Romance of the Three Kingdoms

by Guanzhong Luo

  “What proposal have you to offer that may avert this danger?”

  “My proposal is that we gain the support of Ts’ao Ts’ao. As we know, he has made a clean sweep of the Empire. Lu Pu went first and both the Yuans followed, all exterminated. Lately he has destroyed Ma Ch’ao. In short he is the one man against whom no one can stand. Therefore, my lord, prepare me worthy gifts to take to the capital and I will get Ts’ao Ts’ao to march an army against Hanchung, which will keep this Chang Lu occupied so that we shall be left alone.”

  This met Liu Chang’s views and so he prepared gold and pearls and rich stuffs, worthy presents for the man of power. And when these were ready he appointed Chang Sung his emissary. Chang Sung in the meantime occupied his leisure in secretly copying maps and plans of the west country. When all was ready he started with a small escort.

  They heard this in Chingchou and K’ungming sent a trusty person to the capital to keep him informed as to all the doings.

  Chang Sung arrived in Hsutu, and, after he had established himself in his lodging, he made daily visits to the Minister’s Palace to try to obtain an interview. But his last success had filled Ts’ao Ts’ao with insufferable pride and he did nothing but give banquets. He never appeared except for the most important affairs, and even carried on the business of the state in his own residence. So Chang Sung waited many days. But when he got to know the persons who were nearest the Minister, he bribed them and obtained an audience.

  Ts’ao Ts’ao was seated in the high place, and after his visitor had finished his salutations, he said,“Your Master Liu Chang has sent no tribute for several years; why?”

  “Because the roads are dangerous and thieves and robbers infest them. Intercourse is restricted.”

  Ts’ao interrupted in a loud harsh voice,“What thieves and robbers are there when I have cleansed the country?”

  “How can you say the land is tranquil when one sees Sun Ch’uan in the south, Chang Lu in the north, Liu Pei in the west and every one of these with armies reckoned in legions? The weakest of them has half a score.”

  The mean appearance of the emissary had prejudiced Ts’ao Ts’ao from the outset, and when he heard these blunt words he suddenly shook out his sleeves, rose and left the hall. Those in attendance were annoyed with Chang Sung and said,“How can you behave so rudely when you come on a mission? Your whole attitude was blunt and discourteous. Happily for you our lord remembered you had come from afar and did not take open notice of your fault. The best thing for you is to go home again as quickly as you can.”

  But Chang Sung smiled.“We have no plausible flatterers and glib talkers in our western country,” said he.

  At this, one from below the steps called out,“So you call us plausible and glib then; and you have none such in your country, eh?”

  Chang Sung looked around and saw the speaker was a man with thin delicate eyebrows crossing narrow eyes set in a pale spirituel face. He asked his name. It was Yang Hsiu, a son of Yang Piao. The young man was then employed in the commissariat of the Minister. He was deeply read and had the reputation of being a clever controversialist, as Chang Sung knew. So on one side was a desire to confound and on the other overweening pride in his own ability, with contempt for other scholars. Perceiving the ridicule in Chang Sung’s speech Yang Hsiu invited him to go to the library where they could talk more freely. There, after they had got settled in their respective places, Yang Hsiu began to talk about the west country.

  “Your roads are precipitous and wearisome,” said Yang.

  “But at our lord’s command we travel, even through fire and water, we never decline,” replied Chang.

  “What sort of a country is this Shu?”

  “Shu is a name for the group of districts known of old as Ichou. The roads are intersected by streams and the land bristles with steep mountains. The circuit is over two hundred marches and the area thirty thousand square li. The population is dense, villages being so close that the crowing of cocks in one waken the people in the next, and the dogs barking in this excite the curs in that. The soil is rich and well cultivated and droughts or famines are equally unknown. Prosperity is general and the music of pipes and strings can always be heard. The produce of the fields is piled mountain high. There is no place its equal.”

  “But what of the people?”

  “Our administrators are talented as Hsiang-ju (Ssuma Hsiang-ju): our soldiers able as Fu-po (Ma Yuan): our physicians are expert as Chung-ching; our diviners are profound as Chun-p’ing (Yen Tsun). Our schools of philosophy and our culture stand forth as models and we have more remarkable men than I can enumerate. How should I ever finish the tale of them?”

