THE PREFECT TʻAO THRICE OFFERS HIS CHARGE:
TSʻAO TSʻAO FIGHTS A GREAT BATTLE.
The last chapter closed with Tsʻao Tsʻao in great danger. However, help
came. Hsiahou Tun with a small body of soldiers found his chief,
checked the pursuit, and fought with Lü Pu till dusk. Rain fell in
torrents swamping everything and as the daylight waned they drew off
and Tsʻao Tsʻao reached camp. He rewarded Tien Wei richly and advanced
him in rank.
When Lü Pu reached his camp he called in his adviser Chʻên Kung. The
latter proposed a new stratagem. He said, “In Puyang there is a rich
family, Tʻien by name, who number thousands, enough to populate a whole
district in themselves. Make one of these people go to Tsʻao Tsʻao’s
camp with a pretended secret letter about Lü Pu’s ferocity, and the
hatred of the people, and their desire to be rid of him. End by saying
that only Kao Shun is left to guard the city and they would help any
one who would come to save them. Thus our enemy will be inveigled into
the city and we will destroy him either by lire or ambush. His skill
may be equal to encompassing the universe but he will not escape.”
Lü Pu thought this trick might be tried and they arranged for the Tʻien
family letter to be sent. Coming soon after the defeat, when Tsʻao
Tsʻao felt uncertain what step to take next, the secret letter was read
with joy. It promised help and said the sign should be a white flag
with the word “Rectitude” written thereon.
“Heaven is going to give me Puyang,” said Tsʻao joyfully. So he
rewarded the messenger very liberally and began to prepare for the
expedition.
Then came Liu Hua saying, “Lü Pu is no strategist but Chʻên Kung is
full of guile; I fear treachery in this letter and you must be careful.
If you will go, then enter with only one third your army leaving the
others outside the city as a reserve.”
Tsʻao agreed to take this precaution. He went to Puyang, which he found
gay with fluttering flags. Looking carefully he saw among them, at the
west gate, the white flag with the looked-for inscription. His heart
rejoiced.
That day, just about noon, the city gates opened and two bodies of
soldiers appeared as if to fight. Tsʻao Tsʻao told off two of his
captains to oppose them. Neither body, however, came on to engage but
fell back into the city. By this move the assailants had been drawn
close up to the drawbridge. From within the city several soldiers were
seen taking any chance of confusion to escape and come outside. To
Tsʻao Tsʻao they said they were clients of the Tʻien family and they
gave him secret letters stating the signal would be given about watch
setting by beating a gong. That would be the time to attack. The gates
would be opened.
So the rescuers were stationed and four trusty captains told off to
accompany Tsʻao Tsʻao into the city. One of these, Li Tien, pressed
upon his master the precaution of letting him go first. But Tsʻao Tsʻao
bade him be silent. “If I do not go, who will advance?” And so at the
time appointed he led the way. The moon had not yet arisen.
As he drew near the west gate they heard a crackling sound, then a loud
shouting, and then torches moved hither and thither. Next the gates
were thrown wide open and Tsʻao Tsʻao, whipping up his steed, galloped
in.
But when he reached the residence he noticed the streets were quite
deserted and then he knew he had been tricked. Wheeling round his horse
he shouted to his followers to retire. This was the signal for another
move. An explosion of a signal-bomb was heard close at hand and it was
echoed from every side in a deafening roar. Gongs and drums beat all
around with a roar like rivers rushing backward to their source and the
ocean boiling up from its depths. From two sides came bodies of
soldiers eager to attack.
Tsʻao dashed off toward the north only to find his way barred; he tried
for the south gate, but met enemies led by Kao Shun and Hou Chʻêng. His
trusty henchman Tien Wei, with fierce eyes and gritting teeth, at last
burst through and got out, with the enemy close after him.
But when he reached the drawbridge he glanced behind him and missed his
master. Immediately he turned back and cut his way inside. Just within
he met Li Tien.
“Where is our lord?” cried he.
“I am looking for him.”
“Quick! get help from outside,” shouted Tien Wei. “I will seek him.”
So one hastened for aid and the other slashed his way in, looking on
every side for Tsʻao Tsʻao. He was not to be found. Dashing out of the
city Tien Wei ran up against Yo Chin, who asked where their lord was.
“I have entered the city twice in search of him, but cannot find him,”
said Tien.
“Let us go in together,” said Yo Chin.
