Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 1 (Tuttle Classics)

by Lo Kuan-Chung

  However, Kao Shun demanded the promised reward through Chi Ling, who put him off saying,“My lord has gone away, I will settle this as soon as I can see him and get his decision.”

  With this answer Kao Shun returned to Lu Pu, who could not decide what to do. Then came a letter from Yuan Shu saying that although Kao Shun had gone to attack Liu Pei, yet Pei had not been destroyed and no reward could be given till he was actually taken. Lu Pu railed at what he called the breach of faith and was inclined to attack Yuan Shu himself. However, his adviser opposed this course, saying,“You should not; he is in possession of Shouch’un and has a large army, well supplied. You are no match for him. Rather ask Liu Pei to take up his quarters at Hsiaop’ei as one of your wings and, when the time comes, let him lead the attack. Then both the Yuans will fall before you and you will be very powerful.”

  Finding this advice good he sent letters to Yuan-te asking him to return.

  The story of Liu Pei’s attack on Kuangling, the attack on his camp and his losses, has been told. On his way back he met the messenger from Lu Pu, who presented the letter. Yuan-te was quite content with the offer but his brothers were not inclined to trust Lu.

  “Since he treats me kindly, I cannot but trust him,” replied Yuan-te.

  So he went back to Hsuchou. Lu Pu, fearing that Liu Pei might doubt his sincerity, restored his family and when the ladies, Kan and Mi, saw their lord they told him that they had been kindly treated and guarded by soldiers against any intrusion, and provisions had never been wanting.

  “I knew he would not harm my family,” said Yuan-te to Kuan and Chang.

  However, they were not pleased and would not accompany their brother into the city when he went to express his thanks. They went to escort the two ladies to Hsiaop’ei.

  At the interview Lu Pu said,“I did not wish to take the city, but your brother behaved very badly, drinking and flogging the soldiers, and I came to guard it lest some evil should befall.”

  “But I had long wished to yield it to you,” said Yuan-te.

  Thereupon Lu Pu pretended to wish to retire in favour of Yuan-te who, however, would not hear of it. He returned and took up his quarters in Hsiaop’ei, but his two brothers would not take the situation kindly and were very discontented.

  Said Yuan-te,“One must bow to one’s lot. It is the will of Heaven and one cannot struggle against fate.”

  Lu Pu sent presents of food and stuffs and peace reigned between the two houses.

  But there is no need to write of this. As the story runs, Yuan Shu prepared a great banquet for his soldiers on the occasion of a victory gained by Sun Ts’e over Lu K’ang, the Prefect of Luchiang. Yuan Shu summoned the victor, who made obeisance at the foot of the hall of audience. Shu, sitting in State, asked for details of the campaign and then invited Sun Ts’e to the banquet.

  After the unhappy death of his father Sun Ts’e had returned to Chiangnan, where he had devoted himself to peaceful ends, inviting to his side good men and able scholars. Afterwards when a quarrel broke out between his mother’s uncle, the Prefect of Tanyang, and T’ao Ch’ien, he removed his mother with all the family to Ch’ua, he himself taking service under Yuan Shu, who admired and loved him greatly.

  “If I had a son like him,” said Shu,“I should die without regret.”

  He employed Sun Ts’e as a soldier and sent him on various expeditions, all of which were successful. After this banquet to celebrate the victory over Lu K’ang, Sun Ts’e returned to his camp very bitter over the arrogant and patronising airs of his patron. Instead of retiring to his tent he walked up and down by the light of the moon.

  “Here am I, a mere nobody and yet my father was such a hero!” And he cried out and wept in spite of himself.

  Then suddenly appeared one who said, laughing loudly,“What is this, O Po-fu? While your noble father enjoyed the light of the sun he made free use of me and if his son has any difficulty to resolve why does he not refer it to me also instead of weeping here alone?”

  Looking at the speaker Sun Ts’e saw it was one Chu Chih, whose less formal name was Chun-li, a native of that district, who had been in his father’s service. Sun Ts’e then ceased weeping and they two sat down.

  “I was weeping from regret at being unable to continue my father’s work,” said he.

