Romance of the Three Kingdoms

by Guanzhong Luo

  Yuan-te then, bowing low before his host, begged him to leave the hills and help him to bring about the restoration of the ruling house to its prerogatives. But he replied,“Men of the hills and deserts are unequal to such a task. However, there must be many far abler than I who will help you if you seek them.”

  While they were talking they heard outside the farm the shouts of men and neighing of horses, and a servant came in to say that a captain with a large company of men had arrived. Yuan-te went out hastily to see who these were and found Chao Yun. He was much relieved and Chao dismounted and entered the house.

  “Last night, on my return to our city,” said Chao,“I could not find my lord, so I followed at once and traced you here. I pray you return quickly as I fear an attack on the city.”

  So Yuan-te took leave of his host and the whole company returned to Hsinyeh. Before they had gone far another troop appeared, and, when they had come nearer, they saw the two brothers. They met with great joy and Yuan-te told them of the wonderful leap his horse had made over the torrent. All expressed surprise and pleasure.

  As soon as they reached the city a council was called and Chao Yun said,“You ought first of all to indite a letter to Liu Piao telling him all these things.”

  The letter was prepared and Sun Ch’ien bore it to the seat of government. He was received, and Liu Piao at once asked the reason of Yuan-te’s hasty flight from the festival. Whereupon the letter was presented and the bearer related the machinations of Ts’ai Mao and told of the escape and the amazing leap over the torrent. Liu Piao was very angry, sent for Ts’ai Mao and berated him soundly, saying,“How dare you try to hurt my brother?” and he ordered him out to execution.

  Liu Piao’s wife, Ts’ao Mao’s sister, prayed for a remission of the death penalty, but Liu Piao refused to be appeased. Then spoke Sun Ch’ien, saying,“If you put Ts’ai to death, I fear Uncle Liu will be unable to remain here.”

  Then he was reprieved, but dismissed with a severe reprimand.

  Liu Piao sent his elder son back with Sun Ch’ien to apologise. When Ch’i reached Hsinyeh, Yuan-te welcomed him and gave a banquet in his honour. After some little drinking, the chief guest suddenly began to weep and presently said,“My stepmother always cherishes a wish to put me out of the way, and I do not know how to avoid her anger. Could you advise me, Uncle?”

  Yuan-te exhorted him to be careful and perfectly filial and nothing could happen. Soon after the young man took his leave, and wept at parting. Yuan-te escorted him well on his way and, pointing to his steed, said,“I owe my life to this horse: had it not been for him I had been already below the Springs.”

  “It was not the strength of the horse, but your noble fortune, Uncle.”

  They parted, the young man weeping bitterly. On reentering the city Yuan-te met a person in the street wearing a hempen turban, a cotton robe confined by a black girdle, and black shoes. He came along singing a song.

  The universe is riven, alack! now nears the end of all,

  The noble mansion quakes, alack! what beam can stay the fall?

  A wise one waits his lord, alack! but hidden in the glen,

  The seeker knows not him, alack! nor me, of common men.

  Yuan-te listened.“Surely this is one of the men ‘Water-mirror’ spoke of,” thought he.

  He dismounted, spoke to the singer and invited him into his residence. Then when they were seated he asked the stranger’s name.

  “I am from Yingshang and my name is Tan Fu. I have known you by repute for a long time and they said you appreciated men of ability. I wanted to come to you but every way of getting an introduction seemed closed. So I bethought me of attracting your notice by singing that song in the market place.”

  Yuan-te thought he had found a treasure and treated the newcomer with the greatest kindness. Then Tan Fu spoke of the horse that he had seen Yuan-te riding and asked to look at him. So the animal was brought round.

  “Is not this a tilu?” said Tan Fu.“But though he is a good steed he risks his master. You must not ride him.”

  “He has already fulfilled the omens,” said Yuan-te, and he related the story of the leap over the torrent.

  “But this was saving his master, not risking him; he will surely harm some one in the end. But I can tell you how to avert the omen.”

  “I should be glad to hear it,” said Yuan-te.

  “If you have an enemy against whom you bear a grudge, give him this horse and wait till he has fulfilled the evil omens on this man: then you can ride him in safety.”

