The assembly listened in perfect silence, none daring at first to utter a word of dissent. But one dared, for suddenly a guest stood up in his place, smote the table and cried.
“No! No! who are you, that you dare utter such bold words? The Emperor is the son of the lawful consort and has done no wrong. Why then should he be deposed? Are you a rebel?”
The speaker was Ting Yuan, governor of Chinchow.
Cho glared at him.“There is life for those who are with me, death for those against,” roared he.
He drew his sword and made for the objector. But the watchful Li Ju had noticed standing behind Ting Yuan a particularly dangerous looking henchman of his, who was now handling his spear threateningly, and whose eyes were blazing with anger. So he hastily interposed, saying,“But this is the banquet chamber and state affairs should be left outside. The matters can be fully discussed tomorrow.”
His fellow guests persuaded Ting Yuan to leave, and after his departure Tung Cho said,“Is what I said just and reasonable?”
“You are mistaken, Illustrious Sir,” said Lu Chih.“Of old* Tai Chia was unenlightened. Wherefore I Yin immured him in the Tung Palace till he reformed. Later** Prince Chang I ascended the throne, and in less than a month he committed more than three thousand categorical faults. Wherefore Ho Kuang, the regent, declared in the ancestral temple that he was deposed. Our present Emperor is young, but he is intelligent, benevolent and wise. He has not committed a single fault. You, Sir, are hot a metropolitan official and have had no experience in state administration. Neither have you the pure intentions of I Yin which qualified his actions. Without that justification such an act is presumption.”
Tung Cho angrily drew his sword to slay the bold speaker, but another official remonstrated.
“President Lu is the cynosure of the whole country and his violent death would stir the hearts of all men,” said P’eng Po.
Then Tung Cho stayed his hand.
Then said Wang Yun,“A great question like the deposition and substitution of Emperors is not one to be decided after a wine party. Let it be put off till another time.”
So the guests dispersed. Cho stood at the gate with drawn sword watching them depart.
Standing thus he noticed a spearman galloping to and fro on a fiery steed and asked Li Ju if he knew him.
“That is Lu Pu, the adopted son of Ting Yuan. His ordinary name is Fenhsien. You must keep out of his way, my lord.”
Tung Cho went inside the gate so that he could not be seen. But next day a man reported to him that Ting Yuan had come out of the city with a small army and was challenging to a battle. Tung Cho went forth to accept the challenge. And the armies were drawn up in proper array.
Lu Pu was a conspicuous figure in the forefront. His hair was arranged under a handsome headdress of gold and he had donned a beautiful embroidered fighting robe, a t’ang-ni helmet and breast plate, and round his waist was a mang belt with a lion’s head clasp. With spear set he rode close behind his master.
Ting Yuan, pointing his finger at Tung Cho, began to revile him.
“Unhappy indeed was this State when the eunuchs became so powerful that the people were as if trodden into the mire under their feet. Now you, devoid of the least merit, dare to talk of deposing the rightful Emperor and setting up another. This is to desire rebellion and no less.”
Tung Cho could not reply for Lu Pu, eager for the fight, rode straight at him. Tung Cho fled and Ting’s army came on. The battle went in their favour and the beaten men retired and made another camp. Here Tung Cho called his officers to a council.
“This Lu Pu is a marvel,” said Tung Cho.“If he was only on my side I would defy the whole world.”
At this a man advanced saying,“Be content, O my lord! I am a fellow villager of his and know him well, his bravery, his stupidity, his cupidity and unscrupulousness. With this little, blarneying tongue of mine I can persuade him to put up his hands and come over to your side.”
Tung Cho was delighted and gazed admiringly at the speaker, on Li Su a minor officer of his army.
“What arguments will you use with him?”
“You have a fine horse, the Hare, one of the best ever bred. I must have this steed, and gold and pearls to win his heart. Then will I go and persuade him. He will certainly abandon Ting Yuans service for yours.”
“What think you?” said Tung Cho to his adviser Li.
