San Kuo/Volume 1/Chapter 54
CHAPTER LIV.
The Dowager Marchioness Sees Her Son-in-law at a Temple: Liu, the Imperial Uncle, Takes a Worthy Consort.
Yüan-tê and K‘ung-ming went out of the city to welcome the envoy of Wu and led him to the guest-house. After the usual greetings, Lu Su said, “Hearing of the death of your nephew, my lord has prepared some gifts and sent me to take his place at the funeral sacrifices. General Chou Yü also sends greetings to the Imperial Uncle and to you, Master Chuko.”
Both rose at once and thanked him for the courtesy. Then the gifts were handed over and a banquet prepared, and while it was in progress, the guest brought up the real object of his visit.
“You said, Sir, that Chingchou should be returned to us after the death of Liu Ch‘i. Now that that event has happened rendition becomes due and I should be glad to know when the transfer can take place.”
“We will discuss that later; in the meantime let us go on with our wine,” said Yüan-tê.
So the feasting continued. Some time later Lu Su returned to the subject, but this time his host remained silent. However, K‘ung-ming, changing colour, said, “Tzu-ching, you are unreasonable. You should have waited till some other spoke of this matter. From the very foundation of the empire by our illustrious ancestor the great heritage has descended in due course till to-day when, unhappily, evil doers have risen among the powerful and they have seized upon such portions as they could. But with God’s favour and help unity is nearly restored. My lord is a scion of the Imperial house, a great great grandson of the Emperor Hsiao-Ching. Now, as the Emperor’s Uncle, should he not have a share of the Empire? Moreover, Liu Ching-hsing (Liu Piao) was my lord’s elder brother and there is certainly nothing extraordinary in one brother’s succession to another’s estate. What is your master? The son of a petty official on the banks of the Ch‘ient‘ang River, absolutely without merit so far as the State is concerned. Just because he is powerful he holds actual possession of a certain amount of territory, which has whetted his insatiable appetite till he now desires to swallow the whole country. The land is the estate of the Liu family and my lord, who is of that name, has no share thereof, while your master, whose name is Sun, would dispute with, and even fight him. Beside, at the battle at Ch‘ihpi (Red Wall) my lord did good service and acquired great merit while his captains risked their lives. Was it solely the strength of your men of Wu that won that fight? Had I not brought that south-east wind that meant so much for Chou Yü, could he have done anything? Had Chiangnan been conquered, it is needless to say that two beauties you wot of would now be gracing the Bronze Bird Palace, and as for yourself, insignificant though your family be, could you have been sure to survive? Just now my lord did not reply because he was willing to believe rather that a scholar of your abilities would understand without a detailed explanation, and I trust now that you will.”
This speech absolutely shut the guest’s mouth for a time and he said no word in reply. But after an interval he said, “What you say, K‘ung-ming, I think is devoid of reason, and means much unpleasantness for me.”
“What unpleasantness?” asked K‘ung-ming.
The guest replied, “When Liu Pei was in serious straits at Tangyang I conducted you across the river and introduced you to my lord. I opposed Chou Yü when he was going to capture Chingchou, and then it came about that the place was to be ours when the young man died. And I pledged myself to that. Now how can I go back and say you break your promise? Both my lord and Chou Yü will hold me guilty. I would not mind death so much, but I fear that my master will be very wrathful and make war on the Imperial Uncle, who will have no place of refuge and he will look ridiculous in the eyes of the world for no reason.”
Replied K‘ung-ming, “I care not for Ts‘ao Ts‘ao with his hundred legions and the Emperor in name at his back, and do you think I fear such a youngster as your Chou Yü? However, as it may cause you some loss of consideration I will try to persuade my master to put the matter in writing and give you a paper to the effect that he is temporarily occupying Chingchou as a base and when he can obtain possession of some other city this shall be returned to you. What think you Wu would say to this?”
“Wait till what other place was obtained?” said Lu Su.
“My master can scarcely think of attacking the capital yet, but Liu Chang in Ssuch‘uan is ignorant and weak and my master will attack him. If he get the western province then this place will be given up to you.”
