Romance of the Three Kingdoms

by Guanzhong Luo

  “Yuan Shao has added the remnants of the vanquished army to his own and so become yet stronger. His brother Yuan Shu in Honan, however, has become so arrogant and eruel that the people have turned against him. Then he had sent to say he would yield the title of Emperor, which he had assumed, in favour of his brother. His brother Shao demanded the seal also and Yuan Shu promised to bring it in person. Now he has abandoned Huainan and is about to occupy Hopei. If he succeeded, the two brothers will control adjoining districts and be dangerous.”

  It was a sad story and Yuan-te remembered with sorrow that, in the days of success and prosperity, the dead chieftain had pushed his interest and shown him much kindness. Moreover he was anxious to know the fate of Chao Tzu-lung.

  In his heart he thought,“What better chance am I likely to get of setting myself free?”

  So he rose and said to Ts’ao Ts’ao,“If Yuan Shu goes over to join his brother he will surely pass through Hsuchou. I beg you to give me an army with which to smite him on the way. That will finish Yuan Shu.”

  “Memorialise the Emperor tomorrow and I will give you an army,” said Ts’ao.

  So next day Yuan-te went to an audience and Ts’ao gave him command of five legions, horse and foot, and sent Chu Ling and Lu Chao with him.

  At parting with Liu Pei the Emperor shed tears. As soon as he reached his lodging he set about preparations for immediate departure, returning his seal as General and preparing his weapons. Tung Ch’eng went out some distance on the road to bid him farewell.

  “You must not mind my going; this journey will assuredly help on the scheme,” said Liu Pei.

  “Keep your mind fixed on that,” said Tung,“and never forget what His Majesty requires of us.”

  They parted. Presently his brothers asked him why he was in such a hurry to get away.

  He replied,“I have been a bird in a cage, a fish in a net. This is like the fish regaining the open sea and the bird soaring into the blue sky. I suffered much from the confinement.”

  Now Kuo Chia and Ch’eng Yu had been absent inspecting stores and supplies when Liu Pei left. As soon as they heard of his expedition they went in to see their master, asking him why he had let Liu Pei go in command of an army.

  “He is going to cut off Yuan Shu.”

  “Formerly, when he was governor of Yuchou, we recommended that he should be put to death but you would not hear of it. Now you have given him an army. You have allowed the dragon to reach the sea, the tiger to return to the mountains. What control will you have in future?”

  So spoke Ch’eng Yu and Kuo Chia followed in the same strain.

  “Even if you would not put him to death you need not have let him go. As the proverb says, ‘Relax opposition for one day and age-long harm ensues.’ You must admit the truth of this.”

  Ts’ao recognised that these were prudent counsels so he sent Hsu Ch’u with a half company and imperative orders to bring Yuan-te back again.

  Liu Pei was marching as rapidly as possible when he noticed a cloud of dust in the rear and remarked to his brothers,“Surely they are pursuing us.”

  He halted and made a stockade and ordered his brothers to be in readiness, one on each flank. Presently the messenger arrived and found himself in the midst of an army ready for battle. He dismounted and entered the camp to speak with Yuan-te.

  “Sir, on what business have you come?” asked Pei.

  “The Minister has sent me to request you to return as he has further matters to discuss with you.”

  “When a general has once taken the field even the royal command is of no effect. I bade farewell to the Emperor, I received the Minister’s commands and there can be nothing further to talk about. You may return forthwith and take that as my reply.”

  The messenger was undecided what action to take. He knew of the friendship that existed between the Minister and his late guest and he had no orders to kill. He could only return with this reply and ask further instructions. So he left. When he related what had occurred Ts’ao still hesitated to take any action. His advisers urged upon him that this refusal to return meant enmity.

  “Still, two of my men are with him,” said Ts’ao.“He will not dare do anything unfriendly, I think. Beside, I sent him and I cannot go back on my own orders.”

  So Yuan-te was not pursued.

  He took his arms, he fed his steed,

  And fared forth willingly,

  Intent to accomplish his King’s behest

  Deep grayed on his memory.