  Yuan-te changed colour.“What, Sir! You are but a new acquaintance and you would advise me to take an evil course and to harm another for my own advantage? No, Sir! I cannot listen.”

  His guest smiled.“People said you were virtuous. I could not ask you directly, so I put it that way to test you.”

  Yuan-te’s expression changed. He rose and returned the compliment, saying,“But how can I be virtuous while I lack your teaching?”

  “When I came here, I heard the people saying:

  Since Liu came here, O blessed day!

  We’ve had good luck: long may he stay!

  So you see the effects of your virtue extend to the ordinary people.”

  Thereupon Tan Fu was made Organiser in Chief of the army.

  The one idea that held Ts’ao Ts’ao after his return from Ch’ichou was the capture of Chingchou. He sent Ts’ao Jen and Li Tien, with the two brothers Lu who had surrendered, to camp at Fanch’eng with three legions and so threaten Chingchou and Hsiangyang. Thence he sent spies to find out the weak points.

  Then the two Lus petitioned Ts’ao Jen saying,“Liu Pei is strengthening his position at Hsinyeh and laying in large supplies. Some great scheme is afoot and he should be checked. Since our surrender we have performed no noteworthy service and, if you will give us half a legion, we promise to bring you the head of Liu Pei.”

  Ts’ao Jen was only too glad, and the expedition set out. The scouts reported this to Yuan-te who turned to Tan Fu for advice.

  Tan Fu said,“They must not be permitted to cross the boundary. Send your two brothers right and left, one to attack the enemy on the march, the other to cut off the retreat. You and Chao Yun will make a front attack.”

  The two brothers started and then Yuan-te went out at the gate with three companies to oppose the enemy. Before they had gone far they saw a great cloud of dust behind the hills. This marked the approach of the brothers Lu. Presently, both sides being arrayed, Yuan-te rode out and stood by his standard. He called out,“Who are you who thus would encroach on my territory?”

  “I am the great general Lu K’uang, and I have the orders of the minister to make you prisoner,” said the leader.

  Yuan-te ordered Chao Yun to go out, and the two captains engaged. Very soon Chao had disposed of his opponent and Yuan-te gave the signal to attack. Lu Hsiang could not maintain his position and led his men off. Soon his men found themselves attacked by an army rushing in from the side led by Kuan Yu. The loss was more than a half and the remainder fled for safety.

  About ten li farther on they found their retreat barred by an army under Chang Fei, who stood in the way with a long spear ready to thrust. Crying out who he was, he bore down upon Lu Hsiang, who was slain without a chance of striking a blow. The men again fled in disorder. They were pursued by Yuan-te and the greater part killed or captured.

  Then Yuan-te returned into his own city where he rewarded Tan Fu and feasted his victorious soldiers. Some of the defeated men took the news of the deaths of the leaders and the capture of their comrades to Ts’ao Jen.

  Ts’ao Jen, much distressed, consulted his colleague who advised staying where they were and holding on till reinforcements could arrive.

  “Not so,” said Ts’ao Jen.“We cannot support calmly the death of two leaders and the loss of so many men. We must avenge them quickly. Hsinyeh is but a crossbow-slug of a place and not worth disturbing the Minister for.”

  “Liu Pei is a man of
metal,” said Li Tien.“Do not esteem him lightly.”

  “What are you afraid of?” said Jen.

  “The Rule of War says ‘To know your enemy and yourself is the secret of victory,’” replied Tien.“I am not afraid of the battle, but I do not think we can conquer.”

  “You are a traitor!” cried Jen angrily.“Then I will capture Liu Pei myself.”

  “Do so, and I will guard this city,” said Tien.

  “If you do not go with me, it is a proof that you are a traitor,” retorted Ts’ao Jen.

  At this reproach, Li Tien felt constrained to join the expedition. So they told off two and a half legions with which they crossed the river for Hsinyeh.

  The officers all keenly felt the shame of many slain,

  The Chief determines on revenge and marches out again.

  What measure of success the expedition met with will be related in the next chapter.

  CHAPTER XXXVI

  CAPTURE OF FANCH’ENG: CHUKO LIANG RECOMMENDED

  I n hot anger, Ts’ao Jen lost no time in marching out to avenge the loss of so many of his army. He hastily crossed the river to attack Hsingyeh and trample it in the dust.

