Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 1 (Tuttle Classics)

by Lo Kuan-Chung

  His thoughts shall reform all the world,

  Felicitous produce shall be abundant,

  And the people shall rest firm.

  My desire is that these towers shall endure for ever,

  And that joy shall never cease through all the ages.

  Chou Yu listened to the end but then suddenly jumped up in a tremendous rage. Turning to the north and pointing with his finger he cried,“You old rebel; this insult is too deep!”

  K’ungming hastily rose too and, as if to soothe him, said,“But remember Shan Yu. The emperor gave him a princess of the family to wife although he had made many incursions into our territory. That was the price of peace. You surely would not grudge two more women from among the people.”

  “You do not know, Sir,” replied Chou Yu.“Of those two women you mentioned, the elder is the widow of Sun Ts’e, our late ruler, and the younger is my wife.”

  K’ungming feigned the greatest astonishment and said,“No indeed; I did not know. I blundered; a deadly fault; a deadly fault!”

  “One of us two has to go, either the old rebel or I; we shall not both live. I swear that,” cried Chou Yu.

  “However, such a matter needs a good deal of thought,” replied K’ungming.“We must not make any mistake.”

  Chou Yu replied,“I hold a sacred trust from my late lord, Sun Ts’e; I would not bow the knee to any such as Ts’ao. What I said just now was to see how you stood. I left the lake with the intention of attacking the north, and nothing can change that intention, not even the sword at my breast or the axe on my neck. But I trust you will lend an arm and we will smite Ts’ao Ts’ao together.”

  “Should I be happy enough not to be rejected I would render such humble service as I could. Perhaps presently I might be able to offer a plan to oppose him.”

  “I am going to see my lord tomorrow to discuss this matter,” said Chou Yu.

  K’ungming and Lu Su then left. Next day at dawn Sun Ch’uan went to the council chamber, where his officials, civil and military, were already assembled. They numbered about three score in all. The civil, with Chang Chao at their head, were on the right; the military, with Ch’eng P’u as their leader, were ranged on the left. All were in full ceremonial dress and the swords of the soldiers clanked on the pavement. Soon Chou Yu entered and, when Sun Ch’uan had finished the usual gracious remarks, he said,“I hear that Ts’ao Ts’ao is encamped on the river and has sent a despatch to you, my lord, I would ask what your opinion is.”

  Thereupon the despatch was produced and handed to Chou Yu. After reading it through he said, smiling,“The old thief thinks there are no men in this land that he writes in this contemptuous strain.”

  “What do you think, Sir?” asked Sun Ch’uan.

  “Have you discussed this with the officials?” asked Chou Yu.

  “We have been discussing this for days. Some counsel surrender and some advise fight. I am undecided and therefore I have asked you to come and decide the point.”

  “Who advise surrender?” asked Chou Yu.

  “Chang Chao and his party are firmly set in this opinion.”

  Chou Yu then turned to Chang Chao and said,“I should be pleased to hear why you are for surrender, Master.”

  Then Chang Chao replied,“Ts’ao Ts’ao has been attacking all opponents in the name of the Emperor, who is entirely in his hands. He does everything in the name of the government. Lately he has taken Chingchou and thereby increased his prestige. Our defence against him was the river, but now he also has a large fleet and can attack by water. How can we withstand him? Wherefore I counsel submission till some chance shall offer.”

  “This is but the opinion of an ill-advised student,” said Chou Yu.“How can you think of abandoning this country that we have held for three generations?”

  “That being so,” said Sun Ch’uan,“where is a plan to come from?”

