Romance of the Three Kingdoms II (72 page)

"How does he know?"

"General Ssuma sent him a private letter."

The messenger was condemned to death. Then Chuko placed himself at the head of his personal guard and marched to Yangchou. The city gates were closed and the drawbridge raised. He summoned the gate, but no one answered.

"How dare this fellow treat me thus?" cried he.

He ordered his men to force the gate. A few dismounted, crossed the moat and climbed the ramparts, where they slew all who opposed them and opened the gate. The others entered, set fire to the houses and began to fight their way toward the residence. The Governor sought refuge in a tower, but Chuko made his way up and, after reproaching his enemy for dishonouring his father, slew him.

Then Chuko sent up a memorial detailing Ssuma's many faults, and made preparations for war. He called up all the militia and took over the four legions who had surrendered on the fall of Yueh Lin and gathered supplies. He also sent to Wu for aid, offering his son Chuko Ching as a hostage for his good faith.

At this time Sun Hsun was dead and his brother, Sun Ch'en, was Prime Minister. He was a man of cruel and violent temper and had put many officers to death on his way to power. The King of Wu, although no fool, was helpless in his hands.

The messenger, Wu Kang, conducted the proposed hostage to the residence of this monster, who asked what he had come for. Wu Kang explained and asked for help. His request was received favourably, and Sun sent seven legions with a full complement of officers. They marched, and Chuko returned to report success. Chuko thought all was going well.

Chuko's memorial angered Ssuma, who wished to set out to revenge the attack at once, but Chia Yun preached caution.

"My lord, you derived your power from your father and brother, and people have not had time to discover your own virtue. If you leave the court and there be a revulsion of feeling against you, you will lose all. Rather request the Empress Dowager and the Son of Heaven to go with you, and nothing is to be feared."

The plan was accepted as excellent. He went into the palace and proposed it to Her Majesty, saying, "Chuko Tan is in revolt, and I and my colleagues intend to punish him. I beg that you will accompany the expedition as the late Emperor would have done."

She was afraid, but dared not refuse, and the next day was requested to set out with the king.

The king said, "General, you command all the armies and dispose them as you will; why do you ask me to go?"

Ssuma replied, "Your Majesty is wrong to hesitate. Your ancestors travelled over the empire and wished to unite the whole under one ruler. Wherever there was a worthy opponent they went to face him. Your Majesty should follow their example and sweep the land clean. Why fear?"

The king, fearing his minister's terrible power, consented, and an edict was issued for the commands to march. Wang Chi, a distinguished general, was in command of the van, while Shih Pao and Chou T'ai led the imperial escort. The army moved into Huainan like a great flood.

The van-leader of Wu encountered them, and both sides drew up for battle. Chu I, the leader on the Wu side, rode out and took the challenge, but was overcome in the third bout. P'ang Tzu also followed, but was also beaten in the third encounter.

Wang Chi ordered the Wei army to pursue. The men of Wu retired fifty
li
and camped. Thence they sent tidings of their ill-success to Shouch'un and Chuko Tan; Wen Ch'in and the two sons of Chuko set out with reinforcements.

Thus Ssuma was faced by many legions of valiant men.

Now here is a check to the armies of Wu,
And Wei's gallant men advance.

The next chapter will tell how went victory.

CHAPTER CXII
YU CH'UAN DIES NOBLY AT SHOUCH'UN:
CHIANG WEI FIGHTS FIERCELY
AT CH'ANGCH'ENG

H
earing
of this threatened attack, Ssuma sought advice from two of his officers, P'ei Hsiu, a Leader of Irregular Cavalry, and Chung Hui, a civil official.

The latter said, "The Wu army is helping our enemies for the sake of profit, and hence we can seduce them with an offer of greater profit."

Ssuma agreed in this opinion and resolved accordingly. As part of his plan, he sent to lay ambushes in different places near Shiht'ouch'eng.

As ordered by Ssuma, Ch'eng Ts'ui led several legions out to bring on a battle, while Ch'en Chun got together many waggons, herds of oxen, droves of horses, donkeys and mules, and heaps of military supplies, all of which he crowded together in the midst of the army. This stuff was meant to be abandoned as soon as the fight began, so that the enemy might be tempted to plunder.

The armies being drawn up, Chuko Tan looked across at his opponents and saw that the centre of the Wei army was taken up by a disorderly mass of transport. Presently he led on his men to attack, and Ch'eng Ts'ui, as bidden to do gave way and fled, leaving a large amount of spoil. When the men of Wu saw such huge quantities of booty, theirs for the taking, they lost all desire to fight and scattered to gather the spoil.

While thus occupied, suddenly a bomb exploded and down came the men of Wei upon the spoilers. Chuko Tan attempted to draw off, but other forces appeared, and he was sore smitten. Then came on Ssuma with his army, and Chuko fled to Shouch'un, where he entered and shut the gates. The army of Wei sat down to the siege of the city, and the army of Wu retired into camp at Anfeng. The King of Wei was lodging at this time in Hsiang-ch'eng.

