CHAPTER XVI.

A FEAT OF ARCHERY:

A BATTLE LOST AT YUSHUI RIVER.

"What is your plan of attack on Liu Pei?” said Shu.

Yang Ta-chiang replied, "Though Liu Pei, now camped at Hsiaop'ei, could easily be taken, yet Lü Pu is strongly posted at the chief city near, and I think he would help Pei if it was only for the grudge he bears against you for not having given him the gold and stuffs, grain and horses you promised. First of all you should send Lü Pu a present whereby to engage his affections and keep him quiet while you deal with Liu Pei. You can see to Lü Pu after this is done.'

Thereupon a large quantity of millet was sent, with letters, by the hand of Han Yin. The gift pleased Lü Pu greatly; and he treated the messenger with great cordiality. Feeling sure of no trouble from that quarter Yüan Shu told off the leaders of the expedition against Hsiaop'ei.

When Liu Pei heard these things he called his officers to take counsel. Chang Fei was for open war forthwith. Sun Ch'ien said their resources were too small: they must lay the position before Lü Pu and ask help.

"Do you think that fellow will do anything?" said Chang Fei cynically.

Liu Pei decided in favour of Sun's proposal and wrote as follows:

"Humbly I venture to remind you that I am here by your orders and enjoy repose as the result of your kindness, extensive as the heavens. Now Yüan Shu, moved by a desire for revenge, is sending a force against this place and its destruction is imminent unless you intervene to save it. I trust you will send an army quickly to protect the town, and our happiness will be inexpressible."

Receiving this Lü Pu called in Ch‘ên Kung to whom he said, "I have just received gifts from Yüan Shu and a letter, with the intent of restraining me from helping Liu Pei. Now comes a letter from him asking help. It seems to me that Yüan-tê where he is can do me no harm, but if Yüan Shu overcomes Liu Pei then the power of the north is so much nearer and I should be unable to resist the attacks of so many leaders and should never sleep secure. I will aid Liu Pei; that is the better course for me."

Now the force sent against Hsiaop'ei went thither as quickly as possible and soon the country to the southeast fluttered with pennons by day and blazed with watch fires by night, while the rolling of the drums reverberated from heaven to earth.

The few men at Liu Pei's disposal were led out of the city and arranged to make a brave show, but it was good news to him to hear that Lü Pu had arrived and was quite near. He camped only a li away to the south-west. When Yüan Shu's general, Chi Ling, heard of his arrival he wrote letters reproaching Lü Pu for his treachery. Lü Pu smiled as he read them.

"I know how to make both of them love me," said he. So he sent invitations to both leaders to come to a banquet. Liu Pei was for accepting the invitation and going, but his brothers dissuaded him saying, "There is some treachery in his heart."

"I have treated him too well for him to do me any harm," said Yüan-tê.

So he mounted and rode away, the two brothers following. They came to the camp.

The host said, "Now by a special effort I have got you out of danger; I hope you will not forget that when you come into your own."

Yüan-tê thanked him heartily and was invited to take a seat. The two brothers took up their usual place as guards.

But when Chi Ling was announced Yüan-tê felt a spasm of fear and got up to go away.

"You two are invited for the particular purpose of a discussion," said the host. "Do not take it amiss."

Yuan-tê, being quite ignorant of his intentions, was very uneasy. Presently his fellow guest entered. Seeing Yüan-tê in the tent, and in the seat of honour, he was puzzled, hesitated and tried to withdraw. But the attendants prevented this and Lü Pu, advancing, laid hold of him and drew him into the tent as he had been a child.

"Do you wish to slay me?" asked he.

"Not at all," replied Lü Pu.

"Then you are going to slay Long-ears?"

"No; not that."

"Then what does it mean?"

"Yuan-tê and I are brothers. Now, General, you are besieging him and so I have come to the rescue."

"Then slay me," said Chi Ling.

"There would be no sense in that. All my life I have disliked fighting and quarrels, but have loved making peace. And now I want to settle the quarrel between you two.'

"May I ask how you think of doing so?"

"I have a means and one approved of heaven itself."

Then he drew Ling within the tent and led him up to Pei. The two men faced each other, full of mutual suspicion, but their host placed himself between them and they took their seats, Liu Pei on the right hand of the host.

The banquet began. After a number of courses almost in silence, Lü Pu spoke, saying, "I wish you two gentlemen to listen to me and put an end to your strife."

Liu Pei made no reply but Chi Ling said, "I have come with an army of ten legions at the press bidding of my master to take Liu Pei. How can I cease the strife? I must fight."

"What!" exclaimed Chang Fei drawing his sword. "Few as we are we regard you no more than a lot of children. What are you compared with a million Yellow Turbans? You dare to

hurt our brother!"

Kuan Yü urged him to be silent. Let us see what General Lü has to say first; after that there will be time to go to our tents and fight."

"I beg you both to come to an understanding. I cannot let you fight," said Lü Pu.

Now on one side Chi Ling was discontented and angry; on the other Chang Fei was dying for a fight and neither of the two chiefly concerned would signify assent. Then suddenly the host turned to his attendants saying, "Bring my halberd!" They did so and he sat there gripping the graceful but effective weapon in his right hand. Both guests felt very ill at ease and turned pale. Lü Pu went on "I have tried to persuade you to make peace for that is the command of the Most High. It shall be put to the test."

rie then bade his servants take the halberd outside beyond the gate and set it up. Then speaking to his two guests he said, "That gate is one hundred and fifty paces distant. If I can hit that centre branch of the halberd-head with an arrow, you will both withdraw your armies. If I miss, you can go away and prepare for immediate battle. I shall compel you to abide by what I say."

