Romance of the Three Kingdoms II (24 page)

On his return to the army, he gave to Kuan Yu the message of Lu Meng and told him that the family were all well and safe and well cared for. This, however, did not greatly please Kuan Yu, for he saw in this merely a plan to gain favour and popularity.

"The brigand! If I cannot slay him while I live, I will after I am dead. My hate shall not go unappeased."

He roughly dismissed the messenger, who went out and was at once surrounded by those whose families were in the city and who desired to have news of them. And when he gave them the letters and messages and told them all were well, there was great rejoicing among the men in the camp, and kindly feelings for Lu Meng prevailed. And therewith died down the spirit of fighting.

Kuan Yu led the army to attack Chingchou, but day by day the men deserted and ran away to the very city they were moving to attack. So day by day Kuan's bitterness and anger increased, and he advanced in angry haste. One day there was a great shouting and the noise of drums, and he found his way blocked.

"Why do you not surrender, friend Kuan?" said the leader of this body, Chiang Ch'in by name.

"Could I give in to a rebel, I, a servant of the Hans and a leader of their troops?" roared Kuan Yu in a passion.

Thereupon he whipped his horse forward and swung up his sword to strike. However, Chiang Ch'in would not fight. The two exchanged a few blows, and Chiang fled. Kuan Yu followed. When he had gone a long way, there suddenly appeared from a gully near him Han Tang, while Chou T'ai came out from the other side. Thereupon Chiang Ch'in wheeled round and once more came to do battle, so that three forces were opposed to Kuan Yu. Unable to withstand these, he retreated.

Before he had gone very far he saw signs of many people bivouacking among the hills, and presently made out, on a huge white banner that flapped in the breeze, the words, "Natives of Chingchou," and the people about were calling out, "All the inhabitants of this place have surrendered." Kuan Yu felt like rushing up and cutting these people to pieces, but just then two other cohorts appeared led by Ting Feng and Hsu Sheng, who supported Chiang Ch'in. The three bodies of men then set on with shouting and loud beating of drums that seemed to make the very earth tremble. And Kuan Yu was like the kernel in a nut, quite surrounded.

This was not all. He saw the number of his followers diminishing every moment. He fought on till dusk, and looking about him he saw all the hills crowded with Chingchou folk and heard them calling brother for brother and son for father, till his soldiers' hearts had melted within them. One by one they ran to their relatives, heedless of their leader and his voice. Presently he had but three hundred left, but with them he kept up the battle till the third watch. Then there was another shouting in another note, for his faithful leaders, Kuan P'ing, his son, and Liao Hua, came to his help. And they rescued him.

"The soldiers' hearts are all melted," said Kuan P'ing. "We must find some place wherein to camp till help can arrive. There is Maich'eng, small, but sufficient, let us camp there."

Kuan Yu consented, and the exhausted army hurried thither as quickly as they could.

The small force was divided among the four gates. Here it seemed as though they could find safety till help could be obtained from Shangyung, which was near.

But disappointments dogged them. Very soon the army of Wu came up and laid siege to the city.

"Who will try to break through and go away to Shang-yung for assistance?" asked Kuan Yu.

"I will go," said Liao Hua.

"And I will escort you past the danger zone," said Kuan P'ing.

Kuan Yu wrote his letter, which Liao Hua concealed next his skin, and having eaten a full meal, he rode out at the gate. A certain leader of the enemy, Ting Feng, tried to check him, but Kuan P'ing fought vigorously and drove him away. So Liao reached the city, while Kuan P'ing returned. Then they barred the gates and went not forth again.

Now, having captured Shangyung, Liu Feng and Meng Ta had remained to guard it, and the Prefect had surrendered. Liu Feng had been created an assistant general with Meng Ta to aid him.
When
they heard of the defeat of Kuan Yu they took counsel what to do. When Liao Hua came, he was admitted into the city. He told the tale of Kuan Yu's straits, and asked for help.

"Kuan Yu is closely besieged in Maich'eng. Help from the west will be a long time in coming, so I have been sent to beg your assistance. I hope you will march the Shangyung troops thither as quickly as possible, for any delay will be fatal."

