Romance of the Three Kingdoms II (68 page)

Owing to superior weapons, Shu defeated Wei,
Wei will ne'er recover what was lost that day.

What befell Ssuma Shih will be told in the next chapter.

CHAPTER CVIII
TING FENG'S SWORDSMEN WIN A VICTORY
IN THE SNOW: SUN HSUN EXECUTES
A MURDEROUS PLAN AT A BANQUET

A
s
has been said, Chiang Wei, in his retreat, fell in with a force under Ssuma Shih, barring his road. It came about thus. After the capture of Yungchou, Kuo Huai had sent a flying messenger to the capital and the king summoned Ssuma I for advice. It had then been decided to send reinforcements to Yungchou, and five legions had marched, led by the son of the Prime Minister. On the march Ssuma Shih had heard that the Shu army had been beaten back and had concluded they were weak. So he decided to meet them on the road and give battle. Near the Yangp'ing Pass, however, the roads had been lined with men armed with the multiple crossbows designed by Chuko Liang. Since his death large numbers of these weapons had been made, and the bolts from them, which went in flights of ten, were poisoned. Consequently the Wei losses were very heavy, and Shih himself barely escaped with life. However, eventually he returned to Loyang.

From the walls of Ch'ushan the Shu captain Chu An, watched anxiously for the expected help. As it came not, he ultimately surrendered. And Chiang Wei, with a greatly reduced army, marched back into HanChung.

In the third year of
Cbia-P'ing,
in the eighth month, Ssuma I fell ill. His sickness increased rapidly, and, feeling that his end was near, he called his two sons to his bedside to hear his last words.

"I have served Wei many years and reached the highest rank possible among ministers. People have suspected me of ulterior aims, but I have always felt afraid to take the final step. After my death the government will be in your hands, and you must be doubly careful."

He passed away even as he said these last words. The sons informed the king, who conferred high honours upon the dead and advanced his sons, the elder to the rank of General with the leadership of the Presidents, and the younger to the rank of General of Cavalry.

It is here necessary to return and survey events in Wu. Sun Ch'uan had named his son Teng as his heir. His mother was the Lady Hsu. But Teng died, and the second son was chosen his successor. His mother was the Lady Wang. A quarrel arose between the new Heir Apparent and Princess Chin, who maligned him and intrigued against him, so that he was set aside. He died of mortification. Then the third son was named; his mother's name was Pan.

At this time Lu Hsun and Chuko Chin were both dead, and the business of the government, great and small, was in the hands of Chuko Ch'uo.

In the first year of
T'ai-Ho,
on the first of the eighth month a great gale passed over Wu. The waves rose to a great height, and the water stood eight feet deep over the low-lying lands. The pines and cypresses which grew at the cemetery of the kings of Wu, were uprooted and carried to the gates of Chienyehch'eng, where they stuck, roots upward, in the road.

Sun Ch'uan was frightened and fell ill. In the early days of the next year his illness became serious, whereupon he called in Chuko Ch'uo and Lu Tai to hear the declaration of his last wishes. Soon after he died, at the age of seventy-one. He had ruled in Wu for twenty-four years.

A hero, grey-eyed and red-bearded,
He called forth devotion from all.

He lorded the east without challenge
Till death's one imperative call.

Chuko immediately placed his late lord's son Liang on the throne, and the opening of the new reign was marked by the adoption of the style
Ta-Hsing.
A general amnesty was proclaimed. The late ruler received the posthumous style of "Great Emperor" and was buried in Chiangling.

When these things were reported in the Wei capital, Ssuma Shih's first thought was to attack the east. But his plans were opposed by Fu Ku, saying, "Remember what a strong defence to Wu is the Great River. The country has been many times attacked, but never conquered. Rather let us all hold what we have till the time be expedient to possess the whole empire."

Shih replied, "The way of Heaven changes thrice in a century, and no emperor is permanent. I wish to attack Wu."

Ssuma Chao, his brother, was in favour of attack, saying "The occasion is most opportune. Sun Ch'uan is newly dead and the present ruler is a child."

