Romance of the Three Kingdoms II (80 page)

Ho replied, "There is a hindrance. I know not how fares our lord, whether he is in comfort or in misery. If his captors treat him generously, then will I yield. But perhaps they will put him to shame, and when his prince is shamed the minister dies."

So certain persons were sent to Loyang to find out how fared the late king.

Soon after Liu Ch'an reached the capital of Wei, Ssuma Chao returned. Seeing Liu Ch'an at court, he upbraided him, saying that he deserved death for his vicious courses, which had brought misfortune upon him. Hearing this, the face of the late king turned to the colour of clay with fear, and he was speechless.

But certain of the courtiers said, "He has lost his kingdom, he has surrendered without a struggle, and he now deserves pardon."

Liu Ch'an suffered no injury, but was created Duke of Anlo. Moreover, he was assigned a residence and a revenue, and he received presents of silk, and servants were sent to wait upon him, male and female. The officers of Shu, who had accompanied him into exile, were given ranks of nobility. But Huang Hao, whose evil influence had brought the kingdom to nought, and who had oppressed the people, was put to death with ignominy in the public place.

When Ho Ko heard all these things he came with his officers and yielded submission.

Liu Ch'an went to the residence of Ssuma Chao to thank him for his bounty, and a banquet was prepared. At the banquet they performed the music of Wei, with the dances, and the hearts of the men of Shu were sad; only Liu Ch'an appeared merry. Half way through the feast, Ssuma said to Chia Ch'ung, "The man lacks feeling, that is what has ruined him. Even if Chuko Liang had lived, he could not have maintained such a man. It is not wonderful that Chiang Wei failed."

Turning to his guest, Ssuma said, "Do you never think of Shu?"

"With such music as this I forget Shu," replied Liu Ch'an.

Presently Liu Ch'an rose and left the table. Ch'i Cheng went over to him and said, "If you are questioned again, weep and say that in Shu are the tombs of your forefathers and no day passes that you do not grieve to be so far away. The duke may let you return."

The late king promised he would. When the wine had gone round several more times Ssuma put the same question a second time; the king replied as he had been told. He also tried to weep, but failed to shed a tear. So he shut his eyes.

"Is not that just what Ch'i Cheng told you to say?" asked his host.

"It is just as you say," was the reply.

They all laughed. But really Ssuma was pleased with the frank answer and felt that nothing was to be feared from him.

Laughter loving, pleasure pursuing,
Rippling smiles o'er a merry face,

Never a thought of his former glory
In his callous heart finds place.

Childish joy in a change of dwelling,
That he feels, and that alone;

Manifest now that he was never
Worthy to sit on his father's throne.

The courtiers thought that so grand an exploit as the conquest of the west was worthy of high honour, so they memorialised the King of Wei to confer princedom on Ssuma Chao. At that time, Ts'ao Huan ruled in name only, for he had no authority. The whole land was under Ssuma, whose will the king himself dared not cross. And so, in due course, the duke became Prince of Chin. To match the new honour to the son, his father, Ssuma I, was posthumously created Prince Hsuan and his late elder brother Prince Ching.

The wife of Ssuma Chao was the daughter of Wang Su. She bore to him two sons, the elder of whom was named Yen. Yen was huge of frame, his flowing hair reached to the ground when he stood up, and both hands hung down below his knees. He was clever, brave and skilled in the use of arms.

The second son, Yu, was mild of disposition, a filial son and a dutiful brother. His father loved him dearly. As Ssuma Shih had died without leaving sons, this youth, Yu, was regarded as his son, to continue that line of the family. Ssuma Chao used to say that the empire was really his brother's.

Becoming a prince, it was necessary for Ssuma Chao to choose his heir, and he wished to name his younger son. Shan T'ao remonstrated.

"It is improper and infelicitous to prefer the younger," said Shan, and Chia Ch'ung followed in the same strain.

"The elder is clever, able in war, one of the most talented men in the state and popular. With such natural advantages he has a great destiny; and was not born to serve."

Ssuma hesitated, for he was still unwilling to abandon his desire. But two other officers of rank also remonstrated, saying, "Certain former dynasties have preferred the younger before the elder and rebellion has generally followed. We pray you reflect upon these cases."

Finally Ssuma Chao yielded and named his son Yen as his successor.

Certain officers memorialised that a gigantic figure of a man had descended from heaven in Hsiangwuhsien. They gave his height as twenty feet and said that his foot-print measured over three feet two inches. He had white hair and a hoary beard. He wore an unlined yellow robe and a yellow cape. He walked leaning on a black-handled staff.

