KUAN YU, FROM A SENSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, RELEASES HUANG CHUNG:
SUN CHʻÜAN FIGHTS A GREAT BATTLE WITH CHANG LIAO.
What Kʻung-ming required from Chang Fei was a formal recognition of
responsibility for success. Said he, “When Chao Yün went on his
expedition he gave written guarantee of being responsible for success
and you ought to do the same now that you are starting for Wuling. In
that case you may have men and start.”
So Chang Fei gave the required document and received joyfully the three
companies of soldiers he had demanded. He set out at once and travelled
without rest till he reached Wuling.
When the Prefect of Wuling, Chin Hsüan by name, heard that an
expedition against him was afoot he mustered his officers and recruited
brave soldiers and put his weapons in order ready for the struggle. And
his army moved out of the city.
A certain secretary, Kung Chih, remonstrated with his chief for
opposing a scion of the imperial house, saying, “Liu Yüan-tê is of the
Hans, and recognised as an uncle of the Emperor. All the world knows he
is kindly and righteous. Added to that his brother Chang Fei is
extraordinarily bold. We cannot face them in battle with hope of
success. Our best course is to give in.”
But his master angrily replied, “Do you want to play the traitor and
take the side of the rebels and help them?”
He called in the lictors and told them to put Kung to death. The other
officers interceded for him, saying, “It augers ill to start an
expedition by slaying your own men.”
So the Prefect merely sent Kung Chih away. He himself led the army out
of the city. After marching twenty li he met with Chang Fei’s army.
Chang Fei at once rode to the front, spear ready to thrust, and opened
with a shout. Chin Hsüan turned to his officers and asked who would go
out to fight him, but no one replied; they were too afraid.
So the Prefect himself galloped out, flourishing his sword. Seeing him
advance Chang Fei shouted in a voice of thunder. Poor Chin was seized
with panic, turned pale and could not go on. He turned his steed and
fled. Then Chang Fei and his army went in pursuit and smote the
fugitives, chasing them to the city wall.
Here the fugitives were greeted by a flight of arrows from their own
wall. Greatly frightened, Chin Hsüan looked up to see what this meant
and there was Kung Chih, who had opposed him, standing on the wall.
“You brought defeat upon yourself because you opposed the will of God,”
cried the traitor. “I and the people with me are determined to yield to
Liu Pei.”
Just as he finished speaking an arrow wounded Chin Hsüan in the face
and he fell to the ground. Thereupon his own men cut off his head,
which they forthwith presented to Chang Fei. Kung Chih then went out
and made formal submission and Chang Fei bade him take his letter and
the seal to Kueiyang to Liu Pei, who was pleased to hear of Chang Fei’s
success and gave the prefectship to Kung Chih. Soon after Yüan-tê came
in person and soothed the people.
This done he wrote to his other brother telling him I-tê and Tzŭ-lung
had gained a district each. Kuan at once wrote back and said that
Changsha was yet to be taken and if he was not thought too feeble he
would like to be sent to attack it. Yüan-tê agreed and sent Chang Fei
to relieve his brother, whom he ordered to return and prepare for an
expedition to Changsha. Kuan Yü came and went in to see his elder
brother and Kʻung-ming.
At this interview Kʻung-ming said that the other two successful
warriors had done their work with three companies. The Prefect of
Changsha, Han Yüan, was not worth mentioning, but there was a certain
general with him, named Huang Chung, who had to be reckoned with.
“Huang Chung,” said Kʻung-ming, “is a native of Nanyang. He used to be
in the service of Liu Piao and was a colleague of Liu Pʻan, when he was
in command of Changsha. After Liu Piao’s death he joined Han Yüan when
he took command of the district. Now, although he is nearly sixty he is
a man to be feared and a warrior of a thousand. You ought to take a
larger number of men.”
Kuan Yü replied, “General, what makes you damp another man’s ardour to
fight and do away with your own dignity? I do not think the old leader
need be discussed and I do not think I require three companies of men.
Give me my own half company of swordsmen and I will have the heads of
both our enemies to sacrifice to our standard.”
Yüan-tê resisted this decision of Kuan Yü, but Kuan would not give way.
