Romance of the Three Kingdoms II (17 page)

"Chang Ho has already got through Chiaming Pass, so that the fighting will be no child's play, and the loss of that Pass endangers the whole of Ichou. It is no task to set to a couple of old men."

Replied K'ung-ming, "You regard the two as too old and stupid to succeed, but I think the attainment of HanChung depends upon these two."

Chao Yun and many others sniggered as they went from the hall; they did not agree with K'ung-ming.

In due course the veteran captain and his chosen colleague arrived at the Pass. At sight of them the defenders laughed in their hearts, thinking that in sending such a pair of dotards on such a mission K'ung-ming had slipped up in his calculations.

Huang Chung said to his colleague, "You see the behaviour of these people? They are laughing at us because we are old. Now we will do something that will win admiration from all the world."

"I should be glad to hear your orders," replied Yen Yen.

The two captains came to a decision how to act. Huang Chung led his men down below to meet Chang Ho in the open plain. Both drew up their array. When Chang Ho rode out and saw his venerable opponent he laughed in his face.

"You must be very old, and yet you are unashamed to go into the battle, eh?" said Chang Ho.

"You menial!" replied the veteran. "Do you despise me for my age? You will find my good sword, however, young enough."

So he urged forward his steed and rode at Chang Ho. The two chargers met and a score of bouts were fought. Then suddenly a great shouting came from the rear. Yen had come up and fallen upon the rear portion of Chang Ho's army. Thus attacked on two sides, Chang Ho was defeated. The pursuit did not cease with nightfall, and Chang Ho was driven back near a hundred
li.
Contented with this success, Huang and his colleague went into their camp, where they rested their men for a time.

When Ts'ao Hung heard of Chang Ho's new defeat, he was going to exact the penalty. But Kuo Chun persuaded him to forbear.

"If he is pressed too hard he may take refuge in Shu," said he. "Rather send him help. You will thus keep a hold over him and prevent his desertion."

Wherefore Hsiahou Shang was sent with reinforcements. This Shang was a nephew of Hsiahou Tun. The brother of Han Yuan, Han Hao by name, was also sent. They had half a legion.

The two captains soon reached Chang Ho, and asked how now the war was going.

'That old man Huang is really a hero," said Chang; "and with Yen Yen's help he is very formidable."

"When I was at Changsha I heard the old man was very fierce. He and Wei Yen yielded the city and killed my own brother. Now that I shall meet him I can have my revenge," said Han Hao.

So he and Hsiahou Shang led out the new army.

Now, by means of spies Huang had got a thorough knowledge of the country, and Yen said, "Hereabout there is a mountain named "Tientang" wherein Ts'ao Ts'ao has stored his supplies. If we can gain possession we shall reduce the enemy to want and we shall get HanChung."

Huang replied, "I think so, too, and so let us do so-and-so."

Yen agreed with him and marched off with a body of men to carry out his part in the stratagem.

At news of the coming of new armies, Huang Chung marched out to meet them. He found Han Hao in front of his array, and Han began to abuse the veteran as a disgraceful old ruffian. Then he whipped up his steed and set his spear at Huang. Hsiahou Shang also rode out and took part in the combat. The veteran held them both at bay for some half score bouts and then fled. They pursued him for twenty
li,
when they reached and seized his camp. Huang, however, quickly made another defence of brushwood. Next day they renewed the pursuit which ended with the capture of the temporary camp of the day before. And they had advanced twenty
li
further. Then they called upon Chang Ho to protect the rear camp. When Chang Ho came up he dissuaded them from continuing.

"Huang Chung has retreated before you for two days; there is some deep stratagem behind this," said Chang Ho.

Hsiahou Shang scoffed at him. "You are such a coward that you have been defeated many times. Now say no more, but let us accomplish something."

Chang Ho retired much mortified and shamed. Next day the two captains again went out to battle, and again Huang fled from them for twenty
li.
The two captains pursued as quickly as they could. The day after, Huang fled without any pretence of showing fight, except at short intervals. He got to the Pass and went on the defensive. The pursuers knocked at the very gate of the Pass and made a camp close by.

