Romance of the Three Kingdoms

by Guanzhong Luo

  After the first watch the wind began to blow. Soon after the gate guards reported that a fire had started.

  “The careless men have let sparks fly about,” said the General.

  He thought no more about it just then, but along came other reports of like nature and soon he realised that fires breaking out in all quarters were not due to accident. So he gave orders to evacuate the city. Soon the whole city seemed on fire and a red glow hung in the sky. The army was beset with fire fiercer than it had been at Powang.

  Thrice wicked was Ts’ao, but he was bold;

  Though all in the capital he controlled,

  Yet with this he was not content,

  So southward his ravaging army went.

  But, the autumn wind aiding, the Spirit of Fire

  Wrought to his army destruction dire.

  Officers and men dashing through the smoke and fire in utter confusion sought some way of escape, and hearing that the east gate was free they made for that quarter. Out they rushed pell-mell, many being trodden down and trampled to death. Those who got through took the road to the east.

  But presently there was a shouting behind them and Chao Yun’s company came up and attacked. Then Ts’ao’s men scattered, each fleeing for his life. No stand was made. A little later Mi Chu came. The fleeing general then had very few followers and those left him were scorched and burned and very wearied.

  They directed their way to the Paiho, joyfully remembering that the river was shallow and fordable. And they went down into the stream and drank their fill, men shouting and horses neighing.

  Meantime Kuan Yu, higher its course, had dammed the river with sandbags so that its waters were collected in a lake. Toward evening he had seen the red glow of the burning city and began to look out for his signal. About the fourth watch he heard down stream the sounds of men and horse and at once ordered the breaking of the dam. The water rushed down in a torrent and overwhelmed the men just then in the bed of the river. Many were swept away and drowned. Those who escaped made their way to where the stream ran gently and got away.

  Presently they reached the ferry at Powang. Here, where they thought there would be safety, they found the road barred.

  “You Ts’ao brigands!” shouted Chang Fei.“Come and receive your fate!”

  Within the city the red flame leaps out:

  On the river bank black anger is met.

  What happened will appear in later chapters.

  CHAPTER XLI

  LIU PEI LEADS HIS PEOPLE OVER THE RIVER: CHAO YUN RESCUES HIS LORD

  T he last chapter closed with the attack made by Chang Fei as soon as his brother had let loose the waters on the doomed army. He met with Hsu Ch’u and a combat began, but a fight with such a warrior was not to Hsu’s taste and he ran away. Chang Fei followed till he came upon Liu Pei and K’ungming and the three went up stream till they came to the boats that had been prepared, when they all crossed over and marched toward Fanch’eng. As soon as they disembarked K’ungming ordered the boats and rafts to be burned.

  Ts’ao Jen gathered in the remnants of his army and camped at Hsinyeh, while his colleague went to tell their lord the evil tidings of defeat.

  “How dare he, this rustic fool!” exclaimed Ts’ao Ts’ao angrily.

  He then hastily sent an overwhelming army to camp near the place and gave orders for enormous works against the city, levelling hills and turning rivers to launch a violent assault on Fanch’eng from every side at once.

  Then Liu Yeh came in to see his lord and said,“Sir, you are new to this district and you should win over the people’s hearts. Liu Pei has moved all the people from Hsinyeh to Fanch’eng. If we march through the country, the people will be ground to powder. It would be well to call upon Liu Pei first to surrender, which will prove to the people that you have a care for them. If he yield then we get Chingchou without fighting.

  Ts’ao agreed and asked who would be a suitable messenger. The reply was Hsu Shu.

  “He is a close friend and he is here with the army,” said Liu Yeh.

  “But he will not come back,” objected Ts’ao.

  “If he does not return he will be a laughing stock to the whole world; he will come back.”

  Hsu Shu was sent for, and Ts’ao said,“My first intention was to level Fanch’eng with the ground, but out of pity for its people you may carry an offer to Liu Pei, that if he will surrender he will not only not be punished but he shall be given rank. But if he hold on his present misguided course the whole of his followers shall be destroyed. Now you are an honest man and so I confide this mission to you, and I trust you will not disappoint me.”