  When Tan Fu got back into the city he said to his master,“When Ts’ao Jen, now at Fanch’eng, hears of his losses, he will try to retrieve them and will come to attack us.”

  “What is the counter move?” asked Yuan-te.

  “As he will come with all his force his own city will be left undefended; we will surprise it.”

  “By what ruse?”

  The adviser leaned over and whispered to his chief. Whatever the plan was it pleased Yuan-te, who made arrangements. Soon the scouts reported Ts’ao Jen crossing the river with a mighty host.

  “Just as I guessed,” said Tan Fu, hearing of it.

  Then he suggested that Yuan-te should lead out one army against the invaders. He did so, and, when the formation was complete, Chao Yun rode to the front as champion and challenged the other side.

  Li Tien rode out and engaged. At about the tenth bout Li Tien found he was losing and retired toward his own side. Chao Yun pressed after him, but was checked by a heavy discharge of arrows from the wings. Then both sides stopped the battle and retired to their camps.

  Li Tien reported to his chief that their opponents were brave, very full of spirit, and that they would be hard to overcome and advised a retreat on Fancheng.

  Ts’ao Jen angrily replied,“You damped the men’s spirits before we started, and now you betray us. You have been bought and you deserve death.”

  He called in the executioners and they led away their victim. But the other officers came to intercede and Tien was spared. However, he was transferred to the command of the rear, while Ts’ao Jen himself led the attack.

  Next day the drums beat an advance and Ts’ao Jen, having drawn up his men, sent a messenger over to ask if his opponent recognised his plan of array. So Tan Fu went on a hill and looked over it. Then he said to Liu Pei “The arrangement is called The Eight Docked Gates,’ and each ‘gate’ has a name. If you enter by one of the three named ‘Birth,’ ‘Bellevue’ and ‘Expanse’ you succeed; if by one of the ‘gates’ ‘Wounds,’ ‘Fear,’ or ‘Annihilation,’ you sustain injuries. The other two ‘gates’ are named Obstacles’ and ‘Death,’ and to enter them means the end. Now, though the eight ‘gates’ are all there quite correct, the central ‘key-post’ is lacking and the formation can be thrown into confusion by entry from the southeast and exit due west.”

  Wherefore certain orders were issued and Chao Yun, leading half a company, rode out on his prancing steed to break the array. He burst in, as directed, at the southeast and, with great clamour and fighting, reached the centre. Ts’ao Jen made for the north, but Chao Yun, instead of following him, made a dash westward and got through. Thence he turned round to the southeast again and smote till Ts’ao Jen’s army was in disarray. A general advance was signalled and the defeat was severe. The beaten enemy retired.

  Tan Fu forbade pursuit and they returned.

  The loss of the battle convinced Ts’ao Jen of the wisdom of his colleague and he sent for him to consult.

  “They certainly have some very able person in Liu Pei’s army since my formation was so quickly broken,” said Ts’ao Jen.

  “My chief anxiety is about Fanch’eng,” said Li Tien.

  “I will raid their camp this night,” said Jen.“If I succeed we will decide upon what should be done next. If I fail, we will return to Fanch’eng.”

  “The camp will be well prepared against such a thing and you will fail,” said Li.

  “How can you expect to fight successfully when you are so full of doubts?” said Jen, angrily.

  He held no more converse with his cautious colleague, but himself took command of the van and set out. Tien was relegated to the rear. The attack on the enemy’s camp was fixed for the second watch.

  Now as Tan Fu was discussing plans with his chief a whirlwind went by, which Fu said foretold a raid on the camp.

  “How shall we meet it?” said Yuan-te.

  “The plans are quite ready,” was the reply.

  He whispered them to the chief. So at the second watch, when the enemy arrived, they saw fires on all sides; the stockades and huts burning. Ts’ao Jen understood at once that all hope of a surprise was vain and he turned to get away as quickly as possible. This was the signal for Chao Yun to fall on and that cut his return road. He hastened north toward the river, and reached the bank, but, while waiting for boats to cross the stream, up came Chang Fei and attacked.

