Romance of the three kin.., p.64
Romance of the Three Kingdoms II, page 64
“I would not go back upon the pledge between us,” said the king.
The envoy said, “I have been sent to inform you of the mourning for the late Prime Minister.”
Sun Ch’uan took up a silver barbed arrow and snapped it in twain, saying, “If I betray my oath may my posterity be cut off!”
Then he despatched an envoy with incense and silk and other gifts to be offered in sacrifice to the dead in the land of Shu.
The two envoys took leave of the King of Wu and journeyed to Ch’engtu, where they went to the King of Shu, and Tsung Yu made a memorial saying, “The King of Wu has wept for our K’ungming and put his court into mourning. The increased garrison at Pach’iu is intended to safeguard us from Wei, lest they take the occasion of a public sorrow to attack. And in token of his pledge King Sun, Ch’uan broke an arrow in twain.”
The king was pleased and rewarded Tsung Yu; moreover, the envoy of Wu was generously treated.
According to the advice in K’ungming’s testament, the Latter Ruler made Chiang Wan Prime Minister, and Chief of the Presidents and Ceneral, while Fei I became President of a Board, and associate in the Prime Minister’s office. Many other promotions were made, and among them Wu I was made Governor of HanChung, to keep Wei in check.
Now as Yang I was senior in service to Chiang Wan, who had thus been promoted over his head, and as he considered his services had been inadequately rewarded, he was discontented and spoke resentfully.
He said to Fei I, “If when the minister died I had gone over to Wei, with the whole army, I should not have been thus left out in the cold.”
Fei secretly reported this speech to the king, who was angered and threw Yang into prison. He intended putting him to death, but Chiang Wan reminded him of his services, and he was reprieved. However, he was degraded and sent into HanChung, where he committed suicide through shame.
In the thirteenth year of the period Cbien-Hsing of Shu, the same year being the third year of Cbincj-Lmg of Wu, and the fourth year of Chia-Ho of Wei, there were no military expeditions. However, it is recorded that Ssuma I was created a Tai-yu, with command over all the forces of Wei. and he departed for Loyang.
King Jui, of Wei, at Hsucb’ang, made preparations to build himself a palace. At Loyang also he built the Ch’ao-yang Tien, or “Hall of Sunrise,” and the T’ai-cbi Tten, or “Hall of the Firmament,” both lofty and of beautiful design. He also raised a “Hall Beautiful” and a storeyed building called the “Pavilion of the Pair of Phoenixes.” He also digged a Pool of the Nine Dragons. Over all these works he placed the scholar Ma Chun as superintendent of their building.
Nothing was spared that would contribute to the beauty of these buildings. The beams were carved, the rafters were painted, the walls were of golden bricks and the roofs of green tiles. They glittered and glowed in the sunlight. The most cunning artizans in the world were sought, many thousands of them, and myriads of ordinary workmen laboured day and night on these works for the king’s glory and pleasure. But the strength of the people was spent in this toil, and they cried aloud and complained unceasingly.
Moreover, King Jui issued an edict to carry earth and bring trees for the Garden of the Fragrant Forest, and he employed officers of state in these labours, carrying earth and transporting trees.
The Minister of Education, Tung Hsun, ventured upon a remonstrance, saying, “From the beginning of the period Chien-An, a generation ago, wars have been continuous and destruction rife. Those who have escaped death are few, and these are old and weak. Now indeed it may be that the palaces are too small and enlargement is desired, but would it not be more fitting to choose the building season so as not to interfere with cultivation? Your Majesty has many honourable officers wearing beautiful headdresses, clad in handsome robes, and riding in decorated chariots to distinguish them from the common people. Now these officers are being made to carry timber and bear earth, to sweat and soil their feet. To destroy the glory of the state in order to raise a useless edifice is indescribable folly. The Great Teacher said that princes should treat ministers with polite consideration, ministers should serve princes with loyalty. Without loyalty, without propriety, can a state endure?
“I recognise that these words of mine mean death, but I am of no value, a mere bullock’s hair, and my life is of no importance, as my death would be no loss. I write with tears, bidding the world farewell.