  Hsu Shu said nothing but accepted his orders and went to the city, where he was received by both Liu Pei and K’ungming. They enjoyed a talk over old times before Shu mentioned the object of his mission. Then he said,“Ts’ao has sent me to invite you to surrender, thereby making a bid for popularity. But you ought also to know that he intends to attack the city from every point, that he is damming up the Paiho waters to be sent against you, and I fear you will not be able to hold the city. You ought to prepare.”

  Liu Pei asked Shu to remain with them, but he said that that was impossible, for all the world would ridicule him if he stayed.

  “My old mother is dead and I never forget my resentment. My body may be over there, but I swear never to form a plan for him. You have the ‘Sleeping Dragon’ to help you and need have no anxiety about the ultimate achievement of your undertaking. But I must go.”

  And he took his leave. Liu Pei felt he could not press his friend to stay. He returned to Ts’ao Ts’ao’s camp and reported that Liu Pei had no intention of surrender. This angered Ts’ao who gave orders to begin the siege. When Liu Pei asked what K’ungming meant to do he replied that they would abandon. Fanch’eng and take Hsiangyang.

  “But what of the people who have followed us? They cannot be abandoned.”

  “You can tell them to do as they wish. They may come if they like, or remain here.”

  They sent Kuan Yu to prepare boats and told Sun Ch’ien to proclaim to the people that Ts’ao was coming, that the city could not be defended, and those who wished to do so might cross the river with the army. All the people cried,“We will follow the prince even if it be to death.”

  They started at once, some lamenting, some weeping, the young helping the aged and parents leading their children, the strong soldiers carrying the women. As the crowds crossed the river from both banks arose the sound of lamentation.

  Yuan-te was much affected as he saw all this from the boat.“Why was I ever born,” said he,“to be the cause of all this misery to the people?”

  He made to leap overboard, but they held him back. All were deeply sympathetic. When the boat reached the southern shore he looked back at the weeping crowds waiting still on the other bank and was again moved to tears. He bade Kuan Yu hasten the boats before he mounted and rode on.

  When Hsiangyang came in sight they saw many flags flying on the walls and that the moat was protected by cbevaux de frise. Yuan-te checked his horse and called out,“Liu Ts’ung, good nephew, I only wish to save the people and nothing more. I pray you quickly to open the gates.”

  But Liu Ts’ung was too frightened to appear. Ts’ai Mao and Chang Yun went up to one of the fighting towers and ordered the soldiers to shoot arrows down on those without the walls. The people gazed up at the towers and wept aloud.

  Suddenly there appeared a captain, with a small following, who cried out,“You are two traitors. The princely Liu is a most upright man and has come here to preserve his people. Why do you repulse him?”

  All looked at this man. He was of middle height, with a face dark brown as a ripe date. He was from lyang and named Wei Yen. At that moment he looked very terrible, whirling his sword as if about to slice up the gate guards. They lost no time in throwing open the gate and dropping the bridge.“Come in, Uncle Liu,” cried Yen,” and bring your men to slay these traitors!”

  Chan
g Fei plunged forward to take him at his word, but was checked by his brother, who said,“Do not frighten the people!”

  Thus Wei Yen let in Liu Pei. As soon as he entered he saw a captain galloping up with a few men. The newcomer yelled,“Wei Yen, you nobody! how dare you create trouble? Do you not know me, the Generalissimo Wen P’ing?”

  Wei Yen turned angrily, set his spear and galloped forward to attack the generalissimo. The soldiers joined in the fray and the noise of battle rose to the skies.

  “I wanted to preserve the people and I am only causing them injury,” cried Yuan-te distressed.“I do not wish to enter the city.”

  “Chiangling is an important point; we will first take that as a place to dwell in,” said K’ungming.

  “That pleases me greatly,” said Yuan-te.

  So they led the people thither and away from Hsiangyang. Many of the inhabitants of that city took advantage of the confusion to escape and they also joined themselves to Yuan-te.

  Meanwhile, within the inhospitable city, Wei Yen and Wen P’ing fought. The battle continued for four or five hours, all through the middle of the day, and nearly all the combatants fell. Then Wei Yen got away. As he could not find Yuan-te he rode off to Ch’angsha and sought an asylum with the Prefect, Han Yuan.