  “And how many such as you, Sir, do you think there are at the orders of your Governor?”

  “Our officers are all geniuses; wise, bold, loyal, righteous and magnanimous. As for poor simpletons like me, they are counted by hundreds; there are cartloads of them; bushels of them. No one could count them.”

  “What office may you hold then?”

  Chang Sung replied,“Mine can hardly be called an office. I am a Supernumerary Charioteer. But, Sir, what State affairs may you control?”

  “I am an Accountant in the Palace of the Minister,” replied Yang.

  ‘They say that members of your family held office for many generations and I do not understand why you are not in court service actually assisting the Emperor, instead of filling the post of a mere clerk in a private Palace.”

  Yang Hsiu’s face suffused with shame at this rebuke, but he mastered himself and replied,“Though I am among the minor officials, yet my duties are of great importance and I am gaining experience under the Prime Minister’s guidance. I hold the office for the sake of the training.”

  Chang Sung smiled,“If what I have heard is true, Ts’ao Ts’ao’s learning throws no gleaming light on the way of Confucius or Mencius, nor does his military skill illumine the art of Sun or Wu. He seems to understand the doctrine of brute force and holding on to what advantages he can seize, but I see not how he can give you any valuable training or enlighten your understanding.”

  “Ah, Sir; that comes of dwelling in out-of-the-way parts. How could you know of the magnificent talents of the great Minister? But I will show you something.”

  He called up an attendant and bade him bring a book from a certain case. He showed this to his guest, who read the title ‘The New Book of Meng-te.” Then he opened it and read it through from the beginning, the whole thirteen chapters. They all dealt with the art of war.

  “What do you take this to be?” asked Chang Sung, when he had finished.

  ‘This is the great Minister’s discussion of the art of ancient and modern war composed on the model of Sun’s treatise. You may be disdainful of the Minister’s talents but will this not go down to posterity?”

  “This book! Every child in Shu knows this by heart. What do you mean by calling it a new book? It was written by some obscure person of the time of the Warring States (Chou Dynasty, about 320 B.C.) and Ts’ao Ts’ao has plagiarised it. But he has deceived no one but you, Sir.”

  But what is the use of your sarcastic insult in saying that your school children know the book by rote? It has never been given to the world although copies have been made. It belongs to his private library.”

  “Do you disbelieve me? Why, I know it and could repeat it.”

  Then he repeated the whole book, word for word, from beginning to end.

  “You remember it like this after only one reading! Really you are marvellous.”

  He boasted not a handsome face,

  Nor was his body blessed with grace.

  His words streamed like a waterfall,

  He read a book and knew it all.

  Shu’s glories could he well rehearse,

  His lore embraced the universe.

  Or text or note of scholiast

  Once read, his memory held fast.

  At leave-taking Yang Hsiu said,“Remain a while in your lodgings till I
can petition our Minister to give you another interview.”

  Chang Sung thanked him and left. By and bye Yang Hsiu went to see Ts’ao Ts’ao on the matter of receiving the emissary from the west and said,“Sir, why did you formerly treat Chang Sung so off-hand.”

  “He spoke very rudely; that is why.”

  “But you bore with Mi Heng; why not with this man?”

  “Mi Heng’s reputation for scholarship stood highest of all and I could not bear to put him to death. But what ability has this Chang?”

  “To say nothing about his speech being like the River of Heaven, nothing daunts his talent for dialectic. I happened to show him your new treatise; he read it over once and could repeat it. From this it is evident he is cultured and has a prodigious memory. There are few like him in the world. But he said the book was the work of an obscure person of a few hundred years back and every school boy in his country knew it.”

  “It only shows that the ancients and I are in secret sympathy,” replied Ts’ao.

  However, he ordered the book to be torn up and burned.

  “Then may I bring him to see you, Sir, that he may see the glory of our court.”

  Ts’ao Ts’ao grudgingly consented, saying,“I am reviewing troops tomorrow on the western parade-ground. You may bring him there and let him see what my army looks like. He will be able to talk about it when he goes home. When I have dealt with the south I shall take the west in hand.”

