Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/143

 “Another day they came and we were short of grain. So I agreed with them to an exchange of plough oxen against grain. They delivered the grain and were driving away the oxen when the beasts took fright and tore off to their pens. I seized two of them by the tail, one with each hand, and hauled them backwards a hundred or so paces. The robbers were so amazed that they thought no more about oxen but went their way. So they never troubled us again.”

“I have heard of your mighty exploits,” said Ts‘ao Ts‘ao. “Will you join my army?”

“That is my strongest desire,” said Hsü.

So he called up his clan, some hundreds in all, and they formally submitted to Ts‘ao Ts‘ao. The strong man received the rank of Tu-yü and received ample rewards. The two rebel leaders were executed.

Juying being now perfectly quiet Ts‘ao Ts‘ao withdrew his army. His lieutenants came out to welcome him and they told him that spies had reported Yenchou to be left defenceless, all its garrison having given themselves up to plundering the surrounding country, and they wanted him to go against it without loss of time. “With these soldiers fresh from victory the city will fall at a tap of the drum,” said they.

So the army was marched to the city. An attack was quite unexpected but the two leaders, Hsüeh and Li, hurried out their few soldiers to fight. Hsü Ch‘u, the latest recruit, said he wished to capture these two and he would make of them an introductory gift.

The task was given him and he rode forth. Li Fêng with his halberd advanced to meet Hsü Chʻu. The combat was brief as Li fell in the second bout. His colleague retired with his men. He found the drawbridge had been seized so that he could not get shelter within the city. He led his men toward Chüyeh. He was followed and slain. His soldiers scattered to the four winds. And thus Yenchou was recaptured.

Next an expedition was prepared to take Puyang. The army moved out in perfect order with van leaders, commanders of the flanks and rear guard. Ts‘ao Ts‘ao led the centre; Tien Wei and Hsü Ch‘u were van leaders. When they approached Puyang, Lü Pu wished to go out in person and alone to attack but his adviser protested, begging him to await the arrival of his officers.

“Whom do I fear?” said Lü.

So he threw caution to the winds and went. He met his foes and he began to revile them. The redoubtable Hsü Ch‘u went to fight with him, but after a score of bouts neither combatant was any the worse.

“He is not the sort that one man can overcome,” said Ts‘ao Ts‘ao, and he sent Tien Wei to assist. Lü Pu stood the double onslaught. Soon after the flank commanders joined in and