  At least he had broken out of his cage,

  He heard not the tiger’s roar,

  He had shaken the shackles from his feet,

  As a dragon on high could soar.

  As soon as Ma T’eng heard that Liu Pei had set forth he reported that pressing business called him and marched back to his own district.

  When Yuan-te reached Hsuchou the governor, Ch’e Chou, came to meet him, and when the official banquet was over, Sun Ch’ien and Mi Chu came to visit him. Then he proceeded to his residence to greet his family.

  Scouts were sent out to see what Yuan Shu was doing. They came back with the intelligence that his arrogance had driven away his banditti allies, who had returned to their mountain fastnesses. His forces thus reduced he had written resigning the Imperial style he had assumed in favour of his brother Shao, who had at once commanded his presence. Thereupon he packed up the palace fittings he had had made, got the remnants of his army in order and marched west.

  When he neared Hsuchou, Yuan-te led out his captains with the five legions to meet him. Yuan sent out Chi Ling to force a way through, But Chang Fei opposed him and attacked without a parley. In the tenth bout he cut down Chi Ling. The defeated soldiers fled in all directions.

  Then Yuan Shu came up with his own army. Yuan-te placed his captains right and left, he himself being in the centre, and so met Yuan Shu. As soon as the enemy came near Yuan-te began to abuse him.“O rebellious one, and wicked, I have a command to destroy you. Yield, then, with good grace and so escape your punishment.”

  “Base weaver of mats and mean maker of straw sandals, how dare you make light of me?” replied Shu and he gave the signal for an attack.

  Yuan-te retired and his captains from the flanks closed in. They smote the army of Shu till corpses littered the plain and blood flowed in streams. At the same time the bandits attacked the baggage train and completed the destruction. Shu tried to retreat to Shouch’un but the bandits barred the road.

  He sought refuge in Chiangt’ing, with the small company left of all his army. And these were the weakly ones able neither to fight nor flee. It was then the height of summer and their food was nearly exhausted. The whole provision consisted of thirty measures of wheat. This was made over to the soldiers and the members of his household went hungry. Many died of actual starvation. Yuan Shu could not swallow the coarse food that the soldiers lived on. One day he bade his cook bring him some honey-water to quench his thirst.

  “There is no water, save that tainted with blood,” replied the cook.“Where can I get honey-water?”

  This was the last straw. Shu sat up on his couch and rolled out on the floor with a loud cry. Blood gushed from his mouth and thus he died. It was the sixth month of the fourth year of “Established Tranquillity.”

  The last days of Han approached and weapons clashed in every quarter,

  The misguided Yuan Shu, lost to all sense of honour,

  Forgetful of his forefathers, who had filled the State’s highest Offices,

  Madly aspired to become himself Emperor,

  Resting his outrageous claim on the possession of The Seal,

  And arrogantly boasting that thus he fulfilled the design of Heaven.

  Alas! Sick unto death he vainly begged for a little honey-water,

  He died, alone.

  Yuan Shu being dead, his nephew taking his coffin and his wife and children, sought shelter in Luchiang. There the magistrate, Hsu Ch’iu, slew all the survivors. Among the possessions h
e found the Imperial Seal, which he at once took to the capital and presented to Ts’ao Ts’ao, for which service he was made Prefect of Kaoling.

  When Yuan-te heard that Yuan Shu was dead he prepared a report to the throne, and sent it to Ts’ao Ts’ao. He sent the two officers deputed by Ts’ao Ts’ao back to the capital, keeping the army to defend Hsuchou. He also personally went through the countryside commanding the people to resume their ordinary avocations.

  Ts’ao Ts’ao was angry when his two officers returned without their man and was going to put them to death. Hsun Yu reasoned with him.

  “The power was in Liu Pei’s hands and so these two had no alternative,” said he.

  So they were pardoned.

  “You should instruct Ch’e Chou to try to destroy him,” said Yu.

  Accordingly he sent secret orders to Ch’e Chou, who took Ch’en Teng into his confidence and asked his advice. Teng advised an ambush in the city gate to attack Liu Pei on his return from the country; he himself would attack the escort with arrows from the city walls. Ch’e agreed to try this.

