himself on the ground and knocked his head, imploring assistance. "If you act thus, there is an end of Kuan Yü," cried he. "Will a cup of water extinguish a waggon load of blazing wood?" said Mêng Ta. "Hasten back and await patiently for the coming of help from the west." Liao Hua renewed his entreaties. The two commanders simply rose, shook out their sleeves and left him. Liao Hua saw that things had gone against him and thought his best course would be to go at once to Ch'êngtu. He rode out of the city cursing its defenders and went away west. Kuan Yü from his fortress looked anxiously, but vainly, for the coming of the expected aid. He was in a sorry plight. His men numbered but a few hundred, many wounded; there was no food. The someone came to the foot of the wall and, calling out to the men on the wall not to shoot, said he had a message for the commander. He was allowed to enter; it was Chuko Chin. When he had made his salutations and taken tea, he began his harangue. "I come at the command of my master, Marquis Wu, to persuade you to a wise course. From of old it has always been recognised that the hero must bow to circumstances. The districts that you ruled have come under another, with the exception of this single city. Within, there is no food, without, no help, so that it must fall quickly. Wherefore, O General, why not hear me and join your fortunes to those of Wu? You shall be restored to your governorship and you will preserve your family. If haply, Sir, you would reflect thereon." Kuan Yü replied, quite calmly, "I am a simple soldier of Chiehliang. I am the 'hands and feet' of my lord, his brother. How can I betray him? The city may fall, and then I can but die. Jade may be shattered, but its whiteness remains; bamboo may be burned, but its joints stand out. My body may be broken, but my fame shall live in history. Say no more, but leave the city, I beg. I will fight Sun Ch'üan to the death." "My master desires to enter into such a league with you as did Ts'in and Chin in former days, that you may mutually assist to destroy Ts'ao Ts'ao and restore the Hans. That is his idea, and why do you persist in this wrong course?" As he finished this speech, Kuan P'ing, who was by, drew his sword to slay him. But his father checked him. "Remember his brother is in Shu, helping your uncle. If you hurt him you will injure the principle of fraternity." He then bade his servants lead Chuko Chin away. He went, his face covered with shame, and left the city. When he reached his master he told of Kuan Yü's obduracy and rejection of all argument. 1 "He is indeed a loyal servant!" said Sun Ch'üan. "Still, what is to be done next?" "Take the sortes," said Lü Fan. So the lots were taken and explained to mean that the lord's enemies should flee to a distance. Then Sun Ch'üan asked Lü Mêng, saying, "If he fly to a distance, how can he be captured?" "The divination exactly fits in with my schemes," replied he, "and though Kuan had wings to soar to the skies he would not escape my net." The dragon in a puddle is the sport of shrimps, The scheme of Lü Mêng will be unfolded in the next chapter. Sun CHAPTER LXXVII. KUAN YU MANIFESTS HIS SACRED CHARACTER AT THE JADE FOUNT HILL; TS'AO TS'AO IS POSSESSED AT LOYANG. un Ch'üan having asked Lü Mêng for a plan, Lü replied, "This man Kuan has very few men left, and he will not venture along the high road. North of Maich'êng is a risky path, and he will try to escape along that. Therefore you must lay an ambush for him twenty li away from the city, but do not stop him. Let him go by, and then harass his rear. Thus he will be forced into Linchü. Set another small ambush near there, and you will capture your enemy. For the present, attack the city vigorously on all sides but one, leaving the north gate for escape.' Before carrying out this plan, Sun bade Lü Fan consult the auspices. He did so, announcing that the enemy would flee toward the northwest, but would be caught that night before midnight. So Chu Jan was sent in command of the first ambush, five companies, and P'an Chang with a cohort was the second. The men were all veterans. When Kuan Yü mustered his fighting men in the city, he had but three hundred, all told. The food was done. That night many men of Wu came to the city walls and called to their friends by name, and many of these slipped over the wall and deserted, reducing the small force still further. No rescue force appeared, and Kuan was at the end of his resources. Again he bewailed to Wang Fu the obstinacy that had led him to neglect his wise warning. "I think even if Tzu-ya (Lü Shang) could come to life again he would be helpless in this case," replied Wang Fu, sadly. Said Chao Lei, "Liu Fêng and Mêng Ta have surely decided not to send help from Shangyung. Let us abandon this miserable place and try to regain Hsich'uan. We may then tempt our fortune once more.' "I agree with you that that is the best plan," said Kuan Yü. Then he ascended the walls and