An expedition was decided upon. There was a certain general named Wang Chiang, whose title was "Conqueror of the South," and it was settled that he should command. He led away ten legions with orders to attack Tunghsing. Another leader, Wuch'iu Chien, was given ten legions to go against Wuch'ang. They marched in three divisions. Ssuma Chao went in chief command.

The armies drew near to the Wu frontiers in the tenth month and camped. Chao called together the various commanders to decide upon plans. He said, "This Tunghsing district is most important to Wu. They have built a great rampart, with walls right and left to defend Ch'aohu from an attack in the rear. You gentlemen will have to exercise extreme care."

Then he bade Wang Ch'ung and Wuch'iu Chien each to take a legion and place themselves right and left, but not to advance till Tunghsing had been captured. When that city had fallen, these two were to go forward at the same time. Hu Tsun was to lead the van.

The first step was to construct a floating bridge to storm the rampart. The two walls should then be captured.

News of the danger soon came to Wu, and Chuko Ch'uo called a council to take measures.

Then said Ting Feng, whose title was "Pacificator of the North, "Tunghsing is of the utmost importance as its loss would endanger Wuch'ang."

"I agree with you," said Chuko. "You say just what I think. You should lead three thousand marines up the river in thirty ships while I follow on land."

Three other legions were sent out along different roads to help where needed. The signal for the general advance was to be three bombs.

Hu Tsun, of Wei, crossed on the floating bridge, took and camped on the rampart. He then sent Huan Chia and Han Tsung to assault the flanking forts, which were held by Ch'uan I and Liu Lueh. These forts had high walls and strong, and made a good resistance, but the garrison dared not venture out to attack so strong a force as was attacking them.

Hu Tsun made a camp at Hsuchou. It was then the depth of winter and intensely cold. Heavy snow fell. Thinking that no warlike operations were possible in such weather, Hu and his officers made a great feast.

In the midst of the feasting came one to report that thirty ships had come up river. The general went out to look and saw them come into the bank. He made out a hundred men on each. As they were so few, he returned to the feast and told his officers that there was nothing to be alarmed at. Giving orders to keep a careful watch, they all returned to enjoy themselves.

Ting Feng's ships were all drawn up in line. Then he said to his officers, "Today there is indeed a grand opportunity for a brave man to distinguish himself. We shall need the utmost freedom of movement, so throw off your armour, leave your helmets, cast aside your long spears and reject your heavy halberds. Short swords are the weapons for today."

From the shore the men of Wei watched them with amusement, taking no trouble to prepare against an attack. But suddenly bombs exploded, and simultaneously with the roar of the third Ting Feng sprang ashore at the head of his men. They dashed up the bank and made straight for the camp.

The men of Wei were taken completely by surprise and were helpless. Han Tsung grasped one of their halberds that stood by the door of the commander's tent, but Ting Feng stabbed him in the breast, and he rolled over. Huan Chia went round and came up on the left, just as he poised his spear to thrust, Ting gripped it under his arm. Huan let go and turned to flee, but Ting sent his sword flying after him and caught him in the shoulder. He turned and was thrust through.

The three companies of Wu marines went to and fro in the camp of Wei slaying as they would. Hu Tsun fled. His men ran away across the floating bridge, but that gave way and many were thrown into the water and drowned. Dead bodies lay about on the snow in large numbers. The spoil of military gear that fell to Wu was immense. The other Wei leaders retreated.

When Chuko had finished the feastings and distribution of rewards in celebration of victory, he thought he could push on and capture the capital. So he told his officers that this was his intention, and also sent away letters to Shu to engage the aid of Chiang Wei, promising that the empire should be divided between them when they had taken it.

An army of twenty legions was told off to march on the capital. Just as it was starting, a stream of white vapour was seen emerging from the earth, and as it spread it gradually enveloped the whole army so that men could not see each other.

"It is a white rainbow," said Chiang Yen, "and it bodes ill to the army. I advise you, O
T'ai-ju,
to return and not march against Wei."

