Just then a horseman riding at full speed and whirling his sword came, up, cut down both the captors and rescued Ts’ao Ts’ao. It was his brother Ts’ao Hung.
Ts’ao Ts’ao said,“I am doomed, good brother, go and save yourself.”
“My lord, mount my horse quickly; I will go afoot,” said Hung.
“If those wretches come up, what then?”
The world can do without me, but not without you, my brother.”
“If I live I shall owe you my life,” said Ts’ao Ts’ao.
So he mounted. His brother tore off his own breastplate, gripped his sword and went on foot after the horse. Thus they proceeded till the fourth watch when they saw before them a broad stream, and behind they still heard the shouts of pursuers drawing nearer and nearer.
“This is my fate,” said Ts’ao Ts’ao.“I am really doomed.”
His brother helped him down from his horse. Then taking off his fighting robe he took the wounded man on his back and waded into the stream. When they reached the further side the pursuers had already gained the bank whence they shot arrows. Ts’ao Ts’ao all wet pushed on.
Dawn was near. They went on another thirty li and then sat down to rest under a precipice. Suddenly loud shouting was heard and a party of horse appeared. It was the Prefect of Jungpang who had forded the river higher up. Just at this moment Hsiahou Tun and his brother, with a half score men, came along.
“Hurt not my lord!” cried Hsiahou to the Prefect, who at once rushed at him. But the combat was short. The Prefect speedily fell under a spear thrust and his men were driven off. Before long Ts’ao Ts’ao’s other captains arrived. Sadness and joy mingled in the greetings. They gathered together the few hundreds of men left and then returned to Honei.
The story broke off leaving the confederate lords in their various camps at Loyang. Sun Chien, after extinguishing the fires, camped within the walls, his own tent being set up near the Chienchang Hall of the palace. His men cleared away the debris and closed the rifted tombs. The gates were barred. On the site of the Dynastic Temple he put up a mat shed containing three apartments, and here he begged the lords to meet and replace the sacred tablets, with solemn sacrifices and prayers.
This ceremony over, the others left and Sun Chien returned to his camp. That night the stars and moon vied with each other in brightness. As Sun sat in the open air looking up at the heavens he noticed a mist spreading over the stars of the Constellation Draco.
“The Emperor’s stars are dulled,” said he with a sigh,“No wonder a rebellious minister disturbs the State, the people sit in dust and ashes, and the capital is a waste.”
And his tears began to fall. Then a soldier pointing to the south said,“There is a beam of coloured light rising from a well.”
He bade his men light torches and descend into the well. Soon they brought up the corpse of a woman, not in the least decayed although it had been there many days. She was dressed in palace clothing and from her neck hung an embroidered bag. Opening this a red box was found, with a golden lock, and when the box was opened they saw a jade seal, square in shape, an inch each way. On it were delicately engraved five dragons intertwined. One corner had been broken off and repaired with gold. There were eight characters in the seal style of engraving which interpreted read,“I have received the command from Heaven: may my time be always prosperous.”
Sun Chien showed this to Cheng P’u who at once recognised it as the hereditary seal of the Emperor.
He said,“This seal has a history. In olden days one P’ien Ho saw a phoenix sitting on a certain stone at the foot of Ching Hill. He offered the stone at court. King Wen of Ch’u split open the stone and found a piece of jade. Early in the Ts’in dynasty a jade cutter made a seal from it and Li Ssu engraved the characters. Two years later it was thrown overboard in a terrific storm on the Tungt’ing Lake as a propitiatory offering, and the storm immediately ceased. Ten years later again, when the Emperor was making a progress and had reached Huaying, an old man by the road side handed a seal to one of the attendants saying,“This is now restored to the ancestral dragon,” and had then disappeared. Thus the jewel returned to Ts’in. The next year Emperor She died.
“Later Tzu-ying presented the seal to the founder of the Han dynasty. In Wang Mang’s rebellion the Emperor struck two of the rebels with the seal and broke off a corner, which was repaired with gold. Kuang-Wu got possession of it at Iyang and it has been regularly bequeathed thereafter. I heard it had been lost during the trouble in the palace when The Ten’ hurried off the Emperor. It was missed on His Majesty’s return. Now my lord has it and certainly will come to the imperial dignity. But you must not remain here. Quickly go east where you can lay plans for the accomplishment of the great design.”
