Romance of the Three Kingdoms II (18 page)

Then said Fa Cheng, "Now take up position half way up the hill, while I go to the top. When the enemy appears I will show a white flag. But you will remain quiet till the enemy become tired and remiss, when I will hoist a red flag. That will be the signal for attack."

Huang cheerfully prepared to act on this plan. In the meantime Tu Hsi, who had been driven from the hill-top, had run back and reported the loss of the hill to Hsiahou Yuan.

"With Huang Chung in occupation of that hill I simply must give battle," said he.

Chang Ho strongly dissuaded him, saying the whole thing was but a ruse of Fa Chang's, but Hsiahou Yuan was obstinate.

From the top of that hill the whole of our position is visible our strength and our weakness; I must fight."

In vain were the remonstrances repeated. Hsiahou Yuan set out his men to surround the hill and then began to vent his rage at his enemy so as to incite him to give battle.

Then the white flag was hoisted. However, Hsiahou Yuan was allowed to fume and rage in vain. He tried every form of insult, but no one appeared. In the afternoon the men became weary and dispirited. Plainly their eagerness had gone; and Fa Cheng unfurled the red flag.

Then the drums rolled out, and the men shouted till the earth seemed to shake as the hoary old leader rode out And led his men down the slope with a roar as of an earthquake. Hsiahou Yuan was too surprised to defend himself. His chief enemy rushed straight to his standard and with a thundering shout raised his sword and cleft Hsiahou Yuan through between the head and shoulders so that he fell in two pieces.

Hoary headed is he, but he goes up to battle;
Gray haired, yet recklessly might;
With his strong arms be bends the bow,
The arrows fly.
With the swiftness of the wind he rides,
The white sword gleams.
The sound of his voice is as the roar of a tiger,
His steed is fleet as a dragon in flight.
Victory is his and its rich rewards,
For he extends the domain of his lord.

At the death of their captain, the soldiers fled for their lives, and Huang captured the mount. Chang Ho came out to oppose him, but, attacked at two points by Huang Chung and Ch'en Shih, he could not stand. He lost the day and fled. However, before he had gone far, another cohort flashed out from the hills and barred his way. And the leader was Chao Yun. Confused and uncertain what to do, he led his men toward TingChun Mount. But a body of soldiers came out to stop him and said that the mount was in the hands of the enemy. So he and Tu Hsi joined their forces and went to the Han Waters, where they camped.

Thence they sent to tell Ts'ao Ts'ao of their defeat. At the news of the death of his favourite, he uttered a great cry and then he understood the prediction of the soothsayer, Kuan Lu, that the sortes showed opposition. It was the twenty-fourth year of the period, the yellow boar had met the tiger and the year of the cycle was the thirty-sixth. The expedition had suffered a loss indeed by the death of a general, and the death had taken place at the mount known as "Army Halt." The affection between Ts'ao Ts'ao and his captain had been very close.

Ts'ao Ts'ao sent to enquire the whereabouts of Kuan Lu, but no one knew.

Ts'ao nourished feelings of resentment against the slayer of his friend, and he led his army out against TingChun Mount to avenge his death. Hsu Huang led the van. When the army reached the Han Waters, Chang Ho and Tu Hsi joined them.

They said to Ts'ao Ts'ao, "This mount is lost. Before marching farther, the stores in Granary Hill should be moved north."

And Ts'ao Ts'ao agreed.

Huang Chung cut off the head of Hsiahou Yuan and took it to Yuan-te when he reported his victory. For his services he was rewarded with the title "Conqueror of the West," and great banquets were given in his honour.

While these were going on, his colleague, Ch'en Shih, brought the news of Ts'ao Ts'ao's army of twenty legions on the way to avenge his friend's loss; and the supplies on Granary Hill were being moved north.

Then said K'ung-ming, "Ts'ao Ts'ao is certainly short of supplies. If we can burn what he has and destroy his baggage train he will have but little spirit left to fight."

"I am willing to undertake the task," said Huang Chung.

"Remember Ts'ao Ts'ao is a different sort of man from your latest victim."