He just took his half company and set out.
“If he is not careful how he attacks Huang Chung there will be a
mishap,” said Kʻung-ming. “You must go to support him.”
Yüan-tê accordingly, at the head of another and larger party, set out
toward Changsha.
The Prefect of Changsha was of hasty temperament with small compunction
in matters of life and death and was universally hated. When he heard
of the army coming against him he called his veteran leader, Huang, to
ask advice. The latter said, “Do not be distressed; this sword of mine
and my bow are equal to the slaughter of all who may come.”
Huang Chung had been very strong and could bend the two hundred catty
bow and was a most perfect archer. When he referred to his one-time
prowess a certain man spoke up and said, “Let not the old General go
out to battle. Trust to my right arm and you shall have this Kuan a
prisoner in your hands.”
The speaker was named Yang Ling. The Prefect accepted his offer and
told off a company to go with him and they quickly rode out of the
city. About fifty li from the city they observed a great cloud of dust
approaching and soon distinguished the invaders. Yang Ling set his
spear and rode to the front to abuse and fight. Kuan Yü made no reply
to the abuse, but rode forward flourishing his sword. The warriors soon
met and in the third encounter Yang Ling was cut down. Kuan Yü’s
company dashed forward and pursued the defeated force to the city wall.
When the Prefect heard of this reverse he ordered the veteran Huang
Chung to go out while he went up on the city wall to watch the fight.
Huang Chung took his sword and crossed the drawbridge at the head of
his men. Kuan Yü, seeing an old leader riding out, knew it must be
Huang Chung. He halted his men and placed them in line with their
swords at the point. Then sitting there on horseback he said, “He who
comes is surely Huang Chung, eh?”
“Since you know me, how dare you come within my boundaries?” replied
the veteran.
“I have come expressly to get your head.”
Then the combat began. They fought a hundred and more bouts and neither
seemed nearer victory. At this point the Prefect, fearing some mishap
to his veteran general, beat the gong to retreat and the battle ceased,
one side going into the city and the other camping ten li away to the
rear.
Kuan Yü thought in his heart that the fame of the veteran opposed to
him was well merited. He had fought a hundred bouts and discovered
never a weak spot. He determined that in the next encounter he would
use a feint (or “Parthian” stab) and so overcome him.
Next day, the early meal eaten, Kuan Yü came to the city wall and
offered his challenge. The Prefect seated himself on the city wall and
bade his veteran warrior go out to accept it and, at the head of a few
horsemen, he dashed across the drawbridge. The two champions engaged
and at the end of half a hundred bouts neither had the advantage. On
both sides the soldiers cheered lustily.
When the drums were beating most furiously, suddenly Kuan Yü wheeled
round his horse and fled. Of course Huang Chung followed. Just as the
moment for the feint arrived Kuan Yü heard behind him a tremendous
crash and turned to see his pursuer lying prone upon the ground. His
steed had stumbled and thrown him. Kuan Yü turned, raised his sword in
both hands, and cried in a fierce tone, “I spare your life, but quick!
get another horse and come again to battle.”
Huang Chung pulled his horse to its feet hastily, leapt upon its back
and went into the city at full speed. The prefect was astonished and
asked for an account of the accident. “The horse is too old,” replied
Huang.
“Why did you not shoot since your arm is so perfect?” asked the
Prefect.
“I will try again to-morrow,” said Huang. “Then I will run away as if
overcome and so tempt him to the drawbridge and then shoot him.”
The Prefect gave the veteran a grey horse that he usually rode himself;
Huang thanked him and retired.
But he could not forget Kuan Yü’s generous conduct, nor could he
understand it. He could not make up his mind to shoot the man who had
spared his life. Yet if he did not shoot, he betrayed his duty as a
soldier. It was very perplexing and the whole night spent in thinking
it over found him still undecided.
At daybreak a man came in saying that Kuan Yü was near the wall and
challenging them again. So Huang Chung gave orders to go out.
Now Kuan Yü, having fought for two days and not having overcome Huang
Chung, was very ill at ease. So he called up all his dignity when he
went forth to fight that day. When they had got to the thirtieth bout
Huang Chung fled as if he was overcome. Kuan Yü pursued.