Lu Su had no alternative and accepted the offer. Yüan-tê with his own hand wrote the pledge and sealed it. Chuko K‘ung-ming being named as guarantor also signed the document.
“Since I belong to this side of the compact and one can hardly have a guarantor of the same party I would trouble you, Tzǔching, also to sign. It will look better when you reach Wu again,” said K‘ung-ming.
Lu Su said, “I know that your master is perfectly honourable and will adhere to the bargain.”
And so he signed. Then he received the document in formal style and took his departure. He was sent off with every mark of great respect, both Yüan-tê and K‘ung-ming attending him to his boat. There the adviser delivered him a last exhortation, “When you see your master, speak discreetly and explain fully so as not to create a bad impression. If he reject our document we may get angry and we will take his whole country. The one thing now is for our two houses to live in harmony and not give our common enemy an opportunity against us.”
Lu Su went down into his ship. He reached Ch‘aisang and there saw Chou Yü, who said, “Well, how did you speed with your demand for Chingchou?”
“Here is the document,” said Lu Su, giving it to Chou Yü to read.
“You have been victimised by Chuko,” said Chou, stamping his foot with irritation. “In name it may be temporary occupation but in fact it is humbug. They say the place is to be returned when they get the west. Who knows when that will be? Suppose ten years; then it will be ten years before they give us Chingchou. What is the use of such a document as this? And you are a guarantor of its due performance! If they do not give us the city, you get into trouble. Suppose our lord finds you in the wrong, what then?”
Lu Su was dumbfounded. When he had somewhat recovered his self-possession, he said, “I think Yüan-tê will be true to me.”
“You, my friend, are simple and sincere; Liu Pei is a scoundrelly adventurer; and Chuko Liang is a slippery customer. They and you are utterly different.”
“What then is to be done?” cried Lu Su distressfully.
“You are my dear friend and your kindness in freely offering your store of grain to relieve my necessity is still fresh in my memory. Of course I will save you. Do not be anxious, but wait a few days till we get news of what is doing on the north of the river and then we can decide upon a plan.”
Lu Su passed some very uneasy days. Then the scouts came back saying that in Chingchou everything seemed in excellent order and the flags were flying everywhere, while outside the city they were building a magnificent mausoleum for the Lady Kan, wife of Liu Pei. All the soldiers were in mourning.
When Chou Yü knew who was dead, he said to his friend, “My scheme is made. You will see Liu Pei just stand still to be bound and we shall get Chingchou like turning a hand.”
“What is the main-spring of your plan?” said Lu Su.
“Liu Pei will want to re-marry and our lord has a sister. She is a veritable amazon, whose women guards number many hundreds, all armed with weapons of war. Her apartments also are full of such things. I will write to our lord to send an intermediary to arrange that the lady shall wed Liu Pei at her family home and thus we shall entice him to Nanhsü. But instead of marrying a wife, he will find himself a prisoner, and then we will demand Chingchou as ransom. When they have handed over the city I shall find something else to say and nothing will fall on your head.”
Lu Su was very grateful. Then Chou Yü wrote letters to his master and a swift boat was chosen to take Lu Su to see the Marquis of Wu.
After the lending of Chingchou had been discussed, Lu Su presented the document given him by Liu Pei. “What is the use of such nonsense as this?” said Sun Ch‘uan, when he had read it.
“There is another letter from General Chou and he says that if you will employ his scheme you can recover Chingchou,” replied Lu.
Having read that letter the Marquis was more pleased and began to consider who was the best man to send. Suddenly he cried, “I have it; Lü Fan is the man to send.”
He called Lü Fan and said to him, “I have just heard that Liu Yüan-tê has lost his wife. I have a sister whom I should like to marry to him and so make a bond of union between our two houses. Thus we should be united against Ts‘ao and in support of the House of Han. You are the one man to be intermediary and I hope you will go to Chingchou and see to this.”
Under these orders Lü Fan at once began to prepare his ships for the voyage and soon started.