"How dare you utter such ill-omened words and blunt the keenness of my army?" cried Chuko, angrily.

He bade the lictors take him out and put him to death. Chiang's colleagues interceded for him, and he was spared, but he was stripped of all rank. Orders were issued to march quickly.

Then Ting offered a suggestion, saying, "Wei's chief defence is Hsinch'eng; it would be a sore blow to Ssuma Chao to capture it."

Chuko welcomed this suggestion and gave orders to march on Hsinch'eng. They came up and found the city gates closed, wherefore they began to besiege the city.

A hasty messenger was sent to Loyang; and one Yu Sung told the Prime Minister, Ssuma Shih.

Yu said, "Wu is laying siege to Hsinch'eng; the city should not try to repulse the attack, but simply hold out as long as possible. When the besiegers have exhausted their provisions they will be compelled to retire. As they retreat we can smite them. However, it is necessary to provide against any invasion from Shu."

Accordingly Ssuma Chao was sent to reinforce Kuo Huai so as to keep off Chiang Wei, while Wuch'iu Chien and Hu Tsun kept the army of Wu at bay.

For months the army of Chuko battered at Hsinch'eng without success. He urged his captains to strenuous efforts, threatening to put to death anyone who was dilatory. At last his attacks looked like succeeding, for one of the corners of the wall seemed shaken.

Then the commander of Hsinch'eng thought of a device. He sent a messenger to the commander of the attack to say that it was a rule in Wei that if a city held out against attack for a hundred days its commandant might surrender without penalty. "Now the city has held out for over ninety days, and my master hopes you will allow him to withstand the few days necessary to complete the hundred, when he will yield.

The messenger also presented a letter to the same effect, and Chuko had no doubts that the story was genuine. The attack therefore slackened, and the defenders enjoyed a rest. But all that was really desired was time wherein to strengthen the weak angle of the wall. As soon as the attacks ceased the defenders pulled down the houses near the corner and repaired the wall with the material. As soon as the repairs were complete, the commandant threw off all pretence and cried from the wall, "I have half a year's provisions yet and will not surrender to any curs of Wu."

The defence became as vigorous as before the truce. Chuko was enraged at being so tricked, and urged on the attack. But one day one of the thousands of arrows that flew from the rampart struck him in the forehead, and he fell. He was borne to his tent, but the wound inflamed, and he became very ill.

Their leader's illness disheartened the men, and, moreover, the weather became very hot. Sickness invaded the camp, so that when Chuko had recovered sufficiently to resume command the men were unfit. An officer who told him the men were too ill to give battle met with an outburst of fierce anger, and Chuko said he would behead the next man who mentioned illness.

When the report of this threat got abroad, the men began to desert freely. Presently one Ts'ai Lin, with his whole company, went over to the enemy. Chuko began to be alarmed and rode through the camps to see for himself. Surely enough, the men all looked sickly, with pale and puffy faces.

The siege had to be raised, and Chuko retired into his own country. The enemy harassed his march and inflicted a severe defeat. Mortified by the course of events, he did not report his return, but pretended illness.

King Liang went to the camp to see his general, and the officers came to call. In order to silence comment, Chuko assumed an attitude of extreme severity, investigating every one's conduct very minutely, punishing rigourously any fault or shortcoming and meting out sentences of banishment, or death with exposure, till every one walked in teror. He also placed two of his own clique over the royal guards, making them the teeth and claws of his vengeance.

Now Sun Hsun was a great grandson of Sun Ching, brother of Sun Chien. Sun Ch'uan loved him and had put him in command of the guards. He was enraged at being superseded by the two creatures of Chuko Ch'uo, and intrigued with one Teng Yin, who had an old quarrel with Chuko.

Taking advantage of this rift, T'eng said to Sun Hsun, "This Chuko is as cruel as he is powerful. He abuses his authority and no one is safe against him. I also think he is aiming at something yet higher, and you, Sir, as one of the ruling family ought to put a stop to it."

"I agree with you, and I want to get rid of him," replied Sun. "Now I will obtain an edict condemning him to death."