao, were certainly very glad when your armies were defeated.”

  “Why do you say this?” asked Yuan.

  “O they have long cherished a desire to go over to Ts’ao Ts’ao, so when you sent them on the duty of destroying his camp they did not do their best and so brought about this disaster.”

  Shao accordingly sent to recall these two to be interrogated as to their faults. But Kuo T’u, their enemy, sent a messenger in advance to warn them, as though in friendly guise, of the adverse fate that awaited them. So when the orders reached them to return to answer for their faults they asked why they were recalled. When the messenger disclaimed all knowledge of the reasons, Kao Lan drew his sword and killed him. Chang Ho was stupefied at this demonstration but Lan said,“Our lord has allowed some one to malign us and say we have been bought by Ts’ao Ts’ao. What is the sense in our sitting still and awaiting destruction? Rather let us surrender to Ts’ao Ts’ao in reality and save our lives.”

  “I have been wanting to do this for some time,” replied Chang Ho.

  Wherefore both, with their companies, made their way to Ts’ao Ts’ao’s camp to surrender.

  When they arrived, Hsiahou Tun said to his master,“These two have come to surrender but 1 have doubts about them.”

  Ts’ao replied,“I will meet them generously and win them over even if they have treachery in their hearts.”

  The camp gates were opened to the two officers and they were invited to enter. They laid down their weapons, removed their armour and bowed to the ground before Ts’ao who said,“If Yuan Shao had listened to you he would not have suffered defeat. Now you two coming to surrender are like Wei Tzu going to Yin and Han Hsin going over to Han.”

  He gave both men the rank of general and the title of marquis, which pleased them much.

  And so as Yuan Shao had formerly driven away his adviser, Hsu Yu, so now he had alienated two captains and had lost his stores at Wuch’ao and the army was depressed and downhearted.

  When Hsu Yu advised Ts’ao to attack as promptly as he could the two newly surrendered men volunteered to lead the way. So these two were sent to make a first attack on the camp, and left in the night with three divisions. The fighting went on confusedly all night but stayed at dawn. Shao had lost heavily.

  Then Hsun Yu suggested a plan saying,“Now is the moment to spread a report that a party of men will go to take Suantsao and attack Yehchun, and another to take Liyang and intercept the enemy’s retreat. Yuan Shao, when he hears of this, will be alarmed and tell off his men to meet this new turn of affairs, and while he is making these new dispositions we can have him at great disadvantage.”

  The suggestion was adopted and care was taken that the report spread far around. It came to the ears of Yuan’s soldiers and they repeated it in camp. Yuan Shao believed it and ordered Yuan Shang with five legions to rescue Yehchun, and Hsin Ming with another five to go to Liyang and they marched away at once. Ts’ao heard that these armies had started and at once despatched eight divisions to make a s
imultaneous attack on the nearly empty camp. Yuan Shao’s men were too dispirited to fight and gave way on all sides.

  Yuan Shao without waiting to don his armour went forth in simple dress with an ordinary cap upon his head and mounted his steed. His son Shang followed him. Four of the enemy captains with their men pressed in his rear and Shao hastened across the river, abandoning all his documents and papers, baggage, treasure and stores. Only eight hundred men followed him over the stream. Ts’ao Ts’ao’s men followed hard but could not come up with him; however, they captured all his impedimenta and they slew many thousands of his men so that the watercourses ran blood and the drowned corpses could not be counted. It was a most complete victory for Ts’ao and he made over all the spoil to the army.

  Among the papers of Yuan Shao was found a bundle of letters showing secret correspondence between him and many persons in the capital and army. Ts’ao’s personal staff suggested that the names of those concerned should be abstracted and the persons arrested, but their lord said,“Shao was so strong that even I could not be sure of safety; how much less other men?”

  So he ordered the papers to be burned and nothing more was said.

  Now when Yuan Shao’s men ran away Chu Shou, being a prisoner, could not get away and was captured. Taken before Ts’ao, who knew him, he cried aloud,“I will not surrender.”

