San Kuo/Volume 1/Chapter 53
CHAPTER LIII.
Kuan Yu, from a Sense of Righteousness, Releases Huang Chung: Sun Ch‘uan Fights a Great Battle with Chang Liao.
What K‘ung-ming required from Chang Fei was a formal recognition of responsibility for success. Said he, “When Chao Yün went on his expedition he gave written guarantee of being responsible for success and you ought to do the same now that you are starting for Wuling. In that case you may have men and start.”
So Chang Fei gave the required document and received joyfully the three companies of soldiers he had demanded. He set out at once and travelled without rest till he reached Wuling.
When the Prefect of Wuling, Chin Hsüan by name, heard that an expedition against him was afoot he mustered his officers and recruited brave soldiers and put his weapons in order ready for the struggle. And his army moved out of the city.
A certain secretary, Kung Chih, remonstrated with his chief for opposing a scion of the imperial house, saying, “Liu Yüan-tê is of the Hans, and recognised as an uncle of the Emperor. All the world knows he is kindly and righteous. Added to that his brother Chang Fei is extraordinarily bold. We cannot face them in battle with hope of success. Our best course is to give in.”
But his master angrily replied, “Do you want to play the traitor and take the side of the rebels and help them?”
He called in the lictors and told them to put Kung to death. The other officers interceded for him, saying, “It augers ill to start an expedition by slaying your own men.”
So the Prefect merely sent Kung Chih away. He himself led the army out of the city. After marching twenty li he met with Chang Fei’s army.
Chang Fei at once rode to the front, spear ready to thrust, and opened with a shout. Chin Hsüan turned to his officers and asked who would go out to fight him, but no one replied; they were too afraid.
So the Prefect himself galloped out, flourishing his sword. Seeing him advance Chang Fei shouted in a voice of thunder. Poor Chin was seized with panic, turned pale and could not go on. He turned his steed and fled. Then Chang Fei and his army went in pursuit and smote the fugitives, chasing them to the city wall.
Here the fugitives were greeted by a flight of arrows from their own wall. Greatly frightened, Chin Hsüan looked up to see what this meant and there was Kung Chih, who had opposed him, standing on the wall.
“You brought defeat upon yourself because you opposed the will of God,” cried the traitor. “I and the people with me are determined to yield to Liu Pei.”
Just as he finished speaking an arrow wounded Chin Hsüan in the face and he fell to the ground. Thereupon his own men cut off his head, which they forthwith presented to Chang Fei. Kung Chih then went out and made formal submission and Chang Fei bade him take his letter and the seal to Kueiyang to Liu Pei, who was pleased to hear of Chang Fei’s success and gave the prefectship to Kung Chih. Soon after Yüan-tê came in person and soothed the people.
This done he wrote to his other brother telling him I-tê and Tzu-lung had gained a district each. Kuan at once wrote back and said that Changsha was yet to be taken and if he was not thought too feeble he would like to be sent to attack it. Yüan-tê agreed and sent Chang Fei to relieve his brother, whom he ordered to return and prepare for an expedition to Changsha. Kuan Yü came and went in to see his elder brother and K‘ung-ming.
At this interview K‘ung-ming said that the other two successful warriors had done their work with three companies. The Prefect of Changsha, Han Yüan, was not worth mentioning, but there was a certain general with him, named Huang Chung, who had to be reckoned with.
“Huang Chung,” said K‘ung-ming, “is a native of Nanyang. He used to be in the service of Liu Piao and was a colleague of Liu P‘an, when he was in command of Changsha. After Liu Piao’s death he joined Han Yüan when he took command of the district. Now, although he is nearly sixty he is a man to be feared and a warrior of a thousand. You ought to take a larger number of men.”
Kuan Yü replied, “General, what makes you damp another man’s ardour to fight and do away with your own dignity? I do not think the old leader need be discussed and I do not think I require three companies of men. Give me my own half company of swordsmen and I will have the heads of both our enemies to sacrifice to our standard.”
