Romance of the Three Kingdoms II (16 page)

"Why did you attack without orders and bring about this defeat?"

"It was the fault of Jen K'uei, who disobeyed orders."

"Defend most carefully; do not engage," said Ma Ch'ao.

Ma Ch'ao sent a report to Ch'engtu and awaited orders for a further action. Ts'ao Hung suspected some ruse when Ma Ch'ao remained so long inactive, and retired to NanChun. Here he was visited by Chang Ho, who asked why he had retired after the successful attack and slaughter of one of the enemy leaders.

"Seeing that Ma Ch'ao declined to come out to fight I suspected some ruse," replied he. "Beside, when I was at Yehtu that wonderful soothsayer, Kuan Lu, foretold the loss of a leader here. I heeded what he said and so was careful."

Chang Ho laughed, "You have been a leader of soldiers for half your life and yet you heed the sayings of a soothsayer! I may be of small wit, but I would take Pahsi with my own troop, and the possession of Pahsi would be the key to the whole of Shu."

"The defender of Pahsi is Chang Fei," said Ts'ao Hung. "He is no ordinary man to meet. One must be careful."

"All of you fear this Chang Fei, but I do not; I look upon him as a mere nobody. I shall have to capture him this time." But if you fail, what then?"

"Then I shall be content to pay the penalty according to military rules."

Ts'ao Hung made him put his undertaking in writing, and then Chang Ho marched to the attack.

The proud are often defeated,
Lightsome attacks oft fail.

The following chapter will tell how Chang Ho fared.

CHAPTER LXX
FIERCE CHANG FEI TAKES A POSITION
BY GUILE: AGED HUANG ChunG CAPTURES A
HILLY BY STRATAGEM

C
hang
Ho's army, with which he felt so sure of victory consisted of three legions, and they were in three camps protected by some hills. They were named "Yench'u Camp," "Mengt'ou Camp" and "Tangshih Camp." When he marched he left half the men in each camp as defenders.

The news soon reached Pahsi, and Chang Fei called in his colleague Lei Tung to give his opinion. Lei said, "The country is bad and the hills full of danger in LangChung; let us lay an ambush. You, O General, go out to give battle and I will help you by some sudden and unexpected attack. We ought to get Chang Ho."

Whereupon Chang Fei gave half a legion to Lei Tung and himself led out a legion to a point thirty
li
from LangChung Having set them in order, he rode out and challenged Chang Ho to single combat. Chang galloped out to meet him.

After the thirtieth or so bout Chang Ho's men suddenly began to shout and soon showed signs of confusion. The reason was the appearance of the banners of Shu from the cover of some hills. Chang Ho dared not continue to fight after this, and he fled. Chang Fei pursued him. Lei Tung also appeared in his road and attacked, and so, with enemies on both sides, Chang Ho lost the day. Both Chang Fei and Lei Tung continued to smite him, even into the night, till he got back to his camp at Yench'u Hill.

Chang Ho reverted to his old plan of defending the three camps, rolling down logs and hurling stones. But he remained behind his defences. Chang Fei made a camp ten
li
off.

Next day he went forth and offered battle, but Chang Ho took no notice. He ascended to the summit of the hill and drank wine to the accompaniment of trumpets and drums, but he would not fight.

Chang Fei bade his soldiers shout insults but these had no effect. Lei T'ung was sent up the hill, but the rolling logs and hurtling stones forced him to retire. Then the men of the other two camps came out to the attack and Lei was discomfited.

Next day Chang Fei again offered battle, but there was no response. Again the soldiers yelled every form of insult, but Chang Ho from the hill top only replied by similar abuse. Chang Fei was at his wits' ends; and this game was played for more than fifty days.

Then Chang Fei made a strong stockade just in front of the hill, and therein he sat day after day drinking till he became half drunk. And when he was so, he reviled his opponent.

About this time Liu Pei sent gifts to the army, and when the messenger went back he told Liu that his brother was giving himself over to wine. This made Liu Pei anxious, so he lost no time in asking advice from K'ung-ming.

K'ung-ming was jocular, saying, "Since that is so let us send him fifty vessels of the best brew of Ch'engtu. He probably has but poor stuff in the camp."

"But he has always had a weakness for wine, and he has failed because of it. Yet you would encourage him to drink by sending him more wine?"

"My lord, is it that you do not understand your brother even after all these years? He is brave and steady, yet when we first invaded Shu he released Yen Yen, which was not what a mere bravo would have done. He is face to face with Chang Ho, and has been for nearly two months, and day after day he drinks and rages and insults his enemy openly. He treats him with most perfect contempt. But this is not only the wine-cup; it is a deep plan to get the better of Chang Ho."