This extraordinary man preached, saying, "I am the king of men now come to tell you of a change of ruler and the coming of peace."

He wandered about for three days and then disappeared.

They continued, "Evidently this portent refers to yourself, Noble Sir, and now you should assume the imperial head-dress with twelve strings of pearls, set up the imperial standard and have the roads cleared when you make a progress. You should ride in the golden-shafted carriage with six coursers. Your Consort should be styled 'Empress' and your heir the 'Heir Apparent.'"

Ssuma Chao was greatly pleased. He returned to his palace, but just as he was sitting down he was suddenly seized with paralysis and lost the use of his tongue. He quickly grew worse. His three chief confidants, Wang Hsiang, Ho Tseng and Hsun I, together with many court officials, came to enquire after his health, but he could not speak to them. He pointed toward the heir apparent, Ssuma Yen, and died. It was the
hsin-mao
day of the eighth month.

Then said Ho Tseng, "The care of the empire devolves upon the Prince of Chin; let us induct the heir. Then we can perform the sacrifices to the late prince."

Thereupon Ssuma Yen was set up in his fathers place. He gave Ho the title of Prime Minister and conferred many other titles and ranks. The posthumous title of "Prince Wen" was conferred upon his late father.

When the obsequies were finished, Ssuma Yen summoned Chia Ch'ung and P'ei Hsiu into the palace, and said, "Ts'ao Ts'ao said that if the celestial mandate rested upon him he could be such as was King Wen of Chou; is this really so?"

Chia replied, "Ts'ao Ts'ao was in the service of Han and feared lest posterity should reproach him with usurpation. Wherefore he spoke thus. Nevertheless he cause Ts'ao P'ei to become Emperor."

"How did my father compare with Ts'ao Ts'ao?" asked Ssuma Yen.

"Although Ts'ao was universally successful, yet the people feared him and credited him with no virtue. His son differed from him greatly, and his rule was marked by strife and lack of tranquillity. No single year was peaceful. Later Prince Hsuan and Prince Ching of your line rendered great services and disseminated compassion and virtue, so that they were beloved. Your late father overcame Shu in the west and was universally renowned. Comparison with Ts'ao is impossible."

"Still Ts'ao P'ei continued the rule of Han
_;
can I not in like manner continue that of Wei?"

The two counsellors bowed low and said, "Ts'ao P'ei's action may be taken as a precedent to continue an older dynasty. Wherefore prepare a terrace to make the great declaration.

Ssuma Yen resolved to act promptly. Next day he entered the palace armed with a sword. No Court had been held for many days, for Ts'ao Huan was ill at ease and full of dread. When Yen appeared, the king left his place and advanced to met him. Ssuma Yen sat down.

"By whose merits did Wei succeed to empire?" he asked suddenly.

"Certainly success was due to your forefathers," replied the king.

Yen smiled, saying, "Your Majesty is unskilled in debate, inept in war and unfit to rule. Why not give place to another more able and virtuous?"

The king's lips refused a reply. But one of the ministers cried, "You are wrong to speak thus, O Prince. His Majesty's ancestor conquered east and west, north and south, and won the empire by strenuous effort. The present Emperor is virtuous and without fault. Why should he yield place to another?"

Ssuma Yen replied angrily, "The imperial right lay with the Hans, and Ts'ao Ts'ao coerced them as he did the nobles. In making himself the King of Wei he usurped the throne of Han. Three generations of my forefathers upheld the House of Wei, so that their power is not the result of their own abilities, but of the labour of my house. This is known to all the world, and am I not equal to carrying on the rule of Wei?"

"If you do this thing you will be a rebel and an usurper," said Chang Chieh.

"And what shall I be if I avenge the wrongs of Han?"

He bade the lictors take Chang outside and beat him to death, while the king wept and besought pardon for his faithful counsellor.

Ssuma rose and left. The king turned to Chia Ch'ung and P'ei Hsiu, saying, What should I do? Some decision must be taken."

They replied, "Truth to tell, the measure of your fate is accomplished and you cannot oppose the will of Heaven. You must prepare to abdicate as did Hsien of the Hans. Resign the throne to the prince and thereby accord with the design of Heaven and the will of the people. Your personal safety need not cause you anxiety."

Huan could only accept this advice, and the terrace was built. The day
cbia-tzu
of the twelfth month was chosen for the ceremony. On that day the king, dressed in full robes of ceremony, and bearing the seal in his hand, ascended the terrace in the presence of a great assembly.