  Yuan-te wandered away from the city that had refused shelter. Soldiers and people, his following numbered more than a hundred thousand. The carts numbered scores of thousands and the burden bearers were innumerable. Their road led them past the tomb of Liu Piao and Yuan-te turned aside to bow at the grave. He lamented, saying,“Shameful is thy brother, lacking both in virtue and in talents. I refused to bear the burden you wished to lay upon me, wherein I was wrong. But the people committed no sin. I pray your glorious spirit to descend and rescue these people.”

  His prayer was fraught with sorrow and all those about him wept.

  Just then a scout rode up with the news that Fanch’eng was already occupied and that men were preparing boats and rafts to cross the river. The captains knew that Chiangling was a defensible place, but they said,“With this crowd we can only advance very slowly and when can we reach the city? If Ts’ao Ts’ao pursue, we shall be in a parlous state. Our counsel is to leave the people to their fate for a time and press on to the city.”

  But Yuan-te wept, saying,“The success of every great enterprise depends upon humanity; how can I abandon these people who have joined me?”

  Those who heard him repeat this noble sentiment were greatly affected.

  In time of stress his heart was tender toward the people,

  And he wept as he went down into the ship,

  Moving the hearts of soldiers to sympathy.

  Even today, in the countryside,

  Fathers and elders recall the Princely One’s kindness.

  The progress of Yuan-te , with the crowd of people in his train, was very slow.

  “The pursuers will be upon us quickly,” said K’ungming.“Let us send Kuan Yu to Chiangk’ou for succour. Liu Chi should be told to bring soldiers and prepare boats for us at Chiangling.”

  Yuan-te agreed to this and wrote a letter which he sent by the hands of Kuan Yu and Sun Ch’ien. Chang Fei was put in command of the rear guard. Chao Yun was told to guard the aged and the children, while the others ordered the march of the people. They only travelled a short distance daily and the halts were frequent.

  Meanwhile Ts’ao Ts’ao was at Fanch’eng, whence he sent soldiers over the river toward Hsiangyang. He summoned Liu Ts’ung, but he was too afraid to answer the call. No persuasion could get him to go. One, Wang Wei, said to him privately,“Now you can overcome Ts’ao Ts’ao if you are wise. Since you have announced surrender and Liu Pei has gone away, he will relax his precautions and you can catch him unawares. Send a well-prepared but unexpected force to waylay him in some commanding position and the thing is done. If you were to take Ts’ao prisoner your fame would run throughout the empire and the land would be yours for the taking. This is a sort of opportunity that does not recur and you should not miss it.”

  The young man consulted Ts’ai Mao, who called Wang an evil counsellor and spoke to him harshly.“You are mad; you know nothing and understand nothing of destiny,” said Mao.

  Wang Wei angrily retorted, calling his critic the betrayer of his country, and saying he wished he could eat him alive. The quarrel waxed deadly but eventually peace was restored.

  Then Ts’ao Mao and Chang Yun went to Fanch’eng to see Ts’ao Ts’ao. Mao was by instinct specious and flattering, and when his host asked concerning the resources of the district, he replied,“There are five legions of horse, fifteen of foot and eight of marines. Most of the money and grain are at Chiangling; the rest is stored at various places. There are ample supplies for a year.”

  “How many war vessels are there? Who is in command?” said Ts’ao.

  “The ships, of all sizes, number seven thousand and we two are the commanders.”

  Upon this Ts’ao conferred upon Ts’ao Mao the title of Marquis, Guardian of the South and Admiral-in-Chief of the Naval Force and Chang Yun was his Vice-Admiral with the title of Marquis Tsu-sbun.

  When they went to thank Ts’ao for these honours he told them he was about to propose to the throne that Liu Piao’s son should be perpetual prefect of Chingchou in succession to his late father. With this promise for their young master and the honours for themselves they retired.