Liu Feng replied, "Sir, go to the rest-house for a time till we can decide."

So he went, and the two leaders talked over the matter.

Liu Feng said, "This is bad news; what is to be done?"

"Wu is very powerful," replied his colleague. "Now they have control over the whole district save this small clod of earth called Maich'eng. Ts'ao Ts'ao is at hand with half a hundred legions, and we cannot stand against the two mighty houses. I say we must not move."

"I know all this. But Kuan Yu is my uncle, and I cannot bear to sit still and not try to save him."

"So you hold him as an uncle!" said Meng Ta with a smile. "Yet I do not think he holds you much as a nephew. When the Prince of HanChung created him a generalissimo he was greatly annoyed. And after the prince had accepted his new dignity and was nominating his heir, I hear he consulted K'ung-ming, who said the affair was one to be decided within the family and declined to advise. Then the prince sent to ask Kuan Yu's advice. Did he name you? Not at all. You were only a son by adoption and could have no place in the succession. Further, he advised that you be sent to a distance lest you might cause trouble. This is common knowledge, and I am surprised that you are ignorant of it. Yet today you make capital out of the relationship and are willing to run a great risk to support it."

"Granted that what you say is true, still what reply can we give?"

"Simply say that this city is still unsettled and you dare not move lest it be lost."

Liu Feng took his colleague's view, sent for the messenger and told him. Liao Hua was greatly disappointed. He threw himself on the ground and knocked his head, imploring assistance.

"If you act thus, there is an end of Kuan Yu," cried he.

"Will a cup of water extinguish a waggon load of blazing wood?" said Meng Ta. "Hasten back and await patiently for the coming of help from the west."

Liao Hua renewed his entreaties. The two commanders simply rose, shook out their sleeves and left him. Liao Hua saw that things had gone against him and thought his best course would be to go at once to Ch'engtu. He rode out of the city cursing its defenders and went away west.

Kuan Yu from his fortress looked anxiously, but vainly, for the coming of the expected aid. He was in a sorry plight. His men numbered but a few hundred, many wounded; there was no food.

The someone came to the foot of the wall and, calling out to the men on the wall not to shoot, said he had a message for the commander. He was allowed to enter, it was Chuko Chin. When he had made his salutations and taken tea, he began his harangue.

"I come at the command of my master, Marquis Wu, to persuade you to a wise course. From of old it has always been recognised that the hero must bow to circumstances The districts that you ruled have come under another, with the exception of this single city. Within, there is no food, without, no help, so that it must fall quickly. Wherefore, O General, why not hear me and join your fortunes to those of Wu? You shall be restored to your governorship and you will preserve your family. If haply, Sir, you would reflect thereon."

Kuan Yu replied, quite calmly, "I am a simple soldier of Chiehliang. I am the 'hands and feet' of my lord, his brother. How can I betray him? The city may fall, and then I can but die. Jade may be shattered, but its whiteness remains; bamboo may be burned, but its joints stand out. My body may be broken, but my fame shall live in history. Say no more, but leave the city, I beg. I will fight Sun Ch'uan to the death."

"My master desires to enter into such a league with you as did Ts'in and Chin in former days, that you may mutually assist to destroy Ts'ao Ts'ao and restore the Hans. That is his idea, and why do you persist in this wrong course?"

As he finished this speech, Kuan P'ing, who was by, drew his sword to slay him. But his father checked him.

"Remember his brother is in Shu, helping your uncle, If you hurt him you will injure the principle of fraternity."

He then bade his servants lead Chuko Chin away. He went his face covered with shame, and left the city. When he reached his master he told of Kuan Yu's obduracy and rejection of all argument.

"He is indeed a loyal servant!" said Sun Ch'uan. "Still, what is to be done next?"

'Take the sortes," said Lu Fan.

So the lots were taken and explained to mean that the lord's enemies should flee to a distance.

Then Sun Ch'uan asked Lu Meng, saying, "If he fly to a distance, how can he be captured?"

"The divination exactly fits in with my schemes," replied he, "and though Kuan had wings to soar to the skies he would not escape my net."

The dragon in a puddle is the sport of shrimps,
The phoenix in a cage is mocked of small birds.