The House of Wei displaced the House of Han
And Chin succeeded Wei; so turns fate's wheel
And none escape its grinding. Chang the true
Stood in the way and died. We pity him.
Vain hope with one small hand to hide Mount T'ai!

The Emperor-elect was requested to ascend the high place, and there received the great salute. Huan then descended, robed himself as a duke and took his place as the first of subjects.

Ssuma Yen now stood upon the terrace, supported by Chia and P'ei. Ts'ao Huan was ordered to prostrate himself, while the command was recited, and Chia Chung read:—

"Forty-five years have elapsed since, in the twenty-fifth year of
Cbien-An,
the House of Han gave place to the House of Wei. But the favour of Heaven has now left the latter House and reverts to Chin. The merits and services of the family of Ssuma reach to the high heavens and pervade the earth. The Prince of Chin is fitted for the high office and to continue the rule. Now His Majesty the Emperor confers upon you the title of Prince Ch'enliu; you are to proceed to ChinchingChung, where you will reside; you are forbidden to come to Court unless summoned."

Sadly Ts'ao Huan withdrew. The
Tai-fu
Ssuma Fu wept before the deposed king and promised eternal devotion. "
I
have been a servant of Wei and will never turn my back upon the House," said he.

Ssuma Yen did not take this amiss, but offered him a princedom. He declined the offer.

The new Emperor was now seated in his place, and all the officers made their salutations and felicitated him. The very hills rang with
"Wan sbui! O
ing, live for ever!"

Thus succeeded Ssuma Yen, and the state was called Ta Chin and a new year-style was chosen,
T'ai-Shih,
or the
"Great Beginning."
An amnesty was declared.

The kingdom of Wei had ended.

The Founder of the Dynasty of Chin
Took Wei as model; thus the displaced king
Was named a prince, when on the terrace high
His throne he had renounced.
We grieve when we recall these deeds.

The new Emperor conferred posthumous rank upon his late father, Ssuma
I
, his uncle and his grandfather. He built seven temples in honour of his ancestors, dedicated to Ssuma Chun, Ssuma Liang, Ssuma Chien, Ssuma Fang, Ssuma I, Ssuma Shih and Ssuma Chao. All these, except his uncle, were in his own direct line of ancestry.

All these things being accomplished, Courts were held daily, and the one subject of discussion was the subjugation of Wu.

The House of Han has gone for aye,
And Wu will quickly follow.

The story of the attack upon Wu will be told next.

CHAPTER CXX
A VETERAN OFFERS NEW PLANS:
SUN HAO SURRENDERS AND THE THREE
STATES RE-UNITE

H
hen
the King of Wu knew that the House of Wei had fallen before the Chins he also knew that the usurper's next thought would be the conquest of his own land. The anxiety made him ill, so that he took to his bed and was like to die. He then summoned to his bedside Puyang Hsing, his First Minister, and his heir Sun Ling. But they two came almost too late. The dying ruler, with his last effort, took the minister by the hand, but could only point to his son. Then he died.

Puyang left the couch and called a meeting of the officers, whereat he proposed to place the heir on his father's throne. Then one Wan Yu rose and said the young prince was too youthful to rule in such troublous times, and he suggested instead Sun Hao, who stood in the direct line from Sun Ch'uan. He was then Marquis of Wuch'eng. The General Chang Pu supported his election, saying he was able and prompt in decision. However, Puyang was doubtful and consulted the Empress Dowager.

"Settle this with the nobles," she replied; "I am a widow and know nothing of such matters."

Finally Sun Hao won the day, and in the seventh month he was enthroned as Emperor in Wu, and the first year of his reign was
Yuan-Hsing
(264
A.D.).
The excluded prince was consoled with the title of Prince Yuchang. Posthumous rank was given to the late Emperor's father and mother. The veteran leader Ting Feng was made Minister of War.

However, the year-style was changed to
Kan-Lu
the very next year.

The new ruler soon proved himself cruel and oppressive and day by day grew more so. He indulged in every form of vice and chose an eunuch as his confidant and favourite. When the Prime Minister and Chang Pu ventured upon remonstrance, both, with all their family, were put to death. Thereafter none dared to speak; the mouth of every courtier was "sewn up."

Another year-style,
Pao-Ting,
was adopted the next year, and the responsibility of the Prime Minister's office was shared by two officers, "the left" and "the right."

At this time the imperial residence was in Wuch'ang. The people of Yangchow refused tribute and suffered exceedingly. There was no limit to the ruler's extravagance; the treasury was swept clean and the income of the royal domain exhausted.

