Romance of the Three Kingdoms

by Guanzhong Luo

  “You are really superhuman,” said Lu Su.“But how did you know there would be a thick fog today?”

  “One cannot be a leader without knowing the workings of heaven and the ways of earth. One must understand the secret gates and the interdependence of the elements, the mysteries of tactics and the value of forces. It is but an ordinary talent. I calculated three days ago that there would be a fog today and so I set the limit at three days. Chou Yu would give me ten days, but neither artificers nor material, so that he might find occasion to put me to death as I knew, but my fate lies with the Supreme and how could Chou Yu harm me?”

  Lu Su could not but agree. When the boats arrived half a company were in readiness on the bank to carry away the arrows. K’ungming bade them go on board the boats, collect them and bear them to the tent of the Commander-in-Chief. Lu Su went to report that the arrows had been obtained and told Chou Yu by what means.

  Chou Yu was amazed and sighed sadly, saying,“He is better than I; his methods are more than human.”

  Thick lies the fog on the river,

  Nature is shrouded in white,

  Distant and near are confounded,

  Banks are no longer in sight.

  Fast fly the pattering arrows,

  Stick in the boats of the fleet.

  Now can full tale be delivered,

  K’ungming is victor complete.

  When, shortly after his return, K’ungming went to the tent of the Commander-in-Chief he was welcomed by Chou Yu, who came forward to greet him, saying,“Your superhuman predictions compel one’s esteem.”

  “There is nothing remarkable in that trifling trick,” replied he.

  Chou Yu led him within and wine was brought.

  Chou Yu said,“My lord sent yesterday to urge me to advance, but I have no master plan ready; I wish you would assist me, Master.”

  “But where should I, a man of poor, everyday ability, find such a plan as you desire?”

  “I saw the enemy’s naval camp just lately and it looked very complete and well organised. It is not an ordinary place to attack. I have thought of a plan, but I am not sure it will answer. I should be happy if you would decide for me.”

  “General,” replied K’ungming,“do not say what your plan is but each of us will write in the palm of his hand and see whether our opinions agree.”

  So pen and ink were sent for and Chou Yu first wrote on his own palm, and then passed the pen to K’ungming who also wrote. Then getting close together on the same bench each showed his hand to the other, and both burst out laughing, for both had written the same word,“Fire.”

  “Since we are of the same opinion,” said Chou Yu,“there is no longer any doubt. But our intentions must be kept secret.”

  “Both of us are public servants and what would be the sense of telling our plans? I do not think Ts’ao Ts’ao will be on his guard against this although he has had two experiences. You may put your scheme into force.”

  They finished their wine and separated. Not an officer knew a word of the general’s plans.

  Now Ts’ao Ts’ao had expended a myriad arrows in vain and was much irritated in consequence. He deeply desired revenge. Then Hsun Yu proposed a ruse, saying, ‘The two strategists on the side of the enemy are Chou Yu and Chuko Liang, two men most difficult to get the better of. Let us send some one who shall pretend to surrender to them but really be a spy on our behalf and a helper in our schemes. When we know what is doing we can plan to meet it.”

  “I had thought of that myself,” replied Ts’ao.“Whom do you think the best man to send?”

  “Ts’ai Mao has been put to death, but all the clan and family are in the army and the two younger brothers are junior generals. You have them most securely in your power and may send them to surrender. The ruler of Wu will never suspect deceit there.”

  Ts’ao Ts’ao decided to act on this plan and in the evening summoned the two men to his tent, where he told them what he wished them to do. And he promised them rich rewards if they succeeded.“But do not betray me,” added he.

  “Our families are in Chingchou and that place is yours,” replied they.“Should we dare betray? You need have no doubts, Sir. You will soon see the heads of both Chou Yu and Chuko Liang at your feet.”

  Ts’ao Ts’ao gave them generous gifts and soon after the two men, each with his half company, set sail with a fair wind for the opposite bank.