  “Why stay here bound to the service of a master? Why not get command of an army under the pretence of an expedition to relieve Chiangtung? Then you can accomplish great things.”

  While these two were talking another man suddenly entered saying,“I know what you two are planning, noble Sirs. Under my hand is a band of bold fellows ready to help Po-fu in whatever he wishes to do.”

  The speaker was one of Yuan Shu’s advisers named Lu Fan. They three then sat and discussed schemes.

  “The one fear is that the soldiers will be refused,” said the newcomer.

  “I still have the Imperial Seal that my father left me; that should be good security.”

  “Yuan Shu earnestly desires that jewel,” said Chu Chih.“He will certainly lend you men on that pledge.”

  The three talked over their plans, gradually settling the details, and not many days after Sun Ts’e obtained an interview with his patron. Assuming the appearance of deep grief he said,“I have been unable to avenge my father. Now the Prefect of Yangchow is opposing my mother’s brother and my mother and her family are in danger. Wherefore I would borrow a few companies of fighting men to rescue them. As perhaps, Illustrious Sir, you may lack confidence in me I am willing to deposit the Imperial Seal, left me by my late father, as a pledge.”

  “Let me see it, if you have it,” said Shu.“I do not want the jewel really, but you may as well leave it with me. I will lend you three companies and five hundred horses. Return as soon as peace can be made. As your rank is hardly sufficient for such powers I will memorialise to obtain for you higher rank with the title of General, ‘Exterminator of Brigands,’ and you can soon start.”

  Ts’e thanked his patron most humbly and soon put the army in motion, taking with him his two new friends as well as his former captains. When he reached Liyang he saw a body of troops in front of him, at their head a dashing leader of handsome and refined mien. As soon as this man saw Sun Ts’e he dismounted and made obeisance. It was Chou Yu.

  When Sun Chien was opposing the tyrant Minister Tung Cho, the Chou family had removed to Shu, in modern Anhui, and as Chou Yu and Sun Ts’e were of the same age all but two months, they became exceedingly good friends and sworn brothers, Ts’e being the “elder” in virtue of his two months’ seniority. Chou Yu was on his way to visit Sun Ts’e’s uncle, Prefect of Tanyang, when the happy meeting took place.

  Naturally Sun Ts’e confided his projects and inmost ideas to his friend, who at once promised fidelity and service. They would work out the grand design together.

  “Now that you have come the design is as good as accomplished,” said Sun.

  Chou Yu was introduced to Chu Chih and Lu Fan.

  Chou Yu said,“Do you know of the two Changs of Chiangtung? They would be most useful men in working out your schemes.”

  “Who are they, the two Changs?” said Sun.

  “They are men of transcendent genius who are living near here for the sake of tranquillity in these troublous times. Their names are Chang Chao and Chang Hung. Why not invite them to help you, brother?”

  Sun Ts’e lost no time in sending letters and gifts, but they both declined. Then he visited them in person, was greatly pleased with their speech and by dint of large gifts and much persuasion, got them to promise to join him. They were given substantial offices.

  The plan of the attack upon Yangchou was the next matter for discussion. The Prefect, Liu Yu, was of Tunglai, a scion of the Imperial family and brother of the governor of Yenchow. He had long ruled in Yangchou, but Yuan Shu had forced him to leave his usual abiding city and retire to Ch’ua.

  Hearing of the meditated attack on him he summoned his captains to take counsel. S
aid Chang Ying,“I will take an army and entrench at Niuchu. No army can get past that, whatever its strength.”

  He was interrupted by another who shouted,“And let me lead the van!”

  All eyes turned to this man; is was T’aishih Tzu who, after raising the siege of Pohai, had come on a visit to the Prefect and stayed on.

  Hearing him offer to undertake the hazardous post of van-leader Liu Yu said,“But you are still young and not yet equal to such a charge. Rather stay by my side and obey my orders.”

  T’aishih Tzu withdrew in high dudgeon. Soon Chang Ying led his army to Niuchu, leaving his stores of grain at Tiko. When Sun Ts’e approached, Chang Ying went to meet him and the two armies faced each other above Niuchut’an, (Bullock Island Rapid). Chang Ying roundly abused his opponent and Huang Kai rode out to attack, but before the combat had proceeded far there arose an alarm of fire in Chang Ying’s camp. Chang Ying turned back and then Sun Ts’e advanced in full force, compelling the enemy to abandon their possession. The defeated general fled to the hills.