  “Though Ts’ao Ts’ao assumes the name of a Minister of the empire, he is at heart a rebel. You, O General, are able in war and brave. You are the heir to your father and brother You command brave and tried soldiers, and you have plentiful supplies. You are able to overrun the whole country and rid it of every evil There is no reason why you should surrender to a rebel. Moreover, Ts’ao has undertaken this expedition in defiance of all the rules of war. The north is unsubdued and Ma T’eng and Han Sui threaten his rear and yet he persists in his southern march. This is the first point against Ts’ao. The northern men are unused to fighting on the water; Ts’ao is relinquishing his well-tried cavalry and trusting to ships. That is the second point against him. Again, we are now in full winter and the weather is at its coldest so there is no food for the horses. That is the third point against. Soldiers from the central state marching in a wet country among lakes and rivers will find themselves in an unaccustomed climate and suffer from malaria. That is the fourth point against. Now when Ts’ao’s armies have all these points against them, defeat is certain, however numerous they may be, and you can take Ts’ao captive just as soon as you wish. Give me a few companies of veterans and I will go and destroy him.”

  Sun Ch’uan started up from his place saying,“The rebellious old rascal has been wanting to overthrow the Hans and set up himself for years. He has rid himself of all those he feared, save only myself, and I swear that one of us two shall go now. Both of us cannot live. What you say, noble friend, is just what I think, and Heaven has certainly sent you to my assistance.”

  “Thy servant will fight a decisive battle,” said Chou Yu,“and shrink not from any sacrifice. Only, General, do not hesitate.”

  Sun Ch’uan drew the sword that hung at his side and slashed the table in front of him, exclaiming,“Let any other man mention surrender and he shall be served as I have served this table.”

  Then he handed the sword to Chou Yu, at the same time giving him a commission as Commander-in-Chief, Ch’eng P’u being second in command. Lu Su was also nominated as assistant.

  In conclusion Sun said,“With this sword you will slay any officer who may disobey your commands.”

  Chou Yu took the sword and turning to the assembly said,“You have heard our lord’s charge to me, to lead you to destroy Ts’ao; you will all assemble tomorrow at the river-side camp to receive my orders. Should any be late or fail, then the full rigour of military law, the seven prohibitions and the fifty-four penalties there provided, will be enforced.”

  He took leave of Sun Ch’uan and left the chamber; the various officers also went their several ways. When Chou Yu reached his own place he sent for K’ungming to consult over the business in hand. He told him of the decision that had been taken and asked for a plan of campaign.

  “But your master has not yet made up his mind, said K’ungming.“Till he has, no plan can be decided upon.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “In his heart he is still fearful of Ts’ao’s numbers and frets over the inequality of the two armies. You will have to explain away those numbers and bring him to a final decision before anything can be effected.”

  “What you say is excellent,” said Chou Yu and he went to the palace that night to see his master. Sun Ch’uan said,“You must have something of real importance to say if you come like this at night.”

  Chou Yu said,“I am making my dispositions tomorrow; you have quite made up your mind?”

  “The fact is,” said Sun Ch’uan,“I still feel nervous about the disparity of numbers. Surely we are too few. That is really all I feel doubtful about.”

  “It is precisely because you have this one remaining doubt that I am come. And I will explain. Ts’ao’s letter speaks of a hundred legions of marines, and so you feel doubts and fears and do not wait to consider the real truth. Let us examine the case thoroughly. We find that he has of Central State soldiers, say, fifteen or sixteen legions, and many of them are sick. He only got seven or eight legions from the Yuans and many of those are of doubtful loyalty. Now these sick men and these men of doubtful loyalty seem a great many but they a
re not at all fearsome. I could smash them with five legions. So, my lord, have no further anxiety.”

  Sun Ch’uan patted his general on the back saying,“You have explained my difficulty and relieved my doubts. Chang Chao is an old fool who constantly baulks my expeditions. Only you and Lu Su have any real understanding of my heart. Tomorrow you and he and Ch’eng P’u will start and I shall have a strong reserve ready with plentiful supplies to support you. If anything goes agley you can at once send for me and I will engage with my own men.”

  Chou Yu left; but in his innermost heart he said to himself,“If that K’ungming can gauge my master’s thoughts so very accurately he is too clever for me and will be a danger. He will have to be put out of the way.”

  He sent a messenger over to Lu Su to talk over this last scheme. When he had laid it bare, Lu Su did not favour it.“No, no,” said he,“it is self-destruction to make away with your ablest officer before Ts’ao shall have been destroyed.”

  “But K’ungming will certainly help Liu Pei to our disadvantage.”