Yüan-tê was greatly distressed at the death of the Lady Kan, fretting for her day and night. One day when he was talking with his adviser they announced the arrival of Lü Fan. He had come on a mission from Wu.
“One of Chou Yü's devices,” said the adviser smiling, “and it is all on account of this city. I will just retire behind the screen and listen. But you, my lord, agree to whatever the messenger proposes. Then let the messenger be taken to the guest-house while we arrange what is to be done.”
So the envoy was introduced. Bows having been exchanged, host and guest being seated in due order and the tea drunk, Yüan-tê opened the interview.
“You must have some commands for me, Sir, since you come thus.”
“News has just been received that you, O Imperial Uncle, have just been bereaved of your consort. I venture to hope you would not object to an advantageous match and I have come to propose one. Are you disposed to listen?”
“To lose one’s wife in middle age is truly a great misfortune,” said Liu Pei. “While her body is still warm I cannot listen to proposals for another marriage.”
Lü Fan said, “A man without a wife is like a house without a ridge pole. At your age one should not live an incomplete life. I am come on the part of the Marquis of Wu, who has a sister, beautiful as she is accomplished and well fitted to be a mate for you. Should the two families become allied as formerly were Ts‘in and Chin, then that ruffian Ts‘ao would never dare so much as look this way. Such an alliance would be to the benefit of both our houses and of the State. I hope, O Imperial Uncle, that you will fairly consider the proposal. However, since the young girl’s mother is dotingly fond of her she does not wish her to go far away, and so I must ask you to come into our country for the wedding.”
“Does the Marquis know of your coming?”
“How dare I come without his knowledge?”
“I am no longer young,” said Liu Pei. “I am fifty and grizzled. This fair damsel, the sister of the Marquis, is now in the flower of her youth and no mate for me.”
“Although the damsel is a woman yet in mind she surpasses many a man, and she has said she will never wed any one who is unknown to fame. Now, Sir, you are renowned throughout the four seas. Marriage with you would be the chaste maiden mating with the born gentleman. Of what consequence is the difference in age?”
“Sir, stay here awhile and I will give you a reply to-morrow,” said Liu Pei.
So that day the envoy was entertained at a banquet and then conducted to the guest house to repose, while, late as it was, Yüan-tê and K‘ung-ming discussed their plans.
“I knew what he had come about,” said the adviser. “While he was talking I consulted the oracle and obtained an excellent sortilege. Wherefore you may accept the proposal and send Sun Ch‘ien back with this envoy to arrange the details. When the promise has been ratified we will choose a day and you shall go to complete the ceremony.”
“How can I thus go into enemy territory? Chou Yü has wanted to slay me for a long time.”
“Let Chou Yü employ all his ruses; think you he can get beyond me? Let me act for you and his calculations will always fail halfway. Once Sun Ch'üan’s sister is in your power there will be no fear for Chingchou.”
Still Yüan-tê doubted in his mind. However, the messenger was sent to Wu, with definite instructions, and travelled thither with Lü Fan. At the interview Sun Ch‘üan said, “I wish my sister could induce Yüan-tê to live here with us. He would come to no harm.”
Sun Ch‘ien took his leave, and returning to Chingchou he told the bridegroom elect that Sun Ch'üan’s sole desire was for him to go over and complete the marriage.
However, Yüan-tê feared and would not go. K‘ung-ming said he had prepared three plans but they needed Chao Tzulung to carry them out. Wherefore he must go as guard. So he called in Chao Yün, gave him three silken bags and whispered in his ear saying, “Here are three schemes enclosed in three bags. When you escort our lord to Wu you will take these with you and act as they direct.”
Chao Yün hid the three silken bags in his breast so that they should be at hand when required.
K‘ung-ming next sent the wedding gifts, and when these had been received the preliminaries were settled.
It was then the early winter of the fourteenth year of “Established Tranquillity” (209 a.d.) and the bridegroom elect, his escort and the intermediary, left Chingchou with a fleet of ten fast ships to sail down the river to Nanhsü. K‘ung-ming remained to guard and rule the city.