As he rode away Huang Chung thought in his heart, “He spared me only
yesterday and I cannot bear to shoot him to-day.” Putting up his sword
he took his bow and twanged the string only; no arrow flew. Kuan Yü
dodged, but seeing no arrow in the air, he re-took the pursuit. Again
Huang twanged an arrowless bowstring and again Kuan dodged, but no
arrow came. Then he said to himself, “He cannot shoot,” and pressed on
in pursuit.
As they neared the city wall, the veteran stopped on the drawbridge,
fitted an arrow, pulled the bow and sent an arrow flying that just hit
the base of the plume on Kuan’s helmet. The soldiers shouted at the
display of marksmanship. Kuan Yü was taken aback and set off for camp
with the arrow still sticking. Then he heard that Huang Chung’s skill
was said to be equal to piercing a willow leaf at a hundred paces and
he understood that he owed this warning in the shape of an arrow in his
plume to gratitude for sparing the veteran the preceding day.
Both withdrew. But when the veteran leader went up on the wall to see
the Prefect, he was at once seized. “What have I done?” cried Huang
Chung.
“I have seen these last three days that you were fooling me; you were
slack the day before yesterday, which proved you had some sinister
intention. Yesterday, when your horse stumbled and he spared you, it
showed that you were in league with him. And to-day you twice twanged a
vain bowstring, while at the third shot you only hit your opponent’s
helmet. Dare you say there is no secret understanding in all this? If I
do not put you to death it will assuredly redound to my own hurt.”
The Prefect ordered him to be executed outside the city gate. The
intercession of the officers he met by saying that any one who pleaded
for the condemned would be regarded as in the plot.
The executioners had hustled the old man out of the city and the sword
was in the air and on the point of descending, when a man suddenly
dashed in, cut down the lictor and rescued Huang Chung.
“Huang Chung is our bulwark;” shouted he, “to destroy him is to destroy
the Changsha people. This Han is too fierce and cruel, too lightly
values good men and is too arrogant toward his officers. We ought
rather to kill him, and those who will, let them follow me.”
All eyes turned toward this bold speaker, who was bronzed and had eyes
like the Cowherd’s star. Some of them knew him as Wei Yen, a native of
Iyang. He had followed Liu Pei from Hsiangyang but, unable to come up
with him, had gone into the service of Han Yüan. Han Yüan took
exception to his arrogant carriage and lack of polish and neglected
him. And so he had come to this place.
After the rescue of Huang Chung he called upon the people to make an
end of the Prefect. He waved his arm and shouted to the people. Soon he
had a following of several hundreds. Huang Chung could not stop them.
In a very short time Wei had dashed up on the wall and the Prefect lay
dead. Taking his head, Wei Yen rode off out of the city to lay the
blood-stained trophy at the feet of Kuan Yü, who forthwith went into
the city to restore confidence.
When the people were all quiet, Kuan sent to request Huang Chung to
come to see him, but the old general pleaded illness. Next he sent the
good news to his brother and to Kʻung-ming and asked them to come.
Soon after Kuan Yü had left to capture Changsha, Liu Pei and Kʻung-ming
had followed him up with supports in case of need. While on the march a
black flag was furled backwards and a crow flew over from north to
south croaking thrice as it passed.
“What good or evil things do these omens presage?” asked Yüan-tê.
With hands hidden within his long sleeves, Kʻung-ming performed a rapid
calculation on his fingers of the auspices and replied, “Changsha is
taken and a great leader mastered. We shall know soon after noon.”
Sure enough a simple soldier presently came galloping along with the
welcome tidings of the capture of the city and saying that the two city
warriors who had aided them were near waiting the arrival of Liu Pei.
Soon after they arrived Liu Pei entered the city, where he was escorted
to the magistracy and heard the recital of Huang Chung’s deeds.
Yüan-tê went in person to Huang’s house and enquired for him, whereupon
he came forth and yielded formally. He requested to be permitted to
bury the remains of the late Prefect on the east of the city.