They rode up to the gate. But the noise of bombs from the gate tower
frightened Yo Chin’s horse, so that it refused to pass. Wherefore Tien
Wei alone went in, butting through the smoke and dashing through the
flames. But he got in and searched on every side.
When Tsʻao Tsʻao saw his sturdy protector cut his way out and disappear
leaving him surrounded, he again made an attempt to reach the north
gate. On the way, sharply outlined against the glow, he saw the figure
of Lü Pu coming toward him with his halberd ready to kill. Tsʻao Tsʻao
covered his face with his hand, whipped up his steed and galloped past.
But Lü Pu came galloping up behind him and tapping him on the helmet
with the halberd cried, “Where is Tsʻao Tsʻao?”
Tsʻao turned and, pointing to a dun horse well ahead, cried, “There; on
that dun! that’s he.”
Hearing this Lü Pu left pursuing Tsʻao Tsʻao to gallop after the rider
of the dun.
Thus relieved Tsʻao Tsʻao set off for the east gate. Then he fell in
with Tien Wei, who took him under his protection and fought through the
press leaving a trail of death behind till they reached the gate. Here
the fire was raging fiercely and burning beams were falling on all
sides. The earth element seemed to have interchanged with the fire
element. Tien Wei warded off the burning pieces of wood with his lance
and rode into the smoke making a way for his lord. Just as they were
passing through the gate a flaming beam fell from the gate tower. Tsʻao
just warded it off with his arm but it struck his steed on the quarters
and knocked him down. Tsʻao’s hand and arm were badly burned and his
hair and beard singed.
Tien Wei turned back to his rescue. Luckily Hsiahou Yüan came along
just then and the two raised Tsʻao and set him on Yüan’s horse. And
thus they got him out of the burning city. But the fighting went on
till daybreak.
Tsʻao Tsʻao returned to his camp. His officers crowded about his tent,
anxious for news of his health. He soon recovered and laughed when he
thought of his escape.
“I blundered into that fool’s trap, but I will have my revenge,” said
he.
“Let us have a new plan soon,” said Kuo Chia.
“I will turn his trick to my own use. I will spread the false report
that I was burned in the fire and that I died at the fifth watch. He
will come to attack as soon as the news gets abroad and I will have an
ambush ready for him in Maling Hills. I will get him this time.”
“Really a fine stratagem!” said Kuo.
So the soldiers were put into mourning and the report went everywhere
that Tsʻao Tsʻao was dead. And soon Lü Pu heard it and he assembled his
men at once to make a surprise attack, taking the road by the Maling
Hills to his enemy’s camp.
As he was passing the hills he heard the drums beating for an advance
and the ambushed soldiers leapt out all round him. Only by desperate
fighting did he get out of the mêlée and with a sadly diminished force
returned to his camp at Puyang. There he strengthened the
fortifications and could not be tempted forth to battle.
This year locusts suddenly appeared and they consumed every green
blade. There was a famine and in the east grain rose to fifty “strings”
a hu (bushel). People even took to cannibalism. Tsʻao Tsʻao’s army
suffered from want and he marched them to Chuangchʻêng. Lü Pu took his
men to Shanyang. Perforce therefore the fighting ceased.
It is time to return to Hsüchou. Tʻao Chʻien, over sixty years of age,
suddenly fell seriously ill and he summoned his confident, Mi Chu, to
his chamber to make arrangements for the future. As to the situation
the adviser said, “Tsʻao Tsʻao abandoned his attack on this place
because of his enemy’s seizure of Yenchou and now they are both keeping
the peace solely because of the famine. But Tsʻao will surely renew the
attack in the spring. When Liu Yüan-tê refused to allow you to vacate
office in his favour you were in full vigour. Now you are ill and weak
and you can make this a reason for retirement. He will not refuse
again.”
So a message was sent to the little garrison town calling Liu Pei to a
counsel on military affairs. This brought him with his brothers and a
slender escort. He was at once called in to the sick man’s chamber.
Quickly disposing of the enquiries about his health Tʻao soon came to
the real object of his call for Liu Pei.
“Sir, I asked you to come for the sole reason that I am dangerously ill
and like to die at any time. I look to you, illustrious Sir, to
consider the Hans and their Empire as more important than anything
else, and so to take over the symbols of office of this district, the
commission and the seal, that I may close my eyes in peace.”
“You have two sons, why not depute them to relieve you?” said Liu Pei.
“Both lack the requisite talents. I trust you will instruct them after
I have gone, but do not let them have the guidance of affairs.”