But Liu Pei was far from feeling comfortable. They arrived and the ships were made fast. This done the time had come for the first of the silken bags to be opened. And so it was; and thereupon Chao Yün gave each of the soldiers of his half company his instructions and they went their several ways. Next he told Liu Pei what he was to do; that he was to pay his visit first to Ch‘iao “Kuo-lao,” who was the father-in-law of Sun Ts'ê and of Chou Yü. He resided in Nanhsü and to his house, “leading sheep and bearing wine jars,” went the bridegroom elect. Having made his obeisance he explained that as Lü Fan had arranged he had come to marry a wife.
In the meantime the half company of the escort, all in gala dress, had scattered over the town buying all sorts of things, as they said, for the wedding of Liu Pei with the daughter of the House of Wu. They spread the news far and wide and the whole town talked about it.
When Sun Ch'üan heard of Yüan-tê's arrival he bade Lü Fan wait upon him and take him to the guest-house. Meanwhile Ch‘iao Kuo-lao went to the Dowager of Wu, mother of Sun Ch'üan, to congratulate her on the happy event.
“What happy event?” ejaculated the old lady.
“The betrothal of your beloved daughter to Yüan-tê. And he has arrived too, as surely you know.”
“My poor old self does not know,” said the Dowager, “I have heard nothing of all this.”
She at once summoned her son and also sent her servants out into the town to see what was going about. They quickly returned to say that the whole town knew of the coming wedding, and the bridegroom was then at the guest-house. Moreover, he had come with a large escort and the men were spending freely, buying pork and mutton and fruits, all in readiness for the wedding feasting. They also told her the names of the intermediaries on each side, and said they were in the guest-house too.
The Dowager was terribly taken aback and upset so that, when Sun Ch‘üan arrived, he found his mother beating her breast and weeping bitterly.
“What has disturbed you, mother” asked he.
“What you have just done,” said she. “You have treated me as a nonentity. When my elder sister lay dying, what did she tell you?”
Sun Ch'üan began to be frightened, but he said boldly, “Please speak out plainly, mother; what is this great sorrow?”
“When a son is grown he takes a wife, and when a girl is old enough she goes to her husband. And that is right and proper. But I am the mother and you ought to have told me that your sister was to become the wife of Liu Pei. Why did you keep me in the dark? It was my place to promise her in marriage.”
“Whence comes this story?” said the Marquis, really much frightened.
“Do you pretend ignorance? There is not a soul in the city who does not know! But you have succeeded in keeping me in the dark.”
“I heard it several days ago,” said Ch‘iao. “And I came just now to offer my felicitations.”
“There is no such thing,” said Sun. “It is just one of the ruses of Chou Yü to get hold of Chingchou. He has used this means to inveigle Liu Pei here and hold him captive till Chingchou is restored to us. And if they will not give it back, then Liu Pei will be put to death. That is the plot. There is no real marriage.”
But the Dowager was in a rage and vented her wrath in abusing Chou Yü. “He is a pretty sort of a governor over the eighty-one districts if he cannot find any means of recovering one city except making use of my child as a decoy. Truly this is a fine deed, to spoil the whole of my child’s life and condemn her to perpetual widowhood because he wants to use the fair damsel ruse to slay a man! Who will ever come to talk of marriage with her after this?”
Said Ch‘iao Kuo-lao, “By this means you may indeed recover Chingchou but you will be a shameful laughing stock to all the world. What can be done?”
Sun Ch'üan had nothing to say; he could only hang his head, while the Dowager abused his general. Ch‘iao tried to soothe her. “After all Liu, the Imperial Uncle, is a scion of the reigning family. You can do nothing better now than to welcome him as a son-in-law and not let this ugly story get abroad.”
“I am afraid their ages do not match,” interposed Sun Ch'üan.
“Liu is a very famous man,” said Ch‘iao. “There can be no shame in having such a son-in-law.”