Lofty as is heaven above earth was the spirit of the captain,
Who, even in his old age, suffered sorrows in the south;
Cheerfully had he approached death, with no thought of resentment,
But, bowing before the conquerer, he hung his head and was ashamed.
Praise the sword, gleaming snow-white, and the glory of super-human
bravery,
Consider the mail-clad steed snuffing the wind and rejoicing in
the battle,
That warrior’s name shall stand high and its brightness be
undiminished,
While the cold moon sheds her light on the waters of Hsiang and
Tʻan.
Yüan-tê was generous toward the veteran leader who had come under his
banner. But when Wei Yen was introduced, Kʻung-ming suddenly ordered
him to be thrust forth and put to death.
“He has merit; he has committed no fault,” exclaimed Yüan-tê. “Why slay
him?”
But Kʻung-ming replied, “Ingratitude; to eat a man’s bread and slay him
is most disloyal; to live on his land and offer his territory to
another is most wrong. I see the bone of treachery at the back of his
head and he will certainly turn against his master. Wherefore it is
well to put him to death and prevent him from doing harm.”
“If we slay this man others who may wish to surrender will be deterred
by the danger. I pray you forgive him.”
Kʻung-ming pointed his finger at Wei Yen and said, “You are pardoned.
You would do well to be perfectly faithful to your lord as well as
grateful. Do not let a single thought stray elsewhere or I will have
your head by fair means or foul.”
Wei Yen went away muttering to himself.
Having given in with good grace, Huang Chung introduced a nephew of Liu
Piao, named Pʻan, then living in Yuhsien near by. Yüan-tê employed him
in the administration of Changsha.
All being tranquil at Changsha, Yüan-tê and his army returned to
Chingchou. The name Yuchiangkʻou was changed to Kungan and soon all was
prosperous. Taxes were freely paid and able men from all sides came to
assist in the administration. Guards were placed at strategic points.
It is time to return to Chou Yü. When he went to Chʻaisang to recover
from his wound he left Kan Ning in command at Lingchün and Ling Tʻung
at Hanyang. The fleet was shared between these two places to be ready
to move when required. The remainder of the force was under Chʻêng Pʻu
and he went to Hofei, where Sun Chʻüan had been since the fight at Red
Wall. He was still fighting the northern army and in half a score
encounters, small and great, neither had gained a decided advantage. He
could not approach the city but entrenched himself about fifty li away.
When he heard of the coming of reinforcements he was very pleased and
went in person to meet and welcome the leaders. Lu Su was in advance of
the main body and Sun Chʻüan dismounted and stood by the roadside to
greet him. As soon as he saw this, Lu Su slid out of the saddle and
made his obeisance.
But the officers were amazed at the attitude of Sun Chʻüan, and still
more so when Sun Chʻüan asked Lu Su to remount and ride by his side.
Presently he said secretly to Lu Su, “I, the Lone One, dismounted to
greet you as you saw; was that manifestation enough for you?”
“No,” replied Lu Su.
“Then what further can I do?”
“I want to see your authority and virtue spread over the four seas and
enfold the nine provinces and you yourself playing your part as
Emperor. Then will my name be inscribed in the annals and I shall
indeed be known.”
Sun Chʻüan clapped his hands and laughed gleefully.
When they reached the camp a banquet was prepared and the services of
the new arrivals were praised and glorified.
The destruction of Hofei was one day under discussion when one came in
to say that Chang Liao had sent a written challenge to battle. Sun
Chʻüan tore open the cover and what he read therein made him very
wrath. “This Chang has insulted me grossly,” said he, “he hears that
Chʻêng Pʻu has arrived and sends a challenge. To-morrow, O newly-come
warriors, you shall see me fight with him. You shall have no share in
the battle.”
Orders were given that next morning the army would move out of camp and
advance on Hofei. Early in the morning, when they had advanced about
halfway, they met the army of Tsʻao and prepared for battle. Sun
Chʻüan, with helmet and breastplate of silver, rode to the front with
Sung Chʻien and Chia Hua, each armed with a chʻi halberd to support him
and guard him one on each side.
