Romance of the Three Kingdoms II (82 page)

So he compelled the sailing master to continue. On the way Chang Hsiang, one of the leaders of Wu, came to offer surrender.

"If you are in earnest, you will lead the way and help me," said Wang.

Chang consented, returned to his own ship and led the squadron. When he reached the walls he called to the defenders to open the gates and allow the Chin army to enter. The gates were opened.

When the King heard that his enemies had actually entered the city he wished to put an end to his life, but his officers prevented this.

They said, "Your Majesty, why not imitate the conduct of Liu Ch'an, now Duke of Anlo?"

So the king no longer thought of death, but went to offer submission, his face covered and taking a coffin with him. His officers followed him. He was graciously received, General Wang himself removing the cloth from his face, and the coffin was burned. The vanquished ruler was treated with the ceremony due to a prince.

A poet of the Tang Dynasty wrote a few lines on this surrender:—

Adown the stream ride storeyed warships tall;
With massive chains some seek to stop their way.
But Chinling's independence fades away And soon "We yield" is signalled from the wall.

Full oft I think of bygone days and sigh,
Along the stream, unmoved, the old hills rest,
While I am homeless on the earth's broad breast,

Where grim old forts stand grey beneath the sky.

So Wu was subdued and ceased to exist as a state; its four provinces, eighty-three districts, three hundred and ten departments, five hundred and twenty-three thousand families, thirty-two thousand military officers, two hundred and thirteen thousand soldiers, two million three hundred thousand inhabitants, its stores of grain and over five thousand ships, all fell booty to the victorious Chin Dynasty. In the women's quarters of the palace were found more than five thousand persons.

Proclamations were issued, treasuries and storehouses were sealed. T'ao Chun's army soon melted away without striking a blow. Wan Yu and Wang Jung submitted quietly. Wang Chun was greatly elated at his success.

When the Commander-in-chief arrived there were great feastings and rewards for the soldiers. The granaries were opened and doles of grain issued to the people, so that they also were glad of peace.

One city only stood out; Chienp'ing, under the Prefect Wu Yen. However, he too surrendered when he heard the capital had fallen.

The tidings of all these successes reached Loyang just at the celebration of the birthday of the Chin Emperor, and the rejoicings and congratulations were redoubled. At one of the banquets the Emperor did honour to the memory of the late Yang Hu. Raising his wine cup, and in a voice broken by emotion, he said, "Today's success is the merit of Yang
T'ai-ju.
I regret that he is not here to share our rejoicings."

Sun Hsiu, a General of Cavalry in Wu, went away from the court and wailed, facing the south.

"Alas, ye blue heavens! What manner of man is this Sun Hao to yield thus the heritage of his family, won by the sword of his forbears in the brave days that are past?"

Meantime the victors marched homeward, and Sun Hao went to Loyang to present himself at court, and in his capacity of minister he prostrated himself at the feet of the Emperor of the Chin Dynasty in the Hall of Audience. He was allowed a seat.

"I set that seat for you long since," said the Emperor.

"Thy servant also set a seat for Your Majesty in the south," retorted Sun Hao.

The Emperor laughed loudly. Then Chia Ch'ung turned to Sun Hao and said, "I hear, Sir, that when you were in the south they gouged out people's eyes and flayed their faces; what crimes were so punished?

"Murders of princes, and malicious speech and disloyal conduct were so punished."

Chia was silenced, for he was greatly ashamed.

Sun Hao was created Marquis of Kueiming. His sons and grandsons received minor ranks and other grades were conferred upon his ministers who had followed him in his surrender. The sons and grandsons of the late Prime Minister of Wu, Chang T'i, who had perished in battle, were given ranks, and the victorious leader, Wang Chun, was rewarded with the title "Pillar of the State." And many other ranks were conferred.

The tale is told. The Three States have been rewelded into one empire under the rule of Ssuma Yen of the Chin Dynasty. And here we may say as in the beginning:—"States fall asunder and re-unite; empires wax and wane."

A poet has summed up the history of these stirring years in a poem.

It was the dawning of a glorious day
When first the Founder of the House of Han
Hsienyang's proud palace entered. Noontide came
When Kuang-Wu the imperial rule restored.
Alas, that Hsien succeeded in full time
And saw the setting of the sun of power!
Ho Chin, the feeble, fell beneath the blows
Of palace minions. Tung Cho, vile though bold,
Then ruled the court. The plot Wang Yun devised
To oust him, failed, recoiled on his own head.
The Li and Kuo lit up the flame of war
And brigands swarmed like ants through all the land.
Then rose the valiant and deployed their might.
The Suns carved out a kingdom in the east,
Honan the Yuans strove to make their own.
The Lius went west and seized on Pa and Shu,
Another Liu laid hold on Ching and Hsiang,
Chang Miao, Chang Lu, in turn held Cheng by force.
Each of three others seized upon a fief;
T'ao Chien, Han Hsiu and Kungsun Ts'an, the bold.
But overtopping all Ts'ao Ts'ao the strong
Became first minister, and to his side,
Drew many able men. He swayed the court,
Without, he held the nobles in his hand;
By force of arms he held the capital
Against all rivals. Of imperial stock
Was born Yuan-te, who with sworn brothers twain
Made oath the dynasty should be restored.
These wandered homeless east and west for years,
A petty force. But Destiny was kind
And led Liu Pei to Nanyang's rustic cot,
Where lay Reposing Dragon, he who knew
Already that the empire must be rent.
Twice Liu essayed in vain to see the sage;
Once more he went, and then his fortune turned.
Chingchou fell to him, followed Ssuch'uan.
A fitting base to build an empire on.
Alas! He ruled there only three short years,
Then left his only son to K'ung-ming's care.
Full nobly K'ung-ming played protector's part,
Unceasing strove to win first place for Shu;
But Fate forbade, one night for aye his star
Went down behind the rampart of the hills.
Chiang Wei the strong inherited his task
And struggled on for years. But Chung and Teng
Attacked the Hans' last stronghold, and it fell.
Five sons of Ts'ao sat on the dragon throne,
And Ssuma snatched the sceptre from Ts'ao Huan.
Before him bowed the kings of Shu and Wu,
Content to forfeit kingly power for life.
All down the ages rings the note of change,
For fate so rules it; none escapes its sway.
The kingdoms three have vanished as a dream,
The useless misery is ours to grieve.