Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 1 (Tuttle Classics)

by Lo Kuan-Chung

  “If you allow your pity to overcome your judgment, then misfortune is very near,” said Chien.

  Thus spake Chien Yung to his lord, who then asked what place was near. His people replied that Tangyang was quite close and there was a very famous hill near it called Chingshan or Prospect Hill. Then Yuan-te bade them lead the way thither.

  The season was late autumn, just changing to winter, and the icy wind penetrated to the very bones. As evening fell, long-drawn howls of misery were heard on every side. At the middle of the fourth watch, two hours after midnight, they heard a rumbling sound in the northwest. Yuan-te halted and placed himself at the head of his own guard of two companies to meet whatever might come. Presently Ts’ao’s men appeared and made a fierce onslaught. Defence was impossible, though Yuan-te fought desperately. By good fortune just at the crisis Chang Fei came up, cut his way through, rescued his brother and got him away to the east. Presently they were stopped by Wen P’ing.

  “Turncoat! Can you still look men in the face?” cried Yuan-te.

  Wen P’ing was overwhelmed with shame and led his men away. Chang Fei, now fighting, now flying, protected his brother till dawn.

  By that time Liu Pei had got beyond the sound of battle and there was time to rest. Only a few of his men had been able to keep near him. He knew nothing of the fate of his captains or the people. He lifted up his voice in lamentation saying,“Myriads of living souls are suffering from love of me, and my captains and my loved ones are lost. One would be a graven image not to weep at such loss.”

  Still plunged in sadness presently he saw hurrying toward him Mi Fang, with an enemy’s arrow still sticking in his face. He exclaimed,“Chao Yun has gone over Ts’ao Ts’ao!”

  Yuan-te angrily bade him be silent.“Do you think I can believe that of my old friend?” cried he.

  “Perhaps he has gone over,” said Chang Fei.“He must see that we are nearly lost and there are riches and honours on the other side.”

  “He has followed me faithfully through all my misfortunes. His heart is firm as a rock. No riches or honours would move him.”

  “I saw him go away northwest,” said Mi Fang.

  “Wait till I meet him,” said Chang Fei.“If I run against him I will kill him.”

  “Beware how you doubt him,” said Yuan-te.“Have you forgotten the circumstances under which your brother had to slay two men to ease your doubts of him? Chao Yun’s absence is due to good reason wherever he has gone, and he would never abandon me.”

  But do you think Chang Fei was convinced? Then Chang Fei with a score of his men, rode to Ch’angpan Bridge. Seeing a wood near the bridge, an idea suddenly struck him. He bade his followers cut branches from the trees, tie them to the tails of the horses and ride to and fro so as to raise a great dust as though an army were concealed in the wood. He himself took up his station on the bridge facing the west with spear set ready for action. So he kept watch.

  Now Chao Yun, after fighting with the enemy from the fourth watch till daylight, could see no sign of his lord and, moreover had lost his lord’s family. He thought bitterly within himself,“My master confided to me his family and the young lord; and I have lost them. How can I look him in the face? I can only go now and fight to the death. Whatever happen I must go to seek the women and my lord’s son.”

  Turning about he found he had but two score followers left. He rode quickly to and fro among the scattered soldiers seeking the lost women. The lamentations of the people about him were enough to make heaven and earth weep. Some had been wounded by arrows, others by spears; they had thrown away their children, abandoned their wives, and were flying they knew not whither in crowds.

  Presently he saw a man lying in the grass and recognised him as Chien Yung.

  “Have you seen the two mothers?” cried he.

  Chien replied,“They left their carriage and ran away taking Οtου in their arms. I followed but on the slope of the hill I was wounded and fell from my horse. The horse was stolen. I could fight no longer and I lay down here.”

  Chao Yun put his colleague on the horse of one of his followers, told off two soldiers to support him and bade him ride to their lord and tell him of the loss.“Say,” said he,“that I will seek the lost ones in heaven or hell, through good or evil, and if I find them not I will die in the desert.”

  Then he rode off toward Ch’angpan Slope. As he went a voice called out,“General Chao, where are you going?”

  “Who are you?” said Chao Yun, pulling up.

  “One of the Princely One’s carriage guards. I am wounded.”

