Romance of the Three Kingdoms II (47 page)

Such awe and fear seized upon the country round when these exploits were heard of that many other cities simply opened their gates without making any resistance. The army then, horse and foot, marched on to Ch'ishan.

When they reached the west bank of the River Wei the scouts reported their movements in Loyang, and, at a court held in the first year of the period
T'ai-Ho
a minister told the king of the threatened invasion. He said, "Hsiahou, the imperial Son-in-law, has lost the three cities and fled to the
Cb'iang.
The enemy has reached Ch'ishan, and their advanced columns are on the west bank of the Wei. I pray that an army be sent to repulse them."

The Emperor Jui was alarmed and asked for some general to go out and drive off the enemy.

The Minister Wang Lang stepped forward and said, "I observed that whenever the General Ts'ao Chen was sent by the late Emperor on any expedition he succeeded; why not send him to drive off these men of Shu?"

Jui approved of the suggestion, whereupon he called up Ts'ao Chen and said to him, "The late Emperor confided me to your guardianship; you cannot sit by while the enemy ravages the country."

Ts'ao Chen replied, "Your Majesty, my talents are but poor and unequal to the task you propose."

"You are a trusted minister of state and you may not really refuse this task," said the Emperor.

"I will use the little strength left me to accompany you," said Wang Lang.

"After the bounties I have received I cannot refuse," replied Ts'ao Chen. "But I must ask for an assistant."

"You have only to name him, O noble One," said the Emperor.

So Ts'ao Chen named Kuo Huai, a man of Yangchu, whose official rank was Marquis of Shet'ing, he was also Governor of Yungchou.

Thereupon Ts'ao Chen was appointed Commander-in-chief, and the ensigns of rank were conferred upon him. Kuo Huai was appointed his second and Wang Lang was created Instructor of the Army. He was then already old, seventy-six.

The army of Ts'ao Chen consisted of twenty legions, the best men from both capitals. His brother, Ts'ao Tsun, was made leader of the van with an assistant, Chu Tsan, "Opposer of Brigands." The army moved out in the eleventh year, and the Emperor went with it to the outside of the west gate.

Ts'ao Chen marched by way of Ch'angan and camped on the west bank of the Wei River. At a council which the Commander-in-chief called to consider the best mode of attack, Wang Lang asked that he might be allowed to parley with the enemy.

"Let the army be drawn up in complete battle order and unfurl all the banners. I will go out and call a parley with Chuko Liang, at which I will make him yield to us without a blow, and the men of Shu shall march home again."

Ts'ao Chen agreed that the aged councellor should try. So orders were given to take the early meal at the fourth watch and have the men fall in in their companies and files at daylight, all in review order. Everything was to be grand and imposing, the flags fluttering and the drums rolling, every man in his place. Just before this display a messenger was to deliver a declaration of war.

Next day, when the armies were drawn up facing each other in front of Ch'ishan, the men of Shu saw that their enemies were fine, bold men, very different from those that Hsiahou Mou had brought against them. Then after three rolls of the drums the Minister Wang Lang mounted his horse and rode out, preceded by the Commander-in-chief and followed by the second in command. The two leaders of the van remained in charge of the army. Then an orderly rode to the front and called out in a loud voice, "We request the leader of the opposing army to come out to a parley."

At this, an opening was made at the main standard, through which came out Kuan Hsing and Chang Pao, who took up their stations right and left. Then followed a guard, and beneath the standard, in the rcentre of the array, was seen a four-wheeled carriage wherein sat K'ung-ming, with turban, white robe and black sash; and the feather fan was in his hand. He advanced with the utmost dignity. Looking up, he saw three commander's umbrellas and flags bearing large white characters. In the middle was an aged figure, the Minister Wang Lang.

"He intends to deliver an oration," thought K'ung-ming, "I must answer as best I may."

His carriage was then pushed to the front beyond the line of battle, and he directed one of his officers to reply, saying, "The Prime Minister of the Hans is willing to speak with the Minister Wang."

