“Mao had little to do with it; I think it was due to his subordinates,” replied Pei.
Piao said,“Chianghsia is lost, as you know; Huang is dead. So I have asked you to come that we might take measures of vengeance.”
“Huang was harsh and cruel and never used his men in the proper way; that was the real cause of his fall. But have you reflected what Ts’ao Ts’ao may do on the north if we attack the south?”
“I am getting old and weak and I am unable to manage affairs properly; will you aid me, brother? After I am gone you will have this district.
“Why do you say this, my brother? Think you that I am equal to such a task?”
Here K’ungming glanced at Liu Pei who continued,“But give me a little time to think it over.”
And at this point he took his leave. When they had reached their lodging, K’ungming said,“Why did you decline his offer of the district.”
“He has always been most kind and courteous. I could not take advantage of his weakness.”
“A perfectly kindly and gracious lord,” sighed K’ungming.
Soon after the son of Liu Piao was announced and Liu Pei received him and led him in. The young man began to weep saying,“My mother cannot bear the sight of me. My very life is in danger. Can you not save me, Uncle?”
“My worthy nephew, this is a family affair. You should not come to me.”
K’ungming, who was present, smiled. Liu Pei turned to him to know what he should do.
“This is a family affair; I cannot touch it!” replied K’ungming.
The young man soon left and when Yuan-te was saying goodbye he whispered,“I will get K’ungming to return your call and you can talk with him. He will advise you.”
Liu Chi thanked him and left. Next day when the call was to be returned Yuan-te pretended to be suffering from colic and made that an excuse to send K’ungming to return the call. The adviser went, and when he had reached the Palace, dismounted and was led in, Liu Chi conducted him into one of the inner rooms and when the tea had been brought, said,“I am an object of my stepmother’s dislike; can you advise me what to do?”
“As a mere stranger guest I can hardly have anything to do with your own ‘bone and flesh’ matters. If I did, and the story got abroad, much harm might ensue.”
With this he rose to take leave. But Chi was unwilling to say farewell. He said,“Your glory has turned in my direction, you cannot mean to go away so pointlessly.”
He led his visitor into a private chamber and had refreshments brought. While they ate and drank Chi repeated his first request: what was he to do since his stepmother disliked him?
“It is not the sort of thing I can advise in,” replied K’ungming, as he rose for the second time to take leave.
“Master, if you will not reply, that is well. But why incontinently leave me?”
So the adviser once more seated himself and Liu Chi said,“There is an ancient writing I should like to show you.” And he led his visitor to a small upper room.
“Where is the writing?” said K’ungming.
Instead of answering Liu Chi wept, saying,“My stepmother cannot bear me; my life is in danger. O Master, will you not say a word to save me?”
K’ungming flushed and rose to go away. But he found the ladder by which they had mounted had been removed. Again Chi besought some advice,“Master, you fear lest it may get abroad! Is that why you are silent? Here we are between earth and sky and what you say will come out of your mouth directly into my ear. No other soul can hear. Now can you tell me what to do?”
“Sow not dissension among relatives,” said K’ungming.“Is it possible for me to make any plan for you?”
“Then is my life indeed in danger,” said the young man.“I will die at your feet.”
So saying, he pulled out a dagger and threatened to make an end of himself.
K’ungming checked him.“There is a way,” said he.
“I pray you tell me.”
“You have heard of Shen Sheng and Ch’ung Erh, have you not? Shen Sheng stayed at home and died; his brother went away and lived in peace. Now that Huang Tsu is gone and Chianghsia is weakly defended, why do you not ask to be sent there to guard it? Then you would be out of the way of harm.”
Chi thanked him. Then he called to his people to restore the ladder and he escorted K’ungming down to the level ground.
K’ungming returned to Yuan-te and related the whole interview. The young man soon acted on the advice given him, but his father would not at first consent to let him go. To settle his doubts he sent for Yuan-te, who said,“Chianghsia is important and your son is the most suitable man to defend it. You must let him go. The southeast will be defended by your son; the northwest I will look after.”
