תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub

Chuko, much disturbed, returned to his chamber to try once more to sleep. But a cold wind blew, and, shivering in the chilly air, he saw the figures of the hempen-clad mourner and the gate wardens he had put to death. They advanced toward him holding their heads in their hands and seemed to threaten him. He was frightened, and fell in a swoon.

Next morning, when washing his face, the water seemed tainted with the smell of blood. He bade the maid throw it away and bring more; it made no difference, the odour was still there.

He was perplexed and distressed. Then came a messenger with an invitation to a royal banquet. He had his carriage. prepared. As he was passing through the gate a yellow dog jumped up and caught hold of his garment and then howled lugubriously.

"The dog even mocks me," said he, annoyed, and he bade his attendants take it away. Then he set out for the palace. Before he had gone far, he saw a white rainbow rise out of the earth and reach up to the sky. While he was wondering what

this might portend, his friend Chang Yüeh came up and spake a word of warning.

"I feel doubtful about the real purpose of this banquet," said Chang, "and advise you not to go."

Chuko gave orders to drive home again, but before he had reached his own gate the two conspirators rode up and asked why he was turning back.

"I feel unwell and cannot see the king to-day," replied Chuko. They replied, "This court is appointed to be held especially to do honour to you and the army. You have not yet reported, and there is a banquet for you. You may be ill, but you really must go to court."

Chuko yielded, and once more set his face toward the palace. The two conspirators went with him, and his friend Chang followed. The banquet was spread when he arrived, and after he had made his obeisance he went to his place.

When the wine was brought in Chuko, thinking it might be poisoned, excused himself from drinking on account of his state of health.

"Will you have some of the medicated wine brought from your own residence?" said Sun Hsün.

"Yes; I could drink that," replied he.

So a servant was sent for a supply that he might drink with. the other guests.

After several courses, the king made an excuse and left the banquet hall. Sun went to the foot of the hall and changed his garments of ceremony for more homely garb, but underneath these he put on armour. Then suddenly he raised his keen sword and ran up the hall, shouting, "The king has issued an edict to slay a rebel."

Chuko, startled so that he dropped his cup, laid his hand upon his sword. But he was too late; his head rolled to the floor. His friend Chang drew his sword and rushed at the assassin, but Sun evaded the full force of the blow and was only wounded in the finger. Sun slashed back at Chang and wounded him in the right arm. Then the bravos dashed in and finished him.

The ruffians were then sent to murder the Chuko family, while the bodies of the two victims were hastily rolled in matting, thrown into a cart, taken to the outside of the south gate and tossed into a rubbish pit.

While Chuko was absent in the palace, his wife sat in the women's quarters at home feeling strangely unquiet. Presently a maid came in and, when she drew near her mistress, said, "Why does your clothing smell of blood?"

To her horror the maid suddenly transformed into a weird creature with rolling eyes and gritting teeth, that went dancing about the room and leaping till it touched the roof-beams, shrieking all the time, "I am Chuko Ch'üo, and I have been slain by that dastard Sun Hsün."

By this time the whole family were frightened and began wailing. And a few minutes later the residence was surrounded by a crowd of armed men sent to murder the inmates, whom they bound, carried off to the market-place and put to the sword.

These things occurred in the second year of the period. Ta-Hsing. Before Chuko Chin, father of the murdered minister, died he had a premonition that his son's ability would lead him into trouble and that he would not safeguard his family. Others had also predicted an early death. A certain officer in Wei said Chuko would die soon, and when asked why, replied, "Can a man live long when his dignity endangers that of his lord?"

Sun Hsün, the chief conspirator and real murderer, became Prime Minister in place of his victim. He was also placed in command of all the military forces, and became very powerful. The control of all matters was in his hands.

When the letter asking help from Chiang Wei arrived in Shu, Chiang had audience with the king and requested authority to raise an army against the north.

The army fought, but fought in vain,
Success may crown a new campaign.

Who were victorious will appear in the next chapter.

CHAPTER CIX.

SSUMA SURROUNDED; A HAN LEADER EMPLOYS AN

UNEXPECTED RUSE;

THE KING DETHRONED; RETRIBUTION FOR THE WEI FAMILY.

It

was in the sixteenth year of Yen-Hsi that Chiang Wei's army of twenty legions was ready to march against the House of Wei. Miao Hua and Chang I were leaders of the van; Hsiahou Pa was strategist; Chang Ni was in command of the commissariat. The army marched out by the Yangp'ing Pass. Discussing the plan of campaign with Hsiahou Pa, Chiang Wei said, "Our former attack on Yungchou failed, so this time they will doubtless be even better prepared to resist. What do you suggest?"

The strategist replied, "Nanan is the only well-provided place in all Shênsi; if we take that it will serve as an excellent base. Our former ill-success was due to the non-arrival of the Ch'iang. Let us therefore send early to tell them to assemble, after which we will move out at Shihying and march to Nanan by way of Tungt'ing."

Chiang approved the plan and at once sent Ch'i Chêng as his envoy, bearing gifts of gold and pearls and Ssuch'uan silk to win the help of the Prince of the Ch'iang, whose name was Mitang. The mission was successful; the prince accepted the presents and sent five legions to Nanan under the leadership of Ohoshaoko.