At length Lu K'ai, "left," or senior, Prime Minister, ventured a memorial, saying, "No natural calamity has fallen upon the people, yet they starve; no public work is in progress, yet the treasury is empty. I am distressed. The country under the Hans has fallen apart and three states have arisen therefrom. Those ruled by the Ts'aos and the Lius, as the result of their own folly, have been lost in Chin. Foolish I may be, but I would protect the state for Your Majesty against the evils we have seen in the other divisions. This city of Wuch'ang is not safe as a royal residence. There is a rhyme concerning it, the gist of which is that it is better to drink the water of Chienyeh than eat the fish of Wuch'ang, better to die in Chienyeh than to live in Wuch'ang. This shows the regard of the people as well as the will of Heaven. Now the public storehouses are nearly empty; they contain insufficient for a year's use. The officers of all grades vex and distress the people and none pity them.

"In former times the palace women numbered less than a hundred; for years past they have exceeded a thousand. This is an extravagant waste of treasure. The courtiers render no disinterested service, but are split into cliques and cabals. The honest are injured and the good driven away. All these things undermine the state and weaken the people. I beg Your Majesty to reduce the number of officers and remove grievances, to dismiss the palace women and select honest officers, to the joy of the people and the tranquillity of the state."

But the king was displeased, and showed his contempt for the minister's remonstrance by beginning to collect material for the building of a new palace to be called the "Chaoming Palace." He even made the officers of the court go into the forest to fell trees for the work.

The king called in the soothsayer Shang Kuang and bade him take the
sortes
and enquire as to the attainment of empire. The soothsayer replied that all was propitious and in the year
keng-tzu
a black umbrella would enter Loyang. And the king was pleased.

He said to Hua Fu, "The former rulers listened to your words and sent captains to various points and placed defensive camps along the rivers. And over all these was set Ting Feng. Now my desire is to conquer Han and avenge the wrongs of my brother, the ruler of Shu. What place should be first conquered?"

Hua Fu replied, "Now that Ch'engtu has fallen and the Throne there been overturned, Ssuma Yen will assuredly desire to absorb this land. Your Majesty should display virtue and restore confidence to your people. That would be the best plan. If you engage in war it will be like throwing on hemp to put out a fire; the hemp only adds to the blaze. This is worthy of careful consideration."

But Sun Hao grew angry and said, "I desire to take this opportunity to return to my real heritage. Why do you employ this ill-omened language? Were it not for your long service, now would I slay you and expose your head as a warning."

He bade the lictors hustle the faithful minister from his presence, and Hua Fu left the court.

"It is pitiful," said he, "Ere long our beautiful country will pass to another."

So he retired. And the king ordered Lu K'ang, "Guardian of the East," to camp his army at Chiangk'ou in order to attack Hsiangyang.

Spies reported this in Loyang and it was told the King of Wei. When he heard that the army of Wu threatened to invade Hsiangyang he called a council, and Chia Ch'ung stood forth, saying, "I hear the government of Wu, under its present king, is devoid of virtue and the king has turned aside out of the road. Your Majesty should send Yang Hu to oppose this army, and when internal trouble shall arise let him attack, and victory will then be easy."

The king issued an edict ordering Yang Hu to prepare, and so he mustered his men and set himself to guard the district.

Yang was very popular. Any of the men of Wu who desired to desert to the other side were allowed to come over. He employed only the fewest possible men on patrol duty. Instead he set his men to till the soil, and they cultivated an extensive area, whereby the hundred days' supplies with which they set out were soon increased to enough for ten years.

Yang maintained great simplicity, wearing the lightest of garments and no armour. His personal escort numbered only about a score.

One day his officers came to his tent to say that the spies reported great laxity in the enemy's camp, and they wished to attack.

But Yang replied, "You must not depise Lu K'ang, for he is able and crafty. Formerly his master sent him to attack Hsiling, and he slew Pu Shan and many of his captains. I could not save them. So long as he remains in command I shall remain on the defensive. I shall not attack till there be trouble and confusion among our enemies. To be rash and not await the proper moment to attack is to invite defeat."

They found him wise and said no more. They only kept the boundaries. One day Yang and his officers went out to hunt, and it happened that Lu had chosen the same day to hunt. Yang gave strict orders not to cross the boundary, and so each hunted only on his own side. Lu was astonished at the enemy's scrupulous propriety. In the evening, after both parties had returned, Yang ordered an inspection of the slaughtered game and sent over to the other side any that seemed to have been first struck by the men of Wu.

Lu K'ang was greatly pleased and sent for the bearers of the game. "Does your leader drink wine?" asked he.

