Romance of the Three Kingdoms

by Guanzhong Luo

  “Now, who again dares face him?” cried Ts’ao.

  Hsu Huang took up the challenge and he went out. The combat endured a score of bouts and then Hsu fled back to his own side. The other captains were now greatly depressed at their failure. Yen Liang however had marched off his men leaving Ts’ao very sad at the loss of two captains in quick succession.

  Then Ch’eng Yu went to see him saying,“I can produce a man the equal of Yen Liang.”

  “Who?” cried Ts’ao.

  “No other than Kuan Yu.”

  “I am afraid that if he is given an opportunity to perform that return service he spoke of he will leave me.”

  “If Liu Pei is still alive he is with Yuan Shao. If you get Kuan Yu to defeat Yuan Shao’s army Shao will look askance at Liu Pei and put him to death. Liu Pei gone, where can Kuan Yu go?”

  This argument appealed to Ts’ao Ts’ao at once and he sent to request Kuan Yu to come.

  Previous to obeying the call Kuan went to say farewell to his sisters-in-law.

  “You may get news of the Uncle on the journey,” said they.

  “Yes,” said Kuan and left them.

  Armed with his famous Black Dragon, riding on the swift steed “Red Hare,” and having but a slender following, Kuan Yu was not long in arriving at Paima. He saw Ts’ao Ts’ao, who told him what had happened. Yen Liang was too valiant for any to face.

  “Let me look at him,” said Kuan.

  Then wine was served for his refreshment and while they were drinking, it was reported that Yen Liang once again offered a challenge. So Ts’ao and his guest and staff went to the summit of a hill whence the enemy could be seen. These two sat on the hill top and the captains stood about them. Ts’ao pointed out Yen Liang’s men arrayed on the plains below. The ensigns and banners waving fresh and bright amid the forest of spears and swords made a grand and imposing spectacle.

  “See what fine fellows these northmen are,” said Ts’ao.

  “I regard them as so many clay fowls and mud dogs,” said Kuan.

  Ts’ao Ts’ao pointed out Yen Liang, saying,“There he is under that umbrella.”

  He was wearing an embroidered robe and a silver breastplate and rode on horseback. His hand gripped his sword.

  “His head looks as though it was stuck on a pole for sale,” said Kuan, just glancing over the army at his feet.

  “You must not despise him,” said Ts’ao.

  Kuan rose, saying,“I am a poor thing but I will go over and bring you his head if you like.”

  “Joking is not allowed in this army,” interposed Chang Liao.“Be careful what you say.”

  Kuan Yu quickly mounted, turned down his mighty weapon and galloped down the hill, his phoenix eyes rounded and his heavy eyebrows fiercely bristling. He dashed straight into the enemy’s array and the northmen opened like water before him, a wave spreading right and left. He made directly for the general.

  Now Yen Liang sitting there in state saw a horseman rushing toward him and just as he began to ask who the rider of the red horse was, lo! the horseman was there. Taken utterly by surprise the leader could make no defence. Kuan’s arm rose and the mighty weapon fell. And with it fell Yen Liang.

  Leaping from the saddle Kuan Yu cut off his victim’s head and hung it to his horse’s neck. Then he mounted and rode out, just as if there was no army there.

  The northern men, panic stricken, made no fight. Ts’ao’s army attacked with vigour and slew great numbers of them. They captured many horses and weapons and much military gear. Kuan Yu rode quickly back up the hill and laid the proof of his prowess at the feet of the Minister.

  “You are more than human, General!” cried Ts’ao.

  “What have I done to talk about?” said Kuan.“My brother, Chang I-te, did the same thing in an army of a hundred legions, and did it easily.”

  Ts’ao Ts’ao marvelled at the statement and turning to those about him said,“If you meet this brother be careful.” And he bade them make a note on the overlap of their robes so that they should remember.

  The beaten army returning northward met Yuan Shao on the road and told their story.“A red-faced warrior with a long beard, wielding a huge sword, broke into the army, cut off the general’s head and bore it off,” said they.

  “Who was this?” asked Shao

  Chu Shou said,“It must have been Liu Yuan-te’s brother; it could be nobody else.”

  Yuan Shao was very angry and, pointing to Liu Pei, he said,“Your brother has slain my beloved leader. You are in the plot too. Why should I save you alive?”

