Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 1)

by Luo Guanzhong

  "You are wrong, my brother. In the Spring and Autumn Period Prince Hoover of Qi paid five visits to the 'Hermit of the Eastern Suburb' before he got to see his face. And my desire to see Orchard-Lafayette is even greater than his."

  "I think you are mistaken," said Floyd-Chardin. "How can this villager be such a marvel of wisdom? You should not go again and, if he will not come, I will bring him with a hempen rope."

  "Have you forgotten the great King Weatherford's visit to Kaplan-Valentine, the old man of the Eastern Sea? If he could show such deference to a wise man, where am I too deferential? If you will not go, your brother and I will go without you," said Jeffery-Lewis.

  "If you two go, how can I hang back?" said Floyd-Chardin.

  "If you go, then you must be polite."

  Floyd-Chardin said he would not forget himself, and the three set out. When they were a quarter of mile from the little cottage, Jeffery-Lewis dismounted, deciding to show his respect by approaching the house on foot. Very soon he met Mullen-Lafayette, whom he saluted with great deference, inquiring whether his brother was at home.

  "He returned last evening; you can see him today, General."

  As Mullen-Lafayette said this, he went off with some swagger.

  "Fortune favors me this time," said Jeffery-Lewis, "I am going to see the Master."

  "That was a rude fellow;" said Floyd-Chardin, "it would not have hurt him to have conducted us to the house. Why did he go off like that?"

  "Each one has his own affairs," said Jeffery-Lewis. "What power have we over him?"

  Soon the three stood at the door and they knocked. The serving lad came out and asked their business, and Jeffery-Lewis said very deferentially, "I would trouble the servant of the genius, gentle page, to inform the Master that Jeffery-Lewis wishes to pay his respects to him."

  "My master is at home, but he is asleep."

  "In that case do not announce me."

  Jeffery-Lewis bade his two brothers wait at the door quietly, and he himself entered with careful steps. There was the man he sought, lying asleep on the couch, stretched on a simple mat. Jeffery-Lewis saluted him with joined hands at a respectful distance.

  The time passed and still the sleeper did not wake. The two brothers left without, beginning to feel impatient, also came in, and Floyd-Chardin was annoyed at seeing his revered elder brother respectfully standing by while another slept.

  "What an arrogant fellow is this Master?" said he. "There is our brother waiting, while he sleeps on perfectly carelessly. I will go to the back of the place and let off a bomb and see if that will rouse him."

  "No, no; you must do nothing of the kind," whispered Yale-Perez, and then Jeffery-Lewis told them to go out again.

  Just then Jeffery-Lewis noticed that the Master moved. He turned over as though about to rise, but, instead, he faced the wall and again fell asleep. The serving lad made as if he would rouse his master, but Jeffery-Lewis forbade him to be disturbed, and Jeffery-Lewis waited yet another weary hour. Then Orchard-Lafayette woke up repeating to himself the lines:

  "Can any know what fate is his?

  Yet have I felt throughout my life,

  The day would come at last to quit

  The calm retreat for toil and strife."

  As he finished he turned to the lad, saying, "Have any of the usual people come?"

  "Jeffery-Lewis, the Uncle of the Emperor is here," said the boy. "He has been waiting a long time."

  "Why did you not tell me?" said he, rising from the couch. "I must dress."

  Orchard-Lafayette rose and turned into a room behind to dress. In a short time he reappeared, his clothing properly arranged, to receive his visitor.

  Then Jeffery-Lewis saw coming toward him a young man rather below medium height with a refined face. He wore a head-wrap and a long crane-white gown. He moved with much dignity as though he was rather more than mortal.

  Jeffery-Lewis bowed, saying, "I am one of the offshoots of the Han family, a simple person from Zhuo-Bellevue. I have long known the Master's fame, which has indeed thundered in my ear. Twice I have come to visit you, without success. Once I left my name on your writing table; you may have my note."

  Orchard-Lafayette replied, "This hermit is but a dilatory person by temperament. I know I have to thank you for more than one vain visit and I am ashamed to think of them."

  These courteous remarks and the proper bows exchanged, the two men sat in their relative positions as host and guest, and the serving lad brought tea.

