Romance of the Three Kingdoms

by Guanzhong Luo

He gave Chang Chi command of the murdered man’s troop with which he returned to Hungnung. No one of the nobles among the leaguers dared attempt an attack on the party newly risen from Tung Cho’s disaffection, while on the other hand Chia Hsu never ceased to urge his masters to exert themselves for the welfare of the people and thus to tempt wise men to join them. And by these means the government began to prospers.

  However, a new trouble arose in the shape of a resurgence of Yellow Turbans. They came, without apparent head or leader, in large numbers and plundered any place they reached. Chu Chien said he knew of one who could destroy this sedition, and when asked who was the man he proposed he said,“You want to destroy this horde of rebels; you will fail unless you get the services of Ts’ao Meng-te.”

  “And where is he?” asked Li Tsui.

  “He is Prefect of Tung Chun. He has a large army and you have only to order him to act; the rising will be broken.”

  A messenger went post haste with a command for Ts’ao Ts’ao and Pao Hsin to act together in quelling the rebellion. As soon as Ts’ao Ts’ao received the court command he arranged with his colleague first to attack the rebels at Shouyang. Pao Hsin made a dash right into their midst, inflicting damage wherever he could, and Ts’ao Ts’ao pursued them as they fled. So many surrendered. Then he put his quondam enemies in the van and when his army reached any place many more surrendered and joined him. After three months of these tactics they had won over many thousands, both of soldiers and ordinary folk.

  Of these new adherents the strongest and boldest were made soldiers and the others were sent home to their fields. In consequence of these successes Ts’ao Ts’ao’s prestige and fame became very great and increased daily. He reported his success to the capital and was rewarded with the title of Commander,“Warden of the East.”

  At his headquarters in Yenchow Ts’ao Ts’ao welcomed wise counsellors and bold warriors, and many gathered around him. Two clever men, uncle and nephew, came at the same time, both Yingchow men, named Hsun Yu and Hsun Yu. The uncle had once been in the service of Yuan Shao. Ts’ao Ts’ao rejoiced when he had won the elder Hsun to his side saying he was his teacher. The nephew was famed for his ability and had been in the court service but had abandoned that career and retired to his village.

  The uncle said to Ts’ao Ts’ao,“There is a certain wise man of Yenchow somewhere, but I do not know in whose service he is.”

  “Who is he?”

  “Cheng Yu; he belongs to the eastern district.”

  “Yes; I have heard of him,” said Ts’ao. So a messenger was sent to his native place to enquire. He was away in the hills engaged in study, but he came at Ts’ao Ts’ao’s invitation.

  “I shall prove unworthy of your recommendation,” said he to his friend Hsun,“for I am rough and ignorant. But have you forgotten a fellow villager of yours, Kuo Chia? He is really able. Why not spread the net to catch him?”

  “I had nearly forgotten,” said Hsun Yu suddenly. So he told his master of this man, who was at once invited. Kuo, discussing the world at large with his master, spoke in high terms of one Liu Yeh; and when he had arrived he was the means of inviting two more, Man Ch’ung and Lu Ch’ien, who were already known to Ts’ao Ts’ao by reputation. These two brought to their new master’s notice the name of Mao Chieh, who also came and was given office. Then a famous leader, with his troop of some hundreds, arrived to offer service. This was Yu Chin of Taishan, an expert horseman and archer, and skilled beyond his fellows in every form of military exercise. He was made an army inspector.

  Then another day Hsiahou Tun brought a really fine, handsome fellow to present to Ts’ao Ts’ao.

  “Who is he,” asked Ts’ao.

  “He is from Ch’en-liu and is named Tien Wei. He is the boldest of the bold, the strongest of the strong. He was one of Chang Mo’s men, but quarrelled with his tent companions and killed a lot of them with his fists. Then he fled to the mountains where I found him. I was out shooting and saw him follow a tiger across a stream. I persuaded him to join my troop and I recommend him.”

  “I see he is no ordinary man,” said Ts’ao. He is handsome and straight and looks very powerful and bold.”

  “He is. He killed a man once to avenge a friend and carried his head through the whole market place. Hundreds saw him, but dared not come near. The weapon he uses now is a two branched spear over a hundred pounds in weight, and he vaults into the saddle with this under his arm.”