"This may be so," replied Liu Pei, "but let us not rely upon it too much. Let Wei Yen go to help him."

K'ung-ming sent Wei Yen with the wine, and the carts set out, each flying a yellow flag with a writing in large characters that it was fine wine for the general use of the army in the field.

When Wei Yen reached the army he handed over the wine, which he said was a gift from the lord of Shu. And Chang Fei received it with due respect.

He told Wei Yen and Lei T'ung each to take a company and move out on the two wings, ready to act when they saw a red flag displayed. And then he had the wine laid out and called up some soldiers to drink with a great display of flags and a rolling of drums.

The spies reported all these doings on the hill-top, and Chang Ho came out to look for himself. There he saw his opponent drinking, and two of the soldiers were boxing before him for his amusement.

"He despises me too much," said Chang Ho, and he gave orders to prepare for a night attack on the enemy camp. His own men should do the raiding and the other two camps were to support them.

There was little moon that night, and Chang Ho took advantage of the obscurity to steal down the side of the hill. He got quite close to the enemy camp and stood for a time looking at Chang Fei sitting amid a blaze of lamps and drinking. Suddenly he dashed forward with a yell, and at the same moment his drums on the hill-top rolled out their defiance. Chang Fei never stirred. Chang Ho rushed at him and delivered a mighty thrust with his spear. Chang Fei toppled over—it was a Chang Fei of straw. Ho checked and turned his steed. At that moment he heard a string of detonations and a warrior appeared before him barring his way. It was the real Chang Fei, as the round head and thundering voice speedily made manifest.

With spear set, he rode toward Chang Ho. The two warriors fought many bouts under the gleaming lights. No help came to Chang Ho. In vain he yearned for the assistance which the two camps were to bring him. How could he know that his reinforcements had been driven back by Wei Yen and Lei T'ung? And that the two camps were now in possession of his enemies? As the help did not come he was powerless; and, to add to his discomfiture, the glare of fire out on the hill told him of the seizure of his third camp. Nothing could be done, and he fled to Wak'ou Pass. The victory was all to Chang Fei.

The news of the success delighted Liu Pei, and he knew then that Chang Fei's drinking had been part of a stratagem to entice his enemy into the open and defeat him.

Chang Ho reached the Pass, but with the loss of more than half his army. He stood on defence and sent urgent messages to his colleague to come to his rescue.

Ts'ao Hung angrily replied, "He disobeyed my orders and marched, he has lost an important point and now he sends to me for help."

While refusing aid, he sent to urge his colleague to go out and fight. But Chang Ho too greatly feared. At length he decided upon a plan of action. He sent out two parties into ambush and said to them, "I will pretend defeat and fly. They will follow and you can cut off their retreat."

When he did march out he met Lei Tung. The two engaged in battle and Chang presently ran away. Lei pursued and fell into the ambush. Then Chang Ho returned and slew Lei Tung. His men went back and told Chang Fei, who came up to provoke another fight. Chang Ho again tried his stratagem but Chang Fei did not pursue. Again and again the ruse was tried, but Chang Fei knew it was only a ruse and simply retired to his own camp.

He said to Wei Yen, "Chang Ho has compassed the death of Lei Tung by leading him into an ambush, and he wants to inveigle me into another. What say you to meeting trick with trick?"

"But how?" said Wei Yen.

"Tomorrow I will lead the army forward, you following me with some reliable soldiers. When his men come out from their ambush you can smite them, sending half your men against each party. We will secretly fill the by-roads with loads of combustibles, entice the enemy among them and start a fire. In the confusion I shall try to capture Chang Ho. So will we avenge our comrade's death."

So Chang Fei went out, and Chang Ho's men came and began to fight. After a half score bouts, Chang Ho ran away, and this time Chang Fei pursued. Ho, now fleeing, now stopping to exchange a blow or two, led Fei through the hills to a valley. Here, suddenly changing front, he halted, made a camp and offered battle.

It was now the time when he expected his hidden men to appear and surround Chang Fei. But none appeared. He knew not that his ambush had been broken up by Wei Yen's brave men and driven into the valley where the road was filled with cart-loads of combustibles, and that the valley even then was all aflame.

Then Chang Fei came to the attack, and the rout was complete. Chang Ho, fighting desperately, got through to the Wak'ou Pass and there mustered the remnant of his men. He strengthened the position and remained behind his ramparts.