“But I am unequal to so great a charge.”
“I will recommend to you one who could assist you. He is Sun Chʻien who
could be appointed to some post.”
Turning to Mi Chu he said, “The noble Liu here is the most prominent
man of the time and you should serve him well.”
Still would Liu Pei have put from him such a post, but just then the
Prefect, pointing to his heart to indicate his sincerity, passed away.
When the ceremonial wailings of the officials were over, the insignia
of office were brought to Liu Pei. But he would have none of them. The
following days the inhabitants of the town and country around crowded
into the residence bowing and with tears calling upon Liu to receive
the charge. “If you do not we cannot live in peace,” said they. To
these requests his brothers added their persuasion, till at length he
consented to assume the administrative duties. He forthwith appointed
Sun and Mi as his official advisers and Chʻên Têng his secretary. His
guard came up from Hsiaopʻei and he put forth proclamations to reassure
the people.
He also attended to the burial ceremonies, he and all his army dressing
in mourning. After the fullest sacrifices and ceremonies a burial place
for the late Prefect was found close to the source of the Yellow River.
The dead man’s testament was forwarded to Court.
The news of the events in Hsüchou duly reached the ears of Tsʻao Tsʻao,
then in Chüanchʻêng. Said he, angrily, “I have missed my revenge. This
Liu has simply stepped into command of the district without expending
half an arrow; he sat still and attained his desire. But I will put him
to death and then dig up Tʻao’s corpse in revenge for the death of my
noble father.”
Orders were issued for the army to prepare for a new campaign against
Hsüchou. But an adviser, Hsün Yü, remonstrated with Tsʻao saying, “When
the founder of the Han dynasty secured Kuanchung and his illustrious
successor on the throne, Kuang-wu, took Honei, they both first
consolidated their position whereby they could command the whole
Empire. Their whole progress was from success to success. Hence they
accomplished their great designs in spite of difficulties. Illustrious
Sir, your Kuanchung and your Honei are Yenchow, which you had first,
and Hochi which is of the utmost strategic value. If you undertake this
expedition against Hsüchou leaving many men here, you will not
accomplish your design; if you leave too few, Lü Pu will fall upon us.
And finally if you lose this and fail to gain Hsüchou whither will you
retire? That prefecture is not vacant. Although Tʻao has gone, Liu Pei
holds it, and since the people support him they will fight to the death
for him. To abandon this place for that is to exchange the great for
the small, to barter the trunk for the branches, to leave safety and
run into danger. I would implore you to reflect well.”
Tsʻao Tsʻao replied, “It is not a good plan to keep soldiers idle here
during such scarcity.”
“If that is so it would be more advantageous to attack the east and
feed your army on their supplies. Some remnant of the Yellow Turbans
are there with stores and treasures of all kinds that they have amassed
by plundering wherever they could. Rebels of their stamp are easily
broken. Break them, and you can feed your army with their grain.
Moreover, both the Court and the common people will join in blessing
you.”
This new design appealed strongly to Tsʻao Tsʻao and he quickly began
his preparations to carry it out. He left Hsiahou Tun and Tsʻao Jên to
guard Chüanchʻêng while his main body, under his own command, marched
to seize Chʻênchʻêng. This done they went to Juying.
Now when the Yellow Turbans knew that Tsʻao Tsʻao was approaching they
came out in a great body to oppose him. They met at Goat Hill. Though
the rebels were numerous, they were a poor lot, a mere pack of foxes
and dogs without organisation and lacking discipline. Tsʻao Tsʻao
ordered his strong archers and vigorous crossbowmen to keep them in
check.
Tien Wei was sent out to challenge. The rebel leader chose a
second-rate champion for his side, who rode out and was vanquished in
the third bout. Then Tsʻao Tsʻao’s army pushed forward and they made a
camp at Goat Hill.
The following day the rebel Huang Shao himself led forth his army and
made his battle array along a circle. A leader advanced on foot to
offer combat. He wore a yellow turban on his head and a green robe. His
weapon was an iron mace. He shouted, “I am Ho Man the Yakcha who shoots
across the sky; who dare fight with me?”
Tsʻao Hung uttered a great shout and jumped from the saddle to accept
the challenge. Sword in hand he advanced on foot and the two engaged in
fierce combat in the face of both armies. They exchanged some scores of
blows, neither gaining the advantage. Then Tsʻao Hung feigned defeat
and ran away. Ho Man went after him. Just as he closed Hung tried a
feint and then suddenly wheeling about, wounded his adversary. Another
slash, and Ho Man lay dead.