  By dint of great efforts and with the support of his colleague he got into a boat, but most of the men were drowned in the stream. As soon as he got to the farther shore he bolted for Fanch’eng. He reached the wall and hailed the gate, but, instead of a friendly welcome, he heard the rolling of drums, which was soon followed by the appearance of a body of men. Kuan Yu led them.

  “I took the city a long time ago,” shouted Kuan Yu.

  This was a severe shock to Jen, who turned to flee. As soon as he faced about Kuan Yu attacked and killed many of his men. The remnant hastened to Hsuch’ang. On the road the beaten general wondered who had advised his opponents with such success.

  While the defeated general had to find his way back to the capital, Yuan-te had scored a great success. Afterwards he marched to Fanch’eng, where he was welcomed by the magistrate Liu Pi, himself a scion of the ruling family, who had been born in Changsha. He received Yuan-te as a guest in his own house and gave banquets and treated him exceedingly well.

  In the train of the magistrate, Yuan-te saw a very handsome and distinguished-looking young man, and asked who he was.

  Liu Pi replied,“He is my nephew, K’ou Feng, an orphan, whom I am taking care of.”

  Yuan-te had taken a great liking for the lad and proposed to adopt him, His guardian was willing, and so the adoption was arranged. The young man’s name was changed to Liu Feng. When Yuan-te left, he took his adopted son with him. He was then made to bow before Kuan Yu and Chang Fei as uncles.

  Kuan Yu was doubtful of the wisdom of adopting another son, saying,“You have a son; why do you think it neccessary to adopt another? It may cause confusion.”

  “How? I shall treat him as a father should and he will serve me as befits a son.”

  Kuan Yu was displeased. Then Yuan-te and Tan Fu began further discussions of strategy and they decided to leave a guard in Fanch’eng and to return to Hsinyeh.

  In the meantime Ts’ao Ts’ao’s defeated generals had gone back. When they saw the Minister, Ts’ao Jen threw himself on the ground weeping and acknowledging his faults. He told the tale of his losses.

  “The fortune of war,” said Ts’ao Ts’ao.“But I should like to know who laid Liu Pei’s plans.”

  “That was Tan Fu,” said Jen.

  Cheng Yu said,“The man is not Tan Fu. When young this man was fond of fencing and used to take up the quarrels of other men and avenge their wrongs. Once, after kill
ing his man, he let down his hair, muddied his face and was trying to escape when a lictor caught him and questioned him. He would not reply. So they carted him through the streets beating a drum and asking if any one recognised him. Nobody dared own to knowing him, if they did so. However, his companions managed to release him secretly and he ran away under some other name. Then he turned to study and wandered hither and thither wherever scholars were to be found. He was a regular disputant with Ssuma Hui. His real name is Hsu Shu (Yuan-chih) and he comes from Yingchou. Tan Fu is merely an assumed name.”

  “How does he compare with yourself?” asked Ts’ao.

  “Ten times cleverer.”

  “It is a pity. If able men gather to Liu Pei his wings will soon grow. What is to be done?”

  “Hsu Shu is there now, but if you wanted him it would not be difficult to call him,” replied Hsun Yu.

  “How could I make him come?” said Ts’ao.

  “He is noted for his affection for his mother. His father died young, leaving his mother a widow with one other son. Now that son is dead and his mother has no one to care for her. If you sent and got his mother here and told her to write and summon her son he would surely come.”

  Ts’ao sent without loss of time and had the old lady brought to the capital, where he treated her exceedingly well. Presently he said,“I hear you have a very talented son, who is now at Hsinyeh helping on that rebel Liu Pei against the government. There he is like a jewel in a muck-heap; it is a pity. Supposing you were to call him, I could speak of him before the Emperor and he might get an important office.”

  Ts’ao bade his secretaries bring along the “four precious things of the study,” with which the dame could write to her son.

  “What sort of a man is Liu Pei?” asked she.

  Ts’ao replied,“A common sort of person from P’eichun, irresponsible enough to style himself Imperial Uncle, and so claiming some sort of connection with the Hans. He is neither trustworthy nor virtuous. People say he is a superior man as far as externals go, but a mean man by nature.”