Yuan-te said, "After all, Hsiahou Yuan was but a bold warrior. It would have been ten times better to have killed Chang Ho."

"I will go and kill him," said the aged one, firing up.

"Then go with Chao Yun," said K'ung-ming, "act in concert and see who can do best."

Huang Chung agreed to this condition, and Chang Cho was sent as second.

Soon after the army had marched out, Chao Yun asked of his colleague what plan he had prepared against Ts'ao Ts'ao's army of twenty legions in their ten camps, and how the stores of grain and forage were to be destroyed.

"I am going to lead," said Huang Chung.

"No wait, I am going first," said Chao Yun.

"But I am the senior leader; you are only my second," said Huang Chung.

"No; you and I are equal in responsibility and both anxious to render good service. We are no rivals. Let us cast lots for who is to lead the way."

They did so, and the aged one gained precedence.

Since you have won the right to make the first attempt, you must let me help you," said Chao Yun. "Now let us decide upon a fixed time, and if you have returned by that time I shall not need to stir. But if at that time you have not come back then I shall come to reinforce you."

"That suits me admirably," said Huang Chung.

So they decided upon noon as the time; and Chao Yun went back to his own camp, where he called in his next in command and said, "My friend Huang is going to try to burn the stores tomorrow. If he has not returned at noon I am to go to aid him. You are to guard our camp, which is in a dangerous place by the river, but you are not to move out unless compelled."

Huang Chung went back to his camp and said to his senior captain, Chang, "I have slain one leader and cowed another. I am going to destroy the enemy's store of grain tomorrow; taking with me most of the men. You are to come and assist me. A meal for the men is to be ready about midnight tonight, and we shall move at the fourth watch. We shall march to the foot of their hill, capture Chang Ho and then start the fire."

All being ready, they set out—Huang Chung leading—and stole across the Han Waters to the foot of the hills. As the sun got up out of the east, they saw before them mountains of grain and only a few men on watch. These fled at first sight of the men of Shu. The horsemen dismounted and began to collect brushwood and pile it round the grain heaps. Just as they were starting the fire, there appeared a cohort led by Chang Ho, who at once began a fight with Huang Chung. Then Ts'ao Ts'ao heard of the fight and sent Hsu Huang to help. He came up in the rear, and Huang Chung was surrounded. Chang Cho with a small company tried to get away to their camp, but they were intercepted by Wen P'ing, and more men coming up by the rear he also was surrounded. Both were in difficulties.

Meanwhile, time passed and noon came with no news of Huang Chung. Wherefore Chao Yun girded on his armour, took three companies with him and went to his aid. Just as he was leaving he again warned Chang I to keep good watch.

"Guard the camp most carefully; see that you have archers and crossbow men on both sides."

"Yes, yes," said Chang.

Chao Yun rode off, spear in hand, and went out to give battle where he could find the enemy. Soon he fell in with one of Wen P'ing's companies: these were easily disposed of. Then he came to the real press. A cohort barred his way, led by Chiao Ping of Wei.

"Where are the soldiers of Shu?" cried Chao Yun.

"All killed," cried Chiao Ping.

Chao Yun angrily dashed forward and thrust Chiao Ping through so that he died. The cohort scattered, and Chao Yun went on to the foot of the north hills, where he found Huang Chung surrounded. With a yell he dashed at the encircling ring, thrusting this way and shoving that, so that every one shrank and recoiled before him. The mighty spear laid low his opponents as the whirlwind scatters the petals of the wild pear tree till they lie on the bosom of the earth like snowflakes. Panic seized Chang Ho and Hsu Huang, so that they dared not stand in his way, and thus Chao Yun fought his way through and rescued his fellow warrior. Then they fought their way out and none could withstand them.

Ts'ao Ts'ao had been watching the course of the fighting from a high place, and when he saw a doughty warrior forcing his way into the press and all going down before him he asked of his officers if they knew who the hero was.

"That is Chao Yun of Ch'angshan," replied one who knew him.

"So the hero of Tangyang is still alive," said Ts'ao Ts'ao.