  “Try what his brother Chuko Chin can do to persuade him; It would be an excellent thing to have these two in our service.”

  “Yes, indeed,” replied Chou Yu.

  Next morning at dawn Chou Yu went to his camp and took his seat in the council tent. The lictors took up their stations right and left and the officers ranged themselves in lines to listen to the orders.

  Now Ch’eng P’u, who was older than Chou Yu, was very angry at being passed over, so he made a pretence of indisposition and stayed away from this assembly. But he sent his son to represent him. Chou Yu addressed the gathering, saying,“The law knows no partiality and you will all have to attend to your several duties. Ts’ao is now more absolute than ever was Tung Cho, and the Emperor is really a prisoner in Hsuch’ang, guarded by the most cruel soldiers. We have a command to destroy Ts’ao and with your willing help we shall advance. The army must cause no hardship to the people anywhere. Rewards for good service and punishments for faults shall be given impartially.”

  Having delivered this charge he told off Han Tang and Huang Kai as leaders of the van, and ordered the ships under his own command to get under way and go to Sanchiangk’ou. They would get orders by and bye. Then he appointed five armies with two officers over each while Lu Fan and Chu Chih were appointed inspectors, to move from place to place and keep the various units up to their work and acting with due regard to the general plan. Land and marine forces were to move simultaneously. The expedition would soon start.

  Having received their orders each returned to his command and busied himself in preparation. Ch’eng P’u’s son returned and told his father what arrangements had been made and Ch’eng P’u was amazed at their skill. Said he,“I have always despised Chou Yu as a mere student who would never be a general, but this shows that he has a leader’s talent. I must support him.” So he went over to the quarters of the Commander-in-Chief and confessed his fault. He was received kindly and all was over.

  Next Chou Yu sent for Chuko Chin and said to him,“Evidently your brother is a genius, a man born to be a king’s counsellor. Why then does he serve Liu Pei? Now that he is here I wish you to use every effort to persuade him to stay with us. Thus our lord would gain able support and you two brothers would be together, which would be pleasant for you both. I wish you success.”

  Chin replied,“I am ashamed of the little service I have rendered since I came here and I can do no other than obey your command to the best of my ability.”

  Thereupon he went away to his brother, whom he found in the guesthouse. The younger brother received him and when he had reached the inner rooms K’ungming bowed respectfully and, weeping, told his experiences since they parted and his sorrow at their separation. Then Chin, weeping also, said,“Brother, do you remember the story of Po I and Shu Ch’i, the brothers who would not be separated?”

  “Ah, Chou Yu has sent him to talk me over,” thought K’ungming. So he replied,“They were two of the noble people of old days; yes, I know.”

  “Those two, although they perished of hunger near the Shouyang Hills, yet never separated. You and I, born of the same mother and suckled at the same breast, yet serve different masters and never meet. Are you not ashamed when you think of such examples as Po I and Shu Ch’i?”

  K’ungming replied,“You are talking now of love, but what I stand for is duty. We are both men of Han and Liu Pei is of the family. If you, brother, could leave Wu and Join me in serving the rightful branch, then on the one side we should be honoured as Ministers of Han and on the other we should be together as people of the same flesh and blood should be. Thus love and duty would both receive their proper meed. What do you think of it, my brother.”

  “I came to persuade him and lo! it is I who am being talked over,” thought Chuko Chin. He had no fitting reply to make so he rose and took his leave. Returning to Chou Yu he related the story of the interview.

  “What do you think?” asked Chou Yu.

  “General Sun has treated me with great kindness and I could not turn my back on him,” replied Chin.

  “Since you decide to remain loyal, there is no need to say much; I think I have a plan to win over your brother.”

  The wisest men see eye to eye,

  For each but sees the right;

  But should their several interests clash,

  They all the fiercer fight.

  The means by which Chou Yu tried to get the support of K’ungming will be described in the next chapter.