“Your words exactly accord with my thoughts,” said Sun Chien.“Tomorrow I will make an excuse that I am unwell and get away.”
The soldiers were told to keep the discovery a secret. But who could guess that one among them was a compatriot of the elected chief of the confederacy? He thought this might be of great advantage to him so he stole away out of the camp and betrayed his master. He received a liberal reward and Yuan Shao kept him in his own camp. So when Sun Chien came to take leave saying “I am rather unwell and wish to return to Changsha.” Shao laughed saying “I know what you are suffering from; it is called the Hereditary Seal!”
This was a shock to Sun Chien and he paled but he said,“Whence these words?”
Shao said,“The armies were raised for the good of the State and to relieve it from oppression. The seal is State property and since you have got hold of it you should publicly hand it over to me as chief. When Tung Cho has been slain it must go back to the government. What do you mean by concealing it and going away?”
“How could the seal get into my hands?”
“Where is the article out of the well?”
“I have it not: why harass me thus?”
“Quickly produce it, or it will be the worse for you.”
Sun Chien pointing toward the heavens as an oath said,“If I have this jewel and am hiding it myself may my end be unhappy and my death violent!”
The lords all said,“After an oath like this we think he cannot have it.”
Then Shao called out his informant.“When you pulled that thing out of the well, was this man there?” asked he of Sun.
Sun Chien’s anger burst forth and he sprang forward to kill the man. The chief also drew his sword saying “You touch that soldier and it is an insult to me.”
In a moment on all sides swords flew from their scabbards. But the confusion was stayed by the efforts of the others and Sun Chien left the assembly. Soon he broke up his camp and marched to his own place.
The chief was not satisfied. He wrote to Chingchou and sent the letter by a trusty hand to tell the governor to stop Sun Chien and take away the seal.
Just after this came the news of the defeat and misfortune of Ts’ao Ts’ao and when he was coming home Shao sent out to welcome him and conduct him into camp. They also prepared a feast to console him. During the feast Ts’ao Ts’ao said sadly,“My object was for the public good and all you gentlemen nobly supported me. My plan was to get Yuan Shu with his Honei men to approach Mengching and Suantsao while the others of you held Ch’eng-kao and took possession of the granaries and guarded Taku, and so controlled the points of vantage. Yuan Shao was to occupy Tanshi and go into Wukuan to help the three supports, all were to fortify their positions and not fight. Advantage lay in an uncertain military force showing the Empire’s possibilities of dealing with the rebellion. Victory would have been ours at once. But then came delays and doubts and inaction and the confidence of the people was lost and I am ashamed.”
No reply was possible and the guests dispersed. Ts’ao Ts’ao saw that the others mistrusted him and in his heart knew that nothing could be accomplished, so he led off his force to Yangchou.
Then Kungsun Tsan said to the three brothers,“This Yuan Shao is an incapabl
e and things will go agley. We had better go too.”
So he broke camp and went north. At P’ingyuan he left Liu Pei in command and went to strengthen his own position and refresh his men.
The Prefect of Yenchou wished to borrow grain of the Prefect of Tungchun. Being denied he attacked the camp, killed the leader and took over all his men. Yuan Shao seeing the confederacy breaking up also marched away and went east.
Now the Governor of Chingchou, Liu Piao, was a scion of the imperial house. As a young man he had made friends with many famous persons and he and his companions were called the Eight Dilettanti. The other seven were Ch’en Hsiang, Fan P’ang, K’ung Yu, Fan K’ang, Tan Fu, Chang Chien and Ts’en Ching. He was friends with all these. He had three famous men who helped him in the government of his district. They were K’uai Liang, K’uai Yueh and Ts’ai Mao.
When the letter detailing the fault of Sun Chien arrived the two K’uai and Ts’ai were sent with a legion of soldiers to bar the way. When Sun Chien drew near the force was arranged in fighting order and the leaders were in the front.