  Ts’ao Ts’ao bade the man give proof of his skill so he galloped to and fro carrying the spear. Then he saw away among the tents a huge banner swaying dangerously with the force of the wind and on the point of falling. A crowd of soldiers were vainly struggling to keep it steady Down he leaped, shouted to the men to clear out and held the staff quite steady with one hand, keeping it perfectly upright in spite of the strong wind.

  “This is old Wu Lai again,” said Ts’ao Ts’ao. He gave the strong man a post in the army and besides made him presents of an embroidered robe and a swift steed with a handsome saddle.

  Thus Ts’ao Ts’ao encouraged able men to assist him and he had advisers on the civil side and valiant captains in the army. He became famous through all Shantung.

  Ts’ao’s father, Sung, was living at Langya, whither he had gone as a place free from the turmoil of the partizan struggles and, as a dutiful son, Ts’ao sent the Prefect of Taishan to escort his father to Yenchow. The old man read the letter with joy and the family prepared to move. They were some forty in all, with a train of a hundred servants and many carts.

  Their road led through Hsuchou where the Prefect, Tao Ch’ien, was a sincere and upright man who had long wished to get on good terms with Ts’ao Ts’ao but, hitherto, had found no means of effecting a bond of union. Hearing that the family of the great man was passing through his district he went to welcome them, treated them with great cordiality, feasting and entertaining them for two days, and when they left he escorted them to his boundary. Further he sent with them one Chang K’ai with a special escort.

  The whole party reached Huafei. It was the end of summer, just turning into autumn, and at this place they were stopped by a tremendous storm of rain. The only shelter was an old temple and thither they went. The family occupied the main rooms and the escort the two side wings. The men of the escort were drenched, angry and discontented. The leader called some of his petty officers to a secret spot and said,“We are old Yellow Turbans and only submitted to Tao because there was no help for it. We have never got much out of it. Now here is the Ts’ao family with no end of gear and we can be rich very easily. We will make a sudden onslaught tonight at the third watch and slay the whole lot. Then we shall have plenty of treasure and we will get away to the mountains.”

  They all agreed. The storm continued into the night and as Ts’ao Sung sat waiting anxiously for signs of clearing he suddenly heard a hubbub at the west end of the temple. His brother Ts’ao Te, drawing his sword, went out to see what it was about and was at once cut down. Ts’ao Sung seized one of the concubines by the hand, rushed with her through the passage toward the back of the temple so that they might escape. But the lady was stout and could not get through the narrow doors so the two hid in one of the small outhouses at the side. However, they were seen and slain.

  The unhappy Prefect fled for his life to Yuan Shao. The murderers fled into Huainan with their plunder after having set fire to the old temple.

  Ts’ao Ts’ao, whom the ages praise,

  Slew the Lus in former days;

  Nemesis ne’er turns aside,

  Murdered too his family died.

  Some of the escort escaped and took the evil tidings to Ts’ao Ts’ao. When he heard it he fell to the earth with a great cry. They raised him. With set teeth he muttered,“His men have slain my father: no longer can the same sky cover us. I will sweep Hsuchou off the face of the earth. Only thus can I satisfy my vengeance.”

  Leaving one small army to guard the east he set forth with all the remainder to dest
roy Hsuchou and avenge his father.

  Now the Prefect of Kiukiang was a close friend of Tao Ch’ien. Hearing Hsuchou was threatened he set out with half a legion to his friend’s aid. Ts’ao sent Hsiahou Tun to cut him off while still on the march. At this time Ch’en Kung was in office in the east and he was also on friendly terms with T’ao. Hearing of Ts’ao’s design to destroy the whole population he came in haste to see his former companion. Ts’ao knowing his errand put him off at first and would not see him. But he could not forget the kindness he had formerly received and presently the visitor was called to his tent.

  Ch’en Kung said,“They say you go to avenge your father’s death on Hsuchou, to destroy its people. I have come to say a word. The Prefect is humane and a good man. He is not looking out for his own advantage, careless of the means and of others. Your worthy father met his unhappy death at the hands of Chang K’ai. Tao Ch’ien is guiltless. Still more innocent are the people and to slay them would be an evil. I pray you to think over it.”