He gave general orders to his men not to attack Chao Yun without being sure of success, no matter where they met him.

Having rescued his colleague and got clear of the battle, someone pointed out Chang Cho hemmed in on a hill not far off. Wherefore Chao Yun went to his relief before going back to his own camp. He had little need to fight, for Ts'ao Ts'ao's soldiers no sooner saw the name emblazoned on the banners than they fled without more ado.

But it filled Ts'ao Ts'ao with rage to see his men falling away before Chao Yun, who marched on as though no one would think of standing in his way, and he went in pursuit himself with his officers.

Chao Yun reached his own camp, where he was welcomed by Chang I. But a cloud of dust was seen in the distance, and they knew Ts'ao Ts'ao was in that cloud and coming upon them.

"Let us bar the gates while we make preparation," said Chang I.

"Do not bar the gates," said Chao Yun. "Have you never heard of my exploit at Tangyang, when I laughed at Ts'ao's many legions? Now that I have an army at my back and captains to help, what is there to fear?"

Then he placed the archers and the bowmen in a covered position outside, while he threw down all the weapons and flags within. And no drums beat. But he himself, alone, stood outside the gate of the camp.

It was dusk when Chang Ho and Hsu Huang neared the camp of the men of Shu. They saw that the ensigns and weapons had been overthrown, and no drums beat at their approach. They also saw the one figure of the doughty warrior at the gate, and then they halted and dared advance no farther. While they hesitated, Ts'ao Ts'ao arrived and urged his army to march quicker. They answered with a shout and made a dash forward—but they saw the one figure at the gate, and every man stood still. And before long, man by man they turned about and went away. Then Chao Yun beckoned to his men to come out of the moat, and the archers and bowmen began to shoot. The men of Ts'ao knew not in the dusk how many their enemies were, but terror seized upon them and they ran, each trying to be first. And as they ran the drums rolled and the men shouted and pursued, till the flight became a perfect rout and a confused mass of men reached the banks of the Han Waters. The press continuing, many were forced into the river and were drowned.

The three captains of Shu followed close on the heels of the routed army, and while Ts'ao Ts'ao was making off with all speed, two other captains of Shu came along and set fire to all the army stores of food and forage. Then Ts'ao Ts'ao abandoned the northern hill stores and set out hastily for NanChun. Chang Ho and Hsu Huang could make no stand, and they also abandoned their camps, which Chao Yun at once occupied. Beside the stores of food, the victors collected countless weapons along the banks of the river.

They sent news of the victory to Liu Pei, who came with K'ung-ming to the scene of the victory, and there they heard the full story of Chao Yun's prowess. And Yuan-te was glad, and when he had seen the steepness and difficulties of the surrounding hills and understood the fine deeds of valour that had been done, he turned to K'ung-ming and said, "Truly, the man is brave all through."

Behold Chao Yun, the warrior of Ch'angshan,

Whose whole body is valour;
Formerly he fought at Ch'angpan,
And his courage today is no less.
He rushes into the array to manifest his heroism;
Surrounded by his enemies,
He is dauntless and daring.
Devils howl and spirits cry,
The sky is afaid and earth trembles.
Such is Chao Yun, the brave,
Whose whole body is valour.

For his services Yuan-te gave Chao Yun the title of 'Tiger Terror." And the men of his army were rewarded and there was banqueting to a late hour.

Soon it was reported that Ts'ao Ts'ao was coming again down through Hsieh Valley to try to capture the Han Waters. But Yuan-te laughed, saying, "He will not succeed, for I think that we shall gain command of the river."

Then he led his army west of the river to oppose him. When Ts'ao Ts'ao drew near he sent out Hsu Huang to lead the van and open the battle. A certain Wang P'ing, who said he knew the country, offered to go as well, and he was sent as second in command.

Ts'ao Ts'ao camped on the no the of TingChun Mount, and his advanced guard marched away making for the River Han. And when they reached the bank, Hsu Huang gave orders to cross to the other side.

"To cross the river is well," said his second, "but what if you have to retreat?"

"When Han Hsin made his array with a river in his rear, he said that out of the place of death one could return to life."