Then Meng Ta secretly wrote to Yuan-te that Huang Chung had been repeatedly defeated and now was in the Pass and unable to go out. Yuan-te became alarmed and consulted K'ung-ming, who said, "The old captain is making the enemy over-confident,—to their ultimate destruction. But Chao Yun did not share this opinion, nor did many others, and Yuan-te decided to send Liu Feng to reinforce his aged captain. The young man came to the Pass and saw Huang, who asked him bluntly why he had come to help.

"My father heard that you have sustained several defeats, and he has sent me," said Liu Feng.

"But I am only employing the ruse of leading on the enemy," said Huang Chung, smiling. "You will see tonight that in one battle I shall regain all the camps and capture their supplies and many horses. I have only lent the camps to them to store their supplies. Tonight I shall leave Ho Hsun to guard the Pass, while General Meng will gather up the spoils for us. Now, young Sir, you shall see the destruction of the enemy."

That same night, at the second watch, Huang left the Pass with half a legion. But now Hsiahou Shang and Han Hao, seeing no move from the Pass for many days, had become careless and so their camps were unable to resist. Their men had no time to don their armour or to saddle their horses. All the leaders did was to flee for their lives, while their men trampled each other down and were killed in great numbers. All three camps were recovered by dawn, and in them were found all sorts of military equipment. Horses and their caparisons also fell to the victors, and all the booty was carried off by Meng Ta and stored in the Pass.

Huang Chung pressed on his victory. Liu Feng ventured to say that the men needed repose.

"Can you seize the tiger's whelps without going into the tiger's den?" cried Huang. And he urged on his steed.

The soldiers also were eager. Chang Ho's own army was thrown into confusion by the flying men from the other armies, and he could not maintain his station, but was forced to retreat. They abandoned all their stockades and rushed to the bank of the Han Waters.

Then Chang Ho sought the two captains who had brought about the misfortune and said to them, "This is T'ientang Mountain, where our stores are. Close by is Mits'ang Mountain, where the grain is stored. They are the very source of life of the HanChung army. Lose them and HanChung is gone too. We must see to their security."

Hsiahou Shang said, "My uncle, Hsiahou Yuan, will look out for the defence of the mountain where the granaries are: there need be no anxiety about that as it is hard by TingChun Mount and my brother, Hsiahou Te, guards T'ientang Mountain. Let us go to him and help to protect that."

Chang Ho and the two captains set out at once. They reached the mountain and told Hsiahou Te all that had happened.

"
I
have ten legions in camp here," replied he. "You may take some of them and recover your lost camps."

"No," replied Chang Ho. "The only proper course to defend."

Almost as they spoke the rolling of drums and the clang of gongs were heard, and the look-outs came to say that Huang Chung was near.

"The old ruffian does not know much of the art of war, after all," said Hsiahou Te with a laugh; "he is only a brave."

"Be not mistaken; he is crafty and not only bold," said Chang Ho.

"This move is against the rules and not at all crafty. He is fresh from a long march and his men are fatigued and they are deep in an enemy's country."

"Nevertheless, be careful how you attack," said Chang Ho. "You would still do well to depend upon defence only."

"Give me three companies of good men and I will cut him to pieces," cried Han Hao.

They told off the three companies for him, and down he went into the plain. As he approached, Huang Chung arrayed his men. Liu Feng put in a note of warning that it was late in the day to fight and the men were weary, but Huang paid little attention.

"I do not hold with your objections. This is the one God given opportunity to make good, and it would be a sin not to take it."

So saying, the drums rolled for a great attack. Han Hao came forward with his men and the aged captain went toward um whirling his sword. In the first encounter Han Hao fell. At this the men of Shu gave a yell and went away up the hill whereupon Chang Ho and Hsiahou Shang hastily moved out to withstand them. But a great red glare sprang into the sky from behind the hill, and a shouting arose. Hastily Hsiahou Te led off his men to meet the danger there and went straight into the arms of Yen Yen. His arm rose, the sword fell and Hsiahou Te dropped from his steed to rise no more.