Then said Chung Hui, "Chuko Tan has been worsted, but the city wherein he has taken refuge is well supplied, and his allies, the men of Wu, are not distant. His position is strong. Our soldiers are besieging the city all round, which means that those within will hold out for a long time, or they will make a desperate sortie. Their allies also may fall upon us at the same time, and it would go hard with us. Therefore I advise that the attack be made only on three sides, leaving the south gate open for them if they wish to flee. If they flee, we can fall on the fugitives. The men of Wu cannot have supplies for very long, and if we sent some light cavalry round by their rear we might stay their fighting power without a battle."

"You are my Tzu-fang (Chang Liang)", said Ssuma, stroking the back of his adviser. Your advice is excellent."

So Wang Chi, who was on the south of the city, was ordered to withdraw.

But in the Wu camp at Anfeng was much sadness at the want of success. The General Sun Ch'en said to his captain Chu I, "I have given up all hope of succouring Shouch'un, and overrunning the north is out of the question. Now and here you have to win a victory or die, for another defeat will mean death."

The threatened leader went back to his camp and talked with Yu Ch'uan. Yu said, "The south gate is free, and I will lead therein some of our men to help Chuko. Then you challenge the Wei army, and we will come out from the city and attack."

Chu I thought the plan good, and many captains were willing to go into the city and share in the attack. They were allowed to march in without hindrance as the Wei captains had no orders to stop them.

When this was reported to Ssuma, he said, "This is a plan to defeat our army by making a front and rear attack."

So he called Wang Chi and Ch'en Chen and told them to take half a legion to keep the road along which Chu I would come and strike him in rear.

Chu I was advancing toward the city when he heard a shouting in the rear, and soon the attack began from two sides. His army was worsted and returned to Anfeng.

When Sun Ch'en heard of this new defeat he was very angry.

"What is the use of leaders who always lose?" cried he.

He sentenced the unfortunate general to death and upbraided Ch'uan I, son of Ch'uan Tuan, and said, "If you do not drive off this army of Wei let me never again see your face, nor that of your father.

Then Sun Ch en returned to Chienyeh.

When this was known in the Wei camp Chung Hui said to his chief, "Now the city may be attacked, for Sun Ch'en has gone away, and there is no hope of succour for the besieged."

A vigorous assault began. Ch'uan I tried to cut his way through and get into the city, but when he saw Shouch'un quite surrounded by the enemy and no hope of success he gave in and went over to Ssuma Chao, by whom he was well received and given office.

Deeply affected by this kindness, he wrote to his father and uncle advising them to follow his example. He tied the letter to an arrow and shot it over the walls. So his father and uncle, with their companies, came out and yielded.

Within the city Chuko Tan was very sad. Two advisers came to him to urge him to fight, since the food in the city was short. He turned on them angrily.

"Why do you tell me to fight when I am set on holding out to the very last? If you say that again you shall die as traitors."

"He is lost," said they, going away. "We can do no other than surrender or we shall die too."

That night they slipped over the wall and surrendered. Both were given employment. Of those left in the city some were for fighting, but no one dared say so."

Meanwhile the besieged saw the defenders making a wall against the expected floods of the River Huai. This flood had been the only hope of the besieged, who had trusted to be able to smite the besiegers when it came. However, the autumn was dry any and the river did not swell.

Within the besieged city the food diminished rapidly, and soon starvation stared them in the face. Wen Ch'in and his sons were defending the citadel, and they saw their men sinking one by one for lack of food till the sight became unbearable.

Wen went to Chuko to propose that the northern men should be sent away in order to save food. His suggestion called forth an outburst of fierce wrath.

"Do you want me to kill you that you propose to send them away?"

Wen suffered death. His two sons ran amok with rage. Armed with short swords they attacked all they met and slew many score in their desperate anger. The fit over, they dropped down the wall and deserted to the Wei camp.

However, Ssuma Chao had not forgotten that one of the two, Wen Ying, had defied and held at bay his whole army. At first he refused to receive the deserter; he even thought to put him to death, but his advisers interposed.

"The real offender was his father," said Chung Hui, "but he is dead, and these two come to you in desperation, and if you slay those who surrender you will strengthen the obstinacy of those who remain in the city."

There was reason in this, and so their submission was accepted. They were led to Ssuma's tent, and he soothed them with kind words and gave them gifts and employment. After expressing their gratitude they rode about the city on the horses he had given them, shouting, "We have received great kindness at the hands of Ssuma Chao, who not only has pardoned us but given us gifts. Why do you not all yield?"

When their companions heard this they said one to another. "This Wen Ying was an enemy, and yet he has been well received; how much more may we expect generous treatment!"

The desire to surrender possessed them all. When Chuko heard it, he was incensed and went round the posts night and day on the watch for any who seemed inclined to go. He put many to death in these efforts to retain his authority.