  “Do you know anything of the two ladies?”

  “Not very long ago I saw the Lady Kan go south with a party of other women. Her hair was down and she was barefooted.”

  Hearing this, without even another glance at the speaker, Chao Yun put his horse at full gallop toward the south. Soon he saw a small crowd of persons, male and female, walking hand in hand.

  “Is the Lady Kan among you?” he called out.

  A woman in the rear of the party looked up at him and uttered a loud cry. He slipped off his steed, stuck his spear in the sand and wept,“It was my fault that you were lost. But where are the Lady Mi and our young lord?”

  She replied,“I and she were forced to abandon our carriage and mingle with the crowd on foot. Then a band of soldiers came up and we were separated. I do not know where they are. I ran for my life.”

  As she spoke a howl of distress rose from the crowd of fugitives, for a company of soldiers appeared. Chao Yun recovered his spear and mounted ready for action. Presently he saw among the soldiers a prisoner bound upon a horse; and the prisoner was Mi Chu. Behind him followed a captain ripping a huge sword. The men belonged to the army of Ts’ao Jen and the Captain was Shunyu Tao. Having captured Mi Chu he was just taking him to his chief as a proof of his prowess.

  Chao Yun shouted and rode at the captor who was speedily unhorsed and his captive was set free. Then taking two of the horses Chao Yun set the lady on one and Mi Chu took the other. They rode away toward Ch’angpan Slope.

  But there, standing grim on the bridge, was Chang Fei. As soon as he saw Chao Yun he called out,“Tzu-lung, why have you betrayed my brother?”

  “I fell behind because I was seeking the ladies and our young lord,” said Chao Yun.“What do you mean by talking of betrayal?”

  “If it had not been that Chien Yung arrived before you I should hardly have spared you.”

  “Where is the master?” said Chao Yun.

  “Not far away, in front there.”

  “Conduct the Lady Kan to him; I am going to look for the Lady Mi,” said Chao Yun to his companion, and he turned back along the road by which he had come.

  Before long he met a captain armed with an iron spear and carrying a sword slung across his back, riding a curvetting steed and leading a half score of other horsemen. Without uttering a word Chao Yun rode straight toward him and engaged. At the first pass he disarmed his opponent and brought him to earth. His followers galloped away.

  This fallen officer was no other that Hsiahou En. Ts’ao Ts’ao’s sword-bearer, and the sword on his back was his master’s. Ts’ao Ts’ao had two swords, one called I-t’ien (Trust in God) and the other Ch’ing-kung. I-t’ien was the weapon he usually wore at his side, the other being carried by his sword-bearer. Ch’ing-kung would cut clean through iron as though it were mud and no sword had so keen an edge.

  When Chao Yun thus fell in with Ts’ao’s sword-bearer the later was simply plundering, depending upon the authority implied by his office. Least of all thought he of such sudden death as met him at Chao Yun’s hands.

  So Chao Yun got possession of a famous sword. The name Cb’ing-kung was chased in gold characters so that he recognised its value at once. He stuck it in his belt and again plunged into the press. Just as he did so he turned his head and saw he had not a single follower left; he was quite alone.

  Nevertheless not for a single instant thought he of turning back, he wa
s too intent upon his quest. To and fro, back and forth, he rode questioning this person and that. At length a man said,“A woman with a child in her arms, and wounded in the thigh so that she cannot walk, is lying over there through that hole in the wall.”

  Chao Yun rode to look and there, beside an old well behind the broken wall of a burned house, sat the mother clasping the child to her breast and weeping.

  Chao was on his knees before her in a moment.

  “My child will live then since you are here,” cried the Lady Mi.“Pity him, O General; protect him, for he is the only son of his father’s flesh and blood. Take him to his father and I can die content.”

  “It is my fault that you have suffered,” replied Chao Yun.“But it is useless to say more. I pray you take my horse while I will walk beside and protect you till we get clear.”

  She replied,“I may not do that. What would you do without a steed? But the boy here I confide to your care. I am badly wounded and cannot hope to live. Pray take him and go your way. Do not trouble more about me.”

  “I hear shouting,” said Chao.“The soldiers will be upon us again in a moment. Pray mount quickly.”

