Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 1 (Tuttle Classics)

by Lo Kuan-Chung

  “This is written to tell you that, after purification of mind with fasting and of body with fragrant baths, Pei will come again to prostrate himself in your honoured presence and receive enlightenment.”

  The letter written and given to Chun, Yuan-te took his leave, exceedingly disappointed at this second failure. As he was mounting he saw the serving lad waving his hand outside the hedge and heard him call out,“The old Master is coming”.

  Yuan-te looked and then saw a figure seated on a donkey leisurely jogging along over a bridge.

  The rider of the donkey wore a cap with long flaps down to his shoulders and his body was wrapped in a fox fur robe. A youth followed him bearing a jar of wine. As he came through the snow he hummed a song:—

  ‘Tis eve, the sky is overcast,

  The north wind comes with icy blast,

  Light snowflakes whirl adown until

  A white pall covers dale and hill.

  Perhaps above the topmost sky

  White dragons strive for mastery,

  The armour scales from their forms riven

  Are scattered o’er the world wind-driven.

  Amid the storm there jogs along

  A simple wight who croons a song.

  Ό poor plum trees, the gale doth tear

  Your blossoms off and leave you bare.”

  “Here at last is the Sleeping Dragon,” thought Yuan-te, hastily slipping out of the saddle. He saluted the donkey rider as he neared and said,“Master, it is hard to make way against this cold wind. I and my companions have been waiting long.”

  The rider got off his donkey and returned the bow, while Chuko Chun from behind said,“This is not my brother; it is his father-in-law, Huang Ch’eng-yen.”

  Yuan-te said,“I chanced to hear the song you were singing; it is very beautiful.”

  Ch’eng-yen replied,“It is a little poem I read in my son-in-law’s house and I recalled it as I crossed the bridge and saw the plum trees in the hedge. And so it happened to catch your ear, noble Sir.”

  “Have you seen your son-in-law lately?” asked Yuan-te.

  “That is just what I have come to do now.”

  At this Yuan-te bade him farewell and went on his way. The storm was very grievous to bear, but worse than the storm was the grief in his heart as he looked back at Sleeping Dragon Ridge.

  One winter’s day through snow and wind

  A prince rode forth the sage to find;

  Alas! his journey was in vain,

  And sadly turned he home again.

  The stream stood still beneath the bridge

  A sheet of ice draped rock and ridge,

  His steed benumbed with biting cold

  But crawled as he were stiff and old.

  The snowflakes on the rider’s head

  Were like pear-blossoms newly shed,

  Or like the willow-catkins light

  They brushed his cheek in headlong flight.

  He stayed his steed, he looked around,

  The snow lay thick on tree and mound,

  The Sleeping Dragon Ridge lay white

  A hill of silver, glistening bright.

  After the return to Hsinyeh the time slipped away till spring was near. Then Yuan-te east lots to find the propitious day for another journey in search of the sage. The day being selected he fasted for three days and then changed his dress ready for the visit. His two brothers viewed the preparations with disapproval and presently made up their minds to remonstrate.

  The sage and the fighting man never agree,

  A warrior despises humility.

  The next chapter will tell what they said.

  CHAPTER XXXVIII

  PLAN FOR THREE KINGDOMS: THE SUNS AVENGE THEMSELVES

  N othing discouraged by two unsucessful visits to the retreat of the sage whose advice he sought to secure, Liu Pie made preparations for a third visit. His brothers disapproved, and Kuan Yu said,“Brother, you have sought him twice, surely this is showing even too much deference. I do not believe in this fame of his for learning; he is avoiding you and dare not submit to the test. Why so obstinately hold this idea?”

  “You are wrong, my brother. Duke Huan of Ch’i paid five visits to the ‘Hermit of the Eastern Suburb’ before he got to see his face. And my desire to see the sage is even greater than his.”

  “I think you are mistaken,” said Chang Fei.“How can this villager be such a marvel of wisdom? You should not go again and, if he will not come, I will bring him with a hempen rope.”