Chi Ling thought to himself, "That small mark at that distance! How could any one hit it?" So he assented, thinking he would have plenty of fighting after his host had missed the mark. Of course Liu Pei was willing.

They all sat down again and wine was served. When this had been drunk the host called for his bow and arrows. Yüan-tê silently prayed that he would hit the mark.

Lü Pu turned back his sleeves, carefully fitted an arrow to the string and pulled the bow to its utmost stretch. A slight exclamation escaped him as the bow curved like the harvest moon sailing through the sky. "Twang!" went the bowstring and the arrow sped like a falling star. And it struck the slender tongue of the halberd head full and square. A roar of acclamation from all sides greeted the exploit.

O Lü was a wonderful archer,

And the arrow he shot sped straight;
By hitting the mark he saved his friend
That day at his yamên gate.

Hou I, the archer of ancient days,

Brought down each mocking sun,
And the apes that gibbered to fright Yuchi
Were slain by him, one by one.

But we sing of Lü Pu that drew the bow,
And his feathered shaft that flew;

For a myriad men could doff their mail
When he hit the mark so true.

Lü Pu laughed loud at the success of his shot. Dropping his bow he seized his guests by the hands saying, "The command of Heaven indeed! And now you cease from fighting!"

He ordered the soldier attendants to pour out great goblets of wine and each drank. Liu Pei in his inmost heart felt rather ashamed; his fellow guest sat silent, nodding his head. Presently he said, "I cannot disobey your command, General, but let me depart. What will my master say and will he believe me?" "I will write a letter and confirm it," said Lü Pu. After a few more rounds of the wine Chi Ling asked that he might have the letter and after that departed. When the brothers took their leave Lü Pu again reminded Liu Pei that he owed him his deliverance.

In a short time the soldiers had gone. Here nothing will be said of the entry of two of the actors in the drama into their own towns. When Chi Ling had got back to Huainan and told the story of the feat of archery and the peace-making that followed, and had presented the letter, his lord was very wroth.

"He repays me for all my grain with this bit of play-acting!" cried he. "He has saved Liu Pei, but I will lead a large army myself and settle him, and take Lü Pu too."

"Be careful, my lord," said Chi Ling. "He is braver and stronger than most men and has wide territory. He and Liu Pei together make a powerful combination, not easy to break. But there is another course. I have found out that his wife, the lady Yen, has a daughter just of marriageable age and as you have a son, you could arrange a marriage alliance with Lü Pu. If his daughter wedded your son he would certainly slay your enemy for you. This is the nothing-can-separaterelations plan."

This scheme appealed to Yüan Shu, who soon set about its accomplishment. He sent presents by the hand of Han Yin, who was to discuss the question. When Han saw Lü he spoke of the immense respect his master had for him and his desire to ensure perpetual alliance between the two families by a marriage, an alliance such as existed between the states Ts'in and Chin.

Lü Pu was well disposed toward the scheme, but went in to consult his wife. Now Lü Pu had two wives and one concubine.

He first married a lady of the Yen family and she was the legal wife. Then he took Little Cicada as a concubine, and while he was living at Hsiaop'ei he had married a secondary wife, a daughter of Ts'ao Pao. She had died quite young leaving no issue. Neither had his concubine borne any children. So that he had but one child, this daughter, of whom he was dotingly fond.

When he broached the subject his wife said, "The Yüan's have dominated their part of the country these many years. They have a large army and are very prosperous. One day a Yüan will become Emperor and our daughter may hope to be an Empress. But how many sons has he?"

"Then we should accept the offer. Even if our daughter does not become an Empress, Hsüchou is nothing to be sad about."

Lü Pu decided to accept and so treated the messenger with extreme generosity. Han Yin went back with a favourable answer. The wedding gifts were then prepared ready for Han Yin to take to the bride's family. They were received and banquets and merry-making filled all the time.

One day Ch'ên Kung went to see the messenger in his lodging, and when the usual ceremonies and greetings had been exchanged, the two men sat down to talk. When the servants had been sent out of earshot Ch'ên Kung said, "Who originated this scheme by which Yüan Shu and Lü Pu are to become connections by this marriage so that Liu Pei's head may fall?" Han Yin was terrified. "I pray you not to let it get abroad," said he.

"I certainly shall keep it secret. But if there be any delay some other person will find it out and that spells failure." "What had best be done?"

"I will see Lü Pu and get him to send the girl immediately so that the marriage may be concluded quickly."

"If it happened thus my master would indeed hold you in high respect."

With this Ch'ên Kung took his leave and sought an interview with Lü Pu.

"I hear your daughter is to be married to Yüan Shu's son. That is capital, but no one knows when."

"That has yet to be considered."

"There were certain fixed rules as to the period between sending presents and consummation of the marriage; Emperors, a year; nobles, half a year; high officers, three months; and common people, one month."

Lü Pu replied, "As to Yüan Kung-lu, Heaven has already put into his hands one Imperial jewel and he will surely arrive at the dignity one day. So, I should think the Imperial rule would apply."