  He bade the lictors take him away and behead him.

  Morning saw him guest on high,

  Evening, prisoner, doomed to die.

  His actual fate will be told in the next chapter.

  CHAPTER XXVI

  YUAN SHAO IS DEFEATED AND LOSES A LEADER: KUAN YU ABANDONS RANK AND WEALTH

  A s the last chapter closed Yuan-te had been condemned to die. He spoke up, however, and said,“Pray hear one word, I llustrious Sir, before you decide. I have lost sight of my brother since my misfortune at Hsuchou and know not whether Yun-ch’ang be dead or alive. There are many men in the world who resemble him. Is every red-faced man with a beard named Kuan? Should you not rather seek some evidence?”

  Now Yuan Shao was impulsive and facile by nature and when Yuan-te spoke thus, he suddenly turned upon Chu Shou, saying,“By wrongly regarding what you said I nearly killed an innocent man.”

  Then he requested Yuan-te once more to resume his seat in the tent and advise him how to avenge Yen Liang.

  Soon from the lower end a voice was heard, saying,“Yen Liang and I were as brothers and can I allow any other to avenge his death?”

  The speaker was a man of middle height with a face like a unicorn, a famous leader from Hopei, named Wen Ch’ou.

  Yuan Shao was pleased and said,“You are the only man who can do it. I will give you ten legions and you can cross the Yellow River, and quickly smite that rebel Ts’ao.

  “You cannot do it; he will fail,” said Chu Shou.“The proper course is to hold Yenching and detach a force to Kuantu. If you rashly cross the river and anything goes wrong not a soul will return.”

  Yuan Shao said,“That is always the way with you fellows, always delaying and taking the dash out of the soldiers. You put off today and postpone tomorrow till success has become impossible. Do you forget that promptitude is what the soldier honours?”

  The adviser withdrew sadly, saying.“Superiors do not curb their ambitions: inferiors must strive to render service. Eternal is the Yellow River, shall I cross it?”

  Thereafter he feigned illness and went no more to the Council.

  Yuan-te said,“I have received much kindness at your hands and have been unable to show my gratitude. I would accompany General Wen that I may repay your bounty and also that I may hear news of my brother.”

  Yuan Shao gladly consented and ordered Wen Ch’ou to share his command with Yuan-te. But the former objected saying that Yuan-te had been so often defeated that it would augur ill for success this time. He proposed to give Yuan-te command of the rear guard, and this being approved, three legions were told off under Liu Pei’s special command to follow the main body.

  The prowess displayed by Kuan Yu in the bold attack on Yen Liang redoubled Ts’ao Ts’ao’s respeet for him and he memorialised the throne that Kuan Yu receive the title of Marquis of Hanshout’ing and a seal was cast for him.

  Just then came the unexpected news that Yuan Shao’s army had moved toward the Yellow River and was in position above Yenching. Ts’ao first sent to transfer the inhabitants to Hsiho and then led out an army to oppose Yuan Shao. He issued an order to face about, thus placing the rear companies in front. The commissariat wagons were also placed in the van.

  “What is this reversal for?” asked Lu Ch’ien.

  Ts’ao replied,“When the supplies are in rear they are liable to be plundered. So I have put them first.”

  “But if you mee
t the enemy and they steal them?”

  “Wait till the enemy appears; I shall know what to do.”

  Lu Ch’ien was much exercised at this new move of the Minister’s. In the meantime the supply train moved along the river toward Yenching. Presently the foremost troops raised a great shout and Ts’ao sent to see what it meant. The messenger came back to say Wen Ch’ou’s army was approaching, and the supply train had been abandoned and was at the mercy of the enemy. Thereupon Ts’ao pointed to two mounds saying,“We will take refuge here for the present.”

  All those near him hastened to the mounds. There Ts’ao ordered them all to loosen their dress, lay aside their breastplates and rest a time. The horsemen turned their steeds loose.

  Wen Ch’ou’s men approached under cover. As they drew near one after another the officers told Ts’ao saying,“The rebels are near: we ought to catch the horses and go back to Paima.”

  But the adviser, Hsun Yu, checked them saying,“These are a bait for the enemy: why retire?”

  Ts’ao glanced across at him and said,“He understands; do not say anything.”

