Romance of the Three Kingdoms II (7 page)

Yuan-te put forth proclamations to allay the fears of the inhabitants of the city. He enquired who had been on his side in cutting down Liu Kuei and was told it was one Chang I, of Wuyang. He and all who had helped in the capture were amply rewarded.

"Our next city is Ch'engtu." said K'ung-ming. "However, in the meantime there may be some trouble in pacifying the outlying districts, and hence it will be well for you to send Chao Yun and Chang Fei, with a certain number of those who have joined us, into the country around to reassure the people and to repress any risings that may take place. There will be no need for any especial precautions in the neighbourhood of Ch'engtu."

The two warriors went their ways, and then K'ung-ming began to make careful enquiries concerning the road to Ch'eng-tu. Certain of those who had given in their allegiance to the invaders said that the only place where they could expect any serious defence was Mienchu. Once they had passed this the capital lay at their mercy.

Then Fa Cheng was consulted. Said he, "With the fall of Loch'eng the land of Shu passed to you. Let our lord only deal with the people kindly and justly and there will be no need of weapons. I can write such a letter to the Prefect Liu Chang as shall make him surrender at call."

'That would be most excellent," said K'ung-ming.

The letter was written and sent by the hand of a messenger.

Liu Hsun, son of the Prefect, presently reached Ch'engtu and told his father of the loss of Loch'eng. The Prefect at once called his counsellors together, and the Secretary Ch'eng Tu said, "Although Liu Pei has been successful end captured cities and towns, yet his army is but small, his hosts are not near him, he depends upon chance for his grain and has no proper supplies. Therefore our best plan is to remove the people of Pahsi and Tzuchang to the farther side of the River Fou, burn all the granaries, fortify the city and let starvation defeat him. Let us reject all challenges to battle and in a hundred days his men will go off of their own accord. Then we can do with him as we will."

"I like not the plan," said Liu Chang. "Oppose invaders in order that tranquillity may prevail," is a well-worn maxim, but till now I have never heard of disturbing the people in order to oppose the march of an enemy. Your words are not such as mean safety."

Just at the moment the letter from Fa Cheng arrived. It was opened and the Prefect read: "I was sent to Chingchou to negotiate an alliance, but the opposition of those about you to its lord has resulted in the present situation. However, the ruler of Chingchou still remembers old friendship and is mindful of the ties of relationship. If you, my master, could reverse your policy and lend your support to your relative, I think you would be generously treated. I hope you will consider this carefully."

Liu Chang flew into a passion. He tore the letter to fragments and began to abuse its writer as a traitor, an ingrate a renegade, and drove the bearer of the letter from his presence. He then sent an army under the leadership of Fei Kuan, his wife's brother, to reinforce Mienchu.

Fei Kuan at once recommended as his assistant one Li Yen and the two mustered their men, three legions, and set out for the city. At this Juncture the Prefect of Ichou wrote advising to borrow aid from HanChung, but Liu Chang rejected this plan, saying it would be useless to try to obtain help from a district under the influence of his relentless enemy Chang Lu. Tung Ho, of Ichou, replied, "He may be an enemy, but Liu Pei is in possession of Loch'eng and the situation is extremely dangerous. When the lips are gone the teeth are cold. If you clearly indicate the dangers to him he must come to our help."

So a letter was written.

Two years had elapsed since Ma Ch'ao had been defeated and gone over to the
Ch'iang
tribes of Tangut. He had made friends with them and with their aid had conquered portions of Shensi. His expeditions had been very successful, the people opening their gates at the first summons. Only Chichou had stood out, but ever this was on the point of yielding. The Governor of the district had sent many urgent appeals for help to Hsiahou Yuan, who, however, would do nothing without his master's order. Wei K'ang, the Governor, was in despair, and at a council his officers advised him to yield. However, one of them, Yang Fou, earnestly opposed yielding, saying they could not surrender to a lot of rebels such as were Ma and his colleagues.

"What is there to hope for?" asked Wei K'ang despairingly.