  “Have you forgotten the great Prince Wen’s visit to Chiang Tzu-ya, the old man of the Eastern Sea? If he could show such deference to a wise man, where am I too deferential? If you will not go, your brother and I will go without you,” said Yuan-te.

  If you two go, how can I hang back?” said Chang Fei.

  “If you go, then you must be polite.”

  Fei said he would not forget himself, and the three set out. When they were half a li from the little cottage, Yuan-te dismounted, deciding to show his respect by approaching the house on foot. Very soon he met Chuko Chun, whom he saluted with great deference, enquiring whether his brother was at home.

  “He returned last evening; you can see him today, General.”

  As he said this he went off with some swagger.

  “Fortune favours me this time,” said Yuan-te,“I am going to see the master.”

  “That was a rude fellow”, said Fei,“it would not have hurt him to have conducted us to the house. Why did he go off like that?”

  “Each one has his own affairs,” said his brother.“What power have we over him?”

  Soon the three stood at the door and they knocked. The serving lad came out and asked their business and Yuan-te said very deferentially,“I would trouble the servant of the genius, gentle page, to inform the Master that Liu Pei wishes to pay his respects to him.”

  “My Master is at home, but he is asleep.”

  “In that case do not announce me.”

  He bade his two brothers wait at the door quietly and he himself entered with careful steps. There was the man he sought, lying asleep on the couch, stretched on a simple mat. Yuan-te saluted him with joined hands at a respectful distance.

  The time passed and still the sleeper did not wake. The two brothers left without, beginning to feel impatient, also came in and Chang Fei was annoyed at seeing his revered elder brother respectfully standing by while another slept.

  “What an arrogant fellow is this Master?” said he.“There is our brother waiting, while he sleeps on perfectly carelessly. I will go to the back of the place and let off a bomb and see if that will rouse him.”

  “No, no; you must do nothing of the kind,” whispered Kuan Yu, and then Yuan-te told them to go out again.

  Just then he noticed that the Master moved. He turned over as though about to rise, but, instead, he faced the wall and again fell asleep. The serving lad made as if he would rouse his master, but Yuan-te forbade him to be disturbed and he waited yet another weary hour. Then K’ungming woke up repeating to himself the lines:—

  “Can any know what fate is his?

  Yet have I felt throughout my life,

  The day would come at last to quit

  The calm retreat for toil and strife.”

  As he finished he turned to the lad saying,“Have any of the usual people come?”

  “Liu, the Uncle of the Emperor is here,” said the boy.“He has been waiting some time.”

  “Why did you not tell me?” said he, rising from the couch.“I must dress.”

  He rose and turned into a room behind to dress. In a short time he reappeared, his clothing properly arranged, to receive his visitor.

  Then Yuan-te saw coming toward him a man rather below medium height with a refined face. He wore a head-wrap and a long crane-white gown. He moved with much dignity as though he was rather more than mortal.

  Yuan-te bowed saying,“I am one of the offshoots of the Han family, a simple person from Cho. I have long known the
Master’s fame, which has indeed thundered in my ear. Twice I have come to visit you, without success. Once I left my name on your writing table; you may have my note.”

  K’ungming replied,“This hermit is but a dilatory person by temperament. I know I have to thank you for more than one vain visit and I am ashamed to think of them.”

  These courteous remarks and the proper bows exchanged, the two men sat in their relative positions as host and guest and the serving lad brought tea. Then K’ungming said,“From your letter I know that you grieve for both people and government. If I were not so young and if I possessed any talent, I would venture to question you.”

  Yuan-te replied,“Ssuma Hui and Hsu Shu have both spoken of you; can it be that their words were vain? I trust, O Master, that you will not despise my worthlessness but will condescend to instruct me.”