The scheme of Lu Meng will be unfolded in the next chapter.

CHAPTER LXXVIl
KUAN YU MANIFESTS HIS SACRED
CHARACTER AT THE JADE FOUNT HILL: TS'AO TS'AO
IS POSSESSED AT LOYANG

S
un
Ch'uan having asked Lu Meng for a plan, Lu replied, "This man Kuan has very few men left, and he will not venture along the high road. North of Maich'eng is a risky path, and he will try to escape along that. Therefore you must lay an ambush for him twenty
li
away from the city, but do not stop him. Let him go by, and then harass his rear. Thus he will he forced into Linchu. Set another small ambush near there, and you will capture your enemy. For the present, attack the city vigorously on all sides but one, leaving the north gate for escape."

Before carrying out this plan, Sun bade Lu Fan consult the auspices. He did so, announcing that the enemy would flee toward the northwest, but would be caught that night before midnight.

So Chu Jan was sent in command of the first ambush, five companies, and Pan Chang with a cohort was the second. The men were all veterans.

When Kuan Yu mustered his fighting men in the city, he had but three hundred, all told. The food was done. That night many men of Wu came to the city walls and called to their friends by name, and many of these slipped over the wall and deserted, reducing the small force still further. No rescue force appeared, and Kuan was at the end of his resources. Again he bewailed to Wang Fu the obstinacy that had led him to neglect his wise warning.

"I think even if Tzu-ya (Lu Shang) could come to life again he would be helpless in this case," replied Wang Fu, sadly.

Said Chao Lei, "Liu Feng and Meng Ta have surely decided not to send help from Shangyung. Let us abandon this miserable place and try to regain Hsich'uan. We may then tempt our fortune once more."

"I agree with you that that is the best plan," said Kuan Yu.

Then he ascended the walls and surveyed the country. Noting that the weakest side was the north, he called in some of the inhabitants and enquired the nature of the country on that side.

They replied, "There are only paths there, but by them one may get into Hsich'uan."

"We will go that way tonight," said Kuan.

Wang Fu opposed it, pointing out that they would surely fall into an ambush. The main road would be safer.

"There may be an ambush, but do I fear that?" said the old warrior.

Orders were given to be ready to march.

"At least be very cautious," said Wang Fu. "I will defend this city to the very last; I only need a few men. Never will we surrender. Only I hope, most noble Marquis, that you will send me speedy help."

The two parted in tears; Wang Fu and Chou Ts'ang remaining to guard Maich'eng. Kuan Yu, Kuan P'ing and Chao Lei marched with their weak force out of the north gate. Kuan Yu, his great sword ready to hand, went first. About the time of watch-setting, a score of
li
lay between them and the city. There they saw a deep cleft in the hills wherefrom rolled the sound of beaten drums. And men were shouting.

Soon appeared a large force with Chu Jan at their head. He came dashing forward, and summoned the small party to surrender if they would save their lives. But Kuan Yu whipped his steed to a gallop and bore down on the leader with anger in his eyes. Then Chu Jan ran away. Kuan Yu followed him till there came the loud boom of a large drum, and out sprang men from all sides. Kuan Yu dared not engage such a number, and fled in the direction of Linchu. Chu Jan came up behind and attacked the flying soldiers, so that Kuan's following gradually became smaller and smaller.

Still he struggled on. A few li farther the drums rolled again, and torches lit up all round. This was P'an Chang's ambush, and he appeared flourishing his sword. Kuan Yu whirled his blade and went to meet him, but P'an ran away after a couple of bouts. However, Kuan Yu saw they were too many for him, and sought refuge among the mountains. His son followed, and when he got within speaking distance he gave him the mournful tidings that Chao Lei had fallen. Kuan Yu was very sad, and bade his son try to protect the rear while he should force his way forward.

With a half score men he reached Chuehshih, a place with mountains on both sides. At their foot was a thick mass of reeds and dried grass. The trees grew very close. It was then the fifth watch. Presently the small party stumbled into another ambush, and the men thrust forth hooks and threw ropes. Entangled in these, Kuan Yu's horse fell, and Kuan Yu reeled out of the saddle. In a moment he was a prisoner. Kuan P'ing dashed to his rescue, but before he could do anything he also was surrounded and held. Father and son were both captives.