This ambush, into which the dead captain had rushed, had been carefully prepared by Huang, who had sent Yen away before he marched himself and given him orders what to do. It was the brushwood that his men had spent the time in collecting that now sent forth the flames reaching up to the heavens and filling the valleys.

Yen Yen, after slaying Hsiahou Te, came round the hill to aid in the attack, so that the defenders were taken both in front and rear. They could do nothing and presently left the battlefield and rushed toward TingChun Mount to seek refuge with Hsiahou Yuan.

Meanwhile the victors took steps to hold the position they had won and sent the good news of victory to Ch'engtu. And when the news arrived, Yuan-te called together all his officers to rejoice.

Then said Fa Cheng, "Not long ago Chang Lu submitted to Ts'ao Ts'ao, and thereby he got possession of HanChung quite easily. Instead of following up this by an advance on the west he left two captains to guard it and went north. That was a mistake. Now, my lord, do not make a mistake yourself, but take advantage of the present favourable position, with Chang Ho newly defeated and T'ientang captured, to attack HanChung and you will have it at once. Once that is yours, you can train your army and amass supplies ready for a stroke against the arch-rebel himself. This God-given advantage will be confirmed to you and you should not miss it."

Both Yuan-te and K'ung-ming saw the wisdom of this scheme and prepared to act. Chao Yun and Chang Fei were to lead the van, while Yuan-te with K'ung-ming commanded the main army of ten legions. A day was chosen to set out, and orders were sent to everyone to keep careful guard.

It was a certain auspicious day in the seventh month of the twenty-third year that the army marched. Reaching Chiaming Pass, Huang Chung and Yen Yen were summoned and well rewarded for their services.

"People said you were old, General, but the army know you better than they, and you have rendered amazing service. Still, TingChun Mountain is yet to be captured and Paochang is a great central store of supplies. If we could get TingChun Mount we could be quite easy about the whole district of Yangp'ing. Think you that you are equal to taking TingChun Mountain?"

To this harangue of Liu Pei the veteran nobly answered that he was willing to try and was ready to start when they would.

Said K'ung-ming hastily, "Do not be hasty. You are brave enough, General, but Hsiahou Yuan is a man of different stamp from Chang Ho. Hsiahou is a real strategist and tactician; so much so that Ts'ao Ts'ao relies upon him as his defence against Hsiliang. He it was who was set to defend the capital when threatened by Ma Ch'ao. Now he is in HanChung and Ts'ao Ts'ao puts his whole confidence in him and his skill as a leader. You have overcome Chang Ho, but it is not certain you will conquer this man I think I must: send down to Chingchou for Kuan Yu for this task."

Huang hotly replied,
"Old
Lien P'o was four score and yet he ate a measure of rice and ten catties of flesh, so that his vigour frightened the nobles and not one dared encroach upon the borders of Chao. I am not yet seventy. You call me old, O Commander; then I will not take any helper, but go out simply with my own three companies and we will lay Hsiahou Yuan's head at your feet."

K'ung-ming refused to allow him to go; Huang Chung insisted. At last K'ung-ming consented, but said he would send an overseer.

They put upon his mettle the man who was to go,
Youth's vigour may be lesser worth than age's powers, we know.

The next chapter will tell who the overseer was.

CHAPTER LXXI
AT THE CAPTURE OF TUI HILL HUANG ChunG
SCORES A SUCCESS: ON THE HAN WATERS
CHAO YUN CONQUERS A HOST

"I
f
you are really determined to undertake this expedition, I shall send Fa Cheng with you," said K'ung-ming to theveteran leader. "You will have to discuss everything with him. I shall also despatch supports and reinforcements."

