San Kuo/Volume 1/Chapter 42
CHAPTER XLII.
Chang Fei’s Great Fight at Ch‘angpan Slope: Liu Pei, Defeated, Goes to Hanchingk‘ou.
As related in the last chapter two brothers appeared in front of our warrior, who rode at them with his spear ready for a thrust. Chung Chin was leading, flourishing his battle-axe. Chao Yün engaged and very soon unhorsed him. Then he galloped away. Chung Shên rode up behind ready with his halberd and his horse’s nose got so close to the other’s tail that in Chao Yün’s back heart-protecting mirror he could see the play of the reflection of his weapon. Then suddenly, and without warning, Chao Yün wheeled round his horse so that he faced his pursuer and their two steeds struck breast to breast. With his spear in his left hand he warded off the halberd strokes and in his right he swung the sword Ch‘ing-kung) One slash and he had cut through both helmet and head; Chung Shên fell to the ground, a corpse with only half a head on his body. His followers fled and Chao Yün retook the road toward Long Slope Bridge.
But in his rear arose another tumultuous shouting, seeming to rend the very sky, and Wên P‘ing came up behind. However, although the man was weary and his steed highspent, Chao Yün got close to the bridge where he saw standing, all ready for any fray, his brother in arms.
“Help me, I-tê!” he cried and crossed the bridge.
“Hasten!” cried Chang Fei, “I will keep back the pursuers.”
About twenty li from the bridge he saw Yüan-tê with his followers reposing in the shade of some trees. He dismounted and drew near, weeping. The tears also started to Yüan-tê's eyes when he saw his faithful follower.
Still panting from his exertions, Chao Yün gasped out, “My fault———death is too light a punishment. The Lady Mi was severely wounded; she refused my horse and threw herself into a well. She is dead and all I could do was to fill in the well with the rubbish that lay around. But I placed the babe in the breast of my fighting robe and have won my way out of the press of battle. Thanks to the little lord’s grand luck I have escaped. At first he cried a good deal, but for some time now he has not stirred or made a sound. I fear I may not have saved his life after all.”
Then he opened his robe and looked; the child was fast asleep.
“Happily, Sir, your son is unhurt,” said Chao as he drew him forth and presented him in both hands. Yüan-tê took the child but threw it aside angrily, saying, “To preserve that suckling I very nearly lost a great captain.”
Chao Yün picked up the child again and, weeping, said, “Were I ground to powder I could not prove my gratitude.”
From out Ts‘ao’s host a tiger rushed,
His wish but to destroy;
Though Liu Pei’s consort lost her life,
Chao Yün preserved her boy.
“Too great the risk you ran to save
This child,” the father cried.
To show he rated Chao Yün high,
He threw his son aside.
Wên P‘ing and his company pursued Chao Yün till they saw Chang Fei’s bristling moustache and fiercely glaring eyes before them. There he was seated on his battle steed, his hand grasping his terrible serpent-like spear, guarding the bridge. They also saw great clouds of dust rising above the trees and concluded they would fall into an ambush if they ventured across the bridge. So they stopped the pursuit, not daring to advance further.
In a little time several other captains came up, but none dared advance, frightened not only by Chang Fei’s fierce look, but lest they should become victims of a ruse of the terrible Chuko Liang. As they came up they formed a line on the west side, halting till they could inform their lord of the position.
As soon as the messengers arrived and Ts‘ao Ts‘ao heard about it he mounted and rode to the bridge to see for himself. Chang Fei’s fierce eye scanning the hinder position of the army opposite him saw the silken umbrella, the axes and banners coming along and concluded that Ts‘ao Ts‘ao came to see for himself how matters stood. So in a mighty voice he shouted, “I am Chang I-tê of Yen; who dares fight with me?”
At the sound of this thundrous voice a terrible quaking fear seized upon Ts‘ao and he bade them take the umbrella away. Turning to his followers he said, “Kuan Yü said that his brother Chang Fei was the sort of man to go through an army of a hundred legions and take the head of its commanderin-chief; and do it easily. Now here is this terror in front of us and we must be careful.”
As he finished speaking again that terrible voice was heard, “I am Chang I-tê of Yen; who dares fight with me?”
Ts‘ao, seeing his enemy so fierce and resolute, was too frightened to think of anything but retreat and Chang Fei, seeing a movement going on in the rear, once again shook his spear and roared, “What mean you, cowards? You will not fight nor do you run away.”