“One cannot grudge a horse to win an empire,” was the reply.
So they gave the corrupter of morals what he demanded—a thousand taels of gold, ten strings of beautiful pearls and a jewelled belt, and these accompanied Li Su on his visit to his fellow villager. He reached the camp and said to the guard,“Please tell General Lu that a very old friend has come to visit him.”
He was admitted forthwith.
“Worthy brother, have you been well since we last met?”
“How long it is since we last saw each other!” replied Pu, bowing in return.“And where are you now?”
“I am an officer in the Tiger Company. When I learned you were a strong supporter of the throne I could not say how I rejoiced. I have come now to present to you a really fine horse, a thousand li a day horse, one that crosses rivers and goes up mountains as if they were the level plain. He is called The Hare. He will be a fitting aid to your valour.”
Lu Pu bade them lead out the horse. He was of a uniform colour like glowing charcoal; not a hair of another colour. He measured ten feet from head to tail and from hoof to neck eight feet. When he neighed the sound filled the empyrean and shook the ocean.
Mark ye the steed swift and tireless, see the dust, spurned by his hoofs, rising in clouds;
Now he swims the river, anon climbs the hill, rending the purple mist asunder,
Scornful he breaks the rein, shakes from his head the jewelled bridle,
He is as a fiery dragon descending from the highest heaven.
Pu was delighted with the horse and said,“What return can I hope to make for such a creature?”
“What return can I hope for? I came to you out of a sense of what is right.”
Wine was brought in and they drank.
“We have seen very little of each other, but I am constantly meeting your honourable father,” said Li Su.
“You are drunk,” said Pu.“My father has been dead for years.”
“Not so; I spoke of Ting Yuan, the man of the day.”
Lu Pu started.“Yes, I am with him but only because I can do no better.”
“Sir, your talent is higher than the heavens, deeper than the seas. Who in all the world does not bow before your name? Fame and riches and honours are yours for the taking. And you say you can do no better than remain a subordinate!”
“If I could only find a master to serve!” said Lu Pu.
“The clever bird chooses the branch whereon to perch; the wise servant selects the master to serve. Seize the chance when it comes, for repentance ever comes too late.”
“Now you are in the government. Who think you is really the bravest of all?” asked Lu Pu.
“I despise the whole lot except Tung Cho. He is one who respects wisdom and reveres scholarship; he is discriminating in his rewards and punishments. Surely he is destined to be a really great man.”
“I would that I could serve him, but there is no way, I fear.” Then Su produced his pearls and gold and the jewelled belt and laid them out before his host.
“What is this? What does it mean?” said Lu Pu.
“Send away the attendants,” said Li Su. And he went on,“Tung Cho has long respected your valour and sent these by my hand. The Hare was also from him.”
“But, if he loves me like this, what can I do in return?”
“If a stupid fellow like me can be an officer in The Tigers, it is impossible to say what honours await you.”
“I am sorry I can offer him no service worth mentioning.”
‘There is one service you can do, and an extremely easy one to perform; but y
ou would not render that.”
Lu Pu pondered long in silence. Then he said,“I might slay Ting Yuan and bring over his soldiers to Tung Cho’s side; what think you of that?”
“If you would do that, there could be no greater service. But such a thing must be done quickly.”
And Lu Pu promised his friend that he would do the deed and come over on the morrow.
So Li Su took his leave. That very night, at the second watch, Lu Pu entered, sword in hand, into his master’s tent. He found Ting Yuan reading by the light of a solitary candle. Seeing who came in he said,“My son, what is afoot?”
“I am a bold hero,” said Pu,“do you think I am willing to be a son of yours?”
“Why this change, Feng-hsien?”
As a reply Lu Pu made one cut at his protector and his head fell to the earth. Then he called the attendants and said,“He was an unjust man and I have slain him. Let those who back me stay, the others may depart.”