Although Yang Fou besought him with bitterness to hold out, it was useless; K'ang rejected his advice, opened the city gates and bowed his head in submission.

"You only yield now as the last resource," cried Ma, angry at the delay he had suffered. "This is no real submission."

Whereupon he put to death Wei K'ang and all his to the number of two score.

But when one told him that Yang had been really responsible for the long delay, in that he had urged his master to hold out, Ma did not put him to death but praised him and said Yang had but done his duty. He further showed his approval by employing Yang and two of his friends in his own army. These two friends were named Liang K'uan and Chao Ch'u.

One day Yang went to his new chief and said, "My wife has died in Lint'ao, I wish to take leave for two months to bury her."

Wherefore he was granted leave and went away from the army. On the way, he went to his maternal cousin, one Chiang Hsu, the general in command at Tungch'eng. The general's mother, then an old lady of eighty-two, was Yang's aunt. When Yang saw her he wept before her, saying, "Behold an unfortunate man! The city I had to defend is lost; my master is dead; and I have survived him. I am ashamed to look you in the face. Now this Ma Ch'ao ravages the country-side, and every man hates him. Yet my cousin sits still and does nothing against him. Is this fitting conduct for a state servant?"

He wept bitterly. The old lady was moved by his grief, called in her son and said to him reproachfully, "You are the cause of the evil that has come upon the noble Wei." Then turning once more toward Yang she said, "But what can now be done? You have surrendered and, more than that, you have accepted service under your late enemy."

"It is true," replied Yang. "I have surrendered and I have accepted service, but it is with the desire to preserve my miserable life till I can avenge my master."

"A bold man is Ma Ch'ao, and difficult to destroy," said Chiang.

"Not very difficult," replied Yang, "for though he is bold yet he is unskilful. Already I have two friends by his side, and they would help against him if you, my brother, would only supply a force."

"What is to be gained by delay?" then said the old lady. "Is there any who will not have to die? To perish in the way of loyalty and righteousness is to die in the right path. Do not think of me, for if you do, and heed not the call of your cousin, the will I die at once so that you may be free to make up your mind."

There was now no excuse for delay, and Chiang had to act. He summoned two of his officers, Ying Feng and Chao Ang, and took counsel with them.

Now the latter of these had a son, Yueh, who was an officer in the army of Ma Ch'ao. When Ch'ao had to consent to take part against his son's chief he became very unhappy and went home to talk over it with his wife. He said, "I have today been led into a scheme to destroy Ma Ch'ao and avenge Wei K'ang. But there is our son there in Ma's service, and Ma will certainly put him to death as soon as he hears that we are arming against him. What is to be done?"

But his wife replied angrily, "Should any grudge even his life to avenge his liege lord or his father? How much less a son? My lord, if you let the thought of your son stay your hand then will I die forthwith."

This decided the matter, and without further parley Chao decided to share the expedition and set about preparations. The army was soon on the way. Chiang and Yang went and camped at Lich'eng; the other two, Yin and Chao, camped at Ch'ishan. The wife of Chao Ang sold her ornaments and went in person to her husband's camp to feast his soldiers.

The fears of Chao Ang concerning the fate of his son were only too soon justified. At the first news of the march of an army against him, Ma beheaded the young man A force was sent to Lich'eng, and the men under Chiang and Yang went out to oppose it. The two leaders on the avenging side went to battle dressed in mourning white. They railed at Ma, calling him traitor and wicked and rebellious.

Ma Ch'ao angrily dashed across toward them, and the fight began. From the very first it was seen that the defenders of the city could not hope to beat off the attack, and they turned to flee. Ma pursued them. But soon he heard the shouting of soldiers behind him and found the other army was attacking his rear. Wherefore he was between two armies and had a double battle to fight. As he turned toward that in his rear those he had been pursuing returned again to the attack. And while engaged with these two, there suddenly appeared a third force under Hsiahou Yuan, who had just received orders from Ts'ao to come against Ma.