  “But really I cannot move,” she said.“Do not let there be a double loss!” And she held out the child toward him as she spoke.

  “Take the child,” cried she.“His life and safety are in your hands.”

  Again and again Chao Yun besought her to get on his horse, but she would not. The shouting drew nearer and nearer, Chao Yun spoke harshly saying.“If you will not do what 1 say, what will happen when the soldiers come up?”

  She said no more. Throwing the child on the ground she turned over and threw herself into the old well. And there she perished.

  The warrior relies upon the strength of his charger,

  Afoot, how could he bear to safety his young prince?

  Brave mother! who died to preserve the son of her husband’s line;

  Heroine was she, bold and decisive!

  Seeing that the lady had resolved the question by dying there was nothing more to be done. Chao Yun filled in the well with the rubbish that lay about lest the dead body should suffer shame. Then he loosened his armour, let down the heart-protecting mirror and placed the child in his breast. This done he slung his spear and remounted.

  He had gone but a short distance when he saw Yen Ming, one of Ts’ao Ts’ao’s minor captains. This warrior used a double edged, three pointed weapon and he offered battle. However, Chao Yun disposed of him after a very few bouts and dispersed his men.

  As the road cleared before him he saw another detachment barring his way. At the head of this was a captain of rank exalted enough to display a banner with his name Chang Ho. Chao Yun never waited to parley but attacked. However, this was a more formidable antagonist and half a score bouts found neither any nearer defeat. But Chao, with the child in his bosom, could only fight with the greatest caution and so he decided to flee. Chang Ho pursued and as Chao thought only of thrashing his steed to get away, and little of the road, suddenly he went crashing into a pit. On came his pursuer, spear at poise. Suddenly a brilliant flash of light seemed to shoot out of the pit and the fallen horse leapt with it into the air and was again on firm earth.

  A bright glory surrounds the child of the imperial line,

  now in danger,

  The powerful charger forces his way through the press

  of battle,

  Bearing to safety him who was destined to sit on the

  throne two score years and two;

  And the general thus manifested his godlike courage.

  This apparition frightened Chang Ho, who abandoned the pursuit forthwith and Chao Yun rode off. Presently he heard shouts behind,“Chao Yun, Chao Yun, stop!” and at the same time he saw ahead of him two captains who seemed disposed to dispute his way. Two in front and two following, his state seemed desperate, but he quailed not.

  As the men of Ts’ao came pressing on he drew Ts’ao Ts’ao’s own sword to beat them off. Nothing could resist it. Armour, clothing, it went through without effort and blood gushed forth in fountains wherever it struck. So the four captains were soon beaten off and Chao Yun was once again free.

  Now Ts’ao Ts’ao from a hill top saw these deeds of derring-do and a captain showing such valour that none could withstand him, so he asked of his followers whether any knew the man. No one recognised him, so Ts’ao Hung galloped down into the plain and shouted to the hero asking him his name.

  “I am Chao Tzu-lung of Ch’angshan, replied Chao Yun.

  Ts’ao Hung returned and told his lord, who said, A very tiger of a leader! I must get him alive.” Whereupon he sent gallopers to all detachments with orders that no arrows were to be fired from an ambush at any point Chao Yun should pass; he was to be taken alive.

  And so Chao Yun escaped most imminent danger, and O-tou’s safety, bound up with his saviour’s, was also secured. On this career of slaughter which ended in safety, Chao Yun, bearing in his bosom him who was to be known as The Later Lord, cut down two banners, took three spears and slew of Ts’ao’s captains half a hundred, all men of renown.

  Blood dyed the fighting robe and crimsoned his buff coat;

  None dared engage the terrible warrior at Tangyang;

  In the days of old lived the brave Chao Yun,

  Who fought in the battlefield for his lord in danger.

  Having thus fought his way out of the press Chao Yun lost no time in getting away from the battle field. His battle robe was soaked in blood.

  On his way, near the rise of the hills, he met with two other bodies of men under two brothers, Chung Chin and Chung Shen. One of these was armed with a massive axe, the other a halberd. As soon as they saw Chao Yun they knew him and shouted,“Quickly dismount and be bound!”