At once Li Tien dashed forward into the midst of the enemy and laid
hands on the rebel chief whom he carried off captive. Tsʻao Tsʻao’s men
then set on and scattered the rebels. The spoil of treasure and food
was immense.
The other leader, Ho I, fled with a few horsemen toward Kopei.
While on their road thither there suddenly appeared a force led by a
certain swashbuckler, who shall be nameless for the moment. This bravo
was a shortish man, thickset and stout, with a waist ten span in girth.
He used a long sword.
He barred the way of retreat. The rebel leader set his spear and rode
toward him. But at the first encounter the bravo caught him under his
arm and bore him off a prisoner. All his men were terror-stricken,
dropped from their horses and allowed themselves to be bound. Then the
victor drove them like cattle into an enclosure with high banks.
Presently Tien Wei, still pursuing the rebels, reached Kopei. The
swashbuckler went out to meet him.
“Are you also a Yellow Turban?” said Tien Wei.
“I have some hundreds of them prisoners in an enclosure here.”
“Why not bring them out?” said Tien.
“I will if you win this sword from my hand.”
This annoyed Tien Wei who attacked him. They engaged and the combat
lasted for two long hours and then was still undecided. Both rested a
while. The swashbuckler was the first to recover and renewed the
challenge. They fought till dusk and then, as their horses were quite
spent, the combat was once more suspended.
In the meantime some of Tien Wei’s men had run off to tell the story of
this wondrous fight to Tsʻao Tsʻao who hastened in amazement, followed
by many officers to watch it and see the result.
Next day the unknown warrior rode out again and Tsʻao Tsʻao saw him. In
his heart he rejoiced to see such a doughty hero and desired to gain
his services for his own side. So he bade his champion feign defeat.
Tien Wei rode out in answer to the challenge and some score of bouts
were fought. Then Tien Wei turned and fled toward his own side. The
bravo followed and came quite close. But a flight of arrows drove him
away.
Tsʻao Tsʻao hastily drew off his men for some distance and then
secretly sent a certain number to dig a pitfall and sent hookmen to lie
in ambush.
The following day Tien Wei was sent out with a small company of horse.
His adversary nothing loth came to meet him.
“Why does the defeated leader venture forth again?” cried he laughing.
The swashbuckler spurred forward to join battle but Tien Wei, after a
faint show of fighting, turned his horse and rode away. His adversary
intent upon capture, took no care and he and his followers all
blundered into the pitfall. The hookmen took them all captive, bound
them and carried them before their chief.
As soon as he saw the prisoners, Tsʻao advanced from his tent, sent
away the soldiers and with his own hands loosened the leader’s bonds.
Then he brought out clothing and dressed him, bade him be seated and
asked who he was and whence he came.
“I am named Hsü Chʻu, and by my near friends called Chungkʻang. I am
from Chao. [4] When the rebellion broke out I and my relations built a
stronghold within a rampart for protection. One day the robbers came
but I had stones ready for them. I told my relatives to keep on
bringing them up to me and I threw them, hitting somebody every time I
threw. This drove off the robbers.”
“Another day they came and we were short of grain. So I agreed with
them to an exchange of plough oxen against grain. They delivered the
grain and were driving away the oxen when the beasts took fright and
tore off to their pens. I seized two of them by the tail, one with each
hand, and hauled them backwards a hundred or so paces. The robbers were
so amazed that they thought no more about oxen but went their way. So
they never troubled us again.”
“I have heard of your mighty exploits,” said Tsʻao Tsʻao. “Will you
join my army?”
“That is my strongest desire,” said Hsü.
So he called up his clan, some hundreds in all, and they formally
submitted to Tsʻao Tsʻao. The strong man received the rank of Tu-yü and
received ample rewards. The two rebel leaders were executed.
Juying being now perfectly quiet Tsʻao Tsʻao withdrew his army. His
lieutenants came out to welcome him and they told him that spies had
reported Yenchou to be left defenceless, all its garrison having given
themselves up to plundering the surrounding country, and they wanted
him to go against it without loss of time. “With these soldiers fresh
from victory the city will fall at a tap of the drum,” said they.
So the army was marched to the city. An attack was quite unexpected but
the two leaders, Hsüeh and Li, hurried out their few soldiers to fight.
Hsü Chʻu, the latest recruit, said he wished to capture these two and
he would make of them an introductory gift.
