תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub

Then Hsiahou Ts'un said contemptuously, "This is all the talk of a lot of book-folk. When the flood approaches bank up to keep it out. Let the enemy come and we shall only have to sit still and receive our reward, for we are sure of victory."

Ts'ao Jên was won over to the side of the men of action. He placed Man Ch'ung in command of the defences while he went outside to beat off Kuan Yü. When the two forces met, Kuan Yü called to his side Kuan P'ing and Liao Hua, to whom he gave certain orders. These two advanced, settled their array and Liao Hua then rode out and offered a challenge. Chai Yüan accepted it; but soon after the combat began Liao Hua made as if he was defeated and turned to leave the field. Chai Yüan went after him. The Chingchou men retired twenty li or so.

Soon the Chingchou soldiers came again and offered battle, when Hsiahou Ts'un and Chai Yüan both went out. The manœuvre of the preceding day was repeated. But suddenly there was a detonation behind the men of Ts'ao and the rolling of drums as for attack. Ts'ao Jên hastily called upon his men to return. They did so; but Kuan P'ing and Liao Hua then turned and followed on their heels so that the men of Ts'ao were thrown into confusion.

Ts'ao Jên by this time had seen that a trap had been laid and he had fallen therein, so he hastily marched with one army to Hsiangyang. He got to within a short distance of the city when he saw before him a handsome banner waving in the wind, and out came the great warrior with his sword ready to slay. Ts'ao Jên was powerless from fear, and, fighting being impossible, he turned off in a diagonal direction for Hsiangyang. Nor was he pursued.

Shortly after, Hsiahou Ts'un came. He fell into a rage at the sight of the old warrior and went to fight him. He was slain in the first encounter. His colleague fled, but Kuan P'ing captured and slew him. Then the pursuit was continued, and the loss on Ts'ao's side was very heavy. Many were drowned in the Hsiang River. This phase ended with Ts'ao Jên defending Fanch'êng and Kuan in possession of Hsiangyang. His was the victory.

"You have obtained this city very easily," said the Transport Officer Wang Fu, "but the task is not ended. Ts'ao's men have been beaten and their courage broken, but there is danger from the side of Wu. Lü Mêng is at Luk'ou, and he has long cherished the desire to lay hands on Chingchou. Suppose he now attacks; what will happen?"

"I was e'en thinking of that myself. You may go and attend to this matter. You will certainly be able to find certain elevated spots on the river bank, not too far apart, suitable for alarm beacons, whence coul. be signalled any attempt of the men of Wu to cross the river. Fifty men could guard

each station. Let there be a flame by night and a smoke by day. If they cross the river I must go and smite them."

Wang Fu replied, "Fushih Jên and Mi Fang are defending important places and doing it well. But there ought to be a commander-in-chief over Chingchou."

"There is no need for anxiety; P'an Chün is guarding the city."

"The objection is the character of P'an Chün. He is jealous and selfish and not a fit man for the task. I think you would do well to replace him by Chao Lei, now of the commissariat. He is loyal, trusty, clean-handed and straight, a much more desirable man for the post."

"I know P'an Chün very well, but I have delegated him for that duty and cannot change now. The work your friend has to do in the supplies is also most important. I do not think you need be anxious. Just get along with those beacons for me."

Wang Fu, annoyed, took his leave. Then Kuan P'ing was bidden to prepare ships ready to cross the river and attack Fanch'êng, whither Ts'ao Jên had retired after his defeat.

Now Ts'ao Jên said to Man Ch'ung, "Neglecting your advice I lost my men, my two captains and the city of Hsiangyang. What am I to do now?"

"Kuan Yü is very dangerous, too brave and skilful for you to try to defeat. You had better remain on the defensive," replied Man Ch'ung.

Just about this time came the tidings that Kuan Yü was crossing the river on the way to attack. Man maintained his policy, that of defence. But the subordinate leader Lu Ch'ang was for going out to meet the enemy.

"I ask for a few companies," said Lu, "and I will meet the enemy on the way."

"You cannot do any good," said Man.

"According to the advice of you and the other bookish officials there is only one thing to do. But will defence drive off the enemy? The proper way is to attack your enemy while he is crossing a river, and as Kuan Yü is doing that now, why not attack now? It will be quite another matter if you let him reach the walls and get possession of the moat."

As a result of his arguments and protest, Lu got command of two companies, whom he led to the river. And there he found Kuan Yü already arrayed for battle. Kuan Yü at once rode out, and the bold Lu was going to attack him. But his men were panic-stricken at the sight of Kuan Yü's fierce countenance and ran away. Lu Ch'ang called them to come back, but they would not stop, and as Kuan Yü came on with a rush, the army of Ts'ao again lost the day. Many were slain, and the remainder ran into Fanch'êng. Ts'ao Jên sent off a hasty messenger for help and a letter to Ch'angan to tell what

Kuan Yu had done and how Fanch'êng was in imminent danger of falling.

