Romance of the Three Kingdoms II (29 page)

"I think of the plain and simple days of long ago when we pledged ourselves one to the other. Now I am Emperor. How I should rejoice to share my good fortune with them! But they have met violent deaths, and the sight of these two youths wrings my heart to the very core."

"Young gentlemen, please retire," said the officers to the two youthful captains, "and let our sacred one repose his 'dragon body.'"

They went. Said the attendants, "Your Majesty is no longer young; yon are over sixty, remember, and it is not fitting that you give way to such extreme sorrow."

"But my brothers,—dead," wailed the First Ruler. "How can I live without them?"

He broke into a fresh paroxysm and beat his head on the ground.

"What can be done?" asked the officers one to another. "He is in such trouble! How can we comfort him?"

Ma Lang said, "Sire, it is bad for the army to spend whole days in wailing and tears when leading against the enemy."

And then Ch'en Chen said, "There is a certain hermit living among the Ch'ingch'eng Hills, near Ch'engtu, who is said to be three hundred years old. He is called Li I and people say he is a seer. Let us tell His Majesty and let him send for this old man that he may know what the future may have in store. It will have more weight than anything we can say."

They went to the king and told him; he agreed to summon the seer and sent Ch'en Chen with the command. Soon the messenger reached the town near the hills and asked the people where the prophet dwelt. They led him far into a secluded valley like a fairy village, very unlike any ordinary spot. Soon a lad came to receive the visitor.

"You are surely Ch'en Hsiao-ch'i."

Ch'en Chen was startled that the lad knew him, and still more so at the familiar address, and said, "O superhuman boy, how do you know my name so well?"

"Last evening my master told me that a messenger with an imperial command would come today and mentioned your name."

"Truly he is more than wise," said Ch'en Chen; "and men have not believed him."

So the two proceeded to the old man's abode, and Ch'en declared his errand. The old man said he was too aged to travel.

"But the Emperor anxiously desires to see you face to face if haply you would not mind making the effort."

In the end, and after much persuasion, the old fellow consented and went. The First Ruler received him affably, surprised at the contrast between his hoary head and fresh boyish complexion. The venerable one had blue eyes, with square and sparkling pupils. His carriage was erect and he stood straight as a pine tree.

"This is no common man," thought he, and he treated him with distinguished courtesy.

The seer said, "I am but an old man of the barren hill country, without learning or wisdom; you shame me, O Emperor, by calling me, and I know not why."

"I and my two brothers, both now deceased, swore a mutual oath some thirty years ago. Both have gone, both by violent death. I would lead a great army to avenge them and wish to know how the expedition will end. Hearing that you, Venerable Sir, are learned in the deeper mysteries, I sent for you and beg you to tell me."

"But this is fate; it is not for an old man like me to know."

But the First Ruler pressed him to say. However, the aged one got paper and a brush and wrote, "Soldiers, horses, weapons" again and again on many sheets of paper. Having done this, he suddenly tore them into fragments. Further, he drew a picture of a tall man lying supine and another above him digging a grave. And over all he wrote, "white."

After this he bowed and departed, leaving the First Ruler annoyed.

"This is only a demented old man, what he says is not worthy of confidence," said the First Ruler. And he burned the paper.

Then he ordered an advance at full speed. Chang Fei's son, Pao, came in saying, "Wu Pan and his men have come; I pray that I may be appointed to lead the van."

The First Ruler admired his noble intent and gave him a van-leader's seal. But just as he was attaching the seal to his girdle another youth boldly stepped forth and said, "Leave that seal to me!"

It was Kuan Hsing, son of Kuan Yu.

"I have already received my commission," said Chang Pao.

"What abilities have you for such a task?" cried Hsing.

"That I have been training as a soldier since my boyhood. I can shoot and never miss."

"I should like to see your prowess," said the First Ruler, "that I may decide who is the better."

Chang Pao ordered some of his men to set up a flag at a hundred paces, and on the flag he drew a heart in red. Then he took his bow and shot three arrows, each of which went through the "heart". Those present commended the performance. Then Kuan Hsing seized his bow, saying, "What is it to hit such a mark?"

Just as he said this a flock of wild geese flew over his head. "1 will hit the third of the flying geese," said he.

He shot; and the third fell.

"Fine!" cried all the assembly as one voice.

But Chang Pao was enraged. Leaping on his steed he seized the long spear left him by his father, crying, "Dare you try a real combat?"

Kuan Hsing took up the challenge at once. He sprang into the saddle, took his father's great sword and galloped out.

"You can use the spear, think you that I cannot wield a sword?" cried he.

