Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/180

 “He is trustworthy and will not break his word,” said the chief.

None of the officers believed he would come back. But the next day they set up a bamboo rod in the gate of the camp and just as the shadow marked noon T‘aishih Tzŭ returned, bringing with him about a thousand men. Sun Ts‘ê was pleased and his officers had to confess that he had rightly judged his man.

Sun Ts‘ê had now several legions and Chiangtung was his. He improved the conditions of the people and maintained order so that his adherents and supporters daily increased. He was called Sun Lang (the Bright One). When his army approached the people used to flee in terror, but when it had arrived and they saw that no one was permitted to loot and not the least attempt was made on their houses, they rejoiced and presented the soldiers with oxen and wine, for which they were in turn duly rewarded. Gladness filled the country side. The soldiers who had followed Liu Yu were kindly treated. Those who wished to join Sun’s army did so; those who preferred not to be soldiers were sent home with presents. And thus Sun Ts‘ê won the respect and praise of every one in Kiangnan and became very powerful.

Sun Ts‘ê then settled his mother and the remainder of the family in Ch‘üa, setting his brother Ch‘üan and Chou T‘ai over the city.

Then he headed an expedition to the south to reduce the Wu districts. At that time there was a certain Yen Pai-hu, or the White Tiger, who styled himself Prince Tê of Eastern Wu and ruled over the Wu districts. Hearing of Sun Ts‘ê’s approach, the “Prince” sent his brother Yen Yü with an army against him and they met at Fêngch‘iao.

Yen Yü, sword in hand, took his stand on a bridge and this was reported to Sun Ts‘ê, who prepared to accept the challenge. Chang Hung tried to dissuade him saying, “Forasmuch as my lord’s fate is bound up with that of the army, he should not risk a conflict with a mere robber. I would that you should remember your own value.”

“Your words, O Elder One, are as gold and precious stones, but I fear that my soldiers will not carry out my commands unless I myself share their dangers.”

Then he sent forth Han Tang to take up the challenge. Just as he reached the bridge, Chiang Ch‘in and Ch‘ên Wu, who had dropped down the river in a small boat, passed under the bridge. Though the arrows fell in clouds on the bank, the two men rushed up and fiercely attacked Yen Yü as he stood on the bridge. He fled and Han Tang went in pursuit smiting up to the gate of the city into which he entered.

Sun Ts‘ê laid seigesiege [sic] to Soochow both by land and water. For three days no one came out to offer battle. Then at the head