The expedition set out. Then K'ung-ming explained to Yuan-te that he had purposely tried to spur on the old captain that he should really exert himself, else he feared he would not do much. After this, he ordered Chao Yun to march after the first army and help, if help was needed. So long as the old man was victorious, Chao Yun was to do nothing; if he was in difficulties then he was to be rescued. Three companies also were sent out among the hills to take position at strategical points and set up many banners and make a brave show in order to spread the impression of huge forces, and so frighten and perplex the enemy. In addition, he sent to Hsiapan to tell Ma Ch'ao what part to play in the campaign; Yen Yen was to hold LangChung in place of Chang Fei.

The refugees, Chang Ho and Hsiahou Shang, reached Hsiahou Yuan's camp and told their doleful tale of the loss of T'ientang Mountain and the death of their colleague and the threatened attack. The news was sent to Ts'ao Hung, who bore it quickly to the capital.

Ts'ao Ts'ao lost no time in calling a council. Then the Historian Liu Hua said, "The loss of HanChung would shake the whole country. You, O Prince, must not shrink from toil and hardship, but must yourself go to lead the army."

"This state of things comes of my not heeding your words before, gentle Sir," said Ts'ao Ts'ao, then repentant.

However, he hastily prepared and issued an edict to raise an army of forty legions which he would lead. The army was ready in the seventh month, the early autumn, and marched in three divisions. The leading division was under Hsiahou Tun, Ts'ao Ts'ao commanded the centre and Ts'ao Hsiu was the rear guard.

Ts'ao Ts'ao rode a white horse, beautifully caparisoned. His guards were clad in embroidered silk. They carried the huge red parasol woven of silk and gold threads. Beside him in two lines were the symbols of princely dignity, the golden melons, silver axes, stirrups, clubs, spears and lances; bannerols embroidered with the sun and moon, dragon and phoenix, were borne aloft. His escort of twenty-five thousand stout warriors led by bold officers, marched in five columns of five thousand each, under banners of the five colours, blue yellow, red, white and black. The five companies made a brave show as they marched, each column under its own flag with men in armour and horses in caparisons all of one colour and all glittering in the sun.

As they debouched through Chang Pass, Ts'ao Ts'ao noticed in the distance a thick wood, very luxuriant, and asked those near him what it was called.

'This place is Lant'ien, the Indigo Fields," they replied. "And in that wood is the estate of the late Ts'ao Yung. His daughter, Ts'ao Yen, and her present husband, Tung Chi, live there."

Now Ts'ao Ts'ao and Ts'ao Yung had been excellent friends at one time. His daughter had been first married to Wei Taochieh. Then she was abducted and taken away to the north, where she had borne two sons. She had composed a ballad called, "Eighteen Stanzas for the Mongol Flageolet," which is well known. Ts'ao Ts'ao had been moved by pity for her sorrows and sent a messenger with a thousand tales to ransom her. The Prince of Tsohsien, overawed by Ts'ao Ts'ao's strength, had restored her to Ts'ai Yung.

Ordering his escort to march on, Ts'ao went up to the gate with only a few attendants, dismounted and enquired after the lady of the house. At this time Tung Chi was absent at his post and the lady was alone. As soon as she heard who her visitor was she hastened to welcome him and led him into the reception room. When he was seated and she had performed the proper salutations, she stood respectfully at his side. Glancing round the room, he saw a rubbing of a tablet hanging on the wall. So he got up to read it, and asked his hostess about it.

"It is a tablet of Ts'ao E, or the fair lady Ts'ao. In the time of the Emperor Ho (circ. 100
A.D.),
in Shangyu there was a certain magician named Ts'ao Hsu, who could dance and sing like the very Spirit of Music. On the fifth of the fifth month he was out in a boat, and being intoxicated, fell overboard and was drowned. He had a daughter then fourteen years of age. She was greatly distressed and sought the body of her father for seven days and nights, weeping all the while. Then she threw herself into the waves, and five days later she floated to the surface with her father's body in her arms. The villagers buried them on the bank, and the magistrate reported the occurrence to the Emperor as a worthy instance of daughterly affection and remarkable piety. A later magistrate had the story inscribed by Hantan Shun in memory of the event. At that time Hantan Shun was only thirteen, but the composition of the inscription was so perfect that neither jot nor tittle could be added, and yet he had written it
currente
c
alamo.
The stone was set up beside the grave, and both inscription and story were the admiration of all the men of that day. My father went to see it. It was evening, but in the obscurity he felt out the inscription with his fingers. He got hold of a pencil and wrote eight large characters on the reverse of the stone and. later, some person recutting the stone engraved these eight words as well.