Wang Lang advanced. K'ung-ming saluted him from the carriage with raised hands, and Wang replied from horseback with an inclination. Then he began his oration.

"I am happy to meet you, noble Sir; your reputation has been long known to me. Since you recognise the decrees of Heaven and are acquainted with the conditions of the world, why do you, without any excuse, lead out such an army?"

K'ung-ming replied, "How mean you no excuse? I hold an edict to destroy rebels."

Wang Lang replied, "Heaven has its mutations, and changes its instruments from time to time; but the supreme dignity comes at last to the man of virtue. This is the inevitable and immutable law. In the days of Huan and Ling arose the Yellow Turban rebellion, and the whole earth was involved in wrangling and warfare. Later, in the periods
Ch'u-P'ing
and
Chien-An,
Tung Cho arose in revolt, a revolt which Li Ts'ui and Kuo Ssu continued after he had been destroyed. Next Yuan Shu usurped the imperial style, and his brother Yuan Shao played the man of might and valour in the land of Yeh. Liu Piao occupied Chingchou, and Lu Pu seized and held Hsu District. Thus rebels have arisen in the land like swarms of wasps and bold spirits have followed their own will, to the danger of the supreme dignity and the peril of the people. Then the founder of our House, the Emperor Wu (Ts'ao Ts'ao), swept away rebellion purged the land and restored order. All hearts turned to him in gratitude, and the people of the four quarters admired his virtue. He gained his position by no manifestation of force; it was simply the will of Heaven. His son and successor, the Emperor Wen, was wise and warlike, adequate to the great heritage and fitted to wield supreme power. Wherefore, in accordance with the will of Heaven and the desires of men, and following the example of the earliest emperors, he took his place as arbiter of the Central Government, whereby the myriad countries are ordered and governed. Can any maintain that it was not the desire of Heaven and the wish of men?

"Noble Sir, you are a man of natural talent and acquired attainments, worthy, you say yourself, to be compared with Kuan and Yo. Why then place yourself in opposition to the decree of Heaven and turn away from the desire of mankind to do this thing? You cannot be ignorant of the wise old saying that he who accords with the Heavens shall flourish, while he who opposes shall be destroyed.

"Now the armies of Wei are countless legions, and their able leaders are beyond number. Can the glow-worm in the parched stubble rival the glorious moon in the sky? If you will turn down your weapons and throw aside your armour and dutifully yield, you shall not lose your rank. The state will have tranquillity and the people rejoice. Is not that a desirable consummation?"

K'ung-ming laughed. Said he, "I regarded you as an old and tried servant of the Han Dynasty and thought you would hold some noble discourse. Could I imagine you would talk so foully? I have a word to say that all the army may hear. In the days of Huan and Ling the rule of Han declined, the officers of state were the authors of evil, the government fell into confusion and misfortune settled on the country. Trouble was rife in every quarter. The three rebels you mentioned arose one after another, deposing the emperor and addicting the people. Because the household officers were corrupt and foolish, and the court officials were as brute beasts, living only that they might feed; because men, wolfishly cruel in their hearts, currishly mean in their conduct, were in office one after another and slavish flatterers bending slavish knees confounded the administration, therefore the Throne became as a waste heap and the people were trodden into the mire. I know all about you. You came from the eastern sea-shore; you got into office with a low degree; you properly aided your sovereign and supported the state, cared for the tranquillity of Han and magnified the Lius. But could one have imagined that you would turn and assist rebels and enter into a plot to usurp the Throne? Indeed your crime is great and your guilt heavy. Heaven and earth will not suffer you; the inhabitants of this country would devour you. But happily the design of Heaven is to retain the glorious dynasty. The late Emperor Chao-Lieh continued the line in Hsich'uan, and I have been entrusted by the present Emperor with the task of destroying you rebels. Since you are such a false and specious minister you have but to hide your body and cover your head, concern yourself about your belly and your back, but do not come out before the army to rave about the decrees of Heaven. You hoary-headed old fool! You grey-haired rebel! Mark you, today is your last day; this day even you descend to the Nine Springs. How will you stand before the two score and four emperors of Han that you will meet there? Retire, you old rebel! Go tell your rebellious companions to come and fight one battle with me that shall decide the victory."