surveyed the country. Noting that the weakest side was the north, he called in some of the inhabitants and enquired the nature of the country on that side. They replied, "There are only paths there, but by them one may get into Hsich'uan.” "We will go that way to-night," said Kuan. Wang Fu opposed it, pointing out that they would surely fall into an ambush. The main road would be safer. "There may be an ambush, but do I fear that?" said the old warrior. Orders were given to be ready to march. "At least be very cautious," said Wang Fu. "I will defend this city to the very last; I only need a few men. Never will we surrender. Only I hope, most noble Marquis, that you will send me speedy help." The two parted in tears; Wang Fu and Chou Ts'ang remaining to guard Maich'êng. Kuan Yü, Kuan P'ing and Chao Lei marched with their weak force out of the north gate. Kuan Yü, his great sword ready to hand, went first. About the time of watch-setting, a score of li lay between them and the city. There they saw a deep cleft in the hills wherefrom rolled the sound of beaten drums. And men were shouting. Soon appeared a large force with Chu Jan at their head. He came dashing forward, and summoned the small party to surrender if they would save their lives. But Kuan Yü whipped his steed to a gallop and bore down on the leader with anger in his eyes. Then Chu Jan ran away. Kuan Yü followed him till there came the loud boom of a large drum, and out sprang men from all sides. Kuan Yü dared not engage such a number, and fled in the direction of Linchü. Chu Jan came up behind and attacked the flying soldiers, so that Kuan's following gradually became smaller and smaller. Still he struggled on. A few li farther the drums rolled again, and torches lit up all round. This was P'an Chang's ambush, and he appeared flourishing his sword. Kuan Yü whirled his blade and went to meet him, but P'an ran away after a couple of bouts. However, Kuan Yü saw they were too many for him, and sought refuge among the mountains. His son followed, and when he got within speaking distance he gave him the mournful tidings that Chao Lei had fallen. Kuan Yü was very sad, and bade his son try to protect the rear while he should force his way forward. With a half score men he reached Chüehshih, a place with mountains on both sides. At their foot was a thick mass of reeds and dried grass. The trees grew very close. It was then the fifth watch. Presently the small party stumbled into another ambush, and the men thrust forth hooks and threw ropes. Entangled in these, Kuan Yü's horse fell, and Kuan Yü reeled out of the saddle. In a moment he was a prisoner. Kuan P'ing dashed to his rescue, but before he could do anything he also was surrounded and held. Father and son were both captives. With great joy Sun Ch'üan heard of the success of his plans. He assembled all his officers in his tent to await the arrival of the prisoners. Before long, Ma Chung, who had actually caught Kuan Yü, came hustling his prisoner before him. "I have long had a friendly feeling for you," said Sun Ch'üan to Kuan Yü, "on account of your great virtues. Now I would have made a covenant and alliance with you, if you would. You and your son have long held yourselves to be invincible, but you see you are my prisoners to-day. Yet I hope to win you over to my side." But Kuan Yü only answered roughly, "You green-eyed boy! You red-bearded rat! I made a covenant in the Peach Garden with my brothers to uphold the Hans. Think you that I will stand side by side with a rebel such as you are? I am a victim of your vile schemes, but I can only die once. And there is no need of many words." "He is a real hero, and I love him," said Sun Ch'üan to those standing near. "I will treat him well and endeavour to win. him over. Do you think it well?" Said one of them, "When Ts'ao Ts'ao had hold of this man he treated him lavishly well. He created him a marquis; he feasted him day after day at public and private banquets; he gave him gold and presented him with silver; all this, hoping to retain him at his side. But he failed. The man broke through his gates, slew his captains and went away. To-day Ts'ao Ts'ao fears him, and almost moved the capital for dread of him. Now he is in your power destroy him, or you will rue the day. Evil will come if you spare him." Sun Ch'üan reflected for some time. "You are right," said he presently, and gave the order for execution. So father and son met their fate together in the twentyfourth year (219 A.D.) in the tenth month. Kuan Kung was fifty-eight. A poem says:— Peerless indeed was our lord Kuan, of the latter days, Godlike and terrible in war, elegant and refined in peace, Haloed as are the noblest of those early days, He stands, the brightest model for all ages, And not only for the strenuous days he lived in. And another: Seek ye a noble one? Then take ye the way of Chiehliang, Each excelling others to honour him, Him, one of the three brothers of the Peach Garden Oath, |