They replied, "Only on ceremonial occasions does he drink."

"I have some very old wine," replied Lu, smiling, "and I will give of it to you to bear to your general as a gift. It is the wine I myself drink on ceremonial occasions, and he shall have half in return for today's courtesy."

They took the wine and left.

"Why do you give him wine?" asked Lu's officers.

"Because he has shown kindness, and I must return courtesy for courtesy."

When the gift of wine arrived and the bearers told Yang the story of their reception he laughed.

"So he knows I can drink," said he.

He had the jar opened, and the wine was poured out. One of his captains begged him to drink moderately lest there should be some harm come of it.

"Lu K'ang is no poisoner," replied the general.

And he drank. The friendly intercourse thus begun continued, and messengers frequently passed from one camp to the other.

One day the messengers said that Lu K'ang was unwell and had been ailing for several days.

"I think he suffers from the same complaint as I," said Yang, "I have some remedies ready prepared and will send him some."

The drugs were taken over to the other camp. But the sick man's officers were suspicious and said, "This medicine is surely harmful; it comes
from
the enemy."

Lu K'ang cried, "What! Think you that old Uncle Yang would poison a man? Do not doubt."

He drank the decoction. Next day he was much better, and when his staff came to congratulate him he said, "If he takes his stand upon virtue and we take ours upon violence, he will drag us after him without fighting. See to it that the boundaries be well kept and that we seek not to gain any unfair advantage.

Soon after came a special envoy from the King of Wu to urge upon his general prompt activity.

"Our Emperor sends orders for you to press forward," said the envoy. "You are not to await invasion."

"You may return and I will send up a memorial," replied the leader.

So a memorial was written and soon followed the envoy to Chienyeh. When the king read it he found therein many arguments against attacking Chin and exhortations to exercise a virtuous rule instead of engaging in hostilities. It angered him.

"They say he has come to an understanding with the enemy, and now I believe it," said the king.

Thereupon he deprived Lu of his command and took away his commission and degraded him in rank. Another general, Sun Chi, was sent to supersede Lu. And none dared to intervene.

King Hao became still more arbitrary and of his own will changed the year-style once more. Day by day his life became more wanton and vicious.

The soldiers in every camp murmured with anger and resentment, and at last three high officers, led by the senior Prime Minister, boldly and earnestly remonstrated with the king for his many irregularities. They suffered death. Within ten years more than two score ministers were put to death for doing their duty.

King Hao maintained an extravagantly large guard of five legions of heavy cavalry, and these men were the terror of everyone.

Now when Yang Hu, on the Chin side of the frontier, heard that his opponent had been removed from his command and that the conduct of the king had become wholly unreasonable he knew that the time was near for him to overcome Wu. Wherefore he presented a memorial.

"Although fate is superior to man, yet success depends upon human effort. Now as the danger of Chiang and Huai are not as those of Chienko, while the ferocity of Sun Hao exceeds that of Liu Ch an, the misery of the men of Wu exceeds that of the dwellers in the west. Our armies are stronger than ever before, and if we miss this opportunity to bring the whole land under one rule, but continue to weary our men with continual watching and cause the world to groan under the burden of militarism, then our efficiency will decline and we shall not endure."

When Ssuma Yen read this he gave orders for the army to move. But three officers, led by Chia Ch'ung, opposed it, and the orders were withdrawn. Yang Hu was disappointed and said, "What a pity it is that of ten possible vexations one always meets with eight or nine!"

In the fourth year of the period Yang Hu went to court and asked leave to retire on account of ill health. Before granting him leave to go, the king asked him what means he would propose to settle the state.

He replied? "Sun Hao is a very cruel ruler and could be conquered without fighting. If he were to die and a wise successor sat upon his throne, Your Majesty would never be able to gain possession of Wu."

"Suppose your army attacked now, what then?" asked the king.

"I am now too old and too ill for the task," replied Yang. "Some other bold and capable leader must be found."

He left the court and retired to his home. Toward the end of the year he was nigh unto death, and the king went to visit him. The sight of his king at his bedside brought tears to" the eyes of the faithful old soldier. "If I died a myriad times, I could never requite Your Majesty," said he.

The king also wept, saying, "My great grief is that I could not take advantage of your abilities to attack Wu. Who now is there to carry out your design?"

Hesitatingly the sick man replied, "I am dying and must be wholly sincere. The General Tu Yu is equal to the task, and is the one man to attack Wu."

The King said, "How beautiful it is to bring good men into prominence! But why did you write a memorial recommending certain men and then burn the draft so that no one knew?"