The two impetuous youths were on the point of a battle when the First Ruler bade them hold.

"Do not behave so badly!" cried he.

Both dropped out of the saddle, threw aside their weapons, ran to his feet and begged pardon.

"Young men, from the time I left my native place and swore brotherhood with your fathers they were as my own flesh and blood. You two are also brothers and you should help each other in vengeance rather than quarrel and dispute. You have lost the sense of rectitude while your fathers' deaths are still recent and what will happen in future?"

Both fell at his feet and implored forgiveness.

"Which of you two is the elder?" asked the First Ruler.

"I am the elder by a year," said Chang Pao.

The ruler then bade Kuan Hsing bow to Chang Pao as to an elder brother, and there, in front of all, they broke an arrow as a pledge that each would always succour the other.

Then the First Ruler issued a mandate appointing Wu Pan leader of the van, and the two young men were enrolled as his own escort.

The advance began on land and on water, and they made a brave show as they moved against the land of Wu

In the meantime the two assassins, with the grim evidence of their crime, duly reached Wu and told their story to the marquis who received them.

Then he said to his assembled officers, "Liu Pei has declared himself Emperor and is leading against us in person a great host. What shall we do, for the danger is imminent?"

They all turned pale and looked one at another. Then Chuko Chin spoke out.

"I have been in your service these many years and have never justified the favour you have shown me. I will risk my life and go to this Liu Pei of Shu that I may talk to him plainly and prove to him the advantages of friendship and alliance against Ts'ao P'ei."

This offer pleased Sun Ch'uan, who then appointed Chuko Chin as his messenger to try to induce the First Ruler to keep the peace.

Messengers pass when states are at wrangle;
May this one succeed and unravel this tangle!

What fortune attended this messenger will be related in the next chapter.

CHAPTER LXXXII
SUN CH'UAN SUBMITS TO WEI AND IS
REWARDED: THE FIRST RULER ATTACKS WU
AND REWARDS HIS ARMY

I
n
the eighth month of the year
Cbang-wu
(221 A.D.) the First Ruler marched at the head of his army and camped at Paitich'eng (City of the White Emperor) through the K'uei Pass. His advanced guard had reached Ch'uank'ou when his attendants told him that Chuko Chin had come as a messenger from Wu. He told them not to admit him. But Huang Ch'uan said, "His brother being your Prime Minister he is certainly come on some important mission. Your Majesty ought to see him and hear what he says. If his proposals are admissible, then agree; if not, he can be made use of to take knowledge of your intentions to Sun Ch'uan and let him know that you intend to punish his crime."

Then the First Ruler gave way, and the messenger was brought in. He bowed down to the earth.

"Sir, you have come a long journey; what is its object?" said the First Ruler.

"My brother has long served Your Majesty; I have come at the risk of my life to discuss Chingchou affairs. When Kuan the Noble was at Chingchou my master repeatedly sought to ally the two families by marriage, but was refused. When he attacked Hsiangyang, Ts'ao Ts'ao wrote again and again urging my master to attack Chingchou. But he was unwilling, and it was the enmity between your brother and Lu Meng that led to the attack and the unfortunate success. My master is now very sorry for it, but it was Lu Meng's doing. However, Lu Meng is now dead and his enmity has died with him. Moreover, the Lady Sun is always thinking over returning to you. My master now proposes to send back the lady, to hand over to you those officers who surrendered and to restore Chingchou. If the two houses swear perpetual amity then they may join forces against Ts'ao P'ei and punish his usurpation."

To this harangue the First Ruler only replied, "You of East Wu killed my brother; yet you dare to come with your artful talk!"

Chuko Chin said, "I only wish to discuss the relative importance of the issues. Your Majesty is an Imperial Uncle, and Ts'ao P'ei has seized the throne of your House. Yet you do not think of destroying the usurper, but on the other hand you disregard the most honourable position in the world for the sake of a so-called brother, a connection of another name. Surely this is rejecting the chief for the subordinate, the main issue for a detail. The country concerned is a part of the empire, and the two capitals, Loyang and Ch'angan, are both famous as places whence the two, one the founder, the other the restorer, of the Hans, initiated their mighty task. Your Majesty takes no thought of these, but would dispute over Chingchou; in other words, the important is adandoned for the worthless. All the world knows of your assumption of the dignity of Emperor and that you will assuredly restore the Hans and rescue their territory; only now you do not try to deal with Ts'ao, you only desire to attack Wu. I venture to think you have made a bad choice."

All this argument only added fuel to the fire.