“Why are you thus barring the road with armed men?” asked Sun.
“Why do you, a minister of Han, secrete the Emperor’s special seal? Leave it with me at once and you go free,” said K’uai Yueh.
Sun Chien angrily ordered out a leader Huang Kai, who exchanged a few bouts with Ts’ao Mao and presently dealt him a blow with the iron whip just over the heart. Mao turned his steed and fled and Sun Chien got through with a sudden rush.
However, there arose the sound of gongs and drums on the hills behind and there was Prefect Liu in person with a large army. Sun Chien rode straight up to him and bowing low spoke thus.“Why did you, on the faith of a letter from Yuan Shao, try to coerce the chief of a neighbouring district?”
“You have concealed the State jewel and I want you to restore it,” was Liu’s reply.
“If I have this thing may I die a violent death!”
“If you want me to believe you let me search your baggage.”
“What force have you that you dare come to flout me thus?”
And only the Prefect’s prompt retirement prevented a battle.
Sun Chien proceeded on his way. But from the rear of the second hill an ambush suddenly discovered itself and K’uai and Ts’ai were still following. Sun Chien seemed entirely hemmed in.
What doth it advantage a man to hold the imperial seal if its possession lead to strife?
How Sun Chien got clear of the difficulty will presently be told.
CHAPTER VII
YUAN SHAO FIGHTS WITH KUNGSUN TSAN AT Ρ’ΑΝΗO: SUN CHIEN ATTACKS LIU ΡIAO
A t the close of the last chapter Sun Chien was surrounded. However he eventually fought his way through, though with the loss of three of his best leaders and more than half his men and he returned to Chiangtung. Henceforward he and Liu Piao were open enemies.
Yuan Shao was in Honei. Being short of supplies he sent to borrow from Ichou, whence he obtained the wherewithal to support his army. Then his adviser, Feng Chi, said to him,“You are really the strongest power here about, why then depend upon another for food? Ichou is rich and wide; why not seize it?”
“I have no good plan,” replied Yuan.
“You could secretly send a letter to Kungsun Tsan to attack, promising him your support. The Prefect Han Fu being incapable must ask you to take over his country and you will get it without lifting a finger.”
So the letter was sent, and when Kungsun Tsan saw therein the proposal to make a joint attack and divide the territory, he agreed to give his help. In the meantime Yuan Shao had sent to warn Han Fu of his danger. Han sought advice from Hsun Shen and Hsin P’ing. The former said that if Kungsun came to attack them they could not stand against him, especially if he had the help of Liu and Chang. So he counselled getting aid from their powerful neighbour.“Yuan Pen-ch’u is bolder than most and he has many able and famous leaders under him. You cannot do better than ask him to assist in administering this district. He will certainly treat you with generosity and you need have no fear from Kungsun Tsan.”
The Prefect agreed and sent a message to Yuan Shao. But the commandant of the palace, Keng Wu, remonstrated with his master saying,“Yuan Shao is a needy man with a hungry army and as dependent on us for existence as an infant in arms on its mother. Stop the flow of milk and the infant dies. Why should you hand the district over to him? It is nothing less than letting a tiger into the sheepfold.”
Han Fu replied,“I am one of the clients of the Yuan family and I know the abilities of Pen-ch’u. Why are you all so jealous? The ancients counselled yielding to the sage.”
Keng Wu sighed,“lchou is lost!” said he.
When the news got abroad two score of officers of lchou left their employment and the city. However Keng and Kuan hid in the suburbs to await the arrival of Yuan Shao.
They had not long to wait. Soon Yuan Shao with his soldiers came and the two men tried to assassinate him. This attempt failed. Yen Liang killed one of them and Wen Ch’ou the other. Thus both died and the object of their hatred entered the prefecture.
His first act was to confer on Han Fu a high sounding title, but the administration was entrusted to four of his own confidants who speedily deprived the Prefect of all power. Full of chagrin Han soon abandoned all, even his family, and took refuge with the Prefect of Ch’enliu.