Chang Fei and Wei Yen then tried to take the Pass, but day after day they failed. Chang Fei, seeing no hope of success, retired twenty
li
and bivouacked. From this point he sent out scouts under Wei Yen to explore the country. While going along they observed some burden-bearers, men and women, going up a very retired path, pulling down the creepers and pushing aside the grasses.

"That is the way to take Wak'ou Pass," cried Chang Fei, pointing with his whip to the wayfarers.

He ordered his soldiers not to scare the people, but to call a few gently and bring them to him. They soon had several standing before their leader, who spoke to them kindly and put them at ease.

"Whence come you?" asked Fei.

"We belong to HanChung and are going home. We heard that you were out fighting and the high road to LangChung was blockaded, and so we have come across the Ts'angchi Torrent and Tzuchang Mountain and down Kueichin River We are going to our homes in HanChung."

"Can one reach Wak'ou Pass by this road? And how far is it?"

The country people replied, "A small road leads past to the rear of the Pass from Tzuchang Mountain."

For this piece of information Chang Fei rewarded them by taking them into his camp and giving them a good meal, and he sent off Wei Yen to make a frontal attack on the Pass while he himself with some light horse attacked it from the rear by way of Tzuchang Mount.

Chang Ho was grieved and disappointed that his colleague sent no help, and the news of Wei Yen's attack only added to his sorrow. But he girded on his armour and was about to ride out when they told him that fires had started at half a dozen places behind the Pass. They most likely indicated soldiers. However, he went out to meet them, and, to his horror, when the flags opened out, his eyes fell on the figure of Chang Fei. Away he ran along a by-road.

But his steed was not fast, and as Chang Fei pressed him close, Chang Ho dismounted and ran up the mountain side. So he saved his life. He had, however, very few followers, and it was a small and dejected party that presently found its way into Nanch'eng. He saw Ts'ao Hung, and Ts'ao was very angry at his plight.

"
I
told you not to go, but you were wilful. And you gave in your written pledge. You have lost all your men, yet you do not commit suicide. What will you do next?"

Ts'ao Hung ordered the lictors to put him to death. But the Commissary General interceded.

"An army is easily raised; a leader is hard to find. Though Chang Ho is guilt, he is a great favourite with our prince. I think you should spare him. Rather give him command of another army and send him to take Chiaming Pass and so hold up the soldiers at all the stations. HanChung will be tranquil of its own accord. If he fail a second time you can punish him for both faults."

Ts'ao Hung was satisfied to do this, and instead of dealing with his fault gave Chang Ho half a legion and told him to take the Pass.

The captains of the Pass he was to capture were Meng Ta and Ho Hsun. They were at variance—the former desiring to go out to meet Chang Ho, the letter being in favour of defence. Meng Ta being set on having his way went out, gave battle and was defeated. Ho Hsun reported this to the capital, where Yuan-te at once called in the Commander-in-chief to ask advice. K'ung-ming assembled all the chief captains into the hall.

"Chiaming Pass is in danger; we must get Chang Fei from LangChung to drive off Chang Ho," said he.

Fa Cheng replied, "Chang Fei is encamped at Wak'ou, and LangChung is no less important than Chiaming. I do not think he should be recalled. Choose one among the captains to go and defeat Chang Ho."

K'ung-ming laughed, "Chang Ho is renowned in Wei; no ordinary leader will avail. Chang Fei is the only man to send, the only one equal to the task."

Then among the captains one started up crying angrily, "O Commander, why do you thus despise us? I will use what little skill I have in slaying our enemy and I will lay his head at the foot of our standard."

The speaker was the veteran Huang Chung, and all eyes centred on him.

"Friend Huang, you are bold enough, but what about your age? I fear you are no match for Chang Ho."

Huang Chung's white beard bristled, and he said, "I know I am old. But these two arms can still pull the three hundred catty bow, and the vigour of my body is not yet departed. Am I not strong enough to meet such a poor thing as Chang Ho?"

"General, you are nearly seventy; can you still hold you are not aged?"

Huang tore down the hall. Seizing one of the great swords off the rack he whirled it as if it flew. And the stiffest bow that hung on the wall he pulled till it snapped.

"Well, if you will go, who will second you?" said K'ung-ming.

"I would prefer Yen Yen. And if there is the least anxiety,—well, here is this hoary head."

Yuan-te was pleased to let these two go to fight Chang Ho. However, Chao Yun put in a protest.