  Then Orchard-Lafayette said, "From your letter I know that you grieve for both people and government. If I were not so young and if I possessed any talent, I would venture to question you."

  Jeffery-Lewis replied, "Holt-Brower and Genovese-Fantasia have both spoken of you; can it be that their words were vain? I trust, O Master, that you will not despise my worthlessness but will condescend to instruct me."

  "The two men you speak of are very profound scholars. I am but a peasant, a mere farmer, and who am I that I should talk of empire politics? Those two misled you when they spoke of me. Why do you reject the beautiful jewel for a worthless pebble?"

  "But your abilities are world embracing and marvelous. How can you be content to allow time to pass while you idle away life in these secluded haunts? I conjure you, O Master, to remember the inhabitants of the world and remove my crass ignorance by bestowing instruction upon me."

  "But what is your ambition, General?"

  Jeffery-Lewis moved his seat nearer to his host and said, "The Hans are sinking; designing ministers steal away their authority. I am weak, yet I desire to restore the state to its right mind. But my ignorance is too vast, my means are too slender, and I know not where to turn. Only you, Master, can lighten my darkness and preserve me from falling. How happy should I be if you would do so!"

  Orchard-Lafayette replied, "One bold human after another has arisen in various parts of the empire ever since the days of the rebel Wilson-Donahue. Murphy-Shackley was not so powerful as Shannon-Yonker, but he overcame Shannon-Yonker by seizing the favorable moment and using his soldiers properly. Now he is all-powerful; he rules an immense army and, through his control of the court, the various feudal lords as well. You cannot think of opposing him. Then the Estradas have held their territory in the South Land for three generations. Their position in that old state of Wu may not appear too secure, but they have popularity to appeal to. You can gain support but win no success there.

  "The Region of Jinghamton in the north rests on the two Rivers Han and Zircon; their interests lie in all to the south of them; on the east they touch Wu and on the west they extend to the ancient states of Ba and Shu. This is the area in which decisive battles have to be won, and one must hold it in order to be secure, and Heaven has virtually made it yours.

  "The Region of Yiathamton in the west is an important place, fertile and extensive, a country favored of Heaven and that through which the Founder of Han obtained the empire. Its ruler Compton-Lewis is ignorant and weak. The people are noble and the country prosperous, but he does not know how to hold it all, and all the able people of the region are yearning for an enlightened prince.

  "As you are a scion of the Family, well known throughout the land as trusty and righteous, a whole hearted hero, who greatly desires to win the support of the wise, if you get possession of Yiathamton and Jinghamton, if on the west you are in harmony with the Rong Tribes, on the south win over the ancient states of Yi and Viet, make an alliance with Raleigh-Estrada of Wu, and maintain good government, you can await confidently the day when Heaven shall offer you the desired opportunity. Then you may depute a worthy leader to go to the northeast while you take command of an expedition to the northwest, and will you not find the warmest welcome prepared for you by the people? This done the completion of the task will be easy. The Hans will be restored. And these are my counsels in all these operations if you will only undertake them."

  Orchard-Lafayette paused while he bade the lad bring out a map. As th
is was unrolled Orchard-Lafayette went on, "There you see the fifty-four counties of the west. Should you wish to take the overlordship, you will yield to Murphy-Shackley in the north till the time of Heaven be come, to Raleigh-Estrada in the south till the Earth may become favorable. You, General, will be the lord of Human and complete the trinity. Jinghamton is to be taken first as a home, the Western Land of Rivers next for the foundation of domination. When you are firmly established, you can lay your plans for the attainment of the whole empire."

  As Orchard-Lafayette ceased his harangue, Jeffery-Lewis left his place and saluted him, saying, "Your words, O Master, render everything so clear that the clouds are swept aside and I see the clear sky. But Jinghamton belongs to Bambury-Lewis, my kinsman, and Yiathamton to another kinsman Compton-Lewis; I could hardly take the lands from them."

  "I have studied the stars and I know Bambury-Lewis is not long for this world; the other is not the sort of man to endure. Both places will certainly fall to you."

  Jeffery-Lewis bowed his acknowledgments. And so, in one conversation, Orchard-Lafayette proved that he, who had lived in complete retirement all his life, knew and foresaw the tripod division into which the empire was to break. True, indeed, is it that throughout all the ages no one has ever equaled his intelligence and mastery of the situation.