The letter reached Ts'ao, who chose a certain one among his officers and asked if he could relieve Fanch'êng. The man at once stepped out and said he could.

The man was Yü Chin.

"Let me have some captain to lead the van," said he. "Who volunteers?" asked Ts'ao, looking around.

"I do," cried a man; "I will give my poor services for what they are worth. And I will capture this fellow Kuan and bring him as an offering before your standard."

The men of Wei began the war

E'er Wu had sent out spies.

But who was the man bold enough to say he would capture Kuan Yü? For his name see the next chapter.

CHAPTER LXXIV.

P'ANG TE TAKES HIS COFFIN ON A CAMPAIGN;

KUAN YU DROWNS HIS ENEMIES.

The bold and self-confident officer of Ts'ao's army who promised to make an end of Kuan Yü was P'ang Tê. Ts'ao was glad to find such a man.

"That fellow Kuan has a great reputation, and in the whole country he has no rival. He has not met his match yet, but now you are going he will find all his work cut out."

So spake Ts'ao Ts'ao. He conferred on Yü Chin the title of "Corrector of the South" and on P'ang Tê that of "Corrector of the West and Leader of the Van," and they two marched out with their seven armies to Fanch'êng.

These seven armies were composed of sturdy fellows from the north, led by two of their own chiefs named Tung Hêng and Tung Ch'ao. Hearing who was to command them, these two, supported by their chiefs, went to see Yü Chin and represented that the leader of the van was unsuitable.

Tung Hêng spoke, and said, "Sir General, the expedition you lead is for the relief of Fanch'êng and it can confidently expect victory, but is it not unwise to place such as P'ang Tê in command of the van?"

"Why?" said Yü Chin, surprised.

"Because he was once under the command of Ma Ch'ao. He had no alternative but to surrender and fight for Wei. But his former chief is now in high honour in Shu, one of the Five Tiger Generals, and his own brother is there, too, as an officer. To send him as leader of the van just now seems like trying to extinguish a fire with oil. Would it not be well to inform the Prince of Wei and ask him to exchange this man for another?"

Without further argument or delay Yü Chin went to see the prince and laid before him the objections to P'ang's appointment. As soon as Ts'ao understood, he summoned P'ang Tê to the steps and bade him yield his seal as "Leader of the Van."

"O Prince, why do you reject my services? I was just about to do my best for you."

"I do not doubt you, but Ma Ch'ao is now in Hsich'uan and your brother also, both in the service of Liu Pei. I myself have no doubts, but it is what all the crowd are saying. What can I do?"

P'ang Tê took off his head-dress and prostrated himself, bitter tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Since I surrendered to you, O Prince, I have experienced much kindness, so that I would undergo any sufferings to show my gratitude. I hope you will trust me. When my brother and I were at home together his wife was a wicked woman and I slew her, pretending I was drunk. My brother has never forgiven me, but is permeated with hate for me. He swears never to see me again, and we are enemies. For my old master, Ma Ch'ao, I have profound contempt. He is bold, but only that, and was in a pitiable and dejected state when he found his way to the west. Now, like me, he serves his own master, but our friendship is at an end. How could I think of another after your kindness to me?"

Ts'ao Ts'ao raised him from the ground and soothed him, saying, "I have always known what a noble man you are, and what I said just now was to satisfy the feelings of other people. Now you can strive to win fame, and if you do not turn your back on me I shall not on you."

Then P'ang took his leave and returned to his house, where he ordered the artificers to make him a coffin. Next he invited all his friends to a banquet, and the coffin was set out in the reception room for all to see. And they asked one another what that inauspicious thing could mean put out on the eve of a campaign. By and by, drinking to them, P'ang Tê said, "The Prince of Wei has been generous to me, and I am pledged to show my gratitude to the death. I am about to go out against this Kuan, and I have to kill him or he must kill me. If he does not kill me I must commit suicide, and so I have prepared what is necessary. I will not return leaving my task unachieved."

The terrible omen saddened the guests, and they fell to sighing. Then he called in his wife and bade her bring their son Hui, whom he commended to her care.

"I have been appointed leader of the van of this new expedition against Kuan Yü, and my duty bids me seek death or glory on the battle-field. If I die, our son is in your special care. Alas, the child has been born ill-starred, and when he grows up he will have to avenge a father."

Both mother and son wept as they bade him farewell. When the army marched, the coffin was carried in its train. He bade his officers place his body therein if he fell in combat with Kuan Yü.

"And if I slay him, then will I bring his head in this coffin as an offering to our prince."

Then outspake a captain of five hundred men and said, "If you are like this, O General, then we also will follow you to the end." The vanguard then marched away. A certain man told the story of these happenings to Ts'ao Ts'ao, who was very

« הקודםהמשך »