“I have never seen him,” said the Dowager. “Arrange that I may get a look at him to-morrow at the Gentle Dew Temple. If he displeases me, you may work your will on him. But if I am satisfied with him then I shall simply let the girl marry him.”
Now Sun Ch'üan was above all things filial and at once agreed to what his mother said. He went out, called in Lü Fan and told him to arrange a banquet for the morrow at the temple so that the Dowager might see the bridegroom.
“Why not order Chia Hua to station some men in the wings of the temple? Then if the Dowager be not pleased we can call them out and fall upon him,” said Lü Fan.
Accordingly the ambush was prepared and ruffians posted to act as the Dowager’s attitude might determine.
When Ch‘iao took his leave and had reached his house, he sent to tell Yüan-tê that on the morrow the Dowager wished to see him and she was well disposed.
Yüan-tê and his faithful henchman discussed their plans. Chao Yün said, “The morrow bodes rather ill than well. However, the escort shall be there.”
Next day the Dowager and Ch‘iao went to the Temple of Gentle Dew as had been arranged. Sun Ch'üan came with a number of his strategists, and when all were assembled Lü Fan was sent to the guest house to request Yüan-tê to come. He obeyed the summons, but as a precaution he put on a light coat of mail under his brocaded robe. His followers too took their swords upon their backs and followed close. He mounted his steed and the cavalcade set out for the temple. At the door of the temple he met Sun Ch'üan on whom the visitor’s brave demeanour was not lost. After they had exchanged salutations, Sun led Liu Pei into the presence of his mother.
“Just the son-in-law for me!” said the Dowager delighted with the appearance of Liu Pei. ”
“He has the air of an emperor and a look like the sun,' remarked Ch‘iao. “When one remembers also that his fair fame has spread over the whole earth, you may well be congratulated on getting such a noble son-in-law.”
Liu Pei bowed, in acknowledgment of his reception. Soon after they were all seated at the banquet in the temple, Chao Yün entered and took his place beside Yüan-tê.
“Who is this?” asked the Dowager.
“This is Chao Yün of Ch‘angshan.' ”
“Then he must be the hero of Tangyang Slope, who saved the little O-tou.”
“Yes; this is he,” replied Yüan-tê.
“A fine captain!” said the Dowager, and she gave him wine.
Presently Chao Yün said to his master, “I have seen a lot of armed ruffians hidden away in the purlieus of the temple. They can be there for no good and you should ask the Dowager to get them sent away.”
Thereupon Liu Pei knelt at the feet of the Dowager and, weeping, said, “If you would slay me, let it be here.”
“Why do you say this?” asked she.
“Because there are assassins in hiding in the wings of the temple; what are they there for if not to kill me?”
The Dowager wrathfully turned on Sun Ch'üan. “What are armed men doing there to-day when Yüan-tê is to become my son-in-law and the pair are my son and daughter?”
Sun Ch'üan said he did not know and sent Lü Fan to enquire. Lü Fan put the blame on Chia Hua. The Dowager summoned him and upbraided him severely. He had nothing to say and she told them to put him to death. But Yüan-tê interceded saying that it would do him harm and make it hard for him to stay at her side.
Ch‘iao Kuo-lao also interceded and she only ordered the captain out of her presence. His men also scattered and ran like frightened rats.
By and bye, strolling out of the banquet room into the temple grounds, Yüan-tê came to a boulder. Drawing his sword he looked up to heaven and prayed saying, “If I am to return to Chingchou and achieve my intent to become a chief ruler, then may I cleave this boulder asunder with my sword, but if I am to meet my doom in this place then may the sword fail to cut this stone.”
Raising his sword he smote the boulder. Sparks flew in all directions; and the boulder lay creft in twain.
It happened that Sun Ch'üan had seen the blow and he said, “Why do you thus hate that stone?”
Yüan-tê replied, “I am near my fifth decade and have so far failed to rid the State of evil; I greatly regret my failure. Now I have been accepted by the Dowager as her son-in-law, and this is a critical moment in my life. So I implored of Heaven a portent that I might destroy Ts‘ao as I would that boulder and restore the dynasty. You saw what happened.”