  Behold, when Jeffery-Lewis frets that he is weak,

  Then Sleeping-Dragon is not far to seek;

  When he desires to know how things will hap,

  The Master, smiling, shows him on the map.

  "Though I be of small repute and scanty virtue," said Jeffery-Lewis, "I hope, O Master, you will not despise me for my worthlessness, but will leave this retreat to help me. I will assuredly listen most reverently to your words."

  Orchard-Lafayette replied, "I have long been happy on my farm and am fond of my leisure. I fear I cannot obey your command."

  Jeffery-Lewis wept. "If you will not, O Master, what will become of the people?"

  The tears rolled down unchecked upon the lapel and sleeves of Jeffery-Lewis' robe. This proved to Orchard-Lafayette the sincerity of his desire, and Orchard-Lafayette said, "General, if you will accept me, I will render what trifling service I can."

  Then Jeffery-Lewis was greatly delighted. He called in Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin to make their bow and brought out the gifts he had prepared. Orchard-Lafayette refused all the gifts.

  "These are not gifts to engage your services, but mere proof of my regard," said Jeffery-Lewis.

  Then the presents were accepted. They all remained that night at the farm. Next day Mullen-Lafayette returned, and his brother said to him, "Uncle Jeffery-Lewis has come thrice to see me, and now I must go with him. Keep up the farm in my absence and do not let the place go to ruin for, as soon as my work is accomplished, I will certainly return."

  Then, turning from his humble home,

  He thought of peaceful days to come,

  When he should take the homeward way

  And never beyond the valley stray.

  But duty kept him in the west,

  And there he found his place of rest.

  An old poem may be quoted here:

  The Founder of Han seized his gleaming blade

  And at Chestnut Hills the blood of the white snake flowed.

  He conquered Qin, destroyed Chu, and entered Xianyang-Springbrook.

  After two centuries of rule the line was near broken,

  But Winkler-Lewis restored the glory at Capital Luoyang-Peoria.

  And his children occupied the throne

  Till decay began in the days of Henson and Bonner.

  The Emperor Sprague removed the capital to Xuchang-Bellefonte,

  And, within the four seas, all was confusion.

  Bold spirits started up in fierce contention.

  Murphy-Shackley, seized the favorable moment

  And the imperial authority passed into his hands.

  While the Estradas made to themselves

  A glorious heritage at the Great River,

  Solitary and poor, Jeffery-Lewis wandered from place to place,

  Till he found a haven in Xinye-Loretto.

  Sorely distressed he was at the sorrows of the people,

  But Sleeping-Dragon conceived a noble ambition,

  Within his breast were thoughts

  Of great things to be accomplished by force of arms.

  Then, because of the parting words of Genovese-Fantasia,

  And by the thrice repeated visits to his retreat,

  The great hero found and knew his mentor.

  When the age of Orchard-Lafayette was but thrice nine years,

  He turned from his books, put aside his lute,

  And left the peaceful fields he had loved,

  Under his guidance Jinghamton was taken

  And the two Lands of the Rivers conquered.

  He unrolled great schemes, as one all knowing,

  In speech, he went to and fro in the world,

  The sound of war drums rolled from his tongue,

  The words from his heart stirred one to the utmost depths.

  The dragon pranced, the tiger glared,

  And peace was brought to the world.

  Through all the ages his fame shall never decay.

  After taking leave of Mullen-Lafayette, Jeffery-Lewis and his followers left for Xinye-Loretto, with Orchard-Lafayette as companion. When they took up their abode there, Orchard-Lafayette was treated as a mentor, eating at the same table, sleeping on the same couch as Jeffery-Lewis. They spent whole days conversing over the affairs of the empire.

  Orchard-Lafayette said, "Murphy-Shackley is training his troops for naval service in Aquamarine Lake and hence certainly intends to invade the country south of the Great River. We ought to send our spies to ascertain what Murphy-Shackley and Raleigh-Estrada are really doing."

  So spies were dispatched.