  Then Teng went to his father to tell him. His father Ch’en Kuei bade him go and warn the intended victim. He at once rode away to do so. Before long he met the two younger brothers, to whom he told his story.

  Now Yuan-te was following some distance behind. As soon as Chang Fei heard of the plot he wanted to attack the ambush, but Yun-ch’ang said he had a better plan.

  Said he,“The ambush will be a failure. And I think we can compass the death of Ch’e Chou. In the night we will pretend to be some of Ts’ao’s men and entice him out to meet us. We will slay him.”

  Chang Fei approved of the plan. Now the soldiers still had some of Ts’ao Ts’ao’s army banners and wore similar armour. About the third watch they came to the city wall and hailed the gate. Those on guard asked who they were. The men replied that they were Chang Wenyuan’s troop sent from the capital. This was told Ch’e Chou who sent hastily for Ch’en Teng to ask his advice.

  “If I do not receive them they will suspect my loyalty,” said he.“Yet if I go out I may be victim of a ruse.”

  So he went up on the wall and said it was too dark to distinguish friends from foes and they must wait till daylight. The men shouted back that Liu Pei must be kept in ignorance and they begged him to let them in. Still Ch’e Chou hesitated. They shouted louder than ever to open the gate.

  Presently Ch’e girded on his armour, placed himself at the head of a company and went out. He galloped over the bridge, shouting,“Where is Wenyuan?”

  Then lights blazed around and he recognised Kuan Yu with his sword drawn.

  “Wretch!” cried Kuan Yu.“You would plot to slay my brother, would you?”

  Che Chou was too frightened to make good defence and he turned to reenter the gate. But as he reached the drawbridge flights of arrows met him, wherefore he turned aside and galloped along under the wall. But Kuan Yu came quickly in pursuit. His sword was raised aloft and as it came down the fugitive fell to the earth. Kuan Yu cut off his head and returned, shouting,“I have slain the traitor. You others need not fear if you only surrender.”

  They threw aside their spears and gave in. As soon as the excitement had calmed Kuan Yu took the head to show Yuan-te and told him the story of the plot.

  “But what will Ts’ao Ts’ao think of this?” said Yuan-te.“And he may come.”

  “If he does we can meet him,” said Kuan Yu.

  But Yuan-te was grieved beyond measure. When he entered the city the elders of the people knelt in the road to welcome him. When he reached his residence he found that Chang Fei had already exterminated the family of Ch’e Chou.

  Yuan-te said,“We have slain one of his best friends and how will he stand that?”

  “Never mind!” cried Ch’en Teng.“I have a plan.”

  Just from grave danger extricated,

  An injured friend must be placated.

  The plan proposed by Ch’en Teng will be disclosed next.

  CHAPTER XXII

  YUAN AND TS’AO BOTH TAKE THE FIELD: THE TWO BROTHERS CAPTURE TWO CAPTAINS

  T This was the plan proposed to Yuan-te: “Yuan Shao is Ts’ao Ts’ao’s terror. He is strongly posted in an extensive district with a hundred legions of fighting men and many able officers. Write letters and pray him to rescue you.”

  Liu Pei replied,“But we have never had any dealings with each other and he is unlikely to do such a thing for one who has just destroyed his brother.”

  “There is some one here whose family have been on intimate terms with the Yuans for a hundred years. Shao would surely come if he wrote.”

  “And who is this?”

  “A man you know well and respect greatly; can you not guess?”

  “You surely mean Cheng K’ang-ch’eng,” said Liu Pei suddenly.

  “That is he,” said Ch’en Teng smiling.

  Now Cheng K’ang-ch’eng’s ming was Yuan. He was a student and a man of great talent, who had long studied under Ma Jung. Ma Jung was peculiar as a teacher. Whenever he lectured he let fall a curtain behind which were a circle of singing girls. The students were assembled in front of this curtain. Cheng Yuan attended these lectures for three years and never once let his eyes wander to the curtain.

  Naturally the master admired his pupil. After Cheng Yuan had finished his studies and gone home Ma Jung praised him to the others, saying,“Only one man has penetrated the inner meaning of my instructions and that one is Cheng Yuan.”