  Ts’ao retorted angrily,“You once abandoned me and now you have the impudence to come to see me! Tao Chien slew my whole family and I will tear his heart out in revenge. I swear it. You may speak for your friend and say what you will. I shall be as if I heard not.”

  Intercession had failed. He sighed and took his leave.“Alas! I cannot go to Tao and look upon his face.” So he rode off to the Ch’en-liu district.

  Ts’ao Ts’ao’s army of revenge laid waste whatever place it passed through, slaying the people and desecrating their cemeteries.

  When Tao Ch’ien heard the terrible tidings he looked up to heaven saying,“I must be guilty of some fault before Heaven to have brought this evil upon my people.” He called together his officials to consult. One of them, Ts’ao Pao, said,“Now the enemy is upon us, we cannot sit and await death with folded hands. I for one will help you to make a fight.”

  The army went out. From a distance the enemy spread abroad like hoar frost and rushed far and wide like snow. In their midst was a large white flag and on both sides was written “Vengeance.”

  When he had ranged his men Ts’ao Ts’ao rode out dressed in mourning white and abused T’ao Ch’ien. But Tao advanced and from beneath his ensign bowed low and said,“I wished to make friends with you, Illustrious Sir, and so I sent Chang K’ai to escort your family. I knew not that his rebel heart was still unchanged. The fault does not lie at my door as you must see.”

  “You old fool, you killed my father and now you dare to mumble this nonsense,” said Ts’ao Ts’ao. And he asked who would go out and seize him.

  Hsiahou Tun undertook this service and rode out. The Prefect fled to the inner portion of his array and as Hsiahou Tun came on Ts’ao Pao went to meet him. But just as the two horses met a hurricane burst over the spot and the flying dust and pebbles threw both sides into the utmost confusion. Both drew off.

  The Prefect retired into the city and called his officers to council.“The force against us is too strong,” said he.“I will give myself up as a prisoner and let him wreak his vengeance on me. I may save the people.”

  But a voice was heard saying,“You have long ruled here and the people love you. Strong as the enemy are they are not necessarily able to break down our walls, especially when defended by you and your people. I have a scheme to suggest that I think will make Ts’ao Ts’ao die in a place where he will not find burial.”

  These bold words startled the assembly and they eagerly asked what the scheme was.

  Making overtures for friendship he encountered deadly hate,

  But, where danger seemed most threatening, he discovered safety’s gate.

  The next chapter will disclose who the speaker was.

  CHAPTER XI

  LIU, THE EMPEROR’S UNCLE, RESCUES K’UNG JUNG: LU, MARQUIS OF WEN, DEFEATS TS’AO TS’AO

  I t was one Mi Chu who said he knew how to defeat Ts’ao Ts’ao utterly. He came of a wealthy family of merchants trading in ‘Loyang. One day travelling homeward from that city in a carriage he met an exquisitely beautiful lady trudging along the road, who asked him to let her ride. He stopped and yielded his place to her. She invited him to share the seat with her. He mounted, but sat rigidly upright never even glancing in her direction. They travelled thus for some miles when she thanked him and alighted. Just as she left she said,“I am the embodied spirit of the Southern Heat. I am on my way to execute a decree of the Supreme to burn your dwelling, but your extreme courtesy has so deeply touched me that I now warn you. Hasten homeward, remove your valuables for I must arrive tonight.”

  Thereupon she disappeared. Mi Chu hastily finished his journey and as soon as he arrived moved everything out of his house. Sure enough that night a fire started in the kitchen and involved the whole house. After this he devoted his wealth to relieving the poor and comforting the afflicted. T’ao Ch’ien gave him the office he then held.

  The plan he proposed was this.“I will go to Pohai and beg K’ung Jung to help; another should go to Ch’ingchow on a similar mission, and if the armies of these two places march on our enemy he will certainly retire.”

  The Prefect accepted the plan and wrote letters. He asked for a volunteer to go to Ch’ingchow and a certain Ch’en Teng offered himself and, after he had left, Mi Chu was formally entrusted with the mission to the north. Meanwhile they would hold the city as they could.