“I hear that Ts’ao Ts’ao has been training a naval force and I am afraid he has intentions against us. We must be on our guard.”
“I know all about it; you need feel no anxiety,” said Yuan-te.
He took leave of his relative and went home while Liu Chi received command of three companies and went to guard Chianghsia.
At this time Ts’ao Ts’ao suppressed the three high officers of State and exercised their functions himself. He appointed as his general secretaries or Ts’ao-Ch’uan, Mao Chieh and Ts’ui Yen, and as literary secretary, Ssuma I, grandson of Ssuma Sui and son of Ssuma Fang. Thus he was strong in literary talent.
He then called his military officers to a council to discuss an expedition against the south. Hsiahou Tun opened the debate saying,“Liu Fei is drilling his army at Hsinyeh, and is a source of danger. He should be destroyed.”
Accordingly he was appointed Commander-in-Chief and four assistants were given him. With these he led ten legions to Powangch’eng, whence he could observe Hsinyeh.
“Hsun Yu was opposed to this and said,“Liu Pei is a famous warrior and he has lately taken to himself as his director of training Chuko Liang. Caution is needed.”
Tun replied,“Liu Pei is a mean rat. I will certainly take him prisoner.”
“Do not despise him,” said Hsu Shu.“Remember he has Chuko Liang to help him and so he is like a tiger who has grown wings.”
Ts’ao Ts’ao said,“Who is this Chuko Liang?”
“He is also called K’ungming, and has taken a Taoist cognomen of ‘Sleeping Dragon.’ He is a perfect genius, god and devil combined, the greatest marvel of the age. Do not despise him.”
“How does he stand as compared with you?” asked Ts’ao.
“There is no comparison. I am a mere glow-worm spark; he is the glory of the full moon,” replied Hsu Shu.
“You are mistaken,” replied Tun.“This Chuko Liang of yours is of no account. Who would fear him? If I do not take him and his master prisoners in the first battle, then here is my head, a free gift to our lord, the minister.”
“Hasten to comfort me with news of victory,” said Ts’ao Ts’ao.
Hsiahou Tun hastened to depart.
The advent of K’ungming and the extravagant deference shown him did not please Liu Pei’s sworn brothers who grumbled, saying,“He is very young although he is clever and learned. Our brother really treats him too well. We have not seen any evidence of his wonderful skill.”
Liu Pei replied,“You do not know his worth. To me it seems as if the fish had got into the water again. Pray do not discuss this matter further, my brothers.”
They withdrew, silent but dissatisfied. One day a man presented Liu Pei with a yak’s tail and he at once put it in his cap as an ornament. K’ungming came in and noticed it at once.“Then you have renounced all ambition, my lord, you are just going to attend to this sort of thing,” he quietly remarked.
Yuan-te snatched off his cap and flung it away.“I was only amusing myself with the thing,” replied he.
“How do you think you stand compared with Ts’ao Ts’ao?” asked K’ungming.
“Inferior.”
“Yes; your army is less than one legion and the chances are ten thousand to one t
hat he will attack. How can we meet him?”
“I am greatly distressed about it; but I see no way.”
“You might recruit and I will train them. Then we might be able to oppose him.”
So recruiting began and three companies were enlisted. K’ungming set about drilling them diligently.
Soon they heard that Hsiahou Tun was leading an army of ten legions against them. When he heard it Chang Fei said to his brother, Kuan Yu,“We will get this K’ungming to go and fight them.”
Just at that moment they were summoned to their brother, who asked their advice.
“Why not send the ‘Water’ brother?” said Chang Fei.
“For method I rely on K’ungming; but for action I put my faith in you, my brothers. Are you going to fail me?”
They went out and K’ungming was called.“I fear your brothers will not obey me,” said K’ungming.“Wherefore, if I am to direct the campaign, you must give me a seal of office and a sword of authority.”
So Yuan-te gave him both. Armed with these ensigns of power he assembled the officers to receive their orders.