Yüan-tê resisted this decision of Kuan Yü, but Kuan would not give way. He just took his half company and set out.
“If he is not careful how he attacks Huang Chung there will be a mishap,” said K‘ung-ming. “You must go to support him.”
Yüan-tê accordingly, at the head of another and larger party, set out toward Changsha.
The Prefect of Changsha was of hasty temperament with small compunction in matters of life and death and was universally hated. When he heard of the army coming against him he called his veteran leader, Huang, to ask advice. The latter said, “Do not be distressed; this sword of mine and my bow are equal to the slaughter of all who may come.”
Huang Chung had been very strong and could bend the two hundred catty bow and was a most perfect archer. When he referred to his one-time prowess a certain man spoke up and said, “Let not the old General go out to battle. Trust to my right arm and you shall have this Kuan a prisoner in your hands.”
The speaker was named Yang Ling. The Prefect accepted his offer and told off a company to go with him and they quickly rode out of the city. About fifty li from the city they observed a great cloud of dust approaching and soon distinguished the invaders. Yang Ling set his spear and rode to the front to abuse and fight. Kuan Yü made no reply to the abuse, but rode forward flourishing his sword. The warriors soon met and in the third encounter Yang Ling was cut down. Kuan Yü's company dashed forward and pursued the defeated force to the city wall.
When the Prefect heard of this reverse he ordered the veteran Huang Chung to go out while he went up on the city wall to watch the fight.
Huang Chung took his sword and crossed the drawbridge at the head of his men. Kuan Yü, seeing an old leader riding out, knew it must be Huang Chung. He halted his men and placed them in line with their swords at the point. Then sitting there on horseback he said, “He who comes is surely Huang Chung, eh?”
“Since you know me, how dare you come within my boundaries?” replied the veteran.
“I have come expressly to get your head.”
Then the combat began. They fought a hundred and more bouts and neither seemed nearer victory. At this point the Prefect, fearing some mishap to his veteran general, beat the gong to retreat and the battle ceased, one side going into the city and the other camping ten li away to the rear.
Kuan Yü thought in his heart that the fame of the veteran opposed to him was well merited. He had fought a hundred bouts and discovered never a weak spot. He determined that in the next encounter he would use a feint (or “Parthian” stab) and so overcome him.
Next day, the early meal eaten, Kuan Yü came to the city wall and offered his challenge. The Prefect seated himself on the city wall and bade his veteran warrior go out to accept it and, at the head of a few horsemen, he dashed across the drawbridge. The two champions engaged and at the end of half a hundred bouts neither had the advantage. On both sides the soldiers cheered lustily.
When the drums were beating most furiously, suddenly Kuan Yü wheeled round his horse and fled. Of course Huang Chung followed. Just as the moment for the feint arrived Kuan Yü heard behind him a tremendous crash and turned to see his pursuer lying prone upon the ground. His steed had stumbled and thrown him. Kuan Yü turned, raised his sword in both hands, and cried in a fierce tone, “I spare your life, but quick! get another horse and come again to battle.”
Huang Chung pulled his horse to its feet hastily, leapt upon its back and went into the city at full speed. The prefect was astonished and asked for an account of the accident. “The horse is too old,” replied Huang.
“Why did you not shoot since your arm is so perfect?” asked the Prefect.
“I will try again to-morrow,” said Huang. “Then I will run away as if overcome and so tempt him to the drawbridge and then shoot him.”
The Prefect gave the veteran a grey horse that he usually rode himself; Huang thanked him and retired.
But he could not forget Kuan Yü's generous conduct, nor could he understand it. He could not make up his mind to shoot the man who had spared his life. Yet if he did not shoot, he betrayed his duty as a soldier. It was very perplexing and the whole night spent in thinking it over found him still undecided.
At daybreak a man came in saying that Kuan Yü was near the wall and challenging them again. So Huang Chung gave orders to go out.
Now Kuan Yü, having fought for two days and not having overcome Huang Chung, was very ill at ease. So he called up all his dignity when he went forth to fight that day. When they had got to the thirtieth bout Huang Chung fled as if he was overcome. Kuan Yü pursued.