  Hence the very next day Yang Hsiu took Chang Sung over to the west parade ground, where a review of the Tiger Guard was to be held. There were five legions of them, and when drawn up in order, they made a very brave show with their gleaming helmets and bright new uniforms. Their drums rolled to shake the heavens and their weapons glittered in the sun. Their discipline and order were perfect; their gay banners fluttered in the breeze. They looked ready to fly even, so alert and smart were they.

  Chang Sung glanced at them contemptuously. After a long time Ts’ao Ts’ao called up Chang Sung and, pointing to his army, said,“Have you ever seen such fine bold fellows in your country?”

  “We never see this military parade in Shu; we govern men by righteousness.”

  Ts’ao Ts’ao changed colour and looked hard at the bold speaker, who gazed back at him without the least sign of fear. Yang Hsiu shot a quick glance at him, but Ts’ao went on,“I regard the rat-class of the world [There is a pun here; the characters for “rat” and “Shu” are read the same] as of no more importance than so many weeds, and for my army to reach a place is to overcome it, to give battle is to conquer, to besiege is to take. Those who are with me, live; but those who oppose me, die. Do you understand?”

  “O Minister, I know well that when you march out your army you always conquer. I knew it when you attacked Lu Pu at P’uyang; and when you fought Chang Hsiu at Wangch’eng; and when you met Chou Yu at the Red Wall; and when Hua Yung encountèred Kuan Yu; and on that day when you cut off your beard and threw away your robe at the Pass; and when you hid in a boat to escape the arrows on the Wei River. On all these occasions no one could stand against you.”

  It made Ts’ao Ts’ao very angry to be thus twitted with his misfortunes and he said,“You stuck-up pedant! How dare you thus bring up all my failures?”

  He called to his attendants to eject the bold disputant and put him to death.

  Yang Hsiu ventured to argue with him saying,“You may behead him, but he came from Shu bearing tribute and his death would have a very evil effect on all distant peoples.”

  But Ts’ao Ts’ao was too angry to be reasonable and persisted. However, Hsun Yu also remonstrated and Chang Sung was not put to death. But he was beaten and ejected. He returned to his lodging and left the city that night, reflecting upon what he had intended and what he had accomplished.

  Thought he,“I did not expect such arrogance when I came with the intention of giving him a province. When I get back Liu Chang will expect great things. Now I am returning empty handed and a failure to endure the laughter of my fellow countrymen. I will not go back. I have heard of the virtues of Liu Pei and I will go to him and see what manner of man he is. Then I can decide what to do.”

  So with his little escort and following he made for Chingchou. He had reached the boundaries of Yingchou (Wuchang) when he met a troop of horsemen, at the head of whom rode a captain in simple undress, who pulled up, saying,“Surely you are the Charioteer Chang.”

  “I am he,” said Chang Sung.

  The captain quickly dismounted and humbly said,“I have expected you these many days. I am Chao Yun.”

  Chang Sung dismounted and returned the salutation saying,“Then you are no other than Chao Tzu-lung, of Ch’angshan.”

  “No other,” was the reply.“And my lord Liu Yuan-te bade me await you here and offer you refreshment after your long and toilsome journey.”

  At this some soldiers brought forward wine and food which they offered kneeling.

  Chang Sung said,“I am come because the world says Liu Pei is liberal and kindly disposed.”

  After a few cups of wine the two retook the road toward Chingchou, which they neared next day at evening. They went to the guesthouse. Here they found a large number of men who received the visitor with the beating of drums and every sign of respect. And the officer in command, bowing low, said,“My brother sent me to meet you after your long and dusty journey and prepare the guest house for your reception. My name is Kuan.”

  So Chang Sung and Chao Yun dismounted and entered the rest-house, where hosts and guest exchanged formal salutations and took their seats. In a short time refreshments were served and both men were most diligent in their attention to the traveller. This roadside banquet was prolonged to the time of setting the watch, when they prepared for rest.