When the third roll of the drum ceased, the centre of the Tsʻao array
opened to allow the exit of three warriors, all fully armed. They were
Chang Liao, supported by Li Tien and Yo Chin. Chang Liao, the central
figure, especially designated Sun Chʻüan as the object of his
challenge. Sun Chʻüan took his spear and was about to accept the
challenge, when the ranks behind him were broken by Tʻaishih Tzŭ, who
galloped forth with his spear ready to thrust. Chang Liao whirled up
his sword to strike the newcomer and the two fought near a hundred
bouts without a decisive blow.
Then said Li Tien to Yo Chin, “He there opposite us with the silver
helm is Sun Chʻüan; could I but capture him the loss of our four score
legions would be amply avenged.”
So speaking he rode out, alone, just one man and one sword, and went
sidelong toward the two combatants. Then suddenly, swift as a flash of
lightning, he ran forward and slashed at Sun. But Sun Chʻüan’s two
guards were too quick for him. Up went the two chʻi guarding their
lord’s head. The blow fell, but on the crossed chʻi which were shorn
through near the head, and in another moment they were hammering away
on the head of Yo Chin’s steed with the shafts of their broken weapons
and forcing him back.
Sung Chʻien snatched a spear from a soldier near and went in pursuit of
Yo Chin, but Li Tien, on the other side, fitted an arrow to his bow and
aimed at Sung’s heart from behind. And he fell as the bowstring
twanged.
Then Tʻaishih Tzŭ, seeing a squadron of horse in motion toward him,
left off the fight with Chang Liao and returned to his own line. At
this Chang Liao fell on in a swift attack and the army of Wu, thrown
into confusion, scattered and fled.
Chang Liao, having distinguished Sun Chʻüan in the distance, galloped
in pursuit and had nearly come up with him, when Chʻêng Pʻu happily
rushed in from one side of the line of fight, stayed the pursuit and
saved his master. Chang Liao withdrew to Hofei. Sun Chʻüan was escorted
back to his main camp, where his beaten soldiers gradually rejoined him
and their ranks were reformed.
When Sun knew of the death of Sung Chʻien he was greatly pained and
wept aloud.
But Chang Hung, the recorder, reproached him saying, “My lord, you
relied too much upon your martial prowess and lightly engaged in battle
with a formidable enemy. Every man in the army was chilled with fear
and you lost a general and some of your banners. It is not for you to
exhibit prowess on the actual battlefield and encroach upon the duties
of a captain. Rather curb and repress such physical feats as those of
Mêng Pên and Hsia Yu and contemplate schemes of exercising princely
virtues with the hegemony of all the feudal states. It is because of
your ill-regulated action in engaging in battle that Sung Chʻien
perished at the hands of your enemies. Hereafter you should regard as
most important your personal safety.”
“Yes; it is indeed a fault,” said Sun Chʻüan. “I will reform.”
Soon after Tʻaishih Tzŭ entered the tent and said, “In my command there
is a certain Ko Ting, brother of a groom named Hou Tsʻao in the army of
Chang Liao. This Hou Tsʻao is deeply resentful on account of a
punishment inflicted upon him and is anxious to be revenged. He has
sent over to say that he will show a signal to-night when he has
assassinated Chang Liao in revenge for the death of your late leader
Sung Chʻien. I wish to take some men over to await this signal to
attack.”
“Where is this Ko Ting?” asked Sun Chʻüan.
“He has mingled with the enemy and gone into the city. Let me have five
companies.”
Chuko Ching said, “Chang Liao is full of guile, I think you will find
him prepared for your coming. Be careful.”
As Tʻaishih Tzŭ urged his chief to let him go, and Sun Chʻüan was
deeply hurt by the death of his captain, the permission was given and
the force started.
Now here it must be said that Tʻaishih Tzŭ and this Ko Ting were
natives of the same place. Ko had made his way into the city without
detection, found his brother and the two had arranged their plot. Ko
also told him that Tʻaishih Tzŭ would come over that night to help them
and asked what they should do.
His brother, the groom, said, “As the men of Wu are far away I fear
they cannot be here to-night, so we will make a huge bonfire of straw
and then you can rush out and cry treachery. That will throw all into
confusion and will give a chance to kill Chang Liao.”