Chung Hui heard how things were going in the city and went in to the general to say the moment to attack had come. Ssuma was only too pleased. He stimulated his men, and they flocked to the ramparts and assaulted vigorously. Then a certain captain treacherously opened the north gate and let in the Wei soldiers.

When Chuko heard that the enemy were in the city he called his guards and tried to escape. He took his way along the smaller streets to the gate, but on the drawbridge he met Hu Tsun, who cut him down. His followers were made prisoners.

Wang Chi fought his way to the west gate, where he fell in with the Wu captain, Yu Ch'uan.

"Why do you not yield?" shouted Wang.

"It would be treachery to yield instead of obeying my orders to seek help." Throwing off his helmet, he cried, "The happiest death a man can die is on the battle-field."

Whirling his sword about he dashed among his enemies and fought till he fell under many wounds.

Many were they who yielded at Shouch'un
Bowing their heads in the dust before Ssuma.
Wu has produced its heroes,
Yet none were faithful to the death like Yu Ch'uan.

When the victor entered the city he put to death the whole family of Chuko. Some of his guards fell into the hands of Ssuma alive, and he offered them their lives if they would yield. They all refused, saying they would rather share the fate of their leader.

They were sent out of the city to be beheaded, but orders were given to offer each one his life at the last moment. Not one accepted, and they all died. In admiration for their fortitude they were honourably interred.

The loyal servant flees not in the day of disaster;
Such were they who followed Chuko to the shades.
Ever and again begins the Song of Life's Brevity.
Faithful unto death were they, even as T'ien Keng's men.

As has been said, many of the men of Wu surrendered. Then said P'ei Hsiu, "The parents and children of these men are scattered all over the east, and if you spare them and they return home they will foment rebellion by and by. The best way is to bury them."

But Chung Hui said, "No, When the ancients made war their policy was to maintain the state as a whole, and so they only put to death the originators of trouble. It would be inhumane to slay all. Rather let them return home as witnesses to your liberal policy."

"That is better advice," said Ssuma. So the men of Wu were released and allowed to return home.

"Tang Tzu dared not return to his own place for fear of the cruel Sun Ch'en, so he went over to Wei, taking his company with him. He was well received, and his men spread over the district of the three rivers.

The country about the Huai River being now quiet, Ssuma decided to march homeward. Just then the news came that Chiang Wei, the Shu General, had taken Ch'angch'eng and was interfering with the supplies, and so a council was called to discuss this matter.

At this time the period-style in Shu, which had been
Yen-Hsi
for a score of years, was changed to
Cbing-Yao.
Chiang Wei chose two officers, Chuan Ch'ien and Chiang Shu, both of whom he loved greatly, and set them to train the army, horse and foot. When again came news that Chuko Tan had set out to destroy Ssuma Chao and had obtained the support and help of Wu, he said that the great opportunity had come at last, so he asked the king's authority to make another expedition.

But Ch'iao Chou heard this with grief, for internal affairs were not well.

Said he, "The court is sunk in dissipation and the king's confidence is given to that eunuch, Huang Hao; state affairs are neglected for pleasure; which is the king's sole aim. Chiang Wei has led many expeditions and wasted the lives of many men, so that the state is falling."

He then wrote an essay on "State Injuries," which he sent to Chiang Wei.

"When one asks by what means the weak overcame the strong in past times, the answer is that those responsible for the strong state made no struggle against general laxity, while those in power in a weak state took careful steps for improvement. Confusion followed upon laxity and efficiency grew out of diligence, as is the universal rule. King Wen devoted himself to the welfare of his people, and with a small number achieved great results; Kou Chien sympathised with all, and with a weak force overcame a powerful opponent. These were their methods. One may recall that in the past Ch'u was strong and Han weak when the country was divided by agreement at Hungkou. Then, seeing that his people were satisfied and settled in their minds, Chang Liang went in pursuit of Hsiang Yu and destroyed him.

"But is it necessary to act like King Wen and Kou Chien? Listen to the reply. In the days of Shang and Chou, when ranks had long existed and the relations between prince and minister were firmly established, even such as the Founder of the Hans could not have carved his way to a throne. But when the dynasty of Ts'in had suppressed the feudal nobles and set up mere representatives of its own power, and the people were weak and enslaved, the empire was riven asunder and there succeeded a time of contention, when every bold man strove with his neighbour.

"But we are now in other times. Since there is not the state of confusion that waited on the end of Ts'in, but a state of things more nearly like that of the period of the Six States, therefore one may play the part of King Wen. If one would found a dynasty, then must he wait upon time and favourable destiny. With these in his favour, the consummation will follow forthwith, as the armies of T'ang and Wu fought but one battle. Therefore have real compassion for the people and wait on opportunity. If wars are constant, and a mishap come, even the wisest will be unable to show the way of safety."

"An effusion from the pen of a rotten pedant?" cried Chiang wrathfully as he finished reading, and he dashed the essay on the ground in contempt.