This roar had scarcely begun when one of Ts‘ao’s staff reeled and fell from his horse terror-stricken, paralysed with fear. The panic touched Ts‘ao Ts‘ao, and spread to his whole surroundings and he and his staff galloped for their lives. They were as frightened as a suckling babe at a clap of thunder or a weak woodcutter at the roar of a tiger. Many threw away their spears, dropped their casques and fled, a wave of panic-stricken humanity, a tumbling mass of terrified horses. None thought of aught but flight, and those who ran trampled the bodies of fallen comrades under foot.
Chang Fei was wrathful; and who dared
To accept his challenge? Fierce he glared;
His thundrous voice rolled out, and then
In terror fled Ts‘ao’s armed men.
Panic stricken Ts‘ao Ts‘ao galloped westward with the rest, thinking of nothing but getting away. He lost his headdress and his loosened hair streamed behind him. Presently Chang Liao and Hsü Ch‘u came up with him and seized his bridle; fear had deprived him of all self-control.
“Do not be frightened,” said Chang Liao. “After all Chang Fei is but one man and not worthy of extravagant fear. If you will only return and attack you will capture your enemy.”
By that time Ts‘ao had somewhat overcome his panic and become reasonable. Two captains were ordered back to the bridge to reconnoitre.
Chang Fei saw the disorderly rout of the enemy but he dared not pursue. However, he bade his score or so of dustraising followers to cut loose the branches from their horses' tails and come to help destroy the bridge. This done he went to report to his brother and told him of the destruction of the bridge.
“Brave as you are, brother, and no one is braver, you are no strategist,” said Liu Pei.
“What mean you, brother?”
“Ts‘ao Ts‘ao is very deep. You are no match for him. The destruction of the bridge will bring him in pursuit.”
“If he ran away at a yell of mine, think you he will dare return?”
“If you had left the bridge he would have thought there was an ambush and would not have dared to pass it. Now the destruction of the bridge tells him we are weak and fearful, and he will pursue. He does not mind a broken bridge. His legions could fill up the biggest rivers that we could get across. ”
So orders were given to march and they went by a bye-road which led diagonally to Hanching and then took the road to Minyang.
The two captains sent by Ts‘ao to reconnoitre near Ch‘angpan Bridge returned, saying, “The bridge has been destroyed, Chang Fei has left.”
“Then he is afraid,” said Ts‘ao.
He at once gave orders to set a legion at work on three floating bridges to be finished that night.
Li Tien said, “I fear this is one of the wiles of Chuko Liang; so be careful.”
“Chang Fei is just a bold warrior, but there is no guile about him,” said Ts‘ao Ts‘ao.
He gave orders for immediate advance.
Liu Pei was making all speed to Hanching. Suddenly there appeared in his track a great cloud of dust whence came loud rolls of drums and shoutings. Yüan-tê was dismayed and said, “Before us rolls the great river; behind is the pursuer. What hope is there for us?”
But he bade Chao Yün organise a defence.
Now Ts‘ao Ts‘ao in an order to his army had said, “Liu Pei is a fish in the fish kettle; a tiger in the pit. Catch him this time, or the fish will get back to the sea and the tiger escape to the hills. Therefore every captain must use his best efforts to press on.”
In consequence every leader bade those under him hasten forward. And they were pressing on at great speed when suddenly soldiers appeared from the hills and a voice cried, “I have waited here a long time.”
The leader who had shouted this bore in his hand the Black Dragon sword and rode “Red Hare,” for indeed it was no other than Kuan Yü. He had gone to Chianghsia for help and had returned with a whole legion. Having heard of the battle he had taken this very road to intercept pursuit.
As soon as Kuan Yü appeared Ts‘ao stopped and said to his officers, “Here we are, tricked again by that Chuko Liang.”
Without more ado he ordered a retreat. Kuan Yü followed him some ten li and then drew off to act as guard to his elder brother on his way to the river. There boats were ready and Yüan-tê and family went on board. When all were settled comfortably in the boat Kuan Yü asked where was his sister, the second wife of his brother. Then Yüan-tê told him the story of Tangyang.
“Alas!” said Kuan Yü. “Had you taken my advice that day of the hunting in Hsüt‘ien we should have escaped the misery of this day.”
“But,” said Yüan-tê, “on that day it was 'Ware damage when pelting rats.”