"The slayer of my brother shall not live in the same world as I. You ask me not to fight. I will cease when I have slain your master. Were it not for the sake of your brother I would behead you at once. As it is, you may go; and you may tell your master to cleanse his neck ready for the blade of the executioner."

Chuko Chin saw that the position was hopeless and took his leave.

But while he had been absent, calumny had not been idle. Chang Chao, one day when he was with Sun Ch'uan, insinuated doubts of Chuko's honesty.

"He knows something of the strength of the armies of Shu, and he made this mission of his an excuse to get out of danger. He will not return."

The marquis replied, "I and he are sworn friends; friends to the death. I shall not wrong him nor will he betray me. When he was at Ch'aisang and his famous brother paid him a visit, I wanted my friend Chuko to persuade his brother to remain with me. His reply was that his brother would not remain any more than he himself would go: each would be faithful to his salt. That was quite clear enough. How could he desert me after that? Our friendship has
something of the divine in it, and no talk from outside can sow dissension between us."

Even as he spoke the servants told him that Chuko Chin had returned.

"What do you think now?" said Sun Ch'uan.

Chang Chao retired overwhelmed with shame The luckless messenger unfolded his tale of failure.

"Then the south is in great danger," said Sun Ch'uan, as he heard the story.

But a certain man here interposed saying he could find a way out of the difficulty. He was Chao Tsu.

"What good scheme do you propose, friend Chao?" said Sun Ch'uan.

"Let my lord draw up a document, which I will take to Ts'ao P'ei in Wei, making a full statement of the case, and get him to attack HanChung and so draw off the danger from our land."

"Though the suggestion is good, yet shall we not lose something of our dignity by that?" said Sun Ch'uan.

"If there is any such thing I will simply jump into the river: I could not look our people in the face again."

Sun Ch'uan was satisfied and composed the memorial, styling himself "Minister." Therein Chao was duly appointed messenger. He took the document and soon reached the capital, where he first sought out the
T'ai-yu,
Chia Hsu, and then saw certain others.

Soon after, Chia Hsu stood forth one day at court and said, "Eastern Wu has sent a high officer, Chao Tzu, with a memorial."

"Because he wants the Shu armies driven off," said Ts'ao P'ei smiling, and as if completing the sentence. But he summoned Chao, who, having prostrated himself in the outer court handed in his memorial. After reading it, P'ei said, "What sort of an over-lord is the marquis?"

"Intelligent, clear-sighted, wise, brave and perspicacious," was the reply.

P'ei laughed, "Your praise is none too enthusiastic."

"I do not wish to overstate," replied Chao Tzu; "but my master has shown various qualities at different times. He made use of Lu Su at all times, which shows he is intelligent. He chose Lu Meng as leader of an army, which showed his clear-sightedness. He captured Yu Chin but did not hurt him, which shows his kindliness. He took Chingchou without slaughter, which shows his wisdom. He maintains the three
Chiangs
so as to command the respect of the world, which shows his boldness. Lastly, he bows before Your Majesty, which shows his perspicacity. You see now that my epithets are justifiable."

"Is he at all learned?"

"Sire, remember he commands a large fleet and a huge army. He endeavours to find wise and capable men to heln him, and his mind is full of plans and projects. When he has a little leisure he reads the histories and the annals, for the sake of the general lessons to be learned therefrom. He is no dryas-dust pedant seeking remarkable passages and culling model sentences."

"Do you think I could overcome Wu?"

"If a large state has military force to attack, a small one has also preparations for defence."

"Does Wu fear me?"

"How can you think so, considering our army and the defensive moat we have in the river?"

"How many such persons as yourself does Wu possess?"

"Nearly a hundred, intelligent and specially qualified ministers like your servant; of 'one cart' or 'one bushel' capacity there are too many to reckon up."

Ts'ao P'ei sighed, saying, "You would do credit to your mission wherever you were sent. That is the sort of man you are."

Thereupon he issued the mandate ordering the
T'ai-cb'ang,
Hsing Chen, to be his ambassador to Sun Ch'uan, bearing for him the title of "Prince of Wu" and the "Nine Gifts."

But when the messenger had gone out of the city, Liu Yeh went to remonstrate, saying, "Sun Ch'uan has done this for fear of the armies of Shu. In my opinion, if Shu and Wu fight, heaven will make an end of him. If you will send an army across the river to attack, and Shu attack at the same time, Wu as a state will disappear. If Wu goes, then Shu will be left alone and can be dealt with when you will."

"But I cannot attack him now that he has come over to my side. It would prevent anyone else from doing so. No; I will really accept his submission. It is the best course."