“This is an excellent plan,” said Ko Ting.
Now after the victory Chang Liao returned to the city and rewarded his
men but he issued orders that no one was to doff his armour or sleep.
His attendants said, “You have gained a great victory to-day and the
enemy are far away. You might doff your armour and get some repose.”
But Chang Liao replied, “That is not the way of a leader. A victory is
no reason for rejoicing, nor should a defeat cause sadness. If the men
of Wu suspect that I am unprepared, they will attack and we must be
ready to repel them. Be ready to-night and be doubly careful.”
Scarcely had he said this than a fire started and cries of “Treachery!”
arose. Many rushed to tell the leader, who went out and called together
his guard of about half a score. They took up a commanding position in
the way.
Those about him said, “The shouts are insistent; you ought to go and
see what it means.”
“A whole city cannot be traitors,” said he. “Some discontented person
has frightened the soldiers. If I see any one doing so I will slay
him.”
Soon after this Li Tien dragged up Ko Ting and his fellow-traitor.
After a few brief questions they were beheaded. Then arose a great
noise, shouting and the rolling of drums was heard outside the gate.
“That means the men of Wu are there to help,” said Chang Liao. “But we
will destroy them by a simple ruse.”
He bade them light torches and yell “Treachery! Rebellion!” and throw
open the city gates and let down the drawbridge.
When Tʻaishih Tzŭ saw the gates swing open he thought his scheme was
going well and in full confidence rode in at the gate. But just at the
entrance a signal bomb suddenly exploded and the enemy arrows came down
on him like pelting rain. Then he knew he had fallen into a snare and
turned to ride out. But he was wounded in many places. And in the
pursuit that followed more than half the men of Wu were cut off. As he
drew near his own lines a rescue force came to his aid and the Tsʻao
soldiers ceased from pursuit.
Sun Chʻüan was exceedingly sad when he learned that his faithful
captain had been grievously wounded and when Chang Chao prayed him to
cease from war he was content. They gathered in their men to their
ships and sailed to Nanhsü and Junchou where they camped.
Meanwhile Tʻaishih Tzŭ was dying. When his lord sent to ask how he
fared, he cried, “When a worthy man is born into a turbulent world, he
has to be a soldier and gird on a three feet sword. I have not rendered
great service. Why must I die before I have attained my desire?”
These were his last words; he was forty-one years of age.
Single minded and perfectly loyal,
Such was Tʻaishih, in Tunglai born,
Far distant frontiers rang with his exploits,
Riding or archery, all men he excelled,
One in Pohai who admired his valour
Cared for his mother while he was fighting,
How he joyed in the battle at Shêntʻing!
Dying, he spake as a hero;
All through the ages men sigh for his fate.
Sun Chʻüan was exceedingly grieved when this second of his leaders
died. He gave orders to bury his remains most honourably outside the
north wall on Ku Hill and took his son, Tʻaishih Hsiang, into his own
palace to be brought up.
When Yüan-tê heard of the series of misfortunes that had befallen Wu
and of their retirement to Nanhsü, he and Kʻung-ming discussed their
plans. Said Kʻung-ming, “I was studying the sky and saw a falling star
in the north-west. The Imperial family is to suffer a loss.”
He had scarcely said this when they brought news of the death of Liu
Chʻi, son of Liu Piao.
Yüan-tê at once began to wail bitterly. But his adviser said to him,
“Life and death are beyond our control, wherefore weep not, my lord,
for grief harms the body. Rather consider what is necessary to be done.
Send some one to assume control and make arrangements for the
interment.”
“Who can go?” asked Yüan-tê.
“No other than Kuan Yü.”
So they sent him to guard the city of Hsiangyang.
Liu Pei at once began to feel troubled about his promise to surrender
Chingchou on the death of Liu Chʻi, but Kʻung-ming did not consider
this a matter of moment. He said he would have somewhat to say to any
one who came to ask fulfilment of the promise. In half a month it was
announced that Lu Su would come to mourn at the funeral.
To claim the promise one will come,
But they will send him empty home.
What reply Kʻung-ming made may be read in the next chapter.