  Now the incendiaries who had brought about this result were two, named Chiang Ch’in and Chou T’ai, both from the Kiukiang district, who in these troublous times had got together a band of kindred spirits and lived by plundering the country along the Yangtse River. They knew Sun Ts’e by reputation as a man who treated able men very liberally and wished to join him. So they came with their band, three hundred strong, and helped him in this way as an introduction. Sun Ts’e welcomed them and gave the leaders rank. After taking possession of the stores of all kinds abandoned by the runaways, and enlisting a large number of those who surrendered into his own ranks, he moved forward to attack Shent’ing.

  After his defeat Chang Ying returned to his master and told his misfortune. Liu Yu was going to punish his failure by death, but listened to his advisers, who asked for mercy for the unfortunate man, and sent him to command the garrison in Lingling. He himself set out to meet the invaders. He camped under the hills at Lingnan. Sun Ts’e camped on the opposite side of the hills.

  Sun Ts’e enquired if there was a temple to Kuang-Wu, of the Hans, in the vicinity, and was told there was a temple on the summit of the hills.

  “I dreamed last night that he called me so I will go and pray there,” said Ts’e.

  He was advised not to go as the enemy was on the other side and he might fall into an ambush.

  “The spirit will help me; what need I fear?”

  So he put on his armour, took his spear and mounted, taking with him twelve of his officers as an escort. They rode up the bills, dismounted, burned incense and they all bowed in the shrine. Then Ts’e knelt and made a vow saying,“If I, Sun Ts’e, succeed in my task and restore the authority of my late father then will I restore this temple and order sacrifices at the four seasons.”

  When they had remounted he said, I am going to ride along the ridge and reconnoitre the enemy’s position.”

  His followers begged him to refrain but he was obstinate and they rode away together, noting the villages below. A soldier going along a bye road quickly reported the presence of horsemen on the ridge and Liu Yu said,“It is certainly Sun Ts’e trying to inveigle us to battle. But do not go out.”

  T’aishih Tzu, the bold, jumped up saying,“What better chance to capture him?”

  So, without orders he armed himself and rode through the camp crying,“If there be any valiant men among you follow me!”

  No one moved save a subaltern who said,“He is a valiant man and I will go with him.” So he also went. The others only laughed at the pair.

  Now having seen all he wished Sun Ts’e thought it time to return and wheeled round his horse. But when he was going over the summit some one shouted,“Stay, Sun Ts’e!”

  He turned; two horsemen were coming at full speed down the next hill. He halted and drew up his little escort right and left, he himself with his spear ready.

  “Which is Sun Ts’e?” shouted T’aishih.

  “Who are you?” was the reply.

  “I am T’aishih Tzu, of Tunglai, come to take him prisoner.”

  “Then I am he,” said Sun Ts’e laughing.“Come both of you

  together; I am not afraid of you. If I was, I should not be Po-fu.”

  “You and all your crowd come on and I will not blench,” cried T’aishih putting his horse at a gallop and setting his spear.

  Sun braced himself for the shock and the battle began. Fifty bouts were fought and still neither combatant had the advantage. Sun Ts’e’s followers whispered to each other their admiration and amazement. T’aishih saw that the spearmanship of his opponent showed no weak point whereby he could gain the advantage so he decided to resort to guile. Feigning defeat he would lead Sun to pursue. T’aishih however did not retire along the road by which he had come, but took a path leading around the hill instead of over it. His antagonist followed, shouting,“He who retreats is no worthy son of Han!”

  But T’aishih thought within himself,“He has twelve others at his back and I only one. If I capture him, the others will retake him. I will inveigle him into some secret spot and then try.” So flying and fighting by turns he led Sun Ts’e, an eager pursuer, down to the plain.

  Here T’aishih suddenly wheeled about and attacked. Again they exchanged half a hundred bouts, without result. Then Sun made a fierce thrust which his opponent evaded by gripping the spear under his oxter, while T’aishih did the same with his opponent’s spear. Neither was wounded but each exerting his utmost strength to pull the other out of the saddle they both came to the ground.