“Thy servant has eight sons, who will be a burden to Your Majesty after his death. I cannot say with what trepidation I await my fate.”
“Has the man no fear of death?” said King Jui, greatly angered.
The courtiers requested the king to put him to death, but he remembered his rectitude and proven loyalty and only degraded him, adding a warning to him to curb his tongue.
A certain Chang Mou, in the service of the Heir Apparent, also ventured upon a remonstrance; he suffered death.
King Jui summoned his Master of Works, Ma Chun, and said, “I have builded high terraces and lofty towers with intent to hold intercourse with shen and hsien, gods and djinn, that I may obtain from them the elixir of life.”
Then Ma replied, “Of the four and twenty emperors of the line of Han only the Emperor Wu enjoyed the throne very long and really attained to old age. That was because he drank of the essence of the brilliancy of the sun and he brightness of the moon. In the palace at Ch’angan is the Terrace of Cyprus Beams, upon which stands the bronze figure of a man holding up a Dew Bowl, wherein to distils, in the third watch of the night, the vapour from the great constellation of the north. This liquid is called ‘Celestial Elixir,’ or ‘Gentle Dew.’ If mingled with powdered jade and swallowed it restores youth to the aged.”
“Take men to Ch’angan immediately and bring hither the bronze figure to set up in the new garden,” said the king.
As the king commanded, they took a multitude of men to Ch’angan, and they built a scaffold around the figure. Then they attached ropes to haul it down. The terrace being two hundred feet high and the pedestal ten cubits in circumference, Ma Chun bade his men first detach the bronze image. They did so and brought it down. Its eyes were moist as with tears, and the workmen were affrighted.
Then suddenly beside the terrace sprang up a whirlwind, with dust and pebbles flying thick as a shower of rain, and there was a tempestuous roar as of an earthquake. Down fell the pedestal, and the platform crumbled, crushing many men to death.
However, the bronze figure and the golden bowl were conveyed to Loyang and presented to the king.
“Where is the pedestal?” asked the king.
“It is too heavy to transport,” replied the Master Workman.
“It weighs a million catties.”
Wherefore the king ordered it to be broken up and the metal brought, and from this he caused to be east two figures which he named Weng, Grandfather, and Chung, Uncle. They were placed outside the gate of the Board of War. A pair of dragons and a pair of phoenixes were also cast, the dragons forty feet high and the birds thirty. These were placed in front of the Hall of Audience.
Moreover, in the Upper Forest Garden the king planted wonderful flowers and rare trees, and he also established a menagerie of strange animals.
Yang Fou remonstrated with the king on these extravagances.
“As is well known, Yao preferred his humble thatched cottage, and all the world enjoyed tranquillity; Yu contented himself with a small modest palace, and all the empire rejoiced. In the days of Yin and Chou the Hall of the ruler stood three feet above the usual height and its area was nine ‘mats.’ The sage emperors and illustrious kings had no decorated chambers in lofty palaces built with the wealth, and by the strength, of a worn-out and despoiled people. Chieh built a jade chamber and elephant stables; Chou erected a surpassingly beautiful palace and a Deer Terrace. But these lost the empire. Duke Ling, of Ch’u, built beautiful palaces, but he came to an evil end. The ‘First Emperor,’ of Ts’in, made the Afang Palace, but calamity fell upon his son, for the empire rebelled and his house was exterminated in the second generation. All those who have failed to consider the means of the people and given way to sensuous pleasures have perished. Your Majesty has the examples of Yao and Shun, of Yu and Tang on the one hand, and the warnings of Chieh and Chou, Ch’u and Ts’in on the other. To seek only self-indulgence and think only of fine palaces will surely end in calamity.
“The prince is the first and the head; his ministers are his limbs; they live or die together, they are involved in the same destruction. Though I am timorous, yet if I dared forget my duty, or failed to speak firmly, I should be unable to move Your Majesty. Now I have prepared my coffin and bathed my body ready for the most condign punishment.”
But the king disregarded this memorial and only urged on the rapid completion of the terrace. Thereon he set up the bronze figure with the golden bowl. Moreover, he sent forth a command to select the most beautiful women in the empire for his garden of delight. Many memorials were presented, but the king heeded them not.