“We will go just to see what he will do,” said one brother to the other.
In the assembly K’ungming spoke saying,“On the left of Powang are hills called Yushan. On the right is a forest, Anlin. There we will prepare an ambush. Kuan Yu will go to the former place with one company. He will remain there quiescent till the enemy has passed, but when he sees a flame in the south, that will be the signal to attack. He will first burn their baggage train. Chang Fei will go to a valley behind the forest. When he sees the signal he is to go to the old stores depot at Powang and burn that. Kuan P’ing and Liu Feng will take half a company each, prepare combustibles and be ready with them beyond Powang Slope. The enemy will arrive about dusk and then they can start the blaze.”
“Chao Yun, now recalled from Fanch’eng, is to lead the attack, but he is to lose and not win. And Liu Pei is to command the reserve. See that each one obeys these orders and let there be no mistakes.”
Then said Kuan Yu,“All of us are to go out to meet the enemy, but I have not yet heard what you are going to do.”
“I am going to guard the city.”
Chang Fei burst into a laugh,“We are to go out to bloody battle and you are to stay quietly at home quite comfortable.”
“Here is the sword and here the seal,” replied the strategist, displaying the emblems of authority.“Disobedience of orders will be death.”
Liu Pei said,“Do you not understand that the plans elaborated in a little chamber decide success over thousands of It? Do not disobey the command, my brothers.”
Chang Fei went out smiling cynically.
Kuan Yu remarked,“Let us await the result. If he fail then we can look to it.”
The brothers left None of the officers understood anything of the general line of strategy and, though they obeyed orders, they were not without doubts and misgivings.
K’ungming said to Liu Pei,“You may now lead your men to the hills and camp till the enemy shall arrive tomorrow evening. Then you are to abandon the camp and move away retreating till the signal is seen. Then you will advance and attack with all force. The two Mi and I will guard the city.”
In the city he prepared banquets to celebrate the victory and also prepared the books to record exceptional services. Liu Pei noted all these things with not a little trouble in his heart.
Ts’ao Ts’ao’s army in due course reached Powang. Then half of them, the veterans, were told off for the first attack and the remainder were to guard the baggage train and supplies. Thus they marched in two divisions. The season was autumn and a chilly wind began to blow.
They pressed forward. Presently they saw a cloud of dust ahead of them and the general ordered the ranks to be reformed. He questioned the guides as to the name of the place. They told him the place in front was Powang Slope and behind them was the Lok’ou Stream. Then Hsiahou Tun rode to the front to reconnoitre, leaving Yu Chin and Li Tien to finish setting out the battle array.
Presently he began to laugh and, when they asked the cause of this merriment, he replied, Hsu Shu praised Chuko Liang to the very skies as something more than human. But now that I see how he has placed his men and the stuff he has put into his vanguard, it seems to me that he is sending dogs or sheep against tigers and leopards. I bragged a little when I said I would take him prisoner, but I am going to make good my boast.”
Then he rode forward at full speed. Chao Yun rode to meet him and Tun opened a volley of abuse.“You lot, followers of Liu Pei, are only like wraiths following devils.”
This angered Chao Yun and a combat began. In a little time Chao Yun turned and retreated as if he was worsted. Tun pressed after him and kept up the chase for some ten li. Then Chao suddenly turned again and offered fight; but only to retreat after a few passes.
Seeing these tactics Han Hao, one of Tun’s captains, rode up to his chief and urged him to use caution saying he feared he was being inveigled into an ambush.
“With such antagonists as these I should not fear a score of ambushes,” replied Tun, pressing forward eagerly.
Just as he reached the slope he heard the roar of a bomb and out came Liu Pei to attack.“Here is your ambush,” said Hsiahou Tun, laughing.“I will get to Hsinyeh this evening before I have done.”
He urged his men forward and his opponents retired in measure as he advanced.
As evening came on, thick clouds overcast the whole sky. The wind increased but the leader still urged his men after the retreating foe. The two captains came to a narrow part of the road with reeds and rushes thick all round them.