Just as he spoke he heard war-drums on the south bank. A fleet of boats, thick as a flight of ants, came running up with swelling sails before the fair wind. He was alarmed.
The boats came nearer. There he saw the white clad figure of a man wearing a silver hennet who stood in the prow of the foremost ship. He cried, “Are you all right, my uncle? I am very guilty.”
It was Liu Chi. He bowed low as the ship passed, saying, “I heard you were in danger from Ts‘ao Ts‘ao and I have come to aid you.”
Yüan-tê welcomed him with joy and his soldiers joined in with the main body and the whole fleet sailed on, while they told each other their adventures.
Unexpectedly in the south-west there appeared a line of fighting ships swishing up before a fair wind. Liu Chi said, “All my men are here and now there is an enemy barring the way. If they are not Ts‘ao Ts‘ao’s ships they must be from Chiangtung. We have a poor chance. What now?”
Yüan-tê went to the prow and gazed at them. Presently he made out a figure in a turban and Taoist robe sitting in the bows of one of the boats and knew it to be K‘ung-ming. Behind him stood Sun Ch‘ien.
When they were quite near Yüan-tê asked K‘ung-ming how he came to be there. And he reported what he had done, saying, “When I reached Chianghsia I sent Kuan Yü to land at Hanching with reinforcements, for I feared pursuit from Ts‘ao Ts‘ao and knew the road you would take. So I prayed your nephew to go to meet you while I went to Hsiak‘ou to muster as many men as possible.”
The new-comers added to their strength and they began once more to consider how their powerful enemy might be overcome.
Said K‘ung-ming, “Hsiak‘ou is strong and a good strategical point; it is also rich and suited for a lengthy stay. I would ask you, my lord, to make it a permanent camp. Your nephew can go to Chianghsia to get the fleet in order and prepare weapons. Thus there will be two threatening angles to our position. If we all return to Chianghsia the position will be weakened.”
Liu Chi replied, “The Adviser-General’s words are excellent, but I would rather my uncle stayed awhile in Chianghsia till the army was in thorough order. Then he could go to Hsiak‘ou.
“You speak to the point, nephew,” replied Yüan-tê. Then leaving Kuan Yü with half a legion at Hsiak‘ou he, with K‘ung-ming and his nephew, went to Chianghsia.
When Ts‘ao Ts‘ao saw Kuan Yü with a force ready to attack he feared lest a greater number were hidden away behind, so he stopped the pursuit. He also feared lest Yüan-tê should take Chiangling, so he marched thither with all haste.
The two officers in command at Chingchou had heard of what happened at Hsiangyang and, knowing that there was no chance of successful defence against Ts‘ao Ts‘ao’s armies, they led out the people of Chingchou to the outskirts and offered submission. Ts‘ao entered the city and, after restoring order and confidence, he released Han Sung and gave him the dignified office of Director of Ambassadorial Receptions. He rewarded the others.
Then said Ts‘ao Ts‘ao, “Liu Pei has gone to Chianghsia and may ally himself with Wu and the opposition to me will be greater. Can he be destroyed?”
Hsün Yu said, “The splendour of your achievements has spread wide. Therefore you might send a messenger to invite Sun Ch'üan to a grand hunting party at Chianghsia and you two could seize Liu Pei, share Chingchou with Sun and make a solemn treaty. Sun will be too frightened not to come over to you and your end will be gained.”
Ts‘ao agreed. He sent the letters by a messenger and he prepared his men, horse and foot and marines. He had in all eighty-three legions, but he called them a hundred. The attack was to be by land and water at the same time.
The fleet advanced up the river in two lines. On the west it extended to Chinghsia, on the east to Ch‘ihuang in Hupeh. The stockades stretched three hundred li.
At this point the narrative must digress. The story of Ts‘ao Ts‘ao’s movements and successes reached Sun Ch'üan, then in camp at Ch‘aisang. He assembled his strategists to decide on a scheme of defence.
Lu Su said, “Chingchou is contiguous to our borders. It is strong and defensive, its people are rich. It is the sort of country that an emperor or a king should have. Liu Piao’s recent death gives an excuse for me to be sent to convey condolence and, once there, I shall be able to talk over Liu Pei and the officers of the late prefect to combine with you against Ts‘ao. If Liu Pei does as I wish, then success is yours.”
Sun Ch'üan thought this a good plan, so he had the necessary letters prepared, and the gifts, and sent Lu Su with them.