Most ran away. Next day, with the head of the murdered man as his gift, Lu Pu betook himself to Li Su, who led him to Tung Cho. Cho received him with a warm welcome and had wine set before him.
“Your coming is welcome as the gentle dew to the parched grass,” said Tung Cho.
Lu Pu made Cho seat himself and then made his obeisance, saying,“Pray let me bow to you as my adopted father.”
Tung Cho gave his newly won ally gold and armour and silken robes and spread the feast of welcome. They then separated.
Thence Tung Cho’s power and influence increased rapidly. He gave ranks of nobility to his brother and Lu Pu, who were leaders of the two wings, he himself being leader of the centre. The adviser Li Ju never ceased from urging him to carry out the design of deposing the young Emperor.
The now all-powerful general prepared a banquet in the capital at which all the officers of State were guests. He also bade Lu Pu post a company of armed men right and left ready for action. The feast began and several courses were served with nothing to distinguish that banquet from any other. Then suddenly the host arose and drew his sword, saying,“He who is above us being weak and irresolute is unfit for the duties of his high place. Wherefore I, as of old did I Yin and Ho Kuang, will set aside this Emperor giving him the title of Prince Hungnung and I will place on the throne the present Prince of Ch’en-liu. And those who do not support me will suffer death.”
Fear seized them in its grip and they were silent, all but Yuan Shao who said that the Emperor was innocent of any fault and to set him aside in favour of a commoner was rebellion and nothing else.
“The Empire is in my hands,” cried Cho,“an I choose to do this thing who will dare say nay? Think you my sword lacks an edge?”
“If your sword is sharp, mine is never blunt,” said Shao as his sword flashed out of the sheath.
The two men stood face to face amid the feasters:
When Ting by treacherous murder died,
The loss was great to Yuans side.
The fate of Yuan Shao will be disclosed in later chapters.
Footnotes
* 1750 B.C.
** 80B.C.
CHAPTER IV
THE DEPOSITION OF THE EMPEROR: PRINCE OF CH’EN-LIU BECOMES EMPEROR: SCHEMES AGAINST TUNG CHO: MENG-TE PRESENTS A SWORD
I t is recorded that Tung Cho was on the point of slaying Yuan Shao, but his adviser checked him, saying,“You must not kill rashly while the business hangs in the balance.”
Yuan Shao, his sword still unsheathed, left the assembly. He hung up the symbols of his office at the east gate and went to Ichow.
Tung Cho said to the T’ai-fu Yuan Wei,“Your nephew behaved improperly but I pardon him for your sake; what think you of my scheme.”
“What you think is right,” was the reply.
“If any one opposes the great scheme he will be dealt with by military law,” said Tung Cho.
The ministers, thoroughly cowed, promised obedience and the feast came to an end. Tung asked Chou Pi and Wu Chiung what they thought of the flight of Yuan Shao.
“He left in a state of great anger. In such a state of excitement much harm may ensue to the present state of affairs, especially as the Yuan family have been noted for their kindness to the people for four generations, and their proteges and dependents are everywhere. If they assemble bold spirits and call up their clients, all the valiant warriors will be in arms and Shantung will be lost. You had better pardon him and give him a post. He will be glad at being forgiven and will do no harm.”
Wu said,“Shao is fond of scheming, but he fails in decision and so is not to be feared. But it would be well to give him rank and thus win popular favour.”
Tung Cho followed this advice and thereupon sent a messenger to offer Yuan Shao the command of Pohai.
In the ninth month the Emperor was invited to proceed to the Hall of Abounding Virtue where was a great assembly of officials. There Tung Cho, sword in hand faced the gathering and said,“The Emperor is a weakling unequal to the burden of ruling this land. Now listen ye to the document I have prepared.”