As he rode away Huang Chung thought in his heart, “He spared me only yesterday and I cannot bear to shoot him to-day. Putting up his sword he took his bow and twanged the string only; no arrow flew. Kuan Yü dodged, but seeing no arrow in the air, he re-took the pursuit. Again Huang twanged an arrowless bowstring and again Kuan dodged, but no arrow came. Then he said to himself, “He cannot shoot,” and pressed on in pursuit.
As they neared the city wall, the veteran stopped on the drawbridge, fitted an arrow, pulled the bow and sent an arrow flying that just hit the base of the plume on Kuan’s helmet. The soldiers shouted at the display of marksmanship. Kuan Yü was taken aback and set off for camp with the arrow still sticking. Then he heard that Huang Chung’s skill was said to be equal to piercing a willow leaf at a hundred paces and he understood that he owed this warning in the shape of an arrow in his plume to gratitude for sparing the veteran the preceding day.
Both withdrew. But when the veteran leader went up on the wall to see the Prefect, he was at once seized. “What have I done?” cried Huang Chung.
“I have seen these last three days that you were fooling me; you were slack the day before yesterday, which proved you had some sinister intention. Yesterday, when your horse stumbled and he spared you, it showed that you were in league with him. And to-day you twice twanged a vain bowstring, while at the third shot you only hit your opponent’s helmet. Dare you say there is no secret understanding in all this? If I do not put you to death it will assuredly redound to my own hurt.”
The Prefect ordered him to be executed outside the city gate. The intercession of the officers he met by saying that any one who pleaded for the condemned would be regarded as in the plot.
The executioners had hustled the old man out of the city and the sword was in the air and on the point of descending, when a man suddenly dashed in, cut down the lictor and rescued Huang Chung.
“Huang Chung is our bulwark;” shouted he, “to destroy him is to destroy the Changsha people. This Han is too fierce and cruel, too lightly values good men and is too arrogant toward his officers. We ought rather to kill him, and those who will, let them follow me.”
All eyes turned toward this bold speaker, who was bronzed and had eyes like the Cowherd’s star. Some of them knew him as Wei Yen, a native of Iyang. He had followed Liu Pei from Hsiangyang but, unable to come up with him, had gone into the service of Han Yüan. Han Yüan took exception to his arrogant carriage and lack of polish and neglected him. And so he had come to this place.
After the rescue of Huang Chung he called upon the people to make an end of the Prefect. He waved his arm and shouted to the people. Soon he had a following of several hundreds. Huang Chung could not stop them. In a very short time Wei had dashed up on the wall and the Prefect lay dead. Taking his head, Wei Yen rode off out of the city to lay the bloodstained trophy at the feet of Kuan Yü, who forthwith went into the city to restore confidence.
When the people were all quiet, Kuan sent to request Huang Chung to come to see him, but the old general pleaded illness. Next he sent the good news to his brother and to K‘ung-ming and asked them to come.
Soon after Kuan Yü had left to capture Changsha, Liu Pei and K‘ung-ming had followed him up with supports in case of need. While on the march a black flag was furled backwards and a crow flew over from north to south croaking thrice as it passed.
“What good or evil things do these omens presage?” asked Yüan-tê.
With hands hidden within his long sleeves, K‘ung-ming performed a rapid calculation on his fingers of the auspices and replied, “Changsha is taken and a great leader mastered. We shall know soon after noon.”
Sure enough a simple soldier presently came galloping along with the welcome tidings of the capture of the city and saying that the two city warriors who had aided them were near waiting the arrival of Liu Pei. Soon after they arrived Liu Pei entered the city, where he was escorted to the magistracy and heard the recital of Huang Chung’s deeds.
Yüan-tê went in person to Huang’s house and enquired for him, whereupon he came forth and yielded formally. He requested to be permitted to bury the remains of the late Prefect on the east of the city.