“That is only to blind me,” thought Sun. Drawing his own sword he said, “And I also ask of Heaven an omen, that if I am to destroy Ts‘ao I may also cut this rock.”
So he spoke. But in his secret heart he prayed “If I am to recover Chingchou and extend my borders, may the stone be cut in twain.”
He smote the stone and it split in twain. And to this day there are cross cuts in the stone, which is still preserved.
One who saw this relic wrote a poem:—
The shining blades fell and the rock was shorn through,
The metal rang clear and the sparks widely flew.
Thus fate then declared for the dynasties two
And the tripartite rule there began.
Both put up their swords and returned hand in hand to the banquet hall.” After some more courses Sun Ch'üan gave his master a warning look and Liu Pei said, “I pray you to excuse me as my drinking powers are very small.” Wherefore Sun Ch'üan escorted him to the gate. As they walked down looking at high land and rolling river spreading in glorious panorama before their eyes, Yüan-tê exclaimed, “Really this is the finest scene in the whole world!”
These words are recorded on a tablet in the Temple of the Gentle Dew and one who read them wrote a poem:—
From the river-side hills the rain clears off,
And the black clouds roll away,
And this is the place of joy and mirth
And never can sorrow stay.
And here two heroes of ages past
Decided their parts to play,
And the lofty heights flung back wind and wave
Then, as they do to-day.
Yes, they stood both entranced by the beautiful scene. And gradually along the vast river the wind whipped the waves into snowy foam and raised them high toward heaven. And in the midst of the waves appeared a tiny leaf of a boat riding over the waves as if all was perfect calm.
“The southern people are sailors and the northern men riders; it is quite true,” sighed Liu Pei.
Sun Ch'üan hearing this remark took it as a reproach to his horsemanship. Bidding his servants lead up his steed he leaped into the saddle and set off, full gallop, down the hill. Then wheeling he came up again at the same speed.
“So the southerners cannot ride, eh?” said he laughing.
Not to be outdone Liu Pei lifted the skirts of his robe, jumped upon his horse and repeated the feat.
The two steeds stood side by side on the declivity, the riders flourishing their whips and laughing.
Thence forward that hillside was known as the “Slope where the Horses Stood” and a poem was written about it.
Their galloping steeds were of noble breed,
And both of spirit high,
And the riders twain from the hill-crest gazed
At the river rolling by.
One of them mastered the far off west,
One ruled by the eastern sea;
And the name of the hill to this very day
Brings back their memory.
When they rode side by side into Nanhsü the people met them with acclamations. Yüan-tê made his way to the guest-house and there sought advice from Sun Ch‘ien as to the date of the wedding. Sun Ch‘ien advised that it be fixed as early as possible so that no further complications could arise. So next day Yüan-tê went to Ch‘iao “Kuo-lao” and told him in plain words that it was clear the people of the place meant harm to him and he could not stay there long. He must return goon.
“Do not be anxious,” said Ch‘iao. “I will tell the Dowager and she will protect you.”
He saw the Dowager and she was very angry when she heard the reason for Liu Pei’s desire to leave.
“Who would dare harm my son-in-law?” cried she.
But she made him move into the library of the Palace as a precaution and she chose a day for the celebration of the wedding. But his soldiers could not keep guard at the library. Yüan-tê explained to his hostess and when she understood this she gave her son-in-law rooms in her own Palace so that he might be quite safe.
Yüan-tê was very happy and there were fine banquets and the bride and bridegroom duly plighted their troth. And when it grew late and the guests had gone the newly wedded pair walked through the two lines of red torches to the nuptial apartment.
To his extreme surprise Yüan-tê found the chambers furnished with spears and swords and banners and flags, while every waiting-maid had girded on a sword.
Walls hung with spears the bridegroom saw,
And armed waiting-maids;
His heart fell back on all its fears
Of well-laid ambuscades.
What happened will be related in the next chapter.