Romance of the Three Kingdoms II (35 page)

CHAPTER LXXXVl
A PHILOSOPHICAL ENCOUNTER:
FIRE USED TO DESTROY TS'AO
PEI'S ARMY

A
fter
his recent exploits Lu Hsun became the one hero of Wu. He was given the title "Pillar of the State," was ennobled as "Marquis of Chiangling," and received the Governorship of Chingchou. He became commander of all the military forces.

Chang Chao and Ku Yung, thinking the moment opportune for enhancing their lord's dignity, sent in a memorial proposing that his rule should be designated by a distinctive style, and he assumed
Huantj-Wu
as his
nien-hao.

Then arrived a messenger from Wei, and he was called in to an assembly and bidden to state his business. He said, "Recently Shu sent to Wei for help, and, the situation being misunderstood, a force was despatched. Now this action is greatly regretted. In Wei it is thought desirable to set four armies in motion against Shu to capture it, and if Wu will assist, and success crown these efforts, Wei and Wu will share the conquered territory."

Sun Ch'uan listened, but was not prepared to give a decided answer. He betook himself to his counsellors, who suggested that the sapient Lu Hsun should be consulted. So he was called, and his speech ran thus:—

"Ts'ao P'ei is too firmly established in the capital to be upset now, and if this offer of his be refused we shall provoke his enmity. Neither Wei nor Wu, so far as I see, has any man fit to oppose Chuko Liang. We must perforce consent and put our army in order. But we can wait till we see how the four armies speed. If Shu seems likely to fall and Chuko Liang is out-manoeuvred, then our army can be despatched and we will take the capital. If the four armies fail we shall have to consider."

So Sun Ch'uan said to the envoy of Wei, "We are not ready at the moment, so we will choose a day to start later." And with this answer the envoy left.

Next they made careful enquiries about the success or failure of the armies against Shu. They heard that the western tribes had turned back when they saw Ma Ch'ao in command at Hsip'ing Pass. The
Mans
had been perplexed at the tactics of Wei Yen and had retreated to their caves. The Shangyung leader, Meng Ta, had set out, but half way had fallen ill and gone back, and Ts'ao Chen's army had been brought to a halt by the defensive preparations of Chao Yun, who had garrisoned every pass and occupied every point of vantage. They had eventually retreated, after being camped in Hsiehku for some time.

Knowing all this, Sun Ch'uan said to his officials, "Lu Hsun's words were indeed prophetic; he made most perfect deductions. Any rash action on my part would place me on bad terms with Shu."

Just then the coming of an envoy from Shu was announced.

Said Chang Chao, "This mission is also part of Chuko Liang's scheme to divert danger from Shu. Teng Chih has come as envoy."

"That being so, how should I reply?" asked Sun Ch'uan.

"I will tell you. Set up a large cauldron and pour therein a quantity of oil. Light a fire beneath. When the oil is boiling, choose a goodly company of your tallest and brawniest fighting men, arm them and draw them up in lines between the palace gate and your throne room. Then summon the envoy, but before he can say a word upbraid him with being guilty of the same sort of treachery as Li She-ch'i and worthy of the same fate of being boiled in oil. Then see what he will say."

Sun Ch'uan followed this advice, and prepared the cauldron of oil and had the strong men ready. Then he bade them introduce the envoy.

Teng Chih came, his ceremonial dress in perfect order, and advanced as far as the gate. Seeing the grim array of fighting men armed, some with gleaming swords, some with great axes, some with long spears and some with short knives, he understood at once what was meant, but he never blenched. He advanced quite steadily and bravely till he reached the door of the hall. Even when he saw the boiling cauldron of oil and the savage executioners glaring at him he only smiled.

He was led to the front of the curtain behind which sat the prince, and he made the ordinary salutation of raising his extended arms, but he did not bow in obeisance.

The prince bade his attendants roll up the curtain, and called out, "Why do you not make an obeisance?"

Teng Chih boldly replied, "The envoy of the superior state does not make an obeisance to the ruler of a smaller country."

"If you do not control that tongue of yours, but will let it wag, you will be like that fellow Li who went to talk to Ch'i. You will soon find yourself in the cauldron."

Then Teng Chih laughed aloud. "People say there are many sages in Wu; no one would believe that they would be frightened of a simple scholar."

This reply only increased Sun Ch'uan's anger, and he said, "Who fears a fool like you?"

"If you fear not the envoy, why so anxious about what he may have to say?"

"Because you come here as spokesman of Chuko Liang and you want me to sever with Wei and turn to your country; is not that your message?"

"I am a simple scholar of Shu, and I am come to explain matters to the state of Wu. But here I find armed men and a boiling cauldron all prepared against a simple envoy. How can I form any other opinion than that you will not allow me to speak?"

As soon as Sun Ch'uan heard these words he bade the soldiers go, and called the envoy into the hall. There he invited him to a seat and said, "What is the real matter between Wei and Wu? I desire that you would inform me."

Then Teng replied, "Do you, great Prince, desire to discuss peace with Wei or with Shu?"

"I really desire to discuss peace with the lord of Shu. But he is young and in experienced and ignorant, and unable to carry a matter through."

"Prince, you are a valiant warrior, just as Chuko Liang is a great minister. Now Shu has the strength of its geographical difficulties just as Wu has the protection of its three rivers. If these two countries are at peace they are mutually protective. They may swallow up the rest of the empire, or they may stand secure alone. If you send tribute to Wei, and acknowledge yourself one of its ministers, you will be expected to attend at court, and your heir-apparent will become a servant in that court; and if you disobey, an army will be sent to attack you. Shu also will come down the river and invade your country. Then this country will be yours no longer. And if you listen not to these words of mine, and refuse my offer, I shall commit suicide before your face and so justify the post I have as an envoy."