  “The two men you speak of are very profound scholars. I am but a peasant, a mere farmer, and who am I that I should talk of Empire politics? Those two misled you when they spoke of me. Why do you reject the beautiful jewel for a worthless pebble?”

  “But your abilities are world embracing and marvellous. How can you be content to allow time to pass while you idle away life in these secluded haunts? I conjure you, O Master, to remember the inhabitants of the world and remove my crass ignorance by bestowing instruction upon me.”

  “But what is your ambition, General?”

  Yuan-te moved his seat nearer to his host and said, ‘The Hans are sinking; designing ministers steal away their authority. I am weak, yet I desire to restore the State to its right mind. But my ignorance is too vast, my means are too slender and I know not where to turn. Only you, Master, can lighten my darkness and preserve me from falling. How happy should I be if you would do so!”

  K’ungming replied,“One bold man after another has arisen in various parts of the Empire ever since the days of the great rebel Tung Cho. Ts’ao Ts’ao was not so powerful as Yuan Shao, but he overcame him by seizing the favourable moment and using his men properly. Now he is all-powerful; he rules an immense army and, through his control of the Court, the various feudal lords as well. You cannot think of opposing him. Then the Suns have held their territory in Chiangtung for three generations. Their position may not appear too secure, but they have popularity to appeal to. You can gain support but win no success there. Chingchou on the north rests on the two rivers Han and Mien; their interests lie in all to the south of them; on the east they touch Wu and on the west they extend to the ancient states Pa and Shu. This is the area in which decisive battles have to be won and one must hold it in order to be secure and Heaven has virtually made it yours. Yichou is an important place, fertile and extensive, a country favoured of Heaven and that through which the Founder of Han obtained the Empire. Its ruler -Liu Chang is ignorant and weak. The people are noble and the country prosperous, but he does not know how to hold it all, and all the able men of the district are yearning for an enlightened prince. As you are a scion of the Family, well known throughout the land as trusty and righteous, a whole-hearted hero, who greatly desires to win the support of the wise, if you get possession of Yi and Ching, if on the west you are in harmony with the Jung tribes, on the south win over I and Yueh, make an alliance with Sun Ch’uan, and maintain good government, you can await confidently the day when heaven shall offer you the desired opportunity. Then you may depute a worthy leader to go to the northeast while you take command of an expedition to the northwest, and will you not find the warmest welcome prepared for you by the people? This done the completion of the task will be easy. The Hans will be restored. And I will be your adviser in all these operations if you will only undertake them.”

  He paused while he bade the lad bring out a map. As this was unrolled K’ungming went on,“There you see the fifty four divisions of Ssuch’uan. Should you wish to take the overlordship you will yield to Ts’ao Ts’ao in the north till the time of Heaven become, to Sun Ch’uan in the south till the position may become favourable. You, General, will be the Man and complete the trinity. Chingchou is to be taken first as a home, the west next for the foundation of domination. When you are firmly established you can lay your plans for the attainment of the whole Empire.”

  As K’ungming ceased his harangue, Yuan-te left his place and saluted him, saying,“Your words, O Master, render everything so clear that meseems the clouds are swept aside and I see the clear sky. But Chingchou belongs to Liu Piao, my kinsman, and Yichou to another kinsman; 1 could hardly take the land from them.”

  “I have studied the stars and I know Liu Piao is not long for this world; the other is not the sort of man to endure. Both places will certainly fall to you.”

  Yuan-te bowed his acknowledgments. And so, in one conversation, K’ungming proved that he, who had lived in complete retirement all his life, knew and foresaw the three fragments into which the Empire was to break. True, indeed, is it that throughout all the ages no one has ever equalled his intelligence and mastery of the situation.

  Behold, when Liu Pei frets that he is weak,

  Then “Sleeping Dragon” is not far to seek;

  When he desires to know how things will hap,

  The Master, smiling, shows him on the map.

  “Though I be of small repute and scanty virtue,” said Yuan-te,“I hope, O Master, you will not despise me for my worthlessness, but will leave this retreat to help me. I will assuredly listen most reverently to your words.”