The task was given him and he rode forth. Li Fêng with his halberd
advanced to meet Hsü Chʻu. The combat was brief as Li fell in the
second bout. His colleague retired with his men. He found the
drawbridge had been seized so that he could not get shelter within the
city. He led his men toward Chüyeh. He was followed and slain. His
soldiers scattered to the four winds. And thus Yenchou was recaptured.
Next an expedition was prepared to take Puyang. The army moved out in
perfect order with van leaders, commanders of the flanks and rear
guard. Tsʻao Tsʻao led the centre; Tien Wei and Hsü Chʻu were van
leaders. When they approached Puyang, Lü Pu wished to go out in person
and alone to attack but his adviser protested, begging him to await the
arrival of his officers.
“Whom do I fear?” said Lü.
So he threw caution to the winds and went. He met his foes and he began
to revile them. The redoubtable Hsü Chʻu went to fight with him, but
after a score of bouts neither combatant was any the worse.
“He is not the sort that one man can overcome,” said Tsʻao Tsʻao, and
he sent Tien Wei to assist. Lü Pu stood the double onslaught. Soon
after the flank commanders joined in and Lü Pu had six opponents. These
proved really too many for him so he turned his horse and rode back to
the city.
But when the members of the Tʻien family saw him coming back beaten
they raised the drawbridge. Pu shouted to open the gates, but the
Tʻiens said, “We have gone over to Tsʻao Tsʻao.” This was hard to hear
and the beaten man abused them roundly before he left. The faithful
Chʻên Kung got away through the east gate taking with him the general’s
family.
Thus Puyang came into Tsʻao Tsʻao’s hands and for their present
services the Tʻien family were pardoned their previous fault. However,
Liu Hua said that savage Lü Pu left alive was a great danger and he
should be hunted down. Wherefore Tsʻao Tsʻao determined to follow Lü Pu
to Tingtʻao whither he had gone for refuge.
Lü Pu and many of his captains were assembled in the city, but certain
of them were out foraging. Tsʻao Tsʻao’s army arrived but did not
attack for many days and presently he withdrew a long way and made a
stockade. It was the time of harvest and he set his men to cut the
wheat for food. The spies having reported this to Lü Pu he came over to
see, but when he saw that Tsʻao Tsʻao’s stockade lay near a thick wood
he feared an ambush and retired. Tsʻao Tsʻao heard that he had come and
gone and guessed the reason.
“He fears an ambush in the wood,” said he. “We will set up flags there
and deceive him. There is a long embankment near the camp but behind it
there is no water. There we will lay an ambush to fall upon Lü Pu when
he comes to burn the wood.”
So he hid all his soldiers behind the embankment except half a hundred
drummers, and he got together many peasants to loiter within the
stockade as though it was empty.
Lü Pu rode back and told his adviser what he had seen. “This Tsʻao
Tsʻao is very crafty and full of wiles,” said the adviser; “great care
is necessary.”
“I will use fire this time and burn out his ambush,” said Lü Pu.
Next morning he rode out and there he saw flags flying everywhere in
the wood. He ordered his men forward to set fire on all sides. But to
his surprise no one rushed out to make for the stockade. Still he heard
the beating of drums and doubt filled his mind. Suddenly he saw a party
of soldiers move out from the shelter of the stockade. He galloped over
to see what it meant.
Then the signal-bombs exploded; out rushed the men and all their
leaders dashed forward. Lü Pu was at a loss and fled into the open
country. One of his captains was killed by an arrow. Two thirds of his
men were lost and the beaten remainder went to tell Chʻên Kung what had
come to pass.
“We had better leave” said he. “An empty city cannot be held.”
So he and Kao Shun, taking their chief’s family with them, abandoned
Tingtʻao. When Tsʻao Tsʻao’s soldiers got into the city they met with
no resistance, one leader burned himself to death, the other fled to
Yüan Shu.
Thus the whole of Shantung fell under the power of Tsʻao Tsʻao.
How he tranquillised the people and rebuilt the cities will not be told
here. But Lü Pu in his retreat fell in with his foragers and Chʻên Kung
also rejoined him so that he was by no means broken.
“I have but few men,” said he, “but still enough to break Tsʻao Tsʻao.”
And so he retook the backward road.
Thus does fortune alternate, victory, defeat,
The happy conqueror to-day, to-morrow, must retreat.
What was the fate of Lü Pu will appear later.