Fierce wrath filled the old man's breast. With one despairing cry he fell to the earth dead.

This exploit of K'ung-ming's has been lauded in verse:—

In west Ts'in, when the armies met in the field,
He, the bold one, singly faced a myriad warriors,
And with a simple weapon, just his cruel tongue,
He did to death an old and wicked man.

After Wang Lang had fallen, K'ung-ming waved the fan toward Ts'ao Chen and said, "As for you, I leave you alone for this occasion. Go and get your army in order for tomorrow's battle."

The chariot turned and left the ground; both armies retired for that day. To Ts'ao Chen fell the melancholy duty of rendering the last services to the aged counsellor and setting his coffin on its journey to Ch'angan.

Then said the general Kuo Huai, "Chuko Liang will certainly think the army occupied with mourning and make a night attack. Let us anticipate him and set out an ambush about our camp. Let two bodies of our men be hidden outside and two others take the occasion to raid the camp of the enemy."

"I thought of such a scheme myself," said Ts'ao Chen. "It exactly suits my plans."

So the orders were given; the two leaders of the van were to take a legion each, get away by the rear of the mountain and look out for the passing of the men of Shu. When they had gone by, these two were to make for their camp. They were only to attempt a raid if the men of Shu had left. Then the Commander-in-chief arranged with his second each to lead a force and hide outside the camp. A few men only were to be left within to make a fire if the enemy were seen to be coming. And each captain set about his necessary preprations.

When K'ung-ming reached his tent he called to him Chao Yun and Wei Yen, and said to them, "You two are to make a night attack."

"Ts'ao Chen is a man of experience and will be on the lookout," ventured Wei Yen.

"But that is just what I want, I want him to know we shall attack tonight. He will then put some men in hiding in rear of Ch'ishan, who will make for our camp as soon as they see us pass toward theirs. I am sending you to let yourselves be seen passing the hill, but you are to camp behind it and at a distance. When the men of Wei attack this camp you will see a signal. Then Wei Yen will hold the approach to the hill, and Chao Yun will make his way back in fighting order. He will meet the men of Wei returning and will let them pass on to you. You will attack. The enemy will assuredly fall to fighting among themselves, and we shall conquer."

These two having gone away to carry out their portions of the plan, he next called up Kuan Hsing and Chang Pao: "You are to take each a legion and hide in the high road to the mountain. When the men of Wei. come, let them pass and then march along the road they came by to the camp they have just left."

These two having left, the plan concluded with placing four bodies of men in ambush about the camp.

Within the camp the tents and shelters were left standing as if the camp was occupied, while wood and straw were heaped up ready to give the signal. This done, K'ung-ming and his officers retired to the rear of the camp to watch proceedings.

On the side of Wei the two van-leaders, Ts'ao Tsun and Chu Tsan, left at dusk and hastened toward the camp of Shu. About the second watch they saw men busily moving about in front of the hill.

Ts'ao Tsun thought to himself, "Commander Kuo Huai is an excellent strategist and of wonderful prevision."

Then he hastened the march, and in the third watch reached the camp of Shu. He at once dashed into the enclosure, but only to find it totally deserted. Not a man was visible. At once he knew he had stumbled into a trap, and began to withdraw. Then the flames sprang up. Chu Tsan arrived ready to fight, and the two bodies of men, thrown into confusion, fought with each other till the two leaders met, when they found out they were fighting their own men.

As they were restoring order, on came the four bodies of men of Shu who had lain in ambush ready for them. The two leaders, with a handful of those nearest to them, ran away to get to the high road. But before long the rolling drums announced another body of their enemy, and their flight was stopped by Chao Yun.

"Whither go ye, O rebel leaders?" cried he. "Stop, for here is death."