  Their steeds galloped off they knew not whither while the two men, each dropping his spear, began a hand to hand struggle. Soon their fighting robes were in tatters. Sun gripped the short lance that T’aishih carried at his back, while T’aishih tore off the other’s helmet. Sun tried to stab with the short lance but T’aishih fended off the blow with the helmet as a shield.

  Then arose a great shouting. Liu Yu had come up with a company of soldiers. Sun seemed now in sore straits. His twelve followers came up and each combatant let go his hold. T’aishih quickly found another steed, seized a spear and mounted. Sun Ts’e, whose charger had been caught by Ch’eng P’u, also mounted, and a confused battle began between the handful of men on one side and a whole company on the other. It swayed and drifted down the hill side. However, soon Chou Yu came to the rescue, and as evening drew on a tempest put an end to the fight. Both sides drew off and returned to camp.

  Next day Sun Ts’e led his army to the front of Liu Yu’s camp and the challenge was accepted. The armies were drawn up. Sun hung the short lance he had seized from T’aishih Tzu at the end of his spear and waved it in front of the line of battle and ordered his soldiers to shout,“If the owner of this had not fled he would have been stabbed to death.”

  On the other side they hung out Sun’s helmet and the soldiers shouted back “Sun Ts’e’s head is here already.”

  Both sides thus yelled defiance at each other, one side boasting, the other bragging. Then T’aishih rode out challenging Sun to a duel to the death and Sun would have accepted, but Ch’eng P’u said,“My lord should not trouble himself, I will take him,” and he rode forth.

  “You are no antagonist for me,” said T’aishih.“Tell your master to come out.”

  This incensed Ch’eng, who rode at his opponent, and they two fought many bouts. The duel was stopped by the gongs of Liu Yu.

  “Why did you sound the retreat?” said T’aishih.“I was just going to capture the wretch.”

  “Because I have just heard that Ch’ua is threatened. Chou Yu is leading a force thither and a certain Ch’en Wu is in league with him to betray the city. The loss would be irremediable. I will hasten to Moling to get the help of Hsueh Li and Chai Jung.”

  The army retired, T’aishih Tzu with it, without being pursued. On the other side Chang Chao said to Sun Ts’e,“Chou Yu’s threatened attack is the cause of this move; they are in no mood to fight. A night raid on their camp w
ould finish them.”

  The army was divided into five divisions for the night surprise and hastened toward the camp where they were victorious. Their opponents scattered in all directions. T’aishin alone made a determined stand and as he could not withstand a whole army he fled with a few followers to Chinghsien.

  Now Sun Ts’e acquired a new adherent in the person of Ch’en Wu. He was a soldier of middle height, sallow of complexion and dark eye, an odd looking man. But Sun held him in high esteem, gave him rank and put him in the van for the attack on Hsueh Li. As van-leader he and half a score horsemen made a dash into the enemy’s formation, where they slew half a hundred men. So Hsueh Li would not fight but remained within his defences. As Sun was attacking the city a spy came in with the news that Liu Yu and Chai Jung had gone to attack Niuchu, which made Sun move thither in haste. His two opponents were ready for battle.

  “I am here,” said Sun Ts’e,“you had better give in.”

  A horseman came out from behind the two leaders to accept the challenge. It was Yu Mi. But in the third bout Sun Ts’e made him prisoner and carried him off to the other side.

  Seeing his colleague thus captured Fan Neng rode out to the rescue and got quite close. But just as he was going to thrust, all the soldiers shouted “There is a man behind you going to strike secretly!” At this Sun Ts’e turned and shouted so thunderously loud that Fan Neng fell out of his saddle from mere fright. He split his skull and died. When Sun Ts’e reached his standard he threw his prisoner to the ground. And he was also dead, crushed to death between the arm and the body of his captor. So in a few moments Sun Ts’e had disposed of two enemies, one crushed to death and one frightened to death. Thereafter Sun Ts’e was called the Little Prince.

  After Liu Yu’s defeat the greater portion of his force surrendered and the number of those put to death exceeded ten thousand. Liu Yu himself sought safety with Liu Piao.