Now the Consort of King Jui was of the Mao family of Honan. In earlier days, when he was a prince, he had loved her exceedingly, and when he succeeded to the throne she became Empress. Later he favoured the Lady Kuo, and his Consort was neglected. The Lady Kuo was beautiful and clever, and the king delighted in her. He neglected state affairs for her society and often spent a month at a time in retirement with her. Every day there was some new gaiety.
In the spring, when the plants in the Fragrant Forest Garden were in flower, the king and his favourite came to the garden to enjoy them and to feast.
“Why not invite the Empress?” asked the Lady Kuo.
“If she came nothing would pass my lips,” replied the king.
He gave orders that his Consort should be kept in ignorance of these rejoicings. But when a month passed without the appearance of the king, his Consort and her ladies went to the Blue Flower Pavilion to find out what was the reason. Hearing music, she asked who was providing it, and they told her that the king and the Lady Kuo were feasting in the grounds.
That day she returned to her palace filled with rage. Next day she went out in her carriage and saw the king on a verandah.
“Yesterday Your Majesty was walking in the north garden, and you had plenty of music too,” said she, laughing.
The king was wroth and sent for all the attendants. He upbraided them with disobedience and put them all to death. The Empress feared and returned to her palace.
Then an edict appeared condemning the Empress to death and raising the Lady Kuo to be Empress in her place. And no officer dared to utter a remonstrance.
Just after this the Governor of Yuchou, Much’iu Ch’ien, sent in a memorial saying that Kungsun Yuan of Liaotung had risen in revolt, had assumed the style of “King” and adopted a nim-hao. He had built himself a palace, established an administration of his own and was disturbing the whole north with plundering.
A council met to consider this memorial.
Within, officials labour at ignoble tasks, and mean,
Without, the glint of weapons on the border may be seen.
How the insurgents were attacked will be related in the next chapter.
CHAPTER CVI
DEFEAT AND DEATH OF KUNGSUN YUAN:
PRETENDED ILLNESS OF SSUMA I
This Kungsun Yuan was of a family long settled in Liaotung. When Ts’ao Ts’ao was pursuing Yuan Shang, who had fled eastward, Kungsun K’ang, the father of the present rebel, had captured him, beheaded him and sent his head to Ts’ao. For this service Kungsun received the title of “Marquis of Hsiangp’ing.” After Kungsun K’ang’s death, as his two sons were young, his brother took the chiefship, and Ts’ao P’ei, beside confirming the marquisate, gave him the rank of General. A few years later, the second son, Yuan, being now grown up, well-educated and trained in military exercises, obstinate and fond of fighting, took away his uncle’s power and ruled the heritage of his father. Ts’ao Jui conferred upon him the title of Yang-lieh, “Wielder of Ferocity,” and made him Prefect.
Then Sun Ch’uan, anxious to secure his support, sent two envoys with gifts and offered Kungsun Yuan the title of “Prince Yen.” Fearing that the capital would resent any dallying with Wu, the Prefect slew the envoys. For this proof of lealty Ts’ao Jui gave him the title of Minister of War and the Dukedom of Yuehlang. However, he was dissatisfied, and his thoughts turned toward independence. He took council with his officers and proposed to style himself “King Yen” and to adopt a reign-title of his own.
One officer, Chia Fan, opposed this and said, “My lord, the central authorities have treated you well and honoured you. I fear that Ssuma I is too skilful a leader for rebellion to succeed. You see even Chuko Liang cannot defeat him; how much less can you?”
Kungsun’s reply was to condemn Chia Fan to death. However, General Lun Chih ventured upon further remonstrance.
“Chia Fan spoke well. The Sacred One says that extraordinary phenomena presage the destruction of a state. Now this time portents are not wanting, and wonders have been seen. A dog, dressed in red and wearing a turban, went up the length of a room walking like a man. Moreover, while a certain person living in a village south of the city was cooking his food, he saw a child in the pan, boiled to death. A great eave opened near the market-place and threw out a large, fleshy body completely human save that it lacked limbs. Swords could not cut it; arrows could not penetrate it. No one knew what to call it, and when they consulted the sortes they obtained the reply, ‘Incomplete shape, silent mouth, a state is near destruction.’ These prodigies are all inauspicious. Flee from evil and strive to walk in fair fortune’s way. Make no move without most careful thought”
This second remonstrance enraged the rebel still more, and he sent Lun to death with Chia. Both were executed in the public place.