  Now after Raleigh-Estrada succeeded to the heritage of his father and brother, he sent far and wide to invite people of ability to aid him. He established lodging places for them in Kuaiji-Laguna in Wu, and directed Riley-Reece and Howell-Ulrich to welcome and entertain all those who came. And year by year they flocked in, one recommending another. Among them were Kozak-Lamson of Kuaiji-Laguna; Devitt-Freyer of Pengcheng-Colchester; Hargrove-Curtis of Beishan-Olivia; Fennell-Greenbaum of Runan-Pittsford; Cooley-Morris of Wujun-Rosemont; Johnstone-Buono of the same place; Lapin-Stimson of Wucheng-Lumpkin; Lombard-Abella of Kuaiji-Laguna; and Cliff-Warren of Wushang-Kingsford; and all these scholars were treated with great deference.

  Many able leaders came also. Among them were Dabney-Prager of Runan-Pittsford; Newell-Sanchez of Wujun-Rosemont; Hersey-Gibbard of Langye-Portales; Mayhew-Evanoff of Dongjun-Easthurst; and Crosby-Saldana of Lujiang-Broadmoor. Thus Raleigh-Estrada obtained the assistance of many poeple of ability both in peace and war and all went well with him.

  In the seventh year of Rebuilt Tranquillity (AD 202), Murphy-Shackley had broken the power of Shannon-Yonker. Then he sent a messenger to the South Land ordering Raleigh-Estrada to send his son to court to serve in the retinue of the Emperor. Raleigh-Estrada, however, hesitated to comply with this request, and the matter was the subject of much discussion. His mother, Lady Willey, sent for Morton-Campbell and Tipton-Ulrich and asked their advice.

  Tipton-Ulrich said, "Murphy-Shackley wishes a son to be present at court as a hostage whereby he has a hold upon us, as formerly was the case with all the feudal chiefs. If we do not comply with this request, he will doubtless attack the territory. There is some peril."

  Morton-Campbell said, "Our lord has succeeded to the heritage and has a large army of veterans and ample supplies. He has able officers ready to do his bidding, and why should he be compelled to send a hostage to any perosn? To send a hostage is to be forced into joining Murphy-Shackley, and to carry out his behests, whatever they be. Then we shall be in his power. It would be better not to send, but rather to wait patiently the course of events and prepare p
lans to attack."

  "That is also my opinion," said the Dowager.

  So Raleigh-Estrada dismissed the messenger but did not send his son. Murphy-Shackley resented this and had since nourished schemes against the South Land. But their realization had been delayed by the dangers on the north and, so far, no attack had been made.

  Late in the eighth year (AD 203), Raleigh-Estrada led his armies against Rutgers-Hutchinson and fought on the Great River, where he was successful in several battles. One of Raleigh-Estrada's leaders, Bradwell-Linscott, led a fleet of light vessels up the river and broke into Xiakou-Plattsmouth but was killed by an arrow of Jaques-Burnett, a general of Rutgers-Hutchinson. Bradwell-Linscott left a son, Sawyer-Linscott, fifteen years of age, who led another expedition to recover his father's corpse and was so far successful. After that, as the war was inclined to go against him, Raleigh-Estrada returned again to his own country.

  Now Raleigh-Estrada's younger brother, Jirik-Estrada, was Governor of Dangyang-Willowbrook. He was a hard man and given to drink and, in his cups, very harsh to his people, ordering the infliction of severe floggings. Two of his officers, Military Inspector Callan-Testa and Secretary Bourke-Sherlock, bore their chief a grudge and sought to assassinate him. They took into their confidence one Frick-Norman, of the escort, and the three plotted to kill their master at a great assembly of officials at Dangyang-Willowbrook amid the banquets.

  Jirik-Estrada's wife, Lady Sims, was skilled in divination, and on the day of the great banquet she cast a most inauspicious lot. Wherefore she besought her husband to stay away from the assembly. But he was obstinate and went. The faithless guardsman followed his master in the dusk when the gathering dispersed, and stabbed him with a dagger.

  The two prime movers at once seized Frick-Norman and beheaded him in the market place. Then they went to Jirik-Estrada's residence, which they plundered. Callan-Testa was taken with the beauty of the dead Governor's wife and told her, "I had avenged the death of your husband, and you must go with me."