Lofty as is heaven above earth was the spirit of the captain,
Who, even in his old age, suffered sorrows in the south;
Cheerfully had he approached death, with no thought of resentment,
But, bowing before the conquerer, he hung his head and was ashamed.
Praise the sword, gleaming snow-white, and the glory of super-human bravery,
Consider the mail-clad steed snuffing the wind and rejoicing in the battle,
That warrior’s name shall stand high and its brightness be undiminished,
While the cold moon sheds her light on the waters of Hsiang and T‘an.
Yüan-tê was generous toward the veteran leader who had come under his banner. But when Wei Yen was introduced, K‘ung-ming suddenly ordered him to be thrust forth and put to death.
“He has merit; he has committed no fault,” exclaimed Yüan-tê. “Why slay him?”
But K‘ung-ming replied, “Ingratitude; to eat a man’s bread and slay him is most disloyal; to live on his land and offer his territory to another is most wrong. I see the bone of treachery at the back of his head and he will certainly turn against his master. Wherefore it is well to put him to death and prevent him from doing harm.”
“If we slay this man others who may wish to surrender will be deterred by the danger. I pray you forgive him.”
K‘ung-ming pointed his finger at Wei Yen and said, “You are pardoned. You would do well to be perfectly faithful to your lord as well as grateful. Do not let a single thought stray elsewhere or I will have your head by fair means or foul.”
Wei Yen went away muttering to himself.
Having given in with good grace, Huang Chung introduced a nephew of Liu Piao, named P‘an, then living in Yuhsien near by. Yüan-tê employed him in the administration of Changsha.
All being tranquil at Changsha, Yüan-tê and his army returned to Chingchou. The name Yuchiangk‘ou was changed to Kungan and soon all was prosperous. Taxes were freely paid and able men from all sides came to assist in the administration. Guards were placed at strategic points.
It is time to return to Chou Yü. When he went to Ch‘aisang to recover from his wound he left Kan Ning in command at Lingchün and Ling T‘ung at Hanyang. The fleet was shared between these two places to be ready to move when required. The remainder of the force was under Ch'êng P‘u and he went to Hofei, where Sun Ch'üan had been since the fight at Red Wall. He was still fighting the northern army and in half a score encounters, small and great, neither had gained a decided advantage. He could not approach the city but entrenched himself about fifty li away.
When he heard of the coming of reinforcements he was very pleased and went in person to meet and welcome the leaders. Lu Su was in advance of the main body and Sun Ch'üan dismounted and stood by the roadside to greet him. As soon as he saw this, Lu Su slid out of the saddle and made his obeisance.
But the officers were amazed at the attitude of Sun Ch'üan, and still more so when Sun Ch'üan asked Lu Su to remount and ride by his side. Presently he said secretly to Lu Su, “I, the Lone One, dismounted to greet you as you saw; was that manifestation enough for you?”
“No,” replied Lu Su.
“Then what further can I do?”
“I want to see your authority and virtue spread over the four seas and enfold the nine provinces and you yourself playing your part as Emperor. Then will my name be inscribed in the annals and I shall indeed be known.”
Sun Ch'üan clapped his hands and laughed gleefully.
When they reached the camp a banquet was prepared and the services of the new arrivals were praised and glorified.
The destruction of Hofei was one day under discussion when one came in to say that Chang Liao had sent a written challenge to battle. Sun Ch'üan tore open the cover and what he read therein made him very wrath. “This Chang has insulted me grossly,” said he, “he hears that Ch'êng P‘u has arrived and sends a challenge. To-morrow, O newly-come warriors, you shall see me fight with him. You shall have no share in the battle.”
Orders were given that next morning the army would move out of camp and advance on Hofei. Early in the morning, when they had advanced about halfway, they met the army of Ts‘ao and prepared for battle. Sun Ch'üan, with helmet and breastplate of silver, rode to the front with Sung Ch‘ien and Chia Hua, each armed with a ch‘i halberd to support him and guard him one on each side.