  Then Hsun Yu asked Ts’ao why these two evident self-seekers and flatterers had been treated so generously. Ts’ao replied,“Do I not know all about them? Only in the north country, where I have been, they know nothing of war by water and these two men do. I want their help for the present. When my end is achieved I can do as I like with them.”

  Liu Ts’ung was highly delighted when his two chief supporters returned with the promise Ts’ao had given them. Soon after he gave up his seal and military commission and proceeded to welcome Ts’ao Ts’ao, who received him very graciously.

  Ts’ao next proceeded to camp near Hsiangyang. The populace, led by Ts’ao Mao, welcomed him with burning incense, and he on his part put forth proclamations couched in comforting terms.

  Ts’ao Ts’ao presently entered the city and took his seat in the residence in state. Then he summoned K’uai Yueh and said to him graciously,“I do not rejoice so much at gaining Chingchou as at meeting you, I-tu.”

  He made K’uai Prefect of Chiangling and Marquis of Fanch’eng; his other adherents were all ennobled. Liu Ts’ung became Governor of Ch’ingchou in the north and was ordered to proceed to his district forthwith. He was greatly frightened and said he had no wish to become an actual official; he wished to remain in the place where his father and mother lived.

  Said Ts’ao,“Your governorship is quite near the capital and I have sent you there as a full official to remove you from the intrigues of this place.”

  In vain Liu Ts’ung declined the honours thus thrust upon him; he was compelled to go and he departed, taking his mother with him. Of his friends, only Wang Wei accompanied him. Some of his late officers escorted him as far as the river and then took their leave. Then Ts’ao called his trusty officer Yu Chin and bade him follow up Liu Ts’ung and put him and his mother to death.

  Yu Chin followed the small party. When he drew near he shouted,“I have an order from the great Minister to put you both to death, mother and son; you may as well submit quietly.”

  The Lady Ts’ai threw her arms about her son, lifted up her voice and wept. Yu Chin bade the soldiers get on with their bloody work. Only Wang Wei made any attempt to save his mistress and he was soon killed. The two, mother and son, were soon finished and the murderer returned to report his success. He was richly rewarded.

  Next Ts’ao Ts’ao sent to discover and seize the family of K’ungming, but they had already disappeared. It was much to Ts’ao’s disgust that the search was fruitless.

  So Hsiangyang was settled. Then Hsun Yu proposed a further advance. He said,“Chiangling is an important pla
ce, and very rich; if Liu Pei gets it, it will be difficult to dislodge him.”

  “How could I have overlooked that?” said Ts’ao.

  Then he called upon the officers of Hsiangyang for one who could lead the way. They all came except Wen P’ing.

  Ts’ao sent for him and soon he came also.“Why are you late?” asked Ts’ao.

  “To be a minister and see one’s master lose his own boundaries is most shameful. Such an one has no face to show to any man and I was too ashamed to come.”

  His tears fell fast as he finished this speech. Ts’ao admired his loyal conduct and rewarded him with office and a title, and also bade him open the way.

  The spies returned and told how Liu Pei was hampered by the crowds of people who had followed him. And he was then only three hundred li away. Ts’ao decided to take advantage of his plight so chose out five companies of tried horsemen and sent them after the cavalcade, giving them a limit of a day and a night to come up therewith. The main army would follow.

  As has been said Liu Pei was travelling with a huge multitude of followers, to guard whom he had taken what precautions were possible. Kuan Yu had been sent to Chianghsia. One day K’ungming came in and said,“There is as yet no news from Chianghsia; what are we to do?”

  “I wish that you yourself would go there,” said Liu Pei.“Liu Chi would remember your former kindness to him and consent to anything you proposed.”

  K’ungming said he would go and set out with Liu Feng, the adopted son of Liu Pei, taking an escort of half a company.

  A few days after, while on the march in company with three of his intimate captains, a sudden whirlwind rose just in front of Yuan-te, and a huge column of dust shot up into the air hiding the face of the sun. Yuan-te was frightened and asked what that might portend. Chien Yung, who knew something of the mysteries of nature, took the auspices by counting secretly on his fingers. Pale and trembling he announced that a calamity was threatening that very night. He advised his lord to lead the people to their fate and flee quickly. But he refused to think of it.