Hearing of Shao’s invasion Kungsun Tsan sent his brother, Yueh, to see the usurper and demand his share of the district. The brother was sent back to request Kungsun himself to come, but on the homeward road he was killed by assassins who loudly proclaimed they belonged to the Minister, Tung Cho. Those of his followers who escaped carried the news to their late master’s brother.
Kungsun Tsan was very angry and said,“He prevailed on me to attack and now he has taken possession. Also he pretends the murderers of my brother were not his men. Shall I not avenge my brother’s injury?”
Then he brought up all his force to the attack. Yuan sent out his army and they met at P’anho. They halted on opposite sides of a stream, over which was a bridge. Kungsun Tsan took his station on the bridge and cried to his enemy,“Renegade, how dared you mislead me?”
Yuan rode to his end of the bridge and, pointing at Kungsun Tsan, replied,“Han Fu yielded place to me because he was unequal to the rule. What concern is it of yours?”
Kungsun replied,“Formerly you were regarded as loyal and public spirited and we chose you chief of the confederacy. Now your deeds prove you cruel and base, wolf-hearted and currish in behaviour. How can you look the world in the face?”
“Who will capture him?” cried Yuan in a rage.
At once Wen Ch’ou rode out with his spear set. Kungsun Tsan rode down the bridge to the enemy’s side, where the two engaged. Half a score bouts showed Tsan he had met his master so he drew off. The enemy came on. Tsan took refuge within his formation, but Wen Ch’ou cut his way in and rode this way and that, slaying right and left. The four best of Tsan’s captains offered joint battle, but one fell under the first stroke of the doughty warrior and the other three fled, Wen Ch’ou following clear through to the rear of the army. Kungsun made for the mountains. Wen Ch’ou forced his horse to its utmost pace crying hoarsely,“Down! Dismount and surrender.”
Kungsun fled for life. His bow and quiver dropped from his shoulders, his helmet fell off and his hair streamed straight behind him as he rode in and out between the sloping hills. Then his steed stumbled and he was thrown, rolling over and over to the foot of the slope.
Wen Ch’ou was now very near and poising his spear for the thrust. Then suddenly came out from the shelter of a grassy mound on the left a leader of youthful mien, but sitting his steed bravely and holding a sturdy spear. He rode directly at Wen Ch’ou and Kungsun crawled up the slope to look on.
The new warrior was of middle height with bushy eyebrows and large eyes, a broad face and a heavy jowl, a youth of commanding presence. The two exchanged some fifty bouts an
d yet neither had the advantage. Then Kungsun’s rescue force came along and Wen Ch’ou turned and rode away. The youth did not pursue.
Kungsun Tsan hurried down the hill and asked the young fellow who he was.
He bowed low and replied that his name was Chao Yun, or Tzu-lung, and he was of Chengting.
“I first served Yuan Shao, but when I saw that he was disloyal to his prince and careless of the welfare of the people I left him and I was on my way to offer service to you. This meeting in this place is most unexpected.”
Kungsun was very pleased and the two went together to the camp, where they at once busied themselves with preparations for a new battle.
Next day Kungsun prepared for fight by dividing his army into two portions, like the wings of a bird. He had five thousand cavalry, nearly all mounted on white horses and because he had formerly seen service against the frontier tribes, the Ch’tang (Ouigours) where he always placed his white horses in the van of his army, he had won the sobriquet of General of the White Horse. The tribes held him so much in fear that they always fled as soon as the white horses appeared.
On Yuan Shao’s side Yen Liang and Wen Ch’ou were leaders of the van. Each had a company of archers and crossbowmen. They were set out half on either side, those on the left to shoot at Kungsun Tsan’s right and those on the right to shoot at his left. In the centre was Ch’u I with a small company of bowmen and a legion and a half of foot. The chief took command of the reserve force in the rear.
In this fight Kungsun Tsan employed his new adherent Chao Yun for the first time and, as he did not feel assured of his good faith, put him in command of a company at the rear. The van-leader was Yen Kang and Kungsun himself commanded the centre. He took his place on horseback on the bridge beside an enormous red standard on which was displayed the word “General” in gold embroidery.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms Page 10