When the third roll of the drum ceased, the centre of the Ts‘ao array opened to allow the exit of three warriors, all fully armed. They were Chang Liao, supported by Li Tien and Yo Chin. Chang Liao, the central figure, especially designated Sun Ch'üan as the object of his challenge. Sun Ch'üan took his spear and was about to accept the challenge, when the ranks behind him were broken by T‘aishih Tzu, who galloped forth with his spear ready to thrust. Chang Liao whirled up his sword to strike the newcomer and the two fought near a hundred bouts without a decisive blow.
Then said Li Tien to Yo Chin, “He there opposite us with the silver helm is Sun Ch'üan; could I but capture him the loss of our four score legions would be amply avenged.”
So speaking he rode out, alone, just one man and one sword, and went sidelong toward the two combatants. Then suddenly, swift as a flash of lightning, he ran forward and slashed at Sun. But Sun Ch'üan’s two guards were too quick for him. Up went the two ch‘i guarding their lord’s head. The blow fell, but on the crossed ch‘i which were shorn through near the head, and in another moment they were hammering away on the head of Yo Chin’s steed with the shafts of their broken weapons and forcing him back.
Sung Ch‘ien snatched a spear from a soldier near and went in pursuit of Yo Chin, but Li Tien, on the other side, fitted an arrow to his bow and aimed at Sung’s heart from behind. And he fell as the bowstring twanged.
Then T‘aishih Tzŭ, seeing a squadron of horse in motion toward him, left off the fight with Chang Liao and returned to his own line. At this Chang Liao fell on in a swift attack and the army of Wu, thrown into confusion, scattered and fled.
Chang Liao, having distinguished Sun Ch'üan in the distance, galloped in pursuit and had nearly come up with him, when Ch'êng P‘u happily rushed in from one side of the line of fight, stayed the pursuit and saved his master. Chang Liao withdrew to Hofei. Sun Ch'üan was escorted back to his main camp, where his beaten soldiers gradually rejoined him and their ranks were reformed.
When Sun knew of the death of Sung Ch‘ien he was greatly pained and wept aloud.
But Chang Hung, the recorder, reproached him saying, “My lord, you relied too much upon your martial prowess and lightly engaged in battle with a formidable enemy. Every man in the army was chilled with fear and you lost a general and some of your banners. It is not for you to exhibit prowess on the actual battlefield and encroach upon the duties of a captain. Rather curb and repress such physical feats as those of Mêng Pên and Hsia Yu and contemplate schemes of exercising princely virtues with the hegemony of all the feudal states. It is because of your ill-regulated action in engaging in battle that Sung Ch‘ien perished at the hands of your enemies. Hereafter you should regard as most important your personal safety.”
“Yes; it is indeed a fault,” said Sun Ch'üan. “I will reform.”
Soon after T‘aishih Tzu entered the tent and said, “In my command there is a certain Ko Ting, brother of a groom named Hou Ts‘ao in the army of Chang Liao. This Hou Ts‘ao is deeply resentful on account of a punishment inflicted upon him and is anxious to be revenged. He has sent over to say that he will show a signal to-night when he has assassinated Chang Liao in revenge for the death of your late leader Sung Ch‘ien. I wish to take some men over to await this signal to attack.”
“Where is this Ko Ting?” asked Sun Ch'üan.
“He has mingled with the enemy and gone into the city. Let me have five companies.”
Chuko Ching said, “Chang Liao is full of guile, I think you will find him prepared for your coming. Be careful.”
As T‘aishih Tzŭ urged his chief to let him go, and Sun Ch‘üan was deeply hurt by the death of his captain, the permission was given and the force started.
Now here it must be said that T‘aishih Tzŭ and this Ko Ting were natives of the same place. Ko had made his way into the city without detection, found his brother and the two had arranged their plot. Ko also told him that T‘aishih Tzŭ would come over that night to help them and asked what they should do.
His brother, the groom, said, “As the men of Wu are far away I fear they cannot be here to-night, so we will make a huge bonfire of straw and then you can rush out and cry treachery. That will throw all into confusion and will give a chance to kill Chang Liao.”
