Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/113

 As they advanced the news came to Wang Yün and he consulted Lü Pu.

“They are a lot of rats,” said he. “Never mind how many there are of them. Be not in the least anxious.”

So Lü Pu and Li Su went to oppose them. The latter was in advance and met Niu Fu. They fought; Niu Fu was outmatched and retired. But unexpectedly Niu Fu returned in a night attack, found Li Su quite unprepared and drove his force some thirty li, slaying many.

Li went to tell his chief who raged at him saying, “You have sullied my reputation as a warrior and destroyed my prestige.”

And he put Li Su to death, exposing his head at the camp gate.

Next day Lü Pu advanced his own force and engaged Niu Fu. Could the result be the least dubious? Niu Fu was driven off. That night he called in his friend Hu Ch‘ih-êrh to advise him.

“Lü Pu is too doughty a fighter for us to hope to overcome him. Our case is hopeless. Our best course is to desert these four men, secrete our valuables and leave the army with just a few of our followers.”

The plan of Niu Fu was adopted and the two traitors that very night packed up and made their way out of camp. They were only half a dozen. They came to a river and, while cross ing, Hu Ch‘ih-êrh, tempted by the lust of wealth, slew his companion. Then he went to offer the head to Lü Pu. Lü Pu enquired into the matter and when a follower told him the truth, he put the double traitor to death.

Then he advanced against the rebels and fell in with Li Ts‘ui’s force. Without giving them time to form in battle array, he attacked. Horses curvetting and spears set, the men dashed in irresistibly and Li Ts‘ui, making no stand, fell back a long way. He took up a position under a hill and thence sent to call his fellows to council.

Li Ts‘ui said, “Lü Pu though brave in battle is no strategist and so not really formidable. I will lead my men to hold the mouth of the gorge and every day I will incite him to attack and, when he comes toward me, Commander Kuo can smite his rear, after the manner of P‘êng Yüeh when he fought against Ch‘u. While thus I am alternating attack and retreat you other two will march off in different directions toward Ch‘angan. Such an attack at two points must end in his defeat.”

They set themselves to carry out this scheme. As soon as Lü Pu reached the hills a force came out to attack him. Pu made an angry dash toward the enemy, who retired up the hill, whence they shot arrows and hurled stones like rain. Lü Pu’s men halted. At this moment the report came that the rear was being attacked and there appeared Kuo Ssŭ. At once Lü