  In the Cheng household the waiting maids were familiar with Mao’s edition of the Odes. Once one of the maids opposed Yuan’s wishes, so as punishment she was made to kneel in front of the steps. Another girl made fun of her, quoting from an ode,·—

  “What are you doing there in the mire?”

  The kneeling girl capped the verse from another ode; quoth she:—

  “Twas but a simple word I said,

  Yet brought it wrath upon my head.”

  Such was the family in which he had been born. In the reign of the Emperor Huan he rose to the rank of President of a Board, but when the Ten Eunuchs began to control the government he gave up office and retired into the country to Hsuchou. Liu Pei had known him before, had consulted him on many occasions and greatly respected him.

  Liu Pei was glad that he had remembered this man and without loss of time, in company with Ch’en Teng, he went to his house to ask him to draft this letter, which he generously consented to do.

  Sun Ch’ien was entrusted with the task of delivery and set out at once. Shao read it and considered the matter long before speaking.“Liu Pei destroyed my brother and I ought not to help him, but out of consideration for the writer of this letter I must.”

  Whereupon he assembled his officers to consider an attack upon Ts’ao Ts’ao.

  T’ien Feng said,“Do not raise an army. The people are worn out and the granaries are empty with these constant wars. Let us rather report the recent victory of Kungsun Tsan to the Throne. If that does not reach the Emperor, then memorialise that Ts’ao Ts’ao is hindering the government. Then raise an army: occupy Liyang, assemble a fleet in Honan, prepare weapons, send out your various divisions and within three years you will win all round.”

  The adviser Shen P’ei replied,“I do not agree. The military genius of our illustrious lord having overcome the hordes of the north, to dispose of Ts’ao is as simple as turning one’s hand; it is not a matter of months.”

  Chu Shou said,“Victory is not always to the many. Ts’ao Ts’ao’s discipline is excellent; his soldiers are brave and well drilled. He will not sit down quietly waiting to be surrounded as Kungsun Tsan did. Now you abandon the intention to inform the Throne of our success, which I find a good plan, but you intend to send out an army without any valid excuse. Our lord should not do that.”

  Then followed adviser Kuo T’u,“You are wrong. No expedition against Ts’ao Ts’ao can lack excuse. But if our master would take the chance now offering itself of coming into his own, h
e will accede to the request in the letter and ally himself with Liu Pei for the destruction of Ts’ao. This would win the approval of heaven and the affections of the people, a double blessing.”

  Thus the four advisers differed and wrangled and Yuan Shao could not decide which to follow. Then there came two others, Hsu Yu and Hsun Shen, and, seeing them, Shao said,“You two have wide experience, how would you decide?”

  The two made their obeisance and Yuan Shao said,“A letter from Cheng the President has arrived, counselling me to support Liu Pei in an attack on Ts’ao Ts’ao. Now am I to send an army or not send an army?”

  They both cried with one voice,“Send! Your armies are numerous enough and strong enough; you will destroy a traitor and help the dynasty.”

  “Your words just express my desire,” said Shao and thenceforward the discussion turned on the expedition.

  First Sun Ch’ien was sent back with Yuan Shao’s consent and instructions for Liu Pei to make ready to co-operate. Officers were assigned divisions and advisers were told off. The army was to be composed of thirty legions, horse and foot in equal numbers. They were to march on Liyang.

  When the arrangements were complete Kuo T’u went to his chief saying,“In order to manifest the righteousness of your attack on Ts,ao it would be well to issue a manifesto with a summary of his various crimes.”

  Yuan Shao approved of this and a certain Ch’en Lin, well known as a scholar, who had been a Recorder in the late Emperor’s reign, was entrusted to compose such a document. This is the manifesto:—

  “A perspicacious ruler wisely provides against political vicissitudes; a loyal minister carefully foresees the difficulties in the assertion of authority. Wherefore a man of unusual parts precedes an extraordinary situation, and of such a man the achievements will be extraordinary. For indeed the ordinary man is quite unequal to an extraordinary situation.