  Now as Chou Yu was preparing for the attack the arrival of some ships was announced. They bore the two younger brothers of Ts’ai Mao, who had come as deserters. They were led in and, bowing before the general, said, weeping,“Our innocent brother has been put to death and we desire vengeance. So we have come to offer allegiance to you. We pray you to appoint us to the vanguard.”

  Chou Yu appeared very pleased and made them presents. Then he ordered them to join Kan Ning in leading the van. They thanked him and regarded their scheme as already a success.

  But he gave Kan Ning secret orders, saying,“They have come without their families and so I know their desertion is only pretence. They have been sent as spies and I am going to meet their ruse with one of my own. They shall have some information to send. You will treat them well, but keep a careful guard over them. On the day our soldiers start they shall be sacrificed to the flag. But be very careful that nothing goes wrong.”

  Kan Ning went away, and Lu Su came in to tell Chou Yu that every one agreed in thinking the surrender of the two feigned and said they should be rejected.

  “But they wish to revenge the death of their brother,” said the General.“Where is the pretence? If you are so suspicious you will receive nobody at all.”

  Lu Su left much piqued and went to see K’ungming to whom he told the story. K’ungming only smiled.

  “Why do you smile?” said Lu Su.

  “I smile at your simplicity. The General is playing a game. Spies cannot easily come and go so these two have been sent to feign desertion that they may act as spies. The General is meeting one ruse with another. He wants them to give information. Deceit is not to be despised in war and his scheme is the correct one to employ.”

  Then Lu Su understood. That night as Chou Yu was sitting in his tent, Huang Kai came to see him privately.“You have surely some wise plan to propose that you come at night like this.”

  Huang Kai replied,“The enemy are more numerous than we and it is wrong to delay. Why not burn them out?”

  “Who suggested that to you?”

  “I thought of it myself, nobody suggested it,” replied Huang.

  “I just wanted something like this and that is why I kept those two pretended deserters. I want them to give some news. The pity is that I have no one to feign desertion to the other side and work my plan.”

  “But I will carry out your plan,” said Huang Kai.

  “But if you cannot show some injury you will not be believed,” said Chou.

  “The Sun family have been very generous to me and I would not resent being crushed to death to repay them,” said Huang.

  The General thanked him saying,“If you would not object to some bodily suffering then our country would indeed be happy.”

  “Kill me; I do not mind,” repeated Huang Kai as he took his leave.

  Next day the drums called all the officers together to the General’s tent and K’ungming came with the others. Chou Yu said,“The enemy’s camps extend about three hundred so that the campaign will be a long one. Each leader is to prepare supplies for three months.”

  Scarcely had he spoken when Huang Kai started up, crying,“Say not three months; be ready for thirty months, and even then it will not be ended. If you can destroy them this month then all is well. If you cannot, then it were better to take Chang Chaos advice, throw down your weapons, turn to the north and surrender.”

  Chou Yu’s anger flared up and he flushed, crying,“Our lord’s orders were to destroy Ts’ao Ts’ao and whoever mentioned the word surrender should be put to death. Now, the very moment when the
two armies are to engage, you dare talk of surrender and damp the ardour of my men! If I do not slay you, how can I support the others?”

  He ordered the lictors to remove Huang Kai and execute him without delay.

  Kai then flamed up in turn, saying,“This is the third generation since I went with General P’o-lo (Sun Chien) and we overran the southeast; whence have you sprung up?”

  This made Chou Yu perfectly furious and Huang Kai was ordered to intant death. But Kan Ning interfered. Said he,“He is a veteran officer of Wu; pray pardon him.”

  “What are you prating about?” cried Chou Yu.“Dare you come between me and my duty?” Turning to the lictors he ordered them to drive him forth with blows.

  The other officials fell on their knees entreating pity for Huang Kai.“He is indeed most worthy of death, but it would be a loss to the army, we pray you forgive him. Record his fault for the moment and after the enemy shall have been defeated then put him to death.”

