Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/131

 to receive him. Then he had tried Yüan Shao, who had made use of him in an attack upon Chang Yen in Ch‘angshan. But his success filled him with pride and his arrogant demeanour so annoyed the other commandants that Shao was on the point of putting him to death. To escape this he had gone away to Chang Yang, who accepted his services.

About this time P‘ang Hsü, who had been protecting Lü’s family since his disappearance, restored them to him, which deed angered Li and Kuo so that they put P‘ang to death and wrote to Lü Pu’s protector to serve him the same. To escape this Lü Pu once again had to flee and this time joined himself to Chang Mo.

He arrived just as Chang Mo’s brother was introducing Ch‘ên Kung. Kung said to Mo, “The disrupture of the Empire has begun and warriors are seizing what they can. It is strange that you, with all the advantages you enjoy, do not strike for independence. Ts‘ao Ts‘ao has gone on an expedition against the east leaving his own district defenceless. Lü Pu is one of the fighting men of the day. If you and he together attacked and got Yenchow you could then proceed to the dominion.”

Chang Mo was pleased and resolved to try. Soon Lü Pu was in possession of Yenchou and its neighbourhood, all but three small departments, which were desperately defended. Ts‘ao Jên had fought many battles but was always defeated and the messenger with the evil tidings had come from him asking help.

Ts‘ao Ts‘ao was greatly disturbed by this and said, “If my own city be lost I have no home to return to. I must do something at once.”

“The best thing would be to become friends with Liu Pei at any cost and return to Yenchou,” said Kuo Chia.

Then he wrote to Liu Pei, gave the letter to the waiting messenger and broke camp. The news that the enemy had left was very gratifying to the Prefect, who then invited his various defenders into the city and prepared banquets and feasts in token of his gratitude.

At one of these, when the feasting was over, he proceeded with his scheme of retirement in favour of Liu Pei. Placing him in the seat of highest honour he bowed before him and then addressed the assembly.

“I am old and feeble and my two sons lack the ability to hold so important an office as this. The noble Liu is a descendant of the imperial house. He is of lofty virtue and great talent. Let him then take over the rule of this district and only too willingly I shall retire to have leisure to nurse my health.”

Liu Pei replied, “I came at the request of Kʻung Wên-chü because it was the right thing to do. Hsüchou is saved, but if I take it surely the world will say I am a wicked man.”