  Said Ts’ao,“Yuan Shao was foolish and neglected your advice; why still cling to the path of delusion? Had I had you to help me I should have been sure of the Empire.”

  The prisoner was well treated in the camp but he stole a horse and tried to get away to Yuan Shao. This angered Ts’ao who put him to death, which he met with brave composure.

  “I have slain a faithful and righteous man, then said Ts’ao sadly. And the victim was honourably buried at Kuantu. His tomb bore the inscription “This is the tomb of Chu the loyal and virtuous.”

  Chu honest was and virtuous,

  The best in Yuan’s train,

  From him the stars no secrets held,

  In tactics all was plain.

  For him no terrors had grim death,

  Too lofty was his spirit,

  His captor slew him, but his tomb

  Bears witness to his merit.

  Ts’ao Ts’ao now gave orders to attack Ch’ichou.

  In feeling over confident, that’s where one’s weakness lay;

  The other bettered him by plans which never went agley.

  The following chapter will tell who won the next campaign.

  CHAPTER XXXI

  TS’AO TS’AO OVERCOMES YUAN SHAO: LIU PEI SEEKS SHELTER WITH LIU PIAO

  T s’ao lost no time in taking advantage of Yuan Shao’s flight, but smote hard at the retreating men. Yuan Shao without helmet or proper dress, and with few followers, crossed hastily to the north bank at Liyang. He was met by his General, Chiang I-chu, who took him in and comforted him and listened to the tale of misfortunes. Next Chiang called in the scattered remnants of the army, and when the soldiers heard that their old lord was alive they swarmed to him like ants so that he quickly became strong enough to attempt the march to Ch’ichou. Soon the army set out and at night halted at Huang Hills.

  That evening, sitting in his tent, Shao seemed to hear a far off sound of lamentation. He crept out quietly to listen and found it was his own soldiers telling each other tales of woe. This one lamented an elder brother lost, that one grieved for his younger brother abandoned a third mourned a companion missing, a fourth, a relative cut off. And each beat his breast and wept. And all said,“Had he but listened to T’ien Feng we had not met this disaster.”

  And Yuan Shao, very remorseful, said,“I did not hearken unto T’ien Feng and now my men have been beaten and I was nearly lost. How can I return and look him in the face?”

  Next day the march was resumed and he met Feng Chi with reinforcements, to whom he said,“I disregarded T’ien Feng’s advice and have brought myself to defeat. Now shall I be greatly ashamed to look him in the face.”

  This tribute to T’ien Feng’s prescience roused the jealousy of Feng Chi, who replied,“Yes; when he heard the news of your defeat, though he was a prisoner, he clapped his hands for joy and said, ‘Indeed, just as I foretold!’”

  “How dare he laugh at me, the blockhead? Assuredly he shall die,” said Yuan.

  Whereupon he wrote a letter and sent therewith a sword to slay the prisoner.

  Meanwhile Tien’s gaoler came to him one day saying,“Above all men I felicitate you.”

  “What is the joyful occasion and why felicitate?” said Tien Feng.

  The gaoler replied,“General Yuan has been defeated and is on his way back; he will treat you with redoubled respect.”

  “Now am I a dead man,” said T’ien.

  “Why say you that, Sir, when all men give you Joy?”

  “The General appears liberal but he is jealous and forgetful of honest advice. Had he been victorious he might have pardoned me; now that he has been defeated and put to shame I may not hope to live.”

  But the gaoler did not believe him. Before long came the letter and the sword with the fatal order. The gaoler was dismayed, but the victim said,“I knew all too well that I should have to die.”

  The gaoler wept. Tien Feng said,“An able man born into this world who does not recognise and serve his true lord is ignorant. Today I die, but I am not deserving of pity.”

  Whereupon he committed suicide in the prison.

  Chu Shou but yesterday was killed,

  T’ien ends his life his fate fulfilled;

  Hopei’s main beams break one by one,

  Mourn ye that House! its day is done.