  But Chou Yu was implacable. The officers pleaded with tears. At length he seemed moved, saying,“Had you not interceded he should certainly have suffered death. But now I will mitigate the punishment to a beating. He shall not die.”

  He turned to the lictors and bade them deal the culprit one hundred blows. Again his colleagues prayed for remission but Chou Yu angrily pushed over the table in front of him and roared to the officers to get out of the way and let the sentence be executed.

  So Huang Kai was stripped, thrown to the ground and fifty blows were given. At this point the officers again prayed that he be let off. Chou Yu sprang from his chair and pointing his finger at Huang Kai said,“If you dare flout me again you shall have the other fifty. If you are guilty of any disrespect, you shall be punished for both faults!”

  With this he turned into the inner part of the tent, growling as he went, while the officers helped their beaten colleague to his feet. He was in a pitiable state. His back was cut in many places and the blood was flowing in streams. They led him to his own quarters and on the way he swooned several times. His case seemed most pitiable.

  Lu Su went to see the suffering officer and then called on K’ungming in his boat. He related the story of the beating and said that though the other officers had been cowed into silence he thought K’ungming might have interceded.“You are a guest and not under his orders. Why did you stand by with your hands up your sleeves and say never a word?”

  “You insult me,” said K’ungming smiling.

  “Why do you say that? I have never insulted you, never since the day we came here together.”

  “Do you not know that that terrible beating was but a ruse? How could I try to dissuade him?”

  Then Lu Su began to perceive and K’ungming continued,“Ts’ao Ts’ao would not be taken in unless there was some real bodily suffering. Now he is going to send Huang Kai over as a deserter and he will see to it that the two Ts’ao spies duly tell the tale. But when you see the General you must not tell him that I saw through the ruse. You say that I am very angry like the others.”

  Lu Su went to see Chou Yu and asked him why he had so cruelly beaten a proved and trusty officer.

  “Do the officers resent it?” asked Chou.

  “They are all upset about it.”

  “And what does your friend think?”

  “He also resents it in his heart, and thinks you have made a mistake.”

  “Then I have deceived him for once,” said Chou gleefully.

  “What mean you?” cried Lu.

  “That beating that Huang Kai got is part of my ruse. I am sending him to Ts’ao Ts’ao as a deserter and so I have supplied a reason for desertion. Then I am going to use fire against the enemy.”

  Lu Su kept silence but he recognised that K’ungming was again right.

  Meanwhile Huang Kai lay in his tent, whither all his brother officers went to condole with him and enquire after his health. But Kai would say never a word; he only lay sighing deeply from time to time.

  But when the strategist K’an Tse came, Kai told them to bring him to the room where he lay. Then he bade the servants go away and Tse said,“Surely you must have some serious quarrel with the General.”

  “I have none,” said Kai.

  “Then this beating is just part of a ruse?”

  “How did you guess?” said Kai.

  “Because I watched the General and I guessed about nine tenths of the truth.”

  Huang said,“You see I have been very generously treated by the Sun family, all three of them, and have no means of showing my gratitude except by offering to help in this ruse. True I suffer, but I do not regret that. Among all those I know in the army there is not one I am intimate with except yourself. You are true and I can talk with you as a friend.”

  “I suppose you wish me to present your letter proposing to come over; is that it?”

  “Just that; will you do it?” said Huang.

  Kan Tse consented joyfully.

  Even the warrior’s body is but a stake in the game,

  The friend so ready to help him proves that their hearts are the same.

  K’an’s reply will be read in the next chapter.

  CHAPTER XLVII

  K’AN TSE PRESENTS THE TREACHEROUS LETTER: P’AN T’UNG SUGGESTS CHAINING THE SHIPS TOGETHER

  T his Kan Tse was from Shanyin, a son of a humble family. He loved books, but as he was too poor to buy he used to borrow. He had a wonderfully tenacious memory, was very eloquent and no coward. Sun Ch’uan had employed him among his advisers and he and Huang Kai were excellent friends. The latter had thought of him to present the treacherous letter as his gifts made him most suitable. K’an Tse accepted with enthusiasm, saying,“When you, my friend, have suffered so much for our lord, could I spare myself? No; while a man lives he must go on fulfilling his mission or he is no better than the herbs that rot in the field.”