With great joy Sun Ch'uan heard of the success of his plans. He assembled all his officers in his tent to await the arrival of the prisoners. Before long, Ma Chung, who had actually caught Kuan Yu, came hustling his prisoner before him.

"
I
have long had a friendly feeling for you," said Sun Ch'uan to Kuan Yu, "on account of your great virtues. Now I would have made a covenant and alliance with you, if you would. You and your son have long held yourselves to be invincible, but you see you are my prisoners today. Yet I hope to win you over to my side."

But Kuan Yu only answered roughly, "You green-eyed boy! You red-bearded rat! I made a covenant in the Peach Garden with my brothers to uphold the Hans. Think you that I will stand side by side with a rebel such as you are? I am a victim of your vile schemes, but I can only die once. And there is no need of many words."

"He is a real hero, and I love him," said Sun Ch'uan to those standing near. "I will treat him well and endeavour to win him over. Do you think it well?"

Said one of them, "When Ts'ao Ts'ao had hold of this man he treated him lavishly well. He created him a marquis; he feasted him day after day at public and private banquets; he gave him gold and presented him with silver, all this, hoping to retain him at his side. But he failed. The man broke through his gates, slew his captains and went away. Today Ts'ao Ts'ao fears him, and almost moved the capital for dread of him. Now he is in your power destroy him, or you will rue the day. Evil will come if you spare him."

Sun Ch'uan reflected for some time.

"You are right," said he presently, and gave the order for execution.

So father and son met their fate together in the twenty-fourth year (219
A.D.)
in the tenth month. Kuan
Kung
was fifty-eight.

A poem says;—

Peerless indeed was our lord Kuan, of the latter days,
Head and shoulders stood he out among the best;
Godlike and terrible in war, elegant and refined in peace,
Resplendent as the noonday sun in the heavens,
Haloed as are the noblest of those early days,
He stands, the brightest model for all ages,
And not only for the strenuous days he lived in.

And another:—

Seek ye a noble one? Then take ye the way of Chiehliang,
Watch ye how all men revere Yun-ch'ang,
Each excelling others to honour him,
Him, one of the three brothers of the Peach Garden Oath,
Of whom two have won sacrifices, as Emperor and prince.
Incomparable, their aura spreads through the world;
They are resplendent as the great lights of the firmament;
Temples to our lord Kuan abound, no village lacks one,
Their venerable trees at sundown are the resting places for birds.

So the great warrior ended his life. His famous steed, also captured with his master, was sent to Sun Ch'uan, who gave him as a reward to his captor, Ma Chung. But "Red Hare" survived his master only a short time, he refused to feed, and soon died.

Forebodings of misfortune came to Wang Fu within the city of Mai. His bones felt cold, his flesh crept; and he said to his colleague, "I have had a terrible dream in which I saw our lord all dripping with gore. I would question him, but I was overcome with dread. May it augur no evil tidings!"

Just then the men of Wu came up to the city wall and displayed the gory heads of the two, father and son. Wang Fu and Chou Ts'ang went up on the wall to see if the dread tokens were real. There was no doubt. Wang Fu with a despairing cry threw himself over the wall and perished, Chou Ts'ang died by his own hand. Thus the city fell to Wu.

Now the spirit of Kuan the Noble did not dissipate into space, but wandered through the void till it came to a certain spot in Tangyanghsien on a famous hill known as the Mount of the Jade Spring. There lived a venerable Buddhist priest whose name in the faith was P'u-ching. He was originally of Ssushui Kuan and abbot of a state guardian temple. In the course of roaming about the world he had reached this place. Entranced with its natural beauty, he had built himself a shelter of boughs and grass, where he sat in meditation on The Way. He had a novice with him to beg food and to attend to his simple wants.

This night, about the third watch, the moon was bright and the air serene. P'u-ching sat in his usual attitude in the silence of the mountains. Suddenly he heard a great voice calling in the upper air, "Give back my head; give back my head."