And Li Ju read as follows:— “The dutiful Emperor Ling too soon left his people. The Emperor is the cynosure of all the people of this land. Upon the present Emperor Heaven has conferred but small gifts: in dignity and deportment he is deficient and in mourning he is remiss. Only the most complete virtue can grace the imperial dignity. The Empress Mother has trained him improperly and the whole State administration has fallen into confusion. The Empress Dowager, Jung-le, died suddenly and no one knew why. The doctrine of the three bonds and the continuity of celestial and terrestrial interdependence have both been injured. But Hsieh, Prince of Ch’en-liu, is sage and virtuous beside being of handsome exterior. He conforms to all the rules of propriety, his mourning is sincere; his speech is always correct. Eulogies of him fill the Empire. He is well fitted for the great duty of consolidating the rule of Han.
“Now therefore the Emperor is deposed and created Prince Hungnung and the Empress Dowager retires from the administration.
“I pray the Prince to accept the throne in conformity with the decrees of Heaven, the desires of men and the fulfilment of the hopes of mankind.”
This having been read Tung Cho bade the attendants lead the Emperor down from the throne, remove his seal and cause him to kneel facing the north, styling himself minister and requesting commands. Moreover he bade the Empress Dowager strip off her dress of ceremony and await the imperial command. Both victims of this oppression wept and every minister present was deeply affected. One put his discontent into words, crying,“The false Tung Cho is the author of this insult, which I will risk my life to wipe away.” And with this he rushed at Tung Cho threatening him with his ivory bâton of office.
It was the President Ting Kuan and he was removed and summarily put to death. While he lived he ceased not to rail at the oppressor, nor was he frightened at death.
The rebel Tung conceived the foul design
To thrust the King aside and wrong his line.
With folded arms the courtiers stood, save one
Ting Kuan, who dared to cry that wrong was done.
Then the Emperor designate went to the upper part of the hall to receive congratulations. After this the late Emperor, his mother and the Lady in waiting Tang were removed to the Palace of Perpetual Calm. The entrance gates were locked against all comers.
It was pitiful! There was the young Emperor, after reigning less than half a year, deposed and another put in his place. The new Emperor was Hsieh, the second son of the late Emperor and the name under which he reigned is Hsien. He was nine years of age and the reign-style was changed to Ch’u-P’ing or The Inauguration of Tranquillity.
As chief minister Tung Cho was arrogant beyond all reason. When he bowed before the throne he did not declare his name; in going to court he did not hasten. Booted and armed he entered the reception halls. Never had such a thing been seen before. Li Ju impressed upon him constantly to employ men of reputation so that he should gain publi
c esteem. So when they told him Ch’ai Yung was a man of talent he was summoned. But he would not go. Cho sent a message to him that if he did not come he and his whole clan should be exterminated. Then Ch’ai gave in and appeared. Cho was very gracious to him and promoted him thrice in a month. He became a Shih-chung and seemed to be on most friendly terms with the tyrant.
Meanwhile the deposed ruler, his mother and the Lady Tang were immured in the palace and found their daily supplies gradually diminishing. The deposed Emperor wept incessantly. One day a pair of swallows gliding to and fro moved him to verse.
Spring! and the green of the tender grass,
Flushes with joy as the swallows pass,
The wayfarers pause by the rippling stream,
And their eyes with new born gladness gleam;
With lingering gaze the roofs I see
Of the palace that one time sheltered me.
The messenger, sent by Tung Cho from time to time to the palace for news of the prisoners, got hold of this poem and showed it to his master.
“So he shows his resentment by writing poems, eh! A fair excuse to put them all out of the way,” said Tung.
Li Ju was sent with ten men into the palace to consummate the foul deed. The three were in one of the upper rooms when he arrived. The Emperor shuddered when the maid announced the visitor’s name.
Presently Li entered and offered a cup of poisoned wine to the Emperor. The Emperor asked what this meant.
“Spring is the season of blending and harmonious interchange and the Minister sends a cup of the wine of longevity,” said he.
“If it be the wine of longevity you may share it too; pledge me first,” said the Empress.
Then Li became brutally frank.
“You will not drink!” cried he.
He called the men with daggers and cords and bade her look at them.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 1 (Tuttle Classics) Page 6