“This is an excellent plan,” said Ko Ting.
Now after the victory Chang Liao returned to the city and rewarded his men but he issued orders that no one was to doff his armour or sleep. His attendants said, “You have gained a great victory to-day and the enemy are far away. You might doff your armour and get some repose.”
But Chang Liao replied, “That is not the way of a leader. A victory is no reason for rejoicing, nor should a defeat cause sadness. If the men of Wu suspect that I am unprepared, they will attack and we must be ready to repel them. Be ready to-night and be doubly careful.”
Scarcely had he said this than a fire started and cries of “Treachery!” arose. Many rushed to tell the leader, who went out and called together his guard of about half a score. They took up a commanding position in the way.
Those about him said, “The shouts are insistent; you ought to go and see what it means.”
“A whole city cannot be traitors,” said he. “Some discontented person has frightened the soldiers. If I see any one doing so I will slay him.”
Soon after this Li Tien dragged up Ko Ting and his fellow-traitor. After a few brief questions they were beheaded. Then arose a great noise, shouting and the rolling of drums was heard outside the gate.
“That means the men of Wu are there to help,” said Chang Liao. “But we will destroy them by a simple ruse.”
He bade them light torches and yell “Treachery! Rebellion!” and throw open the city gates and let down the drawbridge.
When T‘aishih Tzu saw the gates swing open he thought his scheme was going well and in full confidence rode in at the gate. But just at the entrance a signal bomb suddenly exploded and the enemy arrows came down on him like pelting rain. Then he knew he had fallen into a snare and turned to ride out. But he was wounded in many places. And in the pursuit that followed more than half the men of Wu were cut off. As he drew near his own lines a rescue force came to his aid and the Ts‘ao soldiers ceased from pursuit.
Sun Ch'üan was exceedingly sad when he learned that his faithful captain had been grievously wounded and when Chang Chao prayed him to cease from war he was content. They gathered in their men to their ships and sailed to Nanhsü and Junchou where they camped.
Meanwhile T‘aishih Tzu was dying. When his lord sent to ask how he fared, he cried, “When a worthy man is born into a turbulent world, he has to be a soldier and gird on a three feet sword. I have not rendered great service. Why must I die before I have attained my desire?”
These were his last words; he was forty-one years of age.
Single minded and perfectly loyal,
Such was T‘aishih, in Tunglai born,
Far distant frontiers rang with his exploits,
Riding or archery, all men he excelled,
One in Pohai who admired his valour
Cared for his mother while he was fighting,
How he joyed in the battle at Shênt‘ing!
Dying, he spake as a hero;
All through the ages men sigh for his fate.
Sun Ch'üan was exceedingly grieved when this second of his leaders died. He gave orders to bury his remains most honourably outside the north wall on Ku Hill and took his son, T‘aishih Hsiang, into his own palace to be brought up.
When Yüan-tê heard of the series of misfortunes that had befallen Wu and of their retirement to Nanhsü, he and Kʻungming discussed their plans. Said K‘ung-ming, “I was studying the sky and saw a falling star in the north-west. The Imperial family is to suffer a loss.”
He had scarcely said this when they brought news of the death of Liu Ch‘i, son of Liu Piao.
Yüan-tê at once began to wail bitterly. But his adviser said to him, “Life and death are beyond our control, wherefore weep not, my lord, for grief harms the body. Rather consider what is necessary to be done. Send some one to assume control and make arrangements for the interment.”
“Who can go?” asked Yüan-tê.
“No other than Kuan Yü.”
So they sent him to guard the city of Hsiangyang.
Liu Pei at once began to feel troubled about his promise to surrender Chingchou on the death of Liu Ch‘i, but K‘ung-ming did not consider this a matter of moment. He said he would have somewhat to say to any one who came to ask fulfilment of the promise. In half a month it was announced that Lu Su would come to mourn at the funeral.
To claim the promise one will come,
But they will send him empty home.
What reply K‘ung-ming made may be read in the next chapter.