  He has only escaped from the tiger’s cave,

  To risk the deep pool’s sounding wave.

  How Chao Yun escaped will be next related.

  CHAPTER XLII

  CHANG FEI’S GREAT FIGHT AT CH’ANGPAN SLOPE: LIU PEI, DEFEATED, GOES TO HANCHINGK’OU

  A s related in the last chapter two brothers appeared in front of our warrior, who rode at them with his spear ready for a thrust. Chung Chin was leading, flourishing his battleaxe. Chao Yun engaged and very soon unhorsed him. Then he galloped away. Chung Shen rode up behind ready with his halberd and his horse’s nose got so close to the other’s tail that in Chao Yun’s back heart-protecting mirror he could see the play of the reflection of his weapon. Then suddenly, and without warning, Chao Yun wheeled round his horse so that he faced his pursuer and their two steeds struck breast to breast. With his spear in his left hand he warded off the halberd strokes and in his right he swung the sword Cb’ing-kung. One slash and he had cut through both helmet and head; Chung Shen fell to the ground, a corpse with only half a head on his body. His followers fled and Chao Yun retook the road toward Long Slope Bridge.

  But in his rear arose another tumultuous shouting, seeming to rend the very sky, and Wen P’ing came up behind. However, although the man was weary and his steed highspent, Chao Yun got close to the bridge where he saw standing, all ready for any fray, his brother in arms.

  “Help me, I-te!” he cried and crossed the bridge.

  “Hasten!” cried Chang Fei,“I will keep back the pursuers.”

  About twenty li from the bridge he saw Yuan-te with his followers reposing in the shade of some trees. He dismounted and drew near, weeping. The tears also started to Yuan-te’s eyes when he saw his faithful follower.

  Still panting from his exertions, Chao Yun gasped out,“My fault—death is too light a punishment. The Lady Mi was severely wounded; she refused my horse and threw herself into a well. She is dead and all I could do was to fill in the well with the rubbish that lay around. But I placed the babe in the breast of my fighting robe and have won my way out of the press of battle. Thanks to the little lord’s grand luck I have escaped. At first he cried a good deal, but for some time now he has not stirred or
made a sound. I fear I may not have saved his life after all.”

  Then he opened his robe and looked; the child was fast asleep.

  “Happily, Sir, your son is unhurt,” said Chao as he drew him forth and presented him in both hands. Yuan-te took the child but threw it aside angrily, saying,“To preserve that suckling I very nearly lost a great captain.”

  Chao Yun picked up the child again and, weeping, said,“Were I ground to powder I could not prove my gratitude.”

  From out Ts’ao’s host a tiger rushed,

  His wish but to destroy;

  Though Liu Pei’s consort lost her life,

  Chao Yun preserved her boy.

  “Too great the risk you ran to save

  This child,” the father cried.

  To show he rated Chao Yun high,

  He threw his son aside.

  Wen P’ing and his company pursued Chao Yun till they saw Chang Fei’s bristling moustache and fiercely glaring eyes before them. There he was seated on his battle steed, his hand grasping his terrible serpent-like spear, guarding the bridge. They also saw great clouds of dust rising above the trees and concluded they would fall into an ambush if they ventured across the bridge. So they stopped the pursuit, not daring to advance further.

  In a little time several other captains came up, but none dared advance, frightened not only by Chang Fei’s fierce look, but lest they should become victims of a ruse of the terrible Chuko Liang. As they came up they formed a line on the west side, halting till they could inform their lord of the position.

  As soon as the messengers arrived and Ts’ao Ts’ao heard about it he mounted and rode to the bridge to see for himself. Chang Fei’s fierce eye scanning the hinder position of the army opposite him saw the silken umbrella, the axes and banners coming along and concluded that Ts’ao Ts’ao came to see for himself how matters stood. So in a mighty voice he shouted,“I am Chang I-te of Yen; who dares fight with me?”

  At the sound of this thundrous voice a terrible quaking fear seized upon Ts’ao and he bade them take the umbrella away. Turning to his followers he said,“Kuan Yu said that his brother Chang Fei was the sort of man to go through an army of a hundred legions and take the head of its commander-in-chief; and do it easily. Now here is this terror in front of us and we must be careful.”