Ts'ao Ts'ao then read the eight words, they formed an enigma. Literally they read, "yellow silk, young wife, a daughter's child, pestle and mortar."

"Can you explain?" asked Ts'ao Ts'ao of his hostess.

"No, although it is a writing of my father's, thy handmaid cannot interpret it," she replied.

Turning to the strategists of his staff, Ts'ao Ts'ao said, "Can any one of you explain it?"

All but one made no reply. The man who said he had fathomed the meaning was a Recorder named Yang Hsiu.

"Do not tell me yet; let me think it out," said Ts'ao Ts'ao.

Soon after they took leave of the lady, went out of the arm and rode on. About three
li
from the farm the meaning suddenly dawned upon Ts'ao Ts'ao, and he laughingly turned to Yang Hsiu saying, "Now, you may try."

'This is the solution of the enigma," said Yang. "Yellow silk" is silk threads of natural colour, and the character for "silk" placed beside that for "colour" forms a word meaning "finally, decidedly"; the "young wife" is a "little female," and the character for "female" with "little," or "few," placed beside it forms a word meaning "admirable, fine,"; the "daughter's child" is "daughter" and "child," which side by side make the word "good," and a "pestle and mortar" suggest pounding together the five bitter herbs in a receptacle: the character for "receptacle" and "bitter" form a word meaning "to tell." So the four words are "Decidedly fine and well told."

Ts'ao Ts'ao was astonished at his cleverness, and said, "Just what I made it."

Those around greatly wondered at Yang's ingenuity and knowledge.

In less than a day they reached NanChun, where Ts'ao Hung welcomed them. He told the tale of Chang Ho's misfortunes.

"To suffer defeat is no crime," said Ts'ao Ts'ao, "that and victory are things that happen constantly in war."

"Liu Pei has sent Huang Chung to take TingChun Mount," said Ts'ao Hung. "Hsiahou Yuan, hearing you were coming, O Prince, has been defending the position and not going out to give battle."

"But standing always on the defensive is showing weakness," said Ts'ao Ts'ao.

Thereupon he bade a man carry a
cbieb,
simple authority to act, to the mountain commander and so order him to attack the enemy.

"Hsiahou Yuan is very stern and inflexible, and he may be carried too far and fall victim to some vile ruse," said Liu Hua.

Wherefore the prince wrote a letter to him to accompany the
cbieb.
And when the messenger arrived and the letter was opened it read: "Every leader must exercise a combination of inflexibility and yielding. Boldness is not the only thing that counts; if he make it so, then is he a mere creature to fight. Now I am camped at NanChun ready to watch the deeds of your admirable prowess and capacity, and all I have to say is, 'Do not disgrace your previous reputation.'"

The letter pleased the commander mightily. Having sent away the bearer, he called in Chang Ho to consult.

"The prince has a great army at NanChun ready to destroy Liu Pei. We have been on the defence here long enough, and it is time we rendered some solid service. Tomorrow I am going out to battle, and hope to capture Huang Chung."

"Your opponent combines ready resource with boldness and prevision," said Chang Ho. "Beside, he has Fa Cheng to aid him; and you must be cautious, for the country is very difficult and dangerous. You had better keep on the defensive."

"How shall we be able to look our prince in the face when other men render good service? However, you just keep the hill, and I will go out to battle."