  Thus died T’ien Feng, pitied of all who heard of his fate. When Yuan Shao came home it was with troubled mind and distorted thoughts. He could not attend to the business of government and became so ill that his wife, who came of the Liu family, besought him to make his last dispositions.

  Now three sons had been born to him, Tan the eldest, who was commander at Ch’ingchou; Hsi, who ruled over Yuchou; and Shang, borne to him by his second wife, who still lived. This youngest son was very handsome and noble looking, and his father’s favourite. So he was kept at home. After the defeat at Kuantu the lad’s mother was constantly urging that her son should be named as successor and Shao called together four of his counsellors to consider this matter. These four happened to be divided in their sympathies, Shen P’ei and Feng Chi being in favour of the youngest son, and Hsin P’ing and Kuo T’u supporters of the eldest.

  When they met to consult, Yuan Shao said,“As there is nought but war and trouble outside our borders it is necessary that tranquillity within be early provided for and I wish to appoint my successor. My eldest son is hard and cruel, my second is mild and unfit. The third has the outward form of a hero, appreciates the wise and is courteous to his subordinates. I wish him to succeed, but I would that you tell me your opinions.”

  Kuo Tu said,“Tan is your first born and he is in a position of authority beyond your control. If you pass over the eldest in favour of the youngest you sow the seeds of turbulence. The prestige of the army has been somewhat lowered and enemies are on our border. Should you add to our weakness by making strife between father and son, elder and younger brothers? Rather consider how the enemy may be repulsed and turn to the question of the heirship later.”

  Then the natural hesitation of Yuan Shao asserted itself and he could not make up his mind. Soon came news that his sons, Tan and Hsi, and his nephew, Kao Kan, were coming with large armies to help him and he turned his attention to preparations for fighting Ts’ao Ts’ao.

  When Ts’ao Ts’ao drew up his victorious army on the banks of the Yellow River a certain aged native brought an offering of food and sauce to bid him welcome. His venerable and hoary appearance led Ts’ao to treat him with the highest respect and he invited him to be seated and said to him,“Venerable Sir, what may be your age?”

  “I am nearly a hundred,” replied the ancient.

>   “I should be very sorry if my men had disturbed your village,” said Ts’ao.

  “In the days of the Emperor Huan a yellow star was seen over by way of Ch’u and Sung in the southwest. A certain man of Liaotung, Yin K’uei, who was learned in astrology, happened to be passing the night here and he told us that the star foretold the arrival in these parts, fifty years hence, of a true and honest man from Lian and P’ei. Lo! that is exactly fifty years ago. Now Yuan Pen-ch’u is very hard on the people and they hate him. You, Sir, having raised this army in the cause of humanity and righteousness, out of pity for the people and to punish crimes, and having destroyed the hordes of Yuan Shao at Kuantu, just fulfil the prophecy of Yin K’uei and the millions of the land may look now for tranquillity.”

  “How dare I presume that I am he?” said Ts’ao with a smile.

  Wine was served and refreshments brought in and the old gentleman was sent away with presents of silk stuffs. And an order was issued to the army that if any one killed so much as a fowl or a dog belonging to the villagers he should be punished as for murder. And the soldiers obeyed with fear and trembling while Ts’ao rejoiced in his heart.

  It was told Ts’ao that the total army from the four prefectures under the Yuan family amounted to twenty-three legions and they were camped at Ts’ang-t’ing. Ts’ao then advanced nearer them and made a strong camp.

  Soon after the two armies were arrayed over against each other. On one side Ts’ao rode to the front surrounded by his captains, and on the other appeared Yuan Shao supported by his three sons, his nephew and his officers.

  Ts’ao spoke first,“Pen-ch’u, your schemes are poor, your strength is exhausted, why still refuse to think of surrender? Are you waiting till the sword shall be upon your neck? Then it will be too late.”

  Yuan Shao turned to those about him saying,“Who dares go out?”