All this time Liu Pei was at Chianghsia where, with K‘ungming and Liu Ch‘i, he was endeavouring to evolve a good plan of campaign.
K‘ung-ming said, “Ts‘ao Ts‘ao’s power is too great for us to cope with. Let us go over to Wu and ask help from Sun Ch'üan. If we can set north and south at grips we ought to be able to get some advantage from our mediary position between them.”
“But will they be willing to have anything to do with us?” said Yüan-tê. “It is a large and populous country and Sun Ch'üan has ambitions of his own.”
K‘ung-ming replied, “Ts‘ao with his army of a hundred legions holds the Han and the Yangtse. Chiangtung will certainly send to find out all possible about the position. Should any messenger come I shall borrow a little boat and make a little trip over the river and trust to my little lithe tongue to set north and south at each other’s throats. If the southern men win, we will assist in destroying Ts‘ao in order to get Chingchou; if the north win, we shall profit by the victory to get Chiangnan. So we shall get some advantage either way.”
“That is a very fine view to take,” said Yüan-tê. “But how are you going to get hold of any one from the south to talk to?”
Liu Pei’s question was answered by the arrival of Lu Su, and as the ship touched the bank and the envoy came ashore, K‘ung-ming laughed, saying, “It is done!”
Turning to Liu Ch‘i he asked, “When Sun Ts'ê died did your country send any condolences?”
“Is it likely there would be any mourning courtesies between them and us while there was the death of a father to avenge?”
“Then it is certain that this envoy does not come to present condolences but to spy out the land.”
So he said to Yüan-tê, “When Lu Su asks about the movements of Ts‘ao Ts‘ao, you will know nothing. If he press the matter, say he can ask me.”
Having thus prepared their scheme they sent to welcome the envoy, who entered the city in mourning garb. The gifts having been accepted, Liu Ch‘i asked Lu Su to meet Yüan-tê. When the introductory ceremonies were over the three men went to one of the inner chambers to drink a cup of wine. Presently Lu Su said to Yüan-tê, “By reputation I have known you a long time, Uncle Liu, but till to-day I have not met you. I am very gratified at seeing you. You have been fighting Ts‘ao Ts‘ao, though, lately, so I suppose you know all about him. Has he really so great an army? How many, do you think, he has?”
“My army was so small that we fled whenever we heard of his approach; so I do not know how many he had.”
“You had the advice of Chuko K‘ung-ming and you used fire on Ts‘ao Ts‘ao twice. You burned him almost to death so that you can hardly say you know nothing about his men,” said Lu.
“Without asking my adviser I really do not know the details.”
“Where is K‘ung-ming? I should like to see him,” said Lu.
So they sent for him and he was introduced. When the ceremonies were over Lu Su said, “I have long admired your genius but have never been fortunate enough to meet you. Now that I have met you I hope I may speak of present politics.”
Replied K‘ung-ming, “We know all Ts‘ao Ts‘ao’s infamies and wickednesses, but to our regret we were not strong enough to withstand him. That is why we avoided him.”
“Is the Imperial Uncle going to stay here?”
“The Princely One is an old friend of Wu Ch'ên, Prefect of Ts‘angwu and intends to go to him.”
“He has few men and insufficient supplies, he cannot ensure safety. How can he receive the Uncle?” said Lu.
“His place is not one to remain in long, but it is good enough for the present. We can make other plans for the future.”
Lu said, “Sun Ch'üan is strongly posted and is exceedingly well supplied. He treats able men and scholars with the greatest courtesy and so they gather round him. Now if you are seeking a plan for your Prince you cannot do better than send some friend to confer with him.”
“There have never been any relations between my master and yours,” said K‘ung-ming. “I fear there would be nothing but a waste of words. Besides, we have no one to send.”
“Your elder brother is there as adviser and is longing to see you. I am but a simple wight but I should be pleased to discuss affairs with my master and you.”
“But he is my Director-in-Chief,” said Yüan-tê, “and I cannot do without him. He cannot go.”
Lu Su pressed him. Yüan-tê pretended to refuse permission.
“It is important; I pray you give me leave to go,” said K‘ung-ming.
Then Yüan-tê consented. And they soon took leave and the two set out by boat for Sun Ch'üan’s headquarters.
A little boat sailed down the stream
With Chuko well content;
For he could see his enemies
To black perdition sent.
The result of this journey will appear in the following chapter.