Kungsun then prepared to make a bid for empire He raised an army of fifteen legions, appointed a general, Pei Yen, and a leader of the van, Yang Tsu. This army set out for the capital.
King Jui was alarmed at the report of this rising, and sent for Ssuma I. Ssuma was not greatly perturbed, and said, “My four legions will be equal to the task.”
The king replied, “The task is heavy, for your men are few and the road is long.”
“The strength of an army is not in numbers, but in strategy. Aided by Your Majesty’s good fortune I shall certainly be able to bring this fellow a captive to your feet.”
“What do you think will be the rebel’s plan?” a,sked the king.
“His best plan would be flight before our army can arrive; his second best is defending his position; his third, and worst would be to try to hold Hsiangp’ing. In the last case I shall certainly capture him.”
“How long will the expedition take?”
“We have to cover four thousand li, which will take a hundred days. Attack will consume another hundred. The return will need a hundred, and with sixty days to rest we shall take a year.”
“Suppose during that year we are attacked by Wu or Shu.”
“My plans provide for that, Your Majesty need have no anxiety.”
The king being thus reassured, formally ordered Ssuma to undertake the expedition.
Hu Tsun was appointed to lead the van. He went and camped in Liaotung. The scouts hasted to tell Kungsun, who sent his general and van-leader to camp at Liaochui. They surrounded their camp with a wall twenty li in circumference and placed “deerhorns” outside the rampart. It seemed very secure. Hu Tsun saw these preparations and sent to tell his chief. Ssuma smiled.
So the rebel does not want to fight, but thinks to weary my men, said Ssuma. “Now I am disposed to think that most of his army is within that wall, so that his stronghold is empty and undefended. I will make a dash at Hsiangp’ing. He will have to go to its rescue and I will smite him on the way. I should score a great success.”
So he hastened to Hsiangp’ing along unfrequented ways. Meanwhile the two captains within the walled camp discussed their plans.
Yang Tsu said, “When the Wei army comes near we will not fight. They will have come a long march and their supplies will be short, so that they cannot hold out long. When they retreat we shall find our opportunity. These were the tactics Ssuma I used against Chuko on the Wei River, and Chuko died before the end of the expedition. We will try similar means.”
Presently the scouts reported that the Wei army had marched south. Pei Yen at once saw the danger and said, “They are going to attack Hsiangp’ing, which they know is defenceless. If that be lost this position is useless.”
So they broke up their camp and followed the enemy. When Ssuma heard it he rejoiced, saying, “Now they will fall into the snare I have laid for them.”
He sent the two Hsiahous to take up position on the Chi River. They were to attack if the men of Liao came near them. They had not long to wait. As soon as Pei Yen and his army approached they exploded a bomb, beat the drums, waved their flags and came out, one force on each side. The Liao leaders made but a feeble fight and soon fled to Shoushan, where they joined the main army under Kungsun Yuan. Then they turned to give battle to the Wei army.
Pei Yen rode to the front and reviled the enemy, taunted them with trickery and challenged to a fight in the open. Hsiahou Pa rode out to accept the challenge, and after a few bouts Pei fell. In the confusion caused by the death of their leader, Hsiahou urged on his men and drove Kungsun back to Hsiangp’ing. He took refuge in the city.
The city was surrounded. It was autumn, and the rain fell day after day without ceasing. At the end of the month the plain was under three feet of water, so that the grain boats sailed straight from Liaohok’ou to the city walls. The besiegers suffered much from the floods.
The Commander of the Left went to Ssuma and asked that the army might be moved to camp on the higher ground, out of the mud and water. But Ssuma flouted the suggestion.
“How can the army move away just when success is in sight? The rebels will be conquered now any day, and if any other speaks about drawing off he will be put to death.”