  Now having got possession of the supply carts the enemy next came to seize the horses. By this time they had all broken ranks and were scattered, each man going his own way. Then suddenly Ts’ao gave the order to go down from the mounds and smite them.

  The surprise was complete. Wen Ch’ou’s army was in confusion and Ts’ao’s men surrounded them. Wen Ch’ou made a stand, but those about him trampled each other down and he could do nothing but flee. And he fled.

  Then standing on the top of a mound Ts’ao pointed to the flying leader calling out,“There is one of the most famous captains of the north; who can capture him?”

  Chang Liao and Hsu Huang both mounted and dashed after him, crying,“Wen Ch’ou, do not run away!”

  Looking round, the fugitive saw two pursuers and then he set aside his spear, took his bow and adjusted an arrow, which he shot at Chang Liao.

  “Cease shooting, you rebel!” shouted Hsu Huang. Chang Liao ducked his head and the shaft went harmlessly by, save that it carried away the tassel of his cap. He only pressed harder in pursuit. The next arrow however struck his horse in the head and the animal stumbled and fell, throwing his rider to the earth.

  Then Wen Ch’ou turned to come back. Hsu Huang, whirling his battle axe, stood in his way to stop him. But he saw behind Wen several more horsemen coming to help him and as they would have been too many for him he fled. Wen pursued along the river bank. Suddenly he saw coming toward him with banners fluttering in the breeze, a small party of horse, and the leader carried a great sword.

  “Stop!” cried Yun-ch’ang, for it was he, and he attacked at once. At the third bout Wen Ch’ou’s heart failed him and he wheeled and fled, following the windings of the river. But Kuan Yu’s steed was fast and soon caught up. One blow, and the hapless Wen Ch’ou fell.

  When Ts’ao Ts’ao saw from the mound that the leader of the enemy had fallen, he gave the signal for a general onset and many of the northmen were driven into the river. And the carts with supplies and all the horses were quickly recovered.

  Now Kuan Yu, at the head of a few horsemen, was thrusting here and striking there at the moment when Yuan-te, with the three reserve legions, appeared on the battle field. At once they told him that the red-faced, long-bearded warrior was there and had slain Wen Ch’ou. He hastily pressed forward to try to get a look at the warrior. He saw across the river a large body of horse and the banners bore the words “Kuan Yun-ch’ang, Marquis of Hanshout’ing.”

  “Then it is my brother and he is really with Ts’ao Ts’ao,” said Yuan-te, secretly thanking God that he was safe.

  He made an attempt to wait about till he could call to Kuan Yu, but a great mass of Ts’ao Ts’ao’s soldiers came rushing down and he was forced to retire.

  Yuan Shao, bringing reinforcements, reached Kuantu and built a stockade. Two advisers went in to see him and said,“Again that fellow Kuan has been in the battle; he killed Wen Ch’ou. Liu Pei pretends ignorance of him.”

  Their master was angry and railed at Pei.“The long-eared rebel! How dare he do such a thing?”

  Soon Yuan-te appeared; again Shao ordered him out to instant execution.

  “What crime have I committed?” asked Yuan-te.

  “You sent your brother to slay one of my generals. Is that no crime?”

  “Pray let me explain before I die. Ts’ao hated me and has always done so. Now he has found out where I am and, fearing that I may help you, has got my brother to destroy your two generals, feeling sure that when you heard of it you would be angry and put me to death. You cannot fail to see this.”

  “What he says is sense,” said Shao,“and you two nearly brought on me the reproach of injuring the good.”

  He ordered his attendants to retire and asked Yuan-te to come and sit by him. Yuan-te came saying,“I am deeply thankful, Illustrious Sir, for your great kindness, for which I can never be sufficiently grateful. Now I desire to send some confidential messenger with a secret letter to my brother to tell him where I am, and I am sure he will come without a moment’s delay. He will help you to destroy Ts’ao Ts’ao to make up for having destroyed your two officers. Do you approve of this?”

  “If I got Yun-ch’ang he would be ten times better than the two men I have lost,” replied Shao.

  So Yuan-te prepared a letter. But there was no one to take it. Yuan Shao ordered the army to withdraw to Wu-yang, where they made a large camp. For some time nothing was done.