  Next morning, after the early meal, they mounted and continued their journey. Very soon they met Yuan-te himself, with an escort, and his two chief advisers, deferentially standing by the roadside.

  As soon as he recognised them, Chang Sung dismounted and walked toward them. Yuan-te received him with extreme respect.

  “Your exalted name has been long known to me,” said Yuan-te,“it has reverberated through my ears. My one regret is that cloudy hills and long distances have hitherto prevented me from enjoying the advantage of your instruction. Hearing that you were passing through, I have come to meet you and if you would be willing to notice me and condescend to rest for a time in my desolate city, thus allowing me to satisfy my long disappointed desire to see you, I should indeed hold myself fortunate.”

  Naturally the traveller’s vanity was tickled and he joyfully remounted. They rode bridle to bridle into the city. When they reached the residence again they exchanged profound salutations and compliments before they took their various places as host and guest. And then a banquet was served. But all throughout Yuan-te refrained from saying a word about Shu; he only chatted on general and common things.

  The visitor noted this steady avoidance and resolved to probe his host’s thoughts.

  “How many districts are there in Chingchou, where you are now, O Imperial Uncle?”

  K’ungming replied,“Chingchou is only ours temporarily; we have borrowed it from Wu. They are always sending messengers to demand its return. However, now that our lord has married the daughter his position is more secure. But it is still temporary.”

  “Wu is large,” said Chang Sung,“yet their six districts and their eighty one departments do not satisfy them. The people are strong and the land is fruitful.”

  Said P’ang T’ung,“Our lord, being of the dynastic family, certainly cannot merely occupy two districts. Those others, thievish as they are, may indeed seize upon as much territory as they are strong enough to hold, but such deeds are not according to the wise man’s heart.”

  “Noble Sirs, pray say no more: what virtue have I that I should expect anything from the future?” said Liu Pei.

  “Not so, indeed,” said Chang Sung.“Illustrious Sir, you are of the lineage of H
an; your noble character is widely known. No one could say that your fate excludes all thought of occupying territory, where you might begin to set up authority and take an Emperor’s position.”

  Yuan-te deprecated such a suggestion,“Sir, you go too far; this really is too much.”

  The next three days were spent in banquets and wine-parties but all the time no mention was made of the western province. And when, at the end of that time, Chang Sung took leave, his host was at the ten li rest-house to bid him farewell and offer refreshment. When the moment came for the parting Liu Pei raised his wine-cup and said,“I am sincerely grateful that you deigned to come here. You have prolonged your visit to three days, but now the moment of parting has come. Who knows when I may have the privilege of receiving your instructions again?”

  As he said this the tears flowed, but he hid them while Chang Sung, willing to believe that this emotion was on his account, thought how wonderfully kind and noble his host must be to be thus affected. Quite overcome, he decided to speak about Hsich’uan. So he said,“I have thought that I, too, would come to you one day, but so far I have found no way. I see Sun Ch’uan on the east, always ready to pounce, I see Ts’ao Ts’ao on the north, greedy to swallow. So this is not a wholly desirable place for you to remain in.”

  “I know this but too well,” said Liu Pei,“but I have no secure place to go to.”

  “Ichou is well protected, has much fertile soil, is populous and well governed. Its scholars are attracted by your virtue. If you marched your armies westward you could easily become a real power there and restore the glory of the Hans.”

  “But how dare I attempt this? The ruler is also of the Imperial House. The whole province is devoted to him for his good deeds, and no other man could attain such a hold.”

  “I am no traitor,” said Chang Sung,“but in your presence I feel constrained to be perfectly open and plain. Liu, the prefect of Ichou, is naturally weak and can neither use the wise nor employ the capable. Then again Chang Lu threatens the north. People are distracted and would gladly welcome an appreciative ruler. The journey I have just made was to propose to support Ts’ao Ts’ao and place the province under him, but I found him rebellious and set on evil, proud and arrogant. So I have turned aside to you. If you will take Hsich’uan, you will have a base from which to deal with Hanchung when you will, and the whole country beside. You will continue the rightful line and your name will live in history. Would not that be real fame? If then you think of taking our country I am willing to do what little I can as an ally within. But do you contemplate such a step?”