As he spake these last words he gathered up his robes and marched down the hall as though he was just going to jump into the cauldron.

"Stop him!" cried Sun Ch'uan, and they did so. Then he requested Teng to go into an inner apartment, where he treated the envoy as a guest of the highest honour.

"O Master," said Sun Ch'uan; "your words exactly express my thoughts, and I desire to make a league of peace with your country. Are you willing to be the intermediary?"

"Just now it was you, O Prince, who wished to boil this poor servant; now it is also you who wish to use him. How can such a doubtful person be trusted?"

"My mind is made up," replied Sun Ch'uan. "Do not doubt me, Master."

Teng Chih was detained, and a conclave of officers gathered.

Said Sun Ch'uan to the assembly, "Under my hand are all the four score and one districts of the east, and I have the lands of Chingchou and Ch'u to boot, yet I am not so well off as that little country of Shu, for Shu has Teng Chih for an envoy, and he glorifies his lord. I have no one to send to declare my wishes to Shu."

Then one stepped forth and said he would go. The speaker was Chang Wen, of Wu, who held an office of no great rank.

"Sir, I fear that when you reach Shu and are in the presence of Chuko Liang you will not explain my real sentiments," said Sun.

Chang Wen replied, "Think you that I shall fear him? He also is but a man."

Sun Ch'uan conferred great gifts on Chang Wen, and sent him on the return mission to Shu to negotiate the league of peace.

While Teng Chih was absent, K'ung-ming said to his lord, "This mission to Wu will succeed, and of the many wise men in the east one will come as return envoy. Your Majesty should treat him with courtesy, and let him return to Wu to complete the league. For if we have an alliance with Wu, Wei will not dare to send an army against us. And if we are safe from those quarters, I will lead an expedition to subdue the
Mans
in the south country. After that we can deal with Wei. If Wei is reduced, Wu will not last long, and the whole empire will again be under one ruler."

Presently the report reached the capital that Teng Chih and Chang Wen, as envoy of Wu, would soon arrive. The king and court assembled to receive them honourably. The envoy of Wu carried himself as one who had attained his desires, and advanced boldly. Having made his salute, the Later Ruler gave him to sit on a brocaded stool on his left hand. A banquet followed at which Chang Wen was treated with much honour. At the end of the banquet the whole court escorted the envoy to the guest-house where he was to lodge.

On the second day there was a banquet at the Prime Minister's palace, and K'ung-ming broached the real business. He said, "Our late ruler was not on friendly terms with Wu. But that is all changed, as is demonstrated by these banquets, and our present king is disposed to be very friendly. It is hoped that the former enmity may be entirely forgotten and the two countries swear eternal friendship and alliance in their common end, the destruction of Wei. I look to you, Sir, to speak in favour of this league."

Chang Wen said that he would support the plan. The wine went merrily round, and as the envoy became mellow he laughed freely and swaggered and put on a proud demeanour.

The king gave Chang Wen rich presents of gold and stuffs and prepared a parting banquet for him in the south guest-chamber, and all the court assembled to take leave of him. The Prime Minister paid him assiduous attention and pressed him to drink. While this banquet was in progress, a man suddenly came in as if he were already drunk, made a proud sort of salutation to the company and at once took a seat. His conduct seemed strange to Chang Wen, who asked who the new comer was.

"He is a man named Ch'in Fu, a learned education officer of Ichou," replied K'ung-ming.

"He may be that," said Chang with a laugh, "but I wonder if he has any learning at all inside him."

Ch'in Fu listened without changing countenance, and said, "Since our children are all learned, of course I am more so."

"What may have been your special studies, Sir?" said Chang Wen.

"Everything; astronomy on one hand, geography on the other; the three teachings and the nine systems; all the philosophers; history all through and all sacred books and traditions. There is nothing I have not read."

"Since you talk so big," said Chang, "I should like to ask you a few questions on celestial matters. Now has the sky (
t'ien
) a head?"

"Yes; it has a head."

"Where is it?"

"In the western quarter; the Odes say, 'God turned his head kindly toward the west,' and further it follows from this that the head is in the west."

"Well; has the sky ears?"

"O yes. The sky is above and listens to all things below. The Odes say, 'The crane calls from the midst of the marsh, his cry is heard by the sky (
t'ien
,).' How could the sky hear without ears?"

"Has the sky feet?"

"It has; the Odes say,
't'ien
(heaven) treads down difficulties.' If there were no feet how could it tread?"

"Has heaven a name?"

"Why not?"

"Then what is it?"

"Liu."

"How do you know that?"

"Because the Emperor's family name is Liu, and he is the Son of Heaven. That is how I know."

"Does the sun spring from the east?"

"Though it does, yet it disappears in the west."

All this time Ch'in Fu's repartees had flashed back clear and perfect; they came so naturally as to astonish all the guests. Chang Wen had no word to reply to them. Then it became Ch'in's turn.

"You are a famous scholar in your own land, Sir, and since you have asked so many questions about
t'ien
I take it you are well up in all celestial matters. When original chaos resolved into its two elements,
yin
and
yang,
or female and male, the lighter portion, or ether, rose and became
t'ien,
sky, and the grosser sank and solidified into
ti,
earth. When Kung Kung's rebellion was crushed, its head struck the Puchou (Imperfect) Mountain, the supports of heaven were broken and the bonds of earth were destroyed. Heaven fell over to the north-west, and earth sank into the south-east. Since heaven was ethereal and had floated to the top, how could it fall over? Another thing I do not know is what is beyond the ether. I should be glad if you would explain, Master."

Chang Wen had no reply ready, but he rose from his place and bowed his acknowledgements, saying, "I knew not that there was so much ability in this land. I am happy to have heard such a discourse. Now all obstructions have disappeared, and I see quite clearly."