Three attacks at once were too much for Ma, and he fled, his force in utter confusion. He retreated all that night and at dawn reached his own city of Chich'eng. He hailed the gate, but a flight of arrows was the response. Soon after, Liang K'uan and Chao Ch'u appeared and reviled him from the ramparts above. More than this, they dragged his wife up upon the wall, murdered her before his face and threw the bloody body at his feet. They followed up this by the murder in like manner of his three sons and other members of his family to the number of half a score and more. And all their dead bodies were flung from the wall.

Rage and despair filled Ma's bosom; he almost fell from his steed. But little time was allowed to grieve, for Hsiahou Yuan was nearly upon him. Knowing that he could not oppose this force with any chance of victory, he made no battle line, but set off with two of his captains to cut his way through such parties of the enemy as they might meet. Their sole object was escape, so when they fell upon Yang and Chiang they only fought to get through, and in the same way they forced a road through the small army under Yin and Chao. However, they lost most of their few followers, and at the end had only some three score left.

About the fourth watch they came to Lich'eng. In the darkness the gate guards, thinking only of the return of their own men, opened the gates and unwittingly let in the enemy. Once in the city the slaughter began, and every one, soldier or common person, was slain, till the city was swept clear from the south gate to the very centre.

Presently they came to the residence of Chiang Hsu and dragged forth his aged mother. She showed no sign of fear, but reviled Ma Ch'ao till in his anger he slew her with his own sword. Thence they went to the house of Yin and Chao and slew all they found therein. The only person who escaped the massacre was the wife of Chao Ang, who had accompanied her husband.

But the city proved no place of safety. Hsiahou with his army appeared the following day, and Ma fled before him to the west. But ere he had gone twenty
li
he came face to face with another army drawn up in battle array. Yang Fou was the leader. Grinding his teeth with rage, Ma set his spear and rode at Yang, while his two captains, Ma Tai and P'ang Te, attacked the rear. Yang was overcome, and his seven brothers who had gone with him into the battle were slain. Yang himself was wounded in five places, but still fought on till he was made prisoner.

However, Hsiahou had not left pursuing Ma. He came up to the city, and Ma fled before him to the west. His army was now reduced to the two captains and about half a score of horsemen, and these few were left to go their way.

Ts'ao Ts'ao's general, Hsiahou Yuan, set himself to restore order and tranquillity in the district, after which he apportioned its defence among Chiang Hsu and certain other trustworthy men. The captive leader Yang Fou was sent to the capital in a cart. When he arrived he saw Ts'ao, who offered him the title of Marquis. But Yang declined the honour, saying, "I have neither the credit of a successful defence nor the merit of death in the attempt. Death should be my portion rather than honours. How could I accept the offer?"

Ts'ao praised him and did not insist.

Having escaped from their pursuers, Ma Ch'ao and his few followers decided to make for HanChung and offer their services to Chang Lu. He received them gladly, for he thought with such help he could certainly get possession of Ichou on the west as well as repel Ts'ao on the east. More than this, he thought to cement the friendship by giving Ma a daughter to wife. But this displeased one of his captains, Yang Po.

"The misfortune that befell Ma Ch'ao's wife and family was entirely the fault of his own misconduct. Would you give your daughter to such as he to wife?" said Yang.

Chang Lu again considered the matter and abandoned his intention. But a certain busybody told Ma what had been proposed and that Yang had defeated the scheme. Whereupon Ma was very annoyed and sought to compass the death of Yang. Yang and his brother Sung on the other side conspired to destroy Ma.

At this time a messenger arrived in HanChung begging for assistance against the invader Liu Pei. Chang Lu refused help. But then Huang Ch'uan came on the same errand. He first saw Yang Sung and talked to him and brought him to favour the scheme, pointing out the inter-dependence of the eastern and western countries, which stood next each other as the lips are close to the teeth. So he won over Yang Sung, who led him to see his master. To him again Huang spoke forcibly and laid the matter before him so cogently that Chang promised his help.