  K’ungming replied,“I have long been happy on my farm and am fond of my leisure. I fear I cannot obey your command.”

  Yuan-te wept.“If you will not, O Master, what will become of the people?”

  The tears rolled down unchecked upon the lapel and sleeves of his robe. This proved to K’ungming the sincerity of his desire and he said,“General, if you will accept me, I will render what trifling service I can.”

  Then Yuan-te was delighted. He called in Kuan and Chang to make their bow and brought out the gifts he had prepared. K’ungming refused them all.

  “These are not gifts to engage your services, but mere proof of my regard,” said Yuan-te.

  Then the presents were accepted. They all remained that night at the farm. Next day Chuko Chun returned and his brother said to him,“Uncle Liu has come thrice to see me and now I must go with him. Keep up the farm in my absence and do not let the place go to ruin for, as soon as my work is accomplished, I will certainly return.”

  Then, turning from his humble home,

  He thought of peaceful days to come,

  When he should take the homeward way

  And ne’er beyond the valley stray.

  But duty kept him in the west,

  And there he found his place of rest.

  An old poem may be quoted here:—

  The Founder of Han seized his gleaming blade

  And at Mangtang the blood of the white snake flowed.

  He conquered Ts’in, destroyed Ch’u and entered Hsienyang.

  After two centuries of rule the line was near broken,

  But Kuang-Wu, the great, restored the glory at Loyang.

  And his children occupied the throne

  Till decay began in the days of Huan and Ling.

  The Emperor Ling removed the capital to Hsuch’ang,

  And, within the four seas, all was confusion.

  Bold spirits started up in fierce contention.

  Ts’ao Ts’ao, seized the favourable moment

  And the Imperial authority passed into his hands,

  While the Suns made to themselves

  A glorious heritage east of the river,

  Solitary and poor, Liu Pei wandered from place to place,

  Till he found a haven in Hsinyeh.

  Sorely distressed he was at the sorrows of the people,

  But the Sleeping Dragon conceived a noble ambition,

  Within his breast were thoughts

  Of great things to be accomplished by force of arms.

  Then, because of the parting words
of Hsu Shu,

  And by the thrice repeated visits to his retreat,

  The great hero found and knew his mentor.

  When the age of K’ungming was but thrice nine years,

  He turned from his books, put aside his lute

  And left the peaceful fields he had loved,

  Under his guidance Chingchou was taken

  And the Land of the Four Streams conquered.

  He unrolled great schemes, as one all knowing,

  In speech, he went to and fro in the world,

  The sound of war drums rolled from his tongue,

  The words from his heart stirred one to the utmost depths,

  The dragon pranced, the tiger glared,

  And peace was brought to the world.

  Through all the ages his fame shall never decay.

  After taking leave of the younger brother, Yuan-te and his followers left for Hsinyeh, with K’ungming as companion. When they took up their abode there, K’ungming was treated as a master, eating at the same table, sleeping on the same couch as Liu Pei. They spent whole days conversing over the affairs of the Empire.

  K’ungming said,“Ts’ao Ts’ao is training his men for naval service and hence certainly intends to invade the country south of the river. We ought to send our spies to ascertain what he is really doing.”

  So spies were despatched.

  Now after Sun Ch’uan had succeeded to the heritage of his father and brother he sent far and wide to invite men of ability to aid him. He established lodging places for them in Wu, and directed Ku Yung and Chang Hung to welcome and entertain all those who came. And year by year they flocked in, one recommending another. Among them were K’an Tse, of Kueichi, Yen Chun, of P’engch’eng; Hsueh Tsung, of P’eihsien; Ch’eng Ping, of Junan; Chu Huan, of Wuchun; Lu Chi of the same place; Chang Wen, of Wu; Ling T’ung, of Kueichi and Wu Ts’an of Wuch’eng; and all these scholars were treated with great deference.