Liu Yeh said, "After all, though talented, he is but
P'iao-chi Chiang-Chun
and a marquis of the decadent days of Han. His rank is low and his influence small, and he still fears the central government. If you promote him to princely rank he is only one step below yourself. While doubting the reality of his submission, you give him an exalted rank and increase his influence. Surely this is only giving wings to a tiger."

"Not at all; I am helping neither Wu nor Shu. I am waiting till they are at grips, and if one goes under there will be only one left to destroy. That will be easy. However, say no more, for I have decided."

Whereupon Hsing Chen was bidden to take the mandate with the "Gifts" and accompany Chao Tzu to Wu.

Sun Ch'uan assembled his officers to discuss how the armies of Shu could be driven off. Then came the news of princely rank conferred by Wei, and by the rules of courtesy the messenger bearing the edict should be met at a great distance from the capital. K.u Yung was opposed to accepting the rank.

"My lord, you should style yourself 'Superior
Chiang-Chun
and earl of this country; you should not receive any rank from Wei."

"But on one occasion Duke P'ei received rank from Hsiang Yu; it depends upon the times. Why refuse?"

He discussed the matter no more, but went out at the head of a great gathering of officers to welcome the messenger.

Hsing Chen, the bearer of the mandate from Wei, on first arrival comported himself haughtily as the representative of a superior country and an imperial ambassador. And when he entered the city he did not descend from his carriage. Wherefore Chang Chao ventured to rebuke him.

"Everyone must obey the rules of courtesy as everyone must respect the laws. You, Sir, are behaving proudly as if there was no such thing as a sword in the country."

Immediately the messenger descended from his chariot and was presented to Sun Ch'uan. Afterwards they went in side by side.

As the cavalcade proceeded, a loud voice was heard in the rear of the two carriages, crying, "Here we are prevented from risking our lives in smashing Wei and swallowing Shu; and our lord receives a title from another man. Are not such things shameful?"

The man was Hsu Sheng. And the messenger sighed, saying, "If all the leaders and ministers of Chiangtung are like this, the lord of the country will not long be content to obey another."

However, the title was accepted. And when he had received the felicitations of his officers, Sun gave orders to collect beautiful works in jade and brilliant pearls, which were sent as return gifts.

Not long after came tidings of the forces under the ruler of Shu. He led his own army and a large number of barbarians from the east and south,
Mankuo
and
Samoko,
and the Han Dynasty generals of Tunghsi. Tulu and Liu Ning, with their cohorts. They advanced both by land and by water, a mighty host, of which the shouting shook the heavens. The naval force had already come out at Wuk'ou and the land force had reached Tzukuei.

Although Sun Ch'uan had been created a prince, yet the King of Wei would not help him.

And when the news came he asked present advice from his officers, but there was none to help him; they only muttered and were silent.

"Ah!" sighed he. "After Chou Yu I had Lu Su, and Lu Meng succeeded him. But now they have all three gone and there's no one to share my troubles!"

But just then a very youthful captain stepped out from the ranks of the officials and said, with a lowly obeisance, "Though I am young I am not a little versed in the books of war, and with a few legions I could destroy the power of Shu."

Sun Ch'uan recognised Sun Huan, the son of Yu Ho. Sun Ch'uan loved the youth and gave him his own family name of Sun and so made him a member of his own clan. Yu Ho had four sons, of whom Sun Huan was the eldest. He was an expert archer and horseman and had accompanied his protector in several campaigns, where he had distinguished himself right well and had been given a rank. At this time he was twenty-five.

"How do you think you can overcome them?"

"There are two able captains under my command named Li I and Hsieh Ching, both very brave. With a few legions I will capture Liu Pei."

"Though you are brave, nephew, yet you are young and ought to have an assistant."

Thereupon the
Hu-wei Chiang-Chun,
Chu Jan, stepped forward with, "Let me go."

Sun Ch'uan consented, and he told off five legions of soldiers and marines, over whom he placed Sun Huan and Chu Jan as joint commanders. They were to start as soon as possible.

The scouts reported that the army of Shu was camped at Itu, and Sun Huan led half his men to the borders of that district and camped.

Now Wu Pan had received his seal as leader of the van. From the day he left the borders of Shuch'uan he had had uninterrupted success. Everyone had submitted at the mere rumour of his coming. He had conducted his campaign with unstained swords as far as Itu. When he heard that Sun Huan was camped there to oppose his progress he sent back rapid messengers to the First Ruler, who was then at Tzukuei. He was angry that so young a captain should be sent against him.