Then an order was issued asking who would go out to reconnoitre and provoke a battle. His brother Hsiahou Shang volunteered. He was told that he was not to make a real stand but merely to begin the fight. He was to lose and not win for a grand ruse was ready for the enemy. He explained his plans, and Hsiahou Shang went away with a small column.

Now Huang Chung and his helper, Fa Cheng, were camped quite close to the TingChun Mountain. They had endeavoured to entice Hsiahou Yuan out into the field to fight, but failed; to attack him as he stood in that country was very difficult. So thus far no advance had been made. But as soon as Ts'ao's men appeared and seemed to offer battle, Huang Chung was ready to march out to meet them at once. But a certain minor captain named Ch'en Shih offered his services.

"Do not trouble yourself to move, O General," said Ch'en Shih, "for I will go out to fight them."

Huang Chung consented, and placed three companies under Ch'en Shih, who went out of the valley and set his army in array. And when Hsiahou Shang came up and, as arranged, merely fought a few bouts and ran away, Ch'en Shih followed to take advantage of his success. But he was soon brought to a standstill by the rolling of logs and hurling of stones on the part of his opponents. As he turned to retire, Hsiahou Yuan brought out his men and attacked. Ch'en Shih had no chance against them and was quickly made prisoner. Many of his men joined the enemy, but a few escaped to their own side and told Huang Chung of the misfortune.

Huang Chung at once asked advice from Fa Cheng, who said, "This Hsiahou Yuan is easily provoked to anger, and being angry he is bold without discretion. Your way now is to work up the enthusiasm of your men, then break camp and advance. Do this in a series of marches, and you will excite your enemy up to the point of giving battle, when you can capture him. They call this the 'Ruse of the Interchange of Host and Guest.'"

So Huang Chung collected all the things his men liked, and made them presents, till the sound of rejoicing filled the whole valley and the men were hot to fight. Then camp was broken, and the army marched forward a certain distance. Then they encamped. After some days' rest the manoeuvre was repeated; and then again.

When tidings of the advance reached Hsiahou Yuan, he proposed to go out and fight.

"No, no," said the prudent Chang Ho. "This is a well-known ruse, and you should remain on the defensive. You will lose if you fight."

Hsiahou was not the man to stomach this moderate advice, so he sent out Hsiahou Shang to give battle. As soon as this force reached the camp of Huang Chung, he mounted and rode out to fight. In the very first bout he captured Hsiahou Shang. Those who escaped told how their leader had been captured, and Hsiahou Yuan at once sent to offer an exchange of prisoners. This was agreed to, to be effected the following day in front of both armies.

So next day both sides were arrayed in a spot where the valley widened, the two leaders on horseback beneath their respective standards. Beside each stood his prisoner. Neither was encumbered with robe or helmet, but each wore thin, simple dress. At the first beat of the drum each started to race over to his own side. Just as Hsiahou Shang reached the ranks of his own side, Huang Chung shot an arrow and wounded him in the back. The wounded man did not fall, but went on.

But Hsiahou Yuan, mad with rage, could contain himself no longer. He galloped straight at Huang Chung, which was exactly what the latter wanted to irritate him into doing. The fight that then ensued went on for a score of bouts, when suddenly the gongs clanged out from Hsiahou Yuan's side and he drew off, iosing some men while doing so. When he reached his own side he asked why the gong had sounded.

"Because we saw the banners of Shu through openings in the hills in several places and we feared an ambush."

The leader believed them, and did not return to the battlefield, he simply remained defensive. Before long, Huang Chung had got quite near to the Ts'ao camp, and then he asked further advice from his colleague.

Fa Cheng pointed over to the hills, and said, "There rises a steep hill on the west of TingChun Mountain, difficult of access, but from Its summit one has a complete view of the defences of the enemy. If you can take this hill, the mountain lies in the hollow of your hand."

Huang looked up and saw the top of the hill was a small tableland and there were very few men there. So that evening he left his camp, dashed up the hill, drove out the small host there and took it. It was just opposite TingChun Mount.