Gazing upward he saw the shape of a man mounted on a horse. In the hand he saw a shining blade like unto the Black Dragon. Two military figures were with him, one on either side. He on the left had a white face; he on the right was swarthy of countenance with a curly beard. And they followed the figure with the shining blade. They floated along on a cloud which came to rest on the summit of the mountain.

The recluse recognised the figure as that of Kuan the Noble, so with his yak's tail flagellum he smote the lintel of his hut and cried, "Where is Yun-ch'ang?"

The spirit understood, and the figure dismounted, glided down and came to rest at the door of the hut. Interlacing its fingers, it stood in a reverential attitude and said, "Who is my teacher, and what is his name in the faith?"

"In the state guardian temple in Ssushui Kuan I once saw you, O noble Marquis, and I was not likely to forget your face," replied the priest.

"I am deeply grateful for the help you gave me. Misfortune has befallen me, and I have ceased to live. I would seek the pure instruction and beg you to indicate the obscure way."

Let us not discuss former wrongdoings nor present correct actions. Later events are the inevitable result of former causes. I know that Lu Meng has injured you. You call aloud for the return of your head; who will also return the heads of your several victims—Yen Liang, Wen Ch'ou and the guardians of the five passes?"

Thereupon Kuan the Noble seemed suddenly to comprehend bowed in token of assent and disappeared. After this appearance to the recluse his spirit wandered hither and thither about the mountain, manifesting its sacred character and guarding the people.

Impressed by his virtue, the inhabitants builded a temple on the Mountain of the Jade Spring, wherein they sacrificed at the four seasons. In later days, one wrote a couplet for the temple, the first member reading, "Ruddy faced, reflecting the honest heart within, out-riding the wind on the Red Hare steed, mindful of the Red Emperor"; and the second, "In the light of clear lamp, reading the histories, resting on the Black Dragon Blade curved as the young moon, heart pure as the azure heaven."

The execution of Kuan gave Sun Ch'uan undisputed possession of the whole of the Chingchou district. He rewarded his soldiers and spread a great feast at which Lu Meng was in the seat of honour. He made a speech, saying, "After long waiting, the desire of my heart has come to me very easily through the magnificent efforts of my friend Lu Meng."

Lu Meng bowed and bowed deprecatingly, but Sun Ch'uan continued, "My good Chou Yu was superior to most men, and he defeated Ts'ao Ts'ao at Red Wall. Alas! he died too soon. My good Lu Su succeeded him. His first appearance inaugurated the general policy of creating a state. That was the first instance of his keen insight. When Ts'ao Ts'ao descended upon my country, and everyone counselled me to yield, he advised me to summon my good Chou Yu to oppose and smite him. That was the second instance of his keen insight. He made only one fault; he advised me to let Liu Pei occupy this district. Now today my good Lu Meng has succeeded, and in that he far surpasses both his predecessors."

Then he filled a goblet and in person presented it to the guest of the evening. Lu took the cup, but as he raised it a sudden change came over him. Dashing the cup to the ground, he seized Sun Ch'uan, crying, "O green-eyed boy! O red-bearded rat! Do you know me?"

Consternation seized the whole assembly, but some rushed to the rescue of their lord, who had been thrown to the floor by the guest he had so lately complimented. Rushing forward over his body, Lu Meng sat himself in the host's seat, his eyebrows staring stiff and his eyes glaring.

"After I quelled the Yellow Turbans, I went hither and thither for thirty years. Now I have fallen victim to your base plots and you have overcome me. If living I have been unable to gorge upon the flesh of mine enemy, dead I will pursue the spirit of this bandit Lu. I am the Marquis of Hanshout'ing, Kuan Yun-ch'ang."

Terror-stricken, Sun Ch'uan was the first to fall prostrate, and all his officers followed him.

Thereupon Lu Meng fell over dead, with blood gushing from the seven orifices of his body.

In due time the body was coffined and interred. He was created posthumously "Prefect of NanChun and Marquis of Ch'uanling." His son was given hereditary nobility.

After this visitation Sun Ch'uan lived in constant terror. Soon Chang Chao came in from Chienyeh to see him and blame him for the murder.