  This K’ung was a native of Ch’ufou in the old state of Lu, one of the twentieth generation in descent from the great Teacher Confucius. He had been noted as a very intelligent lad, somewhat precocious. When ten years old he had gone to see Li Ying, the Governor, but the doorkeeper demurred to letting him in. But when he said,“I am Minister Li’s intimate friend,” he was admitted. Li asked him what relations had existed between their families that might justify the term intimate. The boy replied,“Of old my ancestor (K’ung) questioned yours (Lao Tzu, whose name was Li Erh) concerning ceremonies. So our families have known each other for many generations.” His host was astonished at the boy’s ready wit.

  Presently another visitor of high rank came in, to whom Li Ying told the story of his youthful guest.“He is a wonder, this boy,” said Li.

  The visitor replied,“It does not follow that a clever boy grows up into a clever man.”

  The lad took him up at once saying “By what you say, Sir, you were certainly one of the clever boys.”

  They all laughed.“The boy is going to be a noble vessel,” said they.

  Thus from boyhood he was famous. As a man he rose to be a Chung-lang Chiang, and was sent as Governor to Pohai, where he was renowned for hospitality. He used to quote the lines:—

  “Let the rooms be full of friends,

  And the cups be full of wine.”

  “That is what I like,” said he.

  After six years at Pohai the people were devoted to him. The day that Mi Chu arrived he was, as usual, seated among his guests and the messenger was ushered in without delay. In reply to a question about the reason of the visit he presented his letter which said that Ts’ao Ts’ao was pressing on the city and the Prefect prayed for help.

  Then said K’ung Jung,“Your master and I are good friends and your presence here constrains me to go to his aid. However I have no quarrel with Ts’ao Meng-te either, so I will first write to him to try to make peace. If he refuses my offer, then I must set the army in motion.”

  “Ts’ao Ts’ao will not listen to proposals of peace; he is too certain of his strength,” said the messenger.

  K’ung Jung wrote his letter and also gave orders to muster his men. Just at this moment happened another rising of the Yellow Turbans, and the ruffians began to rob and murder at Pohai. It was necessary to deal with them first and K’ung led his army outside the city.

  The rebel leader rode out to the front saying,“I know this district is fruitful and can well spare ten thousand ‘stone’ of grain. Give me that and we retire: refuse, and we will batter down the city walls and destroy every soul.”

&nb
sp; The Prefect shouted back,“I am a servant of the great Hans, entrusted with the safety of their land. Think you I will feed rebels?”

  The leader Kuan Hai whipped his steed, whirled his sword around his head and rode forward. Tsung Pao, one of K’ung’s captains, set his spear and rode out to give him battle, but after a very few bouts was cut down. Soon the soldiers fell into confusion and rushed pell-mell into the city for protection. The rebels then laid seige to the city on all sides. K’ung Jung was very downhearted and Mi Chu, who now saw no hope for the success of his mission, was grieved beyond words.

  The sight from the city wall was exceeding sad, for the rebels were there in enormous numbers. One day as the Prefect stood on the wall, he saw a man armed with a spear riding hard in among his enemies and scattering them before him like chaff before the wind. Before long he had reached the foot of the wall and called out,“Open the gate!” But the defenders would not open to an unknown man and in the delay a crowd of rebels gathered round the rider along the edge of the moat. Suddenly wheeling about, the warrior dashed in among them and bowled over half a score at which the others fell back. At this the Prefect ordered the wardens to open the gates and let the stranger enter. As soon as he was inside he dismounted, laid aside his spear, ascended the wall and made humble obeisance to K’ung Jung.

  He said his name was T’aishih Tz’u and he came from Laihuang. His aged mother had sent him out of gratitude for the kindness shown her by K’ung.“I only returned home yesterday from the north and then I heard that your city was in danger from a rebel attack. My mother said you had been very kind to her and told me I should try to help. So I set out all alone and here I am.”

  This was cheering. The Prefect already knew T’aishih by reputation as a valiant fighting man although they two had never met. The son being far away from his home the Prefect had taken his mother, who dwelt a few miles from the city, under his especial protection and saw that she did not suffer from want. This had won the old lady’s heart and she had sent her son to show her gratitude.