“Those who despise the enemy are beaten,” said Li Tien to Yu Chin.“Away south there the roads are narrow, and streams and mountains make the country difficult. The forests are dense and if the enemy used fire we should be lost.”
“You are right,” replied Chin.“I will get on and warn the Commander. Perhaps he will stop. You can halt those who come up.”
Yu Chin rode forward shouting at the top of his voice. Hsiahou Tun saw him coming up and asked what was the matter. Chin told him of the state of the country and reminded him of the danger of fire. His ferocity had then somewhat abated and he turned his steed toward his main body.
Then there arose a shout behind him. A rushing noise came from in the reeds and great tongues of flame shot up here and there. These spread and soon the fire was in “the four quarters and the eight sides,” and fanned by a strong wind.
The Ts’ao troops were thrown into confusion and trampled each other down. Many perished. Chao Yun turned on them again. The Commander-in-Chief dashed through the fire and smoke to escape.
Now Li Tien saw that things were going very badly so he turned to get back to Powangch’eng but fell upon a body of men in the way, led by Kuan Yu. He dashed into their midst and managed to get clear. Yu Chin saw the supplies were being destroyed and there was nothing left to guard, so he escaped along a bye-path. Two other captains, who came to try to save the baggage train, met Chang Fei and one of them was slain forthwith, but the other escaped. Next morning the countryside was strewn with corpses and drenched with blood.
The armies met on Powang Slope
And K’ungming fought with fire;
A perfect strategist, he bent
All men to his desire.
But poor Ts’ao Ts’ao, his enemy,
He trembled in his shoes
Before the man, who’d never fought
But yet could armies use.
Hsiahou Tung drew up the battered remains of his army and led them back to the capital.
K’ungming ordered his armies to collect, and as Kuan and Chang rode homeward they confessed to each other that the new strategist was a fine fellow. Before long they met him seated in a light carriage and they dismounted and bowed before him. The remaining bodies came in. The spoil was distributed among the soldiers and all returned to Hsinyeh, where the populace lined the roads to bid them welcom
e.
“We owe our lives to the Prince,” they cried to Liu Pei.
Said K’ungming,“Hsiahou Tun has been driven off, but Ts’ao Ts’ao will come with a stronger force.”
“And what shall we do?” replied Liu Pei.
“My plan is quite ready,” said K’ungming.
Always battles, nowhere rest for horse or man;
Must rely on ruses, dodging where one can.
The plan prepared against Ts’ao Ts’ao will be unfolded in the next chapter.
CHAPTER XL
THE LADY TS’AI DISCUSSES THE RENUNCIATION OF CHINGCHOU : CHUKO LIANG BURNS HSINYEH
W hen Yuan-te asked how his adviser hoped to repel Ts’ao Ts’ao, K’ungming replied,“This is a small city and unfitted for our lengthy occupation. Liu Piao is ill and failing fast, so this is the time to take his district as a base where we may be safe against Ts’ao Ts’ao.”
“You speak well, Master, but Liu Piao has shown me great kindness and I could not hear to serve him an ill turn.”
“If you do not take this opportunity you will regret it ever after,” said K’ungming.
“I would rather perish than do what is wrong.”
“We will discuss it again,” replied K’ungming.
When Hsiahou Tun reached the capital he presented himself to his master in bonds and craved death. But his master loosed him and let him tell his tale. And he said,“I was the victim of Chuko Liang’s evil machinations; he attacked with fire.”
“As a soldier from your youth you should have remembered that fire was a likely weapon in narrow roads.”
“Li Tien and Yu Chin reminded me; I am sorry enough now.”
Ts’ao Ts’ao rewarded his two captains who had warned their leader.
“Liu Pei as strong as he is now certainly is a menace to our existence and he must be quickly destroyed,” said Hsiahou Tun.
“He is one of my anxieties,” replied Ts’ao.“Sun Ch’uan is the other. The rest do not count. We must take this chance to sweep the south clean.”
Romance of the Three Kingdoms Page 57