Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/190

 “No; it will not.”

“The nobles’ rule, then?”

“No; nor that.”

“The high officers’?”

“Not even that.”

Lü Pu laughed. “Then you mean me to go by the rule for common people.”

“Nor that either.”

“Then what do you mean?”

“In the midst of the present troubles, when there is great rivalry between the nobles, do you not see that the others will be exceedingly jealous of your marriage alliance with such a family as the Yüans? Suppose you postpone the choice of the day, most likely when your fine morning arrives the wedding party will fall into an ambush on the road and the bride be carried off. Then what could be done? My opinion is that you would have done better to refuse. But since you have consented, then carry out the plan at once before the lords hear of it and so send the girl over without delay to Shouch‘un. You can hire a lodging there till you have selected the wedding day and the odds are greatly against any failure.”

“What you say is quite to the point,” replied Lü.

He went into the private apartments to see his wife and told her the bride elect would set out immediately and the trousseau was to be prepared as far as it could be. On his side he chose some good horses and had a wedding carriage got ready. The escort consisted of Han Yin and two military officers. The procession went out of the city to the sound of music.

Now at this time Ch‘ên Kuei, father of Ch‘ên Têng (Yüan-lung) was placidly waiting till the evening of his life passed into night. Hearing this burst of music he enquired the occasion and the servants told him.

“They are working on the ‘Relatives-are-inseparable’ device, then,” said he. “Yüan-tê is in danger.”

Thereupon in spite of his many infirmities he went to see Lü Pu.

“Noble Sir, what brings you here?” asked Lü.

“I heard you were dead and I came to mourn,” quavered the old man.

“Who said that?” exclaimed his host.

“Once upon a time you received grand presents from the Yüan’s that you might slay Liu Pei, but you got out by that clever shot at your halberd. Now they suddenly seek a marriage alliance thinking to get hold of your daughter as a pledge. The next move will be an attack on Hsiaop‘ei and, that gone, where are you? Whatever they ask in future, grain or men or anything else, and you yield, will bring your own end nearer, and make you hated all round. If you refuse, then you are false to the duties of a relative and that will be an