  Huang Kai slipped off the couch and came over to salute him.

  “However, this matter must speed,” continued K’an Tse; there is no time to lose.”

  “The letter is already written,” said Huang Kai.

  K’an Tse received it and left. That night he disguised himself as an old fisherman and started in a small punt for the north shore, under the cold, glittering light of the stars.

  Soon he drew near the enemy’s camp and was captured by the patrol. Without waiting for day they informed their General, who said at once,“Is he not just a spy?”

  “No,” said they,“he is alone, just an old fisherman; and he says he is an adviser in the service of Wu named K’an Tse, and he has come on secret business.”

  “Bring him,” said Ts’ao Ts’ao and he was led in. Ts’ao was seated in a brilliantly lighted tent. He was leaning on a small table and as soon as he saw the prisoner, he said,“You are an adviser of Wu, what then are you doing here?”

  People say that you greedily welcome men of ability, I do not think your question a very proper one. Friend Huang, you made a mistake,” said K’an.

  “You know I am fighting against Wu and you come here privately. Why should I not question you?”

  “Huang Kai is an old servant of Wu, one who has served three successive rulers. Now he has been cruelly beaten, for no fault, before the face of all the officers in Chou Yu’s camp. He is grievously angry about this and wishes to desert to your side that he may be revenged. He discussed it with me, and as we are inseparable, I have come to give you his letter asking whether you would receive him.”

  “Where is the letter?” said Ts’ao.

  The missive was produced and presented. Ts’ao Ts’ao opened it and read:—“I, Huang Kai, have been generously treated by the Sun family and have served them single-heartedly. Lately they have been discussing an attack with our forces on the enormous army of the central government. As every one knows our few are no match for such a multitude and every officer of Wu, wise or foolish, recognises that quite well. However, Chou Yu who, after all, is but a youth and a shallow minded simpleton, maintain
s that success is possible and rashly desires to smash stones with an egg. Beside this he is arbitrary and tyrannical, punishing for no crime, and leaving meritorious service unrewarded. I am an old servant and for no reason have been shamed in the sight of men Wherefore I hate him in my heart.

  “You, O Minister, treat men with sincerity and are ready to welcome ability and so I, and those under my leadership, desire to enter your service whereby to acquire reputation and remove the shameful stigma. The commissariat, weapons and the supply ships will also come over to you. In perfect sincerity I state these matters, I pray you not to doubt me.”

  Leaning there on the low table by his side, Ts’ao turned this letter over and over and read it again and again. Then he smacked the table, opened his eyes wide with anger saying,“Huang Kai is trying to play the personal injury trick on me, is he? And you are in it as the intermediary to present the letter. How dare you come to sport with me?”

  He ordered the lictors to thrust forth the messenger and take off his head. K’an Tse was hustled out, his face untroubled. On the contrary, he laughed aloud. At this Ts’ao told them to bring him back and harshly said to him,“What do you find to laugh at now that I have foiled you and your ruse has failed?”

  “I was not laughing at you; I was laughing at my friend’s simplicity.”

  “What do you mean by his simplicity?”

  “If you want to slay, slay; do not trouble me with a multitude of questions.”

  “I have read all the books on the art of war and I am well versed in all ways of misleading the enemy. This ruse of yours might have succeeded with many, but it will not do for me.”

  “And so you say that the letter is a vicious trick?” said K’an.

  “What I say is that your little slip has sent you to the death your risked. If the thing was real and you were sincere, why does not the letter name a time? What have you to say to that?”

  K’an Tse waited to the end and then laughed louder than ever, saying,“I am so glad you are not frightened, but can still boast of your knowledge of the books of war. Now you will not lead away your soldiers. If you fight, Chou Yu will certainly capture you. But how sad to think I die at the hand of such an ignorant fellow!”