When Kuo Huai heard of the threatened attack, he sent a hasty memorial to Loyang. Ssŭma Shih at once asked who of his captains would go out to meet the army from the west. Hsü Chih volunteered, and as the Prime Minister had a high opinion of his capacity, he was appointed leader of the van. The brother of the Prime Minister, Ssuma Chao, went as Commander-in-chief.

The Wei army set out for Shênsi, reached Tungt'ing and there fell in with Chiang Wei. When both sides were arrayed Hsü Chih, who wielded a mighty axe called "Splitter of Mountains" as his weapon, rode out and challenged. Miao Hua went forth to accept, but after a few bouts he took advantage of a feint and fled.

Then Chang I set his spear and rode forth to continue the fight. He also soon fled and returned within his own ranks. Thereupon Hsü Chih gave the signal to fall on in force, and

the army of Shu lost the day. They retired thirty li; Ssŭma also drew off his men, and both sides encamped.

"Hsü Chih is very formidable; how can we overcome him?" asked Chiang Wei.

"To-morrow make pretence of defeat and so draw them into an ambush," was the reply.

"But remember whose son this Ssuma Chao is," said Chiang. "He cannot be a novice in war, and if he sees a likely spot for an ambush he will halt. Now the men of Wei have cut our communications many times; let us do the same to them, and we may slay this Hsü."

He called in the two leaders of his van and gave them secret orders, sending them in different directions. Then he laid iron caltrops along all the approaches and planted chevaux de frise ("deer-horns") as if making a permanent defence. When the men of Wei came up and challenged, the men of Shu refused battle.

The scouts discovered that the Shu supplies were coming up along the rear of T'iehlung Mountains, and they were using the wooden oxen and running horses as transport. They also reported the look of permanency in the defences and said they were evidently awaiting the arrival of their allies the barbarian tribes.

Then said Ssuma, "We formerly defeated the army of Shu by cutting off supplies, and we can do that again. Let half a legion go out to-night and occupy the road."

About the middle of the first watch Hsü Chih marched across the hills, and when he came to the other side he saw a couple of hundred men driving a hundred or so head of mechanical animals laden with grain and forage. His men. rushed down upon them with shouts, and the men of Shu, seeing that their road was impassable, abandoned their supplies and ran away. Hsü took possession of the supply train, which he sent back to his own camp under the escort of half his men. With the other half he set out in pursuit.

About ten li away, the road was found blocked with carts set across the track. Some of his men dismounted to clear the way, but as they did so the brushwood on both sides burst into a blaze. Hsü at once drew off his men and turned to retiré, but coming to a defile he found the road again blocked with waggons, and again the brushwood began to burn. He made a dash to escape, but before he could get clear a bomb roared, and he saw the men of Shu coming down on him from two directions. Both fell on Hsü with great fury, and the men of Wei were wholly defeated. Hsü Chih himself got clear, but without any following.

He struggled on till he and his steed were almost spent with fatigue. Presently he saw another company of the enemy in his way, and the leader was Chiang Wei. He could make no

resistance. His horse fell from a spear thrust, and as Hsü Chih lay on the ground he was cut to pieces.

Meanwhile those men of Wei who had been sent to escort to camp the convoy of supplies which they had seized were captured by Hsiahou Pa. They surrendered. Hsiahou then stripped them of their weapons and clothing and therein disguised some of his own men. Holding aloft banners of Wei, these disguised men made for the Wei camp. When they arrived they were mistaken by those in the camp for comrades, and the gates were thrown open.

They rushed in and began to slay. Taken wholly by surprise, Ssuma Chao leaped upon his steed and fled. But Miao Hua met him and drove him back. Then appeared Chiang Wei in the path of retreat, so that no road lay open. Ssuma made off for the hills, hoping to be able to hold out on the T'iehlung Hill.

Now there was but one road up the hill, which rose steeply on all sides. There was but one small spring of water, enough to serve a hundred men or so, while Ssuma's force numbered six thousand. Their enemies had blocked the only road. This one fountain was unequal to supplying the needs of the beleaguered army, and soon they were tormented with thirst. In despair, Ssuma looked up to heaven and sighed, saying, "Death will surely come to me here."

The host of Wei on T'iehlung Hill

Were once fast held by Chiang Wei's skill;
When P'ang first crossed the Maling line
His strategy was reckoned fine

As Hsiang Yü's at the Nine Mile Hill;
Both bent opponents to their will.

In this critical situation a certain civil officer, Wang T'ao by name, reminded his leader of what Kêng Kung had done, saying, "O General, why do you not imitate Kêng Kung, who, being in great need, prostrated himself and prayed at a well, wherefrom he afterwards was supplied with sweet water?"

So the leader went to the summit of the hill and knelt beside the spring and prayed thus:-"The humble Chao received a command to repulse the army of Shu. If he is to die here, then may this spring cease its flow, when he will end his own life and let his soldiers yield to the enemy. But if his allotted span of life be not reached, then, O Blue Vault, increase the flow of water and save the lives of this multitude." Thus he prayed; and the waters gushed forth in plenty, so that they all quenched their thirst and lived.

Chiang Wei had surrounded the hill, holding the army thereon as in a prison. He said to his officers, "I have always regretted that our great minister was unable to capture Ssuma I in the Shangfang Valley, but now I think his son is doomed to fall into our hands."

« הקודםהמשך »