  CHAPTER XLV

  TS’AO TS’AO LOSES SOLDIERS: CHIANG KAN VICTIM OF A RUSE

  C hou Yu was very annoyed by the words of Chuko Chin and a fierce hatred for K’ungming took root in his heart. He nourished a secret resolve to make away with him. He continued his preparations for war and when the men were all mustered and ready he went in for a farewell interview with is lord.

  “You go on first, noble Sir,” said Sun Ch’uan.“I will then march to support you.”

  Chou Yu took his leave and then, with Cheng P’u and Lu Su, marched out with the army. He invited K’ungming to accompany the expedition, and when he cheerfully accepted, the four embarked in the same ship. They set sail and the flotilla made for Hsiak’ou.

  About sixty li from “Three River Mouths” the fleet anchored near the shore and Chou Yu built a stockade on the bank near the middle of their line with the West Hills as a support. Other camps were made near his. K’ungming, however, took up his quarters in a small ship.

  When the camp dispositions were complete Chou Yu sent to request K’ungming to come and give him advice. He came, and after the salutations were ended Chou Yu said,“Ts’ao Ts’ao thought he had fewer troops than Yuan Shao, nevertheless overcame him because he followed the advice given by Hsu Yu to destroy his supplies. Now Ts’ao Ts’ao has over eighty legions while I have but five or six. In order to defeat him his supplies must be destroyed first. I have found out that the main depot is at Chut’ieh Hill. As you have lived hereabout you know the topography quite well and I wish to entrust the task of cutting off supplies to you and your colleagues Kuan Yu, Chang Fei and Chao Yun. I will assist you with a company. I wish you to start without delay. In this way we can best serve our masters.”

  K’ungming saw through this at once. He thought to himself,“This is a ruse in revenge for my not having been persuaded to enter the service of Wu. If I refuse I shall be laughed at. So I will do as he asks and trust to find some means of deliverance from the evil he intends.”

  Therefore he accepted the task with alacrity, much to the joy of Chou Yu. After the leader of the expedition had taken his leave, Lu Su went to Chou Yu secretly and said,“Why have you set him this task?”

  “Because I wish to compass his death without appearing ridiculous. I hope to get him killed by the hand of Ts’ao Ts’ao and prevent his doing further mischief.”

  Lu Su left and went to see K’ungming to find out if he suspected anything. He found him looking quite unconcer
ned and getting the soldiers ready to march. Unable to hold his tongue, however, he put a tentative question,“Do you think this expedition will succeed?”

  K’ungming laughingly replied,“I am an adept at all sorts of fighting, with foot, horse and chariots on land and on the water. There is no doubt of my success. I am not like you and your friend, only capable in one direction.”

  “What do you mean by our being capable only in one direction?” said Lu Su.

  “I have heard the street boys in your country singing:—

  To lay au ambush, hold a pass,

  Lu Su is the man to choose,

  But when you on the water fight,

  Chou Yu is the man to use.

  You are only fit for ambushes and guarding passes on land, just as he only understands fighting on the water.”

  Lu Su carried this story to Chou Yu, which only incensed him the more against K’ungming.

  “How dare he flout me, saying I cannot fight a land battle? I will not let him go. I will go myself with a legion and cut off Ts’ao Ts’ao’s supplies.”

  Lu Su went back and told this to K’ungming, who smiled and said,“He only wanted me to go on this expedition because he wanted Ts’ao Ts’ao to kill me. And so I teased him a little. But he cannot bear that. Now is the critical moment and the Marquis Wu and my master must act in harmony if we are to succeed. If each one tries to harm the other the whole scheme will fail. Ts’ao Ts’ao is no fool and it is a usual thing with him to attack an enemy through his supplies. Do you not think he has already taken double precautions against any surprise of his own depot? If Chou Yu tries he will be taken prisoner. What he ought to do is to bring about a decisive naval battle, whereby to dishearten the northern men, and then find some other means to defeat them utterly. If you could persuade him what was his best course it would be well.”

  Without loss of time, Lu Su went to Chou Yu to relate what K’ungming had told him. Chou shook his head when he heard it and beat the ground with his foot, saying,“This man is far too clever; he beats me fifty to one. He will have to be done away with or my country will suffer.”