  Then Ts’ao Ts’ao sent Hsiahou Tun to defend the strategical point at Kuantu while he led the bulk of the army back to the capital. There he gave many banquets in honour of the services of Kuan Yu and then he told Lu Ch’ien that putting the supplies in the front of the army had been meant as a bait to draw the enemy to destruction.“Only Hsun Yu understood that,” said he in conclusion.

  Every one present praised his ingenuity. Even while the banquet was proceeding there arrived news of a rising of Yellow Turban rebels at Junan. They were very strong and Ts’ao Hung had been defeated in several engagements. Now he begged for help.

  Kuan Yu, hearing this said,“I should like to have the opportunity of performing some service by destroying these rebels.”

  “You have already rendered noble services for which you have not been properly requited. I could hardly trouble you again,” said Ts’ao.

  “I have been idle too long; I shall get ill,” said Kuan Yu.

  Ts’ao encouraged him to go and gave him five legions with Yu Chin and Yo Chin as captains under him. They were to leave soon.

  Then Hsun Yu said privily to his master,“He always cherishes the idea of returning to Liu Pei. He will leave you if he hears any news. Do not let him go on this expedition.”

  “If he does well this time I will not let him go into battle again,” said Ts’ao.

  In due time the force led by Kuan Yu drew near the rebels and made their camp. One night, just outside his camp, two spies were caught and taken in to Kuan who in one of them recognised Sun Ch’ien. The attendants being dismissed Kuan Yu questioned him.

  “After we lost sight of each other I have heard not a word of you, what are you doing here?”

  “After I escaped I drifted hither and thither till I had the good fortune to reach Junan and Liu P’i took me in. But why are you with Ts’ao Ts’ao, General? And where are your sisters-in-law? Are they well?”

  Kuan Yu told him all that had happened.

  “I have heard lately that Liu Pei is with Yuan Shao. I would have liked to go and join him, but I have not found a convenient opportunity. Now the two men I am with have taken the side of Yuan Shao against Ts’ao. By good luck you were coming here so I got command of a small party of scouts to be able to see you and tell you. Presently our two leaders will pretend to be defeated and you, and the two ladies, can go over to Yuan Shao. And you will see your brother.”

  “Since he is there I certainly must go at once to see
him. But it is a misfortune that I have slain two of Yuan Shao’s generals. I fear things are not in my favour,” said Kuan.

  “Let me go first and see how the land lie; I will come back and tell you.”

  “I would risk a myriad deaths to see my brother,” said Kuan Yu.“But I must go to say farewell to Ts’ao Ts’ao.”

  Sun Ch’ien was sent away that night and next day Kuan Yu led out his men to offer battle. Kung Tu, in armour, went out to the front of the line of battle and Kuan Yu said,“You people, why have you risen against the government?”

  “Why do you blame us when you have turned your back on your own lord?” replied Kung Tu.

  “How have I turned my back on my lord?”

  “Liu Yuan-te is with Yuan Pen-ch’u and you are with Ts’ao Ts’ao, what is that?”

  Kuan Yu could not reply, but he whirled round his sword and rode forward. Tu fled and Kuan Yu followed. Tu turned and said to Kuan Yu,“I cannot forget my old chief’s kindness. Now attack as soon as you can and I will give up the defences.”

  Kuan Yu understood and urged on his men. The leaders of the rebels pretended they were worsted and they all scattered. So the city was taken. Having pacified the people Kuan Yu quickly led his army back to the capital, where he was met by Ts’ao, congratulated on his success and feasted.

  When this was all over Kuan Yu went to the dwelling of his sisters-in-law to pay his respects at their gate.

  “Have you been able to get any news of Uncle Liu in your two expeditions?” asked the Lady Kan.

  “None,” replied Kuan Yu.

  As he retired from the door he heard sounds of bitter weeping within.

  “Alas he is dead,” said they.“Our brother-in-law thinks we shall be greatly distressed and hides the truth from us.”

  One of the old soldiers, who acted as guard, hearing the sounds of perpetual grief, took pity on them and said,“Do not weep, ladies; your lord is with Yuan Shao in Hopei.”

  “How do you know that?” said they.

  “I went out with General Kuan and one of the soldiers told me.”

  The two ladies summoned Kuan Yu and reproached him saying,“Uncle Liu never betrayed you and yet you remain here enjoying the bounty of Ts’ao Ts’ao and forgetting the old times. And you tell us falsehoods.”